Blender Pen - The Maine Stamper

Zany Zoo Llama Card

May 18, 2023

Zany Zoo Card Class, Card 2

Zany Zoo Llama Card

My Weekly Card Class From Maine happens to showcase some pretty zany critters! Our focus this week is the Zany Zoo Bundle by Stampin’ Up!. Need more info on this class? Click here.

This Zany Zoo Llama card may be the most zany. Imagine a knitting llama! And then add some pink eyeshadow and nail (or hoof?) polish to our talented crafting lady…er, Llama.

Llama Mambo and Llama Lolly

Aren’t these colors fantastic together? I am loving Lemon Lolly, a sweet new yellow tone from Stampin’ Up!’s color refresh. And even more than loving just one color, I also love finding great matches, like this one.

Both of these colors, Melon Mambo and Lemon Lolly, work really well with our Zoo Crew Designer Series Paper. The bold black and crisp white really pop with this pink and yellow! I added some interest to my Lemon Lolly Cardstock layer by scoring lines at the top and bottom.

Zany Zoo Llama Card Details

For the first card in this week’s class, Zany Zoo Alligator Card, I chose to do my coloring with the Stampin’ Blends. This time, I picked a different coloring method: Water Color Pencils.

I find that Water Color Pencils provide a really different way of adding color. While the coloring technique provides your image with a softer look, I prefer to finish my coloring by using the Blender Pen as the final step.

Blender Pens have a special, clear solution that softens harsh pencil lines and blends the coloring to make it smooth and seamless. A word of caution: too much Blender Pen will create pills on your paper. I chose Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive to color in my image.

You’re Too Wonderful

As I continue with my Weekly Card Class From Maine, I am keeping the continuity of heat embossing my sentiment in White Embossing Powder on Black Cardstock. For the Zany Zoo Llama Card, the sentiment “You’re Too Wonderful” from the Zany Zoo Stamp Set is perfect.

And speaking of perfect, the coordinating banner die in the Zany Zoo Dies is fantastic for this sentiment too. In fact, this banner die works on 2 out of the 3 sentiments in the Zany Zoo Stamp Set.

Get Your Zany Zoo Card Class From ME

This Zany Zoo Llama Card is just one card in my featured class this week. If you would like to see the video from my online class, click this link. For more details on what is in this week’s class from Maine and how to get yours, click here.

I will be sharing more cards from the Zany Zoo Card Class, as well as my bonus cards, as this week goes on. Be sure to check back here or follow me, The Maine Stamper, on FaceBook, for more cardmaking inspiration and ideas.

January Winter White Event

January 30, 2022

All Things White & Crafty!

In case you missed it, I just held a January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp! This 4 day bootcamp took place in my Maine craft room and wherever viewers were able to watch from. For example, on your couch in comfy pj’s, or in the break room at work. Isn’t the internet marvelous? And the best part…it was FREE.

All of those training videos from my January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp are out there for review. I made them bite-size, most are under 10 minutes each. Some of them may push 15 minutes, but the content is amazing. And we covered a large variety of subjects.

If you saw me in one of my blue Maine Stamper t-shirts, you knew it was time for another subject and another lesson. I placed all the information in Guide 3 of the Positive PaperCrafters FaceBook Page. After you watch a video, you have the the option to click “done” on it, so that you know which ones you still need to view. If you aren’t a member of the Positive PaperCrafters yet, what are you waiting for? Ask to join our private group today!

Julie Makson, The Maine Stamper

Day 1: White Paper

On the first day of the January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp, we covered different types of white paper. Did you know that there are lots of colors (or tones) of white. They are not all the same, and by lining some of them up, I proved that to be true.

There are also a lot of papers out there to do different jobs in our crafting world. Some of these are specialty papers. I talked about what they are and gave demos on how to use them. We also discussed how to store your scraps, and non-traditional white paper items.

Mother of Pearl Specialty Paper used in the January Winter White Bootcamp. — For this Mother of Pearl Specialty Paper, you need Staz-On Ink for stamping.

Day 2: White Embossing Powder

Moving on to day 2 of the January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp, we took on White Embossing Powder and its important role in papercrafting. Of course, everyone knows that White Embossing Powder looks amazing on color cardstock. If you are putting that glossy white on black, it is simply stunning.

But, we also covered using it on Water Color Paper and 2 ways to add color inside the embossed image. I showed an emboss resist technique with White Embossing Powder. And, have you ever thought about embossing designer series paper or specialty paper? We did that too!

Using the emboss resist technique with ink and sponge daubers from the January Winter White Bootcamp. — These gorgeous trees were made by embossing the stamped image in White Embossing Powder and sponging on ink with Sponge Daubers.

Day 3: White Embellishments

What is an embellishment? We covered that first on the third day of the January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp. And my list may have surprised some of you to think outside the box a little. It may be hard to throw something away that you once thought of as “trash” after you watch my video. Very crafty indeed!

We also learned about different ways to store embellishments (a very popular subject…organization ideas!). Choosing the right adhesive may be difficult, but I talked about that too. And if your embellishments are too white, lets add some color to them to match our projects. Lastly, where do you place embellishments? This video was eye-opening for anyone who struggles with this.

Placing embellishments on card fronts in the January Winter White Bootcamp. — We learned about the Law of 3, using triangles for embellishment placement, and the Implied Path.

Day 4: Coloring With White

When you think of coloring, white is probably the last color to come to mind. Typically, the paper we are coloring on is already white. And there are not a lot of tools out there that can do the job, but we covered them in this January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp.

The White Chalk Marker saw a lot of screen time. There is so much we can do with this mighty marker! I also shared some information on the Whisper White Craft Ink Pad and Refill. And, the White Stampin’ Blend in not a white marker…we talked about what it is, and what it is not.

Coloring with white ink in the January Winter White Bootcamp. — This technique provides a great wow factor! Stamp your image using a darker shade of ink than your cardstock. Then, fill in the “white” using a Blender Pen and Whisper White Craft Ink. My video shows you how!

My Personal Winter White Sale

To end my January Winter White Virtual Bootcamp, I am offering some amazing freebies with a qualifying order with me. Each of the freebie selections builds on the last, so if you have a $100 order (before shipping and tax) you will receive extra gifts from me in all 4 categories.

Sale-A-Bration is happening too, so this is the perfect time to beat the winter doldrums and get some free stamping products. Hurry, this offer ends on January 31, 2022. In order to take advantage of this special offer, do not order directly from my online store (you can view it to help you make your selections).

You must contact me directly so that I may place your order for you and pay for your FREE gifts. If you have any questions, just reach out! Hoping to see you in the Positive PaperCrafters Group Page soon for more fun, sharing and learning!

Nature’s Harvest In Polished Pink

August 13, 2021

Card made with Nature's Harvest Stamp Set in Polished Pink, Mango Melody and Mossy Meadow.

In Color: Polished Pink, Part I

Nature’s Harvest evokes thoughts of fall colors, and Polished Pink does not fit in that category. But anything is possible in cardmaking, as you may know.

Last month, I explored color options in Fresh Freesia. This month, I am exploring another 2021-2023 In Color by Stampin’ Up!: Polished Pink.

I love this bright, cheerful pink. For my featured card, I am pairing it with Mango Melody and Mossy Meadow.

Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set

Are you a nature lover? Even if you’re not, I bet you can identify the flower called Black-Eyed Susan. And the newly released Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set honors that very flower.

The focal flower for my card is naturally yellow and black. As such, the color Mango Melody, a deep yellow, was the perfect choice for my petals. My other color selection, Mossy Meadow, is a gorgeous rich green for the foliage.

Black-Eyed Susan

I began making my card using the Black-Eyed Susan stamp from the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set. First, I inked it in my Mossy Meadow Ink Pad onto a piece of 2 1/2 x 4″ paper. The image of this awesome stamp has three uniquely facing flowers.

Next, I used a Blender Pen and colored in my stamped image. For the petals, I used Mango Melody Ink. I continued with Mossy Meadow Ink for the leaves and stems. And for the center of the two larger flowers, I used Early Espresso Ink. Between each color, I simply scribbled the old ink off the tip of my Blender Pen, and moved to the next ink pad.

Coloring the Black-Eyed Susan Stamp from the Nature's Harvest Stamp Set using ink pads and a blender pen.

Design Some Paper/Designer Series Paper

When it comes to sentiment stamps, the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set has some lovely ones. And one of my favorite things to do with a sentiment stamp is create a background paper.

For my card, I worked with a piece of Polished Pink Cardstock, 3 1/8 x 4 3/8″ in size. I used Polished Pink Ink and stamped my chosen sentiment from the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set in a random pattern from top to bottom. Be sure to have scrap paper behind your cardstock, as your stamping will spill over the sides.

Background stamping using a sentiment stamp from the Nature's Harvest Stamp Set.

To compliment my Polished Pink Cardstock and pull my other featured colors into this card, I turned to Designer Series Paper. I love that every Stampin’ Up! color is represented in 6 x 6″ assortments. I pulled out the Brights Collection for Mango Melody, and the Neutrals Collection for Mossy Meadow.

Nature’s Harvest Sentiment

Do you remember the sentiment stamp from the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set that I used to create my background imagery? I used the same stamp for the focal sentiment too.

This time, I stamped the sentiment using Early Espresso Ink onto a piece of white cardstock that measured 3/4 x 3″. Next, I stamped off using Mango Melody Ink and the “splotch” stamp from the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set, to add a little yellow to my sentiment piece.

Stamping the focal sentiment from the Nature's Harvest Stamp Set.

Polished Pink (And More) Layers

I typically build some of my card layers by adhering them together before I add them to my card front. For my sentiment, I added a back layer in Mossy Meadow. After I centered my Polished Pink stamped cardstock onto the Mango Melody DSP, I attached the stamped flower piece, placing this toward the bottom and left.

I chose a card base in Early Espresso Cardstock because it is a deep, neutral color that helps to anchor the combination of Polished Pink, Mango Melody and Mossy Meadow. To my base, I adhered a 2 x 5 1/2″ strip of Mossy Meadow DSP, then built my card layers upon it.

Nature’s Harvest Finishing Touches

Before I placed my sentiment layer on my card, I added a 7″ piece of Polished Pink Open Weave Ribbon. I attached my ribbon with a small piece of Tear & Tape Adhesive, which I later covered with my sentiment.

Adding Polished Pink Open Weave Ribbon to the card front.

I wanted to give my sentiment some lift, so I applied Dimensionals to the back of it. In this case, the pre-cut dimensionals were already used, so I snipped off some of the edging instead. Even the outer shell is useful, so don’t ever throw it away!

Applying Dimensionals to the back of the sentiment piece.

Once my sentiment was attached to my card, I played with the ribbon a little bit. I tied a small bow around the top of the Polished Pink ribbon using Linen Thread. Then, by adding a couple of Mini Glue Dots beneath my raised sentiment, I was able to loop the dangling bottom Polished Pink ribbon pieces up and under. For this, I found the spatula end of my Take Your Pick Tool most helpful!

Nature’s Harvest and Polished Pink

Finished card with the Nature's Harvest Stamp Set. — At the beginning of this color challenge, I wasn’t sure if I could pull off one card that contained Polished Pink, Mango Melody and Mossy Meadow. By choosing the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set with the Black-Eyed Susan stamp, two of my colors immediately made sense. From there, I just needed to add in some Polished Pink!

I hope you’ll agree that these colors on this card work well together. If you are looking for any of the supplies that went into the making of this card, head over to my online store. And be sure to come back for Polished Pink Parts Two and Three, as I continue to explore this fun In Color with new cards this month.