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Showing posts from July, 2017

Rose Wonder and Vellum

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This card was inspired by the technique spot on page 162 in the annual catalog. I stamped the verse from Isaiah inside the card because I designed it with a cancer patient in mind. It is another of the cards we made at my July class. We embossed the rose and greeting on the front of the vellum card stock and then colored it on the backside using Melon Mambo and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers. It was so easy to line them up the way I wanted by placing both stamps on the same clear block (F). Because adhesives show through the vellum, I used the brads to attach it to Melon Mambo card stock. Sad to say, there are no brads in the current catalog, but you could use glue dots and cover them with enamel shapes. I tried using a method I had seen on-line where you sponge glue on the back of your vellum card stock and adhere it that way. Because it is all over, you don't see the adhesive. However, it smeared the ink on the back. As I write this, I'm thinking I should have seen

Cool Treats

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It's summertime and ice cream is a must! What better, non-caloric way to indulge than with the Cool Treats stamp set? My July stamp class attendees made this card. Although we only converted a single strip of Whisper White card stock into designer paper, I would stamp a larger piece and then cut it into strips if preparing to make a number of cards. We also used the Marbled background stamp. I love it! And it goes so well with the swirled ice cream cone. With my catalog open to page 82 where the Cool Treats stamp set is pictured, I'm noticing the swirled frosting in the Sweet Cupcake stamp set. That, too, would be great with this background. In fact, I can see that background as water or sky for boats or airplanes or birds or... You get the idea. Trick:   Use grid paper beneath your work. Keep the background stamp rubber side up while inking it. Leave it that way, place your card stock on top and fold over the grid paper while applying smooth pressure to the card stock. You

Heartland Stamp Set for Masculine Cards

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As I age, there seems to be a greater need for sympathy and thinking of you cards. My cousin, David, a couple years older than I am, was recently diagnosed with a form of Alzheimer's where he will lose his ability to speak. He's also finding he has to give up his beloved woodworking because he's more prone to accidents. Then there's a distant cousin who was diagnosed with bladder cancer, a different form from mine. He had his bladder removed (thankfully, I am now cancer free). Difficult times, probably somewhat scary. Both men know how to lean on God as they walk these challenging paths. Anyway, I made essentially the same card for both men. And I experimented with this stamp. I think the result looks somewhat like watercolor, but in reality I used my sponge daubers to add the color. It also gives the barn a slightly old and faded look. I realize, however, that I put the embossed piece on backwards, but it still looks good. Note: it's important to cut the ova

Three Embossing Techniques

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Sheet Music and Tranquil Tulips

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Whenever I get new stamps, I find myself wondering how to use them, especially if I don't have the other sets used with the samples in our catalog. I was so excited about our Sheet Music background stamp but struggled with what stamp sets to use with it. So I had a pile of my newer stamp sets sitting beside me and decided the hostess set, Tranquil Tulips would work really well. Other than Basic Black and Whisper White, I used our new In Colors, Tranquil Tide and Berry Burst. The words come from the Flourishing Phrases stamp set. Products Used: Sheet Music background stamp, W 143967, $20.00; C 143970, $15.00 Flourishing Phrases rubber stamp set (18), W 141531, $49.00; C 141534, $37.00 Tranquil Tulips photopolymer stamps (22), $143767, $10.00 (hostess set only) Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.00 Berry Burst 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 144243, $8.00 Tranquil Tide 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 144246, $8.00 Berry Bur

Number of Years Stamp Set

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I have not used this set in a while and I don't know why. I always love the cards made with it. But it seems I only pull it out when there's a special birthday to celebrate, like my friend Nancy's 80th birthday. She goes to our church and her husband is planning a big party for her. So excited to share in the celebration for such a sweet woman! For this card I worked in a lot of In Colors. Everyone seems to love the Lemon Lime Twist, but I wasn't so sure. However, it was perfect for this card. I used two of the In Colors introduced last year (Dapper Denim and Sweet Sugarplum) and two new ones (Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist). I'll let you in on a little secret: I apparently had some ink on my thumb and left a tiny smudge on my artwork. I didn't want to ruin all my work, so I pulled out a Dapper Denim Enamel Shape (the heart) and covered it up. Who would guess I hadn't planned that all along? And this card also gave me a chance to use the new Mini Sta