Stamp Things

Stamping Shadows

The supply list for this card includes:

PN	Description
123032	The Open Sea (Clear-Mount) Stamp Set
101650	Very Vanilla 8-1/2"x 11" Card Stock - 40 sheets
130814	Epic This & That Designer Series Paper
126981	Basic Gray Stampin' Pad
126975	Crumb Cake Stampin' Pad
109133	Black - Stampin' Emboss Powder
102283	VersaMark
103083	Embossing Buddy
129053	Heat Tool
118764	Vintage Trinkets - 48 piece set of embellishments
124262	Whisper White Bakers Twine

The stamped image was created using stamping off technique to create the shadowed image of the ship, followed by a stamping the background image of ships log and completed with a heat embossed image of the sailing ship.

Step 1: Creating the shadowed image using the "Stamping Off" Technique.

To create the shadowed imaged the "Stamping Off" technique was used.

The "Stamping Off" technique  - This technique was created to provide varying hues of any ink.   The technique is done by inking the stamp and then stamping (off) on a scrap piece of paper before stamping your work piece.  The stamp can be stamped off as often as you'd like to create the desired hue or color variation. 

In this case, the stamp was inked with a Basic Gray Stampin' Pad and stamped off on a scrap piece of paper before the desired "shadow" image was stamped.

Step 2: Background.  

Using the Crumb Cake Stampin' Ink Pad, Ink the Ships Log stamp from "The Open Sea" Stamp Set.  Then Stamp the image over the "shadow" image of the sailing ship.

Step 3: Heat emboss the Sailing Ship.

Heat Embossing - Step 1: Before we stamp, we need to wipe or rub the stamping area with the embossing buddy.  

Side note: I know you're thinking "What?  Why do I NEED to do this? ".  If you don't use it, the embossing powder can stick to unwanted areas of the paper.  It's up to you, you might want the random effect.  It took me awhile before, I embraced the embossing buddy.  Now, the embossing buddy is a good friend that I never forget to use. ;)

Heat Embossing - Step 2: After rubbing the stamping area with the embossing buddy, you stamp the VersaMark image.

Important Tip for using VersaMark with clear mounted stamps: Ink it the opposite way that you would ink a stamp.  WHAT!?  Instead of tapping the stamp into the VersaMark ink pad.  Flip the clear mounted stamp over, so that the rubber stamp side is up.  Then pat the VersaMark Ink Pad onto the rubber stamp as shown below. Why?  The VersaMark is very sticky and often times pulls the clear mount stamps off the acrylic block.  This little trick helps prevent that from happening.

Heat Embossing - Step 3: Stamp the Image.  In this case, Stamp the image slightly off center from the shadowed image.

Heat Embossing - Step 4: Cover the stamped VersaMark image with Heat Embossed Powder as shown below.

Tap the excess powder into a powder collection tray or paper plate and then pour excess powder back into the embossing powder jar.

The unheated image will look like this.

Heat Embossing - Step 5: Heat the embossed image.

Heat the embossed image using a heat tool. Be careful not to over heat the image.  You want the embossing powder to melt not burn.

When the embossing powder begins to melt, you will see the powder change from a matte finish to a glossy finish.  The powder inside the circle in the image below has begun to melt.  At that point, move the heating tool around the image until all of the powder melts into a beautiful glossy finish. 

The final heated image is shown below.

For another post on heat embossing, Click here!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on creating a shadowed stamped image.  

As always, Happy Creating!

Stamping with Markers

This image was created using the Papaya Collage Clear Mounted Stamp Set (PN 126612) and the following Stampin' Write Markers 

• Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker 
• Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker 
• Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Marker 
• Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker
• Pacific Point Stampin' Write Marker

When coloring a stamp for stamping, use the thicker marker tip to color the stamp.  Below is a quick video showing, how this stamp was colored.  For those who don't watch videos, the video uses the side of the markers to apply ink to the stamp.

 

How easy is that?!  Now it's your turn!

Happy Stamping, 

The 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! Catalog is here!

I'm so excited to share!!!!!!!!!!!

Clear Mount Stamps - How to Mount & Keep the Cling!

Stampin' Up!'s Clear Mounted Stamps are becoming more and more popular. Like anything, they are easy to use when you know how.   Let us review how. 

When you receive your clear mount stamp set from Stampin' Up! , it will include the rubber stamps and cling stickers.

To begin using them, attach the cling (clear sticker with the image) to the back of the rubber stamp.

Here is a simple way to attach the image stickers easily.

 

The sticker that you added to the back of the rubber stamp NOT needed for the rubber stamp to cling to the acrylic block.  It is meant as a tool to help align your stamped image.  

Occasionally the rubber stamps don't cling!  This seems to happen most often when they are dirty or haven't been used in a long time.   Technically it happens because there isn't enough static to hold the rubber stamp and acrylic block together.  

Funny Side Note: Whenever I think of Static Cling, I think of the latex balloons that my kids us for water balloon fights.  When I was a kid we would blow them up, rub them on our heads and make them stick to the wall.  This is the same essentially the same way that the rubber stamps cling to the acrylic blocks.

Tips for regaining the static cling....

1. Clean the acrylic block and/or back of the rubber stamp with soapy water or Stampin' Mist and dry with paper towel.  Sometimes just rubbing the block on your skirt or pants is enough.  
2. If you have applied labels to your stamps, you need to press the stamp to the block with moderate amount of pressure for a few seconds in order for it to cling.  To do this, 

• Place the rubber stamp with the stamping surface down. 
• Place the acrylic block over it 
• Push down like you were stamping an image
• Hold for a few seconds.  Repeat Steps 1 & 2 as needed. 

Come back again, soon.  We'll be making an unusual card with this stamp! As always, Happy Creating! 

Adorable Punch Giraffe

I just had to share these cards that I made for a friend, special thanks to Karen for getting me to blog again. 

 

The Punch Art Giraffe was absolutely adorable and after making over 80 of them, I have to share how they were made and the little tricks I learned.

The Tools needed.

• 1/8" Circle Punch
• 1/4" Circle Punch
• 1/2" Circle Punch
• 1-1/4" Circle Punch
• Large Oval Punch (3/4" x 1-1/2")
• Scissors


Supplies Needed:

• Yellow, Orange, Pink and Brown Cardstock.
• Glue

The pieces used to create the giraffe include:

 
 
The ~1/4" punch and ~1/8" punch came from the Owl Builder Punch (PN 118074).

Assembling the Giraffe

1. Ears: The ears are made from a 1-1/4" yellow punched circle and a 1-1/4" brown punched circle.

a. Outer ear: Using a Yellow 1-1/4" circle, punch 2 outer ear parts from the Yellow circle by sliding the punched circle about a quarter of the way into the 1-1/4" circle punch.  The sequence of pictures below demonstrate this technique.

 

b. Inner ear: Repeat the step above with the Brown 1-1/4" circle. Making sure to slide the brown circle in to the punch slightly little less than you did with the yellow circle to create a smaller piece.

c. Glue the inner ear and outer ear pieces together, then set them aside.

  
2.  Ossicones (Ossicones are the antler- like or horn-like protuberances on the head of giraffes.):  To create an ossicone, Glue 1/4" circle to the end of a ~1/8" x 1/2" scrap to create one.  Repeat to create the second. :)

 
3. Muzzle - To create the muzzle of the Giraffe, use a yellow Large Oval circle and a brown 1/2" circle.

a. Trim the 1/2" circle so that it looks like the one shown below.

 
b. Glue the trimmed circle to the upper center section of the large oval as shown below.

4. Mouth -  For the mouth a  a yellow 1/2" circle and a pink 1/2" circleTo create the mouth trim the 1/2" pink circle and cut it into quarters as shown below.

 
Glue the pink piece to the yellow 1/2" circle as shown below.

 
Put the pieces asside for later.

5. Eyes - Glue the ~1/8" circles (Blue or Brown) to the 1/2" white circles as shown below.

 
6. Neck - Use 1/2" Orange Circles and ~3" x ~1/4" scrap pieces. Cut the Orange 1/2" circles in half.

 
Randomly glue the orange pieces on the yellow scrap piece.

 
Trim piece as needed to fit.

7. Assemble the remaining pieces.

 
The animated image below provides some guidance for assembling the giraffe.

 
If you want your giraffe to look more child-like, place the eyes slightly behind the large oval circle.  The images below shows the different looks you can achieve simply by moving the eye placement.

 
I hope you enjoyed this punch art creation. 

As always, Happy Creating!

Priceless Scrap Card Directions

 

This card was created using scraps. The most difficult part was creating the striped Top Note pattern. Like everything, once you know how to do it.  It is very easy!  This tutorial details how to create this pattern.

Several pieces of scrap paper at least 5-1/2" x 1/2" to  2" were selected from a scrap bin.  7-9 strips of varying widths x 5"-1/2" long work best.  

When creating the card shown above, the scraps were stamped using various inks and the Priceless Stamp Set.  You can use whatever stamp set you wish to give variety to the paper or use pattern paper like the designer series paper.   (Tip: I don't own a lot of Stamp Pads.  I "colored" the stamps with Stampin' Write Markers instead.). 

FYI: The sample shown below is not stamped to focus on the technique. 

 

These strips were glued on to a scrap piece of Designer Series paper ~5-1/2" x 6" (you can use Card Stock) referred to as the base paper.   (Tip: A thin layer of TomBow Multipurpose Liquid Glue was used to glue the scraps to the 5-1/2" x 6" base.  I do not suggest using the SNAIL Adhesive as previous samples that I have created did fall apart.  The samples using the liquid glue did not.)

  The assembly was then trimmed to ~5-1/2" x 6".

 

 

The assembly will then be die cut using the Top Note Bigz die and the Big Shot. 

For those not familiar with the "sandwich" used in the Big Shot.  The sandwich includes a bottom cutting plate, followed by the Top Note Bigz Die and the paper assembly shown above followed by the top cutting plate. 

(Tip: This assembly should be placed face down (finished side down) over the Top Note Die cutting surface.  This is done to prevent the scratches in the cutting plate from transferring onto the die cut surface.) 

This sandwiched assembly is then run through the BigShot.

The resulting die cut  

Flipping the die cut over reveals the final product.

 

Isn't that easy! Now it is your turn!  Don't forget to share youre creations, I'd love to see them.

Happy Creating!

Priceless - Scrap Card

 

This card was made from scraps!  If you would like to recreate it, these are the supplies that you will need.

Stamp Set - Priceless – PN 115052

Colors:

• Concord Crush - Card StocK PN: 119785, Ink Pad PN:  119792
• Pear Pizzazz  - Card StocK PN:119784, Ink Pad PN:  119795
• Peach Parfait  - Card StocK PN:119783, Ink Pad PN:  119794
• Daffodil Delight  - Card StocK PN:119667, Ink Pad PN: 119683
• Tangerine Tango  - Card StocK PN:111834, Ink Pad PN:  111349
• So Saffron  - Card StocK PN:105213, Ink Pad PN:  105118
• Early Espresso  - Card StocK PN:119670, Ink Pad PN:  119686

Punch:   2" x 1 3/8" Oval XL – PN 119859

Sizzix Accessories:

• Embossing Folder – Final Press PN - 115963
• Bigz Die - Top Note PN – 113463

This card was a lot of fun to make and easier than it looks.  If your interested in step by step directs, level a comment.  I'm in need of some motivation to post the directions!

As Always, Happy Creating!

VersaMark vs. Stampin' Ink

Sometimes it is just nice to compare products to see the different results.  I'm hoping this little experiment with help you decide when to go for the Versa Mark and when to simply stamp with the same color classic stamping ink (as the paper you are using).

This exampled uses Crushed Curry Card Stock from Stampin' Up!, VersaMark Ink and Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink.  The Eggs were created using "A Good Egg" Stamp Set (PN 114974).

Hope this quick comparison helps you decide which ink to use!  If there is a product that you would like compared, please let me know.  I'd be happy to show you the difference and various uses!

Quintuple fold Easter Card (Paper Doll Easter Card)

To make this cute little Easter Egg Card you will need an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper.

Step 1: Score the paper along the 11" side at 1-13/16", 3-5/8", 7-1/4" and at 10-1/16".  Mark the Paper at 10 - 7/8"

Step 2: Cut the paper at 10-7/8" along the 11" length  and then in half, along the 8-1/2" width.

 

 Step 3: Fold Along the score marks as indicated below.

Step 4: Print out egg template, paper clip it to the folded closed card and trim off edges.

Your Egg is ready for decorating!

I can't wait to see how you decorate your eggs!

P>

Hope you enjoyed this easy little egg!  Don't forget to share yours with me, I'd LOVE to see it.  You can email me your creations at marie@stampthings.com or add a link to the comment section below!

Brayer Sunset - Scrapbook Example

Today's post is about taking an element from a favorite card and incorporating it into a scrapbook page.  This card created by Michelle Zindorf  inspired the Brayer Sunset Revisited post which discusses how to make a slightly different version of Michelle's card below. 

 
Comparing the card above to the scrapbook page below, you can see the elements that were used to create the pages below.

 
 Supplies used are listed below.
 

Stampin' Up! Part Number	Product Description
102599	Glossy White 8-1/2" x 11" (25 pc)
111656	Inspired by Nature Stamp Set
105225	So Saffron Ink Refill
102931	Only Orange Ink Refill
103287	Real Red Ink Refill
102395	Brayer Handle with Rubber Attachment
-	2-3 Baby Wipes
101179	Basic Black Stampin' pad
102851	Basic Black Paper
102395	Brayer Handle with Rubber Attachment
*	Bird die cut or punch, Some Suggestions are listed below
107088	12" x 12" So Saffron Card Stock
106532	12" x 12" Basic Black Card Stock
106545	12" x 12" Real Red Card Stock
107107	12" x 12" Only Orange Card Stock
118402	Scallop Trim Border

Some Suggestions for the Bird

• Holiday Windows Magnetic Stampin' Up! Movers & Shapers Die (PN 116821)
• 2 Step Bird Punch (PN 117191)

• Birds & Branches Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die (PN 114529)

Until then, Happy Creating!