A "Hello" Card- Using the Biggest Wish stamp set and the Hello Embossing Folder

 Hello fellow stampers, crafters, and friends!  Today I'm going to share a card with you that I was inspired to make awhile ago and am just getting around to doing!  This card be made with so many different products, so don't be afraid to use what you have and make it your own!

Let's go ahead and get started.  Keep in mind, that if you watch my video, the directions here may be a bit different than in the video.  That's OK!  The order doesn't always have to be exact, depending on the project. 

How to:

The dimensions for the card are listed below.  Using those dimensions, cut and fold the papers needed. Taking the basic white panel, you will emboss this using the Hello embossing folder, that comes in a set called Thanks and Hello embossing folders. I embossed the bottom half by lining up the edge of my paper with the inside crease of the folder.  I also made sure to get the English "hello" lined up near the bottom.  After this went through my machine, I then lined up the largest stitched rectangle die to cut it out to the size I wanted with a nice stitched border.

Now to stamp.  If you don't feel you can stamp free hand, then feel free to use your Stamparatus.  I just free handed this though.  I used the Biggest Wish stamp set with the word Hello.  There are two, one with all capital letters and one that is in cursive.  I used both of these.  First, I used the all capital letter one with my Highland Heather ink pad.  I lined the Hello stamp near the upper left and stamped.  I then reinked, and lined it up the the upper right and stamped.  This left a space in between where I could stamp again and be able to more easily line it up evenly.  After I stamped the capital letter Hello, I then used my Memento Black ink pad to stamp the cursive Hello.  I lined this up underneath the Highland Heather hello's by placing the first "L" in the cursive hello between the hello's above it.  (See photo or video for placement.)  I did this twice, then lined it up again at the end of the panel and the beginning of the panel, still using the first "L" as my guide.  However, at each end I placed a post it note butted right up against the stitched line so that I wasn't getting ink past that.  I really wanted that frame outside of the stitching to stay white. Stamping on each edge means that you won't get a full "hello", but I liked it like this.  You could leave these out completely if you so choose.

Now, adhere the white panel to your black panel.  I used multi purpose liquid glue here because I wanted to be able to freely move the piece a bit if needed as it is a very small border and I want to be able to see the black all around.  Then I adhered the small black strip along the center(ish) of the white panel.  I wanted a "break" between the stamping and the embossed piece.  You could use ribbon or DSP here.  (The first card I made like this, which you can see in the video, has ribbon with a bow.)  Now adhere the entire panel to your card base.  I used dimensionals.  Add some Matte Black Dots, and your card is complete!

Dimensions:

* 8.5" x 5.5" Highland Heather card stock, folded at 4.25"
* 5.25" x 3 5/8th" Basic Black card stock
* 5.5" x 4.25" basic white card stock (this will end up being smaller- follow the directions above)
* 5.25" x .5" Basic Black card stock 

Product List

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Feel free to check out the video linked above and comment below with a picture of your own creation!  As always, I would appreciate any business and would love to be your demonstrator!  Happy Stampin'!

Ink Smooshing Technique

Hello fellow stampers, crafters, and friends!  Today I'm going to share a card with you that popped into my head late at night while trying to sleep. Ha!  I haven't done the ink smooshing technique in years, and decided to try it with the "Summer Splash" theme given for our team swap.

Let's go ahead and get started.  Keep in mind, that if you watch my video, the directions here may be a bit different than in the video.  That's OK!  The order doesn't always have to be exact, depending on the project. 

How to:

The dimensions for the card are listed below.  Using those dimensions, cut and fold the papers needed.  You will start with the white watercolor panel.  (You can do this technique a few ways, but I'll only explain the way I did it here.)  Using a piece of window sheet, put some ink from your in pad onto it.  You can put the whole pad down, rub the edge of the pad across the window sheet, or pounce it around.  Then, take your stampin' spritzer with water, and spray the ink splotches. Now, turn this ono the water color panel and press down.  You can do this a few times, or just once.  Use your heat tool to help dry it a bit, then do it again.  You can do it again in the same color or in a different color.  I like to try to get a bit of color and splotches in different areas, nd do it a few times between drying so that it looks a bit layered.  Here, I used Coastal Cabana as my first color and Bermuda Bay as my second color.  If you don't have a heat tool, you can just allow it to air dry between colors.  It doesn't have to be perfectly dried and you can use a paper towel to soak up any extra ink that pools. Set this piece aside to continue to dry.  The drier the better.  I like to place mine under something heavy to help with any warping that may have occurred. 

Next, stamp your images.  I stamped my images from the Friends Are Like Seashells set.  I used the the sand dollar in Sahara sand on Sahara sand, the star fish in calypso coral on basic white, and the small seashell in soft sea foam on basic white.  I also stamped the small "filler" image over the small shell using 2nd generation stamping in soft sea foam.  (Second generation stamping means to stamp off the first layer onto scrap, then stamp again onto your project.  This gives a softer look.)  Next, I used a blender pen to pick up a little bit of calypso coral and blended it into the starfish.  I started by filling in three arms, then just blended out from there.  This gives it some different shades.  I also stamped a border around the card base using the stamp that looks like sand.  I stamped in Sahara sand, using 2nd generation stamping.  I didn't want it to be too dark, but wanted to give a bit of a textured look.  Stamp all around the four edges of the card base. Then, stamp a sentiment from the same set on a piece of vellum in Bermuda Bay.  I stamped the one that says "love you to the beach and back".  Let this dry while you die cut the other stamped images using the matching dies, Seaside Seashells. Once they have been cut, you can add some Wink of Stella to give them some sparkly pizzazz!  Now the sentiment should be dry enough to de cut.  I used a stitched banner from the Tasteful Labels dies. (In the video, I said it was from a different die set- I was incorrect, sorry!) 

Now it is time to put your card together!  Adhere the watercolor panel to the Sahara Sand panel.  I suggest using tear & tape if you have it.  It is very strong and helps with any warping.  I ran out, so I used a good amount of Stampin' Seal.  Then, adhere this to the card base using stampin' dimensionals. Now, adhere the stamped images in the lower right.  I adhered the sand dollar using multi purpose liquid glue, then added a stampin' dimensional to the starfish and seashell. Using my Stampin' Seal, I adhered the vellum sentiment to the upper left side.  I only put adhesive near the top of the vellum piece.  My finishing touches included a small bow made with white baker's twine and 3 rhinestones.   

Your card is complete!

Dimensions:

* 8.5" x 5.5" thick basic white card stock, folded at 4.25"
* 4 7/8th " x 3 5/8th" Sahara Sand card stock
* 4.75" x 3.5" fluid 100 watercolor paper
* scraps of whisper white and Sahara Sand

Product List

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Feel free to check out the video linked above and comment below with a picture of your own creation!  As always, I would appreciate any business and would love to be your demonstrator!  Happy Stampin'!

Bamboo Beauty

 Hello fellow stampers, crafters, and friends!  Today I'm going to share a card with you that I made using the new Bamboo Beauty stamp set.  When I saw this set, I just fell in love.  

Let's go ahead and get started.  Keep in mind, that if you watch my video, the directions here may be a bit different than the video.  That's OK!  The order doesn't always have to be exact, depending on the project. 

How to:

The dimensions for the card are listed below.  Using those dimensions, cut and fold your card stock and vellum.  On the white panel, you will stamp the large bamboo towards the left side, leaving space for about a half inch border.  I stamped two of the large bamboos on this side and one on the right, using the new in color, Evening Evergreen.  I then stamped the smaller bamboo once on each side.  I used the same color to stamp a few of the branches on each side.  Something to note: the lines in the bamboo are called the branch knobs.  These are the spaces where a branch grows.  You can obviously put your branches where you like, but I put my off those.  i also didn't over do the branches.  I did one o each bamboo piece.

Next, use some double sided tape on both the left and right side of the panel.  Burnish and peel off the backing to expose the adhesive.  Then, take your gold gilding flakes and cover the entire length of the adhesive (on both sides).  Burnish with your fingers.  You can use a lending brush (make sure it is clean!) or a sponge to help get the excess off and to finish burnishing.  (Not necessary, but helpful.)

Take some shimmery Evening Evergreen vellum and cut a label from the Tasteful Labels dies.  Stamp on a piece of scrap basic white in stazon black whichever sentiment you choose.  (See picture for the one I used.) Adhere this to the label die and then adhere the whole piece to the lower right side using dimensionals.  

Adhere the stamped panel to the vellum panel you cut at the beginning and then adhere the entire piece to your card base, using dimensionals.  Add some embellishment and bling if you choose.  I left mine without.

Your card is complete!

Dimensions:
* 8.5" x 5.5" folded at 4.25"
* 5.25" x 4" Evening Evergreen Vellum
* 5" x 3.75" basic white
* Scrap basic white (to stamp sentiment)
*Scrap Evening Evergreen Vellum (to die cut label)

Product List

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Feel free to check out the video and comment below with a picture of your own creation!  As always, I would appreciate any business and would love to be your demonstrator!  Happy Stampin'!