Thursday 10 January 2008

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)

13 comments:

  1. I love the second card (well, all of them but particularly this one, lol). This is the kind of card I would like to make, if ever my 'mojo' shows it's face!

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  2. I love both of these cards! I wish I could do 'pretty' - I'm stuck in 'cute'!

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  3. Most certainly worth the wait! I love both of these and especially how you "stepped it up" on the 2nd card. I, too, LOVE Certainly Celery! CC

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  4. Hi, thanks for the comment on my blog, but can I ask to be in with a chance of the blog candy that you link back to my site with the card you wish to enter.
    Thanks

    Fiona

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  5. These are so pretty! Very nice design, and lovely put together!

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  6. Thank you so much for sharing..they are both gorgeous. I love the colors you used

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  7. These are great card! I really love your tutorials!

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  8. Great way to show how easy it is to use the same supplies to make 2 different cards.

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  9. Both of these cards are beautiful! I like the layouts and the colors, especially!

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  10. What a great idea - I can't wait to see the other ways to use ribbon! Seeing those stamps reminded me that they were on my want list - and now I remember why! *grin*

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  11. love both of these cards and what difference one change can make on a card...

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.

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