Nutz about Stamping

Join the creative fun with this mystery stamping challenge

This past weekend I participated in something brand new for me - it is called Mystery Stamping. A bunch of Stampin' Up! demonstrators signed up for the challenge too which made it even more fun!

Here's how it works: someone volunteers to create the challenge for everyone to join. But. Nobody sees all the cards until the challenge is over and the challenge itself is step by step. 

1. Get ready - which is a list of everything you need *but not the basics, such as adhesive, bone folder, paper trimmer etc. We were told to grab a black ink pad, designer paper, a strip of foil or glimmer paper and a scrap of Whisper White or Very Vanilla
2. Clue #1 - is about getting your card base ready
3. Clue #2 - is about getting other sold pieces cut and ready
4. Clue #3 - used an embossing folder (your choice)
5. Clue #4 - tells you what to do with the designer paper
6. Clue #5  - has you being to assemble
7. Clue #6 - adding the foil strip
8. Clue #7 - creating a focal image and where to place it on the card
9. Clue #8 - stamping a phrase and placing it on the card

At that point everyone posts their final card so that we can see each other's product following the mystery steps. Super fun!

For my card I chose to use Mossy Meadow as my base and layer colors and then the World of Good designer paper for my main image. There is a pattern paper that has a large compass rose on it and I thought it would be fun to use one of those as my main focal image. 

For the stamp set I chose Forever Fern. I use the 'Hello' image from that set whenever I am not sure of the occasion I might need a card for:

To be honest I was really unsure about this whole idea and how my card might turn out. But I have to say, I LOVE it! 

What do you think?

Now that I know how to do a Mystery Stamping challenge, I would be happy to post one on my Facebook page. Would you like to join in? Leave me a comment to let me know. If I get enough people saying 'yes!' then I will organize one so you can join the fun too. 

How the colorful eclipse technique makes this card shine

Hello fellow crafters! Want to learn a cool technique? It's called the Eclipse technique. It's really fun and really easy and you can take this technique and apply it to any technique you wish to create. I am using the Snow Front stamp set and Playful Alphabet dies to make this colorful fall card.

I chose the larger tree image from the Snow Front stamp set for the focal point (feature) on my card. You can create tranquil scenes using Snow Front, whether it's cozy cabins with dainty deer or playful cardinals in a winter forest. This is a Two-Step Stampin’ set; it allows you to layer two or more images to create one final image with extra texture and dimension in the colors you want.

See the splatter stamp in the middle of the stamp set photo? That image is for leaves on your trees. So I used that stamp to add fall colors to my trees. Stampin' Up! has an entire color collection perfect for all colors, called Rich Regals:

For my card I chose: 

• Crushed Curry
• Pumpkin Pie
• Cajun Craze

I stamped the 'leaf splatter' image on my trees to create a colorful look. And then I used the Playful Alphabet dies to create the Eclipse look:

Here's a side view - can you see this well-disguised technique? 

 

Here's a video showing you how to create the Eclipse technique, with bonus tips on the way. Have a look and then give this fun technique a try!

 

 

 

 

How to do the fabulous watercolor wash technique

It is a rainy and miserable day here today so what better thing to do than learn a new stamping technique! Once you know this technique you can use it for a variety of occasions!

For my card I use the Tasteful Touches stamp set. From the moment I saw this set, I was smitten! 

I love the designs and phrase font - I think this set is so unique. 

For the Watercolor Wash technique you need to use Watercolor Paper as it has the weight needed to take lots of color and not shred or disintegrate. 

Our Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper is a thick paper designed especially for watercoloring. It is cold-pressed, archival cotton paper. I show in my video below how to create a watercolor wash, along with some bonus tips for your design. 

Here's my card:

Here's what you need to make this card. You can click on the stamp set and watercolor paper photos above to link directly over to my online store. 

Stamp set: Tasteful Touches (152662)

Ink: Gorgeous Grape

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Gorgeous Grape: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
        Whisper White: 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"; 3 1/4" x 3 1/2"
        Watercolor: 3 3/4" x 5"

Other: Watercolor paper (149612); Stampin' Dimensionals; Snowflake Sequins (150443); Stitched Labels dies (146828); Stampin' Spritzers (126185); Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding (151326); Fine Tip Glue Pen; Stampin' Seal; Clear Block; Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine, paintbrush

Here's my video - thanks for watching!

Feeling crafty? Let me help with a design challenge

This week's the Paper Craft Crew card map challenge is pretty easy and fun and I hope it helps you feel crafty. 

It sure did for me! I started off by choosing the paper strip and from that strip I chose my main card colors. The paper strip comes from the Plaid Tidings paper pack:

 

I absolutely LOVE this pack of papers because the colors are, in my mind, more masculine. Some plaids are even perfect for Halloween and Christmas. 

• Cherry Cobbler
• Melon Mambo
• Blackberry Bliss
• Shaded Spruce
• Pretty Peacock
• Bumblebee
• Pumpkin Pie

I chose Bumblebee and Rich Razzleberry as my main card colors. But then I was a bit stumped by which stamp set to use. After digging around in my crafting closet I spotted the Coming Home bundle and thought it might be kind of fun to use one of the houses on my card. 

It was fun making this card. I colored the house using my Stampin' Blends and then at the last moment, I added the 'congrats' phrase. 

Here's my Coming Home card - do you see the background stamp? Do you know what stamp set it is from? It is also from the Coming Home stamp set - but was designed to be 'smoke' coming from the chimney. 

Now it is your turn. Try the card map challenge for the wee using what you have on hand. If you want to see what the other design crew members created for this challenge, click here. 

How to add interest with the band stamping technique

Several Stampin' Up! demonstrators belong to a private group to share business tips, ideas and stamping techniques with each other - which is my favorite part! This week as I was cruising through the website I spotted the Band Stamping technique and thought I would try it as I was making a video tutorial - I figured we would learn it together! 

I chose to make a masculine card using the Beautiful World bundle - but you can choose what you have on hand and what kind of occasion you need.

BEAUTIFUL WORLD BUNDLE
$48.50

The other items you will need to this technique are listed below but basically you should choose three colors of the same family (such as greens, blues, yellows, purples, etc) and your Stamping Sponges. I cut my sponges into small triangles and then try to keep each triangle in the same color family. If you have some washi tape and grid paper this will come in handy too! I also highly recommend Grid Paper so that you can follow the lines on the paper and keep everything nice and straight. I explain more in my video below.

STAMPING SPONGES
$4.00

GRID PAPER
$12.50

Here's my card:

Beautiful World Band Stamping

Stamp set: Beautiful World bundle (154091)

Ink: Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Misty Moonlight

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Misty Moonlight: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"; 2 1/3" x 3"
        Very Vanilla: 2 1/2" square, 5 1/4" x 4"; 3 x 1/1/4"

Other: Stitched Rectangles dies (148551); Stamping Sponges (141337); Whale of a Time Sequins (152461); Stampin' Seal, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Grid Paper (130148); Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine, washi tape

Here's my video - thanks for watching!

Note: I have no idea what my iPhone did while I was filming but the video is quite small. I promise you can see the full technique on it, step by step!

7 great reasons why you should join my mailing list

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Every week I share a Mini Catalog or Annual Catalog project idea along with all the supplies that were used (including ordering numbers!) and a full set of step-by-step instructions. I also share tips, tricks, techniques and products I am nutz about. 

Why join my mailing list? Here are 7+ great reasons:

• exclusive card samples with photos and step-by-step instructions
• stamping techniques
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Here's a peek at a card I recently shared in one of my recent newsletters, using the Love of Leaves bundle:

How to send healing hugs to someone special

There are times when I breathe a sigh of relief when I see my weekly Paper Craft Crew card map challenge. And this week was one of those times. The map below is perfect for a beginning card maker but don't be fooled. You can also take the map and add sophisticated elements to take it to another level. 

I decided to start with the polka dot and build my card around this element. The polka dots could be something that I stamped, it could be a paper layer or it could even be a layer that I dry or heat embossed. 

I chose a strip of the Playing with Patterns paper - one that has polka dots on it. 

I let the colors in this strip of paper guide the colors for my card: Crushed Curry, Purple Posy and Whisper White. 

I decided that the smallest layer on my card would be a phrase. Digging through my stash for a vertical phrase, I spotted the lovely Healing Hugs stamp set. I stamped the phrase and then die-cut it out using the Stitched Nested Labels dies. This will make the phrase really stand out. 

I almost had the card ready to assemble and then at the last moment I decided to emboss the Crushed Curry layer using my Subtle 3D embossing folder. 

Here's my card:

Now it's your turn. Try this week's card map challenge and decide whether you will keep it simple or go all out. Whichever your choice, I am sure you will love what you create too! 

If you want to see what the other crew members created for this challenge, click here. 

How to create an unusual card layer

Today I am going to show you how to create a very unusual card layer for a friendship card that I am going to make using the Under My Umbrella stamp set. 

 

This set is such fun to craft with with its friendly phrases and fun images that can be combined to create colorful and playful cards. If you love to color these outline images are perfect for that. 

I also used the Playing with Patterns paper and I pulled my Stampin' Blends and ink colors to match the colors in the stripes: Night of Navy and Crushed Curry. 

Now that you have a basic idea of what I used to create my card, watch the video below to learn the special technique you can use to add a unique layer to your cards. As I say in my video, try your favorite dies once you learn the technique - it's easy and fun!

Under My Umbrella technique

Stamp set: Under My Umbrella (151518)

Ink: Night of Navy; Crushed Curry; Memento Tuxedo Black

Stampin' Blends: Night of Navy (154891); Daffodil Delight (154883)

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Whisper White: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"; 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"; 1 1/2" square
        Playing with Patterns: 3" x 1 1/4"; 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" 

Other: Stitched Shapes dies (152323);Playing with Patterns #152490; Mini Stampin' Dimensionals; Stampin' Seal; Snowflake Sequins (150443); die-cutting machine

Here's my video - watch for bonus tips along the way. 

 

You need to learn the fabulous color blocking technique

It's time to learn a new technique - or to try an oldie but goodie. I am calling it the color blocking technique because I am not sure if there is an official name - likely there an official name out there somewhere. 

To create your own card, there is a list of products and measurements below but I do want to feature a few necessary products:

1. Watercolor paper: 

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper is a thick paper designed especially for watercoloring. Cold-pressed, archival cotton paper. Natural white color with subtle texture.

* 10 sheets
* 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.8 cm)
* Acid free

2. Stamping Sponges - don't miss the tip in my video below about how to use these. 

 

The easy way to apply Stampin' Ink for a colored effect.

* 3 sponges
* 2-3/4" (7 cm) diameter

And that's it. Once you have these items you can create and re-create cards using this fabulous technique. 

To add a phrase to my card I used the Best Year stamp set:

And for embellishments and to die-cut the phrase I used my Painted Poppies bundle:

Here's my Poppy Parade Color Blocked card:

 

Stamp sets: Best Year (152568); Painted Poppies bundle (153827)

Ink: Poppy Parade; Bumble Bee; Flirty Flamingo; Memento Tuxedo Black

Stampin' Blends: Poppy Parade (154958), Basic Black (154843)

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Cherry Cobbler: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
        Bumble Bee: 4" x 5 1/4"
        Watercolor: 3 3/4" x 5"; two pieces 2" x 1 1/2"

Other: Fluid 100 Watercolor paper (149612); Stamping Sponges (141337); Woven Threads Sequin Assortment (149498); Bumble Bee Gingham ribbon (153658); Stampin' Seal; Stampin' Dimensionals; Mini Glue Dots; die-cutting machine, washi tape

Here's my video - leave me a comment to let me know if you will try this technique and if you do, what three ink pad colors will you try for your card? 

 

Thanks for dropping by! 

The best color combinations for beautiful beach projects

This week our weather has been over the top {{HOT}} which makes me crave the beach. But right now there are too many people at the beach every day and I am a bit nervous hanging about a bunch of strangers when we are supposed to be keeping our distance from each other. 

So I have been creating a lot of beach-themed cards, like the one I posted on Wednesday. And that made me think that maybe you might be in a beach mood too. 

When creating beach projects, there are certain color combinations I would recommend:

Combination #1

These three I choose for basic beach elements: sky/water, sand and plants/trees. Sahara Sand, Old Olive and Balmy Blue are my most common go-to colors for this kind of theme. 

 

Combination #2

This set of colors are darker in tone. I love Crumb Cake with Soft Suede - think beach sand with palm tree trunks. Pacific Point is quite a vivid blue so use it sparingly, like on the lighthouse below. You can also use it to lightly sponge the sky - but only with a tiny bit of ink on your sponge:

Combination #3

This set of three colors created a more pastel look for beach cards. I love the soft look of this combo:

What are your top colors for beach cards or projects - leave me a comment to let me know - I might give your combo a try on my next beach card. Why not try your combo and make a card today too!

 

How to boost your crafting mojo

Ready for another Pick Five challenge? I hope that this challenge inspires your creative juices and boosts your crafting mojo as you dig through your stash. 

Here's what you need to use if you join this challenge. 

Pick Five:

1. tag(s)
2. Ribbon
3. Flower(s)
4. the color pink
5. Layering

The reason I love challenges like this is that they help me look at my crafting supplies in new or different ways. I find myself dusting off products I haven't used in a while, such as my medium Daisy Punch:

I was also inspired by a sheet of my Plaid Tidings paper. 

This sheet uses Melon Mambo (pink!) and the Bumblebee color in the same plaid quickly inspired me to think about daisies. The rest, almost was easy!

The one piece of the challenge that I struggle with was the tag. I decided to make one and add it to the phrase I used on my card. The phrase comes from the Sending Sunshine set. Funny (or not), but when I bought this set I was not sure the I would ever use it. I use it all the time!

All the pieces fell together quite easily, much to my surprise. Here's my Pick Five card:

Why not give our Pick Five challenge a try, and boost your crafting mojo? It's so much fun! 

What comes to mind when I say Vacation Paradise?

When I hear vacation paradise so many places come to mind. I think Greece beats out Malta, Spain, and Hawaii out by a slight edge. There are so many countries I have yet to visit, but for now vacation paradise = Santorini. Here are just 2 photos from my trip there: 

https://www.typepad.com/site/blogs/6a00e54facd573883300e54facd5758833/post/6a00e54facd5738833026bde88b501200c/edit?saved=e#

Now that I have you in a vacation paradise mood, what will you create using today's Paper Craft Crew card map challenge?

I love the bright colors in the challenge but you don't have to use them for this challenge. For my card I was guided by my paper choice - which was Playing with Patterns:

And the stamp set I chose was a no-brainer - Waterfront:

I combined these products to make my colorful vacation paradise challenge card:

This was so fun to create and I 'aged; the top layer and the entire card base by sponging Crumb Cake around all sides. 

Now it is your turn - what will you create that shows a vacation paradise? If you want to see what the other crew members created for this challenge, click here. 

 

There are so many ways to think triangles

This week's Paper Craft Crew card map challenge features, once again, triangles! Hmmm. I created my own triangles using my paper cutter last week but this week I wanted to try something a bit differently. 

For this week's challenge I looked at all my stamp sets to see what might spring to mind for the triangles layers on the map:

I didn't see anything on my first pass through but then the second time I saw the Coming Home bundle:

Do you see what I see?  I noticed that not only do the trees are the set made of triangles, the houses are triangles too! There are so many ways to think triangles. 

My decision was made. I decided to use two houses and layer one on top of the other. Sort of like the card map photo but not really and that's ok. The trees could be the second triangle. 

Do you know where I got the houses from? Check out the Trimming the Town designer paper, or watch my most recent YouTube video. 

The rest of my card was trying to figure out layers. I chose to match the colors in the Trimming the Town house: Early Espresso, Pool Party and Old Olive. 

Once I had the layer sizes I decided to emboss each layer using two embossing folders. The phrase I chose from the Best Year stamp set. 

If you like my card idea below - change the phrase to suit the occasion you need. 

Here's my card:

And now it's your turn: what would you create using triangles the next time you craft? Give our map a try and if you want to see what the other crew members created using the same map, click here. 

You need to learn these cool paper tricks

On 4 August the fabulous new mini catalog goes live and I have a couple of really cool paper tricks to share with you using the soon-to-be-released Trimming the Town product suite. 

The Trimming the Town designer paper is part of the Trimming the Town product suite - a super fun collection of products that is perfect for Christmas but for so many other projects too. 

Here's a photo of the Coming Home bundle, which is part of this suite - and is needed for my paper tricks:

I used this bundle along with the Old World Paper 3D embossing folder to create amazing texture on the card layer:

 

I explain the paper tricks in the video below. I also share bonus tips along the way. 

 

Stamp set: Coming Home (bundle, 155144)

Ink: None

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Misty Moonlight: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
        Whisper White: 5" x 3 1/4"; 2 1/2" x 5"
        Trimming The Town: 5" x 2 1/4"

Other: Trimming the Town designer series paper (153291); Woven Threads sequin assortment (149498); Old World Paper 3D embossing folder (153200); Stampin' Seal, die-cutting machine

Here's my video - thanks for watching!

Have you ever created a pretty card with triangles?

I think this is the first time that the Paper Craft Crew card map challenge has used triangles as the main image - how fun!

 

The trick for me was to find a phrase that would fit on the bigger triangle because somehow that's what this map 'spoke' to me. 

I decided on the "just saying hello" phrase from the Tasteful Touches stamp set.

Tasteful Touches Cling Stamp Set
$23.00

 

 

 

 

 

I love this set - it has an unusual font for its phrases and some unusual image combinations too. I can see so many options with the images. 

I also decided early on that I would use the Forever Greenery paper as a background layer. I chose a pattern that I haven't used yet - it just seemed to work for the layout this week. 

Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper
$11.50

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the colors in this paper pack in case you want to have a perfect match. Tip: I often order paper packs at the same time as I order designer paper. That way I am good to craft when everything arrives - no mismatches for me!

• Garden Green
• Just Jade
• Pear Pizzazz
• Pretty Peacock
• Shaded Spruce
• Soft Sea FoamI

Although Stampin' Up! now has a pack of triangles dies, I don't own them (yet, ha!). So I had to cut triangles using my paper cutter - not difficult but it is a bit difficult I chose Soft Sea Foam as my base and for the banner strip and Garden Green for the ink and smaller triangle image. For a final touch of sparkle, I added three Whale of a Time sequins. 

My card is very simple, to be honest. But it is still striking, don't you think?

Why don't you try this week's challenge. Triangles are fun so give them a try soon. If you want to see what the other crew members created this week, click here to head over to the Paper Craft Crew site.