Clean and Simple Masculine Cards

I have lots of birthdays coming up, it isn’t just ladies that I need to make cards for. I have a number of masculine cards which I need to make. I have spent the weekend with my nieces which was super fabulous but has limited my time in the craft room. I have had limited time to craft so wanted some quick easy cards with minimal supplies.

These are some cards which I made in my last video on ways to use large ink pads video. I have used the same colours Misty Moonlight, Just Jade and Gray Granite and stamped dots using the end of a pencil. You could use anything to create the circles, others have used finger daubers or the ends of pens.

Measurements:

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside White Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4." x 5.75" (4” by full length scored at 5.75”)

Inside White Panel - 3.75” x 5.5”

This is another card where you can choose your own colours and materials to stamp with. I love this colour way but would love to play with more colours. What colours would you love to play with?

How I use Large Ink Pads

Are you new to Stampin’ Up! ink pads, or would you like to find out other ways to use your large ink pads. Over the years that I have been creating cards and items, I've fallen in love with the Stampin’ Up! inks and colours. If you're looking for high quality ink pads with gorgeous colour options (bonus being that they co-ordinate with the paper, pens and embellishments), these ink pads are for you. All the cards on this page were made using different techniques and the large Stampin’ Up! ink pads. There are a number of ways that they can be used.

There are different ways you can use large ink pads. These are a few:

Stamping- using the ink pad to ink up stamps, large ink pads make it super easy to ink up large backgroun stamps.

Stamping with blocks - either with or without water (look out for a future video on ways to use blocks for stamping.

Stamping with other items - geli plates or other items such as Stampin’ Marker lids or the end of pencils.

Creating you own embossing colours - using Versa mark and the ink pad with embossing powder to create you own coloured embossing (stamp in the Versa Mark first then add the ink, this prevents adding colour to the Versa mark pad.)

Adding colour- their are a number of ways to add colour to your cards, using Wink of Stella, Water Pens or blender pens.

The video below shows the different ways I use the ink pads and the cards I have made.

Look out over the next few weeks for more in-depth videos on how to use your ink pads. I am super excited about sharing different ways to stamp with blocks, it is one of my favourite techniques, what is yours?

Host Pattern Party Overview

One of my favourite Designer Series Paper packs in the new catalogue is the Pattern Party DSP. Rather than finding it in the DSP section it is in the host rewards section of the catalogue as it is a paper which you can earn but can not buy directly.

I love the bright random patterns on one side and love love love the monochrome on the reverse. Also as it is 12x12 paper there and multiple ways this can be used, for scrapbooking, card making, home décor, or 3D items. The monochrome side is perfect for random colouring (eg with blending brushes Stampin’ Write markers or blends) to create different looking looks.

The DSP is a host reward called Pattern Party, which can only be ordered using Stampin’ Rewards.

What are Stampin’ Rewards? Stampin’ Rewards can only be earned by an order from a party or an individual that is £150+ (before postage). If your Stampin’ Up! party sales reach between £150 and £274.99, the hostess of the party / individual will receive 10% of that total to spend for free

The video below gives an overview of the paper and the colours it contains.

I am loving the options and versatility of this paper pack, I cant wait to get back in to the craft room and start playing.

Sweet Birthday tags

Why is it that some times of the year are jam packed with birthdays? It is the birthday month and a bit in my world so was looking at my cards and tags. I used last weeks card as an inspirational idea to use for super simple tags.

When I wrap presents I usually use tissue paper, I have an interesting collection. One of my favourite colours is similar to Gorgeous Grape. The tissue paper has been in the sun too long and is now a gorgeous combination of Gorgeous Grape and Magenta Madness. I am shocked that it looks so good, it is definitely a lucky accident. I used these as the colours to create the tags.

When making tags I start with a piece of A4, I cut down the long side in to strips which are just under 2 inches (5 cm works ) these strips fit in most Stampin’ Up! tag topper punches. I then cut the strips in half (at about 10.5cm) these make the perfect size tags. You could make the tags shorter but most sentiments fit on tags this size as the tag topper takes off part of the strip and there needs to be a gap between the top of the tag and the stamp.

To add the muli coloured sentiment add the lightest coloured ink first and then add the darker ink just to the top half. The ability to see the placement as the stamps are photopolymer makes the double colour easier to do using tags rather than Stampin’ Write markers.

The video below shows how I made the different examples.

It is another choose your own colours and decoration project. Once you choose the stamp set, tag topper and colours you can just sit and play. I am thinking of other combinations, what is your favourite colour combination for birthdays?

Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets

When crafting as well as loving the co-ordination of the Stampin’ Up! inks, paper and embellishments. I also love the quality of the stamps and the images that they produce. Officially Stampin’ Up! have two different types of stamp types, Photopolymer and ‘Cling’. I consider that there is a third type which I suppose is a subset of cling which is the background stamps. This is as background stamps have there own individual quirks.

Stampin’ Up! have provided the reasons for choosing each different types of stamp. There is an explanation of the types below and the video below talks through the reasons.

Sweet Ice Cream Photopolymer Stamps

The first type of Stampin’ Up! stamps are the photopolymer stamps. Because the stamps are clear all the way through, they make it super easy to stamp exactly where you need to . They make it super easy to line up the stamps required for double and triple step stamping. They also stick to the clear blocks, but do not have the cushioning layer of the cling stamps. This means that they give a better image if stamped on foam (either the piercing mat or Stampartus will help the image stamp well)

Stamp sets are made in photopolymer if they contain a large number of stamps (like Snowflake Wishes), if the stamps are not super detailed and if the stamps are made to layer on top of each other. Photopolymer stamps stamp beautifully whether using blocks or the Stamparatus, I tend to alternate. If I am making one card of a type I use blocks, the Stamparatus is perfect for multiples.

The ice cream lolly on the card above was created with a number of Photopolymer stamps from the Sweet Ice Cream set which combine to make a stunning image.

The next type of stamps are the ‘cling’ stamps. These stamps are red rubber, with a foam cushion backing. The foam cushion helps to get a good impression when stamping. These were previously known as ‘clear’ stamps as they use the clear acrylic blocks rather than the old wooden style blocks which the stamps were stuck to. ‘Cling’ stamps are super duper sticky and the new technology for the stickers is amazing. The only downside being once you have added the sticker it does not come off. I watched an demo called Julie Davidson recently who showed a tip which was to add the sticker to a block and then add to the back of the stamp, near perfect placement every time. I previously tended to avoid the ‘cling’ stamps as they didn’t stick well, but know the problem has been resolved. I recently realised that I have more ‘cling’ stamps than Photopolymer.

Stamps are created in red rubber when they require more detailing or better stamp imaging. The images above and below were created using the Dragonfly Garden, I also used block stamping (watch out for a future video on ways to stamp with blocks.)

Cling stamps will stamp well with the Stamparatus and also blocks, again it depends on how many cards I am making as to which I use.

The last type are Background stamps, officially there are just two, but I think the Background stamps are slightly different to the other ‘cling’ stamp sets. Background stamps are larger and I find it easier to use a Stamparatus to stamp with them.

To use a block I would suggest that you leave the block on the table with the stamp on and add the paper to the inked up stamp rather than lifting the stamp and block on to the paper. using copy paper to rub the stamp to ensure that all the colour is transferred,

Using a Stamparatus makes it so much easier to create a good image with the background stamp, this is the main item I use to stamp these even if I am only making one stamp. I don’t waste as much paper with the Stamparatus.

The cling stamps have grown on me. What is your favourite type of stamp?