Acrylic Block Background Coloring

“Just Believe” (retired) is a silhouette stamp that is featured in the May Stamp Camp.  I didn’t realize the stamp set was retired until today when I looked in the catalogue.  This is one of those sets I have wanted to use, but kept waiting until the correct time.  Guess I waited too long! 

What makes this card a bit different is that the background of the top mat is colored with an acrylic block.  Deb and I experimented with this technique and decided to take it in several steps.  This is the beginning step.  Next month we will use 2 colors.  Using 1 color is really quite simple.  You stamp your ink – in this case, Daffodil Delight – on your acrylic block.  You then mist  your acrylic block with water and stamp your card stock.  I used watercolor card stock as the ink is not absorbed as quickly and a sponge can be used to spread the excess.  After the ink was totally dry, we stamped our Just Believe image in Jet Black StazOn.  As the watercolor paper is rough, you will not have 100% coverage.  This watercolor cs was then framed with Basic Black, then with Daffodil Delight and adhered to an embossed Elegant Eggplant card.   A small eggplant grosgrain ribbon and butterfly were added. 

I developed an interesting technique to keep my butterflies “in flight.”  I always like the butterfly wings to be “fluttering” but I don’t like to use small pieces of Stampin’ Dimensionals to do this.  Without something to keep the butterfly wings “in flight”, the wings always flatten out during mailing.  So, I have started layering 3-4 glue dots on each side of the wings with a single glue dot in the center.  The glue dots force the wings up and they do not crush during the mail.  Yahoo!  Thank goodness Scrapbook Pal has the most inexpensive glue dots I can find.  You can check them out at www.scrapbookpal.com.  They ship quickly and if you spend at least $25, there is no shipping (plus no tax!)

This is the final card for our May Stamp Camp.  Dates/times are:  May 1st from 2 – 9 PM; May 2nd from 2 – 9 PM; and May 3rd from 9 AM to 3 PM. The cost is $12.00 which covers everything you need to make the 4 projects.   I hope you can make it.  If you know or think you are coming, it is helpful (but not required) if you can let me know which day/time you will be attending. 

Mark your calendars now for the June Stamp Camp – birthdays birthdays birthdays.  We will be making 2 male, 1 female, and 1 child’s birthday cards.  June 5, 6, and 7 are the June Stamp Camp dates with the normal times.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Side Fold Card

I absolutely LOVE the three panel – side fold card.  This card is super easy and is a great way to use up your scraps of designer series paper (DSP).  When preparing for the May Stamp Camp, I couldn’t decide which DSP to use, so I ended up with 4 samples, each with a different pattern of DSP.  The fun part is that you can choose the DSP you like best from the 4 patterns, and the message and format that you wish. 

To make this side fold card, you take a piece of 11” x 4 1/4” card stock and score it at 2 3/4” and also at 5 1/2”.  The end short panel folds in toward the long panel while the next short panel folds backwards.  Super easy but awkward to explain!  Note the Watercolor Wonder DSP pattern used.  Two Paperrose stampers (who shall remain nameless) told me that this pattern of the Watercolor Wonder DSP would not be easy to use because of the large Calypso Coral flowers.  Hmmmmm – the DSP looks pretty good to me when offset with Smoky Slate. 

I really like the large area for your inner message:Actually, the message space is the same as it is for most of the cards we do, but because of how the card opens, it seems larger to me.  I used the petite petals on all my samples of this card – smoky slate was used for this card with a few rhinestones added.  Let’s see some more samples

 

This sample in Melon Mambo is done with Gingham Garden DSP and a Starburst Sayings message.  Island Indigo was added as a second color to bring out the blue.  Note the use of ribbon and the little “Celebrate” stamp on this card.

 

 

 

This lovely Thinking of You card is stamped in Calypso Coral and Island Indigo with Island Indigo Card Stock and Venetian Romance DSP .  The Windows Framelits die cut the beautiful shape for the message.  Although you can’t see the grunge clearly, a bit of Island Indigo and Calypso Coral ink was blown onto the message area of the card.  Island Indigo Candy Dots added the finishing touch. 

From the message portion of the Thinking of You card, you can barely see the coordinating Venetian Romance DSP used on the inside panel.  I used coordinating DSP on several, but not all of the samples.

 

 

 

The fourth and final sample uses retired DSP and my favorite Feel Goods message.  The colors used are So Saffron and Tangerine Tango.  I’m glad this message set is not retiring.  The Oval Framelits provide a fast frame for the message and Candy Dots add interest to the Petite Petals and the message.  Note the use of Tangerine Tango ribbon on the message portion of the card.

I hope you can make it to the May Stamp Camp on May 1, 2, and/or 3.  You can choose one of the 4 color combos shown above, and the message of your choice.  These cards are great for friendships, birthdays, or any occasion.  $12.00 is the cost for the four cards made at this Stamp Camp.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Friendship is Golden

I’ve been wanting to do a gold and white card for some time.  The “Language of Friendship” stamp set (retired) seemed perfect for this.  Brushed gold card stock and the square framelits create a perfect frame for the Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum (page 23 in Celebrate the Everyday Catalogue).  I played around with the other two patterns of this elegant vellum(circles, and hearts), but preferred the stripes.  Gold embossing powder was used with VersaMark and the heating tool on Whisper White to give us the beautiful bird, stem, wings and flowers.  I also gold-embossed the meaningful message and punched it out with the wide oval punch.  The Bird Builder and Boho Blossom punches turn cutting out the images into a breeze as the punches do all the work.  I added the Gold Sequin Trim (page 23 in Celebrate the Everyday) and a few loose sequins for a bit of bling.  For added interest, the second sample of this card shows the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder on the area below the brushed gold frame. 

This is the second of the four cards we will be making at the May Stamp Camp.  As a reminder, dates and times: Thursday, May 1 – 2 PM – 9 PM; Friday, May 2 – 2 PM – 9 PM; and Saturday, May 3 – 9 AM – 4 PM. If you need an alternate date/time, please contact me and I am sure I can accommodate your request.  The cost is $12.00 which covers all tools and supplies needed.  All you need to do is bring yourself.  We even have bottled water, bottled water, hot tea and coffee to quench your thirst.

I’m pleased that many of you (and me) were able to take advantage of the free shipping offer which ended yesterday.  The link for retiring stamps is  http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/lastChance/2014_NA_RetiredList/NA/US_Retiring_Stamps.pdf  The link for retiring accessories is http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/lastChance/2014_NA_RetiredList/NA/US_Retiring_Accessories.pdf  Once these items are gone – they are gone.  I would suggest you order now if there is something you would like on the retiring lists.

Looking forward to seeing you on May 1, 2, and/or 3.  Give me a call, or drop an E-mail if you have any questions.

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

People Like You

Once upon a time, long long ago, when rubber stamping on greeting cards first started, there were only 3 components:  a piece card stock, a rubber stamp, some ink.  “People Like You” returns to these basics:  card stock, a rubber stamp, ink.

“People Like You” is a lovely single stamp – pretty flowers and a wonderful message.  There is no need for any embellishment – no ribbon, no bling, no candy dots or punches.  This card is perfect just the way it is.  Debbi stamped the image in Real Red and framed it with Real Red and Whisper White.  Wouldn’t this make a great card for Mother’s Day, or a birthday, or even a Thinking of You sentiment.  In fact, as “people” refers to plural, this image could even be used for a Wedding Anniversary. 

This is one of the four cards we will be creating at our May Stamp Camp.  Dates/times for this stamp camp:  Thursday, May 1 – 2 PM – 9 PM; Friday, May 2 – 2 PM – 9 PM; and Saturday, May 3 – 9 AM – 4 PM.  If you need an alternate date/time, please contact me and I am sure I can accommodate your request.

Other exciting changes with Stampin’ Up include the retiring product list which came out April 21st, new items in the upcoming 2014-2015 catalog which goes live June 2nd, Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers (like Copic markers and no – the current markers will still remain), authentic Project Life products, the new 2014 – 2016 In Colors, and more.  I am quite excited about the Blendabilities markers.  The demonstrators who have had a chance to “play” with them are quite impressed, and the rumor is that they will be cheaper than the Copic markers.  I need all available help to assist me when it comes to shading!

Three more cards to come for the May Stamp Camp – is your calendar for these dates?  I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful weather!

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com