Enjoy Card and Why I Don't Like Naked Cardstock

After making about 100 of the Brocade Basic cards to swap, I just had to switch to a different design. My brain was screaming for some variety. So I came up with this Enjoy card. It was fun playing with one of the new In Colors, Baja Breeze. I just love how it looks with Mellow Moss and Chocolate Chip.

Supplies
It’s Beautiful Jumbo Wheel
Lovely Labels Stamp Set
Polka Dot Background Stamp
Tres Chic Background Stamp
Mellow Moss Jumbo Cartridge
Mellow Moss Classic Stampin’ Pad
Baja Breeze Classic Stampin’ Pad
Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin’ Pad
Baja Breeze Cardstock 8 ½ x 5 ½ in.
Mellow Moss Cardstock 4 ¼ x 2 1/8 in.
Chocolate Chip Cardstock 4 ¼ x 1 in.
Whisper White Cardstock
Handle for Jumbo Wheel
1 ¼ in. Circle Punch
1 3/8 in. Circle Punch
Mellow Moss Ribbon (I used taffeta on some cards and grosgrain on the others)

Step 1: Wheel It’s Beautiful on the Baja Breeze cardstock.

Step 2: Using Mellow Moss, stamp Polka Dot on the Mellow Moss cardstock

Step 3: Using Chocolate Chip, stamp Tres Chic on the Chocolate Chip cardstock.

Step 4. Using Baja Breeze, stamp Enjoy on Whisper White cardstock. Punch out using
1 ¼ in. circle punch. Mat with 1 3/8 in. circle punched from Chocolate Chip cardstock.

Step 5. Adhere Chocolate Chip, Enjoy and ribbon to the Mellow Moss cardstock. Attach to Baja Breeze cardstock.

You might ask, why did I stamp the Chocolate Chip cardstock? If you have taken a class from me, you know that cardstock that isn’t stamped looks too plain to me. To my eye, it looks naked. I think that is because I painted and quilted before I started teaching rubber stamping. When you paint, you start by painting the background to give it color and texture. When you quilt, even plain muslin has a texture. Then you quilt to add another layer of texture to your piece. So that’s why folks who have been with me know that there is no naked cardstock in my projects.

Note: I have reformed a little over the years. I don’t feel the need to stamp cardstock that is being used as a mat any more...

I leave for convention tomorrow in the early morning. I'm looking forward to sharing what I learn with everyone when I return.

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

Brocade Basics Card Instructions

I ended up tweaking the Brocade Basics card as one of my swap cards for convention. The Drop & Swish technique was new to me so I decided to post the instructions for this card.

Supplies:
Cut Ruby Red cardstock 8 1/2 x 5 1/2
Cut Always Artichoke cardstock 3 x 4 1/4
Cut Kraft cardstock 2 7/8 x 4 1/8
Punch out 1" circle in Always Artichoke
Punch out 1 1/4" circle in Ruby Red
Scrap of Whisper White cardstock
Circle Coluzzle
Paper Snips
Sponge
Ruby Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
En Francais background stamp
Brocade Basics stamp set
White acrylic paint
One of those plastic sample credit cards you get in your junk mail



Step 1: Apply a bead of white acrylic paint across a little over half of the long edge of the credit card. Pull the card and paint across your piece of kraft cardstock. Pull from different directions until you have about 75% of the kraft cardstock covered in a thin layer of white acrylic paint. Let dry.



Step 2: Stamp Brocade Basics stems and leaves in Always Artichoke and the flower in Ruby Red. Overstamp both the Ruby Red cardstock and the kraft cardstock with En Francais using Ruby Red.



Step 3: Sponge on Always Artichoke across the bottom and Ruby Red lightly around the top two thirds of the kraft piece of cardstock. Sponge Ruby Red on on the Ruby Red cardstock.



Step 4: Stamp the Brocade Basics flower and stem on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock. Cut out the bottom half using the smallest circle on the circle coluzzle. Silhouette cut the rest of the flower out with your scissors. Adhere to the Always Artichoke and Ruby Red circles.

Step 5: Adhere all the pieces. I like using a thin mat like you see with the Always Artichoke because it really brings your eye to the stamped piece in the center. If you look at expensive paintings, you'll notice that many of them have a thin mat that you will barely notice until you look more closely. If you leave out the thin mat or make it larger, to my eye, it takes away from your stamping.

Have fun with this technique. I'd love to see your pics of what you do with the Drop & Swish technique. If you'll send your pics to sharon@sharoncheng.com, I'll work on posting some of the best examples when I get back from convention.

Sharon Cheng
www.sharoncheng.stampinup.net
http://scandcompany.blogspot.com/

Crop-A-Dile Instructions

The Dusty Stampers classes last week were so much fun. These classes are a great way to use your stamps and supplies that might be getting a little dusty from not being used. The July bonus project was this little box. One of the items that we used was the Crop-A-Dile to punch through two layers of corrugated paper and to set a jumbo eyelet.

To set the jumbo eyelet, I looked at the instructions that are on the back of the package. This is something that is easy to lose so I thought I would post the instructions here. Also, on my newer model, the eyelet setter is marked to show you which side goes on the top of the eyelet and which side goes on the bottom. If you don't have those markings, the top of the eyelet goes on the same side as the smaller hole punch. If you'll click on the instructions, a larger image will appear so you can read them more easily.

Visit my online store to get your supplies for this project.  Remember that when you purchase $25 or more in product, you are eligible for my Rewards Program.

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX

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