February 2020 - The Maine Stamper

A Month Made For Crafters

February 28, 2020

Creative Outlets For All

March is National Craft Month! Artisans have 31 days to celebrate what we love best. This seems like a good time for me to share more about my favorite craft: stamping.

FUN FACT: 56% of US households craft at least once a year.

To me, taking ink to stamp to paper is instant art. I don’t have to be able to draw a straight line, thread a needle or plane lumber. Stamping is easy and provides instant gratification. In this world full of hurry, I can stop and relax to stamp and get quick end results as well.

FUN FACT: Crafting has gained popularity as a great form of meditation, mindfulness and relaxation.

Soft Spring Host Stamp Set — One stamp set + two ink colors = instant art!

Papercrafting Supplies

Stamping is only a fraction of the fun in my papercrafting world. I am enchanted by the rainbow of colors in the form of cardstock. Carefully selecting the perfect print of designer series paper is magical.

Like a kid in a candy shop, I am obsessed with buttons, brads, embellishments and ribbons. (Really, can a crafter ever have enough of these needed supplies on hand?) My crafting symphony is written as I put all of these elements together into one project.

FUN FACT: Students who participate in arts and craft projects are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.

Pleased As Punch DSP — Stampin’ Up! makes color coordination super easy!

Build Your Inventory

Before I became a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I received some of my crafty stash without cost by hosting stamping parties. Joining a monthly stamping club was another great way to slowly build my inventory, as well as earning free product when it was my turn to host. As a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I thoroughly love my discount on all their great products and take advantage of the savings continuously.

FUN FACT: When you buy a Stampin’ Up! Bundle, you automatically save 10% on the offered product every day.

Stampin' Up! Host Sets — Just for hosts, exclusive stamp sets for free!

Learn and Teach

The role of Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is also that of a teacher and a leader. As I learn new stamping techniques, tips and tricks, or simple how to’s, I get to pass that information on and watch with delight as others discover their love for stamping. Sharing my learned skills brings my love of papercrafting full circle.

FUN FACT: National Children’s Craft Day is observed annually on March 14^th.

Kids craft with artistic abandon that is so refreshing to witness!

Cards and Projects

Experiment and create cards, scrapbooks, home décor and 3D projects. You, too, will discover the wonder that papercrafting brings. Additionally, handcrafted items make great gifts, your one-of-a-kind creation can not be duplicated.

FUN FACT: Stamping is a lot of fun!

Papercrafting is not limited to cardmaking.

By default, my favorite part of stamping is turning my art into a card. Adding extras like embossed paper, designer paper and embellishments to my project is like icing a cake. When my cake, er…card, is done, I get to share it with someone by giving it away. And much like cake, I have found that a beautiful handmade card is also received with happiness and joy.

Soft Spring Host Stamp Set with Gorgeous Grape and Granny Apple Green Ink Pads, Eyelet Lace Embossing Folder, Brights 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper, Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins, Circle Punches

Even though March is considered National Craft Month, there is never a bad time to start your crafting journey. Take a stamping class or host a stamping party. Purchase some Stampin’ Up! supplies or become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Ask me how today!

Color Your World with Stampin’ Blends

February 25, 2020

Just Add Color

This year, February has an extra day in it (Happy Leap Year 2020!). That means one more day of winter. Days, in my state, that are typically gray and brown and drab. So then, what’s a crafty person to do with this time on their hands? Color your world a pretty place, with Stampin’ Up!’s Stampin’ Blends.

Stampin’ Blends were introduced in 2018. When they first became available, there were 12 different colors, each with a light and dark shade. Ivory, Bronze and the Color Lifter round out the collection. Fast forward to the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog, and you can purchase blends in 36 exclusive Stampin’ Up! colors.

Stampin' Blends Collection — Pink Pirrouhette is a retired color, so the blends in that tone are no longer available.

Using Stampin’ Blends

Everyone can get professional looking results when coloring your world with Stampin’ Blends. These alcohol markers feature dual tips that don’t fray. The brush end is for larger images and the fine tip is for details. With minimal effort, you will glide ink on with ease, creating effortless shading and great coverage. Instant Artist!

Step 1

Stamp your image in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink onto Whisper White Cardstock. To get the darkest image possible, use the Stamparatus to apply multiple layers of black ink without fear of lining up the stamp properly each time. Choose an image that has plenty of coloring opportunity for the most fun.

Band Together Stamp Set and Stamparatus — The Stamparatus is a great tool with tons of features.

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink (water based) must be used when coloring with Stampin’ Blends (alcohol based). Just keep in mind the old adage, “opposites attract”. If you were to use StazOn Ink (alcohol based) in error, the blends color would bleed into the black ink outline and create…mud. Yuck.

Step 2

Next, place your image to be colored on a protective surface or use scrap paper underneath. The blends are designed to saturate the paper with intense color. As a result, the ink will bleed thru the back in some areas.

Start coloring, using both the light and dark shades of a Stampin’ Blend color. It doesn’t matter which tone is chosen first, the outcome is the same. No matter how much color you apply, the alcohol ink will not pill up and ruin your paper. And, you can color right over the inner black ink image lines with no ill effect.

Coloring with Stampin' Blends — This oversized flower image from the stamp set, Band Together, was colored with Stampin’ Blends in So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Granny Apple Green.

I prefer to begin with the lighter blend and apply generous coverage, then add some shadowing with the dark blend, followed by another application of light to soften the lines. A circular or scribble motion will help blend your color edges together.

Step 3

Use the Color Lifter as desired to change the look of your Stampin’ Blends coloring. This step is optional but will give your design another color dimension.

The Color Lifter appears to be a white marker, due to the cap color. Actually, it’s more like an invisible ink. It can be used to soften colors, as the ink “lifts” some of the shading off the paper. The Color Lifter will clean up edges as well as create highlights on your image.

Additional Tips and Uses of Stampin’ Blends

The artistic results you receive when using the Stampin’ Blends are phenomenal, but they do more than color stamped images. You can also color ribbon, changing white or ivory into your chosen tone. Do the same with embellishments like rhinestones, pearls and buttons.

Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon — I colored the Whipser White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon on the Silicone Craft Sheet. I cleaned the excess ink off the craft sheet with a baby wipe.

Stampin’ Blends have a rectangular barrel, so they won’t roll off the table like traditional markers. You should store the blends horizontally, so ink is readily available at either end of the marker. Stampin’ Up! offers stackable storage units for your blends to make organization easy.

Stampin' Blends Storage Trays — One set of trays will hold 30 Stampin’ Blends.

The Stampin’ Blends end caps let you know at a glance what color ink lies inside. Replace the tight fitting caps immediately after using your blend to prevent the alcohol ink from drying out too quickly. The blends are not refillable, but since they are sold individually, it is easy to replace one if you need to.

Stampin’ Blends make coloring quick, easy and fun with spectacular results. For a quick reference guide to Stampin’ Blends, print or pin a copy of my Do’s and Don’t’s Cheat Sheet.

Take your projects from drab to fab by adding some of these rainbow making tools to your crafty stash today. Visit my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net and start with your favorite colors. Let your collection of Stampin’ Blends grow, and color your world.

My finished card also uses the Detailed Bands Dies and the Brick and Mortar 3D Embossing Folder.

No Purple Posy Ink Pad, No Problem

February 21, 2020 1 Comment

The Lack Of Purple Posy Ink Pad

In my previous blog post, The Purple Posy Collective, I spoke of the numerous crafty items that are available in the 2019-2021 In Color, Purple Posy. You can get paper, ribbon, embellishments, stampin’ write markers and stampin’ blends. However, there is no Purple Posy Ink Pad; I will show you how this is no problem.

So, you may be wondering, how you would use this beautiful color without an ink pad? After all, the ink pad is what you use to make color as you stamp. Now it seems like a big part of the puzzle is missing. Actually, you will find that it isn’t.

There are so many ways, when stamping, to replicate a specific color without actually using that specific color. And in this post, I am going to show you some methods. Read on, and prepare to experiment with Purple Posy.

Make Your Own Purple Posy Ink

It is easy to stamp on Purple Posy Cardstock using VersaMark Ink to create a tone on tone look. VersaMark gives a perfect watermark effect. No matter what color paper you use, VersaMark images pick up the same hue. Purple Posy is a very light color, so the VersaMark ink re-creates the subtle hue.

Very Versailles Stamp Set with VersaMark

Be sure your VersaMark pad is well inked for best results. It is always best to have re-inkers on hand for every stamp pad you own. I apply the re-inker drops liberally and spread them into the foam pad using the back of a plastic spoon. You can also use your bone folder for this, keeping in mind darker ink will stain it.

Stamp an image on Purple Posy Cardstock using VersaMark, then add clear embossing powder and heat emboss. This technique creates the tone on tone look as well, but adds depth, volume and shine.

I really like the way the clear embossing powder darkened the overall look of the stamped image. Take care not to overheat your embossing powder. Also, use of the embossing buddy before stamping keeps unwanted powder off your paper.

Stampin’ Spritzers can be used to spray color saturation on your paper. Add 6-8 drops of Highland Heather Ink Refill (darker in color than Purple Posy, but a light purple tone as well) and dilute with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol is preferred to water, since the alcohol base dries quicker.

Shake your spritzer well before each use to avoid settling or separation. Before using it on your project, you may need to flatten your color-spritzed paper. Watercolor Paper or Shimmery White Cardstock work nicely with these wet procedures. And don’t rule out Glimmer Paper for extra sparkle.

Sponging is one of my favorite coloring techniques. Again, use Highland Heather ink, then choose from the Sponge Brayer, Stamping Sponge or Aqua Painter. By applying ink in this manner, you create a softer look, making the darker Highland Heather look more like the lighter Purple Posy. Apply a little or a lot, you are the artist.

When using the aqua painter, I like to place a drop of ink refill directly onto my clear stamp block. I pick up the color with the dampened aqua painter brush, and add more water to my project by squeezing the barrel to release the contained water thru the bristle ends. Practice makes perfect.

Stampin’ Write Markers are great for coloring directly onto red rubber cling stamps. This method allows you to apply multiple colors of ink before stamping an image as well. After applying the marker ink(s) to the stamp, huff (exhale breath to moisten) the red rubber, then stamp. By holding the stamp to the paper longer, more ink is transferred for a darker saturation.

Lastly, use the Stampin Blends in light or dark to color stamped images. Stamp your image first using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, then blend away with the high quality, dual tipped markers. The specialty alcohol ink in the blends creates a deep rich artistic color. Make sure to color on a protective surface as these markers bleed thru paper.

Putting Purple Posy Together

Creating with Purple Posy is such a delight. This soft color lends delicacy and impressive elegance to your projects. Following are 2 cards that I completed using the parts and pieces of my above examples.

There are so many ways to incorporate this sweet shade into your next work of art. Take advantage of all Purple Posy has to offer while it remains active in the color line-up.

If you need any of the Stampin’ Up! products used to create with Purple Posy, visit my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net. I hope you try one or more of these resourceful methods with happy success.

The Maine Stamper

Julie Makson Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Month: February 2020