Monday, July 25, 2011

New Catalogue Open House

On Saturday I held an Open House for the 2011/12 Idea Book and Catalogue. There were free Make & Takes  and displays of new products from my first Stampin' Up! convention.
Here are some pictures for those of you who missed out.

Open House Make & Takes
This card features a new stamp set, embossing folder and Hostess Designer Paper.


This box of fridge magnets utilizes 2 new In Colors, new ribbon and a Hostess Stamp set.


More In Colors and new ribbon were used with another Hostess Stamp set and Hostess Designer Paper on this 6X6 Scrapbook Page.


I used lots of Hostess products for these Make & Takes to tempt you to book a Workshop. Our new Hostess Plan is better than ever! Contact me soon to book a Workshop and enjoy a fun time of creativity with your friends. I'll be posting new samples on the Workshops page soon!

Convention Project
The Village of Cuteness was my favourite of several projects we made at Convention!


My first Stampin' Up! Convention was so much fun! I' d love to tell you more about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and see you at the Convention next year.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Ink Techniques: Rock & Roll

Here is another really simple way to add colour and interest to stamped images!
Ink a stamp with the lighter of 2 colours of ink. Then, rock the stamp by holding it at an angle and roll the edge of the image against the darker ink pad and stamp. You'll have a 2 colour image.
Just remember to start with the lightest colour first or you'll end up having to clean and re-ink your ink pads.

Rock & Roll
I love to combine techniques! I stamped this Rock & Roll leaf image on a Faux Mat using a clear mount stamp block. And, the script image was Stamped Off to lighten the colour before Layering the splotch image in another colour.
Oh, yeah! I stamped the sentiment on cotton twill tape. There's so much to do with just ink!
Debra Burgin's card inspired my design.
Supplies
Stamps
-French Foliage
-Just Believe 116948
Ink
-River Rock pad 109010
-Soft Suede pad 115657
-Early Espresso pad 119670
Paper
-River Rock card stock
-Early Espresso card stock
-Very Vanilla card stock
Tools
-Clear Block D 118485
-Stamp-A-Ma-Jig 101049
Accessories
-3/8 in. Twill Tape 119970
-Antique brads 117273

Multi Coloured Rock & Roll
The only thing limiting the number of colours you choose to Rock & Roll on an image is it's size. The leaf on this mat has 4 colours of ink.
Start with the lightest colour and ink a section of the image. Continue with more colours allowing the inks to overlap at least a little and stamp.
I used lots of Layering of images, some Stamping Off on both mats and lots of inked edges with Sponge Daubers.
The crumpled leaf started out a natural white. I used ink refills to dab dots of ink onto a plastic surface. Spritz with water and lay the die cut leaf on the ink. Try to keep the ink from mixing too much or the inks will look muddy. I let the leaf dry, then crumpled it and added gold shimmer with Smooch Spritz. Adhere it to the card with dimensionals to keep the crumpled look.
Supplies
Stamps
-French Foliage
-You're a Gem
Ink
-More Mustard 103162
-Tangerine Tango 111834
-Cherry Cobbler 119669
-Old Olive 102272
-Soft Suede 115657
Paper
-Cajun Craze card stock
-More Mustard card stock
-Cherry Cobbler card stock
-Naturals Ivory card stock
Tools
-Big Shot 113439
-Leaves die 113459
-Jewelry Tag punch 117190
Accessories
-Linen thread 104199
-Metallic brads 119741
-Dimensionals 104430
-Gold Glow Smooch Spritz 118770

2 Step Rock & Roll with Stamping Off
The butterfly on this card is a 2 step stamp. The solid image was inked and stamped on scrap paper to lighten the colour. Next, ink the edges using the Rock & Roll technique and the same colour of ink. Use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to position the second step image of dots with dark colour. I love having the matching punch to cut out the butterfly!
The centres of the embossed flowers were coloured with a marker.

Supplies
Stamps
-Flight of the Butterfly 111564
Ink
-Tempting Turquoise pad 100814
-Pacific Point pad 111837
-Island Indigo pad
-Daffodil Delight marker 119677
Paper
-Pink Pirouette card stock
-Island Indigo card stock
-Pool Party card stock
Tools
-Butterfly punch 119848
-Big Shot 113439
-Elegant Bouquet Embossing folder 115964
-Stamp-A-Ma-Jig 101049
Accessories
-Daffodil Delight 1/8 in. Taffeta ribbon 119254
-Basic Rhinestones 119246
-Dimensionals 104430

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Ink Techniques: 2 Step Stamps

A 2 Step stamp set has, well 2 stamps! One image is used as a background and the other image supplies the details.

Sometimes I just eyeball the placement of the layers. But when I want perfect placement of the images I use my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. I couldn't live without this tool!

Off-set Placement
I used the largest 2 step flower in the Flower Fancy set on this card. The background image isn't completely solid, but looks faded like watercolour. I used the same colour of blue ink throughout, but stamped off on scrap paper with this stamp. The outline stamp wasn't stamped off so it looks darker. Since I wanted a freehand look I just eyeballed the layering of the images on the mat. On the card I used the images separately.

Supplies
Stamps
-Flower Fancy 111578
-Curvy Verses 114948
Ink
-Pacific Point pad 111837
-Old Olive pad 102277
Paper
-Bashful Blue card stock
-Pacific Point card stock
-Whisper White card stock
Accessories
-Whisper White 1/8 in. taffeta ribbon

Perfect Placement
The florals from the Greenhouse Garden set look best when layered precisely with a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.

Follow the tutorials below for using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and for making the gathered ribbon flower.

Supplies
Stamps
-Greenhouse Garden 113824
-Four Frames 123440
-You're a Gem 122268
Ink
-Daffodil Delight pad 119667
-Basic Black pad 101179
Paper
-Daffodil Delight card stock
-Whisper White card stock
-Basic Black card stock
Tools
-Decorative Label punch
-Boho Blossoms punch 119858
-Lace Ribbon Border punch 122362
-Stamp-A-Ma-Jig 101049
Accessories
-Daffodil Delight Striped ribbon 119770
-Neutrals Flower Brads 119730

Using a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig


Stamp the background image.
Snug the clear plastic sheet into the corner of the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.
Stamp the detail image onto the plastic sheet using the corner of the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig as a guide.
Now you have the image on the plastic sheet.
Position the image on the plastic sheet over the background image and snug the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to the corner.


Remove the plastic sheet and stamp the detail image using the corner of the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig as a guide.







You should have perfect placement of the images!

Use this incredible tool for sentiments, too!








Gathered Ribbon Flower
 Fold 5 in. of 1 1/4 in. wide ribbon in half lengthwise.
Sew a running stitch through both layers close to the selvedges.
Snip from the fold to just above the stitching.
Pull up the thread to gather the ribbon and join the ends.
Secure the thread and snip.
Fray out the ribbon and secure to the project with a brad.