I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to post anything decent of late. Ha! That sounds gratuitous – like I think these projects are decent - which they are - but I really mean anything at all. I’m attempting to make up for it today by showing you 3 projects.
It’s unusual for me to do only cards for stamp club. I normally will throw in something shaped in there, but this time I wanted to show a couple of different techniques, too, so I went with cards so we’d have time to complete everything. Up first here, I showed how fun the Shimmer Paints are when combined with ink to make it super pretty and sparkly. The ornament was made this way by mixing about 5 drops of ink with 2 drops of the Champagne Mist shimmer paint, and applying it to the Delightful Decorations stamp directly with a sponge dauber. I found this worked best by going easy on the amount of the new ink combination when applying, as not to get ink inside the crevices of the stamp. I first rubbed very lightly all over the stamp, then pouncing lightly as usual to apply. Keep trying if you don’t like the results, but I think that you will easily see how little you will need to get it right. I totally CASEd this card’s layout, and more, but changed up the colors. The girls at stamp club realized that the opposite side of the patterned paper actually look better than the snowflake side on this card! I’m always learning from them! Naturally, you won’t be able to see the pretty sparkle on the ornament, thanks to the ineptitude of the camera. Just try it…I think you’ll like the results!
Next up is another layout CASE of this card, which I loved. It measures 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″. I used a retired patterned paper pack when cutting out the Lattice, so used the colors of that to choose my markers for the stamp on the ornament. Which brings me to the next technique we did – creating our own Shimmer Mist with the same paint, which, sadly, is also undetectable here. But it adds a pretty sparkle as well, although less sparkly than adding it to the ink. I find it works even better on darker card stock. Here’s how to make your own: Get a small spray bottle and add 1 oz (30 ml) of alcohol in the highest concentration you can find. The one I found is 91%. The higher the alcohol content, the quicker it dries. Add about 15 drops of Champagne Mist Glimmer Paint, using a dropper, and shake well. Spray your project a few inches away and let it dry. That’s it! Now go out and try it – it’s just beautiful.
An additional technique used on this card was creating a mask. I recycled a piece of clear acetate and punched it with the ornament punch. Using this as a mask, I sponged some Sahara Sand lightly onto Whisper White card stock, then punched it out with the ornament punch. Then I stamped my image onto the ornament, punched a hole at the top and tied a piece of silver cord into a bow and used dimentionals to apply it to the card. I used the crop-a-dile to punch the holes for the brads.
And finally, I went with a simple one-layer card and used several stamps from the Season of Simple Grace stamp set. I love how this one turned out! I saw how Jean had done this similar idea using the Movers & Shapers Curly label die, but I didn’t want to cut out my figures. And since it worked to just use the Curly Label punch, it was much easier. The punch was just lined up in the middle of the front of the card and punched down as far as it would go. I then traced the shape onto the the inside of the card using a pencil, which I erased after lining up my image, and then stamped in Chocolate Chip. The placement of the Shepherds works perfectly, as does the star (well, it IS off-center on this one). On the inside, I added the Three Kings and sentiment, which completes the card. I finished it off with simple, rustic raffia – instead of ribbon. I felt it reminded me of the hay in which Baby Jesus was laid.
I thank you all out there in blogland, who share your amazing ideas with us. You are all so giving and I benefit from and appreciate them. As well as my awesome Stamp Club friends – they show up each month, oftentimes with a project or two to share with each other, and cheer each other on. I’m so touched by this and feel privileged to be a part of such a group. This is my favorite night of the month. I’ll surely miss you all in December!
Thanks to you all for stopping by today!!
{Merry Christmas/joy ingredients}
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, All Holidays, Delightful Decorations
Paper: Real Red, Soft Suede, & Whisper White card stock, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, retired (my Real Red ink hadn’t arrived in time)
Accessories: Champagne Mist Glimmer paint, ornament punch, 1/16″ handheld punch, scallop edge punch, silver cord, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon, stampin’ dimentionals, sponge dauber
{Merry Christmas ingredients}
Stamps: Holiday Best (Level 1 Hostess set)
Paper: Old Olive & Whisper White card stock, Holiday Treasures DSP (retired)
Ink: Markers – Old Olive, Ruby Red & Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand ink
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 1″ Double-Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Crop-a-dile, silver brads, ornament punch, 1/16″ circle punch, silver cord, stampin’ dimentionals, Lattice Bigz die & Big Shot by Sizzix, clear acetate
{One layer card ingredients}
Stamps: Season of Simple Grace
Paper: Naturals Ivory card stock
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Crushed Curry & Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Curly Label punch, sponge, Stamp-a-majig, raffia
To order Stampin’ Up! products online, 24/7 – click HERE
Item #113490
Item #116517
Item #116794
Item #111778
Well I managed to create something during this busy time. Here’s a quick gift card I made for a coworker. I had a ton of leaves and birds left over from a project for the Christmas program I’m in charge of. So I thought I’d better put these to good use; the rest I’m planning on making into my Christmas cards this year.
Here’s a close-up where you can see the sparkle. Sorry for the really terrible photos, but the lighting was atrocious.
