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Rare Blessings In Soft Sea Foam

May 11, 2020

Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be

Monday’s are hard, but in this cardmaking series, I will show you that stamping shouldn’t be. In fact, it’s quite easy. And with minimal supplies and minimal efforts, you can get fabulous results!

Today’s Monday Card features the stamp set, Rare Blessings. This one is soon retiring from the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog from Stampin’ Up!. If you would like to see more about the retiring items in 2020, click here.

Our Monday card makes great use of many of the stamps from the very lovely Rare Blessings Stamp Set. We are also using two colors of ink, Soft Seam Foam and Poppy Parade, and two colors of cardstock, Soft Sea Foam and Whisper White.

A Monday Card

The Card Recipe

Soft Sea Foam CS: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2″, score at 4 1/4″ for card base.

Soft Sea Foam CS: 3 x 4″ and 1/2 x 4 1/4″

Whisper White CS: 4 x 5 1/4″ (for inside, optional)

Whisper White CS: 3 1/4 x 4 1/4″, 2 1/2 x 4″, 1 1/2 x 2″

Stamp And Assemble

This Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be Card starts out with the typical “fold in half” and score with your bonefolder to get a great crisp card base. Let’s not break tradition.

However, my TIP to you is to score once, invert the fold and score again. Your inner crease is now as crisp as the outer one. This makes for a professional looking card base!

Create Your Own Designer Series Paper

With the minimal supplies used in this card, we are not adding designer series paper to it. We are making our own! This great background pattern can be used with any stamp sets you own. It is especially easy when there are “background” style stamps included in your stamp set.

I suggest stamping on scrap paper, as this technique has you stamping off the edge of your cardstock. First, I used the “splotch” stamp and Soft Sea Foam Ink. I went around the entire outer edge of my card base. It is okay to overlap a bit, and not necessary to rotate the stamp.

Splotch stamp from Rare Blessings used to create background pattern on card base. — This tone on tone technique creates a soft wash of green on the card base.

Floral Details

For the second portion of background stamping, I used the single flower on its stem, with the curled leaf. Again, I stamped along the outer edge of my paper, using the Soft Sea Foam 3 x 4″ piece and Poppy Parade Ink.

When I stamped my flower, I did rotate the image and vary the pattern. Most of this stamping will be covered up as we assemble the card, but the effect is still an important component on our card!

Small flower stamp from Rare Blessings in Poppy Parade Ink.

Flower Focus

Here comes my favorite part! The large floral image. I stamped it in Soft Sea Foam on the 2 /12 x 4″ piece of Whisper White CS. This green is such a light color, the image will be very demure in nature.

Because this image needs a little color, we are adding some. And since this is a minimal supplies kind of card, we are using q-tips to color with. If you have Blender Pens at home, this creates a similar effect.

Large Flower image from Rare Blessings stamped and colored

I dipped the end of the q-tip in my ink pad and immediately touched it off onto my scrap paper. Then, I applied the color in the middle of each flower, gently swirling outward. Practice at home, and keep in mind you can add more color if needed, but won’t be able to take any away.

For further interest, I ripped the end off of my stamped paper. I used the edge of my Soft Sea Foam Ink Pad to brush ink onto the frayed paper. This highlights the rough and jagged design.

If you are not a fan of torn paper, just trim this piece shorter by @ 1/4″, so that it fits on the layered front of your card.

So Sentimental

It’s time to stamp a saying. This stamp set has 4 great sentiments and any of them will work. I designed this card to coordinate best with the stamp “a true friend is the rarest of all blessings”. If you like to have smaller margins of cardstock surrounding your saying, simply trim it to fit.

Sentiment from Rare Blessings Stamp Set — I used Poppy Parade Ink to stamp my sentiment.

Time To Assemble

The stamping is done (for the outside!), so it’s time to put the front of this card together. Ready to layer? Here’s how: start with the 3 1/4 x 4 1/4″ Whisper White CS and add it to the bottom right of the card. Next, adhere the thin strip of Soft Sea Foam.

The layers continue with the Soft Sea Foam piece we stamped with Poppy Parade flowers. This one is directly centered over the white cardstock.

On top of that, I layered my large flower focal point. Lastly, I adhered my sentiment piece. The sentiment is adjustable in location to your preferences.

The Insider Job

Your card is beautiful on the outside, now lets make it pretty inside too! I like to mimic some of the outer stamping into a corner of the inside card. This way the card has continuity and there is still lots of room to add your own sentiment or written thoughts.

Here, I used the small flower stamp in Poppy Parade Ink, stamping 3 times. Next, I added Soft Sea Foam splotches along the edges and below the tops of the flowers, to add additional inside interest. Note that the splotches, so light in color, extend beyond the flower images on both sides.

More Is More

Typically, this part of the tutorial is where I show you how I added bling and ribbons and all kinds of extras to my card to enhance the fun. However, this time, instead of adding stuff, I simply changed colors.

Yep, this one was so quick and easy to make, I instantly wanted to make more, but this time I wanted to use:

Pink!

Keeping the Soft Sea Foam, I swapped the Poppy Parade for Rococo Rose. The dusty rose color looks fabulous with the soft green. I picked an additional sentiment from the Rare Blessings Stamp Set to focus on. But then I wanted to try making it in:

Purple!

Again, the Soft Sea Foam color is used, this time with Highland Heather. I love purple and green together, so this was a no-brainer. I chose a different sentiment from the last two I previously used. And realized I had one more sentiment in the Rare Blessings Stamp set. So I had to pull out another color:

Blue!

Pretty Peacock is the perfect blue to mix in with Soft Sea Foam. Perhaps of all the q-tip colored flowers, these turned out the best. And I was able to successfully use all the sentiments in the Rare Blessings Stamp Set. This provides great value for the purchase of this set!

Another Monday, Another Easy Card

I hope you enjoyed making this easy card on a hard Monday with me. My video tutorial can be found on my FaceBook page, as well as my YouTube channel. If you need any supplies for this card, please feel free to visit my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, at any time. See you next Monday for another installment of:

Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be!

Grace’s Garden Double Easel Fold Card

May 8, 2020

I created this Grace’s Garden Double Easel Fold Card as part of my April Showers Bring May Flower Cards Exchange. Swapping cards is so much fun, and my recent theme was flower cards!

As promised, I am sharing the card recipe today along with a list of items I used to create my Grace’s Garden Double Easel Fold Card. There are also pictures of assembly and great tips, so read on for more.

Double Easel Fold Card Recipe

Thick Whisper White CS Base: 4 1/4 x 11″, score at 5 1/2″

Sahara Sand Easel CS: 4 x 10 1/4″, score at 2 /1/2″ and 5″

Balmy Blue CS: 3 7/8 x 5 1/8″, 2 3/8 x 3 7/8″

Whisper White CS: 3 3/4 x 5″, 2 1/4 x 3 3/4″

Whisper White CS: 2 3/4 x 4 1/4″ for gate die, 1 1/4 x 2″ for sentiment

Smoky Slate Scrap: for cat die

Whisper White Scraps: for flower sprays (2) and punch

Balmy Blue DSP (Subtles): 3 7/8 x 2 3/8″

Additional Supplies Needed

Grace’s Garden Stamp Set (and clear blocks for stamping)

Garden Gateway Dies (and die cutting machine)

Inks: Memento Black, Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

Assorted Stampin’ Blends for coloring

Sponge Roller or sponges

Score Tool

Classic Label Punch

Adhesive

Assembling Grace’s Garden Double Easel Fold Card

The Bases

The card base is important for this card, as it holds a great amount of weight. I used the Thick Whisper White Card Stock, as it has the ability to hold up under pressure. This is a tent fold, so be sure to cut your sheet of cardstock in half portrait style instead of landscape style.

When I use the thick cardstock, I like to fold it in half after I score it using my Paper Trimmer. This helps break up the strong fibers that are holding the paper together. I am always careful to use the scoring blade (lighter gray) rather than the cutting blade (darker gray, blending in at the top). This score is done at 5 1/2″. I follow up with my bone folder to get a crisp crease.

Another great tool to score your cardstock with is the Simply Scored Scoring Tool. I like that the peg markers are movable, and you can easily position them on the exact spacing you need to score. This is the Sahara Sand CS, scored at 2 1/2″ and 5″, landscape mode. My picture also indicates the folds needed here: peaked up first, followed by valley second.

A word of caution when using the score tool, the stylus included has 2 tips, one smaller and one larger. Use the small tip on thicker paper and the large tip on thinner paper (like DSP). Just think in terms of opposites attract to remember this.

It is also best to go slow and steady along the grooves! If your stylus jumps the track and leaves dents in the wrong places, flip your paper over and use the stylus head to smooth out the wrinkle from the back.

Double Easel To Card Base

After the scoring and folding was completed, I put the double easel cardstock onto my card base. This is done easiest by folding the easel up and adhering glue or tape (the strongest you have!) to the 5 1/4″ area. Next, center it on your card base.

Double Easel Fold Card, closed front — When attached to the front of the card base, and in the closed position, your card will look like this (minus the clear acrylic block to hold it in place for a quick photo!).

Double Easel Fold Card, easel open position — When your double easel fold card is adhered together and in the open position, it will look like this.

Flowers From Grace’s Garden

Now that the major assembly is done, it is time to decorate the card. I began with the front tented section, as this is what is noticed first on the card, and requires the most work.

I used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and stamped flowers from the Grace’s Garden Stamp Set on the 2 1/4 x 3 3/4″ white cs.

Stamping Grace's Garden Flowers in Memento Black Ink

Next, I colored them in using my Stampin’ Blends in a variety of light spring flower colors.

Coloring Grace's Garden Flowers with Stampin' Blends

After that, I used Soft Sea Foam Ink and Balmy Blue Ink with my Sponge Roller to fill in the green grass and blue sky. This was done lightly, right over my stamped and colored flowers, no masking required.

Sponge Roller with Soft Sea Foam and Balmy Blue Ink — When using the Sponge Roller, I start off my cardstock and work my way in. The first bit of ink off the roller may be dark. It is easy to add more color, impossible to take it away.

The Elements of Grace’s Garden

The coordinating dies for Grace’s Garden Stamp Set, Garden Gateway, offer a variety of fences, flowers and critters. This adds up to scenic fun for assembling the Grace’s Garden Double Easel Fold Card.

For the 2 flower sprigs that climb the arched garden gate, I stamped on scrap white cs using Memento Ink. Following a die cut in my Big Shot, I used the Stampin’ Blends to color my flowers, then rolled some Balmy Blue ink over the remaining white outlines.

My garden is home to a small gray cat. I stamped the cat image in Basic Gray Ink on a scrap of Smoky Gray CS.

Next, I die cut my kitty and sponged the edges to soften them, using Smoky Gray Ink. By using the same ink color as the cardstock, I eliminate the harsh transition to the darker gray outline.

Sponging the cat die cut with Smoky Gray Ink

The arched garden gate is easily the sweetest die in the set. It looks divine in white. I wanted my sentiment to imitate a hanging sign from the top of the trellis, so I used the Classic Label Punch and white cs to make a faux “board” topper. After stamping the sentiment on the 1 1/4 x 2″ white cs, I sponged it with Balmy Blue Ink for consistency.

The Many Layers Of Grace’s Garden

I adhered the floral stamped and sponged white cs to the 2 3/8 x 3 7/8″ Balmy Blue CS. When I attached the gate, I added it toward the left side, centering it between my stamped flowers.

Next, I glued on my 2 flower sprays to artfully climb along the sides of the gate. This was followed by the little cat, peering into the garden. Lastly, I placed small amounts of glue to the upper trellis and placed my punched “board” in position. I adhered the sentiment and admired my work.

Lower Layer of Grace's Garden Double Easel Fold Card — This assembly is now ready to go on the card. I centered it on the bottom layer of the double easel fold partition.

The really hard work has been done! When I stamped the 3 3/4 x 5″ white cs with additional flowers, I repeated my steps of coloring and sponging.

Back Layer of Grace's Garden Double Easel Fold Card — This beautifully stamped, colored and sponged piece gets layered with the 3 7/8 x 5 1/8″ Balmy Blue CS, then adhered to the card.

Putting it all together is easy. I adhered each layer in position. For the fold that is barely noticeable, I added a piece of Balmy Blue DSP from the Subtles Collection. I chose the checkered pattern for its sweetness. This paper in coordinating color blends beautifully into the card as a needed continuity.

The adhered layers of Grace's Garden Double Easel Fold Card

Flowers and Friendship Are Sweet

Grace’s Garden Double Easel Fold Card is so wonderful, it doesn’t even need additional embellishments. I left the inside blank, so the recipient of this card in the April Showers Bring May Flower Cards Exchange can do whatever she wants with it. Lucky her for participating!

This card was not difficult to make, but it gives the appearance of great time and effort. If you haven’t tried this fun fold card yet, please do so. You will be amazed with your end results. If you need any stamping supplies, like the Grace’s Garden Stamp Set or coordinating dies, Garden Gateway, stop by my online store, https://juliemakson@stampinup.net.

Be sure to follow me, and be in the know for my next card exchange, Fall For Cards, coming in September. More details will follow.

April Showers Brought…May Flower Cards

May 7, 2020

Flower Cards In Exchange

My latest card exchange just took place! In April, while the showers fell around us and we gathered in our crafty places, flower cards were being made. All this, in an effort to share sunshine and exchange a flower card with a fellow papercrafter.

This exchange was similar to my Val Pal Card Exchange for heart themed cards in January/February. The directions were simple yet again. First, make a card with a flower on it. Next, mail it to me with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Lastly, receive another card-maker’s work in exchange. So fun to swap, even more exciting to see what flower cards everyone came up with!

The Flower Cards

Without further ado, let me introduce the flower cards of May, and delve into the intricate details of each!

Isabella’s Card

Isabella started with a round card base, from a previous Paper Pumpkin kit, that is silver-light blue (blue is her favorite color!). On a punched out pink heart, she drew a lovely flower design, coloring with markers.

The inside of Isabella’s card tells the story. April showers bring May flowers is her theme, with plenty of stormy clouds and rain in April, and beautiful spring flowers, triumphant in May. Besides flowers, Isabella loves to draw dragons. Her card is a masterpiece in art!

Ginny’s Card

The sentiment on Ginny’s card, “you can do it” is so encouraging! As is the bright Daffodil Delight yellow of her fabulous card. The delicate lacy overlay provides an exceptional back-drop for the bright pop of posy.

The leaves on Ginny’s card are stamped and die-cut. The flower is multi-layered, in the die cuts of designer series paper and stamped image, as well as punched cardstock. The center of her flower is a lovely pearl. Altogether, this flower card gives off feel-good positive sunshine-day vibes!

Dolores’ Card

Dolores used the Tulip Builder Punch (one of my favorites!) for her flower garden. The beautiful colors, yellow, red and pink, portray these tulips perfectly. She used a white gel pen to create outlines and dots, creating unique patterns on each one.

The spring green card base and layering piece are corner rounded on all four sides. Dolores’ flower stems and leaves are hand-drawn and colored, a perfect shade, complimentary to the card base. The sentiment, in red, is sweetly placed above the flowers. This card captures the essence of spring in the best possible way!

Jane’s Card

Even though Jane’s card is blue, it certainly doesn’t make us feel that way! Her card base is created with the retiring In Color, Blueberry Bushel. Jane hand-stamped flowers directly, then stamped off for the patterned background.

The leaf sprig on Jane’s card is die cut, with intricate vein detailing. Her gorgeous blue flowers were punched from cardstock and then shaped and curled by hand. The center of each flower is a carefully placed golden seed pearl. This card is such a lovely rendition of the classic blue and white combination!

Linda’s Card

Linda used the popular March Paper Pumpkin kit, No Matter The Weather, to help her create her exchange card. To the adorable girl in the rainboots with the umbrella card front, Linda added some additional, cheerful rainboots, using dimensionals to add depth. She hand-stamped a flower and flourish swirl, popping a perfect pink heart in the center of the latter.

Linda continued her floral theme on the inside, creating two baskets overflowing with stamped and colored flowers. To the top, she added an additional die cut spray of flowers, using dimensionals to give it a lift. Her card has undeniable charm!

Alisa’s Card

Alisa created a card in fun and bright colors on a Crushed Curry card base! Her background lays the foundation, with hand-drawn flowers done in watercolor pencils. A wash of water softened the pencil lines and blended the pinks, yellows, oranges and purples wonderfully.

Alisa hand-stamped and punched the top flower, then watercolored it. The neighboring flowers were punched in pink cardstock. She added additional flowers in tiny stature randomly, and accented her card with yellow, orange and pink embellishments. This card is a real pick-me-up, happy day card!

Holiday’s Card

Holiday created her flower card, starting with a soft gray-blue base. She used excellent layering technique, starting with the yellow and white stripe design paper. Her next layer is done in bright yellow, covered in a variety of hand-stamped flowers that really draw the eye!

For her focal flower, Holiday added a soft orange watercolor washed die cut as a backdrop. On top of that, sits the fun, open-looped 5 petal flower, in a peachy orange color. The center of her flower is an adorable, perfectly sized yellow sticker. The color combinations used here are well chosen, making this card a complete joy to behold!

Steph’s Card

You may be looking at this card and wondering what this one has to do with flowers. Steph took a unique and quirky stab at this, for sure! The April Showers theme plays out well on the front, with a stormy Granite Gray card base and a dozen-and-a-half crystal raindrops. There is even a cloudy sentiment above the pile of (flower embossed, upside down heart) shaped poo that is sitting on die cut grass. But inside…

Steph suggests if life hands you, well, you know…Grow A fresh start. Make the best out of what you are given! The individual letters are hand-stamped in gradient rainbow colors before she die cut them. There are 6 daisy’s, each inked differently, then hand punched. The bees are from a Paper Pumpkin kit, as well as the silver foiled banner. Let’s remember that rain and fertilizer grow the best flowers. This is a laugh out loud, memorable card full of countless details!

Julie’s Card

I chose the stamp set, Grace’s Garden, and the coordinating dies, Garden Gateway, for my flower card. I wanted to create a fun-fold card that would accent the die cut garden gate, and the double easel fold card came to mind.

While it may look technically difficult, it is simple scoring, folding and layering. There was a lot of coloring and die cutting, as well as some sponging, to bring it all together. Tomorrow’s blog post will feature the card recipe and pictoral how-to of the making of this flower card, so come back for more details if you are interested in seeing how this card was created.

Friends Are Flowers In The Garden Of Life

My April Showers Bring May Flower Cards Exchange was so much fun! My request for you to join me in making a flower card for exchange gave me something to look forward to, as cards were received by mail.

Now, as I mail these cards randomly to the participants in return, you have the sweet anticipation of wondering which one of these cards will show up in your mailbox soon!

I truly appreciate all who took the time to participate and share their love of cardmaking with others. There is great joy in the simple sending and receiving of a thoughtful, homemade card! Please continue to craft, create, and send sunshine to others. Be the unexpected flower in someone’s day!

Look forward to the next card exchange, Fall For Cards, with a fall theme, coming this September. I hope to see your participating card, then! More details will follow later…

Sharing Sunshine Digital Stamp Set Part III

May 1, 2020

Creating With Digital Stamps

My Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set review is coming to its conclusion. We have covered purchasing the stamp set and donating to the COVID-19 charities in Part I. In Part II, I gave suggestions on printing and storing the digital stamps. And, each post has offered examples of cards I made using the Share Sunshine Digital Stamps, and insights of creation.

Today, I continue my tips on using the Share Sunshine Digital Stamps. I will also add some pros and cons of these kinds of stamps.

My Number One Tip

I have been learning how to best use digital stamps. And, I have discovered that crazily chopping up all the images is not the greatest idea.

In the included index for the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, there are recommendations as to which punches and dies will coordinate with the stamps. If you want to use some of them, you need enough paper surrounding your image to do so. Pre-chopping images may hinder the use of a die or punch.

Therefore, I highly suggest you carefully choose and then cut to suit your intended purpose. (Or, just print out more images. There is always that option, too!)

Other Great Tips:

Use your cutting tool to get straight lines. In order for you to to use dies and punches, you will be required to cut your paper.

You can also select an image from the file, then copy and paste to print single items. This will give you plenty of room to work with too.

Pros of Digital Stamps

You can print these stamps ahead, store them and use them quickly and easily. There are no limits to the amount of times you can print from your purchased file.

There are no stamping errors here. Gone are smears, shady outlines and crooked images.

I love that these stamps won’t fall off their blocks, or get lost in my crafting piles of creativity. No need to clean them up after using them.

Less inky fingers. I only say less because you may still be inking other stamps to go with these digital images. Still, less inky fingers.

Cons Of Digital Stamps

You aren’t actually stamping. We love to stamp, don’t we?

While the images come in options of black or color, the colors are pre-determined. You don’t get to chose a specific color.

You will need electric, a computer, the internet, a printer and most importantly, printer ink. Makes grabbing a physical stamp and ink pad sound easy, right?

The images are great, but…there are techniques that don’t work. For example, you can’t mask them to use partial images like you could with physical stamps. These won’t work for second generation or shadow images. You can’t heat emboss these images. I bet you can think of even more limitations if you put your mind to it!

Is There A Stamp For That?

There are so many occasions and thoughts, words and phrases that we, as cardmakers, want to express artistically. Digital stamps, like those found in the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, give us the opportunity to voice our feelings.

A digital stamp set is much less expensive than the typical red rubber or photopolymer, manufacturing costs are nil. And a digital stamp set has the ability to pack so much more imagery into the included offering. Space is not limited to a stamp case or two.

Digital stamps may be perfect for beginner crafters with limited supplies. After printing the stamps, they can be simply cut and added to cardstock. Maybe a little designer series paper and some ribbon complete the look, and you have yourself a card! Now, it’s time to share sunshine, by giving that card away…

Have Another Quaran-tini!

Quarantini card made with Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set

All the images on this happy hour card are part of the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set. The “martini” is a perfect example of an image that is not exclusive to social distancing. Long term value, there.

Old Olive was the perfect choice for my cardstock base, and Terracotta Tile embossed with the Eyelet Lace Embossing Folder helped mimic the martini olives. I added Crushed Curry to spice things up, and Old Olive Stitched Edge Ribbon as my embellishment.

A quick coloring job with my Stampin’ Blends make this beverage good enough to get a chuckle out of, without actually imbibing.

There’s No Place Like Home (For Now)

No Place Like Home card made with Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set

The Gray Granite color in the sentiment was replicated in my card base and Neutrals 6×6″ DSP. I wanted “home” to be represented in colors we associate with love: pink and red. Therefore, Blushing Bride and Poppy Parade moved into my neighborhood.

I created the houses using the retired stamp set, Holiday Home, and the retired dies, Homemade Holiday Framelits. When I culled my stamp stash for housing choices, they were indeed vast. In The City, Pop On By, Cozy Cottage and At Home With You were almost used.

As is my tendency, I like to use small strips of leftover cardstock as embellishment. I also punched 2 small hearts using a retired mini punch, to show additional love here.

Things I Miss:

News flash! There is a list of things I miss. It is actually a lot longer than this list, however we only have 5 1/2″ of vertical space to work with on our card front.

I chose the black image from the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, and kept this one on the dark side (much like the humor here) by using a black card base. I am a huge fan of newsprint type DSP, and I picked a piece from the Call Sail Away Collection.

This card is kept simple on purpose. The focus remains on the list of missed things. I want my recipient to know “YOU” are missed.

What A Year This Week Has Been

And how! We can all relate to this sentiment. I will use this one for any difficult times. I wanted to keep this card extra fun, so I used bright pops of color, Pretty Peacock as my base, and adding in Granny Apple Green and Gorgeous Grape.

The DSP is from the Brights 6×6″ Collection. My fair lady is from the retired stamp set, Just Kidding. She has wonderful opinions to share at any time. I did some great coloring of this image using my Stampin’ Blends.

I stamped the calendar images from the retired set, Project Life, Day To Day. This stamp set also has images of January-December, and Sunday-Saturday. If I could have incorporated more on my card, I would have. (I do have self-control issues from time to time in that regard.)

Share Sunshine!

Regardless if you purchase the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set or not, the important thing is to share sunshine. As cardmakers, this is easy to do. Make a card, mail it, and cheer someone up.

Digital Stamps may be a thing of the future. We could see more and more of them being offered by Stampin’ Up!. Taking the time to learn a little about them now will make it easier for you to decide if they are something you want in your craft arsenal.

As always, my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, is open for business. Get the supplies you need to create the sunshine you will be sharing. Someone will be very glad that you took the time to show them you care!

Sharing Sunshine Digital Stamp Set Part II

April 30, 2020

Use And Care Of Your Share Sunshine Digital Stamps

As a rubberstamper, you are aware of the use and care of your physical stamps, red rubber or photopolymer. You know what inks and techniques work best for flawless images. You understand which cleaner to use for a specific application. And Storage 101: please keep those photopolymers out of the direct sunlight!

If you are new to digital stamps, as I am, then you may be wondering where to start and what to do. How will I put my printer to best use? How will I store all the bits and pieces of my digital stamps? I have answers!

Your Share Sunshine Digital Stamps

Purchase Share Sunshine Digital Stamp PDF Download

In Part I of this series, I provided a link to purchase the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, part of the Making A Difference program thru Stampin’ Up!. This digital stamp set is a charity fundraiser for COVID-19. After purchase, you may instantly download the digital file and print out your stamp collection.

Print Tips For Share Sunshine PDF Download

This collection is 15 pages of stamps with images and sentiments both funny and thoughtful for social distancing. Pages 1 and 2 are instructional and list coordinating products for use with the digital stamps. I recommend printing these first 2 pages on regular copy/printer paper (don’t waste good cardstock on them!).

You will want a printer with color ink in addition to black. All of the images come in black options as well as pre-determined color options. This provides a great mix of both.

I printed out 2 copies immediately. If you have the cardstock and ink, this could be a future time-saver. With so many images on hand, I won’t need to start my computer, search my files, start my printer, etc to use one sentiment on a card.

As with any printer, you can choose a specific page to print instead of the entire document. If you fall in love with a particular digital stamp this is a great option. And you will save printer ink too!

Keep in mind, if you use a different brand of cardstock for printing (perhaps a cheaper one, like I do) and intend to use this digital stamp with your premium cardstock (like I did), the colors may be off. You will need to print on the good paper, or use the cheap paper (as needed) on your card. Lesson learned by me!

Binder Storage Solution For Share Sunshine Digital Stamps

I am a keeper of binders. Storage at my fingertips. I have a vast collection of white binders on hand, and lots of sheet protectors. The continuity of white in my craft room keeps things beautifully in order.

I placed pages 1 and 2, the instructional sheets, back to back as the first page in my 3-ring binder, using 1 sheet protector. Next, I placed the fully intact digital stamp pages 3-17 in their own sheet protectors individually. The Share Sunshine Digital Stamps have page numbers on the bottom that coordinate with specific products per pages 1-2.

As the images and sentiments are cut apart, I place the unused stamps in the page protector on the backside of the full coordinating page. As your full page of digital stamps dwindles, you may want to add a slip of paper with the page number into the protector. Or, you could add a sticker to the front of each page with the corresponding number as well. And lastly, there is always the option to print more pages from your digital stamp file!

My binder will need a gorgeous index label and colorful front cover insert. This will be on my list of things to do, and soon! Meanwhile, I have been busy creating cards with the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, and here are my latest efforts:

So…I Finished Netflix

This card represents what many of us have been doing to pass the time of social distancing. Couch potatoes, happily entertained by Netflix and the like.

I thought this important announcement should be broadcast in cinema style. So, I reached for the retired stamp set, Marquee Messages. I used the Night Of Navy sentiments, and that made my card base choice easy. Bright and bold colors, Poppy Parade, Call Me Clover and Daffodil Delight round out the team.

Designer Elements in gold give this card a red carpet, award winning style. In fact, the circular pieces used here evoke movie reels of old. And I took advantage of the new Black Dimensionals when lifting my sentiment outlined in Night Of Navy to the card front. White Dimensionals would have stood out, in a bad review kind of way.

Wish This Were A Real In Person Hug!

This adorable pink dinosaur wants to share hugs. In fact, many of us want to share hugs. We can’t wait for the opportunity to do so. Let’s not make hugging extinct!

The Dino Days Stamp Set and coordinating Dino Dies are current Stampin’ Up! products. Often times, we see use of these dinosaurs in blues and greens. In my card, I fancied a pink dino. Blushing Bride and Flirty Flamingo met with Old Olive and Soft Seafoam.

I punched out the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp sentiment using the Everyday Label Punch. To create the green layer behind it, I punched again in Old Olive CS and cut it in half. I then adhered each section, top and bottom to the back of the sentiment, letting the color peek around.

The sweet checkered pattern paper is from the Subtles 6×6″ DSP Collection. I added the Woven Threads Sequins using glue dots left over from a Paper Pumpkin Kit. Those particular glue dots are smaller than the typical ones, and work so well with sequin application.

I Can’t Wait To Social UN-Distance With You

Perfect sentiment for those ready to end social distancing. I searched my stamp stacks to look for cute critters who are enjoying each other’s company. Runners-up in selection but not used were groups of assorted animals gathered in the stamp sets: From The Herd and We Must Celebrate.

But, retired stamp set, Bella & Friends, won the So Cute It Had To Be Used On This Card award. When I chose the sentiment from the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set in color, Mint Macaron and Pretty Peacock were natural go-withs.

I liked the embossing folder, Mosaic 3D, as it brought to mind the turtle’s shell. The checkered pattern DSP from the Subtles 6×6″ Collection was die cut using the Nested Stitched Labels Dies. White Perfect Accents and White Bakers Twine round out the embellishments.

Everything Will Be Okay

Everything Will Be Ok card with Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set

Not all of the stamps in the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set are funny. Some are poignant and thoughtful. This sentiment is a perfect example of one (of several) that can be used at any time.

I wanted to mimic nature in neutral colors for this card. I pulled out the stamp set, Peaceful Place, and stamped the trees and leaves from it. Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Highland Heather combine to keep this card calm.

As I choose embossing folders for my cards, I like to add to my card’s story. Pinewood Planks 3D with its wood grain was the perfect choice. I punched the sentiment out using the Story Label Punch. A hint of Linen Thread and retired Enamel Dots do not distract on this reassuring card.

The Digital Fun Continues

It is always exciting as a papercrafter to try something new. I am enjoying my experimentation with the Share Sunshine Digital Stamp Set, and I hope that you are able to learn with me as well.

If you are inspired by any of my projects and need Stampin’ Up! supplies, please stop by my online shop, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, at any time. And be sure to follow up with me as I continue to share tips, techniques and samples in this ongoing 3 part blog series. I would love to know which card is your personal favorite!