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April 2016

March 2016

DIY - Gift Cards - Quick, Easy, Glittery

 Need a quick little card to accompany a gift--it needs to be quick, easy and look spectacular, right? OK, here you go!

  3-29-16 Glitter tape

So am I right? Does it answer all those requirements? I'm going to give you the directions and then the supply list....there's one caveat though...the glittery tape is only available as a Sale-a-bration Freebie and the Freebies are only available through Thursday, March 31st! So you need to act now to get that awesome Glitter Tape! The Clear Glitter Tape can be colored with Stampin'Write markers, Aqua Painters and reinkers or sponges and daubers.

Here's how to make these gift cards:

  1. Cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock 6 X 3 and score the long side at 3 inches.
  2. Cut a piece of silver foil stripe vellum* 3/4 X 2 7/8 and adhere with Glue Dots (#103683) 
  3. Cut a piece of Glitter Tape (to match your designer paper) 2 7/8"and adhere above the designer paper--it's tape it sticks by itself.
  4. Stamp "Celebrate You" (from Suite Sayings stampm set) in Archival Black ink above the Glitter Tape
  5. Add 3 rhinestones in a triangle arrangement

You are done! Wasn't that easy and quick and isn't it awesome! You can change out the greeting or the designer paper for any occasion.

If you liked this, leave me a comment and let me know!

*or Gold striped vellum, Birthday Bloom Designer Series Paper

 

Here's the supply list--order them now using the Shop Now button at the top of this page:


Quick, easy, lovely Easter Card

If you waited until today to create your Easter card, you may appreciate having all the design work done for you. This one is designed to be quick, easy and beautiful and still have time to dye the eggs and hide them!  Isn't this a sweet card?

3-25-16 Easter Lamb

I'm going to give you step by step directions and following that a list of supplies you'll need.

  1. Cut Tip Top Taupe cardstock 4 1/4 X 11 and on the long side score at 5 1/2 --this is your card base.
  2. Slip the front of the card base into the Fluttering embossing folder and run through the Big Shop to dry emboss.
  3. Adhere a doily in the center of the cardfront using multipurpose liquid glue (apply glue to the center of the doily.
  4. Using circle framelit, cut a circle from Blushing Bride cardstock and adhere with liquid glue to the center of the doily.
  5. Stamp the Easter Lamb in Archival  black in on Shimmery White cardstock; lightly color the lamb's wook with an aqua painter and Crumb Cake refill. The ears can be tinted with Blushing Bride ink refill.  Accent the wool with the Wink of Stella clear glitter pen. Highlight the grass with the aquapainter and Pear Pizzazz ink refill.
  6. Using the slightly smaller circle framelit, cut out the lamb and adhere it to the blush circle using dimensionals

You are done! Quick and easy but really pretty. Happy Easter.

Here's the supply list you'll need to create this beauty. Use the Shop Now button which takes you to my store to order your supplies:


#imbringingbirthdaysback

#imbringingbirthdaysback translated is I'm bringing birthdays back! Have you noticed that lots of people only remember your birthday when they  get a notice on Facebook that it's your birthday--and by that time it's too late to mail you a card--so they just cop out with a HBD on your wall? When it's my birthday I love reaching in that mailbox and pulling out a real actual paper card! I'm especially thrilled with it's handmade!

Someone remembered that it was my day, and someone cared enough to pop it in the mail so I'd have a smile in my mail that day (I don't care if it's actually on the day--it can be close and I'm fine with that LOL).

So I've begun Sandi's Stampers Birthday Club---it has some rewards for you but the greatest reward is for those you reap the benefits of getting a birthday card in the mail from you! But they won't get it unless you think about it and get one in the mail.

We're beginning the club April 1st--just agree to mail 4 birthday cards each month and you'll receive a birthday gift from me in your birthday month. Additionally, every quarter you'll have your name in a drawing for a free pack of cardstock and a pack of envelopes! How easy is that--and, at least 4 other people will have a smile on their day.

It's not too late to  start--just call 410 836 8016 or email [email protected] your name to the registry (you'll get updated lists of the registry when others join). You don't have to send cards to people on the registry--they can be to your family, friends, co-workers--anyone--and if you really don't have someone--let me know and I'll have a solution for you!

Also, once per quarter we'll have a Birthday Express--make 12 cards (4 designs, 3 of each)--enough to fulfill your quarterly quota. It's a deal too-12 cards for $20....this is not a requirement....it's just an option to get those cards ready--the cards are cute, simple and quick....first Express is April 2nd, 1PM. Make your reservation now--410 836 8016 or email [email protected]. (Check out the pics of the cards we'll be making). Join the fun now!

4-2-16 BDC Beautiful Bunch

4-2-16 BDC dsp

4-2-16 BDC green stripe

4-2-16 BDC Candle


Watercoloring Tips

 We have some awesome outline stamps and this give us plenty of coloring options. One option that we've been using lately is the watercoloring using the Classic ink refills and the Aqua painters.  If you recall in the past we squished  the lid onto the classic ink pad so the ink would adhere to the inside of the ink pad lid--we'd use the aqua painter with this ink so we didn't dilute the actual pad with water.

If you're doing a bit of coloring, this method requires  many squishes. But I've discovered a different method of using the reinkers that also provides an opportunity for creating new colors. I"m going to show you step by step how to do this and following the directions is a supply list to help you get the items you need to use this technique.

  1. I use the thick Whisper White cardstock because it is a heavier weight that the regular white cardstock (however I've used the regular cardstock and didn't have any trouble). You'll also want to use the new Archival Black ink (or Basic Gray) ink. 3-18-16 1

 2. Stamp your image in Archival Black on the thick Whisper White cardstock using firm (but not too heavy) pressure and don't rock the stamp.

3-18-16 23. Using one of your clear blocks, drop a couple of drops of ink from your reinker--I used Melan Mambo and Crushed Curry--on opposite ends of the block.

3-18-16 34. Now the fun begins, you can use the aqua painter to absorb a small bit of the ink and start painting the image. I used the ink relatively undiluted for darker coloring and don't "re-ink" to get lighter colors--you can see the Melan on some petals in 2 shades.

3-18-16 4

5. When you want to change colors, wipe the tip of the aqua painter across your work sheet (I use Grid paper #130148) until the water runs clear.

3-18-16 56. Now you can switch colors--I used Crushed curry on the next petal so you can see again how using more or less water will give you different shades of the same color.

3-18-16 6

7. Now for some more fun...take the tip of your aqua painter and grab a bit of ink from the Curry puddle and put it in the center of your clear block. Grab a bit of Melan and add it to the Curry in the middle--mix it a bit with the tip of your aqua painter and now you have--yes, orange....Remember when we were is grade school and mixed colors to see what we'd get--well, it still works!

3-18-16 78. Now using your aqua painter try out your new color! Isn't that awesome--you can now customize your colors. Stampin'Up! has 48 colors and you now have endless possibilities when you mix--try it out and see what you enjoy!

3-18-16 8

9, Now you still have ink on the block--if you don't need the block you can leave the ink (no need to cover it) for weeks--if you need that color again, it works just great with your aqua painter. If you need the block, just run tap water over it and it is clean for adhering your next stamp.

Enjoy!!! Leave me a comment when you try this a let me know how it works for you.

Here's the supply list for some of the products you'll need to use this technique...use the Shop Now button at the top to purchase your items through my store:


I'm in love....ahhhhh!

Those of you who know me figured there was something fishy about that header, right? But I fear, yes, it is true... I have fallen in love...it all started a couple of weeks ago by showing you what you could do with a stack of designer papers --Brights, if I recall correctly. Then the following Friday, I showed you another set of cards....and now I'm into the Subtles DSP stack! It's so hard to choose when you have all those luscious colors to select from! (For you English majors who are now cringing at that last sentence--I know it should read  "from which to select"  but alas, I am a crafter stamper and I don't need to impress you intellectuals with my grammar!) Just kidding...so here we go.

Saturday, I decided I needed to create a fresh card for the stampers coming to class this weekend and so I created the card below!

3-15-16 zoo babiess

This is a very simple card (for which I'm going to give you directions in a moment) and it uses the Blushing Bride designer paper from the Subtles Collection. There are two really great things about these family stacks of designer papers

First, is that you get 4 sheets of each of the 10 colors in a family (so you get 4 colors of Daffodil Delight, 4 of Real Red, etc).

The second great thing is how many cards you can create from just one stack.  The first design I did for you we calculated over 250 cards from that single stack of papers. If you create the above card you can create 6 cards per sheet--and if you have 40 sheets per stack--you can create 240 of this design--that should impress you Math majors (we don't want to leave anyone out!). That's a lot of cards from a single stack of designer paper. Awesome, right?

I'm going to give you directions to create this card and following the directions, I'll provide you with a list of supplies so you can create this little beauty yourself!

 1. Cut a 4 1/4 X 11 piece of Smoky Slate cardstock and score at 5 1/2 on the long side; Cut a piece of black cardstock 4 X 5 1/4 and adhere it to the card front (Smoky slate) using liquid multipurpose glue.

2. Cut a piece of Blushing Bride polka Dot from the Subtles Designer Series paper 3 7/8 X 5 1/8 and adhere to the black layer using the liquid glue.

3. Cut a piece of Shimmery white cardstock 1 3/4 X 4 and stamp the elephant (or any of the cute designs) in Archival Basic Gray--once in the center and then again filling the space on the right and left of the original elephant.  (Attach a rhinestone to the eye of the elephant). Tie an 8"piece of Blushing Bride 1/4"cotton ribbon around the left side and adhere the right and left ends to the upper part of the card front using liquid glue--don't put glue in the top and bottom of the middle--we need to slip in the doily.

4. Cut a Tea lace doily in half and slip one half under the shimmery white at the top and one from the bottom so that you only see the lacey part--glue those pieces down with liquid glue.

5. Stamp Celebrate (from And Many More stamp set) in Archival Basic Black ink (#130931) and punch out with the Washi Tape punch. Adhere a piece of Blushing Bride glimmer paper (3/4 X 1 3/4) to the back with glue dots and adhere this unit below the shimmery white piece using glue dots.

You are done! Enjoy...let me know if you  create this card and what stamp you used--leave a comment.

Here are the supplies you'll need--order  what you need now using the Shop Now button at the top from my store:


DIY Cute Little Easter Bunny Curvy Keepsake Box

 Want to make a cute and easy Easter Bunny Curvy Keepsake treat box?  Take a look at this little cutie!

  3-11-16 Bunny

It's fun and easy to do--you can get it completed in just a few minutes!  Here are the directions (and following are the supplies you'll need):

  1. Cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock 5 1/2 X 8 1/2. Cut 2 pieces of the Curvy Keepsake box using the Big Shot die cutting machine.  Bend on all the score marks and glue the bottom of the 2 pieces together using multipurpose liquid glue. (Note: match the corners of the pieces when gluing together)
  2. Using a bone folder (#102300) to gently form the curved sides will help shape the box.  Pull up the 2 opposite sides that contain the handle and loop the other 2 sides over the handle to form the box.
  3. Punch two 1/2"circles from the black cardstock and add the small curves using the chalk marker. Adhere to the box side using glue dots.
  4. Punch 2 3/4"circles from white cardstock and draw whiskers using the black marker. Punch a 1/2" circle from Melan Mambo cardstock--lay this down, adhere the two white whiskered circles on top and adhere with glue dots. 
  5. Punch a small heart from the Pink Pirouette cardstock and adhere to the above unit where the 2 white circles meet forming the nose. Adhere this unit under the eyes.
  6. Punch two Large Ovals from the  Pink Pirouette cardstock; using the Oval framelit that is slightly larger than the pink ovals--cut 2 ovals from white cardstock. Adhere the pink ovals using liquid glue. Bend the lower tip of the white ovals at a 90degree angle and adhere to the top of the box using glue dots--forming the ears.
  7. Tie a bow using 8"of Pool Party cotton ribbon  (#134568) and adhere between the ears using a glut dot

You are done! Enjoy this little cutie or give it to someone to brighten their day! Leave me a comment and let me know how it went together for you!

 Here are the supplies you'll need. Use the Shop Now button and order your supplies now.


Easy large background stamping technique

Those big Stampin'Up! background stamps can provide an awesome "background" or can be used for smaller  pieces on a card front when you want to  pick up a specific area of the stamp. If you're like me, trying to manipulate the large stamp adhered to either the wood block or the clear block can be a bit challenging sometimes. And, if you are trying to hit a specific area of the stamp--it can be difficult to make sure you get just the right spot.

Here's a really easy technique that will help you both manipulate the stamp easily and it allows you to hit a specific area of the stamp without any guess work.  Here's the way to do this:

  1. Lay your stamp face up on your work area and ink it well (all over or just in the area you want to stamp)

3-8-16 background 1

2. Lay your cardstock over the area of the stamp that that you want to capture

  3-8-16 background 2

3. Position the Clear block F over the cardstock --you can use a smaller block if you are only capturing part of the stamp image. I am using the big block because I'm capturing most of the Hardwood image on my cardstock below. Apply firm pressure over then entire block surface (whatever size you are using)

  3-8-16 Background 3

4. Now remove the clear block and carefully peel off your cardstock. You'll have captured exactly the portion of the image that you want without guesswork and without the difficulty of manipulating the large block with the stamp attached.

  3-8-16 Background 4

This technique will work with the wood mounted stamp--just turn it stamp side up as well as the clear mount stamps. If you are using the clear mount stamp there is no need to mount it first--just lay it face up on your work surface.

S0, give this a try and leave me a comment and let me know how this technique works for you!

Below are the supplies I used above--this technique will work with all your background stamps. Order your supplies today using my Shop Now button!


Is Sandi cooking?

Those of you who know me (and you don't need to know me well to know this) know that I don't cook! So, you say, what's that picture with the cooking stuff doing on Sandi's blog?

  3-4-16 cutting pads

inimum, I searched for a way to flatten them back out. Here's my recipe for doing just that.

If you have used your Big Shot a bit (especially with the Precision Base plate) you have most likely experienced the cutting pads (the clear plastic pads we use to sandwich the paper and embossing folders/dies) beginning to curl. In fact, after  a weekend of classes mine almost resemble C shape.

Well, wanting to conserve my spending and keep costs to a minimum I searched for a recipe to restore them to their original shape.

Make this sandwich:

  1. Cookie sheet lined with foil
  2. Place cutting pad on foil
  3. Set a couple of really heavy oven-proof casseroles on top of the cutting pad

Place this in the oven at 325F for 25 minutes. When you take it out, leave the casseroles sitting on the cutting pad until they cool.  I think you like the results.

Let me know how you do with this by leaving me a comment,

 

Eventually, you will need to replace them and when you do, you can purchase them through my store by using the Shop Now button with the information below:

 


Join the Club!!!

Join the Club!  

Sandi's Stampers Birthday Club

Don't you love to get a birthday card out of your mailbox--especially those that are hand-made? Well, so does everyone else. So we're starting a club.  It's really easy to join and be a member plus you get rewards! Read on!!

Sandi’s Stampers Birthday Club

  1. Sign up on birthday registry (shared with registry members)
  1. Mail 4 birthday cards each month--that’s only an average of 1/week
    (to anyone—registry, relatives, friends, co-workers, etc.)

OPTIONAL: Every 3 months you can come to a Birthday Card class

    -Cards are Express cards--simple, easy, cute (Class Fee only $20)
    -4 designs, 3 of each = the 12 cards you need to send for the next 3 months
First class 4/2 - reservations required

Now for the Rewards

    -Every 3 mo drawing for 
(Value = $15.75)

        -Package of cardstock
        -package of envelopes

 -During your birthday month receive a small gift from Sandi
-and you might receive birthday cards from your stamping friends!!

 Come on & join us, bring a smile to someone on their birthday!

Email: Sandihartka@sandilovesstamping (don't forget to include your birthday)

or

Phone: 410 836 8016

Join the fun right now!!!

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