stamp out loud by tami sanders

it's in the bag...

Holidays are a great time to get your kiddos involved in crafting, and Halloween is a holiday that definitely centers around children.

My youngest son Chris, likes to take little gifts to school for his friends for the "big" holidays, and for Halloween, we usually put together treat bags.

Well, this year, we decided we were going to make some! We started with plain brown lunch bags, and decorated them in 2 ways using different sets of supplies and techniques for each...

 

To make the Pumpkin Bag, I drew a pumpkin on a sheet of paper and cut it out to make a stencil {I forgot to take a pic BEFORE we spritzed! LOL!}...

 

We first sprayed the bag using Smooch Spritz in Gingersnap and Carrot Cake, then, we placed the stencil over the bag and sprayed again using Black Velvet Smooch Spritz. 

 

Insert your treats and tie the bag up with twine...

 

For the DOTS BAG, we got out the Rollagraph - which is ALWAYS a favorite with kids! We used the Stamping Guide to roll the pattern on a diagonal. Using the Self-Inking Handle is key to keeping it fun and easy for kids since they can roll and roll and never have to worry about reinking the Stamp Wheel. Since the bag has creases, folds and seams, the design is NOT going to roll on perfectly - but that's ok! It's supposed to be fun, not perfect!

Then, after the dot design was rolled onto the bag, it was time to embellish using Smooch Accent Inks. Chris used several colors of Smooch Accent Ink to color in some of the dots. You don't need to color in ALL the dots, just let them color in as many as they want...

 

Then tie with colorul ribbons after the treats are added...

 

Make one design or both! Your kids will be proud to hand out treats in bags they made themselves!

“pumpkin” treat bag

Skill Level: easy: kid friendly project

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Gingersnap, Carrot Cake and Black Velvet and Color Catcher

Other: brown paper lunch bags, hand drawn template {or use a stencil} treats and twine

Tools: scissors 

DIRECTIONS:

1) Place bag in Color Catcher, spray with Gingersnap and Carrot Cake Smooch Spritz.

2) Place stencil over bag and spray again with Black Velvet Spritz.

3) Fill with treats and tie with twine.

HINT: after you make your paper template, trace and cut from cardboard for a sturdier stencil for multiple uses.

 “dots” treat bag

Skill Level: easy: kid friendly project

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Rollagraph: Jumbo Self-Inking Handle, Jumbo Ancient Page Ink Cartridge: Coal Black and Jumbo Stamp Wheel: Mixed Dots, ColorBox Stamping Guide and Smooch Accent Ink: Sundance, Kiwi, Carrot and Sugarberry

Other: brown paper lunch bags and ribbon

Tools: scissors 

DIRECTIONS:

1) Load handle with cartridge and stamp wheel.

2) Use Stamping Guide to roll pattern on diagonally over front of bag.

3) Use Smooch Accent Inks to color in some of the dots.

4) Fill with treats and tie with ribbons.

I hope you will give these projects a try and get YOUR kids involved in crafting!

There are MORE Halloween projects coming, so please come back to see what's new!

And if you'd like even MORE great projects featuring Clearsnap products, please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog.

 

trick or treat time!

For the next few weeks the theme for the blog will be HALLOWEEN!

Everything about Halloween just SHOUTS fun! Getting to dress up as anything you can imagine, the colors - bright orange and midnight black, and the candy! Don't forget the candy!

Today's project is a sparkly, shimmery, fun little card that combines a few different products: Smooch Spritz, Design Adhesives, stamps, ink and glitters... 

 

The card began by spraying a piece of gray cardstock with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, then stamping it with the spider web stamp. The design was then cut out and adhered to the card front to provide a shimmery, silvery backdrop...

 

Then Trick or Treat Design Adhesives were used to add a border at the top and bottom of the card as well as the sentiment...

 

 

 
 
Design Adhesives are a quick and fabulous way to add embossed or glittered accents to your projects. Think of them as an adhesive rub-on; you rub on the design, peel off the backing, then sprinkle on your glitter or embossing powder. They come in strips that can be used as is, or you can cut apart the designs as was done in this card.

Next, a few stamped element were added to complete the card...

 

 
 
If you'd like to make this spooky, bling-y card yourself, here are the supplies and directions you'll need... 

“no tricks” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Vivid! Dye Ink: black, Smooch Spritz: Silver Foil, Design Adhesives: Trick or Treat, Glitter: Peridot, Sparkling Amethyst and Sweet Orange and Color Catcher

Hero Arts: Large Web Clings Stamp and Month October ClearDesign Stamps

Hampton Art: Flip Flops: Spooky

Bazzill: card - blackbird from Card and Envelopes set, Intense Kiwi, Fig Swirl and Orange Crush cardstocks

Tools: scissors, adhesive and dimensional foam dots 

DIRECTIONS:

1) Place a 5 X 7 piece of gray cardstock in Color Catcher and spray with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz; set aside to dry.

2) Cut apart border strips from Trick or Treat Design Adhesives strip. Apply dotted strip to top of card, trimming excess. Remove backing and sprinkle with Peridot glitter, tap to remove excess. {HINT: a clean and dry foam brush works great to remove excess glitter as well}. Repeat using striped strip along bottom of card and Sweet Orange glitter.

3) Stamp gray cardstock with web stamp inked with Vivid! black ink. Cut out around web design and adhere to front of card.

4) Cut apart "no tricks" and "just treats" from Design Adhesives strip, apply designs to front of card as shown. Remove backing and sprinkle with Sparkling Amethyst glitter.

5) Stamp "Happy Halloween" on orange cardstock using Vivid! black ink. Cut out and adhere at an angle at upper left corner of web using dimensional foam dots.

6) Stamp "OCT" circle design on lime cardstock using Vivid! black ink. Cut out and adhere at lower right corner of web using dimensional foam dots.

Please stop back by for MORE Halloween treats!

And if you'd like even MORE great projects featuring Clearsnap products, please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog.

water the flowers...

Today is the last day for “vintage” themed projects; next we are moving on to HALLOWEEN!

 

I LOVE Halloween, it is one of my favorite holidays, and I thought it was time to feature some spooky cards and projects so you’ll have time to create them before the holiday.

 

But, first, let’s talk about today’s project…

 

Like the two previous cards, this card utilizes the multi-roll technique using the Rollagraph, you can review it HERE…

 

To create the floral designs, the Botanical Tiles Stamp Wheel was rolled forward, back and forward again using the Stamping Guide to keep the design straight.

Each block of the floral design was cut apart into individual squares. Then ColorBox Archival Dye Inks were used to tint the flowers…

 

The ColorBox Archival Dye Inks can be used like watercolors to add some flair to your stamped designs, and no fancy equipment is needed…

 

I used a plain foam plate as a palette and just dabbed the ink several times on the surface to transfer some of the ink…

 

 

 

You could also use wax paper, or any other non-porous surface that you wouldn’t mind if it stained. {inks may or may not come completely off depending on the surface – so I wouldn’t use your good china! J}

 

And just like with watercolors, you can blend one or more ink colors to create a color of your own… 

 

  

 

I used beauty swabs as my “brushes”, since they have a nice fine point at the top and hold the inks well.  To use, just first dip the swab in the water, then into the ink to mix, add more water for a lighter color, less for a more intense shade.

 

Here are closeups of the flowers that were “painted” using the Archival Inks…

 

 

 

 
 

 

The background for the card was done by using the Say What? Stamp Wheel rolled on the regular way in several rows to cover the front of the card...

 

 

 

The sentiment was stamped on a separate piece and cut out so it could be mixed in with the floral squares…

 

When I adhered the squares and the sentiment, I only placed glue at the center of each piece, then gently bent the corners up to add some dimension.

If you haven’t painted with your inks, you might want to give this technique a try. Once you mastered the basics, then you can experiment with layering multiple colors and shading. The bright, vibrant colors of the new ColorBox Archival Dye Inks make them perfect for this technique.

Here are the supplies and directions to make this card yourself… 

 

“grateful garden” thank you card

 

Skill Level: moderate

 

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Frosted Plum, Grasshopper, Lemon Drop, Golf Course, Mudslide, Atlantic Blue, Pinkolicious, Tree Frog, Mermaid and Seattle Sky, Rollagraph: Jumbo Stamping Wheel: Botanical Tiles and Say What?, Jumbo Self-Inking Handle and Jumbo Ancient Page Ink Cartridge – Gray Flannel, ColorBox Stamping Guide and ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Charcoal

 

Bazzill: Cards and Envelope set: green card and Walnut Cream and Maltball cardstocks

 

Hero Arts: Heartfelt Messages ClearDesign Stamps

 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, foam plate {or other non-porous surface}, beauty swabs and water

 

DIRECTIONS:

1) Load Jumbo Self Inking Handle with Jumbo Ancient Page Gray Flannel Ink Cartridge and Say What? Jumbo Stamp Wheel. Roll horizontally across front of card using Stamping Guide to keep image straight. Add more rows until card front is covered.

 

2) Change wheel to Botanical Tiles Jumbo Stamp Wheel and roll design forward, back and forward again on cream cardstock, using Stamping Guide to keep images straight.

 

3) Cut squares of rolled design apart.

 

4) Tint with ColorBox Archival Dye Inks as described above.

 

Color Guide:

Pink Flowers: use Pinkolicious for petals, mix in a little Seattle Sky to shade edges of petals, use Pinkolicious with less water to add centers, use Golf Course and Tree Frog for leaves and stems.

 

Purple Flower: use Frosted Plum for petals, use Lemon Drop to add centers, use Tree Frog for leaves and stems.

 

Yellow Flower: use Lemon Drop for petals, use Pumpkin Pie for shading and mix Pumpkin Pie with a little Mudslide to add centers, use Grasshopper for stem.

 

Blue Flowers: use Mermaid for petals, use Pumpkin Pie to add centers, use Grasshopper mixed with Tree Frog for leaves and stems.

 

6) Stamp sentiment using Charcoal Chalk Ink on cream cardstock and cut out.

 

7) Cut a 2" X 7" piece of gray cardstock and adhere about 3/4" from top of card.

 

8) Arrange and adhere flower squares and sentiment, placing adhesive just at centers. When dry, bend up corners of pieces to add dimension.

 

Thanks for stopping by! Please be sure to come back for some Halloween project treats!

 

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!)

wheel goes 'round - part II

In the last post, I shared a technique using the Rollagraph. Usually when you apply a design using the Rollagraph and Stamp Wheels, you roll in one direction, once across your project. But the post showed how you could create a variation of the design by rolling across the project back and forth one or more times.

You can review the techniques and photos of the samples I made HERE.

The technique was used with the Palm Fronds Stamp Wheel to create the main design elements for this card...

 

The design was rolled forward, back then forward again, which filled in the palm design a little more with each pass. The palm design on the background mat was only rolled once.

Here is a closeup of the design...

 

The sentiment was stamped on a separate piece of paper, cut out, and applied to the front of the card...

 

Here are the supplies and directions you'll need if you'd like to make this card... 

“palms” thank you card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Rollagraph: Jumbo Stamping Wheel: Palm Fronds, Jumbo Ancient Page Ink Cartridge: Palm Leaf and Jumbo Self-Inking Handle, ColorBox Stamping Guide and ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Mudslide

Hero Arts: Heartfelt Messages ClearDesign Stamps

Bazzill: Kraft and Walnut Cream cardstock

Petersen Arne: Dark Brown and Pine Green cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 7 X 8 piece of pine cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 2 3/4 X 6 3/4 piece of brown cardstock and adhere to front of card.

3) Cut a 2 1/2 X 6 1/2 piece of kraft cardstock. Load Jumbo Handle with cartridge and wheel, and roll design over cardstock using Stamp Guide to keep the motif straight. Adhere to center of dark brown cardstock on front of card.

4) Cut a 2 1/2 X 8 piece of kraft carstock. Roll design forward, back and forward again across cardstock using Stamp Guide to keep motif straight. Cut design apart at marks in the motif - you need 3 complete sections. Ink each piece using Mudslide Archival Ink. The space evenly on front of card and adhere.

5) Stamp "thank you" on a small scrap of kraft cardstock. Cut out and ink edges using Mudslide Archival Ink. Adhere in lower right corner of card

I have one more card to share using this technique AND there will also be a BONUS technique featuring the new ColorBox Archival Dye Inks!

If you'd like even MORE great projects featuring Clearsnap products, please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog.

and the wheel goes 'round...

I made a happy little discovery today while stamping with the Rollagraph and I wanted to share it with you.

I usually spin the Rollagraph Stamp Wheel a few times on some scrap paper to get the ink started and "primed" before I begin stamping on my project. Most of the time, i just roll the wheel forward across the paper until I reach the end, then maybe go back and do it again. But today, I rolled the wheel forward and then back, and I noticed something interesting. I was using the Jumbo Rollagraph Palm Fronds Stamp Wheel, and by rolling the image once, then rerolling back over it, it created a "new" image. The palm fronds were thicker, giving the stamp a more "lush" look. So I began experimenting with different wheels and the number of times I rolled the image.

Here are some of the results...

 
 The above images were stamped using the Palm Fronds Stamp Wheel. The image on the right is what one roll of the wheel looks like. The image on the left is how the image appears when rolled forward, then back, then forward again.

 
These images were stamped using the Marble Background Jumbo Stamp Wheel; the image on the right was rolled once, and the one on the left was rolled twice - forward and back. I rolled the "forward" roll lightly, then rolled backward a bit heavier. This added some color variation as well as layering on more texture.

 

And finally, I tried using the Botanical Tiles Jumbo Stamp Wheel. Once again, the one of the right was rolled once, and the image on the left was rolled forward, back and forward again. The image was almost 3D. 

For all these images, the ColorBox Stamping Guide was used so that the rolled images came out nice and straight. This tool is VERY handy when using the Rollagraph - the guide has grippy little feet on it that hold it in place so you can roll the wheel along it.

I decided to use the technique to make a few cards; I'll be sharing one of the cards today, and the other two will be coming up later. All three cards are a little on the "vintage" side, so they go with the current theme on the blog. And if you happen to need a thank you card, or 2 or 3 - you are in luck! As all three cards are for that occasion.

Today's card features a background rolled using the Marble Background Jumbo Stamp Wheel. The image was stamped using the Bordeaux Ancient Page Ink Cartridge. I rolled forward using light pressure, then rolled back using heavier pressure...

 

here's a closeup of the background...

 

I wanted a soft pearly sheen for the leaf images, so i used metallic shades of ColorBox Pigment Ink.The leaves were pinned to a square of canvas for a rustic touch...

 

the sentiment was stamped using two ink colors and two different stamp sets...

 

Grab your Rollagraph and a couple of wheels and cartridges and give this technique a try. Experiment with pressure, placement and multiple ink colors.

If you want to start with this example, here's what you need to know...

“leaf trio” thank you card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Rollagraph: Jumbo Stamping Wheel: Marble Background, Jumbo Ancient Page Ink Cartridge: Bordeaux and Jumbo Self-Inking Handle, ColorBox Stamping Guide, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Gold Brocade, Raw Silk, Burnt Copper and Silver 

 Hero Arts: Small Variety Alpha and PolyClear Stamps and Scattered Leaves and Heartfelt Messages ClearDesign Stamps

Bazzill: Kraft, Walnut Cream cardstock and ivory card from Card & Envelope Set

Other: May Arts: jute - natural, JoAnn's: pearl tipped straigh pin and canvas

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 6 1/2 X 3 1/2 piece of kraft cardstock. Load Jumbo Self-Inking Handle with Bordeaux Ink Cartridge, then load Marble Background Stamp Wheel. Roll on 2 rows of design lengthwise down the cardstock using Stamping Guide. Use light pressure to roll on the first layer, then heavier pressure when you reroll over the first images.

2) Adhere background to front of card.

3) Use alpha stamps to spell "THANKS", and then ink using Burnt Copper Ink, stamp in lower right corner of card.

4) Ink "heartfelt" stamp with Gold Brocade ink a stamp above and to the left of "THANKS".

5) Ink "thank you" leaf using Raw Silk ink and stamp on cream cardstck. Then ink wide leaf using Gold Brocade and Oak Leaf using Silver. Stamp both on cream cardstock. Cut out when ink is dry.

6) Cut a 3" square of canvas. Pull threads around edges to distress them. Arrange pins on canvas and secure with staight pik.

7) Cut 3 - 8 1/2" pieces of natural jute; then adhere down center of card.

8) Adhere the canvas piece to the front of the card to finish.

I hope you will come back by to see what else I made using this technique {and there is another fun technique to be shared as well!}

And please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

lunch bunch...

The kids are back in school and everyone is settling back into the "school clothes ready, lunch packed, homework done" routine.

It always seems a bit hectic after the lazy days of summer; I know it takes me awhile to adjust.

And, it's probably not easy for the kids to jump back into getting up early and leaving the "summer fun" behind either.

So, why not add a little surprise to their lunchbox. These projects were made using some of the same stamps and inks used in the "first day of school" layout that was posted a few days ago...

 

Pack this bookmark and "notes"-book into their lunch bag or backpack separately or together to give your kiddo a little unexpected surprise to brighten up their day! 

Both projects are VERY simple to make and you can complete them BOTH in only about 30 minutes.

These would also be cute projects to make if you needed to make some goodies for the class, as they are also very inexpensive.

The bookmark was stamped with a background alpha stamp...

 

 then "reading is fun" was stamped and embossed on a separate piece and added...

 

 

a tassel finishes it off...

 

The "notes"-book starts with a mini composition book. Half is covered with the same stamped alpha background as used on the bookmark, and the other half is covered with brown cardstock...

 

Individual letters were stamped, embossed and cut out to make the "notes" portion...

 

And "my" was stamped on a separate piece of paper and adhered over the top of some twine that was tied around the alpha portion...

 

So if you've got a spare 30 minutes and would like to give your kiddo's school day a little lift, here are the supplies and directions you'll need to make this set...

“lunchbox surprise” bookmark and mini "notes"-book set

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Mudslide, Lemon Drop and Atlantic Blue, Watermark Ink and Top Boss: Embossing Powder - Red

Hero Arts: Simple and Basic ClearDesign stamps 

Memory Box: Alpha Background wood mount stamp

Bazzill: Kraft, Chocolate Cream and Butter Cream cardstocks

Other: mini composition book and jute

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, dimensional foam dots, hole punch and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

Bookmark:

1) Cut a 2 X 8 piece of kraft cardstock and stamp alpha background with Mudslide Archival Dye Ink along piece.

2) Ink edges using Lemon Drop Archival Dye Ink.

3) Stamp "reading is fun" on a piece of cream cardstock using Watermark Ink, emboss with Red embossing powder. Then tear out sentiment and ink edges using Atlantic Blue Archival Dye Ink. Then adhere piece in center of bookmark.

4) Punch a hole at top and attach jute tassel.

"notes-" book:

1) cut a 2 X 4 1/2 piece of kraft cardstock and stamp alpha background with Mudslide Archival Dye Ink along piece.

2) Ink edges using Lemon Drop Archival Dye Ink.

3) Stamp "MY" on a piece of kraft cardstock using Atlantic Blue Archival Dye Ink. Cut out and ink edges using Mudslide Archival Dye Ink.

4) Tie a piece of jute around alpha stamped piece about 1/3 of the way down, tying in a bow at the left side. Then adhere "MY" piece over the jute using dimensional dots.

5) Stamp "N", "O", "T", "E", "S" on cream cardstock using Watermark Ink, embossing with Red embossing powder Cut out letters, inking edges using Mudslide Archival Dye Ink.

6) Cut a 1 1/2 X 4 1/2 piece of brown cardstock and adhere it to the right side of the mini composition book.

7) Adhere alpha piece along left side of composition book, sliding "notes" letters in along right edge and adhering them as well.

I hope you - and your kids - enjoy this project!

Please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

school days...

I have a few more vintage-inspired projects to share before we move onto another theme.

Today's project is a scrapbook page that features a "first day of school" photo...

 

Several vintage-style stamps were used to create this layout. First the mat for the photo was stamped using Atlantic Blue Archival Dye Ink on light blue cardstock. The edges were distressed with Mudslide Archival Dye Ink...

 

Then, an alphabet stamp and Mudslide Archival Ink was used to create a border...

 

The same alpha stamp was also used to stamp letters for the title; the letters were cut out from the stamped image...

 

And the rest of the title was stamped in Red Devil Archival Dye Ink on cream cardstock and put in a nameplate...

 

And for another vintage touch, a paperclip was used to adhere the photo to the mat...

 

If you'd like to make this layout to display your back to school photos, here's what you'll need to know...

“first day of school” mini scrapbook layout

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  Archival Dye Ink: Mudslide, Cookie Dough, Atlantic Blue and Red Devil

Hero Arts: Simple and Basic ClearDesign stamps and Aged Print Frame Clings stamp

Memory Box: Alpha Background wood mount stamp

Bazzill: Kraft, Nautical Blue Light and Butter Cream cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, file, bookplate, 2 antique gold mini brads and paper clip 

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 6 X 6 piece of kraft cardstock, ink edges using Mudslide Archival Dye Ink.

2) Ink frame stamp with Atlantic Blue Archival Dye Ink and stamp onto a piece of light blue cardstock. Cut out around design.

3) Ink alpha stamp with Mudslide Archival Dye Ink and stamp onto a piece of kraft cardstock until image reaches at least 6" long. Trim around design at edges, and trim piece to 6" in length.

4) Ink alpha stamp with Mudslide Archival Dye Ink and stamp onto a piece of light blue cardstock. Cut out individual letters to spell "first day of".

5) Stamp "school" with Simple and Basic alpha set onto a piece of cream cardstock using Red Devil Archival Dye Ink.

6) Crop photo, tearing along right edge. Use file to distress photo around all edges. Then ink edges with Cookie Dough and Mudslide Archival Dye Inks.

7) To assemble, adhere frame to background, then paperclip photo to alpha strip and adhere to background.

8) Slip "first day of" cut out letters under left edge of alpha border as shown and adhere.

9) Trim "school" piece to fit nameplate. Check placement of nameplate and mark holes. Then adhere "school" piece and attach nameplate with mini brads.

Please be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

vintage garden gate...

Inspiration can come in many forms; the idea for today's project was sparked by a stamp - Flourish Grids by Hero Arts...

 

The stamp set reminded me of a vintage garden gate, and gates should open, so that was the basic idea for the card. 

The first step was to make the stamped image look like the wrought iron - Top Boss Embossing Powder was the perfect choice for that. The powder is super fine so all the intricate details would emboss nice and clear. And once embossed, the finished design is a glossy black - just like wrought iron.

 
  
Next, an element was needed to bring in a garden feel; but I didn't want to use flowers. The image also needed to blend well with the vintage style of the card. A butterfly from the Watercolor Petals set, also by Hero Arts, was a perfect fit.  The "watercolor" description from the stamp set made me think how pretty and shimmery the butterfly would be if it was stamped using Smooch Accent Inks. This technique has been used before on several blog projects, and you can review the step by step process by reading through this post: "smooched" butterfly atc. {note: Top Boss Tinted Embossing Ink was used in the sample project and Watermark Ink was used in today's project - either can be used to achieve the "watercolor" technique with Smooch Accent Inks.}

 

 Now, all that was needed was a background and sentiment - both that would work with the style of the card. And it was Hero Arts to the rescue again - their Friends Definition stamp  worked great for the background, and the Heartfelt Messages set is done in a vintage style script.

The Friends Definition stamp was inked with Smooch Accent Inks, using the same technique as was used to stamp the butterfly... 

 

And the sentiment was stamped and embossed using Top Boss Embossing Powder in Black so it would stand out against the background...

 

Once all the elements had been stamped, the card was ready to be put together. An extra gate piece was stamped and embossed to be cut apart and used so make the side pieces...

 

and the bottom embellishment on the inside of the card...

 

There are several different steps and techniques involved in creating this card, but none of them are complicated. And when you are done, you'll have a beautiful card to express your thanks to that thoughtful someone.

“vintage garden gate” card

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Watermark Ink, Top Boss Embossing Powder : Black, Smooch Accent Ink: Carrot, Ocean Soul, Pool, Grape Soda, Tuxedo, Cherry Chocolate and Olive Twist

Hero Arts: Flourish Grids and Watercolor Petals PolyClear stamps, Heartfelt Messages ClearDesign stamps and Friend Definition Cling stamp

Bazzill: kraft cardstock

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, black permanent pen, adhesive and a heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Stamp and emboss 2 gate designs and 1 transom design on kraft cardstock using Watermark ink and Top Boss Embossing Powder in Black.

2) Cut out one of the gate designs leaving 1/2" on either side of the gate. Cut out the other gate and transom just outside embossed design.

3) Cut a 10 1/2 X 6 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

4) Cut gate piece with 1/2" extra at each side, in half down center of gate post. Then score each piece vertically just past outside edge of embossed design on each piece to create tabs from the 1/2" extra cardstock. Fold tabs in towards gate. {gate pieces}

5) Cut 1 - 1 1/2" piece from other gate section, then cut that piece in half to get 2 - 3/4" pieces. {side pieces}

6) To assemble gate, adhere 3/4" side pieces on top of 1/2" tabs on gate pieces, making sure that you adhere just past the fold. Use black permanent pen to ink folds so that it blends in with the gate posts.7

7) Cut out 1 post section from remaining portion of gate piece and trim to 3 3/4" length. Then trim along design. {bottom trim}

8) Ink Friends Definition stamp using Tuxedo, Pool, Ocean Soul and Olive Twist Smooch inks using watercolor technique described in "smooched" butterfly atc, substituting Watermark Ink for Tinted Embossing Ink. Stamp on a piece of kraft cardstock and set aside to dry. When dry, cut out a 3 3/4" {width} X 3 1/2" piece.

9) Stamp and emboss "so thoughtful" sentiment in upper left corner of Friends Definition piece using Watermark Ink and Top Boss Black Embossing Powder.

10)  Ink butterfly stamp using Tuxedo, Pool, Ocean Soul, Cherry Chocolate, Grape Soda and Carrot Smooch inks using watercolor technique described in "smooched" butterfly atc, substituting Watermark Ink for Tinted Embossing Ink. Stamp on a piece of kraft cardstock and set aside to dry. When dry, cut out leaving a 1/16" border around butterfly. Use edge of scissors to distress edge of butterfly design.

11) To assemble card, adhere left gate piece by TAB only making sure that the left side is even with the fold of the card and the bottom edge is even with the bottom edge of the card.

12) Adhere friends definition piece under gate having left side right up against gate fold and bottom edge even with bottom of card.

13) Adhere right gate piece by TAB only making sure that the gate meets at the center with the left gate piece. The tab may overlap the right edge of the friends definition piece slightly.

14) Adhere transom piece at center top of gate.

15) Trim away excess card from around right side and top; card will be cut around the gate design to take on the "gate" shape.

16) To finish, adhere the butterfly at the lower right and bottom trim along bottom of the friends definition piece. 

I hope this post will get you looking at your stamps and supplies in new ways. Think about how you can alter your stamps by cutting apart or combining designs and take a fresh look at your inks and embossing supplies to see how you can mix and match them to create a mood, style or look.

  Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

"sew" friendly...

The vintage style doesn't always have to mean limiting your color choices to browns, creams and black, sometimes you can infuse bursts of colors in your vintage designs. The contrast between old and new, subdued and bright can add a playful element too.

This friendship card is a good example of that...

Some colors you might usually associate with "vintage" were used for the stamped elements: browns, oranges and off white, but some bright colors have been introduced. The card itself is a vivid aqua, the stamped "friends" have had their dresses "smooched" using Pool and Kiwi,  and a few colorful flowers along with a bright ribbon and button have been added as well.

Today, the instructions for this card will be step-by-step, so you can easily create this card yourself!

First, a 4 1/2 X 5 1/2 piece of cream cardstock was placed in the COLOR CATCHER and spritzed lightly using SPUN SUGAR SMOOCH SPRITZ...

Then, GINGERSNAP SMOOCH SPRITZ was sprayed around the edges...

The Smooch Spritz will dry fairly quickly, so set this piece aside to dry while you work on some of the other elements. Ink the MAKE YOUR OWN Cling Stamp by HERO ARTS using WATERMARK INK. Then stamp image on a 4 X 5 piece of cream cardstock. Emboss using TOP BOSS COCOA BEAN EMBOSSING POWDER...

Next, cut out the lovely ladies...

 

Use a craft knife to remove the little pieces...

Ink MAKE YOUR OWN stamp again, this time using ARCHIVAL DAY INK in PUMPKIN PIE and stamp on a 4 X 5 piece of cream cardstock...

Then tear around the design and ink the edges using ARCHIVAL DYE INK in MUDSLIDE and FLUID CHALK INK in CHESTNUT ROAN...

Adhere the cut out and embossed ladies slightly down and to the right of the stamped ladies using dimensional foam dots. Then fill in the dresses using SMOOCH ACCENT INKS in KIWI, PUMPKIN and POOL {hint: blot the piece gently with a white paper towel after applying inks to prevent smearing, since the inks dry SLOWLY on NON-pourous items, you may accidentally smear them if you get any ink on the embossed portions}...

Smooched cardstock should be dry by now, so ink FRIEND DEFINITIONS Cling Stamp by Hero Arts using MUDSLIDE ARCHIVAL DYE INK and stamp image on cardstock; trim around edges.

Also ink "friends always" stamp from HEARTFELT MESSAGES ClearDesign set - also by Hero Arts, with PUMPKIN PIE ARCHIVAL DYE INK and stamp on a scrap of cream cardtock and cut out...

Cut a 10 X 7 piece of aqua cardstock and fold in half to make card. Add ribbon at bottom of card and then adhere all stamped paper elements as shown in sample card {"friends always" sentiment was adhered using dimensional foam dots}.

Next add button, flowers and jewels...

Button and Flowers are from Hero Arts: ART FLOWERS - Summer and ART BUTTONS: Summer and Jewels are from Hero Arts: HERO HUES GEMS: Brown Gemstones and HERO HUES PEARLS: Light Yellow Pearls and MEMORY BOX: PEARL STICKERS - Frost Blue 

I hope you enjoyed the step-by step photo directions for this project! Thanks for stopping by, come back soon for more vintage inspired projects.