Northwest Stamper

Tag: blender pen

  • Lace & Flowers Card with You’ve Got This

    Lace & Flowers Card with You’ve Got This

    Today is the big day!  I fly to Salt Lake City with my Mom for our 7th Stampin’ Up convention! 

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    It is always a blast (which is why we’ve gone every year!) and I’m glad to be able to make this year – the last Convention of it’s kind – and learn more about what the new OnStage events will be like in the future.  Plus the fact that I CAN’T WAIT to see the new upcoming Holiday Catalog while I’m there! Smile  (If you are a demo, don’t forget, you can watch the general sessions live streaming and see the catalog online tomorrow!)

    But in the meantime, while I’m taking pictures and reconnecting with Fun n’ Crafty team members from across the US today, I wanted to leave you with a card idea to keep you going.

    This card is one that I saw by Sandi MacIver and just loved the clean bold lines with the Mint Macaron and Basic Black cardstock… offset by the delicate touch of the new In Color Dotted Lace trim. 

    No joke – when I saw the trim was the new In Color ribbon, I was totally bummed.  But now, not even 2 months into the catalog, I have run through 3 full spools of ribbon! 

    This is just stamping with Memento Black ink onto Whisper White cardstock for your flower and then color it in with a blender pen and So Saffron ink.

    Layer your Basic Black cardstock onto Mint Macaron and then tie around the front with the matching Mint Macaron lace ribbon.  It’s not adhered at all, just tied tightly.

    Alright, now off to frolic around Salt Lake City!  I’ll be back with more fun and inspiration soon!

    PS – You’ve “liked” my Facebook Page, right?  Northwest Stamper on Facebook  Watch there for the action as it happens. Smile 

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  • My last index card – Sweet Stems

    My last index card I needed to make for Splitcoast Stampers was for the stamp set Sweet Stems.  I was hesitent to buy this set because I had bought and regreted Pocket Silhouettes, another small flower set.  However, after looking at the stamp set and all the coordinating items (besides the stamp set you have matching paper – Tea Party – which has some cute designs, and an embosslit which will emboss one of the flower images), I’ve decided this set is more my style and a bit more fun.  I guess the natural looking sets are just not for me. 

    Anyway, as part of my new catalog order, I also ordered the small oval punch which I’ve been wanting for a while.  So, it all came together as a chance for me to try out this design I’ve been eyeing for a while.  Sure, I could have added a bunch of layers, but it was nice to make something really simple and straightforward.  I made sure to place the vases just below the bottom of the stamped image so what you see with the flowers is exactly what you get.  Oh yeah, and if you haven’t tried sponging yet, you totally should.  Its super easy, adds neat texture, and is fun to do!

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    And one other tip.  I have both blender pens and an aqua pen.  I most often use the technique of lifting color from the lid of an ink pad and coloring in a stamped image, and I never quite new which to use when.  So, I used this card as an opportunity to play with both of them. 

    What I realized is that the aqua pen is good for adding colors lightly and for a true watercoloring effect.  Blender pens are great for slightly richer colors (pink pirouette will actually show up using a blender pen) and are the right tool for the job when coloring in small spaces.  The aqua pen, being based on water, has a tendancy to bleed which is fine if you are coloring in a slightly larger space, but is not nearly so great for small dots and the like.  (I’m sure using real watercolor paper helps this though).  And I believe you can turn blender pens into markers by using a reinker to dye the end of the pen, though I haven’t tried this yet. 

    So, my tip – use blender pens for precision work, you will be much happier with the result.