Forever Flourishing Dies - The Maine Stamper

Forever Fern Stamp Set In Just Jade

August 25, 2020

Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be

Card made with the Forever Ferm Stamp Set

Monday’s are hard, but in this card making 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!

Forever Fern Stamp Set

Today’s Monday Card features the Forever Fern Stamp Set. This fantastic stamp set is the cornerstone of the Forever Greenery Suite from Stampin’ Up!. If you would like to see another project that features nature and the color green, click here.

You can purchase the Forever Fern Stamp Set as a bundle with the Forever Flourishing Dies and save 10%. However, since we are using minimal supplies, this Monday Card only uses the stamp set.

Forever Fern Stamp Set and Forever Flourishing Dies — Forever Fern Bundle, item #154094

That’s right, one stamp set, Forever Fern, two ink pads, Bermuda Bay and Mint Macaron, and two colors of cardstock, Just Jade and Whisper White. Please follow along!

A Monday Card

The Card Recipe

Just Jade CS: 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″, score at 4-1/4″ for card base.

Just Jade CS: 2-3/4 x 2-3/4″

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

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

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 bone folder 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 that contain flowers or leaves.

To begin, I used the largest fern stamp from the Forever Fern Stamp Set and Bermuda Bay Ink on the 4 x 4″ piece of Whisper White CS. I stamped the image once, then immediately stamped off next to it, to create the second generation or shadow stamp. I continued this in a circular pattern, turning my cardstock as I stamped.

Stmping the largest fern from the Forever Fern Stamp Set

Once I completed stamping the large fern in a full circle, my cardstock looked like this:

But, don’t worry about the messy middle, we will be covering that part up as we continue.

Next, however, I continued with this piece and stamped the smallest leaves from the Forever Fern Stamp Set in Mint Macaron around the outside edges.

Stamping the smallest ferns from the Forever Fern Stamp Set

Berry Detailed

I continued the great use of color and background stamping on the 1 x 4″ piece of Whisper White CS. For this, I used the berry sprig stamp from the Forever Fern Stamp Set.

By focusing on the middle of the berry sprig, I was able to get 4-5 images across my cardstock. The stamps in the Forever Fern Stamp Set are Dist-Ink-tive, and have built in high and low imagery in the red rubber for great depth and interest.

Stamping the berry sprig stamp from the Forever Fern Stamp Set

Sentimental Friend

I used the sentiment “to a friend that makes me smile” from the Forever Fern Stamp Set, along with Mint Macaron Ink, on the 2-1/2 x 2-1/2″ square of Whisper White CS.

The saying is written in cursive, at a slight slant. Because we are also stamping it at a diagonal orientation, getting it lined up “evenly” can be tricky. I used the lines in my grid paper to help me out.

Stamping the sentiment from the Forever Fern Stamp Set

If this small fern stamp used to add a border around my sentiment in Bermuda Bay looks familiar, you are not seeing double. There are 2 stamps in the Forever Fern Stamp Set that are this same size. Each one curves in a different direction. It will not matter which one you use.

Some Assembly Required

The stamping is complete for the outside of our card, now we are on to assembling it. And, this one couldn’t get much easier!

I started by adhering the 4 x 4″ stamped piece of Whisper White CS to the front of my card base. I left a quarter inch of Just Jade showing behind the top and sides. Next, I adhered the 1 x 4″ stamped piece of Whisper White CS to the bottom of my card base.

After adhering my sentiment piece to the 2-3/4 x 2-3/4″ Just Jade CS, I placed it in the middle of my 4 x 4″ Whisper White CS on the diagonal. This will cover up the messy middle stamping, as mentioned earlier.

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 partially stamped the large fern image in Bermuda Bay Ink in the bottom corner to add that inside interest. I surrounded the large fern with the tops of the smallest fern, done in Mint Macaron.

Inside card stamping using Forever Fern Stamp Set

Color Changing Options

With a card recipe this easy and fun, it only made sense to me to create it in different color combinations.

The purple lovers card on the left is done in warm berry tones, with a Rich Razzleberry card base, and Blackberry Bliss and Soft Suede Ink.

For my fall inspired card on the right, I chose a Cajun Craze card base. The ink colors used in this alternate card are Cherry Cobbler and Cinnamon Cider.

Christmas Card made with the Forever Fern Stamp Set

And how about a Christmas Card using the Forever Fern Stamp Set? These stamps are versatile enough to do so, and this card recipe makes creating them in large quantities a breeze.

Here, I used a Cherry Cobbler card base along with Shaded Spruce and Cherry Cobbler Ink. The sentiment “a merry hello” comes from the Host Stamp Set titled A Merry Hello. The stamp “heartfelt Christmas” would have worked beautifully here as well. Ask me today how you can earn this stamp set for free!

Get Stamping!

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 at any time. See you next Monday for another installment of:

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

Basic Pattern Decorative Masks: Mosaic

July 15, 2020

Decorative Masks Part III

Basic Pattern Decorative Masks (item #150697) come in a set of 4 masks, sized 6 x 6″ each. They are thin and pliable, plastic in nature and easily cleaned. The enclosed insert lists 5 different methods you can use when you create with these decorative masks: spritz, sponge, trace, emboss and texture.

The variety in the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks is wonderful, and this set has something for everyone. Part I in my mini series on Decorative Masks focused on the Dot Mask, and creating a textured background. In Part II, I covered the Victorian Mask and the spritzing technique.

This post will cover my favorite, and the easiest technique, sponging! I think you will soon discover all the wonderful possibilities the world of sponging can open up.

Sponging Technique

I have been a huge fan of sponging since my very early days of stamping. There are currently two different options to sponge with in the Stampin’ Up! catalog, Stampin’ Sponges (item #141337) and Sponge Brayers (item #141714). These two items do the same job, but much differently.

Stampin’ Sponges

Why sponges? They are small enough to apply ink to the edges of any paper cut, and you have more dexterity in applying ink via the pressure of your own hand.

When I use a sponge, I dab it onto the ink pad, picking up as much or as little ink as I like. It is easy for me hold the paper I want to sponge and add ink at the same time. Reloading the sponge with additional ink is a breeze.

A Sponge In Every Color

Stampin’ Sponges come as a set of 3. But these large rounds are not meant to be used as full circles. First, I cut each sponge in half. From there, each half is cut into thirds, and this creates 6 wedges of sponge all together from one round.

I like to designate a sponge wedge to every ink color individually. I never have to clean my sponge (by rinsing it with water and waiting for it to dry) or wonder what color I used it for last.

Using a label punch (mine is long retired but I like the consistency), I punch a coordinating piece of cardstock color. Once the label is folded in half, I use a sharpie to write the ink color name on it. Lastly, I staple it to the top of my sponge, leaving the large base open on the bottom.

My Sponge Storage

How do I possibly store a sponge wedge for every color? I currently have 6 plastic bins (the kind used for beads or stitching thread) at my disposal. Once upon a time they were very organized by color families and easy to locate at a glance. Families have changed and grown, and I have some catching up to do in the organizing process, but this still works for me!

Stampin' Sponge storage system — Some prefer to keep sponges generic to reds, pinks, blues, greens etc, rather than having one designated for each specific ink color.

Sponge Brayers

Sponge Brayers took the place of the hard rubber brayer in 2016. These brayers come in a set that contains 2 handles and 4 sponge heads. This makes it easy to change them out during a project. When I am done using the brayer, I run it under cold water to rinse out the ink. Next, I squeeze out the sponge, and let it finish air drying.

FUN FACT: I have a cat that thinks my sponge brayer heads are edible. I have a sponge that is missing chunks out of it. Lesson learned, I keep them out of her reach now.

To use the brayer, you need to “load” the sponge head with ink by rolling it repeatedly over the ink pad. This is a lot like loading a paint roller when you paint your walls. It is hard to tell how much ink is actually on the brayer at any given time. I find testing the ink saturation first is best.

Sponge brayers are meant to be used while the paper is flat on your work surface. This makes them perfect for use with the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks!

Set Up For Sponging Success

I took advantage of a Tombow Removable Adhesive Tape Runner, and secured my cardstock to my graph paper. This kind of tape runner allows temporary holds, and is easily removed without tearing or residue. In fact, when I rub my finger across the removable adhesive, it crumbles away like pencil erasing. Only a very small amount is needed here.

Next, I secured the Basic Pattern Decorative Mask Mosaic design in the exact position I wanted it to be. This time I used Painters Tape to hold the mask down. I made sure I did not cover my cardstock with the tape.

Preparing the Basic Pattern Decorative Mask for sponging

Now for the real fun, adding ink. I started with the lightest of my color choices, the Crushed Curry (yellow) and applied the ink via the brayer to the top third of my cardstock.

After my sponge brayer was low on ink, I ran it across my paper to “faux clean” it. Then, I started the same process with the Pumpkin Pie (orange), overlapping the Crushed Curry just a bit to blend the two colors.

Lastly, I moved on to the Cajun Craze (rusty red). By overlapping the Pumpkin Pie, I was able to get some great gradient colors.

***It is important to note that moving from lighter to darker ink colors without cleaning or changing the sponge head is okay. Do not ever go dark to light in this manner, you will end up with muddy discolored ink pads!

Spongeed cardstcok usining Basic Pattern Decorative Masks — This is a great example of starting the sponging process well off the intended paper. The first time the sponge hits anything, it produces very dark ink. By giving the sponge some lead up time, you avoid a dark line of ink that is hard to blend in.

Fabulous Fall Card

The ink choices I used with the Basic Pattern Decorative Mosaic Mask brought on thoughts of Fall. So, I turned to the stamp set Gather Together (item #150589, which is making a come back in the August-December 2020 Mini Catalog) and my favorite, the Forever Fern Bundle (item # 154094). Combined with a card base in Cinnamon Cider and an additional layer in Merry Merlot, this sponged piece was set up for success.

Gather Together and Forever Fern Stamp Sets

I stamped the berry image from the Forever Fern Bundle in Cajun Craze Ink and die cut it with the coordinating die. I am a huge fan of this stamp in any color!

Berry stamp and die from Forever Fern Bundle

Additional pieces cut from the Forever Flourishing Dies provided lots of foliage for my card. From the large fern die, I only needed the top portion, so I trimmed away some of the bottom of my Old Olive Cardstock.

Fern Die from Forever Flourishing Die and Old Olive CS

Crushed Curry and Merry Merlot Cardstock complimented additional die cuts. Luckily, this die set includes 4 of the small leafy dies, so one run thru my die cutting machine garnered me all of them at once!

More die cuts from the Forever Flourishing Dies

New to the 2020-2021 Annual Stampin’ Up! Catalog is their Velveteen Cardstock (item #153557). This soft flocked paper is fun to touch, and the Cinnamon Cider color was perfect for my card and some die cuts.

Color Velveteen Cardstock and Forever Flourishing Dies — Like a frugal crafter, I made the most of this expensive paper, getting my die cuts in the smallest use of paper. Waste not, want not!

Additional Elements

The focal point of my card is the sentiment “Gather Together”, and I stamped it in Merry Merlot Ink before punching it out with the 1-1/2″ Circle Punch (item #138299). From a piece of Merry Merlot CS, I punched a 2″ circle (item #133782) and embossed it with the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder (item #152718).

1-1/2" Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch and Tasteful Textile 3D EF

A fancy card calls for some fancy paper, and I used a Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty (item #152493) accent tag. I also pulled out the Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack (item #152475).

Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack and Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty Paper tag

Is there a thing as too many gold accents on a card? I thought not, so added in some Metallic Pearls (item #146282) and applied them with the help of my Take Your Pick Tool (item #144107) for easy transfer.

Metallic Pearls and Take Your Pick Tool — I store my embellishments on cardstock paper in Standard (DVD style) Stamp Cases (item #119105).

Putting It All Together

When I assembled this card, I started with the Vanilla 1/2″ ribbon, and ruched it along to the edge of my sentiment piece. First, I dry fit my gold laser-cut label and marked the edge with my pencil. Next, I applied a small strip of Tear & Tape Adhesive (item # 138995) where the ribbon would go.

Preparing for ruched ribbon on the card front

I removed the tape’s front facing sticky strip, then stuck the ribbon down while making small scrunches. This tape allowed me to pull up the ribbon and start over or adjust as needed.

Rouching ribbon on card — I wrapped the excess ribbon around the back of my Merry Merlot Cardstock.

From here, it was a matter of getting all my die cuts lined up in a manner that I liked. I took advantage of more Tear & Tape Adhesive to anchor the ends, which would eventually be covered by my sentiment.

Gather Together

This finished card is elegant and refined, and the Mosaic Mask from the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks made the perfect back-drop. Sponging any ink in any colors will yield you fantastic results as well! Here’s another look at the finished card!

Looking for sponges, inks and masks to add to your craft room supplies? Check my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net/ anytime. And be sure to come back for the grand finale in my Mini Series on Basic Pattern Decorative Masks and another technique in using them!

Flowers For Every Season

June 10, 2020 2 Comments

Memories & More Card Pack

June Mystery Host Thank You Cards

I appreciate everyone who places an order of Stampin’ Up! merchandise thru me. And to show my gratitude, I send out a homemade card to my customers every time they order.

I needed to make a batch of cards to thank all who placed an order with me during my June Mystery Host Party, and I turned to the new In Colors and the Flowers For Every Season Memories & More Card Pack.

I try to make multi-purpose cards, useful for any occasion. Because I leave the inside blank and unsigned, the card I send is perfect for my customer to pass along to someone else. Unless they keep it for themselves!

Mass Production, Craft Room Style

When I need to make a lot of cards, I look for some shortcuts. This makes the overall process quicker and easier. And there is nothing easier than a pack of Memories & More Cards, like the Flowers For Every Season variety I used for the cards shown here.

Stampin’ Up!’s Memories & More Card Packs tie into their like-color families for simple mixing and matching, no guesswork required. The cards are double sided, so there are lots of options in design. Each Memories & More Card Pack has a mix of sizes in 3 x 4″ and 4 x 6″.

I find the 3 x 4″ size perfect for card fronts, and the 4 x 6″ is quickly cut in half to make two 3 x 4″ pieces! In fact, this is what I did when creating my batch of thank you cards.

Flowers For Every Season Memories & More Cards — When using Memories & More Cards, there is less paper trimming needed versus a regular paper stack. The 3 x 4″ pieces are ready to be instantly added to any project!

Mini Embossing Folder For Big Impact

I love to add an embossed design to my cards. Creating texture is visually appealing to the eye, and impacts the card with a rich and valuable factor. There are times when I use more than one kind of embossing folder on a single card.

The new 2020-2021 Annual Stampin’ Up! Catalog debuted some “mini” embossing folders. These folders are sold as a pack of two different designs, in a smaller size of 3-3/8 x 6-1/4″ each. They will work in your standard die-cutting machine as well.

I worked with the Greenery Embossing Folders, choosing the leafy variety option, peeking from top and bottom. Instead of embossing directly on my card front, I used a piece of Whisper White CS, 3 x 5-1/4″ in size. I really enjoy creating layers!

A Little Stamping

There was not a whole lot of stamping required for these thank you cards, but the stamped images played a part just the same.

From the Forever Fern Stamp Set, I used the berry sprig. This stamp set is one of Stampin’ Up!’s DistINKtive stamp sets. The stamps ink and image with great shading to create depth and dimension. These are great stamps for beginners, because they stamp so beautifully every time without effort.

For the sentiment stamp, I picked “for you” from the Itty Bitty Greetings Stamp Set. My version is the wood-block mount stamp; if ordering this stamp set today, it will come in red rubber cling mount only. This small sentiment fit perfectly in the smallest stitched circle from the Tasteful Labels Dies.

Forever Fern Stamp Set and Itty Bitty Greetings Stamp Set

A Lot Of Die-Cutting

Both of my stamped images required die cutting, and I used the Forever Flourishing Dies along with the Tasteful Labels Dies to get the job done.

Besides the stamped images, I also die cut plain cardstock, using a cohesive color blending scheme for each card. I spent some time with ink and paper color choices to perfect my outcome.

I was able to die cut all four pieces needed for each card, with one pass thru my Big Shot machine. Time saver! I also developed a habit of making specific piles of paper scraps, dies and die cuts. No dies were lost in the making of these cards by ending up in the wrong pile!

Piles of dies, paper scraps and die cuts.

In Color Ribbons

I love buying ribbon, but I don’t use it often. With that in mind, I am determined to use it more on my projects. I have noticed others use it folded and tucked behind a sentiment, so I have mimicked that design for my cards. Each card features @7″ of ribbon.

The new 2020-2022 In Colors, which are showcased here along with Terra Cotta Tile, a 2019-2021 In Color, each have a ribbon to their name. By using the In Color Ribbon, the In Color Cardstock (as a layer behind the Memories & More Card) as well as the Flowers For Every Season Memories & More Card Pack that features the new In Colors, I have great continuity.

2020-2022 In Color Ribbons, plus Terra Cotta Tile — Ribbons in the In Colors: Terra Cotta Tile, Misty Moonlight, Magenta Madness, Just Jade, Bumblebee, and Cinnamon Cider.

Putting It All Together

These thank you cards for my customers went together quite fast, once I had all the pieces in order. It really was simple layering, and I kept everything flat for mailing purposes. Tombow Multi-Purpose Liquid Adhesive is my glue of choice, for its durability in adhesion.

I made 2 of each color, knowing that some of my recipients are partial to certain colors. It is fun for me to create with a specific person in mind, even when making the same design over and over.

I have a hard time looking at this great collection of cards and picking my favorite color combo. Here is a close up of each one, maybe you can decide which one you like best!

Cinnamon Cider

Bumblebee

Just Jade

Magenta Madness

Misty Moonlight

Terra Cotta Tile

Elegant Card, Ecstatic Thanks!

I am very hopeful that all who placed a Stampin’ Up! order with me during my June Mystery Host Party will enjoy the card I send to them.

Remember, I will send a card to everyone who places an order with me, so be sure to stop by my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, to place your order and get on my card list! Now is a great time to shop for so many new items in the just-released catalog, some of which I used on the cards made here.

Loving the new In Colors shown with my cards, but looking for a way to budget the purchase of all 2020-2022 In Color related items? Be sure to check out my Online In Color Club, starting July 2020. Sign up today!