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Latest Post

Clear Block Stamping; a fun & easy background for quick cards!

Have you ever tried Block Stamping?  If you have a clear block and ink pads you can do this!  

I shared these cards on Facebook Live last week Tuesday.  You can watch the replay below.  Remember every Tuesday morning at 11 am CT I'm Live on FB here. 

I chose a few different stamp sets and inks for the cards I made.  I also have a few tips for you when doing this technique. 

Sept 29th Seafoam Block stamping Save

The above card features Soft Seafoam and In The Pines stamp set.  The White layer is 4 3/4" X 3 1/2".  I inked the 'H' block in Soft Seafoam ink and spritzed it with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and Champagne Shimmer Paint. 

You can use water but that takes longer to dry and I wanted a bit of shimmer. Shimmer Paint mixes well with rubbing alcohol. I added random strips of Shaded Spruce CS across the card.  Quick & easy! 

Sept 29th Seafoam Block stamping Save

This card features Calypso Coral (2" X 5 1/2"), Petal Pink and the Queen Anne's Lace stamp set. The textured layer is from the set of Wrapped in Texture embossing folders.

Sept 29th Seafoam Block stamping Save

Can you see the marbling effect here? I inked the block in Seaside Spray ink and then added a few swirls of Misty Moonlight with a Stampin' Write marker. *Watch the video below. 

I used the Snowflake Wishes set on this card and the Flowers for Every Season ribbon/twine combo pack.  The colors are Seaside Spray & Misty Moonlight.  The White layer is 3 1/2" X 4 3/4" and the Misty Moonlight is 3 3/4" square – a scrap I had. 

Tips on the Clear Block Technique:

  • Use a light color of ink
  • Choose a block that fits on your card stock
  • Ink it and spritz with either water or rubbing alcohol until it almost starts to puddle.
  • Add a swirl of darker color with a marker after inking the block and before spritzing. 
  • Alcohol dries faster than water 
  • Add a bit of Shimmer Paint to your alcohol for additionals glitz! 
  • Whisper White card stock works just fine; no need for thicker papers

 

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October Specials!

Current Host code is MJK7R2CU

Designer Paper Sale; click here!

October 2020 Paper Pumpkin - Joy to the World Save

Get a free package of Adhesive Backed Snowflakes in October with an

online order over $45. 

Adhesive backed snowflakes Save

All online orders will receive my Tutorial of the Month featuring the Poinsettia Petals suite!

Poinsettia Petals projects Save

All Posts

  • The Sending Smiles bundle is so versatile! Check out these two projects.

    Last week I shared three projects with the Sending Smiles bundle seen here.  I think it's one of the best choices in the new Annual Catalog by Stampin' Up!  

    I also wanted to use the Pretty Prints designer paper and chose the Bermuda Bay sheet in the package.  I also wanted to use one of the new In Colors and settled on Sweet Sorbet. 

    Sending Smiles diagonal sketch Save

    Next I had to choose a coordinating color to soften these two vibrant colors and settled on Blushing Bride.  I was so surprised how well these colors combined!  

    The next thing that inspired this layout was a card sketch we have been working on in my Flowerbug's Team group.  As you can see I changed the main image to be on the angle.  

    Sketch 35 Save

    Sketches are one of my favorite ways to get inspiration on card layouts. 

    Measurements:

    • Card base 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" scored at 4 1/4"
    • DSP 4" square
    • White 2 3/4" square
    • Sweet Sorbet 2 7/8" square
    • Glimmer paper strip 3/8" X 4 1/4"  

    Can you see that the flowers are darker in the center and lighter on the outer petals?  I inked the flowers in Sweet Sorbet ink and stamped off once.  Then I used a sponge dauber to add more Sweet Sorbet ink to just the center.  You can see this technique in the video here.  

    Sending Smiles diagonal sketch Save

    This next card was a make & take at my New Catalog Launch party a few weeks ago.  I wanted to have a cute but easy card they could make featuring our new In Colors.  

    Sending Smiles diagonal sketch Save

    They were able to stamp the flowers easily and perfectly with the Stamparatus. You can see how it's done in the video below.  

    SENDING SMILES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) Save

    One of my favorite thing about this bundle is how versatile the greetings are; so many possibilites! 

    Measurements:

    • Card base 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" scored at 2 1/8" & 4 1/4" 
    • White layers are 3 3/4" X 5"
    • Starry Sky is 3 7/8" X 5 1/8" 

    And here's the video; click on the photo below to watch these two cards and one other too. 

    ~~~

    Get a bunch of NEW In Color products FREE in your Starter Kit! 

    It's $99 for $213 in products!!!  And Free Shipping! Click here. 

    2022-24 join promotion Save

    Host codes: HUNR9DB6

     *click here to order 

    If your order is over $50 you'll receive a set of NEW embellishments from me.

    FUN FLOWERS RESIN SHAPES Save

    Don't forget about my loyalty rewards! 

    Click here to download yours and earn a $50 shopping spree!  

    Designer Paper Share May 22 Save

    Opt in for my New Catalog Designer Paper Share

    It's $26 plus shipping

    Leave a Reply

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  • Clean & Simple Blog Hop; Pretty Pop-Up dies

    Welcome to the Control Freak's May blog hop!  The theme is Clean & Simple projects. 

    Control freak welcome Save

    You may have just arrived or hopped over from Wendy's blog.  I'm sure you loved her unique projects. 

    For some reason when I think of clean & simple I lean towards mostly white projects.  I've been wanting to play with my new Pretty Pop-Up dies so here is what I came up with for my first project: 

    Pretty pop up card Save

    It's almost all white; just a few accents of Balmy Blue & Petal Pink.  These Pretty Pop-Up dies do not cut all of the way through; they provide detailed texture and a 'peak' behind the die-cuts.  

    I added a bit of color to some of the flowers and butterflies with Balmy Blue & Petal Pink light blends markers.  To get them to pop up a bit I pushed each die-cut outward with my Take Your Pick tool.  I adhered this 4" X 5 1/4" piece to a smaller piece of Balmy Blue card stock using mini dimensionals.  

    Pretty pop up card Save

    The greeting is from the Nature's Thoughts stamp set and on a die-cut from the Natural Prints dies.  I added a 1/4" strip behind this to bring in a bit of Balmy Blue. This card might not be considered true clean & simple but it does only have a few layers!  Ha!

    I stuck with the Balmy Blue & White them for my second card but added a bit of Gray Granite with the Abigail Rose designer paper. 

    I used the smaller oval die for this card and used one of the single dies for the White butterfly.  

    Pretty pop up card Save

    The greeting is stamped on a circle die from the Picture This dies and is from the Nature's Thoughts stamp set as well. There is a piece of Vellum card stock behind the Balmy Blue layer. 

    You can see some of the dies I used in the photo below: 

    Pretty Pop up cards. Save

    Thank you so much for stopping in today; I hope you enjoyed seeing these Pretty Pop-Up die projects!  

    I hope you'll stick with the 'hop' to see all of the projects!  Click here to see Melissa's projects or on the icon below.  

    Control freak click Save

    ~~~

    Get a bunch of NEW In Color products FREE in your Starter Kit! 

    It's $99 for $213 in products!!!  And Free Shipping! Click here. 

    May-LG Free-Starter-Kit-Products Save

    Host codes: HUNR9DB6

     *click here to order 

    If your order is over $50 you'll receive a set of NEW embellishments from me.

    FUN FLOWERS RESIN SHAPES Save

    Don't forget about my loyalty rewards! 

    Click here to download yours and earn a $50 shopping spree!  

    Designer Paper Share May 22 Save

    Opt in for my New Catalog Designer Paper Share

    It's $26 plus shipping

     

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Sending Smiles card; a fabulous & versatile bundle with video

    I made a bunch of these cards for a swap in April and also demonstrated it on FB Live last Tuesday here.  

    I LOVE the colors of Parakeet Party & Orchid Oasis together.  This new lime color of Parakeet Party brightens up our color line and it works with blues & purples beautifully! 

    Sending Smiles FB Live & swap Save

    The Sending Smiles bundle seen here is wonderful and was #1 on my list of 'must have's'.

    I made three projects on last week's Facebook Live using this fabulous bundle.  See it here. 

    SENDING SMILES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) Save

    I love the fact that they provided two sizes of the die-cut 'Sending'.  The larger one fits under the finer die-cut like seen on the card below.  But it also fits the stamped greeting image too.  So smart!  

    You can create a variety of flowers with this bundle as you can see.  This flower can be falling like wisteria or growing up like these here; they remind me of grape hyacinth.  

    Sending Smiles FB Live & swap Save

    Click here or on the photo below to watch the video for this card and TWO MORE as well. 

    ~~~

    Get a bunch of NEW In Color products FREE in your Starter Kit! 

    It's $99 for $213 in products!!!  And Free Shipping! Click here. 

    2022-24 join promotion Save

    Host codes: HUNR9DB6

     *click here to order 

    If your order is over $50 you'll receive a set of NEW embellishments from me.

    FUN FLOWERS RESIN SHAPES Save

    Don't forget about my loyalty rewards! 

    Click here to download yours and earn a $50 shopping spree!  

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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