2-step Stamping: Creating a multi-colored background with stamps

Above: Step 1 is to set up two acrylic blocks, one block for
each color you wish to use, with different stamps on
each block, spaced so they will "fit" within each other.
See additional instructions in my blog post below.

Above: Step 2 is to stamp one color, then stamp the other color
right overtop. If you set up your blocks right, they'll fit perfectly.

Below: Step 3 is to use a sea sponge and a stamp pad to sponge
and swipe additional color on, so there isn't so much white.

What do you do when you don't have the right paper, or the right colors to go with your photos?

Make your own! Today I wanted to work on a basketball layout, but the papers I had just didn't look right with my pictures. However, I had a couple of basketball stamp sets by Close to my Heart. I don't know if they even still sell them (I'm not a rep), but one was "Nothing but Net" and the other was called "Shootin' Hoops."

I wanted my paper to be two colors, not just one, so I set up two 4x6 inch clear acrylic blocks. One block had the stamps for the first color (Autumn Terracotta) and the other had the stamps for the second color (Outdoor Denim). They had to line up, but since the blocks were clear, that wasn't difficult. I just had to hold one above the other. They couldn't touch, since they would stick, and boy, would they be hard to pry apart! (Yup, I did it once--I was more careful after that.)

After I stamped each color, I used a sea sponge to dab specks of more blue so it wouldn't be so white in the background, and I swiped the ink pad on the outside edges of the 12x12 cardstock, too.

This kind of thing is one reason I'm such a slow scrapper. It's not that my pages are phenomenal, but I often end up making either my paper or my embellishments (or both).

A page a day in February

I belong to a message board that is having a challenge: 28 pages for February. I haven't done a page a day since I started scrapping, but I'm going to try for this one and see if I can't get back to doing more of my favorite hobby again. We also have to post photos of our layouts, so I'm going to try to post at least a few of them here. Most of what has been shown here has been cards or mini projects I've done rather than my layouts.

Don't expect them to be masterpieces. In order for me to do that many, they'll have to be simple. We'll see how it goes and if I can keep up. Even if I do manage it, I won't be posting every day because I typically do two page layouts, or one layout for every two days IF I keep up. The rules also allow for a person to do several layouts one day, but none for several days. As long as the total is 28 pages by Feb. 28th, the challenge has been met.

Get ready, get set......

Valentine Card

I was kind of playing around with ideas for a simple Make & Take. This one was simple enough, but wasn't as nice as the one I hope the LSS owner approves. I'll post that one later. The Stickles on it isn't dry enough to scan yet.

The border punch is Martha Stewart, and the embossed parts are Cuttlebug. The two little side hearts are just cutouts from a project I did on my cutter. They were left over, so I used them. I lined the inside of the card with red so the border punch would show better.

December 2009 Make and Take

Above is this month's Make & Take project that I designed for the LSS. If you click on the photo, you'll see an enlarged version.

The embossing on the green cardstock was done with a Cuttlebug folder. "Be Merry" and the little tree were stamped with Snag-Em stamps. The ticket is also made with a stamp by Inkadinkadoo. I used small chalk inkpads to carefully ink the parts in the colors I wanted. I swiped the edges of the tag with one of the chalk inkpads. I embellished with red and silver Stickles. I don't know who makes the yarn that I used for the tassle. It was a freebie.

Christmas Thank You card

Our son stayed with friends while my husband and I were out of town, so this is the front of the thank you card I made. It was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder, embellished with Stickles, and stamped with a Close to my Heart thank you stamp from the CTMH set called "For Every Occasion."

November Make & Take

The background of this simple Thanksgiving card is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The pumpkin is a Cuttlebug duo with the matching die and embossing folder (last fall's release-not sure if they're still available). The stamped saying is from a Hero Arts Thanksgiving set (and another saying from the set was used inside the card). The tiny turkey is by Stampendous. The label die cut the turkey is on is a Spellbinders Nestabilities.

October Make and Take

I meant to post this before Halloween, but October was a busy month. This was the October 2009 monthly Make & Take project I designed for the scrapbook store.

The stamps I used were by Hampton Arts (Trick or Treat) and Snag 'Em (Happy Halloween with spider). The other sides were also stamped with Art Warehouse (pumpkins, costumes, candy) and another "Happy Halloween" stamp (unknown manufacturer). I used a Nestabilities scalloped circle for the top, and the embossed "Scary" is a punched circle embossed in a seasonal Cuttlebug folder. The box itself, and the scalloped top, were cut with Accu-Cut dies.