Take Care to Learn Black Ice

 

 

Hello and welcome to the January  Technique Squad Blog Hop! This month, the squad is featuring the Black Ice Technique.  I’ve had lots of fun learning and playing with this technique.  There were several card making aficionados that I consulted to get ideas of how to do this as it was my first go.   

Step 1-pick metallic card stock-I chose copper…

You can easily search on Pinterest and find several examples of how the technique is done. This technique is very interesting to try and does require some specifics:  Stazon, Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, and metallic card stock.  

 Step 2-Swipe with Stazon!

I found it tricky to swipe on the stazon because there is not a place to hold to hold the card stock or it’ll show your fingerprints. So, start with a bigger piece you'll trim to get rid of finger prints or use a sorta sticky skinny layer of tape behind the card stock as you swipe (that’s what I chose to do).

After you heat set and cool, swipe again with verse mark and then sprinkle clear embossing over it-it will look like black ice on the road as it melts! Ta-da! Black ice!

This one was my first example. I cut a smaller rectangle out of the back layer with the stitched rectangle dies.

I stamped the heart from the country bouquet using the same color scheme of copper and black on white card stock and then cut it out, added dimensionals to the back and then added the sentiment banner. 

I am so happy I learned this technique.  I will say that I think it would have to be a for a special occasion-not a card you want to spend time making every day because of having so many steps…

Supplies:

• Stamp set
• Stazon black
• Versamark
• metallic card stock (color is your choice)
• other coordinating colors as desired 
• Heat tool

Now, click the "next" button to move on to our next stop on this hop.

Blog roll call:

1. JoAnn Pollock
2. Carole Garrison 
3. Amy Rudd

Thanks to JoAnn for organizing the hop!

New Catalog Launch Day!

Welcome to a new month and the launch of our holiday mini catalog!  We have  a lot of fun things happening over the next few months with Stampin' Up!

Here are some things to know!

Here is a link to view the new catalog as a pdf.  I know you will love seeing all of the beautiful and fun products Stampin' Up is offering as you think about making holiday cards for family, friends and co-workers.  Take it all in!  It's absolutely stunning!

Shop here:

Get to know these fun new products:

• Lights Aglow Suite 
• Sweetest Christmas Suite 
• Santa Express Suite 
• Gingham Cottage Suite 
• Boughs Of Holly Suite 
• Story Book Gnomes Suite
• Scary Cute Halloween Crafts
• Decorated with Happiness Bundle 
• Joyful Flurry Bundle and More 

It's also Saleabration Time! This means you can earn free products in increments of $50 and $100 before shipping and taxes.  View the Saleabration Brochure here.

Get to know the cute line of free items you can earn here (I think you'll agree they are adorable):

• Hippest Hippos
• Tree Lot Dies
• Stylish Sketches
  
• Wonderful World
• Rings of Love
• Making Plans Collection

The best part of all, joining a team!  If you are ready to join my team (click here), this is the kit for you-especially if you're a planner like me!  I bought the planner during pre-order and I already love it.  Here are more details on that!  Click the join image below to see a quick video on the benefits of joining at this time.  Being a Stampin' Up demonstrator is fun.  Even if you want to be a hobbiest with an amazing discount to use on shopping Stampin' Up products, it's worth the investment. 

And finally, if you'd like to host a party whether in person or virtual, you can earn host rewards to earn even more free product.  Contact me if you'd like to do that.  Click the host button below to learn more about how it will work during Saleabration!

Thank you for allowing me to share all of this fun news with you.  I look forward to Saleabrating with you!  Happy crafting!

Filled with Happiness in Magic Slider Cards

 

Hello and welcome to the June Technique Squad Blog Hop! This month, the squad is featuring use of the Magic Slider Card Technique.  I’ve had lots of fun learning and playing with this technique.  There were several card making aficionados that I consulted to get ideas of how to do this as it was my first go.  The two favorites I connected with were Mitosu Crafts and Lisa Curcio.  You can see my video here!

One of the helpful tools in working on this technique is the use of the Stamparatus.  It allows you to line up the layers of your card with the acetate sheet when the image is stamped with Stazon.  

This was one of my first examples.

If you don't have the Stamparatus tool, don't let that stop you, one of my examples I tried with a Sharpie marker.  It just takes a very steady hand. I did this because there wasn't a specific "outline" stamp that could be used with the bottles.  So that leads me to one of my tips!  When trying this technique, consider picking stamps that outline vs. stamps that shade.

This example was the one I did with the Sharpie!

This one turned out to be my favorite.  I am filled with happiness to know how to do this technique now.  

• start with a based that is 5 inches by 11 inches
• cut a piece of basic white first which measures 4 and 1/8 by 4 and 7/8
• score at 3.5 inches and then measured over 4.25 inches and made the second score line so the front panel is 4.25 inches 
• back panels aren't evenly sized but you could do that if you wish 
• cut the back panels diagonally from the score line to 1/2 inch up from the bottom to make them like a stand
• stamp the image using the stamparatus tool if you have it using momento ink and color  (I recommend waiting to add to the base in the event of a mistake!  Make sure you're happy with the color before you begin the install of the acetate and the base.  

• After coloring is done, line up same size piece of acetate and then stamp with Stazon.  If available use the Stamparatus at this time again to make easy lining up of stamped image 
•  add piece of DSP to front of base (I used the in color DSP on the card shown above) same size as inside piece that is stamped and colored 4 and 1/8 by 4 and 7/8
• after mounting DSP, cut a window to show off the stamped and colored image (don't mount it yet).  I used the stylish shapes largest square but you could use any and if you don't have dies to cut it out, you could also cut a window into the base and DSP piece using the trimmer. (sized about 3.5 x 3.5
• Cut an insert that's 3.5 by 4.5 (approximately) for this i used the 4th from largest stitched rectangle die to cut it, I also used a mini-hole punch and punched a hole big enough to insert a ribbon.
• Last, create a channel by laying the insert between the colored image and the acetate (make a sandwich-lol  base, image, insert, acetate) add dimensional foam strips on 3 sides around the insert between the image layer and the acetate layer-pull the backing off one side at a time and adjust as needed.  
• Make sure the image is showing through the window properly before sticking it down.  I also added tear and tape strips around the outside of the channel created with the foam strips.  Then I stuck it down to the base, one side at a time and adjusted as I slowly uncovered the pieces of tear and tape.

Supplies

• base color
• matching DSP
• basic white paper
• matching ink colors, blends or stampin write markers
• momento black ink
• stazon black ink
• acetate
• dies to cut window, insert
• tear and tape
• foam strips
• stamp set of your choice
• dies or punch as needed
• stamparatus
• stamp cleaner
• ribbon
• embellishments as desired
• mini-hole punch
• scissors
• tape runner

Hope you enjoyed our blog hop.  Now, click the "next" button to move on to our next stop on this hop.

Blog roll call:

Joann Pollock

Carole Garrison

Mackenzie Grimme

Amy Rudd (me-you are here)

Starting Off In Style

 In color statement:

From May 3-31, you have the chance to take advantage of a wonderful business opportunity.  Stampin' Up is offering the Starter Kit for just $99.  Where you select $125 for that 99 and for this month only, add an additional $65 of in color product.  Here are the additional items you get:

Grid Paper, Ink Pads, Card Stock and Designer Series Paper.  This is an amazing deal and if you are ready to join my team, contact me!

The advantages of joining a team carry you beyond this exciting opportunity to provide things like future discounts, pre-ordering products, connecting with other hobbiests and demonstrators and participating in team events.

New In-color Excitement

 Today, I am sharing with you the fun new in-color palette that will be available from Stampin' Up beginning May 3, 2022.  I love all of these fun new colors.  Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party, Tahitian Tide, Starry Sky and Orchid Oasis.  I have purchased all of them in my "pre-order" from the new catalog and I am so excited to do a series of posts over the next week with how I use these colors.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.  Cheers to color!

Last Dance, Last Chance for Love

 It's that time of year, where some of the favorites you love have reached the end of the line in catalog land and are retiring.  It's called the Last Chance Sale.

Here are some favorite that are on sale...discounted 20-50% and all while supplies last.  If you are interested, be sure to shop and save soon.  Some of my favorites are here:  Sweet Ice Cream, Timeless Tulips, Hey Birthday Chick, and Handsomely Suited to name a few.  Click here to shop at my online store.

Mini Stampin' Cut and Emboss Sale!

 

So excited the savings are blooming!  During the month of March, the mini-stampin' cut and emboss machine is 20% off the original price.  This is a great value!  Please let me know how I can help you make this purchase a reality.  I went ahead and got it myself.  I can't wait for it to arrive.  Here is a video to provide you with more detail about the value a tool like this can bring to your crafting experience.

This can definitely make your crafting experience the best it can be!  It's the ideal companion piece because it compact, adorable and affordable.  It can be used with many dies and folders that can work along with it.  

During March, there are also several bundles that are compatible with it that are also 20% off.  Here are the items that are part of that sale:

I look forward to sharing how this works.  I hope you will consider checking in to see what I share in the near future.  Thanks for reading!