stamp out loud by tami sanders

it's in the bag...

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

“pumpkin” treat bag

Skill Level: easy: kid friendly project

SUPPLIES:

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

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

Tools: scissors 

DIRECTIONS:

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

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

3) Fill with treats and tie with twine.

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

 “dots” treat bag

Skill Level: easy: kid friendly project

SUPPLIES:

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

Other: brown paper lunch bags and ribbon

Tools: scissors 

DIRECTIONS:

1) Load handle with cartridge and stamp wheel.

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

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

4) Fill with treats and tie with ribbons.

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

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

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

 

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!

travel journal...

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

“”World Traveler” altered composition book

 

Skill Level: moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

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

 

Hero Arts: Travel Journal ClearDesign stamps

 

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

 

My Sentiments Exactly: Romantic Caps

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

Designer Notes:

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

---tami