My card is a tribute to three of the 2022-2024 In Colors – Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party, and Starry Sky. They’ll be leaving the Stampin’ Up! color family on April 30th. The New Annual Catalog will launch on May 1st, when we’ll be saying hello to five new on trend colors. This transition is usually bittersweet for me. Orchid Oasis and Starry Sky are up there with my favorites. I’m sure, though, when the new colors arrive, I’ll have new favorites.
I thought it would be fun to pair Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party, and Starry Sky with the Simply Zinnias Bundle. I included a little ink stenciling in my design, stamped the Zinnias, blended the color with a Blender Pan, and die cut them with the coordinating die. Today’s project is clean and simple. I enjoyed “stenciling”, and think you will, as well.
So, let’s make a card!
A Quick And Easy How To
Under all of these “preparation layers” is a Basic White top fold card base. It measures 4 1/4″ x 11″, and is scored on the long side at 5 1/2″.
I created a “frame” for the front of my card with Post-It Masking Tape. (It’s 2″ wide and you can get it on Amazon. It’s re-usuable. One roll lasts a long time.
I placed the masking tape so I would have about a 3/4″ covered border around the card front.
The Decorative Mask (stencil) is attached with low tack tape over the masked card front.
I added ink to the exposed area of the card front with Orchid Oasis ink and a Blending Brush.
I stamped the Zinnias with Orchid Oasis and Starry Sky ink and used a Blender Pen to lightly shade the flowers.
I attached the flowers and leaves with Dimensionals.
The sentiment is stamped with Starry Sky ink, and die cut with one of the Perennial Postage Dies.
So, what do you think? Stenciling, or Masking, is fun and gives you the opportunity to truly express your creativity. I was a bit conservative in my inking approach today, but I did shade my panel! If you notice, the ink on the right side of the stenciled area is darker than the left side. I felt like an artist!
You don’t need a stencil to blend colors. You can create beautiful backgrounds using ink and a blending brush. Create a beautiful sunset, a mountain range, or a beach! Try it.
So, pull out some fun colors, ink up your blending brush, and create a beautiful background. Then add a black or white stamped silhouette image and create your masterpiece.
Here’s a clean and simple card featuring the Excellent Eggs Dies, and the fun “Inlay” technique.
These dies are the perfect tool to have fun with a little bit of “paper inlay”. It’s a technique that allows you to piece the die cuts together (like fitting together puzzle pieces), to create colorful, custom die cut images with the appearance of lots of dimension.
Parts & Pieces
If you take a close look at my “Parts & Pieces” photo above, you’ll see that I die cut three eggs using the Excellent Eggs Dies.
Once I had the three eggs cut, I mixed the pieces and glued them inside the open sections of the eggs. I “inlaid” the pieces to custom design my eggs!
How about die cutting a Glimmer Paper egg. Would’t a little shimmer and sparkle be a pretty accent to a custom egg?
It’s a quick and easy technique, and the results are great.
By layering the pieces inside the open areas of the eggs, I also created fun texture.
Glue the large egg die cut outline to the front of your card base, as shown.
Mix the die cut pieces, “inlay” them to their corresponding home in the egg design, and create a custom colored egg!
It’s fun and easy. Try it!
I kept my card clean and simple to focus on the technique. When I first saw these Dies, I knew I would use them, not only for Easter, but for lots of little extra touches on other card designs.
What about adding a small border to a die cut circle, or square. Or, adding a border across a card base or layer to create a unique “grounding” layer” for an element cluster. These are just a few uses. There’s more that will come to you as you create your designs.
So, get Excellent Eggs, send Easter Wishes, and use the die cuts to border, decorate, and embellish lots of other projects.
Today’s project is a loose version of a “SIP” card. “SIP” is an acronym for Stamps, Ink, and Paper.
When I first saw the Notes of Nature Bundle, my thought was to create a stamped collage design. Notes of Nature is the perfect stamp set to create a design like this. I kept the colors toned down and just started stamping. Some of the images are stamped off once to create depth. I added texture with the large Basic White die cut and the Wild Wheat Designer Series Paper layer background.
So, let’s make a card!
Pieces And Parts
I cut a Basic White cardstock card base 4 1/4″ x 11″ and scored at 5 1/2″.
The Wild Wheat patterned paper card front layer is 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″.
The Basic White cardstock top layer (the finished stamped layer) is 3 3/4″ x 4 3/4″.
I die cut the left edge of the Basic White top layer using the die from the Notes of Nature Dies.
I started stamping in the bottom right corner of the white layer using Wild Wheat ink and the large corner stamp. See below.
I stamped the leaf image next using Old Olive ink. See below.
With Wild Wheat ink, I stamped the grid image on the left side of the layer. See below.
Next came the ink splatter. I love ink splatter! I stamped this image on the right side of the grid image.
I stamped the ink splatter off once with Moody Mauve ink and stamped it to the left of my leaf image. See below.
I trimmed the layer to 3 3/4″ x 4 3/4″, making sure the stamped design would dominate the layer.
I die cut the left edge of the layer and stamped the sentiment.
So, find those great background image stamps, pick your favorite colors, and just have fun creating your own design. Add it to a card front, and send someone a smile.
The February cards are showcasing the Everyday Details Dies along with the Delightfuly Eclectic Designer Series Paper.
You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to a stamps you already owm.
You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
You will automatically receive the kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store. When completing your purchase, you MUST use the Monthly Host Code that I provide in every blog post. (Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have).
If your order is more than $150.00, plese don’t use the Host Code. You will receive rewards directly from Stampin’ Up!, and you will also receive the mini kit from me.
Happy Friday! Here’s some weekend inspiration. The Hooray For Surprises Bundle is a top favorite of mine. There are a lot of possibilities for creating a variety of projects in this set. The elements are clean and simple , as well as the sentiments.
My Inspiration
The inspiration for this card came from the Annual Catalog. The card is on page 97. I created a frame with the Countryside Corners Dies and the Brights 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper Pack. As I stroolled through the Paper Pack, Melon Mambo caught my eye. I haven’t used that color in a while, and I thought it would be fun. I went to my Color Coach to find some coordinating colors, and decided to go with Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, and Tahitian Tide. You can download and print a copy of the current Color Coach here.
So, let’s make a card!
Parts & Pieces
I cut a Basic White cardstock card base 4 1/4″ x 11″, and scored it at 5 1/2″.
The Melon Mambo cardstock layer is 4″ x 5 1/4″.
The Basic White top layer is 3 3/4″ x 5″.
I used the Countryside Corners Dies to create the patterned paper frame. It measures about 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.
I stamped the flowers from the Hooray For Surprises stamp set and die cut them with the coordianting dies.
The smaller Melon Mambo flower is a die cut from the Hooray For Surprises Dies.
I punched a 3/4″ Basic White circle to attach under the small flower because I wanted the white to show through the die cut holes.
I punched the leaves with Granny Apple Green cardstock.
I got a little fancy, and splattered some Melon Mambo ink to the inside of the frame. I used a Water Painter, acrylic block, and a drop of Melon Mambo ink. Making sure the frame and surrounding white layer were covered, I tapped the inked brush end of the Water Painter lightly with my finger over the area I wanted the splatter. It was fun and a quick wipe of my acryic block made clean up easy. I used clear low tack tape to secure the covering to the layer.
There’s a lot of “technique” in today’s card: Stamping, Die Cutting, Layering, and Ink Splatter. With all of that going on, this is truly a simple card to put together. Sometines, we’re using our card making technique skills, and don’t realize we’re doing it. We’re simply creating our own unique masterpiece!
So, create a frame with two layering dies, attach it to a cardstock layer, add a few elements, and create a birthday card to send to someone special.
The February cards are showcasing the Everyday Details Dies along with the Delightfuly Eclectic Designer Series Paper.
You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to stamps you already owm.
You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
You will automatically receive the kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store. When completing your purchase, you MUST use the Monthly Host Code that I provide in every blog post. (Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have).
If your order is more than $150.00, plese don’t use the Host Code. You will receive rewards directly from Stampin’ Up!, and you will also receive the mini kit from me.
Let’s take a look at the Thoughtful Moments Hybrid Embossing Folder. It’s on page 18 in the Mini Catalog, and features “brayering” with ink.
A Brayer is a tool that works like a paint roller. By rolling the Brayer across your ink pad, you transfer the ink to the brayer and can transfer that ink to either paper, an embossing folder, or a stamp. Using a brayer with the Hubrid Embossing Folder allows you to transfer the ink directly to the folder. Once the ink is on the folder, you can transfer that ink to cardstock, and ink, cut and emboss the images at the same time. It’s a fun process. Take a look at the photos below.
Here’s The How To
Add your ink to the left side of your open embossing folder (the side with the Stampin’ Up! Logo).
If you don’t have a brayer, use your ink pad (gently), or a Stampin’ Spot.
Place the die over the inked side of the embossing folder. Be sure it snaps into place.
Add your paper and run the folder through your cutting machine as you normally would any thicker or 3-D Folder.
The Embossing Folder and die clean up easily with water. I used a drop of dish detergent on mine.
Dry the folder and die with a lint free cloth.
Below are the results.
You can also shade the sentiments with Blends. This takes a little longer, but you have more control over the color you add. I used two of the sentiments in my featured cards. I’m sure I’ll use the rest on future projects.
I created a simple layered card for both sentiments and gave the sentiments a little lift by attaching them to the card fronts with Dimensionals.
So, ink up an emboodding folder, have fun with the results, cut some layers, give your sentiment a lift, and say “hello” and “thank you” to some special friends.
During the month of Januaryr, with a minimum product purchse of $50.00 from my Online Store, you will receive all of the supplies to create these two cards as I’ve designed them, along with a PDF Tutorial and video tutorial to make the cards along with me.
You will need your favorite adhesive and sentiment stamp.
To receive this FREE Card Kit, you must use the Host Code above when placing your order.
If your order is $150.00 or more, please don’t use the Host Code. You will receive Stampin’ Rewards directly from Stampin’ Up!, and you will also receive the FREE Card Kit from me.
I am Debbie Crowley and welcome to my blog. Here you'll find fun projects that are sure to inspire you. I hope you'll stop
by often and leave a comment or two. To contact me, you can email me at: expressivelydeb@gmail.com
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The content of this blog is the sole responsibility of Debra Crowley, expressively deb.com, as an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
