A Little Piece of Art Stampers

Cut 'em up, baby!

Hi all,

I have to tell you that I am pretty excited about this tutorial...I actually demonstrated this technique this weekend to all the demonstrators who attended the MIlwaukee Regional and they seemed to LOVE it so I hope you will too!  So here we go:

First of all, you are going to need to buy an extra Polka Dot and Finial Press Embossing Folder...trust me!!

Second, get out your craft and rubber scissors because we are going to cut up that second folder of each!

In fairness, I got the idea to do this from a fellow demonstrator, Sandi, so it is not my original idea, but I just love it!  My favorite thing to do is when I see an idea, to try and work with it a little more and see what else I can come up with along the same lines!!

This is the polka dot embossing folder--I cut it with my craft and rubber scissors (one layer at a time).  The polka dots folder was cut one row at a time (1 row of dots for the first piece, 2 rows for the second piece, etc.)  I have only cut 3 pieces so far, but intend to do the rest of the folder...just didn't wat to go too crazy! :)

This is the finial press embossing folder and in order to cut this one, I used a pen to draw lines along the design that I wanted.  Again, I cut one layer at a time.  You can see I have stars that I put on with a sharpie marker.  The reason for this is so that when I run this along a card, I can know which side will be EMBOSSED and then the other side will be DEBOSSED.

Here is a little closer look!

When you go to emboss, make sure you line the embossing folder piece up so that the ends are together.

If the piece is off, like in this picture, it will emboss badly...see next photo:

In this photo, you can see what it looks like when it is NOT lined up (top row) and when it is lined up (bottom photo).

The correct sandwich for embossing with these strips is using the Multi-purpose platform with NO TABS as shown here.  Use the two pieces of clear cutting plastic as usual, but when you add that extra tab, the edges of your cut lines can show like this....

Do you see the edges along the top of the pattern?  When you take away that tab 1, everything is good!!

:)

This card is one I got an idea from another demonstrator, and I used the Scallop Circle, Clear Circle and Polka-dot embossing folder for the big shot.  The colors are So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay.  I used the Sets, Greenhouse Garden and Warm words along with the grass from Inspired by Nature.

This card uses the stamp set, Happy Moments (from Sale-a-bration) and the Finial press folder.  The colors are Sahara Sand, Taken with Teal, and Chocolate Chip.  The printed paper is from Sweet Pea and the Ribbon is Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain.

This is a card done with the Finial Press Embossing Folder plus teh Beautiful Butterflies Die.  Colors are Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Kraft and Versamark.  Stamps are Define Your Life plus the Defining Alphabet.  I thought that the Butterflies from Bigz Die needed some texture ever since the Wonderful Wings Embosslit came out!

This is a card that my friend Sarah made after the Milwaukee Regionals this year! She invited me and my friend Gwen to her house after the Regional to stamp.  I can't tell you how much fun we had--what a treat!!  I loved seeing her stamp area (her SAINTLY husband, her sweet kids and some of her downline members, too!!)  We hung out for several hours and made a few cards...this one was one that she came up with and we all helped make it.  Stamps are Awash with Leaves plus Elements of Style (a set coming in next Month's mini catalog!  Colors are Certainly Clelery, Rose Red, Black StazOn, and Whisper White.  LOVE IT (and a HUGE thank you to Sarah!!)

This is the card I demonstrated at the Regional Seminar.  I LOVED this one, if I can say so!! :)  I used the Fancy Flower stamp set (which is on SALE this month!!) plus I used Teeny Tiny Words (except I gave the sample that had the greeting on it to Stampin Up and this one didn't have that stamped on it... :)  It was right above the white taffeta knot.  The solid flower was inked up in Barely Banana ink, and then I did kind of a Reverse "Rock and Roll" technique--I sponged some pumpkin pie ink in the center...I prefer to call that "Easy Listening" :)  It gives the shaded look that is so beautiful!!  I then stamped the outline image over the top in Close to cocoa.   The top note is cut out of vellum cardstock and embossed with the finial press folder strip.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!

This card was done in kraft cardstock and uses the polka dot embossing folder.  I also used the Dots and Designs Rub Ons --the white design was rubbed onto blush blossom cardstock and then I did a "one row" on the top and a 2-row on the bottom of the strip.  The flowers are cut from felt on the Flower Layers Die and with a sparkly fabric (from the bridal section of the fabric store) with the Blossom party die. A kraft corduroy brad adn the birthday greeting from On Your Birthday in white makes this card fun!!

This is a 2-page 12x12 spread that we made at my scrap club last week.  The stamps are Awash with Flower sand Gallery...I was also thinking it would be fun to add happy spring as a title using the Simple Letters Die set.  The colors are Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, and Pumpkin Pie.  The Wonderful Wings embosslet was used along with the Sherbet Buttons.  I embossed one edge of each of the colored panels with the finial press folder.

This is a card I made using a new set coming in next month's Mini catalog called Watercolor Trio.  The colors are Old Olive, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, and Kraft.  A little white taffeta and the Ornament Punch (from the Holiday Mini catalog....but it is still available for purchase.  Just cut the bottom of the punch off and add a little embossing.

I tried several different strips for the pot...you could do anything!!

Hope you've enjoyed the tutorial...leave a comment and let me know what you think!  Have a great day! 
   

 

Basket Tutorial

Hi everyone,

I've seen a bunch of these baskets lately, so I thought I'd share with you how super simple they are to make:

 
You need a square piece of paper...the bunny basket is done with a 9x9 piece of paper scored at 3 "

You can also use a 6x6 piece of paper scored at 2" or a 12x12 piece of paper scored at 4"

I will show you how to make the bunny basket shown:

-start with a 9x9 piece of printed paper (mine is from Shades of Spring in the Mini Catalog)  And score on all sides at 3"

The scoring forms 9 squares...on each corner box, score on the diagonal from the corner point to the center square as shown.  On the 6x6 size you can do it on your scor-pal, but on the larger sizes you need a ruler and a bone folder or stylus.

 

Once you've scored all the corner squares, fold on all the score lines.

Bring the folds together to form edge of box.

Using your poker, put a piece of ribbon or a strip of cardstock between the layers (so it is hidden) and punch a hold through all of the layers and add a brad.

Here is the side view of my bunny basket...I used the pretty in pink epoxy brads from the mini catalog and a 1"x 8 1/2" piece of pretty in pink cardstock.

The bunny is made with a 1 3/4" circle punch, Small and large oval punches, 2- 1/2" circle punches and a Soft Subtle brad.  I chalked the ears and cheeks with the pastels plus a touch of pink taffeta ribbon.  The black marker does the eyes and a scrap of white makes teeth...Super Cute!!!!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!!

   
  
  

Scallop Border and Corner Tutorial

Finally, I've got a Tutorial for the scallop border and corner punches.  I will admit these can be a little frustrating--but when you've got a few little tidbits of info, they are EASY!!

Here we go...

Start with a piece of 4 1/4" square piece of cardstock. 

One thing I didn't realize is that there is a small guide (see I am pointing to each of them).  If you put your piece of paper along the guide, you can punch a perfect corner....

Here is what you get once you've done all the corners.  Now you could totally stop here and I think this looks great--but use the border punch, too and you can have the whole square piece perfect...

Start by lining up a corner on one of the corner pictures on the border punch. 

Notice the paper will line up on one corner (but not the other).  Make sure the un-punched edge is actually touching the back edge of the punch (as in your paper is in all the way).  Punch...

Here is what you get,....but you've got a little bit left that is not punched...what to do?  In order to get a perfect edge, you need to turn the punch over

This shows that the top scallop is where the left over un punched area is...the bottom 3 scallops are lined up with the previously punched areas.  You only want that top scallop to be the one that is punching the left over areas.  Why?

Well, if you shift them up, the bottom scallops can punch into the bottom corner (or vice-versa).  When you have more than one scallops' worth of space to punch, line up the top two (and so on) spots to punch the remaining scallops.

Here is the perfect edge...continue with the remainder of the square...

 
Here are some more square sizes (they are the sizes of the paper before punching...plus one more I did not have in the picture (4 3/4")

So what if you want a rectangle?  Use a combination of sizes (for instance 3 3/16"x 2 7/16")

Here is a BEAUTIFUL card that I made based on something my good friend,Kimberly made):

The square I started with for the scallops is 3 13/16--it is a funky size but it works great!!  Hope you enjoyed this tutorial...let me know if you have any questions!

A WHEELY great tutorial

I'm sorry for that title...I couldn't help myself! :)  The other day, during the blizzard, I got into a groove and came up with all of this....

I was looking at the cover of our latest Stampin' Success Magazine (it is the monthly magazine that all demonstrators recieve from Stampin Up--it has stamping ideas, business tips, contests, and more).  There was an ADORABLE sample that had "LOVE" on it and I was trying to figure out where that came from...and then realized that it was from the I {Love} Love wheel (the wheel that coordinates with the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set from the Mini).  I of course love that set and I wanted to use the Love--but rather than just inking up that part of the wheel, I thought...CUT THAT BABY UP!  So here is what I did...

 This is the wheel--look for the seam.

Cut along the seam with a craft knife.

The cut seam allows you to peel off the rubber easily (some of the adhesive may remain--it rubs off easily).

Now take your craft and rubber scissors (remember the ones you used to cut your stamps out with)...you need something to do with those lonely scissors anyway, right?! :) Start cutting it up! You can actually get 18-19 different images out of the wheel depending on how you cut them!   Here is what I came up with:

Trim really close around each image.  Now that we have clear blocks you can use the images on them and see much better where you are stamping them when you go to use them.  I used an A, B, C and H block to stamp all of these...you don't even need that many...all you need is a little strip of sticky strip on the block and then stick the rubber to the block...it is really easy and works over and over!

You can see on the first one I stuck the sticky strip on the rubber...then onto the block.  When I took it off the block, the sticky strip stayed on the block (which worked great because then I just stuck the next piece of rubber on when I was ready).  I ended up re-using the block with different pieces of rubber SEVERAL times and it was still sticky!  I was glad to see they would interchange so easily!

This is what it looks like mounted!

So you may be thinking, how do you store these little rubber gems? 

I put 2 lines of sticky strip at the bottom of my plastic case and then I ended up needing another strip on the opposing side (you'll see it in the next pic).  All the rubber stuck to it--and there were no problems with it interferring with the actual stamps in the case or the other pieces.

 

This is the first project I made...very simple and super cute (if I can say so!!) 

This is a card that I made using the Hugs notes and the new glassine envelopes--ran them right through the Finial Press embossing folder.  The colors are Rich Razzleberry and Basic Black. How pretty!  I got the idea for this from my upline, Tami and my good friend, Chari shared it with me!

This is probably my favorite card because you could never do this without a stamp positioner except now the clear blocks let you see the way.... :)  I did practice stamping this a couple of times for the arrangement on my scrap paper.

This is a cute little Love note...I was thinking I could tuck this in Ella's Backpack for a little sweet note for her...she would love that and someone needs to start writing love notes to her who is not her little boyfriend at school...sheesh! :)

Nope, nevermind...this one is my very favorite!!  This is very loosely based on a card they showed us at Leadership--but it really is only similar in the colors.  LOVE LOVE LOVE it...and it has the Fine Flourish individual stamp from the Mini.

 
Another fun card!

Don't forget about using the wheel as a whole...I really love it!!  By the way, this is the "LOVE" that I was talking about when I saw the cover of our magazine at the beginning of this...Isn't it cute!?

Here is a fun card and if you are in my Hostess club, this card is made with some left over strips from the card we made at club--I always have left over strips when I cut cardstock...I finally put them to good use!

This card has the full wheel in the background as well, but it is hard to see..,

:)  Another fun one!

And finally, if you think it is really fun to cut these babies apart, here are some other suggestions of wheels that you can cut apart:

Batty (p. 26 of main catalog)

Bright Blessings (p. 27 of main catalog)

Hero (p. 67)

Friendly Words (p. 100) this is the very best one!!  Lots of great sayings--but you have to sacrifice one of them because there are 2 intertwined sayings.

It's Beautiful (p. 106).  WHile this is not a word stamp, I love some of the images in this wheel as stand alone stamps!

HOpe you like it...do you want to see more tutorials like this on my blog?  Leave a comment to let me know!  
 

Why I {Heart} Clear-Mounts

Well, When it is snowy, blustery, and cold, what better time to get your Stamping On!!  I had a very productive day--I started out just needing a couple of projects for my Valentine Treats class, and I came up with some great stuff...but I wanted to share something with you....

Why I {Heart} clear mounted stamps by Dena Rekow

My little essay is fun, simple and filled with pictures but it gets down to this...while I was totally on board when Stampin Up announced Clear Mounts (and I am pretty sure I will never look back), I was surprised at how several of my very long time, regular customers were not as excited as me about them...so I did what any good demonstrator would do...I let them try both clear and wood in the same night and EVERY single one of them were hooked...and even the brand new stampers I've got were hooked and I think the basic reason is that you can see what you are doing!  What a concept! 

Now, when you feel our clear blocks in your hand, they just feel good--they are soft, smooth...almost like a little jewel in your hand.  I swear I could hang one from my neck like a pendant (I know, I'm a little over the top, but since the Simply Adorned line is out, I won't have to do that!)  They come in 9 sizes, though I have found that the B and C sizes are the ones I am using the most thus far. The bundle has all the blocks and it is discounted over purchasing them individually.  Most of my real die-hard customers went for the bundle, but if you would like to just try a few I can help you figure out exactly which ones you need.

SO, the stamps come a little differently...in a plastic DVD case.  The front pictues the images in the set in full size like this:

The spine looks like this:

All the images are listed (scaled down in size, of course) but the cool thing is you can see every image when they are sitting like this...and then you know whether you are taking the right case out for a particular stamp (or to figure out where that loose stamp goes).

Here is the back....you can see each image (they stick to the plastic--though they do come off easily) and then you can hold up the block to the image to make sure you are grabbing the right size block!

It is so easy!  Once you pull out your image, then you press it to the block for a second and it is stuck!

Now that it is stuck, you can use it...but say it doesn't stick well...either you didn't press it on long enough...it literally takes 2-3 seconds, or your block is dirty.  All you need to do is wash your block in regular dishwashing soap to remove the oils from your hands, glue, schmutz (is that how you spell it?) and you are good to go.  So far I have not washed any blocks and some of them are pretty gucky after club! :)

Okay, so here is your stamp...
now ink up and go to town...they stay on really well--I have had them fall off once in a while when I go to scrub them on my Stampin' Scrub...just stick them back on and continue.  I am impressed how well they hold, but pop off easily when you are done with them!

So here is where it is really great...though the light from the camera kind of blocks it, you can see through where you are stamping and line things up perfectly!

The shot is blurry, but CLEARLY you can see how perfectly things have lined up!

And when was the last time you had a perfect card, then botched it up when you stamped the words crooked...I do it all the time!!!!!  I think the small skinny words are where these clear blocks really shine!

And this is how they look...simple and easy.  The best part about this entire deal is once you have the blocks, you are set--and the most expensive part of the stamp is the wood.  The size of the cases and the ability to just use one set of blocks makes this both economical as well as storage-friendly.  I don't know about you guys out there, but storage is a bit of an issue after 11 years!  Andy, my husband, calls my stamp room the BLACK HOLE because the sheer density of stuff I have packed in here could very well suck the rest of the house in someday....(did I mention my husband is an actual rocket-scientist...that explains the humor).

Now, did I mention that the clear stamps are LESS EXPENSIVE?!?!  Yes, the best part is the cost savings.  For example the set, I {Heart} Hearts...the set that is on the Haitian Relief deal--it is $26.95 in wood and $18.95 in clear....That is some real savings!

I hope this clears up some questions on the clear mount stamp system--I hope you will give them a try--or stop over and check them out for yourselves...I am ALWAYS happy to show them off!