3 Scoops on Alcohol Ink-Technique Blog Hop

So excited to share-3 Scoops of ice cream during the hot, hot summer and a hot, hot technique, alcohol inking.  Thanks to Nicole Mahler for hosting the hop.  I hope you enjoy looking through the process I am sharing with you today.

Scoop 1-Choose your color palette and gather your materials (Stampin' Blends Markers and Vellum).    Knowing which colors you want  to combine is helpful when getting started.  Mix and match to see what you like best.  Here are some samples I have created showing a few color combinations I tried.

Scoop 2-Once you're happy with your color choices bring on the alcohol (no, not your beverage of choice) but Isopropyl alcohol and make sure it's at least 90%.  

Begin by spreading color all around mixing colors in an arrangement you want.  Then start dropping alcohol on with a dropper or paint brush or aqua painter filled with alcohol (be sure to label it).  As you drop the alcohol, it spreads the ink on the vellum.   It's dreamy and fun to watch it spread and it gives such interesting visual results.

Scoop 3-After it dries for a few hours, decide  what's the best part of your work and harvest it for your cards or other projects to showcase the beautiful color palette.

That's all for my scoops!  I hope you treat yourself to the fun results that can come about when playing with the technique.  Enjoy!   #stampinwithahappyheart

For my card, I used the ice cream builder punch and stamps bundle.  I also used the color and contour dies for the sentiments and the cinnamon cider designer series paper.  I used gorgeous grape, polished pink and coastal cabana.  I love the tropical look of these colors together.  I think it made the ice cream scoops look so tasty.  I finished them off with wink of stella to add a dash of sparkle to each scoop.  I added the new white organdy ribbon under the sentiment banner for an extra touch of sparkle there.  

Thanks for stopping by the hop.  Here's the next stop (back to Nicole):

Our blog roll call:

1. Nicole Mahler

2. JoAnn Pollock

3. Tracie St-Louis

4. Vy Tran

5. Carole Garrison

6. Kristie Strum 

7.  Mackenzie Grimme

8. Rachel Tessman

9. Amy Rudd (you are here)

Shopping list:

Vellum

Stampin' Blends (Coastal Cabana, Polilshed Pink)

Card stock Cinnamon Cider

Cinnamon Cider DSP

Cinnamon Cider Ink

Gorgeous Grape Ink

Polished Pink Ink

Coastal Cabana Ink

Red Rhinestones

Sweet Ice Cream Stamps

Sweet Ice Cream Punch

Color and Contour Dies

All for Baby

Do you need an adorable gift card holder for a baby shower sometime soon?  I can help you out with that!  I recently participated in a team card swap with the Stampfield Stars group.  Our challenge for the swap was to use current product from the new annual catalog from Stampin Up.  I came up with the idea of creating this gift card holder which I learned about from my upline, Rachel Tessman.  Here is the finished card.  The outside sentiment reads, "Little hands, little feet, BIG LOVE".

Images © 2021 Stampin’ Up!

I love how it turned out and I wanted to share it with you because it's so adorable and uses the Pansy Petals DSP which is currently 15% off.  

Here is the inside of the card.  The inside reads, "CONGRATULATIONS on your growing family".  I added the die cut elements of stars and hearts from the pale papaya shimmer vellum.  Such fun to create!

Here is an itemized list of the things I used in creating the card.  

ALL FOR BABY BUNDLE $38.50 PALE PAPAYA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD $7.50 PALE PAPAYA 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK $8.75  PALE PAPAYA 3/8" (1 CM) OPEN WEAVE RIBBON $7 PANSY PETALS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER $9.78  2021–2023 IN COLOR SHIMMER VELLUM $12  HEART PUNCH PACK $34 Click here to shop this list. The measurements to make the card are:   Base:  Pale Papaya 4.25 X 11 Score at 3.5 and 2 inches. basic white 3..5 X 7 score at ½ and 2 (from each end) fold the 1/2 inch forward and the 2 inch backward.  Use tear and tape or liquid glue and apply to the 1/2 section going across.  Line up edge with the inside front along the scored edge of the card. DSP Pansy Petals 2 pieces 4 X 3 ¼ and 4 X 1.75 mount on front See this video for details of how to make this card.

Pick Six Wonder Workshop

 Last week, I had the joy of participating in the  #picksixwonder workshop with other Stampin' Up Demonstrators last week.  It was a great time learning about how you can simply take 6 pieces of 6X6 designer series paper and cut them all the same sizes and widths and then mix and match.  The cuts yielded enough designs to coordinate with 14 card stock bases of coordinating color to match the card stock as well as ribbon and embellishments along with the sentiment banner of preference.

I enjoyed interacting with the other demos through the facebook live event and learning about Stampin' Up as well as other tips, tricks and talk.  One of my favorite takeaways was learning that the fibers of  paper are more easily broken when the fold is "hamburger style" vs "hot dog" style.  I also learned about how Chicago has "Pizza" tours that you can take to sample various pizza stops through out the city.

Here are the 14 cards I created using this format.  I like how they turned out and hope to share more with fellow crafters and card-makers during an upcoming Facebook Live event on Monday, July 12, at 7pm.

The pick 6 wonder workshop is created in conjunction with a designer series paper sale going on now with Stampin Up.  Nine select themed papers are currently on sale at 15% off .  This design allows for ways to consume and create designer series paper to create beautiful cards that can fulfill a quick need for cards that are beautifully designed to showcase the designer series paper.  If you are interested in signing up for the workshop, let me know.  I am giving away a six pack of cards to two lucky winners.  Hope you can join us.

Here is the link to sign up for the workshop if you are interested.

Form to Sign Up!

Here are the select Designer Series Papers on Sale:  

If you are interested in purchasing any of this beautiful paper for a project or for the workshop, please let me know how I can help you to order and get your product asap.  Click here to shop with me!

Free Shipping Alert!

A big amazing thing is happening! 

"FREE SHIPPING"

June 24, 2021

(mountain time)

24 hours only!

 

Painting with Bleach, June Technique Squad Blog Hop

Yippee!  Another technique blog hop.  This month, the team is trying out another technique...Painting with Bleach.  I have to admit, when I first heard this idea, I got a little scared because the danger of working with a chemical like bleach can be a bit worrisome.  However with proper planning and common sense, it can create beautiful outcomes.  So if you want to know more, read on.

I wanted to try out the new "Evergreen Elegance" stamp set and tree punch (hint if you order it as a bundle you can save 10%  155579 on page 91 of the new annual catalog). 

I gave it a go trying out the bleach solution on several different colors to see the mystery reveal behind the Stampin' Up colors.  I tried out Cinnamon Cider, Evening Evergreen, Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray and Misty Moonlight.  Here are the results:

For the painting with bleach,

• prepare a plate with a damp paper towel and add a capful of bleach
• let it soak into the paper towel
• then dab on the paper towel with the stamp as if it were the stamp pad
• prep surface area in advance, wear old clothing you don't mind ruining with bleach if it should splash or spill!
• combine your card stock in a pre-selected pile along with the stamps you have in mind

I chose only red rubber stamps (not sure what it would do to photopolymer so didn't try them) and rinsed the stamps immediately in water when finished using the bleach.  All turned out well for me!

I liked the Misty Moonlight results the best as it revealed a pinkish glow which I found soothing and warm.  Next, I punched out the mini-trees using the tree punch that is part of the bundle.  I made several punch outs from the large main piece I stamped with the bleach solution.  I then layered them like they were part of the forest far, far away and stamped a focal tree in the foreground.

I wanted to add more texture and weight to the front of card and anchor it on the Misty Moonlight base.  So, I then used the wintery 3D embossing folder and added a piece that was embossed with the pine branches to connect the theme together.  I finished it off with a tied piece of the beautiful gray granite shimmer ribbon!

I also stamped it with the sentiment "May the beauty of the season" on the front.  I decided to include the piece of sentiment on the double oval stamp (on white layered on Misty Moonlight).  I split the sentiment stamp in half by masking of the rest of the saying and stamped that part on the inside.   I also added the holiday rhinestone basic jewels and flicked some wink-of-stella to give it a snowy feel.  

I finished off the inside by stamping the white base with the pine boughs and the rest of the sentiment, "bring you joy and warm memories throughout the year".  I also stamped the sentiment in Misty Moonlight.  

I really love how it turned out.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the technique and how it all came together.  Cheers to another fun technique.  Thanks to Nicole Mahler for the inspiration to give it a go!

Next, check out JoAnn Pollock's creative post for more ideas about painting with bleach.

Our blog hop roll call:

Nicole Mahler

Amy Jo Farkas Rudd-you are here!

JoAnn Pollock-next up!

Vy Tran

Kristie Strum

Mackenzie Grimme

Thanks again to Nicole for the inspiration and to all my fellow crafters for joining in the fun and sharing your unique creations.

For the card directions:

Cut based 5.5 X 8.5

Score at 4.25

Cut 2 white pieces for layers 4 X 5.25

Cut misty moonlight layer for front 1.25 X 4 -run through embossing folder

Stamp medium size evergreen on front white layer, add bleached trees after bleach stamping, drying and punching out with evergreen elegance punch

glue first layer furthest back

stamp snow bank 

add second layer of trees punched out from bleached paper-pop up with dimensionals

add embossed layer

stamp sentiment on white layer from scalloped oval punch, mount on scalloped piece of misty moonlight

add holiday jewels

finish off with gray granite shimmer ribbon

add inside rest of sentiment and pine boughs at the base

Shopping List Here:

Stampin' Your 1 Million Out-Rachel Tessman, You Had Me at Hi!

 

Hello all, today I'm participating in a Blog Hop to celebrate the amazing accomplishment of Rachel Tessman reaching $1 Million in sales for Stampin Up!  This is a huge milestone to celebrate!  Woo-hoo! As a downline member of her team, I'm sharing with you one of the many projects she's inspired me to create ever since I first "met" her. 

Rachel had me at "Hi Everyone"!   I first watched the video of her showing how to think outside the box, or "Hack" the Sale-a-bration Kerchief Kit!  If you've ever seen Rachel in action, you just know that she's going to challenge the status quo and come up with multiple ways to make cards beyond the standard directions.  This is one of the many characteristics I love about her as a devoted Stampin' Up Demonstrator and all around paper crafting genius of 21 years.

And now, moving on to my project!  I am inspired to share because of Rachel's talent, a project that would showcase her love of Designer Series Paper (of course).  I haven't known her all that long, but I do know how much she loves the beautiful papers designed by Stampin' Up.  

She ALWAYS inspires:

• finding the most amazing ways to showcase the stunning color combinations 
• bringing out the best features of the paper
• enticing crafters to add the stunning paper to a shopping list

Ever since the new Stampin Up annual catalog launched, Rachel expressed to us all, how in love she's been with the Expressions in Ink, so I took a piece from that DSP and started creating with it inspired by this post, "5 Different Cards from One Fold".  I have made several cards using this technique she shared and will share those on Saturday.

For the card, size up a favorite  5.25 X 12 piece of Designer Series Paper and score it at 2 inches, 5 inches and 8 inches.  Fold it back and forth (like an acordion).  Be sure to determine the best space and direction for your card prior to cutting the paper.  Pick other coordinating cardstock that matches with the DSP.

So to celebrate Rachel's Milestone of 1 Million, here is the card I designed:

I first started by choosing the paper and then sentiment.  To stamp just the right words, I masked off several parts of each sentiment banner and stamped "Hooray" "One" "Million" "For You"  I had to add corner accents using floral embellishment.

I then added an embossed layer of gold to the front of the card to bring out the gold flecks and layering in the DSP.

Next, I added butterflies from the Butterfly Brilliance collection of dies cut out of the same DSP.  I wanted to make them subtle yet noticeable-their own piece of art, in honor of how much Rachel loves butterflies.

I then added the congrats banner with congrats sentiment from the Hydrangea Hill stamp set and the scalloped edge die from color and contour to cut the DSP to give the scalloped edge look before decorating and attaching card stock pieces.  I finished off by adding the "Genial Gems".  I hope you like the card and enjoy learning a bit more about how Rachel inspires me almost daily to "Stamp my Art Out".  I'm so proud to celebrate with our team of demos!  Special thanks to Vy Tran for organizing our hop and Kayla Cory for designing the graphics!  You ladies are truly amazing.

I love singing your praises Rachel.  CONGRATULATIONS!  My heart is so grateful for you.  You had me at "Hi, I'm Rachel Tessman"!  

Our Blog Hop Stops:

Vy Tran

Mackenzie Grimme

Nancy and Kayla

Susan Campfield

JoAnn Pollock

Nicole Mahler

Kristie Strum

Amy Rudd (you are here)