Stacy's Stamping Blog

My Digital Studio new use :)

Well, new to me. And I crowed to myself, GENIUS! What do you think about this idea?

In case you can't guess, I took a blank 8.5x11 scrapbook template and filled it up with greetings and words from stamp sets I don't have. Now it's just a simple matter of cutting or punching out to get my greeting. Another word for this type of use in card making or even scrapbooking is "Hybrid". The Easter card I made for my mom used the word Celebrate along with my new stamp set, Awash With Flowers. I plan on uploading a picture of the card once I find my camera. Honestly, my house is so disorganized and cluttered, it makes me crazy.

Happy Easter everyone!

  

Punched Poinsettias with Stamped Buttons

The last club meeting for one of my clubs was last night. Here's one of the cards we made- a Christmas card using the 5-petal punch to make poinsettias, and the highlight of this project was using the buttons. We stamped them with white stazon, and covered them over completely with Crystal Effects- in real life, the look is stunning, very "touchable".  Cardstock colours used are Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, and So Saffron. We used White Stazon for the buttons, black classic for the greeting, and silver cord. I also used white frames cut using the top-note die on the Big-Shot. I sponged the edges with Riding Hood Red.

Enjoy!

Applying Rub Ons to Candles

This is so easy you will want to decorate each and every candle you own!

I tried to have my 4 year old take a picture of me rubbing the candle but it just didn't turn out. And truth be told, it's pretty easy, and not the most exciting thing to photograph.
First, cut out your rub on of choice, peel the backing off of it, and hold it against your candle as I've done in the picture. Next, take the popsicle stick that comes with them and gently rub it starting at one end of the rub on and moving to the other. This is where practice comes in. You definitely don't want to rub too hard or the candle will get pockmarked and possibly lose wax curls. It works best if you use the stick the flat way, rather than the end.
It's a good idea to peel the rub on away from time to time without pulling it off completely just to peek at how far you've gotten. This helps you know if you're putting the right pressure onto them as well as to see where you still have to work off the image.

At the end of it all, take the backing and smooth the image into your candle, then enjoy it! Wouldn't it make a nice valentines gift if you also gave a coordinating card?

It's Sale-a-Bration time again with Stampin' Up!, and you can get these lovely Old Olive rub ons for free with just a $70 purchase! Contact me today to make a purchase or to find out how to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator- check out my Stampin' Up! website at www.stacywestman.stampinup.net and click "join Stampin' Up!" for details- then give me a call and I can give you your password!

Embossing Candle Holders

This look is amazing! I love how well it turns out.

First, gather your supplies...

Please notice I have Embossing Buddy there. This is an essential part of this project, because without it you will have embossing powder stick to the static the glass seems to generate. I've used Gold Glory embossing powder and Versamark today, but I've also used Ruby Red Craft Ink with Iridescent Ice embossing powder in the past, and that looks fantastic as well. Pick a stamp set that can be rolled across your glass. Too square and you will end up with uneven stamping.

Next, rub the Embossing Buddy across the candle holder. Make sure you actually use a candle holder, because if you apply heat with the heat gun to any glass dish it will shatter if it isn't heat proof.

After that, use your fingers to hold the candle holder steady:

Ink up your stamp in the versamark, and slowly roll your stamp around the candle holder. For this project I used the a stamp from the Holiday Mini, Snow Burst.

When you've got it completely inked, dump embossing powder over the stamped images, one at a time. It shouldn't take much effort to remove excess powder- I just tapped the base of my candle holder and the excess fell right off.

The glass gets extremely hot when heat-setting the embossing powder. You will want to put it down on a surface that can take the heat...trust me, your fingers will thank you :) I used our stove for the last step. Because it was upside down I was able to turn the candle holder by touching the base, which is heavier and therefore not as hot as the rest of the candle holder.

When you're done embossing you will want to leave it alone for some time. The embossing powder will stay wet and a bit sticky until the glass is cold, so allow some time to cool before wiping away excess Embossing Buddy powder. I forgot about this, so one of my snowflakes has a definite fingerprint impression!

Here's the finished product:

Remember, light your fires responsibly.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Have a wonderful Christmas season, and make some of your gifts this year- it means so much to receive something someone has made for you!

Until next time,
Stacy Westman

Favorite New Colour Combo of the Month

This is a NEW addition to my mid month newsletter...my favorite colour combo of the month. This will be featured during the fall and winter of 2007/2007, so let me know what you think- do you like the colours? Samples? etc. Don't miss it- sign up for my newsletter now! On Friday I'll be posting a new contest for all new Canadian subscribers to my regular monthly newsletter.

This first one is Soft Sky and Elegant Eggplant. I like how they contrast. This Christmas card does not use traditional colours, but I enjoyed using the markers to highlight the words I felt were most important in the verse.

Enjoy!

Folding Wallet Scrapbook Class

Here's some "top secret" photographs to give you an idea of what my folding wallet scrapbook class entails...and it's a secret because I'm working on this scrapbook for my husband for Christmas this year.

So if you know him...shhhh!

As if he'd go searching online to look at my blog.

More class details are found on my Stampin' Up! website.

Your envelopes won't be a pretty bright turquoise but a nice plain white- neutral enough to stamp however you want. You'll get your choice of my available Designer Series Papers, and I'll provide you with a list of things you need to bring to the class once you register.

My RSVP date is really important- October 13- please confirm your attendance by then!

I hope to see you there! Contact me today to register!

Mothers Day Gift!

This is the finished package that I gave my mom for her mother's day gift. I've got an overview of how to stamp on fabric on my wordpress blog.

To finish it off nicely, I wrapped it in 2-14x14 SU logo bags (one of our supply items), tied it with raffia and a little piece of gingham ribbon. I folded the pillowcases in behind the sheets, so when she flipped it over she could see them as well.

This would also be a great gift for anyone for Christmas- especially if you start stamping them now!
Have a great week!
Stacy

Bleach Stamping Tutorial

Stamping with bleach is a very interesting way to use your stamps, but be sure to clean your stamps immediately after stamping- bleach is very tough on your stamps!

First, use Bounty paper towel- you get the best stamp pad with these as they are more durable. Fold this into quarters, place on a plate, and pour a small amount of bleach onto the towel. Note: not dripping wet- too much bleach makes for a streaky stamped image. You don't want excess bleach dripping down your cardstock. The cleaner the image the better.

Next, take your chosen stamp and press lightly into your stamp pad, just like you would on your regular SU pads, lift up, and press firmly down on cardstock. Different cardstock colours and/or dye lots will yield different results. For our stampers club this past weekend, we used the leaf image from Roses in Winter, one of my favorite sets, and one that you can only purchase up until June 30!

I prefer randomly stamping an image, as there's no wrong way to do it. And,  as I like to tell my classes, there is no "wrong way" in stamping- everyone's cards turn out differently, because a little bit of your personality shows up in the finished product, and that's the beauty of stamping- originality. I used Really Rust here, and when bleach stamped the resulting image was a perfect match for Morning Marigold, one of 2006-2007's "In Colour" line- and a sad day for me when they retire this colour. It's available only until June 30 as well!

The finished card is simple, yet striking.  The scan has the greeting a bit blurry, but you get the idea. I stamped the greeting, from All Year Cheer 1 (also only available until June 30), in Really Rust. I tied black grosgrain ribbon along the top edge of the card, with a bit of celery for colour. I punched coordinating daisy's with the daisy punch, and added a black button for effect. Pull up the edges of the flowers to give them a "popped out" look, and Voila! Tu es fini!

Images © 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Don't forget, on May 15 I'm sending a special offer out to my newsletter readers- there's still time to sign up for it!

Have a terrific week!

Stacy in Sunny Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta :)

Non-Card Stamping

http://stamperstacy.wordpress.com/2007/02/27/stamped-wooden-tray/

Stamping on items other than cards gives you wonderful versatility and makes your stamps so much more valuable. I encourage you to find ways to use the stamps you own that go beyond cards and scrapbook pages.
For instructions on how to create this tray, go here

Images © 1990-2007 Stampin’ Up!

Sunday Night Stamping

Did you know my wordpress blog has samples and sometimes techniques on each Sunday night? Check it out here!