Techn{ink} Tuesday

I have become a huge fan of the clear mount stamps ever since Stampin' Up! introduced them. I rarely ever purchase wood mount sets anymore. I love the easy storage, the fun ability to add multiple images to one block and of course, the fact that the clear mount stamp sets are less expensive so I can buy more of them!

Todays Techn{ink} Tuesday, I want to show you a fun, unique way to use your clear blocks - Clear Block Shadow Stamping!!! 

Did you know you can stamp direct to paper with Stampin' Up! Clear blocks? So Awesome!

Try using different sizes and shapes of blocks on all of your stamping cards and projects. I enjoy this Techn{ink} to give a card a more distressed or aged appearance. 

Here are step by step instructions:

First you will need a clean piece of Cardstock, Classic Ink and a Clean, Clear  Block.

My Clear Block size is 'D', Cardstock is Very Vanilla and Ink is Crumb Cake

Ink up your clear block onto the Crumb Cake and to avoid a heavy stamp of color, I inked off to the side (see middle image) of the paper to lessen the punch of color, 

then stamped onto my cardstock for a soft image.

Then I took the same clean block and lightly tapped the four edges onto the Early Espresso Ink Pad

and stamped over the initial image. Now my distressed stamp has a subtle frame of a shadowed color to enhance the look. 

Decorate your card as you see fit. 

CLICK HERE to see the Clear Mount Block Template to reference the different block sizes SU! has to offer. I recommend printing this page onto vellum or copy paper so that you can place over an image to see what size block is needed. You can find SU! new Clear Block Bundles offered HERE. 

Cardstock: Very Vanilla #101650

Ink: Crumb Cake #126975, Early Espresso #126974

Tools Used: Clear Block Bundle C,D,H (#129851)

Monday Mailers

I had this card with a special new friend in mind. Her name is Jackie and she will be

 celebrating her 85th birthday this month. What a beautiful life! 

Imagine the stories she could tell. I desire to hear each and every one. 

She is a wonderful woman and I cant wait to send her this little birthday card as a token of my friendship. 

First I cut down a piece of River Rock cardstock to a 5x5 and scallop edged each end. 

Then cut down a pieces of Not Quite Navy

 to 4" x 8" and fold in half. 

Adhere the folded card on to the flat scallop edged River Rock.  

I wanted to add a little texture to the card, so I cut a piece of Summer Starfruit (#126839) 

to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and scored with my new fun toy! 

I must say I absolutely adore my Simply Scored Plate. The possibilities are endless. 

I could spend weeks and weeks just showing you projects using this wonderful tool alone! 

But... Focus Nikki ... Focus

Last, I cut my Very Vanilla to an exact 3'' x 3" and wrapped it with some fun 

Early Espresso Bakers Twine 

And here is the final product once all pieces are added together. You will see I have added a 1 1/4" x 4" pieces of DSP and adorned the front of my Bakers Twine with our Natural Buttons and a 

Birthday Sentiment from the Petite Pairs Set

stamped in Not Quite Navy Ink 

Im so excited for her to recieve her card. I hope on her birthday she is surrounded by her loved ones and is reminded of how much her life is treasured by each person who is blessed to know her.  

Happy Birthday My Dear Friend Jackie! 

Designer Series Paper: Comfort Cafe DSP #126898

Cardstock: River Rock #108640, Very Vanilla #101650, 

Not Quite Navy #101722, Summer Starfruit #126839

Ink: Not Quite Navy #126971

Stamp: Petite Pairs (w:122495 c: 122497)

Embellishments: Naturals Designer Buttons #127554 and Early Espresso Bakers Twine #123124

Tools Used: Simply Scored Plate #125625

Stampin Queen's Sketch Challenge

I don't know about you but I really feel that some days I feel Im hitting a kreativity block. There are so many beautiful and amazing cards out there that I can get overwhelmed or just wonder... Where do I begin?
So I found this lovely group of creative women who started a Sketch Challenge and is held weekly to give us an idea of what to start with and let your mind do the rest. I figure if I have a base then the rest of the ideas/creativity will fall into place and so comes todays Stampin' Queens Sketch Challenge, hopefully next time you too will play along... http://gettincrafty.typepad.com/stampin_queens_sketch_cha/

Here is my SQSC42 entry for this weeks challenge. I hope you like it :) 

Designer Series Paper: Patio Party DSP #126916

Cardstock: Crumbcake #120953, Gumball Green 126840, Summer Starfruit #126839
Ink: Midnight Muse #126860

Stamp: Petite Pairs (w:122495 c: 122497)

Embellishments: 5/8: Crochet Trim #118481

Thursday Thrill - DAD

Today's Thursday Thrill is brought to you by The King of Grill, 

Father to many and Strength to his family... DAD!!!!

This is a fun, and fast BBQ grill we had fun piecing together. The colors are prefect, mellow yet inviting.. 

I even placed a little DSP as a back ground and it came together perfectly. 

I hope you like and I look forward to seeing yours too. 

Happy Stampin


Designer Series Paper: Twitterpated DSP #125406

Cardstock: Basic Gray #121044, Real Red #102482 and Basic Black #121045

Ink: Basic Black #126980

Stamp: Teeny Tiny Wishes (w:115370 c: 127802)

Embellishments: Metallic Brads #119741

Tools Used: Essentials Paper Piercing Mat (#126199) and Pack (#126187), Word Window Punch #119857, Modern Label Punch #119849, 1 3/4" Circle Punch #119850

Bazaar CAS Wedesday

Today I wanted to display a card that was Clean and Simple. This card took less than two minutes to gather, but the highlight of it all for me really is the new International Bazaar DSP shown here.

I have recently found Im one of those who see a patterned paper, fall in love with it and buy it. I bring it home and into my file it goes. To sit and look pretty for all the days and weeks that pass.

Well times are a changing and I'm moving past this phase! 

How unfair I am to hold and keep the colors and designs to myself. 

SU is all about sharing and from now on, Im bringing that bad boy out to play and 

were going to show you how a little can go a long way!

Each Wednesday I will try to show you a card using some scraps of DSP you might have lingering around or a card with fun colorations and more DSP to display. So dont forget to fill in your email to follow along with us and you might just be called out on a week to display your DSP in a sketch challenge. FUN!!

Designer Series Paper: International Bazaar DSP

Cardstock: Crumbcake #120953, Chocolate Chip #102128

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Stamp: Bring on the Cake (w:121899 c: 121958)

Techn{ink} Corner Tuesday

Todays Techn{ink}: Reverse Masking

Although this card seems sad and gloomy, it sure was fun to create! 

I was hesitant on how exactly to display this new Techn{ink} but when I recieved my new package of fun at my door today this little stamp set drew attention to itself. 

How can I incorporate something fun and "punchie" to this little stamp set? 

Then it hit me like a Bolt of Lightning - No Pun Intended! 

My monthly Stampin' Up! group with my Upline had a challenge to display Reverse Masking so I thought I would combine that challenge with my new goodies.

(must add if you are one of my downlines, I will have monthly challenges and incentives for you too! Want to know more? Click on "Join The Fun" tab for more info!!)

 So here you go.

Steps to Reverse Masking: 

First you will want to select a shape for your mask. You may have plenty of negatives around your scrap pile from previously used Punches and/or Die Cuts. They are just so nice to have and you never know when you might use it again. I keep EVERYTHING! lol

I selected to use a Punch Negative from the Decorative Label Punch (#120907). 

Once again it is the Negative I'm using not the actual Punch. 

Once you've selected your shape, you will want to select the color of Cardstock you will want to use. I have here a sheet of Basic Gray (#121044) and thought a few hues of blue would spruce it up and go along with the sentiment of choice. 

Align up where you will set up your Negative Masking. 

Before I started sponging,  you will see I added another Techn{ink} using my Versamark and a stamp I selected from the Word Play Stamp Set (Wood: #120308 Clear: #120651). 

I moistened the stamp onto my Versamark pad and stamped the sentiment onto the area where I plan to sponge. Then sprinkled over the wet word area with Black Embossing Powder (#109133) and set my heat tool (#129053) to finish the emboss to be raised and appear wet (from the raindrops)

I then used Bashful Blue (#126961) to add color to my card; I used a sponge to apply the color. Some people have used a patterned stamp to apply the color to the Negative area.

Although its not patterened, I did apply the additional stamp and incorporated both Techn{ink}'s together. See my final photo!

Now that the color is finished, remove the mask to reveal the shape on the card. On my final photo you will see an additional step completed. 

Finish up your card and decorate accordingly. I used the Cupcake Punch (#121807) 

to make clouds in white (#100730) along with drops of water in 

Bashful Blue (#105120) and Pacific Point (#111350)

I think it came out real fun, thank you for visiting my blog and I check my page daily so please leave a message and I hope to see you around next week too! I have another fun Techn{ink} I will show next Tuesday! And Always, Happy Stampin'

Monday Mailers

I must say I absolutely LOVE giving. And sometimes I can take it a little over the top, but who can help it with all the beautiful and wonderful items Stampin' Up! has to offer!?! 

As you've seen previously I like to have little gifts for my customers and recently had a new customer interested in what Stampin' Up! was all about! 

Can YOU believe there are actually some people who haven't heard of the wonderful and beautiful Stampin' Up!? I KNOW ... Amazing!!! 

If you too would LOVE to know more about Stampin' Up! lets set up a time for a FREE Demo! 

Contact Me

For this little customer I packed her up a package Full of Fun! She will be super surprised when she opens up her package this week to reveal new tools and information to play with. 

I wont share what it is, but when you become a customer of mine ... I LOVE to gift! 

When you purchase from my website or by email, you may just be the Next Receiver!!!