Technique Tuesday - Clear Block Stamp Hints & Tricks...

Today's Technique Tuesday is a little different but I think will be very useful for you.  Today, I am showing you how I mount  my clear block stamps and store them.  Trust me some of this has been learned the hard way.  You may have some ideas too and I would love to hear them!

 Stampin' Up!'s Clear Mount stamp sets come boxed in a DVD style case with the stamps in a sheet and a sheet with the labels.

 First, I remove all of the stamps from the backing.  Wait!  Hold on!  Don't throw that backing away!

 Remove the paper backing and place it in the bottom of the DVD case.  The back side will be sticky and will hold it in place.  This way when you place your stamps back in the case, you know that you have all of your stamps plus they won't move around and you do not risk losing one.  How do I know this?  Before I started keeping the backing piece, I purchased the Friends Fur-Ever set.  Do you know that set?  It's 19 little pieces which slide around all over in my DVD case and when I open it .... they fall out everywhere!

 For the stamps, removing the paper backing and expose the foam.  If you care if the label is on them, this foam backing is quite sticky on the clear blocks and is the best way for it to stick to the block.  However, I like having the label so here's what I do.

Remove the label from the sheet.

 Trim extremely close to the edge of the image.

 Here's the star image of this set completely cut out.  I would probably also trim the points from the star so they won't be so pointed.

 Attach the label to your stamp.  You will see that you end up with about 1/8" around the entire edge of the stamp which will help you to adhere your stamps to the clear block.

 For stamping with your clear blocks, you will need the right size block, your stamp and the Stampin' Up! cleaning cloth.

 Rub your block to remove the oils picked up from you handling the block.  I also repeat this process on the label of the stamp.

 Place the stamp on the block and press firmly.

 I then pick up the block and, using the ball of my thumb, press in the center of the stamp image.  This helps create a good bond between the block and stamp.

You can't see it here - maybe someday I will begin doing videos - but I shook this block before I took this picture to show that the stamp was sticking well.  I hope these tricks on the clear block stamps are useful for you!

Stampin' Up!'s Packed for Birthday Stamp...

Today's card is from last weekend's workshop.    Have you seen these stamps on page 39 of the Occasions Mini Catalog?  I must admit that I couldn't really see a use for them when I first saw them.   After receiving them from Stampin' Up! and seeing some samples at Leadership, I think they are really cool and very versatile!  I CASE'd this card from one that I saw at Leadership.

Here's what you will need to make this card:

1. Packed for Birthday, Crazy for Cupcakes & Bring On the Cake stamp sets
2. In Color Pattern Pack Paper (Island Indigo Stripe), Lucky Limeade, Pool Party & Whisper White Cardstock
3. Island Indigo & Basic Black Classic Ink
4. Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade & Pool Party Markers
5. Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon & 1/8" Ribbon from Sale-A-Bration Ribbon & Brad Bundle
6. Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

The inside of the card uses the Crazy for Cupcakes and Bring on the Cake stamp sets and the corner punch.

In the next few weeks, I will be posting more cards using these "Packed for ...." stamps so keep an eye out for them.  If you decide you cannot do without them too, make sure to order them as the "Packed for Everything Stamp Bundle (#127337).  That way it ends up being a Buy 3, Get 1 Free!

Stampin' Up!'s Bordering on Romance Stamp Set...

Here's another card that I swapped at Leadership.  I used the Bordering on Romance stamp set as well as the "thanks" from Thank You Kindly.  The card itself was Pretty in Pink cardstock embossed with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder.  Layered on that was Pear Pizzazz cardstock run through the Big Shot with the Adorning Accepts embossing folder and edgelit.  I colored the Silver Glitter paper by rubbing it on my Regal Rose stamp pad (make sure that you don't fray the edges of your stamp pad) and then punched it out using the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  I ran some 1/8" taffeta ribbon through the punched border and stamped the roses onto Whisper White cardstock using Regal Rose and Pear Pizzazz markers.  I then used a blender pen and ink to color in the roses.  Finally, I placed a small and two medium pearls on the roses.   This card "sold out" fast - I only made about 10 of them and they were swapped out almost immediately  Everyone liked the colored glitter paper.   Keep your eyes out for a tutorial on several different ways to color your glitter paper in an upcoming Technique Tuesday!

Stampin' Up!'s Summer Solstice Stamp Set...

Here's one of my swap cards for Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference last week.  I was so busy with other things that I didn't really get much of a chance to make swap cards so I had to get them together on the Monday before I left.  I made this card in several different color combinations.  It is a very simple card but it was really well received by the people I swapped with.  Here's what you will need to make the card:

• Summer Soltice Stamp Set
• Versamark, Perfect Plum and Old Olive Classic Inks
• Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze and Whisper White Cardstock
• Adorning Accents Edgelits Die and Embossing Folder
• Rhinestones

I cut the cardstock, ran the edgelits through the Big Shot and did the stamping on Monday before I left.  I assembled the cards on the airplane while watching Bridesmaids on my iPad.  There were 4 other demonstrators on my flight who were laughing at how I was assembling all my swap cards on the airplane.  I even had a woman ask me about Stampin' Up! after she saw what I was doing!

New Upcoming Product from Stampin' Up!

I love attending leadership conference for so many reasons but one of the coolest is that we are the first to know about new products that are being introduced. This year's conference was no exception, except that instead of a new product, it is an addition to an existing product. Here it is (drum roll,please)....





I know, you are thinking, "hey, that's the absolutely wonderful Simply Scored which was introduced last year!". But look closer -- those grooves are no longer straight - they are diagonal! Starting March 1, you can purchase this terrific add-on to the Simply Scored for the price of $11.95. It sits directly in your Simply Scored and has the same grooves at 1/8th inch increments. Rubberized pieces on the back hold it in place as shown below.






Now I am sure you will want one of these to go with your Simply Scored so calendar for March 1 and click on Shop Now on my blog to order yours. Better yet, contact me and schedule a workshop and perhaps you could get these as part of your hostess benefits!

Technique Tuesday - Herringbone Technique....

It is Tuesday and I am back with a new Technique for you.  Today, I am going to show you the herringbone technique.  This technique is great for masculine cards because of its' geometric look.  Let's get started....

 Here's what you need:

• Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet (mine is cut to 5 1/2" x 2 1/2")
• Cardstock cut to the same size
• Several pieces of coordinating Designer Series Paper (I used Well Worn)
• Scissors (not pictured)

 Cut your DSP into strips of any width - I would recommend that they be 1/2" or less in width for the best effect.  You will not need as many as I have pictured here.  Two of each paper will be all you need for the 2 1/2"x 5 1/2" piece.

 Attach the adhesive to your cardstock piece and remove the backing so the top of the cardstock is sticky.  (I found that rubbing the adhesive using a bone folder before removing the backing helps make the adhesive adhere best.)

 Take one of your strips and place it at an angle on the sticky side. 

 Trim the DSP along the edge of the cardstock and use that same piece to butt up to the prior piece.  (You want to use the same strip so the width is the same.)

 Take another DSP strip and place it inside the "V" created by your first strip.

 Trim that piece along the cardstock edge, turn it around so you have the square end and place it down against the other strips.

 Continue to do this with other strips of DSP until you fill that portion of your herringbone design.

 Take another strip and place it to run along the other side of the herringbone.  Again, trim this piece, turn it around to the square end of the strip and place it to create the "V".  Continue to do this until you have completed the entire area.

 Trim off any strips left.

 Here's what you will end up with.  Doesn't that look cool? 

Here's the card that I made to highlight this technique.  The truck image is from Countryside and I used Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso scraps for an unusual matting.  I used the Houndstooth embossing folder on the Early Espresso layer and the scallop border punch with Cajun Craze cardstock behind the Herringbone piece.  A 5/8" jumbo brad completes the card.

Stampin' Up!'s Best Event - Sale-A-Bration

Stampin' Up!'s annual Sale-A-Bration event begins tomorrow! It is a great time to buy and an even better time to host a workshop! For every $50 in merchandise that you spend, you receive one item from the Sale-A-Bration mini catalog for FREE.... that's right, free. Stampin' Up! even pays your shipping on the free item. When you host a $150 workshop, you receive a free tote - host a $400 workshop and you receive a special hostess bundle which includes a stamp set, designer series paper, ribbon and brads!

This year there are lots of great items to choose from - exclusive stamp sets that you cannot get any other way, select sets from the main catalog, a ribbon and brad bundle, an exclusive designer series paper group, embossing folders, My Digital Studio content and more!

What are you waiting for? Contact me to book a workshop or place your online order beginning tomorrow.


Click on SHOP NOW to order any of the items used in this card.

Stampin' Up!'s Heard from the Heart...

Ah, the wonders of technology! If you are reading this post just after it showed up on my blog, I am probably up in an airplane on my way home. But I didn't want you to miss out on all the great cards that I have to show you, so I made sure you'd have one for today.






This card was also from a workshop last week. My hostess chose this card directly out of the Idea Book & Catalog. I just added a twist or two to the card. The card uses the Heard From the Heart and the I {Heart} Hearts stamp sets. The card in the catalog had the card stamped with the wood grain background stamp but I wanted to add some dimension and used the Finial Press embossing folder instead.





Here's where I added my twist on the card! The small hearts are punched out at the bottom and a melon mambo strip of cardstock was added behind it. The sentiment comes from the Delightful Dozen stamp set.

Click on SHOP NOW to order any of the items used in this card.

What a Great Way to End Leadership 2012...

Stampin' Up! is such a great company to work with and have some of the nicest people working there! I attended a class Friday afternoon called Engaging and Retaining Your Downline that was presented by Donna Griffith. Patsy Waggoner told us how she changed the way she communicated with her downline and how it changed her business. It was an amazing class and I can't wait to get the materials she is providing to us next week so I, too, can help my downline be more successful in their businesses!

They ended our general session with another generous all-attendee give-a-way! A stamp set and pack of designer paper! Come join me in the Stampin' Up! Opportunity and you can share in the fun of Leadership with me!
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Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference...

Here's to the dreaded "after lunch" class with Bonnie Thurber! The toughest class for the attendees and the presenter. But Bonnie Thurber rocks! She made us laugh (several times), gave us great information and truly inspired me. Thanks to Bonnie and her Title benefits class, I now have a six month plan! I am spending the weekend in San Antonio but a part of me really wants to get back and begin putting that plan in place. What more can you ask for from a Leadership Conference?

Valentines - Stampin' Up! Style...

I am still hanging out in San Antonio until Monday but thought I would share a card from last Saturday's workshop.




This is a center step card featuring the Take It To Heart stamp set and the Hearts Collection framelits from the Occasions mini catalog. Here are all the items you will need to make this card.

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black Craft and Pretty in Pink, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede and Chocolate Chip Classic inks
Stamps: Take It To Heart, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ribbon: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain
Punches: Scallop Border, Modern Label, Word Window, Small Heart
Other: Silver Glitter Paper, Rhinestones, Clear Embossing Powder

If you haven't done a center step card before, keep an eye out in the next few weeks for a Technique Tuesday to show you how. In the meantime, happy stamping!


Click on SHOP NOW to order any of the items used in this card.

Technique Tuesday - Smoothing Out Stamped Images...

Hi there and welcome to Technique Tuesday.  Do you ever stamp an image on your card and it just doesn't end up smoothly inked?  Don't you hate that?  Do you wad up that cardstock, throw it away and start over?  Now you won't have to - I will show you how to easily smooth out those splotchy images.  Let's get started.....

  

Here's what you will need:

• Your solid stamp (I used the flowers from Upsy Daisy)
• Classic Ink of your choice (I used Not Quite Navy)
• Blender Pen
• Cardstock

 Ink your stamp and stamp your image.  Here's the point that you say "Oh rats!", wad up that cardstock and throw it away.  But wait!  Keep reading and you won't be wasting that piece.....

See here where my image isn't very nice.  In fact, there are several areas of this image that are not inked well.  The first thing to do - although you need to do it BEFORE you stamp - take your sanding block and gently sand the rubber working left to right and then up and down.  This removes a light coating on the top of the stamp image and the ink adheres better.

Take your ink pad while it is closed and squeeze the center of the pad so you place some ink into the lid of the ink pad.  Open the ink pad and pick up some of the color with your blender pen.  Color the image where you need to fix it.

 Here you can see that the four flowers in the top left have been fixed.

 Continue working until your entire image has been fixed.

Here's my completed card.  On More Mustard cardstock, I stamped the same image using Versamark to get the subtle repeat of the image.  I used the new Edgelit die and Adorning Accents Embossing folders from the Occasions Mini Catalog at the bottom.  A button from the Regals color family and some pearls finish this card off.



Adorable Hobby Horse Using Stitched Stockings

Today's card is the final card from the December workshop. I hope you ordered the Stitched Stockings stamp set and the Stocking Builder punch from the Holiday mini catalog because this adorable welcome baby card is made using the stamp set and punch. Thank you to Jackie Topa for seeing a hobby horse in a Christmas stocking!
 
Here's what you will need for this card: Stitched Stockings and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets Very Vanilla, Marina Mist, Soft Suede and Cherry Cobbler Cardstock Beau Château designer series paper Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon 3/8" Twill Tape Square Lattice Embossing Folder Vintage Trinkets Cherry Cobbler 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Stocking Builder, Word Window and Scallop Border punches

Up, Up & Away Stampin' Up! Way...

Today's card is another from a December workshop but is a birthday card for anyone.



The card was made using the Up Up and Away and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets. The card is a Top Pocket card which I will show you in an upcoming Technique Tuesday. Here's what you will need to make this card as shown: Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz & Wisteria Wonder Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Melon Mambo, & Pear Pizzazz Stripes Embossing Folder Fancy Fan Letterpress Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon Pear Pizzazz Marker Punches: 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8 circle", 2 3/8" scallop circle Circles #2 Big Shot Die

Technique Tuesday - Satin Ribbon Flowers...

I am back with a new Technique Tuesday for you.  Over the holiday, I compiled a list of several techniques and cards to show you so - hopefully - I will have something for you each Tuesday this year!

Today, I am going to show you how to make flowers from Stampin' Up!'s 1/2" satin ribbon.  These are really beautiful and easy to make so let's get started......

 Here's what you will need:

• Heat Gun
• 15" of Stampin' Up!'s Satin Ribbon (I used Real Red)
• Circles #2 Die
• Sticky Sheet (not shown) and coordinating color cardstock (not shown)
• Vintage Brad
• Paper Piercer & Mat Pack

 Start by cutting your ribbon at 1" intervals up to but not all the way through the ribbon widthwise.  Leave about 1/8" as shown.

 Your ribbon will end up looking like this.

 Cut a circle from the Circle #2 die out of the Sticky Sheet and the cardstock.  I used the second to smallest circle which is 1 1/2" wide.  Remove one side of the sticky sheet circle and begin placing your ribbon around the circle starting at the outside, folding the ribbon to make a circle.

 Continue moving inward with your ribbon.

 When you are finished, trim off any excess and your ribbon should look something like this.

 Remove the other side of the sticky sheet backing and place your cardstock circle on the sticky sheet.  You will need to do this before heating your ribbon; otherwise, your flower will not stay round.

 Using your paper piercer, make a hole in the center and add your brad.  You can do this step at the end but I found it worked better to place it before I began heating the ribbon.

 Beginning at the outside of the flower, begin heating the edges until they melt and fold up a bit.  Continue to move around the outside of the ribbon until the entire outside is melted and folded up. 

 Then begin to move inward and melt the other portions of the ribbon.  As you can see in my example, one portion of the outside didn't fold up much and isn't round.

 Just return to that area and heat it some more.  You can use your paper piercer to guide the melting process as well.

Here's the card that I made using the flower which I think turned out beautifully.  Thank you to Dawn Olchefske for showing me this technique.  For this card, I used Cherry Cobbler cardstock and the 1 1/4" Cherry Cobbler Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.  The embossing folder is the Elegant Lines folder and the sentiment comes from the Thank You Kindly stamp set.  Note:  I did not tie a knot in the ribbon as that would add too much bulk with the flower.  Just lay them next to each other and use a bunch of glue dots to hold it in place!