For Love of Paper

Make Over Monday: Masculine Masking

The card I chose to make over this week was created by staffers over at Hero Arts. The used a large background stamp and added the rust leaf over top.

I don't have a background stamp like this so I made my own. Rather I figured out how to get the same look but instead of stamping it I created the look with masking.

Masking is one of the best secrets in any stampers bag of tricks. I started with four strips of notebook paper, each about 2" by the width of the paper. Then I used a Grid Sheet and my Tearing Edge Ruler to give one side of each strip a deckled edge. Then I taped the four strips together to form an open rectangle, which was my mask. Next I adhered the mask onto my card with temporary adhesive. Last I sponged Sahara Sand Classic Ink inside the mask (Tip: work from the outside in so your ink doesn't get under the mask) and stamped the feather from Nature's Nest in Dusty Durango.

I thought about adding a definition from the Define Your Life stamp set but decided the simplicity of the card really made a statement on its own. You could add any sentiment to the inside and you've got a great masculine card or tie a set of these up with some twine or raffia and you've got yourself a terrific little gift.

If you'd like to learn masking be sure to sign up for the March Technique Club Class on Saturday, March 6th from 9 am to Noon. Not only will you learn masking but three different types of masking while creating three cards; all for only $15. (For more information visit my calendar page by clicking the link on the right and scroll down to March 6th.)

Seating is very limited.

Click the link below to sign up today.

September Technique Club Project #3

This fall beauty will be the third project for the September Technique Club. Remember anyone is welcome to come to the Technique Club Class.

What: September Technique Club

When: Saturday, September 5th 9am to Noon or Tuesday, September 8th 6 to 9pm

Where: My House in Leander, TX

Cost: FREE to all Technique Club Members or $5 for non-members

To reserve your seat simply email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com or give me a call 512-259-5575.

To see Project #1 visit this blog post.

To see Project #2 visit this blog post.

When I last posted I mentioned I was having my wisdom teeth taken out. Well I did and didn't have really any pain to speak of for days, but then I ended up with a dry socket and am also now on antibiotics and going back in again tomorrow morning. I'm not sure how it happened but it seems they took some of my brain out with my teeth  . . . . long roots? I have been so scatter brained ever since.

September Technique Club Project #2

I love Halloween, so I was quite excited to be able to incorporate this little Frankenstein box into next month's Technique Club.

If you're not familiar with Technique Club this is what it is in a nutshell. Club will begin again in January 2010. At that time 12 people will agree to attend class once a month, make a minimum purchase each month and the hostess benefits rotate through the twelve people.  The class is held the same day and time each month at my house in Leander, Texas (just outside of Austin). This is really a great way to learn how to use products you have already and try out new ones. And it easily puts your stamping addiction, uh, I mean hobby on a monthly budget.

While the next club doesn't begin again until January if this is something you think you might be interested in be sure to drop me a note and I'll put you on the list to contact later in the year. And beginning next year there will also be a monthly scrapbook club!

What: September Technique Club

When: Saturday, September 5th 9am to Noon or Tuesday, September 8th 6 to 9pm

Where: My House in Leander, TX

Cost: FREE to all Technique Club Members or $5 for non-members

To reserve your seat simply email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com or give me a call 512-259-5575.

To see Project #1 visit this blog post.

On a more personal note I am having all four of my wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow morning so if I'm MIA for a few days I'm just recovering on my couch.

Stock up on Crayola

I absolutely LOVE this card. What's so terrific about it you ask? Check out the inside.

It's a birthday card with a little gift inside! The child gets a birthday card they can color themselves with the crayons right inside.

Leave off the birthday greeting and it would be a great party favor or little something to give toddler/preschool age children as a back to school gift. The little one's may not get to start school like their big brothers or sisters but this way they get their own little back to school supplies too.

Here is a little closer shot of the inside.

If you are loving this little card as much as I am be sure to sign up to attend September's Technique Club Class, this will be one of the three projects everyone will complete. And be sure to stock up on crayons. With all the back to school sales you can get a box of 24 Crayola Crayons for about twenty five cents. Each card holds eight crayons, so that's three cards per box.

What: September Technique Club

When: Saturday, September 5th 9am to Noon or Tuesday, September 8th 6 to 9pm

Where: My House in Leander, TX

Cost: FREE to all Technique Club Members or $5 for non-members

To reserve your seat simply email me at chris@forloveofpaper.com or give me a call 512-259-5575.

Want to learn something new?

Join me from 9am to Noon on Saturday, August 1st to learn three new techniques.

• How to make a spinner card
• Mist'n Stamp Water Colors
• Adding the look of metal

Here is what you'll be making.

If you are part of Technique Club then class is FREE! If you are not part of the club then you can come to class for only $5 or place an order of $20 or more and your class is FREE too!

Call me at 512-259-5575 or drop me an email at chris@forloveofpaper.com by Thursday, July 30th to reserve your seat!

July Card Swap

Each month some of the ladies from the Saturday Technique Club choose to participate in a swap. Each month I also give them an assignment or challenge for their swap card. For July I gave them a sketch I found online.

Here are the results of our swap.

By Anna

By Becky

By Belinda, aka Mom

By Chris, aka ME

By Deborah

By Loretta

Now you can participate in our monthly swaps virtually! Each month when I post the swap cards I will also post the assignment for the following month. If you'd like to participate just complete your assignment and email a picture of your creation to me at chris@forloveofpaper.com. Your creations do need to be completed with at least 75% Stampin' Up! product.

August Assignment: Complete a card using one pastel color, black and white.

Look what's in store for the July Technique Club!

If you'd like to get more from the stamping supplies you already own and try out some new ones before you purchase them the monthly Technique Club Class is perfect for you.  Each month three new techniques are featured on three cards/projects.

Here is what's in store for July . . .

1. Brayered Roses

2. Hodgepodge Hardware Bookmark

3. Stamping on Twill Tape

July's Technique Club Class will take place on Saturday, July 11th from 9am to Noon and again on Tuesday, July 14th from 6 to 9pm.  If you'd like to join the class please RSVP by Monday, July 6th.  The $5 supply is due at class.

Classes are held at my home in Leander, TX.

June Swap Cards

Each month members of the Technique can choose to participate in a swap with a little challenge attached to it.  June's assignment was to create a card using Designer Series Paper or to create your own DSP using stamps.

As usual everyone did a fantastic job!

By Anna V.
Featuring the Raspberry Tart DSP and Tres Chic Background Stamp.

By Becky T.
Becky made her own DSP using the Boho Backgrounds Stamp Set.

By Belinda Z. (aka my mom)
Belinda also made her own patterned paper by stamping the small flower from Blooming with Love and then coloring the flower petals with the Signo White Gel Pen. Great background not to mention the phenomenal water coloring.

By Chris Twing, ME
This card uses both the Parisian Breeze DSP and some I created using the outline flower from Heartfelt Thanks (on the retiring list, get it before it's gone) and the white gel pen for accents.

By Deborah M.
Featuring the Puns from the Past Stamp Set.

By Retta M.

Featuring the Summer Picnic DSP and sentiment from the Heard from the Heart Stamp Set.

By Tani J.

Featuring Urban Garden DSP and my favorite little butterfly from the Great Friend Stamp Set.

Catch the Wave . . . Technique.

Andrea Walford came up with this awesome Wave Technique a few months back and I love it!. It always amazes me at the inventive, out-of-the-box ways, stampers use tools and supplies.

This technique is definitely wowie, but as with most techniques, it is fairly simple.  To make the wave you'll need your Big Shot, the Swirl Sizzlit and the necessary cutting pads.

1. Cut a strip of paper 3-4" wide and up to 12" long.
2. Run your paper through the Big Shot with the Swirl Sizzlit.
3. Remove the Swirl and snip the ends to separate the inverse (normally the trash part) into two pieces. You should now have three pieces as shown below.

The inverse/trash pieces are what create the waves.

Note: I did notice anytime I ran a strip 12" long through the Big Shot with the Swirl Sizzlit it came out wavey, the paper itself was no longer flat. But when I sent it through in shorter pieces, like 8" long, this didn't happen. So unless you need the entire 12" length as I did in my Pool Pals layout, I suggest using the shortest piece that will work for your project.

One of the great things about this technique is if your a card maker you get lots of wave pieces from one pass through the Big Shot.

If you'd like to make a wave or two yourself here is the recipe for this card.

Catch the Wave Card Recipe (one per page)
Catch the Wave Card Recipe (four per page)

Swirl 113456 $19.95 pg. 198 of the Spring Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog

June Technique Club

The first half of Technique Club met last night and really enjoyed the projects.  The second half of Technique Club will meet this Saturday morning from 9am to Noon.  Please email or call me if you'd like to attend Saturday, everyone is welcome even if you don't belong to the club and the cost is only $5.

These water color roses have been hot, hot, hot among the stamping community in the last couple months.  Everyone is so amazed once the rose dries at how beautiful it turned out. The secret to this technique is lots of water and Stampin' Ups! Shimmer White Paper.

Water Color Rose Card (one per page)
Water Color Rose Card Recipe (four per page)

I love this card! It is so fun. Though I used different stamps and paper I CASED this card from Candice Aguilar. If you like it as much as I do be sure to get the stamp set and wheel asap, they are both on the retiring list.

Click here to order them both (113504) Life's A Breeze and (116260) Somethin' Fishy online. 

Pocket Gel Card Template

Sun Fun Gel Card Recipe (one per page)
Sun Fun Gel Card Recipe (four per page)

So this card doesn't appear to have any fancy techniques, but looks can be deceiving! The top of the card is done using the Friendly Word Jumbo Wheel and so is the sentiment, "you've got a friend in me". This look is achieved by getting a second Friendly Words roller, peeling it from it's base and cutting the phrases out.  From there you can follow my unmounting tutorial to add the sticky to the back of each phrase stamp and use them with an acrylic block.

Double Friendly Words Card Recipe (one per page)
Double Friendly Words Card Recipe (four per page)

Don't forget to call or email me to reserve a seat in Saturday's Technique Class and you can complete all three of these gorgeous cards for only $5.

512-259-5575 or chris@forloveofpaper.com