Stepping things up...

Here are two cards which are the same... but different.

Both cards are inspired by a blue and yellow card made by a Canadian demonstrator called Natasha (I can't show it to you as it's in a subscription-only gallery.)

I changed the stamp set and the colours but kept to the same design. The first card is quite simple while the second one is "stepped up"... I added some distressing and paper piercing, and popped up the image with Stampin' Dimensionals to give it ... er... dimension.

The patterned paper is Prints Designer Series which come in packs of 12 sheets of double-sided paper. They come in six colours; as you can see, I chose Certainly Celery because - as you've probably guessed by now - it is one of my favourites.

Two-step Stamping & Stamping Off
The main image comes from the Hostess set, Heartfelt. It's such an absolutely gorgeous set that it's worth getting everyone you know round to your house for a Stampin' Up! party so that you can earn it for free.

This is two-step stamping. I inked the first stamp - the solid image - with markers; the flower head Rose Red, the leaves and stem Always Artichoke. I then "stamped off" on scrap paper before stamping on the white cardstock. For the detailed image, I inked the second stamp with markers and stamped straight on top of the first image. This doesn't require any special equipment, I just guess... as you can probably tell. But I don't think it needs to be "perfect"; I like it as it is.

Background Stamping
I stamped the background with En Francais, one of Stampin' Up! large background stamps. I used to hate these. See? Another U-turn! I hated them because I didn't know how to use them. Now I think they're fantastic. Here's how to use them - it works every time:

1. Turn the background stamp upside down, rubber facing up, on top of a piece of A4 scrap paper. Have the paper lengthways (landscape) and the stamp to one end of the paper.

2. Ink the stamp all over - SU's inkpads are designed to be able to do this easily, with finger grips and a raised pad. Tap, tap, tap; don't rub your pad in a circular motion as it makes the edges fray. Ask me how I know!

3. Place your piece of cardstock on top of the inked stamp.

4. Fold the scrap paper over the top of the cardstock and rub gently all over. I suppose you could do it without the scrap paper but you'd get filthy.

Finally, the recipe...

Stamps:  Heartfelt (p20), En Francais (p58)

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Whisper White

Paper: Prints Designer Series Paper - Certainly Celery (p73)

Ink: Certainly Celery

Accessories: Markers - Rose Red, Always Artichoke; 5/8" grosgrain ribbon - Certainly Celery (p86); 1/4" grosgrain ribbon - Always Artichoke (p86), Crafters' Tool Kit (p85)

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008)