Gratuitous Graffiti!

I had been wanting this stamp, *Gratuitous Graffiti* for a long, long time - so imagine my joy when I found out that I had earned a free stamp set from Stampin' Up!  During Sale-a-bration, you can earn free stamps according to how much your sales are. Woo-hoo!  I was so excited!

I just love the grungy, shabby-chic-ness of this stamp design, I think it's just awesome and there's so much you can do with it artistically.  I also love that it's all about thankfulness and gratitude, AND in different languages!  

So, to make this card I decided to heat emboss the stamp image on plain Whisper White cardstock using Versamark and Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder with my Stampin' Up Heat Tool.  After it cooled down I sponged on different colors, using each color of ink to highlight the different words.  I used cut up pieces of sponges and picked up ink straight from the ink pads, swiping the sponge over the ink pad repeatedly until it had a good amount of ink on it.  Then I dabbed the sponge onto the cardstock directly over the words.  Each word would emerge as I dabbed the ink on, it was really fun to watch.  Finally I made a shadow around each word with a permanent Sharpie marker, giving the words more definition.  Ain't it coooool?  I can't wait to make more!!!

To order any of these products, click on this link to go to my Stampin' Up storefront!

~SUPPLIES~

Stamps: Gratuitous Graffiti Background Stamp

Cardstock: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White

Inks Pads: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Always Artichoke, Real Red, Summer Sun, Pretty in Pink, Orchid Opulence, Pumkpin Pie, Pink Passion

Accessories: Heat Tool, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Sponges

Inspired by Nature!

This is one of my all-time favorite Stampin' Up! stamps, *Inspired by Nature*.  Isn't it a beaut?  (the stamp, I mean).  It's so cool, it's a double-mounted stamp - on one side of the wood block is this stamp image, and on the other side of the stamp is a matching long grassy stamp!  The two of them go perfectly together!

This stamp is also perfect for using with watercolor wonder crayons, or with the Stampin' Up! markers.

On this card I've used both sides of the rubber stamp.  Do you see how the long grassy image compliments the flowers?  I also used Stampin' Up!'s water-based markers and directly inked up the stamp using various shades of pink.  After I colored the entire stamp, I stamped it on whisper white cardstock. 

Here you can see the flower stamp used alone without the long grass.  

I basically did the same with this one.  I colored in the stamp with Stampin' Up!'s water-based markers *Tempting Turquoise* and *Summer Sun* and then stamped it on the specialty cardstock, *whisper white* which is an ultra smooth, silky and absorbent cardstock.  Do you see all the little black and grey dots in the background?  Those were done with the *Itty Bitty Backgrounds* set, which is a must-have for creating subtle shading and interest.  I also added touches of highlights with a white Stampin' Up! gel pen and Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker.

So, where is this stamp set, you ask?  Why don't you see it in the catalog?!

That's because Stampin' Up! has a *dormant* (sleeping) list!  It's basically all the stamp sets that are not seen in any catalog but still available for you to buy!  You can download, view and print it by clicking right here!

TO ORDER ANY OR ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS, CLICK HERE NOW!

~SUPPLIES~

1st card:

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Best Yet (retired)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Inks/Markers: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, Certainly Celery & Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Scallop Square punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

2nd card:

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Thank You Kindly

Cardstock: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Inks/Markers: Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery & Green Galore Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, white Stampin' Up gel pen

New Spring ~ Summer Catalog stamp sets & accessories *Good Friend*

Isn't this the cutest ensemble of cards and stationary?  It was made by fellow SU demo Kim Wilson, PhD.  (Please check out her blog CraftDoc!)  

This sweet stamp set is called *Good Friend* and comes with 8 pieces of flower and bird elements!  There are also 2 matching wheels and another matching stamp set available that compliment this set.  The other set has small trees in it.  All of them are on pp. 90-91 of the new catalog.  

--And if you like rub-ons, SU has also added a new package of colored rub-ons called *Bright Delights* on p.172 which has some of the same designs as found in these stamp sets!  

--Don't forget the matching designer paper as well!  You can see a bit of it in the photo.  It's called *Good Morning Sunshine* and has little birdies, pears, tress and flowers on it!

Enjoy!!!