stamp out loud by tami sanders

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.

vintage botanicals...

Today's blog post will introduce a new theme --- Vintage. For the next few weeks, the projects will all focus on vintage elements or a vintage look; distressed, shabby, tattered, torn and aged.

First up is a pair of ATC cards. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card; a small card - a mini work of art - meant to be traded and collected. ATC's can be simple or elaborate. The art form can be a little intimidating as some ATC's are VERY artisitic. But, you don't have to be an artist to participate in the wonderful world of ATC's.

These two ATC's, inspired by pictures of botanicals found in a vintage book, are easy to make...

 
The cards were first stamped with a background stamp using Ancient Page Ink - which is a light, sheer ink that works beautifully for that purpose.

Next, the designs were stamped one at a time so that they could be embossed using different colors of embossing powders...

 
 

Then, the embossed designs were "labeled" much in the same way as they are in reference books with "fig. {#}" using a fine tip black pen.

 

You can find friends and "artists" to swap cards with by checking with your local stamp stores or searching online forums. ATC cards are a great way to experiment with new techniques and because of their small size, they can be completed quickly too. So give them a try, and begin acquiring your own collection of miniature works of art! Or if you are already a veteran ATC'r, then try making these cards for your next swap.

Here are the directions and supplies you'll need to make them...

“botanicals” ATC cards

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  Watermark Ink, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Verdigris, Deep Green, Asparagus, Ballet Pink, Red, Lullabye Blue and Mac n' Cheese, Ancient Page Ink: Sandalwood and Sunburst {full or mini size}, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan {full or mini size} and Stylus and White Foam Blender Tips

Hero Arts: Old Letter Clings Stamp, Real Flowers and Watercolor Petals PolyClear Stamps

Bazzill: Kraft cardstock

Tools: Paper trimmer, fine tipped black pen and heat gun.

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut 2 - 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 pieces of kraft cardstock to make ATC card.

2) Ink Old Letter stamp using Sandalwood ink, use a foam tip dipped into Sunburst ink to apply ink to the postmarks on the stamp, then stamp ATC card. Repeat with other card.

Leaves Botanical ATC:

1) Ink fern stamp with Watermark Ink and stamp diagonally on one of the stamped ATC card. Sprinkle and emboss with Verdigris Embossing Powder.

2) Stamp the "roundish" leaf in the upper right corner and emboss with Deep Green.

3) Stamp the small leaf in the lower left corner and emboss with Asparagus

Floral Botanical ATC:

1) Ink large flower stamp with Watermark Ink and stamp diagonally on the other stamped ATC card. Sprinkle and emboss with stem ONLY with Verdigris Embossing Powder.

2) Sprinkle and emboss the flower portion with Mac n' Cheese Embossing Powder.

3) Stamp the small 5 petal flower in the upper right corner, sprinkle Ballet Pink Embossing Powder at the center of the flower ONLY and and emboss.

4) Sprinkle remaining portion of flower with Red Embossing Powder and emboss.

5) Stamp the small profile flower in the lower left corner, sprinkle Deep Green Embossing Powder on stem ONLY and emboss.

6) Sprinkle flower with Lullabye Blue Embossing Powder and emboss.

Finishing:

1) Use ink applied using foam blender tip to distress edges of card, use touches of Sunburst Ancient Page Ink first, then go over entire edge using Sandalwood. Finally, go over card again just at the edges using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink. Repeat with other card.

2) Use black pen to add "fig.{#}" to each stamped and embossed image.

I hope you'll try making this pair of ATC cards, or experimenting with these techniques on ATC cards of your own.

Please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products.

it's in the bag...

If you will be attending a wedding anytime soon, you might need a gift bag all decked out for the occasion. Today’s project transforms a plain-jane white kraft bag into a blinged-up beauty.

 

Take a look…

 

 

The bag was stamped using a gorgeous damask patterned stamp that seemed perfectly "suited" for a wedding. To make the bag really sparkle {think diamonds}, I used ColorBox MetaleXtra Pigment Ink in Silver and embossed it using Top Boss Opalescent Clear Embossing Powder…

 

 

The attached gift tag is silver to tie in the stamped images. The stamped bride has been given a full makeover using Smooch Accent Inks…

 

 

A flower with a fabulous rhinestone button at its center adds more than a touch of elegance…

 

 

Don’t fret if you don’t have a wedding to attend in the near future; just change the stamp designs, ink and embellishment colors to create a personalized bag for any “gifting” occasion.

 

Here’s all the info you need to tell you how…

 

“wedding bling” altered gift bag

 

Skill Level: moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: ColorBox MetaleXtra Pigment Ink: Silver, Smooch Accent Ink: Moonlight, Siren, Snickerdoodle and Illuminate, Ancient Page Archival Ink: Coal Black {full or mini size} and Top Boss: Opalescent Clear Embossing Powder

 

Hero Arts: Warmest Wedding Wishes ClearDesign stamps

 

Memory Box: Antique Damask wood stamp

 

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl and Blackberry Swirl cardstocks, Grosgrain Ribbon Flower – Cardinal, Jewels: Kisses and Vintage Buttons: Vintage Elizabeth

 

Other: sheer silver ribbon, white kraft bag and silver cardstock

 

Tools: adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer, 1/16” hole punch, wire cutters and heat gun

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

Designer Notes:

--- it can be a little difficult to stamp clearly on gift bags, especially near the top where the handles are glued to the inside of the bag. I found that I got clearer images when I placed a foam sheet {fun foam} under the bag before stamping. It cushioned the bag so it had a little “give”. I also avoided stamping directly over the handles at the inside top.

--- I used 3-in-one glue by Beacon to adhere the button to the center of the flower. It is a “fast tack” adhesive so it grabs and holds well. Just let the flower sit for 5 minutes or so either before or after adhering it to the bag – which you can do with the 3-in-1 glue also.

 

Bag

1) Stamp damask pattern using MetalExtra Silver Ink over front of gift bag; stamping some images off edges of bag.

 

2) Sprinkle stamped images using Opalescent Clear Embossing Powder and emboss using heat gun.

 

3) Add jewels at centers of damask design.

 

4) Use wire cutters to remove shank from button, then adhere button to center of flower. When glue has set and button is secure, adhere flower to right handle just above the top edge of the gift bag.

 

Tag

1) Stamp bride image on white cardstock using Coal Black Ancient Page Ink.

 

2) Fill in stamped image using Smooch Accent Ink: hair – Snickerdoodle, dress – Moonlight, veil – Illuminate, flowers – Siren; cut out.

 

3) Stamp sentiment on white cardstock using Coal Black ink and then cut out { 2 ¼ X 1 ½}

 

4) Cut tag from black cardstock; cut a 2 ¾ X 5 ¼ rectangle and clip off corners.

 

5) Trace tag on back of silver cardstock and cut about 1/8” INSIDE line. Adhere silver tag to black tag and punch hole at top.

 

6) Adhere bride and sentiment to tag, then tie tag with silver ribbon and hang just below flower.

 

 

Consider this your “invitation” to come back and see what other items we can “gather together” and “marry” up with stamps and ink!

 

---tami

 

travel journal...

If you are still in need of a Father’s Day gift idea – you are in luck! Today’s project, a travel journal, is the type of “personal” gift that really says you care. Don’t worry if your special “dad” doesn’t have the travel bug, take the idea and customize it to fit their favorite hobby. This altered composition book would be equally nice as just a journal to keep track of their notes or to do lists...

 

 

To embellish the plain generic composition book I started with, I made 2 different “printed” papers both with cardstock as the base. Both papers utilized Clearsnap’s Rollagraph jumbo wheels and handles along with their stamping guide to make the job easier. The Rollagraph system is a great way to stamp large areas with a repeating pattern, and if you use the handle with the self-inking cartridge, you can roll to your heart’s content without worrying about having to stop and reink the wheel.

 

To make the papers, I first took a pale cream cardstock and rolled across it with a script design wheel in a chocolate brown ink. Then I overstamped the paper with a round stamp design in burnt orange...

 

 

 

For the other paper, I started with a tan cardstock and rolled it twice with a marbled pattern. The first time I used a plum colored ink, and the second time I used a golden brown ink. This gave the paper a wonderful 2-toned marbled look that was easy to achieve...

 

 

I used a variety of different types of inks on this project because I wanted it to have multiple layers and textures. Each type of ink brought something special – the ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inks are soft and “smudgey” and are great for “aging” and “distressing” edges or overstamping when you want a soft opaque look, the ColorBox MetaleXtra Pigment Inks give your project a metallic sheen that adds a touch of richness, the Ancient Page Inks are sheer color, so they help add depth and texture when you layer them, and the Vivid! inks add dark bold color. If you haven’t tried all these different types, now is your chance. Since they are all used on this one project, you can really compare and see the unique “look” each ink has.

 

Here are some closeups of a few more of the details...

 

 

 

 

Here are the supplies and directions you need to make your own special gift for dad…

 

“”World Traveler” altered composition book

 

Skill Level: moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Rollagraph: Jumbo Stamping Wheels: Marble Background and Say What?, Jumbo Self-Inking Handle and Jumbo Ancient Page Ink Cartridges: Light Brown, Plum Wine and Chocolate, Vivid! Dye Ink: Coffee Bean {full or mini size}, Ancient Page Permanent Dye Inkpad: Palm Leaf {full or mini size}, ColorBox MetaleXtra Pigment Ink: Platinum, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan and Pumpkin Spice {full or mini size} and ColorBox Stamping Guide

 

Hero Arts: Travel Journal ClearDesign stamps

 

Hampton Art: Foot Longs – Big and Little Alphas clear stamps

 

My Sentiments Exactly: Romantic Caps

 

Bazzill: Kraft, Butter Cream, Moody Blue and Tawny Light cardstocks and Brown Dashed Ribbon

 

Other: 7 ½ X 9 ½ composition book, mini binder clip and jute

 

Tools: adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer, 1/16” hole punch, black fine tipped pen and heat gun {optional}

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

Designer Notes:

*The MetaleXtra ink is a pigment ink so it can take awhile to dry. You can speed up the drying time with a heat gun if you like or just set aside the stamped “journal” piece to dry while you work on other elements. Just make sure the ink is completely dry before you adhere it to your book to avoid smearing the ink.

*Check the size of your composition book and make adjustments as needed to the cut sizes given.

 

1) Cut a 2 X 7 piece of dark blue cardstock and stamp “JOURNAL” at the center using Romantic Cap stamps inked with Platinum MetaleXtra Pigment Ink and set aside to dry.

 

2) Cut a 4 X7 piece of cream cardstock. Load jumbo handle with Chocolate Ancient Page Ink Cartridge and Say What? Jumbo Stamping Wheel and use Stamping Guide to roll on 2 horizontal rows of script design across the entire piece.

 

3) Ink 12pt round “world traveler” stamp with Pumpkin Spice Fluid Chalk Ink and randomly stamp across the paper, making sure to let a few stamp off the edges.

 

4) Use Big & Little Alphas to spell out “travel” and ink using Palm Leaf Ancient Page Ink, stamp about 1” from left side and about ½” up from bottom in lower right corner of script paper.

 

5) Ink edges of stamped script paper using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and then adhere to the top of the composition book, clipping and reinking the corner if needed.

 

6) Cut a 4 X7 piece of tan cardstock. Load jumbo handle with Plum Wine Ancient Page Ink Cartridge and Marble Background Jumbo Stamping Wheel and use Stamping Guide to roll on 2 horizontal rows of design across the entire piece. Then clean wheel and change ink cartridge to Light Brown and roll again.

 

7) Ink edges of stamped marble paper using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and then adhere to the bottom of the composition book, clipping and reinking the corner if needed.

 

8) After making sure ink is dry, adhere dark blue “JOURNAL” strip at the center of the book.

 

9) Ink “on the road” narrow border stamp with Vivid! Coffee Bean ink and stamp 3 times in a horizontal row on a piece of kraft cardstock. Cut out ¼” strip and ink using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink, and adhere along bottom of dark blue “JOURNAL” strip.

 

10) Ink tag stamp with Vivid! Coffee Bean ink and stamp on a piece of kraft cardstock. Cut out and ink edges using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.  

 

11) Ink “enjoy the journey” stamp with Pumpkin Spice Chalk ink and stamp diagonally across lined portion of tag. Use black pen to outline “journey”. Punch hole at top of tag and tie with jute. Tie tag to binder clip and attach to top of composition book.

 

12) Adhere brown ribbon to cover black spine of composition book.

 

I have 2 more “guy” projects in the works, a set of 2 birthday cards and a missing you card, so please check back to see them!

 

---tami

 

"smooched" butterfly atc...

The next two projects will continue the butterfly theme of the clay pendant and will both feature similar color schemes; brown, orange, yellow and a touch of black. Butterflies are symbolic of spring, but I wanted the colors to be soft and subtle, not the bright pastel colors usually associated with spring. So, like the pendant, these projects could work equally well for fall.

 

Both projects will use the same technique to stamp the butterfly, so I want to share that with you first today. We’ll be applying different colors of Smooch Accent Ink to the stamp; then blending them together so that when you stamp the image, you get a soft, shimmery watercolor effect.

 

First, you’ll need to ink your stamp with Top Boss Embossing Ink – clear or tinted, it doesn’t matter. This will create a layer between the stamp and the Smooch so that the Smooch won’t dry on your stamp and will blend and release easier as well…

 

 

Then you need to dab different colors of Smooch onto the stamp, being careful not to get the tip in other colors {clean off before putting applicator back in bottle if you do}. Place colors as you would if you were painting in the image, but don’t blend yet and you don’t have to cover the entire surface of the stamp...

 

 

 

Here is a closeup of the “smooched” stamp…

 

 

Then gently use your finger to dab – not wipe – the colors to blend them on the stamp…

 

 

 

Then stamp as you would with a regular inked stamp, only be careful not to apply to much pressure or your stamp could slide…

 

 

Practice the technique on some scrap paper until you are happy with how the colors blend and you get the hang of it.

 

Today’s project is an ATC card, which I’m sure most of you are familiar with. ATC stands for Artist Trading Card and they are a fun way to share miniature works of art…

 

 

Here’s what you need to make your own ATC:

 

“Remember ” ATC

 

Skill Level: advanced

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Stylus Molding Mat: Moorish Tiles, Smooch Accent Ink: Silver Fox, Pumpkin, Gold Lame, Luscious Lime, Molasses and Tuxedo, Ancient Page Inkpad: Sandalwood, Sienna, Coal Black, Chocolate and Light Brown {full size or mini}, Top Boss: Tinted or Clear Embossing Pad, Asparagus and Dazzling Copper Embossing Powders, Design Adhesives: Sentiments and ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip

 

Memory Box: Solid Butterfly wood mounted stamp

 

Hampton Art: Artsy Edges and Circle Birds clear stamps

 

Bazzill: Peanut cardstock

 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, black pen – fine, foam dimensional dots, adhesive and heat gun.

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use “smooch” technique described above, with Silver Fox, Luscious Lime, Pumpkin, Tuxedo and Molasses applied to circle stamp with scroll design on a piece of peanut cardstock. Set aside to dry, then cut out, leaving a thin border around the edge. Ink edges with Coal Black ink applied using ColorBox Stylus and white blender tip.

 

2) Use same “smooch” technique to ink butterfly stamp, using Silver Fox, Tuxedo, Pumpkin, Gold Lame and Molasses. Stamp on a piece of peanut cardstock and set aside to dry. Cut out, leaving a thin border around the image.

 

3) Ink hexagon section of molding mat using Sienna, Sandalwood, Coal Black and Light Brown applied and blended slightly using stylus with blender tip. Stamp on a piece of peanut cardstock. Ink the diamond section of the molding mat in the same way, using the same colors and stamp on a piece of peanut cardstock. Handcut stamped squares from cardstock; then cut each square into quarters measuring about 1”. You will only need 3 squares of each design.

 

4) Cut a 2 ½ X 3 ½ piece of peanut cardstock. Stamp the left and bottom edges using the narrow edge stamp from the Artsy Edges set and Coal Black ink. Use Chocolate and Coal Black ink, applied using stylus and bender tip, to ink the edges of card.

 

5) Use Coal Black and Chocolate ink, applied using stylus and blender tip to ink the edges of the 6 - 1” squares. Adhere the squares, in 2 vertical rows, beginning about 1/16” from the top right corner, and spacing the squares about 1/16” from each other.

 

6) Cut “memories” word and pronunciation from Design Adhesives sheet and adhere to a piece of peanut cardstock. Emboss using Asparagus embossing powder. Cut out design, leaving about 1/8” border around edges. Ink edges using Sandalwood and Chocolate inks.

 

7) Lay “memories” strip down left side of ATC just past top of border stamp. Cut “remember” from Design Adhesives sheet, and before you remove the backing, make sure it will fit along the bottom of the last row of squares. Adjust position of “memories” strip if needed, then adhere.

 

8) Apply “remember” Design Adhesive along the bottom row of squares, having the bottom of the letters right along the bottom edge of the squares. Emboss using Dazzling Copper embossing powder. When cool, outline the letters using black pen.

 

9) Adhere stamped circle from step 1) to the right side of card, about 1/8” up from the top of “remember”, having about ½ of the circle hang off the right side. Trim overhang and ink the edge using Chocolate and Coal Black ink applied with stylus and blender tip.

 

10) Adhere butterfly at the upper left of the circle using foam dimensional dots.

 

Now you are ready to trade!

 

---tami