Technique Tuesday - Colored Soot Stamping

Good morning! As Halloween approaches I thought it would be fun to learn Colored Soot Stamping. I saw the instructions on Splitcoaststampers. Beate Johns does such a great job in explaining this easy and fun technique.

Colored Soot Stamping - by Beate Johns

Take soot stamping up a notch by brayering your cardstock beforehand.

Supplies

Candle
Glossy Cardstock
Dye Ink
Brayer
Stamps
Acrylic Sealer









Step 1

Ink up your brayer with dye ink and start rolling it over your glossy cardstock.






Step 2

Continue to do so until your cardstock is evenly colored.













Step 3

Light your candle. Hold glossy side of cardstock over the candle, so that the flame touches it.
Move the cardstock around quickly. WARNING: Be careful! The edges of the cardstock will catch fire easily.







Step 4

Take your stamp and press it onto the soot covered cardstock. NOTE: Don't touch the soot-covered part with your fingers, or you will have fingerprints. The soot comes off easily.



































Step 5

Spray your image with acrylic sealer to prevent smudging.












Step 6

Finish your card.









Have fun playing with this great technique, just in time for Halloween and Fall! Post your creations here, we'd love to see what you come up with.

See ya next week! Stacy P.

Technique Tuesday - Double Slider Card

Do you want to double the surprise on your project? Here's a fun way to do just that!

DOUBLE SLIDER CARD

Supplies needed:

. 1-1/4" Circle punch
. Word Window punch
. Stampin' Dimensionals
. Card stock
. Adhesive

1. First, punch a divot in the top of the card using the 1-1/4" Circle punch. Make a vertical slot through the front of the card using the Word Window punch (see Figure 1).



2. Place the back slider inside the card, aligning the top with the top of the divot.
3. Put two Stampin' Dimensionals through the slot and adhere to the back slider (see Figure 2).



4. Next, adhere the front slider to the front of the Stampin' Dimensionals (see Figure 3).



5. Cover the slot with your front stamped image using Stampin' Dimensionals (see Figure 4), and finish by adhering the card edges together.

Now that you've seen how easy the Double Slider card is - sit at your stamping desk and get to stamping! Once you've got something together, share it here. We love seeing postings of what others have done. So, share, share, share!

Have a great week and next week is Tuesday Tip - Build a Brad. See you next week!

Stacy P.

Tip Tuesday - Aqua Painters

Have you wondered how to use the Aqua Painter with Stampin' Write Markers, Watercolor Pencils, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Stampin' Ink Refills or Classic Stampin' Ink Pads? Here are some tips to start using such a versatile product.

1. To use, carefully squeeze the barrel of the painter. If too much pressure is applied, liquid may come out too fast.
2. For best results, empty the barrel and wipe moisture from the brush tip for storage.
3. You can place 8 cc of water or water-soluble liquid (with the consistency of water) in the refillable reservoir.
4. Do not place liquid acrylics or shellac-based ink in the reservoir.
5. It was found that on paper lighter than 140 lb, the colors tends to not blend properly.
6. After lifting color from an image, rub the excess color off the brush between your fingers or on a paper towel. (This is also helpful when there is too much water built up in the bristles of the brush)
7. The Aqua Painter can be filled with water, bleach and even Future Floor Wax to be used with Pearl Ex.
8. Stamp with an ink that won't bleed, like Staz-On or emboss your image.

I came across an excellent Tip Sheet created by Monica Swenson of Brooklyn, WI. You can find her Tip Sheet here.

QUICK TRICKS:

Use the Aqua Painter to pull colors to blend and soften them.
Use it to paint a line on Mulberry paper for easy tearing.
Use the Aqua Painter to dampen card stock prior to distressing.
Reach for your water filled Aqua Painter to seal envelopes.

WALNUT INK TECHNIQUE. Try it with the Aqua Painter:

Walnut Ink is an easy way to add some character and aged appearance to papers that look too "new" for your layout. This tip came from a demonstrator in Utah. Take approximately 2 Tbsp. of water with 4 drops of Chocolate Chip, 2 drops of Summer Sun and 1 drop of Basic Black and put the mixture into the Aqua Painter.

One of our Designing Divas, Kristine Memmott, sent me this cute card using the Aqua Painter.

The pumpkins are colored in with the Aqua Painter. The balance of the colors on this card was with the blender pen.

Hope you have learned something new about Aqua Painters this Tuesday. Next week is Technique Tuesday when I'll have instructions on how to make a Double Slider Card! See you then! Have a great week!

Stacy P.

Have You Been Cracked Up Lately?

I was trying to choose which technique to share with you this Tuesday and came across a technique that I haven't tried ... now I'm challenged to. It looks SO easy! It's called Cracked Glass. I found the instructions on our own Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Website. (For those of you that haven't become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator yet - here is one of the many +++'s of becoming a demonstrator! We have our own Demonstrator Website that offers us exclusive video and written training guides for all sorts of techniques, product uses and samples galore! If you want to be a part of this great team, contact your local demonstrator and sign up TODAY!) Okay ... I'll move onto the technique instructions. :-D

CRACKED GLASS INSTRUCTIONS:

Supplies Needed:

• Stamps
• Card Stock
• VersaMark
• Brayer
• Glassy Glaze Enamel Stampin' Emboss powder
• Powder Pal
• Heat tool
• Crafters' Tool Kit
• Freezer
• Optional: Sponge Daubers

1. Stamp your image, and cut card stock to desired size.
   
2. Apply VersaMark® over entire piece of card stock using a brayer or direct-to-paper technique.
   
3. Sprinkle Glassy Glaze Enamel Stampin' Emboss® powder over entire piece of card stock. Be sure to use your Powder Pal! Tap off excess powder, and melt remaining powder using heat tool. Use the tweezers from the Crafters' Tool Kit to hold your card stock if you're creating a small accent piece.
   
4. For small images, sprinkle on additional powder while the image is still hot. For larger images, allow card stock to cool and apply additional VersaMark ink before sprinkling more powder over the image. Repeat up to four times.
   
5. Put your card stock in the freezer for a minute or two to ensure the glaze has cooled completely.
   
6. Remove card stock from freezer, and bend back and forth until the enameled layer cracks. Continue bending different portions of the card stock until you've achieved the look you desire.
   
7. (Optional): Sponge ink into the cracks in your enamel using a sponge dauber.
   
8. (Optional): Finish your project using the crackled-glass image as an outstanding focal point.

Here are the steps in picture form ...





















Here's some samples with the Cracked Glass.



















































Now that I've shared this fun technique - I'd like to see you take this challenge and post what you've done lately that has really "cracked" you up?!

Have a great week and I'll see you here next Tuesday where we will learn more about the infamous Aqua Painter.

Stacy P.

There's a New Big Shot in Town!

It's the Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up! The Big Shot is a sturdy manual die cutting machine used to die cut materials for use on crafts, home décor projects, and even clothing--it's a big deal! You'll love what the Big Shot machine, a 6-time winner of Creating Keepsakes Reader's Choice Award for best die cutting equipment and dies, can do for you.

Design your own custom pillow appliqués using the Tulipe Bigz die or make custom fabric flowers to embellish a quilt. From sewing to quilting to home décor, the Big Shot is the perfect tool for many types of crafting. Use our Stampin' Up! exclusive dies to create die cuts and stencils with our artwork and designs for all your craft needs.

Planning and preparing projects is fast and economical with the Big Shot machine. Cut out eight of the same chipboard letter or 20 scalloped pennants in just a few minutes. You'll be able to cut and score 3-D items in seconds, and the projects will be ready for you to enjoy. Or create embellishments for cards, scrapbook pages, or any other type of project by cutting multiple images at once.

Cut through the following 50 materials using steel rule dies and your Big Shot machine. Please note the maximum thickness of several materials.

Brass (.055) Light weight steel Aluminum (.016) Tin (.008) Aircraft plywood (1/64") Basswood (1/16") Balsa (3/32") Paperwood Mat board (adhesive or none) Chipboard Fabric Silicone Foam with chipboard (.1) Corrugated pad Adhesive-backed cork Fine sandpaper (.00) Strene Extra thick template plastic Template plastic Plastic canvas (7 mesh) Bubble wrap Sheet foam Friendly (jewelry) plastic 100% pure beeswax (cut with parchment paper on top & bottom of beeswax) Adhesive and non-adhesive rubber Ruffleboard

Static cling vinyl Warm & natural batting Fusible fleece Quilt batting Adhesive and non-adhesive flexible magnet Heat n' shrink plastic Adhesive and non-adhesive felt Pop-up sponge Shiny self-adhesive and non-adhesive paper Iron-on fabric Poly foam adhesive and non adhesive 3-D illusionary plastic Glow in the dark adhesive and non adhesive Suede paper Funky fur Personal Embossing Plastic (PEP) Shaggy plush felt Canvas Vinyl flooring Shelf lining Placement Embossing rubber Thin leather Gasket material

One cute project you can do quickly and easily is a little girls outfit and matching bookbag.
SUPPLIES

• Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon
• Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
• Flower Layers w/Leaf Bigz die
• Flower Layers Originals die
• Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin' Up!
• Buttons
• Fabric
• Felt
• Sewing machine and thread
• Shorts
• Tank top
• Black crochet thread

Hope you will have fun with Stampin' Up!'s newest product - The Big Shot! Post your projects and what unusual material you have tried with The Big Shot!

Have a great week! Stacy P.

Has your VersaMarker not been used in a while?

While you were spring cleaning your drawers, did you come across your VersaMarker and say "Hey, I forgot I have this"? Well, here is a great project that will get you running to your drawer. While you are dishing it out - get your heat tool and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder ready also.

Elizabeth Harris, one of our Designer Divas, submitted this darling card she made for her niece's 16th birthday. She stated it's made with the Polka Dot background and the new stamp set she received at Convention, Flight of the Butterfly. She took her inspiration from the dotted butterfly in the set. She loves Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink together, so she went with that color combo. The butterfly is stamped twice (OK 4 times ... it's a 2-step stamp. LOL), and cut out once. She used her Versamarker on the top butterfly's spots and covered them with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. It is so very sparkly!

Supplies(all SU!): Stamps- Flight of the Butterfly, Polka Dot. Paper- Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Ink- Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink. Accessories- Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon, Versamarker, Iridescent Ice EP, mini glue dot.

Thanks Elizabeth for sharing. Just love it and would love to hear your niece's response when she opens this darling card.

Stacy P.

Technique Tuesday - Working Metal Magic

From aluminum foil to platinum rings, metal is functional, fashionable, and fascinating.

Creating the look of metal using the faux metal technique is no different; it adds intrigue and shine to your projects. There are several ways you can achieve this look.

One way you can achieve the faux metal look -

1. Press stamp into VersaMark and stamp onto card stock. (Suggestion: use the same color paper as the embossing powder - i.e., Gold embossing powder with Brushed Gold card stock.)
2. Sprinkle embossing powder over image.
3. Melt powder using heat tool.
4. Punch or cut out the embossed stamp and place it on your project.

Another way to make beautiful faux metal stamped items for your projects is to ...

1. Apply VersaMark over entire piece of card stock using the direct-to-paper technique. Sprinkle embossing powder over image.

2. Melt powder using heat tool. Press the card stock into the VersaMark again then sprinkle on additional powder while the image is still hot, and reheat. Repeat up to three times.

3. Press image into warm layers of embossing powder to create image. Punch or cut out image, and adhere to card.

I want to challenge you this week to try this technique out and post your results. We would love to see what you did.

I want to thank Elise Pelletier, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, who created the beautiful Amour card at the Montreal Regionals in April, 2008. My thanks also goes out to Jackieb410 on Splitcoaststampers.com for this wonderful Wanted card. I just love the detail of the emblem.

Hope this will get you started in putting some shine in your projects. Have a great week. Until next week ...

Stacy P.

Welcoming Stacy P

Please join me in welcoming Diva Stacy P as our new regular Tuesday blogger. I have really enjoyed sharing Stampin' Up with you the last few Tuesdays but I have to get back to my behind-the-scenes duties here at the UDI blog. As such, I am handing Tuesday's over to my dear Diva friend Stacy.

Stacy created this beautiful chip-board hanger using the Tie the Knot Simply Scrappin' Kit. The colors and designer series paper is lovely for wedding photos, but is appropriate for any theme really. In any event, this project is gorgeous.

So, here is what this talented stamper has to say about herself:
I have been married to Brian for 12 years and have 4 daughters ... 2 step-daughters from a previous marriage that I still keep in contact with (Erin, 32 and Trisha, 29) and 2 daughters (Hailey, 9 and McKenna, 6). We live in Boise, ID. We have lived here for almost 2 years. We moved from Huntington Beach, CA. I have been a SU Demonstrator for 5 years (YEA, I get to walk the stage at convention this year!) and am creating my business all over again when I moved to Boise. Business is slowly picking up and I keep plugging away at it. I also own Great Occasions Event Services, which was developed 24 years ago. I coordinate weddings, birthday parties, fund raisers and anything else that needs to be coordinated. I am also a stay-at-home mom that keeps me busy with volunteer work at my daughters school.

The chipboard hanger is the project for my May's Stamp Camp. We were supposed to make it at Max's Birthday Bash retreat, however, we were having way too much fun to end up making it before we had to leave each other. Now my customers will have the joy in learning how to make this wonderful wall hanging that was demonstrated at Leadership this year.

Thank you for joining us Stacy. I look forward to your posts. EdieB