I saw a color challenge this morning and was really taken with it. Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, So Saffron and Rose Red. Don't they look stunning together?
Today's big tip is this: When you want to use the same colors on a sentiment as background stamping, stamp off the first 'generation' and use the second or third. To make that clearer - every time you stamp an image after you have inked it up we call a generation. Thus - first stamp, first generation; stamp again without re-inking it, second generation; stamp again and it's the third generation.
You can see it on the little panel with the birthday sentiment. I really wanted to use the same colors as the main panel, but I knew that Not Quite Navy and even the Old Olive would be too dark. So, I stamped the circle image onto my grid paper once first with the Old Olive before stamping it onto the Whisper White, but stamped it off twice with the Not Quite Navy. Now you get a cohesive look without having to look for a lighter color that co-ordinates! What a time-saver!!
Another Big Tip: Use the Mat pack to line up your brads so that there is an equal space between them all. Seriously, that little kit is AMAZING!
Try it yourself next time that you want to get your background the same colors! And if you would like to get together with your friends and have me give you all a private class on this or any other technique, just drop me a line! I'm booking my July 'funshops' now, so call quickly to get the date you want before it's gone!
And just a reminder that the new Stampin' Up! Catalog goes live tomorrow! You can place an online order on my SU! website here.
Recipe:
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Upsy Daisy (sentiment)
Paper: Rose Red, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink:Rose Red, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, So Saffron
Accessories: Earth Elements (Not Quite Navy) brads.
Hugs
Megan
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Circle Circus Birthday
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 4:14 PM 1 comments
Labels: masculine cards, Technique Tuesday
Monday, June 29, 2009
Distressed Spots
I thought that I'd have a bit of a play with my embossing folders for the Big Sot today. What a lot of fun!
This background was run through the smaller spots embossing folder (Stampin' Up! Background folders 1) and then to give it this great distressed look, and to bring up the white under the printing on the DSP, I used the sanding block over the top. It's kinda hard to tell from the picture, but every one of those cute dots is raised and then sanded - it feels really cool as well as looking great!
Big Hint: Make sure that you sand in all directions, and do it lightly - the paper tears pretty easily if you are too heavy handed!
I also had a go at another fun technique with the embossing folders, and you can see that over on my Facebook fan page here. If you're not a fan yet, become one so that you don't miss all of the great exclusive content that I post there!
The new catalog goes live on Wednesday! It's just so exciting! if you haven't gotten your hands on one yet, give me a call or send an email so I can get one to you quick sticks. this is one of the best that I have seen in a LONG time!
Recipe:
Stamps: Pocket Sillouettes, Trendy Trees (sentiment)
Paper: Perfect Plum (card base), Barely Banana, Sale-a-bration DSP (retired and exclusive for the sale-a-bration promotion- make sure you get the freebies next time it rolls around!)
Ink: Perfect Plum
Accessories: Big Shot embossing folders, Collozzle cutting system, word window punch, new punch, retired yellow ribbon, sanding block
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 2:36 PM 0 comments
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Just hanging around for you!
Isn't this cool? I had a dream about this card last night, so I thought I'd better try to get it made before it went out of my head!
I had wanted to do some more brayering for a while, and this gave me the perfect excuse!
First I brayered Gable Green along the bottom of the card. (To brayer like this you run your brayer length wise along the ink pad, scooching it just a bit more around every time. Then you run it along the card again and again - it kind of smooshes all together. Like all of those technical terms???) Then clean your brayer and repeat the process at the top of the layer with Summer Sun.
The layer that has all the brayering is Whisper White and it is 5 1/4" x 4". That's the standard size for a first layer on a standard card! (Just a little helpful hint there!)
Next, I stamped the tree trunk from the stamp set "Branch Out" in Basic Brown on either side of the layer. The leaves were stamped in Mellow Moss and Old Olive, use the lighter ink first (Mellow Moss) and then you wont have to clean the stamp - just stamp off the excess onto your grid paper! Was that another helpful hint??? I think I'm going for a record here!
I sponged around the outside of the card lightly with the Basic Brown ink. The Crop-a-dile is perfect for getting the holes cut out on the branches, and on the "swing"! Use the smaller hole for eyelets.
The "swing" is a large oval punched out of Chocolate Chip, a small oval punched out of Gable Green and the saying punched out of Whisper White with the Word window punch. Helpful Hint number 3!!!! ALWAYS stamp the image before you punch it out! If you've ever tried to line up a stamp on that skinny little word window you'll understand why. If you are smart enough not to have done that - don't!!!!
I used the linen thread through the eyelets (from the Earth Elements container) and tied it all kinds of weird and wonderful ways. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that I was not a Girl Scout!
I then backed it onto a piece of Chocolate Chip and pt that onto a Glorious Green card base.
Just for fun - Helpful Hint Number 4 : Always use a bone folder to score your card bases. It really does give them a much nicer finish!!!!
SO - ready to give this a try? I am planning on teaching this card at my July Fabulous Friday class. July 17th is the date - email me to book a place. The cost is $15 and along with this beauty, we'll be making 4 other fabulous cards!
Recipe:
Stamps: Branch Out, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Gable Green, Glorious Green
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Old Olive, Gable Green, Summer Sun
Accessories: Brayer, Large and Small oval punches, word window punch, Earth Elements eyelets, linen thread, crop-a-dile, sponge
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 1:52 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Razzleberry Retirement!
I'm still playing with the sneak peak stuff - I just can't seem to keep my hands off it no matter how hard I try to love on my older stamps!!
This card uses a set called "Circle Circus" and it is a bunch of circles with different designs in them. Love it - it's such an easy set to use. I know that it will be used much over the next few months!
This card I clear embossed one of the circles on the Night of Navy cardstock and tied some ribbon onto it. (To heat emboss a stamp you stamp the image in Versamark, and then pour the embossing powder over it. Tap off the excess and then use a heat tool to melt the powder till it shines. You can see my post about the wonders of Versamark here.) Then I simply added a sentiment, and stamped the same circle on Whisper White and punched it out with a circle punch and them overlayed it on one of the embossed circles. Very simple and easy - try it for yourself!
If you haven't already let me know that you want one of the new Idea Books and Catalogs, let me know. They arrive today- YAY!!! Send me an email here and put New Catalog in the Subject and I'll make sure you get it!
Recipe:
Stamps: Circle Circus, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Rich Razzleberry,Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Night of Navy
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, word window punch, 1 1/4 circle punch, clear embossing powder
Enjoy your day
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 1:54 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Technique Tuesday - Image Interrupted
I cannot get enough of these new In Colors! It took me a long while to get the hang of these retiring ones, but have to say that I will really miss Baja Breeze. This new lot however are just so much more me! Nice and bright and FUN!!!!!!!!!
I stamped the image onto the DSP (Razzleberry lemonade - sneak peak!), but cut some of it off on the right side. The images in the corners are a different stamp, even though they look like they belong to the one big image!!!! I then lined up the bird image with the stamp-a-ma-jig so that I could line it up perfectly. You NEED this tool! So, when I placed the DSP back on the white layer, the pink finished off the image! Neat huh?
The bird image on the DSP is stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. Isn't he adorable? This is a sneak peak of a new Level 2 Hostess gift set -so the only way to get a hold of him is to have a funshop with me! Book in today so that you can earn this sweet little guy FREE!It gives it a really cool relief feel against the busy background of the paper. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment on the bottom of the post!
Recipe:
Stamps: Wings of Friendship(Level 2 Hostess set), Friends 24-7 (sentiment)
Paper: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Pretty in Pink, Razzleberry lemonade DSP (all NEW In Colors!)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Versamark
Accessories: Large oval punch, scalloped oval punch, white embossing powder, stamp-a-ma-jig
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 6:44 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technique Tuesday
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friendly Wheels class
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 3:43 PM 0 comments
Labels: classes
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Sponging Tutorial
You'll need the scallop circle punch, some scrap paper, your cardstock for your card base, and some more if you choose to embellish it (the oval on mine), and some light neutral cardstock for the front. (Hint: A card front layer is 4"x 5 1/4")
Now onto the clouds! I cut off a bit of sponge for every new project that I make (it makes clean up easier and makes the sponge go a bit further!) Oh, I also have one that is about an eighth of the sponge that is purely for Basic Brown - the color that I most often sponge with!
Now, after you have punched out the scalloped circle, place it just down from the top of your paper. Put some ink on the sponge and wipe it down from the scrap paper. Move it to another area, overlapping the scallops a bit and repeat. Keep doing that along the top of the paper until you are happy with the look. Then make sure that you sponge the edges as well where the clouds are to fill them in a bit.
Ink: Old Olive, Bordering Blue, Basic Brown
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 1:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: masculine cards, punches, tutorials
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Will's birthday card!
Today my baby turned 7! Not so much a baby anymore, but still awfully cute!!!
Don't think he got the hang of smiling before he opened his pressies!!!!!!!
Anyway, here is the super cool card that I made for him. It's called a spinner card, and I used one of his favorite sets 'Prehistoric Pals'. The blue one on the bottom actually spins around and along the track there - way cool! I made the sky and the ground by sponging the ink over the top of scrap paper - stay tuned for tomorrow's little tutorial on that!
Call me or go online to my SU website to place an order so that you can make a cool card for the super cool kids in your life. Or better yet, book a workshop with me and earn it for free! 303 805 2344
Recipe:
Stamps: Prehistoric Pals, Teeny Tiny Wished (sneak peak set - absolutely fabulous!!!)
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Garden Green, Brocade Blue
Accessories: 1/2" circle punch, scallop circle punch, 2 pennies(!!)
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 11:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: family, kids cards
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Same products.. take 2!
Here's another card that I made on my marathon session Sunday. I found some old kits using Purely Pomegranate (I sooooo hope that SU! have something up their sleeve with this color. I love it!) So I got out some stamps (Dreams de Jour) and did some stamping, some punching.. and this is what happened!
Want to see the other card that I made with the same supplies? (I used different stamps!) Well - just to be sneaky, you have to go over tho my Face book page to see them! So click here, and become a fan if you haven't already,and see what you think!
Why not give this a try yourself? You get two cards out of one sheet of card stock anyway - so while everything is out make another, but different!, card. Send me a photo of it and I'll give you a $5 gift card to use on anything out of the catalogue!
Want other fantastic ideas of what to do with your supplies? Book in for a workshop and I'll show you some fun things you've never dreamed of! Plus, you'll earn more supplies to work with yourself! Call me now! 303 805 2344
Recipe:
Stamps: Dreams de Jour
Paper: Purely Pomegranate(retired), Pretty IN Pink, retired DSP
Ink: Purely Pomegranate (retired)
Accessories: Eyelet border punch
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 3:34 PM 0 comments
Monday, June 15, 2009
Same products - 2 different looks!
I've always loved those magazine articles that showed how different designers do such different things with the same products. So, while I had out all of my supplies, I re-used them in a little bit of a different way!
I made this first card and just loved the way that embossing on the DSP really made it pop.But I had some of it left over and so I thought that I would use it up rather than just pitch it! This is what I came up with!
To get the embossed image on the patterned paper (DSP) I simply stamped the image using Versamark and then put the white embossing powder over it and heat set it with the heat tool. I just LOVE watching the embossing powder turn shiny!
Now - if you would love to spend an evening with your friends learning how to make cool cards like this, or need to order some product to make them yourself, give me a call and we can set up a date! 303 805 2344 megan@verhoevenfamily.us
And don't forget, you can buy directly from me on my SU! site here. Just go to the Buy now link at the top right of the page!
Recipe:
Stamps: Sip by sip
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Parisian Breeze DSP, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: White embossing powder, heat tool, stamp-a-ma-jig, word window punch
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 11:53 AM 0 comments
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Pages with emboss resist border
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 4:48 PM 0 comments
Labels: borders, layouts, orange, scrapbooking
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Resist embossed Border
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 9:55 PM 0 comments
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Flip out Scrapbook page
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 4:16 PM 0 comments
Labels: thankyou gifts
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
FaceBook Competition
Do you just LOVE getting FREE stuff????
Well,this week I will be giving away 10 of my fabulous cards to one of my lucky FaceBook fans.
Want a chance to win? Then just make sure you are a fan, look at this post here, or click on the button on the left side of this blog! Leave me a message on my fan page and you could be a winner!
Good luck
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 8:14 AM 0 comments
Labels: contest
Friday, June 5, 2009
Bestest teacher gift ever!
How fantastic is this???? I got up really early to finish off the cards (because I stayed up with my man last night!!!!) but I am so glad that I did!
The purse holds all four of the cards (and there was even enough room to put her "thank You" card in there as well!) The pocket is a working pocket, so you could place a gift card in there if you wanted. It is simply stunning, and looks even better in real life!
Now, I can't take credit for the design, although I wish I could!- that incredible privilege goes to Becky Roberts, and she did an amazing job! Thanks Becky!!!
This is a photo of only the purse - how sweet is it? I would so love to receive this as a gift, wouldn't you?
If you said "Yes" - you would LOVE to receive this, today is your lucky day! I will be using this for my Hostess thank you gift for the next 5 Hostesses who book with me and have a minimum of 6 guests at their 'funshop'. So you better be quick and book in now!!!! 303 805 2344 - and remember that until the end of June, you'll receive extra Hostess rewards from Stampin' Up!
Recipe:
Design: Becky Roberts
Stamps: Fifth Avenue floral
Paper: Chocolate chip DSP, Chocolate chip, Old Olive,Shimmery White, Blush Blossom, retired DSP
Ink: Stazon Black, Chocolate Chip, Versamark, Old Olive, Baja Breeze
Accessories: wide oval punch, 1 1/4" & 3/3" square punch, old olive ribbon, aqua painter, blender pen, white embossing powder, clear rhinestone brads, Big Shot scalloped oval die, scallop and eyelet border punches, neutral watercolor crayons
Remember, only the first five hostesses will receive this fabulous purse and cards -so don't wait!
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 2:04 PM 1 comments
Labels: fifth avenue floral, thankyou gifts
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday Tools - ink
I thought that Thursdays could focus on tools. And for the first little while, we'll take a look at the most basic of our tools. This week it's ink!
Stampin' Up! has a fabulous selection of inks to choose from. Classic stamp pads for most of your stamping needs, craft ink pads that are pigment ink(and a bit more 'smooshier too!), stazon ink that is permanent and water proof (fabulous for water coloring) and also our stampin' write markers that are filled with the exact same ink as our classic pads. All of these inks work together in SU!'s four color families t create perfectly coordinating projects, every time!
So - 10 things to do with ink!!
- stamp an image!!(pretty self explanatory - any color on any paper)
- sponge the edges of your cardstock - you need a sponge for this one!
- use the ink pad directly onto the paper - this is one of the easiest backgrounds you will ever create!
- Use the ink pad to go around the edge of your cardstock - similar to sponging, but gives less color and defines the edges more
- Rock and roll -fun! You stamp the image in the lighter color first and then 'roll' the edges of the image on a darker ink pad.
- Use sponge daubers over an image (this probably isn't the best use of this technique, but it gives you an idea!
- Use an aqua painter - gives a lovely water colored effect.
- Use a blender pen - same sort of look as the aqua pen,but it gives you more control.
- Use your markers after you have stamped to give certain areas of the stamp a different color.(this image was stamped in Baja Breeze and then I used a basic brown marker on the branch)
- Lastly, you can use your markers to give highlights to some of the areas on a stamp(here the details in the petals and the centre of the flower)
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 5:05 PM 0 comments
Labels: Thursday Tools
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Soon to be a collector's item!
This is one of the sets that I will be really sad to see go... "Doodle This". It's such a fun set - you need to order it before the end of the month if you want it; after that it is gone, gone, gone!
I am so excited about the new products that are coming July 1st and I can't wait to show them to you. But you'll just have to wait! In the mean time, I am going to use some of my favorites that are soon to be collector's items for the last time!
Sorry about the photo - for some reason this card just would not stay upright! And because of that you can't see how cool the flower is - it is 'curled'. I rubbed my bone folder along the back of the petals so that they curled, ad then turned it the right way round and pushed the button into it. It looks very cool IRL (in real life).
The other cool thing on this card is the ribbon - it's actually whisper white that I sponged with Ruby Red to match the card. I showed you that in this post as well. It's definitely something worth remembering - and if you have whisper white taffeta ribbon on hand, you'll always have a co-ordinating accessory!
So - if you love this set, or you need to order some taffeta ribbon to have handy, give me a call and place your order today! 303 805 2344
Recipe:
Paper: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Stamps: Doodle this, One of a Kind ("for you")
Ink: Old Olive, Versamark, Ruby Red
Accessories: Scalloped oval punch, large oval punch, Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Fresh Favorites II buttons
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 2:31 PM 0 comments
Labels: Last chance list, punches
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Technique Tuesday - Spotlighting
Today's technique is a simple one! It's called "spotlighting" and this is the card that I created to showcase it. I'm really into sponging right now, so of course it has that too!!!!
Really what spotlighting does is show up a piece of the focal image a bit more. This example shows it very simply - the background to the 'spotlight' is plain, while the background of the image is stamped. You will usually see this technique the other way around... I may make some more samples to show it!
So, simply put, you make two of your stamped images. One of them with some sort of different background, and then punch it out with a circle punch (usually!). Then you adhere the punched out image over the place in the main image that matches up. Simple huh?
Do you like this card? I'm giving it away with 9 other cards in a contest for my Facebook fans. What? You're not a fan yet? Better sign up soon - I'll start the contest on Friday. Here is the link to my page, just click on the link and then click on 'become a fan'.(If you don't have a Facebook account you'll have to set that up first!)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Megan-Verhoeven-Independant-Stampin-Up-Demonstrator/78994318000
Recipe:
Stamps: Wonderful you, En Francais background
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Chocolate chip, mellow moss
Accessories: small and large oval punches, 1 3/4" and 1 1/4" circle punches, chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon
Hugs
Megan
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 6:57 PM 0 comments
Labels: contest, facebook, Technique Tuesday
Monday, June 1, 2009
The Last Chance List is here!
125 All Scallops
149 Large Text-Only Simple
Posted by Megan Verhoeven at 8:07 AM 0 comments
Labels: Last chance list