Northwest Stamper

Category: Cards

  • Lots of Ideas for Rainbow Cards with Happy Watercolor

    Lots of Ideas for Rainbow Cards with Happy Watercolor

    Ok, as promised, I’m FINALLY posting those pictures from Stamp Club with all the variations of my Rainbow Happy Watercolor card (over on the right of this post).  Smile

    I have to admit, one of the things I love about stamping with other people in my classes is that I get to see some awesome ideas that I would NEVER have thought of on my own.  I have some folks who love making exactly the card I created, and that makes me happy because I know they liked the card and enjoy it.  But then, there are some folks (Elise and Tanya – I’m looking at you!) who make it their mission to make it somehow different than the sample.  And I think it is fun to see what they come up with as well.  I know they like the inspiration and sometimes I end up loving their card so much more than mine!

    Anyway, lets start the show with the card that I originally created for class but just wasn’t happy enough with it to have it be the official card.

    I liked the idea of letting everyone play with the Gumball Green stitched satin ribbon (another item retiring at the end of the month) and the new Scallop Tag Topper punch (which IS carrying over into the new catalog, yay!)  But when I put it all together, it just didn’t feel right to me.  So, I mixed it up.

    The funny thing, I showed them this card first and most of the gals in club LOVED it!  Guess that goes to show just because something isn’t your style, doesn’t mean it isn’t theirs. : ) 

    But see, this card used one of the flowers and I wanted to prove I could make a card with this set without the flowers!

    Now, lets see what everyone else made, shall we?

    This was a fun lemon-lime card made by Janine S.  Isn’t that fun how she did the hearts in the corner?!

    And this was another glittery version by Saundra W!  She totally went outside the box, which I thought was great.  But I really liked how she mixed and matched the hearts with the splotches.

    And, finally this version by Shannon L.  Mostly the same as the original with a fun variation on the hearts. 

    There was one more that didn’t use the hearts or that sentiment (it used the “psst…” sentiment on the outside and the happy on the inside), and she had the rainbow splotches not quite in a line along the bottom.  It looked AWESOME but I totally forgot to grab a photo of it before she left for the night.  Oh well.  But hopefully you had fun with the cards I DID get posted.

    And if you are local to the Seattle area and would like to join me for my monthly Stamp Club, shoot me an email at jennifer@nwstamper.com!  It’s a great group and one of my favorite classes each month.

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Retiring Items featured in this project that you don’t want to miss out on!
    (available while supplies last or through June 1)

  • Rainbow Fun Card with Happy Watercolor

    Rainbow Fun Card with Happy Watercolor

    Alright, I spent most of yesterday editing photos and so I’m excited to have some new projects to share with you!  Today the skies are a little gray here in Seattle, so how about something bright and cheery?

    Whabam!

    I have been having a mini love affair lately with the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  I always liked it, but once I knew it was going away at the end of the month, I’ve been having a last fling.

    This card was for my stamp club this month (and virtual club if you order $40 or more with the hostess code).  I wanted to share an idea for using this stamp set without using the flowers.  So I started with the large “splotch” from the set and stamped in rainbow colors.

    Tip:  If you line up the bottom of your stamp block with the bottom of your white paper, each time you stamp, your image will be the same distance from the bottom of the paper giving you a straight line!  Oh, and start with your yellow first to give yourself a midpoint and then stamp the other colors on each side of the yellow.

    We used the polka dot stamp from the set to stamp the edge of the Daffodil Delight cardbase to keep it interesting and keep it from being so bright yellow on the edges.

    And then there is the heart…. isn’t he cute?

    We punched out 5 hearts in the same colors as our ink using the small heart punch and glued them in a stack so that you could just see the edges of each color.  Add some glitter to the top heart and a little sparkle goes a long way!

    And, can you believe this heart punch is retiring??  There will be new heart punches in the new catalog, but I like the simple, traditional shape and size of this one.

    So, I hope you enjoyed this idea.  I’ll be back tomorrow to share all the fun ideas that everyone in club did to mix and match this idea with their own styles. 🙂

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6

  • A Quick Thank You Card with a Beautiful Butterfly

    A Quick Thank You Card with a Beautiful Butterfly

    I’ve been making a concerted effort to actually use up my scraps.  You know, instead of having bags and boxes stuffed full of scraps…. because I’m a hoarder, I’ll admit it.  I have a good system for managing my scraps but even that can only take so much and so when I have extra punch out or die cuts, I have a new “Use it or Lose it” policy.   And thus, this card was born –

    Yup!  Totally a scrap card!  Smile

    I started with the extra lattice that I had created when I was trying to figure out the technique for a recent class card.  All it takes is the Chevron border punch and some weaving and you are done!  (I have a full tutorial here if you want to try it at home.)

    So, I stamped the Hardwood image on the back of my card and layered on the white cardstock lattice.  Then I needed something to go over my lattice, and that is when my eye caught the butterfly scraps!  The butterflies were left over for a different ombre butterfly card I created (see that card here) and I ended up having an extra of each of the colors, so I stacked them up only this time making sure to stagger them a bit so you could easily see each color.

    Then I added my sentiment for the fabulous So Very Grateful (I’m shedding a tear that this stamp isn’t carrying over into the new catalog!) and it needed something else to ground it, so I added the scrap strip of Crumb Cake cardstock. 

    Psst- if you look closely, you can see that I put it on as an afterthought because I had to tuck it into each side of the lattice… see the empty space in the middle. Smile 

    Quick Reminder:  The butterfly I used here is from the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, which is retiring at the end of the month.  I loved it because for my classes, I was cutting up to 6 pieces of cardstock at a time!  Which makes cards like this much easier because you can do one run through the Big Shot to cut out all of your butterflies!  Gotta love things that make your life easier.  See the remaining retiring stamps and accessories online here.

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used
    Stamps – So Very Grateful, Hardwood
    Ink – Soft Suede, Early Espresso
    Paper – Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Crisp Canteloupe, Calypso Coral
    Accessories – Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Chevron Border Punch, Pearls

  • A Card Sketch Thank You Card for SSInkspiration

    A Card Sketch Thank You Card for SSInkspiration

    Today I’m getting back in the saddle with the girls over at Stylin Stampin’ Inkspiration and made a card for today’s card sketch. I actually got some time to do a little crafting yesterday and I thought It would be fun to show some of the retiring 2012-2014 In Colors some love.  So, with a Primrose Petals card base and some Summer Starfruit cardstock, I ended up with this:

    Who knew starbursts could be so pretty!  This is the sketch we are all using, so you can see what I started from….

    I started out knowing I was going to use my framelits for the two bigger pieces, but when it came to the smallest shape, I really wanted to use the wood chip accent from the Occasion Catalog.  I didn’t want it to be plain but I couldn’t figure out what to put on it… then suddenly I realized some punched flowers were the perfect size!  (In this case the Petite Petals punch and the Itty Bitty Punch Pack flower that is retiring at the end of the month!)

    But got to love those starbursts!  And of course, using punches to fill in the centers with some Watercolor Wonder designer paper.  (If you are curious, that is the 2-1/2″ circle punch and the 1-3/4″ circle punch)

    I hope you enjoyed this idea!  It was quick and fun to make. Smile  And lets hear it for those hard working 2012-2014 In Colors as they get ready to ride off into the sunset in a few weeks!

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used
    Stamps – Hip Notes
    Ink – Island Indigo
    Paper –Watercolor Wonder designer paper, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Crumb Cake
    Accessories – Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, Retro Fresh wood accents, Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbon, Petite Petals punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Pearls

  • More Watercolor Wonder Fun!

    More Watercolor Wonder Fun!

    Last night was my Watercolor Wonder Fun class… and aside from the major OOPS of forgetting my Stazon Ink at home (thank goodness I lived really close to where I held the class and could get it fast), it was another great night with lots of good conversation and creating!

    Yesterday I shared a few of the cards we made and I thought today I’d share a few more ideas with you.

    Because these notecards come pre-printed and are made with watercolor paper, it makes it really easy to focus on adding a few little touches to make a great card!

    Oh, and if I had been smart, I would have taken a picture of the cards the ladies made yesterday, because one of them had the BRILLIANT IDEA to use the Watercolor Wonder washi tape on the card above instead of stamping the dots and it looked fabulous.  So, instead look at that card and then imagine this washi tape instead. Smile

    image

    Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape

    Seriously, one of the best things for me about going to class is seeing the fabulous ways people change up the cards into different and often better designs!

    Or just keep it simple and let the design of the notecards do most of the work and do a little stamping and coloring and you are done!

    Did I mention it is 20 notecards and envelopes for only $12.95?  Um, talk about a deal!!

    Watercolor Wonder Note Cards

    Just make sure you grab them before they retire at the end of the month!

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

  • Watercoloring fun with Happy Watercolor and the Wondercolor Notecards

    Watercoloring fun with Happy Watercolor and the Wondercolor Notecards

    Tonight I’m holding a class that I call Watercolor Wonder Fun.  I wanted to challenge myself to have fun creating with some of the items in the Watercolor Wonder suite…. I love challenges like this where I have limited supplies and have to come up with something different and fun. 

    So I started out with the Watercolor Wonder Notecards… did you know they are made out of watercolor paper so you can do your watercoloring directly on them?

    Then I added some glitz like the Gold Baker’s twine…. I can’t believe I’ve almost used up a complete spool already!

    Then I thought I’d try out the Gold washi tape (called Watercolor Wonder washi tape) and some of the Gold Sequins…. not too back when you make them a subtle trim under your sentiment huh?

    But most of all, they all use the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  I’m so terribly sad that it WILL NOT be in the new catalog in June.  So if you love it like I do, make sure to get it before the end of May. 

    image

    And yes, these Watercolor Wonder notecards come with a lot of the color and flower images pre-printed on them.  So they can be super fast and easy cards to start with and create with!

    Check out the entire Watercolor Wonder Suite online here.

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used (all cards pictures)
    Stamps – Happy Watercolor
    Ink – Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey, Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Stazon
    Paper –Watercolor Wonder notecards, watercolor paper, Whisper White, Calypso Coral
    Accessories – Aqua Pen, Gold Sequins, Gold Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Watercolor Wonder washi tape

  • Last Hurrah for Wheel Stamps

    Last Hurrah for Wheel Stamps

    Wheel stamps are one of those things that have been around for YEARS!  Like, as long as I’ve been stamping, there have been wheel stamps.  In fact, when I signed up as a demonstrator with Stampin’ Up, you got a wheel handle and wheel stamp by default in your kit!  Over time, I’ve collected a few but like many people, didn’t use them very often for one reason or another.  But they are handy and definitely have their unique purposes. 

    For example, when my mom was decorating for a winter event, she bought white paper tablecloths and when walked up and down the table running a snowflake wheel with blue ink in the handle to create a customized and inexpensive festive spread!  Isn’t she clever?

    But now all things wheel are on the retirement list and going away at the end of the month, so I had to share a couple recent cards I made with my birthday Builder Wheels.

    I loved the idea of builder wheels because you could mix and match designs, or in the case above, leave the center part blank and have exactly enough room to tie a ribbon!  One run of the wheel and my stamping is done and perfectly spaced. Smile 

    It was also handy for mixing and matching designs for diagonal stamping.  In this case, the Happy Birthday, the candles, and the blue stripes were all in the wheel handle at the same time.  Then I just added a little washi tape to the top and bottom for some extra lines but I didn’t have to worry about stamping again and keeping things lined up. 

    You know I love the easy way out!

    I enjoy my wheel stamps, even though I forget to pull them out because they aren’t on the shelf next to my stamps.  The new catalog has new background builder stamps which will be photopolymer stamps that are like if you took a wheel stamp and unmounted them.  (So a long, skinny clear stamp).  I’m excited for these new styles of stamps, but I think I will miss wheels as well.  It is MUCH easier to stamp as 12×12 scrapbook page or photo mat for a picture frame when you don’t have to worry about lining up your stamped ends.  But for cards, I think these new stamps will be easy and fun.

    What do you think?  Will you miss the wheels?

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    May Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – ZUBHUEK6
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more

  • Stampin’ Up Display Stamper 2014 Submission

    Stampin’ Up Display Stamper 2014 Submission

    So, every year I go to the Stampin’ Up convention… and every year I’m blown away by the amazing ideas and inspiration on all the different display boards.  (To see what I’m talking about, here are a few past posts I’ve done showing the display boards.)  Well, this year they are doing a call for display board stampers and to throw your hat in the ring, you need to pull together some of your best/favorite projects and put them together in one post to show your style and ability.  So, I thought it would be a fun way to flip through my past projects and put them together to share with you here.  And maybe they will love them too and I’ll get to share even more ideas on a display board at the Stampin’ Up Convention 2014!

    oh, and PS – if you love the idea of checking out all the display boards, don’t forget that anyone who joins Stampin’ Up as a demonstrator right now will get free registration to convention this summer!  So, you just get yourself to Salt Lake City, and you can be blown away by inspiration for FREE!  Yay!  Email me at jennifer@nwstamper.com for more details if you are interested or check out this page to learn more about the perks of being a demonstrator!

    So Here You Go!
    3 Cards

    so very grateful colored

    So Very Grateful Thank You

    Burlap and Gold Masculine Card (blog post here)

    Negative Heat Embossing with Pleasant Poppies (blog post here)

    1 Scrapbook Page

    This was so hard for me to narrow down and decide which scrapbook page to show.  I think my favorite layout may actually be this older one, but I figured the one I’d show here is this –

    Perfect Pennants with Watercolor Wonder Waves (blog post here)

    Or maybe it is just that these photos always make me smile!

    2 3D items

    Ok, this is where I don’t make and post nearly enough.  So here is what I decided was the nicest from things I actually designed myself – instead of flat out copies of what other people had created. Smile

    Card organizer for holding cards and envelopes (blog post here)

    Easter Treat Bag (blog post here)

    Awww.  So much fun to walk down memory lane.  I hope you enjoyed the ideas and inspiration. Smile

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    April Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – G4VQJ7VB
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  • A Summery Emboss Resist Card plus LAST DAY for Free Shipping!

    A Summery Emboss Resist Card plus LAST DAY for Free Shipping!

    Before I get to the card for today, I wanted to remind everyone that today is the LAST DAY for Free Shipping on any Stampin’ Up order.  So, if you were thinking of grabbing your favorites from the retirement lists before they sell out, or you’ve been eyeing that big purchase – don’t miss out on the extra savings with free shipping! 
    Shop Online Now  |  View the Retiring Stamps list  |  View the Retiring Accessories list

    Ok, now on to the card!

    Have I mentioned how much I love doing emboss resist cards?  Today I thought I would quickly share another sample I made for my embossing class using the Petal Parade stamp set from the Sale-a-Bration catalog from this year.  See.. it is possible for me to do this technique with a stamp set other than Lovely & Lacy!  ha ha.

    I love how it looks like citrus and lemonade to me with the pinks and the yellows.  That is actually Crisp Canteloupe and Summer Starfruit as the inks for this card; they actually go together really well don’t you think?

    To make it, I recommend stamping your sentiment in the middle FIRST! 

    And then randomly stamp your images using versamark. 

    Heat emboss with clear embossing powder to give you your shapes. 

    Then take your yellow sponges and starting from the MIDDLE of each embossed shape, sponge in a spiral pattern to get the saturation of color that you want

    Once you have all your colors added, uses a little extra of one of the colors to sponge the in-between spaces to fill in all the white gaps.  That is it!

    Oh, the other thing I wanted to show you from this card… embossing ribbon!  That is right, you heard me…. embossing RIBBON!  Smile 

    image

    It’s a little hard to tell the texture from the photo, but this is piece of the Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon that I placed over a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock to give it a bit of stiffness.  Once it is glued down – and I recommend glue stick for adhering the ribbon – then you can run it through the Big Shot in an embossing folder.  It gives you the texture and fabric look of ribbon, customized to any embossing folder pattern you have!  It’s actually really cool.

    And don’t forget to get in on the FREE SHIPPING that is ending TODAY.  So if you have been looking at some items and want to save a little bit of money. Visit my online store and take advantage of the free shipping – especially combined with clearance rack and weekly deals!

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    April Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – G4VQJ7VB
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit! Learn more

    Stampin’ Up! Supplies Used
    Stamps – Petal Parade, Petite Pairs
    Ink – Early Espresso, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, Versamark
    Paper –Pool Party, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, Sweet Sorbet designer paper
    Accessories – Big Shot, Argyle embossing folder, Heat gun, embossing buddy, clear embossing powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals

  • Black & White Negative Heat Embossing with Pleasant Poppies

    Black & White Negative Heat Embossing with Pleasant Poppies

    I have had a card pinned on Pinterest for ages that used this cool split image with one half one color and the other half a different color.  So, when I was working on cards for my embossing class, I just had to give it a try and my Pleasant Poppies stamp set was the perfect choice to give it a go, since I knew it was a big stamp and the line art would make it easy to do.

    So this is what I came up with and love how it turned out!

    How do you do it?  It is easier than you think!  I started with two pieces of 2” x 4” cardstock – one in Basic Black and one in Whisper White.  Set them side by side to make a square and then ink up your image with Versamark ink. 

    Stamp your image across both pieces of paper at the same time and then separate the papers.  Use white embossing powder on the black cardstock and black embossing powder on the white cardstock.  Heat it up and then glue the pieces back down onto your card front so that the images are lined up.

    Easy Peasy!

    You will notice that my card has some embossed speckles.  That is because I didn’t use my embossing buddy.  So, as a reminder always use your embossing buddy!

    Give it a try with any color and have fun!

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    April Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – G4VQJ7VB
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit! Learn more

  • Scalloped Peek-a-Boo Flower Catalog CASE

    Scalloped Peek-a-Boo Flower Catalog CASE

    Today the girls over at Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration have put together a fun collection of cards to share.  We all picked a card from the Annual Catalog to CASE (Copy-And-Share-Everything) and then share for the blog post.  So I thought I would share a card we did recently for my monthly stamp club!

    This card was actually made because one of the ladies saw it in the catalog and really wanted to see how to make it.  And, of course, I was happy to oblige!

    This is my card:

    This is the card in the catalog on page 176:

    image

    Wow… maybe I need to photo graph my cards on top of bright colored paper because comparing their photo to mine, it makes quite the difference! Smile 

    In any event, the fun thing about this card was trimming out a rectangle from the front of the card so that your flower can pop through.  I cut it out 1/2” from each of the top, right, and bottom edge of the card and make it 1-1/4” wide.

    Then I could use the 1-1/4” scallop punch and the 7/8 scallop circle punch to create a cute flower to show through.  Add some decoration with Gorgeous Grunge stamps and some Gold Baker’s Twine and you have a fun alternative!

    If you have any specific questions about this card, leave me a comment and I’ll be sure to get back to you! 

    My club ladies had a lot of fun creating this card and I hope you take the time to try it out too.  With the Stampin’ Trimmer, it is really quick and easy to create these cut outs on your card fronts.

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    April Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – G4VQJ7VB
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  • Saying Goodbye to Oh Hello & the 2012-2014 In Colors

    Saying Goodbye to Oh Hello & the 2012-2014 In Colors

    I knew it was coming…. the 2012-2014 In Colors were destined to be retired at the end of May this year, but it always takes seeing the retirement list come out for me to suddenly have this burst of new found love for the colors!  So, as I was trying to decide what card to share with you today, I saw this swap from last year and knew it was a perfect way to send off the In Colors and the stamp I’m going to miss – Oh Hello!

    I was one of those people who didn’t love Summer Starfruit as a color at first.  But doesn’t it look nice when you pair it with other colors?  From the designer series paper (which I need to use more of in general!) to the ribbon…. they are nice touches without it being too overwhelming.

    So that is a tip for you!  If you have a color that you don’t love as a big piece of cardstock or ink… mix it up with some other strong colors and add it to your project in pieces, especially pieces that are patterned!  It helps break it up and make it a great accent piece!

    Yes, pretty much everything about this card is retiring – from the In Color Dahlias (that cute resin flower in the corner!), to the cardstock, markers to color the stamps, designer paper, ribbon, and the stamp!  While the In Color cardstock is sold out, everything else is still available for now!

    View the Retiring Stamps HERE

    View the Retiring Accessories HERE

    Make sure you use the hostess code G4VQJ7VB to received this month’s free online stamp club tutorials

    Retiring Items at a discount with Weekly Deals!

    We’ve been guessing that the weekly deals were a way for Stampin’ Up manage extra inventory or get ready to clear out items that they were going to be retiring.  Turns out that was the case as many of the items that were on the weekly deals showed up on the retirement lists.  This week is no exception!

    weekly deals 4-22-14

    Just a reminder that these items are all retiring and so they are only available while supplies last.  But hey!  You get free shipping and they are 25% off, so SCORE!  Check out any of the items in the online store to grab them before they are gone:

    And just a reminder that the free shipping counts towards anything in your order…. so non-retiring items, clearance rack, online only stamps, as well as the retiring items!  So, enjoy the deal!

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    April Online Stamp Club Hostess Code – G4VQJ7VB
    Use this code to get free exclusive tutorials & project kit!Learn more