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Lovely You In Rich Razzleberry

July 6, 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!

Lovely You Stamp Set

Today’s Monday Card features the stamp set Lovely You. This is a new stamp set from the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog from Stampin’ Up!. If you would like to see another easy Monday card that features flowers, click here.

You can purchase Lovely You as a bundle with the Lovely Labels Pick A Punch and save 10%. However, since we are using minimal supplies, this Monday Card only uses the stamp set. But more on the punch later!

That’s right, one stamp set, Lovely You, two ink pads, Rich Razzleberry and Shaded Spruce, and two colors of cardstock, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White. Please follow along!

A Monday Card

The Card Recipe

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

Rich Razzleberry CS: 4 x 5-1/4″, 1-3/4 x 3-1/2″, ″ and 1 x 4″, small scrap

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

Whisper White CS: 1-1/2 x 3-1/4″, 3/4 x 3-3/4″, (4 of) 3/4 x 5″, small scrap

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!

Rich Razzleberry cardstock and bone folder

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 small stamps and sentiments. It is a great way to use up some of those white strips of left-over paper that are lying around too!

I started with the Shaded Spruce Ink and 2 of the 3/4 x 5″ Whisper White strips. I used the three-leaf stamp from the Lovely You Stamp Set four times on one strip. Next, I used the sentiment “always”, and varied which letters from the word showed on my narrow paper strip.

Shaded Spruce Ink and stamps from Lovely You Stamp Set

After completing the Shaded Spruce strips, I worked on the Rich Razzleberry ones. On the two remaining strips, I stamped flowers from the Lovely You Stamp Set. I was able to get four of the larger flower images on one, and five of the smaller images on the other.

Rich Razzleberry Ink and stamps from Lovely You Stamp Set

After I stamped all four strips, I adhered them to a piece of 4 x 5-1/4″ Rich Razzleberry CS. I like to “dry fit” my pieces before permanently attaching them. This gives me time to see if I like the layout, and the ability to change my mind.

I kept my strips closer to the left, with a portion of the Rich Razzleberry visible on the right. There is room to play here, and you could easily separate the strips farther apart and fill the space instead.

Focal Stamping

This card has a lot of small stamps doing all the work. To anchor the sentiment, I continued by using Shaded Spruce Ink and the leaf sprig stamp from the Lovely You Stamp Set. But this time, I doubled the size by stamping the image twice, once up and once down.

Sprig leaf stamp from Lovely You Stamp Set

If there is an overlap in the middle, that is fine. The middle stamping will be covered up by the sentiment layer later on. I adhered this 1-1/2 x 3-1/4″ Whisper White CS to a panel of Rich Razzleberry CS, 1-3/4 x 3-1/2″.

So Many Sentiments

The Lovely You Stamp Set has 8 sentiments, along with 3 individual words. This stamp set has so much variety! I chose the sentiment “miles apart, but still in my heart”.

Sentiment stamp from Lovely You Stamp Set

When I stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry Ink, I kept the image to the right of my 3/4 x 3-3/4″ Whisper White CS. Next, I adhered it to a layer of 1 x 4″ Rich Razzleberry CS.

Finishing Touches

The leaf sprig layer and sentiment layer need to be placed on the card. I placed the leaf sprig layer toward the left of the card, overlapping some of the smaller strips. The final position can be chosen to suit the background stamps in play.

When it came time to add the sentiment strip over the sprig assembly, the previous card layering left one end much lower. I solved this off-kilter situation by adding small pieces of Rich Razzleberry CS to the back of the sentiment layer where it needed a ‘bump’ up.

Adding cardstock bumps to create the proper height — The back of this sentiment piece needed to go up at least two levels,which I accomplished by adding small pieces of like-color cardstock in the appropriate area.

Fussy Details

Fussy cutting is not a favorite of most people. I try to keep mine to a minimum as well. But from time to time, it adds a needed detail to a card.

For this Monday card, I stamped the three-leaf stamp in Shaded Spruce, and the larger of the floral stamps in Rich Razzleberry onto a white scrap. Then, I did a little of the dreaded fussy cutting with my Paper Snips.

Fussy cut images from Lovely You Stamp Set

The middle of the fussy cut leaf will be covered by the flower, so it will not require the fussiest of cutting. The flower is easy to fussy cut, as just the head is needed. Lastly, I attached them to my card front, on the left of the sentiment piece.

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 leaf sprig stamp and Shaded Spruce Ink first. I angled the image from the bottom corner toward the middle of the 4 x 5-1/4″ Whisper White CS. Next, I stamped the larger flower in Rich Razzleberry and added it on the side.

Inside stamping using Lovely You Stamp Set

Step It Up!

For my stepped up version of this same card, I pulled out the Lovely Labels Pick A Punch, which can be purchased at the same time as the stamp set for an instant 10% savings, using item #154070 when buying both.

Lovely Labels Pick A Punch, item #152883

Because this versatile punch removes a small amount of cardstock from the end, you will need to add 1/8″ to your cardstock measurement for each side that is punched. So, in my next card sample, I added 1/8″ to the four background strips, punching only one end. For the sentiment pieces, I added 1/4″, because I punched both ends.

Handy Tip: When cutting cardstock for the Lovely Labels Pick A Punch, you can choose 1/2″, 3/4″ or 1″ strips to fit in the channels. I find that the cardstock fits smoothly if I shave 1/16″ off the width from the stated sizes when cutting my paper.

In my stepped up Lovely You card, I also used the Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder (item #152718) on the 4 x 5-1/4″ Rich Razzleberry CS to help define it. I used some retired Rich Razzleberry Ribbon and a gem from the Rhinestone Basic Jewels (item #144220) in the center of my flower.

Another Monday

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!

To A Wild Rose Collective

July 3, 2020 2 Comments

Cards made with To A Wild Rose Stamp Set

Hello Wild Rose

The To A Wild Rose Stamp Set and coordinating Wild Rose Dies are the perfect combination for all occasion cards. I needed to make multiples of them as thank you cards, for customers from a recent online stamping party.

I love sending my Stampin’ Up! customers handmade cards that they can re-purpose (if they choose to!). Therefore, I do not stamp or write on the inside, and keep the outer sentiment generic enough for any purpose.

Picking The Wild Roses

Stampin’ Up! sells the To A Wild Rose Stamp Set and coordinating Wild Rose Dies individually. When they were brand new to the 2019-2020 Annual Catalog, they were offered to customers as a bundle, for the instant 10% savings.

During the 2020 Sale-A-Bration period (January thru March), the Wild Rose Dies were offered as a FREE selection with a $100 purchase of any merchandise. That is when I picked up my dies, and purchased the stamp set separately.

Using demonstrator math, I garnered a great deal for less money. And as a demo, I share this type of information freely so you can get the best deals too. All you have to do is follow me: by email (click here), FaceBook or my blog posts.

To A Colorful Wild Rose Garden

My first instinct on using the rose stamps from the To A Wild Rose Stamp Set, was of course, pink! These stamps are Two Step variety. That means that you can use more than one stamp for shading, to create the final image.

The rose (and leaves) are made up of three separate stamps that can be combined for great variance and depth. I began experimenting with light to dark pink shades, and quickly determined that I did not like the finished look. The very dark pink outline was too bold for my desired outcome.

Next, I turned to the catalog images (always a great source for instant inspiration!) and discovered that a lighter neutral shade was what I was looking for. The neutral outline did not shout loudly from the rose, but defined it with dignity.

Roses and Stampin' Up! Ink varieties — Colorful Wild Roses

Not to be outdone in pink, and because I love variety, I chose to make my roses in additional colors. In each of my roses, I used Crumb Cake with the outline stamp. I die cut each rose with the coordinating Wild Rose Die.

Rose Company

The To A Wild Rose Stamp Set and Rose Dies provide a center for the rose. I stamped it in the new In Color, Bumblebee, for the majority of the middles. The yellow rose needed a darker middle, so I turned to Cajun Craze for them.

To A Wild Rose centers in Bumblebee and Cajun Craze Ink

All roses need some leafy accents. The To A Wild Rose Stamp Set and Wild Rose Dies will have you covered there as well.

As I mentioned above, the leaves are composed of three stamps. I used Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive for mine, then die cut with the open leaf die. I die cut the leaf outline in Crumb Cake CS for offset interest on my completed card.

Leaves from the To A Wild Rose Stamp Set and Wild Rose Dies

Wild Rose Card Details

I love embossing folders and frequently use more than one on any given card. They are quick and easy ways to upscale and present detail, depth and dimension.

For this card, I used the Old World Paper 3D Embossing Folder (item #153200) on Whisper White CS. I placed this layer directly on my Whisper White card base, keeping a clean white on white look. This embossed piece is extremely textured, so when I added it to the card front, I made sure it was secure.

Secondly, I used the Scripty 3D Embossing Folder (item #149634) on Crumb Cake CS. I chose to sponge roll Crumb Cake Ink over the embossed words to really pronounce them, while keeping the color palette neutral. Notice the before and after difference in the photo below from the ink rolling process.

Crumb Cake CS embossed with the Scripty 3D folder and sponge rolled in ink.

A Sentimental Hello

The “hello” stamp from the To A Wild Rose Stamp Set fit perfectly on my card front both physically and conditionally. While pleasing to the eye using the available space, it also speaks of multi-purpose use.

I stamped this sentiment using Early Espresso Ink. Normally I stamp first and then die cut, but in this instance I did the opposite. The label from the Wild Rose Dies is quite large. So, I felt comfortable adding my sentiment in the lower right corner after I die cut the white cardstock.

Hello Stamp From To A Wild Rose Stamp Set and Wild Rose label die — The font of the “hello” stamp allows a ‘crooked stamping’ to appear normal.

Assembly Tips

After I adhered both embossed pieces to my card front, I began the remaining layering with the hello-stamped label die cut. I added this piece, centering it top to bottom on the Crumb Cake CS, but placing it closer to the right side of the card. This gave me plenty of room to add my rose to the left when it was time to do so.

Next, I dry fit the leaves and the rose. When I was happy with location of all the remaining pieces, I removed the rose and added a small piece of Tear & Tape Adhesive over the bottom stems of the leaves. This way, I didn’t need to move them again!

Card front layering part 2 — If you prefer to secure the leaves more firmly, I suggest adding a glue dot or a small amount of liquid glue under the largest top leaf.

For my final steps, I removed the top protective layer of paper from the Tear & Tape holding down my leaves. I used additional adhesive on the back of my rose, then secured it to the card front, covering the leaves’ Tear & Tape in the process.

To A Wild Rose completed cards in multi colors

Wildly Happy

It is my hope that these cards will be well received by my customers! Now that I have made roses in multi-colors, I must make the hardest decision yet: who gets which card?

If you need any of the supplies featured here in my To A Wild Rose Hello Card, stop by my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net. Perhaps the next round of beautiful thank you cards for my customers will have your name on it too!

Painted Poppies in Poppy Parade

June 29, 2020

Monday’s Are Hard, Stamping Shouldn’t Be

Painted Poppies Stamp Set

Today’s Monday Card features the Painted Poppies Stamp Set. This is a popular stamp set that was carried over from the January-June 2020 Mini Catalog from Stampin’ Up!. If you would like to see another floral Monday card, click here.

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

That’s right, one stamp set, Painted Poppies, two ink pads, Poppy Parade and Memento Tuxedo Black, and two colors of cardstock, Poppy Parade and Whisper White. Please follow along!

A Monday Card

The Card Recipe

Poppy Parade CS: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2″, score at 4 1/4″ for card base.

Poppy Parade CS: 3-1/8 x 5-1/8″, 1-7/8 x 5″, (3 of) 3 x 1-1/2″

Whisper White CS: 4 x 5 1/4″ x 2 (one for inside, optional)

Whisper White CS: 3 x 5″, 1-3/4 x 5″, (3 of) 3 x 1-1/4″

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!

I began by stamping the image of mulitple poppies on their long stems, from the Painted Poppies Stamp Set. I used Memento Black Ink and the 3 x 5″ piece of Whisper White CS.

First, I turned the cardstock in the landscape position, and stamped the image twice, going across and keeping the taller poppies close to the paper’s edge. Next, I rotated the paper and did the same stamping on the opposite side. It is okay to overlap the ink coverage in the middle.

Floral Details

The next bit of stamping creates the tiny details. I used 3 pieces of Whisper White CS, 1-1/4″ square. Using the large open poppy stamp from the Painted Poppies Stamp Set and Memento Black Ink, I stamped 2 of the 3 squares. I tried to get different coverage on each, and since the stamp is so much bigger than the paper, there is a lot of overflow!

For the third square, I stamped in Memento Black Ink using the smaller of the open poppy stamps from the Painted Poppies Stamp Set. This image fits better into the small space of the square, overflowing slightly.

Stamping with the open poppy stamps from Painted Poppies Stamp Set

Colorful Poppy Stamping

Our poppies need some color, and I used the Poppy Parade ink to fill them in. Using the solid shading stamp from the Painted Poppies Stamp Set, I stamped off once before stamping on to each of the three squares. This gives the ink coverage a lighter tone.

Stamping Off with the Painted Poppies Stamp Set shading stamp

To add additional color to my poppies and really make them “pop” I used the smaller splotchy stamp from the Painted Poppies Stamp Set and full strength Poppy Parade Ink. I stamped this image 3 times around the black center of each poppy. If you need to stamp 4 times to get complete coverage, that works fine as well.

Stamping the small splotch stamp from Painted Poppies Stamp Set around the center of the flower.

Layering Layers

This great card has a lot of layers! And they go together very easily. First, I adhered one of the 4 x 5-1/4″ Whisper White CS panels to the front of the card base. I also layered the stamped poppies in black to the Poppy Parade CS mat, sized 3-1/8 x 5-1/8″.

The matted poppies are ready for the card front, and I began to layer my next pieces together. This time, the plain Poppy Parade, 1-7/8 x 5″, and the plain Whisper White, 1-3/4 x 5″, went together. Notice that the height of both of these pieces is the same, so the matting is actually only along the sides here.

Once the plain layers are added to the middle of the stamped poppies, the flower images look nice on either side and the messy middle is no longer visible. And the plain layer now looks like it has its own matted border along the top, due to paper sizing!

Each of the small white squares with a poppy gets its own Poppy Parade mat, size 1-1/2″ square as well. And this completes our layering process.

Squares Like Diamonds

The hardest part of making this easy card is lining up the poppy squares in a diamond pattern. I started with a dry fitting and moved the pieces around to get the right placement.

I chose to put the 2 similar poppy images on top and bottom, leaving the smaller stamped poppy in the middle. It is helpful to take advantage of the Poppy Parade CS mat edge when lining up the squares. I made sure the corner of each square did not go past the “red line”.

From there, it was just a matter of spacing in between each square. I adhered each one without moving the others off the card front, so I remembered where each one needed to be fit back on the card.

Finished card front using Painted Poppies Stamp Set

The Insider Job

Here, I used the same technique from the stamping of the large poppy image and filler color from the Painted Poppy Stamp Set to add that inside interest.

Stamping inside the card with the Painted Poppies Stamp Set

Step It Up!

Sometimes more is more. If you have ribbon or adhesive gems in your craft room, they go so nicely with this card. Here, I used some retired Poppy Parade ribbon and the Frosted Epoxy Droplets (item #147801) to dress it up.

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