Let’s take a look at another Stampin’ Up! stamp set that is due to retire at the end of this month – Pretty Postage. I also used the Friendly Phrases and the Circle Circus stamp sets on this card, which are retiring this month, too. Can you find where I used the Circle Circus stamp set on this card?
To create the colorful birthday cake I colored the stamp with markers before stamping. All the details are here.
Here’s an “Andy Warhol” thank you card with a matching envelope made with the Pretty Postage set. The details for this one are here.
Looking for other samples from a specific stamp set? Try the search bar in the far right sidebar.
I really like watercolor cards with unexpected color splashes so I thought I would experiment with the technique and I ended up with the inky fingers to prove it! I used Shimmery White cardstock and the Just Believe stamp set for this experiment.
I stamped the label with Midnight Muse and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I stamped ‘friends’ with Primrose Petals. After trimming out the label I layered it on a Silver Glimmer paper label. I used Primrose Petals and Silver Glimmer cardstock to create and layer the butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die.
I squirted the background cardstock with water before splattering Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse and Always Artichoke reinkers which allowed the ink to spread. I put a few dabs of Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details glitter adhesive and spread it with my finger on the background. I also added a couple of dots of the glitter to the butterflies and the flowers on the label. Finally, I added a few rhinestones.
Stampin’ Up! traditionally was a wood-mounted-stamp-producing company. Their wood block stamps were and are the very best in the business with high-quality wood shaped for comfortable stamping. What makes Stampin’ Up!’s stamps so very special is not the quality and shape of the wood but the high quality, deeply etched rubber for a fabulous stamped image every time. And the wonderful artistry is unmatched in the stamping world!
The exceptional experience and art produced by using Stampin’ Up! stamps is the same whether you use wood-mounted stamps or clear-mounted stamps because the deeply etched rubber and artwork is the same on both.
I was stamping with a new stamper recently and I realized that when you are new you don’t know what wood-mount and clear-mount stamps are. Wood-mount stamps are permanently mounted to a wood block and stored in a plastic case. Clear-mount stamps are stored separately from the block and are specially made to cling to an acrylic block. So you will attach your stamp to an acrylic block each time you use it.
I was a die-hard wood-mount fan. I loved the convenience of having the stamps mounted on a wood block.
So what made me convert to clear-mount?
cost: after the initial investment of purchasing a few acrylic blocks, I save money ordering the less expensive clear-mount stamps, which means I get to buy more stamps!
storage space: clear-mount stamps are come in a DVD case for easy storage that takes up very little space on my shelf (which also means I can have more!)
positioning: because the rubber is mounted on a clear block it’s easy to see where you’re stamping
versatility: I can include more than one stamp on a block and stamp all at the same time (great for stamping words or collages)
clear-block: yep, that’s right, the Stampin’ Up! clear acrylic blocks are AWESOME and have the same comfortable shape as the wood blocks
clear-block storage: I discovered if I would leave the handful of my clear blocks I use all the time right on my stamping desk it was quick and easy to get to stamping right away
Here’s some more on acrylic blocks including samples and videos:
What is your choice in stamps, clear-mount or wood-mount? Whether you choose clear-mount or wood-mount, order your favorite retiring stamps today before they are no longer available. Only 10 days remain to order from the retiring list or the spring catalog.
If you have been a visitor here for a while, you probably know how much I love the Just Believe stamp set. I love the words and the images and the versatility of this set. Above is a sneak peek of a card I will be sharing with all the details next week.
Below are some samples from this set. Find out which card is the most popular and which is my personal favorite. Click on the links for more details on the techniques and supplies used to make each sample.
Just For You CAS Card – my most recent just believe card with a vibrant, happy feel. This card is included in my stamp camp kit which is still available. (More details about the stamp camp kit below!)
DO YOU NEED SOME BIRTHDAY CARDS, SOME RELAXING CRAFT TIME OR SOME NEW IDEAS? Order your stamp camp kit today and you’ll receive all the precut pieces, accessories and envelopes to create three birthday cards for just $15 – you add the stamping and assemble! This price includes shipping and tax and is only available to those in the continental US. You can order your stamp camp today by emailing me with your address and requesting your bundle. Then watch for a paypal invoice in your inbox.
Happy Birthday Stamp Camp Kit $15 includes tax and shipping Order today by emailing Julie@stampingjulie.com
I fell in love with this set when it was introduced in the spring catalog. I loved the little butterfly – I’m a sucker for butterflies, as you know! But I also loved the clever crossword puzzle greetings. I like crossword puzzles; not challenging crossword puzzles, just the easy ones that can be completed in a 15 minute break. I don’t do crossword puzzles for the challenge, I do them for the entertainment.
Even though a cute cupcake comes with the set and is a perfect pair for the happy birthday greeting, I still used the butterfly, because I LOVE butterflies! (Have I mentioned that?) And even though the crossword greeting has a whimsical feel, this card has a more sophisticated look I think because of the colors, the die-cut doily and the Natural Composition music paper. My paper snips made easy work of clipping out the crossword.
The layout was inspired by the mother’s day card I showed you Sunday.
