tea-drinking stamper

Needing to make a masculine birthday card for a fellow stamper's husband, I wanted to use a set I knew she didn't have, or at least hadn't made in class with me. I chose the Country Road stamp set from the annual catalog along with some Brusho, a technique with which I am still learning to become comfortable. I have discovered, however, that our Stampin' Spritzers definitely make a difference when spritzing paper. I had bought a cheap one elsewhere but it doesn't have as fine a mist and just doesn't work as well. This set is one of those sets you can use as a collage  or feature just one or two elements of the set. My card is essentially a collage design. Because this was for a friend and not for a class, I also used the retired Chocolate Chip card stock and ink, which is really my favorite brown rather than the Early Espresso, which is almost black. In all honesty, the center of the wheel didn't ink up very well, so I added an old button. If I'd been

I love this stamp set; obviously or I wouldn't have purchased it. I love that it can be a fall card, a Thanksgiving card, or a masculine birthday card. For this Thanksgiving card, I used a different fold than I've used before. In essence, this card is a card on a card. You'll see what I mean as  you look at the illustrations below. The card fits in a standard medium envelope. I cut the larger Cajun Craze card base at 4-1/4" x  8-1/2" and scored it at 5-1/2". I then added the pieces of Country Lane Designer Series Paper to the inside and the folded-over section (4" x 5-1/4" and 4" x 2-3/4").  The inner "card" base is simply 3" x 8" scored at 4" and can be centered and attached before stamping. Both stamped-on pieces of Whisper White card stock are 2-3/4" x 3-3/4".  The images are stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored with Stampin' Blends. I chose to color the pumpkins in Cajun Craze

I have had so much fun creating cards with the Country Home stamp set and coordinating products. I actually made a set of cards to add to my daughter's birthday gift. When creating this card, I was looking for ideas to do something a little different from most of the cards made with this set, which meant a little fussy cutting. But before I did that, I decided I would use this piece of dsp from the pack of Country Lane Designer Series Paper.  When I design a card, I begin by laying elements out before adhering them until I'm satisfied with the design. I had a few of these vintage brads laying around, so I added one in the upper corner before adhering the Blackberry Bliss piece. I love this pattern! The problem is that I'm also very fond of the reverse side. I stamped the one arrangement twice and colored them with my Stampin' Blends. Then I adhered the bottom portion to a piece of Old Olive card stock, tied it with the new Braided Linen Trim and mounted the unit w

I just love the Country Home suite! I've created a number of cards with this stamp set and its coordinating designer paper. The one I'm sharing here is very easy and uses the popular cotton stalks.  I actually used my light Smokey Slate Stampin' Blend on the bases of the cotton bolls and pulled the color outward with my color lifter. Added a little texture and made them stand out a little more on the Whisper White background. I made this card twice, once using the rustic pitcher and the second time using the milk can. The ribbon is discontinued but adds that special extra touch. Products Used: Country Home photopolymer stamp set (14), 147678, $21.00 Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.75 Mint Macaron 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 138337, $.50 Country Lane 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (12), 147804, $11.00 Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, 132708, $6.00 Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends Combo Pack (2), 147283, $9.0

Much of this card was learned from a demonstrator in the UK but with my own personal twist. I haven't used my Watercolor Pencils that much since I first received them, especially since the Stampin' Blends came out. However, I wanted to blend the colors without worrying about mixing colors on the tips of my Blends, which is the perfect reason to use the pencils. For this card I chose to use Watercolor Paper.  Somewhere I heard the trick to remember which black ink to use with the different media for coloring. If it's water-based ink (our markers or ink pads), use Staz-On ink; if it's alcohol-based (Stampin' Blends), use Memento ink - the opposite of the color implements. So I used the Staz-On ink and Aqua Painters to blend all the colors coloring with the colors. Remember, you don't have to color completely when using the Watercolor Pencils because adding water allows you to pull the color where you want it. Notice, too, how using less of the Early Espresso o