Old meets new

Hello everyone,

There are some stamps that I somehow don't get along with. I'm sure they feel the same way about me too. 😉

I've had this tea cup stamp for a long time. Actually this is one of the first stamp sets I bought when I started making cards 8 years ago. I made a few cards using the stamp, but they never looked good. For example, I have a blog post draft from 4 years ago that shows a card with this stamp. I ended up not posting it because I didn't like the card very much. 
Anyway, I've always wanted to make a card with the stamp and be happy with the card.

This time I armed the stamp with my favorite items:
First, I chose one of my favorite colors to stamp - navy.
Then I used my new favorite dies - a coaster die and a crimped frame die.
I also used my recent favorite embossing powder - copper.

Voila!

Finally, I think I'm happy with the card, and now I feel like I've come to terms with an estranged friend. 

And they lived happily ever after ... 😄 

My coaster die is Never-Before-Use-Schtuff, so I'm adding the card to NBUS Challenge #14.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Stamp: Tea Shoppe (Stampin' Up!), Heartfelt (Penny Black)
Paper: Whisper White, Naturals White (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Midnight Muse (Stampin' Up!), VersaMark (Tsukineko)

Accessories: Dies (Cozy Cup Coaster, Crimped Frame - The Greetery), Embossing Powder (Copper - Ranger) Stickles (Gold - Ranger), Foam Tape (3D)

CAS Mix Up May Challenge - hello

Hi everyone,

Have you tried the Gesso Resist technique featured in the May CAS Mix Up Challenge? I tried stamping with Gesso earlier this month, so I tried another way to use the technique this time. 

Here's my card:

Using Gesso Resist, Stenciling, Die-cutting, Dry Embossing, and Stamping

[How I made the card]
1. Coated a piece of Mixed Media paper with Gesso and let it dry.
2. Colored the Gesso piece with Distress Crayons (using three browns).
3. Put a stencil over the colored Gesso paper and removed the colors with baby wipes. The Distress Crayons came off because they reacted with water and Gesso worked as a resist for the surface of the paper.

4. Die-cut a frame and dry embossed the frame to add subtle texture.
5. Cut the stenciled Gesso paper into a rectangular shape and adhered it to the frame.
6. Die-cut the sentiment two times from white cardstock and one time from the leftover crayon colored Gesso paper, stacked them together, and glued them to a piece of vellum. Trimmed the vellum to make a shadow. (*1)

7. Glued the sentiment to the front panel and popped up the front panel on the card base with foam tape.
8. Stamped a little heart at the beginning of the stroke of hello. (*2)

(*1) I was originally going to adhere the die-cut sentiment directly on to the panel, but the sentiment got lost in the busy background. I didn't have a shadow die for the sentiment, so I fussy-cut the vellum.
(*2) I thought I finished making the card at Step 7, and I was going to take a photo. Then I realized that I didn't use a stamp!! 😱 It seems that I often forget to use a stamp when I'm into making a card.
I was not sure where to stamp or what image, but after thinking for a while I decided to stamp a tiny heart in red to add some color.


I liked the distress look worked well with the tree image.

You have until May 24 to link up your card here. I hope you'll try this fun technique!

Stamp: Countless Sayings 2 (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore - 140 lb.), Whisper White (Stampin' Up!), Translucent Vellum (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Distress Crayon (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain), Stencil (Stampers Anonymous - String), Dies (Antique Frame - Penny Black, Sentimental - Avery Elle), Embossing Folder (Subtle 3D - Stampin' Up!), Foam Tape (3M), Connect Glue (Gina K)

CAS Mix Up May Challenge - my sweet friend

Welcome to our new challenge at CAS Mix Up!

Our talented Designer, Linda, is hosting the challenge this month and her theme is Gesso Resist. We have a wonderful Guest Designer, Pooja. 

There are tutorial video links at the challenge site, so please check them out and try this fun technique.

Here's my card:

Using Gesso Resist technique, Die-cutting, Heat-embossing, Stamping

[How I made the card]
1. Applied gesso on the stone background stamp, stamped it on a piece of mixed media paper, and dried the paper for 10-15 min.
2. Masked the outside of the window and sponged Distress Inks over the gesso stamped image.
3. Lightly spritzed with water over the distress inked window.
4. Die-cut the leaves and the window frame, and glued them on the front panel.
5. Punched small circles out of the glimmer paper and glued them near the leaves.
6. Heat embossed the sentiment in dark brown.
7. Adhered the front panel to the pale pink card base.

Thanks so much, Linda, for hosting this fun challenge this month! This is the first time for me to use gesso for stamping, and I loved the more subtle texture than heat-embossing for the background.

You have until May 24th to link up your card here. Looking forward to seeing your card in the gallery!

Stamp: Slate & Stone (Stampers Anonymous), Well Hello (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore - 140 lb), Pale Rose (Bazzill), Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Distress Ink (Pumice Stone, Iced Spruce), VersaMark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Gesso (Liquitex), Dies (Grasses - Alexandra Renke, A2 Thin Frames - Simon Says Stamp), Embossing Powder (Early Espresso - Stampin, Up!), Circle Hand Punch (1/16", 1/8" - Fiskar), Connect Glue (Gina K),