Inked Embossing with Hello Blossoms

This is post four of four featuring cards from Aprils Monthly Card Club.

This card featured the Hello Blossoms stamp coming out in the new mini on May 1.  It also uses the framed tulip embossing folder!

Supplies used to create this card:

Big Shot
Framed Tulips embossing folder
Real Red Ink
Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon
Whisper White Cardstock
Garden Green Cardstock
Fingertip Sponge
Stampin Write Markers
Hello Blossoms stamp
Stamp a ma Jig

Messages for Mom Watercolor Crayon Card

This is post three of four, featuring April's designs for my Monthly Card Club.

This card features watercolor crayons, and features the complimentary colors of pear pizzaz and rich razzleberry.

Supplies used to create this card:

Rich Razzleberry Cardstock
Pear Pizzazz Cardstock
Whisper White Cardstock
Rich Razzleberry Ribbon
Messsages for Mom Stamp Set
Rich Razzleberry Ink
Going Gray Ink
Watercolor Crayons
Blender Pen
Corner Punch
Stamp a ma Jig

Elements of Style Mother's Day Card

This is post two of four, featuring April's designs for my Monthly Card Club.

This card features the In Color Cardstock.

This was a very detailed card, took time to create, but is very pretty when completed.  I love the dimension!

Supplies used to create this card were:

Big Shot
Framed Tulips Embossing Folder
Lattice Embossing Folder
Top Note Die
Fun Flowers Die
Designer Label Punch
Elements of Style Stamp Set
Something to Celebrate Stamp Set
Whisper White Cardstock
Blushing Bride Cardstock
Pear Pizzazz Cardstock
Close to Cocoa Ink
Crumb Cake Ink
Pear Satin Ribbon
Assorted Stampin Write Markers
Sponges
Blender Pen
Stamp a ma Jig
Stampin Dimensionals

Four Frame Anniversary Card

This is post one of four, featuring April's designs for my Monthly Card Club.

The first card is an Anniversary card that was really fun to create!

Items used to create this card:

Bashful Blue Cardstock
Paisley Petals DSP
Whisper White Cardstock
Blue Satin Ribbon
Beautiful Wings Embossalit
Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder
Big Shot
Four Frames Stamp Set
Designer Label Punch
Jewels
Bashful Blue Ink
Brocade Blue Ink

The card is very simple but quite elegant when completed- I love all the different textures!  Hope you like it.

Watercoloring with Markers

 

There are many different techniques/advice/ tutorials found all over the internet. It can be overwhelming! I have tried many different techniques, and this is what has worked for me. 

Be aware, watercoloring takes PRACTICE and patience.  It does not happen immediately.  The more time and practice, the better the end result will be.

If you are a beginner to water coloring with markers, I recommend that you use water color paper.  The watercolor paper absorbs moisture and distributes both ink and water evenly. 

The images I will be working with today is from the “Morning Cup” stamp set.

Supplies needed for today’s Water Color With Markers Tutorial:

1.    Stamps:   Morning Cup (or your preference)

2.    Card Stock:  Stampin’ Up watercolor paper.  Alternatively, choose an ultra smooth card stock 80 lb. or better… Stampin’ Up! Whisper White works well.

3.    Accessories: Stampin’ Write Markers – water based markers with both brush and fine tips.  Aqua Painter filled with water (use fine brush tip) Basic Black Classic Ink or  Stazon Classic Ink  and a clear mount block to scribble ink.

Step by Step:

1.    Ink image with Basic Black Classic Ink or Black Stazon, stamp onto Watercolor Paper and let dry.  I prefer Stazon.

2.    Now for the coloring with Stampin Write Markers.   For each image you will require a darker shade to outline with and a lighter shade to color with.

    Use the darker color Stampin’ Write Marker to outline the teapot image and everything that touches it.  This is a very important step which will help minimize bleed-through of both stamped adjacent image outlines and/or color.  

       

3.    Use the brush tip of your marker, scribble lighter shade Marker onto clear mount stampblock.

4.    Dab excess water from the tip of the Aqua Painter, pick up scribbled paint and dab off onto scrap paper to check intensity and water flow.  Now you must color image from the outside marker-lined edges towards the middle.  Take care not to over-saturate the image!!

5.    Be very careful that your image does not become over saturated, if it does, dab with paper towel to absorb excess and control flow of ink. Brushing from the outer outlines, inward will leave a ‘white space’ in the center.

6.      To make your image “pop” it may be necessary to let dry and then  re-apply ink layers until desired affect is achieved

7.    Determine light source… where the light is coming from, and where the shadows will fall. 

8.    Scribble Bashful Blue Marker stamp block.  Wet with water from aqua painter to make a very small puddle of ink and water.

9.    Dab-off aqua painter, and paint shadow around entire image, lighter on the side with the light source, heavier where there is little or none. 

Now, get out your stamps and markers and HAVE FUN!!!

Occasions Mini Carryover List

Stampin Up has released the list of carryover items that will still be available from the Occasions Mini Catalg after April 30, 2011. 

Any items not on this list will not be available after April 30th, so if there is something you want, be sure to order it prior to that date.

Here is the list:

Petal Cond Big XL Die $43.95
Framed Tulips Embossing Folder $10.95
Heart Pressed Letter Plate $9.95
Lots of Love Letterpress Plate $9.95
Glimmer Paper $4.95
Game Spinner Hands $4.95
Seam Binding Ribbon $8.95 in rose red, pear pizzaz, baja breeze or crumb cake
Trinket Crowns $8.95
Trinket Keys $7.95
Fun Flowers Big XL Die $43.95
Springtime Vintage  Designer Fabric $12.50
Sweet Stitches Designer Fabric $12.50
3 inch Circle Original Die $23.95
3 1/2 inch Circle Original Die $23.95
Blossom Petals Punch $23.95
Build a Cupcake Punch $23.95
First Edition Designer Series Paper $14.95
Baja Breeze Glitter Glass $4.95
Sweet Buttons Embossalits $15.95
Beveled Windowpanes $10.50

My Digital Studio

It has arrived!!!!!!!!!!  My MDS software has finally arrived.  I could not wait to get home and install it on my computer ( really easy and fast to do)

Here is my first attempt.....easy peasy!!!!

Isn't my little girl cute?

Accessories that will not be available after April 30th......

Stampin' Up! recently told us which accessories in the Occasions Mini Catalog will not be offered again after April 30.  This is a list of accessories only, no stamp sets or wheels. 

We won't know about the stamp sets and wheels that make it into the next big catalog until we get the next big catalog sometime in June!

So, if you want to order any of these accessories for your future crafting needs, please let me know by April 30 at 9 p.m. (Central Time).

These are the items that will not be offered again after April 30:

Love Impressions Specialty Designer Series Paper, page 7
Love Impressions Rub-Ons, page 8
Vintage Flower Adornments, page 15
Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper, page 15
Vanilla Rosettes, page 16
Springtime Vintage Big Designer Buttons, page 16
Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper, page 26
Rustic Designer Printed Album, page 28
Sweet Stitches Designer Series Paper, page 32
Sweet Stitches Designer Big Buttons, page 35
all colors of Pompom Trim, page 35,
Sweet Stitches Fabric Designer Brads, page 36
Sweet Stitches Designer Printed Album, page 36
Sweet Stitches Rub-Ons, page 36,
Simply Sent Medallion Medley, page 41

Again, I do NOT know which stamp sets and wheels might still be offered in the new catalog. 

If there is a set or wheel that you really like, I encourage you to purchase it by April 30 to make sure you can get it.

SPRING IS BLOSSOMING PROMOTION....

Stampin' Up is giving you a Sneak Peak opportunity during the   SPRING IS BLOSSOMING PROMOTION. 

Place a $25 order and you qualify to add the Paisleys & Petals DSP 122367 and/or the Four Frames stamp set W123440, C123442 to your order.

 Both of these items will be available again  when the new Idea Book & Catalog comes out; but you can get them now with this promotion!

Adhesives- what you should know....

Are you confused about which adhesives to use for your projects?  Do you wonder which is best in which situations? Here is a quick and easy guide to Stampin' Up adhesives:

SNAIL Adhesive is the mainstay for my papercrafting projects. It is a double-sided adhesive film that rolls on easily to a piece of card stock or paper. It works best when adhering two flat layers together. Refills are available.

Tip: If you need to take layers apart for repositioning or because you changed your mind, simply heat with the Heat Tool and you will be able to separate the pieces.

Mini Glue Dots: Whoever invented these should get a medal! They are really handy for attaching embellishments to a project, like buttons, ribbons, punched shapes, etc. To use, press the embellishment on top of the Glue Dot. When you pull it away, the dot sticks to the embellishment, then you can attach it to the project. Or you can pick up a Glue Dot with the point of a Hobby Blade or Paper Piercing Tool and transfer it to your project.

Tip: Keep the unused Glue Dots on the roll covered or you will have stray dots sticking to everything on your table!

Stampin’ Dimensionals: These are little hexagonal pieces of foam with adhesive on both sides. Use them when you want to give an embellishment or layer a lift. They are great for adding dimension and depth to a project.

Tip: When you have used up all the hexagonal pieces, don’t throw the sheet away! Make snips in the leftover pieces around the edges to get the most from your purchase. I especially like using these pieces when I am adhering something small so that the Dimensional doesn’t show.

Sticky Strip is great for 3-D projects because it is stronger than SNAIL. When making boxes there is more tension on the adhesive than when putting flat layers together. Can be removed just like SNAIL— use the Heat Tool to warm the layers where you have put the Sticky Strip, then gently separate the pieces.

Tip: Sticky Strip works great for adhering ribbon, especially if you want to gather or pleat or ruche it.

Dotto is a temporary adhesive that rolls onto the paper. I use it whenever I design a project to put things together so I can take the pieces apart to make changes. This helps me to explore my creativity to the max, since I can experiment with different colors, shapes, images, embellishments, etc., without having to start all over on a project. Refills are available.

Tip:   Use Dotto when using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Adhere your card stock to Grid Paper (or whatever paper you use under your projects) so that it does not shift around when you are positioning your stamp with the image sheet.

2-Way Glue Pen: It is called 2-way Glue because when you put pieces together when the glue is wet, it is permanent. When you let the glue dry before putting them together, it is temporary. The glue is blue when it is wet, but dries clear. It is the perfect glue for glitter because the chisel-shaped tip allows you to add the glue precisely where you want it, even small areas in a stamped outline. It goes on in a very thin layer, as well, so you don’t get globs of glue and glitter on your project.

Tip: The chisel tip retracts slightly when you press it to the project, which increases the flow of glue. Be careful not to push the tip down so much that you get a flood of glue!

Adhesive Sheets are 12x12 sheets of adhesive film with slick backing and top sheets. They work great for adding glitter to an entire piece, like your focal point. Or for attaching fabric to card stock.

Tip: Put Adhesive Sheet on card stock or fabric, then punch out a shape, or cut with a die. Easy

Peasy!

Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive: This versatile glue gives a very strong bond, but cannot be undone once it is dry. So if you make a mistake you either live with it or start over. Use it on 3-D items for an even stronger, more permanent bond than even Sticky Strip. One of the advantages to this adhesive is that you have a few seconds to reposition your layers before it starts setting up so you can slide things into the exact alignment you want. This is really helpful when trying to get a mat lined up straight!

Tip: Use just a very thin bead of glue on your project, or the card stock will get wet and buckle as it dries.

Warning: If you have allergies, be aware that this glue contains Latex.

Adhesive Remover: Have you ever ruined a project because it stuck to your Grid Paper when you inadvertently put it down where there is a bit of stray SNAIL or other adhesive? I have learned to use the Adhesive Remover to clean up my work surface after gluing things in order to prevent such accidents. Just rub the stray adhesive with the corner or edge of the Remover and it will come right up.

Tip:   When the corners or edges of the Adhesive

Remover get gunked up, you can pull the yucky adhesive off with your fingers OR you can cut a bit of the rubber off of the corner to get a clean surface.

Crystal Effects is a very strong glue that is milky when wet and dries clear. When I need a really strong bond on a project where I am putting an uneven embellishment on a flat piece of card stock, I use Crystal Effects. It is a very strong bond, and the glue fills in the empty spaces between the layers.

Tip: Crystal Effects can take a long time to dry, especially if you have used a lot of it. Be sure to set your project aside until it has set so that you don’t ruin it and have to start over!

I hope you find this little lesson on adhesives helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at andersonshel@gmail.com

 And if you need to order any of these items, you can go to my online Stampin’ Up! by clicking the shop now logo, or contact me directly.

Fabulous Florets

I got my Sale-a-Bration redemption set from UPS today- and boy was I pleased with this one! 

This set is called Fabulous Florets and is available on May 1 when the Summer Mini Catalog is released.

Here is a card I made tonight with some cardstock, some DSP and a few inks and markers... LOVE IT!

Another Summer Mini Sneak Peek!

This fun summer set is called recess....here is another sneak peek at a stamp from this set!  This will be available to purchase in the summer mini catalog on May 1st!

This is a great set to use watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, or stampin write markers.

grrrrrr frustration and.....dissapointment !

I need to vent!

I just received my Demonstrator order and boy was I dissapointed!

  It arrived a day early which was great- but the MDS that my hubby ordered for me (God I love him and how he supports my addiction!) was not in the box!  I checked everything again and NOTHING!

Everything else was accounted for, ( a couple of items broken due to poor packaging) but not what I have been eagerly waiting for for ten days!

So I called demo support and they are sending it out....but I must wait another ten days to get it!  Grrrrrrrrrrr!

Guess I will just have to play with my four new punches, my two new stamp sets, my dazzling diamonds glitter and my new ribbons. I don't know if this will appease me for another ten days while I wait for MDS to arrive.  Hopefully it will inspire me enough to get my act together get creating and get some more stuff posted on my blog.

Inky hugs til next time....

Shel

Another Summer Mini Sneak Peek!

Now that the fridgid winter temps have gone and the hint of spring is here...it lets us think ahead to warm sunny summer days.....ohhhhhhh I can't wait!

Here is a little sneak peek of another AMAZING stamp set coming out in the Summer Mini on May 1.

This stamp is from the set called Sunny Fun and I know we are going to have a lot of fun with this stamp set!

Manitoba Flood 2011 Pics

Photos of Manitoba 2011 flooding...

There are amazing photos all over the internet to view....here are just a few that I found....check out CJOB, CTV, CBC, Winnipeg Sun, Winnipeg Freepress.

 Hopefully the worst is over...but from what the media is saying, I am not so sure.....

 Broken docks from ice movement

 Where is the highway and where is the ditch?

 Flooded farmland that looks like a lake!

 And where is the highway?

 Ice breaking up at the forks

Ice jam at a bridge.

As beautiful as our rivers are....at this time of year I am glad that I do not live along them or closeby.

Add a Little Glitz...

I just LOVE adding anything shiny and sparkly to my cards.  Stampin Up has wonderful shimmer paint (page 195) $7.95 each comes in champagne mist, frost white, and platinum.  You can stamp it, sponge it, or spritz it for that glimmery sheen on your projects.

However, we are limited to the colors....so.....here is a recipe for homemade colored shimmer paint: 

You will need: 

small jar
pearl finish white acrylic paint
irridescent medium
reinker in color of your choice
stir stick

In small jar add white pearl finish paint ( about half full)

Add four drops of reinker in your color choice.

Add four drops of Iridescent Medium.

Mix well with stick

When you are done it will be a creamy shimmery color

Now it is ready to use.  You can use it for many things...like painting white Paper Daisies (page 188 $8.50)

Or direct to stamp for a shimmery watercolor look

If you are in a rush you can use your heat gun to speed up the process on the flowers

and voila!!!  Shimmery perfection!

Easter Fun

Here is a fun little basket I made using the pillow box die and the Big Shot.  This little guy will hold LOTS of Easter Egg treats!  What child wouldn't like to have him full of eggs? 

This is another instance where the Big Shot dies are so versatile....amazing stuff! 

If you are interested in learning how to make him or purchasing dies or the Big Shot, give me a call or send me an email....

Re-Inking Ink Pads & Fixing Ink Pad Accidents

Here's how to re-ink your pad - Classic or Craft!

1.     To make sure you ink the entire surface without over-loading any area, start in the upper left corner and make a 2"-wide zig-zag line to the lower right corner, giving SLIGHT pressure to the bottle as you do so. 

2.     Repeat this process from the upper right corner to the lower left corner. 

3.     If the pad is really dry, make two more passes with SLIGHT pressure to the bottle from the middle of the top to the bottom, middle of the left to the right.  This will give you plenty of ink in the center of the pad (where most people 'ink up') and will also add ink all over the pad to accommodate larger stamp images. 

4.     Then close the lid and put your pad aside to allow the ink to absorb and distribute all over the pad ... about 20 minutes should do it!

5.     Now, make a list of any Refills that need to be replaced.  You can order individual refills for every color ... or order an Assortment of 10 bottles by Color Family. 

Accidentally Getting Dark ink on a Lighter Ink Pad

We've all done it more than once ...  you're really in the groove stampin away ... and Oh My Gosh!  You put a stamp covered with dark ink onto an ink pad of a much lighter color!  YIKES!

Well ... don't panic ... it can be cleaned! 

·        Wipe the stained pad with a baby wipe to get off the dark color.  This will be easy as the ink is close to the surface.  Then reink the pad with the correct color.  There may be a 'stain' on the pad, but it's just that ... a stain "residue" but not the ink itself.

·  For a more aggressive situation (the ink stood in the pad a little too long) put the pad under water until all the ink comes out.  Now reink your pad with the correct color and you'll be back in business ... no problems!  This too may result in a stained pad but it will be just the stain, no 'bad' ink!