Most stampers I know have at least some idea of what they want to create when they sit down at their craft table.  Today I wanted to use my Twinkling H2O’s and a silhouette stamp set, Spring Ephemerals.   The nature of this set,  solid images instead of detail or line images, meant that I could focus on creating a nice background and this is where the “twinks” come in. 

If you’ve never seen or used twinks, you are missing out!  These little pots of watercolor cakes are incredibly shimmery, come in dozens of colors, are semi transparent, non toxic archival safe and are about the easiest things to use.  If you can dip a paintbrush into water you can use these! 

The background for each card was created in the same manner, using different colors. I started with a piece of watercolor paper and wet it down.  Then I selected the colors I wanted to use and sprayed a little water in each of the pots to activate the color.  Starting with the lightest color, I loaded my brush up with color and just swished it on the paper.  I added the other colors in the same manner.  Once the color was on I then sprayed a little bit of water over the entire piece and let the colors blend and then set it aside to dry.

Shooting Star:  Papers used are rust, banana, and black.  The images on the base card are the leaves from the Bleeding Heart image from the same Spring Ephemerals set.  On the bottom portion I brushed on Twinkling H2O color on the image and then stamped it to the paper.  The Shooting Star was stamped with Palette Noir ink.  Twinkling H2O colors used are Sunflower from the 12 pot set #1251 and Dreamsicle and Deep Coral from the 12 pot set #1258.  The ribbon is black scallop satin.  The tiny rhinestones I found in my stash of “stuff” and I don’t know who the manufacturer is.  I wish the shimmery look of the twinks came out better on camera - it just does not do the colors justice.

Bleeding Heart:  Papers used are teal, burgundy (I think!) and black.  The Bleeding Heart image was stamped using Palette Noir.  The background image on the burgandy piece is the Forget Me Not image from the same stamp set.  Black scalloped ribbon was also used on this card on each side of the burgundy panel.  Twinkling H2O colors used are Navajo Pearl, Meridian Blue and Purple Sage, all from the 12 pot set #1262.

On Monday, Flourishes is releasing three new sets, two Damask sets and a sentiment set.

The beautiful Damask stamp is a background stamp measuring 5.5 x 4.25 and will come in two versions.  A regular Damask and a “reverse” Damask.  The”Many Sentiments” set contains 11 stamps of which nine are often used phrases and two flourishy elements to compliment them.

Here is a thank you card I made with the regular Damask stamp and the “Thank You” stamp from the Many Sentiments set.  I wanted to keep the card simple, yet have an elegant touch, so I used a black and white color scheme.

The Damask was stamped in black on white glossy and mounted to a black card.  I then stamped the image again on black card stock and embossed it in white.  Thank you was stamped on glossy and the black satin ribbon ties it all together.

To go along with the card, I made a small bon bon box using a template from Mirkwood Designs.  This was so easy!  Just print off the template onto white cardstock and cut out the shape.  Stamp Damask in black on the outside of the box. Tie a black scallop ribbon around it.  The tags were made using circle Nestabilities.  The white circle was lightly stamped with the Damask and the small Thank You is from the Flourished Words set.

 Here is a look at the box with the ribbon untied.  The corners just fold into each other.  The inside is big enough for a few small candies or a small gift.

I just love the large heart in the Lace Heart set, however I was working on a card that called for a smaller heart and I really wanted the “lace heart” look.   A while back I sold many of my smaller heart stamps so I used the large lace heart and very easily made a small one.   Here is my finished card and how I did it.  The card uses vanilla and rose red paper and rose red ink with a little chocolate ink for depth.  The ribbon is a cream satin scallop from May Arts.  Both hearts were cut with cuttlebug die cuts. 

First, I cut a smaller heart using a cuttlebug die and vanilla card stock.  Then I inked up a portion of the larger lace heart - can you see on the bottom where the point of the large heart is?  It is a perfect section and fits this die cut just right.  Because the stamps are clear it is so very easy to place this on your die cut!!  It worked on the first time (amazing for me!!).  I sponged some rose red on it as well for a little more definition. 

Both the heart and sentiment (”How do I love thee  Let me count the ways” ) are in the Lace Heart set from Flourishes. 

Here is my submission on this week’s technique challenge - it calls for using Dazzling Diamond dust.

I started by stamping the angel stamp from the Rejoice set from flourishes in Palette Noir ink on glossy white.   Dazzling Diamond dust was used on top although from the photo you cannot see how sparkly it came out.   I used the nestabilities circle dies to cut this image, then used the scallop circle dies to cut  circles from pomegrante and silver metallic paper.  The card was made with SU’s holiday paper with pomegranate and silver ribbon on top.

The first time I heard about people cutting apart their stamps I was amazed!!  Why would anyone want to cut apart an image…then it happened to me!  I was using a stamp from Flourishes Fantasy Floral Garden and there are two little pieces on the stamp that I usually did not want to show.  I thought about cutting them off and after much thought I realized I would like the image better with the little sections off.  So….out came the xacto knife and ….very carefully…I cut off the two small pieces.  Some tips….think about this for awhile before you make your cut because you can’t go back!  Also - use a new blade in your knife and go slowly.  I found that this polymer was sturdier than expected…hopefully a sign of quality materials.  I also used a magnifying glass to get a better look - in this case you don’t want to cut the stems off too much or two little - just take your time.

Once that was done and I felt more confident I tried another, harder image.  The cake slice from Flourishes Cake Decorating set was always a difficult one for me to stamp.  Since I usually stamp with pads, not markers, it was difficult to get two different colors on this one stamp.  So - I carefully cut between the “frosting” edge and the “cake” edge.  This one was more difficult because the space between the two is very tight - I cut very slowly and carefully and was able to get two stamps that I can use on ink pads!

 Let me know if you have ever cut apart a stamp and how you did it.

My shopping is done, presents are wrapped, packages are mailed and just about all of my Christmas Cards are done!  This card is a total case of one I saw at a convention over the summer.  The stamp is from the Artful Stamper and I fell in love with this image and the way it was colored.  Here is how I put together the card.

I stamped the image in Palette Noir on grey cardstock, used Prisma pencils to go over the tree limbs and give them more weight.  Then, carefully, I cut out the inside rectangle, leaving the tree in the foreground.  I am not the best when it comes to using an xacto knife - so this part took me quite awhile to complete!  Twinkling H2O’s were used for the red ornaments and holly, a white signo pen for the dots on the tree limbs. 

I stamped the image again on watercolor paper and embossed in clear powder - allowing me to do a little watercoloring while protecting the actual detail.  The sky was watercolored with Zia Colorwash sprays.  The trees, stars and snow were colored with Twinkling H2O’s.

 Then I placed the watercolored image behind the grey panel, matching up the image borders.  I mounted the entire panel on blue metallic paper, then on white cardstock.

Yes - I am officially done with my holiday shopping and most of my packages have been mailed off.  Gift cards have been so popular in the past few years and this holiday was made a little easier because people actually requested gift cards from specific stores - it makes shopping AND mailing so much easier!   These are two more gift cards holders made using the folded envelope technique that I wrote about several posts back..

I used Basic Grey Dasher papers and tags - these are so pretty with the rich red card stock and grosgrain ribbon  - the ribbon is from JoAnn’s (bought ages ago) and the red card stock was from a holiday card stock assortment, again bought ages ago.  I stamped “Merry Christmas” (fron the Flourished Christmas set)  in Palette Noir on vellum an attached it to the tags. 

These were put together in no time at all!!  If you are giving gift cards this season, consider doing a quick card holder - often you can put your scraps to good use!

This is a card I did for this weeks sketch challenge on SCS.  It gave me a chance to use my Nestabilities (I love this product!) and the Sweet Treats set by Flourishes.

The particulars of the sketch are on SCS, so I won’t go in to the details here, but let me show you how I created the image.

Using clear stamps are great!  This image was created with NO masking.  First, using a marker, ink the top tier of the 3 tiered plate stamp - and only ink the front of the plate.

Then, start adding the cupcakes.  Because the stamps are clear, you can see exactly where to place them.  Put three on the bottom row, then just work your way up to the top row.

 Here is how it looks  without any coloring - very simple to do.

I used cocoa and blue paper, cocoa ink then colored with Prisma pencils.  You can’t tell from the photo, but I used crystal effects for the top of the cupcakes, just to give them a little more dimension.  The ribbon is from the LilyKate ribbon collection and was the perfect color combination!

I am having such a great time with the Nestabilities dies.  I did not get into the big punch craze a while back, mostly because of space, but cost was also a big consideration.  With the Nestabilities, space is no longer an issue, and for the price you get so many dies for your money, it was a deal I could not pass up.  This pouch box uses the circle dies - can you tell how I made the tag? 

 The large red scalloped and the white circle were straight die cuts. 

 The green tag was created by folding a piece of green cardstock in half, then placing the die on the paper, with a small section of the die off the top - not touching the paper.  This section does not get cut and allows the fold of the tag to remain intact.

Now for that little red scalloped punch out that is on top of the white stamped circle…Can you tell how I made it?

I took a scalloped circle die, then placed a smaller regular circle die inside it.  You will need to use the dies that fit inside, yet still allow both cutting surfaces to cut through.  I used re-positionable tape to hold it onto the cardstock, and it worked great!

 I used my cuttlebug for all these cuts - nestabilites work just fine in the bug, as long as you determine the appropriate sandwich.

The ribbon I found at Big Lots, it their dollar bin - 5 yards for $1!!  The white cardstock is 110lb. weight from Office Depot - it’s a great value, stamps well and the heavier weight is great for the pouch box.  The little bow is just a piece of the ribbon tied with a gold cord.

“Merry Merry” is from the O Christmas Tree set at Flourishes.

Are you a member of the SCS fan club?? The fan club gallery is a source of great inspiration and now fan club members can participate in monthly sketch challenges!! This is my entry and I love how the colors came out.

Supplies used:

Paper: Teal, green galore and white

Ink: Palette Noir, green galore, Zia Colorwash

Other: Acetate, die cuts, clear drying glue (elmers), tissue paper

Stamps: Fantasy Floral Garden by Flourishes

Instructions:

-Stamp images on acetate with Palette Noir, let dry and turn acetate over
-On the reverse side of the acetate, apply glue covering the acetate completely. Spray on Zia colorwash (I used citron and blue topaz) and gently mix the ink into the glue. You can also use a couple of drop of reinkers for this technique.
-Crumble up a piece of tissue paper, then uncrumble and place over the glued and inked acetate. Let dry - this may take several hours!
-Mount on green galore and white.
-Stamp other images with green galore an a piece of green galore paper. Stamp small floral image in Palette Noir in lower right corner
-Punch or die cut two ovals, one in white and one in teal. Stamp “Bloom” in Palette Noir on the white and sponge with green galore.
-Attach all pieces as shown.