DT Tips: Achieving a Watercolored Look with Stamped Images...

Welcome! I've had some questions on this previous post of mine on how I blended the bird to get the watercolor look, so I created a video for you today with a new card and the technique of stamping images and blending them to make them look watercolored. I hope you enjoy watching it, and please let me know if you have any questions!

Here is the video tutorial, and I apologize that the video is so small! I can't seem to figure out how to make it bigger on my blog. Please click HERE to watch it at over at Papertrey Ink's YouTube channel! Thanks!

The stamps used on this card are The Sweet Life, Spring Woods stamps and dies (bird and branch) and Bold Blossoms (sentiment). Have a creative day!

Revisited: Fancy Folk Art...

Each month on the 1st, the Papertrey Ink team revisits an older stamp set to give you fresh ideas of what you can do with it! Today we are using the Fancy Folk Art stamps and dies. I have one card three ways for you today:

1. a one-layer card (simple),
2. a card using the dies and an extra technique for the sentiment (intermediate),
3. and one with extra dimension, ink blending in the background, and splitting the sentiment (advanced). 

You can use these same tips with any stamp and die set, however, to step up your cards!

1. First is the one-layer stamped card or "simple" version! 
Everything is stamped directly onto the card base with Fancy Folk Art.

The leaves are stamped in Stormy Seas ink and the flowers with Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Tropical Teal and Bright Buttercup inks, then the sentiment over the top.

Nothing wrong with this one, but let's see how we can "step it up"!

2. Next is the "intermediate" version! 
I added a couple more steps in my process to add extra dimension. The big floral piece is die cut and stamped first, so I could raise it up off the card with pop dots. Then I placed the die cut directly onto the card and actually stamped the sentiment right over the top (before raising it up!). It did stamp through the holes of the die cut onto the card base. The die cut was then adhered with pop dots to help it stand off the card, and I also stamped and cut out another banner to place over the top.

Can you see the dimension of the die cut that is standing up off the "intermediate" card? I love dimension!

Now should we "step it up" a bit more? :)

3. Last is the "advanced" version: 
I will call the last version of this card "advanced", just because it has a few more steps to creating it, but I really think the extra steps give it a bit more "WOW" factor and detail to look at! What do you think? Which version do you prefer?

The floral is die cut and stamped, but before adding it to the card with pop dots, I did some ink blending in the background with a sponge and Aqua Mist ink. I really love how the soft aqua brings out the teal and red! It also brings out the white banner and white edges around the die cut, which really makes it pop. When placing the die cut on the card, I adhered it on an angle. This way I didn't cover up the two tulip shapes. The slight tilt of the floral piece makes a huge difference!

The sentiment stamp was cut apart! (YES, I cut the stamp!) I wanted to stamp only the "many thanks" separately in Aqua Mist under the die cut. You could also mask off the banner if you'd like. I don't mind cutting my stamps apart, because they can be put back together very nicely on the acrylic block. I stamped the banner in black and cut it out and added it over the top of the floral piece. I've also added the clear sequins as another detail that adds sparkle and catches the eye, without taking the attention away from the pretty floral.

I hope you enjoyed these tips for adding more detail and color and "stepping up" your card designs!

Visit Betsy, Dawn, Heather, and Melissa for more Fancy Folk Art ideas!

SAF Free Exclusive stamp set!

Papertrey Ink has a fun online Stamp-a-Faire event coming up this weekend, and the best part is that it's FREE! Anyone can attend, create cards or projects for the challenges, watch the videos we have prepared for you, and chat with us in the forum!

Here is a card made with a new stamp set called Fashion Sense by Papertrey Ink. Fashion Sense will ONLY be available on Stamp-a-faire day to all customers who make a qualifying $100 purchase. All orders made between 7am EST and 11:30pm EST on Stamp-a-faire Day (August 29, 2015) that total $100 (before shipping) will receive the set for FREE!

Kindness is Always Fashionable card:
STAMPS: SAF Exclusive stamp set
INK: Classic Kraft, True Black, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy
PAPER: white, patterned paper by My Mind's Eye - Market Street
DIES: Sentiment Splits: Curve Vertical,  Tiny Tags
OTHER: washi tape -  Michaels, twine - The Twinery, triangle clip - unknown.
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Be sure to check out what the other designers have done with this cute stamp set!

Amy Sheffer
Ashley Cannon Newell
Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Laurie Willison
Lizzie Jones
Maile Belles
Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Yesterday I had the chance to play around with my Silhouette Cameo for a few minutes. Santa brought me one for Christmas, and I was a little intimidated to open it and get it going. BUT...it actually turned out to be super simple, and I'm wishing I would have tackled it sooner!

These are called the Decorative Circles by Karla Dudley from the Silhouette Digital Designs Shop. I cut the heart circle with a Melon Berry cardstock and the hello circle with Pure Poppy cardstock, then layered them together. I backed the circles with Basic Grey paper from the Konnichiwa line. Chevron paper is Nantucket by Pink Paislee, polkadot paper is Aqua Mist patterned paper. Background cardstock is Ocean Tides.

I stamped the background with a "just thinking of you" stamp from the Mat Stack 2 Collection with Hawaiian Shores ink and True Black ink. Loving the Cameo - and all you can do with it!

My girls are off school this week for a winter break, so I've been trying to keep them busy with swimming at the Y, sleepovers, doctor appointments for Kati (she has to have her tonsils out soon). Going to the Children's Museum today and having grandma over for her birthday dinner... busy, busy. Next week things should be back to our normal schedule! :)

 

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I love making cards, but I'll admit, I do find it easier to make a girly one. I struggle with manly cards every time! So...I tried to step outside my box and create a couple of "boy" cards. I gave this one to my husband for his birthday. Love the sentiments on the front {I think he liked them too - I saw a smile on his face!}...

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A simple card here made with the Movers & Shakers Sentiments stamps on the kraft cardstock! I blended in some Funky Town paper (chevron) and the new Aqua Mist patterned paper.

I think brads are making a come back! They remind me of the whole confetti trend, which I love, so fun and festive! I plan to make more fun things with brads...

Brilliant card:

Stamps: Movers & Shakers Sentiments

Ink: Classic Kraft, True Black

Paper: Pure Poppy cardstock, yellow cardstock, Aqua Mist patterned paper,
Funky Town patterned paper

Dies: star punch by Fiskars

Other: Basic Grey brads.

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This one uses Ripe Avocado cardstock. What man doesn't like the color green?

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I used the new Framed Out #1 stamp set in the center and also cut a frame in half to make the brackets! Celebrate is from the Think Big Favorites #13. "Making years count" is from the Movers & Shakers Sentiments.

Celebrate card:

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #13, Framed Out #1, Movers & Shakers Sentiments

Ink: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, True Black

Paper: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Kraft, Aqua Mist cardstock

Dies: star punch by Fiskars

Other: Basic Grey brads, True Black ribbon by PTI, Calico White mist by Studio Calico.

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I had a lot of fun with the 5th Anniversary Celebrations with Papertrey Ink and hope you did too! There is a Papertrey Ink giveaway happening at Moxie Fab World, stop over and enter for your chance to win some Papertrey Ink stamps!

You spin me right 'round.... (can't get that song out of my head!)

The new Movers & Shakers dies designed by Nichole Heady for Papertrey Ink were designed to allow you to create interactive elements on your cards! There are several different dies that will be available on the 15th of this month with this set: Spinners, Poppers, Sliders, and Zippers. I am super excited about these and can't wait to see what everyone has made with their assigned die! The possibilities are endless. I love that!

My assignment was to use the Straight Track die from the Movers & Shakers: Spinners die set.

The item on this card that moves is the yellow star - it slides up and down the track and spins around! It's very easy to create this interactive element. Let me show you...

First, you'll cut a piece of cardstock, then place the straight track die on your cardstock and run it through your Cuttlebug or other die cut machine. You'll want to cut the circles as well with the other die in this set (Spinners).

Since I wanted to back my card with dark cardstock (to represent nighttime with my stars), I cut the little circles from black also, so it wouldn't show as much. You'll stack up the circles, adhere them together (with the 2 small ones in the center) and slide the finished sandwich onto the track. I attached my star to the circle with pop dots, so it was raised up a bit and easier to grab . The circle below isn't attached to anything, so it can slide.

Here is the star in action - it slides up and down and twirls around.

The stamps I used are the Movers & Shakers: Sentiments and Simply You (both go with these dies). I also added the cute arrows and stars from the older Postmarks stamp set.

You are What Happened card:

Stamps: Movers & Shakers Sentiments, Simply You, Postmarks

Ink: Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, True Black

Paper: Enchanted Evening, True Black cardstock, Pink Paislee Snow Day paper (graph)

Dies: Movers & Shakers: Spinners

Other: Basic Grey brads.

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I have one more example using the Straight Track. Notice I used it vertically in the first card and horizontally on this one. I used the Sending You and Postmarks stamps to create a little sliding mailbox.

I used the same technique here on this card and attached the mailbox to a circle under the track with pop dots. The mailbox slides back and forth.

I cut a little slot in the mailbox to hold the mail. The mail was made with the Friendship Jar Spring Fillers stamps.

Sending You Birthday Wishes card:

Stamps: Sending You, Postmarks, Friendship Jar Spring Fillers

Ink: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, True Black

Paper: Aqua Mist patterned paper, kraft and white cardstock, Pink Paislee Snow Day paper (graph)

Dies: Sending You, Movers & Shakers: Spinners

Other: Twinery twine, machine stitching.

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Fun, right? I can visualize interactive balloons, clouds, birds - and all kinds of interactive things on cards!

Grab the Movers & Shakers quickly before they sell out - I know they'll be very popular! Now visit the other team members to see more of these fun elements. I can't wait to see what they've made.

Ashley Cannon Newell

Betsy Veldman  

Dawn McVey  

Erin Lincoln  

Heather Nichols  

Jessica Witty  

Lisa Johnson  

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

Stitches & Swirls...

Hello, the Papertrey Ink girls are showcasing a new stamp set today called Stitches & Swirls!

As a quilter, I was inspired by this set to "stamp and stitch", so I chose a few of the images, stamped them with Pure Poppy ink and stitched away with red thread. This stamp set reminded me of Redwork! Have you heard of Redwork?

Redwork is an older form of embroidery which uses red floss to trace simple line drawings. Muslin squares were sold with the patterns marked for a penny each. These then could be used as quilt blocks with sashing added around the borders. Redwork was also used to embellish tea towels, aprons, pillow covers, splashers and other Victorian decorations, and were usually done in animal themes, children's themes, nature and kitchen themes.

First, I stamped the image on white cardstock. My needle is threaded with 2 stands of red thread and tied in a knot at the end. I didn't poke a hole at EVERY stitch on the stamped image, because the stitches are super small and it would have taken me forever to do all of those. So I poked a hole about every other stitch. When doing sharp turns, you'll have to poke holes more often and make the stitches smaller. Here is a shot in progress:

Now I'll admit, this technique is time consuming! But something you can do while watching TV or listening to music! Wouldn't a set of these cards be a nice gift? You could also do this on fabric and frame it, or make these into a pillow or quilt. The possibilities are really endless!

When I run out of thread, I tape the end to the back and start with another piece of floss right where I left off. You'll end up with messy threads inside like this. I just cut another piece of white cardstock and adhered it to the inside cover to hide the stitching...

I was afraid to stamp a sentiment DIRECTLY onto my card - after all that time I spent stitching! I didn't want to mess up with the stamping and have to start completely over. So I stamped some sentiments from a new set called Willow onto a strip of white cardstock and attached it to my card.

I love Redwork...I actually bought 2 pillows for my daughter's bed a long time ago that have Redwork on them!

Stitched card set:

Stamps: Stitches & Swirls, Willow
Ink: Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow
Paper: white cardstock
Dies: none
Other: red thread, Melissa Frances pearls.

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If you'd like to try this technique in a smaller scale, pick a smaller floral image from the set like I did here and give it a whirl...

This is stamped onto a deep purple cardstock and stitched with white floss. I left the center flower not stitched, I only stitched the inside of the flower petals and the leaves.

Good Heavens card:

Stamps: Stitches & Glory Be
Ink: Fresh Snow, True Black
Paper: Nantucket by Pink Paislee, purple cardstock by PTI
Dies: Pinking Shears Border Die
Other: ribbon by Papertrey Ink, chipboard by Studio Calico, pin by LYB, 

lace unknown, resin flower unknown, Melissa Frances pearl.

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Thank you for visiting me today! Stitches & Swirls will be available on the 15th at Papertrey Ink. Please visit the other girls to see what they've made with this stamp set also!

Ashley Cannon Newell

Betsy Veldman  

Dawn McVey  

Erin Lincoln  

Heather Nichols  

Jessica Witty  

Lisa Johnson  

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips
Nichole Heady

2011 Holiday Tags...

Today the Papertrey Ink girls are showing projects created with the new 2011 Holiday Tags and  the new Wonderful Words: Holiday stamps and dies, which will all be available on the 15th.

Since I've gotten older, the holidays are now more about gift giving for me instead of receiving, which is why I love to dress up my packages all pretty for the recipients! Here I've sewn 2 pieces of 6x6" paper together on 3 sides, inserted the gift, then stitched up the last side, and added some fun embellishments on top. The holiday wishes tag is from the new 2011 Holiday Tags set, and the "a gift 4 you" stamp is in the set as well!

Lots of layers here. I just starting mixing and matching to see what combination I liked!

Holiday Wishes gift wrap:

Stamps: 2011 Holiday Tags

Ink: Pure Poppy, True Black

Paper: Crate Paper -Portrait (black), October Afternoon (brown)

Dies/punches: Damask Snowflake dies

Other: pinking shears, Papertrey Ink felt and twine, Melissa Frances resin frame and pearl, Crate Paper sticker.

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Next, I wanted to play with the Holiday Wishes stamp in another way. It created a totally different look with the same stamp!

Step 1. First, I masked off the bottom portion of the stamp with a piece of cardstock and used the top portion of the Holiday Wishes stamp on my background patterned paper.

Step 2. The word "merry" was die cut with the Wonderful Words: Holiday dies.

Step 3. I punched 3 stars and decided where the sentiment will be stamped.

Here is the finished card...

Merry card:

Stamps: 2011 Holiday Tags, Wonderful Words: Holiday

Ink: True Black by PTI, Weather Vane by JBS

Paper: Memoir by Studio Calico (circle and purple), Crate Paper (creme)

Dies/punches: Wonderful Words: Holiday dies (merry), star punch

Other: Autumn Rose button by PTI

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Last I chose another image from the 2011 Holiday Tags set...the "for you" image... to work with. This image doesn't even have to be used for a holiday gift...could just be for someone as a thank you or birthday.

I was inspired by the leaves on the tag image and decided to stitch leaves just like the tag onto felt to make coasters, then wrapped them up with twine and added a tag for gift giving.

Here are the two coasters unwrapped. I die cut the shape with a new die called Mega Mat Stack 3. After stitching the leaves on these with white floss, the strings were showing on the back, so I cut another Mega Mat Stack 3 image and machine stitched them together to create each coaster!

For You Felt Coasters:

Stamps: 2011 Holiday Tags

Ink: Pure Poppy

Paper: Crate Paper - Portrait

Dies/punches: Mega Mat Stack 3 die

Other: floss, PTI felt and twine, pinking shears.

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I hope you'll visit the other Papertrey Ink girls to see what they have made with these stamps and dies as well:

Betsy Veldman  

Dawn McVey  

Erin Lincoln  

Heather Nichols  

Jessica Witty  

Lisa Johnson  

Maile Belles

Melissa Phillips
Michelle Wooderson
Nichole Heady