For Love of Paper

Stamping Off Technique

Last week I challenged everyone to make a card using one color and one neutral. Here is a wonderful card created by my mom, Belinda. I love it when readers take the challenge and email me their creations. It's always fun to see how YOU interpret the challenge and I love sharing your results with everyone.

In this card she used Soft Suede and Whisper White. To get a little variation in color she said she "stamped off" before stamping the tree tops. Stamping off is a great technique to use when you want a slightly lighter version of any color. Just ink your stamp as you normally would, then lightly stamp it on scrap paper and then stamp it on your project.

I would love to have more people participate in the challenges I lay out to you from time to time. You can submit a challenge project any time. It doesn't have to be right away. 

Thanks for participating mom!

Kids need more than medicine, lend a hand at Cards for a Cause

How many of you remember being a kid and actually getting mail? Do you remember how excited you were? Now imagine your a kid with a serious illness. You'd be even more excited to receive mail just for you.

Lend a hand this Tuesday, March 9th by making inspiring cards for kids with serious, life threatening illnesses at Cards for a Cause.

Here's how it works:

• You pay $5
• You make 5 cards like the one above
• You keep one card
• Four of the cards you made go to Love Letters

If you can lend a hand and help make cards for these kids please click the button below.

Make Over Monday: Simple Circle Circus

For today's Make Over Monday Challenge I was inspired by this card created by SCS User mspfd. She actually CASED the card from SCS User kmahany.

Some days I feel like card inspiration is just another way of playing the six degrees of seperation from Kevin Bacon game, lol.

I'm always please dwhen I can make a card with Whisper White and one other color. This concept is especially nice for new stampers. Less overwhelming and easier on the pocket book.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Circle Circus and Thank You Kindly

Inks: Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black Classic Ink

Paper: Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry

Other: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch and 1 1/4" Circle Punch

So here is your challenge - Make a card using one neutral and one color. Email me your results and I'll share it with everyone.

Whatever Wednesday: Inspiration

I received an email last week from one of my reader's with this card attached. She said she was inspired by the Make Over Monday Card for the layout and then used the color combo from the card I had posted on Tuesday. Here's a look at her inspiration.

She had just received the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and knew she wanted to use it on her card. This is a great example of how to get inspiration from someone else's work and make it your own using the tools and supplies you have on hand.

So who is this mysterious reader? It's my mom, Belinda! Now you all know where I get my creative abilities. Mom had me crafting at the age of 3 and I haven't stopped since.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take inspiration from someone else and create!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Vintage Vogue and Whimsical Words

Inks: Soft Suede and Basic Black

Paper: Vellum Cardstock, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Soft Suede

Other: Half Pearls from the Pretties Kit, Sizzix Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch and Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon

 

Signs of Spring Card Class RESCHEDULED!

Everyone absolutely loves the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt Flowers. So much in fact they are now on back order. With this being said I am rescheduling the Signs of Spring Card Class originally scheduled for this Saturday to Saturday, March 20th. Everything else remains the same.

You can choose to add sentiments to your cards like the one's above or not like the one's below. It's your choice.

Saturday, March 20th

Signs of Spring Card Class

9 am to Noon

My House in Leander, Texas

Do you love the look felt embellishments give but don't know how to work with them?

This class features the new Sweet Pea Stitched Felt Flowers and will show you how to use them; including what type of adhesives work best and how to put them together.

Each participant will create eight cards total, two of each of the four designs shown. You will also receive eight envelopes and the remainder of your Sweet Pea Felt Flowers.

In addition to learning how to work with felt embellishments you will also be using the Sizzix Big Shot with the new Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder and the new Scallop Trim Border Punch giving you three new techniques to use on future projects.

Cost $25

Click the button below to register.

Make Over Monday: Petal Pizzaz

Today's Make Over Monday is going to be short and sweet (I'm a little under the weather.) People often ask me how I come up with my color combination's? This is such an easy answer. I just look through the catalog at all of the awesome Designer Series Papers. Under each package of DSP there is a list of the coordinating cardstock colors. There are you colors right there! Choose a couple or use them all, you can't go wrong. The Stampin' Up! designers have already done the tough work for you.

This card is a perfect example. The Sweet Pea DSP on page 33 of the Occasions Mini Catalog features eight colors. Here I have pulled out the So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive.

The card I chose as my inspiration for today's Make Over Monday, by Keri Michaud, did the same thing. She used another patterned paper and pulled her colors from there.

I have to say I really wished I owned a wider Pumpkin Pie Ribbon and I discovered I need more Happy Birthday stamps, but Make Over Monday is all about using what you have on hand.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Petal Pizzaz and Fresh Cuts

Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive 

Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue and Sweet Pea DSP

Other: 1/4" Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Shebet Designer Series Buttons, Stampin' Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dots

The feminine side of Totally Tool

Yesterday I promised to show you an easy way to get even more mileage from the Totally Tool stamp set. The obvious use for a stamp set full of tools is for masculine cards but these days more and more women are the tool owners. This is the case in my house so when I saw a fellow demonstrator make a card like this I thought how clever!

With the simple addition of the letter "S" you now have a whole new use for this stamp. Now it reads "SHE who has the most tools wins." I managed to write the "S" in with a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker. If you're not comfortable writing the letter in you could also use a diecut "S" from the Naturally Serif Sizzlit alphabet found on page 196 or stamp it using the Calendar Alphabet & Numbers stamp on page 151 of the current Idea Book & Catalog.

Supply List:

Stamps: Totally Tool and Priceless

Inks: Pretty in Pink (100459) and Going Gray Classic Ink (103274), Pretty in Pink (100045), Chocolate Chip (100071) and Going Gray Stampin' Write Markers

Paper: Chocolate Chip (102128), Whisper White (100730) and Sending Love DSP (117153)

Other: Sizzix Big Shot (113439) with Top Note Die (113463), Clip Assortment (112580), 1/4" Pretty in Pink Grosgrain Ribbon (109032), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Mini Glue Dots (103683) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

When you're creating sometimes you have to remember to think outside of the box!

Whatever Wednesday: Masculine Valentine

Creating a masculine Valentine is extra difficult because Valentine's is all about non-masculine things like hearts and pink. Thinking a little outside the box I remembered the Totally Tool stamp set and viola, a masculine Valentine was born. This stamp set allowed me to capture the feeling of Valentine's Day without the traditional fru-fru stuff.

Supply List:

Stamps: Totally Tool and Love You Much

Inks: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Going Gray and Pretty in Pink

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Taken with Teal and Sweet Pea DSP

Other: Tearing Edge Ruler, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon and a Stamping Sponge

Cutting:

• Chocolate Chip Card Base 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
• Sweet Pea DSP 3" x 5 1/2", tear 1/2" off
• Taken with Teal 2 7/8" x 2 1/4"
• Whisper White 2 5/8" x 2" and 5 1/4" x 4" (card liner)

If you're always in need of masculine cards check out the Totally Tool stamp set.

Totally Tool (113256) $25.95 

Click the online ordering button at the top right of this page or contact me via phone 512-259-5575 or email chris@forloveofpaper.com to order this awesome stamp set today!

Also be sure to stop back tomorrow and I'll show you a way to get even more use from this terrific stamp set.

Two different looks, one great card

Yesterday I promised I would show an example of how changing just the colors of a project can give it an entirely different look and feel. We all know different colors evoke different feelings and emotions.

As an example of this I took yesterdays Make Over Monday card and changed it from Basic Black, Whisper White and Melon Mambo to Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White (one of my favorite new color combos).

Supply List:

Stamps: none

Inks: none

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Soft Suede (115318) and Pretty in Pink (100459)

Other: Sizzix Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335), Heart of Hearts Embosslit (117332), Full Heart Punch (113693), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402 ask me how you can get this for FREE), Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon (115612) and Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (110755)

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Tip: When trying to adhere anything with a texture, like the hearts and background of this card with the polka dot texture, try using the Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive instead of SNAIL (tape runner). Sometimes the regular adhesives have trouble getting hold of the dots but there isn't anything the Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive won't stick to. It's also great for papers with glitter on them. Check it out on page 192 of the current Idea Book & Catalog.

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The next time you make a card you really like, give it another go around with different colors. This is a great way to stretch your creativity. If you've spent the time to create a card your really happy with use it again with different colors.

Make Over Monday: Melon Mambo Hearts

What is Make Over Monday?

Each Monday I begin with an inspiration project. From there I recreate the project using only tools and supplies I have on hand.

With Valentine's less than a week away I thought hearts would be a good focus for Make Over Monday. This card features one of this years terrific In Colors, Melon Mambo and three great new products, the Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Vintage Vogue Stamp Set and the Scallop Trim Border Punch, which you can earn for FREE! Contact me to find out how.

What attracted me to this card by Raquel were the colors. Combining black and white with any other vibrant color can't be beat. What makes the combination so great is the contrast between the colors. It results in a very crisp, modern look.

Other good colors to try with Basic Black and Whisper White:

• Real Red
• Crushed Curry
• Bermuda Bay
• Tempting Turquoise
• Orchid Opulence

Supply List:

Stamps: Vintage Vogue

Inks: Basic Black

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White and Melon Mambo

Other: Sizzix Big Shot with Heart of Hearts Embosslit and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Sherbet Designer Series Buttons, 5/8" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon and white crochet thread (non-SU!)

Be sure to stop back tomorrow and I'll show you how changing only the colors of a project can create a totally different look and feel.