Constantly Stamping

One of the Prettiest (and Messiest) Cards I Have Ever Made

You wouldn't think of it to look at it, but this truly was a messy card. But how can something so elegant be so messy to make? Well, looks can be deceiving. Let's start with the background paper. At first glance, you might think this is the Groom Specialty DSP (Black), but you would be mistaken. It is actually the Bride Specialty DSP (White) covered with Basic Black ink. I put a few drops of Basic Black reinker on and rubbed it all over with a sponge, then I wiped the areas that resisted the ink with a paper towel. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and use scrap paper underneath...just ask me how I know. To achieve the intense black color, I repeted the inking process 3-4 times until I got the look I was after. The end result looks like silver on black and it is definitely a WOW. I added a small strip of Brushed Silver CS to the bottom of the altered DSP and attached it to a piece of Textured Basic Black CS. To conserve my textured CS and give a little more stability, I attached the entire thing to a card base made from smooth Basic Black CS. I completed the base of the card with a rub-on from the Autumn Harvest collection.

Several of you have already seen this beautiful rose floating around cyberspace. I am not positive who actually came up with the idea, but I think I have tracked it down to the very talented Julie Williams. You can see here tutorial, here. I used Tombo Multi-purpose Adhesive, so yes, the rose was a little messy too. But aren't the results worth the mess? This picture doesn't even begin to capture the beauty of this card. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead...get messy!

Bella Rose Card Reworked

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from my BFF/downline, Nancy Brown, telling me that one of her customers had really liked a card she had seen here on my blog, here. It never fails, whenever I show something that is created with retired products, there is someone who wants to purchase the items needed. Of course, Bella Rose DSP has been retired for almost a year now and since it was wildly popular, it is rather hard to come by.

Nancy asked me what I thought the card would look like using a current DSP. Since we are nearing the end of this catalog, my DSP selection is thinning out...so my options were a limited. I decided to try using some of my Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and came up with this card. Some of my favorite sheets from this collection are long gone, so I had to use what I had on hand...but for the most part, it think it turned out well. I will honestly tell you that I don't care for Crushed Curry CS, so I opted to use white flowers and ink the edges. However, I do like the Crushed Curry ink and ribbon, so I used them.

I have a lot going on today...sorry to be so brief. Hopefully, between the photo and the previous post, you can tell what I did here...so I am going to leave it at that.

Have a Blessed Day!

One More Ribbon Bottle Cap Card

I know...this smashed bottle cap thing is getting a little old, so I promise, this is the last one, for a little while, at least. For this card I basically made a similar ribbon bottle cap flower that was on the foil card and created a new card base. The finished card size is 3" x 6" made from textured tempting turquoise card stock. I used Day & Night Speciality DSP for the background. This DSP is retired but you can purchase a digital download and print your own. I stamped some little leaves from the Branch Out stamp set to add a little more interest to the flowers.

Sorry for the short post but there is a lot going on here today.

Thanks for looking! Have a great day!

Smashed Bottlecap Ribbon Flower

I was playing around with the smashed bottle caps and came up with this idea. This card is a little "out there" even for me. But if you don't experiement with new ideas every once in a while, you get a little boring. I really love the way the ribbon flower turned out. This card as is definitely SHINEY. I like the way the embossed foil background compliments the smashed bottle cap flower. Who knows, maybe this card will inspire someone, somewhere, somehow, so I decided to share it. For my earlier post on smashed bottlecaps, click here.

To create the flower I cut four 6-inch pieces of ribbon and glued the ends together to form four loops. I criss-crossed them on the back and then used glue dots to put them together. Be sure to hide the seems behind the bottle cap for a finished, professional look. I think next time I will use a hot glue gun, but so far it has held together.

For the background, I used a glue stick and glued aluminum foil to some scrap cardstock. After it dried I ran it though the Big Shot with the new SU Square Lattice embossing folder. I didn't think I liked this embossing folder very much, but I has grown on me. I loved using it with the foil. It gives a really masculine effect...although on this card the Melon Mambo ribbon seems to counteract that...hmmm, I wonder why? :)

Thanks for looking. Have a great day!

Smashed Bottle Cap Flower

Did you know that you can smash bottle caps with your Big Shot? Well, it didn't occur to me until I saw a video by fellow demonstrator, Debra Lehigh on the SU demonstrator website (only for demonstrators). I can't share the video but trust me, it is super easy if you have the right type of bottle caps. When I first gave it a try, the root beer bottle caps that I were using were too hard. I remembered that I had some plain (soft) aluminum bottle caps by Paper Studio that I purchased a long time ago at a nationwide craft store, so I pulled them out and they worked extremely well.

It is simple to do. Just open the platform for the Big Shot all the way, add the bottom plate, then the bottle caps (flat side down), then the top plate, and roll. If you are doing it right, they will roll right through without any problems. If the caps are too hard, you will know because they won't even begin to go through without a lot of difficulty. If that happens, STOP! You don't want to damage your Big Shot.

Recipe (All Supplies SU unless otherwise stated):Paper-Pink Passion CS, Yoyo Yellow CS, Whisper White CS, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP; Stamp Set-WOW Flowers; Classic Ink-Melon Mambo & Crushed Curry, Other-Melon Mambo polka dot grosgrain ribbon, yellow corduroy buttons; Big Shot Machine & Flower Folds Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Boho Blossoms Flower Punch, Dimensionals & Glue Dots,  Rhinestone Brad (removed from casing), 1" Circle Punch, Bottle Cap (Paper Studio).

I had a lot of fun with this technique, so I will be back to share more with you soon. Have a great day! Remember, you can purchase your SU supplies from me any time, 24/7, by pressing the Shop On-line button in the top right hand corner of my blog.

A Little Bit of Rubber Stamping and A Little Bit of Digital

This card personifies the creative me...a little bit of rubber stamping mixed with a little bit of digital paper crafting. While I absolutely adore the art of rubber stamping, I also can't ignore the part of me that loves to sit down at my computer and create. That's one of the things I love most about Stampin' Up! It allows me to do both. While I am not crazy about cards created entirely on the computer (I could buy something that looks like that anywhere), I do love including some digital elements in my paper crafts. I love dimension...lots of it. So that is why I have chosen to create this card using background paper created in My Digital Studio. The floral focal element is also digital. But I have also included more traditional elements such as ribbon, buttons, and die cutting...and of course...rubber stamping.

 

One of the most common questions I am asked is "What size it that card?" So let me just say that I started out with a 5 1/2" square Chocolate Chip card base and layed on a slightly smaller layer of Pumpkin Pie CS.

Recipe: Card Size (5 1/2" square); Paper: Chocolate Chip & Pumpkin Pie Card Stock, Summertime Splendor Digital DSP (reduced to approx. 50% or 6"x6"); Digital Stamp Set: Flourish from Friends 24/7 in Whisper White over Summer Sun Background; Ink: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons, Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot Machine & Lots of Tags Sizzlets, Scallop Trim Border & Corner Punches, Dimensionals, & Glue Dots; Other: HP Photosmart C5180 Inkjet Printer; Staples Photo Supreme Double-sided Matte Paper.

If you would like to learn more about how to include digital elements on your paper craft projects, see my previous post here. I have also included the recipes for the cards in the article below, so be sure to scroll down to see that.

Recipe: Card Size (5 1/2"x4 1/4"); Paper: Always Artichoke & Sumsmer Sun Card Stock, Pumpkin Pie DSP, Summertime Splendor Digital DSP (reduced to approx. 50% or 6"x6"); Stamp Set: Great Friend; Ink: Always Artichoke; Accessories: Summer Sun Corduroy Buttons, Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon; Other: HP Photosmart C5180 Inkjet Printer; Staples Photo Supreme Double-sided Matte Paper.

 

Recipe: Card Size (5 1/2"x4 1/4"); Paper: Brilliant Blue Card Stock; Digital Downloads: Summertime Splendor Digital DSP (reduced to approx. 50% or 6"x6" and printed twice) cut some of the flowers from second card and apply to various flowers with dimensionals, Presto Patterns Overlay (reduced to 50% in Chocolate Chip 20% opacity; Well Scripted Digital Stamp Set in Brilliant Blue; Accessories: Butterfly Embossing Sizzlet Die & Big Shot Machine; Butterflies cut from Barely Banana CS and then colored with Summer Sun Pastels; Other: HP Photosmart C5180 Inkjet Printer; Staples Photo Supreme Double-sided Matte Paper.

Using Digital Designer Series Paper

This article is written by and the property of Connie Collins (www.ConstantlyStamping.com) and may not be republished in part or in its entirety without expressed written consent. The views contained in this article are the opinions of Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, Connie Collins.  Stampin’ Up! is not responsible for the content of this article.

Recently, Stampin’ Up! has released some absolutely gorgeous digital  designer  series papers (DSP) that are only available as downloads from their website. The cards in this article use the Summertime Splendor DSP (Item #121067, $4.95). This DSP is absolutely beautiful and looks like someone spent several hours water coloring.

It seems to me that many customers and demonstrators alike are a little hesitant to move toward digital (hybrid) paper crafting. I realize that some people just aren’t comfortable with computers and maybe the digital products available from Stampin’ Up! aren’t for everyone. But for many of you, your computer is just as vital to you as your cell phone. Chances are, if you are reading this article, you are one of those people. Even if you don’t want to invest in the My Digital Studio software you can enjoy the benefits of digital DSP. The files download as JPGs, so if you can print a photo at home, then you probably have everything you need to get started.

Why you should consider using Digital DSP.

n  No waiting. If you see a digital paper that you want to try, you can go to the Stampin’ Up! website and purchase it immediately. It only takes a few minutes.

n  No Minimum Order.  You don’t pay S/H so if you only want to spend $4.95 for one download file and try it then you can literally come back as often as you like and purchase additional downloads. (You will be charged tax that is applicable to the city/state where you live.)

n  Easy Storage. You print it as you need it, so you don’t have stacks and stacks of DSP to contend with.

n  Never Retires. Once you purchase it, it is yours to use forever on your personal projects. (But please don’t share files with others or use it for business  purposes…that is against the law.) (Stampin’ Up! demonstrators may use digital files as they relate to their Stampin’ Up! business.) Stampin’ UP! can only keep a limited number products on hand so they try to stay up-to-date with current trends. But once you purchase it, you can use it over and over again and never have to worry about it retiring.

n  Versatile. This article focus on printing the DSP and using it for your traditional paper crafting projects, but of course you can use it with your digital projects too.

n  Some DSP is Exclusive. Some DSP is only available as a digital download. That means you can’t get it any other way.

n  Resizeable. Digital DSP comes ready to use as large as 12”x12”. You can resize it and make it smaller without losing anything. I don’t recommend enlarging it because it may become fuzzy or blurry.

What you need to use/print Digital DSP at home.

n  A computer.  The faster your computer, the more enjoyment you will get from using digital products. In other words, if you have the hand-me-down computer that nobody wants but you, chances are it isn’t fast enough, have a large enough hard drive, or enough RAM (Random Access Memory) to do the job.

n  A color printer.  Most people already own color inkjet printers for printing color photos at home. The better the printer, the better the results. Color printers vary in their quality, but if you own one that is only a few years old and claims to give photo quality prints, then it will probably work. You will be limited to the size paper that your printer can print. This is normally 8.5”x11”. (I have a HP Photosmart C5180 All-in-One printer-scanner-copier.) To print 12”x12” you will need a large format color printer. They can range from $300 and up in price. (I have an Epson Stylus Photo 1400 color printer.)

n  Photo editing software.  Some page layout softwares will work too. If you can import a JPG file (ie. a photo from your digital camera) then you can most likely import and print digital DSP. (Some that I have used are Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Creative Suite, Quark Express, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, and Microsoft Works.)

n  Premium Inkjet Photo Paper. Again, the better the paper, the better the results. (I prefer Staples Photo Supreme Double-sided Matte Paper for Cardstock weight projects and HP Premium Presentation  Paper, Matte for lightweight paper projects.). You will need to experiment with your printer to see which paper gives the best results.

Some Tips for a Great Digital Crafting Experience

n  Start small. Just give it a try. As you become more comfortable with what your computer, printer, and software will do, you can expand your digital library of products.

n  Use high quality products. When you first start out you can experiment with inexpensive paper or cardstock just to see what you can do. But, as you begin to print and use digital DSP in your paper crafting projects, use the best products you can afford. If you use a high quality printer and paper, you shouldn’t be able to tell that you printed it at home.

n  Print your Digital DSP on the highest quality photo print settings. Once you feel comfortable with your abilities, check your print dialogue box to make sure you have the correct print quality selected. If you are using photo paper, choose the photo paper setting.

n  Ask for help. Most people know someone who “lives” on their computer. (For me, that would be my husbsand.) If your Stampin’ UP! demonstrator is Certified in My Digital Studio, then you can ask her/him for assistance. Be fair, however. If you didn’t purchase your downloads from her, then you shouldn’t ask her to spend her valuable time teaching you to use them.

Let me encourage you to step out and try one of the new Digital DSP releases today. I believe that once you see how easy and how much fun going digital can be, you will also see what an incredible value the My Digital Studio software is. It comes with tons of digital stamp set images, digital designer papers, and much more. For more information about My Digital Studio software and digital downloads, contact me today. I am a certified My Digital Studio demonstrator and I have several years of experience of with stamping, paper crafting, and desktop publishing software and products. To view the latest digital downloads (and hundreds of other incredible products) from Stampin’ UP!, visit my online store right now. Go to go to Products-Shop Now-Digital Crafting-My Digital Downloads.

Another Scallop Trim & Corner Punch Tutorial - A Different Approach

Today I have another video to share that shows how I use the Scallop Trim Border & Corner Punches together to create cardstock squares and rectangles. You will immediately notice that I use a different method in my tutorial than the video that was made by the training department at Stampin' UP! Their method may work fine for you...but I found my approach to yield more consistent results for me once I found the "sweet spot" on my paper cutter. Hopefully, this will help some of you who are struggling. The punches are wonderful once you master the approach that works best for you. Also, I highly suggest that you invest in a Tabletop Paper Cutter that has the handle that chops the paper. I have found that they are one of the most accurate ways to cut paper. I regret that I haven't purchased the one from SU yet. I have spent a fortune in replacement cutting blades for my Personal Paper Cutter and the Tabletop Cutter from Stampin' UP! cuts 12"x12" paper. It is definitely on my wish list. The smaller version by Fiskars that I used in the video only cuts smaller CS and therefore isn't as versatile.

Here are the measurments that I use in the video (your cutter may vary slightly):

2 7/8" = 4 center scallops + 2 corners

3 5/16" = 5 center scallops + 2 corners

3 13/16" = 6 center scallops + 2 corners

New Sizes (use guides on front of border punch for these...requires punching 2 times with border punch per side)

4 1/4" = 7 center scallops + 2 corners

4 3/4" = 8 center scallops + 2 corners

As I mentioned in the video, you aren't limited to squares. You can use any combination of these measurements to create rectangles too. These are the only sizes that I have come up with so far, but of course there are more, so I will update this post as I find new ones. Also, be sure to check on my tutorial on using the Scallop Trim Corner Punch to create smaller squares here.

Remember, you can shop for all things Stampin' Up! anytime, day or night, by clicking the "Shop Online 24/7" button in the upper right hand corner of my blog. Have a great day!