Faux Mother of Pearl

In our April issue of Stampin' Success they outlined a technique called Faux Mother of Pearl.  The cards that were made using this technique turned out gorgeous, so you know I just had to try it.  There was just one problem, the technique required Frsot White Shimmer Paint, and all I had was Platinum Shimmer Paint.  Oh well, Platinum Shimmer Paint it is.  The card turned out pretty good with the Platinum, but you can bet the Frost White Shimmer Paint is on my next order.

I'm sure there is a tutorial out there on how to do this, but I'll just share the steps I took with you.

To start you need a paper plate or some type of washable hard surface and paper towels; I used a Stampin' Up! Clear Mount Block.  Shake your bottle of Shimmer Paint (whatever color you use) and pour a small amount on whatever surface you are using.  The bunch up some Saran Wrap, dip it into the Shimmer paint and then dab the excess onto a paper towel. 

Using this Saran Wrap dab it on your Glossy Card Stock lightly, being sure to leave white areas of the cardstock exposed, and let it dry.

This is what it will look like.

 
Once the Shimmer Paint dries then you can use either a Stamping Sponge or Brayer to add your ink. 

I did this with 3 different colors, and then used the Blossom Petals punch to punch out the shapes to make a flower and leaves for my card.  Which turned out like this...



In this picture you can get an idea of the pearlized look on the flower.

And this is the card without the glare.  As an after thought I should have punched out the shape for the Happy Easter using the finished Mother of Pearl card stock and then stamp my frame and greeting on that.  Oh well, next time.

Supplies

Card Stock:  Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Glossy White

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Four Frames

Ink:  Platinum Shimmer Paint, Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi

Punches:  Blossom Petals Punch, Decorative Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones, Basic Pearls, Old Olive 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder, Glue Dots, SNAIL, Dimensionals

Tips

1. My "happy easter" is crooked, but using a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig would have prevented that.
2. Check back soon for a tutorial on how to frame the Decorative Label Punch.

I hope you enjoyed my post today.

The Versality of Paint Chips

I am so excited about today's post; everyone of these cards make me smile!  I went to a Stampin' Up! Regional event in Hamilton last fall and this was a technique that was demonstrated in one of the WOW presentations.  That day I stopped at Home Depot on my way home and picked up some paint chips to play with.

And true to form, they sat in a drawer for the last 6 months until I finally pulled them out today and decided to start playing with them.  I made 4 different cards to show all of the options you have when using these to make cards with.

The first one is stamped with Whisper White Craft Ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder.  I stamped with the Whisper White Craft Ink because I was going to use White Stampin' Emboss Powder, but then changed my mind and did the embossing with Iridescent Ice.  Unfortunately, you can't see the sparkle of the "easter eggs" in the picture.

Supplies

Card Stock:  River Rock, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Stamp Set:  Easter Blossoms

Ink:  Whisper White Craft Ink, Rich Razzleberry Craft Ink, Versamark

Punches:  2" x 1-3/8" Oval

Accessories:  Stampin' Up! Subtles Brads (Pretty in Pink), Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, 5/8" Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon, Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. Big Shot, Dimesionals, SNAIL

For the second card I used Melon Mambo Craft Ink and Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder.

Supplies

Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo
Stamp Set: Elements of Style
Ink: Craft Melon Mambo, Classic Basic Black
Punches: 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval, Scallop Oval
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Big Shot, Pretty in Pink 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, SNAIL

Tips

1. I used the scraps from the paint chips to stamp the "Life is a Matter of Moments."

For my third card I used Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, and I gotta tell you I'm loving how this one turned out!!



Supplies

Card Stock:  Naturals White, Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise

Stamp Sets:  Bliss, Occasional Quotes

Ink:  Versamark

Punches:  Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Ticket Corner Punch

Accessories:  Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Stampin' Up! Brights Brads (Tempting Turquoise), Black Stampin; Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Basic Black 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, SNAIL, Paper Snips

Tips

1. I used the Paper Piercer and Mat Pack to make holes exactly where I want the Brads to sit.
2. When putting Brads in the corner I often get a part of the back of the brad that sticks out past the edge of the paper.  When that happens I use my Paper Snips to cut off the excess.

My last card is my favourite, I love the look of the white embossing with the blue.

Supplies

Card Stock:  Night of Navy, Whisper White

Stamps:  Charming, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Craft Whisper White

Punches:  Pinking Hearts Border Punch

Accessories:  Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Sticky Strip, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat tool

Tips

1. To get this look with the ribbon, I pulled a couple threads length wise from the middle of the ribbon, and as I pulled that thread the ribbon bunched up.  I then placed a piece of sticky strip across the Night of Navy Card Stock and then layed the ribbon on that Sticky Strip to hold it in place.

Well, that's all for today, I hope you enjoy my post as much as I enjoyed making these cards.  

Springtime Smiles

Today's post is in honor of the snow we just got...ugh!!! I'm not complaining because it could be worse, but I'm just in desperate need for some sunshine, it's been a long winter.
The stamp I used for this card is a silhouette, and to be sure I got a good solid image from the stamp I did heat embossing with black Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder 

Supplies

Cardstock:  Basic Black, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper:  Love Letter

Stamp Set:  Easter Blossoms

Classic Ink:  Basic Black

Ink:  Versamark

Punches:  Scallop Oval, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval

Accessories:  Chantilly 1/2 Crochet Trim, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Embossing Buddy, SNAIL

Enjoy

Another Shaving Cream Card

This is another card I made using the shaving cream technique from http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/, using a different "batch" of shaving cream. 

Supplies
Card Stock:  Basic Black, Naturals White
Stamp Sets:  Lovely As A Tree, Thank You Kindly
Ink:  Classic Basic Black, Versamark
Reinkers:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Black Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Basic Black Brads, Embossing Body, SNAIL, Shaving Cream

Tips

1. When I made this card I used more drops of reinker and left the shaving cream on the card a little longer than the first one, that's why this one has a lot mor color.
2. The embossing buddy is a must when heat embossing, it helps keep the embossing powder off the cardstock.
3. Have LOTS of paper towels close by when doing the shaving cream technique.

I hope you enjoyed my post today.

It's A Messy Job!

Today's post is a tutorial that I found on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/.  It's a tutorial on how you go from this

to this...

To start, fill your tray (I used the small Stampin' Up! Powder Pals tray) with shaving cream and add a few drops of Stampin' Up! reinkers.

And with a wooden stick swirl the reinker around in the shaving cream.





Take your cardstock and lay it into the tray of shaving cream, making sure you have the front of the cardstock completely covered with the shaving cream.

Now here comes the messy part.



Using paper towels wipe the shaving cream off the cardstock in a swirly motion.

When you take the cardstock out of the shaving cream, you can also place a second piece of cardstock over the first piece and 'smush' it into the shaving cream.



So when you pull them apart both pieces of cardstock will be covered with shaving cream.

Wipe the shaving cream off these in a swirl motion as well.  The longer the shaving cream is on the cardstock the darker the color will be

After you let the cardstock dry you can use it in a lot of different ways.  This is the first card I made.



Supplies

Cardstock:  Confetti White, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue

Stamp Sets:  Heartfelt Thanks, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Classic Ink:  Basic Black, Pretty in Pink

Reinkers:  Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery

Accessories:  Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, SNAIL

Tips

1. Use a neutral cardstock for the shaving cream, I used Confetti White.
2. I haven't tried it, but I don't know if using Whisper White cardstock would be good, it isn't very heavy.

This is the second card I made with the same 'batch' of shaving cream.

Supplies
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Confetti
Stamp Sets:  Artistic Etchings and Tiny Tags
Classic Ink:  Basic Black
Punches:  Jewelry Tag, 1/16" Handheld Circle Punch, Top Note Die
Accessories:  Basic Black 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Stamping Sponge, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

I hope you try out this technique, and if you post it to your blog let me know so I can check it out.

Stylish Blogger Award

Hi All ~
How exciting is this, I received a Stylish Blogger Award from Nicki Shoppis; this is my first blogger award.  I love it, thank you Nicki!!!  Be sure to check out her blog, she has some great posts http://www.inkpaperstamp.com/.
When you recieve a blogger award there are 4 things that you are supposed to do...

1. Thank the person that gave you the award and link it back to their blog.
• Nicki Shoppis SU! demonstrator sent me the award, her blog is http://www.inkpaperstamp.com/
2. Share 8 things about yourself
• I am a Registered Nurse and have worked in oncology nursing for 18 years.
• I live in Rochester, NY but I'm Canadian.
• I have 2 cats; Marvin and Muzby.
• I don't have any children, but I do have an 18 year old nephew, DJ, who I adore.
• My favouite hobbies are paper crafting, reading, cross stitching and watching Stewie on Family Guy.
• I love being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'm only a hobbyist, but I've met a lot of great people and made some wonderful friends since becoming a demonstrator.
• I currently am working as the Interim Nurse Manager on my unit (Blood and Marrow Transplant) and even though it is a challenge and makes me step out of my comfort zone everyday, I am really enjoying it.
• My favourite SU! colors are Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso.
3. Pass this award onto 8 other bloggers
• Sherri Clarke http://sherrisspace.blogspot.com/
• Lori Burkitt http://www.stampingwithlulu.blogspot.com/
• Holly Krautkremer http://rubberredneck.typepad.com/
• Kendra Richardson http://kendrascorner.blogspot.com/
• Anne Marie Hile http://stampinanne.blogspot.com/
• Nataliya http://lovecraftsforever.blogspot.com/
• Lori Ingebritson http://mycheerystampinspace.blogspot.com/
4. Leave a comment so they can pass along the recognition.

Thanks again Nicki!