4-10-23 Weekly Challenge

 

Happy Monday!

Over on Facebook I post a weekly challenge on Monday, which I hope will encourage you not only to spend some time creating, but also use supplies and/or learn and use different techniques that perhaps you haven't used in awhile.  

Last week's challenge was to stamp an image or create a card using pastel colors.  If you weren't able to finish, feel free to continue working on that and post your finished work as you can!

This week I challenge you to select a stamp set you own but either have never used, or maybe used once or twice, and create something with it this week.  Before you start, ask yourself why you purchased it and then never used it, or rarely use it.  If it's because of time, then use this challenge to motivate yourself to use it.  

I can't wait to see what you create!

Jen

Stamp Block Technique

 This is a fun technique to create your own background papers without using stamps!   You are only limited by the supplies you have around you.  I'll show you  the 4 different results I ended up with.

All you need is a clear stamp block, an inkpad, and assorted items.  I used washi tape, string, and 2 different sizes of ribbon, but you can use whatever you'd like.

Take your stamp block, and wrap or adhere your item to it.  For the washi tape, I used a stripe pattern.  You can see the darker stripes are the washi tape, and the lighter ink is just where the block touched the inkpad.

For the string, I used a crosshatch pattern, and used washi tape to secure the string pieces to the back.  (A sticky note would also work).  The result is below.  

The last two items I used were a wide ribbon and a narrow ribbon.  Use removable tape to adhere it to the block (such as washi tape or masking tape).  The ribbon I used had a slight texture to it.

Out of the four different items, I liked the washi tape the best, and I'll show you a card I made with it.  The string has possibilities; I can see using it as a backdrop to a flower or animal that I stamp.  However, I was not impressed with the ribbon and will not use it again.  I tried it so you don't have to 😄  

Here's the card I made with the washi tape:

I used Flirty Flamingo paper and ink to make this card.  I love how Stampin' Up! coordinates their ink and paper colors so I absolutely don't have to think about how well the colors match.  

What items do you have that you could try with this technique?  

Happy Inking!

Jen

Weekly Challenges

 

Every week on Facebook I'll be posting a weekly challenge to help you learn a new technique or revisit one you've tried before.  It'll also be a great way to help use up your cardstock and DSP papers!  A lot of times I find that setting guidelines really helps me to focus on making a card when otherwise I'm drawing a blank.  

This week's challenge is to stamp an image or make a card using pastel colors.  I say stamp an image because I don't want you to feel stressed if you feel you can't make a whole card.  It's fine!  Start small with any stamp you have and go from there.  

Check in during the week, as I'll be posting different samples of cards I've made.  Feel free to share yours as well- I'm looking forward to seeing them!

Happy Stamping!

Jen

Starburst Technique

 

I've been a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! for almost a year now, although I've been stamping on and off for the past 30 years or so, and one of the constant challenges is how to deal with paper scraps, and what to use them for.  

This card technique, referred to as the starburst or sunburst technique, is a great way to use up those little bits of paper.  Follow along as I show you how to make a card using this method.

You will need:  

4 3/16  x 5 7/16 piece of white cardstock*

card base in coordinating color to match your DSP

4 to 6 different pieces of DSP, cut into 4 x 2 strips

Note:  If you don't have enough matching DSP, you can also cut up a new sheet.  Each 6 x 6 piece of DSP will give you 4 strips, with a 2 x 2 square left over for another use.

adhesive

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Start by cutting your 4 x 2 strips of DSP diagonally.  You can use a sticky note to adhere the corner of the DSP so that it doesn't move while cutting.  Tip:  position your cutting blade in the center of your DSP so that it cleanly cuts the edges.  

Once all your diagonals are cut, take your piece of white cardstock and cover it completely with adhesive.  Stamp n Seal is probably the easiest to apply, but glue or Tear n Tape will work well, too.  If using Stamp n Seal or glue, place a silicon mat underneath- this protects your workspace and makes for super easy cleanup.  

Determine where you want your focal point to be, and start laying your diagonals onto the white cardstock.  Be sure no white cardstock is showing, and if the diagonals do not line up perfectly on the focal point, it's fine; it will be covered at the end.

Continue laying your DSP diagonals until the entire piece of white cardstock is covered.  

Using your paper trimmer, trim off the excess DSP paper.

This card front used 14 diagonals, and I cut up 6 sheets of 6x6 paper, which gave me 48 diagonals, so I can make 2 more cards with 6 diagonals left over.  

Here's the finished card.    As you can see, the center or focal point of the card is hidden beneath the bird (from the Seaside Bay stamp set © Stampin' Up!) .  You can attach the shape of your choice, add an image from your stamp collection, and a saying (Nuts About Squirrels © Stampin' Up!) .  This card front then gets adhered to your card base.  

An option for a different card using less diagonal strips is to use a colored cardstock (instead of white), and adhere your strips leaving a gap for the color of the cardstock to be seen.  For this method do not apply adhesive to the entire sheet, but only on the diagonal strips.

You can measure the width of the gap between the strips, or you can just approximate it.  Whatever works for you!    I did not measure, and this is the result.

Have fun experimenting with different color combinations and papers!  Feel free to vary the width of the diagonals as well.  

*Note:  If you are using a Stampin' Up! paper trimmer, the 3/16 mark is the mark right before the 1/4 mark, and the 7/16 mark is the mark right before the 1/2 mark.  

Happy Stamping!  I'd love to see what you come up!

Jen

Gate Fold Card

 

Today's fun fold card is often referred to as the gate fold card.  It's actually fairly similar to the last fun fold card I displayed (see it here), but the main difference is both the left and right sides open with this variation.

Here's a supply list:

1 sheet of solid color cardstock, 8 1/2" x 11"

1 sheet of white cardstock, 8 1/2" x 11"

paper trimmer

adhesive

stamp set of your choice

1 piece of DSP that measures 1 1/2" x 5 1/4"

1 piece of DSP that measures 2 1/2" x 5 1/4"

Place your cardstock in the paper trimmer horizontally and trim at 8 1/2"

Flip vertically and cut at 5 1/2".  Do not remove from trimmer.  Using the scoring blade, score at 1 1/2" and 5 3/4".  Fold along the score lines and add your DSP to the front:

Using a piece of the cardstock you trimmed off, cut a 3" x 3" square.  Center on your card in the middle, and adhere to

the front left side of your card.  Be sure to put adhesive only on the left side.

Cut out a 2.75" x 2.75" square.  Stamp your image on the front, then adhere it to the 3" x 3" square.

Cut a piece of white cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  Glue or tape to the inside of the card.  

The nice thing about this card is that it works perfectly for whatever you need it to:  Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  You can coordinate the paper with the theme, or add a greeting on the front if you wish.  If you notice, I left space under the corgi to add a saying.  

Enjoy experimenting with different papers and stamps and see what you can come up with!

Stay creative,

Jen

Fun Fold Friday

 

One of my favorite ways to make cards is to use a fun fold for the base.  While making Christmas cards I used a variety of fun folds, but realized that an intricate fun fold can lead to using more paper, which leads to a heavier card, which means more postage.  So I developed this card design that is easy to make,  uses a small amount of your DSP (which stands for designer series paper or decorative paper),  and fits nicely into an envelope.

You will need:  

a paper trimmer

one piece of 8.5" x 11" solid color cardstock

one piece of 8 1/2" x 11" white cardtock

two pieces of DSP 2 1/4" x 4"

your favorite stamp set

adhesive

embellishments (optional)

Take your 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock, place it in the paper trimmer so that it is vertical, and trim at 4 1/4".

Set the excess aside.  Turn  your 11" x 4 1/4" paper horizontally and score at 5 1/2"

Slide your paper to the 3" mark and cut off 3 inches.  

Fold at score line.  This is what you should have so far:

Save the piece on the right!  You will use this on the front of your card.  (The picture distorts it, but this is the 3" piece you cut off)

Take your two strips of DSP (2 1/4" x 4") and adhere them to the front flap and the right most section of the inside flap, as shown.

Adhere your 3" piece of cardstock to the front of  your card.  When you close the card, it should be centered across it.

Cut a piece of white cardstock cut 4" x 2.75".  Stamp your greeting on it; then when you satisfied, adhere it to the front of rectangle.  

Cut a 3" x 4" piece of white cardstock to fit the inside of the card.  Stamp first, then adhere to your card.

If you have an extra large image stamped here, you can add a piece of white cardstock to the left, as I did, to give extra space for writing a greeting and/or signing your name.  

That's it!  Let me know what you think.  Every Friday I'll be featuring a different Fun Fold that you can try at home.

Here's an earlier fun fold I did, check it out!  Fun Fold

Happy Creating!

Jen

Coloring Your Own Papers

At times you will want to customize your cards, and you don't have that right shade of paper.  What to do?

Make your own of course!  All this requires is a sheet of white paper, an ink pad, and a blending brush. I used Tahitian Tide as my ink color.

Rub the brush over the ink pad and brush over the paper in long, sweeping motions.  The harder you rub into the ink pad, the darker the ink will be, and you can see a couple areas of lines where there was more ink on the brush.  

This may not look like much, but check out the shapes I cut out using the Stylish Shapes dies:

And this is the finished card with one of the shapes.  I used a Paper Pumpkin stamp for the saying:

Experiment with different colors and pressure to see what you can come up with.  The interesting thing about this card is that the base cardstock used is Pool Party, so a different color if you put the two side by side, it appears to be the same color.  

Oh, and the blending brushes wash out with just water!  You don't need one for every color.

Stay creative,

Jen