Brayer Class - Stampin' Up!'s Gently Falling Stamp Set

We made this card during my recent brayer class too.  This time, we ran the cardstock through the Big Shot using the Finial Press embossing folder and then inked our brayers and lightly ran it over the raised image.  You do not want to press too hard; otherwise you will get ink in the debossed areas.  Keep reinking your brayer and adding color until you like the contrast.  Some of the attendees turned it over and saw a very different look by inking the back side so try both ways and see what you like!
We then took the solid images from the Gently Falling stamp set from the current Holiday Mini catalog and inked them with the More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Garden Green and Riding Hood Red markers.  Using Early Espresso ink, we stamped the outline images over the solid images.  We finished the card with some ribbon and Bitty Buttons.

Brayer Class - Stampin' Up!'s Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder

This has to be one of my favorite embossing folders.  While the image is relatively simple, it is quite stunning and I am finding lots of ways to use it.  For this card, I showed everyone how to brayer the embossing folder directly with your ink and then place your cardstock inside and run through the Big Shot.  I am not sure how to describe which side of the embossing folder that you need to ink except to say it would be the "valley" side.  The "mountain" side would be the raised image side and the "valley" side is the one that drops down in the shape of the image.  Clear as mud?
One other hint on this card is to place a VERY small piece of double sidede temporary tape to the back side of the cardstock and place the cardstock on the "mountain" side of the embossing folder and then close the embossing folder.  This way you do not risk it moving around as you close the folder and cause the ink to smear.
I finished off the card with the Happy Birthday stamp from the Happiest Birthday Wishes hostess stamp set in Melon Mambo and Old Olive.

Brayer Techniques - Stampin' Up!'s Creative Elements Stamp Set

I recently held a brayer class where we made this card.  Can you tell where the brayer was used?
I started with a piece of Pool Party Patterns Pack DSP and embossed the butterflies with clear embossing powder on the patter that has the small words.  I then used Wisteria Wonder ink on the brayer and covered the DSP, virtually making the pattern disappear except on the butterflies.  After brayering, I used a tissue to remove the excess ink from the embossed area.
I then ran another small piece of the opposite side of the DSP through the Elegant Lines embossing folder for the bottom of the card.  A crinkled ribbon, a button and a few pearls completed this card.

Ribbon Rosettes using Stampin' Up!'s Morning Cup Stamp Set

Welcome back to Technique Tuesday!  I know, I was the one missing and not you.  But I am back and today I am going to show you how to make a ribbon rosette.  The 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon in the 2010-2011 In Colors works great for this technique because of the contrasting edge and center.
Here's what you will need:

• Big Shot
• Sticky Sheets
• Circles #2 Die
• 18" of Ribbon
• Pearls/Rhinestone or Brad

 Using the second to the smallest circle on the Circles #2 die, cut out a 1 1/2" circle of Sticky Sheet using your Big Shot.

 Peel off paper from one side of sticky circle.  Fold one end of your ribbon in half lengthwise.

 Press the end of the ribbon into the center of the circle.  If you are off a little, it will not matter.  You will just end up with a smaller rosette.

 Twist the ribbon tight and begin to press it down on the sticky strip in a circular motion.  The tighter you twist the ribbon, the easier it is to do this.

 Continue to press it down into a circle, stopping often to twist the ribbon tightly.

 Once you fill the sticky circle or run out of ribbon, trim off any excess of ribbon leaving a little to tuck in the back.  As you can see at the bottom of my rosette above, there is a little sticky circle exposed.  Turn your rosette over and trim off any of this excess.

 Peel the other side of the sticky strip back and tack down the ribbon end.

Place a pearl, a rhinestone or a brad in the center of your rosette and attach it to your card.

Here's the card that I made at a recent workshop where we made the ribbon rosettes.  They were a hit with everyone.  I hope you have fun making these as well!



Boys And Their Toys Card - Stampin' Up!'s Loads of Love

I don't know about you but I never have enough masculine cards.  Here is one that I CASE'd for a recent workshop that will work well for a number of the men in my life.  I think they all have the thought that "he who dies with the most toys, wins" -- including my husband!  Although his toys are mostly boats instead of ATVs and motorcycles.  Using the Loads of Love and Loads of Fun stamp sets, this is a perfect card for that guy in your life that has lots of toys.
Here's what you will need to make the card:

• Early Espresso, Baja Breeze & Very Vanilla cardstock
• Early Espresso ink
• Watercolor pencils, crayons or chalks for coloring
• Sponge for aging edges
• Simpy Scored - I LOVE this new tool!  (Introduced in the current Holiday Mini Catalog)

One hint if you make this card, crinkle the Baja Breeze cardstock into a ball in your hands to "age" it well.  Then run it through the Big Shot to flatten it out well.  Otherwise it will end up being a bit shorter than the other pieces.  Also, when assembling the card.  Attach the Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla to the Early Espresso on the left side only at first.  Use a very strong adhesive.  Fold your card several times and use your bone folder to press the fold well.  Then adhere the center sections and repeat the process of folding and pressing before attaching the right side.

Ahoy Matey!!! Using Stampin' Up! Punches

The hostess at a recent workshop challenged me to come up with a card using Stampin' Up!'s punches in a way other than what they were designed for.  I CASE'd this card from a gal on SCS.  I thought it was a cute card for a little boy's birthday or even a great card to welcome a new little baby boy.  So sweet!

Colors used are:  Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Real Red and Whisper White.  I used one of the Texturz Plates on the water and the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on the sail and the background. 

Missing in Action?????

Yes, I have been MIA!  I even planned a few posts to automatically post when I got back from Montana to drop Cassidy off at college but the best plans never seem to work out the way you plan them, do they?  As soon as we got home, we jumped right into fixing up a rental for occupancy on top of all the things that piled up after being gone for two weeks.  What suffered?  My blog, of course....
But I am back and committed!  I just hosted a brayer class and have a Stamp-A-Stack and my annual Christmas Card class coming up in October so you will be seeing lots of new ideas over the next few weeks.
Here's a great picture of my daughter's dorm in Montana.  I need not have worried about her getting to know people before we left!  Her birthday was exactly a week after she moved into the dorm and she was already friends with some great kids that decided to grab her dorm keys and decorate her dorm room with signs, streamers and balloons on her 18th birthday! 

Why was Mom worried?  She is having a ball - including having her dorm room to herself for now since her roommate never showed up!