Welcome to A Spot of Stamping

Fathers Day cuteness

Father's Day is the beginning of September here in New Zealand but we had a delayed celebration for my Dad.  His favourite colour is green so I used a new colour called Shaded Spruce and one of my favourite new stamp sets called Postcard Pals.

This set is perfect for colouring with Stampin' Blends (alcohol markers) as I have done here.  I've also used the bottlecap die from the Bottles & Bubbles Framelits dies to create a masculine embellishment with the word 'Dad'.  

For my Father-in-law's card I actually used a Christmas set from the new Holiday Catalogue called So Santa.  By colouring it in non-Christmas colours and covering up the holly on his hat, he doesn't look like Santa.  That makes this set a whole lot more versatile for me.

I'll be looking forward to colouring him in Christmas colours to make him a Santa again soon.  

Supplies:
First card
Cardstock: Shaded Spruce, Whisper White, Woodgrain DSP
Stamps: Postcard Pals, Pick A Pennant 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Whisper White Craft, Stampin' Blends (various)
Dies: Celebrate You Thinlits, Bottles & Bubbles Framelits, Layering Circles

Second card
Cardstock: Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White, Best Route DSP
Stamps: So Santa, Thoughtful Banners. 
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Blueberry Bushel, Stampin' Blends (various)

Holiday Catalogue Swaps

Part of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator means you can partake in 'swaps'.  Swaps are where we design and make a card, then make enough of those cards for each person on the swap list.  Then we meet up and swap our cards with each person for one they've made.  It's a great way to meet new demonstrators and we bring home a great selection of cards or other projects which we can share with you.  

Here is the card I designed and made:

I felt that the Woodgrain Designer Series Paper looked like wet sand and by stamping my sentiment in coordinating ink, it looks like writing in the sand.

Check out my video to see all the other wonderful swaps I received in return:

Braided Card Technique

I've been saving this card to share until I knew the person who it was for had received it.  I hadn't made a braided card in a while and whilst I was looking for ideas on what to make, I saw or thought about, a braided card and decided to make one.  

After I made the card base, I chose to use the Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper.  One of the sheets of this paper comes with these fabulous rectangle shaped frames on it (there are squares too) and they were the perfect size.

I simply stamped a sentiment in the middle of the frame from the Picture Perfect Birthday stamp set and I had a quick but fabulous card. I added some Rhinestones for a bit of sparkle and I was good to go.

For the inside, I stamped the small flower from the Accented Blooms stamp set three times across the top and the bottom in Lovely Lipstick to match the card base.  I picked another colour (Grapefruit Grove) from the Designer Series Paper on the front and stamped my sentiment from Postcard Pals which reads "HOPE YOUR DAY IS FILLED WITH FUN AND LOTS OF HAPPY SURPRISES".  

It didn't need anything else on the inside because that beautiful braid was visible there as well.  

If you want to try this fun technique, head over to Brandy's Card to see how she does it.  I have adjusted her template to fit our NZ sized cards which are bigger than the US size.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Lovely Lipstick, Whisper White, Petal Promenade DSP

Stamps: Accented Blooms, Picture Perfect Birthday, Postcard Pals

Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove

Other: Basic Rhinestones 

Five Ways to use Background Stamps

I wrote this post for my monthly newsletter and I've decided its worth sharing here with you.  

Background stamps are large stamps the approximate size of a full card front. You'll find these stamps on page 172 in the Annual Catalogue.  Personally I like to go for the Wood Mount option when buying background stamps but they do come in Clear Mount as well.  I haven't tried them with the Stamparatus but this would be brilliant for those times if you miss patches stamping such a large image the first time around.  You can simply reink and stamp again with the Stamparatus.  

When inking these large stamps, the best way is to take the ink to the stamp, rather than the other way around.  This avoids the potential of dropping a heavy stamp block onto your project and running the risk of spoiling it.  It's also much easier to handle that way - you can see in the photo how awkward it is to hold such a large stamp in my hand.  

 

Once you've inked the stamp, take your cardstock and carefully lay it down on top of the inked stamp.  Take care not to move the cardstock during or after you lay it down, as this will smudge your image.  

Place a piece of scrap paper gently over the top of the stamp and rub your hand over it to transfer the ink from the stamp to your cardstock.

Carefully lift your cardstock off the stamp.  

Now that you have your background image stamped what are some of the ways you can use it? 

1. Use a section of the stamped image
You can either cut your piece of cardstock smaller than the full size of the stamp and ink that, or ink up a piece of cardstock the size of the stamp, trim it down and save the rest for another project.  We used a small strip on the card I taught at my class last month when we inked the panel with the Tree Rings background stamp.

Here Kim Oliver (a fellow Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in Australia) has used a small piece of the Post Script background stamp to beautifully compliment the oh so cute critter from the Postcard Pals stamp set.  I just love him, I think he's gorgeous.  

2.  Use your Big Shot

The piece you use doesn't have to be square or rectangular.  Think outside the box and use your Big Shot to cut your stamped image into a shape.  Don't forget about the negative piece when you die cut - this can be used just as effectively as the positive piece -  especially with background stamps.

3. Use it as a Watermark
Stamp your image in a light colour (or stamp off to get a lighter shade) and use it like a watermark.  Stamp your main image straight over the top.  Here is a card I made last Christmas using this technique.  The Sheet Music background stamp was inked in Crumb Cake and the branch was inked in Early Espresso.  The "Season's Greetings" was also stamped directly over the top.

The Watercolour Wash background stamp is a good one to do this technique with and the girl with the umbrella from the Beautiful You stamp set over the top is perfect.

4. Get your Markers out
Use your Stampin' Write Markers (not your Stampin' Blends) and colour directly on the stamp. 

• Colour different elements of the stamp in different colours.  Remember to re-moisten the ink by huffing on the stamp (as though you are trying to steam up a window) before you stamp your paper.
   
• Make a rainbow effect by colouring blocks of the stamp in different colours.  Use the Watercolour Wash background stamp with some Watercolour paper or Shimmery White cardstock and spritz the stamp with water before you stamp it down for a fun watercolour rainbow.

Stamp the image in black ink and then colour in small sections to highlight focal points.  You might choose to colour the Air Mail Pavilion part of the Post Script background stamp in blue (Pacific Point perhaps) to mimic our Airmail stickers.

5. Emboss It

• Heat Emboss - Ink your image in VersaMark ink, sprinkle with white embossing powder and heat set the powder.  Use your Stampin' sponge and your inkpads to sponge colour onto different sections of the image.
   
• Embossing Paste - Spread a layer of Embossing Paste onto your project or a piece of cardstock, and whilst the paste is still wet, stamp your image into the paste.  Make sure you clean your stamp immediately so that the paste doesn't dry onto your stamp. 
   
• Dry Emboss - Stamp your image and emboss it using an embossing folder.  With the right combination this could look really effective.  The Watercolour Wash background stamp combined with the Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder would give the effect that it is raining for example.  The new Subtle Embossing folder would give some great texture to the Hardwood background stamp and really emphasize the grain in the stamp.

I hope you found these tips on using Background Stamps helpful.  If you'd like to see a tip featured in a future edition of my newsletter then please let me know.  If you're on Facebook please like and follow my page.  Have a great day.