stamp out loud by tami sanders

jump in a lake...

Smooch spritz and chipboard go together like sun and fun; the colors are vivid and oh so shimmery! You can turn raw chipboard into something special with just a few spritzes of Smooch.

The pages of a scalloped chipboard mini album were “Smooched” with several different colors to create the base of the book…

All of the papers in the book were stamped, as were the word embellishments. Background cardstocks, ink colors and stamp designs were selected to accent the photos for the book: yellow, aqua, lime and pink with some brown added for good measure. Pigments Inks were used for stamping the papers as I wanted bright, bold designs and colors.

Here are close-ups of all the papers created and used in the book…

lime polka dot on pale yellow cardstock…

 

 

 

yellow canvas stripe on white cardstock…

 

 

 

aqua circles on white cardstock…

 

 

aqua bubbles on light aqua cardstock…

 

 

pink polka dots on soft pink cardstock…

 

 

Molding Mats were used to stamp some of the patterns. Molding Mats are great to use to create impressions in polymer clay, Magic Stamp or Stylus Black Foam moldable tips, but they are also wonderful to stamp with. Just place a little double sided adhesive on your acrylic block and adhere the molding mat to it to use it as a stamp. The rubber is deeply etched, so you can get crisp, clear impressions.

 

For the word embellishments, Chalk Ink was used to stamp the background pattern; then words were added using Pigment Ink. The paper was torn along the top and bottom and the edges were inked with Chalk Ink for a distressed look …

 

 

 

For the title of the book, I stamped “lake” twice, to create a shadow effect…

 

 

 

Flowers with button and pearl centers were scattered throughout to accent the pages…

 

 

 
 

After adding the book ring to bind the pages together, colorful, coordinating ribbons were added to finish the book.

 

This project can be completed in 2 to 3 hours, so if you’d like to create your own summer themed mini book, here’s what you’ll need to know…

 

“fun at the lake” mini book

 

Skill Level: easy to moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap:  Smooch Spritz: Electric Blue, Pink Sprinkles, Gingerbread and Sea Kiss, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Apricot, Cyan, Marigold, Pink and Lime {full or mini size}, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink: Dark Brown {cats eye} and Chestnut Roan {full or mini size} and Molding Mats: Woven Threads, Circulate and Spots

 

Hero Arts: Art Flowersand Card Buttons– Summer, Pearls: Pink Accentand Light Yellow, Happy Letters PolyClear stamps, Canvas Stripes Cling Stamp and Dots Cling Stamp

 

Memory Box: Pearls Stickers: Frost Blue

 

Bazzill: Coconut Swirl and Kraft cardstocks

 

Petersen-Arne: Paper Accents: light yellow, light aqua and light pink cardstocks

 

Other: 6 X 6 chipboard book and ribbons

 

Tools: Color Catcher, paper towels, paper trimmer, scissors, corner rounder, black pen and adhesive.

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

To “Smooch” chipboard book

 

1) Place chipboard page in Color Catcher and spritz front and back using Sea Kiss Smooch Spritz, repeat with 1 more page. Lay pages on paper towels to dry.

 

2) Place chipboard page in Color Catcher and spritz front and back using Pink Sprinkles Smooch Spritz, repeat with another page using Gingersnap Smooch Spritz, and last page using Electric Blue Smooch Spritz. Lay pages on paper towels to dry.

 

To create printed papers:

 

1) Ink Dots Cling Stamp using Lime Pigment Ink and stamp design onto 10 X 10 piece of light yellow cardstock.

 

2) Ink Canvas Stripe Cling Stamp using Marigold Pigment Ink and stamp design onto 10 X 10 piece of white cardstock.

 

3) Use double sided tape to adhere Circulate Molding Mat to acrylic block, then ink using Cyan Pigment Ink and stamp design onto 10 X 10 piece of white cardstock.

 

4) Use double sided tape to adhere Spots Molding Mat to acrylic block, then ink using Cyan Pigment Ink and stamp design onto 10 X 10 piece of light aqua cardstock.

 

5) Ink Dots Cling Stamp using Pink Pigment Ink and stamp design onto 10 X 10 piece of light pink cardstock.

 

To create word embellishments:

 

1) Ink basket weave portion of Woven Molding Mat using Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and stamp pattern on a 10 X 10 piece of Kraft cardstock. {hint, I cut apart the 3 patterned sections of the molding mat to make them easier to use separately}

 

2) Stamp word using Happy Letters stamps and Cyan Pigment Ink on paper, cut out around words, then tear along top and bottom edges. Ink edges using Dark Brown Chalk Ink, add additional wording using black pen if desired.

3) For title, stamp word first using Apricot Pigment ink, then stamp again slightly up and to the left of the first stamp to create a shadow effect.

 

Putting it together:

 

1) Use pieces of the stamped printed papers to accent your photos, rounding some of the corners as shown and inking the edges of the papers using Dark Brown Chalk Ink.

 

2) Add word embellishments to each page.

 

3) Add flowers and button and pearl centers to accent each page.

 

4) Connect your book using book ring, then tie ring with ribbons to finish.

 

Have some papers left over from this project? Then please stop back by for an idea using them! Also check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

 

---tami

"smooched" butterfly atc...

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Here is a closeup of the “smooched” stamp…

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

“Remember ” ATC

 

Skill Level: advanced

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

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

 

Memory Box: Solid Butterfly wood mounted stamp

 

Hampton Art: Artsy Edges and Circle Birds clear stamps

 

Bazzill: Peanut cardstock

 

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

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Now you are ready to trade!

 

---tami

 

flutter by here...

The project for today is a spring themed pendant made with polymer clay that has been “painted” using Smooch Accent Ink…

 

 

Don’t worry if you’ve never worked with polymer clay before, this project is quick and easy to make and I used stamping tools instead of specialized clay tools to create it. I’ve also included photos of each of the steps in the directions to make it even easier.

 

I wanted the pendant to have a vintage look, so I “stained” the clay with black Crafter’s Ink after I’d “smooched” it.

 

Here is a closeup of the pendant itself…

 

 

A bail and a piece of leather cording was all I needed to complete the project. You could also make a set of matching earrings to go with your pendant if you like. Just roll 12pter, thinner balls of clay and make sure that you emboss with one of the 12pter butterflies that are on the molding mat.

 

You could use these same techniques to create embellishments for other types of projects too. Like making a larger piece to adhere to an altered journal or composition book, or roll the clay thinner to create something to use on a scrapbook page.

 

Here are the supplies and instructions to create your own unique piece of jewelry…

 

“Vintage Spring ” pendant necklace

 

Skill Level: easy to moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Stylus Molding Mat: Flutter By, Smooch Accent Ink: Silver Fox, Carrot, Kiwi and Sundance, Crafter’s High Top Ink Pad: Black and ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip

 

Indus Trading Company: Deerskin Lace – 1/8” black

 

Other: Plaid: Forged: metal findings – multi bales and Polymer Clay: beige

 

Tools: 2 large acrylic blocks {at least 3 X 3}, Static Away or Cornstarch, Paper Towels and wood skewer {or something to punch hole in pendant with}

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Condition clay according to package directions. Then pinch off 2 rows of clay and roll into a ball about 1 ¼” in diameter.

 

 

2) Dust the tops of 2 acrylic blocks LIGHTLY with Static Away or cornstarch; then place ball on one block and place the other, dusted side down on top of ball. Then press on top block using light even pressure until ball is flattened to about 1/8”. {Don’t worry if there is some slight cracking at the edges, you can fix that. And don’t worry if your pendant isn’t exactly round either}

 

 

3) Smooch the edges of the circle and gently push together any cracks using your fingers.

 

4) Place pendant back on the dusted surface of one of the blocks. Lightly dust your molding mat, then place the mat face down on top of the pendant. Place other acrylic block on top of mat to sandwich the clay and molding mat between the two blocks.

 

Then, using light even pressure, press down on the top block to impress the design into the clay. {Don’t press TOO hard!} Remove top block and peel away edge of molding mat to check design. If the design isn’t deep enough, replace mat and block and press again.

 

 

5) Carefully remove pendant from block and punch hole at top for bail. Then bake as directed on package. {I placed mine on a foil lined cookie sheet}

 

6) Once pendant has backed and cooled, you are ready to “smooch” it. Paint in embossed designs as you like…

 

 

Until all of the recessed designs have been painted in…

 

 

then set aside for about 15 minutes or until Smooch has dried completely before going on to next step.

 

7) Use black Crafter’s Ink applied using Stylus Handle and blender top to “stain” the pendant, front, back and sides. To do dip foam tip in ink pad, then gently rub onto pendant in a circular pattern…

 

 

 

Once you have covered the entire pendant, gently wipe excess ink off using a clean, white paper towel and set aside for about 15 - 20 minutes to dry.

 

 

8) Insert bail in hole and thread your lacing though. Finish ends as you like; I just left mine to tie so I could adjust the length.

 

wear and enjoy!

 

---tami