Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge Blog #54

Our challenge this week is to use ribbon and lace on a card.  As you can tell I'm still stuck in Valentine mode. I just love Valentine cards....they seem so romantic to me.  Anyway this one was very simple.  I used Glossy White CS, ran the embossing buddy over it to remove the static, then stamped the Bella Toile Background Stamp in VersaMark, sprinkled on Black Embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool and presto-chango.....a G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S piece of paper to create a beautiful card on.  The rest was simple...I stamped the Be My Valentine a la carte stamp (Occasions Mini) in Versa Mark and like the background stamp used black embossing powder on the image.  Then I colored the area left white by the stamp with my Real Red Stampin' Write Marker and then cut the image out.  I glued it to a scrap of Red Glimmer Paper and cut around the heart/banner shape leaving a nice margin so the glimmer paper would show.  Before I glued all to the card base, I wrapped the art piece with a piece of lace from my sewing stash and before tying it in a knot, I tucked in some of my my favorite ribbons, 1 1/4" striped Grosgrain Ribbon (black); 5/8" Black Satin Ribbon;  and 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon, then finished tying the knot.  This created another focal piece on the card, a beautiful array of ribbon (scraps).  I just love using my scraps.  I have a large jar full of ribbon scraps and one for strips of paper also.  Ya never know when you might need just a little piece of something.

I hope you will join us in the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge this week. And remember, if you need any of the the supplies I used to create this card, please email me and let me know. And don't forget the awesomeness of Sale-a-Bration (free product from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog for every $50 you spend) and the great offering that Stampin' Up! has on becoming a Demonstrator.  The new Demonstrator kit is over $360.00 worth of products for $148.75 and you can even customize your kit. Please let me know if you have any questions about my card, Sale-a-Bration or becoming a demonstrator.  I'd love for you to join my team.  All materials (except the black lace) are by Stampin' Up!

Blissful Heart

Bev Watt's recent card was the inspiration for this card.  Although I did change mine up a bit, sometimes a girl just needs a jump start with inspiration from someone.  The trim was created using the Tasteful Trim Sizzix Die out of Basic Black and Red Glimmer Paper. The flourish from the Sale-a-Bration Stamp Set Bliss was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with black embossing powder. I wanted to make my card a Valentine card so instead of using the Butterfly from the Bliss set, I used the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Sizzlit  with a Red Glimmer Heart punched with the large heart punch. Base card color is a favorite Blushing Bride accented with Riding Hood Red.  I used the punch template from the Mat Pack to create a little interest in opposing corners.  It's all topped off with my favorite Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Black.

Heart to Heart Valentine

My friend Lee Conrey inspired this card.  This was actually a very fast card to make.  The biggest challenge was deciding what size to cut the layers of Whisper white and Riding Hood Red CS.  The Heart to Heart punch was used for the hearts out of Red Glimmer Paper. The scallop trim was cut using the Tasteful Trim Sizzix Die out of more Red Glimmer Paper.  I tied it all off with 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.  All supplies by Stampin' Up! Please contact me at sherrysinknstamps@yahoo.com to purchase the materials and supplies for this project.

Be My Valentine

This card highlights the Be My Valentine 'a la carte stamp. I used the poppin' pastels technique for the focal image.  This technique uses VersaMark to stamp the image, then you use Stampin' Up pastels to color the it.  I used several shades of red on the interior of the image and black around the edge.  Scrap strips of real red CS and Red Glimmer paper create a frame for the focal image and accent hearts punched with the small heart punch.  To order the supplies used to create this card or others on my blog you can email me or shop here.

Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge Blog Feb 1, 2011

Well, I've been keeping some very exciting new from my followers and subscribers.  I was invited to join the Hand Stamped Sentiments Design Team beginning February 1st.  The HSS Design Team members are passionate Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who love a good challenge & the creativity that this sparks.  


I hope you'll join in on this week's challenge using the romantic colors of red and black and as a neutral white or very vanilla.  These are some of my favorite colors.  And you can use any color or shade of red that I wanted.  Many of you that frequent my blog will know that I had to throw Cherry Cobbler in there somewhere. Did you  notice how I added detail to the Eiffel Tower (Artistic Etchings Stamp Set)?  I inked the tower in Real Red and then took my Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker and used it to add the deeper color to the edges of the stamp, creating the added detail and dimension.  Cool Huh?  I love doing stamps this way.  I used the same technique on the Amour sentiment from the same stamp set.  For the cool technique on the card background.  I used a brayer to coat the inside of the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder with black ink, then embossed it leaving the black ink in the de-bossed area (A technique I first saw on Diana Gibbs Blog.  Makes it really look old world.  Then I distressed the edges of all the white papers, added layers of Black CS and Red Glimmer Paper and finished it off with the luscious Stampin' Up! 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. I hope you enjoyed my card this week.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Two Hearts

This is a classic Valentine card for that special someone.  The Real Red Cardstock base was embossed with the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (New Occasions Mini). The two hearts were punched with the heart punch out of Real Red CS and sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink around the edges to give definition.  I glued the hearts to a rectangle of Blushing Bride CS then embossed all together with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (Idea Book and Catalog). Other layers are Red Glimmer Paper and Love Impressions DSP (New Occasions Mini).  It is topped off with a beautiful bow of white grosgrain ribbon.

Love is in the Air! Blog Candy up for grabs!!!

Can you tell I've been having fun.  I seem to be enjoying punch art more than ever.  Can you tell I spent the whole evening giggling while making this card?  I have often wondered how the people that are really good at punch art envision what they can do with a particular punch.  I've used several punches on this card...the most obvious the large heart and the gondola for the hot air balloon, the Cherry and Candle from the Build a Cupcake Punch.