rubber resist take 2

I love simple color schemes, and black and white with a touch of red has always been one of my favorites. I wanted to see if I could make a zebra print using this technique, and I love the end result. When you are doing it this way it does take the rubber cement longer to dry since it is thicker, and if you want the black to look black instead of gray it also takes longer to dry, so please be patient with this one. I also found out by trial and error that thicker lines that wobble look more realistic than thinner straighter lines.



Stamps: Perfect Punches
Inks: Real Red, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White
Misc: Curly Label Punch, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Rubber Cement, Sponges

It's also a lot of fun to experiment with different tools to pull or drop the rubber cement with. I have used the brush that comes with it, as well as lollipop sticks, meat skewers, pencils, toothpicks and more until I found what I liked best. I sure hope you will play around with this technique and see what you can come up with.

more fun with re-inkers

I know I've said it before but I love re-inkers. You can do so much with them, so many different looks, and if you ever do get bored of trying new techniques you can always use them for what they were originally intended, to re-ink your ink pads and markers. I'm not sure this technique has a real name but I call it rubber resist. You use rubber cement to create a pattern, and after the first layer dries you rub over it with color from a sponge. I like to use yogurt lids and place a couple of drops of re-inker on it, then pick up the ink with a sponge. Always start with the lightest color fist. As soon as the ink is dry (only a minute or two) you can create a 2nd layer with the rubber cement, then let it dry (this usually takes at least 20 mins) and repeat until you have a pattern you like.

Here I used Tempting Turquoise then Pacific Point, and finally Night of Navy.

Stamps: Bugs and Kisses (retired)
Inks: Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy
Paper: Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Misc: Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals

I have a ton more projects that use re-inkers and a few more with this technique, so I'll be posting those in the coming days. I hope you aren't sick of re-inkers by then, maybe you'll even be inspired to try some of them yourself. One quick tip, if you are a messy stamper like I am normally, use a pair of vinyl gloves, your fingers will thank you.

shaving cream take 3

This is another example of what this technique can look like. For this one I used Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight and Cherry Cobbler Re-inkers. When you are using more than 3 colors, and esp if they are dark colors you really need to be careful when you are swirling the colors so you do not muddy them, and also so you spread them out a bit, otherwise they can look black.


Stamps: French Foliage, Occasional Quotes
Inks: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler re-inkers, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, So Saffron, Whisper White
Misc: Hodgepodge Hardware, Re-inkers, Shaving Cream, Dimensionals

I'm hoping to get creating with some new and awesome products soon, but things are still crazy around here, I've spent the entire long weekend getting caught up around here doing yard work, house work, and visiting family. On the plus side my garden is starting to come in, I have a small amount of peas, beans, and berries already and more coming and the radishes, lettuce and onions will be close behind, then hopefully the carrots, zucchini and potatoes will keep growing so I can have a decent amount of them this year. I'm thinking I might have done something to the beans by accident though. I planted pole beans which should grow up the pole, and some are growing vines and growing up the pole, but a bunch on the other end of the garden never grew vines, and are growing beans on tiny little plants near the ground. The kinda cool thing about that is the beans are curling as they grow, and they look like curly fries.

My cake business seems to be taking off as well. I'm getting orders every few days it seems which is great, but it cuts into my crafting time. I have plans to send my kid away for a day or two ( I'm hoping) next week and I plan to spend the entire time crafting.

Shaving cream take 2

This is what the shaving cream technique looks like when you use 3 shades of the same color. I used Baja Breeze, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point for this card. If you want a darker card like this you also have to use more drops of reinker than you might think necessary. The shaving cream will look darker than your paper will look, so it sometimes takes a bit of trial and error.

Stamps: Medallion, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Chocolate Chip, and Baja Breeze, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point Re-inkers
Paper: Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Misc: 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals

anyone need a shave?

I love playing with stamps and inks, and one of my favorite techniques involves reinkers and shaving cream. You need a lid of some sort that is rather large, or a powder pal from Stampin' Up! (the large one works best). Use shaving cream (the foamy kind, not the gel kind) and fill it up, then level it out with a stick of some sort (I use a long lollipop stick). Then drop several drops of reinker color in a random pattern over the shaving cream, repeat with at least 2 more colors. Then using the same stick lightly swirl all the colors around, being careful not to muddy the colors. Then take your paper and set it into the shaving cream, making sure to press down the whole paper, so you get good coverage. Then carefully lift it up, if you pull it sideways you get a different look than if you pull it straight up. You also get very different looks if you use 3 different colors as opposed to 3 different shades of the same color. I chose to use 3 different colors for this one, but I will show you tomorrow what 3 different shades of the same color looks like. It also looks really different if you use a lot of drops or just a few of each color.


Stamps: Fast and Fabulous, Occasional Quotes
Inks: Almost Amethyst, Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight
Misc: Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, 1/8" Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals,

Storing Your Re-inkers

I know we are all looking for tips and tricks when it comes to storage ans organization, so I thought I would share how I store my re-inkers. My biggest problem when it comes to storing things is heat and sunlight. I am in a large bay window, which is great for natural light, but bad for storing. My wonderful hubby has re-done my desk for me to make it full of great storage, and lots and lots of drawers and shelves that slide. I put my re-inkers in one of these drawers, but I hated that I could only see the white tops, and not know what color was what. So I came up with a way to fix that.





If you have great storage for something please share it with us, and if you are looking for great storage ideas let me know and if I have a good idea I will share it here too.

Crystal Effects Video Tutorial

I was making my own rain dots yesterday and decided to do a quick little tutorial for you all, to show you how easy it is to make your own. I love making these, they are so fast and easy to do, and look great on scrapbook pages.




Misc: Crystal Effects and Re-Inkers, stir stick, non stick mat and non stick plate

I should have the actual LO up on here in a day or two. If you do try these out, let me know what you think of them.

Very Thankful

I love taking stamps that are meant for one sentiment and using them for another. I saw a really cute card on Andrea Walford's Blog and really wanted to re-create it. The only turtle stamp I have is the one from the Ronald McDonald Charities set Very Thankful, so I used that one. I created a stencil or mask of sorts out of scrap paper to help me make my cloudy background. I used Tempting Turquoise and Bashful Blue for the sky, that way you get a bit more definition and it looks nicer (and in my opinion more real).

Glitter and the Sweet Pea Felts are a great way to add a little something that makes the card (or scrapbook page) a whole lot better.



Stamps: Loads of Love, Very Thankful
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise and Bashful Blue Classic Inks, Aqua Painters and Reinkers - Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Old Olive
Misc: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Sweet Pea Stitched Felts, Fine Supernova Glitter (Olive), Sponges, Paper Snips (to make the grass fringe), Textured Impressions Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

I hope you are not too sick of Valentines Day cards yet.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

More Valentines

I hope you are not too sick of Valentines cards cause I still have a few to show you. I have not been posting too much due to stuff in my personal life, so I am taking time today to set up a week's worth of posts so you will have something to look at each day.

My son really wanted to use a few sets for Valentines day and he insisted I use this set, so I went to SCS and found a card I wanted to case. It is done by Cindy Major, another very talented Canadian blogger. I changed it a bit, to better suit my supplies and my hubby. I used my Movers and Shapers Bigz XL die. It makes making unique cards super easy.




Stamps: Lots of Bots
Ink: Versa Mark, Basic Gray Classic Refill, Bashful Blue Classic Refill, Almost Amethyst Classic Refill
Paper: Basic Black Cardstock, Night and Day DSP
Misc: Silver Embossing Powder, Aqua Pen, Embossing Buddy, Movers and Shapers Bigz XL Die, 5/8" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Nuts from a spare light switch

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Clear Block Storage

On a Message board I belong to someone asked with the new clear blocks in the bundle (soon to be available, Jan 5th) how does everyone store them. I decided to show you all how I store mine.

I got this tin and it was originally white. I decided I wanted it to be pretty and I love the one my sister in law Catherine made me for a Christmas present a few years back. She did mine with alcohol inks, but I wanted to make mine all Stampin' Up! so I gave it a go.

I used Bashful Blue and Almost Amethyst Re-inkers and a cotton ball and just daubed all over the tin, until it looked how I wanted it. I thought it needed a little something else, so I did the same thing with Platinum Shimmer Paint and the cotton balls. Then I added a bit of ribbon, Whisper White and Basic Gray 3/8" Taffeta and White Organza.


I also used Staz-on Black to stamp all the butterflies using Flight of the Butterfly. I found some Alphabet stamps and used them to stamp the word Blocks on as well.

The best part about it too, is how many blocks it can hold. I currently have 12 blocks in there and I have room for more. I have all sizes of blocks, small, medium and large, even an extra large on that measures 4 7/8" x 6" for background stamps! The whole tin measures 7 1/4" x 5 x 3 deep, you can get other sizes as well, but this one works best for me.

I hope this helps you all out.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

Reinker Birthday

This is probably one of my most favorite cards right now. I am still in love with Pacific Point, and I also love playing with reinkers. This background is so easy to create using just 3 reinkers and glossy paper. This also uses my favorite stamp set, Medallion.




Stamps: Medallion, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink & Pacific Point and Bashful Blue reinkers
Papers: Glossy White, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip
Misc: Chocolate Chip 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Don't forget about the amazing deals that both Stampin' Up! and I am offering right now.

Until next time, Happy Scrappin'

a new piggy bank

A few weeks ago my son broke his old piggy bank, which was actually a cow, so we went out shopping for a new one. He found a plain white ceramic piggy and loved it. Today after days and days of him asking for the piggy to be colored I decided how I was going to color it. I used 3 re-inkers and some cotton pads, and got to work. He picked out the colors and I think he did a great job! His new piggy is now sitting in his room on his dresser, full of money.
I am constantly finding more and more ways to use my wonderful Stampin' Up!® products. I actually made a potty chart of sorts with some of the scraps of my cardstock. The new chart with Stars on it has been a wonderful tool in helping my son want to actually go in the potty instead of going in his underwear. Now that I have completed some around the house projects, I think I am going to spend the rest of my afternoon (whats left of it anyways) doing some scrapping for me.

Until next time Happy Scrapping!