Northwest Stamper

Tag: birthday blooms

  • Easy Watercoloring with Birthday Blooms

    So, just last week I had my Terrific Techniques class focused on heat embossing.  I always forget how fun and how many options you get with heat embossing and when I remembered this card I made recently, I figured it was another great way to share one of the awesome things you can do with heat embossing – make watercoloring gorgeous and really easy!  Check out this idea with the Birthday Blooms stamp set –

    Watercolored Birthday Blooms by stampin up

    White Embossing Powder + Aqua Painters = Gorgeous Watercoloring!

    I love how this flower seems to be this fragile, delicate image on the card.  It is all thanks to the white embossing powder I started with!  Heat emboss your image by stamping in Versamark Ink and then coating in White embossing powder.

    TIP – Don’t forget to wipe the area first with your Embossing Buddy!  This is REALLY important for images with fine lines and details!  The embossing buddy de-statics your paper and makes sure stray embossing powder doesn’t stick to parts of your card that you don’t want it at.

    Once you’ve heat set the embossing powder, it then acts like a guide for your watercoloring.  I told the folks in class, it is like bowling with the bumpers down in the gutters!  Smile  Use your Aqua Painters to pick up color from the lid of your ink pad and color over your image.  You don’t have to worry about the ink sticking to the embossed areas, so just color straight over the top of them.

    close up of heat embossing and watercoloring of Birthday Blooms

    Since the embossed areas resist the ink, you end up with an amazing delicate result!

    Don’t forget the finishing touches!

    I pierced the edge of the my embossed cardstock … an no it isn’t hard to do!  Grab the Essentials Piercing Pack and place the template with the rows of dots along the edge of your cardstock and start poking to your hearts content!

    updated essentials piercing pack

    And yes, I realize there are dies out there now the do the poking for you, which is awesome… unless you have a piece of cardstock that you want to be a different size, or you want your dots to be closer or further from the edge. Smile  Just saying, it is nice to have options!

    And then I had to punch out the sentiment from this same Birthday Blooms stamp set because I wanted to sponge the edge in Wisteria Wonder to match the flower and the card base.  And then I just balanced out the flower by layering my sentiment over one of the small gold Metallic Doilies from the annual catalog.  Seriously, why aren’t you all using these more… they rock!

    metallic doilies as accents
    Oh, and don’t forget to add the White Perfect Accents to the upper corner for the finishing touch.  They come with adhesive on their back, so it is easy to just grab and go.
    birthday blooms friend card

    What I Used to Make This project
    Click any picture below to shop or see it in the online store 

    Birthday Blooms Wood-Mount Stamp Set

    $27.00

    Birthday Blooms Clear-Mount Stamp Set

    $19.00

    Metallic Foil Doilies

    $4.00

    White Perfect Accents

    $5.00

    Aqua Painters

    $17.00

    Updated Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack

    $8.00

    Paper-Piercing Tool

    $4.00

    Embossing Buddy

    $6.00

    Versamark Pad

    $7.50

    White Stampin' Emboss Powder

    $5.00

    Heat Tool

    $30.00

    Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad

    $6.50

    Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

    $6.50

    So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad

    $6.50

    Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

    $6.50

    Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

    $8.50

    Wisteria Wonder 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

    $7.00

    What do you think?  Like the watercoloring with white embossing powder?  Try it with different colors and see what comes out!

    NWstamper signature_thumb[9]

    order online button for sig 3_thumb[4]

    Use Hostess Code Z4ZAG9TD at check out to get a special thank you from me!

  • Whimsical Hearts Background with Birthday Blooms

    I just love when a card comes together!  This is one that I was playing with recently for a secret sister swap and I tried a few new things and just had fun playing with paper – and isn’t that what it is all about?  Having fun and just experimenting with stamps, ink, and paper! And with the Birthday Blooms stamp set, you can do all kinds of experimenting!

    Birthday Blooms with Whimsical hearts background

    So when you see the Birthday Blooms stamp set, it is easy to immediately gravitate towards the large flower and start playing with that.  I mean, it is the biggest image in the box, so your eye wants to head straight there right?

    image

    Birthday Blooms (available in Clear mount rubber or wood mount rubber)

    But I wanted to do something fun with that row of hearts, and turns out it makes a great background for the card.  Just ink it up with Archival Black ink and stamp directly to your card front.

    Worried about even spacing?  Grab some grid paper (the large grid paper placemats are perfect for this) and use the measured gridlines to guide your stamp placement along the way!

    Creative layering is not just for paper!

    When I started putting together my main image, I kept it simple by stamping the flower and then coloring it in with markers (I used Pear Pizzazz and Hello Honey).  But then I let my layering take over.  From bold mats around the flower, to different shapes (circle and rectangle) to keep it quirky.  Just experiment and you’ll be surprised what works!Birthday Blooms with Pool Party Glitter Ribbon Close Up

    And don’t just limit your experiments to paper, I started playing with my ribbon and realized it doesn’t always have to go BEHIND ALL the layers of your image.  Try placing it IN BETWEEN some of the layers for a different look and to let more of the ribbon shine.  Especially when you are using a fun ribbon like this Pool Party Glitter ribbon.

    Just start playing and have fun!  That is what this hobby is all about!

    Love Techniques?  February Terrific Technique Class is next week – in person or online!

    If you missed it, I just started a new technique series last month.  Each month, we’ll explore a new tool or technique.  I’ll be sharing how to do that technique plus multiple variations of the technique so you’ll be not only learning the basics but lots of options and new ideas!

    Each month, we’ll make a page in your 2016 Technique Instruction book, plus 2 cards or other projects.  You can join me in person or place an order in my online store and receive the completed instructions page for the book, video tutorials for the technique and their variations, plus the supply kits for the 2 monthly projects.

    Technique series - kissing technique sample

    Want the class to go?

    All you have to do is Shop in my Online store and place an order that is $40 or more before tax and shipping using the hostess code TNCXV4MP at check out.  I’ll send you the completed instruction page and project kit plus links to quick video tutorials for each of the techniques and variations!  Easy peasy, and super fun!

    NWstamper signature_thumb[9]

    order online button for sig 3_thumb[4]

    Use Hostess Code TNCXV4MP at check out to get a special thank you from me!

  • Fast and Fun Birthday Card with Birthday Blooms!

    Sometimes I need a card, but my brain is just struggling when I try to figure what exactly to make for that card.  Anyone else know that feeling?  Like, you have your supplies in front of you and you just stare at them, willing them to start arranging themselves into some awesome design… but sadly, they just lay there looking back at you. Smile  Well, the other day I was having that same problem when I suddenly remembered the amazing Emboss Resist technique and had a flash of inspiration!  Check out this cute card that is so easy to do with this technique:

    Jennifer’s Project Tips:

    • Emboss Resist is an easy WOW for your cards!  Here is how it works:
        1.  Find your favorite line art image… this works great with lace, doily, and outline flower images like this one from Birthday Blooms… the important thing is that there are skinny lines with lots of non-inked space in between.
        2.  Rub the surface of your cardstock with an Embossing Buddy (this prevents static or other dust from causing stray embossing powder to get stuck later)
        3.  Ink your stamp with Versamark ink and stamp your image
        4.  Cover with clear or white embossing powder and heat set
        5.  Use a wedge cut from one of the yellow Stampin’ Sponges and sponge ink over your embossed image
        6.  Use a kleenex or paper towel to rub over the top of your embossed image to remove any excess ink
    • For best results, use one of the yellow sponges – I find that the yellow sponges are more poreous and so tend to do a better job lightly applying ink and keeping it fairly smooth instead of having a stark circle of ink from a sponge dauber or makeup sponge.  Grab one and cut it up into 6-8 wedges and you can play with lots of colors.
    • Experiment with lots of colors!  I was making a bunch, and so I grabbed a bunch of left over cardbases (when I cut a paper in half for a card base, I keep the extra half in a plastic bag to use later) and then made the same stamped/embossed image and just changed up the ink color to match cardstock!

      Birthday Blooms emboss resist cards
    • Keep the rest of the card simple to let your embossed image really POP!  I used just a few rhinestones and stamped my sentiment in Tip Top Taupe ink so that I could have the focus be on my embossed image.

    So give it a try and let me know what you think!

    Short on time and design ideas?  Have fun & keep it easy with Paper Pumpkin!

    I totally forgot to share this before, but since we were talking about making things easy, I wanted to let you know about a special promo going on right now.  12494668_1099050553458618_2931584849723161323_nEach month we get:

    • Exclusive subscriber only stamp sets
    • Precut cardstock & accessories
    • All the ribbons & embellishments
    • INK!  (guaranteed different colors each month for at least 12 months!)
    • A clear block with your first kit that you can use with ALL the stamps in future kits
    • Extra supplies – just in case you need them
    • Exclusive access to purchase refill kits (everything but the stamps and ink for only $8!) or complete extra kits while supplies last! (see them online here)

    And through the end of March, if you purchase a 3-month, pre-paid subscription you’ll save about $5 off the subscription price, plus get to pick out a Sale-a-Bration stamp set or paper pack for FREE!  Sweet, huh? 

    You can even combine that with my Technique Series hostess code – TNCXV4MP – and get a free kit from my January Technique class too!

    Get or GIFT your Paper Pumpkin Subscription here


    NWstamper signature_thumb[9]

    order online button for sig 3_thumb[4]

    Use Hostess Code PGHMVNJM at check out to get a special thank you from me!

    Pick a FREE item with every $50 you spend!  See the Sale-a-Bration catalog.

    See all the tutorials & classes by mail here

    Save 25% on the Latest Weekly Deals