HAPPY NATIONAL CARD MAKING DAY!!!

Happy National card making day!!  I hope you find time to express your creativity through card making today.  What a beautiful and special way to keep in touch.  God Bless You & Keep You <3

I thought I would share some images, if you have any questions please post and I'll answer as soon as I can :)

Thanks for stopping by

Converting Wheel Style Stamps

Just a  fun quick note about stamping in multiple colors and how to use wheel stamps as clings or even wood mounted stamps!


First I find the seem where the rubber stamp meets its self on the roller & carefully peel it off of the plastic.  I then mounted it to a piece of cling foam, (permanent stick on 1 side cling on the other) or regular mounting foam (sticky on both sides - one side for sticking to the rubber stamp and the other side for permanently sticking to your wood block or other type of "handle"). 

Then I just trim carefully around the image with tiny sharp pointy scissors.  Sturdy fly tying scissors work amazingly.  Another little side note:  I always angle the scissors just slightly so that the foam side of the stamp is a little bigger than the rubber its self.  If you undercut the stamp there is nothing there to add pressure when stamping and you'll run the risk of a frustrating, tpartially stamped image!

Previously a roller stamp, now mounted on the
MISTI & colored with Stamp & Write Markers

If you do not have the mounting foam it is fine to just use it as it is.  It may be a little more tricky to get a consistently clear image when stamping with larger designs because it is so flat.  Stamping on a hard foam base helps this, also a MISTI stamping tool helps because you can check where the impression is and re-ink  or apply more pressure to that area and re-stamp without getting a blurred image. 

To mount stamps that are just the rubber to a handle I use double sided tape.  It works great & after several uses I just peel it off the handle and add fresh tape. This way the stamps take up very little space and you only need a couple of sizes in handles or a MISTI !!

Mounted, colored & ready to stamp.  The magnents keep the paper from moving so that you can reink and
stamp again for deeper color or to add different colors over the same area

Great Results, I did stamp these colors & edges I originally missed

 LOVE this candle stamp that used to be a Stampin' Around Wheel from Stampin' Up!  I mount it in the MISTI and color each candle differently.  I planned to fussy cut these so I stamped them on a piece of scrap cardstock.  Then able to stamp & restamp the areas where the ink wasn't as intense as  wanted.  It's also great to layer color like in the flame.  Stamp first the light background, then add the wick or "hot spot" & stamp again. 

I have never needed to use these stamps as rollers on long length projects, but if you decide you need to it is a simple matter to take the raw rubber stamp (not mounted to ANY foam) and wrap back around the roller with double stick tape to use that way.


PS I was having a lot of fun with Angie Girls from Unity Stamps.  If you like them check out at https://www.unitystampco.com/

A Cherry on Top

Just building some "Happy Cards" for Birthdays and other occasions.  I like using sentiments like "You're so Sweet!" or "Wish Big!"  It was a lot of fun Doing these :)

Start with pattern papers. I used ones that looked sunny and happy to me.  I've also done this with more sophisticated paper and they turned out great too!  Then using Unity Stamp Co. set "Sweet Life"https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/sweet-life-sw-kit/  I stamped with Versa Fine Black ink & heat embossed every ice cream scoop twice on each paper.  I found some solid and some patterned Chocolate and Carmel colored paper and later decided that Berry color was good too & stamped & embossed the dripping sauce stamp several times on each. Closely Fussy cut around each image.

To add a little extra dimension choose a color close to the main color of each image and rub the sides of every image, leaving no shading on the center of each image.  I enjoy the extra work it takes but they look great without the shading too.

For more texture dry emboss all of the ice cream elements!  I used small dots. I also use Glossy Accents on the fountain glasses for a little extra shine.

Dry embossed card backgrounds on white card stock with various embossing folders. Saturate each with inks that match the pattern papers using a sponge or other rubbing tool (I use pieces of hard foam packaging that were in the embossing folder packages).  This gets most of the paper full of ink and makes the raised parts stand out even more darkly.  The less you rub & saturate the softer the background will be. Experiment!!

I know you can take it from here!  Color & cut out the cones or glasses you want your ice cream creation to be in and start layering onto the embossed card fronts.  Make labels with stamps & die cuts to finish it off with a sentiment or leave it plain.  Add ribbon, sequins or "dots". 

This is so fun and merry!!  You can't go wrong!  I leave the sentiments off until I want to use the card and then I can easily choose the right one for the occasion and just stick it on (I like to have dimensional tape already on the back of every sentiment). 

Oh, I almost forgot the Cherry on top!!

Using Multple embossing powders

I LOVE my nautical stamps so much !!

I thought this would be the perfect project for a technique I made up.  I don't know if this is something others have shared, but I have messed with using multiple embossing powders on one project and I thought I would share how I do this with all of you !!

I have used this technique on many shapes, always starting from the outside in, but with the introduction of the MISTI stamping tool this is now much easier as you can color only certain parts, emboss, re-stamp and emboss again. The only problem I have with this is the reheating of what is already embossed, overlapping the "re-ink & sprinkle" stage AND not everyone has a MISTI !!

After choosing the image you'd like to stamp and heat emboss, choose the colors of embossing powder you'll be using and a scrap paper for each one to catch the excess powder. A lot of you use your powders from a small tub and spoon it over your project and this works ideally too.  I just don't have that kind of quantity in my colored powders!

Right is a photo list of the products used :)

I heavily recommend using an antistatic "embossing buddy". I got mine from Stampin' Up! but I'm sure they're sold by most paper craft retailers.  It is a little pillow full of corn starch I think, & tapping and rubbing it across any surface that will come in contact with your embossing powder keeps the powder from sticking where you don't want it.  I also use a small paint brush to remove any spots that I don't want showing up.  (The Embossing Buddy makes this nearly unnecessary)

I did use my MISTI to stamp, but an acrylic block would have worked the same for this technique.  Prep the paper with the anti-static Embossing Buddy.  Also prep the papers used to catch any spillage when using powders or glitters. This will make it lots easier to conserve every drop of unused powder.

I like to have it all set up in the order I want to use the powders with the lids off so that I can move quickly before there is a chance of spots of VersaMark drying out & not holding the embossing powder.  After I mounted the stamp in the MISTI with the paper held in place I inked her up with VersaMark clear embossing stamp pad. If you're using a MISTI you can do this step twice to insure a really nice coverage.  Just stamp your image and then ink up & stamp again without moving the stamp or paper.

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR CLOSE UP IMAGES

Now for the quick part.  I sprinkle the first powder on out side edges of the stamped (mostly invisible) image.  Shake off onto the paper underneath remembering that where ever you allow the powder to flow - as it leaves the image  -will be coated & embossed in that color.

The first sprinkle of Powder-copper, poured off
direction of the corner so no powder touched
other areas.
Below is the second sprinkle - Gold

Go to the next powder color & apply to the next outside edge or up against the first color.  Shake off the same way, kowing that what it flows across (except for the already covered area ) will attract and be embossed as this second color.  I used gold, copper and deep green. Shake this off and so on.  You can repeat colors, or what ever.  If you wanted one color in the center only you would leave that space untouched until last and then when you shake it off it will mostly pass over the already coated areas & leave that color only on the patch of unused VersaMark. 



The original image now completely covered with
embossing powder, but not yet heated.  Now is 
the time to gently brush away stray particles
that you don't want marring your image. 

Each color of powder should be nearly free of foreign color (I do this a lot & have noticed no contamination) & can be returned to it's own bottle by lifting and funneling it with the catch paper.

Heat the image as usual until all of the powder changes it's texture from a dull powdery look to a nice high gloss, raised image.

After you've done it a couple of times it is really quite quick and easy and I think the results are stunning :)

I hope you enjoyed this idea & tutorial, I will be adding another how-to on creating  sparkle in ANY embossing image without having to purchase a bunch of different embossing powders!!!  Also keep watching for my completed Mermaid Project !!

PS After I was finished with the image  & before I heated it, I passed a sprinkle of gold over the whole thing. Only tiny bits stuck here and there & I really like the effect.  Experiment! Have fun!!

My favorite Blog is probably Word Art Wednesday!  Every week they have new and inspirational AND FREE Scripture/Word Art! 


Oh, it is always just so lovely!  There is also a wonderful article to go with the selected scripture. EVERY WEEK they have a new card making challenge and I recommend you check it out ;)


Here is my card for this weeks challenge!  I love Proverbs 31. One of my girl friends read it from a bible translation that differs from my NAS and it was even more like poetry !  In any case, I hope this card inspires you to check out the scripture.


Supplies & insights:


Rubber Stamps https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/butterfly-garden-sw-kit/


Large round image cut out with circle die. Stamped in Stampin' Up Crumb Cake & accented with Baked Brown Sugar.  Colors Dry Brushed on small areas and gold "pearls" applied to center of large flowers.  To make sure the under stamping of the butterfly border was in the right place I used Stampin' Up!'s stamp positioner & embossed the pink portion with a border embossing folder Bit of Paisley from Cuttlebug https://shop.cricut.com/en_us/catalog/product/view/sku/2001294

Passion

I think that passion is an amazing word!  I love the deep emotional connection it implies when it is used to describe things.  For instance Love . . . . 
                                                                                                                . . . . or Hate

I know I can hate evil with passion or I can love chocolate passionately! 

Passion sets a soul on fire and that's what I tried to do with this card. The words "Passion Changes Everything" is so true! You can go to your job everyday and do good, but when its your passion, you can change the world. The task you are passionate about does not have to be anything large, it could be rather simple.  Purple is a passion color, and so I used it to add boldness to my card, and make an impact. I used orange & hot pink on the flowers to add a sense of vibrancy and light, because when its your passion, it shows. Card making is a passion of mine, and seeing an amazing creation really gets me excited. I love playing with the colors and testing different embellishments and cuts that I have never tried before. Often, we forget that simplicity can make an impact as well, and I felt that the white space I left really made the statement pop. instead of having your eyes travel around the entire card, they are drawn right to the sentiment.

Some FYI on making this card :)  Supplies will be listed below.  To begin with I stamped the sentiment in Black Versafine ink AFTER stamping it off twice on scrap paper, the third stamping was the shade I wanted.  I then stamped and embossed the flowers over the top allowing the scooped shape of the flower stamp to cradle the top line.  After water coloring (on regular paper) the flowers and stems with Zig Real Brush Water Color Markers, I decided the "Everything" didn't show up as much as I wanted. 

To get a second stamping that was exactly where the first was I used a Stampin' Up! Stamp-a-ma-Jig.  To be sure that the second inking didn't mess with the "passion changes" part of the sentiment I covered it with tape before inking the stamp.  I also  used a deep purple instead of the black.

 

 After it was inked and the Jig was set properly I pulled off the tape and stamped.  You can see that I save my tape scraps for pinning down my project so they don't move as I position them with the jig !!! My Big Shot is covered with scraps too!

Supplies: 

Sentiment  https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/passion-changes-everything/

Floral Stamp (30% off this week at Jo~Ann Fabrics this week) http://www.joann.com/stampendous-cling-rubber-stamp-ranunculus-field/10780120.html

Stamp Positioner http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=101049

I would also like to give Georgia Falk a big THANKYOU!  for writing the entire second paragraph!  She is a literary genius!

Super Mom!

For all of the Mom/Daughter relationships

 

Mom's are our unsung heroes sometimes, aren't they?  When I saw this stamp set I fell in love! I put an "M" on her shirt badge and pieced her skirt with embossed dots.  I liked the urban feeling of the brick background and stamped the sentiment as if it were graffiti.  The frame is out of a retired set from Stampin' Up "Shining Star"

I also added the die cut red stars reflecting the negative of the white stars in the frame. 

For me, the inside is pretty special because so many kids have trouble believing in themselves.  I know my mom was my biggest champion and probably still is 

 

You might also notice that the inside is the debossed side of the brick wall.  It was so pretty I did not want to cover it so I cut the back of the card with enough extra to extend a small way across the front, enough to hold the original brick and still look intentional.  I like decorating the insides &/or back too!

Below is a list of supplies:

Laney Girl (aka Super Mom) designed by Angie Blom at Unity Stamp Co's web site( https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/laney-girl/ )

Graffiti sentiment from KOM Aug 2014 ( https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/summer-collapsed-into-fall-kom-814/ )

Inside sentiment "She's yor best friend . . . " From the KOM at Unity https://www.unitystampco.com/shop/happy-thankful-blessed-kom-914/ 

Shining Star Frame usually available on eBay ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stampin-Up-Shining-Star-Stamp-Set-Music-Note-Star-Candle-Moon-Balloon-Frame-/162123509568?hash=item25bf506f40:g:aiMAAMXQs~ZRlaj7 )

Sending Happy Wishes

Wow!  What a busy last couple of weeks!  Traveling to my big brother's wedding, 4H conference in Corvallis, headlong into Spring Fair, replanting my garden, as we had several days below freezing & now on to Summer Camp (luckily I'm only driving there and back!!) Which means that as long as it is raining (Yes, I forgot to mention the arrival of rain! Beautiful, cool WET rain) I may have time for some crafting and blogging!!

First I would again like to thank Unity Stamp Company for my prize package which came somewhere in the midst of all of the above! $50 worth of beautiful stamps <3  I highly recommend visiting their store and Face Book sites and JOINING IN THE FUN !!

Which Brings me to my next subject:  Weekly Challenges!  Always inspirational, this week on the Unity show & tell FB page the challenge is: any item made with one of the "Unity Girls" 

This is the one I chose. She is from the Kit Of the Month MAY 2014.  I used a sentiment from a newer kit Sending Up Something Beautiful.

I needed to make a few birthday cards and the request was for bright colors.  I first water colored the image with my "Zig's" and then decided that this shade of pink (Pixie Pink from Stampin' Up!) went best with the colors I'd used.  I wanted the background to "pop" a little so I inked  my multi-striped embossing folder from The Paper Studio with Rose Red from Stampin' Up then embossing the pink cardstock which also transferred the color simultaneously.  I thought it was beautiful just like that!  Adding Black to the card made it a little more sophisticated and punching a lacey edge for the white card base gave it the vibe I was looking for. 

 I added the tag on the inside just to finish it off as a birthday card, but I could've left it as a note card otherwise.

Simple, beautiful and so full of celebration!

So Excited to share my 1st Challenge WIN!!  A BIG "ThankYou!" to Unity Stamp Co. for offering such fun challenges (and Prizes!!) Every Week!!  Challenges are posted on their "Show & Tell" Face Book page.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/434773279941105/

HONORABLE MENTION - SUE MOORE
(see it on Facebook!)



HONORABLE MENTION - TINA DEMATTEIS
(see it on Facebook!) 

What a wonderful group that is if your looking for somewhere to find amazing & unique rubber stamps and really sweet people who LOVE STAMPING!!  There is so much love and encouragement on this page it can only help you

grow in your artistic journey :)



Go to the Unity Stamp Co Wed site to find all of the images for these beautiful cards! As you can see, there is SO MUCH inspiration there <3

Hope everyone had a wonderful Sunday sharing time with the people they love!