Technique Tuesday ... Ghosting Technique

Today's technique is the Ghosting Technique which has been around for a long time but is still one of my favorites for creating a background.

 Here's what you will need:

• Glossy Cardstock
• VersaMark Ink
• Classic Ink - I used Pool Party
• Sponge
• Stamp Set - I used By The Seashore

 

 Stamp images onto your glossy cardstock using the VersaMark ink.  Let it set for about 5 minutes to allow the VersaMark ink to dry a little bit.

 Take your sponge and ink and cover the entire cardstock with it.  As you pass over the stamped images, you will begin to see them show up in white.

 Here's my finished piece.  I used a very light ink but if you use a darker ink, the images will stand out even further.

Here's the card I made using this technique.  A very simple monochromatic card but very pretty!

Layers Technique Card...

Here's a card using the Layers Technique which is very popular right now.  Super simple to do but very cool outcome.

Here's the card that I made using the Everything Eleanor, Creative Elements, Perfect Punches and Papillon Potpourri stamp sets.  To re-create this technique, just cut three pieces of Whisper White cardstock in the following sizes:

• 4" x 5 1/4"
• 2 7/8" x 4 1/8"
• 1 3/4" x 3"

Cut three pieces of your contrasting color (I used Cherry Cobbler) in the following sizes:

• 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" (this is your card)
• 3" x 4 1/4"
• 1 7/8" x 3 1/8"

Take your Whisper White pieces and layer them using a small piece of temporary tape or Dotto.  Stamp your images on the Whisper White cardstock.  There will be small areas where the ink does not show next to the edges of the layers but do not worry about that.  They will be hidden.

After finishing your stamping, take these apart and attach using the contrasting layers as well.  The contrasting color layers hide the spots where the ink was missing.

I finished the card using the Thank You from Perfect Punches and stamped the butterfly using Crumb Cake cardstock.  A piece of Cherry Cobbler seam binding finishes off the card.

Have You Seen the Movie "Beetlejuice"???

A couple of weeks ago, one of my downline came over so we could spend some time stamping and so I could show her some special fold cards first hand.  One of the cards that she wanted to see how to make was the Diamond Fold card which I have shown here on my blog.  I decided with Halloween coming up, we would make a Diamond Fold card using the Googly Ghouls stamp set from the Holiday catalog.  I just love this set! 

 Here's the card that we made using the Googly Ghouls stamp set, the Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit and the Howlstooth & Scaringbone Designer Series Paper.  The black and white stripe of the paper reminds me of the movie "Beetlejuice"!  How about you?  Oh, and I love the single googlie eye!

Ah, we found the other eye!  If you want to take another look at how to make a Diamond Fold card, just click on Specialty Cards at the top of my blog and then click on Diamond Fold card.  You will then be redirected to my post with the instructions.

Technique Tuesday ... Cracked Glass Technique

I am back with a Technique Tuesday this week for you.  I have really missed these and hope that you find them useful.  This week's technique is Cracked Glass and is an awesome technique for holiday cards and very easy to make!

 Here's what you need:

• Cardstock
• Epsom Salt
• Boiling Water
• Measuring Cup (1/4 c.)
• Paint Brush or Foam Brush

 Take 1/4 cup Epsom Salt and add to 1/4 cup BOILING water.  Mix together until dissolved.

 Brush onto cardstock and let dry - best if you let it dry overnight.  Once it has dried, it will look like this.

If you want more crackles, you can bend the cardstock and cause more cracking.

 

 Another idea is to run it through the Big Shot with an embossing folder.  In this picture you can see that I ran it through with the Northern Flurry embossing folder.  The embossing is more noticeable in person.

Here's the card that I ended up making using this technique.  The stamp sets used are Traditional Touches from the Holiday catalog and More Merry Messages (the MUST HAVE stamp set for the season!) from the Main catalog.  Colors used are Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Baja Breeze.

Need for Speed.......

Do you have a need for speed?  Or do you just like the Need for Speed stamp set?  Here's a card that we made recently using the stamp set.

The black and white flag portion was made by cutting strips of Basic Black and Whisper White and weaving them together.  It was then cut down to size, run through the Big Shot using the Chevron embossing folder and layered on Daffodil Delight and Real Red cardstock.
The image was inked with StazOn and stamped on Whisper White at the bottom left of the paper.  I then immediately stamped again a little bit up and to the right of the first image and then a final time - all without reinking.  The darkest image was then colored with Daffodil Delight ink and covered with Crystal Effects.

I Dig You... Do You Dig Me?

Here's a card that I cased from another brilliant cardmaker on Splitcoaststampers - my favorite place for inspiration.  Such a cute card for a young boy's birthday!

Here's what you will need:

• Cardstock - Marina Mist, Whisper White and Early Espresso
• DSP - Subtles Patterned Pack
• Ink - Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron and Marina Mist
• Stamp Set - I Dig You
• 1/8" Mini Brads
• Woodgrain embossing folder
• Color Spritzer Tool
• Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch
• Corner Round punch

Fabulous You....

I was given the request to make a card for a teenage girl.  What girl could resist a great pair of shoes, right?  Especially when they are pink! 

 Here's what I used to make this card:

• Cardstock - Basic Gray, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose and Whisper White
• DSP - Neutrals Patterened Pack
• Inks - Melon Mambo (outside sentiment), Black StazOn (inside sentiment), Basic Gray (shoe) and Pink Pirouette (to lightly color the shoe)
• Stamp Sets - Fabulous You and Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Elegant Lines embossing folder
• 1/8" Taffeta ribbon
• Lace Border punch
• Faceted button
• Rhinestones

Here's the finished inside to the card - isn't it gorgeous!  It is going to have to be a teenager who appreciates a work of art for this card.

Moving Forward - the Ronald McDonald House Charity Set

Here's a card that we made using the Moving Forward stamp set.  As you may know, each year Stampin' Up! designates a stamp set that sponsors the Ronald McDonald House Charities.  For each Moving Forward stamp set sold, Stampin' Up! donates $3 to the RMHC.  Isn't that awesome!  Also, demonstrators and stampers from all across the country donate cards to the Ronald McDonald houses in their communities so they can be used by the families of children being treated for cancer.  If you live in the US, do me a favor, okay?  Click on my link on the right and purchase this set -- you will love using it AND will help children suffering from cancer.  If you don't live in the US, find a demonstrator near you and pick one up!

 This card was made using the Bargello paper technique.  Yep, another Technique Tuesday for you to look forward to!  Don't worry, I am keeping a list and will get to them soon.  If you haven't read earlier posts, I am struggling with a crazy schedule these days due to a home burning down and we are in the process of trying to rebuild.  Oops, back to the stamping.....
Here's what I used to make this card:

• Cardstock - Island Indigo, More Mustard, Very Vanilla and Riding Hood Red
• DSP - Fan Fair
• Stamp Sets - Moving Forward
• Inks - Island Indigo and Riding Hood Red (for sponging sides of sentiment)
• Markers - Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke (for the flowers)
• Itty Bitty Banners framelit
• Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon
• Corner Round punch
• More Mustard brad

Here's the inside of the card.  Such a cheerful card!

Gently Falling and a Bleach Technique...

Here's a card we made at a workshop last weekend which uses the direct to stamp bleaching technique.  Keep your eye out for a Technique Tuesday to show this technique and other bleaching ideas.

 Here's what I used for this card:

• Cardstock - Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso Core'dinations
• Ink - Early Espresso and bleach
• Stamp Set - Seasonal Sayings & Gently Falling
• Woodgrain embossing folder
• Brushed Bronze button
• Linen Thread
• Always Artichoke Seam Binding
• 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches
• Apothecary Accents framelit
• Sanding block

Here's the inside of the card with just the bleaching.

Embellished Events Stamp Set...

Here's a card that I cased from my upline, Stella MacKay - thanks Stella!  As usual, I added my own touches to the design since I am never good at just copying. 

 Here's what I used for this card:

• Cardstock - Gumball Green, Real Red and Very Vanilla
• DSP - Be of Good Cheer
• Inks - Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green
• Stamp Sets - Seasonal Sayings, Greetings of the Season and Embellished Events
• Boho Blossoms and Word Window punches
• Red Glitter brad and rhinestones
• Dazzling Diamonds

Here's the inside of the card which is simple but pretty.

An Oldie but Goodie....

Do you have a stamp set that you just never get tired of?  Here's one for me - Lovely as a Tree.  Every year, there are long discussions among demonstrators on whether or not Stampin' Up! will retire this stamp set and every year it is still there.  I cannot imagine the uproar when they do decide to retire it.  I used daubers and ink to color the tree on this card and I think it turned out beautifully.  I certainly cannot wait until the fall colors start to show themselves around here.  Fall colors equals cooler temperatures and I am getting tired of 90 degree plus days.

 Okay, back to the stamping.  Since this card has so many steps I figured that I would just tell you how I made it instead of just giving you a list of items so here goes.   First, I stamped the oak leaves on Cherry Cobbler cardstock using Early Espresso ink.  I then stamped the little  pine cones using VersaMark on the left and right sides of the Crumb Cake bottom cardstock as well as the sentiment from the Seasonal Sayings stamp set.  It was then attached to the Cherry Cobbler paper.  I then wrapped the ribbon around the center and attached it to an Always Artichoke card.  I ran the Early Espresso through the Big Shot with the Labels Collection die and then through again using the Lacy Brocade embossing folder from the Holiday mini.  I then sanded it down and attached it to the card using dimensionals.
I then stamped the oak tree on Very Vanilla cardstock and used the smaller Labels Collection die to cut it out.  I then used daubers in Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke inks to color the tree.  I used Soft Suede and a blender pen to color the tree trunk.  Finally, I stamped the oak leaves on Very Vanilla, colored it with the daubers and covered it with Crystal Effects.  Once dry, I attached it to the card.  The final step was to add tiny pearls to the sentiment.  Phew, did you follow all that?

And here's the inside which was stamped with the pine cones in VersaMark and the oak leaves in Early Espresso and then colored with the daubers.

Ornament Keepsakes Stamp set by Stampin' Up!

Here's a card that we made at a recent class.  I cased this card from a swap card I received at convention.  The card is done with special folds so the light patterned paper opens out to the right and the striped paper opens out to the left.

Here's what I used for this card:

• Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Silver Glitter
• DSP - Be of Good Cheer
• Ink - Gumball Green and Cherry Cobbler
• Stamps - Ornament Keepsakes
• Holiday Ornaments framelits
• Delicate Doilies die
• Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder
• Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine
• Rhinestone