stamp out loud by tami sanders

Christmas joy!

Today's card uses some of the same techniques as the card done in the last post.

The background has been "Smooched" using Smooch Spritz, then Design Adhesives have been applied and foiled...

  
 

And, as with the last card, there is PLENTY of sparkle and bling!

 

 

To add a bit of dimension to the card, "joy" was added using dimensional foam dots...

 

Smooch Spritz and Designer Foils are both perfect products to use when you want to dress up any holiday project. Both are easy to use and produce GREAT results!

Here's all you need to know to make this card yourself... 

“joy X 4” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Citrus Tickle and Limolicious, Design Adhesives: Memory Box Collection: In the Forest and Calm and Bright, Designer Foils: Cherry Pie and Irish Eyes, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Golf Course, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Bazzill: card: Ruby Slipper and Walnut Cream, Hillary and Parakeet cardstocks 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, black pen and dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 1/2 square piece of light green cardstock and mat on a 4 3/4 square of dark green cardstock. Adhere to upper portion of card front.

2) Cut a 5 X 5 square of cream cardstock and spritz lightly with both colors of Smooch Spritz; set aside to dry.

NOTE: Make sure that paper is COMPLETELY dry before doing this step - the Design Adhesives will not appy or adhere properly otherwise.

3) Cut the 5 X 5 "smooched" cardstock into 4 - 2" squares. {reserve leftover}

4) Cut apart poinsettia, 3 holly leaves and 1 set of berries, 1 set of ornaments and bird from Design Adhesive sheets. Apply  each set of designs to one of the 2" squares.

5) Apply red foil to poinsettia, berries, round ornament and bird. Apply green foil to leave and pointed ornament.

6) Use black pen to add sides, crowns and hooks to ornaments and legs and feet to bird.

7) Ink edges of all 4 - 2" squares using Golf Course Dye Ink applied with Stylus and blender tip.

8) Adhere squares to matted cardstock at top of card.

9) Cut apart and apply "christmas" beneath and aligned with the left side of the matted square. Apply green foil.

10) Cut apart and apply "joy" on the leftover piece of "smooched" cardstock. Apply red foil. Then trim around word, and ink edges using Golf Course Dye Ink applied with Stylus and Tip. Adhere at an angle at the end and slightly below "christmas".

MORE Holiday and Christmas projects are on the way, so please come back later!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

jingle bells...jingle bells...

Listen... do you hear them? That distant sound of bells that is getting CLOSER and LOUDER everyday?

The theme of the next round of posts, and I hope to have a LOT of them, will be the holiday season.

Who doesn't love the holidays, and crafting for them? The colors, bright, vivid colors and the BLING! Now is the time to add a touch of sparkle and shimmer to ALL you create.

I'm starting off with an easy card today; one you can mass produce easily if you've procrastinated in getting your holiday cards done, but it still has plenty of BLiNg...

 

The card base is plain kraft cardstock, and the focal piece is just cardstock that has been "Smooched". Design Adhesives snowflakes were added and foiled with silver...

 

 The "peace" sentiment is just another Design Adhesive cut apart and applied to bits of cardstock and then covered in blue foil...

 

Here are the quick and easy to follow directions for this card.

“peace in blue” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Navy Twinkle and Vanilla Shimmer, Design Adhesives: Memory Box Collection: Flurries and Calm and Bright, Designer Foils: Silver Fog and Seaport, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink: Mermaid, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Bazzill: Kraft and Walnut Cream cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive and stapler

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 X 12 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 3 X 4 piece of vanilla cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Lightly spritz with Navy Twinkle Smooch Spritz, then add a quick coat of Vanilla Shimmer. Set aside to dry.

3) Prepare sentiment while "smooched" piece is drying. Cut 5 - 1" X 1" pieces of vanilla cardstock. Cut apart "peace" design adhesive from set, and apply one letter to the center of each square. Gently rub blue foil over letters. Trim the pieces in random legths, keeping the widths to about 1/2". Ink edges using Mermaid Dye Ink.

NOTE: Make sure that paper is COMPLETELY dry before doing this step - the Design Adhesives will not appy or adhere properly otherwise.

4) Cut apart snowflakes from set and randomly apply to "Smooched" cardstock piece. The designs can overlap the eges, just trim excess and use elsewhere. Lay silver foil sheet over designs and rub gently. 

5) To assemble, staple or glue the "peace" letters to the lower edge of the "Smooched" piece, then adhere the "Smooched piece to the center of the card. 

MORE Holiday and Christmas projects are on the way, so please stop back by to see what's new!

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

happy turkey day!!!

I had originally intended to post these THREE cards separately - but you are getting them all THREE in one post! Think of it as Thanksgiving dinner AND the leftovers all at once!

 

I started with the same basic set of supplies for both of these cards: Colorbox Archival Dye Ink Queue - Coffee House and Pigment Ink Queue Woodgrain and cream and pumpkin cardstocks. After that, I selected some fall stamps from My Sentiments Exactly, Memory Box and Hero Arts and created this trio of cards using those supplies. I wanted to mix the sheer, clear color of the dye ink with the strong, bold opaqueness of the pigment inks.

For the first card, I used a create your own tree stamp by My Sentiments Exactly and stamped the tree using dye ink and the leaves using the pigment inks...

 

The leaves are NICE and BOLD...

 

For the center card, I wanted to create a "backdrop" for the fall leaves, so I used dye ink to stamp the background, then used pigment ink to stamp the leaves...

 

Since the pigment ink is opaque, the leaves really stand out from the background...

 

And for the last card, I used the same stamp, inked with 3 different colors of pigment ink to stamp the 3 designs. Then, I used Smooch Accent Ink to fill in the leaves...

 

The Smooch Accent Ink added a shimmery touch of color and helped tie the trio together...

 

Here are the directions for these 3 fall themed cards...

“fall tree” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Queue: Coffee House and  ColorBox Pigment Ink Queue: Woodgrain

My Sentiments Exactly: Thanksgiving and Nuture You stamp sets

Bazzill: Festive - Burlap, Candle Glow - Prismatics and Walnut Cream - Smoothies cardstocks and Brown Gingham ribbon

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, and stapler

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 7 X 6 1/2 piece of pumpkin cardstock and fold in half to make a 6 1/2 X 3 1/2 card.

2) Cut a 6 X 3 piece of cream cardstock and stamp tree and ink edges using Mudslide Dye Ink.

3) Use a different leaf stamp for each of these 3 colors: Roussillon, Amber and Ochre Pigment Inks, to stamp leaves at ends of branches and along the bottom of the card.

4) Stamp "Happy Thanksgiving" and ink edges of a 2 1/4 X 1 1/4 piece of cream cardstock using Mudslide Dye Ink. Mat piece on a 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 piece of mustard cardstock and staple folded piece of brown ribbon at upper right.

5) Adhere stamped cream piece to center front of card, then adhere matted sentiment at upper right.

 

“leaf trio” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Queue: Coffee House,  ColorBox Pigment Ink Queue: Woodgrain

Hero Arts: Real Leaves Clear Design stamp set and Old Letter Writing wood mount stamp

My Sentiments Exactly: Thanksgiving stamp set

Bazzill: Festive - Burlap and Walnut Cream - Smoothies cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 1/4 X 11 piece of pumpkin cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 4 X 5 1/4 piece of cream cardstock and stamp using Old Letter Writing stamp and Putty Dye Ink.

3) Stamp leaves over background using: Roussillon Pigment Ink for large leaf, Amber for medium leaf and Ochre for smaller leaf.

4) Ink "give thanks" stamp using Chestnut Pigment Ink at lower left.

5) Adere stamped cardstock piece to front of card.

 

“maple trio” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Archival Dye Ink Queue: Coffee House,  ColorBox Pigment Ink Queue: Woodgrain and Smooch Accent Inks: Gold Lame, Pumpkin and Molasses

Memory Box: Maple Branch wood mount stamp

My Sentiments Exactly: Multi Classic alphabet

Bazzill: Festive - Burlap and Walnut Cream - Smoothies cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, and dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 5 X 8 piece of pumpkin cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Stamp the image 3 times on a piece of cream cardstock using a different color of pigment ink each time: Roussillon, Amber and Ochre. Cut out when ink has dried.

3) Fill in leaves on each stamped image using Smooch Accent Inks and set aside to dry.

4) Stamp "grateful" on a 3/4 X 5 piece of cream cardstock using Mudslide Dye Ink. Dovetail ends.

5) Adhere 3 stamped images using dimensional foam dots to upper portion of card front, then adhere sentiment beneath.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving; and counts all their blessings as they celebrate this special day set aside to GIVE THANKS! 

p.s.:

AND --- within the next few months, Clearsnap will be COMBINING Jean's and my blogs into ONE big blog with projects by guest designers too! You can take a peek at it HERE! In the meantime, both Jean and I will keep posting to our Typepad blogs, but the projects will also be posted on the Blogger blog --- so be sure to bookmark it!

Clearsnap has also started a FACEBOOK page, Be sure to check it out and join up so you can view projects posted by others as well as be the first to know about any news or special announcements!

a spell-cial halloween card...

What colors come to mind when I say "Halloween"?

Orange, Black, possibly Yellow? Maybe Lime Green or Purple?

How about Pink?

No, pink isn't a color I usually associate with Halloween either, that's why I thought it might be a fun color to try incorporating in a Halloween card.

I started with a pink card as the base, then added some touches of more "traditional" Halloween colors...

 

I stamped and embossed the cute little witch and her magical "wake" using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and Black Embossing Powder. The images are nice and crisp so the designs are easy to fill in with Smooch Accent Inks. Top Boss Embossing Powders are very fine, so when you heat set them, even the tiniest details remain SHARP!

And thanks to the fabulous built in precision tip that Smooch Accent Inks have, you can "smooch" even the itsy-bitsy-est portions of your stamped and embossed designs...

  

The background paper for the "wake" is white cardstock that has been sprayed with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, to add some shimmer...

 

The "moon" background that the witch is stamped on is just a circle that was punched from plain, white cardstock. Then ColorBox Pigment Ink in Canary was used to color it in. ColorBox Pigment Inks blend beautifully, even on plain cardstock, so by blending the color from the outside in, the outer edge stayed darker, easily creating a shaded affect.

The same technique was used to create the background for the sentiment, which was stamped and embossed...

 
 

If you'd like to make this card for a spell-cial friend or maybe a daughter, granddaughter or neice, here's what you need to know...

“witchie-poo” card

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Top Boss: Tinted Embossing Pad and Embossing Powder: Black, Smooch Accent Ink: Carrot, Sundance, Kiwi, Molasses, Grape Soda and Sassy Pink, Smooch Spritz: Silver Foil, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Canary, Stylus Handle and White Foam Blender Tip and Color Catcher

Hero Arts: Month - October ClearDesign stamp

Hampton Art: Mini Flip Flops: Witches Brew

Memory Box: Jewel Spiders

Bazzill: Card: Fussy from Cards & Envelope Set, Black Dashed Ribbon and Blackberry Swirl, Coconut Swirl and Intense Orange cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, fine black pen, foam dimensional dots, 1 3/4 scalloped square punch, 2 1/2 circle punch and a heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Trim 5 X 7 pink card to 4 X 6.

2) Cut a 3 1/2 X 4 piece of black cardstock and adhere to upper portion of card front.

3) Punch 2 scalloped squares from orange cardstock, add stitching lines with black pen and adhere to upper left and lower right corners of black cardstock.

4) Punch a circle from white cardstock and use ColorBox Pigment Ink in Canary, blended with the Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, to apply ink from outside edge of circle in towards the center. Set aside to dry.

5) Cut a 2 1/4 X 1 1/8 piece of white cardstock and use same technique as in step {4} to color in cardstock. Set aside to dry.

6) Stamp witch in center of circle using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and then emboss with Black Embossing Powder. Stamp sentiment in center of rectangle using same technique.

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

8) Fill in witch design using Smooch Accent Inks.

9) Stamp and emboss border design on "smooched" cardstock. Cut out "wake" and fill in "bubbles" using Smooch Accent Inks.

10) To assemble, adhere ribbon about 3/4 from bottom of card, then adhere sentiment about 1/2 from right side of card; adding spider stickers. Adhere moon to center of black background, then use dimensional foam dots to adhere "wake" at bottom of moon.

MORE Halloween projects are on the way, so please stop back by to see what's new!

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

world cardmaking day - SPOOKY STYLE!

Today is World Cardmaking Day, so in honor of that, I have not one card but TWO to share!

And since the current theme for the blog is "Halloween", both cards are "hauntingly" fun; but they differ in style.

First up is a fun and simple Halloween card playing on traditional colors of orange and black...

 

The row of pumpkins is made up of single pumpkins that have been stamped using Watermark Ink on orange cardstock and then embossed with Top Boss Black Embossing Powder...

 

Then, to add a little shimmer to the pumpkins, I used Smooch Illuminate to fill in the pumpkin designs...

 
 

Here's a closeup of the pumpkins with a little sunlight on them, you can see the shimmer better...

 

The stems of the pumpkins were filled in with Lucious Lime Smooch Accent Ink...

 

Next up is a Halloween card that is a little more on the "dark side"...

 

The background paper was made by spraying several colors of Smooch Spritzes on kraft cardstock, then, while the colors were still wet, the cardstock was shaken to create runs and drips...

 

The designs and sentiment were stamped with ColorBox Pigment Ink in Black and then embossed using Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder, Smooch Accent Ink in Moonlight was used to fill in the wording...

 

A different set of Smooch Spritz colors was used to create the background for the clock piece...

 

Then, a simple, black ribbon was pinned to the bottom of the card using a small, black safety pin...

 

So whether your Halloween-style leans toward fun and funky or distressed and spooky, you'll be able to send a card that reflects YOUR style!

Here are the directions for both cards...

 “happy haunting” halloween card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch: Illuminate and Lucious Lime, Top Boss: Embossing Powder: Black, White and Orange Zest and Watermark Ink

Hero Arts: friendly pumpkin wood mounted stamp

My Sentiments Exactly: Retro Lower/Numbers and Perky Lower/Number clear stamp sets

Bazzill: Parakeet card from Card & Envelope Set and Blackberry Swirl and Intense Orange cardstocks

 Other: white brads and dimensional foam dots

Tools: paper trimmer, adhesive, scissors, paper piercer and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Stamp 5 pumpkins on orange cardstock using Watermark Ink, and emboss using Top Boss Black Embossing Powder.

2) Fill in pumpkins with Illuminate Smooch and stems using Lucious Lime Smooch, then cut put pumpkins.

3) Cut a 5 X 2 1/4 piece of black cardstock. Stamp "haunting" along bottom of piece using Watermark Ink and Retro alpha stamps, emboss with Top Boss White Embossing Powder.

4) Stamp "happy" above "aun" of "haunting" using Watermark Ink and Perky alpha stamps, emboss with Top Boss Orange Zest Embossing Powder.

5) Adhere sentiment at an angle at top left of card front.

6) Cut a 3/4 X 7 piece of black cardstock. Adhere about 1/2 up from bottom of card. Pierce holes at sides and insert white brads.

7) Adhere pumpkins along strip, using dimensional foam dots to adhere a few of them.

 

“spooky” Halloween card

Skill Level: moderate

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Gingersnap, Cherry Ice, Silver Foil, Limolicious and Citrus Tickle, Smooch Accent Ink: Moonlight, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Clear, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Black and Fluid Chalk Ink: Blackbird and Color Catcher

Hampton Art: Flip Flop: Spooky and Clock clear stamps

Memory Box: Spooky Collage

Bazzill: kraft cardstock

Other: black ribbon, small black safety pin and small antique silver brad

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

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut an 8 X 8 1/2 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 5 X 8 piece of kraft cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Spray different areas of paper, letting colors overlap a bit with Gingersnap, Silver Foil and Cherry Ice Smooch Spritzes. While paper is still wet, shake in a downwards direction to help ink run and drip. Set aside to dry.

3) Cut a 4 X 4 piece of kraft cardstock and place in Color Catcher. Spray with Limolicious and Citrus Tickle Smooch Spritzes and set aside to dry.

4) Ink Spooky Collage stamp with ColorBox Black Pigment Ink and stamp towards top of 5 X 7 piece of "smooched" cardstock. Emboss using Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder.

5) Tear around edges of stamped design, reserving excess paper for sentiment. Ink edges using Blackbird Chalk Ink.

6) Fold a 4" piece of black ribbon in half and dovetail ends. Safety pin to lower left of stamped piece and then adhere to front of card about 3/4 from top.

7) Stamp sentiment "haunted", "halloween" using stamps from Spooky set using ColorBox Black Pigment Ink and then embossing with Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder. Use Smooch Accent ink in Moonlight to fill in "haunted". Trim piece to measure 4 1/4 wide, then tear along top and bottom edges. Ink edges using Black bird Chalk Ink and adhere under background image.

8) Stamp "Clock Face" from clock set onto 4 X 4 "smooched" cardstock using ColorBox Black Pigment Ink and emboss with Top Boss Clear Embossing Powder. Stamp hands using black ink and emboss them as well. Fill in hour hand using Moonlight Smooch Accent Ink.

9) Use a paper piercer to place a hole at center of clock and insert brad. Adhere clock to upper right hand corner of card using foam dimensional dots.

I hope you are finding LOTS of inspiration for cards today, and that you enjoyed these two! Please stop back by for more Halloween themed projects. 

And if you'd like to see 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!

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.
 

simple thank you...

Two of the brand new Design Adhesives combine to create this simple thank you card that has a vintage-modern style…

 

The scroll design gets “blinged” with one of the new foils to create an accent for the card, while the “thank you” sentiment is embossed…

 

The foiled design may look complicated, but it is SO easy to do. You just rub on the Design Adhesive, your finger is the best tool to use, then lift off the protective backing to reveal the design. The design is sticky so you just lay the foil over the design, rub the foil lightly with your finger to get it to stick to the design, then pull back the foil sheet. The foil only sticks to the Design Adhesive, so there is no messy excess to have to remove. And don’t worry if you don’t get the entire design with one pass of the foil. You can just place the foil sheet back on any portions that didn’t get foiled the first time. Just keep moving the sheet around to unused parts. You won’t be able to see any lines or seams in the design either.

One of the new ColorBox Archival Dye Inks was used to edge the cardstock to create some definition between the pieces.

This card can be made in just minutes. So make yourself a set of them to have on hand and you’ll be ready to express your thanks elegantly!

“simple thanks” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Design Adhesives: Brocade and Many Thanks and Foil: Silver Fog, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Cocoa Bean and ColorBox Cat’s Eye Archival Dye Ink: Mudslide

Bazzill: kraft cardstock

Tools: paper trimmer, dimensional foam dots and adhesive

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 5 ½ X 8 ½ piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 4 X 3 ¼ piece of kraft cardstock. Apply large scroll Design Adhesive to left hand side, and a small scroll along the bottom at the right corner. Use silver foil to cover scroll designs.

3) Ink edges of cardstock piece using Mudslide ink. Adhere piece to center front of card.

4) Adhere “thanks so much” Design Adhesive to a 2 ½ X 1 3/8 piece of kraft cardstock. Emboss design using Cocoa Bean embossing powder.

5) Adhere sentiment to card at center right of card using dimensional foam dots.

If you haven’t already tried Design Adhesives, I hope this project will encourage you to try them out. They are quick and easy to use and the results look fantastic!

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

aloha summer...

Oops! I was a bit too hasty in bidding summer goodbye! I forgot I had one last {really this time} summer project to share. American Art Stamps has an adorable little hula gal on one of their sets, and I wanted to make a card using her to wave aloha to summer...

 

 

Smooch Accent Ink was my medium of choice to color her and the border of flowers in with. The colors are so bright and so shimmery and I can't say enough about how wonderfully accurate that built in applicator is. Usually, I emboss my design to make it easier to stay within the lines when I plan on "smooching" my project. But this time, I decided to REALLY put the accuracy of those fab little applicators {as well as the steadiness of my hand} to the test. I just stamped the images using chalk ink - no little "rails" to hold the inks in and keep me inside the lines. I was able to get into the tiniest of places and really keep the inks where I wanted them.

 

To make the bamboo background, several colors of chalk inks were applied to the stamp using the Stylus fitted with the Foam Blender Tip. This gave the background some color variations.

 

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

"hula gal" card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Accent Ink: Kiwi, Sundance, Carrot, Sassy Pink, Taffy, Snickerdoodle and Molasses ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Toffee, Butterscotch and Chestnut Roan and Stylus with White Foam Blender Tips

American Art Stamps: Hula Set

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl and Kraft cardstocks

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, dimensional foam dots

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 4 X 12 piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Stamp 4 flowers down side of card using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

3) Stamp hula gal and 3 "aloha"'s on white cardstock using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

4) Ink stamp with Butterscotch Chalk Ink, then ink Blender Tip of Stylus using Toffee ink and apply randomly over stamp. Clean tip, then dip into Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink, apply ink sparingly and lightly in a few places on stamp. Stamp image on white cardstock and cut out.

5) Use Smooch Accent Ink ink Sundance, Carrot and Sassy Pink to color in flowers down side of card and Kiwi to fill in the leaves.

6) Use Snickerdoodle to fill in hula gal's skin, Molasses for her hair and coconut shell bikini top and Kiwi for her skirt. Then use Sassy Pink, Carrot and Sundance to fill in flowers in leis.

7) Adhere bamboo background to front of card, slightly off center towards the left. Then adhere hula gal using dimensional foam dots. Finally, cut out sentiments and adhere to front of card.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out this LAST summer project. Next up are vintage inspired projects, so please come back by soon. Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

---tami

 

end of summer...

School is starting soon and summer is fading fast, so here's the last project in the "Summer Series", a card with a simple sentiment that would work for a variety of occasions...

The colors came from one of the spectacular summer sunsets we are treated to here in Texas, this one in particular was a mix of golden yellow with touches of lavender. I thought the colors would be perfect for this summer project.

To create both the sentiment and the flowers, a resist method was used by embossing the images and then applying the inks over the them.

First, the flowers were stamped on white cardstock using Watermark Ink and embossed using Top Boss Embossing Powder in Pearl. Then, the Plum Berry Pigment Ink was applied in and around the outer petals using a Stylus and White Foam Tip...

The pigment ink is smooth and fluid and takes a little while to dry, so it is very easy to apply and blend. Once applied, the excess ink was removed using a clean white paper towel...

Next, the Sunflower Pigment Ink was applied in the same way to the center of the flower...

The same process was repeated to create the sentiment. The stamp set does come with an exclamation point, but I liked the small starburst that also comes with the set, so I paired it with the "l" to create my own exclamation mark...

You can use this resist technique with any of your stamps, and with any combination of embossing powders and inks you choose. For more contrast and a VIVID design, try it using black embossing powder and bright ink colors. If you'd like to try the technique out by making this card, here's what you need to know...

“enjoy!” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap:  Watermark Ink, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Plum Berry and Sunflower {full or mini size}, Top Boss Embossing Powder: Pearl and Stylus and White Foam Blender Tips

Hero Arts: Real Flowers 4 X 6 PolyClear Stampsand Curly Alphabet ClearDesign Stamps

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl cardstock

Petersen Arne: Paper Accents: mustard cardstock

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, pinking scissors, dimensional foam dots, heat gun and white paper towels.

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 6 X 12 piece of white cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut a 5 1/4 X 5 1/4 piece of mustard cardstock and trim edges using pinking scissors. Adhere to center front of card.

3) Stamp 3 flowers on white cardstock using Watermark Ink, then emboss using Top Boss Pearl Embossing Powder.

4) Using Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, dip tip into Plum Berry Pigment Ink and apply ink to and around outer petal of flowers using a circular motion. When done, wipe gently in a circular motion to remove excess ink. Set aside to dry.

5) Stamp "enjoy!" on a piece of white cardstock using Watermark Ink. Then emboss using Top Boss Embossing Powder in Pearl. Using Stylus and White Foam Blender Tip, dip tip into Plum Berry Pigment Ink and apply ink to and around the sentiment in a rough rectangle {about 3 1/2 X 1 3/4} Use a paper towel to remove excess ink as before, and set aside to dry.

6) Change or clean White Foam Blender tip on Stylus.Then use it to apply Sunflower Pigment ink to center of flowers. Use paper towel to remove excess ink and set aside to dry.

7) When inks have set, cut out flowers about 1/8 outside of design, and tear around edges of sentiment.

8) Adhere pieces as shown, using dimensional foam dots to adhere the flower at the center.

I hope you enjoyed this project and will give this technique a try. Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

---tami

 

just keep swimming...

Today's project is a little whimsical and hopefully might brighten the day of a friend who is in need a little encouragement...

The trio of little fishies have been stamped using Smooch Accent Ink. A past post: "Smooched Butterfly ATC" showed the step-by-step instructions for doing that. But basically, you first "prime" the stamp by inking it with Watermark Ink or Clear Embossing Ink, then dab on several colors of Smooch and blend by dabbing the colors lightly with your finger or a beauty swab {I prefer using my finger}. The resulting stamped image is almost like a shimmery watercolor; a mixture of the individual colors used as well as the blended colors created.

Some loose outlining was done using a black pen to add more definition...

To create the waves, pieces of white cardstock, with their top edges torn to resemble waves, were spritzed with Smooch Spritz. The darker blue wave received a heavy coat while the lighter one was just given a few spritzes. So although the same color was used on both, they look completely different due to the differing applications.

You can use either of either of these "Smooch" techniques to get more use from both the products and from your stamps. If you'd like to try your hand at making this card, here's all you need to know...

“happy little fishies” card

Skill Level: easy to moderate

SUPPLIES:

please refer to the "Smooched Butterfly ATC" post for step-by-step photos and directions for inking the stamps using Smooch...

Clearsnap: Smooch Accent Ink: Grape Soda, Kiwi, Pool, Tuxedo, Moonlight, Carrot, Sassy Pink, Ocean Soul, Smooch Spritz: Electric Blue and Watermark Ink {full or mini size}

Hero Arts: Sea Life PolyClear Stamps

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl cardstock and Blue Eyes Bling cardstock

Other: permanent fine tipped black pen

Tools: Color Catcher, paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive.

DIRECTIONS:

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

2) Cut 2 - 6 X 2 pieces of white cardstock and tear along one long edge of each piece to create "waves".

3) Place one of the pieces of torn cardstock in the Color Catcher and spritz with an even coat of Electric Blue Smooch Spritz {darker wave}. Set aside to dry.

4) Place other piece of torn cardstock in the Color Catcher and spritz with short quick spritzes scattered across card. {lighter wave}. Set aside to dry.

5) Ink fish stamp using Watermark ink. Dab on dots of Kiwi and Pool over stamp, dab lightly with finger or beauty swab. Stamp on a piece of white cardstock and set aside to dry. Repeat using Sassy Pink with Carrot and once more using Grape Soda and Ocean Soul.

6) Cut out fish and add eye to each using Tuxedo Smooch Accent Ink, when dry, outline eye using  Moonlight Smooch Accent Ink. When eyes are dry, add details using black pen.

7) Cut a 3 3/4 X 1/4  piece of white cardstock and write "just keep swimming..." using black pen.

8) Adhere waves about 1/2 up from bottom of card. Then adhere fish and sentiment.

I hope you enjoyed this fun little card, check back later in the week for one last summer inspired project. Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

---tami

 

leftovers...

Leftovers CAN be fun --- IF you use them creatively! You can also think of putting scraps to good use as recycling, so it’s Earth friendly too. But mostly, it’s about using up bits and pieces in a practical way that makes you feel good – that you are getting the most use from your supplies and your efforts!

As promised, today’s project utilizes some of the leftover papers created for the FUN AT THE LAKE Mini Book. The project starts with another bit of thrifty recycling as well, a brown paper lunch bag.

 

A folded lunch bag works great as a card since it provides a handy pocket for tucking in $$$ or a gift card…

In addition to the leftover “printed” papers, I stamped the embellishments on leftover scraps of white cardstock – who doesn’t have some of THAT on hand? I stamped all the designs using ColorBox Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink, then used ColorBox Pigment Inks, applied using beauty swabs, to fill in portions of the designs as well as some of the centers of the letters…

 

 

So, if you’d like to put YOUR leftover supplies to work, here’s the directions to tell you how…

“happy leftovers” card

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

please refer to the JUMP IN THE LAKE post for all the directions and supplies used to create the “printed” papers…

 

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Pigment Ink: Aqua, Marigold, Pink and Lime {full or mini size} and ColorBox Fluid Ink: Dark Brown {cats eye} and Chestnut Roan {full or mini size}

 

Hampton Art: Happy Birthday Clear Stamps

 

Hero Arts: Happy Letters PolyClear Stamps

 

Other: paper lunch bag, leftover scraps of white cardstock, and leftover “printed” papers

 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, beauty swabs {pointed cotton swabs} and adhesive

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

1) Fold paper lunch bag in half with notch at end to the inside. Glue down bottom half of bag that is loose.

 

CARD FRONT:

 

1) Cut a 4 ¾ X 2 piece of aqua bubbles on light aqua cardstock, a 1 ¾ X 2 ½ piece of yellow canvas stripe on white cardstock, a 2 7/8 X 1 piece of lime polka dot on pale yellow cardstock and a 2 7/8 X 1 ½ piece of pink polka dots on soft pink cardstock. Ink edges of all pieces using Dark Brown Chalk Ink and adhere as shown to front of card.

 

2) Stamp 3 gifts, “it’s my party” circle, “happy day”, and “happy birthday” on scraps of white cardstock using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

 

3) Color in portions of the designs and letter centers using Aqua, Marigold, Pink and Lime Pigment Inks applied using Beauty Swabs. When inks are dry, cut out pieces and adhere to front of card as shown.

 

INSIDE CARD:

 

1) Cut a 2 X 4 ¾ piece of aqua bubbles on light aqua cardstock, 2 ¾ X 4 ¾ piece of pink polka dots on soft pink cardstock, a 1 ¾  X 4 ¾ piece of lime polka dot on pale yellow cardstock and a 3 ½ X 4 ¾  piece of yellow canvas stripe on white cardstock. Ink edges of all pieces using Dark Brown Chalk Ink and adhere as shown to inside of card.

 

2) Stamp “a”, “gift”, “for” and “you” using Happy Letters stamps and Chestnut Roan Chalk ink on scraps of white cardstock. Add birthday hat over swirl stamp at the end of “you” as an exclamation mark. Cut out words and ink edges using Dark Brown Chalk Ink and adhere as shown to inside of card.

 

3) Cut out an arrow from a piece of aqua bubbles on light aqua cardstock and adhere as shown.

 

Didn’t make the mini album? Don’t worry, you can use ANY leftovers to make this card, or stamp some of your own “printed” papers using scraps you DO have on hand! Also check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

 

---tami

just rosey...

Today’s project is bright, cheerful and summery and uses a trio of colors you might not think to use together: pink, coral and fuchsia…

I usually play it safe with colors by using combinations that play nicely with each other on the color wheel. But trying new things can be fun, and it’s only ink and paper. So I was experimenting with some non-traditional color combinations when I came up with the colors for this card. It all started with the coral, I love coral, but don’t get to use it often in my scrapbooking projects. Tan and blue came to mind while trying to decide which other colors to use with the coral, but those were “safe” choices and I wanted something a little more off-beat. First I tried pink with the coral and they looked nice together. But I couldn’t think of a third color that would work with them. The coral and pink balanced nicely, so I was looking for a color to add some punch to the project. After trying several different ink colors, I reached for the fuschia, but with reservations --- I thought it would clash. And some might think it does – and that’s okay, but I thought it worked.

The background was created using the same basic method as the last project – “Happy Thoughts” card, except this time I used Vivid! ink. Vivid! ink is a dye ink that comes in bright, vibrant colors and stamps clean and clear. The “rose” stamp comes from the same set as was used for the “Happy Thoughts” card too, although I’m sure the design isn’t a rose, it worked as one. To create the background paper, I started with the coral color, Tea Rose, and stamped several images randomly over the cardstock. Then I used the pink ink, Orchid, to stamp a few more images, overlapping some of the previous ones and filling in the background. Finally, I stamped the same design again, this time using the Fuchsia ink, randomly over the background on top of the previous images.

Since the Fuchsia ink was the boldest, it made those images seem to come “forward” creating dimension in the background paper…

I stamped a flower using the Tea Rose ink on a scrap of the same cardstock used for the background and cut it out to use as an embellishment. A few hot pink pearls at the center added a nice accent and helped tie in the fuchsia color in the background…

The sentiment was also stamped in Tea Rose ink on a cardstock scrap…

To help tie all the colors together, a coral cardstock was used to mat the background paper, and the Fuchsia ink was used to distress the edges of the card.

If you’d like to step out of your color “box” and try something different, here are all the instructions you need to make this card yourself…

 

“just rosey” card

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES:

 

Clearsnap:  Vivid! Ink: Tea Rose, Fuchsia and Orchid {mini or full size pads}

 

Hero Arts: Messages Clings Stamp and Sealife PolyClear stamp

 

Paper Accents: Steel Magnolia and Raspberry muslin cardstocks

 

Memory Box: Pearl Stickers: hot pink

 

Tools: adhesive, scissors and paper trimmer

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

1) Cut a 5 X 10 piece of off white cardstock and fold in half to make card. Ink edges of card using Fuchsia ink.

 

2) Cut a 4 ½ X 4 ½ piece of coral cardstock and adhere to center of card.

 

3) Cut a 4 X 4 piece of off white cardstock. Ink “rose” stamp using Tea Rose ink and stamp randomly over cardstock. Then ink stamp using Orchid ink, and fill in gaps, overlapping previous images. Finally, stamp several images over background using Fuchsia ink. Adhere stamped background paper to center of card.

 

4) Stamp 1 “rose” on a scrap off white cardstock with Tea Rose ink; cut out and adhere at upper left of card.

 

5) Stamp sentiment on a scrap off white cardstock with Tea Rose ink; cut out and adhere at lower right of card.

 

Please come back by for more summer themed projects {I have a necklace and mini album coming up!} and be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

 

---tami

summertime...

The next few projects will focus on summer; think beach and beach umbrellas! Subtle sands and aquas and BOLD, BRIGHT cheery colors. Color will play a large part in the next several posts; colors you might expect to find together as well as color combos you might not think about using. 

Today’s project features a very traditional color combination, it is beach themed and is done in the aforementioned sands and aquas…

The colors I used were the colors that came to mind immediately when I thought about the beach ---  tan and aqua. I wanted to create my own background paper for the card, so I selected a small starfish stamp and 2 shades of tan ink: Creamy Brown and Peach Pastel Fluid Chalk Inks. I first stamped a random pattern using the darker ink then filled in the design, overlapping the previous stamps in places, using the lighter shade.

 

The result was a soft background that would coordinate with the rest of the card…

 

 

I wanted a bright pop of color for the card, so I picked one of the new shades of chalk ink, Deep Lagoon, to use as an accent color. I stamped the seahorse on cardstock and cut it out to use as an embellishment for the card.

 

When I inked the stamp, I accidentally applied it a little unevenly, but I liked the result…

 

 

For the sentiment, I stamped the scalloped circle using the Creamy Brown ink, but then used the Deep Lagoon to add another pop of color and to tie in with the seahorse.

 

I thought the sentiment needed a little “separation” from the background, so I matted it on a piece of kraft colored cardstock…

 

 

If you’d like to send some summery, happy thoughts to someone you know, here’s what you’ll need to make this card yourself…

 

“happy thoughts” card

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap:  ColorBox: Fluid Chalk Ink: Creamy Brown, Peach Pastel and Deep Lagoon

 

Hero Arts: Heartfelt Messagesand Sea LifePolyClear stamps

 

Bazzill: Kraft cardstock

 

Paper Accents: Steel Magnolia and Ocean Breeze muslin cardstocks

 

Tools: adhesive, scissors and paper trimmer

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

1) Cut a 4 X 12 piece of aqua cardstock and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Cut a 2 ¾ X 6 piece of cream cardstock and stamp using starfish stamp. Stamp random pattern first using Creamy Brown chalk ink; then fill in gaps, slightly overstamping some of the previous designs, using Peach Pastel Ink. Adhere piece about ½ from left side of card.

 

3) Stamp seahorse on a piece of cream cardstock using Deep Lagoon chalk ink. Cut out and adhere near bottom right of card.

 

4) Stamp scalloped circle on cream cardstock using Creamy Brown chalk ink, then stamp “happy thoughts” sentiment at center with Deep Lagoon chalk ink and cut out.

 

5) Lay scalloped circle stamped side down on a piece of kraft cardstock and trace around the edges with a pencil. Mark one of the scallops with a dot, both on the back of the stamped piece and on the traced piece. Cut out traced design about 1/16 OUTSIDE of pencil line. Turn over and adhere the stamped piece to the kraft mat, matching dots on the back to line up scallops. Adhere the sentiment near the top left of card.

 

Please come back by for more summer themed projects and be sure to check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

 

---tami

 

here comes the bride!

...and the groom too!

It's time for some wedding projects! I love weddings; I always wanted to be a wedding planner, but after helping a few friends plan theirs and planning my own, that changed, but my love of weddings didn't. I love the whites and ivories with a pop of color - either bold or soft and the crisp black of the tuxedos, I love the textures of the satins, silks and lace, and of course the BLING! There has to be some bling, think diamonds and pearls.

So, I made a “Congratulations” card for the first wedding themed project and tried to incorporate some of the things I like best about weddings in it…

The card base is a soft ivory as is the cardstock for the background and the dress, then I added a POP of color and a touch of lace with the stamped background designs...

 

The black mat adds that touch of crispness, and finally pearl accents provide the bling...

 

Here are the supplies and directions you need to create your own special wedding card…

“all dressed up” card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES: 

Clearsnap: Vivid! Dye Ink: Black and ColorBox Pigment Ink: Cyan {full or mini size}

Hero Arts: Hero Hues: Folded Cards – eggshelland Heart Accent Pearls - white

Hampton Art: Mini Flip Flops: Elegant Flourish and Wedding Clear Stamps

 

Memory Box: Pearl Stickers - white

Bazzill: Blackberry Swirl and Vanilla cardstocks

Tools: adhesive, dimensional foam dots, scissors and paper trimmer

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut 3 ¼ X 2 piece of ivory cardstock. Ink oval medallion stamp with Cyan Pigment Ink and stamp image at center of cardstock.

2) Cut a 3 ½ X 3 3/8 piece of black cardstock and adhere stamped ivory piece at the top leaving a scant border around the top and sides.

3) Cut a 3 ½ X 7/8 piece of ivory cardstock and adhere it about 1/8 below the top piece.

4) Ink border stamp with Cyan Pigment Ink and stamp image on a piece of ivory cardstock.

5) Ink “congratulations” stamp with Black Vivid! Ink and stamp sentiment at center of stamped border. Cut out image and adhere to center of ivory piece.

6) Ink gown and tux stamp with Black Vivid! Ink and stamp on ivory cardstock; cut out and adhere to stamped oval using dimensional dots.

7) Adhere black cardstock to front of card about 5/8 from top.

8) Add heart shaped pearls at either side of sentiment.

9) Finish card by adding 2 rows of tiny pearls spaced ¼ apart about ¼ below black cardstock.

Please drop back by for more wedding projects! And if you'd like to see MORE fabulous projects using Clearsnap products, please check out COLOR STYLE by Jean Okimoto.

---tami

chocolate or vanilla...

This project will be the last for the "masculine" theme I've had going on the blog for the last few weeks. So i thought I'd make it DOUBLE-ly delightful! You get TWO cards, well to be fair it's the same card, you just get a FLAVOR choice. So would you like CHOCOLATE or VANILLA? Which does your guy prefer?

I thought it would be fun to create two yummy versions of this card and both use pretty much the exact same supplies. The main difference is that the CHOCOLATE cakes and sentiment were stamped on white cardstock while the VANILLA cakes and sentiment were stamped on kraft cardstock.

Here are some closeups of the details...

first the CHOCOLATE card...

 

 

 

and now, for VANILLA...

 

 

 

If you'd like to "whip up" one or both of these card confections, here's what you'll need to know...

"flavor"-ite cake card

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

Clearsnap:  ColorBox Pigment Ink: Cape Cod, Lettuce, Plumberry, Robin's Egg and Canary {full or mini size}, Top Boss: Clear, White and Cocoa Bean Embossing Powders and Tinted Embossing Pad, Smooch Accent Ink: Sundance, Moonlight and Molasses 

Hero Arts: Hero Hues: Daffodil folded note card

 

Hampton Art: Happy Birthday clear stamps

Bazzill: Kraft, Coconut Swirl, Pear Crush, Wildberry Pie, Sparkleberry Delight , Chocolate Cream and Lemon Bliss cardstocks

 

Tools: adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 5 X 3 1/4 piece of yellow cardstock and tear about 1/4 off along one long side. Ink edges of cardstock using Canary Pigment Ink and set aside to dry.

2) Cut 1 - 1 X 2 piece of blue, lavendar and green cardstocks. Ink edges of blue using Robin's Egg Pigment Ink, the lavendar with Plumberry and the green with Lettuce and set aside to dry.

for Chocolate Card: 

1) stamp cake image on white cardstock using Cape Cod Pigment Ink and emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Repeat using Plumberry Ink and once more using Lettuce. Cut out cakes, leaving a scant border around the design.

2) Fill in the candle flames using Sundance Smooch Accent Ink. Then fill in the icing on the cake using Molasses Smooch.

3) Adhere each cake to it's matching cardstock piece.

4) Stamp "make a wish" on white cardstock using Tinted Embossing Pad and emboss using Cocoa Bean Embossing Powder then cut out.

5) Cut a 5 1/2 X 1/4 strip of brown cardstock.

for Vanilla Card: 

1) stamp cake image on kraft cardstock using Cape Cod Pigment Ink and emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Repeat using Plumberry Ink and once more using Lettuce. Cut out cakes, leaving a scant border around the design.

2) Fill in the candle flames using Sundance Smooch Accent Ink. Then fill in the icing on the cake using Moonlight Smooch.

3) Adhere each cake to it's matching cardstock piece.

4) Stamp "make a wish" on kraft cardstock using Tinted Embossing Pad and emboss using White Embossing Powder then cut out.

5) Cut a 5 1/2 X 1/4 strip of white cardstock.

to assemble either card:

1) Adhere yellow cardstock piece towards top of front of card.

2) Adhere cakes to front of card, staggering heights as shown.

3) Adhere 1/4 strip under yellow mat, then center and adhere "make a wish" on the strip.

the next theme coming up will be wedding, so please stay tuned if there are wedding bells {yours or someone else's} in your future!

---tami 
 
 
 
 
 

a little inspiration...

You just never know when and where inspiration is going to strike. I was looking around for a color scheme for another “manly” card and spied some tile samples I had picked up – we are in the middle of some remodeling. I liked the tile, but the colors just weren’t right for my bath project, BUT – they looked perfect for my card project. Grey, charcoal, alabaster, malted brown, and blue-grey all combined to make an eye-pleasing composition. So I gathered up some papers and inks in those colors and got started.

 

I scanned the card using the tile for the background so you could see the color inspiration. Here’s the finished card…

 

 

and here's a closeup of the stamped and embossed background design...

 

The tile had lots of texture and depth as well, so I tried to achieve that through embossing and touches of metallic ink...

 

Here’s what you need to know if you’d like to make this card yourself…

“time flies” card

 

Skill Level: moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap:  ColorBox: MetaleXtra Pigment Ink: Platinum, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Blackbird {full or mini size} and Chestnut Roan {cats eye}, ColorBox Catseye Queue: Luxe Metallics: Silk Green and Sapphire Silk, Top Boss: Clear Embossing Powder, Smooch Accent Ink: Silver Fox and Gold Lame and Stylus and Blender Tip

 

Hero Arts: Circle Pattern cling stamp

Hampton Art: Clock and Word Collage Borders clear stamps

My Sentiments Exactly: Parfait Multi clear stamps

Bazzill: Kraft, Blackberry Swirl, Oslo and Butter Cream cardstocks

Tools: adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer and heat gun

DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 11 X 4 ¼ piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Ink Circle Background stamp using Silk Green and Sapphire Silk inks applied using the Stylus and Blender Tip. Place the colors randomly on the stamp having them overlap and blend in places. Stamp front of card and emboss using clear embossing powder.

 

3) Ink “time flies” border with Platinum MetaleXtra Ink and stamp on dark blue cardstock. Emboss with clear embossing powder; trim to 5 ¾ X 1 ¼.

 

4) Stamp clock on cream cardstock using Blackbird Chalk Ink; adhere hands to block at approx 11:20, ink with Blackbird Chalk Ink and stamp at center of clock; cut out.

 

5) Ink wings with Platinum MetaleXtra Ink and stamp on cream cardstock, emboss with clear embossing powder and cut out when cooled.

 

6) Use Parfait Multi alpha letters to spell out “miss you”, ink using Blackbird Chalk Ink and stamp on cream cardstock. Handcut, leaving about a ¼ border; ink edges using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink.

 

7) Fill in inner feathers on wings using Silver Fox Smooch and hands on clock using Gold Lame Smooch.

 

8) To assemble, adhere “time flies” border at a slant across lower part of card. Then adhere “miss you” sentiment at lower right corner; fit wings around clock and adhere at upper left of card.

 

Keep your eyes open for the “inspiration” for your next project, it may be something unexpected!

 

---tami

 

"owl" about another "guy" card?

I love that owls have made a comeback! And the new owl designs are SO much cuter than the ones from the 70’s {yes, I’m old enough to remember them – just barely}. Hampton Art has a new owl stamp set that is a real hoot! I used 2 stamps from the set to make this card…

 

 

This thank you card is “manly” enough to send to any guy on your gratitude list, but is cute enough for anyone. I selected papers and Smooch Accent inks in my favorite “guy” colors of brown, aqua and lime green. Simply changing the color scheme to pink, orange and lime green would change the feel of the card to decisively “girly”!

 

The stamps in this set are designed to be mixed and matched, so I stamped the branch first, then stamped the owl so that he has his feet firmly planted on the branch.

 

 

To create the look of wood for the branch, I first colored in the branch with Molasses Smooch Accent Ink and let it dry. Then I painted over it using Smooch in Moonlight, then BEFORE it dried, I used a toothpick to gently draw in a wood grain design. Since the Molasses Smooch underneath was already dry, it was revealed when I drew the lines in the still wet Moonlight Smooch.

 

 

You can use this technique to add layers of colors or to add texture when using your Smooch Accent Inks. Smooch inks blend when they are wet, but once they are dry, they stay put. So keep that in mind when you are experimenting with this technique.

 

Here are the supplies and directions you need to make your own little hoot owl card…

 

 

“”Cutie Hootie” thank you card

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Smooch Accent Ink: Moonlight, Silver Fox, Carrot, Pool, Kiwi and Molasses and ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan {full or mini size}

 

Hampton Art: Owls 1 cling stamp

 

Bazzill: Kraft, Frosted Teal and Walnut Cream cardstocks

 

Tools: adhesive and paper trimmer

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Cut an 8 ½ X 5 ½  piece of kraft cardstock and fold in half for card.

 

2) Cut a 3 ^_1/8 X 3 ½ piece of aqua cardstock and adhere to center of card.

 

3) Cut a 2 _^5/8 X 3 piece of cream cardstock and stamp sentiment using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink at bottom center.

 

4) Ink branch stamp with Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and stamp just above sentiment.

 

5) Ink owl stamp with with Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and stamp so that the owls feet are on the branch.

 

6) Color center of eyes and wings in with Kiwi Smooch, body with Pool Smooch, chest and outer eye with Silver Fox Smooch, beak, feet and legs with Carrot Smooch and branch with Molasses Smooch.

 

7) When branch has dried, color in again with Moonlight Smooch, and while it is still dry, use a toothpick to add woodgrain.

 

I still have a few more projects for the boys before we move on to another subject, so please check back for more ideas!

 

---tami

 

tool time!

Here’s a “tool”-riffic card for a dad who’s handy…

 

 

Smooch Accent Inks make it easy to transform a simple card into something special. All the stamped images were embossed in black, then Smooch Accent Inks were used to add borders to the sentiments and color in the tools. Each bottle has a precision tip built into the cap, so it’s easy to get the ink where you want it, even in TEENY-TINY spots.

 

Here’s a closer look at the tools…

 

I used a two colors on Smooch on the wrenches to add a little shading.

 

Here’s what you need to know to make this card for your “handy”-man…

 

“”tool-rific” card

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Smooch Accent Ink: Pool, Siren, Sundance, Silver Fox and Olive Twist and Top Boss: Tinted Embossing Pad {full or mini size} and Black Embossing Powder

 

Hero Arts: Happy Dad’s Day PolyClear stamps and Hero Hues Folded Cards - snow

 

Bazzill: Blackberry Swirl, Coconut Swirl and Gray cardstocks

 

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

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Cut a 4 ¾ X 3 ½ piece of gray cardstock and adhere to center of card front.

 

2) Stamp sentiments on a piece of white cardstock using tinted embossing pad. Emboss with black embossing powder and let cool. Cut out sentiments and outline “Happy Father’s Day” using Siren Accent Ink and verse with Pool.

 

3) Stamp tool design twice on white cardstock using tinted embossing pad and emboss with black embossing powder; let cool.

 

4) Use Smooch Accent Inks to color in tools; then cut out and mat on a piece of black cardstock.

 

5) Adhere “Happy Father’s Day” towards top of gray mat, then adhere tool design using foam dimensional dots, then adhere verse below.

 

Please stop back by for more projects designed with guys in mind…

 

---tami

 

man up!

I have 2 Father’s Days cards to share with you this week, and then I’ll be adding a few “manly” projects after that. It’s all about the GUYS for the next few posts. Cards and projects that are suitable for gifting to the men in your life: dads, husbands, sons, uncles, nephews, boyfriends, pals or bosses - a little something for everyone.

 

But first, a card Dad…

 

 

My dad loves blue, so I started with the ColorBox Multi-Color At the Beach Inkpad. This pad has a set of colors that are not only perfect for sand and sea, but for MEN too! I The At the Beach inkpad has 2 browns, 2 blues and a peach ink {Parchment, Dune, Baby Blue, Colonial Blue and Chestnut} all in one compact container.

 

I decided to use only the blues and the browns, and I selected colors of cardstock that matched the shades of ink.  I like to find different ways to use the 5 color pads; you can change the look of your stamped image just by changing how you place your stamp on the pad. For something a little different, I decided to place my stamp diagonally across the pad, using only four colors and avoiding the peach ink at the end {sorry Parchment – maybe next time}.

 

Here’s a closeup of the stamped background I created for the card…

 

And here are the supplies and directions you need to make this card for YOUR number one dad…

 

“you’re my no. 1” card

 

Skill Level: easy - moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: ColorBox Multi-Color: At the Beach

 

Hampton Art: Best Father clear value set and Word Collage Borders

 

Memory Box: Lattice Background wood mount stamp

 

Bazzill: Moody Blue, Blueberry Pie, Chocolate Cream, Butter Cream, Tawny Medium and Kraft

 

Tools: adhesive, paper trimmer, scissors and dimensional foam dots

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Cut a 5 X 10 piece of Kraft and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Cut a 4 ¼ square of dark blue cardstock and mat on a 4 ? square of light brown cardstock with inked edges {use Dune – light brown ink on 5 color pad} and then double mat on a 4 ¾ square of dark brown cardstock. Adhere to center of card.

 

3) Stamp 2 images using Lattice Background stamp on cream cardstock; ink stamp diagonally across blues and browns on 5 color pad. Let dry, then cut out and ink edges with Dune ink and let dry again. Adhere scant ¼ away from left edge of dark blue.

 

4) Ink word strip stamp using dark brown ink {Chestnut} on a piece of cream cardstock. Let dry, cut out, then ink edges using Dune ink. Let dry again and then mat on a strip of dark brown cardstock. Adhere strip about ½ away from left side of lattice blocks.

 

5) Stamp wreath on light blue cardstock using Chestnut ink. Let dry, then stamp No. 1 at the center, let dry and then cut out. Ink edges using Dune ink and let dry again.

 

6) Stamp Dad on light blue cardstock using Chestnut ink. Let dry, then cut out. Ink edges using Dune ink and let dry again.

 

7) Adhere No. 1 and Dad pieces to a piece of cream cardstock and handcut about 1/16 around edges to mat. Use dimensional foam dots to adhere piece to right side of card .

 

Come back on Friday for another card for dad…

 

---tami

 

school's out!

SCHOOL’S OUT! {or will be soon!} and we are entering graduation season so my posts this week will both feature projects for the graduate.

 

First up is a card for that special student that has worked hard and finally reached the end of the road…

 

 

I used the “traditional” colors associated with graduation, black and white, but you could personalize this card by using the school colors of the graduate instead.

 

I inked a wood cut out graduation cap with Crafter’s Ink, then stamped and embossed “hat’s off to you” with Top Boss Embossing Powder in white. I used black and white embossing powders to do all the sentiments as well.

 

Here’s a close-up of some of the details…

 

 

A diecut strip and a bit of ribbon added a little pizzazz, and helped highlight the “Graduation Time” message.

 

Here are the supplies and directions you need to make this card for your scholar…

 

“Hat’s Off” card

 

Skill Level: easy to moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: High Top Pad - Black, Top Boss: Embossing Pad {tinted or regular}, Embossing Powder: White and Black and Stylus with Blender Tip

 

Indus Trading Company: Diy Bangles: Time Together Collection: wood cut out - Graduation

 

Hampton Art: Footlong Big & Little Apha’s clear stamps and Graduation Time clear value set

 

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl, Blackberry Swirl and Glass Slipper cardstocks, Half the Edge Cardstock Strips – black and Black and White Stripe ribbon

 

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

 

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Cut a 4 ¼” X 11” piece of white cardstock and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Use Stylus with Blender Tip to apply Crafter’s Ink to wood cap; set aside to dry.

 

3) Stamp “School’s … OVER!” on a piece of black cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with white embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

4)  Stamp “Finally Done!” on a piece of black cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with white embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

5) Stamp “Graduation Time” on a piece of white cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with black embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

6) Stamp “congrats”, with letters from the Big and Little Alpha’s set, on a piece of white cardstock using embossing pad, emboss with black embossing powder; cut out when cool.

 

7) Stamp “hat’s off to you” on center of inked cap using embossing pad. Then emboss with white embossing powder.

 

8) Cut a 2 ½” X 4” piece of silver cardstock and mat on a 2 ¾” X 4 ¼” piece of black cardstock.

 

9) To assemble card:

• adhere black cardstock strip about ¼” from left side of card, trimming excess.
• adhere silver on black cardstock piece about ¼” from top of card and cardstock strip.
• adhere a piece of ribbon horizontally about 3 ½” from top of card.
• adhere hat at an angle at top of card.
• adhere sentiments, using foam dimensional dots to adhere “Graduation Time” on ribbon.   

---tami

 

"smooched" X 2 thank you note...

My last post described a technique on how to apply Smooch Accent Ink to a rubber stamp in order to create a soft, pretty watercolor image. Today’s project will use that same technique; so please refer back to my post on 5-13 “smooched butterfly ATC”, for complete directions and step by step photos of the technique.

 

The project is a shimmery, glimmery thank you note that anyone would love to receive…

 

 

The Smooch technique is used on the script, circle butterfly…

 

 

I used 2 colors of Smooch Spritz to bling up some plain white cardstock to create the card, so this project has shimmer X 2! 

 

There are a few steps involved in making this card, but none of them are hard. And once you’ve learned how, you can apply the techniques used on this card on projects you design yourself.

 

Here’s what you need to make this thank you note:

 

“Butterfly Thanks” card

 

Skill Level: easy to moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Gingersnap and Gold Glow, Smooch Accent Ink: Carrot, Sundance, Taffy and Tuxedo, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Blackbird {full or mini size} and Color Catcher

 

Hampton Art: Foot Longs: Big & Little Alphas, Artsy Edges and Circle Birds clear stamps

 

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl cardstock

 

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, foam dimensional dots and adhesive

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Cut a 5 ½ X 8 ½ piece of white cardstock and fold in half to make card.

 

2) Place card in Color Catcher and spritz front of card with Gingersnap and Gold Glow Smooch Spritzes; spraying from about 12” away to apply a fine mist of both colors. Let dry.

 

3) Stamp border and “thanks” using Blackbird chalk ink on front of card.

 

4) Using Smooch technique described in 5/13 post, apply Smooch Accent Inks to circle script butterfly stamp and stamp image on white cardstock; let dry.

 

5) Cut out circle, then lay in Color Catcher and apply a very light spritz of Gold Glow Smooch Spritz to circle; let dry.

 

6) Adhere circle to front of card as shown using foam dimensional dots.

Now all you need is someone special to THANK!

---tami

 

welcome...

Hello and welcome to Clearsnap's BRAND NEW BLOG!

I'm Tami Sanders and I'll be your hostess here.  I hope that you will find this blog to be a place full of the three I's: inspiration, information and ideas!

For the next few weeks, the theme for the blog will be SPRING! Spring is such a beautiful time of the year, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and the trees have a fresh set of shiny new leaves.

Here in Texas, the wildflowers are blooming. There are flowers everywhere, blanketing the roadsides and meadows like a colorful quilt, red, blue, purple, yellow, pink and white. The wildflowers haven't been this pretty in years! I've enjoyed the gorgeous Texas spring landscape so much this year that I decided to use it as inspiration for the very FIRST project for this blog.

I started by selecting the colors I wanted to use: blue for the bluebonnets, red for the indian paints, yellow for the bitterweed and purple for the wild verbena. Then, because the scattered patches of colors reminded me of a quilt, I decided my project should reflect that too. So I looked through my stamps and found one of a butterfly shaped in a rough square. I planned to stamp 4 squares, each in a different color and "piece" them together. After having decided on my direction, I started working on the elements.

Here's the finished card...

I started with white cardstock squares and spritzed each one with a different color of Smooch Spritz; which is a gorgeous shimmery ink that you can spray. It comes in 16 fabulous colors and is easy to use and covers very well. To use Smooch Spritz, just sweep your hand slightly while depressing the top. Use short quick spritzes for scattered dots of ink, or longer sweeping spritzes for full coverage. You can layer several coats to intensify the color, but I just used one coat in this project.

After the Smooch dried, I stamped and embossed the butterflies using Top Boss Tinted Embossing Pad and White Embossing Powder. I like using the tinted pad so I can see where I stamped! Top Boss Embossing Powder is nice and fine so you can really see the details in the stamp.

Here's a closeup of the stamped and embossed squares... 

Here is a list of the supplies you'll need as well as the directions to complete this project:

"Quilted" Butterfly Card

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Pink Sprinkles, Sea Kiss, Gingersnap and Grape Burst, Top Boss: Tinted Embossing Padand Embossing Powder - White, ColorBox: Fluid Chalk Ink: Chestnut Roan (full size or mini) and Lime Pastel (cat's eye)

American Art Stamp: Butterfly Square 2 X 2- cling mounted and Spring Words Set #2 

Bazzill: Tanner and Coconut Swirl cardstocks

Tools: heat gun, acrylic block, scissors, paper trimmer, dimensional foam squares, adhesive and Clearsnap's Color Catcher,

 DIRECTIONS:

1) Cut a 5" X 10" piece of brown cardstock and fold in half to make card.

2) Cut 4 - 3" X 3" squares of white cardstock. Place one square at a time  in the Color Catcher and spray each of the 4 squares with a different color of Smooch Spritz. Let squares dry completely before proceeding to the next step (otherwise the embossing powder will stick to the "Smooched" areas).

3) Working on one square at a time; ink butterfly stamp with Top Boss Embossing Pad and stamp and emboss with White Embossing Powder in the center of each square.

4) Trim each of the squares; cutting just outside the border.

5) Stamp "Spring has Sprung" with Chestnut Roan Fluid Chalk Ink on a scrap of white cardstock. Trim close to sentiment in a rough square. Ink edges with Lime Pastel Fluid Chalk Ink.

6) To assemble, place the 4 stamped and embossed squares so that the butterflies are all "flying" outward from the center of the card. Make sure they are evenly spaced and then adhere.

7) Use a dimensional square to adhere the sentiment to the center of the card.

I hope that you enjoyed this FIRST project, and that you will come back often to see what new ideas we have for you!

---tami