Brayering Fun

I visited my aunt and upline last weekend, so I could pick up some new tricks and tips.  Just look at what she showed me!  I'll admit, I'd read about similar cards, but couldn't quite picture it.  Once I saw one in person, however, I just had to make it--the look is so striking.  My bonus for you is that it's EASY!

What do you need?  Well, the two essentials are a brayer and an embossing folder (which also means that the Big Shot is a must).  After that, things are much easier if you have a large ink pad--it's better for brayering--and paper, but that's all.

Choose your color, and ink up the brayer.  Then roll the ink directly onto your embossing folder (the side that has the impressions).  The ink will end up covering the folder, but not the impressions...so there are holes in the coverage.  Perfect!  Put your cardstock (a piece of 4x5.25 whisper white above) into the embossing folder, and then roll it through your Big Shot.  That's all you have to do for the main piece, then decide how you want to mount it (above, I put it on another piece of whisper white, cut to 4.125x5.325 and then onto a melon mambo card base).

Ribbon, embellishments, etc are entirely up to you.  Have fun!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Whimsical Words (SAB)
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Ink: Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip
Extras: Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Brayer, Wide Oval Punch, Chocolate Chip 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Rub-ons for Everything!

In my last card post, I got very excited about our rub-ons (what can I say, I'm excitable!  And they are great!).  So this post is a continuation...but these rub-ons are from the Definitely Decorative line, which means that they're for more than cards.

The photo above is my sister's bedroom.  Jackie lives in a apartment, which means plain colored walls and not a lot of options.  We've all been there, or are there currently.  But the beauty of Decor Elements (rub-ons for your walls) is that they don't affect paint, plaster, etc--so make your apartment your own!  When it's time to move out, just carefully peel the Decor Element off the wall and throw it out (they're only good for one use).  It's that easy!  Best of all, your landlord will never know...

Next up is Kiran--I told you she'd be making repeat appearances--and her fabulous IKEA dresser.  Check out picture one (and ignore that top drawer).  It's a big dresser that gets the job done, but it doesn't add much character to the bedroom, if you know what I mean.  So Kiran and I got to work...

Look at it now!  The dresser looks great in the picture (if I do say so myself), but even better in person.  Those drawer fronts look almost like they're inlaid, and everyone who sees it just says "WOW."  What did we do?  Well, Kiran bought two big sheets (since retired) and we cut each in half lengthwise.  Then we measured the drawers--twice to be sure--and marked with pencil where the decor elements should go.  After that, it was all following Stampin' Up!'s directions, and we were super proud of ourselves!  This is the first time either of us had used any Decor Elements, so we certainly weren't professionals...but look again.  Who would know?

 

Back to Jackie.  Since she liked her tree and birds so much, I've gotten her a few more decor elements for her birthday and Christmas.  As you'll see with her new flour and sugar bins, these aren't just for walls.  And that fun EAT is the perfect bright red touch for the door between Jackie's kitchen and dining room, since all of her kitchen supplies are red.  It's a sign that makes a statement!




Interested in getting some Decor Elements of your own?  Just let me know, and I'll hook you up with a catalog all your own.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Check Out that Banner!

Kudos (and many thanks) to Kiran, who spent part of her Sunday creating the fabulous banner seen above.  Kiran has been "behind the scenes" thus far, but she's been hard at work and you'll see more of her productions over the next few days, as we move into "invitation week."

How did she do it, you ask?  Very simple--Kiran has My Digital Studio, which Stampin' Up! released last fall.  Admittedly, I also have My Digital Studio, but Kiran has used it far more than I have.  Following this video tutorial that Patty Bennett posted on her blog, Kiran was able to whip up a blog header using our favorite colors (green for her, purple for me) in no time...and then tweak it until it was perfect.

My Digital Studio is for much more than blogs, however.  Kiran has been using it to design card layouts, create beautiful baby showers invitations and wedding save-the-dates...and I suspect that some baby announcements will be coming soon.  I've used it much less, but have had fun with creating card elements using stamps I don't own, and test-driving its many features.

I don't know how often we'll post from or about My Digital Studio, but if you're interested, just let us know!  Thanks again, Kiran.

Cheers!
~Melanie

More Circles and Squares

Inspired by my earlier card, I decided to leave room for a sentiment this time. I chose another of the Circle Circus circles--this one would punch perfectly with the scallop circle (if you had it on hand, which I didn't). Again, stamped in bright colors, but I decided less is more, and went with fewer layers this time. My circles in squares were mounted on Glorious Green and then onto a Lovely Lilac card base (this combination is one of my personal favorites).

To make sure that my sentiment was crisp and perfect, I went with rub-ons instead of a stamp. I know I have a lot of favorites, but rub-ons really are the greatest thing ever! You get tremendous bang for your buck (this set, Chit Chat, includes sentiments for every occasion, and enough for you to do well over 200 cards!), and they always look sharp.

When you get your rub-ons, choose the sentiment you'd like and cut it out. Make sure you keep the backing paper with the rub on until you get it to your card. Then, once you've decided where the perfect placement is, removing the backing paper and literally rub on your sentiment with a popsicle stick (included with the rub-ons) or your bone folder. Gently peel away the clear paper--if any didn't transfer, put it back in place and rub some more. Then voila! Once the rub on is on your card, it won't come off, and it is the perfect touch.

This makes me want to use my rub-ons now. And for those of you who are more interested in decorating than card-making, you should check out Stampin' Up!'s Definitely Decorative line--they're rub ons for your walls, and oh so fun! I hope to put up some pictures of those soon, so stay tuned.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Glorious Green, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Brilliant Blue, Pink Passion, Glorious Green
Extras: Chit Chat Rub-ons

Bright and Cheery!

Time for something new. Although I made this card months ago, it's new and different here. And very simple.

I started off with those circles, and knew I wanted to do some sort of repeating pattern, but I wasn't sure what. Oddly enough, it was squares to the rescue! *Note: this would have been easier to do with square punches, but I didn't have any at the time, so it was all cutting and measuring. I started by stamping my circle of choice in bright colors on Whisper White, then cutting those out by trial and error. Centering? Pure luck (and third attempts!) Once I had even squares, I measured and then added 1/16" to cut out a second set of squares from my bright paper, then another 1/16" for the last set.

Why 1/16"? Because I love that perfectly thin border it gives you.

With that done, I played around with my colors. Should I put the green galore on green galore, or mix it up? Clearly I decided for the latter. Then I got out my mat pack and piercing tool, to give this a little extra touch, and pierced one corner of each piece. Next, I matted it on a contrasting color and then put all the pieces together on my 4.25x4.25" card base.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus
Paper: Pacific Point (retired), Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise
Extras: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool

It's in the Mail...

I'm sending out my valentines today! At least, that's one of my goals--I have a few work things that I need to take care of first, and it looks I'm also going to have to do some serious shoveling to dig my car out. But since I'm mailing them, I thought I should share another valentine with you, just to get you in the spirit.

Remember all those Medallion cards I made? Well here is another, with the colors updated for Valentine's Day. The base of the card is Rose Red--and I've since gone on a Rose Red binge, since I decided that I really love it's dusty deep pink hue. Again, I used a brayer to ink up the Medallion with Versamark, and then stamped that twice--once on the Rose Red for the background, then again (after reinking) on Sahara Sand.

Then I got out my trusty pastels and sponge daubers, and chose whatever colors I liked (you'll notice that some purple worked it's way in--no surprise there!). A quick punch or two with the Full Heart Punch, and I had my layered heart to express my love in a lovely font.

That's it! I hope you'll be sending some Valentines this year too--if only to say hello.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Medallion, Well Scripted
Paper: Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Orchid Opulence, Regal Rose
Ink: Versamark
Extras: Stampin' Up! Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Full Heart Punch, Stampin' Dimmensionals

Hey Foxy

I can't take credit for this entirely, as it was inspired by some 3x3 cards by Angela McKay that I saw on Stampin' Connection (the demo-only site for sharing and swapping creations!), but I did tweak things a bit to come up with this valentine. Happily, this used up materials that I already had and didn't know what to do with, so it doubles as a "cleaning out my stash" project. Gotta love that!

On a Whisper White card base, I mounted a 4x5.25" rectangle of Real Red, and then a 3.75x5" rectangle of Real Red patterns from a 6x6" print pack that I had lying around. (Note: These print packs are available as a hostess reward, but you can also purchase patterned paper in Patterns Designer Series Paper in any of the colors available, which greatly widens the spectrum)

With my basic card ready to go, it was time to work on the details. Angela used circle punches for her animals, but I don't have those. Since Kiran wasn't handy to lend me her punches, I pulled out my new Scallop Trim Corner punch from the Occasions Mini, and cut a 1-15/16" square of Real Red. At that size, all I needed was the corner punch to create the design all around. The fox was easier, quickly punched out with my 1-1/4" square punch and ready for layering. I also turned to punches for my sentiment, mounting the Word Window punch on the Modern Label (a favorite of mine). For an extra pop, I used dimensionals to attach these to the card, and that's why the sentiment really stands out from the background.

I have to say, this was quicker to make than to explain. Deceptively simple, with lots of options for mixing and matching...

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Fox and Friends, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, retired Patterns Pack
Ink: Real Red
Extras: 1-1/4" Square punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Stampin' Dimensionals