Sunday 28 April 2019

Baby Bear in the Pink

This part of the year is a little bitter sweet for a Stampin' Up Demonstrator - there's the excitement of beautiful new products that we know are on the way, mixed with the sad farewells to some favourite products that will be retiring.

Baby Bear is one of those stamp sets that will be retiring on 2 June and I do have mixed emotions.  I adore this bear image and find it very useful for all things to do with small children or babies (I've even used it for a get well card for my grown son's shoulder surgery!).
#thecraftythinker  #stampinup  #cardmaking  #babybear , Baby Bear, Card for a little girl, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Bye Bye Baby Bear! - Retiring on 2 June 2019
The colours I used for the bear are Powder Pink, Blushing Bride and Flirty Flamingo.  I used Lovely Lipstick for the balloon and the bowtie.

I pierced holes in the card and thread the ends of the Lovely Lipstick ribbon through to the back (before I applied the cardfront to the base card).

If you'd like to purchase Baby Bear, check out the Last Chance Products - it'll only be available until 2 June or while stocks last.

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - All items used are available for purchase in my online store

Friday 26 April 2019

Ink it! Stamp it! International Design Team Blog Hop - Technique: Petal Palette with Home Made Stencil watercolour background

Welcome to the Ink It! Stamp It! Design Team Blog Hop - we hop every month so be sure to pop back and visit us again!  

Today we are sharing a technique.

You are currently at my page - Stephanie Fischer, The Crafty Thinker.  At the end of my post there is a full line up of team members, please click on the name after mine in the list to continue the hop.

#thecraftythinker #stampitinkitbloghop #petalpalette #florentinedie #cardmakingtechniques #cardmaking , Petal Palette, Florentine Thinlit, making a stencil, Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop, Selective Stamping, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
This card includes a watercolour background, a home made stencil, colouring some ribbon and selective stamping
As I was busy experimenting with stuff in my craftroom - which resulted in the card above - I was thinking to myself "what technique shall I choose for the Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop?" - then it occurred to me that I was already using several techniques without even thinking about it!  So I'm going to share them with you.

Making a Stencil
This is something I do quite a lot.  
I tend to cut mine from Window Sheet because they're sturdy and I wash them and drop them into a drawer to use again and again.  
However, I find effective die cutting of Window Sheet requires the use of a Precision Base Plate on my Big Shot.  
The alternative would be to cut the stencil from a thinner acrylic sheet (like the packaging on photopolymer or acrylic stamps) or even a piece of paper for a one-use stencil.
So I used the Florentine Thinlits Die to cut Window Sheet to create my stencil.
#thecraftythinker #stampitinkitbloghop #petalpalette #florentinedie #cardmakingtechniques #cardmaking ,Florentine Thinlit, making a stencil, Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop, Selective Stamping, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
This is the stencil I cut with the Florentine Thinlits Die and some Window Sheet
Watercolour Background
I used my newly created stencil to create a background by sponging several colours over/through it.  Once I'd finished, the front of the stencil was randomly covered with ink that I decided not to waste.
I thoroughly spritzed a piece of watercolour paper with water and then carefully pressed the stencil onto it, inky side down.  Then I left the colours to blend and move a bit.
(Aside:  I was really unhappy with the result of my original background so I haven't used it yet!).

Selective Stamping
There's probably a technical name for it, but this is what I call it!
I wanted to use the "Best Wishes" greeting from the Petal Palette stamp set but I wanted it to fit into a small circle.
I covered the word "wishes" with piece of washi tape (anything softly self-adhesive, like a post it note, will do the trick).
#thecraftythinker #stampitinkitbloghop #cardmakingtechniques #cardmaking ,Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop, Selective Stamping, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Covering part of a stamp with washi tape prior to inking for selective stamping

Then I tapped onto the ink pad, as usual.
It's very important to remember to then remove the washi tape!
#thecraftythinker #stampitinkitbloghop #cardmakingtechniques #cardmaking ,Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop, Selective Stamping, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
After removing the washi tape, only part of the stamp is inked

I stamped the word "Best"
#thecraftythinker #stampitinkitbloghop #cardmakingtechniques #cardmaking ,Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop, Selective Stamping, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Remember to remove the washi tape before stamping down onto the cardstock!
Then I cleaned and dried the stamp and repeated the process, this time covering the word "Best" and inking and stamping the word "wishes".
Then I was able to cut out my greeting with my small circle framelit.
#thecraftythinker #stampitinkitbloghop #cardmakingtechniques #cardmaking ,Ink It Stamp It Blog Hop, Selective Stamping, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
The finished greeting ready to cut out with my circle
An alternative method would be to use a Stampin' Write Marker to ink up just one word, stamp, clean the stamp and repeat with the other word.

Or: for those with a steady hand, carefully ink the part you want with the ink pad (probably a smaller Stampin' Spot would be easier), stamp, clean the stamp and repeat on the other word.

Miscellaneous
I coloured the edge of the circle with a Light Heather Stampin' Blend alcohol marker.  I find the "stitched" decoration provides an excellent guide for colouring the edge.

Having cut the pretty little lacy decoration with the Petals & More Thinlits, I decided I needed another pop of colour.  Lacking the correct colour ribbon that I could weave through the die cut, I coloured a white piece with the Light Bermuda Bay Stampin' Blend.

I cut two of the branches , stuck one down and then used bits of the other one to extend or fill in the decoration on the card front.

Thank you so much for joining us today and we hope you'll join us again next month when we'll be providing sneak peeks from the new Annual Catalogue!

I'm Stephanie Fischer and to keep hopping around see the list below to see who is up next with another great project.

Thanks for visiting
'Til next time!
Stephanie


Product List - All products used are available for purchase in my online store

Wednesday 24 April 2019

Flourishing Phrases Black Magic

I made this card at the same time that I made the Flourishing Phrases Emboss Resist card.
#thecraftythinker  #blackmagictechnique #flourishingphrases #cardmaking #stampinup  #embossingtechniques , Black Magic Technique, Flourished Phrases, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Black Magic using Stampin' Blends alcohol markers
I don't know what this technique is called - I suppose it's a variant of the Black Magic technique.

Start out by wiping a piece of black cardstock with an Embossing Buddy then stamp the image with Versamark, sprinkle with white embossing powder and use the Heat Tool.

Then colour along the white lines with Stampin' Blends alcohol markers - I used Dark Bermuda Bay, Dark Flirty Flamingo and Light Real Red.

The greeting is from the Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set and that Flirty Flamingo label is cut with one of the Stitched Labels dies.

Thank you for visiting today.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - All products used in this project are available for purchase from my online store


Sunday 21 April 2019

Oh So Eclectic on Dot To Dot

I had a bit of my Dot To Dot Brusho background left over after making my baby shower card, so I put it to good use!
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #ohsoeclectic #cardmaking #embossingtechniques #dottodot , Dot To Dot, Oh So Eclectic, Eclectic Layers, Brusho Colour Crystals, embossing techniques, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Using up the left overs! 
A cheerful and pretty card feating the Dot To Dot embossing folder and Oh So Eclectic stamp set.
The base card is So Saffron with a little strip of (leftover) Lovely Lipstick.

The greeting is from the Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set, white heat embossed and punch out with the Everyday Label Punch.

The flowers are made with the Oh So Eclectic Bundle and the stems are coloured with a Call Me Clover marker.

The following products will be retiring at the end of May (or when stocks run out) - visit the Last Chance Products to make sure you don't miss out.

Oh So Eclectic stamp set and coordinating Eclectic Layers dies
Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set
Dot To Dot embossing folder
Brusho Colour Crystals

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - All available for purchase from my online store


Thursday 18 April 2019

Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop - Favourite Technique: Emboss Resist

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Welcome to the monthly Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop.  You are currently visiting Stephanie Fischer (The Crafty Thinker) from Australia.

Our theme this month is to highlight our Favourite Technique - I don't really have a favourite technique but I've chosen to highlight the Emboss Resist technique today.
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #cardmaking #embossresist #SDBH #flourishingphrases , Emboss Resist technique, Flourishing Phrases, Stampin Dreams Blog Hop, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
Some Emboss Resist using the Flourishing Phrases stamp set and coordinating dies
I started out with a piece of Pool Party cardstock that I cut to the size I wanted for my card front.  Having swiped it well with my trusty Embossing Buddy, I stamped the image with Versamark, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and used my Heat Tool.

Using a small piece of sponge and Blueberry Bushel ink, I sponged over and around the embossed image, fading the shade out a little bit towards the edges.

Next, I used a Sponge Brayer to apply some Bermuda Bay ink all over the card front.

Since the heat embossing resists the ink, I used a little piece of tissue to remove the ink from the embossed flourish.

To finish the card, I white heat embossed the greeting from the Wonderful Romance stamp set and punched it out with the Tailored Tag punch then arranged it on top of some Blueberry Bushel ribbon and pieces cut from Pool Party cardstock with various dies in the coordinating Flourish Thinlits.

Thank you for visiting.  I hope you enjoyed this card.  You are currently visiting Stephanie Fischer - please see the list below and click on the next person on the list to hop through all of the people to see all of our projects.  You don't want to miss any!

'Til next time!
Stephanie


Product List - All products used are available for purchase in my online store

Wednesday 17 April 2019

Wonderful Moments Baby Shower Card

A little while ago, I made a bunch of backgrounds with Brusho and embossing folders.  This is one of them.  I've sponged a little bit of Lovely Lipstick ink over the top of the embossing since you last saw it to enhance those gorgeous dots.
#thecraftythinker #stampinup #wonderfulmoments #babyshowercard #cardmaking #brushocrystals #embossedbackground  , Wonderful Moments, Baby Shower Card, Brusho Crystals, Dot To Dot embossing folder, embossing techniques, Stampin' Up Australia Demonstrator, Stephanie Fischer, Sydney NSW
I used the Wonderful Moments stamp set and a brusho/embossing folder background
to make this card for a baby shower
I stamped the image with Powder Pink ink onto Petal Pink cardstock and coloured it with Stampin' Blends alcohol markers.  The card is layered with Lovely Lipstick and So Saffron cardstock.

Since had no matching ribbon in my stash (I know - how is that possible!), I coloured some white ribbon.  At first I coloured it in my usual way by sitting it in a little bath of ink and water (I used So Saffron) but once it dried, I realised it wasn't the colour I wanted.  So I applied Light Lovely Lipstick with a Stampin' Blend alcohol marker.  That turned out a bit too intense, so I spritzed it with alcohol and spread the colour with my finger!  Now I'm happy!

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Product List - All items used are available for purchase in my online store