Blended Marker Free Tutorial!

As you might have heard, Technique Junkie Newsletter has just released a brand new CD: Stampin' Companion: 70 Tutorials exclusively using Stampin' Up! products.*  

One of the easy tutorials on the CD is how to blend Stampin' Write Markers to get a watercolored, or a more subtle, look.  On the example below, I wanted to create shadows and contrast to a "white" image; using the markers by themselves would have resulted in hard lines -- not the soft blended look that I wanted to achieve. I used the Blended Marker Technique (FREE tutorial below the image) to create the look I wanted.

This is one of the 70 tutorials from the Stampin' Companion CD. The Techniques on the CD range from easy, like this one, to more complex. Every tutorial uses ONLY Stampin' Up! products, from the trimmers to the stamps and everything in-between. It is only $17.95 (US and Canada) ($19.95 for overseas addresses)  and all of the tutorials are in this format: http://www.techniquejunkies.com/blended-markers.pdf 

(Note: If you cannot get the link to work, copy and paste it into your browser).

To order this awesome CD, go to the Stampin' Companion Page, order from my blog directly, or order from the Technique Junkie Newsletter home page. A list of the 70 tutorials is also on the Stampin' Companion page.

If you are a demo, this CD is wonderful for workshop ideas. If you are just a fan, like me, you will love knowing what to do with all of your wonderful Stampin' Up! products!

Happy Stamping...

Card recipe - All Products used from Stampin' Up!:
Paper: Night of Navy, Pool Party, Basic White, Island Indigo Attic Boutique DSP
Ink: Basic Black, Pool Party
Stamps: Zoo Review
Other: Stampin' Write Markers, Blender Pen, Framelits Labels Collection, White Pen, Isaland Indigo Baker's Twine, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

*The Technique Junkie Newsletter, and the products and services it provides, are not affliated or endorsed by the Stampin' Up! Corporation.

Clipped Corners and The PDC Challenge

Today I am excited to announce that the Technique Junkie Newsletter is the sponsor on the Play Date Cafe Challenge Blog. If you are not familiar with PDCC, each week their designers are given a weekly color challenge. The designer create artwork based on the color inspiration, the artwork is posted,then readers are challenged to play along -- for a prize,

This week the colors are for the challenge are Chocolate Brown, Hot Pink, Orange,and Turquoise. A color challenge to be sure! This week, to add a little more spice to the challenge, I offered a tutorial from the newly-published October 2010 TJ issue: Clipped Corners. The tutorial is HERE for you to play with, too! 

If you want to play along this week with PDCC, the prize winner will receive three years of online-access to the Technique Junkie Newsltter: online access to the 2009, 2010 and 2011 issues - over 280 techniques! Go on over to the PDCC blog to see all the details.

Here is my card using the PDCC colors:

I hope you like this tutorial. The format this is in is the same format as the tutorials on the Technique Junkie CDs. If you haven't ordered your copy of CD8 -- 100 tutorials just like this one -- please email me for ordering information.

My card was created with the colors from the challenge, and of course it uses a multitude of techniques. The Southwestern Images (I Brake for Stamps) are done using the Pencil over Ink Technique from the February 2005 issue of the Newsletter. The orange brick background uses the Acrylic Emboss Technique from the August 2010 issue, and, of course, the piece uses The Clipped Corners Technique, above.  The verse is from Club Scrap.

Blogger's Challenge -- Painted Pastel Embossing Tutorial

Today's Blogger's Challenge was to use a technique -- and give the directions for doing it. Rather than using an older technique, I decided to create my own -- and a tutorial for it follows. My technique,is called Painted Pastel Embossing, and the details are below. I used a cuttlebug folder with an Artistic Outpost saying stamp for the card above. The 5 petal punch poinsettia was made using the tutorial HERE.

To achieve the painted look of my holly, this is what I did:

First, emboss dark cardstock using an embossing folder. I am sure this will work with light cardstock, too, but the dark stuff will give you more drama! Load a wet blender pen with a hefty amount of pastel chalk.






Use the blender pen to color the embossed parts of the images using colors as desired. I painted my holly with a medium green, and used a lighter green to highlight the top of the leaves.






After I finished coloring, I realized that I had gone beyond the lines with my colors, so I used a clean blender pen to push the chalks off the black cardstock and back onto the embossing. It worked like an eraser!






This is so easy it is sinful! It is a great way to make your embossed cards POP. Make sure to check out the creations from the other Blogger's challenge players, too -- the is a link on my sidebar with their addresses. Today is a day to learn new techniques!

Rainbow Cuttlebug Tutorial -- Today's Blogstravaganza!

As part of the TJ Holiday Blogstravaganza, I have a tutorial for you today to make the card on the right. This is a really easy technique for adding a rainbow of color to Raised Cuttlebug images. It works especially well on embossing folders with a large raised surface area, such as the snowman one I used for this tutorial.





Rainbow Cuttlebug Tutorial


Supplies:
*White or Cream Cardstock
*Kaleidacolor or Rainbow Pad
*Rubber Brayer
*Embossing Folder
*Cuttlebug

To start, run the embossing folder through the Cuttlebug. The folders that work best with this are those that have a large area of embossing, such as the one I am using in this tutorial.

Using the Rubber Brayer, pick up the rainbow ink and brayer it onto one side of the cardstock. I used a little brayer for this tutorial because I found that I could apply more consistent pressure with the ink. I have used my large brayer with great results, though, so don't worry if you don't have a little one!

To add ink to the other side, just flip the paper 180 degrees and brayer again, overlapping the center areas. This method of brayering rainbow pads gives very nice, consistently blended color.






If there are areas on the cardstock that did not "take" the ink, and repeated attempts at rolling the ink are are not working, don't fret! There is a very easy fix for that...

Simply re-ink an inch or two of the brayer and run it back over the white spot. Even though you might be adding a different color to the spot (which I did here), I assure you, it will not be noticeable.




To finish the card, I ran a second piece of white paper through my Cuttlebug, cut out the snowman, colored him with markers and added glitter. I then double mounted him and the trimmed rainbow layer on cardstock. The snowflakes are chipboard that I painted white, and glittered.

Easy, right?

Let me see your Rainbow Cuttlebug Creations! Email me pictures if you try this technique, OR send them to the TJ yahoo group OR post a link in the comments below with your creations. I will pick one randomly this Thursday at noon. The randomly chosen winner will receive THREE issues of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. All of the entries will be displayed in a slide show on this blog on Thursday.

Won't you play along?

Remember, Every day from now through Christmas there will be artwork, tutorials, giveaways, contests and challenges! Join us every day!

If you have a minute, take a look at the design team members who are participating in the TJ Blogstravaganza today:

Lisa Somerville at Splendiferous Creations

Artful Sentiments by Kimm Bennington Thompson

Sunflowers and Dragonflies by Beth Norman

Have fun!

Unmounted Rubber Tutorial

Just a warning. This will be a long post. There isn't any artwork at the end as a payoff, either! I took these pictures when I cut the rubber for yesterday's post : ) You might want to refill your coffee cup before you sit down to read this...

I have been asked more times than I can count how I use unmounted rubber stamps. While there are many ways to use them, I have found a system that works for me that I am comfortable with. I am sharing my method here...if you have been hesitating about taking the plunge into the wonderful world of unmounted rubber, this tutorial is meant to help you get your feet wet!


This is a brief synopsis of what I do: I use unmounted rubber on acrylic blocks using glue sticks and store them in labeled CD cases. My "long version" is below...in it are the tips and tricks I have picked up along the way...


First, you will need the following supplies:

• Empty, regular-sized CD cases (not slim-line, not double): I buy mine in Staples, Wal-Mart, Office Depot, Target, etc. I like Staples the best because they sell the biggest pack (25), and since I am constantly adding more stamps to my stash, more is definitely better.


• Good Rubber Cutting Scissors: I use Kai scissors. I think they cut rubber better than any other I own. I am also particular about this -- my Kai scissors ONLY cut rubber. God forbid one of my children pick them up for ANY reason!


• Unmounted Stamps


• Glue Stick: Any kind will do.


• Acrylic Blocks: This is an investment that you make ONCE. I own a bunch of these in various sizes; My suggestion is to get 4 to start: a big one for background stamps; a medium/large one (3-12" square is a nice size) for medium images; a little one (think 2" square) and a long thin one for alphabets. You can always add to your collection as you think you need them, based on the images you are stamping.


• Stamp Cleaner or Water & a Scrubbie or Paper Towel: This method has unbelievably good and easy clean-up. Good for those of us who hate to clean anything!


• Label Maker or Regular Labels: Easier to keep track of what you have if you label it, right?

To start, remove the black CD Tray insert from the CD case. Just kind of wiggle it out to remove it. I haven't found a use for these, so I throw them out. If anyone has any ideas on what to do with them, let me know! I hate to waste things.

Use the rubber cutting scissors to cut out the images carefully. Do not "undercut" the images; a little around the edges stabilizes them and will not leave a shadow of ink when you stamp. Be conservative -- you can ALWAYS cut more off if need be.

Place the cut images into the CD case. The example here fits perfectly, but many times there are too many stamps in a sheet to fit neatly in one layer in a case. Guess what? You can stack images two-high! MOST rubber stamps are thin enough to do this. I only have one company's stamps that are too thick, so I make multiple cases for these stamps. If you have too many stamps to fit double-stacked in the CD case, simply use a second case and split the stamps up so that they have room to play in their cases : )


If the stamps came with one, cut the Index Print to a size that fits into the top of the CD case. If you are double stacking the stamps, the index print will be too large, too, so simply cut it in two and put one on the top and one on the bottom. This step important -- you will be more likely to use the stamps because you can see the images in Black and White.

It the stamps did not come with an index print, you have a few choices: You can print the set image off of the stamp company's website (I do this ALOT), or you can stamp an index print yourself!

Here is the shamefully easy part.

To stamp, simply apply glue to the back of the rubber stamp with the glue stick and adhere to the acrylic block. Don't be afraid! The glue will come off both pieces, I promise : )

Before stamping, condition the stamp. Directions for doing that are HERE in case you missed that post.

Here is the best part!!! Just ink the stamp and stamp image where you want it. This is one major advantage over wood -- you can see exactly where you are stamping. For large images, use a mouse pad under the paper so that you can press evenly with a bit more cushioning.
If you are a scrapbooker, you will LOVE using unmounted Alphabet stamps. You can line up several letters at once and actually see where they are going. Just remember to line up the letters backwards -- start the first letter on the right side of the block, then the next letter on it's left, etc. I also like to stamp the word on scrap paper first to check placement of the letters (I invariably put the b,d,p's backwards). The beauty of using a glue stick is that you can move the letters a nudge if need be to adjust spacing and alignment. Once you use unmounted alphabets, you will have a hard time going back to the wooden ones!

Now for the fun part. To clean the image side of the stamp, simply spritz with stamp cleaner and rub over your scrubber (or do whatever you normally do). To remove the rubber from the acrylic block, simply peel the rubber off, spray both the rubber and the acrylic with stamp cleaner OR water, and wipe off with a paper towel.

That's it! Sparking clear acrylic again, and stamps that look like new!

Okay, time to label and store the stamps....

I have a little p-touch labeler but you can use any type of label. I simply label the edge of my CD case with the company name and the name of the stamp set (either the set's official name, or something that works for me). I store my CDs on these nifty plastic CD spinners (I paid $15.00 for each of them). Each spinner holds 120 CD cases. I have 6 of them -- and they are FULLLLLL. I am currently looking for these online and in stores, but I am having a hard time, but if I DO find them again, I will let you all know where : )

Okay, that's about it...I hope I have helped someone! If you have questions, leave me a comment about it (you can comment if this was helpful to you, too, that is always nice to know) and I will answer your questions when I can.

Stamp Conditioning and Birthday Whimsy

I mounted this balloon stamp today to make this card for my son's birthday and it got me thinking.

The difference between excellence and mediocrity with stamped artwork begins the minute the ink hits the paper. You can have an excellent design that no-one will ever notice if the images on the paper are not clear and fully inked. It is one of my pet peeves to see splotchy images because I know that it can be avoided easily.

After the rubber stamp manufacturing process, a thin layer of residue remains on the rubber that needs to be removed before using your stamps. This is especially important with bold or solid images.

Below is a comparison of two images stamped from my balloon; one before conditioning and one after. I made a true effort to really try to get a full image when stamping the "before" image. This side-by-side comparison of the same stamp after conditioning really shows the difference:

Below are several ways to condition your stamps before you use them to help the ink to grasp the rubber and transfer to the paper in the best possible way. These represent the various ways that I use personally to condition my stamps.

StazOn Cleaner

Personally, I think this works the best. The solvent in the StazOn cleaner is strong enough to remove the film on the stamp. I like to douse my stamp with the solvent, rub it several times on my stamp scrubber, then clean it again with my regular stamp cleaner.

Sanding Block

I use this method frequently. Gently sand the stamp with a sanding block in one direction, then 90 degrees in the other direction. Then clean with stamp cleaner. This method tends to freak people out, but honestly, a gentle sanding does NOT hurt your stamp.

Eraser

This was the way I originally learned how to condition my stamps. This is a great solution for removing the film, but it takes some elbow grease! Rub your eraser all over your stamp, then clean with a stamp cleaner and scrubber.

After conditioning, test the stamp by inking and stamping again. If the image looks blotchy, condition the stamp again before using. One additional note -- It is critical that good paper is used for bold stamps. Cheap paper will look blotchy no matter what! I hope these tip help YOU get better images!

Glittery Cuttlebug - a little "How-To"

I joined a challenge on an SU-based egroup this week for cards that glitter. I drew Leigh's name (no pressure there!). This idea -- Glittered Cuttlebug -- was something I found on Sarah Bevard's blog (Craftaholics Anonymous) this morning. I thought it would be great for Leigh's card. I also know that Leigh loves ribbon, so I built the card's colors around it.

To make your Glittery Cuttlebug Card:

1. Run cardstock and embossing folder through the Cuttlebug.



2. Gently rub Pigment Ink over raised areas.



3. Dump on Stamp and Stick Powder and Remove Excess.



4. Heat according to manufacturer instructions (usually until it just gets shiny).



5. Pour on the Glitter; remove excess.



6. Heat set (not necessary, but it does blow off the extra glitter!!!)

I hope she likes it!

Try this card and let me see what you do! Leave a link in the comments or simply email me a .jpeg image (TJ members, you can put them on the group) and I will put them up here!

Ingredients:

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Birthday Whimsy

Paper: Groova Guava, Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Cameo Coral Pigment Ink, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Groovy Guava

Other: Stampin'Up! Rub-ons, Stamp and Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Stickles, Ribbon

Blogger's Challenge 14 & a Tutorial....

This weeks' Blogger's Challenge called for us to use a Rainbow or Spectrum pad. I chose to make mine using the Cuttlebug Smoosh technique from the October/November issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. I love the technique -- it is sinfully easy! Stamps & Beads: Club Scrap.

To take the rainbow theme even further, I dyed the flower to match. I used a flower from the "Pretties" kit fom Stampin' Up!, but you can use any white or neutral-colored flower with the same result.

Here is how I did it:
Supplies:

Rainbow Pad

Aquapainter with water (not shown)

Brayer

White or Neutral-Colored Silk Flower

Ink brayer with rainbow ink. Starting in the center of the flower, brayer the color on the flower by rolling the brayer back and forth. Continue until flower is colored as desired.

To add contrast and to fill in any white space left from brayering, use the Aquapainter to pick up some of the lightest color of ink. If preferred, smoosh some ink into the plastic lid or a sheet of acetate, and pick up the ink from that.

Paint the center of the flower petals with the ink using the waterbrush. Allow to dry before using on cardstock.

Make sure to check out the other Blogger's Challenge cards -- links to this uniquely talented group are in my sidebar.

Do you like the way the Cuttlebug Smoosh technique looks? Subscribe to the newsletter! The $33.00 special ENDS on September 30th -- hurry before the offer is over!

Blogger's Challenge Week 9 "Get Punchy"- With a how-to

This Friday's Blogger's Challenge was to use Punches on our creations. I had been tossing ideas around in my head all week for this and had several ideas, then I received a RAK from Kelly Mahoney that inspired my card. Using a tag punch to create a flower was new to me; since I received the card I have seen several on the net. I suspect, though, that this idea may be new to some of you, too, so I have included the "how-to" directions below. I hope you enjoy!
I also couldn't just make ONE card. I made two this week! The one above uses a small tag punch for the flower and a Key-tag punch for the word window. I love double-sided paper! So many options. I used Stampin' Up!'s Priceless set, Sanded Background Stamp, designer paper and cardstock for this one. I also used my Scor-It board for making the ridge around the top panel.
This is the second card I made:

The paper for the flowers was originally cream and brown; I brayered turquoise ink all over it to change it to the colors I wanted. This is not my original idea, it was an idea was introduced to me by Lisa Somerville.
Teal, Red,Brown and Gold (looks like cream, but it is gold)! I am certainly working hard at expanding my color palette, don't you think?

The background and "friendship" are both from SU's Tres Chic Background -- the doodles are from SU's Priceless set. I also used a ticket punch in some of the corners, too.



Here is Kelly Mahoney's card to me that inspired this adventure:
I love the rhinestone brad in the center of Kelly's flower.

















Want to know how to make these tag-flowers? Here is how:
- Start by punching a 8 small (or 7 large) tags from double-sided paper.

- Fold the bottom left corner up to meet the opposite edge, from straight edge to straight edge, as shown.

- Fold the top right corner of the triangle to meet the fold on the left side. You just made your first "petal!" Repeat with remaining tags.

- To assemble, find the center point on your prepared background and adhere the tag-petals around it in a circle, butting edges against each other to create the flower. Add a brad, button, bead, chipboard or glitter in the center and you are done!

Here is a challenge for YOU -- try the punch flower and email me your creations. I will post them next Wednesday and mail my cards to two randomly drawn entrants.
My email address is:
phuntoon@optonline.net

If you prefer, send me the URL of where I can find your posting in the comments and I will post it from there. Hope you will play along!

Make sure to check out the other Blogger's Challenge players listed in the left column. I am always amazed at the creativity and sheer variety of talent on this great challenge group!