Northwest Stamper

Tag: Techniques

Clean & Simple Card with Lovely as a Tree
So yesterday I shared a Christmas card with Lovely as a Tree, so today I thought I’d share another idea with the same stamp set only NOT Christmas! It uses another fun techinique – Faux Torn Edges – that I love for my clean and simple cards. It is also great if you are doing a challenge for a single layer card too!
How to do Faux Torn Edges:
1. Rip a piece of paper, preferably something thin like copy or printer paper, so you have the torn edge pattern you like.
2. Place the torn edge across your cardstock and hold in place with washi tape or post-it notes.
  TIP – you may want to secure your cardstock in place as well using washi or post-it notes.
3. Using a yellow Stamping Sponge, tap the sponge into the ink color of choice and then starting on the copy paper, gently swirl the sponge in a circular pattern onto the the cardstock.
4. Try to always go away from the torn edge (so from copy paper to cardstock) and not the other way around so you get a crisp edge. Sponging towards the the copy paper edge can sometimes catch the copy paper and bend, rip, or get ink under the paper where you don’t want it.
5. If desired, stamp an image over the masked area so that the stamped image is on top of the sponged color and will stop at the torn edge.
6. Remove the torn paper and finish the card with any additional stamping you may want to do!
It is a really easy technique but can produce really WOW cards! Here I just kept it simple with a little piece of burlap in the upper corner and on of the Halloween Nights Enamel dots. See, Halloween stuff doens’t have to be just halloween!
Easy, peasy, done!
PS – Heads up about the Year End Clearance Sale!
So, I didn’t know this sale was coming until yesterday when Stampin’ Up shared that it was coming with demonstrators. I don’t know what will be in the sale but I do know this:
- Items will be up to 60% off
- There will be updated Clearance Rack items, some discounted Annual catalog items, and the full list of Holiday catalog items that are going to be discontinued with many of them being discounted too!
- You CAN add any of these items to a starter kit (so it is a great time to join because you’ll also be able to sneak peek the Spring catalog and preorder in December too!)
If you bought something in the Online Extravaganza sale last week, DON’T WORRY! They told us that anything from the Online Extravaganza sale that was retiring in December and so may be on the retiring list set of sale items, they would not be more discounted in December (and may not even be discounted as much). So you will know you got the best deal possible on those items. 🙂
If you want to be one of the first to know what is in the sale, you can check back in my Online Store a little after midnight MST tonight.
Have the list delivered to your inbox! Make sure you are on my mailing list and I’ll be sending out the list to everyone there once I get it!
UPDATED November Hostess code – FUYTBWNK
Project Measurements
- Very Vanilla cardstock – 4 1/4″ x 11″
- Burlap Ribbon – 3″
Project Supply List
Lovely As A Tree Wood-Mount Stamp Set
$28.00
Lovely As A Tree Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$20.00
5/8″ (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon
$7.00
Halloween Night Enamel Dots
$4.00
Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
$9.00
Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
$6.50
Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad
$6.50
Moroccan Designer Washi Tape
$8.00
A Dozen Thoughts Clear Stamp Set (retired)
$19.00
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
November 30, 2016
Vintage Christmas Card with Clear Block Stamping
I have totally had a crafting-crush on these Mini Pinecones embellishments since I first got a chance to play with them. They are so little, but oh so details and super cute! My biggest challenge was actually getting them out of the container and onto my projects.
Between the “don’t want to use them up” and trying to figure out where to put a 3D embellishment (though it is little so, it is still possible to mail), I just kept admiring them on my desk. Come on, admit it… you have something like that in your craft goodies too. 🙂
Well, as I was working on my Christmas card stamp-a-stack class, I found a way to break them out and I love it!

Thread a piece of linen thread through the top of the pinecone and tie a bow… then just attach to your project with a glue dot. It couldn’t be cuter!
It also pairs perfectly with my FAVORITE ribbon from the Holiday catalog – the Real Red Stitched Edge Ribbon. I discovered a trick last night that let me see if certain items are going to be discontinued after the Holiday Catalog ends and *sniff* *sniff* both the pinecones and this ribbon are on this list. So, I’m just going to snuggle this card, and then make a bunch more to enjoy the heck out of them. 😉
Clear Block Stamping Backgrounds
So, I realize I’ve been going on about the small embellishment piece in the corner of my card, but need to talk about the fun background image – that Sahara Sand square behind my tree! It is so easy to do and adds a cool look to your cards.
- Pick the perfect shape for your background – its as easy as pulling out your clear blocks and setting them on your project (or over the stamps you plan to layer with) so you can decide which size is the right one for you. Since the blocks are clear, you can easily tell which size will look the best for what you want.
- Foam ink pads work best – now you can do this technique with the older linen ink pads, but I find that I like the look better with the foam ink pads. (If you aren’t sure what I’m talking about, Stampin’ Up changed the actual pad that holds the ink a few years ago – the new style are a smooth-topped squishy foam pad. The old style look more textured and aren’t shiny as they are a linen material.)
- Gently tap the clear block onto the ink pad to pick up the color – you will find that you see a pattern in the ink on the clear block. If an area didn’t get covered or you don’t like the pattern, just keep tapping! Each time you tap you will get a slightly different look, so just go until you like what you see.
- Use a foam or pierce mat under your paper – since the clear block is all acrylic, it doesn’t have any give if there is any uneveness in your table. So, you will get a more solid image if you place a piercing mat under your cardstock so that when you stamp with the block, the foam can cushion as necessary to make sure all parts of the block make contact.
I loved the background stamped in Sahara Sand and then layered with the tall tree from Lovely as a Tree, but I’m sure you can imagine a bunch of other combinations too!
I’d love to hear what you think we should try next with this technique!
And just a reminder, you have TODAY and TOMORROW to take advantage of the 25% off stamp sale. Then December 1st the official retirement list is coming out for the Holiday catalog and the Year-End Closeout sale items will be announced. So, lots to look forward to. 🙂
UPDATED November Hostess code – FUYTBWNK
Project Measurements
- Old Olive cardbase – 4 ¼” x 11”, score at 5 ½”
- Soft Suede cardstock – 4″ x 5 1/4”
- Real Red cardstock – 3 3/4″ x 5
- Very Vanilla cardstock – 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″
- Real Red ribbon – 3.5″
- Linen Thread – 8″
Product List
Lovely As A Tree Wood-Mount Stamp Set
$28.00
Lovely As A Tree Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$20.00
Stitched With Cheer Photopolymer Set
$21.00
Mini Pinecones
$7.50
Real Red 3/4″ (1.9 Cm) Stitched Edge Ribbon
$8.50
Linen Thread
$4.50
Clear Block D
$8.50
Sahara Sand Classic Stampin’ Pad
$6.50
Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad
$6.50
Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
$6.50
Glue Dots
$5.25
Real Red 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
$8.00
Soft Suede 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
$8.00
Old Olive 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
$8.00
Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
$9.00
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
November 29, 2016
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. 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!
- 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. Each 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

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

Birthday Blooms Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Price: $19.00

Birthday Blooms Wood-Mount Stamp Set
Price: $27.00

Versamark Pad
Price: $7.50

Embossing Buddy
Price: $6.00

White Stampin’ Emboss Powder
Price: $5.00

Heat Tool (Us & Can)
Price: $30.00

Tip Top Taupe Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Price: $5.00

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Stamping Sponges
Price: $3.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50

Calypso Coral 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
January 29, 2016
Beautiful Tie-Dyed Tree with Sheltering Tree and the Leaflet Thinlits
Don’t you just love when you find two things in your craft room that don’t officially go together, but they just work together perfectly?? I was so blown away when I was given a card by fellow demonstrator Jen Martin that overlaid the Leaflet framelits with the Sheltering Tree trunk. So I made my own version and used it as customer thank you cards. Isn’t it such a cool combination?
I never would have guessed that the two shapes were such a close match, and with a little coloring, they are super pretty together!
Jennifer’s Project Tips:
- Start by creating a stencil with your favorite framelit! In this case, I used the maple leaf thinlit from the Leaflet framelits and cut out a hole in a piece of computer/copy paper. You want your paper to be thin… so not a piece of cardstock so that you can get right up to the edge of the shape cleanly on all sides. You can throw away the cut out shape, you really just want the hole!
- Pick your favorite color combination – You are going to place the stencil over your cardstock and then use sponge daubers to color in the leaf. So grab your favorite 3-4 colors and matching sponge daubers to do this. I used So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, and Blackberry Bliss.
- When sponging, start with your lightest color! Mainly this is to prevent your sponge dauber from picking up the darker colors, plus it gives you a bit more control about how dark things get. Here I sponged the ENTIRE leaf with the So Saffron, then I started adding bits of the other colors hear and there to get the tie-dye look.
- Layer your stamped image on top of your sponged image – by doing the sponged image first, you can see where your stamped image needs to go, or if you want to adjust your stamped image to cover up a less than perfect spot on your sponging. Thankfully, Sheltering Tree is a photopolymer stamp (meaning it is totally clear) so I can see exactly where to line up my stamp. But if you are using a rubber stamp, you may want to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get things perfectly lined up.
- Add a little color to your sentiment – I wanted to ground my image, so I took a strip of cardstock for my sentiment and stamped it in the same brown so that it would be easy to read… but then I sponged a little of the Old Olive along the bottom to make it feel like grass and just “ground” my tree/leaf. A little color can go a long way for really pulling a card together!
So, give this technique a try with any of your favorite framelits and stamps. You may be surprised at how cool the combinations turn out!
In the Seattle Area? Join me for my In with the New! Spring Catalog Kick off Party!
I have a bunch of super fun events coming up over the next few months, with more to be added soon. First up is a fun and free kick-off party for all the newest and coolest products from the Occasions Catalog. With free make & takes, over 60 new ideas on display, treats, and prizes – you should totally join me!
January 23rd at 1:30 pm, Bellevue, WA
Email me for more details at jennifer@nwstamper.com or check out it out on my Bellevue/Redmond Card Makers Meetup group!
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

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $25.00

Leaflets Framelits Dies
Price: $25.00

Big Shot
Price: $110.00

Sponge Daubers
Price: $5.00

So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Crumb Cake 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50

Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Price: $5.00
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
January 14, 2016
Two Washi Tape Techniques, One Thank You Card
First off, LAST CALL on the Holiday Catalog retiring list and Year-End Clearance Sale. Today is the LAST DAY for these items and great deals!
Holiday Catalog Retiring List – see the list of what’s leaving
Year-End Clearance Sale – shop the sale online
In the meantime, I have one more project sharing a few fun items on their way out today:
We made this in last week’s Washi Tape technique class and had fun with TWO washi tape techniques on this card… can you spot them?
We can start with the obvious one, using Washi Tape to create a background designer paper. I used the In Color washi tape bundle and wrapped all 5 patterns repeatedly across a 3×4 Project Life grid card. It just makes it bright and vibrant, and when using the grid cards, its easy because no cutting is involved!
Then we punched out the shape to create a window for our sentiment (the Thank you from the Tin of Cards stamp set) and layered it over another Project Life grid card. The fun thing is these cards have grid lines on one side and plain white on the other. So you can use the white side for layering your washi tape over and then the grid lines for a different texture behind. Pop the top card up on dimensionals over the bottom piece and stamp the sentiment in Blackberry Bliss ink.
We also added two of the Home for Christmas Enamel dots to just pull it all together.
Then under the cards, I did the second technique! We used the washi tape pieces to PICK UP INK from the ink pad. Just set the strip of tape down on your ink pad and gently run your finger across to get it to pick up ink. Then pull the washi tape up and place it on your cardbase. We used Lost Lagoon ink on Lost Lagoon cardstock. Gently rub the washi tape on your card front and then peel up… it will leave behind the cool ink stripes! I promise, I’ll do a video on this shortly.
Layer it all over the retiring Into the Woods cotton ribbon in Rich Razzleberry and your card is cute, pulled together, and really fun to make! So grab that washi tape (there is a TON on sale in the Year-End Clearance Sale) and start playing!
Use Hostess Code PGHMVNJM at check out to get a special thank you from me!
NEW ITEMS ADDED – BIG Year-End Clearance Sale! See what is on sale here.
See all the tutorials & classes by mail here
Check out the Holiday Catalog Retiring List & Sold Out Updates
Save 25% on the Latest Weekly Deals

Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $17.00

Project Life 4″ X 3″ Grid Cards
Price: $3.50

Label Bracket Punch
Price: $16.00

2014-2016 In Color Designer Washi Tape
Price: $8.00

Home For Christmas Enamel Dots
Price: $4.00

Into The Woods 3/8″ (1 Cm) Cotton Ribbon
Price: $6.00

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
January 4, 2016
Black & White with Gold Daddy’s Love Scrapbook Layout & a Card using Winter Wonderland designer paper
I know, I normally post cards here on the blog, but I also love to scrapbook as well. Not only is it a fun way to get some of my favorite photos off the camera or computer and somewhere where I’m more likely to see them, but it is also a great way to use some of your favorite papers and elements you have lying around your craft room. For today, I have another idea for both a card and a scrapbook using the Winter Wonderland Specialty paper for non-holiday projects. First up, my favorite – the scrapbook layout!
See! This paper pack is such an awesome black & White & Gold theme, that you can use it for just about any project. I had some black & white photos from when Caitlin was a baby that I thought would go perfectly with this paper pack – and make it easy for me to have fun with the other random stamps and elements I had around my craft room, that I could just have fun and play with pulling this all together. The only thing was that this paper is a bit glossy, so it was hard to take a picture that wasn’t too shiny.
One of the first things I did was layer some of the Black & Gold stripe pattern over the black & white dots paper. I let the Gold frame my photo and decided to keep the rest of the layout simple and stick to neutrals for my color palate. Thankfully the Tip Top Taupe ribbon was just a perfect touch of neutral AND delicateness to balance all the bold feelings of the gold.
Then I added some Metallic Sequins to the corners of my photo to pull in the metallic and shine from the paper subtly into the photo area and framing even more two of my favorite people in the picture.
Once the photo was in, I started playing with other elements for my page. I started with one of the Project Life Grid Cards to use as a base for my journaling area, but sponged the edges in Crumb Cake to “dirty” it up and go for more of the vintage look. I did a similar trick for the strip of newsprint by grabbing a scrap of Typeset designer paper and crumpling it up. Then I used my sponge dauber to add some crumb cake in to the crumpled paper so it wasn’t so stark and new either. Then I looped some Gold Thread behind my strip of paper to fill in some of the grid card space.
To finish up my title, I used my Alphabet Rotary Stamp to stamp the Daddy’s Love and then just cut around the words with my snips. I just plopped them down over the thread with some dimensionals… and done!
Then I moved on to adding some more elements, from some hearts punched using the Itty Bitty Accents Punch pack on a Circle from the retired Wooden Elements, to some layered banners with Satin Ribbon and the sentiment from the Amazing Birthday stamp set.
It actually came together very quickly and was fun to play and mix and match all my elements from my craft table.
Now, if you aren’t so much into scrapbooking, let me just say this paper pack is great for cards as well. Check it out:
See, the white and gold make really pretty backgrounds for your everyday cards too!
Fun notes for this card:
- The corrugated cardstock makes great elements pieces. Like in this case, I cut a 2” strip and then just used my Scalloped Tag Topper punch to make the cute end and voila! A perfect background piece!
- Use the precision plate when cutting out your words from the Greetings Thinlit, especially when you are using the gold foil paper… you won’t get the polka dots from the die showing through on your word!
- Use the bird builder punch to create some easy leaves to come out from behind your flower. Easy, peasy, done!
- When stamping the flower, get a cool mottled tie-dyed look by inking up your stamp with Daffodil Delight ink. Get it nice and covered – but don’t stamp it yet! Then grab your Melon Mambo ink and add some color by daubing the pink into onto the inked stamp using a sponge dauber.
- Finish it off with a bit of baker’s twine for a cool pulled together card.
So, I hope these gave you more ideas! Don’t Forget! The Holiday Catalog items retire TOMORROW (1/4)! Some items have already sold out, so make sure to check the list for your favorites along with the Year-End Sale that ends tomorrow as well!
Holiday Catalog Retiring List – see the list of what’s leaving
Year-End Clearance Sale – shop the sale online
Use Hostess Code PGHMVNJM at check out to get a special thank you from me!
NEW ITEMS ADDED – BIG Year-End Clearance Sale! See what is on sale here.
See all the tutorials & classes by mail here
Check out the Holiday Catalog Retiring List & Sold Out Updates
Save 25% on the Latest Weekly Deals

Amazing Birthday Wood-Mount Bundle
Price: $47.50

Amazing Birthday Clear-Mount Bundle
Price: $40.75

Alphabet Rotary Stamp
Price: $15.00

Crazy About You Wood-Mount Stamp Set
Price: $52.00

Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $25.00

Crazy About You Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Price: $39.00

Winter Wonderland Specialty Designer Series Paper
Price: $13.00

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack
Price: $17.00

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
Price: $23.00

Flower Medallion Punch
Price: $18.00

Greetings Thinlits Dies
Price: $15.00

Big Shot
Price: $110.00

Metallics Sequin Assortment
Price: $5.00

Tip Top Taupe 1″ Dotted Lace Trim
Price: $6.00

Gold Metallic Thread
Price: $3.00

Gold Glimmer Paper
Price: $5.00

Gold Foil Sheets
Price: $4.00

Project Life 4″ X 3″ Grid Cards
Price: $3.50

Whisper White 5/8″ Satin Ribbon
Price: $7.00

Pearl Basic Jewels
Price: $5.00

Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50

Tip Top Taupe 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Melon Mambo 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50

Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Old Olive Baker’s Twine
Price: $3.00

Stampin’ Dimensionals
Price: $4.00

Glue Dots
Price: $5.25

Fine-Tip Glue Pen
Price: $7.00
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
January 3, 2016
A Couple Fun Techniques with Peaceful Pines–Stained Glass Window & Inked Embossing
Happy New Year! We made it – welcome to 2016! As I was out with the hubby last night, I got to thinking about 2015 and the impending new year and just got so excited about the fresh start and all the possibilities in the new year. I wasn’t sure how much that motivation would last when I had to drag my head off the pillow this morning (ha ha) but I’m happy to report that I’m still excited and opptimistic for 2016! I have so many new things I want to try and to share and I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
In the meantime though – because really, I wasn’t prepared BEFORE the new year hit! – I wanted to share a few more of my favorite projects from 2015 that I hadn’t had a chance to share with you yet. I love the look and techniques with these cards and hope you enjoy some new ideas with the Peaceful Pines stamp set.
Stained Glass Window Technique
I LOVE this technique… because it turns out something beautiful every time.
Stained Glass Window Technique:
1. Start by stamping your image onto a piece of Window Sheet (acetate) using Stazon Ink
2. Flip the window sheet over so that you can color on the OTHER side
3. Using a piece of wax paper, squeeze out some Crystal Effects and then add a drop or two of your preferred color reinker – seriously, you only need a drop or two!
4. Sprinkle on some Dazzling Diamonds glitter and then stir up using a small paint brush
5. Paint the Crystal Effects onto the Window sheet to cover the area that you stamped. Start out light, you can always add more.
6. If you need to switch colors, rinse off your paintbrush and create a new blob of Crystal Effects using the new color reinker.
7. Let sit for a few minutes to dry
8. Adhere any other elements, like the star sequin with Crystal Effects to the window sheet as it is drying.
9. Flip over and adhere to your project and you have a super pretty stamped element for your card!
For this card, I added some torn Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper for a snowy base and then covered where I glued down my window sheet with some of the Merry Moments designer paper (on sale though Jan 4th – fyi!) and some Mossy Meadow cardstock.
Add a sentiment from the Peaceful Pines stamp set on a banner and some Baker’s Twine and your card is all put together.
Inked Embossed Dots Technique
If you are more of a rustic fan, then this technique may be for you! I love how cool the embossed dots look with technique – more vintage than if you had just sponged ink onto the embossed areas after the fact.
Inked Embossed Dots technique
1. Take your Large Dots Embossing folder and open it up to work on the INDENTED side of the folder (where the dots are sunk in)
2. Use a sponge dauber, ink it up using the Ink Pad color of your choice – in this case Mossy Meadow – and then dab the sponge dauber repeatedly into the holes.
3. You will want to keep daubing each hole until it looks pretty dark with color. Really, you can’t over-ink this.
4. After you’ve inked all the dots you want to use, place your cardstock into the embossing folder and close up.
5. Run the embossing folder through the Big Shot
6. You are done! You have cool looking vintage dots!
I finished out the card with some Burlap ribbon (gotta stick with the rustic theme) and then layered one of the Peaceful Pines trees (cut out using the matching Perfect Pines dies) onto a 2 1/2” circle punch with a few Home for Christmas Epoxy dots.
I loved how these techniques went so well with the Peaceful Pines stamp set, but you can use them for any card for lots of great design ideas! Let me know what you think!
Use Hostess Code PGHMVNJM at check out to get a special thank you from me!
NEW ITEMS ADDED – BIG Year-End Clearance Sale! See what is on sale here.
See all the tutorials & classes by mail here
Check out the Holiday Catalog Retiring List & Sold Out Updates
Save 25% on the Latest Weekly Deals

Peaceful Pines Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $26.00

Peaceful Pines Photopolymer Bundle
Price: $45.00

Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack
Price: $8.00

Window Sheets
Price: $5.00

Crystal Effects
Price: $6.25

Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill
Price: $3.25

Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter
Price: $5.00

Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
Price: $5.00

Old Olive Baker’s Twine
Price: $3.00

Metallics Sequin Assortment
Price: $5.00

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50

Big Shot
Price: $110.00

Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Price: $7.50

Sponge Daubers
Price: $5.00

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Home For Christmas Enamel Dots
Price: $4.00

2-1/2″ Circle Punch
Price: $18.00

Oh, What Fun Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $21.00

Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00

Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
January 1, 2016
2 Fun Techniques+1 Great Stamp Set = A Happy Hodgepodge Card
I know I shared a card yesterday using the Lovely Amazing You stamp set for Walkthrough Wednesday (you can see the card and video instructions here)… so I hope you don’t mind me sharing another idea for you using that same stamp set! You get the added bonus of a few fun techniques with this one too, so it is just all kinds of happy!
This card is extra fun because it is actually a really simple card to make (minus the fussy cutting of the feathers… but that isn’t too bad) and you get to do a lot of playing with it!
Tips for making this card:
- First lets talk about the green striped paper. Notice that it is darker on the bottom than the top? Well you do now! That is because it is embossed paper that is inked! You can either stamp an image with versamark ink and then heat emboss with clear embossing powder…. or do it the easy way and get pre-embossed paper! This was the Irresistably Yours paper from Sale-a-Bration 2015, but you can do the same thing using the new Color me Irresistable paper in the current catalog!
  BONUS! The Color Me Irresistable paper is on sale as part of the weekly deals this week! So get it at 30% off… I ordered mine yesterday so don’t forget to get yours!
- Once you have a clear embossed image, just sponge over with your favorite color of ink. In this case, we used those big yellow sponges (these ones) and started sponging at the bottom for the darkest color and kept sponging upward so that as the ink started to run out on the sponge, it got lighter on our paper.
- See that cool cheveron in the background? Nope – not a stamp! It’s an embossing folder! Use sponge daubers to ink spots on an embossing folder (the raised side) and then spritz with water before using that as a stamp onto watercolor paper. You get awesomely cool colors and designs and they are different everytime.
- And the 2-1.2” Circle punch makes a great frame to show off your cool embossing folder stamped paper and to highlight those great sentiments from the Lovely Amazing You stamp set.
- Finally, these feathers are the same ones we used yesterday and come from the Lovely Amazing You stamp set. I stamped first in Island Indigo on a piece of scrap paper and then stamped AGAIN on more scrap paper to create the two colors of feathers.
- Yes, you have to cut them out by hand… but take a deep breath and enjoy the zen relaxation that comes over you as you focus on the paper and the art of snipping.
- Add a little bow of silver baker’s twine (adhered with a glue dot) and you are good to go!
So if you missed the card yesterday, this is another idea using the same stamp set:
Check out the blog post and video tutorial here
And like I mentioned yesterday, this super awesome stamp set is only guaranteed to be available for a little less than a month (through August 10th) so consider getting your copy – plus maybe the fun emboss resist paper, Color Me Irresistible from the weekly deals.
- Lovely Amazing You Stamp set
- Color Me Irresistible paper
So, I hope you enjoyed today’s card. I promise to do a video soon showing how I did that stamping with an embossing folder technique because it is just too awesome not to share!
Now I’m off to work on more swaps for Convention! Make sure you are following me over on my Facebook page to get the realtime, as they happen, photos and news postings of all the happenings in Salt Lake!

Project Supplies Used:

Lovely Amazing You Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $14.95

Color Me Irresistible Specialty Designer Series Paper
Price: $13.00

2-1/2″ Circle Punch
Price: $18.00

Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Price: $7.50

Watercolor Paper
Price: $5.00

Stamping Sponges
Price: $3.50

Sponge Daubers
Price: $5.00

Stampin’ Spritzer
Price: $3.00

Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Price: $6.00

Silver Baker’s Twine
Price: $3.50

Glue Dots
Price: $5.25

Paper Snips
Price: $10.00

Sahara Sand 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $7.00
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
July 16, 2015
Butterfly Basics Bokeh CASE–a Pretty Purple Card!
I’m back with another Bokeh card for you. I’ll keep it quick since I shared how to do the Bokeh technique with you a couple times already. But I do love how this card came together.
This card was a CASE of a card by Monica Davis that I loved and had to play with for my Bokeh technique class.
Tips for making this card:
- Rely on bundles to make the supply needs for a card quick and easy to pull together!
- I stuck with just using the Butterfly Basics Bundle (the Butterfly Basics stamp set and the Butterfly Thinlits) and then a few purples for my inks. Seriously, you cannot go wrong with this stamp set! It is one of those, “any way you layer it” and “any combinations of stamps” they always seem to come out looking great!
- I also had fun expirimenting with stamping first before you do the white circles (like with the Rich Razzleberry leaf) and stamping after you do the white circles (like the Memento Black Sending Wishes Your Way sentiment). Pick if you want it soft (under) or strong (over) and go from there.
- Sometimes plain white paper is exactly what you need! With the darker colors of the background, the Whisper White butterfly needs no embellishment to stand out just enough!
- Layer a piece of Vellum just to add a subtle contrast under your butterfly without being distracting.
- In this card I just used my 2-Way glue pen to only adhere the butterfly in the center so the wings pop up and float free. Similarly I only adhered my vellum to the card underneath the center of the butterfly. I know it means the vellum doesn’t sit quite flat at the ends, but it looked nicer than seeing the adhesive show through on the ends of the paper!
- Want a reminder for how to do the Bokeh Technique, you can check it out
If you want a reminder how to do the Bokeh Technique, you can check out my first Bokeh blog post or watch my Walkthrough Wednesday card with Watercolor Wash and Bokeh technique video!
Did you sign up for the Sprinkles of Life class by mail yet?
I realized that when I sent out my email about this class to my newsletter list (along with my June Customer Coupon – missed it? Get on my mailing list here) that the link to sign up wasn’t working. Oops! So if you wanted to get a kit for this class, I’m ordering supplies for everyone who signed up so far TONIGHT and would love to get some sent your way too.
Sign up using the paypal buttons on the registration page here
Project Supplies Used:

Butterfly Basics Wood-Mount Bundle
Price: $61.95

Butterfly Basics Clear-Mount Bundle
Price: $51.75

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Bundle
Price: $41.50

Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $6.50

Whisper White Craft Stampin’ Pad
Price: $7.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Price: $5.95

Big Shot
Price: $99.95

Magnetic Platform
Price: $39.95

Metallic Gold Encore Pad
Price: $9.95

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $8.50

Vellum 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
Price: $6.50

1″ Circle Punch
Price: $12.95

1-1/4″ Circle Punch
Price: $15.95

1-3/8″ Circle Punch
Price: $15.95

Stamping Sponges
Price: $3.50

2-Way Glue Pen
Price: $4.50
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
June 5, 2015
Wednesday Walkthrough: Watercolor Wash meets Beautiful Bokeh Techniques with this Lovely Amazing You Card
I just love, love, love the font in the Lovely Amazing You photopolymer stamp set, and I thought it just went perfectly with this pretty way to get a background with the Watercolor Wash technique! So today I just had to share this card with you, and I’ll have the video for the Wednesday Walkthrough posted too below! But for now, check out this cutie –
Featured Retiring Products:
Get them before they are gone by the end of the month!
Tips for making this card:
- Emboss your background piece of Very Vanilla cardstock using the Big Polka Dot embossing folder to complement the Bokeh circles you create on top of the tag.
- Watercolor Wash makes an awesome background for your bokeh cards. You will want to make sure you use an Aqua Painter NOT a Blender Pen, and you want to be using Watercolor Paper NOT your basic cardstock because you’ll be using lots of water to help let your colors spread on the background.
- Stamp your sentiment on AFTER you have done your bokeh circles.
  HEADS UP! This stamp set is one of the monthly photopolymer releases and so is NOT in a catalog. It is guaranteed available from Feb 2015 to July 2015, so don’t wait too long to pick yours up!
- Punch the top with the Scalloped Tag Topper and then wrap some of the thick baker’s twine through to make a tassel top.
- Get that extra tassel-y top by untwisting the baker’s twine so all the individual threads are fluffed out!
Want to see how to make it? Check out the Walkthrough Wednesday video:

(reading this in email, click here to watch the video)
New Product Samplers/Shares are Coming! Save your spot today!
I’ve posted the details for my Annual Catalog product shares. I’ll be ordering to fill the first round of people on June 2nd, so make sure your name is on the list if you want your samplers of a little bit of all the ribbons and papers the first week of the new catalog!
Details and sign up here
Project Supplies Used:

Lovely Amazing You Photopolymer Stamp Set
Price: $14.95

Texture Boutique Machine
Price: $29.95

Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Price: $7.95

Aqua Painters
Price: $16.95

Watercolor Paper
Price: $4.95

Crisp Cantaloupe 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
Price: $6.95

Very Vanilla 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
Price: $8.50

Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker’s Twine
Price: $3.50

Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $5.95

Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $5.95

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $5.95

Gold Baker’s Twine
Price: $3.50

Stampin’ Dimensionals
Price: $3.95
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
May 27, 2015
Water Drop Bokeh Technique Card with Everything Eleanor (VIDEO TUTORIAL)
Did you see? Did you see?? Today is another video this week! I’m planning on getting back into videos and tutorials again and aim to have a new video project for you each Wednesday. Sweet, right?!
Today I wanted to share with you this cool technique I’m calling Water Drop Bokeh! Check it out:
See that colored blobby area? It is just masked and sponged area of the Whisper White cardbase! So it is easy and perfectly customizable to any project you want!
Tips for making this card:
- Use your Grid Paper to help make sure you are masking off straight and even lines across your white card base (in this case they are at 1” from the top and 2 1/4” from the top)
- Sponge Daubers will give you rich color which helps make the technique turn out better because concentration of ink on your paper is key!
- Swirl on your favorite colors of dye-based ink (all Stampin’ Up Classic Ink pads are dye based) on Whisper White cardstock
- Use an Aqua Painter to drop bits of water onto your sponged area – from just the tip of the Aqua Painter for small circles to squeezing out full drops for bigger circles
- Let it start to air dry and then you can stamp over the top almost immediately to create cool, layered effects.
- Mix and match your stamp sets, like in this case Everything Eleanor for the bird and swirl, and A Dozen Thoughts for the sentiments
- Each card you make will be different, but that is what makes it fun!
Want to see how it is done? Check out this Video Tutorial as I walk you through making the full card step by step. Then, let me know what you think and if you like this style of video so I know what to do more of.

(If you are viewing this in email, check out the video here)
Quick Links:
- NEW Weekly Deals! Check them out here
- Retiring Stamps (many 25% off)
- Check out 50% off retiring papers, tools, and accessories!
- Up to 80% off clearance rack finds!
Project Supplies Used:

Everything Eleanor Wood Stamp Set
Price: $36.95

Everything Eleanor Clear Stamp Set
Price: $26.95

A Dozen Thoughts Wood Stamp Set
Price: $26.95

A Dozen Thoughts Clear Stamp Set
Price: $18.95

Sponge Daubers
Price: $4.95

Aqua Painters
Price: $16.95

Grid Paper
Price: $10.95

Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $5.95

Pacific Point Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $5.95

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin’ Pad
Price: $5.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Price: $5.95

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock
Price: $8.50
Supply List
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
May 16, 2015
Mounting your stamps
I recently discovered that while I had been scrapbooking and stamping a lot, I had a lot of stamp sets that I had never mounted. For those of you who have never bought stamps from Stampin’ Up! before, let me share with you what to expect. You will recieve a plastic storage box with lots of wood blocks, a page of stamp image stickers, and a sheet of foam mounted rubber. The idea being that you can put the image sticker where you want on one side of the wood block, and the rubber where you want on the other side of the block. The nice thing about this is that you get full control of your stamps, the downside is you probably have some apprehension about how to actually get the suckers on the block just right. I know I did!
I read the paperwork provided by SU and did some research on the internet and boy was I confused. But after some advice from some fellow demonstrators and a lot of practice, I now have many mounted stamps and a lot more confidence. Though I don’t know how much longer I will need it as Stampin’ Up! has started die cutting all of their new designs so you no longer have to do the cutting…. just pop out the image from the rubber sheet, stick it on the wood, and you are off stamping!
But just in case there are those of you staring at your unmounted stamps and feeling a little overwhelmed like I was, I wanted to post the tips I learned. Leave me a note if you have other tips to share or questions about these steps!
How to mount your stamps
Love this Post? Share it with your friends!
Facebook
Email
Pinterest
X
Print
August 11, 2008