Monday, September 24, 2012

Less Than One Week Left!

There's less than one week left to get your National Stamping Month "It's Your Day" DOUBLE Stamp Set from Close To My Heart! This set includes TWO D-sized stamp sets (a total value of $35.90), and can be yours for just $5 with a $35 purchase in full-retail products! Here's what you'll get:


Right away, the bicycle image was my favorite! So as soon as I got my set, I did this card:

So simple, yet so effective, with the second, third, and fourth-generation stamping of the bike after the first to create that sense of movement. Next, I was dying to do something with the chevron pattern:

I just love how bold this is! I stamped and cut out the butterfly image, which is included as well, for this one, then layered on a little bling to brighten it up! I also used the "swipe" stamping technique for my sentiment, which makes it look like it was colored with colored pencils (see "Swipe Hype" post from September 12). How fun! Lastly, I decided to use one of the word stamps as a fun border:

And just to make things more interesting & fun, I stamped one of the "LOL!s" into a speech bubble (also included!), and layered it on top of the border with 3D Foam Tape.

I would love to see what you come up with using this set! Email me your creations at aafaa@charter.net - you may see them posted here later! But don't forget - there's less than a week to get it!! Go to my website at funforyou.ctmh.com and order yours TODAY!



Wednesday, September 12, 2012

"Swipe Hype!"

I hope you are watching Close To My Heart's new online webisodes at www.mycraftchannel.com. If not, here is the link to the newest video, "Swipe Hype" (There used to be a link where I could embed the video in this post for you, but I couldn't find one this time - sorry!): SWIPE HYPE!

I just love this technique, and have used it before with gorgeous results. Let me share a card I did using the swipe technique:

 

This card goes back to January 2011, and uses the "You Are Beautiful" stamp set. Let's see if I can get in closer so you can see the "swipe" better:


It looks like I colored the flowers with a colored pencil, doesn't it? But I didn't. The stamp set is a base/shade set, where there is an outline stamp of the image, and then a solid stamp of the image to "fill it in". All I did was stamp my outline images, ink up my solid stamps, swipe light & quick across the surface of the ink pad, then stamp inside the outlines. I just love the results! I must admit, though, I have not tried the zig-zag or circular swipes that Monica talked about in the video - now I'm going to have to experiment! I just love using my stamps in new ways! Have fun doing the same!


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

See What You Can Do - Try Something New!

OK, truth time. How many of you acrylic stamp users have accidentally put your stamp on your acrylic block with the wrong side facing out? Then when you stamped it, you were shocked to see a large area of ink where you expected to see your image? Yeah, we've all done it. But today, I'm going to show you a technique where you're going to do just that - on purpose! I saw this technique/design by Julie Campbell in “Stamp It! Cards – Volume 9”. Here's how we'll make a cool "shadow-stamped" card:
 

Step 1: Place your stamp onto your acrylic block backwards, so that the flat side of the image faces out. Stamp the image onto your background in second-generation* ink (I used Close To My Heart's "Love Blooms" stamp set with Honey ink). (*To stamp in second-generation, ink up your stamp, stamp once onto scrap paper, then stamp the image onto your project.) Repeat this step in the bottom-right corner of the cardstock.

Step 2: Create a mask for your image by stamping it on a piece of scrap paper or a sticky-note, then cutting it out. (Originally I had this as Step 3, which is why you see that the next step is already done in the photo. But if you do this now, it saves you having to switch your stamp around again to create the mask.)

Step 3: Turn your stamp image around so that the correct side faces out, and stamp your image on top of the "shadow" you created. Use first-generation ink in the same color for this step.

Step 4: Cover your image(s) with the mask(s) you created, then repeat steps 1-3 with the smaller flower image, overlapping the larger flower several times. (I used Sunset ink). Remember to stamp your "shadow" in second-generation.


Step 5: Using the masks you created for the flowers, repeat the stamping technique with the leaf image (I used Olive ink). Here is the completed background:

Step 6: Now all that's left to do is build your card! To finish mine, I pierced holes around the edges of my background, then mounted it to my Sunset card front. I then tied some Olive Baker's Twine around the front of the card, stamped a sentiment in Olive ink from the "Casual Expressions" stamp set, mounted it to an oval piece of Sunset cardstock, then mounted that with 3D Foam Tape to the front of the card. I think it came out really nice, and I didn't have to hand-color a thing!




So the next time you accidentally stamp the wrong side of your image, remember that you can turn it into a beautiful work of art! Who knew?!



Wednesday, September 5, 2012

"Clearly The Best"!

Hello everyone!

Whew! I spent so much time preparing for my Open House last Friday night, that now all I want to do is ...nothing! So, until I get myself back together (which should be very soon!), please enjoy this episode of "Clearly The Best" - a new series from Close To My Heart on www.mycraftchannel.com. Christine and Monica are the BEST! Talk to you soon!