Fun at the Stamp Club!

Getting a new stamp club started when you move clear across the country is kind of tricky, because you don't know anyone, so you can't say, "Come on over for some stampy, inky fun!" Luckily for me, I've been discovered by a local lady who had been looking for a demo in her area for a long time. The closest ones she had found were way down in Knoxville, which was really too far for stamp classes and clubs.

So, as of now I have ONE stamp club member, and we are looking to find more locals who love to stamp and make pretty things. Another local lady has ordered from me online, and is inviting some friends to her house next month so I can show them watercoloring techniques. Maybe one of them will join the monthly fun! I hope so; the more the merrier!

This is one of the (three) cards we made. Since Mom is here for a two week visit, she joined us and we had a great time. Mom is a novice stamper, but she caught on quickly and was really pleased with how her cards turned out.

The "How To" for this card
Image panel: Whisper White 4" x 5-1/4" plus copy paper cut same size (for mask)
Mat: Basic Black 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
Card Base: Whisper White Thick 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded

1. Cut copy paper using Lots of Labels die (second largest size) centered on paper
2. Place mask over image panel and hold in place with painters tape or Washi tape.
3. Sponge So Saffron starting at bottom and working part way up. Sponge Calypso Coral starting at top and working dow into So Saffron, blending as you go. Remove mask
4. Using Basic Black ink, stamp tree image so leftmost branch just touches left side of cardstock. Stamp greeting to the right of the tree. Stamp leaves in Calypso Coral.
5. Emboss image panel using Softly Falling folder so the least concentration of dots is at the bottom of the cardstock. (Note: Archival ink will leave a ghost image on your folder which is easily cleaned with Stampin' Mist.)
6. Wrap ribbon around and adhere ends on back. Fasten image panel to black mat and then to card base. (Note: To avoid flattening your embossing, put the adhesive on the mat and place your embossed piece over it, pressing gently. Take care to not rub over the black ink - it may smudge!)
7. Adhere rhinestones on ribbon below greeting.

Ta-da, it's finished!!!

STAMPS: Sheltering Tree
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Basic Black
INK: Basic Black Archival, So Saffron, Calypso Coral
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Dies, Softly Falling embossing folder, Blushing Bride 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stamping Sponges, tape to hold mask in place

Beauty of the Season

Did you know that this is a stamp that YOU can pre-order from the Holiday Catalog? It's true! If you absolutely can't wait until August 28th, and you just HAVE to get something from the new catty, Beauty of the Season just might hold you over until it's all available!

The Cardinal was stamped on Watercolor Paper with StazOn Jet Black. After moistening the paper with an Aqua Painter, a Lost Lagoon wash was applied. While the background was drying, the bird was painted using Real Red. Baked Brown Sugar was used on the branches, and Real Red again on the berries. I did find I lost some of the detail on the face when I stamped it, and the eye kind of disappeared. So I took a black Sharpie to the smallest size of Basic Pearls and added a beady little eye! I swear, it looks like it's looking at me!

I need to work on my watercoloring skills a bit. Unfortunately, I didn't wait long enough for the sky background to dry before I started painting the branches and berries, so the ink ran a bit. Although that can be a lovely effect for some projects, it wasn't really the effect I was going for here. Oh well, live and learn. (Patience is a virtue - something I'm still working on, lol.)

 STAMPS: Beauty of the Season, Good Greetings
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Brushed Gold, Real Red, Watercolor Paper
INK: StazOn Jet Black, Real Red, Lost Lagoon, Daffodil Delight
ACCESSORIES: Aqua Painter, Gold Basic Metal Buttons, Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon

Swapping (Again!)

Here is the swap I held back a few days ago, because I had to wait until I was sure my Control Freaks peeps had received theirs. This is soooo much more vivid in real life! The Champagne Glimmer Paper mats behind the sun's face and the sunburst panel really add a lot of sparkle, and the Basic Black makes it pop!

Did you know about the August Big Shot special? If you buy the Big Shot (I love my Mr. Big!), you can choose a bundle of stamp set with matching Framelits (five bundles to choose from) for FREE! And one of them features a stamp set from the new Holiday Catalog, woohoo! (Christmas will be here before you know it!)  If you already own the Big Shot, you can save 15% on just the bundles.

Also, all the Blendabilities color sets are available for purchase now and I have a special offer for you, too! If you buy any of them this month, I will send you my Stampin' Blendabilities Tips and Tricks. It's loaded with helpful hints for getting the most out of your markers, as well as some cool techniques to try! This offer is only good for the month of August, so don't miss out!


STAMPS: Ray of Sunshine, Kinda Eclectic
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Basic Black, Hello Honey, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Moonlight DSP Stack
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Hello Honey
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Arrows TIEF, Hello Honey 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

I {Heart} Hearts

This card on Pinterest (so many great ideas, so little time to do them all!) inspired me to make something similar. The way the Heart-to-Heart punch was used was so clever.

Not having red cardstock with white polka-dots wasn't a problem - I simply used the Dot-Dot-Dot stamp and made my own!

Stamp: Sweetheart, Dot-Dot-Dot
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic, Whisper White Craft
Accessories: White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon, Heart-to-Heart Punch, Oval Punch (retired), Large Oval Punch