Addicted to Stamping

Did you know...

...that you can make faux toilet paper rolls from a 1/4 sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" card stock? Useless information you say? I think not. Last month I had to do a challenge that involved empty toilet paper rolls and found myself fresh out. Imagine that.

Out of fear of being featured on a future episode of Hoarders there are some items I choose not to save. One of those items would be empty toilet paper rolls. Aside from the "eeeew" factor I really couldn't imagine myself ever needing (or wanting) them. Well I was wrong. Since I didn't have enough time to start collecting I decided to make my own and  was surprised that the size was almost the same. I thought I'd pass along this information in case anyone else finds themselves in need.

 

Flower Fair Daisy

Oooooo I think I found a new favorite product! I've been working on cards for a new Christmas Card class that's really been pushing me to think outside of the box since all the cards are all made from non-Christmas sets or products that are in the current Stampin' Up Catalogue.

Well I started playing with the Flower Fair Framelits and can't stop. I know I need to focus on Christmas until I get this class posted but those framelits keep calling to me. I just know it's going to be my new favorite. I allowed myself one card before I get back to my class so here it is. I snipped the petals on the top layer of the daisy to make it look more realistic. I used Blenadabilities to add some color to the leaves and flower center.

Cutting Tip

I like sharing this tip with anyone I hear groaning about fussy cutting. Here's my tip...Don't be fussy especially on stamps that have thick lines like Kind Koala. 

Stamp an image to cut out and stamp a second image on your card where your cut image will be going. Cut out your image trying to be close to the line but it doesn't have to perfect. I left some white space shown in the first photo below so you can see what I mean.

After your image is cut out color the sides using  the fat end of a Stampin' Write Marker in the same color as your stamped image (see second photo)  Also fill in little spots that you didn't cut out like the spaces between the Koala's toes. I don't do toes.  

On the third photo you can see the differnce between the side I colored and the top where I didn't. Once the piece is glued to the stamped image on the background  the lines on the cut image blend right in.  Scroll down to yesterday's post to see on of the samples using Kind Koala.

 

Kind Koala

I think I'm in love. This is the cutest little guy in the whole Stampin' Up catalogue. I colored him with Soft Suede Ink and a Blender Pen. I stamped the flowers in Tangelo Twist and filled them in a little with a blender pen so it only picked up a bit of the color. I added some Real Red to the center of the flower with a blender pen as well. When I covered the flowers with Crystal Effects the colors bled together. I added the sequin to the centre before they dried.

I also added Crystal Effects to the hidden flower so I could attach the sucker to the flower using glue dots. It feels secure but the sucker can be removed without ruining the card.

Accordion Top

Our 24th wedding anniversary is coming up so I thought I'd make a fun little card for my hubby that looks like it was more work than what it was (shhh...it's our secret). I cut a 4" x 11" piece of card stock and scored it every 1/2" starting at 4" and ending at 7". The sentiment and heart stamp are from the Perfect Pennants stamp set. I stamped and cut out a few hearts to glue to the folds in the accordion top and filled in with a few small punched hearts. I added some of the Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape across the top for some additional interest.

I was prepared to punch a couple of holes and string some ribbon through to keep the folds tighter but surprisingly the card stood up perfectly fine without help. Let's pretend I planned it that way.

Blendabilities and Cello

It seems backwards but when coloring a stamped image,  alcohol markers ( Blendabilities) work best when used with water based ink and water based markers (Stampin’ Write Markers)  work best with alcohol ink (Stazon). Water based ink doesn’t dry on cello or other nonporous surfaces so I wanted to stamp my images in Black Stazon and add some color with my Blendabilies. If you’re using window sheets you can stamp the image on the back and color on the front but that method doesn’t work when using cello bags. When coloring the sunglasses and flower centers I used quick strokes and tried not to touch the black stamped area with my marker.

 

On the licorice bag I stamped a 1" x8" cello bag with Black Stazon and drew colored circles around the black dots to add some color.

 

 

And now that I’m finished my post I’m off to stamp more samples and eat that chocolate covered licorice.