ThePowerOfACard: April 2022

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

See Through Cards

Today's card has a window where you can see right through the entire card! This is a fun way to really make a Wow card with not a lot of effort. By cutting the "window" with the shadow die of a word, you'll create this amazingly beautiful card. I want to give a shout out to Jennifer McQuire, who gave me the inspiration to demonstrate this wonderful technique. Watch my video to see just how simple this is to do.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Old Olive 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; Basic White 4" x 5-1/4", 4" x 3-1/2"; Expressions in Ink Specialty DSP 4" x 5-1/4"; Gold Foil 1-1/2" x 3-1/2"; and Window Sheets (2) 1-1/2" x 3-3/4"
Stamp Set: Rainbow of Happiness (plus Artistically Inked for the envelope)
Ink: Old Olive (Pale Papaya for envelope)
Amazing Thanks Dies
Adhesive and Tools

While this card may take a little time to cut and assemble the parts, there is little stamping and the stunning DSP makes the perfect backdrop to our word of Thanks. Start by folding the card base and burnishing the fold. Position the DSP layer on the card front but do not glue it down. Instead, hold it in position with low tack tape, a post it or washi tape. Lay the shadow die on top, about one third of the way from the top. Again, hold this in place with low tack tape. Open up the card and run it through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine. Because the DSP is a thinner paper than the cardstock, it should cut through both layers in one pass.

Remove the shadow pieces and set aside for another project. Close the card and position the die right back in the opening - it will fit perfectly, just like a puzzle piece. Run this through again to cut out the back of the card. There is one remaining layer that needs to be cut. Position the white panel on the inside of the card and tack in place. Close the card and once again, place the die in the opening and run it through again. This should cut out the white layer, but in case you don't get quite the clean cut you need (like it happened in my video), just take the white layer off, position the die (it will lock in place) and run it through by itself.

Time to add the window sheets. Apply tiny amounts of glue around the cut out word bubble on the back of the DSP. Place a window sheet over the opening, making sure that the entire opening is covered with the acetate. Now you can adhere this DSP panel to the front of the card. It will line up perfectly and your window opening on the front. Repeat the process with the white inside layer.

From the piece of Gold Foil, cut out the thin Thanks word die. This is optional (but steps up your card a notch or two) - cut out three additional Thanks from the other white piece. Using tiny amounts of glue, stack the three white layers of Thanks together. The liquid clue will allow you to move them around to align them perfectly. As you add more layers, it holds its shape better and almost looks like chipboard. Add the foil Thanks to the top, then position this on the inside window in the middle of the Thanks outline. I would also recommend cutting one additional Thanks (skinny version) to adhere to the back of the card to hide the glue visible on the window sheet. You could even cut it from one of the shadow thanks you set aside.

To finish off the card, I stamped the words "you make me happy" just below the window in Old Olive Ink. On my sample, I added a Brushed Brass Butterfly, but forgot to add it during the video. Again, it is just a little touch, but it elevates the level of craftsmanship of your card. I decorated my envelope with the large flower from Artistically Inked to coordinate.

My next three cards all feature products from the soon-to-be-released annual catalog. I hope you don't mind a sneak peak!! My first one uses another word die and its shadow. I used the Waves of the Ocean DSP (LOVE that paper) and the new Sending Smiles bundle. My card base is Calypso Coral and I just adore this card!

The next one uses labels instead of word dies. I used the All That dies, a Basic Black card base and Perfectly Pencilled DSP. As you can see, the window is larger and a little more impactful as a window. The sentiments and flower are from the Nature's Prints stamp set.

My last card is so lovely - I am thrilled at how this one came out! The window is made with our new Stylish Shapes Dies (I am so excited for these stitched shapes - they are a must have!). The Card base is Mango Melody and the DSP is called Tea Boutique. The print I selected features one of our new In-Colors, Sweet Sorbet. I then used the Hues of Happiness bundle to stamp and cut out a flower for the middle of the circle. I colored it with blends, stacked a few more under it and positioned it in the middle of the Window Sheet. For the sentiment strips, I used the Art Gallery stamp set/Floral Gallery dies. This time, I positioned a label on both windows. To make sure they line up properly, adhere the inside one first, then close the card and add the one to the top.

I hope you enjoyed both this technique and a preview of some exciting new products and colors coming out with our new annual catalog. It will be released on May 3rd and I know you'll be seeing a lot more from it in my upcoming videos!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Rainbow Of Happiness Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[157721]

$18.00

Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100702]

$8.75

Expressions In Ink 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[155464]

$15.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$9.75

Gold Foil Sheets

[132622]

$5.00

Window Sheets

[142314]

$5.00

Amazing Thanks Dies (English)

[157816]

$27.00

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$7.50

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$4.00

Paper Snips

[103579]

$10.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$25.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$120.00

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Pattern Transfer Stamping

I really love finding new ways to use our stamps. In addition to inspiring creativity, it also makes our stamps more useful! The technique I am teaching today is Pattern Transfer Stamping. There are so many stamps with texture and you can transfer this texture to another stamp before stamping on your card. It may sound complicated, but as you can see in the video, it's quite easy to do.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Thick Basic White 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; Melon Mambo 4" x 5-1/4"; Basic White 3-3/4" x 3-3/4"; Basic Black 1/2" x 2-1/2" (or longer)
Stamp Sets: Waves of Inspiration, Hand-Penned Petals and Celebrating You
Ink: Memento Black, Melon Mambo, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green and Versamark
Dies: Hippo & Friends
Stampin' Blends: Granny Apple Green and Mango Melody (optional)
White Embossing Powder
Black & White Gingham Ribbon: 7" (plus more if you want a bow)
Heat Tool
Adhesives and Tools

The most important thing you need to know about this technique is that your stamp with the pattern must be larger than the stamp you will transfer the pattern to. For my card, I have chosen the large wave from the Waves of Inspiration. It has lots of interesting texture than can easily be used to make interesting designs on my petals and leaves.

Begin by cutting our the label from white using the Hippo & Friends Dies (one of my favorites and soon retiring!). Using the memento black ink, stamp the flower, slightly off center toward the right. I placed the large wave onto a plate from my Stamparatus because it makes it easier to handle. Ink the widest portion of the wave with Melon Mambo. Then transfer the ink to the stamp with the petals by pressing the petals onto the wave. It is important to just press down and then lift - do not move the stamp around or you will lose the pattern you just picked up. Now stamp the petals onto your label and you will see a cool texture for your petals!

Now ink another portion of the wave with Mango Melody and press the smaller flower onto the wave to pick up the pattern before adding it to your flower. Before moving to the leaves, wash off the wave. I like to run the stamp under water and dry it with a towel rather than use my Simply Shammy because of the large amount of ink on the stamp.

The last part to stamp is the leaves. Add Granny Apple Green to the wave and stamp the leaves in the same manner. You must clean off the leaf stamp each time so that you have a clean stamp in which to pick up a new section of ink from the wave. As an optional touch, I used my Blends to lightly color the stems and add a few darker lines to the Mango Melody flower.

For the sentiment, I stamped my saying with versamark ink onto the strip of black cardstock. Helpful tip - use a longer strip of cardstock than what is needed for the sentiment because it's easier to hold when heat embossing and you can trim to size when you're done. I then covered it with White embossing powder and set it with the Heat Tool. Trim at an angle.

Now we are ready to assemble the card. Fold your card base in half and burnish the crease with the bone folder. To the Melon Mambo layer, add the checked ribbon about 1" from the left side. I like to use Seal+ because it really holds ribbon securely. Add this layer to the card front. Using Dimensionals, add the flower label and sentiment strip. I prefer to align the sentiment up to the edge of the Melon Mambo layer. If desired, add a bow where the label and ribbon meet using a Mini Glue Dot.

My next example features All Squared Away, In Bloom and Biggest Wish. There are four very fun patterns in All Squared Away - I used the circles to make this card fun! I first cut a large tag, then I stamped the circles in bright colors and then transferred the pattern to the word FRIEND and the two flowers. The black paper with tiny white dots continues the theme. I must also note that the In Bloom bundle is retiring - it has been one of my favorites and if you don't have it, I strongly urge you to get it before it's gone.

My last card uses the Sweet Ice Cream bundle. I stamped the scoops of ice cream and the cone with patterns from All Squared Away and Waves of Inspiration. In case you're wondering, the colors are Mint Macaron on Mint Macaron paper, Calypso Coral on Petal Pink paper, Early Expresso on Basic White paper, and Cinnamon Cider on Basic White paper. Isn't it so fun to add these textures?

Take a look at your stamps to see what you have where you can transfer patterns from one stamp to another. Large background stamps are great choices, but as you can see from my video, there are plenty of other stamps that can work just as well. Have fun!