Posted in 2020 August-December Mini Catalog, 2020-2021 Stampin' Up! Catalog, beginner stamper, Emboss Powder, Halloween, Punch Art

Stampin’ Up!® Ghostly Halloween Greetings and the Emboss Powder Technique

Hello everyone! It is good to be back home after my road trip to Kentucky. I had a wonderful time visiting my son who is in the Army. I am anxious to start stamping and making cards again!

I have a fun and spooky Punch Art Style card for you today. Punch Art consists of card designs made entirely by using different punches to make images. This is a very simple Punch Art card, where I just turned the Tulip Punch upside down to create the ghost shape. The Halloween stamp set is Hallows Night Magic in the Stampin’ Up! 2020 August-December Mini Catalog. The faces and bows were from the Hippo Happiness stamp set found in the 2020-21 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog. I will also go over using Emboss Powder to make the white sentiment on the Basic Black card stock.

Measurements: Basic Black Card Stock (CS): 4 1/4 x 11 inches with a score line at 5 1/2 inches and 3/4 x 4 1/8 inches; Whisper White CS: 4 x 5 1/4 inches (inside) and 2 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches; the black bat design in the Magic In This Night Designer Series Paper (DSP): 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches.

Additional supplies: Memento Black ink, Versamark ink, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder and Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Embossing Supplies Here are the supplies I keep handy when I want to use Emboss Powder. I keep everything in a bag so that when I want to use it, it is all together. Pictured: Versamark ink, Embossing Buddy, White Emboss Powder, spoon, small paint brush and a microfiber cloth. Note: Stampin’ Up! is not currently selling the Embossing Buddy but there are several you can find online, or you can make your own with some tightknit fabric and cornstarch. I have seen instructions for the homemade version online as well.

In order to prepare the 3/4 x 4 1/8 inch Basic Black CS strip for embossing, it is very important to use the Embossing Buddy first to decrease the static and absorb oils from your skin that may be on the paper. Just move the Embossing Buddy firmly from left to right 2 or 3 times. There will be a white residue left behind that we will remove later. Use the Versamark ink and the sentiment “Happy Halloween” to stamp onto the Basic Black CS.

Take care not to touch the stamped sentiment. Hold onto one end of the strip and use the spoon to sprinkle a good amount of the White Emboss Powder onto it. Shake the excess off. Use the paintbrush to remove any of the Emboss Powder that is in the wrong place. Tip: I put my emboss powders in a plastic container because I find it much easier to use than trying to keep the powder in the little jar it comes in. This container has 3 jars of the White Emboss powder in it.

Hold onto one end and use the Heat Tool to apply an even flow of heated air to the Emboss Powder. I move my Heat Tool back and forth to avoid concentrating the heat in one spot and burning the paper. You will suddenly see that the Emboss Powder becomes a bright white and is shiny. Tip: Hold the strip up to a light and ensure that the entire sentiment is white and shiny. If it is still a little dull, apply more heat to that spot.

Allow the Embossed sentiment to cool completely for about 10 minutes, then gently use the microfiber cloth to remove the white residue. Set this aside for the time being.

Lay the 4 x 5 1/4 inch Whisper White CS in a landscape orientation. Use the Memento Black ink to stamp the sentiment “Trick-or-Treat” in the center of the bottom. Turn the card piece to a vertical orientation. Use the Memento to stamp the spider crawling along the side. Set aside.

I usually recommend stamping before cutting. However, I felt it was easier to put the ghost’s faces on after I punched them out. Punch one from each end first, then punch the one in the middle.

Use the Memento ink and the face from the Hippo Happiness stamp set to stamp the faces. I added a little bow to add some variety.

Fold the 4 1/4 x 11 inch Basic Black CS card base at the 5 1/2 inch score line. Use the Bone Folder to get a nice crisp fold. Adhere the black bat design from the Magic in This Night DSP to the card front.

Adhere the stamped 4 x 5 1/4 inch Whisper White CS card piece to the inside.

Stampin’ Up! has white and black Stampin’ Dimensionals. I used the white Dimensionals on the back of the ghosts, and the black Dimensionals on the back of the sentiment. Tip: If you cut the large Dimensionals in half they last longer and you still get a good effect.

Adhere the sentiment and the ghosts as shown.

Time for the Bling! I used the Rhinestone Basic Jewels and the Take Your Pick tool to embellish the background.

And Viola! You have a very fun and spooky card to wish someone a “Happy Halloween”! I know Halloween is going to be different this year. My youngest still wants a costume even though there will not be any house to house Trick-or-Treating. I hope folks can still find a way to have some fun!

Thanks for stopping by today. I feels good to be blogging again.

All of the supplies, except the Embossing Buddy, are available at my online store which you may access HERE, or you may click on any of the photos below to go directly to the store.

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Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Theresa

Posted in 2020 August-December Mini Catalog, beginner stamper, Blender Pen, Halloween, Sponging technique

It’s Live! Stampin’ Up!® August-December Mini Catalog is live today!

I showed a sneak peak of the wonderful and festive Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalog with an adorable Winter card on my last blog. Today I am going to show a spooky Halloween card. I will plan on showing a Fall card on Friday. I recommend you spend some time looking through a PDF of the Mini Catalog here and start planning for the holidays coming up now. If you act now, you will have plenty of time to design some handmade cards!

This Halloween card was a lot of fun to make with the Magic In The Night Designer Series Paper (DSP)! Lots of creepy spiders!

Measurements: Blackberry Bliss Card Stock (CS) card base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches with a score line at 4 1/4 inches; Smoky Slate CS: 4 x 5 1/4 inches and 2 x 3 1/2 inches; Basic Black: 4 x 5 1/4 inches; Magic in the Night DSP: 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches; and Basic Grey 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.

This is the Hallows Night Magic stamp set in the Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalog. The design detail on the bats is awesome!

Let’s start stamping!

Oops! First I wanted to show you how to deal with a “halo“. That is when the ink gets on the part of the stamp surrounding the image and makes a mark on your card that you do not want. This is a BIG halo!

One way to fix this issue once and for all, is to trim the stamp. I use a sharp pair of Paper Snips. Others use an Exacto knife. I just trim a little away as shown.

That’s better! I used the Memento black ink to stamp the spider onto the 4 x 5 1/4 inch Smoky Slate CS. This will be the inside of the card.

I added a few of the smaller spiders. I used a straight edge to draw a string of web with the Stampin’ Write Basic Black Marker.

Using the Memento Black ink stamp the larger spider onto the 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch Basic Grey CS. You can fussy cut the spider or if you do have a cutting machine, you could use the Halloween Magic Dies to cut the spider out.

Stamp the frame for the sentiment in Memento Black ink onto the 2 x 3 1/2 inch Smoky Slate CS, then stamp the sentiment “Happy Halloween” in the middle of the frame. Next, squeeze the middle of your Blackberry Bliss ink pad so that you get a little ink on the lid. Use a Blender Pen to take up a little ink and color in the flowers in the frame.

Now we are going to sponge the sentiment to make it more interesting. First I just dabbed the sponge right over the sentiment and around the frame. Next I flicked the sponge along the edge to darken the corners and edges of the card piece. Finally, lay the card piece on some scrap paper and move the inked sponge in small circles to darken more of the edge. Now that is interesting!

Use the Bone Folder to make a crisp fold at the 4 1/4 inch score line on the Blackberry Bliss CS card base. Adhere the Smoky Slate CS stamped with the spiders to the inside of the card base.

Adhere the Blackberry Bliss spider design from the Magic in this Night DSP to the 4 x 5 1/4 inch Basic Black CS. Now adhere the card piece to the front of the Blackberry Bliss CS card base.

I used the Black Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the sentiment piece to the card front.

Now some Bling! The Mini Catalog has Self Adhesive Black Iridescent Pearls! I used the Take Your Pick tool to transfer the Iridescent Pearls to the large spider and to a few other spiders in the background. When you move the card around, the pearls look purple, blue and green!

I decided the card needed just a little more Bling! so I added the Wink of Stella Glitter Brush to the body of the large spider and to the flowers in the frame.

Viola! You have a very spooky spidery card! So much fun!

A lot is happening today. As I stated above the Stampin’ Up!® August to December 2020 Mini Catalog is going live! Also, Stampin’ Up! has updated their catalog website to make your shopping experience better. There will be new features including the ability to sign off but keep items in your cart so you can come back to shopping later. The new website my not keep your link to my store. Try the link here to go to my Online Store. Please double check to be sure you are still shopping with Theresa McEntee from Bisbee Arizona 85603. Thanks so much for all your support of my small business. I would not be able to do this without your support. Thank you!

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Happy “planning to craft”!

Theresa