Stampin' Blends - The Maine Stamper

Ornate Garden Suite Part I

April 2, 2020

The Ornate Garden Suite Collection

Are you ready to get a jump start or sneak peek of the latest and greatest from Stampin’ Up!? The Ornate Garden Suite is an exclusive early release from the upcoming 2020-2021 Annual Catalog. You are able to order the entire suite or items a la cart from April 1-May 31, 2020.

In this three part series, I am exploring the fabulous new items from this incredible suite! In Part I, we take a look at the embellishments. We have ribbons and gems, as well as the embossing folder and designer series paper. Let me show you how I put them all together!

The Ornate Floral 3-D Embossing Folder

The Ornate Floral 3-D Embossing Folder is 4 1/2″ x 6 1/4″ in size. Because it is 3-D, I find it best used with the 3-D Embossing Folder Plate. This special ‘blue plate’ is new in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalog, and shouldn’t be missed!

The black line along the bottom of the folder will help you line up your paper in a straight manner. However, the ornate flowers are sporadically embossed. As such, you don’t need to worry about placing your paper in the perfect position for a great embossed effect.

Sponging Embossing Folders With Ink

Sponge ink on Ornate Floral -D Embossing Folder

You can change the look of your embossed work by sponging ink on the folder before you add paper and crank it thru your machine. Here I experimented with placing ink on both sides of the folder (one side at a time). In both instances, I ran it thru with Whisper White Cardstock.

The top cardstock image is from inking the back side of the embossing folder, where the folder’s image is raised. The Terracotta Tile ink settled into the flowers and leaves. But the image is de-bossed (depressed) instead of embossed (expanded upward). Interesting, but not what I was looking for. Moving on.

The bottom cardstock image is from inking the front side of the embossing folder, where the folder’s image is depressed, with the logo for Stampin’ Up!. This time, the Terracotta Tile ink darkened the flat sections of my cardstock. This left the raised image in the original paper color, white. Now we’re cooking…or crafting.

More Experimenting!

Next, I sponged the embossing folder with Mint Macaron Ink and embossed a piece of Whisper White Cardstock. After, I gently sponge-rolled the raised flowers in Terracotta Tile Ink. This resulted in a multi-color effect. Soft, muted and very lovely. Perfection.

TIP: Use a baby wipe to remove ink from your embossing folder, or rinse with water, then pat dry with a paper towel.

Embossing Card Fronts

Since this embossing folder image isn’t exclusive to direction, you can easily emboss the front of your card base. For this card, I started with a base that measured 4 1/4 x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″ (the tent fold).

It was easy to place the front of my card base in the embossing folder and run it thru my Big Shot without worrying about paper overhang or embossing folder orientation.

After running the card base thru the embossing folder, I sponge rolled the outer edges with Mint Macaron Ink. By the time I was ready to assemble my first card, it had 3 embossed layers! I really like this embossing folder…

Whisper White, Mint Macaron and Terracotta Tile meet the Ornate Floral 3-D Embossing Folder in style.

Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ornate Garden Specialty DSP — Item #152488. 2 each of 6 double-sided designs in 12×12″ size.

The description for this specialty designer series paper (or DSP) reads “gold foil designs on some sheets”. I think it should read “on most sheets”. 4 out of 6 designs (or 8 out of 12) papers have fancy foiling. This does makes it hard to use the plain pattern paper over the fancy flip-side.

Coordinating Colors

Stampin’ Up! lists the coordinating colors on the back of every package of DSP. This helps us to choose colors that blend perfectly with the designer paper when creating our projects.

Coordinating Colors: Early Espresso, gold, Mint Macaron, Old Olive, Terracotta Tile, Whisper White, plus a brand new In Color: Bumblebee.

Yes, that is correct, we have insight as to what one of the new 2020-2022 In Colors will be: Bumblebee! A nice warm golden yellow. How glorious!!

Add More Color

I decided to dress up my gold foil accent sheet by coloring with some Stampin’ Blends. By doing so, you can create a very unique look. The blends make quick work of coloring, and it is very theraputic (for most).

TIP: Not a fan of coloring? Keep it to a minimum by using smaller pieces of DSP. Don’t color where you know you will be overlapping other layers on your card. This saves both ink and time.

The gold foil accents in the DSP go beautifully with more gold, whether embossed or not, via the Gold Foil Sheets, item # 132622.

Ornate Garden Ribbon Combo Pack and Gilded Gems

The Ribbons

Ornate Garden Ribbon Combo Pack item #152479

You get 2 colors in this combo pack, Old Olive and Terracotta Tile, for a total of 5 yards per spool. This ribbon is soft and flexible, perfect for making bows. The stitched edging gives it the illusion of color variation. When you add in this ribbon’s soft sheen for a gentle finishing touch, your project looks complete.

The Gems

Don’t forget to add some bling! The Gilded Gems are adhesive-backed, opaque gold in color and 90 pieces of wow. You get 30 each of 3 sizes, which Stampin’ UP! lists as 4mm, 5mm and 6mm. The rest of us go by small, medium and large. Either way, they look great on your artwork!

Not sure where to add a sentiment to your card? Use the smallest possible piece of cardstock for your saying and it will blend in more naturally, especially if coordinating colors are involved.

TIP: Dress up your cards and projects with ribbon and bling the easy way, use Stampin’ Up!’s coordinating products. They always match perfectly.

Ornate Thanks

Each of my cards featured here today used the Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder, the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP, and the Ornate Garden Ribbons and Gilded Gems. I also used sentiments from the stamp set, Ornate Thanks, in the Ornate Garden Suite, which has incredible font. More on that bundle in Part II of this series to follow.

The Ornate Garden Suite is certainly popular, and with good reason. There are so many gorgeous components to this suite, and they function well with one another. Be sure to stop by my online store https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, to order yours soon. And check back for the continuation of this series, where I will explore the stamp and die set bundles, with more samples!

Color Your World with Stampin’ Blends

February 25, 2020

Just Add Color

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

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

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

Using Stampin’ Blends

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

Step 1

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

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

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

Step 2

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

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

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

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

Step 3

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

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

Additional Tips and Uses of Stampin’ Blends

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No Purple Posy Ink Pad, No Problem

February 21, 2020 1 Comment

The Lack Of Purple Posy Ink Pad

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

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

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

Make Your Own Purple Posy Ink

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

Very Versailles Stamp Set with VersaMark

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Putting Purple Posy Together

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

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

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