FRAME IT! USE THE DIES YOU HAVE TO CREATE A FRAMED WINDOW CARD IN NO TIME!

 Hi Stampers!

The Stampin’ Up!®️ January - June 2022 Mini Catalog is live, Sale-A-Bration is under way, and all the “new” is very exciting! Sometime I get so wrapped up in the new, I lose sight of the great items found in the Annual Catalog. So, I thought today I would share cards made with stamp sets from the Stampin’ Up! 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. Another thing today’s cards have in common is they are all framed window cards. Let’s take a look!

Window cards (sometimes called Peek-a-boo Cards) are easy to create, and give your creations that little special something. You can create window cards without a frame using most any die you like. If you create a framed window card layering dies (dies of the same shape of varying sizes) work well for creating frames. You can mix and match your dies for frames as long as the die used to cut the window fits nicely inside the larger die. (For example, see my Wildly Adorable Baby card.) There are no real rules for window card frames. For me, in most cases, for frames I select the die two sizes larger than the die I use to cut the window. Do I always follow the two sizes larger method? Of course not! But…I find it is a method that works consistently.  I demonstrate how to create a framed window card in the video below.

FRAME IT! USE DIES YOU HAVE AND CREATE A FRAMED WINDOW CARD IN NO TIME

TO THE MOON CARD

The framed window for this card was created using the Layering Circles Dies.

OUTSIDE OF THE CARD

INSIDE OF THE CARD

SUPPLIES

* To The Moon stamp set

* Night of Navy card base

* Designer Series Paper (DSP) 5 1/4” x 4” - Abstract Beauty (new mini catalog)

* Basic White cardstock for inside card

* Scrap of Basic White cardstock to stamp and die cut the moon image and the greeting

* Scrap of Night of Navy to die cut mask

* Ink - Night of Navy

* Brushed Metallic Dots (carry over from previous mini catalog)

* Layering Circles dies (largest and die two sizes smaller for window and to die cut moon) and the small banner die from Tasteful Labels Dies

* Adhesive and dimensionals

*

NOTE - For the greeting - the greeting stamp reads - love you to the moon and back. Mask off the “to the moon and back.” Ink the stamp, remove the mask, die cut the “love you” using the banner die. Clean the stamp well, stamp on scrap paper a few times to dry off the stamp and make sure all the ink is off. Now, mask the “love you,” ink the stamp, remove the mask and stamp the remainder of the greeting on the inside panel under the moon image - about 3/4ish down the page.

   

HERE FOR YOU ALWAYS SEASCAPE CARD

The frame was made using Layering Diorama Dies (2nd smallest and the one two sizes larger than it).

OUTSIDE OF CARD

INSIDE OF CARD

SUPPLIES

* Seascape stamp set

* Basic White x thick card base

* DSP (Abstract Beauty) 5 1/3” x 4”

* Scrap of  Basic White for creating focal image and die cutting with the smaller of the two Diorama dies, plus enough to stamp two of the fish images for fussy cutting. (One for the front of the card and one for inside the card.)

* Scrap of Just Jade for the frame

* Inks - Just Jade, Pumpkin Pie, Mango Melody, Pool Party (use with blending brush to create “water” on focal image)

* Pearls Basic Jewels

Basic White Baker’s Twine - about 16”

* Adhesive

WILDLY ADORABLE BABY CARD

Stitched So Sweetly Die (largest of  the scalloped rectangular dies) and Stitched Rectangles Dies (1 3/4” x 3 1/4”)

OUTSIDE OF CARD

INSIDE OF CARD

SUPPLIES

* Wildly Adorable stamp set

* Blushing Bride card base

* DSP - Abstract Beauty, cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Basic White cut at 5 1/4” x 4” for inside of card

* Basic White cardstock for focal image and for sentiment

* Blushing Bride cardstock for frame

* Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Blushing Bride; Stampin’ Blends - Soft Suede (light and dark), Petal Pink (light), Flirty Flamingo (light)

* White Crinkle Seam Binding Ribbon

* Dies mentioned above - Stitched So Sweetly, Stitched Rectangles Dies, and Layering Circles Dies 1 1/2” diameter for greeting

* Adhesive and dimensionals.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY HAT CARD

Stitched Triangle Dies (Isosceles triangles - two largest ones.

OUTSIDE OF CARD

INSIDE OF CARD

SUPPLIES

* Sweet Ice Cream stamp set

* Melon Mambo cardbase

* Basic White cardstock, 2 pieces cut at 5 1/4” x 4” ; one for outside of card (stamp design on this one) and one for inside 

* DSP - Sunshine and Rainbows (Sale-A-Bration Brochure) - cut with smallest of two triangles dies to use for focal image.

* Melon Mambo cardstock for frame

* Inks - Melon Mambo and Mango Melody

* Artistry Blooms Sequins

* White Bakers Twine - about 8 inches

HAND-PENNED PETALS BIRTHDAY CARD

OUTSIDE OF CARD

INSIDE OF CARD

SUPPLIES

* Hand-penned Petals stamp set

* Basic White card base

* DSP Hand- Penned (Annual Penned) cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Basic White cardstock for focal image, frame, and greeting

* Inks - Pale Papaya, Stampin’ Blends - Pale Papaya (light and dark), Flirty Flamingo (light and dark), Daffodil Delight (light), Mint Macaron (light and dark)

* Dies - Layering Circles Dies - largest Scalloped Circle and circle die that measures 2 1/2” across, Ornate Frames Dies for greeting (Greeting is from Sweet Strawberry set home

* Open Weave Sheer Ribbon, Pale Papaya, about 6”

* Adhesive, dimensionals

That is all for today. I hope you give the framed window card a try! Until next time…

Stamp Happy!

Kim

SHOP ONLINE STORE

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990 - 2022 STAMPIN’ UP!®️

CREATE A SPOOKY HALLOWEEN BACKGROUND IN NO TIME WITH INKS AND BLENDING BRUSHES!

 Hi, Stampers!

Today I have another Halloween themed card to share with you. The card features a spooky nighttime background created with inks and blending brushes. Let’s take a look:

The cards are the same except for the moons. The full moon was created by masking the cardstock before applying ink. I removed the mask and applied just a dab of ink to “the moon.” The crescent moon was stamped on a scrap of Basic White cardstock with an image from the TO THE MOON stamp set. I fussy cut the image, and adhered it to the card with dimensionals.

I used images from four stamp sets to create these cards; BANNER YEAR, CLEVER CATS, SEASCAPE, and TO THE MOON. Page down for a video tutorial that includes a look at the stamp sets. If you do not have these stamp sets, use what you have. This background would be great for most any Halloween scene!

SUPPLIES FOR THE CARDS

Each card takes

* Blackberry Bliss card base 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Pumpkin Pie cardstock cut at 5 1/2” x 4” to mat focal panel.

* Basic White cardstock cut at 5” x 3 3/4” for focal panel.

* Basic White cardstock to stamp bat images and to stamp greeting.

* Inks - Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate, Blackberry Bliss, Basic Gray, Memento Tuxedo Black; Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blend (dark), and Black erythema Bliss Stampin’ Write Marker.

* Blending brushes (You can also use sponge dauber or sponges - tap on scrap paper to take off a bit of the ink, and use a light touch as you apply the ink to the cardstock.)

* Dimensionals - I used the mini black dimensionals.

* Tasteful Labels Dies - double flagged banner.

This is the card I used the crescent moon image from the TO THE MOON stamp set. The crescent moon is adhered to the card with dimensionals.

To make the moon for this card I used a mask made by die cutting a circle from piece of copy paper. The circle mask is about 1 1/4” in diameter. (If you do not have circle dies, you can use a circle punch, or trace around a small circular object and fussy cut the mask.) I placed the mask on the Basic White focal panel, and left it on until the background was finished. Then I inked up my blending brush with Daffodil Delight, tapped off some of the ink on scrap paper, a very lightly added a little color to the full moon.

For more tips on creating these cards view the video below.

I hope you try this background technique. You can switch out the colors for different looks. You can use darker yellows or even Pumpkin Pie for the moon, and try Night of Navy or Misty Moonlight instead of the Blackberry Bliss. Experiment a little to find color combinations you like best.

That is all for today. Thank you for stopping by. Until next time…

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2021 Stampin’ Up!®️

USING MASKS FOR NO LAYER CARDS WITH AN OCEAN VIEW

 Hi Stampers!

Every year about this time I hear the ocean calling! While a trip to the seashore is not in “the cards” this year, ocean themes can be featured in “my cards.” 😁 Today I have four cards with ocean themes to share.  The cards are no layer cards. I used masks to allow me to apply ink for the focal point. Along with the masks I used blending brushes to create the background for the focal point.

Here are the cards:

And here are my masks!

For three of the masks I used 5 1/2” x 4 1/4” (1/4 sheets) pieces of  printer paper. I used dies to cut out the desired shapes. For the fourth mask I just tore pieces of scrap grid paper, and placed them over my cardstock. As you can see I used Washi tape to hold the masks in place.

Here are the stamp sets I used; WHALE DONE, SEASCAPE,TIMELESS TROPICAL, and FRIENDS ARE LIKE SEASHELLS.

For each card I used a Basic White card base that measured 11” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 5 1/2”. To create the focal points I put the cardstock flat on my stamping surface (a grid paper pad in my case), positioned the mask over the card front, and taped the mask in place with the Washi tape. I also covered up the back half of the card base with scrap paper to make sure there were no ink accidents.

Next I stamped and inked the focal point, removed the mask, and stamped the greeting. 

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD: Basic White card base, Layering Circles Dies (largest one) for mask, TIMELESS TROPICAL stamp set, TIMELESS TULIPS stamp set (for greeting), Shaded Spruce and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write markers, Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Balmy Blue, and Shaded Spruce inks, blending brushes.

ASSEMBLY: Place the  mask over the card base. Begin adding color to the area with Sahara Sand ink on a blending brush, next add Pool Party ink, and finish with the Balmy Blue. Using the Stampin’ Write Markers, add color to the stamp. Stamp the palm trees image. Remove the mask. Stamp the greeting with the Shaded Spruce ink.

This card is very similar to a card I created for another post (8 April 2021). This masking technique results in a torn paper look (Faux Torn Paper Masking Technique). See page 26 of the STAMPIN’ UP!®️ 2021-2022 ANNUAL CATALOG for another example of the technique.

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD: Basic White card base, two pieces of torn grid paper and Washi tape for masking, WHALE DONE stamp set, HAPPY THOUGHTS stamp set (Mini Catalog - retiring) for the sentiment, Soft Succulent, Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, and Balmy Blue inks, blending brushes.

ASSEMBLY: Position the masks over the card front, and secure with Washi tape. Stamp the seaweed, stamp the remaining images, using the blending brushes and Pool Party and Balmy Blue inks cover the exposed cardstock. It is okay to go right over the stamped images with the blending brush. remove the masks and stamp the greeting with Soft Succulent ink.

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD: Basic White card base, SEASCAPE stamp set, WHALE DONE stamp set, Layering Diorama Dies (3rd largest) - for mask, Granny Apple Green, Mango Melody, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, and Balmy Blue inks, and blending brushes.

ASSEMBLY: Create the mask and position it over the card front, secure with Washi tape. Stamp the seaweed and the fish. Create the water by starting at the bottom of the piece with a bit of Crumb Cake ink on a blending brush. Next add Pool Party and Balmy Blue inks. Remove the mask. Stamp the greeting with Soft Suede ink.

This card is just a bit different from the other three. It is still a one layer card, but I added some die cut images.

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD: Basic White card base, Pearlescent Specialty Paper, FRIENDS ARE LIKE SEASHELLS stamp set, HAPPY THOUGHTS stamp set (Mini Catalog - retiring) for sentiment, Seashells Embossing Folder, Seaside Seashells Dies, Flirty Flamingo, Calypso Coffee, Pale Papaya, Sahara Sand, Gray Granite, Pool Party, and Balmy Blue inks, and Granny Apple Green (dark)and Mint Macaron (dark) Stampi ‘ Blends, Stitched Rectangles Dies (3rd largest). 

ASSEMBLY: Make your mask with the Stitched Rectangles die. Use a 5 1/2” x 4 1/4” piece of the Pearlescent paper and the Seaside Seashells die to cut out the images. Stamp the images. Place the piece in the Seashells embossing folder and run it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Snip the images you want for the card from the die cut. Color the sea plants with the Stampin’ Blends and set the die cuts aside. Position the mask over the cardstock. Secure in place with Washi tape. Use the Sahara Sand and a touch of Gray Granite inks and blending brushes to create the base for the sand. Use the Pool Party and the Balmy Blue inks to create some water. With Sahara Sand ink and “sand” stamp add some texture to the “sandy area” of the card. Remove the mask. Arrange and adhere the sea plants and seashells on the card front. Stamp the greeting with Sahara Sand ink.

These card were easy to make, and best of all went together quickly. I do enjoy making no layer cards. These types of cards help me to reach a little bit beyond my usual routine, and forces mr to come up with creative ways to create interesting, but simple cards. I hope you give the masking techniques to create some no layer cards.

* The printer paper and grid paper are interchangeable, actually any thinner paper will do. If you do not have Washi tape, no problem. You can use masking tape, painter’s tape, or even Scotch tape. 

That’s all for today. Thank you for stopping by. Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamp and stamped images ©️1990-2021Stampin’ Up!®️

 

UNDER THE SEA - CREATE SEA LIFE THEMED CARDS THAT FEATURE TEXTURE AND DIMENSION

 Hi Stampers!

Today’s cards take us on a stamping adventure under the sea! The cards were created using the SEASCAPE stamp set and the SEA LIFE DIES, both found in the new Stampin’ Up! 2021-2022 Annual Catalog.  Here is a look at the cards:

SEASCAPE STAMP SET

SEA LIFE DIES

The SEASCAPE stamp set and the SEA LIFE DIES can be purchased separately or as a bundle for a 10% savings. As you can see, the dies do not cut out any of the images included in the stamp set, but both products do compliment each other allowing for lots of creative options. Of corse you can use the stamp set and dies separately.

The dies are a tad different from most others. They are similar to the Seaside Seashells Dies in that the seahorse and large fish dies do not cut the images completely from the cardstock. This allows you to create a “partial pop-up image on a focal panel to add great dimension to your cards.  Just a few snips with scissors frees the die cut image for a stand alone die cut to add to a card. The coral die and small fish dies have partial cuts that can be popped out to create texture and dimension. This set of dies truly makes it simple to add lots of texture and dimension to cards.

The first two cards I am sharing today were CASEd from cards found on page 12 of the new annual catalog. I changed a few things, but kept the cards very close to the samples in the catalog. This helped me learn how to work with these dies.

* For this card I used Coastal Cabana card base and another piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock cut at  5” x 3 3/4”.  I used Coastal Cabana ink and the seaweed image from the stamp set to create the background on the 5” x 3 3/4” piece of Coastal Cabana.

* I used Basic White cardstock for the seahorse die cut and the coral die cut. I used paper snips to free the seahorse from the cardstock.  I colored the seahorse and the coral with Stampin’ Blends (Polished Pink and Daffodil Delight with a tad of Pumpkin Pie).

* I stamped the sentiment on Basic White cardstock with Coastal Cabana ink. I used the Tasteful Labels Dies to cut out the sentiment.

* I wrapped the seahorse’s tail around the coral, and attached the entire piece to the focal panel with dimensionals. The sentiment is adhered with Stampin’ Seal. I used a Pastel Pearl for the seahorse’s eyes.

* This card was fairly quick and easy to make. It all starts with a Pool Party card base.

* The Basic White cardstock is 5 1/4” x 4”. I placed the fish die cut on top of the cardstock slightly to the left, and ran it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine. I used Pool Party ink to stamp the bubbles, and Granny Apple Green footprint the seaweed. When stamping the seaweed lift the fishes tail before stamping. 

* The Crumb Cake cardstock is 5 1/4” long and stamped with the texture / sand stamp inked with Crumb Cake. It was torn and adhered to the bottom of the Basic White panel. 

* The Happy Birthday is stamped on a 4” x 1/2” piece of Calypso Coral cardstock. It is adhered to the panel with dimensionals. 

* I adhered a scrap piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock behind the fish image, then adhered the entire panel to the card base.

* This card starts with a Basic White card base and a piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock cut at 3” x 4”.  The seahorse die was centered on the Coastal Cabana cardstock and run through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine. I adhered a scrap piece of Flirty Flaming cardstock behind the die cut panel. I used the bubble stamp to add a few Coastal Cabana bubbles around the seahorse.

* The coral was die cut from Basic White cardstock and colored with Calypso Coral Stampin’ Blends. I wrapped the tail of the seahorse around the coral, and used a couple of glue dots to adhere the coral to the panel.

* The little fish were die cut from scraps of Mango Melody and Pumpkin Pie cardstock. (They remind me of Goldfish crackers. They are adhered to the panel with glue dots.

* The panel is attached to the card base with dimensionals.

* The greeting was stamped toward the bottom center of the card base with. Coastal Cabana ink.

* This card has a Pool Party card base. The front of the card base is stamped with the fish image using Pool Party ink.

* The Basic White panel is 5” x 3 3/4”. I used the texture / sand stamp and Crumb Cake ink to stamp across the bottom of the panel. I used a blending brush and Pool Party ink to add a touch of color to the remainder of the Basic White panel.

* I die cut the large fish from Pumpkin Pie cardstock and cut away from the cardstock with paper snips. The fish is adhered to the panel with glue dots. 

* The coral was die cut from Basic White cardstock and colored with Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends.  (This coral is a piece cut off the coral I die cut for the previous card.)

* The small fish were die cut from Mango Melody cardstock and are adhered with glue dots.

* The greeting was stamped on Basic White cardstock with Coastal Cabana ink, and fussy cut around. It is adhered to a piece of DSP from the Pansy Petals DSP. The piece is attached to the focal panel with dimensionals.

* The focal panel is adhered to the card base with Stampin’ Seal.

I really like the texture and dimension these dies add to cards and other paper crafting projects. I hope you give these fun dies a try.

That is it for today. Thank you for stopping by for a little adventure under the sea! Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2021 Stampin’ Up!®️

CARDS FOR ANGLERS, SPELUNKERS, AND CHIROPTEROLOGISTS USING LAYERING DIORAMA DIES

 Hi Stampers!

Today’s cards feature the new Layering Diorama Dies from the Stampin’ Up!®️ 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. Catalog sample  cards can be found on pages 12, 51, & 82. The dies are found on page 163. Here is a look at the dies:

LAYERING DIORAMA DIES

Each die will give you two images to work with; a frame and an abstract shape. For today’s cards I worked with the frames.

Here are the cards I made using these dies:

As you can see, one card would be perfect for the anglers (people who enjoy fishing) or fish lovers in your life. The explore card would be a great card to send any spelunkers (those strange people who enjoy exploring caves) or those with a liking for adventure. The Halloween card is just a fun card I made inspired by my trips to Carlsbad Caverns. The greeting could easily be changed to Happy Birthday or Hello. I know this card will put a smile on the face of all the chiropterologists (biologists who study bats) out there, and maybe even a few spelunkers! 

The first thing I learned while making these cards is the importance of working backwards - sort of. Usually I start with the focal point of my card, which in most instances is a piece or panel that will be mounted on a card base. For these cards it was necessary to reverse that process, and accomplish the stamping, embossing, blending, etc, on the card base before assembling the other pieces of the card. The second thing I learned is for the two top layers it works better (for me) to use two pieces of cardstock equal in size. For me it was easiest to cut the two top layers at 4 1/4” x 5 1/4”. Attempting to use scraps to “save” cardstock is not a good plan when using the frame shapes created with these dies. These cards take a little extra time, but they are not difficult to make.

GONE FISHIN’ CARD

I CASED this card from the card on page 12 of the catalog. I used the Playful Alphabet Dies to create the greeting. The images are from the new SEASCAPE stamp set. CASEing is a good strategy to use when you are not quite certain where to start or how to use a particular stamp set or dies collection. 

SEASCAPE

To make the card I started start with a Balmy Blue card base and two pieces of Balmy Blue cardstock cut at 5 1/2” x 4 1/4”. I selected two of the Layering Diorama Dies I felt looked best for the particular scene on he card. I chose the 3rd largest die for the outer layer, and one two sizes smaller (die #5 going from largest to smallest) for the second layer.

Next I die cut the two 5 1/2” x 4 1/4” pieces of cardstock with the Diorama Dies. I placed the middle layer (the frame with the smallest opening) on top of the card base and used a pencil to lightly trace the shape of the opening. This gave me a guide for my blending and stamping.

I darkened the area of the card base inside the area I had traced with a pencil (and just a bit beyond the pencil line) using Misty Moonlight ink and a blending brush. If you’d prefer to skip this step use a Misty Moonlight card base.  Next I used Versa Mark to stamp the water plant image in the lower right area of the inked cardstock making certain a good portion of the image was inside my pencil line. (This stamp is large so I only inked the top 1/3 or so with the Versa Mark. I embossed the image with white embossing powder. Next I stamped the “three fish” image a few times toward the top to the middle of the inked area.

For the middle area I lightly added some Misty Moonlight with a blending brush around the inner edge of the frame

For the top layer I stamped the “three fish” stamp several times across the piece, more toward the top, using Balmy Blue ink. 

I adhered the top and middle layers together with Stampin’ Seal, but only around the outside edges. I placed dimensionals on the back of this piece and adhered it to the card base.

I stamped the two larger fish on Basic White cardstock using Calypso Coral and Flirty Flaming inks. These fish were fussy cut.

I die cut the sea weed / coral (Granny Apple Green) image and the two smaller fish (Crushed Curry) using the Sea Life Dies. The letters got the greeting were cut out using the Playful Alphabet dies.

I placed the sea weed die cut between the top and second layers of the card, and used glue dots to keep it in place. The fish are on dimensionals. I used multipurpose glue to attach the lettering.

EXPLORE CAVE CARD

The card base and layers of this card are Gray Granite. I used the same process creating this card as for the previous one, except my top two layers are cut at 5 1/4” x 4”.

The texture image on the card was stamped with a stamp from the SEASCAPE stamp set.

The lantern is from the CAMPOLOGY  stamp set. It was stamped on Basic White cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Stampin’ Blends, and fussy cut.

CAMPOLOGY

I used the SAILING HOME stamp set and Coordinating Smooth Sailing Dies plus the Tasteful Labels Dies to create the compass. The needle on the compass was die cut from Basic White cardstock. I used a Real Red (dark) Stampin’ Blend to color half of the needle. It is attached to the compass image (this image was die cut with the Layering Circles Dies) with a black brad. I attached this to the Basic Black die cut with 3-4 glue dots on the outer edges of the circle. This allows the compass needle to turn freely. The compass is attached to the card with dimensionals. 

SAILING HOME

I finished the card with a greeting cut from the Playful Alphabet Dies, and some black Baker’s twine.

BATS EXITING A CAVE CARD

For this card I used a Basic  Black card base, and layers of Basic Gray and Gray Granite. I did nothing to the Basic Black card base except add the fussy cut bats with glue dots. The two top layers are stamped with the texture stamp from the SEASCAPE stamp set using Basic Gray ink.

The bat images are from the  BANNER YEAR stamp set. They were stamped on Basic Gray cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then fussy cut. They are adhered with glue dots.

BANNER YEAR

The Happy Halloween is die cut from Pumpkin Pie cardstock using the Word Wishes Dies.

There you go - three cards made using the Layering Diorama Dies! So... if you find yourself needing cards for anglers, spelunkers, chiropterologists, or anyone at all, why not give these fun dies a try?

That is all for today. Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2021 Stampin’ Up!®️