Just Believe and the Acrylic Sheet Technique....

Here's a card I made for a recent workshop using a technique where you color on an acrylic sheet using the markers. 

Here's how to do the acrylic sheet technique:

1. Take a piece of an acrylic sheet at least a couple of inches larger than your cardstock.
2. Color on the acrylic sheet at the bottom about 2" high with the Old Olive marker.
3. Then color above that using More Mustard but only about a 1/2" high area.
4. Then color above that using the Pool Party marker but again, just an 1/2" high area.
5. Finish coloring to the top using the Marina Mist marker.
6. Spritz with water several times until the colors just begin to meld together.
7. Lay your paper down on top of the acrylic sheet.
8. Take your piece of tissue paper and press down so it absorbs any of the water and ink that does not transfer to your cardstock.
9. Remove tissue and turn over your cardstock to see the result - gorgeous!

Here's what you will need to make this card:

• Certainly Celery, Whisper White and Pool Party cardstock
• Black StazOn ink
• Old Olive, More Mustard, Pool Party and Marina Mist markers
• Just Believe, Thoughts & Prayers and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
• Acrylic Sheet
• Tissue Paper
• Water in misting bottle
• Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon
• Old Olive 1/8" ribbon
• Printed Brad
• Corner Ticket punch
• Lacy Brocade embossing folder

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Swap from Convention from One of My Roommates...

This card was made by one of my roommates, Amy Johnson-Fiskness.  My other roommate was Amy Fink so I jokingly referred to them as "Amy Squared" and the nickname stuck!  Other people started referring to them that way as well.  I hope they don't mind.  Amy Johnson-Fiskness is Amy Fink's downline and Amy Fink took over Amy Johnson-Fiskness' position at their other jobs after she left.  Sounds to me like they are pretty connected!
Amy used Basic Gray and Whisper White cardstock and Night of Navy and white craft inks.  The stamp set used is Just Believe.

Stampin' Up!'s Just Believe stamp set....

I CASE'd this card from one that was published in a recent Stampin' Up! Stampin' Success magazine.  Can you tell that the magazine provides me with lots of inspiration?  Another demonstrator, Lynn Pratt, made this card in conjunction with a wedding invitation and RSVP card.  What a great way of personalizing your wedding!

Stampin' Up!'s Just Believe Stamp Set.....

Today's card was inspired by one that is in this month's Stampin' Success magazine which demonstrators receive from Stampin' Up! each month.  The card shown in the magazine used the Strength & Hope stamp set which is offered on the last page of the Summer Mini Catalog.  Unfortunately I don't have the stamp set yet so I used it for inspiration and came up with this card. 
I first made the card with the Blushing Bride card plain but it looked like it needed something so I broke out my Baroque Border wheel.  Hey, did you catch that?  "Broke" out my "Baroque" Border wheel!!!  Aren't I so clever!  Okay, maybe not but it is late....
See you tomorrow with Technique Tuesday!

Technique Tuesday - Pulling Pastels...

It is Tuesday and time for another technique!  This week's technique is Pulling Pastels.  I have no idea why it is called "Pulling" Pastels but here goes!  You will need:

Pastels (also know as chalks)
Versamark pad
Heat Gun
White embossing powder
Embossing Buddy
Black cardstock - or another dark color
Stamp

 First, use your Embossing Buddy to remove all oils from your cardstock.  Since you are using white embossing powder, it will show up if you have little specks of powder left on the cardstock.  Next, stamp your image using the Versamark, cover with white embossing powder and heat set with your heat gun.

 Using your Pastels, color the white embossed image using vibrant colors.  Do not worry if some of the pastels show up on the cardstock.

 Continue to color the entire image using your Pastels.

 Using a dampened Q-tip (not saturated), clean off the cardstock around the image.  It does not need to be perfect.

 That completes the Pulling Pastels technique - easy peasy!!!! 

Technique Tuesday - Faux Metal

Today's technique is Faux Metal using embossing powders.  The supplies you will need are:

Piece of cardstock larger than image you want to make
Metallic embossing powder - I used Stampin' Up!'s Silver embossing powder
Versamark Pad
Heat Gun
Stamp of your choice - do not choose too fine of an image - I used the circle from Just Believe
Punch a bit larger than your image - I used the 1-3/8" punch

First, ink the entire cardstock using the Versamark pad and cover with embossing powder.  You can leave a corner area clear for holding onto the cardstock.  Emboss using heat gun.

Repeat the process two more times - inking the entire area, covering with embossing powder and heat setting.  By the third time, you should see that the embossing powder is becoming fluid and moves a bit.

Take your Versamark ink pad and ink your image well.  Press hard to get into the recessed areas of the stamp.  This will keep the stamp from sticking in the embossing powder.

Reink the cardstock one final time, cover with embossing powder and heat set.  Keep the heat on it until it is very fluid.  Quickly take your stamp and press it into the fluid embossing powder.  Hold it there for a few seconds and then remove.  Be careful not to wiggle it too much.

Your image will then look like pressed metal. 

Take your punch and punch out your image.

Now design your card and place your faux metal piece onto your card.



Stampin' Up! - Just Believe!!!

This card was CASE'd from a birthday card I received from my good friend and fellow demonstrator Christine Pyrch.  I met Chris at Stampin' Up!'s annual convention in 2008 and we have kept in touch since.  For those of you who are demonstrators, you MUST go to convention - it is a blast and you meet so many wonderful people like Chris!  Based upon the wonderful surprises Stampin' Up! provided for us at the Leadership Conference this year, I can't wait to see what they have come up with for Convention this year!

For those of you who are just interested in the card, it is a quick & simple card using the Just Believe and Perfect Punches stamp sets & the 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.

Stampin' Up! Leadership Swap Card #3.....

This card was a CASE from a swap I received at Stampin' Up!'s 2010 Convention last July.  I would love to give the person credit but she didn't put her name on the back!  She had used Real Red and Basic Black but it looked more Asian to me so I used Elegant Eggplant instead.  Remember to go back through cards that you made before to get new inspiration or sign up for a swap - it is a great way to get ideas!