Yesterday while watching the World Series, I played with my Stampin’ Blends and one of the cute birds in the stamp set, Best Birds. If you love to color, I really think you’re going to love these new pens (they’ll be available next week on November 1st). I love them and am so happy that Stampin’ Up! will be releasing them soon!
If you aren’t familiar with alcohol-based pens, they are completely different than coloring with pens such as our Stampin’ Write Markers. These new pens glide over your paper and your coloring is even looking, not choppy. I usually don’t use regular markers for coloring because I don’t care for the harsh brush strokes.
There are other alcohol-based pens out on the market, such as Copics, but they definitely have a learning curve to them. The Stampin’ Blends come in 12 Stampin’ Up! colors which means they match our card stock. I love that coordination! Each color has a light and dark pen which makes blending a breeze. You don’t have to wonder which colors will coordinate because if you just use a dark and light in one color, you know they’ll blend beautifully. If you’re new to these types of pen, just color with them and don’t worry about blending!
On the 1st, you can purchase the pens individually or as combo packs OR buy the entire collection which includes Ivory, Bronze and the Color Lifter. (The Color Lifter pushes color away which is helpful if you’ve gone outside the lines).
I mentioned that if you just use the dark and light in one color, you know they’ll blend well together but play around with them and see what you like! I ventured out and tried two colors together. I stamped my bird onto Thick Whisper White using Memento Ink and colored the entire bird with Light Pool Party and then used Dark Pool Party and Light Bermuda Bay to add shadows. His beak was colored with Dark Daffodil Delight.
I’m so excited for November 1st to arrive so that you’ll have a chance to purchase these wonderful pens!
I decided to play around again with the stamp set Lovely Inside and Out. You can see the other card I recently posted by clicking here. This time I decided to do the baby wipe technique using Pacific Point and Bermuda Bay ink.
Lovely Inside & Out Wood #144008 Clear #144011
If you’ve never tried this technique, you really should give it a try! It’s so easy and whatever you create is always one of a kind! Simply fold 4-5 baby wipes and add drops of Stampin’ Up! refills all over. Apply your stamp to this “stamp pad” and create a masterpiece!
If you give this technique a try, I’d love to see your creation!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! Below you’ll find a list of the Stamping’ Up! supplies I used to create today’s card. To place an order just click any of the products and you’ll be directed to my Stampin’ Up! online store.
With the release of the brand new alcohol based pens, Stampin’ Blends, on November 1st, I thought this would be a great time to review two of our inks. It can be very confusing wondering which ink to use when. I’ve been there!
I use Memento Ink and it’s the one I reach for all the time when I’m stamping images. It’s a dye based ink and won’t smear or bleed and dries quickly but it isn’t waterproof. If you add water to your stamped image as you might with the Aqua Painter, it will bleed and smear and you’ll be very unhappy with the results.
When using Stampin’ Blends, you’ll want to use the Memento Ink pad. Since the pens are alcohol-based, they require a particular type of ink and Memento won’t react to the solvent in the pens.
If you’re watercoloring, you want to use the Stampin’ Up! Basic Black Archival stamp pad. This is a permanent ink and when you add water to an image, it won’t bleed. But, and this is important, you have to wait a few minutes and let the ink dry. If I know I’m going to be watercoloring, I ink my images ahead of time and then go back to them. Of course, the climate you live in will dictate how long you need to wait. Another product that can be used when you’re watercoloring is Staz-On, a product no longer carried by Stampin’ Up! You should be very careful when using Staz-On with photopolymer stamps because over time it will break down the stamp. If you use it, clean your stamp immediately. The Stampin’ Up! Archival Ink pad works with both rubber and photopolymer stamps.
Stampin’ Up! also carries refills for both the Memento and Archival stamp pads. If you notice that your images aren’t as dark as they once were, just add drops of the refill over the surface of your pad.
If you’ve been confused about these two inks, I hope this has helped!
If you’d like to purchase the Memento Ink or Stampin’ Up! Archival Ink or either of the refills, click below and you’ll head over to my Stampin’ Up! online store! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Thanks for stopping by today! If you follow my blog regularly, I want to let you know that I’m changing up my posting schedule. I’ll still continue to post at least five days per week but I’ll now be posting Monday – Friday. Let’s get started with today’s card!
I love flowers and the watercolor look, so when the Painted Harvest stamp set was released in the Holiday Catalog, I knew I’d be purchasing it. It’s so easy to use but it looks complicated, doesn’t it?
Painted Harvest is a two step stamp set which means that you need two stamps to create a look! As you can see from the picture of the stamp set below, there are two stamps to create the flower. There are no set rules as to which stamp to use first, just play around with it and see what look you like!
With that being said, here’s what I did. First, I used Early Espresso and stamped the inside of the sunflower. Then I used the larger stamp (the one on the left which is more filled in), inked it up with Cajun Craze and stamped over the center. These stamps are photopolymer which I personally love because it allows me to see right through them. Then I inked up the smaller stamp (it’s more detailed) with Pumpkin Pie and stamped over the image. Just doing that is a beautiful look but I stamped the larger image again with Cajun Craze. My sentiment was stamped with Early Espresso which is included in the Painted Harvest stamp set. This was my first try with this stamp set and I’m pretty happy with the results.
The stamp set also has some beautiful leaves and new in the Holiday Catalog is a leaf punch which coordinates with these leaves. If you purchase the Painted Harvest Bundle (Painted Harvest stamp set and the leaf punch), you’ll save 10%. I’ll include the bundle in my list of supplies, but please note that I didn’t use the punch on my card.
If you’d like to purchase any of the products I used to make today’s card, they are listed below. Clicking on any of the items will take you directly to my Stampin’ Up! online store. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or email me!
Earlier this week I shared a cute little tote bag and today I have the directions for you! Here’s what you’ll need:
Cardstock
3″ x 4″ score @ 3/4″ on all four sides
(2) 1/2″ x 9-1/4″
1/2″ x 8″ (handle)
Designer Series Paper
2-3/4″ x 9″
Score 3″ x 4″ paper and score at 3/4″ on all four sides. Fold on all the score lines and cut as shown below.
Add glue dots on the ends and create the sides of the box.
The picture below shows one end of the box put together.
Add Tear and Tape on both ends of the Designer Series Paper. You are attaching it to the side that will be showing on the outside of your tote bag.
Remove the Tear and Tape and attach the two strips of cardstock. The strips are just a tad longer than the DSP, so just trim it once you’ve attached it.
Add Tear and Tape all around the box you made earlier. Remove the tape.
Attach the DSP to the box starting at the back so that the seam won’t show on the front of the bag. Continue around the box.
Attach another piece of Tear and Tape at the end of the DSP and continue wrapping the paper around the box.
Add glue dots or Tear and Tape to the ends of the handle and attach each end to the inside of the box.
I hope you’ll give this tote bag a try! If you do, I’d love to see your creation!
Last week I mentioned the new Stampin’ Blends and yesterday it was announced that they’ll be available to everyone starting November 1st!
It was also announced yesterday over on Facebook that Stampin’ Up! is giving away Stampin’ Blends to 101 lucky winners! All you have to do is head over to Facebook and Like, Comment or Share their post by October 31st. Click here to head on over there and enter to win!
I am so happy with my set of Stampin’ Blends and I’ll start sharing projects I’ve made using them very soon! I love that they match 12 Stampin’ Up! colors and each shade comes in a light and dark shade. I don’t want you to miss out on having a chance to win some of these new pens so head on over to Facebook!
If you own a Big Shot and love using intricate dies, the Precision Base Plate is a tool you’ll find extremely useful. I used to shy away from purchasing intricate dies because it was such a pain in the neck trying to get all of the intricate pieces to cut. Using the Precision Base Plate has made all the difference in the world.
I have two videos below that do an excellent job of explaining all about the Precision Base Plate. The first one goes over the basics and the second one shares tips and tricks.
In the first video, Shannon, from the home office, uses a piercing tool to poke the bits and pieces from the dies. Since the release of the video, the Big Shot Die Brush is now available and a tool that I regularly use. While the Precision Plate does a great job of cutting the paper, the Big Shot Die Brush helps release the paper from the die.
Enjoy the videos below and see the Precision Base Plate in action! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me!
Happy Monday! I hope you had an enjoyable weekend! We had a long weekend in Palm Springs with our family. We rented a beautiful house with a gorgeous backyard that included a pool. We had such a good time being together. It’s always so hard coming back home from a weekend that you don’t want to end!
I brought some stamping to do while we were away as well as my computer but I have to admit that I didn’t touch either. We were busy from morning to night. The project I have to share today is one that I know you’ll want the directions to so I’ll work on a pictorial tutorial and have it for you later this week! Sorry I didn’t get it done this weekend!
If you love this paper, Painted Autumn, as much as I do, it is currently on sale. Buy 3 specially selected packages of paper and receive one absolutely free. Click HERE to see all the papers that are included in the sale. Click here to place an order!
To place an order or for more information, click any of the products below!
When I first saw the stamp set, Lovely Inside and Out in the catalog, it was one that I initially passed on purchasing. Then I started seeing such cute cards using the set that I just had to buy it!
Lovely Inside & Out Wood #144008 Clear #144011
I love the color combination of Lemon Lime Twist, Black and Whisper White!
After stamping the large shape from the set, I stamped the word “FRIEND” in Memento Ink. I embossed “THANKS” with white embossing powder onto Basic Black cardstock. Because I hate trying to cut a shape out freehand, I cut the sentiment with the Classic Label punch and cut off one end. Such an easy card to make!
All of the supplies I used are listed below.
Click on any of the products for more information or to place an order!
The stamp set Lovely Inside & Out can also be purchased as a bundle with the Lovely Words Thinlits Dies, in either wood or clear mount (save 10% on the bundle). Click here for more information!
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I’ll be back on Monday!
I love this card! The design was inspired by a card created by Kylie Bertucci, an Australian demonstrator. I loved her card and wanted to make my own! I made a few changes but I really do have to credit her original card.
The stamp set I used was Ribbon of Courage with the matching Support Ribbon Frameits Dies (purchase both and save 10%). The stamp set was inspired by Patty Bennett, a Stampin’ Up! Million Dollar Sales Achiever! It’s a stamp set with so much meaning behind it.
Using the heart stamp and Rich Razzleberry ink, I stamped directly onto Whisper White cardstock. More hearts were stamped in Berry Burst on a separate piece of cardstock and cut out with the Support Ribbon Framelits. I added Stampin Dimensionals to the backs and attached them to the card front.
The base of my card is Berry Burst as well as the scalloped circle for my sentiment. I embossed the sentiment, also from the Ribbon of Courage stamp set, using Versamark ink and white embossing powder. It was cut out with the Layering Circles Framelits. Stampin’ Dimensionals were also added to the back before placing it onto the front of the card.
Click on any of the products below for more information or to place an order!
The other day my daughter mentioned that she needed to cut hearts in multiple colors and shapes using felt and wondered if I had anything we could use to cut them out. YES!! We pulled out the Big Shot and the Sweet & Sassy Framelits and started die cutting!
Did you think that the Big Shot only cut paper? You can also cut fun foam, fabric, thin sheets of cork, vellum, and felt. When I had my own classroom, I used to cut shapes out of fun foam and use them for projects and games. With the wide variety of shapes available, the possibilities are endless!
If you’ve had your eye on a Big Shot, knowing that you are able to cut so much more than just paper with it, gives you more reasons to have one of your very own!
For more information about the Big Shot or the Sweet & Sassy Framelits, or to place an order, click either picture below and you’ll head over to my Stampin’ Up! online store.
Today I wanted to share a card I received in the mail from my team leader, Dawn Griffith. Isn’t it cute? I don’t have the stamp set, Creep it Real, so I’m glad that I have a card to share with you using this set.
Dawn used three different stamp sets:
Creep it Real – main sentiment
Spooky Cat – the rat
Season to Sparkle – hanging spider
Measurements
Spooky Night Designer Series Paper: (4) squares cut at 1-3/4″ x 1-3/4″
Basic Black cardstock: 4″ x 4″
Smoky Slate cardstock: 4-1/8″ x 5″ tear the bottom 5″ edge
You’ll also need Very Vanilla & Basic Black cardstock to cut out squares using the Layering Squares Framelits.
The supply list can be found below. Click on any of the products and you’ll be directed to my Stampin’ Up! online store. Thanks for stopping by today!
