Sisterhood of the Traveling Stamps

Welcome Neighbor Designer Paper with Stenciled Clouds and Birds Using Stampin' Up! Punches

The Us Census Bureau was formed on this day in 1902. Census Day in the US is April 1, 2010, but your letter is mailing now and should arrive sometime this month. You cannot fill it out online; it must be mailed in. I don't remember the Census in 2000. It was 10 years ago and I've slept since then. ;-)

Here is a card I made commemorating the US Census Bureau.

[click on image to see it larger]

[above] I used the Extra Large Fancy Flower punch to sponge the clouds.

[above] I made a stencil by punching the flower. I then sponged around the edges in Bermuda Bay ink.

[above] I used the Small Heart punch to make the 3 birds.

[above] Punch a heart using Crushed Curry card stock and set aside to use in another project. It will not be used here.

[above] Reinsert the punched scrap into the Small Heart punch as shown above. Punch. Repeat for 2 more birds.

[above] Use Dotto to adhere to your card. Clusters of odd numbers, such as 3, are very pleasing to the eyes.

[above] Here's the card again.

I used the Welcome Neighbor designer series paper pack, which is a free item with a $50 Sale-a-bration purchase. This design already has a row of houses and trees. I just had to color coordinate the clouds and birds. Simple and fun card to make!

Find out more about Sale-a-bration here.

 

Watercoloring Technique Part 2 with Stampin' Up! Stamps

For the most saturated colors, watercolor with Stampin' Write Markers.

[above] I sent this Thank You note to the Polish Art Center in Michigan for replacing Sierra's broken Matryoshka doll. 

I used Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Regal Rose, and Rose Red to color the nesting dolls in the My Matryoshka stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Yes, Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay are In Colors for 2009-10 and for the first time are available in a set of six Stampin' Write Markers!

Have you ever created a marvelous card, only to get frustrated when you couldn’t find a coordinating marker? With Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive coordinating color families, that will never happen again. And now our markers are available in our In Color collection!

■ Dual tipped markers: .5 mm fine point and flexible brush

■ Odorless, water-based dye ink

■ Coordinates with Classic Stampin’ Pads and exclusive Stampin’ Up! card stock

■ Finger grips on cap aid in easy cap removal

■ Set of 6 markers: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, and Soft Suede

US residents- Order your set of markers and the My Matroyshka stamp set through my website and receive a special gift from me! Order must be placed by April 30, 2010.

Ideas Using Vintage Labels Stamp Set

Yesterday, I shared a simple, but fancy tag using the Vintage Labels stamp set only available as a free item during Stampin' Up!s Sale-a-Bration.

Here are some more samples for you using Vintage Labels.

[above] Quilt technique card

[above] Treat Boxes

[above] Using Eyelet Border punch.

[above] Distressed technique using sanding blocks.

[above] Gift bag with matching stamped tissue paper.

Sale-a-bration lasts 31 more days and Vintage Labels is one of the item you can choose with a $50 minimum order. When you order on-line, be sure to choose 118392 for wood mount and 119122 for clear mount version of Vintage Labels.

Watercoloring Technique Part 1 with Stampin' Up! Stamps

Press the closed lid of a Classic Stampin' Pad down against the ink pad, creating a small pool of color in the lid; then open the lid. Use a Blender Pen, an Aqua Painter, or a damp watercolor brush to lift the ink from the lid and apply to the stamped image. 

Sheri's tip: Use a "gentle hand" when applying color. You can always add more, but can not take darker areas away. You can also use this technique on your scrapbook pages.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!

Techniques Using Stampin' Up! Pastels

Technique A: Chalking

1]   Apply Stampin' Pastel color to your card stock or paper with a sponge-tip applicator, cotton swab, sponge dauber, or stiff paintbrush.
2]   Blend the colors as desired with the applicators or Blender Pen. When using blender pens, just touch the pen directly to the corner of the chalk to pick up the color. 

Sheri's tip: I like to use Eye Tees make-up applicators to apply Stampin' Pastels. You can find them in grocery stores, pharmacies, discount stores, and on-line. Eye Tees are pointy on one end and flat and rounded on the other. Excellent for coloring with pastels.

Technique B: Poppin' Pastels

1]   Stamp the image with a white Craft Stampin' Pad or VersaMark^® ink pad.
2]   Use Sponge Daubers to apply the pastel color directly to the ink.
3]   Blow off any excess powder. (Repeat this process if you are using this technique with a Two-Step Stampin' set.)

QUICK TIP To avoid smearing, gently dab the chalk rather than rubbing it across the image.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!

Marker Techniques Using Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets

Technique A: Multiple Colors

1]   Use a marker to apply ink only to the desired parts of the image.

2]   Add other colors if desired.

3]   Breathe on the inked image to remoisten the ink with your breath before stamping onto paper.

Technique B: Omitting

1]   To omit a certain part of a stamp image, use a marker to apply ink only to the desired parts of the image.

2]   Breathe on the inked image to remoisten the ink with your breath before stamping onto paper.

 Let me know what other techniques you want me to post about. Leave me a comment below.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!

Rock n Roll Technique Using Stampin' Up! Stamp sets

1] Ink stamp on light-colored ink pad.

2] Press edges of stamp in a rolling motion on darker ink pad, being careful not to ink the center of the stamp.

QUICK TIP
Always use the lightest colored ink first to avoid getting dark ink on your light ink pad.

Sheri's note:

This technique works best with bold, solid images and stamp sets.

Leave a comment below to let me know what other techniques you are interested in seeing.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!

Heat and Stick Powder Technique with Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets

1]   Stamp image with VersaMark^® or Craft Stampin' Pad.

2]   Pour Heat and Stick powder onto the inked image, making sure that the image is coated completely. I have a reusable lunch-box type container where I store my Heat and Stick powder and other containers for all my glitter.

4]   Shake off excess powder into your storage container.

5]   Heat the stamped image with a Heat Tool using the Powder Pal tray lined with aluminum foil only until the powder changes to a shiny liquid and rises slightly. Do NOT overheat.

6]   Pour glitter onto the inked image, making sure that the image is coated completely.

7]   Shake off excess glitter as described in Step 2.

8]   Heat again briefly to set.

QUICK TIP
Our Powder Pal is an excellent alternative to scratch paper for saving excess powder and glitter. It also makes cleanup a snap! Personally, I use the Powder Pal as a tray for heating up my images. I line the Powder Pal tray with thick card board and aluminum foil (see below).

Give-Away Time!!!

Share your glittery projects with us! Send me an email  with a picture of your project (or upload your project on my Facebook Fan page) using heat and stick powder and glitter before December 16 and you will be eligible to receive an assortment of Sweet Pea Stitched Felt from the upcoming 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog. I will choose 3 lucky crafters after December 17.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!

(Fine print- Contest open to US residents only. Feel free to leave a comment if you live another part of the world. I may have visited your country! After-all, this the the Sisterhood of the Traveling Stamps blog!)

Technique - Using Stampin' Up! Background Stamps

1]   With the background stamp face up, ink the stamp completely by tapping the ink pad on the rubber. If you are getting streaks from the edge of the ink pad, carefully drag your stamp pad across the entire stamp.

 

2]   Place the background stamp face up to one side of your grid paper.

3]   Place the card stock on the inked stamp.

4]   Gently fold over the other edge of your grid paper to cover the entire background stamp.

5]   Rub the card stock with smooth, firm strokes, making sure to rub all areas of the stamp and to keep the card stock from sliding.You may find that a rubber brayer helps during this step. Personally, I just use my hands to transfer the ink from the background stamp to the card stock.

6]   Remove the grid paper and carefully lift the card stock off the stamp.

Finished card with a background stamp.

QUICK TIP
Create a multi-colored background by applying two or more inks to the background stamp. You can use Stampin' Spots or stamp pads to achieve this multi-colored look.

Check out Stampin' Spots here. The link will take you to the Bold Bights Stampin' Spots description.

Can't decide what "big" stamp pads to invest in?

Then Stampin' Spots are the perfect answer for you. You get 12 colors of one color family for the same price as 4 stamp "big" Classic Ink stamp pads.

How are you using background stamps or Stampin' Spots? Share with us in the comments section. 

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!

PS
Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials are available for my Newsletter subscribers and Facebook Fans. Stay tuned EARLY Friday morning.

Thanksgiving Card Samples Using Autumn Splendor stamps, Autumn Days stamps, and Leaves #2 Die for the Big Shot

I thought you would enjoy these card samples from swaps I received.

Autumn Splendor

↑ Susie Wood, artist

↑ Julie Gibson, artist (Julie is a current member of my Stampin' Up! team of demonstrators.)

Julie is very detailed orientated. Notice the different colors water-colored in the leaf. Beautimous! (Beautiful+Gorgeous=Beautimous)

Leaves #2 for the Big Shot

↑ Barbara Zuel, artist

Autumn Days

↑ Sandy Puyleart, artist

↑ Connie Fitzgerald, artist

↑ Joycelynne Sims, artist (Joycelynne is a demonstrator on my team.)

This card is STUNNING in person. There are so many wonderful elements that make this card so gorgeous. Joycelynne used a masking technique for the moon/sun shape. She used repetition stamping technique for wheat sheaves. She heat embossed the pheasant on Really Rust before cutting it out. She even stamped on the twill tape!

Did you know you could stamp on twill tape? It's really fun! The largest size twill tape makes just the right-sized bookmark. What a fantastic thoughtful gift for the holidays! 

If you would like to order twill tape or any of the other supplies used to create these cards, click the button below to place your order.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Stamp creatively!