Blog Archives
Pearly Gelato Painted Rings
Hey there Junkies!
The Crafty Nurse here with some mid-week inspiration using a technique called “Pearly Gelato Wash” from Pat’s newsletter pages. Over the beautiful gelatos background, I stamped “Painted Rings” with Simon Says Stamp white pigment ink. My sentiment is another favorite called, “Doo Wah Ditty”, which I framed with distress ink and backed in black cardstock then finishing off with Clear Nuvo Drops.
We’d love to see your cards and projects over at the Facebook Group.
Happy Inking!
Cards in Envy Challenge: Typography
Happy Monday! It’s time for another Cards in Envy challenge. This week our theme is “Typography.” These are cards using letters, words, or sentiments as your focal image.
As a reminder, Cards in Envy asks that your card fit into a standard A2 envelope for ease of mailing, but that doesn’t mean they have to be one layer or clean and simple.
For today’s card, I used Ellen Hutson’s “Holly Jolly” stamp set for my “typography” element. The design paper is Fancy Pants “Wish Season” by Kim Watson. I stamped the snow bursts in Simon Say Stamp white pigment ink and topped them with Nuvo Crystal Drops. My flag dies are My Favorite Things and I finished off the card with some black Distress Ink.
Hope we’ll see your “Typography” cards over at the Cards in Envy challenge. You have until November 19th to enter.
The House That Stamps Built; Designer Choice Challenge
Can you believe it’s already the second Wednesday in May? That means it’s time for a Designers Choice Challenge at The House That Stamp Built! Today, Joy is hosting our challenge and she has chosen to use, “Left Over Supplies or Paper.”
I loved, loved, loved this challenge as I have tons of left over supplies and paper. I used a technique I learned from Shari Carroll, over at Simon Says Stamp where she takes left over paper, die cuts them with a repeating image and pieces them back together for a gorgeous background. The die I used is also from Simon Says Stamp and comes in a set with other stitched outline dies.
As with our other challenges, we are offering a $25.00 gift certificate to the Repeat Impressions store for our random winner. You have until May17th to enter and don’t forget, if you use a RI stamp, you get an extra entry!
For my card today I stamped Repeat Impressions, “Rose Heart Wreath 101-P” and “Love, Hugs 2509-H” in Simon Says Stamp Cloudy Sky ink. I then fussy cut the rose heart and popped it up over the background described above.
I sure hope you come enjoy the “Left Over Paper or Supplies” challenge with us this week at The House that Stamps Built. Happy Wednesday!
Sketch Saturday Challenge #407 – Simon Says Stamp
Happy Saturday! Today’s new Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who is offering a very generous $25.00 gift certificate to their store for our random winner. You have until Friday, April 15th for a chance to win.
Here’s the sketch:
For my card I used the July 2015 Simon Says Stamp Kit, “Sailing.” It comes with a sweet little sailboat die that is still available. I used Simon Says Stamp “Surf Blue” that comes in the Hybrid Cubes for the waves and the “mini stars” which is perfect for a little accent. The sentiment is Simon’s “Best Hugs.”
I can’t wait to see what you come up with using the new sketch this week at Sketch Saturday! Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the Sketch Saturday Facebook Page and give is a like!
Sketch Saturday Challenge #399
Happy Saturday Friends! Today’s new Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who is offering a very generous $25.00 gift certificate to their store for our random winner. You have until Friday, February 19th for a chance to win.
Here’s the sketch:
I was really inspired by Niki’s sketch this week and knew the Simon Says Stamp set called, “Flowers on My Mind” would be perfect to showcase her design.
To create my background I stamped and embossed white powder using the triangle pattern from Simon’s “Sparkle & Shine.” To add the great color, I used Simon’s luscious “Stamptember Hybrid Inks” for both the background and the flowers. I finished off with some black enamel dots.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with using the new Sketch Saturday Sketch! Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the Sketch Saturday Facebook Page and give is a like!
The House That Stamps Built; Project of the week: 1-11-16
Hello stampers! The Crafty Nurse here with some creative play for The House that Stamps Built project of the week. I have always been drawn to pattern paper and when I found the “Herringbone” technique back when I first joined Club Scrap, I fell in love. So today, I’d like to bring you a post on how to make your own Herringbone card.
Let’s get started!
For this project the supplies I used are:
- Paper Trimmer
- Black Ink (I used Black Onyx Versafine)
- Red Ink (I used Simon Says Stamp Schoolhouse Red)
- An acrylic block
- Bone Folder
- Sand Paper Tool
- Carpet Tape (Amazon) You can also use any type of double sided adhesive but I find the Carpet Tape is cheaper and lasts FOREVER.
- Designer Paper (I used Glitz “Black & White”)
- Repeat Impressions Stamps of your choice, I used: Silhouette Heart, Large 5118-H and Sentiment plate “You 10100.”
To start, apply the double sided Carpet Tape to your card base and set aside.
Cut design paper in 1/4 inch strips. You can also do this with any size of paper strips or even vary the sizes of paper on the same project. It all looks great.
I chose four (4) different patterns for variety. You want to chose a large print, a small print and a more open print.
Take your bone folder and burnish down the carpet tape in preparation for adding paper.
Peel off the backing of your carpet tape to expose the adhesive.
Begin to place your paper strips by placing the 1st one diagonally across the card, then applying a strip to each side of center. If you are using 6 x 6 paper like I did, your 1st piece won’t be big enough. Simply place another piece to extend across the diagonal of the card. It also doesn’t matter where you place the side pieces as long as you have the basic start like my picture.
Continue to apply strips of paper alternatively. I tend to use the same pattern on the left and right of center.
Continue placing the strips down alternatively in a pleasing pattern.
Once you finish your back and forth placement of paper you will have a lot of strips hanging over the edge. 
Turn over the card and trim the strips off.
Once you’ve trimmed it up, this is your end result.
I like to smooth out my cutting with the Tim Holtz sanding tool.
Stamp the Repeat Impressions Silhouette Heart using red ink on a circle die.
Stamp the love sentiment from “you 10100” in the center of the heart with black ink.
Apply your heart to the Herringbone background and you now have a finished card! I just love the way this technique looks.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about the Herringbone technique. Beginning Wednesday, January 13th, I am hosting the Designer’s Choice Challenge with the theme of “Winter Wonderland”.
I’d love to see your herringbone backgrounds in the challenge at The House That Stamps Built where you will have a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate for our randomly chose winner.
I wish you a wonderful rest of the week!
The Crafty Nurse
Sketch Saturday Challenge #394
Happy Saturday! Today’s new Sketch Saturday challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who is offering a very generous $25.00 gift certificate to their store for our random winner. You have until Friday, January 15th for a chance to win.
Here’s the sketch:
For my card I chose the Simon Says Stamp stamp and die called, “Large Hearts.” There are a lot of different heart stamps and four (4) dies to match. I stamped them using the Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Inks and attached a border die by My Favorite Things. My sentiment is Avery Elle “Oh Happy Day” and I finished off with lots of sequins.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with using the new Sketch Saturday Sketch! Oh, and don’t forget to stop by the Sketch Saturday Facebook Page and give is a like!
From The Heart Stamps Sketch #130
Hello friends! Happy Monday! I’m here with this weeks sketch challenge at From The Heart Stamps. These are great challenges because you can use just the sketch, or if you’d like, add the twist. The only requirement is that you use a From The Heart image – the rest is up to you. The twist for this challenge is to add a Gift Card Holder. Perfect idea for the holidays!
I used both the sketch and the twist this week for my card. I began using this sweet winter image called “Skating Birdbrain” which I colored with Copic Markers in the combination of E35, YR15, Y15 and Y11. My scarf uses B39, B34 and B32. I then cut out the large flag using a My Favorite Things die and popped it up to create the gift tag portion of my card by leaving the top open.
I stamped some Lawn Fawn snowflakes stamped in Simon Says Stamp Fog ink, added a clearly besotted sentiment, and finished with waxy thread in buttercup from Close to My Heart.
You have until Sunday, December 13th to enter Sketch #130 at From The Heart Stamps. Hope to see you there!
From The Heart Stamps Sketch #125 – Monochromatic Twist
Hello friends! Happy Monday! I’m here with this weeks sketch challenge at From The Heart Stamps. These are great challenges because you can use just the sketch, or if you’d like, add the twist. The only requirement is that you use a From The Heart image. The rest is up to you. The twist for this challenge is to make your card “monochromatic.
I used only the sketch this week. My image is called “Toboggan Ride” which I colored with Copic’s. The paper used is “Bundled Up” from Carta Bella.” To give movement, I stamped lawn fawn snow flakes with Simon Says Stamp white pigment ink and dotted with stickles.
The House That Stamps Built; Project of the week: 9-28-15
Hello stampers! The Crafty Nurse here with some creative play for The House that Stamps Built project of the week. I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to see the new Sentiment Stamps, by Repeat Impressions because they are FANTASTIC! There are two sets out now with two more to be offered soon. They have one big sentiment word with a great choice of smaller sentiments that can be combined in a ton of different ways.
For my project of the week, I’d like to show you a couple of different ways to use sentiments stamps. Let’s get started!
For this project the supplies I used are:
- Water Bottle
- Black Waterproof Ink (I used Hero Arts)
- Distress Ink or any other dye based ink.
- A large stamping tool, either the Fiskars or the Misti
- Brusho’s
- An acrylic block
- Versamark
- Embossing Powder
- Micron .01 Pen – waterproof
- Paper – I used 140 lb Watercolor but you can use your favorite.
- Repeat Impressions Stamps of your choice, I used: Happy Cling and Hello Cling
Both projects today are great for making multiple cards for gift sets or donation. To allow my cling stamps to stick, I apply a bit of Alene’s Spritz-on Tacky Glue and let dry overnight. I then grabbed my Fiskars Stamp Press as I don’t own a Misti (sure wish I did), and centered it over the press.
To ensure that you get a good inking when using the press, I added my acrylic block underneath the press before I inked which allows the flexible stamp press to become firm and not buckle or bow causing uneven inking.
I then inked up the entire stamp and stamped it on a white card base.
To finish off the card I added doodling…..
Then inked up with some color and sprayed with a bit of shimmer. How easy is that???
My next card uses the Hello Sentiment Stamps after they had been cut apart. I used the super fun Brusho’s watercolors now in the Repeat Impressions store so I could show you a different, softer way to use them as actual watercolors.
I like to use the Tim Holtz Tonic scissors to kit out my cling stamps. I also cut them close so you don’t have any over stamping issues.
To get placement, I layout the stamps the way I want them on my card.
I then turn the stamps over in the same placement so they can be picked up all at once with the stamp press.
I ALWAYS give a test stamp first when I’m stamping text blocks so that I know the words are facing the right way and even. Take this time to reposition any words you don’t like or became uneven.
Once tested and all is looking good, I stamped the front of a card base with Versamark ink and white heat embossed.
Now, let’s have some fun with Brusho’s. If you want to “tone down” the colors, you can use the Brusho’s like a watercolor. I shook out a small amount of pigment onto my craft mat and sprayed with water making two areas of pigment for coloring. You can also apply pigment directly to the stamps or put your stamp in the pigment (like a stamp pad) for a more watercolor feel. If you have watered it down enough, using text blocks make a great background for another focal image.
I thoroughly wet a 140# watercolor paper around the words only with a flat brush. I then picked up the color from my mat and applied to the card. Don’t you love this soft look?
I finished off the card with a My Favorite Things border die and a Simon Says Stamp card base die and called it done.
I hope you enjoyed how to get more out of your sentiment stamps. The holidays are a great time to use this technique as once your stamps are on the press, you can duplicate easily.
Please join us in the weekly challenges here at The House That Stamps Built for your chance at a $25.00 gift certificate.
Beginning Wednesday, September 30th, we are having an “Anything Goes” Challenge!
I wish you a wonderful rest of the week!
The Crafty Nurse
The Crafty Nurse 