Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Shadowed Strips

I've been seeing a lot of cards on the internet with this technique, so that inspired me to make this video for you.  I'm not sure if this is the "official name" of the technique, but it works for me!  Often, you see the Shadowed Strips made with paper that has a scene on it.  But as you will witness, you can make it with a variety of papers, even embossed cardstock!  I have a special tip that makes adhering the strips easy and with precision!  The card I make in the video uses Dimensionals, but my sample used Foam Strips, which definitely give more lift and shadow.   I show you both side by side so you can decide which look you want.  Let's get started!

Gather your supplies:

  • Cardstock:  Basic Beige 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" scored at 4-1/4", 3" x 4-1/4";  Pretty Peacock 3" x 4-1/4", 2-7/8" x 5-1/2"; Nature Walk DSP 2-1/2" x 5-1/2"
  • Stamp Bundle:  Nature's Symphony
  • Ink:  Pretty Peacock
  • Ribbon:  Linen Thread 37"
  • Embellishment:  Antique Pearls
  • Blends:  Dark Pretty Peacock
  • Adhesive and Tools
After folding your card in half, cut out the large leaf cluster from Basic Beige and Pretty Peacock.  Set these aside until we prepare the panel of strips.  Cut the piece of DSP into 1/2" strips, keeping them in order until we can adhere them.  One thing to note is that whatever piece you cut into strips must be evenly cut into 1/2" increments.  (For example, you can't evenly cut a horizontal piece of paper that begins at 4" x 5-1/4" because you'll be left with a 1/4" strip.)

My helpful tip is to use Glad Press'n Seal to assemble the strips.  This is a thin film that has a light adhesive that isn't too sticky for paper, but will adhere to your containers in the kitchen.  Turn your strips over, one at a time and place them on the piece of Press'n Seal.  Keep adding strips right next to each other, making sure there are no gaps and that the tops and bottoms align.  When your have all the strips on the Press'n Seal, you can add glue to every other strip, then pick up the entire arrangement and add it to the larger piece of Pretty Peacock.

Carefully peal back the Press'n Seal, keeping the unglued strips in place.  Add either Dimensionals or Foam Strips to the back of the first strip and add it to the end of the panel.  Repeat with each unattached strip until they are all adhered.  I like to do the strips one at a time so they don't get out of order.  Set this panel aside as we work on the leaves.

For the leaves, I kept one intact, but cut the second one (Basic Beige) into two pieces.  Use a Silicone Craft Sheet to work out your arrangement of the leaves.  When you get them positioned as you like, use Mini Glue Dots to adhere them together.  This will allow you to pick it up as a single unit.

You'll need just over 3 feet (not yards like I said in the video!) of Linen Thread.  If you use a fresh dryer sheet (not used in the dryer) to rub over the thread, it will help remove some of the curls and smooth it out.  Wrap it around the Shadowed Strips layer twice and tie in a bow.  Add this panel to the card front with glue.  Then you can slip in the leaves, position as desired, and adhere with more Glue Dots to the strips.  

To finish, stamp the sentiment in the lower right corner with Pretty Peacock ink.  I decided to leave this sample without an inside sentiment so that when I need to use this card, I can customize it for the occasion - birthday, graduation, retirement, etc.  I did stamp some leaves (stamped off for a lighter version) on both the inside of the card and the envelope.



Paper with scenes are so great for this technique!  Here I have the musical bugs from the Cute as a Bug DSP.  After cutting it into strips and mounting them to the piece of Old Olive, I added a few more bugs, which were cut using the dies from the Sweet Bugs Bundle, on the elevated strips.  The sentiment straddles several strips and is from a new set called Exciting Times.










Instead of patterned paper for this card, I used the Greenery Lane Washi tape on a piece of Basic White.  From the Greenery Lane stamp set, I used the small flowers to stamp on my card base around the edges in Lost Lagoon ink.  The strips were mounted on Pretty Peacock and the sentiment was embossed in white on a panel of the same color.  I added a few more leaves from the washi tape to finish the card.









For this next sample, I wanted to show a completely different look.  First, I embossed a panel of Basic White with the Sunflower 3D embossing folder.  Then I cut it in half on the diagonal.  On my trimmer, I placed the cut edge of the diagonal piece at 3/4" and cut a strip.  I repeated this process until I had four pieces for each half of the embossed panel.  Then I adhered them in the same manner to a piece of Golden Glow, one of the new In Colors.  Before adding this to the card front, I tied a bow with Golden Glow Bordered Ribbon.  I embossed the sentiment from Friendly Foliage and decorated with 2026-2028 In Color Dots.  I embossed two more strips of Basic White to place on the inside and envelope.




This next sample is a variation of the Spotlight technique (which has only a portion of the paper colored).  I stamped the Flowers Fair image in black on a panel of Basic White.  After cutting it into strips, I colored every other panel with Stampin' Blends in Hydrangea Hue, Crisp Cantaloupe (not cucumber 🤣), and Granny Apple Green.  As I adhered them to the panel of Hydrangea Hue, I did not peel off the backing of the lower end of the strips so I could tie a strip of ribbon around the lower strips.  When that was done, I adhered the strips with Dimensionals over the ribbon to create a woven look.  Lastly, I added that panel to a piece of Basic White and glued it to a Crisp Cantaloupe card base.  My sentiments are from Phrases and Frames and I used more 2026-2028 In Color Dots.








This sample features one of my favorites from the new Online Exclusives for May - Silly Old Bear Suite.  While I seem to prefer layouts with vertical strips, I decided to make this one with horizontal strips.  There are a lot of great scenes on the Silly Old Bear DSP but this one was perfect for Eeyore.  I placed the strips on Early Espresso paper which was matted with Hydrangea Hue.  The card base is Very Vanilla and the sentiments are from Sweet Words & Labels.  I made this a gift card holder by adding a rectangle embossed with the Hundred Acre Woods folder.  I pulled in a stamp from the Gears & Textures stamp set to add texture to the envelope flap and strip on the inside.





My last card features the paper from the new May - August Mini Catalog called Scenic Coast Specialty DSP.  It is so lovely that I hate to cut it into smaller pieces!  That makes it perfect for this technique so you can still see a large portion of the paper.  I kept it simple by putting the strips on Blueberry Bushel and adding it to a Daffodil Delight card base.  I used the Sunset Coast bundle for my sentiments and sailboat.  By trimming the sentiment with my snips, I covered up less of that pretty sunset.


I hope I've given you plenty of ideas for trying out this technique.  It's super fun and so easy when you use the Press'n Seal!  Have fun!

Karen


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Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Start Simple, Then Step it Up!

I just got my notification from YouTube that I've been making videos for six years!!!  It's hard to believe it's been that long, but I started during the pandemic and have made a video every two weeks (and some more in-between) all of that time.  Wow!  It's not always been easy and it's challenging to predict what gets views, but I have had some wonderful support from subscribers all over the world and that's been pretty cool!  

I have been stamping a very long time and I often hear people who are new to stamping say that they could NEVER make cards like me.  Well, that's just not true.  Everyone starts out without all the stuff and not knowing techniques.  So that's why I've made this video.  I will make three cards with essentially the same layout.  The first one will be simple, the next one will add some things to step it up and the last one will be have even more stuff (both techniques and embellishments).  I'll have some tips along the way and my hope is that you will find success in starting out with simple cards and only step it up when and if you want to!

Gather your supplies for Card 1:

  • Cardstock:  Thick Basic White 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" scored at 4-1/4";  Basic White 2-3/4" x 4", 3/4" x 2-1/2"; Strawberry Slush 3" x 4-1/4"
  • Stamps:  Fragrant Layers, Reason to Celebrate
  • Ink:  Memento Black
  • Adhesive and Tools
My goal for this card is to keep it simple with SIP - Stamps, Ink and Paper.  I choose two stamp sets as great starter stamps because they are versatile.  The flowers can be simple line images, or filled in with color and between the two sets, you have a good variety of sentiments.  




When you start out, it is helpful to make yourself a set of card layers.  The typical card front size is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  I made a series of layers, most of them 1/4" smaller on both dimensions.  If you make them in different colors, it's helpful to see how the layers will combine.  After mounting the large cluster of flowers, I saw that it would fit very well on a 2-3/4" x 4" piece.  Then the next size up becomes 3" x 4-1/4".  While you may not always use these sized layers, understanding how to layer is foundational for card making.








This simple card will be black and white with a pop of color, one of my favorite combinations.  Fold your card base and half - it's good if you have a bone folder to press the crease.  Place your stamp on a block and ink.  Because it's a large stamp, I like to turn the block upside down and hold the ink pad with my hand to apply ink.  Your goal is to tap, tap, tap and only get ink on the stamp, not the block.  That doesn't always happen, but if you do get ink on the block, the ink is likely to get in places you don't want!  Stamp the image on the white rectangle, then glue this to the Strawberry Slush rectangle.  You don't need a lot of glue - a thin line of it will suffice.  You want to avoid having glue ooze out from the edges.  I like using glue because it's economical and it allows you to move the pieces a bit before the glue sets.  Glue our floral piece to the card front, centering it (but just eyeball it, don't measure).  

On the small piece of white, stamp the sentiment.  You could just glue this to the card front if you want, but I added a few Dimensionals (double sided foam adhesive hexagons) and positioned it near the bottom of the floral piece.  For the inside, stamp Happy Birthday in black.  I inked the large floral image again and stamped that in the corner of the envelope to finish the card.  

Your goal at this stage of your stamping journey is to hone your stamping skills - no ink on the block, no smearing of the ink when you stamp, full ink coverage and no glue oozing from your layers.  If you want, practice on scrap paper until you feel confident in the inking/stamping process.  Make your own set of layering guides to assist you.  

Gather your supplies for Card 2:

  • Cardstock:  Thick Basic White 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" scored at 4-1/4";  Basic White 2-3/4" x 4", 3/4" x 2-1/2"; Basic Black 2-7/8" x 4-1/8", 7/8" x 2-5/8"; Strawberry Slush 3-1/8" x 4-3/8"
  • Stamps:  Fragrant Layers, Reason to Celebrate
  • Inks:  Memento Black, Strawberry Slush, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight
  • Adhesive and Tools
We start out the same by folding the card base and stamping the large floral image on the white rectangle.  Then use the stamps to fill in the flowers in Strawberry Slush, leaves in Granny Apple Green and flower centers with Daffodil Delight.  These filler stamps provide a watercolor look to our focal point.  Instead of one layer, this panel will have two.  The first one is black, which is only 1/8" larger than the white.  Glue these together, then add the Strawberry Slush layer.  Before adding this to the card front, add Dimensionals so this entire element is popped up.  


For the sentiments, both on the front and inside, stamp in Strawberry Slush.  Mat the outside sentiment with the black and pop it up by adding one Dimensional in the lower right corner and glue where it overlaps the flower piece.  For the envelope, stamp the flowers in Strawberry Slush.

This stepped up approach uses more ink colors, layers and dimension.  You can introduce Designer Series Paper (DSP) instead of cardstock.  Patterned paper is lots of fun and adds a lot more interest.  A good way to expand your ink colors is by getting a collection of Stampin' Spots which are mini ink pads.  They come in several sets, but are also part of Paper Pumpkin and other Kits.  I like building in color families (Brights, Subtles, Regals, Neutrals or In Colors) - you can get an assortment of cardstock in each of the families, and all of colors are coordinated across the product lines. 


Gather your supplies for Card 3:

  • Cardstock:  Strawberry Slush 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" scored at 4-1/4";  Basic White 2-3/4" x 4", 3/4" x 2-1/2", 4" x 5-1/4"; Daffodil Delight 2-7/8" x 4-1/8"; Basic Black 3-1/8" x 4-3/8", 7/8" x 2-5/8"
  • Stamps:  Fragrant Layers, Reason to Celebrate
  • Ink:  Memento Black, Strawberry Slush, Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight
  • Ribbon: Strawberry Slush Faux Linen 
  • Embellishment:  2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls
  • Adhesive and Tools
For our last card, we are using several techniques to step it up.  The first is to use a colored cardstock for our card base and to stamp the large floral image in the upper left and lower right corners with Strawberry Slush ink, adding interest and subtle texture.  For the floral element, stamp and color the flowers as we did in card 2, then mat with Daffodil Delight.  Before adding the last mat (black), distress the edges as shown in the video with scissors.  

Wink of Stella is a glittery pen with a paintbrush tip.  It will add just a gentle sparkle to the flower petals (I almost forgot to add it in the video, but it's best to do it at this point in the process).  If you have to squeeze the pen to get more glitter into the nib, be careful as it is easy to get a big drip!  Before adding the floral element to the card, tie a knot of Strawberry Slush ribbon near the bottom, then add to the card front at an angle with Dimensionals.  Add some Strawberry Slush flat pearls around the flowers.  I prefer to add gems in odd numbers as this is more pleasing to the eye. 

Stamp the sentiment for the card front in Granny Apple Green, mat with the black and add to the front like we did in Card 2.  Because our card base is not white, stamp the Happy Birthday onto a panel of Basic White.  Ink the Birthday in Strawberry Slush by using the edge of the ink pad to only ink part of our sentiment.  Stamp on the white panel, then clean the stamp well before the next step.  Ink Happy in Black and stamp above Birthday.  Glue this panel to the inside of the card.  Stamp the flowers on the envelope corner as we did before.

Obviously, we have done more techniques with this card (Wink of Stella, distressing paper edges, tone on tone stamping, and stamping a sentiment in multiple colors) and have added embellishments (ribbon and pearls).  Changing the positioning of the focal point is another way we have stepped up this card.  Even with all of those things, we still haven't branched out into other tools or techniques that require more equipment.  If you want to do dry embossing or die cutting, you will need a Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine.  Once you get that, your possibilities for stepping up your card design really kick it up a notch.  You can also invest in other coloring techniques (Stampin' Blends, Watercolor Pencils, or Ink Refills to do watercoloring).  And then there is heat embossing, which is magical!  

The possibilities are nearly endless and oh, so much fun!  I hope this basic tutorial has helped you in your stamping efforts, or given you some tools to help introduce stamping to a family member or friend.  I'm here to help you along the journey, whether you prefer simple stamping, or want to step up your skills!

Karen


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Tuesday, March 31, 2026

10+ Ways To Do Heat Embossing

Like many people, my gateway technique into making handmade stamped cards was heat embossing.  Once I saw the magic happen, I fell in love and was forever hooked!  So today, I want to show you more ways you can do heat embossing.  My guess is that at least a few of them are new to you.

Unlike my normal videos, I will not be constructing a card.  Instead, I'll be demonstrating each of the ways to heat emboss, and then show you a card made with that method.   My apologies for a longer than normal video.  I considered breaking this into two videos, but in the end, decided to keep it as one with a listing of each method with a time.  This way, you can use this video as a reference and easily find the heat embossing technique you need.

There are a few basic tools I recommend when doing heat embossing.  The Embossing Additions Tool Kit has a tray where you can collect powder and funnel it back into the container, a brush for wiping off excess powder, a marvelous reverse tweezer and the embossing buddy, which helps remove static and contaminants that might attract powder where you don't want it.  You should always use the embossing buddy before embossing, but you'll see me miss it a bunch of times in the video!  My bad.  (In my descriptions below, I'm not going to mention using the Embossing Buddy each time - it is implied.)  You will also need a Heat Tool (a regular blow dryer won't work) and of course, embossing powders.  Stampin' Up! has two sets of powders - the Basics and Metallics.  Lastly, you'll need a stamp pad like Versamark designed for heat embossing because it is sticky and takes a long time to dry. 

1.  Embossing the Debossed Side  2:59

With your embossing folder (3D folders work better than regular folders) open, add Versamark to the side that has raised images.  If you want a light amount of embossing, just rub the ink pad gently over the highest parts.  If you want a heavier amount, really press down into the design.  Place your paper on the other side and close.  Emboss as normal, then remove from the folder and coat with gold embossing powder.  During the video, I really coated the folder with ink, but my sample shows a lighter touch.

2.  Coat the Edges for Layering  7:18

When you want to have something matted in gold, silver, etc. but you don't have the paper, you can just coat the edges with Versamark and powder, heat and voila!  You have a piece to use as a mat!  Even if you had gold paper, you may want an exact match like I have with the Sunflowers I created above.

3.  Direct to Paper for a Label  10:57

To finish the components of my first sample, I embossed a strip with my sentiment and flagged the edge, leaving a little longer section than I normally would.  Then I took my ink pad and placed it on the end of the label, keeping the edge of the stamp pad perpendicular to the sentiment strip.  Add powder and heat to add a gold finish to the sentiment strip.  

For this card, I used the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder, the Reason To Celebrate stamp set, Gold Embossing Powder, and cardstock in Basic White and Night of Navy.


4.  Adhesive and Embossing Powder  13:11

So far, we've only been using Versamark to hold the embossing powder.  However, you can also use other things that are sticky, such as Tear & Tape, Adhesive Sheets and Multipurpose Glue.  For this example, I placed three strips of Tear & Tape diagonally across a panel of white.  Make sure you press them down to get the best adherence of the powder (I like using a bone folder for this).  I recommend using a Silicone Mat because the tape hangs over the edges.  After trimming, add the powder and heat as normal.  I just love the geometry of using the tape!

I used Reason to Celebrate stamp set, Beautiful Ordinary Life DSP, Floral Flight Accents, Stylish Shapes dies, Black embossing powder, and cardstock in Basic White, Basic Black and Daffodil Delight.


I also like using my liquid glue to add designs.  I love my little glue bottle with a fine tip end because it's easier to get small amounts of glue and control the flow.  (By the way - this is a free gift when you purchase my Adhesive kit.)  After making your glue patterns, cover it in powder and let dry before heating it.  My first sample (swirls) was done on Secret Sea and the second one (diagonal lines) was on Cherry Cobbler.  I've also done this technique with Christmas trees - little dots of glue turn into perfect little ornaments.  



5.  Background Stamp and Clear  19:52

Large background stamps look great as they add a tone on tone look to your card.  Embossing this pattern in clear kicks it up a notch!  I love the shine you get with clear embossing, yet the background is still on the subtle side.  As you saw in the video, you may get more dramatic looks with one color over another. 

I used Flowers Fair and Friendly Foliage stamp sets, Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends, Clear embossing powder, and cardstock in Basic White and Poppy Parade.




6.  Embossing in Any Color  24:11

As I mentioned, I have six different colors of embossing powders.  But what if I want to have a colorful embossed image?  You can do that if you have a stamp positioner.  All you need to do is stamp the image in the ink color of your choice.  For my sample, I stamped in Granny Apple Green.  Clean off the stamp and stamp again in Versamark.  Add clear powder and heat.  The Stampin' Positioner is a new addition to our line and will be available in May.

I used Forever Florals bundle, Pretty in Pink and Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends, Pretty in Pink Bordered ribbon (retired), Clear embossing powder, and cardstock in Basic White and Pretty in Pink.

7.  3D Embossing Folder and Brayer  27:03

When you have an embossed panel with deep impressions like you get from a 3D folder, you can coat the peaks of the design with Versamark and coat it with powder.  If you have a design with lots of peaks and not much space between the peaks, you may be able to swipe your Versamark pad over them and be OK.  I found that it is much better to use a brayer to coat them.  You may still get some of the valleys, but you can use a fine paintbrush to remove unwanted powder.  In the video, I show the Whisper White ink pad.  This is another sticky ink pad that is slow to dry and works well with embossing powders too. 

I used Forever Florals dies,  Nature's Symphony stamp, Hearts of Love 3D embossing folder, Strawberry Slush Faux Linen ribbon, White embossing powder, and cardstock in Basic White and Strawberry Slush.



8.  Emboss Big Piece for Die Cutting  33:44

Small pieces are very difficult to emboss.  Instead, cover a larger piece with Versamark and powder.  After it's melted, cut out your small die cut pieces.  

This card was one of the 15 cards I made during the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat earlier this year.  In addition to the exclusive stamp set set for that retreat, we used Forever Florals dies, Petal Pink Two Tone cardstock, Basic White and an exclusive DSP for the event.




9.  Emboss Resist  36.22

When you emboss with clear powder, it "traps" the color beneath the embossing.  This allows you to add more color around the embossed part.  In my sample, I embossed Happy Retirement on a panel of white.  Then I added three shades of blue with a blending brush to make it ombre.  The key to making the embossing pop is using a micro fiber cloth to wipe off any ink on top of the embossing.  The white of the cardstock looks fabulous against the blues because the embossing resists being colored by the inks.

I used Happy Place and Sending Salutations stamp sets, Bordered in Beauty dies, a Blending Brush with Coastal Cabana, Azure Afternoon and Blueberry Bushel inks, clear embossing powder, and cardstock in Basic White, Coastal Cabana, Blueberry Bushel and Crumb Cake.

10.  Mixed Metals  41:01

There is no rule that you must stick with a single color of embossing powdered.  For my sample, I wanted to make the gear look a bit rusty.  After coating the gear in Versamark, I added a little copper powder to a few places.  Then I covered the rest in silver.  To assist in the melting of the powders, I added a little "handle" with a mini glue dot.  If you don't get enough "rust", you can always add more Versamark and repeat the process.  

I used Gears & Textures dies,  2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat and Sending Salutations stamps, Silver and Copper embossing powders, and cardstock in Basic White and Cajun Craze.

11.  Almost like Resin  44:37

This last one takes a little more time because it involves several layers of clear.  In my video, I show a circle where I added a fussy cut bug from my pack of DSP.  I had also added a little shading for the sky and grass.  Before embossing, I stacked three circles of a smaller size behind to add stability, and added another "handle" to assist with the heating.  When you add the first layer of embossing, you will notice that the surface is not smooth, but slightly pebbled.  With each layer you add, the surface gets smoother and smoother.  After multiple layers of clear, the piece looks like resin.  My other samples show how the clear powder makes stamped images more intense in color and that you can do the same thing with DSP.  

I used Sweet Bugs bundle, Cute as a Bug and Brights 6" x 6" DSP, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends, Old Olive Specialty Rick Rack, Ladybug Garden Epoxy Shapes, Clear embossing powder, and cardstock in Basic White, Pumpkin Pie and Crumb Cake.

That's a lot of fun ways you can heat emboss!  I hope you've learned something new and that your passion for card making keeps getting stronger!

Karen


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Shadowed Strips

I've been seeing a lot of cards on the internet with this technique, so that inspired me to make this video for you.  I'm not sure ...