Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Layout using Bleach technique

This is the layout I created with the patterned paper I made using the Bleach technique.  This layout cost pennies to make...I used paper scraps from my stash, a couple of stickers, eyelets, heart paper clip and bling.
I will be blogging about more techniques in future posts, so keep visiting!

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Rubber Stamping with Bleach

 Bleaching is a fun way for beginners to try rubber stamping on their scrapbook projects with minimal investment. The bleaching effect will vary depending on the color and type of paper you use. This technique works best on darker paper, but you can still achieve a subtle effect with pastel papers. Experiment with different papers and colors and keep a swatch book for future reference.
Supplies

  • Household Bleach 
  • Paper Towels
  • Flat bottomed container
  • Rubber Stamps
  • Solid Core Cardstock 
  • Archival mist (if you are using your project in scrapbook) 
  •  
    Preparation & Safety
    Cover work area with a protective cloth or paper. Wear clothing appropriate for working with bleach. Eye protection is suggested in case of spattering. If you have sensitive skin you may want to wear latex or rubber gloves. Make sure you work in a well ventilated area.  Never work with bleach near an open flame. Bleach is toxic, therefore this technique is NOT SUITABLE for children.

    Steps
    1. Fold a paper towel into quarters and place in your container.

    2. Soak paper towel with bleach, just enough to dampen (not sloshy).

    3. Dab stamps onto paper towel and press on background paper.

    4. Do not overload the stamp with bleach as this will result in blurred images.

    Tips
    • Use bold stamps as bleach has a tendency to run a bit.
    • Try letter and phrase stamps to make backgrounds that match the theme of your layout.
    • Use solid core cardstock that is the same color all the way through the paper (do not use papers with a white back or core).
    • Test on a scrap of the paper you want to use to see how it reacts to the bleach.
    • Do not allow bleached areas to come in contact with your photos until it has dried completely and treated with an archival mist.
    • Bleached images can be painted, colored with chalks or finished in the same way as any other image.
    • If you dilute the bleach you will get a softer look.
    Once you are done stamping with bleach, it is VERY important to clean your stamps thoroughly. The bleach will not harm your stamps if you follow this rule and It may clean up any ink residue that may be stuck in the nooks and crannies. Wash with a soft brush and warm soapy water.






    First I stamped flowers repetitively along the bottom edge to create a border.






      Next, I stamped some butterflies
























    It would have been pretty with just bleaching, but I decided to stamp the same flowers in a darker ink, slightly offset.  I did the same for the butterflies but used a contrasting stamp.  You can't really see it, but I also sprayed some glitter spray over the entire sheet.


    Voila, the finished product!

     
    Now, I'm going to get busy and create a layout with my unique patterned paper. I'll show the completed layout in the next post.  Until then....Happy Stamping!

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    Saturday, June 19, 2010

    Stamping - It's not just for Cards!


    A lot of people say they aren't interested in rubber stamping because they don't make cards...they are more into scrapbooking. Boy are they missing out! Stamps can be used for alphabet titles, backgrounds, embellishment accents, journaling and much more! Plus, they are a great investment in that they can be used over and over again.

    If you want to break out of the mold and stamp on your pages you will need to know a few things about the products first.

    Ink Basics


    Stampin' Up!'s revolutionary pads feature a patented, flip-top design that stores the inking surface upside down so it is always moist. The type of ink used depends on the look you want and the material you will be stamping:

    Dye - Dye based inks may fade with time, making them less attractive for scrapbook enthusiasts. However, card enthusiasts love our Classic Ink pads because they are fast drying, resist smudging and are permanent. They are great for general craft projects as well.

    Pigment - Colors tend to be more vibrant, and ink is a bit thicker than dye-based inks. Our Craft Ink pads contain rich pigment that is ideal for scrapbooking, embossing, and other craft projects, and are the best choice for long-lasting color. 

    Versamark - Perfect for watermarking which creates a subtle tone-on-tone image. It is also perfect for heat embossing.

    Staz On - This is a solvent based ink. It dries by evaporation, not absorption like water-based dye inks. It is perfect for smooth surfaces, such as glass, acrylic, metal and photographs. Clean your stamps immediately with Staz-On solvent cleaner when using this ink.


    Other products you may like to have on hand include embossing powders, a brayer, sponge daubers, stamp cleaning solution & scrubber..

    Then, of course, you need the stamps!

    Our high quality rubber stamps are sold in sets, in both wood and clear mount. The deeply etched images on foam-backed rubber create sharp and clear stamped images, giving a far superior result over materials such as acrylic or foam stamps.

    If you are just starting out, consider purchasing sets that will work with many of your scrapbooking projects, such as alphabets, basic shapes, floral, holiday, baby, etc.... These basic images can be used in many different ways on your layouts without being repetitive.


     Try these ideas:

    * Change the stamped ink color or use Versamark for subtle backgrounds..

    * Use basic shapes and different ink colors on white or light colored cardstock to create your own unique    patterned paper.


    * Try watercolor pencils, markers, chalks, glitter, acrylic paints, or embossing powders.

    * Use a portion of a stamp as opposed to the entire image.

    * Change the paper or surface, such as patterned paper, fabric, acrylic, vellum, or textured cardstock.

    * Add mixed media, such as brads, eyelets, ribbon, tags and buttons.

    There is no end to the techniques one can learn with inks and stamps. To get started, try these basic techniques:

    Direct to Paper - Images and inks are pressed to paper, either directly on your layout or on a separate piece of paper which is then cut out and mounted on your page. For larger stamps such as background stamps, it is often easier to lay the stamp image side up and tapping the ink pad onto the image. Press the image onto the paper firmly with your palm and don't rock or twist the stamp. Pick the stamp straight up and allow the image to dry. Color the image if desired.

    Heat Embossing - This technique gives a raised impression to your stamped image. Rub an embossing buddy or dryer sheet over your paper. Stamp your image with our Craft Ink or Versamark. Place your image over a sheet of plain copy paper or a powder tray. Pour embossing powder over the entire stamped image. Pick up the stamped image and tap it lightly to remove the excess embossing powder. Return the excess powder to the jar. Heat the image with an embossing gun being careful to slowly move the heat gun over the image. To avoid overheating or scorching your paper, constantly move the embossing gun around in a circular motion. You will know it's done when your image begins to change texture, becoming slightly raised..

    Shadow Stamping - This technique is done in two steps: stamping the shadow stamp in a light color and re-stamping in a darker ink over that shadow. Shadow stamps are typically a solid rubber shape, such as squares and circles, many with unique edges.

    Resist - With this technique, the image is the only area of your paper not colored by ink. Stamp your image on glossy paper using a Versamark pad. Ink a brayer and roll it across the paper and image.

    Masking - Masking is done when you want to bring an image to the forefront of a scene. To create a mask, stamp your foreground image on a post-it note and trim, cutting just inside the edge of the image for best results. To use the mask, stamp your image on your cardstock or paper. Place the mask over your image when it dries. Stamp your background layer(s) and allow to dry. Remove the mask to reveal your layered art.


    With these products and techniques, you can create beautiful and unique scrapbook layouts. You'll soon realize that inks and stamps are a versatile and artistic way to preserve your memories!

    Happy Stamping!

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    Wednesday, June 16, 2010

    Become a Demo for only $99 - Limited time Offer!!

    Have you often thought of becoming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator but were waiting for the perfect deal to join?  Well, there's no need to wait any longer, now you can!!
     
    FROM JUNE 1 to JUNE 30th YOU CAN
        JOIN THE STAMPIN' UP! FAMILY FOR ONLY $99! 
     
     
    • Stampin' Up! is offering a special $99 Mini Starter Kit, valued at $180.  Free shipping, too!
    • You can pre-order select items from the brand-new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog before anyone else sees them!!
    • Enjoy full Stampin' Up! demonstrator discounts and benefits with the $99 Mini Starter Kit, including  a 30% discount on your first $150 product order (within 45 days of start). 
    • On-line sign-up is easy!  Email me for my sign-up password or with any questions you may have.
    The Mini Starter Kit—valued at over $180—contains the items listed below; while all items are recommended, you can substitute a like item of equal or lesser value.

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    Item  Description  Price 
    117050 
    Watercolor Trio stamp set (wood-mount) 
    $22.95 
    118571 
    I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (clear-mount)
    $18.95 
    118486 
    Clear-Mount Block C 
    $695 
    116978 
    Homemade single stamp*  
    $8.95 
    100730 
    Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11") 
    $8.50 
    119706 
    Brights Collection assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")* 
    $6.95 
    115656 
    Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad 
    $5.95 
    119667 
    Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad* 
    $5.95 
    115658 
    Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad 
    $5.95
    100814 
    Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad 
    $5.95 
    119261 
    Basic Black 1/8" taffeta ribbon* 
    $6.95 
    121620 
    Color Coach* 
    $14.95 
    104332 
    SNAIL Adhesive 
    $6.95 
     
     Retail value of products in kit
    $124.90 

    *Sneak peek items! 
     
     Also included are the same business supplies that are in the standard Starter Kit.($199). Plus, new demonstrators who join Stampin’ Up! in June will receive a free box of 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogs
    during the first part of July!
    • Getting Started DVD
    • Getting Started Guide
    • Guest Invitation Postcards (100)
    • 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
    • 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (8, shipped separately in July)
    • Summer Mini Catalog (8)
    • To My Hostess Envelopes (10)
    • Recruit Folders (5)
    • Recruit Brochures (20)
    • Hostess Brochure (20)
    • Hostess Benefits Form (10)
    • Customer Order Form (50)
    GOD Bless!!
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    Online Shopping - Do you need to Upgrade your Browser?

    Since the web is constantly evolving, to get the most out of it you need to be sure you are using the very latest tools. And as we work to bring you the best possible web pages and applications, we ask that you make sure to use the very latest version of your web browser.
    After April 7, 2010, Stampin' Up! will no longer support our applications in web browsers older than Firefox 3.5 or Internet Explorer 8. Please take a few minutes to make sure you are using a supported web browser, and upgrade if necessary. It is simple, and it is free!
    If you need help checking your version or updating your browser, please download the appropriate help document(s) below.

    Windows - Checking your Firefox version
    Mac - Checking your Firefox version
    Firefox - Download
    Windows - Instructions for Installing Firefox
    Mac - Instructions for Installing Firefox

    Windows - Checking your Internet Explorer version
    Internet Explorer - Download
    Windows - Instructions for Installing Internet Explorer

    If you have any problems with online shopping, please upgrade your browser.  Thank you and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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