Posted in 2020 August-December Mini Catalog, Animals, Sponge Dauber, Stampin" Blends Alcohol Markers, Winter Holiday

Freezin’ Fun One of my Stampin’ Up!® Favorites

Hello fellow crafters! The Freezin’ Fun stamp set is one of my personal favorites from the 2020 August-December Stampin’ Up! Mini Catalog. It is still available! But not for long. It will be one of the stamp sets retiring on January 4, 2021.

Late December and January is definitely Freezin’! We usually go up to the mountains and spend a couple of days skiing. Probably won’t go this year. It is a lot of fun though!

Supplies

Measurements: Whisper White Card Stock (CS) card base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches with a score line at 4 1/4 inches; Misty Moonlight CS: 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches; Magenta Madness CS: 4 x 5 1/4 inches; Whisper White CS: 3 3/4 x 5 inches, 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches and 2 1/2 x 6 inches.

Stamping

Use the Memento Black ink to stamp one each of the Freezin’ Fun characters and several trees.

Sponging the Snowdrifts

First cut a wavy line through the 2 1/2 x 6 inch Whisper White CS. This will be the mask for the snowdrifts.

Secure the mask with Sticky Note tape or Painters Tape. Dab the Sponge Dauber onto the Misty Moonlight ink pad. Using a circular motion, try the sponging out on the scrap paper, then continuing to use a small circular motion apply the ink along the edge of the mask. Apply more ink to the Sponge Dauber as needed.

Move the mask to the lower left hand quadrant and Sponge Daub another snowdrift, then move it to the right for one last snowdrift.

Subsequently apply the other side of the snowdrift mask to the bottom of the inside of the Whisper White CS card base. Resume the Sponge Daubing as before.

I felt that the background was too white and uninteresting so I used the Sponge Dauber to color the sky so it would look like a cloudy winter sky.

Coloring the Images

Now for the fun! I love using these Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Markers because they allow you to color with shadows so easily. The colors used today are: the Light and Dark of Magenta Madness, Misty Moonlight, Just Jade and Cinnamon Cider which are the In Colors for 2020-2022. Also used are the Light and Dark Smoky Slate, Light Basic Black and Dark Pumpkin Pie.

Color the images as desired. Some tips: For the smaller spaces I use the Dark color first where I want the shadow, then blend in the Light color. Try to color lightly so that the ink doesn’t bleed over the lines. If this happens, there is a Color Lifter that can be used to correct it.

Now to fussy cut everything. If you have a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine there are Freezin’ Friends dies you can use. If not, sit down to a little tv and fussy cut. I find it to be very meditative.

Creating the Scene

Initially, place the two little trees on the top of the snowdrifts and adhere them to the card front. Secondly, put in place the images you would like to use and adhere them with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Next put in place the images you want to use on the inside of the card and adhere them. Lastly, add the happy penguin with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Adding the Sentiment

Stamp the sentiments “‘Tis the season for freezin'” and “Wheeeee!!” in the Misty Moonlight ink onto the card front. Then stamp the sentiment “Sending warmth your way” on the inside of the card.

Putting it Together

First adhere the stamped card front to the Magenta Madness CS, then to the Misty Moonlight CS. Next adhere the two to the front of the Whisper White CS card base.

Viola! You have the cutest card for the cold winter weather!

Thanks for coming by today! I hope you can stay warm and spend some quality time crafting!

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Have a wonderful winter full of crafting!

Theresa

Posted in 2020 August-December Mini Catalog, 3D Embossing Folder, Sponge Brayer, Sponge Dauber, Sponging technique, Winter Holiday

Stampin’ Up!® Evergreen Forest & In The Pines Serene Season’s Greetings with Sponging Tips

Hello fellow crafters! To continue on with my 15-Day Challenge of making a Christmas card each day, I decided to create a peaceful forest with the Evergreen Forest 3D embossing folder. The “Season’s Greetings” sentiment is from the In The Pines stamp set.

To create the coloring I used the Sponge Brayer and Sponge Dauber so I will try to give you some tips on using those.

Measurements: Shaded Spruce Card Stock (CS) card base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches with a score line at 4 1/4 inches; Thick Whisper White CS: 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches; Whisper White CS: 4 x 5 1/4 inches and 1/2 x 4 inches; Shaded Spruce CS: 3/4 x 4 inches.

The Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder is available in the 2020 August-December Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalog. Note: The reason mine has a “One Navy Blue Plate” sign on it is because that is what I would use with my Big Shot. I now use the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine which uses a gray plate and is much smoother.

The first step is to roll some Night of Navy ink onto the inside of the embossing folder. Apply the ink to the side that has the “Stampin’ Up!” logo on it. Tip: To get the ink on the Sponge Brayer evenly, push fairly firmly and roll the sponge from near to far, lift, and roll from near to far again. Repeat until there is a nice layer of ink on the sponge. Roll the ink onto the embossing folder with the same motion- near to far, lift, near to far. If needed apply more ink to the Sponge Brayer. Roll ink onto the embossing folder until there is a nice even layer.

Tip: Spritz a little water onto the Thick Whisper White CS to help the paper be easier to emboss and turn out more 3D. Also spritz a wee bit of water onto the ink on the embossing folder. Place the paper on the Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder and close. Run through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine slowly to allow time for the ink to be absorbed by the paper.

Viola! This is the beautiful scene you have!

Now use the Sponge Dauber to apply Shaded Spruce ink to the trees. Tip: Dab the dauber onto the ink pad, then gently rub onto the embossed trees in a small circular motion applying a light layer of ink. Start light and add more to get a darker shade. Note: I have a different dauber for each color that I keep in a partitioned craft box.

Apply a nice even layer of the Shaded Spruce ink, then add a deeper color to the trees that “stick out” a little more than the others. Tip: Shade the edges of the card piece a little darker for a vignette look.

Continue to add more ink in a small circular motion until the color is deep enough and you are satisfied with the look.

Use the Shaded Spruce ink to stamp the sentiment “Season’s Greetings” onto the 1/2 x 4 inch Whisper White CS. Adhere the sentiment to the 3/4 x 4 inch Shaded Spruce CS.

Use the Timeless Label Punch to make a curved edge.

Use the largest tree in the In The Pines stamp set to stamp onto the 4 x 5 1/4 inch Whisper White CS. Some trees are stamped full strength and others are Stamped Off. This is the inside of the card.

Use your Bone Folder to make a crisp fold at the 4 1/4 score line on the 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch Shaded Spruce CS card base. Adhere the inside panel to the inside of the card base.

Adhere the embossed and sponged front panel to the front of the Shaded Spruce CS card base. Use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the sentiment.

Viola! This really turned out to be a fun and soothing Holiday card!

I really appreciate you coming by today. Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think.

Many of the products in the 2020 August-December Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalog are retiring. If there is anything you wanted, get it now or take you chances starting December 8, 2020 when some products will be discounted. Once the supply of the product is gone, there will be no more! Click here to shop early!

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Crafting keeps me sane. Ok to try this at home.😊

Theresa

Posted in 2020 August-December Mini Catalog, 2020-2021 Stampin' Up! Catalog, Fun/Fancy fold card, Gratitude/ Thanks, Sponge Dauber

Gather Together for Friday’s Fun Fold

The Gather Together stamp set in the 2020 Stampin’ Up! Mini Catalog is so versatile. Today’s Fun Fold is yet another way to use the set for a nice Autumn card.

I saw this Fun Fold on a YouTube from Karen Titus. Her card was a Christmas one, but I wanted to make a Thanksgiving-style card. The large sentiments are from the Ornate Thanks stamp set in the 2020-21 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog. If you plan on making a lot of thank you cards, getting the Ornate Thanks set is the way to go!

A Technique I will be sharing today is Sponging with the Sponge Dauber. Sponging is how I was able to add some color to the leaves and pumpkins!

Measurements: Very Vanilla Card Stock (CS): 4 1/4 x 11 inches with a score line at 5 1/2 inches, two at 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches, 1 3/4 x 4 inches, 1 3/4 x 3 inches and 3 x 6 inches; Cajun Craze CS: two at 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches; and Gilded Autumn Designer Series Paper: two at 3/4 x 4 inches.

Usually we stamp first. But for today’s card, se have to do a little cutting. Cut 1 inch past the 5 1/2 inch score line on the 4 1/4 x 11 inch Very Vanilla CS, then cut 1 inch off the bottom of the piece you just cut off.

Lay the 1 x 4 1/4 inch Very Vanilla piece on the bottom of the back of the card front, and make a pencil mark near the upper border. Make a pencil mark on the bottom border of the piece that folds down. The two pencil marks on each side will guide you where to stamp.

Use the Terracotta Tile ink and the sentiments from the Ornate Thanks stamp set to stamp between the pencil marks and along the side borders. Remember to use the Stampin’ Pierce Mat or a catalog to stamp on when stamping with the Photopolymer Stamps.

Use the Terracotta Tile ink to stamp the sentiment “May this season bring you smiles…” in the center of one of the 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch Very Vanilla CS. Stamp the wheat on the bottom. Both of these stamps are in the Gather Together stamp set.

Also from the Gather Together stamp set is the sentiment “Gather Together” which you will stamp in Cajun Craze ink onto the 1 3/4 x 4 inch Very Vanilla CS. Punch the sentiment out with the Label Me Fancy Punch.

Using the Cajun Craze ink, stamp the two different pumpkin stamps onto the 1 3/4 x 3 inch Very Vanilla CS. Stamp two of the Maple Leaves in Cajun Craze ink onto the 3 x 6 inch Very Vanilla CS.

Technique: to use the Sponge Dauber, gently tap the white foam tip onto the Cajun Craze ink. Rub the ink off in small circles onto a scrap paper. Apply a light layer to the Maple Leaf.

Gradually add more ink until you are satisfied with the look. Follow the same procedure for coloring the pumpkins.

Fussy cut the leaves and pumpkins with your Paper Snips, or if you have the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine along with the Gathered Leaves Dies, you can cut the leaves and pumpkins out that way.

Adhere the inner sentiment and wheat sheaf to one of the 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 inch Cajun Craze CS card pieces.

Lay the two Maple leaves and the pumpkins, along with the “Gather Together” sentiment in place on the other 2 3/4 x 4 1/2 Cajun Craze CS card pieces. Adhere the two Maple leaves and the large pumpkin with adhesive.

Use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the sentiment and the pair of small pumpkins.

Adhere the inside panel to the inside of the Very Vanilla CS card base.

Adhere the 3/4 x 4 inch strips of Gilded Autumn Specialty DSP to the Very Vanilla CS strips on the upper and lower border of the card front.

Apply adhesive to the upper and lower edges of the “Gather Together” sentiment piece and adhere it to the card front as shown.

Viola! You have an amazing Autumn Fun Fold to share how grateful you are!

Thanks again for joining me on this Fun Fold Friday! Please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

If you need any of the following products, just click on the photo and you will go directly to my online store.

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Happy Crafting!

Theresa

Posted in 2020-2021 Stampin' Up! Catalog, encouragement, Love/Affection, Nature, Outdoors, Photopolymer, Sea, Simple stamping, Sponge Dauber

Sending Sunshine Stampin’ Up!®

The card for today will be a #simplestamping card because I will use only stamps, ink and paper (and a punch). There is a set of stamps made by Stampin’ Up! to help you easily create your own scenes. Sending Sunshine is the one I will use today. The other similar stamp sets are My Meadow and Snow Front. All of these sets are in the 2020-21 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog.

This really is a very simple card to create. You will be surprised.

Measurements: Whisper White Card Stock (CS): 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches with a score line at 4 1/4 inches (card base), 2 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches and 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches; Balmy Blue CS: 4 x 5 1/4 inches.

Use the Memento Black Ink to stamp the sentiment “Hoping Your Day is Perfect” onto the 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inch Whisper White CS. Take care to position the stamped sentiment so that you can punch it out with the 2 inch Circle Punch.

Lay the layers of the card on the card front and position the sentiment. Move it slightly downward and trace the edge. This will help make sure that the scene is positioned properly.

Place the 2 3/4 x 3 2/4 inch Whisper White CS on the Stampin’ Pierce Mat. When using the Photopolymer stamps (the see-through ones) you need a slight cushion. You could also use your catalog. I cover my Pierce Mat with white scrap paper to avoid getting ink on it. I put the black paper down so you could see the card piece better. Stamp the smaller water onto the Whisper White CS. I placed mine slightly to the right so that it would not be covered by the sentiment later.

Apply the Daffodil Delight ink to the bottom portion of the setting sun stamp. Apply the Calypso Coral ink only to the upper portion by placing the stamp on the edge of the ink pad.

Carefully line up the setting sun and the horizon of the water. Mine is a little too high, but I opted to just let it be. (It’s the little imperfections that make a handmade card special!)

Use the Granny Apple Green ink to stamp the larger branch of leaves. Add some of the smaller branches to make the trees more full.

I added some faint clouds with the Balmy Blue ink by first stamping onto my scrap paper, then stamping onto the card piece. This is called Stamping Off.

To help the sentiment stand out a little, I used a Sponge Dauber with Balmy Blue ink to sponge the edge.

Adhere the 4 x 5 1/4 inch Balmy Blue CS to the Whisper White CS card base, then adhere your stamped card piece. I prefer to use the Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue because when I first put the card piece down, I can wiggle it a little to make sure it is straight.

Add Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the sentiment and put it in place on the card front being sure to cover the pencil marks.

The card is finished. However, if you would like to add a little Bling! you could use the Wink of Stella Glitter Brush on the water to make it sparkle.

Viola! See how quick and simple that was! Experiment with different colors and combinations of the stamps from the Sending Sunshine stamp set, or combine it with the My Meadow or Snow Front. There are endless possibilities to the scenes you can create!

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Thank you! I really enjoy having you visit. Please leave me a comment.

Theresa

Posted in 2020-2021 Stampin' Up! Catalog, flowers, Grunge style, Guys cards, Sponge Dauber

Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #50- Get Well Wishes

It is hard to design a card for a guy when you do want to use a flower. However, the Cardz 4 Guys Challenge #50 for a card with a Good Well Wish made it the perfect time to give it a try. I hope you like what I came up with.

One of the styles I really like is grunge. This grungy background was created with Stampin’ Up! inks in Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede. I used some retired sets which are my favs: Gorgeous Grunge and Timeless Textures. There are similar stamps in the current catalog, but I just love these.

These particular rose and leaves are in the current Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog and the stamp set is called Healing Hugs. This is a Distinktive stamp which to me looks more photographic. I enhanced the rose with the Pacific Point Watercolor Pencil, and the leaves with the Old Olive Watercolor Pencil to make them even more realistic.

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my Cards 4 Guys Challenge #50- Get Well Wishes. You can find out more about this challenge at cardz4guys.com. I have a lot of fun with it!

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Happy stamping!

Theresa

Posted in flowers, Gratitude/ Thanks, Sponge Dauber

Ornate Garden Suite/ Fun with Sponge Daubers

I just love learning new techniques. Today’s card will show how to use the sponge dauber for coloring. There are many ways to use sponge daubers. This is just one way. Experiment with the sponge daubers yourself to learn different coloring techniques.

I used the Stampin’ UP! products in the new Ornate Garden Suite for this card.

Measurements: Calypso Coral Card stock (CS): 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches scored at 4 1/4 inches; Old Olive CS: 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 inches; Whisper White CS: 5 1/4 x 4 inches and 5 x 1 1/8 inches; Gold Foil Sheet: 5 1/8 x 3 7/8 inches; Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP); 5 x 3 3/4 inches.

Stamp the ‘Thank You” sentiment from the Ornate Thanks stamp set in Calypso Coral ink onto the 5 x 1 1/8 inch piece of Whisper White CS. Stamp in the upper left hand corner.

Now we are going to use the “you made my day!” sentiment which is very skinny. Tip: In order to get the sentiment on straight, lay it on the paper and put the block over it to stick it to the block.

Use Soft Suede ink to stamp the sentiment “you made my day!” just under the “Thank You”. Trim the paper to 3 3/4 inches.

Now for the fun part! Lay the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP on a scrap sheet of paper. Apply Calypso Coral ink to the sponge dauber by gently tapping it onto the ink pad.

Rub in a small circle onto the scrap paper first. With light pressure, rub in small circles onto the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP. Tip: Start light and then add more to make the ink dark.

Continue to color the flowers. Make some darker than others. I know it doesn’t really look that great right now. Kind of just a smudgy mess!

Daub on the Old Olive ink where there are leaves. The card front looks a little better now.

Fold the 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch Calypso Coral CS in half at the 4 1/4 inch score mark. Use the Bone Folder to make the fold crisp. This is the card base.

Use the filigree to stamp the corners of the inside of the card in Soft Suede ink. Adhere the card piece to the inside of the Calypso Coral CS card base. The filigree makes the inside a little more fancy.

I must admit that I kind of cheat with the Gold Foil Sheets. I have a Big Shot and some rectangular dies and I cut out the center of the card piece to save the Gold Foil sheet. If you don’t have a Big Shot or other cutting machine, just use the Paper Snips to cut out the center. Adhere the Gold Foil card piece to the Old Olive card piece.

Adhere the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP to the Gold Foil layer, then adhere the whole piece to the card front. Tip: Using multiple layers makes the card more interesting.

Adhere the sentiment piece to the card front on the lower third of the front.

Now for some Bling! There are Gilded Gems in the Garden Suite! Tip: The best way to transfer the gems to the card front is with the Take Your Pick Tool. Slide the pick under the adhesive on the gem.

Place the gem on the card and use light pressure to push the gem onto the card. Continue to apply the gems until you like how the card front looks. Use as many as you like. Keep in mind that an odd number is more pleasing to the eye.

Viola! You now have a beautiful thank you card to send to someone. Remember that an attitude of gratitude helps you be more healthy both psychologically and physically along with spreading some positivity to someone else.

Thank you so much for joining me today. The Garden Suite will go on sale on April 1, 2020. Enjoy your day!

Stampin’ UP! supplies used include: Stamp set: Ornate Thanks #149471; Paper: Calypso Coral CS #122925, Old Olive CS #100702, Whisper White CS #100730, Gold Foil Sheets #132622 and the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP #152488; Ink: Calypso Coral #147101 and Soft Suede #147115; Clear Blocks: C #118486, D #118485 and H #118490; Bone Folder #102300; Take Your Pick tool #144107; Adhesives: Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue #110755; and Embellishments: Gilded Gems #152478.

Posted in Gratitude/ Thanks, Sponge Dauber

Thankful for Fun Techniques

“It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people that are happy”-Unknown

Whenever I start feeling down or blue I try to remember to think of something I am thankful for. Fortunately I have 4 healthy and successful children, a loving husband and many friends who I am thankful for on a daily basis. I have been truly blessed. The card today was made to express this thankfulness.

I won this Stampin’ Up! stamp set by completing a challenge my friend put out. At first, I didn’t really think much of this set. But after creating this card, and a few more, I began to really like the images.

Measurements: Whisper White 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches scored at 4 1/4 inches, 3 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches and a 2 1/2 x 1/2 inch strip; Crumb Cake 5 1/4 x 4 inches; Terracotta Tile 4 x 2 1/2 inches.

I am going to share with you today a really fun technique. You will need Daffodil Delight and Cajun Craze Stampin’ Up! ink. We will be using the image with the leaves.

Stamp with the Daffodil Delight and then lay the block on the table with the stamp facing up.

Using a sponge dauber, daub it onto the Cajun Craze ink.

Daub the Cajun Craze ink onto the stamp in patches.

Now stamp the image onto the 3 3/4 x 2 1/4 inch piece of Whisper White card stock toward the top of the paper. Isn’t that so cool! I just love how the different colors make the leaves look!