Fall Cards Need Layers

Today we are talking about fall cards. I have my own to share and I'm also participating in a blog hop - so when you click through the list you'll get to see lots of other great fall cards too!  

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. I love all the colors and texture that happens as leaves change in the fall and return to earth.  

Today I have 2 fall cards for you to compare as we talk about the texture and color of fall. Both cards feature some die cut leaves as a base layer for the punched Daisies. It is so useful having coordinated product like the Daisy Lane stamp set for the detail on the flower petals and then a Daisy Punch to create the pieces for layering.  The leaves are also part of a bundle: the Gorgeous Leaves Bundle. 

Do you like the shine on the detail maple leaf? 
It was cut from copper foil. 
full product list at the end of the post

 Here's the color combo for this card - all set on an Early Espresso base

 

check out all the Stampin'Up! color choices here

 Color is only 1 aspect of a fall card.  There's lots of depth and texture too. This card has the shine from the copper foil and from the Shimmery ribbon. 

 

It also has both physical depth with all the layers and also visual depth with the pattern on the print paper. 

 

BTW: if you're looking for a good versatile paper pack with lots of neutrals and natural imagery - great for a variety of occasions including masculine cards, then check out the patterns in the In Good Taste paper pack.  I use this on a lot of different cards and I'm already on my 2nd pack.

Look closely at the brown leaves in these two pictures. Here's a trick for adding more texture . . . wrinkle and crumple the paper and sponge over it with ink or Versamark.

 

Another technique often found on fall cards is "stamping off". Check out the inside of the card . . . by stamping full strength on the bottom leaf and then stamping twice more going up and rotating the stamp you can create the look of a falling leaf.

 

The first card above had the shimmery ribbon and flat leaves. This second image shows the card without the ribbon but it has the crumpled leaves. . . . Let me know in the comments if you like it better with or without the ribbon and what you think of crinkling the leaves.

 

 

Is your brain full of ideas for colors and textures? Would you like to see some other great fall projects?  Check out the next stop on today's Autumn Themed Blog Hop

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Thanks for stopping by today, I do hope I've inspired you to get out your craft supplies and go make something INKcredible!

If you're interested in any of the product used on this card you'll find a full product list for this project at the end of this post.

 

. . . have an INKcredible day

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 Here are links to the product used on today's project
. . . to help you be INKcredible!

 

Gorgeous Leaves Bundle [158609] $44.00	Daisy Lane Cling Stamp Set [149325] $23.00	Medium Daisy Punch [149517] $16.00	In Good Taste Designer Paper [152494] $21.00	Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $5.00	Gray Granite 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Shimmer Ribbon [152463] $7.00
Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels [151193] $6.00	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115318] $8.75	So Saffron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [105118] $8.75	Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [105117] $8.75	Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131199] $8.75	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686] $8.75

Coordinated Color with the "Stamping Off" Technique

Stamping Off? Are you familiar with this technique? You'd use this technique when you want a lighter image.

• Ink the stamp.
• Stamp once on scrap paper to lose some of the ink. this is the "stamping off" part
• then without re-inking, stamp on your project. You'll get a lighter image.

I used "stamping off" on yesterday's fall card because, while I did want the Rich Razzleberry color, the color would have been too intense if I'd left the stamp at full strength ink. See more examples of stamping off here.

 Here's the whole card again, you can see why it was important to stamp off to keep the splotches part of the background.  Full strength would have overwhelmed the card.

Color Coordination:  Even though the image has been stamped off, look how perfectly the colors match: the paper, the ink and the Washi Tape.

Color matching is one advantage of getting all your stamping supplies from one company. You're guaranteed that everything coordinates: papers, inks, ribbons, other embellishments like buttons, brads . . . everything is color coordinated. 

Check out Stampin'UP!'s color collections here 

and start planning your next project now.

I appreciate your business.  Feel free to leave a comment or contact me with any questions
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired

• Need any other stamping supplies? You can shop 24/7 in my OnLine Store
• Be sure to check the Clearance Rack for super deals on retired product.
• Don't miss the Weekly Deals - new product each Tuesday 

My mistake when Masking and Stamping Off

Today's post is a tip for masking while Stamping Off.  And I'm going to show the tip along with my mistake so you'll know what to avoid.  

First - the definition of the word mask.  You put on a mask (like during Mardi Gras) to hide your face.  In stamping that's what a mask is used for, to hide something. 

The Stamping Off is how I got the different colors for the flowers.  Its just one ink pad - Rich Razzleberry. The concept of stamping off is that you stamp 2-3 times WITHOUT re-inking.

The Masking comes in here: For this card I wanted a clean sharp edge separating the flower side of the card from the area where the butterflies would go. I didn't want any flowers or leaves sticking out from under the right side of the ribbon. So I used a post-a-note as seen in the image below to create the edge.

Now, here's the mistake I made. Can you see the odd, straight dark areas on several of the flowers.  Thats because when I stamped that first dark image on the EDGE of the white paper, the pressure was different and it lost more ink on one side than the other. Which made for the odd line when I stamped again without re-inking.

So, how to avoid this?  when you want those lighter images, just "stamp off" the first dark image on a scrap piece of paper and then do your lighter image on the project.

• You can see a few more versions of this card here on an earlier post.  You might even spot a few mistakes on them.
• This seashell card shows another way to use masking and includes a video showing how its done
• Or skip right to the masking video

Are you local to the Madison/Stoughton/Dane County area?  Do you like learning  tips and tricks for stamping?  Would you like to meet some other local stampers?

•  Check out my events calendar and join us for a class.  Bring a friend with you.  Stamping is a fun social experience.
• I also do private classes for you and your friends.  And it doesn't matter at all whether your friends are stampers or not.  You enjoy it, right?  That's why you're here.  Together we'll create an event where your non-stamper friends fall in love with the hobby just like you have. Contact me to arrange an event. 

Happy Stamping
--Katie

Oops I forgot to mention that the stamp set used on this project is called Bloomin Marvelous and its one of the exclusive Sale-a-bration sets for 2013.  And there's only 4 days left of Sale-a-Bration!!  
Sale-a-bration ENDS FRIDAY . . . . . . . . .  Don't miss out on this once-a-year Sale.

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Shop for Stampin'UP! product HERE Be sure to check the Clearance Rack   you'll find some amazing deals All orders over $25 earn Customer Rewards See the Catalogs:  the Main Catalog  or the Spring Mini-Catalog Call me to get a paper version of the catalogs - 608-220-3450

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Stamping Off is Booomin' Marvelous!

Here is a marvelous technique: Stamping Off.  This sample is made with a stamp set called Bloomin Marvelous.  The reason this technique is so marvelous is because Stamping Off is such an easy way to simulate motion or to add depth to a project.

Stamping Off is a technique where you stamp multiple times without re-inking.  This humming bird was stamped first near the bloom so the ink is darkest there.  Then without reinking, it was stamped in the middle and then again on the left.  Each image is then lighter than the previous one.

For the bird it gives the illusion of motion. In the next few examples the butterfly was "Stamped off", again giving the illusion of motion. 

The flowers on the bottom 2 cards were also stamped off. The effect with the flowers is to give multiple shades from just 1 stamp pad. The stamped flowers and leaves almost look like a Designer Paper!

All of these images come from a Stamp set called Bloomin Marvelous.  This set is just perfect for showing off this technique.  And I love the font for the sentiments in this set - its so elegant.

Bloomin Marvelous is one of the 2013 Sale-a-bration stamp sets.  If you love birds and butterflies you're going to want this one for sure.  It has such gorgeous writing, the sentiments are versatile and the butterfly and humming bird are beautiful . . .  AND the butterfly goes with the new Bitty Butterfly punch. 

 

Bloomin Marvelous is EXCLUSIVE to sale-a-bration.  That means that you can't buy the set - but you can get it for FREE!  During Sale-a-bration each $50 purchase earns you a free item from the Sale-a-bration brochure.

See the Sale-a-bration brochure choices here

View the catalogs online HERE

Purchase your Stampin'UP! products here.

Happy Stamping
--Katie

Good-bye Greenhouse Garden

The Greenhouse Garden stamp set is retiring. This is a 2-step stamp set which makes incredible images when you stamp the matching  flowers in coordinating colors. It doesn't matter what color you choose, this set makes gorgeous cards. Even if you stamp in black! 

If you like the look you get with the Greenhouse Garden set, then check out these other posts that use this amazing 2-Step stamp set:  Card #1 and Card #2

  

click on any of these images to see them larger (and the glitter on the flowers)

That first card actually was stamped in black! I "stamped off" the solid image and  stamped the veins full strength.  If "stamping off" is not a familiar technique then check this post where I explained it using another example. The concept is really easy, you use it when you want the color, just less intense. I inked the solid flower stamp and lightly stamped on scratch paper to remove some of the ink, then stamped my card piece. The resulting image is light gray. Its so fast and easy and can make some impressive projects.

Greenhouse Garden is retiring along with a long list of others as we transition into the new catalog. Retiring stamp sets will be available through the end of May 2012. The new catalog goes live June 1. Check the lists of retiring stamp sets HERE. If you browse the "store" on my website you will see the images of each retiring set.

Retiring Accessories are now available only while supplies last! Again, browse the store. Some items (like some of the papers) are reduced in price. And some items won't appear because they are already sold out!  If there's something you want then don't delay. Order what you want while its still available.

contact me with any questions

Happy Stamping

--Katie

STAMPING OFF: 2-Step Stamping with Gently Falling

The stamp set "Gently Falling" is a 2-step stamp set.  It's featured in the current Holiday Mini Catalog. (see the mini catalog on-line here). A 2-step stamp set comes with 2 matching images and is intended for you to stamp one on top the other.

If you love the outdoors you'll love the variety of leaf shapes in this set. And the fact that it has the acorn and maple seed images.

With 2-step stamping you want to find a way to distinguish the 2 different images. One way would be to color the veins of the leaf a different color from the body of the leaf. If you follow this blog then you'll recognize these 2 projects from previous posts.

 

When you want both the leaf and the veins to be the same color then try Stamping Off

The technique of stamping off involves stamping more than one time without re-inking. Each subsequent stamp you make will be lighter than the one before. In this sample both the veins and the leaf body were stamped in the same color!  To make this image the veins were stamped full strength. The body of the leaf was stamped off before applying over the veins so it would be lighter and the veins would stand out. Stamping off is a fun technique. Watch for another stamping off sample with this set soon.

And if you like the idea of 2-step stamping then consider a 2-step set called Green House Garden. Check out the 2-step stamping with this set.

Was this useful information? Please pass it along to your friends. Your friends might appreciate the idea and I'll certainly appreciate having more people know about me. 

• If you are local you can attend events with me and learn more techniques. 
  Next event: Sunday afternoon starting at 1PM or Monday evening starting at 6PM
  View the full calendar and register on-line HERE
• Get the Gently Falling Stamp set HERE
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Happy Stamping
--Katie
Here to make your stamping a more pleasurable and productive experience.