I have an exciting card to share for Bruno and Kylie’s Demonstrator Training Blog Hop today that was a Mystery Stamping I participated in. I will explain more about that in a minute.
Thank you for joining me today for our Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrator Training Program Monthly Blog Hop! The Demonstrator Training Program is for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators all over the world who are working towards bettering their business. Be sure to visit all the blogs and see all the different Thank You cards from around the world! I know you will get lots of ideas and creative inspiration! If you wish to become a Stampin’ up! Demonstrator please let me know by commenting on this post or sending me an email at theresastreasures.az@gmail.com Now for the card:
Mystery Stamping is when you are given the measurements for the pieces and then you get “clues” on how to put the card together without knowing what the card looks like. So fun!!
*This card is compliments of Lorraine Masters-Green, who I believe got the idea from Sharon Armstrong.
Clue #1 Card Recipe & Supplies:
1. Colored Card Stock (CS) Color A (ex. Misty Moonlight): 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches with a score at 4 1/4 inches, 4 x 5 1/4 inches, and 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 inches.
2. Colored CS Color B (ex. Just Jade): 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches
3. Basic White CS: 3 1/4 inches x 3 1/4 inches, and a scrap for the sentiment and image.
4. Designer Series Paper (DSP): 5 coordinating pieces 1 x 1 inch (can be different or 2 of one pattern and 3 of another). My DSP is from the Pattern Party DSP in the Annual Catalog.
5. Sentiment stamp and punch or die to cut it out.
6. Image stamp or dies to cut an image from DSP to fit on 2 1/8 x 2 1/8 inch Color A CS piece. I used Simply Succulents for my image and my sentiment.
7. Ink, embossing folder, adhesive, dimensionals. and embellishments.
Clue # 2- The card is in a portrait orientation.
The remaining clues are the directions on how to put the pieces together. The fun part is that you don’t know what the card is supposed to look like until you are done! It is a blast!
If you need the remaining clues for this card, just leave a comment or send me an email and I will send them to you.
Voila! After you follow all of the clues you have a fun Thank You card. Since I had so much fun making this card, I decided to use it as a thank you note to my September customers.
Be sure to click on the next person in line to see more amazing cards. You are at Theresa McEntee-Theresa’s Treasures-USA
The Simply Succulents stamp set has outlines for succulents which give you the potential to use the Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Markers to create life-like succulents. The technique for today is blending the Blends.
The Simply Succulents also has some great sentiments. Today’s card will be a note of gratitude.
I started this project by doing a Google search of images of real succulents. I used those images as models for my coloring.
Measurements
Measurements: Just Jade Card Stock (CS) card base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches with a score line at 4 1/4 inches; Basic White CS: two at 4 x 5 1/4 inches, 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 and 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches.
Stamping
To start out, use the Memento Black ink to stamp the two smaller succulents onto the 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 inch Basic White CS. Note: When using alcohol markers, you will need to use Memento ink, or another dye ink, so that when you are coloring with the alcohol marker, the outline will not bleed into the surrounding paper.
To continue to stamp all of the card pieces, turn the largest succulent stamp upside down, and apply the ink to it. Stamp onto the 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch Basic White CS. Be sure to move the stamp block straight down onto the paper and then straight up to get the best image. I often will use two hands to be sure to stamp this way.
Begin the front panel of the card by stamping the pot slightly to the right of center in Memento Black ink.
Now we will create the inside of the card. First stamp the sentiment “You make the ordinary extraordinary” in the center. In order to make the inside more interesting, stamp the larger succulent stamp off on the right-hand side. Follow up with the small succulent in the lower left-hand corner.
Technique: Coloring with Stampin’ Blends
Succulents
Begin coloring the smaller succulents with the Dark Just Jade Stampin’ Blend Alcohol Marker. The darker portion of the succulent leaf will be down in the center of the plant. I use a very light touch because the ink flows out onto the paper very easily. Color a bit away from the edges until you have a feel for how the ink is flowing. I usually use the brush tip for larger spaces, and the smaller tip for shading. Complete the coloring using the Light Just Jade Stampin’ Blend. Go over the darker part a bit to blend the colors together.
In coloring the smaller succulent, I wanted it to have a purplish hue. I started with the Light Highland Heather Stampin’ Blend. Next I used the Dark Just Jade on the tips and the Light Just Jade over the top of the Highland Heather. Set this aside for now.
Creating a Cylinder
I am not an artist by any means, but I will show you how I colored the pot to make it look cylindrical. First use the small tip of the Dark Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blend to color the outer edges. Then fill it in a little more with the Light Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blend. To keep the center light, color the rest of the pot with the Ivory Stampin’ Blend. In order to blend all the colors, I went over all the layers with the Ivory in a back and forth motion across the pot.
Inside of the card
To get a little more practice before tackling the largest image, I colored the inside. On the right-hand side, I started with the light version of Just Jade, Balmy Blue, So Saffron and Highland Heather for the base. I then used the Dark Just Jade over the Light Just Jade to darken the tips of the succulents. I used the Light Daffodil Delight on the tips of the So Saffron succulent. For the Balmy Blue succulent, I carefully filled in the body of the leaf with the Light Just Jade, leaving the tips Balmy Blue. I then added a little of the Dark Just Jade at the base of each leaf. I did the same with the Light Just Jade over the Light Highland Heather. The two succulents on the left are colored in a similar fashion as the previous two small succulents.
The Card Front
Now let’s tackle the large succulent image. I started with the Light So Saffron Stampin’ Blend, then darken the tips with the Light Cinnamon Cider Stampin’ Blend.
Next I colored the central succulent first with Light Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blend, then went over it with the Light Just Jade, leaving the tips blue. I think it works best if you color each leaf individually.
To continue coloring, I used the Dark Just Jade Stampin’ Blend for the tips of the succulent at the top, then added the Light Just Jade Stampin’ Blend to the body of the leaf.
In a similar way, I colored the succulent on the left-hand side.
Finally, the hanging succulent was first colored with the Light Highland Heather. Leaving the tips purple, I added the Dark Just Jade Stampin’ Blend to the body of each leaf.
For a final touch, I added a little Dark Just Jade to the central succulent to give it a bit more depth.
Putting It All Together
The next step is to Fussy Cut all of the succulents for the front of the card.
Begin by adhering the inside of the card to the inside of the Just Jade CS card base. Use the Bone Folder to make a crisp fold at the 4 1/4 inch score line.
Next adhere the card piece with the pot onto the front of the Just Jade CS card base. Then use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the large bunch of succulents over the pot.
Oops! I forgot to stamp the “Thanks” sentiment on the front of the card! Carefully use the Memento Black ink and stamp the sentiment in the upper left-hand corner.
To finish the front of the card, add the two smaller succulent plants next to the pot. These are adhered flat to the card front.
Viola! You have a gorgeous and colorful arrangement of succulents!
If you haven’t really felt like your succulents look as good as you would like, practice. It does take time to get used to the Blends, how the ink flows onto the paper and how the colors blend together.
Thank you for joining me today. I hope I was able to give you some ideas. If you come up with a great tip, please leave me a comment. I always have my eyes open to a new way to make the succulents look even more life-like.
Welcome to Wacky Wednesday! Today’s card is made using the Simply Succulents stamp set and Potted Succulents Dies by Stampin’ Up!. These products are found in the 2021 January-June Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalog. I will be showing how to use one of the die-cuts as a stencil. We will be using the Sponging Technique also.
I just love how this lovely card turned out and it is fairly easy to do. The colors are some of the 2021-2023 In-Colors: Bumblebee, Magenta Madness and Just Jade.
Measurements
Measurements: Just Jade Card Stock (CS) card base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches with a score line at 4 1/4 inches; Basic White CS: two at 4 x 5 1/4 inches and 3 x 4 inches. You will need a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch piece of Thick Basic White CS to make the stencil with the die (not pictured).
Creating the Stencil
Here are all the lovely dies that come in the Potted Succulents Dies. The largest die is the one we will use to make our stencil.
First place the die on top of the 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch Thick Basic White CS and center it. Use your Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to cut out the stencil. Note: If you do not yet have an awesome Cut & Emboss Machine, there are 2 available. You will need the full-sized Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to be able to use this die. You can buy one HERE.
Preparing the Sponges
The Stamping Sponges come in a large circle. Use a big pair of scissors to first cut the sponge in half. Then cut the half in half to make a quarter. Finally cut the quarter in half to make an eighth. The next step is to put a square of the color of cardstock that matches the ink you will use that sponge for. You will not need to rinse the sponge out if you are only using it for one color.
I store my sponges in a compartmentalized craft box.
Stamping
In order to make the sentiment label, you will first stamp the sentiment “you’ve been on my mind” in Smoky Slate ink onto the upper portion of the 3 x 4 inch Basic White CS. Next use the two different label dies in the Potted Succulents Dies set to cut out the labels as shown. I love the stitching around the edges of the labels. It adds a nice touch.
Sponging
The first step here is to secure the stencil to a scrap piece of paper with the 4 x 5 1/2 inch Basic White CS card piece also secured to the stencil. The stencil is a little bit longer than the 5 1/4 inch length of the stencil, so I used some sticky note tape to create the bottom border on the card piece.
Remember that the stencil is paper and will rip if rubbed too harshly. Sponging requires a gentle touch. First daub the sponge on the Bumblebee ink pad. Then use a gentle small circular motion to put ink on the card piece. You will have a very light layer of ink to start and will gradually add to that until you like the results.
To continue sponging the stencil, switch to the Magenta Madness ink and then the Just Jade ink. I wanted a border of the Just Jade so I went around the edges of the entire stencil.
Carefully remove the sticky note tape and Viola! You have a stunning and beautiful card front! Now we will use the die cut again as a stencil for the inside of the card.
To stencil the inside of the card, secure the stencil with the sticky tape so that you will sponge on the right-hand border. Again start with the lightest color-the Bumblebee ink. Then add the Magenta Madness ink and finally the Just Jade ink.
Viola! Another stunning and beautiful card piece!
Putting It All Together
Begin to put the card together by adhering the inside card piece to the inside of the Just Jade CS card base. Now adhere the front card piece to the front of the Just Jade CS card base.
To complete the card, adhere the larger label to the card front. Use Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the stamped sentiment “you’ve been on my mind” over the first larger label.
Viola! You have completed an awesome card! I usually like to add some Bling! to my cards, but I felt this one was fine without the Bling!
Thank you for stopping by today to learn this fun technique. I hope you give it a try. Don’t worry if you need to do this a few times before you like the result. The experimentation is part of the fun!
