Coloring on Sahara Sand

This picture does not do this card justice. The white embossing detail doesn't show clearly, rest assured the embossing shows a nice clean intricate design. I had seen some cards where people colored a white embossed image with markers on Kraft card stock. The colors look very nice in contrast with the white line art. I decided to give it a try, I didn't want something as dark as Kraft, so I used Sahara Sand.

I used the flower from the Flower Shop stamp set, and the sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. I simply stamped the flower multiple times on the Sahara Sand with Versamark ink and heat embossed white embossing powder. I colored in the images with Coastal Cabana and Calypso Coral. I repeated this color scheme on the sentiment, it is stamped in Calypso Coral and matted with Coastal Cabana.

Materials

Flower Shop stamp set (w.130939,c.130942)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (w.128748, c.127802)
Sahara Sand card stock (121043)
Whisper White card stock (100730)
Coastal Cabana marker (in color set -131260)
Calypso Coral marker (subtles set - 131263)
Calypso Coral ink (126983)
Versamark Ink (102283)
White embossing powder (109132)
Word Window Punch (119857)
Modern Label Punch (119849)
Pearls (119247)

Visit my online store to purchase the materials for this project.

Ten Minute Card - Hope

This card is a combination of inspiration from multiple cards I've seen in various places like the demonstrator website and on Pinterest. I'm using one of my favorite stamp sets again - Blooming with Kindness. As I look at it now, the one thing I would change is adding a Coastal Cabana mat around the embossed panel, and then mounting it on a white card base.

Instructions

• Make card base out of Coastal Cabana card stock
• Cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock
• Emboss the Whisper White panel with the Framed Tulips Embossing folder, trim to the scallop design using trimmer
• Cut a 3 1/8" x 4 3/8" piece of Coastal Cabana card stock to use as a mat inside the embossed design
• Cut a 2 7/8 x 4 1/8" piece of Whisper White card stock to stamp on
• Using the En Francais background stamp, ink with Coastal Cabana ink - Stamp off onto a scrap piece of paper, then stamp onto the white card stock
• Ink the Bloom from the Blooming with Kindness stamp set, stamp on the upper right corner of the card stock
• Ink the Hope sentiment with Coastal Cabana ink and stamp in the lower left corner
• Adhere stamped panel onto the Coastal Cabana mat
• Adhere mat inside the embossed panel design
• Adhere embossed panel to the card base

Materials

All of these materials are available to purchase through my Stampin' Up! online store. Feel free to order there or to email me at stampingbandit@gmail.com.

• Blooming with Kindess Stamp Set (c.126422 w.131961)
• En Francais Stamp Set (c.127790, w.128562)
• Coastal Cabana Ink Pad (131175)
• Coastal Cabana Card Stock (131297)
• Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
• Framed Tulips Embossing Folder (121809)

Elegant Birthday Wishes

Inspired by some cards on Pinterest I wanted to create a nice diamond pattern accented with pearls with my score board. The card layout is based on a sketch challenge on SplitCoastStampers.

Not very many materials went into this project, and it came together very quickly.

Materials:

• Soft Sky card stock (131203)
• Whisper White card stock (100730)
• Soft Sky ink (131181)
• Blooming with Kindness Stamp Set (c.126422 w.131961)
• Simply Scored scoring board (122334)
• Simply Scored Diagonal Plate (125586)
• Pearls (119247)

2 DAYS LEFT -- Get free items during Sale-a-Bration - don't miss out on getting a free item for every 50 dollars spent, only until March 31, 2014! Visit my online store and get all of your paper crafting needs.

See Ya Later Alligator

Getting motivated with a couple different challenges in one card. I participated in both the sketch and color challenges this week on Splitcoast Stampers. Here is the card:

Materials

Island Indigo card stock (122923)

Raspberry Ripple card stock (126842)

Old Olive card stock (100702)

Whisper White card stock (100730)

Raspberry Ripple ink pad (126859)

Old Olive ink pad (126953)

See Ya Later Stamp Set *sale-a-bration (c.133536, w.133533)

Banner Blast Stamp Set (heart) *sale-a-bration (c.133554, w.133551)

Decorative Dots embossing folder *sale-a-bration (133520)

Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon (retired)

Pearls (119247)

I used a few items that you can get free during Sale-a-Bration - don't miss out on getting a free item for every 50 dollars spent, only until March 31, 2014! Visit my online store and get all your paper crafting needs.

Dotted Thanks

SplitCoastStampers had a great sketch challenge this week. Here is my card.

Directions

• Mark card base out of Island Indigo card stock
• Cut green pattern from Gingham Garden patterned paper at 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" adhere to card base
• Cut mat for right panel from Island Indigo cardstock 2 1/2" x 4 3/4"
• Cut right panel floral design from Gingham Garden patterned paper at 2 3/8" x 4 11/16" adhere to right panel mat, align the top to be flush
• Adhere right panel to card base, with the top of the panel flush to the pattern paper on card base
• Cut mat for stamped panel from Island Indigo card stock at 2 5/8" x 3 5/8"
• Cut panel for stamping from Whisper White card stock at 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
• Color flower from Polka-Dot Pieces with the following Markers - Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight then stamp it on the panel
• Color part of the stem from Polka-Dot Pieces with Pear Pizzazz marker and stamp on panel to create flower stem (using stamp-a-majig for placement)
• Once more color part of the stem and leaves from Polka-Dot Pieces with Pear Pizzazz marker and stamp stem and leaves (using stamp-a-majig for placement)
• Adhere stamped panel to mat, adhere to card base
• Stamp Thanks So Much circle from A Fitting Occasion stamp set in Night of Navy Ink on Whisper White cardstock
• Stamp Butterfly from A Fitting Occasion stamp set in Melon Mambo in the center of the circle sentiment (using stamp-a-majig for placement)
• Punch sentiment with 1" circle punch
• Die cut 1 1/8" circle using electronic die cut machine (I know, I know, I just don't think a 1 1/8" circle punch exists and I wanted my mats to be the same size)
• Adhere circle sentiment on the die cut circle
• Adhere to card base with Stampin' Dimensionals
• Tie Island Indigo Twine with ribbon around card
• Place a pearl in the center of the flower, butterfly and in the middle of the twine bow

Materials

• Polka-Dot-Pieces Stamp Set (c.129708, w.129705)
• A Fitting Occasion Stamp Set (c.127049, w. 131952)
• Gingham Garden DSP (129310)
• Island Indigo card stock (122923)
• Whisper White card stock (100730)
• Night of Navy Ink Pad (126970)
• Night of Navy Marker (100069)
• Melon Mambo Ink Pad (126948)
• Melon Mambo Marker (collection 131259)
• Island Indigo Marker (collection 131262)
• Daffodil Delight Marker (119677)
• Pear Pizzazz Marker (131266)
• Island Indigo Twine (125575)
• 1" circle punch (119868)
• Pearls (119247)
• Snail Adhesive (104332)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)

Sale-A-Bration is still on! Take advantage of a free item for every $50 you spend! Shop 24/7 in my online store.

You Make Me Happy - and a couple of tips!

I finally had about an hour to dedicate to getting creative. I came up with a card that uses some of the Sale-A-Bration goodies available free for every $50 you spend. Here is the card:

Tip #1

I bought an extra See Ya Later stamp set in clear mount. I absolutely love the style of the sentiments, but may not always want the icon that goes with them. The icon and the sentiment are together on the same stamp. Masking is a pain and I wanted a better solution than resorting to using markers to color in only the parts that I wanted directly onto the stamp. So, in the end I turned my set of 4 into a set of 8 by cutting the stamp in two. I cut the icon loose from the sentiment! Because this set is an extra, I have the choice now to use the stamp as a whole or to use my separated set.

Tip #2

I needed to apply Dimensionals so I could mount my card elements around the twine. I only had a little space to work with, so I cut the edges off of the Dimensionals sheet for long and put the narrower pieces behind my elements.

It's Sale-A-Bration Time!!!

Remember that Sale-A-Bration is going on right now. Shop in my online store and not only get improved hostess benefits, but you can also take advantage of a free Sale-A-Bration item for every $50 that you spend.

Materials

Pool Party Cardstock (122924)

Calypso Coral Cardstock (122925)

Sahara Sand Cardstock (121043)

Whisper White Cardstock (100730)

Calypso Coral Ink Pad (126983)

See Ya Later Stamp Set *Sale-A-Bration (c.133536, w.133533)

Pool Party Twine *Sale-A-Bration (133522)

Scalloped Hearts Embosslit (retired)

Cloudy Days Embossing Folder *Clearance Rack (127022)

Scallop Oval Punch (119856)

Ovals Collection Framelits (129381)

Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Snail Adhesive (104332)

Watercolor Dahlias

I keep seeing white mats on white cardstock and I like the look. Watercolor techniques also seem to be hot right now, so I thought I'd combine the two.

Instructions

1. Create card base with Pool Party Cardstock
2. Cut Whisper White cardstock mat at 5 1/4" x 4"
3. Cut Whisper White cardstock stamping panel at 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"
4. Rub stamping panel with Embossing Buddy
5. Stamp Dahlia from Regarding Dahlias Stamp set in Versamark in the left hand corner of the stamping panel
6. Add Pool Party embossing powder, heat emboss
7. Squeeze Pool Party Ink pad, color the non-lined petals with the Aqua Painter, picking up ink from the lid of the ink pad
8. Stamp sentiment from the Regarding Dahlias stamp set
9. Add ribbon and knot, adhere with Sticky Strip
10. Add Pearls
11. Adhere Whisper White mat on the cardstock base
12. Adhere stamped panel on the mat with dimensionals

Materials

• Pool Party Cardstock (122924)
• Whisper White Cardstock (100730)
• Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set (c.130327,w.130324)
• Pool Party Ink (126982)
• Embossing Buddy (103083)
• Heat Tool (129053)
• Aqua Painter (103954)
• Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon *retired
• Pearls (119247)
• Sticky Strip (104294)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Remember that you can find these products online in my store, shop 24/7 and don't forget to take advantage of Sale-a-bration where you get a free item for every $50 spent!

5 Minute Card - Happy Birthday CAS

CAS - Clean and Simple

I haven't crafted in a while, and I *needed* to get my crafting fix. I went into my room with no plans again and just got to work. This is the card that I created:

As for techniques, I used direct Marker to Stamp coloring for the candle.

Please shop for these products and more in my online store! Right now it's Sale-A-Bration where for every $50 you spend you get a free item from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog. Don't miss out there's some really cute stuff you can get!

Materials

• Cycle Celebration Stamp Set (c.130273, w.130270)
• Perfectly Penned Stamp Set (c.122892, w.128703)
• Night of Navy Cardstock (100867)
• Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650)
• Print Poetry DSP (retired)
• Night of Navy Ink Pad (126970)
• Night of Navy Marker (100069)
• Summer Starfruit Marker (collection 126856 )
• Gumball Green Marker (collection 126856)

Ornamental Kisses Valentine

I've seen people use the Ornament Framelits on quite a few occasions to create things like vases to use with flower stamps. What I did with this card was very similar, I die cut an ornament, but this time, just cut one side of it to make a flattened bottom, and retained the pointed tip. Here is the card that I put together.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Create a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card base out of Real Red cardstock
2. Using Brushed Silver cardstock, a die from the Ornament Framelit collection, and the Big Shot Magnetic platform, die cut the ornament shape. In my case I had it overlap the edge to avoid trimming the bottom of the kiss.
   
3. Next, take out the Circle Collection framelits to size up the circles with the die cut kiss. In my case I am using the 5th and 6th (from the smallest) dies.
   
4. Using the larger of the two circle dies, die cut Real Red cardstock
5. Emboss a panel of Whisper White cardstock using the Fancy Fan embossing folder
6. Using the smaller circle die, die cut a circle from the embossed cardstock.
   
7. Using Real Red ink, stamp the "LOVE YOU" sentiment from the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set
   
8. Die cut the banner using the Itty Bitty Banners Framelits collection and the Magnetic Platform to keep it in place
   
9. Assemble the medallion of the card by adhering the Whisper White embossed circle onto the Real Red circle using glue dots. Apply a glue dot behind the tip of the kiss, adhere the banner. Finally adhere the kiss to the embossed circle using Stampin' Dimensionals.
   
10. Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" panel of Designer Series Paper, I used the "I Am Me" collection, and adhere it to the card base.
11. Wrap card with Whisper White Organza Ribbon (adhere with small pieces of sticky strip), then adhere the medallion you assembled in Step 9
12. Tie a bow and adhere to card using glue dots
    
13. Assemble materials to create a clay flower, Pool Party reinker, Clay, and Flower Mold. I also grabbed a plastic plate and rubber gloves
    
14. Flatten out bits of clay and add a couple drops of reinker to each of them
    
15. Wearing the gloves, knead the ink into the clay (the gloves won't be necessary anymore after it's been thoroughly kneaded)
    
16. Using the tip of your finger and a drop of water, lightly wet the mold, then press the clay into the mold.
    
17. Release the clay from the mold and set the flowers out to air dry overnight (they will still feel soft, but they will retain their shape)
    
18. Once dry, apply a clay flower to the ribbon on the card using Sticky Strip (Glue dots will not work with the clay)
    

MATERIALS

All of these materials are available to purchase through my Stampin' Up! online store. Feel free to order there or to email me at stampingbandit@gmail.com

• Real Red cardstock (102482)
• Whisper White cardstock (100730)
• Brushed Silver cardstock (100712)
• I Am Me Designer Series Paper (130138)
• Real Red Ink (126949)
• Pool Party reinker (122933)
• Itty Bitty Banners Stamp Set (w.132022, c.126257)
• Fancy Fan embossing folder (127751)
• Circles Collection Framelits (130911)
• Ornaments Collection Framelits (127816)
• Bitty Banners Collection Framelits (129267)
• Magnetic Big Shot Platform (130658)
• Clay (130685)
• Flower Mold (131272)
• Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319)
• Sticky Strip (104294)
• Glue Dots (103683)

Happy Birthday Card with a Tri-Color Green

I wanted to try the baby wipe technique. I wanted a darker green color, mid-green color and a light green color. It ended up being a little too subtle for my liking but I thought I'd post it here anyway. The next time I will probably go all out bright contrasting colors, like vivid blues, pinks and purples.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Create card base out of Pear Pizazz cardstock
2. Cut a mat out of Whisper White cardstock at 4" x 5 1/4"
3. Cut a mat out of Pear Pizazz cardstock at 3 3/4" x 5"
4. Cut a panel of Whisper White cardstock for stamping at 3 5/8" x 4 7/8"
5. Prepare the baby wipe technique by adding a couple baby wipes, stacked and folded onto a plate, have your re-inkers and stamp ready. In this case I am using Garden Green, Wild Wasabi and Pear Pizazz ink with a stamp from the flowering flourishes set.
   
6. Create an impression of the stamp by pressing down on it on the baby wipe, this will give you an idea as to where to place the ink.
   
7. Start by adding drops of the darkest reinker to the bottom of the stamped impression.
   
8. Continue adding drops with your mid-tone reinker.
   
9. Next add drops of the lightest reinker, and fill in any spaces with the lightest reinker (I accidentally filled in with my midtone here, but I would think the effect would be nicer filling in with the lightest reinker)
   
   
   
   
10. Now you can use the baby wipe as an ink pad.
    
11. Stamp the flourish on your Whisper White cardstock panel
    
12. Stamp your sentiment using Pear Pizazz ink. The sentiment I used is from the Simply Sketched hostess set.
    
13. Assemble the mats and your stamped panel, add Pearls
    
14. Add rhinestones for a finishing touch and you're done!
    

MATERIALS

All of these materials are available via my Stampin' Up! online store.

• Pear Pizazz cardstock (131201)
• Whisper White cardstock (100730)
• Pear Pizazz ink pad (131180)
• Pear Pizazz reinker (131160)
• Wild Wasabi reinker (109020)
• Garden Green reinker (102059)
• Flowering Flourishes Stamp Set (w.131998,c.126367)
• Simply Sketched Stamp Set (w.129669,c.129672) *hostess
• Pearls (119247)
• Rhinestones (119246)

Above and Beyond Tri-Shutter Card

I've seen quite a few tri-shutter technique cards but never attempted one before now. They are a tad time consuming, but overall it is a relatively easy project. Here is the card:

For this card, I followed the Splitcoast Stamper's tutorial/video that can serve as extra documentation if I'm not too clear in my instructions below.

Instructions

1. Cut a 5 1/2" x 12" piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock
2. Score at 2", 4", 8" and 10"
   
3. Move to a trimmer, place the cardstock in lengthwise, 1 1/2" in, using the point on the blade housing cut a line between the 2" and 10" score lines
   
4. Turn the paper the other way lengthwise and repeat step 3 on the other side
   
   
   
   
5. Make the card base fold, so that it looks like the following:
   
6. Cut Mats for each square on the card using Tangerine Tango cardstock 

   Dimensions (inches)	Quantity
   1 7/8 x 5 3/8	2
   3 7/8 x 1 3/8	2
   1 3/8 x 1 7/8	4
   1 7/8 x 2 3/8	2
   3 7/8 x 2 3/8	1

7. Cut Patterned Paper (various Watercolor Wonder and Venetian Romance patterns)

   Dimensions (inches)	Quantity	Notes
   1 3/4 x 5 1/4	2	Pattern 1 - Main pattern - Watercolor Wonder paper
   3 3/4 x 1 1/4	2	Pattern 2 - top/bottom lengthwise paper, I stamped mine with Tangerine Tango ink with the En Francais background stamp, also using Watercolor Wonder paper
   1 1/4 x 1 3/4	4	Pattern 3 - a pop of color! - I used Venetian Romance paper here
   1 3/4 x 2 1/4	2	Pattern 1
   3 3/4 x 2 1/4	1	Pattern 3 - center panel

8. Apply mats and patterned paper to the card base, I tied a ribbon around the bottom lengthwise panel
   
9. Decorate :) - I used the Beautiful Wings Embosslit for the butterflies embellished with Pearls. I used the One in a Million Stamp set for the sentiments using Tangerine Tango ink. The sentiments were cut out using the Labels Collection Framelits. The flower on the main sentiment is from the Love and Sympathy stamp set, I felt it fit the watercolor feel well. It was colored with Pear Pizazz, Daffodil Delight markers, then I thumped the Tangerine tango on the flower part to give it depth. I also punched some borders using the scallop ribbon punch. 
   

Here is what the card looks like when it is shut

Materials:

• Daffodil Delight Cardstock 12x12 (124275)
• Tangerine Tango Cardstock (111349)
• Whisper White Cardstock (100730)
• Watercolor Wonder Patterned Paper (132994)
• Venetian Romance Patterned Paper (130144)
• Daffodil Delight Marker (119677)
• Tangerine Tango Marker (available in collection 131264 or collection 131259)
• Pear Pizazz Marker (131266)
• Tangerine Tango Ink Pad (126946)
• En Francais Background Stamp (w.128562, c. 127790)
• One in a Million Stamp Set (w.132052, c.126382)
• Love and Sympathy Stamp Set (w.128652, c. 122797)
• Pearls (119247)
• Tangerine Tango Scalloped Dotted Ribbon * clearance rack!! (124144)
• Scallop Ribbon Punch (119275)
• Beautiful Wings Embosslit (118138)
• Labels Collection Framelits (125598)
• Scoring Board (122334)
• Trimmer (126889)

All of the products for the project above are available in my online store ! Shop today and take advantage of clearance rack items!