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Archive for the ‘Techniques’ Category:
Watercolor How-To: Magic Tips to Use
The most common thing I hear when I demonstrate watercoloring is that people can’t seem to make it look “right”. Guess what? There are some easy tricks that will make your watercolor look ‘right’ every time. Here’s a card that we made at stamp club last week, using the soon-to-be-retired Beary Best Friends stamp set (see it online).
Beary Best Friends and the matching Beary Nice Wishes set (see it online) will be available along with the rest of the Build-A-Bear Product Suite (see it online) but only until May 31st (learn about the retiring items & sale).
The bear is on the inside of the card — peeking through the window!
Tips to make your watercolor look fantastic:
- Use Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Paper for best effects. I know, it sounds like I just want you to buy paper from me… but I’ve tried other papers from big craft stores, and they just don’t work right. If you want to be successful, it’s important to start with good quality materials.
- Draw a small line with a Stampin’ Write Marker where you want color to be darkest.
- Use Aqua Painters to wet the line and move the color around on the paper – leave blank spots to get an authentic watercolor effect.
- Remember that you can always add more color, but it’s tricky to remove color if you start with too much.
- Outline with River Rock Stampin’ Write Marker & blend to finish. This will keep your image ‘anchored’ to the paper and add dimension to the background so that it doesn’t look flat.
Looking for more Build A Bear ideas? Here are several on my blog.
Or more watercoloring technique samples? Here you go! Or if you’re looking for ideas on Watercolor Wonder Crayons, here’s a how-to video tutorial from my blog.
Happy Watercoloring! (and stamping)
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Subscribe to the comments for this postFlower Fancy: Three Windows How-To
Only a couple of weeks left for the stamp sets on the retiring list! Both the sets on this fun card are retiring on May 31st – Oval All (see it online) and Flower Fancy (see it online).
Here’s a card that includes three windows and three techniques!
First — want to learn how to line up those three holes? It’s pretty easy, actually!
- Punch ‘placer’ circles from scratch paper.
- Adhere lightly on card front where holes are desired.
- Punch over the ‘placers’ so that holes will be exactly where you want them.
Second — love the doily on the inside of the card? It’s from the Flirtatious Designer Series Paper (see it online) which is on sale for 25% off while supplies last (or until May 31st). The paper includes 2 sheets of 12 doilies each. Use them all at once, or clip them apart to make them last longer.
Third — like the technique on the flowers? That’s pretty easy, too. Just ink the bold image stamp in Daffodil Delight ink first, then use Stampin’ Sponges to dab Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo onto the stamp before applying to your paper.
Looking for more retiring stamp set ideas? Be sure to check my blog!
And if you’re interested in the Flower Fancy stamp set, you’ll definitely want to see some of my favorite Flower Fancy ideas.
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Loads of Love: Slider Cards
Ever think about how cute it would be if the little pick-up truck from the Loads of Love stamp set would move? It can! Here’s a fun card that features the Word Window Punch to make a track for the truck to “drive”.
Sad to say, this sweet stamp set is soon to drive away, too! I’ll miss this stamp set after it retires on May 31st! (see it online)
I designed this card four years ago, along with a matching Video Tutorial. Since the set includes greetings for birthday, christmas, etc, it’s a great one to have on hand, even 4 years later. This stamp set EXTRA flexible, especially with the Loads of Love Accessories, which are also retiring (see them online)!
I think if I were making this card again now, I’d put a Christmas tree in the truck bed… or maybe a pile of presents from the Accessories set and call it a birthday card. Too cute! This is a total guy card, or a great kid card, too.
We’re going to be saying goodbye to these stamp sets on May 31st (learn about the retiring stamp sets & how to get the new catalog for free)
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Medallion: The Kissing Technique
Here’s a project that showcases 2 of the great stamp sets that are available only until May 31st: Medallion (see it online) and On Your Birthday (see it online). The message on the front of the card is easily the most-requested birthday stamp that I have.
The card is created from two pieces cut with the Scallop Square Die. Just attach them with a brad at the corner, and you’re set!
This card uses the Kissing Technique, and as I mention in the video, there is NO INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT in this tutorial. If you found my blog by Googling “kissing tutorials”, I think you’re going to be disappointed.
The Polka Dot and Sanded stamps that were shown in the video are already retired…but this card would be GREAT with the soon-to-be-retired Wonderfully Worn stamp (see it online). We’re going to be saying goodbye to all these stamp sets on May 31st (learn about the retiring stamp sets & how to get the new catalog for free)
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Polka Dot (109276), Medallion (115223) or Sanded (109294)
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Scallop Square Clear Die (115950), Sticky Strip (104294), Fine Supernova Glitter Stack (114287), Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144)
Inspired By Nature: a reinker technique
Another of my favorite stamp sets, one that I pull out whenever I need a special card – Inspired By Nature (see it online). We’re going to be saying goodbye to this stamp set on May 31st (learn about the retiring stamp sets & how to get the new catalog for free)
Want to learn how to make this card? Here’s the technique tutorial for the Felt Pad Technique on my blog.
And looking for more project ideas for Inspired By Nature? Here are a few on my blog!
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
What Will You Miss Most? Upsy Daisy?
While I’m excited for NEW stamps in the Stampin’ Up! Catalog that comes out on June 1st (yes, Demonstrators get to see it early!!), I am of course going to miss some of my favorite stamps from the past. I’ve been making a list, and I think Upsy Daisy (see it online) is at the top.
Remember that Upsy Daisy retires on May 31st, and that when you place an online order in my store during April, you’ll be getting your copy of the new catalog mailed to you for free!
This is an idea shared at the Stampin’ Up! Convention in 2008…a blast from the past!
Instead of inking the stamp with an ink pad, the presenter used Sponge Daubers to apply the ink colors, in Pink Pirouette, Real Red and Tangerine Tango.
What a great technique to use on bold stamp sets like Inspired By Nature (see it online) and Upsy Daisy (sniff, sniff, both are retiring!). Be sure to check the lists of retiring stamp sets for favs from your Wish List!
Want to see more Upsy Daisy project ideas? Here are a few on my blog, or here’s a link to my Technique Video tutorial featuring Upsy Daisy.
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Mixed Techniques: Poppin’ Pastels plus Rock N Roll
Poppin’ Pastels is an OLD technique – and very simple:
- Stamp in Versamark ink
- Swirl a Sponge Dauber in a Stampin’ Pastel color
- Pounce onto the stamped image.
It always used to bother me that the edges of the stamped image ended up a little bit wishy washy. I’m embarrassed to say that when I pulled out my Stampin Pastels (see them online) for this project, they were still sealed! I used to use them all the time, but somehow my new set had at least 2 birthdays before getting opened. (eek!)
But with this NEW twist on Poppin’ Pastels, I think I’m going to be seeing my Pastels much more regularly again. By adding the Rock N Roll technique, I made the edges of the image well-defined and the finished image looks much cleaner. The Tea Shoppe stamp set (see it online) has the perfect stamp for this combo technique, too!
Here are some tips for using Rock N Roll and Poppin’ Pastels together:
- Use a bold image stamp (not great for line art)
- Ink the stamp first with Versamark, then rock the darker ink around the edges to keep your Versamark pad clean.
- Remember to pounce (not wipe) with your Sponge Dauber to keep the ink from smearing.
- If you don’t get enough color on your image, try mooshing (yes, a technical term) the Dauber more in the Stampin’ Pastel.
A couple other things about this card from my April session of Stamp Club with Meg:
- Yes, that’s a tea bag! The piece of Twitterpated Designer Paper makes a little pocket to hold the bag in place. Use Sticky Strip at the two ends to hold it tight.
- I love the Paper Doily Sizzlit (see it online). It helps to have a few tips on making it work easily.
- It’s easier to stamp on the back side of the Mini Vintage Tags (see them online). I used Staz-On ink here to keep the image from smearing.
Happy Stamping (and tea drinking)!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Teeny Tiny Treats: a bag of tags
Have an irregular edge that needs a scalloped border? Like on the little edge of the Petite Purse Die front flap? (see it online) Try using your circle punches to make the curve for you. Just punch several circles (shown are ¾” circles) and attach them to the edge on the back side. You can also cover up the back side with another piece of card stock.
The Bright Blossoms stamp set is a perfect match for the Summer Smooches Product Suite (see it online). I used it on the little tags here (yup, Decorative Label Punch to make these).
Marker to Stamp Technique: To make the multi-colors, ink your stamp with a Stampin’ Write Marker or two or three. When all the colors are on the stamp, THEN apply the stamp to your card stock. Voila! (see some other Marker to Stamp projects on my blog)
And yes, remember I’ve been calling this little purse the Mary Poppins Purse, since it seems bigger on the inside than the outside. So yes, all three tags & candies do fit inside.
Have fun with these little treats & tags! Give the whole package as a gift, or carry the purse around with you and hand out little candies to people you see during the day. With the greetings from You’re A Gem (check out some other samples) they’re perfect little “just thinking of you” treats.
Remember that the Summer Smooches suite will only be available for a limited time — until the end of April! (more Summer Smooches project ideas)
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Clean & Simple: Upsy Daisy Thanks
It’s coming soon… the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog debuts on June 1st. And in order to make room for the new stamp sets (yay!!) they’ll have to retire a good number of the current ones (boo hoo!). Who knows what will retire? Anyone can guess, but the list will come out on April 15th, so watch for it here on my blog.
Have any guesses about what will be going? I’m wondering about Upsy Daisy (see it online). It’s one of my favorite all-time sets, but it’s been around awhile… here’s a Clean & Simple card idea that makes the most of this gorgeous stamp set.
The card is Very Vanilla card stock with a Very Vanilla layer… gotta love Stampin’ Dimensionals to make it stand up! The greeting is from the very versatile Sincere Salutations stamp set (see it online). It’s like a magic stamp set… with two type faces on each greeting, it matches a wide variety of styled stamp sets.
And the technique on the silhouette is a simple Rock N Roll, simple as 1-2-3:
- Just ink the whole stamp in More Mustard first
- Then rock just the edges of the stamp on a Cajun Craze ink pad
- Stamp on your card stock, and voila!
Here are some other cards with the Upsy Daisy stamp set on my blog.
Know what else will be retiring? The whole Decor Element product line, including the Upsy Daisy Decor Elements (my favorites!). Click here to browse the Decor Elements online now.
Got a guess for a retiring stamp set? Leave me your guesses in a comment! Can’t wait to see if we’re right, or if we get to hang onto this fun stamp set for another year.
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Scallop Square Die: Gift Boxes made easy
Looking for an easy gift project? Here’s a great one — with an easy box from the Scallop Square Die (see it online) and cards with the Sprinkled Expressions stamp set (available only through March 31st during Sale-A-Bration).
This project was shared in San Antonio at the Regional Demonstrator Training Event. Interested in attending an event near you? Become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and you can join me next time! Plus the Demonstrator Starter Kit is still $50 off – but ONLY until Saturday, March 31st! (click here to learn more about the demonstrator perks) That’s $125 for over $345 in Stampin’ Up! products, PLUS when you join my family now, you’ll get FREE Designer Series Paper for a year!
Here’s the easy how-to on this box:
- Cut one Scallop Square with the die and your Big Shot
- Score between the scallops as shown
- Cut up to the score cross score line to make tabs
- Fold and adhere to create the box
The Sprinkled Expressions stamp set is a perfect one — greetings & images included — for making quick note cards.
Still trying to decide which set you want for your last Sale-A-Bration gift? Here are some samples from my blog:
- Fresh Vintage stamp set
- Triple Treat Flower stamp
- Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper
- Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brads Bundle
- Elementary Elegance stamp set
- Sprinkled Expressions stamp set
- Outlined Occasions stamp set
Just remember to place your order before March 31st — after March 31st, the Sale-A-Bration special is over!
Happy Stamping!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
