Scalloped Ruffle

This is a card we made at my downline meeting. The technique they were learning was how to make the scalloped ruffle around the oval. Theirs turned out better than mine, I think I'm ruffle-challenged! But I thought I could show this to you anyway!


To make the ruffle, I used a 12x1 inch piece of designer paper. I punched a border with the Scallop Edge Punch, then ran it thru the crimper. Stamp your image and punch out. Then put sticky strip on the back side of your punched image. Starting with one end of your designer paper, attach it to the sticky strip, kind of gathering it as you go. Continue all the way around, it will take most of the 12 inch strip of paper. And that's basically all there is to it! I'd say practice makes perfect on this one, but it sure is fun to learn!

Fantastic Window Cards!

It's been awhile since I've used acetate, and made a window card. Toni Ellison did this card for a swap, and that gave me the incentive to try out this technique again! The front of the card is framed acetate. She stamped the butterfly images and the swirly greeting on the outside of the card with Stazon ink. Then on the opposite side, she mixed reinkers with Crystal Effects and painted it inside the butterfly, then added glitter.


This is actually a tri-fold card, so when you open it up, you can see how the butterflies are on the front window of the card, but the "Thinking of You" and other flowers are on the inside.

Then you open the 3rd fold, and there are more images, plus a place to write your own message. Isn't this just cool?

So I decided we needed to do a card like this at Stamp Camp. I made my card a little bit smaller, just to make my limited supply of acetate stretch further! I stamped the one big flower on the front with Stazon, then painted and glittered on the other side.

Inside the first fold I stamped the birthday greeting and other flower images. This stamp set is new and is called Garden Greetings. The ribbon is attached at the back of the card and when you close it, I just tied it with one little knot, bringing it to the front thru the punched slot.

And then here's the inside of the 3rd fold. Just a few more flowers and room for my message. I know this card looks hard, and it does have a lot of steps, but it went together pretty easily. The worst part was cutting out the frames. I used my Fiskars cutter, but doing a lot of them was a bit time consuming. My friend, June, gave me a great idea, and I plan to try it out soon. Rather than cutting out all those frames, she suggested I use a Big Shot die, like the scallop circle, to make the frame. Now wouldn't that be much easier?

So, I hope you liked this card! I think my Stamp Campers did!

Upsy Daisy

Today I want to show you the card we did at my Technique & Template Stamp Club meeting last month. The stamped image is from "Upsy Daisy", which just so happens to be on sale this month! I am really liking all the new silhouette stamps, especially this one!



The technique I used for the background is called the Plastic Wrap Technique. I laid a piece of plastic wrap flat on the table, then randomly drew short lines all over it with Old Olive and Not Quite Navy markers. Then I spritzed it with water, and crumpled it into a ball. Next, unfold the plastic wrap and lay flat again, wet side up! Place a piece of glossy white card stock on top of that, give it a rub, and then pull it off. You get this awesome colored background, and they all look a little different! The greeting was punched out with the brand new Wide Oval Punch - so great! And take a look at the ribbon, it's so gorgeous! It's the Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon and it's double sided, with Very Vanilla on the other side. Now if it only came in more colors!

Magic Re-inker

As you probably know, in my Stamp Clubs we do a new technique, plus use a design template. We did a technique with the reinkers this past month, and I called it "Magic Reinker"! How original is that?! This is very similar to the polished stone technique, but actually easier because it dries, unlike the metallic inks used with polished stone.





First you emboss a line image on glossy white card stock, using the VersaMark pad and white EP. Next you dip a cotton ball into alcohol, don't make it too wet, and then put 2 drops of two coordinating colors onto the cotton ball. In the above picture I used Rose Red and Regal Rose. You then dab the cotton ball all over the embossed image until the card stock is completely covered. Don't overdo it or the colors will get muddy. Then you heat it again. The color will evaporate off of the embossed image and it pops through. It's really cool!

On this card I used Brilliant Blue and Bashful Blue. The heart image is from the Always stamp set - isn't it beautiful? If you click on the pictures they will enlarge and you will be able to see in the upper left corner how I paper pierced a triangular design. Very easy to do with the template that comes with the mat pack. Paper piercing is a lot of fun, and adds just a bit of interest to the card.

Chalkboard Technique

I'm back! It's been awhile since I've posted, but it's been a busy week! As most of you know, I was offering a huge special to help me earn the 2009 Stampin' Up! incentive trip to Hawaii. I want to thank each and every one of you that placed an order, showed the catalog around to your friends, and sent me words of support! It always amazes me how all of you get excited about sending ME on a trip! Anyway, because of you, I GOT THE TRIP and I will be on my way to HAWAII in March 2009!!!! Thank you!!!!

Today Stampin' Up! called me. I answered the phone, the person on the other end of the line asked if it was me, and when I said yes, a huge chorus in the background yelled "ALOHA!!!!". Now that was cool! I'm still grinning from ear to ear!


Okay, back to business! The 2 cards I'm showing you today are the ones we did in my "Technique and Template" Stamp Club in April. We used the Chalkboard Technique, it's so easy, and I love the look! All you do is stamp your image with a White Craft Pad. While it's still wet, rub chalk over it and the color will stick to the white ink. You then rub the card stock with a Swiffer cloth to remove any excess chalk. On the card above, I then stamped the outline image over the top with more White Craft ink. The stamp set is called Wonderful You, and yes, it's wonderful!

On this card I used the Baroque Motifs set. First I stamped the swirly image, chalked it, then rubbed it with the Swiffer. Then I stamped the little flowers and added the chalk. By doing it that way, I didn't smudge the colors into one another. This technique is similar to the "Poppin' Pastels" technique, in which you use a VersaMark pad. I think this one just pops out a bit more with the white color underneath. Don't ya just love it?

Broken Window?!

Oops! I mean "Cracked Glass"! The name of this technique just makes me laugh! (I guess I am easily amused! ) These 2 cards are the ones we did in my "Technique and Template" Stamp Clubs back in March. One of my favorite people, Harriet, asked me to teach this technique at one of our clubs, so I had to take her up on the challenge! I don't think I had ever done it before. After all, why would you want to put something "broken" on your card?



It's really quite easy. Stamp your image and then smoosh VersaMark ink all over the card stock. Get it nice and wet. Then pour Glassy Glaze embossing powder over it, and heat. While it's still warm (don't burn your fingers!), put another coat of EP over it and heat again. Do this 2 more times, and you will have a nice, thick layer of EP. Put it in the freezer for about 5-10 minutes. Then take it out and immediately bend the card stock to make the Glassy Glaze crack. You get the look of "cracked glass". We also found that if the EP cools too quickly, it works to just let it cool a bit, then smoosh the VersaMark over the top, and do your next layer of EP. Do this each time. The coverage also seems to be a bit better. That way is a bit more time consuming though.



What I found interesting about this technique is that it never looks the same twice. And depending on just how thick, and how cold the EP is, it will crack in different ways. Just be warned - if you try this, be sure to have lots of Glassy Glaze on hand!

"Scallop Trim" Tutorial

Yet another use for the ever popular Scallop Circle Punch! You can make a Scallop Trim with it! Here's how:

First punch out a 1 1/4" circle.

Then around the punched out circle, punch out a Scallop Circle.

Make a snip into the circle so you can then open it up.

Carefully fold the scallops over onto each other (I start from the center), so the circle ends up in a straight line. Well, sort of straight! It will stretch out to about 4 1/4 inches long.



Adhere the strip onto the back of the paper that you are adding the scallop trim to, lining it up so it's straight. Make sure your adhesive is close to the edge, since the trim is pretty narrow. Trim off the excess ends.

Flip over the paper and make sure the trim is how you want it. You may need to adjust it a bit to make everything look even.


Add it to your card, and there you go! An easy way to add a Scallop Trim! This is one of the projects we did at my February Stamp Camp.

At Stamp Camp we make 2 projects for $5.00. If you want to stay and stamp, which includes the use of my stamps and supplies to work on your own things, then the cost is $10. It is usually held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Be sure to check my calendar for the next date!

Scallop Circle Punch - one more use!

Here is a card we made at Stamp Camp. Notice the scallop circle around the "Your Day" greeting. See how the scallops are a bit pointier? (is that a word?) It was done with our fabulous Scallop Circle Punch! Keep reading to see how...

First punch out your scallop circle like you normally would.

Then attach it to a thin piece of scrap paper (like computer paper) using a temporary adhesive. This gives you something to hang onto and keeps the punched out piece from sliding around. Insert it back into the punch, but this time twist it so the points of the scallops on the punch are centered over the rounded tops of the scallops on the punched piece of card stock. Punch again.

And voila! This is what you end up with! Peel the scrap paper off the back of your punched piece and you've got another great way to use your Scallop Circle Punch!