Paper Snips - The Maine Stamper

Feels Like Home, In Evening Evergreen

September 30, 2021

In Color: Evening Evergreen Part III

Our time to explore Evening Evergreen has come to an end, and what better way to bring it home than to use the Feels Like Home Stamp Set. Evening Evergreen is such a rich, deep green color. It fits well with the comfortable home theme of this card.

With our last color tour of Evening Evergreen, we are pairing in Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand. These three colors work seamlessly together. As you can see, by adding a pop of white to the mix, each color used on this Feels Like Home Card becomes more beautifully vibrant.

Feels Like Home Stamp Set

The Feels Like Home Stamp Set, available for a limited time, is a Sale-A-Bration freebie during the August-September Sale-A-Bration promotion. With a qualifying purchase of $50, you may choose this stamp set for free. If you already have the Feels Like Home Stamp Set in your collection, here is a great way to use it!

Sahara Sand Beginnings

I started by stamping the door frame and yard stamp from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set using Memento Black Ink on Sahara Sand Cardstock. This great neutral color is easy to work into your project instead of the traditional white or vanilla.

Using the front door stamp from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

Of course, this image is wide open for lots of coloring. I typically choose my Stampin’ Blends for a job like this. I chose my color palette to reflect the tones in Evening Evergreen, Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand. When I added color to the tree to the left of the door, I pounced or “dotted” the color on using the fine tip of my Light Blackberry Bliss Stampin’ Blend.

Coloring the stamped image with Stampin' Blends.

Just Add Color

Next, I started to color with more purples and greens to fill in all the flowers and plants. I used browns for the basket and door, and colored in my terracotta pots. Because I wanted to keep the coloring light and fresh, I chose to use my Stampin’ Chalk Marker on the bricks of the home. The effect is quite subtle.

Adding color with the Stampin' Chalk Marker. — I love the look of shading or sponging. So, I turned to my Blender Brush and some Sahara Sand Ink to deepen the edges of my cardstock. I think it helps to draw the eye in toward the colored imagery.

Using the Blending Brush to sponge on ink color.

Ever Elegant Evening Evergreen

Since Evening Evergreen is our starring color, I wanted much of my card front dedicated to it. I began by stamping the hanging fronds stamp in Evening Evergreen Ink on my Evening Evergreen Cardstock layer along the top edge. I varied the length of each stamping by starting higher or lower on my cardstock.

Creating a stamped top border using the frond stamp from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

Next, I ran my stamped cardstock thru my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine using the Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder. This is a 3D style embossing folder and needs the Specialty Plate to create the perfect sandwich in your die-cutting machine.

PRO TIP: There is a solid black line built into the embossing folder near the bottom, to help you line up your cardstock straight before you run it thru your die-cutting machine.

Embossing cardstock with the Timeworn Type Embossing Folder.

And lastly, I added some sponging to the edges of my Evening Evergreen Cardstock using another Blender Brush and Evening Evergreen Ink.

Accent Your Home

What home would be gorgeous without some cute tchotchkes? To start my home decor project, I stamped the flower pot image from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set with Memento Black Ink on a scrap of Sahara Sand Cardstock. Then, I colored it with Stampin’ Blends before fussy cutting with my Paper Snips.

Preparing to fussy cut the potted plant stamped and colored image from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

I stamped the sentiment “Your friendship feels like home to me” from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set in Blackberry Bliss Ink on Sahara Sand Cardstock. Using my Paper Snips, I flagged one end. Next, I applied some Sahara Sand Ink with my Blender Brush to soften the outer edges.

Flagging the stamped sentiment from the Feels Like Home Stamp Set.

Just Add Punch

I took advantage of my assorted collection of retired circle punches. I chose the 1-1/4″ circle punch for the Blackberry Bliss Cardstock and the 1″ circle punch for White Cardstock. These two circles layered together were perfect for a backdrop for my flower pot.

The Sprig Punch is my go-to punch when I need some decorative leaves poking from behind a card layer in an artistic fashion. Punching paper can be such a time saver from die cutting, and I love the quick results. For this card, I used the 2021-2023 In Color Shimmer Vellum in Evening Evergreen. Check out the lovely sheen of this vellum!

The Sprig Punch and Evening Evergreen Shimmer Velum along with a die from the Sunflowers Dies.

To mix things up, I also chose to die cut some White Cardstock using a floral die from the Sunflowers Dies. By combing punched and die cut pieces, my card has a great variety of fresh garden goodness.

Putting Your Home In Order

My Feels Like Home Card has lots of layers. I started by adding a layer of Blackberry Bliss Cardstock to my Sahara Sand Cardbase. Next, I adhered my Evening Evergreen embossed layer. I chose the Blackberry Bliss Designer Series Paper from the Regals Collection, using the plaid design. But before I attached it to my cardbase, I backed it with a piece of White Cardstock.

My next step was to dry-fit my punched sprigs and die cut flowers to make sure they would peek nicely from the additional layers for my card. Once I had them where I wanted them, I secured them with some Tear & Tape Adhesive. The tape will be covered up with the last bit of layering on my card front.

The beginning layer assembly of the card front.

From here it was time to add my stamped focal piece, the front door and more. I placed the sentiment below that, and lastly added my layered punched circles with the potted plant, using Stampin’ Dimensionals. My Feels Like Home Card is complete!

There’s No Place Like Home

Home evokes so many good thoughts and memories. It is where we are most happy. I hope you agree that this Feels Like Home Card has captured some happiness, using Evening Evergreen along with Blackberry Bliss and Sahara Sand. If you need any of the products that were used to create this card, shop my online store at your convenience.

Just because our Evening Evergreen color tour is at its end, doesn’t mean there isn’t more colorful fun to come! If you missed any of this great green color, click here to see another post with Evening Evergreen. And just ahead is our next In Color, Soft Succulent, so be sure to come back soon.

Card made with the Feels Like Home Stamp Set and Stampin' Blends.

Take Your Pick Tool

May 27, 2020

Those tiny sequins and small embellishments can be trouble for many. Our fumbling fingers don’t always work. But where there is a paper-crafter, there is a tool! And pick up style tools are popular in many shapes and forms.

How do you know which one is right for you? Or even where to start? I will cover some of the basics to help you get the right tool in your hands to help you pick up those little project decorations. And maybe assist you in keeping them off the floor, where the vacuum finds them days later!

Helping Hands

Of course the first tool at your disposal, as you work, is your own hands. And more importantly, your fingers. Some of my fellow crafters swear that long fingernails are helpful, while others say they just get in the way.

It is really hard to get a good grasp on the tiny embellishments and sequins, let alone position them properly onto our paper. Why do they make cute things so small?

So, even though hands and fingers work some of the time, there are better ways to go. And tools are the answer!

Scissors Vs. Tweezers

Take your pick of tools: scissors or tweezers — Both scissors and tweezers can be useful pick up tools.

The battle over scissors and tweezers as top pick up tool is a tough one. They both essentially do the same work when used for small embellishments.

When you hold either of them in your hand, you approach your chosen item and then close the tweezers or scissors under and around the embellishment to scoop it up. While it is still in play on the tool, you position the embellishment onto your project and ease it into place.

Scissors

The best thing about using scissors as your pick up tool is that you already should have them in your craft area. Obviously they are useful in many ways!

Sometimes it can be hard to get the right grip on an embellishment using the scissors. The hold requires fingers and thumbs to complete, plus some dexterity. And practice.

Things I Use Scissors For

Cutting paper
Opening packages

Tweezers

This is another item you probably already have somewhere in your home, if not particularly in the craft room. So they would be a good choice for a pick-up tool in a bind or on a budget.

Tweezers need a different grip from scissors, but again there is a motion needed for opening and closing. With the tweezers, you have a little more ease of grabbing hold of small items and moving them around as needed.

Things I Use Tweezers For

Removing splinters
Playing Hasbro Game, Operation

Placement Tools

I find it interesting that when there is a need, there is a product. Therefore, placement tools were invented. And crafters bought them and there was much rejoicing.

QuickStik

The first placement tool I bought is called the QuickStik. It is sold by a company called We R Memory Keepers. There are 2 functions to this tool. One end has a sticky putty substance that grabs small items, and the other has a hard plastic spatula that scoops things up quickly and easily.

While I rarely use the putty end, I love the hard plastic spatula. Could it be wider? Yes. The important thing is that it is firm, unwavering. I compliment it on the solid nature of its existence.

Take Your Pick Tool

After I had owned and loved my QuickStik for some time, Stampin’ Up joined the pick up tool game and offered a new tool. This one is called the Take Your Pick Tool. It is the jack-knife of pick up tools!

The Pros of the Take Your Pick Tool

Like the QuickStik, the Take Your Pick Tool is handy for scooping up small embellishments with the spatula end. And it has a putty end as well. In fact, the Take Your Pick Tool comes with 2 of the putty ends, so you have a replacement right away! (Of course, additional refill packs are available if needed).

But wait…there’s more!

I did mention the jack-knife like resemblance, right? This tool also has a paper piercer (known as a pokey tool), small and large stylus (for scoring), and protective end caps. Sold separately is the Take Your Pick Die Brush (with 2 foam pads), that also easily attaches to the tool. This is useful for cleaning small paper stuck in your dies and on die cut paper itself.

So with a quick change of attachments, you have the ability to do 6 different jobs with one tool. One tool. And super useful, as space in the craft room is typically limited (here I speak for myself as I have a tremendous amount of supplies!).

The Cons Of The Take Your Pick Tool

If I could change 1 thing about the Take Your Pick Tool, it would be the metal spatula end. I like that it is wider than the Quickstik, but I don’t like that it is flimsier. It has some give and bend to it that I am not necessarily a fan of.

And while I really appreciate that there are so many attachments to this tool, they have to be kept somewhere. Yes, they are small and easily inter-changed. But I am the type of person who bought 2 of these tools, just so I can keep all my job functions at the ready. Immediate gratification!

Take Your Pick Tool with Take Your Pick Die Brush Attachment — Both of my Take Your Pick Tools have various job functions covered. I can easily switch the large stylus to the small, and the spatula to the paper piercer. The die brush and putty ends of each remain constant in place.

Your Job, Your Tool

As you can see, there are many options to use when picking a tool to help you place those tiny embellishments. I am sure if you look around your kitchen or regular tool box, you can come up with ingenious everyday items to aid in your crafty work.

But if you want to use the Take Your Pick Tool, item # 144107, in your craft room, you can find it in my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net. Be sure to add this handy item to your next order, and craft like a pro!

Scissors In The Craft Room

May 14, 2020 2 Comments

How many pairs of scissors does it take to make your craft room complete? Punchline answer not available, crafty people take this very seriously! After taking on this subject, I did a quick count, myself.

For most of you, the answer will vary. This may depend on how many you actually own and use. Or find. But your answer should be a resounding “more than 1!”. I can check-mark that box for sure.

As cardmakers and papercrafters, we require good scissors. Our scissors have to be a proper fit for our hands. Our scissors have to work well for the intended use.

This tool should be flashy enough to us so it does not get buried in the mountain of paper we work with. Maybe come with a tracking device, for those times they get lost. After all, I can dream, right?

We need them in a variety of ways for so many purposes. And I am not talking about clipping coupons, opening chips or trimming hair. Those ordinary scissors are for less important work.

Good Paper Scissors

Do you have a pair of scissors that you consider your “Sunday Best”, that are tucked away for special use? Is there a work-horse pair that clomp around your crafty area and do any job you ask?

If you have more than 1 pair of scissors, you have probably designated each pair’s use. And, I say, for good reason! My scissors are different sizes and perform different jobs as well.

I can proclaim, hands down, my Paper Snips from Stampin’ Up! are the best pair of scissors I own. (You can buy a pair in my online store!) They are in excellent company; I don’t want to discredit my others scissors.

But my Paper Snips do so much for me, and I use them the most. Here are the top three uses for my Paper Snips:

1. Fussy Cutting

My Paper Snips are super sharp. I find that the little blades make quick work of fussy cutting (to see the card I was fussy cutting this image for, click here). I can get into very detailed areas if needed. My Paper Snips are small enough to swing direction easily, and this makes them priceless to me.

2. Flagging Ends

I get a lot of use from my Paper Snips by simply creating flagged ends of cardstock. The flagging technique is fun and decorative, an easy design enhancement for any card.

I start from one corner and snip to the middle at a straight angle. Next, I repeat on the other side. Others trim straight up the middle first, then cut toward it from each outer corner. You should experiment at home, practice makes perfect.

3. General Trimming

As a papercrafter, I am frugal with my scraps. I keep the left-over papers neat and organized for their next possible use. My Paper Snips come in handy to trim neatly and efficiently around messy edges. This helps me avoid paper mash-up as intricate edges collide. No paper jams for me, thank you very much.

4. And More

Okay, I realize I said I was sharing my top 3 reasons, but there are more things to do with Paper Snips. I have used them as tweezers for embellishment placement. They come in handy to peel backing off sticky tape. And they pick and poke jammed bits of paper out of punches very nicely. I am sure you have even more great uses to share with me!

Paper Scissors & Ribbon Scissors

There is a decree that paper scissors are only to be used on paper, and ribbon scissors are only to be used on ribbon. At least in my craft room.

My ribbon scissors live in a glass jar, far away from the common crafting area, on an elevated perch. They survey the craft kingdom and make special appearances as necessary. I do not allow anyone to use my ribbon scissors for anything but ribbon cutting.

Are you new to types of scissors in the craft room and confused by this? The answer to “why?” is simple. Paper dulls scissors quickly. As a result, dull scissors do a terrible hack job on cutting ribbon. Lastly, ribbon gets wasted, crafters get angry. It is better to have a designated pair of scissors just for ribbon only.

Decorative Scissors

Scissors are also decorative. I own a set (or two) that cut fun edges in designed patterns. These kinds of scissors are great if you don’t have punches, or dies and a die cutting machine.

Not only are my scissors used to make decorative cuts, they are also decorative in nature. I have assembled them in a ceramic mug. This puts the fun in fun-ctional. They are pretty to look at, like a bouquet of flowers, and that makes me happy.

Scissors With A Purpose

Anyone remember the Fringe Scissors? Stampin’ Up! retired theirs in 2017. I have put them to work to make grassy landscapes and fringe (as the name implies). The trick to using them is to know when to stop. If you cut too far into your paper, the result is confetti strands!

Rules And Regulations Of Scissors

Your first thought on scissor rules may be “walk with the pointy side facing down” or “don’t run with scissors”. I am thinking of scissor safety too: keeping my craft room scissors safe from theft and abuse.

The consensus on keeping scissors is: the more the better. Also, I discovered it is common practice (for many) to keep scissors in every room, in order to keep the craft room scissors safe. These decoy scissors are working hard daily, taking on those ordinary tasks like I mentioned above.

And to answer the question at the beginning of this post, my craft room is complete with 12 pairs of scissors, plus an exacto-knife. Do a quick inventory yourself, and let me know what vast number you come up with!

No Matter The Weather

March 27, 2020

Card made with Paper Pumpkin March 2020 kit

We’re In This Together

The March 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit has been a huge hit! We are all facing difficult times. The stormy clouds, adorable rainboots (let’s try to be fashionable in arduous situations!), and uplifting phrases like “wishing you brighter days ahead” and “I believe in you” are a much needed breath of fresh spring air to our tired souls.

Paper Pumpkin kits include supplies that are both consumable (like ribbons and embellishments, use them up!) and non consumable (stamp on my friends!). The kits are a great way to build up your stamp collection, and the stamps are intended to be used once all the consumables are gone.

In fact, today’s featured card uses just the stamps from the March 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit. Bonus: this embellishment-free card is flat and easily mailed! What is not missing is… the wow factor.

If you would like to print or pin the card recipe with dimensions and a list of additional supplies I used, click here.

My Creative Process

Following are some pictures of assembly, useful tips and insights in the making of this lovely card, and alternative suggestions in creation. Please read on for more details!

Embossing Raindrops

VersaMark Ink, Emboss Buddy and Emboss Powder

To make raindrops on the watercolor paper, I took the following steps:

Run Embossing Buddy over Watercolor Paper.
Using VersaMark Ink Pad, stamp raindrops from the March 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit on Watercolor Paper. (I stamped 3 images, then sprinkled with embossing powder, tapped off excess powder and repeated the process. In this way, I could see where my raindrops would be, and where I might want more of them.)
Use the heat tool to heat set the embossing powder. I experimented with both Clear and Silver Embossing Powder in my creative process.

Heat Tool — I find that a regular paintbrush is a great way to remove excess dry embossing powder from my project before I apply the setting heat.

Pigment Sprinkles

Prepare to be amazed….and very messy! Pigment sprinkles create super unique backgrounds, no 2 will ever be the same. So therefore, instant art! Here are my steps:

Using protective tray (or box, paper plates etc), lay heat embossed watercolor paper down and spritz with water to wet randomly. Don’t over-saturate here, you will be adding more water.
Sparingly tap pigment sprinkles over wet paper. These tiny particles have a mind of their own, just remember less is better and more is mud. Watch the colors run, it is so cool!
Add additional spritzed water to help pigment sprinkles blend. It is helpful to have a paper towel on hand to absorb excess water/color, especially from the sides where it tends to pool up.
Need to add more pigment sprinkles? Do so now, but be careful not to over blend.
When satisfied with outcome, you can place a clean paper towel over your watercolor paper to absorb liquid and speed drying time. Baby wipes are useful for your messy hands!
Allow watercolor paper to dry completely. Placing it under something flat and heavy helps to keep the curling paper manageable.

Fussy Cutting

Rainboots

Fussy cutting, the use of scissors to trim an image in close capacity, is not typically first choice. But sometimes it is necessary, and practice makes…if not perfect, maybe close enough? Regardless, Stampin’ Up!’s sharp little Paper Snips make the job easier.

Stamp the rainboot outline from the March 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit on a scrap of Whisper White Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.
Use the floral filler stamp from the same kit, and Pineapple Punch Ink, lining up with the outline image.
For an additional pop of fun bright color, I used the Dark Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blend and colored the boot label, boot straps and outlines.
Time to fussy cut! This one isn’t too bad, you can do it.

Grass

Here’s how I created the grass inserts for the rainboots:

Stamp the grass image from the March 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit on a scrap of Granny Apple Green Cardstock using Granny Apple Green Ink.
Next, add Garden Green ink to the grass stamp and apply, overlapping the first image. This will give you thicker, greener grass. Who doesn’t want that?
Time to fussy cut. This one is a bit hard, once you get it sliced in half. I recommend first tackling the sides (make sure you leave a nice base at the bottom for handling), then when ready to do the grass fronds, snip downward from the top. Making little x patterns or spear shaped cuts is helpful.
After I fussy cut the grass, I applied the grass stamp with Granny Apple Green ink to each half to overlap (again) the previous grass. The illusion here is that you are really good at fussy cutting!
With the White Stampin’ Chalk Marker, I added tiny dots to the top of the grasses. This brightness adds the look of dainty flowers.

Sentiment

No Matter the Weather We Are in This Together Stamp

You are not alone in this. This card speaks comfort. To create the embossed verse, here are my steps:

Using your paper snips, flag the end of the Bermuda Bay Cardstock. I start at the bottom corner and cut straight toward the middle, stopping there. Next, I start at the upper corner and do the same, meeting in the middle to remove the triangle cut away.
Run Embossing Buddy over Bermuda Bay Cardstock to prevent embossing powder from sticking where you don’t want it.
Ink stamp saying form the March 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit in Versamark, apply to cardstock.
Immediately sprinkle White Embossing Powder over Versamark image.
Tap off excess embossing powder and heat emboss to set.
I love sponging to add interest and depth. I added Bermuda Bay ink to the outer edges of the flagged sentiment piece using my designated sponge. (Yes, I am that person, designated sponge.)

Putting It All Together

All the hard work is done! Now it is time to assemble your card layers. As mentioned earlier, this card is flat, and easily mailed. However, if you choose to add dimension or embellishments, get creative!

Quick Tips

I used Tear and Tape Adhesive to attach the watercolored paper to the Whisper White Cardstock. This great holding tape really secures the heavy paper with its tendency to curl.
I used (Tombow) Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue to tuck the grass fronds into each boot. The wiggle room you have with this glue lets you move the grass around a bit to get the best angle.
Play with the placement of your sentiment piece. Depending on your creative outcome from the pigment sprinkles, you may need to adjust the height as you desire.
The process for heat embossing on this card is optional. If you have raindrop embellishments, use them instead. Craft Whisper White Ink can be used to stamp the sentiment instead of heat embossing it, and will look similar.

I hope you enjoyed my tips and techniques in the making of this card using the stamps from the March 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit! Be sure to sign up for my email newsletter, where I share more tutorials for free.

And if you need any of the supplies to create this card in your own stamp studio, shop my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, anytime.