Kissing Alphabet Stamps

Okay now that sounds weird, LOL… but it’s just a cool technique to get a different look from your alphabet stamps.  I’ve got here an example of a few different ways of using your alphabet – and there’s a heck of a lot more ways but I’ll save those for another time.

So what I’ve done here is stamped my name using the Headline Alphabet stamp set by Stampin’ Up! first just using some dye ink then then under that I stamped the same thing but using a Versamark inkpad and heat embossed the letters using gold embossing powder.  After that I stamped the my name with black ink on white cardstock and then again on a separate piece of white cardstock using a red inkpad, the red letters were cut out and then adhered on top of the black letters slightly off centre to create a shadow effect.  The last example is called “kissing”.  I inked up my Weathered background stamp (there’s that background again!) and then ‘kissed’ the background with the alphabet stamp – that is, I pressed the uninked alphabet stamp onto the inked up background and then stamped onto some Creamy Caramel cardstock and then cut out the letters and adhered them to the black cardstock.  To define the letters I also ran the edges of the cut out stamped letters across the inkpad to give some extra colour.  That’s it!  Better than buying sheets of alphabet stickers where you’re always going to run out of popular letters ;)   Stay tuned for more ways to use these very versatile alphabet stamps.

All products by Stampin’ Up!
All products can be purchased by ordering from Angela Sargeant – angelasargeant@gmail.com

For more information on the above techniques, please e-mail me on angelasargeant@gmail.com.

Stamp-a-Stack December

Update!  Due to popular demand I have scheduled another Stamp-a-Stack class morning for Tuesday 5th December.  E-mail me on angelasargeant@gmail.com to book your place as spaces are limited.  Come and make 10 Christmas cards (5 each of 2 designs) and enjoy a wonderfully relaxing and fun morning with others.  The housework can wait, the shops will still be there tomorrow – come and have a creative morning.  Venue: Northern Beaches, Sydney.

Stamp-a-Stack of Christmas Cards

Oh dear, it’s been about a week since I last posted! (blush).  In my defence I’ve been flat out trying to finish my Buzz and Bloom project for their next newsletter.

So.  If you’re reading this and you’re within decent driving distance of the Northern Beaches in Sydney then pay attention!

I’m having two Stamp-a-Stack classes next week.  What’s Stamp-a-Stack?  Well you basically stamp a stack of cards.  Tuesday 28th November and Friday 1st December – I have only a couple of spots left so if you’re interested please e-mail me right now! angelasargeant@gmail.com.

Come and make 10 Christmas cards in 2 hours (roughly 2 hours).  There’s 5 cards each of 2 designs.  No need to bring anything with you – I provide everything you need.  No experience necessary either.  The Stamp-a-Stack class is $15 for the 10 cards and all materials provided and morning tea.  Bargain!  Door prizes tooooo!!!!  What’s that e-mail address again? angelasargeant@gmail.com – contact me now to secure your place.

Toile Blossom

Here’s a card I made recently using one of my very favourite stamp sets and favourite background stamp. 

Now don’t you just love that Weathered Background?  Great for vintage look, great for masculine cards/layouts and looks so lovely with flowers even.  Well I think so anyway. LOL.  The flowers in the centre are from the Toile Blossom stamp set and this was stamped with Bravo Burgundy ink then coloured in with Watercolour Crayons and a Water Brush.  This was then layered onto Creamy Caramel cardstock, then brushed gold cardstock, then pieces of Old Olive and Rose Red cardstock under that (refer to photo).  The background as I said is Weathered Background stamp which has been stamped with Creamy Caramel onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I mainly use Very Vanilla cardstock these days rather than white as I find it goes with a lot of different styles.  I use Whisper White if I want the card to be bright, modern or funky.  Three antique gold brads were inserted at the top then another three at the bottom.  These can be bought either as a pack of brads mixed with Silver, Black and Copper or in the Hodgepodge which is a box of mixed metal hardware.  That’s it, simple but elegant. :)   Hope you like my card.

Card designed by Angela Sargeant
All products by Stampin’ Up! and can be ordered through Angela Sargeant (angelasargeant@gmail.com)

Very Vanilla cardstock
Old Olive Cardstock
Rose Red Cardstock
Creamy Caramel Cardstock
Gold Cardstock
Bravo Burgundy inkpad
Creamy Caramel Inkpad
Watercolour Crayons (SU!)
Water brush
Vintage Brads
Weatered Background
Toile Blossom stamp set

Layering/matting Straight

Over the years when stamping and scrapbooking I’ve heard many people complain about the same thing: “I can’t layer straight”, “my mats look crooked”.  What to do?  Well the solution is quite simple actually: stand up.  Yes, stand up.  I have found and subsequently have had others agree with me, that if you stand up while layering/matting then you get a much straighter card/scrapbooking mat.  How does it work? probably because you get a better view – maybe some people sit a little crooked?  Whatever the case, give it a go and see if it works for you.  I bet it does!

* Note to cardmakers: matting is what scrapbookers call layering
* Note to scrapbookers: layering is what cardmakers call matting.

:)

Bookmark Me!

Go on, bookmark me!  Why?  Well you’ll want to visit often because I’ve not only decided to up the projects I show on this blog but also I’m going to have competitions that pop out of nowhere and sometimes you’ll need to be the first to be in with a chance to win.  What will you win?  Stampin’ Up! products of course, could be stamp sets, could be packets of brads/eyelets, etc.  It’s a secret right now. ;)   Just bookmark me, visit often and you’ll see.

(Sorry, no Stampin’ Up! demonstrators allowed to enter my competitions ;) )

Paper Crafts Festival – Penrith, 2006

Oh I know, I’ve been incredibly slack and haven’t updated my blog for a whole week and what’s more I’m going to talk about something that happened almost a week ago, LOL.  Well in my defence I spent two days at the Paper Crafts Festival and I’m still getting over it. LOL.Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up!
So what did I see?  Not what I was looking for :(   Was looking for some of the American magazines and books but only found an old, slightly used looking issue of Somerset Studio that I already had. Sigh.  Oh yes, I know I can buy them from Buzz and Bloom and that’s where I’m off to next to go shopping but I thought I’d justify the whole tank of gas I spent driving to Penrith by buying something I wanted.  What else did I see? Loads and loads of really cool storage stuff (I love storage stuff!!!!) at Craftainers.  I suppose I should have followed my rule of “if you like it buy it or you won’t find it again” because sure enough I went on Saturday to buy another inkpad locker and they were all sold out.  Never mind, I have 2 here already so I’ll just have to shuffle around the inkpads in them so that my favourites are stored and the others will have to wait until the next shipment of inkpad lockers come in.  Why do I love these inkpad lockers so much? They’re portable, they fit regular sized inkpads (Adirondack, etc) beautifully and they also fit the Stampin’ Up! inkpads which are huge, not only that but each locker also fits two packets of the Stampin’ Up! markers in the top drawer. :) Love it!Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampoin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up!
Who did I see at the Paper Crafts Festival? Loads of people and I can’t remember everyone’s names.  Which reminds me, I felt like such a geek walking around with a name tag – how come I was the only one (not working on a stand) who was wearing one?  I remember in previous shows everyone wore name tags so that we could recognise each other since lots of us only speak to each other on-line but have never met in real life.  Speaking of, it was so nice to finally meet Rachel Greig in person – wow it was so strange for me to see you in 3D Rachel after only seeing your photo. Giggle..

I checked out the Stampin’ Up! stand at the show and boy was it popular – the spaces for the make & takes were constantly full and the staff worked tirelessly to help everyone make cards.Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Up! Stampin’
Well that’s it.  So, hands up if you saw me or spoke to me at the Paper Crafts Festival in Penrith last week?  Come on, comment here and let’s see how many of you there are.

And the winner for my October competition is…..

Drum roll please!….. Roslyn McGechan.  Congratulations Roslyn!!!  You win the wonderful Art of The Orient stamp set from me.  The Art of The Orient stamp set a Hostess Stamp set from Stampin’ Up!

Thank you to everyone who entered this competition and I just wish I could have sent you all a prize.  Please check my blog regularly for competitions along with cardmaking and scrapbooking ideas.

If you’d really like The Art of The Orient stamp set then e-mail me on angelasargeant@gmail.com for details on how to get one free.

Congratulations again Roslyn!