Hooray for Surprises

Hooray for Surprises

One of my favorite items in Stampin’ Up!®’s 2024 spring mini catalog is the “Hooray for Surprises” bundle. And while the photopolymer stamp set is based around fun, generic, and simple-to-stamp images, it’s actually the set of dies that captured my imagination the most! Super-original in design, I think several of the dies can be used in a variety of ways, and will easily work with other stamp sets, as well. And I especially hope this unique concept may show up in future dies sets going forward!

What makes these dies so unique?

If you look at these die images really closely you’ll see that several of them actually have perforated edges. So when run through the die-cutting machine, the shape will not be cut out completely. And when combined with one of the instructional stamp images (such as “Pull”, or “Open here”), you can inform the recipient to do just that. And if you’ve structured your card similar to my example, pulling that tab will reveal a fun surprise inside!

Some tips for assembling a card with the Hooray for Surprises dies

This was the first card I made using these dies, and I found that its assembly was a little trickier than I’d expected at first. But a little brain-scratching helped me figure it out. (I’ve always admitted that working with spatial things has NEVER been my forte, lol, and this was a perfect example.) The card base itself is your plain-ol’, everyday thick Basic White CS, scored and folded as usual. Then I brushed Lemon Lime Twist ink around the outer edges. 

If I’d thought quickly enough, I could have then decided where to stamp the sentiment (onto the center area of the white card base) and just gone with that. But instead, I’d already stamped the decorated layer (with Melon Mambo, Azure Afternoon, Lemon Lime Twist, and Daffodil Delight inks) – AND had already die-cut the shape – before I’d considered the assembly logistics. 

So ultimately, I ended up stamping the sentiment, along with a little more brushed Lemon Lime Twist background color, onto a scrap of Basic White cardstock and lining that up BEHIND the already- stamped & die-cut upper layer, in front of a very bright lightbulb which allowed me to see through the top decorated layer down to the words of the sentiment. Then once aligned to my satisfaction, I taped the 2 pieces of white CS together from behind… and then glued that whole element to my cardbase. 

In this case, had I actually given this card to someone, they would have been able to pull off the die-cut section to reveal the sentiment behind. But since I knew I wanted pictures of this card I did the pull-tab reveal myself.

So my next challenge...

… was to figure out how to replace the pull-tab element for display purposes. Hmmm… More brain scratching…

But it didn’t take too long to remember that our “Green Glue” (aka “Multipurpose Liquid Glue”) can do several tricks. And one of its lesser-known tricks is to become a lightweight temporary adhesive if left to dry before attaching two paper elements together. So I used my finger to smear a few thin areas of glue onto the back side of the die-cut circle and once thoroughly dry, I replaced that piece into its original position. And I’ve successfully pulled it off and replaced it several times since then, so I’m pretty sure that will become my solution going forward with this type of card! 

Need something other than just these items? Remember that the purchase of this bundle together with another small item will qualify you for a free Sale-a-Bration item through Feb. 29! (Free exclusive item for everyone with a $50 product order.)

Make Metallic-Looking Accessories for Cards

Make Metallic-Looking Accessories for Cards

Want to create a luxurious, high-end look on a budget? Try making your own metallic-looking accessories from cardstock and a few other items you probably already have in your papercrafting stash! Keep reading to learn how I made these stunning letters – actually based on ordinary cardstock.

General Construction of this Card

Gold Letters: Metallic-Looking Accessories
Card design by Lynda Glassmoyer; Images © 1990-2023 Stampin' Up!®

Now, before we get to the specific “how to” of making your own metallic-looking accessories, I need to share a bit of background information. You see, the Designer Series Paper shown on this card came from the 12″ x 12″ collection called “Dainty Flowers”. It’s really lovely paper, front AND back, and it’s even been available for nearly 2 months for free with a $50 Sale-a-Bration order. But just as I got this card put together, inventories of that DSP ran out. And sadly, it’s no longer available. 😢 But of course you can use any cardstock or DSP of your choice, should you want to make a card similar to this one.

The layout template, including all cutting sizes, was included in my online card classes of last week. And it will eventually reappear in an upcoming compilation of such templates, so hang tight & keep checking back if you’re interested in that.

How to Make your Metallic-Looking Accessories

Metallic-Looking Accessories - Close-up of letters
Design by Lynda Glassmoyer; Images © 1990-2023 Stampin' Up!®

Would you be surprised to learn that the base for the gold letters shown on this card is just simply cardstock? Indeed, to begin this look, I used the Alphabet a la Mode dies to die-cut 3 each of the letters I needed. (I used Crushed Curry cardstock, but the color really doesn’t matter because it barely shows). Then I stacked up the layers to create 3-dimensional letters, carefully applying my favorite adhesive (Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue) between each layer. 

Once the glue on the letters was dry, I used a Versamark Pad (upside down) to pat onto one half of a letter. Then I applied Gold Embossing Powder and heated it with my Heat Tool to melt the powder. When the letter had cooled sufficiently to handle, I repeated the process on the opposite end of the letter. It actually took about 3 layers of this same process to get the fairly smooth metallic-look that I was aiming for, and I repeated that for each letter. (This process is indeed a bit time-consuming, so put on some nice music while you’re working.)

Once I had all my letters assembled, I simply glued each one into place on my card, using the same glue as mentioned above (which we affectionately refer to as “Green Glue“).

Other Ideas for Metallic-Looking Accessories

In addition to letters such as these, of course you could think in terms of any other cardstock shapes that you could punch or die-cut and then stack up for dimension. How about numbers for a special birthday or anniversary card? Or a small leaf or flower? A heart? Or a frame shape? Just let your imagination be your guide and have lots of fun with this idea!

And of course, we’d LOVE it if you shared your card showcasing your own metallic-looking accessories on my Facebook Page!

Need something other than these items? Check out my online store here, and remember that if you can get your order submitted before the end of Feb. 28th, 2023 (Mountain Time), you can qualify for free Sale-a-Bration goodies, too!

 

Coastal Weave Embossing Folder Meets Peaceful Poppies

Coastal Weave Embossing Folder Meets Peaceful Poppies

What a Month!

Wow! The last day of May already. Hard to wrap my head around all that’s happened this month (both good and bad), but I’ve been mighty grateful to have had access to the internet and various online services so I can continue to be active with and enjoy my Stampin’ Up!® business!

This month I upgraded my video lighting for a “bit” better look for my online presentations. But I think I may have had a little higher expectation from my new lights than they’ve delivered; somehow new lighting hasn’t entirely eliminated the fact that I’ve been a demonstrator with this company for 24 years, and well, I look at least that many years older in front of the camera. That I have a growing number of wrinkles and sags in places I’d rather not have. That my “quarantine hair” is much too long and much too gray. And that my tiny poorly-lit apartment is…. well, a tiny poorly-lit apartment.

But nonetheless, I’ve had a lot of fun this month connecting with my stampin’ friends while presenting 3 online events… beginning with my 3rd monthly template-based card class via Zoom, and then followed by 2 more events which were live-streamed to my Facebook page. None of these were flawless, but I’m learning to cope with the unexpected and “oops-es”… and not die of embarrassment. (Can we say “open mic” during yesterday’s intermission?!? Now the world knows I talk to myself when designing, lol.) So I choose to chalk up the flub-ups to “learning”.  And I truly appreciate all in the Paper Dreamers community who seem willing to accept the imperfections as I learn all this new tech stuff… and participate in these online activities anyway! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Mystery Card Class - Episode 1

Coastal Weave Embossing Folder Meets Peaceful Poppies
Coastal Weave Embossing Folder Meets Peaceful Poppies

This was the 3rd card I created during yesterday’s inaugural presentation of “Mystery Card Class”, which was live-streamed to Facebook. The concept for this class is to follow along with some specific guidelines for making a card of your choice, while trying to resolve the “mystery” that looms in the background. And the clues to the mystery will eventually appear in the cards that participants stamp and post online for the viewers to see. 

I’d sent out prepared card kits to several stampers in advance, and invited them to participate in this event by assembling their cards and sharing them with the other class participants. But unfortunately, that plan kinda fell on its face because only 1 card got made up and shared. So we’ve had a significant shortage of “clues” (as compared to what I’d envisioned), and therefore yesterday’s mystery stands a good chance of remaining unresolved, and the intended prize not awarded. 

Ah! But I don’t give up that easily. I’m up for trying again next month, and hopeful that we might get broader participation. And if you receive one of the card kits I send out for Episode 2, please do play along by making up your card and showing us the result. The more participation this event can get, the more fun it will be!

I can't believe Coastal Weave Embossing Folder is retiring already!

This particular embossing folder has become my very favorite during its short life, and I’m really going to miss it. So when it came time for designing cards for yesterday’s class, I *had* to give it yet another workout before bidding it farewell.

So I ended up using not only my current favorite embossing folder, but also one of my very favorite techniques… applying and blending inks with various types of applicators. For this background, I began with a piece of regular Whisper White cardstock and embossed it with the soon-to-be-retired Coastal Weave 3D embossing folder.

Then I went after it with several ink colors, applied with Sponge Daubers… gradually building up light layers of Rich Razzleberry, Poppy Parade, and Blackberry Bliss classic inks until I had the look I wanted. I deliberately tried to vary the intensities of each color in different areas so the color wasn’t entirely even throughout.  I’m always thrilled to watch what develops when applying layers of color this way, and given that I was working with some of my favorite colors, I got more and more excited as the overall look developed! 

Once I had the general look I wanted, I went back over it with the Frost White Glimmer Paint (also applied with a sponge dauber) to give it a sheen. (Which may or may not show up in the pictures.) 

Additional supplies I used include Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss, and Whisper White cardstock, several sets of dies, various elements from the Peaceful Poppies Suite, and some retired trim & accessories I found while digging through my stash.

If you still need to add the Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder to your own collection, it’s still available in my online store, and as long as supplies hold out, will be for 2 more days… thru June 2nd. Grab yours here.

And be sure to bookmark my calendar page so you won’t miss what’s coming up!

 

Snowflake Showcase – Last call

November's exclusive "Snowflake Showcase" has certainly been an amazing collection, hasn't it? So many beautiful snowflakes and versatile images – in both stamp sets and dies; I'm super-sad to see it coming to an end. But yep, today's its last day of availability; the curtain falls in just a few more hours.

In the meantime however, I thought I'd share some of the thank you cards I've been sending out recently. Featuring… well, what else, lol?!? Not only some of my favorite winter-time images, but some of my very favorite winter colors, too!

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Besides the "Snow is Glistening"  and "Kindness & Compassion" stamp sets, these cards feature "Layering Ovals" dies; Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape and Coastal Cabana inks; Frost White Shimmer Paint; Clear Rhinestone Jewels; and Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, and Whisper White cardstocks (WW in both regular and thick). And of course, the Stamparatus helped place that "Thank you" image exactly where I wanted it… nice and bright!

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There are still a few remaining hours to claim all or part of this collection for yourself. If you're still debating, let me help. The answer is "Yes!" – because snowflakes of this classic art style will never look dated, they can be used solo or in conjunction with other images on almost any winter project, and look fabulous in pretty much any color. (Well, maybe not so much Real Red or Cajun Craze, come to think of it….. but YOU know what I mean, lol!) 

See what's still available from the Snowflake Showcase here!

Playing with inlays

I've been having a lot of fun recently with various forms of paper inlays. That is, embedding one paper image (usually cut with a die) into another piece of paper or cardstock so that the two (or more) elements work together as a unit. There are a number of forms of this technique, but today I'd like to share where multiple colors can be used within a single die-cut image to offer up variations of color.

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The card just above was my first attempt at this, and yes, if you're thinking these dies were recently retired, you would be correct. But these images are a perfect size to practice inlay if you're new to this technique because they're mostly large enough to handle reasonably easily. And I do recommend that if this is your first attempt, try to find an image with pieces large enough to handle. Don't make this harder on yourself than it needs to be, 'cuz it's supposed to be fun!

On this next card, I used this inlay technique on the lower left leaf to get the two shades of green…

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And on this next example, I'll walk though the steps and tips for doing the two-toned inlay on the square element at the top…

Tropical Chic

The colors of cardstock I have used on this square section are Pool Party and Tranquil Tide, and the dies are from the "Tropical Chic" bundle. I started by cutting out the same die shape from a scrap of each of those colors, and basically followed the same procedure with each one.

First, I set up my usual die-cutting sandwich stack and ran the stack through the Big Shot. But then when it came out of the machine, I didn't rip into the stack in my normal way; instead, I removed the entire stack from the machine and flipped the whole thing upside-down. Now I carefully removed layer by layer until I revealed the underside of the newly die-cut cardstock.

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Next, I laid a sheet of contrasting paper (white, in this case) over what remained of the stack and held it in place tightly while I flipped the remainder of the stack back over, and laid it onto my table. So now I could carefully remove the cutting pad (which was once again on top), and ended up with this:

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(Note that going forward I'll be illustrating the process with the contrasting color of cardstock. But I did exactly the same process to each of the two colors I worked with, which ultimately gave me two completed squares – to make two cards.)

Next, using my die brush along with a wooden skewer VERY carefully, I poked out the cut pieces and let them fall into place onto the white paper. Yeah, I did have to make a few adjustments because this step never works exactly perfectly, but the point of this was to try to keep all the little pieces in relative order so I could work with them easily later. These will eventually become pieces in a miniature jig-saw puzzle!

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Each time I have made one of these embedded examples I have found it helpful to adhere a "base" layer of cardstock underneath the main layer. This ensures the die cut images with all the holes in it doesn't stretch out of shape, and it also prevents drawing attention to any imperfections where one piece might not match up perfectly with another. For this latter reason, I usually make the base layer from the same color of cardstock as the pieces which will eventually be inlaid.

For the 2 examples shown at the top of this article, I die-cut just the outer shape of the image when a die was available, and traced and cut out a base when there was no die of that shape. (That rose does not have a solid shape, so it required tracing and cutting by hand.) Then I carefully glued the detailed shape onto its base. For my third card, I used a couple of square dies to trim up the final image, as well as to create a base layer for underneath. Here's the bottom view of the base layer…. just a little smaller than the finished piece, as you can see:

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Now with all the preliminary steps complete, it's time for the fun part….. to start adhering and embedding all the little pieces into their proper spaces. Begin with the piece right-side-up, and insert a teeny-weeny bit of glue onto the base layer in a few open spaces. (Tip:  I like to use a half-and-half mixture of Fine Tip Glue and Multipurpose Liquid Glue, dispensed from a Fine-Tip Glue Pen. I shake this up before using it, but then tap the bottom of the bottle on the table to reduce numbers of potential bubbles. This mixture maintains a little more "body" as it's dispensed, and doesn't take as long to dry as pure Fine Tip Glue does because it's not as liquid.)

Don't put glue in too many places at once; you don't want it drying up on you as you're still inserting pieces into place. A little experience will tell you how far ahead you can work with the glue. And don't forget that when I refer to a "teeny-weeny bit of glue", that's EXACTLY what I mean. ONLY enough glue to anchor the punched-out piece, and NO MORE!

This next picture shows pieces that have already been adhered in place along the left and lower areas. Can you see why it's important to keep the unplaced pieces in relative order for purposes of preserving one's sanity? 

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Most of the time I find I can pick up these pieces with my fingers (and fingernails), but ultimately there are will be a few pieces that are just too small for that. So I have found that if I quickly lick the tip of my pinky finger, touch it lightly to my other hand, and then touch it to the itsy-bitsy little piece, that little challenge piece will usually adhere to my pinky just long enough to set it right down in its appropriate place.  Whew!

And don't forget that if you need reading glasses for close-up work, WEAR THEM! And have adequate working light, and go stare across the street when you're done. It doesn't take my eyes very long to remind me that this kind of minute task isn't very friendly to the eyes.  Ah, but the finished result is certainly worth it!

How to wrangle your thin dies – Part 1

If you're like me, you probably love the added dimension and interest that Stampin' Up!®'s dies add to your papercrafting. But you may also wish to skip some of the potential headaches that can arise when trying to keep all those frustrating little bits of metal under control! Today I'll be sharing some of my tips for handling and storing dies with minimal frustration.

Tip #1: Always put each die away immediately after using it.

LOL!

OK, who are we kidding here!?! WHAT serious papercrafter actually takes the time in the middle of his/her creative "zone" to put away every single tool one-by-one?!? Pretty inefficient, if you ask me…. 'cuz not only are you risking losing your creative mojo, but you just might need to use that exact same tool again only 14 seconds from now, right?!?

Ok. So let's start over, but this time we'll add in a dose of reality. Here's my approach:

I recognize that while I'm creating, things WILL be out of place. So I try to be ok with that. But that doesn't mean my workspace has to devolve into total chaos; my goal is to keep things at least moderately corraled so they don't get lost or damaged, and they can be returned to their rightful places with minimal effort and headache later. So while I'm working… 20180623_140226

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This awesome tray was given to me by a friend. But it's easily found at Harbor Freight, and it's easy on the budget. Designed for mechanics to hold onto screws and bolts and the like, it's got a heavy magnet at the base. So it can be attached to a metal tool chest or workbench – or not. I've found that without even attaching the tray to a magnetic surface, its weight alone tends to keep it upright and unlikely to tip over with normal use. And of course, the magnet at its base keeps the dies in place inside the tray regardless.

I LOVE this tray! But there *is* one lesson I've learned while working with it. Occasionally I've found that a smallish die just disappears. Totally vanishes from my work area! One moment it's there, and a second later it's not. But I've had this happen enough times now, that before I set off on an extensive exploration of my clothing, the carpet, the wastebasket, etc., I usually just need to pick up the tray and look underneath it…

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Now, has this ever happened to you? You're straightening up your workspace and come across an itty-bitty die that looks something like this.

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Quick now, what die set does it belong to? (Yeah, right!) Well, here's the shortcut way to find out.

Flip it over, and …..

 

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Read the 6-digit number engraved on it. That will be the Stampin' Up! product code! If you have absolutely no idea what set it belongs to, click here (store.YourPaperDreams.com), and type that product code into the search bar. If it's still currently available, the picture and name of its die set will come up so you can reunite it with its family!

Missing die identified
But if it's not currently available, you'll have to search through your collection of die sets, looking at the product code of each set, in order to find the rest of its tribe. Tedious, yes. But at least doable!

Which brings me to the topic of how I *store* my thin dies… and why. Check out more tips in my next post!

Stamparatus Success Tips

Stamparatus: A *must-have* positioning tool that will change the life of any stamper. Similar to the "other brands", except this one's on steroids!

If you don't already have your Stamparatus, you'll be able to order it beginning this Friday, June 1, at store.YourPaperDreams.com (Product #146276)

Recently I've been working on another one of my "making multiples" projects and have discovered several tips that have helped me fall even deeper in love with this gizmo (didn't know that was even possible!), and I'm sure it will do the same for you, too.

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My project uses a long piece of cardstock, and images are ultimately stamped over much of its surface. Because the end has to extend beyond the surface of the platform I was finding that while I was initially using the Stamparatus in my usual orientation (clear "wings" either folding in from top or a side) I was frequently either getting unwelcome creases or ink on the extended end, just from handling the whole set-up. Given that I'm aiming to make somewhere around 100 of these eventually, that was definitely proving awkward.

So I flipped it all around…. extending the excess cardstock up at the top, facing away from me – and positioning my clear "wing" pointing towards me.  And that change alone reduced the amount of stray inky fingerprints and creases I ended up with. I found that I got more ink on the stamp (and less ink on the surrounding clear plate) by placing one hand underneath the "wing" while inking the stamp with my other hand.  And best of all I could actually see what I was doing because it was directly in front of me!

20180530_080847[1]One of the tips I'd already discovered in the past was to match the size of the ink pad to the size of the stamp. (Full-size ink pads for larger stamps and Stampin' Spots for the smaller ones.)  I already have a decent supply of Stampin' Spots from having been a Paper Pumpkin subscriber for so long, but I've also recently been filling in color gaps by making up my own Stampin' Spots in colors I've been missing. (BTW, you can order a set of empty spots here and ink them up with the refill colors of your choice. You DO already have the ink refills that match your ink pads, don't you?!?)

Since I'm doing so many of these I needed a quick and efficient way to get my cardstock lined up each time I needed to work on its other end. And 1" wide blue painter's tape proved the answer to that.  I just plopped a piece of my cut-to-size cardstock down on the platform, temporarily held it in place with magnets, and laid the painter's tape around 3 of its edges. So going forward I could just insert each piece of cardstock right into that template and anchor it with magnets. So far, the tape has held up like a charm, and it doesn't seem to leave any residue either!

And finally, just a reminder to conserve your precious cardstock while you're still designing your layout, and substitute printer paper or something else fairly cheap whenever possible instead. Personally, I use grid paper and/or printer paper for stamping on while I'm developing my layout, and modest-sized scraps of colored cardstock when pulling together colors and layers. I'll only cut a piece of colored CS to actual size once I've got the fussing-around steps mostly behind me and am pretty confident the project seems to be headed in a direction that's gonna work.

So if you don't already have your Stamparatus, mark your calendar for Friday, June 1, jump into my online store, and get one headed your way! 

Stampar – WHAT?!?

11.16.17_GIF_STAMPARATUS

STAM•PA•RAT•US: Noun. 2017-2018 (and beyond); < rubber-stamper lingo; Latin stamp + apparatus>  1. a feature-packed device to assist rubber stampers with placing stamped images exactly where desired  2. a gizmo used to perfectly align up to 4 stamped images  3. a doo-dad which allows another attempt at stamping a fully-inked image if the first was unsuccessful  4. an amazing tool that all rubber stampers will want to own in order to make their stamping adventures more fun, easy, and oops-free. Synonym: "the most advanced stamp-positioner on the market"

Well, we've waited a whole lotta years, but it's finally (almost) here! Stampin' Up!'s feature-packed stamp positioner that blows all other similar devices currently on the market right out of the water! Why? Because once again, Stampin' Up! has created a tool designed FOR stampers BY stampers (LOTS of 'em, actually!)

So what's up with this gizmo with the funky name?

Well, I recommend downloading this PDF flyer for a quick overview…….

Stamparatus_flyer_image

and then checking out this video to see the Stamparatus in action:

Soooooo…… now that you have an idea what this little gem can do, we'll assume that by now you know you need one of these puppies for your very own self. (I mean, who wouldn't? Right?) So listen-up while I share how to be among the very first to get your mitts on one of these coveted treasures….. (Yeah, yeah, it's a little bit complex, but I think we can all catch on eventually…)

Stampin' Up! recognizes that this is expected to be a hot, hot item, but wants at the same time to avoid the disappointment of a potentially protracted back-order situation, as these Stamparatuses [Stamparati?] can only be manufactured and stocked at a finite pace. Therefore, Stampin' Up! has designed a clever "reservation" system that will allow you to (sort of) preorder yours before it is even manufactured. There will be 3 limited preorder/reservation periods between now and when this tool appears in next summer's Annual Catalog, and you may order up to one device during each of the 3 periods – while supplies last. The limited preorder periods will run during the following dates, but only until the maximum number of available reservations has been reached. (In other words, those who preorder early in the period stand a better chance of successfully reserving a unit than those who wait until later).

Preorder dates

As you see, the first reservation window opens this coming Thursday, Nov. 16th. At 2:00 pm, Mountain Time, to be exact. (Barring any hiccups like crashed websites and other technicalities, of course.)

To place your reservation you'll go to my online store and  look for the "Reserve" link on the Stamparatus page. (You must already have an online customer account set up in order to proceed; if you don't already have an online account, I urge you to go ahead and set one up now to be ready.) Then follow the simple instructions shown in this tutorial. Note that you must have a credit card available in order to place your reservation, but you won't actually be charged until your Stamparatus comes in.

Then when the approximate shipping date nears (better put it on your 2018 calendar right away so you don't forget), be sure to keep an eagle-eye on your email inbox (including your junk box, too), as Stampin' Up! will notify you when your Stamparatus has been placed into your shopping cart. And at that point you'll go into your order, add more items to your cart if you wish, and then submit your order. Be very careful not to accidentally delete your Stamparatus from your cart because there will be NO way to add it back again

So be ready to act quickly on Thursday to be among the very first lucky owners of a Stamparatus! I'd be VERY surprised if available reservations last until November 30th…. or even anywhere close to it!

Please note that the "sale" of this item will not actually take place until you close out and submit your order next February (or March or April, depending on which reservation period you used). Your "reservation" will NOT count as a sale, and as I understand things currently, I won't even be able to see that you've reserved one. (But you might wanna tell me anyway…..)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ok, so yeah, that was a whole lotta words, so here's the Cliff Notes version:

  1. Recognize you want need a Stamparatus.
  2. Make sure you have an online shopping account already set up so you don't have to fiddle with it on Thursday. (You probably do have if you've shopped online with me before, but no harm in double-checking: store.YourPaperDreams.com)
  3. Set an alarm to reserve your Stamparatus (store.YourPaperDreams.com) at 2 pm (Mountain Time) this Thursday, Nov. 16. (Or as soon thereafter as you can, being aware there are a limited number of reservations that will be accepted.) You'll need to provide a CC number at the time, although it won't be charged at the time of reservation. (BTW, if the system crashes due to high use, please don't give up; just continue to try again a few times every 10-15 minutes or so.)
  4. Mark your calendar to keep an eagle-eye out for an email from Stampin' Up! (approx. Feb. 1), that lets you know your Stamparatus has been added to your shopping cart.
  5. When you receive that email from Stampin' Up! go into my online store again (store.YourPaperDreams.com) and complete/submit your order. (Remember THAT is the point that you actually purchase your Stamparatus.)

Thoughtful Branches – Fall Leaves

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Yep, this time it's a fall card! Again, a "Lynda version" of a card that's been all over the 'net, and I loved the contrast between the die-cut lacy leaves and the solid, multi-color ones. Some versions of this card "out there" use a fun, but rather messy inking technique. But since I had designed my version for class, "messy" wasn't something I particularly wanted to tackle.

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So here's how WE got a similar multi-color, autumn effect.  It's a pattern that you repeat for each individual image:

 

  • Start with a clean stamp. (Good idea to keep a damp paper towel handy.)
  • Ink up the stamp with Daffodil Delight, but do not stamp with it yet.
  • Lay out all your remaining leaf color inks in order from light to dark, left to right, and have a sponge dauber at hand for each one. (At my class we laid out Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive & Soft Suede.)
  • Onto your yellow-inked stamp, "daub" (is that a real word?!?) a couple of other colors directly onto small areas of the stamp….. one at a time, and always working from lightest to darkest. So because of the order we'd laid out the inks, that would mean Pumpkin Pie followed by Old Olive, OR Old Olive and then Soft Suede.  Pay attention to where you daub each color on the stamp so you don't overlap sections entirely.
  • Once that was done, there would be 3 colors on the stamp (Daffodil Delight + 2 others), and after "huffing" on it, it was time to stamp the image (onto a scrap of Whisper White cardstock).
  • Clean the stamp and get ready to repeat the process for the next leaf.

We stamped (and then die-cut) enough of these colored leaves for not only the front of the card, but also one or more for the inside, too. 

And we followed the same process for those little "flowery-leafy-thingies", too. 

After layering up the main pieces on the card front, we made the banner with the sentiment and anchored that in place…..

And then the lacy-leaves (cut with the corresponding stem-and-leaves die from this bundle – from Gold Foil paper) were laid in place to give a general shape to the layout. And finally, all pieces were tacked down with either strategically-placed dots of glue from the Fine Tip glue pen or the Tombow Multipurpose glue. (Repeat after me, Lynda's cardinal rule of glue-use:  "Less is more. Less is more. Less is more!")

A large (retired) pearl finished it off (and ensured it would cost an additional 21-cents to mail)!

Fall leaves card

Thoughtful Branches – A spring/summer hydrangea

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At my card classes earlier this month we capitalized on the versatility of the Thoughtful Branches Photopolymer Bundle and stamped up cards representing spring/summer, fall and winter. (See an additional fall card here.) Today I'd like to share our spring/summer card. Isn't it fascinating how the same stamp/die combo turned one way and stamped in orange can be a pumpkin….

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 yet  flipped over and stamped in a different color becomes a hydrangea?!?  Yes, I do believe this bundle from Stampin' Up!® is truly one of the top most creative and versatile they've produced. And I'm so sad that in only 3 more days it will go away. 

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The color palette for this card is simple and fresh - generally monochromatic with its Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party & Bermuda Bay. The basic idea was something I'd seen online, but then I added my own tweaks, including the jaunty angles of the layers for an extra punch of fun.

For the hydrangea, we first tinted a piece of Whisper White cardstock a light shade of Pool Party with one of our new sponge brayers.  Then stamped over that with Bermuda Bay before die-cutting that wonderful lacy shape. Then layered that piece over an oval (of Pool Party cardstock) to provide the sense of dimension…. just as I'd done with the pumpkin.

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The stem & leaf were die-cut as well (Basic Black), and the stem adhered to the underneath oval with tiny spots from the Fine-tip glue pen. To back the leaves, we traced the shape of the die itself onto scraps of Pool Party and cut them out by hand before adhering behind the detailed black layer. The black polka-dotted layer comes from Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper, a HOT DSP package found in the still-newish annual catalog. (You can never have too many polka dots, can you? And when they're black they go with EVERYTHING!)

And here's a fuss-free tip for cutting a banner exactly the right length for your sentiment:

  1. Cut a piece of cardstock as wide as you wish your finished banner to be, and plenty longer than you want its finished length to be.
  2. Notch one end with the Banner Triple Punch.
  3. Orient the notched edge according to your ultimate design, and stamp your sentiment close to the notch.
  4.  Then clip off any extra length – to yield a perfectly-sized stamped banner!

Stay tuned for the "fall" and "winter" examples -  from our card classes earlier this month!

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