Bandana Technique Baroque Motifs

Well one set that I will be sad to see go in the retirement list is Baroque Motifs, but I know that Stampin' Up! are going to bring out lots of lovely new stamp sets so I refuse to be sad about it! I did this technique a while ago at one of my classes and it's a simple combination emboss resist and detail work with the white gel pen.

So I started off by embossing whisper white card stock with Versamark and black embossing powder

Then using stamping sponges cut into wedges I sponged a third of the area with Poppy Parade

I repeated this with Peach Parfait to get even more coverage of the card stock

And then I added the final colour Daffodil Delight

Generally once I've finished sponging I wipe over the embossed areas with a dry tissue to remove any ink from the embossed areas to complete the emboss resist technique. Now to take it one step further to look like an indigenous bandana design I used the white gel pen to highlight the design by doodling over it - the pen goes over the embossed areas just fine as well as onto the sponged card stock.

Isn't that cute???? I love this as it's a combination of a few techniques to give a great result and no two cards are ever exactly the same! Here's a finished card with it - if they ever retire Teeny Tiny Sentiments I am going to be in trouble!!!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Versamark, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait & Daffodil Delight
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Modern Label punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, White gel pen, stamping sponges.

Get a FREE Stamp Set During June - lots of Reason to Smile!

Well June isn't just about rewarding wonderful hostesses with freebies (for details of how to get an extra $90 in hostess reward dollars in June/July check out the details here) June is also an awesome month for customers - as you can get this super gorgeous stamp set called Reason to Smile for FREE or you can purchase it.

If you don't want to get it FREE by placing a $125 order with me, you can purchase it for $28.95 in clear mount or $35.95 in wood mount. This two step stamp set makes some lovely cards, recently I got my embossing powder and bleach out and made this one with it - I love how Soft Suede card stock bleaches to almost the same colour as So Saffron. The 1" square punch & postage punches are still available from the Summer mini in the carry over flier section and I also used the square punch to create the fish tail flag ends on the sentiment banner.

Stamps: Reason To Smile, Loving Thoughts
Card stock: Soft Suede, So Saffron & Early Expresso
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: White embossing powder, 1" square punch, postage punch, Dimensionals, Aqua painter
Non SU!: bleach

Faux Layering with Just Believe

In a recent techniques class we did faux layering - a fairly simple technique that combines sponging and masking techniques, some patience, lots of post-it notes and practise to create an awesome dimensional look on just one layer of card stock! I must confess though - the sentiment for this one was popped up as a separate layer, pearls were added as flower centres. The background was created using the Love Blossoms roller wheel that is a carryover item from the Summer mini catalogue and can still be ordered here.

Stamps: Love Blossoms roller wheel, Just Believe

Card stock: Basic Black & Whisper White

Ink: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz & Basic Black

Accessories: Stamping sponges, basic pearls, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dimensionals, window sheet.

Video - Spreading the Ink Technique

This is from an American Stampin' Up! demonstrator training section, but it's too cool not to share with you as it shows you how to create a unique embellishment for a card or scrapbook page. Carrie Cudney from the Stampin' Up! Corporate Office takes a white embossed stamp image from Fancy Flower, adds a little water, then lets the ink spread with the aqua painter. You have to give this technique a go and take a picture and let me see the results!

I've had one of my Aqua painters for over 8 years and it's still going strong - so it really does pay to buy a quality products, another reason I love Stampin' Up! If you need to order any supplies to make this project contact me now!

Joy Fold Open Sea

Another card made with the lovely Open Sea stamp set (I am so crossing my fingers and toes this one makes it from the mini into the main catalogue in September!)

and open it looks like

Stamps: Open Sea, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Early Expresso & Cherry Cobbler

Card stock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Early Expresso, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Dimensionals, mini silver brads, 1/16" handheld punch, modern label punch, word window punch, stamping sponge.

Dying Bakers Twine - Video Tutorial

It's really easy to turn plain white Baker's Twine (an absolute bargain at $4.95 for ~23m) into co-ordinating twine for your projects. Watch Stampin' Up! Emily Montoya as she shows you in less than 2 minutes how to do this cool technique.

Dyeing Instructions:

1. Create a mixture using rubbing alcohol and any color of our Classic Stampin' Ink refills in an empty button/brad container. A good starting ratio is one tablespoon of alcohol to one drop of ink refill (you can adjust from there to get the right color intensity for your project). 
2. Place the Baker's Twine in the mixture allowing enough time for the dye to fully soak the twine. 
3. Lay the dyed twine on a clean paper towel to dry completely.
4. Use on your project


If you want to order the Bakers twine, contact me today.

Double Gatefold Butterfly Card

I saw this great tutorial on SCS a while ago for a double gatefold card, modified it to fit a standard C6 envelope and added a symmetrical punch out to it with a stamp set I haven't used in way too long and I'm not too sure why not as it's gorgeous - what's not to love about stamp sets that have matching punches??

and opened out......a new tool from the upcoming Autumn/Winter catalogue makes creating this card super quick........want a copy of the new mini catalogue as soon as it is released, email me now and I will get a copy to you for April 1st.

Edited to add: I've been asked by a number of people about the measurements for this card - it is a large rectangle of 12" x 14.8cm; score along the 12" side at 2", 4", 8" & 10" to get the folds. Decorate as desired.

Stamps: Butterfly Prints
Card stock: Soft Suede, Poppy Parade, Everyday Enchantment DSP, Whisper White
Ink: Soft Suede, Calypso Coral & Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Butterfly punch, stamping sponge.

Fun Side Spring Card & FREE postage offer

I am loving the Sale-a-bration items that you can get for FREE this year.........we made a side spring card that fits a standard C6 envelope in class this week using the designer series paper Everyday Enchantment. If you are interested in getting any of the Sale-a-bration items for free with the added bonus of FREE postage if you place the order with me before midnight on Saturday the 24th - so contact me now to place your order as once Sale-a-bration finishes they are gone forever!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card stock: Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Whisper White & Everyday Enchantment

Ink: Pool Party, Basic Black, Crumb Cake & Poppy Parade

Accessories: Antique brads, Fun Flower Die, Big Shot, paper piercing tool, mat pack, modern label punch, word window punch, scallop border punch, stamping sponge, bone folder.

Nature Walk Faux Postage

We did a faux postage class a couple of weeks ago and here's one of the cards from it, it also involved basic masking, sponging techniques. I love faux postage - such a great way to use your existing supplies to give a different effect. I tend to just print out the postage templates onto normal copy paper rather than putting card stock through my printer for the simple fact that if I make a smudge or mistake, it's no real issue to start again. I made the template for this one - if you want a copy of the PDF email me.

Stamps: Nature Walk, French Foliage, Autumn Days & Happiest Birthday Wishes
Card stock: Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Soft Suede
Ink: Black Stazon, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Soft Suede
Non SU! copy paper

Fresh Vintage Blue Shadows

So finally I'll start uploading some of my Sale-a-bration creations, I have quite a backlog of blogging to do at the minute, so I will endeavour over the next week to address this imbalance! I am totally loving the Sale-a-bration stamp set Fresh Vintage and the fact it has matching DSP & brads is super exciting - well actually the most exciting part is that they are all FREE!!!!!!!!!!

I used a couple of simple, but effective, techniques on this card to highlight shadow stamping (using a clear mount block) and stamping' write marker pens direct to rubber to colour the floral image. Which is your favourite Sale-a-bration item?

Stamps: Fresh Vintage & Trendy Trees (sentiment)
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo & Lucky Limeade
Card stock: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White
Accessories: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Dimensionals, "C" size clear block, White Bakers Twine, Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, Basic Rhinestones, Two Way glue pen, Big Shot.

Bleached Dasher

This was a card I made recently for a demonstrator swap using the bleach technique, I did it in two different matt colours Cherry Cobbler & Daffodil Delight. It's the sort of card that if you do it in stages, you could easily mass produce it!

The sparkle is the new champagne glitter glass that we received as a prize at Regional training last month, I used Crystal Effects to adhere it to the card stock.

Here is a photograph of the bleach developing in intensity - the bottom part of the picture is where it was stamped and I took a photograph within a minute, the top part is where the bleach had been left for over 5 minutes. So when you are using bleach, you really do have to be patient and allow it time to get to its final exposure point before you make your card up.

Stamps: Dasher, Lovely as a Tree & Contempo Christmas
Ink: Versamark
Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler or Daffodil Delight, Early Expresso
Accessories: Gold brads, Crystal Effects, Champagne Glitter Glass, Gold Embossing Powder.
Non SU!: bleach

Merry & Type Partial Embossing

This is a super cool and simple technique that has been on the web for a while, I honestly can't remember where I first saw it I'm thinking it was probably on Dawn O's blog? You simply take a piece of chipboard (available now as sheets to buy on page 155 #114320 which is awesome as they make great die cut shapes to embellish) and cut a shape you want to show up patterned - in this case a triangle shape. I then sticky taped it to the OUTSIDE of the embossing folder, placed the white card stock inside as per normal and left off the bottom standard pad and ran it through the embossing folder as normal. I tend to get better results with the crease pad as the top layer than the standard cutting pad - but that is my preference for what I have found works with my Big Shot best. 

The embossing folder I used for this card is on sale this month - so if you want to save yourself some money, contact me to place an order now.

Stamps Merry & Type

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White & Regals Pattern Stack DSP

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Petals A Plenty textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Decorative label punch.

Faux Mother Of Pearl

Each month we get together at demonstrator meetings and have a chat, participate in swaps and also practice or learn new techniques/templates. I get to go to two demonstrator meetings a month as I attend one that my upline holds and then run one that my downline come to if they chose - so if you want to join my team you won't be left stranded for support or ideas! At my upline meeting this month we made this beautiful card with the faux mother of pearl technique. I have a blue tag to attach across the DSP, but I can't decide what sentiment I want on the card at the moment so will attach it when I give the card. Sadly the beautiful soft pearl effect on the butterfly doesn't show up well with my photography either! 

Stamps: Just Believe

Ink: Sahara Sand, Marina Mist, black Stazon, Old Olive & More Mustard 

Card Stock: Whisper White, Marina Mist,  Sahara Sand, & Neutrals DSP

Accessories: Scallop lace border punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, basic pearls, Frost White Shimmer Paint, stamping sponges.

Double Brayer Embossing to Make Gingham

Here's a variation on the previous brayered embossing technique from earlier this week here.....you just do the technique twice, but rotate the card stock 90' when you put it into the inked embossing folder - super cute gingham effect isn't it?

Stamps: Easy Events
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder & Black Stazon
Card stock: Basic black, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Accessories: Blender pen,  Striped embossing folder, Dimensionals, Big Shot.

Triple Layer Punches

Ever wondered how to use the new Stampin' Up! Triple Layer Punches? Shannon West from Stampin' Up! has made an instructional video on them that I thought I would share with you.

Aren't they cool punches? I confess to only owning one of them at the moment, but they are so easy and fun to use I might have to get the other one! Of course if you want to have a play with it in the flesh or place an order for one - contact me and I'll be happy to help.

Technique Classes

Whenever I run a technique class I always hand out written notes that are based upon my experience or sometimes also include directions from the product packaging or company website etc. Normally we cover 3-4 different variations on one technique and then make a card using each of the techniques and do a sample swatch of it so when you have given away the lovely cards (yes they are meant to be shared not hoarded!!) you have a visual reference to them for future. These are what the sample swatches look like, from the recent masking class) that are then stuck onto the participants class note pages.

Want to join in an upcoming class - check out what is scheduled and as always feel free to suggest class themes etc that you would like to see happening. 

Masking Trees

Another of the cards we did recently at the masking class was this one - with one of my all time favourite stamps sets - I confess to being very happy when this one did not retire in August!

The mask was cut using a window sheet and the largest oval in the ovals die. It didn't show up in the photograph, but there is glitter on the large tree to add highlights. This would look great made up for Christmas - just change the sentiment and maybe the colours if you wanted to.

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Word Play
Ink: More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler & Chocolate Chip
Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard & Very Vanilla
Accessories: Bog Shot, Ovals die, Window Sheet, stamping sponge, basic rhinestone, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds.

African Giraffe

There are so many fabulous stamp sets in the new catalogue I want to use them all! I did use the new Zoo review set in a recent scrap class and for this card below which was part of a masking class.

Stamps: Zoo Review & You're A Gem

Ink: Black Stazon, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Early Expresso

Card Stock: Early Expresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Linen thread, Big Shot, Houndstooth textured impressions embossing folder, stamping sponges, Aquapainter, 3/4" circle punch, 1/16" handheld punch, Dimensionals, SNAIL. 1" circle punch, Dotto

Water coloured Ute

This was a card we made at a water colouring class a while back, we were trying out all the different ways to colour with Stampin' Up! products e.g. water colour crayons, Classic ink pads, Stampin' write marker pens, blender pens, water colour pencils, Aqua painters, pastels - so many different combinations! This was a fun card that the participants could make up and depending upon the colours chosen and the sentiment would have been suitable for many different occasions.

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories

Ink: Black Stazon, Always Artichoke

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, water colour paper,  Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Real Red striped grosgrain ribbon, stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals, SNAIL, water colour crayons, Aquapainter.

Bleaching & Adding Colour

The last bleach technique that we did in this weeks technique class was adding colour back in after we had bleached it out of a design. This is such a cool technique and awesome for creating lovely effects with a single layer of card stock. The colour you add back in can be from Classic Ink pads, Stampin' write markers, pastels, water colour crayons or water colour pencils - so lots of options! This card was CASEd from Kristy B. who demonstrated it at the 2011 Stampin' Up! convention in May. It works well with any open line stamp image.

Stamps: Elements of Style

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede
Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Accessories: Heat tool, clear embossing powder, Aqua painter, SNAIL, stamping sponge, stamp-a-ma-jig
Non SU!: bleach