Amy Downing's Stamping Blog

Scallop Eyelet Raspberry Pizazz

2009-01-26T01:34:00.000-08:00

I got inspiration for the color and layering of the single flower from Jenn D and Laloony on SCS.
Stamped the flowers and cut them out, adhered them together and then placed a brad from the Rich Regals family in the center, curled the edges of the petals, and adhered with dimensionals. I also cut out the stem and leaf and adhered them before placing the flower.

I do not yet own the eyelet edge punch, or whatever it is called, and I decided to create my own eyelet edge with the scallop punch and handheld circle punch.

I trimmed part of the card off on the outside edge so that the scallops could hang over top of the card and still be a standard card size.

Sentiment is from Pocket Silhouettes, as I really wasn't sure what else to use as a sentiment. I almost left it off, but I felt it needed something.

Loving the new Raspberry Tart DSP, isn't it so gorgeous? I say that about ever new paper SU! comes out with. They just keep getting better!

I think the new Organza (or is it Organdy?) ribbon SU! carries would be GORGEOUS on this card, but I do not have any yet, of course. :-P

Well, hope to stamp some more tommorow!

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Pocket Silhouettes

Ink: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Kiwi Kiss

Paper: Raspberry Tart DSP, Whisper White, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink (card base)

Accessories: Rich Regals Brads, Scallop Edge, Small and Large Oval punches, 1/16" handheld circle punch, White Taffeta Ribbon

Shimmery Petal Thanks En Francais

2009-01-25T22:58:00.000-08:00

A little stamping today, I really wanted to get some use out of my newest stamp set, Petal Pizzazz. This is a thank you card for my friend, Karen.

So, the images are stamped onto SU!'s Shimmery White Cardstock, using the same colors that are on the Raspberry Tart DSP that are also new to SU!'s newest catalog. I was going to use the paper, but ended up not using it. I ran out of time!

So, stamped the images, used the corner rounder on the edges of the white piece, tied the ribbon, adhered to the card base. The card base is stamped with the En Francais background stamp, which I had done who knows how long ago and put it in my scrap folder. So, I decided it was a perfect layer for this card.

The sentiment was stamped and cut out by hand, and adhered with glue dots....a must have in my opinion when wanting to adhere ribbon to paper, or other items to ribbon. It is one of the only things that works for me.

Anyway, love this set, can't wait to play some more, using the designer paper!

Stamps: Petal Pizzazz, Thank You Kindly, En Francais

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Pretty in Pink

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Shimmery White, Whisper White

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Glue Dots

A Lovely Lilac Linen Valentine's Day

2009-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, trying to be better about posting the cards I make. I suppose to be fair, the last few cards I made were basically CASEd cards that other people did, so I didn't want to get myself in trouble.

So, this is todays Workshop WOW challenge. A Valentine's Day card using these colors, with the red only as accent. I am really quite pleased how well this card came together for me! I started out with the stamp set in mind, Petal Pizzazz, and then this color scheme. I decided it wasn't a WOW without a technique, so I went to go see what I could do. I came up with this Faux Linen technique.

So, in case you didn't know the technique, you stamp the background image onto glossy cardstock, let it dry, then sand it the same direction. I think I was actually supposed to go horizontally, but I went vertically instead. Oh well. You sand until all the glossy is gone, then sponge color onto it, and sand it again to mellow out the color. I am really glad I chose those two colors as the base, they are perfect together.

Stamped the separate images on Whisper White cs for the flower, cutting them out. The center red circle I used the 3/4" circle punch to punch out. The sentiment, I used the Real Red marker to color the individual words, using my SAMJ to align it.

I used glue dots to hold the ribbon and bows in place in the front.

Fun color challenge! These are not colors I would have ever chosen, but I like it!

Stamps: En Francais, Petal Pizzazz, A Happy Heart

Ink: Night of Navy, Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red

Paper/Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy, Glossy White, Real Red, Whisper White

Accessories: Small and Large Oval Punches, 3/4" circle punch, scissors, Tombo Multi-Purpose Glue, Glue Dots, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Sandpaper

A collection of some of my favorite cards

2009-01-22T02:58:00.000-08:00

Well, as promised, here is a collection of some of my favorite cards that I have made. Of course, it doesn't include everything, and it is 3:30 in the morning so I am tired and ready to be done with this for now. :-D I am hoping to make a card tommorow, I have a new set I got like 2 weeks ago that I haven't really made anything with! (gasp) So, I would like to play.

Forgive me, but I did not list any of the specifications this time. I guess if you want to know something specific, you can ask! Enjoy.

Been too Long

2009-01-21T23:59:00.001-08:00

While chatting with a friend, it was inadvertantly called to my attention that it has been forever since I posted anything! Honestly, things got busy for a few weeks with vacation, and just life in general. I have created a few things, but never actually posted them here. I was thinking I would go through my collection of photos of my favorite cards I have made, and post some pictures for all your viewing pleasure. So, I HOPE I will get to that tommorow! Stay Tuned.

Brocade Pink Tapestry

2008-12-17T01:54:00.000-08:00

Stamps: Brocade Basics
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Shimmer White
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Whisper White Craft, Versamark
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Pink Pirouette Striped Ribbon, 1/4" circle punch

Yay, I enjoyed tweeking today's Workshop Wow challenge, Tapestry.

So, I do not in fact have any craft ink pads other than Whisper White, so for my focal image, I took a piece of shimmery white (though the shimmer doesn't even show, so it was a waste) and sponged it with classic ink, until it was completely covered. I took the Versamark pad and just ran it across the image after finished spongeing, and coated it completely. Then I quickly chose my stamp image, and stamped it off once before stamping onto the paper to give it a more subtle look, and then coated the entire thing with clear embossing powder.

The front flower is stamped onto shimmer white paper with the Riding Hood Red and then sponged over top with Regal Rose, and then cut out by hand, as well as stamping the Always Artichoke leaves and cutting them out and adhering behind the flower. I used the 1/4" circle punch to create the center circle.

I wrapped the Pink Pirouette ribbon around the focal layered piece before adhereing the entire blossom image with lots of glue dots (this seems to stick the best for me onto ribbon).

Really a basic card, once you finish all the sponging and focal piece, but it looks quite wow to me!

Touching Ribbon Roses

2008-12-03T16:37:00.000-08:00

I just love this stamp set, A Rose is a Rose, and when I saw today's Workshop WOW challenge I had a great idea to coordinate the ribbon rose with this set.

So to make the "rose" I took a strip of 1 1/4" pink pirouette grosgrain ribbon, and threaded linen thread along the bottom of the ribbon, and then pulled it taut to create a rose. I made a second one out of Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon the same way, and then used a Fire Rhinestone Circle brade to adhere both of the roses together onto the stamped cardstock. The base of the card is stamped in Kiwi Kiss with the canvas background.

Love the affect of this card, love these roses! They are quick and easy to create!

Stamps: A Rose is a Rose, Canvas Background

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Real Red, Whisoper White

Ink: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Garden Green

Accessories: 1 1/4" Pink Pirouette Grosgrain Ribbon, 5/8" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads

New Stamp Sets!

2008-11-24T01:14:00.000-08:00

Stamps: A Rose is a Rose, En Francais
Ink: Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Versamark
Paper: Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder

So, I got lots of new goodies last week, and I have been trying to find time to play, but it really was a crazy busy week for me!

So, I have mostly been playing with this A Rose is a Rose stamp set I got, because it makes great cards so quickly! My upline Karen gave me a sample of Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder the other day, and tonight I had the idea to use the sparkle on the second stamping step on the rose, and I am quite pleased with this look.

After I created the rose, and heat embossed it, I stamped the rose on a post-it to create a mask, and cut it out to cover my rose. Then I used the En Francais background to go over top the masked piece. I used a new ink color that for whatever reason, I just didn't have, which is Sahara Sand. I am really glad I finally have this neutral color, I will probably be using it a lot! Amazing what we can live without until we have it. lol.

So, then I roughened up the edges of the Very Vanilla focal piece before adhering it to Sahara Sand cardstock.

The next problem I had was that I had no idea what to do with this square piece! I asked my oh so smart hubby what he thought, and he came up with the idea of placing it onto black cardstock, and then suggested to me where to tie ribbon. I have to say it looks very elegant, its fun to listen to his ideas. :-)

So, a pretty simple card to share! Thanks for popping in!

Night of Gold Buttons

2008-11-12T00:49:00.000-08:00

Stamps: Simply Said

Paper: Night of Navy, Prestwick DSP, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Coluzzle Cutting System, Gold Embossing Powder, Neutrals Buttons, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon

Another Great Demo Challenge for the week! Today's Workshop WOW challenge was to make a card using embossed buttons!

Since I wasn't sure how this was supposed to work, I had a few trial and error moments, but finally decided this was going to look best if I simply embossed the entire surface of the button. I used a button from the Neutrals buttons, a white one in this case, and used some teeny tweezers to grab the holes from the opposite direction, and ink up the front of the button, coating it with versamark. Then I dumped gold embossing powder over the inked button to get a nice even coating. The tricky part was trying to use the heat gun on it, without burning my fingers, as the tweezers are metal. Trust me, DO NOT try turning on the gun towards a single button sitting all by it's lonesome on the table. It WILL blow away. lol. Ask me how I know...

Anyways, next I used the flowery heart image from Simply Said stamp set, and using versamark stamped it 4 times, each pointing inward, to look like a flower. I just love making flowers using hearts, it always turns out so cute. Next I dumped gold embossing powder over the images, and embossed again. I cut out the image. I think next time if I were to try this I would have attempted to simply cut a circle around the flower in the Very Vanilla, or else stamp the hearts onto the Night of Navy CS, for a more subtle look. I cut out several circles using the Coluzzle cutting system (hmm, seems to be my favorite lately, eh?), and created a little matting for behind the image. I glued all the pieces together, and attached the button to the center of the flower using glue dots.

The Card base is actually Night of Navy, however I used a piece of Prestwick DSP and completely covered the front of the card base with it. Gives the card stability as opposed to using only the DSP. Stamped the sentiment in Versamark yet again, and embossed with gold. I then tied a bow around the card front with Very Vanilla Taffeta, adhered the circle mat to the top. I decided to give the flower a tilt, it seems sweeter this way.
Enjoy!

Kiwi Bella Buttons

2008-11-10T22:04:00.000-08:00

Stamps: A Beautiful Thing, Bella Blossoms

Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark, Basic Black

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Small Oval Punch, 1/8" and 1/16" hand-held punches, Button Bouquet Buttons, Paper Snips

I haven't had as much time to stamp the last week because of working full time for a week to fill in. I saw today's challenge of using buttons, no other embellishment, for the Demonstratable Cards, and got excited! I have lots and lots of buttons and simply do not use them enough! Especially the most recent Button Bouquet set.

So, started out with the Bella Rose DSP on a Kiwi Kiss base. I cut a strip of whisper white, and used the scallop edge punch on both sides of it. Then I took the 1/16th Hand Held hole punch and created the doiley lace affect along the edge. Then adhered those RHR buttons with glue dots.

I then had a fun idea of making my own "buttons". I sort of allowed myself to use embossing powder, since I wasn't certain if this was a no-no on this challenge or not. I decided, however, it would be ok. If you wanted to make this easier, you can simply leave out the embossing and stamp color on color.

Anyway, so I used the solid flower from the A Beautiful Thing set, stamping the flower onto RHR paper with versamark. Then I embossed with clear embossing powder. I took the 1/8th" hand held punch and created the "button Holes". I decided the shiny look would make the flowers look more button-like.

The stems are created out of the thinest strip of paper I could cut with my paper trimmer. I inked up the individual words on the Best Wishes stamp (from Bella Blossoms) and used the small oval punch to punch out leaves. The leaves are adhered with dimensionals.

I think this turned out quite nicely! Thanks for Looking!

Gate Fold Christmas Spotlight

2008-11-06T23:25:00.000-08:00

I have not stamped all week, well, since Monday, and needed a fix. A Demonstrator Challenge on SCS got me motivated to put together this cute Christmas Card using Something Old (the Real Red stuff!), Something New (the Spotlight on Christmas Stamp set and the Chocolate Chip Patters DSP. Also, I had to use a non-standard fold for this card.

Stamps: Spotlight on Christmas, Many Merry Messages

Paper: Real Red, Chocolate Chip Patters DSP, Mellow Moss, Whisper White

Ink: Real Red, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Coluzzle Cutting System, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Bold Brights and Soft Subtles Buttons, Linen Thread

For the Card Base Dimensions: used a 11x 4 1/4 piece of cardstock, and then scored it lengthwise at 2 3/4 and 8 1/4. I stamped the front of the cardbase, Color on Color using Real Red.

I used the Coluzzle Cutting Kit Circle, and created two circles to layer, out of Mellow Moss CS, and Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper. I glued the smaller piece on top, and on one side of the of the gatefold.

I threaded linen thread through the two buttons, and adhered the buttons, one on the circle, the other on the other side of the card base, to be able to close the front and tie it together. I colored the poinsetta flowers with mellow moss and real red markers, and stamped, and then cut out using the 5-Petal Punch.

The inside of the card, I colored the swirly image using markers again, and then the sentiment in chocolate chip.

This was fun, I even had my hubby help me out on some layout ideas, particularly the placement of the poinsetta flowers, and how many to use (originally had 3). Fun!

Elegant Eggplant Sympathy Card

2008-11-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

Stamps: Always in my Thoughts, Floral Background

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Basic Black

Paper: Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Coluzzle Cutting System, Designer Label Punch, Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon.

The circumstances for this card are unfortunate: My friend's girlfriend's mom passed away this weekend. So I wanted to make a nice card for his girlfriend.

The background is stamped color on color with Floral. I stamped the daffodil image in Basic Black and then colored in with markers. I cut it out using the Coluzzle system, and a mat for behind it.The sentiment I stamped out with the Designer Label Punch, and adhered a couple dimensionals behind the punched out sentiment so it will sit inside the label frame without actually having to glue it in. I threaded the taffeta ribbon through one hole over the top, threaded it behind the label and back through the other hole. The other end was wrapped around the card and tied at the loose end. I added a second little tied ribbon to even out the affect. As a bonus the dimensionals actually stuck to the ribbon not the cardstock, so it can be adjusted.

Warm Earthy Wishes

2008-11-03T01:16:00.000-08:00

Stamps: One of a Kind, Hugs & Wishes

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Designer Series Paper.

Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Ruby Red

Accessories: 1/4" More Mustard Grosgrain ribbon, Aged Brass Build-A-Brad, Earth Elements Brads, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1/2" circle punch, dimensionals.

Another card from this month's WICKED challenge. I am pleased with how my card turned out.So I stamped the smaller flowers from the set onto Very Vanilla, and punched them out with the Boho Blossoms punch. The brad goes through the center of each and then the finished blossoms were adhered to the 1" squares of Creamy Caramel with dimensionals. The bigger blossom was first stamped onto the VV, and then I cut out separate layers stamped in the More Mustard and Ruby Red (the center was punched with the 1/2" circle punch), and after putting together the Build-a-brad, adhered to the center using dimensionals again. The card base is Chocolate Chip, I just completely covered the front with the DSP.

This truly was a challenging challenge for me, but I am pleased with the results!

Baroque Silver Swirls Skirt

2008-11-02T00:53:00.000-07:00

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Canvas

Paper: Basic Gray, Basic Black

Ink: Versamark, Basic Gray, Going Gray

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Embossing Powder

Well, I fell in love with the skirt you see in the background behind the card. It is carried by Dressbarn, and it is hard to tell, but it is a nice Grayish silvery tafetta skirt, with a black mesh overlay and lots of pretty detail work along the bottom. This inspired me to make a card, of course!

The first thing I tried was cutting a cellophane bag to fit the front, stamping and embossing, but um, yeah. That melted. lol. I would have liked to have used vellum, but all I had were small scraps and just not the right size. So, I finally decided that I might as well participate in the Wicked Challenge for the month on SCS, and use Emboss Resist technique.

So, I stamped the swirls and some of the small flowers with versamark, and then embossed with silver embossing powder. I used the technique over top the embossing by stamping the flowers in going gray and basic gray ink, and then using the canvas stamp to completely cover the card front using Going Gray. It is difficult to see unless you look closely. I did want it subtle, or least so I could see through to the colors behind, but I was hoping it would stand out a bit more. Oh well. :-) Imagine a see through mesh layer on the front of the card!

I cut small strips of Basic Gray and Basic Black cardstock and used the scallop edge punch to layer some scallops, adhere to the card front, and then tie a bow around the front. This is a one layer card, not bad eh?

Enjoy!

Antique Bella Reverse Masking

2008-10-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

I was watching a tutorial on how to make the scallop edge border nice and even around a single piece of cardstock, and I decided I wanted to make something with what I had made, so I sat down to put together this card.

Stamps: Bella Blossoms, Bella Toile, Canvas
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Linen Thread, Pretties Kit pearl beads, Coluzzle Cutting System (for oval center masking)

Instructions:
(I don't have exact dimensions because I didn't have blogging in mind at the time of putting this together).
-Create the border around the Chocolate Chip Piece of Cadstock.
-Cut a piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock to fit inside the scallop rectangle.
-Using a large post-it note, cut an oval out using the oval from the Coluzzle cutting system, about in the center of the post-it (I think I used a 3x5 post-it note). Set the cut out oval aside.
-Attach the post-it with the oval cut out onto the very vanilla cardstock. Stamp the blossom from the Bella Blossoms set into the center of the oval. Use a sponge wedge to sponge color around the edge of the oval. This helped to soften the image and cover up any blunders created when stamping (sometimes my masking prevents inking properly).
-Using the cut out Oval, adhere over top of the stamped design, covering it completely. If you dont have any sticky on the oval, attach with a removeable piece of tape. Stamp over top of the masked oval using first the Canvas stamp, and then the Bella Toile stamp.
-After removing the masked oval, I used the sponge again to even out any missed spots, particularly around the edge of the oval where there isn't any ink.
-Adhere card front to Riding Hood Red Card base. Tie the Taffeta ribbon around the front of the card. I snipped the ends. I cut out a piece of linen thread, and tied two cream pearl beads from the Pretties Kit to either end of the thread. Then I tied a bow around the tafetta bow front.

So, there you go. I think eventually I will start taking step-by-step pictures for projects and posting them in my blog. At least for more challenging technique cards. This will help you be able to see how I did them, if you are a more visual person.

Michelle Zindorf's California Sunset Card

2008-10-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

I made this card the other day at 2:30 am. I was wired from work, and while exploring blogs, I found this card on Michelle Zindorf's blog. Here is the elements for this card (all elements are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise listed):

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Basic Black, Summer Sun, Orchid Opulence, Regal Rose, Pink Passion
Paper: Pink Passion, Whisper White, Basic Black
Tools: Small and Large Oval Punches, 1/4" Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Brayer, Sponges.

For directions on how to make this card I will send you to Michelle's blog for the details. I felt bad posting this here as it is not my design, but hers. But it looks too cool to not share! So, here is her blog (I pretty much copied all her card):

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/10/23/california-sunset-blog-candy/

The color in this photo isn't as bright as I was trying to get a more realistic view of the colors, so I had the flash off. You get the idea. More to come later. I have another card I want to share!

New Creative Blog!

2008-10-30T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well after months and months of watching other people's Stamping Blogs, and particularly from members of the www.splitcoaststampers.com forum, I finally decided while I love sharing my work on that site with those SCS members, I would love to be able to share with even more people!

So, this shall be my creative outlet. A place to share what I have done, and perhaps teach a few others at the same time! Thanks for all my Muse's out there, and those that inspire me and push me to do more!