Hello Fellow Stampers -
Guess What!! It's Friday -- whooo hooooo!!!!!!! :-) So nice to get to the end of this week; and to have an Off-Friday on my end taboot! I always enjoy my days off . . .
We're sticking to the Birthday theme this week -- and today it's time for the Paper Players (PP227) challenge design. So let's go check it out :-)
Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:
- Layerothology. This card base is cut from Lost Lagoon, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4". The background mat piece is the brand new fabulous Irresistibly Yours DSP from Sale-a-Bration (remember, you can only get this item with a qualifying $50 order), that has been brayered with Sahara Sand ink. I was a little surprised at how dark Sahara Sand inked onto this particular paper. Very interesting!! This is an "emboss resist" paper, so be sure to wipe off the raised areas with a paper towel after you are done inking.
- A Banner of a Birthday! These cute little background banners are cut from the new Best Year Ever DSP (again, a Sale-a-Bration item), and the Fancy Gold Vellum, one of my favorites! I then used the really fabulous sentiment from the Balloon Bash stamp set, and inked up just the upper portion with Sahara Sand. It has been matted with Crisp Canteloupe and embellished with the new Calypso Coral (snuck that in ;-) ) pom-pom trim and a piece of Gold 1/8' trim for a little bow. I'm loving this fun trim :-)
The rest of the fabulous sentiment can be found on the inside of the card. I didn't take a picture of that because I'm still contemplating how it turned out -- LOL :-) So this is where I want to bring you a Technique Tip: There is much frustration with the new photopolymer stamps, especially when they are brand new. There are a number of things you can do when you first get your photopolymer stamps that will help. Remember, photopolymers ink up and hold ink very differently from a regular red rubber stamp (one of the reasons I like a regular red rubber stamp better by the way). So when you first get your new stamps, use your fingers or palm of your hand, or a rubber eraser, or simple go to the sink and use warm water and soap, and just really rub over the surface of your stamps to get the "factory" residue and top layer off of them. This will help them accept the ink better when you start using them. When stamping a larger surface area stamp, be sure to have a mouse pad or gel pad underneath your paper so that it will help all the surfaces of your stamp meet the paper. Watch your pad as you ink it (since it's clear you can easily do this). You can tell when a pad is too juicy, or if the stamp is not picking up the ink well. These little tips shoud help you not become quite as frustrated when using your new photopolymer stamps.
I had fun designing this card this morning -- I hope you have enjoyed it :-) Won't you let me know what you think? Are you looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? I'd be honored and thrilled to be your choice. As always, I'm only an email away with any questions you may have regarding my designs or products.
Until Next Time . . .
The Doggone Delightful Stampin' Team
