Society of Stampaholics

Stamp Kissing Challenge at the Lily Pad!

Simon Says Stamp is sponsoring a month-long stamp kissing challenge over at the Lily Pad, and the prize is a gift certificate worth $25 smackers!

If you don't know what stamp kissing is, you'll enjoy fooling around with it....

Bah-dah-BUM!

Yes, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitresses.

Stamp kissing means you ink up one stamp (usually the larger of the two), and you press the other stamp into its inky goodness (this is the "kissing" part of it). Then you press stamp #2 onto your paper. So what you get is your stamp with another stamp on top of it. 

For my card, I first inked a silhouette stamp of a clump of wildflowers in pink ink. Then I pressed it against my background stamp of newspaper text (inked with brown). My flower clump image was rather sparse in its use of continuous negative space, so my results were rather subtle (compared to what would have happened had I used the silhouette of a person's head, say). But this is one of the nice things about the technique. It's very easy and you can come up with lots of variety.

Unfortunately, the colors in my picture look dreadful because I had to shoot at night with a flourescent light above. (You can always tell when I'm shooting at night: lousy color and the dimpled texture of my fridge as a backdrop!)

Despite the muddy color, you can see the basic idea, I think - you can make out the text best in the big flower on the left. (By the way, remember that if you use a text stamp in this manner, the text will be reversed in the final product.) There are plenty of other examples from the rest of the Design Team on the challenge post.

S U P P L I E S:

Papers: Bazzill, Cougar 80# white; Hero Arts Stamps: S5601, CG172, CL173; Inks: Old Paper, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress), Pink Grapefruit (VersaMagic Chalk), Rich Cocoa (Memento); Fibers: ribbon (unknown), lace (Kaiser Craft); Embellishments: heart gem (Mark Richards), pearls (Recollections); Tools: foam ink applicators

Head on over and enter this challenge before it closes on Thursday, March 29, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EST. Who doesn't wanna win a $25 GC from the best supply store on the Web?!

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

Hero Arts Scramble

I got to participate in a Hero Arts Scramble last Friday night - what a blast! I had heard about these scrambles but didn't really know what they were or how they worked, etc. Basically, a scramble is hosted by one of the Flickr group's members. She schedules a time, and when that time comes, she posts the requirements. You then have 90 minutes to make and post your card.

It was nerve-wracking but so exciting!

This scramble required the use of ribbon, the color pink, a pocket, a Hero Arts stamp, and pop-dots.

Here's my card:

S U P P L I E S: STAMPS: Hero Arts CL569, CL514; PAPER: Bazzill cardstock (Blossom), My Mind's Eye Paper (Lost & Found: Madison Avenue); INKS: Memories Soft Vanilla, Ranger Distress Victorian Velvet, Adirondack Espresso; EMBELLISHMENTS: PaperTrey Ink buttons, Recollections pearls: FIBERS: Hempotique twine; American Crafts ribbon; OTHER: pop-dots; TOOLS: Memory Box butterfly die; hole punch

I didn't have any theatre tickets or giftcards to pop in the pocket, so I stamped some paper with the ticket stamp from the Life of the Party set and stuck them in - I actually like them there a lot, though. So I think I'd just put the real tickets or giftcard inside the card.

The card, butterfly and ribbon are all actually pink, but the lighting is poor at night in the kitchen, so it looks peachy (and not in a good way) lol!

UPDATE: Since writing the above, I've learned that I won the challenge! Can you believe it? Actually, this is far more amazing than you realize because it's done by random drawing, so to win my very first time participating is Cuh-raaaaaazy! I don't know what I've won, but I'll be sure and post it here when it arrives!!!!

If you'd like to see some of the other Scramblers, check out the thread here. And some upcoming Scrambles are found here.

Thanks for looking and have a blessed day!

Patterned Paper Challenge at the Lily Pad!

Simon Says Stamp is sponsoring a month-long patterned paper challenge over at the Lily Pad, and the prize is a gift certificate worth $25 smackers!

We all know that I'm a confessed patterned paper horder - part of this is because I'm not always the best at combining patterns. (I fear my card for today might be a liiittle busy....)

S U P P L I E S:

Patterned paper: Hello Luscious, Sweet Threads 6x6 (Basic Grey); Chipboard: Hello Luscious (Basic Grey); Stamps: This is Big [CL570] (Hero Arts); Ink: Adirondack Espresso (Ranger); Fibers: ribbon (American Craft); Embellishments: gems (Studio 18); Tools: Fiskars border punch, Nestabilities dies

Now get on over and enter this challenge before it closes on Thursday, February 23, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

How I Made the Heart-Shaped Ribbon

Yesterday was the start of the  Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop featuring creations by the past Hero Hostesses.

Of all the comments I received, one was made more often than not, and quite a few people asked me how I did it. I am referring to the heart shaped ribbon (see below):

Would you believe that little heart-shaped ribbon was a total accident?!

May my Vagabond croak and die if I'm lying!

If you want to have your own happy accident, here's how to do it. 

If your ribbon isn't on a spool, wrap it onto one and let it sit for a day or two. My ribbon was on a small spool, (about the width of a toilet paper roll) so when I cut a piece off it was curly. As it turned out, I cut way too much ribbon because I had originally envisioned a large bow in the upper left corner. However, as things turned out, I didn't like it and just kept pulling the tails until I had a bow that looked properly proportionate to the button and flowers.  

So here were these long tails curling about, and I first thought I would have them join one another in a circle - which would frame the sentiment. But as I was poking at it, the two ends bowed toward one another - making the shape of an upside down heart.

I proceded to experience an A-HA! moment and decided to rotate my little embellishment 180 degrees and then move it to the bottom!

I used a very small glue dot to hold the ribbon ends together right at the center and bottom so the same glue dot could also affix both tails to the card (you could also use fabric glue, I'm sure).

Someone also asked me about the lace but didn't leave an email address or link. The lace is manufactured and feels like it's made of cotton (so it's not paper). I purchased it at Hobby Lobby (it's made by The Paper Studio, their inhouse brand of scrapbooking supplies).

Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful compliments and comments yesterday - it really made me feel wonderful!

Welcome to the Hero Arts 2012 Catalog Blog Hop!

Good morning and welcome to Day One of the Hero Arts Catalog Blog Hop, featuring the new 2012 stamps in creations made by the Hero Arts Hostesses! The fun lasts all week, so let's get started!

P R I Z E S. Hero Arts will be awarding prizes from randomly drawn comments. For a chance to win, simply comment on ANY of the stops along the hop on ANY day, including each day’s starting post at the Hero Club Blog. The more comments you leave, the better your chance of winning!

B R O K E N   L I N K S. If you find a broken link, you'll find a master list of the hop links at the Hero Club Blog. Also, please report broken links to Tami.

Here's what I made - a Valentine's Day card for a close woman friend:

Some of the supplies & tools I used:

C O M P R E H E N S I V E   L I S T   OF   S U P P L I E S

HERO ARTS STAMPS: Leaf & FLoral Background (CG405) *NEW*, True Friends (CG420), *NEW* Friends (CL351); INKS: Pink Grapefruit (VersaMark), Rich Cocoa (Memento), Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress); PAPERS: cardstock (Memory Box), Lost & Found Market Day (My Mind's Eye); FIBERS: dotted ribbon (K&I), lace (Paper Studio), sheer ribbon (American Craft); EMBELLISHMENTS: jeweled brad (My Mind's Eye), paper flower (Petaloo), fabric flower (Paper Studio), button (Paper Trey Ink); pearls (Mark Richards); OTHER: pop-dots; TOOLS: Fiskars border punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, McGill punch, foam ink applicator 

The next stop on the hop: Suzz's Stamping Spot, hosted by the uber-talented Suzanne Czosek!

Thanks for looking, and don't forget to comment to get a chance to win some of these beautiful new stamps!

InLinkz.com

Lily Pad Challenge - May Arts Ribbon

There's a new challenge over at Lily Pad Cards: make a card featuring ribbons! May Arts is sponsoring this challenge, and I have to admit I love their ribbons!

I'm not totally thrilled with my end result - I got a little heavy-handed with the ink, and I wish I had used a different color family - maybe browns? - it all looks way too yellow-greeny to me. I also think I should probably have put some pearls in the flower's center. What do you think? Otherwise, I like it - LOL!

S U P P L I E S

Hero Arts CL493 stamp; Memory Box Soiree Shimmer cardstock; Bazzill cardstock; Hero Hues (black) and Ranger Distress (Peeled Paint, Bundled Sage) inks; May Arts ribbons; Reflections pearls

T O O L S

Deco/Stub Crop-a-dile corner chomper, Tim Holtz foam ink applicator tool, circle punch, Tim Holtz stapler 

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Make card base (4.25" x 5.5" when folder) and corner round opposite corners.
2. Cut cardstock (3.75" x 5") and corner round opposite corners.
3. Edge cardstock panel with Ranger Distress inks.
4. Stamp sentiment, and adhere panel to card.
5. Adhere ribbon stem.
6. Make leaves by folding 2" wide ribbon and stapling it at edge (when you spread it open, it will look like a leaf with a vein in the center).
7. Adhere leaves to the card.
8. Punch circle from scrap cardstock to use for base of flower.
9. Take flower ribbon (do not cut from role until finished) and knot the end. Hot glue the knot to the center of the circle.
10. Apply hot glue around knot and twist your ribbon as you wind it around the circumfrence of the knot. Keep doing this until you have completely covered your punched circle.
11. Adhere flower to card.
12. Adhere pearls. 

And there you have it!

If you'd like a chance to win a very nice collection of ribbons from May Arts, come make a card for the Ribbon Challenge at Lily Pad! Deadline is Thursday, June 23, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

TFL and have a great day!

Inspirational Challenge - Just Saying Hello

Well, here I am... still working on that scheduling thing. 

This is the week. I can feel it! Yes-sir-ee-bob, this is the week I get my act TOGETHER. There will be posting every day at Lily Pad Cards. And at least every other day here at SOS! I've reached a turning point and am close to achieving blog Nirvana!!!

Riiiiiiiiight....

It could happen.

Today at Lily Pad Cards we have the Inspirational Challenge - you make a card based on anything you saw on our blog for the past month. I was inspired by Susie’s card. I've masked off and used my ink tools before, so this wasn't a new technique for me, but I'm always really happy with the result - especially since it's so easy to do!

S U P P L I E S

Hero Arts Stamps CL380 (sentiment) and K5404; Bazzill cardstock; Cougar 80# cardstock; Hero Hues (Black) and Ranger Distress (Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord) inks; Hero Arts button; embroidery floss; gems; unknown ribbon; Beacon's Fabri-Tac

I N S T R U C T I O N S

1. Cut and score a 4.25" x 5.5" card.
2. Cut a white panel (about 4" x 5.25")
3. Mask your white panel so you have only a rectangle visible.
4. Using a circular motion, randomly apply Distress inks with a Tim Holtz foam ink applicator (go from light to dark colors).
5. Remove masking and stamp sentiment and focal image with black ink.
6. Using a craft knife and metal-edged ruler, cut a .5" slit on either side of the inked rectangle for your ribbon.
7. Thread your ribbon through the slits and knot.
8. Thread button with floss and adhere with Beacon's Fabri-Tac.
9. Adhere white panel to card.
10. Adhere gems to stamped image.

You should definitely drop by Lily Pad Cards and try this challenge because the prize is a $25 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp! We've extended our weekly challenges to two weeks, so you have from now until Thursday, June 9, at 11:59 p.m. EST to get your card in.

So drop on by!!!