From the Heart

I love this image from the Nice and Easy Notes stamp set - it just makes you feel happy! This card showcases a few of our retiring products - here's what I did.

The panels were each stamped with the Wild Hearts background stamp in Creamy Caramel Ink, and the edges were sponged with Caramel also.

The two strips of Gray were pierced with the piercing tool and mar pack from the Crafter's Tool Kit - then I did some faux stitching with the Signo Gel Pen.

The image was stamped on Watercolour Paper with Stazon ink - coloured with Stampin' Write Markers and then some colour was removed with an Aqua Painter to give that water colour effect. Using Stazon ink is really important for this, it ensures your image won't smudge!

The card and image panels were sponged around the edges with Stampin' Sponges. I added some Wide Grosgrain Ribbon from the Summer Mini catalogue and everything was stuck together using Stampin' Dimensionals.

I really like these colours together, the card came out looking soft and pretty - perfect for that image! The products used on this card that retire at the end of the month are Wild Hearts Background and the Nice and Easy Notes Stamp set. The ribbon will be back in our brand new 2008-2009 Idea Book and Catalogue!

I hope everyone had a great Easter - mine was very busy, but I'll try and sit down and do a step-by-step project for you soon!

Stampin' Supplies:

Nice and Easy Notes and Wild Hearts Stamp Sets.

Going Gray, Sage Shadow, Apricot Appeal and Pretty in Pink cardstock.

Stazon and Creamy Caramel inkpads.

Stampin' Sponges.

Stampin' Write Markers.

Signo Uniball Gel Pen.

Stampin' Dimensionals.

Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Watercolour Paper.

Aqua Painter.

Crafter's Tool Kit.

All supplies available from Stampin' Up!

Pretty Stems

I love the "Stem Silhouettes" stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalogue. It is so versatile. This is a quick and simple card, this set makes it easy to get elegant results.

Ink the branch image with your Stampin' Up! markers. I used Certainly Celery first, then went over the berries with Regal Rose. Stamp onto Very Vanilla Cardstock then tie Light Pink Organdy and Silver Cord around the image before matting onto Pretty in Pink card stock.

Stamp another of the branch images along the side of the card using Versamark ink. Remember, this magical ink will give you a beautiful watermark effect - it's great for heat embossing too!

The sentiment was stamped in Mellow Moss ink at the bottom of the card. Layer everything together with SNAIL adhesive, and you're done!

I love these colours together, they are so pretty. Don't forget, Stem Silhouettes is only available until the end of this month. The Pink Organdy, and Silver Cord is also retiring at the end of March.

Stampin' Supplies:

Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla card stock.
Versamark and Mellow Moss ink pads.
Stampin' Write Markers.
Light Pink Organdy ribbon.
Silver Cord.
SNAIL Adhesive.
Paper Trimmer.

All supplies available from Stampin' Up!

Watercolouring with SU! Inkpads

One of the things I like the most about Stampin' Up! are the inkpads. Not only do they come in the most beautiful colours, but the unique design allows for some really cool techniques.

Stampin' Up! inkpads are designed so they store your inkpad upside down, keeping the top nice and juicy and ready to stamp with. They also make a fantastic watercolour palette! Here's how.

First, stamp your image in Staz On ink. This ink is 100% waterproof, it will never smudge, and you can use it for so many things! More about the great qualities of this ink in posts to come! I've stamped an image from the Unfrogettable set in Staz On Black on Whisper White cardstock.

Next, while your ink pad is closed, gently squeeze the top and bottom of the pad together, to form a small pool of ink on the top of the pad.

Dip your aqua painter into the pool of ink, and colour in your image. It's that simple! To change colours, simply scribble on some scrap paper until your aqua painter runs clear again. You can layer colours until you are happy with the effect.

I hope you'll pull out your inkpads soon and give this super easy technique a try, you'll love the results!

Stampin' Supplies:

Unfrogettable Stamp Set

Black Staz On inkpad

Green Galore inkpad

Aqua Painter

Whisper White Cardstock

All supplies from Stampin' Up!