StampersPad

Who Can Resist...

Who can resist this Versa Mark Resist Technique?  It's simply gorgeous and so simple to do!  I have to say, when I first became a demonstrator I tried to do this technique but was unsuccessful every time so, to say it's easy is to know the trick to make it really work.  lol 

I love the soft colour combination is so appealing to me and makes wonderful non-standard use of my Autumn Splendor stamp set.  This card I totally cased from a Convention Swap card I saw at my friend's house and don't know who designed it.  Normally I use leaf sets only in the fall but this card suits many occasions.  Unfortunately, at my stage of life I seem to need a lot of sympathy cards so I used this greeting from "Teeny Tiny Wishes".  I had so much fun making it I created many other versions stamping Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary and Thinking of You as greetings so this card can be multipurpose.  I just noticed my photo doesn't do justice to the little pearl that's beside the greeting.  Look again and you might notice it. 

The Recipe:
Cardstock: whisper white, pool party, glossy white
Ink: classic - pool party, Versa Mark
Stamps:  Autumn Splendor - w116503
Punches: word window - 119857
Other: Pearls, glue dots, brayer

Technique: 

 1. Stamp images on glossy white cardstock in Versa Mark ink. Space you images so that some go off the paper.
KEY****SET ASIDE to DRY FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR OR HEAT SET WITH YOUR HEAT GUN!
2. Once the versa mark is dry ink your brayer with classic ink of your choice and roll it over the whole surface of your glossy cardstock.  Repeat if necessary to make your ink even or darker.
3. Rub off excess ink with a kleenex and your versa marked images will appear white as they resist the classic ink.  Stamp over the whole glossy cardstock in the ink of your choice.  Here I used pool party.  It's darker looking as it's more intense when stamped.

Learn more stamping tricks and techniques at my Stampers Club that meet the Third Sunday of every month.  We have room for one more lady so contact me soon to reserve your seat or to get the details!  Linda@StampersPad.com

Thanks for visiting.  I'd love you to pop by again.

Linda Willman

 

Faux Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl is that opalecent, shiny surface found inside the shell of a clam.  If you're lucky you may have a blouse with mother of pearl buttons.  In my mother's day that was what all white buttons were made of. 

Using Frost White Shimmer paint (pg. 195) and a scrunched up ball of plastic wrap you can create a fair imitation of this beautiful surface. 

 

In the card above the flower from 5th Avenue Floral (#113734) was stamped in black stazon ink on a Mother of Pearl surface.  To create this opalecent surface first pour out a little of the Frost White Shimmer paint into a saucer.  Dip a scrunched up piece of plastic wrap into the paint and wipe the extra off before pouncing this onto a piece of glossy white cardstock.   Make sure to leave some areas unpainted.  Once this has dried, stamp your image in stazon ink and colour with markers.  I used Melon Mambo and Regal Rose in the flower above.  The center I coloured in Concord Crush.  Lastly I sponged the rest of the glossy cardstock with Regal Rose. 

The other flowers on the Whisper White card front were stamped in Versa Mark and sprinkled with our new Melon Mambo embossing powder and heated until melted.  Love this new product!!! #123223

Here's another photo showing the actual shimmer of this faux Mother of Pearl surface when the light hits it just right.

 
 

Below is my first version of another card I made using this same technique in an attempt to create a more masculine card.

In this card I stamped the image "Sail Away" #123013 in black stazon ink on the Faux Mother of Pearl surface.  Again I used markers to colour the sails in Daffodil delight and Tangerine Tango.  The mother of Pearl Surface was sponge in Marina Mist (sky) and Not Quite Navy (water).  Hint, In order not to muddy the colouring of the sails I masked them before sponging.

 

I hope you give this technique a try.  My stampers club enjoyed it and I think you will love the surprising results. 

Order your supplies here anytime of day or night. 

Thanks for dropping by and have a terrific stamping time this week.

Linda
 

Elastic Band Brayer Background

Try saying that a few times.  Lol!  But it is fun and fabulous to look at.  This technique done in contrasting colours says Celebrate to me!  I can see it done in black and white for New Years too.  What do you think?

 

Supplies:

Brayer (I used 3 but you could wash in between colours and reink) #102395
Various sizes of elastic bands
3 coordinating ink pads (ie. tempting turquoise, tangerine tango & pacific point)
cardstock: tempting turquoise, tangerine tango, pacific point & Glossy White Cardstock #102599 (25 sheets)

Steps:

1. Remove the roller from your brayer and wrap two or three elastic bands around it and replace.
2. Ink your roller by rolling it across your inkpad repetitively.
3. Roll across your glossy cardstock with your inked brayer repeating if necessary.
4. Change colours and repeat as you want with contrasting colours and different sized elastic bands.

On this card we also used "Create a Cupcake" stamp set # 121982 and "Build a Cupcake" punch #121807. This was so quick and easy to stamp and punch out that it's made me a huge fan of the new matching stamps and punches by Stampin' Up!

Thanks for popping by,

Linda

Faux Tin Tile Technique

Looking at this card I can visualize the tin tile ceiling in my old kitchen.  It was painted over before I bought the 100 year-old building but I loved it.  I also love how quickly this card came together and think this colour combination speaks of spring.  It IS coming... 

Supplies:

Brushed silver cardstock #100712
1 ¼ Square punch  #119865
Finial Press Embossing Folder #115963 
The Big Shot #113439
Stamps-Hostess level 2 Fast and Fabulous
artichoke grosgrain ribbon 1/4 inch (retired)
cardstock: dafodil delight, always artichoke, whisper white
blender pen and so saffron & old olive watercolour wonder crayons
Daffodil delight marker#119677
basic pearls #119247

Directions:

1. Punch 9 squares from silver cardstock piece cut to 3”x 8 ½”. 
2. Place your squares in the Finial Press Embossing Folder, layer on the multipurpose platform and run through the Big Shot. 
3. Remove your embossed “tiles” and arrange on a sheet of cardstock 3-7/8”  x  5-5/16” (artichoke) making sure your spacing is even.
4. Attach this layer onto your cardfront (daffodil delight) and decorate with stamped image of your choice.  
5. Stamp your image in Stazon ink and colour with so saffron & always artichoke watercolour wonder crayons.  Use your blender pen to paint the image.
6. Touch up the centers of your flowers with the daffodil delight marker and blend with your blender.
7. Add pearls and mount your image onto daffodil and artichoke cardstock.
8. Tie a matching ribbon around your image and mount onto your tiles using dimentionals.

Hope you give this technique a try.

Thanks for popping by,

Linda

Pastel Embossing

I hope this card inspires you to get out your Stampin' Pastels and have some fun with them.  Stampin' Pastels were about the second thing I ordered from Stampin' up... way back.  What a terrific and reasonable way to have access to ALL the wonderful Stampin' Up! colours!  I couldn't get enough of them but have to confess I haven't visited my pastels in quite a while.  They'd be dusty but I store them under other things. lol

There are so many ways to apply pastels and get terrific results that I am drawn back to them.  Pastel embossing is easy, permanent and effective . (I think so anyway.)

 

Pastel embossing is best done on black or a darker coloured cardstock like rich razzleberry, perfect plum, night of navy, bravo burgundy, elegant eggplant, not quite navy, early esspresso or chocolate chip. 

HOW TO:

1. Stamp your image in whisper white craft ink.

2. Sprinkle with white embossing powder.  Tap off the excess and melt with a heat gun.

3. Using an eyeshadow brush (rubber tipped) pick up some pastel of your choice and apply on top of white embossed image.  I like to leave some white showing but you could cover it all.

4. Use an eracer to remove any stray pastel from the black cardstock and when finished remelt your coloured image with a heat gun.  * NOTE: This is what makes the pastel permanently attached to your image.

To recreate this card:

Stamp sets:
Cottage Garden w #117068 c #120003
You're A Gem w #122268  c #122270
Supplies:
Whisper White Craft Ink pad #101731
white embossing powder #109132
Stampin'Pastels #120962
5/8 Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon #117289
Basic Black cardstock #121045
Pink Pirouette cardstock #111351
Pretty in Pink cardstock #100459
one inch circle punch #119868
3/4" x 15/16" oval punch #120908

You can order what you need here.

Hope you have a wonderful colourfilled weekend.  Thanks for dropping by,

Linda

Stained Mosaic Elements

This elegant stained glass technique really suites the Elements of Style stamp images perfectly don't you think?  Though this shot doesn't show the contrast as well as "in person" the embossed mosaic is painted over with a black watercolour crayon and does look like a true mosaic.  My stampers club enjoyed trying this technique this month and now they have something to save their rubber scraps for. 

 

What you'll need to create this card:

Stamp sets:
Elements of Style w #118611 c #120045
Perfect Punches w #117022  c #120516
Supplies:
StazON Jet Black Ink Pad #101406
Versa Mark Ink pad #102283
clear embossing powder #109130
watercolour pencils #101879
blender pen #102845
neutrals watercolour crayons #119805
aqua painter #103954
basic gray taffeta ribbon (retired)
Cherry cobbler cardstock #119685
Basic Gray cardstock #121044
Whisper White cardstock #100730
Scallop Trim border punch #118402
Modern Label Extra Large punch #119849
Ticket corner punch #119867
Basic Pearls #119246   Plus.... rubber scraps and a wooden block.

HOW TO:

Save scraps of rubber from your punched stamped sets to create your own mosaic stamp.  Adhere cut pieces of rubber to a block of wood (back side of a stamp) or a piece of plexiglass.  Put the pieces tightly together.  Ink this mosaic with versamark to stamp over a piece of designer paper or a stamped and coloured image.  (I inked Elements of Style in StazOn ink then coloured with watercolour pencils and a blender pen.) Sprinkle with clear embossing powder, tap off excess and heat with an embossing gun.  Next rub your aqua painter over the end of the black watercolour crayon and spead over top of the embossed image.  The black will only colour the area of the image that is not embossed giving it the appearance of a mosaic.  Wipe off any excess water with a piece of paper towel.  Taa Daa!

Enjoy trying this with designer paper as well as with different coloured images. 

Thanks for popping by, and have a terrific weekend.

Linda

Bouncing Brayer Christmas

Of all my tools, not including my BIG SHOT, I love my brayer best.   It can help you create the most surprising effects and unique cards like this one which my Card Club got to create this month.  (November 2010.  Sorry this post was not published when it was supposed to be.)

 
 

Cardstock:  Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Pefect Plumb and glossy white.  Re inkers: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Perfect Plumb.  I ran the baja breeze layer through my Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impression Folder.  After the background was brayered we stamped the image from "Come To Bethlehem" in versa mark and heat embossed with black embossing powder.   

Glossy cardstock has a very dressy look.  Here's a peek at it in different lighting.

 

You can find the directions for the bouncing brayer technique on www.Splitcoaststampers.com and here's a direct link to it.  Instead of using a purchased multicoloured ink pad I created my own ink pad from a piece of felt and re inkers.  If you want to see the how of my approach, just let me know by commenting below.

Have a terrific day. 

 Linda

Tripple Embossed Vellum

I've really been enjoying the fall leaves on my morning walks my little West-Highland "White" terrier, Casper.  Fianlly I remembered to bring my camera along and take a few shots.  

Here's a few leaves we enjoyed last week and a card they inspired me to create.

 
Oak leaves in bravo burgundy, rose red, yellow and various oranges.

 
  
A few remaining beautiful Maple leaves.

I'm afraid my creation doesn't rival these but I did try. 

 
Yup, three times embossed - check it out below:

This oak leaf is stamped in craft brown on vellum, dusted in clear embossing powder, and heated.  Afterward I used markers to colour the vellum and followed up with clear ep and heated again.  Because the ink isn't absorbed by vellum it's possible to emboss after using markers!!!  At this point you can cut the leaf out.  There will be a white edge around the outside of the image.  To remove this edge I finally used craft spots (old olive, rose red and more mustard) to colour the edges and embossed again with clear ep.  In real life, because I popped this up on a large glue dot, the light shines through it eluminates the colours.  Not so visable in this photograph.

Needed:  Cardstock: cajun craze, more mustard (though it doesn't look like it in this photo) I also used a piece of designer paper for the center square.   Stamp set:  Autumn Splender #116503 and Sanded #109294 Ink: Craft - chocolate chip, old olive, rose red and more mustard  Markers: bravo burgundy, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie

 For other dog lovers here's a shot of Casper with  my hubby.  He's hanging back waiting for me while I snapped the photos above.

 

Hope you have a terrific weekend and if the rain hasn't removed all the leaves in your neck of the woods be sure to enjoy them while you can.

Linda

Friday's Featured Folder - Northern Flurry

Everyone deserves to treat themselves a little and Sizzix Embossing Folders are my personal indulgence.  If you haven't tried them, in my opinion, you should.  If you need to see a product in action before purchasing (usually I'm like that but not with embossing folders... lol) then you'll enjoy today's post.  Check out what my Demonstrator friends have done with today's featured folder - Northern Reflections Textured Embossing Folder #120902.

 

 
Kathleen Bender embelished each embossed snowflake with Smooch Pearlized "Illuminate Top Coat" #121084 and a Basic Rhinestone.  The greeting is stamped in versamark and heat embossed in silver. 

 

I don't know who designed this card but they also dusted each embossed snowflake with a shimmer paint and added some beautiful baja breeze snowflakes punched out with the Norther Frost Decorative Strip #120901 and the Big Shot. 

 

Maureen Winges ran a sheet vellum through the textured embossing folder and really created a beautiful white on transparent layer without embelishment but she also added bling!  (some dazzling diamonds in the center of each flake)  The stamp set "Big On Christmas" #116578, adds another dimention (pun intended) as the snowman is popped up with a dimentional.  Stamped in Baja Breeze, coloured with markers and the dazzling diamonds really add sparkle to each letter. 

If you scroll back up you'll notice that the orientaion of the snowflakes can be modified to accomodate whatever greeting or image you wish to add.  I hope you're impressed with this textured embossing folder and want to give it a try.  Why not join my Big Shot Class this month or next and get a chance to play with it?

You may think this folder limits you to a blue pallet.  Not!  Check back tomorrow to see another sample card not blue!

Thanks for popping by,

Linda

 

Autumn Brayered Sky

Happy October!  Finally, after almost a week of rain, it's stopped and we are able to enjoy the fresh fall air and gorgeous leaves!  I only hope they stay on the trees for a while longer so we can fully appreciate the beauty of this season.  On the upside, I did get lots of stamping done this week and even cleaned out another corner in my stamp room.

This next card certainly has a fall tone and was a card we made at our Stampers Club last month. 

We used the brayer on glossy cardstock to achieve this sky effect. 

Technique steps:

First ink the brayer in so saffron ink and roll over the whole cardstock.  Afterwards punch and place a circle of sticky note on the page and brayer the top third with peach parfait.  (the sticky circle masks the area for the sun)  After applying the ink use a kleenex to blend the colours and move some peach parfait down to the bottom of the page.   Finally ink up a sponge with cajun craze and sponge the top of the page heavily and then lightly down and around the sun.   Obviously each sky you try will turn out a little differently just as the actual sky changes moment by moment.  So there are no mixtakes with this technique. 

The image was stamped in stazon in the above example and in black craft in the example below.

Mounted on Whisper White and then Peach Parfait with the greeting stamped on so saffron in black.  The greeting was stamped first on so saffron and using the modern label punch, popped out.  The black was first punched with the word window punch, then, centering the hole, punched with the modern label punch and layered on top of the so saffron.

Here are another couple of examples of the same colour layering.  All cards are created using the stamp set Just Believe #116948 wood or #120453 clear.

Above, I decided to mount my artwork on top of a so saffron cardfront with only the addition of only two black brads. 

Not mounted, this sample is only 3" by 4" and is made by each member to keep as a reminder of how to do the technique in the future.  Along with a page explaining the process this helps everyone expand the use of one stamp set.

If you live in Ottawa take adantage of this beautiful day and hopefully, the weekend, to enjoy the fall leaves.

Thanks for popping by, and be sure to come again.

Linda