On y go! Stamping - On Y Go! Stamping

Batik Backgrounds

8/23/2019

Today I was working on creating Batik backgrounds. This technique, like so many other techniques, isn't hard, but it does take some time. For this card, I used Very Vanilla, Mango Melody, and Old Olive cardstocks. For the ink, I used Mango Melody, Old Olive, and Poppy Parade. I also used the Stitched Shapes and Wild Rose dies and the Brick and Mortar embossing plate. All of these supplies are from Stampin' Up!

Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking while I was working on this and didn't take any process pictures to share with you. Hopefully, the description is enough to help you understand the technique.

I started by cutting a dozen or more leaves from Very Vanilla cardstock. I used non-permanent glue on the back of these leaves and stuck down a single layer of leaves on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. If you look at my finished card, the leaves that are still vanilla were where I placed this first layer of cut-out leaves.

Using sponge daubers, I added Mango Melody ink in very areas of the paper, sponging right over the leaves that were adhered to the piece of paper. However, I didn't cover the whole piece of cardstock with ink. Then I did the same with Poppy Parade ink, filling in the rest of the blank areas and overlapping the Mango Melody ink in some areas.
It will be very tempting, but don't remove this first layer of leaves yet!

You should still have plenty of leaves left over that you didn't attach in the first step. I added these leaves in a second layer over the first leaves. Now, your leaves from the second layer will overlap those from the first layer.

Repeat the inking steps you did before, but this time, use Poppy Parade and Old Olive ink. When you are done, carefully remove the leaves to reveal the beautiful batik background.

I used a couple of the leaves that I had used as masking for an embellishment under the greeting. I also used some of those leaves on a second card as well.

I love the batik technique and think it is worth the extra time it takes to create. I'd love to hear about your own experiences with this technique and see your projects, so leave a comment below.

Virtual Stamp party!

8/21/2019

Kids and teachers are heading back to school, the days are getting shorter, soon the weather will turn cooler (at least for those of us in the north), and we are all facing the reality that summer will soon be coming to an end. But that means fall, and pumpkins, and hot cocoa, and Christmas are right around the corner!

And in just a couple of weeks (Sep. 4), Stampin' Up! will release their holiday catalog. There is so much awesome in this catalog. The papers are beautiful and whimsical with splashes of shine. There are all the over-the-top accessories you will want to make beautiful holiday cards and gifts. And, there is a stamp set for every taste and style. You won't want to miss it!

To share all this excitement with you, I will be hosting my first ever virtual stamp party! There will be games, demonstrations, and prizes. I hope you will all join me over on Facebook for the festivities on Thursday, September 5 from 7:00-9:00 pm EST. Join the Facebook group by clicking here, then login on September 5 and participate in the fun and games.

Simple card sketch

8/19/2019

You can switch it up by turning the card on it's side, or maybe changing the square into a circle, or perhaps you want to add a greeting. This simple sketch lends itself to so many awesome cards. How have you used this simple design? Leave a comment below. I'd love to see your stamping projects.

Once again, it's been a busy weekend and this Manic Monday requires some quick and easy stamping! Today, I used my easiest, go-to sketch for whipping up a card. Often this sketch is the building block for many more complicated cards.

It's simply a card base with a strip of patterned paper along the side, a square with an image layered on top, and some ribbon. It's as easy as that!

Easy Watercolor Background

8/16/2019

Watercolor backgrounds can seem intimidating, but here's a way to easily create a watercolor background using an acrylic block. You know those clear plastic blocks you adhere your stamps to? Those are the secret to a beautiful background.

For this card, I used three ink colors: Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo, and Poppy Parade.

I started with a clean, E block by Stampin' Up! This block is almost the size of a card front.

I inked the top portion of the block with Mango Melody. Then I inked the center portion with Flirty Flamingo. It's ok to overlap them a bit. This is why I started with the lightest color, so I didn't get Flirty Flamingo on my Mango Melody ink pad or Poppy Parade on my Flirty Flamingo ink pad. I finished by apply Poppy Parade on the bottom of the acrylic block.

This leaves a pretty rainbow on your acrylic block. You could stamp it just like this, but it wouldn't have that same watercolor look. Instead, I spritzed it 4-5 times with a little water. Then I tilted the block up and down to allow the colors to run into each other a little bit.

Now the really fun part! Stamp your block directly on your paper. When you lift up, you will have a background that looks like you watercolored it. I recommend using a heavier cardstock like watercolor paper or Shimmer White cardstock by Stampin' Up!

After the background dried, I stamped the flower images from A Friend Like You stamp set using Soft Suede ink for the stems and Blackberry Bliss for the flowers. I trimmed out the stamped area leaving an even border around the edges.

I used the Friendly Silhouette dies to cut out the flower silhouette from Soft Suede cardstock. The die-cut image is longer than the stamped image.

I folded the edges of the die-cut image so that it was just a little longer than the stamped scene, about 1/8-1/4" longer. Then, I put adhesive on just these folded ends and adhered the strip to the bottom of the stamped scene. While the die-cut was a little longer than the stamped background, I lined the edges up exactly. This allows the silhouette to pop out from the card a little and gives it dimension.

I finished it off by mounting the image on a piece of Mango Melody and then a card base of Soft Suede.

Here's another sample using some very old Stampin' Up! product: One of a Kind stamp set and matching punch in Bordering Blue and Night of Navy ink and cardstock.

And one last sample using Coastal Cabana and Gorgeous Grape inks and cardstock. I finished this one off using the Well Said stamp set and Well Written dies.

I'd love to see your creations using this technique. Drop an image in the comments below!

Dark Colors that Pop!

8/14/2019

So often our card bases tend to be light colors. This makes sense - light colors are easier to stamp on. However, darker cards can be dramatic. For today's Wow Wednesday, I used the To a Wild Rose stamp set and dies. For the greeting, I used the Well Said set.

This card uses the 2019-2021 In-Colors Terracotta Tile and Pretty Peacock as well as Basic Black. I used Staz-on jet black ink to stamp the outlines of the rose and leaves. Then, I stamped the shading with Versamark to give it a slightly darker color. I cut the images out with the dies. I stamped a second flower and fussy cut the center. I mounted this center on the middle of the flower with dimensionals to give a 3D effect.

To create a background at the top of the card, I stamped the flower center image in Versamark ink on Pretty Peacock cardstock. To add some texture, I embossed the strip of Basic Black cardstock with the Subtle embossing folder. Finally, I tied it all together with some Polka Dot Tulle.

All of the supplies, including the To a Wild Rose stamp set are available from Stampin' Up!

Next time you want to create a truly dramatic card, consider using darker colors. They can really pop!

Clearance Rack!

8/12/2019

Have you checked out the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack lately? It's a great place to get some pretty awesome deals, and for the first time this summer, there are stamp sets on the Clearance Rack. There are lots of holiday sets available right now, including Beautiful Blizzard which I used on all of these cards. But remember, items on the Clearance Rack are available for a limited time, so get 'em before they're gone!

The Beautiful Blizzard stamp set was built for stamping blizzards and includes some wonderful greetings. But, the texture pieces can be used to create so much more and will allow you to give your backgrounds a little something extra.

Here I've created a winter themed card using the pieces for their intended purposes. I stamped the stormy background with Pool Party and added some Blackberry Bliss snowflakes on Whisper White cardstock. Under the greeting, I layered some Silver Thread.

For this card, the stormy background stamp becomes fluffy clouds by stamping in White craft ink on Balmy Blue cardstock. I paired the Beautiful Blizzard set with A Friend Like You stamped in Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, and Granny Apple Green. I used an Aquapainter and Crumb Cake ink to color in the sand. The tie it together, I finished with a piece of Linen Thread.

This simple thank you card uses the same stormy background stamp to create texture using Crumb Cake ink that has been stamped off once. On top of this is layered, the swirls and hash marks from Beautiful Blizzard also stamped in Crumb Cake, but not stamped off. The greeting comes from the Well Said stamp set and Well Written dies in Soft Suede. These pair perfectly and offer a variety of sayings.

This set uses the same stamp sets, dies, and colors as the thank you card above. This time, I stamped the stormy background stamp in Soft Suede on a piece of Soft Suede cardstock. Then I ran it through my embossing platform using the Brick & Mortar 3D embossing folder. Then, I stamped some small dots from the Beautiful Blizzard set in Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake cardstock. I finished by adding my greeting, some linen thread, and a tan button.

This card uses the Country Home stamp set colored with watercolor pencils and an Aquapainter. I wanted to add a little texture to the background, so once again, I used the stormy background stamp in Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake cardstock.

This birthday card features a cleaner look than some of the previous cards. I stamped the swirl image from Beautiful Blizzard along the side in Coastal Cabana and Soft Sea Foam. Once again, I used the Well Said stamp set and Well Written dies to create the greeting. I added a few sequins and layered it on Flirty Flamingo, Soft Sea Foam, and Coastal Cabana cardstock.

Today's final card gives you a sneak peek at the So Many Stars stamp set and Stitched Stars dies from the new Holiday Catalog coming in September. Once again, I used the stormy background stamp from Beautiful Blizzard to create a backdrop for the stars.

Beautiful Blizzard is a versatile stamp set that can be used to create background texture on a variety of cards. But, it's not the only great deal available on the Clearance Rack! Click here to go check it out today and get some amazing deals before they're gone.

All About Heat Embossing

8/9/2019

Today's Tips & Techniques for the Weekend focuses on heat embossing. This is an old standby in the world of stamping, but one that never fails to add a bit of elegance or a professional look to your card.

There are a few basic supplies you will need:
- Embossing Ink or Versamark Ink
- Embossing Powder
- a Heat Gun

For this card, I am using the To A Wild Rose stamp set and embossing the images on the See a Silhouette Designer Series Paper. Stamping on patterned paper is a fun way to get an interesting fill for your line images. I love the watercolor look of the See A Silhouette paper and this way, I didn't have to do any coloring!

While not absolutely necessary, it's also helpful to have an Embossing Buddy. This little bag of powder helps keep embossing powder from sticking where it's not supposed.

If you have an Embossing Buddy, rub it across your piece of paper before stamping. You might want to lightly tap it to release some powder and then spread it around. I used Blackberry Bliss for the base of this card.

Next, stamp the image using an embossing ink or Versamark ink. I chose to use Versamark. This leaves a sticky image for your embossing powder to stick to.

I stamped "hello" from the To a Wild Rose stamp set in the lower right corner of my card base.

You will want to lay your card on a piece of scrap paper before dumping embossing powder on it. This will make clean up much easier and avoid wasting embossing powder. It's amazing how long one little jar of embossing powder will last!

I used white embossing powder for my card. Just dump some over the area you stamped, and then turn your card over and let the excess powder fall on your scrap paper. You can lightly tap the back of your card to remove any stray powder. If you still have some powder in areas where it shouldn't be, carefully use a dry paintbrush to brush it away.

Then, gently fold your scrap paper and pour the extra embossing powder back in the jar.

Next, it's time to heat your image. This will melt the embossing powder and give it that shiny raised appearance you want. Back in the day, when I first started stamping, I used to hold my cardstock over my electric stove burner to melt the embossing powder. This isn't the best way though and can lead to scorched paper. But, if you're in a pinch, it can be done as long as you are very careful!

A much easier method is to use a heat gun. Slowly move the heat gun over your image as you see the powder melt. Be careful not to hold the heat gun in one place for too long because you can over melt the powder. This will cause it to appear dull and melt completely into the cardstock leaving a flat image instead of a raised one.

To finish my card, I embossed the flower and stem images on the See a Silhouette Designer Series Paper. Then, I used the Wild Rose dies to cut them out. I ran a strip (2.25 x 5.5") of Blackberry Bliss through my Big Shot using the Subtle embossing folder to add a little texture. I mounted this strip on a piece of Whisper White cardstock (2.5 x 5.5") and then on a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock (3 x 5.5"). I tied it with a piece of Polka Dot Tulle and mounted my flower and stem images on top. To give it a little pop, I used some dimensionals to adhere the flower and the outsides of the leaves. I finished by adhering this strip to my card base and adding some sequins.

Bargello Technique

8/7/2019

Today's WOW Wednesday! uses the Bargello technique which is based on a traditional embroidery style. You can read a little more about it over on Wikipedia. Instead of using stitches to create a pattern, this card uses Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper.

This card uses the Bird Ballad DSP and the Friend Like You stamp set with Petal Pink and Calypso Coral cardstock and ink.

Start by cutting 3/4" x 5-6" strips of 3-4 different patterns. You can have some contrasting patterns or you can use a more monochromatic color scheme.

Then, lay the strips out in a repeating pattern. Next, adhere the strips to a piece of thin scrap paper or cardstock making sure that the strips are tight side-by-side without overlapping and getting the adhesive all the way to the ends. Since I was using scraps, the strips weren't all the same length. Once they were adhered to my piece of Whisper White cardstock, I trimmed it so that none of the cardstock was showing around the paper.

Once they were adhered to my piece of Whisper White cardstock, I trimmed it so that none of the cardstock was showing around the paper. It looked something like this. See how you only see the patterned paper and no cardstock?

Now, you're going to cut this piece into strips going the other direction. Each strip can be the same width, I used 1/2" strips for one card, or they can be varying widths. Lay the strips side-by-side shifting the patterns up or down each strip. You can go back and forth between up and down, or make a wave-type pattern, or a variation of the two.

Cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock to the size you want for the front of your card. I used a piece that was 5 x 3.75". Adhere the strips to this piece in whichever pattern you choose. Then, flip the card over and trim the edges.

I finished the card up by adhering this Bargello piece to a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock (5 3/16 x 3 15/16") and then to a card base in Petal Pink (5 1/2 x 8 1/2" folded in half). I then tied it together with some Linen Thread and added a greeting from the Friend Like You stamp set cut using the Stitched Shapes dies.

And an alternate card in Petal Pink and Old Olive.

C.A.S.E - Copy and steal everything

7/29/2019

It's just another Manic Monday!

When you need a quick card or are stuck for ideas, use someone else's card design as inspiration. Commonly referred to as C.A.S.E.ing (Copy and Steal Everything), this is an often used strategy for creating cards. Lots of ideas can be found online on websites like Pinterest and Instagram.

You can copy the ideas exactly, or put your own spin on it. I find that the more I CASE other stampers' cards, the more I start to formulate my own ideas. If you're new to stamping, it's a great way to get started. When I find myself with a little Stamper's Block, I CASE some cards and quickly find myself stamping away again.

For my Crushed Curry Happy Day! card, I borrowed an idea from Cards by Rita. She used Melon Mambo and Old Olive, I decided to change it up and use Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, and Rich Razzleberry. Also, Rita's card is a few years old and uses a stamp set I don't own. No problem! I just switched it out with the Friend Like You stamp set from the current Stampin' Up! catalog. I love how Rita tied a button on her ribbon and made sure to include this detail. Instead of having two layers of torn cardstock at the top, I sponged some Crushed Curry ink on the torn edge of my Whisper White cardstock.

To finish the card off, I did a little stamping on the inside.

So, the next time you need a quick idea for a card, look for inspiration and copy away!

scrap paper cards

7/27/2019

Today's tip for the weekend seems like a no brainer, and maybe all of you are already doing this, but it was a light bulb moment for me while making cards yesterday.

I CASE (Copy And Steal Everything) a lot of cards, but I also like to design my own. I do a lot of trial and error when designing cards, and I have a giant stack of scrap paper that I use for stamping off, checking colors, etc. Anytime I have documents that I no longer need, I just cut the piece of paper in half and add it to the stack. Scrap paper is always handy.

However, when designing cards, proportions are really important. I always want to know how an image or a group of images will fill the card front. Since I was designing some single-layer cards, this was particularly pertinent yesterday. Then it dawned on me, why not cut down my scrap paper to card front size. Then I could try out a card design before I stamped in on card stuck. Well, duh, why had I never thought of this before?

Since copy paper is so thin, I could cut multiple pieces at once, and with just a few swipes of my paper cutter, I had a small stack of 5.5 x 4.25 inch pieces of scrap paper, perfect for practicing card fronts.

Stack of scraps.

Same size as a card front.

Trial runs.

So, have you had any "well, duh" moments while stamping? I'd love to hear about them!

Heidi Collins, Independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator

I have been stamping, scrapbooking, and paper crafting for over 20 years, and I love helping others explore the joy of making beautiful projects for yourself and others.

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