Technique, Mirror Image Stamping

Hello, it’s Nicole G., again, with another video technique, and I’m super excited to share this one with everyone.

This mirror image technique is so much fun to use, and it’s a great way to create really fun cards. I personally love to use this technique to create cute scenes or lovey-dovey cards—but go ahead and watch the video and once you've got this technique down feel free to use it your own way and have a great time!

I hope you learned something new - or if you already knew this technique maybe you're thinking of a new valentines card it would be great with - here's a snapshot of my card... 

I have to mention - the Fox set, it's sold out right now (I know, I'm not surprised either - it's so darn cute!) 

BUT BUT BUT - It will be back in the shop next week (or that's when we hope it will!) So be on the look out next week... and I'm sure Nicole, Ms. Sweet, will send out a newsletter letting you know it's back. SO, be sure to get on the newsletter list - HERE. (see below the screen shot of the newsletter sign up - it's on the bottom of the sweet stamp shop home page) 

The sets that you saw today and the sets that are featured in the card art.... 

Foxy (sold out right now) 

Numbers/Symbols 

Baking Love 

Press It Wash It 

The Sweet Stamp Shop loves to see what you create using their stamps so head on over to the SSS Flickr page by clicking here, and share your cards and/or layouts using this technique (or any others). I hope you enjoyed this video and have a great day!

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they many faces of embossing

Hey there!
It's Samantha here on the blog today! And I'm SUPER excited to share some cards about the different kinds of embossing out there!

One of the hottest trends happening right now is embossing paste!! I, for one, am a HUGE lover of this look!
But there is the old school dry embossing and heat embossing too - both techniques look wonderful on cards!!

here's a quick comparison of all three styles:

And those ideas are just scratching the surface of the embossing world!! You can change the look and feel of your card by adding color:

* by mixing re-inkers/mists with your white embossing paste
* adding inks to you embossing folder, or lightly (and carefully!) adding ink to the raised images after they're embossed
* using color embossing powder

I mean, you can add glitter, distress stains, watercolors, markers, seriously, there is SO much available out there to make these techniques fresh and FUN!!

For today's cards, I kept it simple and clean (and white!) just to consistantly show the differences in the three methods!

My first card shows off the lovely effect that Heat Embossing can provide:

I stamped the US image from Across the Miles (one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE sweet stamp shop stamp sets!!) in versamark ink and then heat embossed in clear over water color paper! The numbers are from Numbers - Symbols stamp set from the latest release!! which were popped up for dimension! the rest of the sentiment was created using Alpha Tabs (another MUST have!!).

My next card shows off the awesome look of Embossing Paste!! LOOOOOOOOOVE that stuff! :)

I used it to add white on white interest to the background of my card! :)
(The same stamp sets were used for this card!)

I have one last card on my blog showing how Dry Embossing can give you a super cool look by adding dimension to the background of the card!! :)

Well, what do you think? Are you inspired to flex your embossing muscles?! I hope so!! Let me know in the comments below if you used any http://www.sweetstampshop.com/all-stamps/Sweet Shop stamps with embossing techniques!! i would LOVE to leave you some LOVE! :)

And while you're at it, take another gander in the Sweet Stamp Shop Store - did you know they sell flair now?! CUSTOM flair to coordinate with their stamp sets!! Hello!!!

See you next time sweets!!
~Samantha  Pin It

Purple, Pandas, & Pears...Oh My!

It's another SWEET Monday and I have a bit of fun for you today.  For this week's Sketches 2 Ways, I debated using the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch or giving you another peek at an upcoming sketch.  Duh!  I decided you guys are way too special to not get especially sweet treatment so, the sketch I'm using will be up on the CTS blog this Thursday which gives you an extra 3 days to play with it.  Woo hoo!

I had WAY too much fun with the combo of Sweet stamps and the awesome sketch this week.  Yup, I actually ended up with 4 cards from one sketch and had to ask my fellow designers to help me pick the two that I would feature here.  Don't worry, you'll get to see the other 2 also...just check out my blog today and on Thursday.  First up, the sketch!

Can you see why I had so much fun?  Well it all started with Alyssa's Yummy Love stamp set.  How am I supposed to resist smiling fruits and veggies?  Impossible.  

I had some cards lying around from a certain pocket scrapbooking company that I knew would be perfect with these stamps.  So, I did a little misting on my green card base to give the card some sparkle (shine mist).  While that was drying, I stamped and colored these adorable pears.  I decided yellow was the way to go because that is the color of the pretty pears on our trees out front (when they aren't covered in snow...ugh) and I liked how it picked up the yellow on the delicious card.  I die cut a heart to cover a mess up that I had where I tried to add a little shadow to the pear.  It just didn't look that great.  Thanks goodness for dies to cover up an oops.  I thought I was finished when I stamped the sentiment but I was feeling the need to fill the white void under the pears.  A little green washi was all it took.  What do you think?  I think the washi really helps tie the card to the sketch.

 My second card is inspired by my littlest dude.  His 4th birthday is coming up and he's a purple-a-holic.  So, I broke out our new number set, Numbers - Symbols, and everyone's favorite panda, Panda Face. 

 I did a little masking, embossing, and inking on this card.  WHOA!  First, I masked off a rectangle to make a little focal background for my card.  Next up, I embossed my 4's all over my background shape with white embossing powder.  Using some neon purple (yup, NEON purple) ink and a make-up sponge, I blended in a cool background that I knew my little dude would just adore.  I love how the embossed 4's really stand out.  I applied a little strip of glitter paper to represent the line from the sketch.  Finally, I stamped my sentiment on a little square of paper that I knew would make a perfect sign for my panda to hold with the hands that I cut after stamping 2 cute panda images on another white paper (one for the panda and one for just his hands).  A few foam squares for dimension and there you have it.  So, do you think my purple lover will like his birthday card?

He might just give me a face like this:

I just love that little goofball.  I hope you enjoyed my cards today and I'd love for you to come visit me at my blog for another awesome card made with more Sweet Stamp Shop goodies (you might find another surprise there also).  How awesome is that?  We'd love it if you come visit us on Facebook and LIKE us!  You won't want to miss out on the deals and peeks shared there...I guarantee it!  Just tell them Chrissy sent you.  ;)  Thanks and have a wonderful week!

-Chrissy Pin It