Facebook Live 10 29 2019 | The Beauty & Joy Episode

I went live this past Tuesday, but if you missed it you can watch it here on my blog.  Make sure to follow me on Facebook and turn on your notifications for The Joyful Stamper so you never miss a live.  You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel, The Joyful Stamper.  

I used Beauty & Joy, Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper, and Toile Tidings Glitter Enamel Dots for this easily mass-produced Christmas card.  Watch me make it in the video below, plus hear what's new in the stamping world (and with me, because I'm chatty 😊).



Here's a printable tutorial for you, friend!  Measurements, step-by-step instructions, photos, and linked supply list are here.  Just click on the image to download.

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My gift to you for any size order ($15 value)!  

Use Host Code for orders under $150.  Orders over $150 do not need to use the Host Code but will receive the 6 Pack AND Stampin' Rewards (free Stampin' Up! product of your choosing)

Faux Wood Technique

I saw the Faux Wood Technique here for the first time and fell in love with the look.  

Then, like I usually do, I made a mistake here and there in the execution!  It turned out fine, though, and since I was gleefully praising myself as I was playing, I decided to make a photo tutorial for you all!  My steps are a bit different than the original tutorial because of my mistakes, which I ended liking.  

I have another card example using this technique at the end of this post!

Faux Wood Technique Photo Tutorial

Choose 3 colors that are a light, medium, and dark of each other, plus Whisper White.  Oh, and that Close to Cocoa ink pad is really Soft Suede.  I kept the pad when the color retired and just reink it with Soft Suede.

Add your lightest color first, which is Crumb Cake here.

This is the way to add the ink in each step to your cardstock.  It's called the direct-to-paper method.  Place your ink pad at the edge of your cardstock, then drag it across.

Add next darkest color, which is Soft Suede here.

Add darkest color next, which is Early Espresso here.  And, yes, you can use your mini ink pads for the direct-to-paper method!

Wait a minute to give the previous applications of ink time to dry, then add Whisper White ink.  I did get a tiny amount of brown ink on my pad, but it's fine!  You can blot it out with a paper towel or be like me and just leave it (I think it's evident from these photos that my supplies are well-used!).

We've made our faux wood cardstock - isn't it wonderful?!  Now it's time to cut our frames.  If your dies are able to nest inside each other, you can do the next three steps at once.

Place the smaller frame inside of the larger frame.  

LOVE!!!  Don't you love that look?  **swoon**  That fabulous wood grain paper in the background is from the Come To Gather DSP.  I pulled on the Copper Ribbon Trim to get a full look.

I loved the Faux Wood Technique so much that I made a second card.

Instead of squares, I used stitched rectangles for the frames.  You could use Stitched Shapes dies to get square, circle, and oval frames, too.

The leaf die is from Gathered Leaves dies (as is the Crushed Curry one in my first card on which I stamped the sentiment).  I pressed the leaf die into a Delicata Gold Glitz ink pad then ran it through my machine with Cajun Craze cardstock.  

The multi-colored leaves were SO easy to create.  I scribbled on the stamp with Stampin' Write markers, breathed on it to rewet the ink, then stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I used my Stampin' Write markers lightest to darkest: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler.  

Layering Squares dies (item #141708)

Stitched Shapes dies (item #145372)

Gathered Leaves dies (item #150662)

Delicata Golden Glitz ink (item #150711) *currently on backorder but still orderable

Stampin' Write Markers -Regals (item #147155)

Beauty & Joy stamp set (item #150518) **one of my Top 10 picks!**

Copper Trim (item #144179)

Come To Gather Designer Series Paper (item #150454) *currently on backorder but still orderable

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Catalogs for you at no charge!  Email me.

  

October Card Kits and October Host Code

It's fall!!!  Yes!!!  And not in name only - it really, truly feels like fall here in PA.  I've filled the canister in the cupboard with my homemade hot cocoa mix.  There's a jug of apple cider chilling in the frig.  The crisper drawer is brimming with Honeycrisp apples.  My extensive hoodie collection has been moved front and center in the closet (I just added another one over the weekend from the college Emma attends).  AND, I have two fall cards for you that I know you'll want to make!

I pulled the colors straight from the Come To Gather Designer Series Paper (DSP).  Did you know that every pack has its coordinating Stampin' Up! colors listed on the cardboard backing?  When I'm creating with DSP, I like to put all the cardstock colors listed on my desk.  It's helpful when deciding what I want to put together.

The pumpkins in the Gather Together stamp set were stamped with Pumpkin Pie ink, then scribbled over with a Blender Pen.  The solution in the Blender Pen pulls the ink color around the cardstock.  I love the look this gives!  It just needs a quick scribble - too much will cause the cardstock to pill.    

The stitching on the Pear Pizzazz cardstock from the Stitched Rectangle dies adds the perfect touch!  Little details bring a lot of interest to a card.

The second card uses more white space to highlight the copper die-cut leaves and sentiment stamped in Pretty Peacock ink.  

The leaves are from the Gathered Leaves dies that coordinate with the Gather Together stamp set.  They emboss those vein lines you see AND they cut the leaf shape!  The dies also include ones to cut the pumpkins (see the first card above).  If you don't like to fussy cut, this is the bundle for you as almost all the images in this stamp set have a matching die.

Using Copper Foil on the leaves really makes this card extra-special!  Both cards use the Crumb Cake ribbon and Cajun Craze twine that come in the Come To Gather Ribbon Combo Pack.  I was surprised at how much you get in both of those spools!  I used quite a bit to make a fall banner in this post here, plus fill some card kits, and I still have lots left.

You are reading that right - place any size order in October and I'll send you a kit to make both of these fall cards!  The kit includes what you see above.  You can use any ink, stamp set, and adhesive you like to complete the kit, but I have a suggested purchase below if you want to make them exactly like I did.

• Gather Together stamp set
• Gathered Leaves dies (requires die-cutting machine)
• Gather Together Bundle (stamp set and dies at a 10% discount!)
• Pretty Peacock ink pad 
• Pumpkin Pie ink pad
• Blender Pens
• Crumb Cake ink pad
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive
• Clear Stamping Block D

It's always a good idea to get an ink refill bottle along with your ink pad when ordering, so don't forget to add those.  A dry ink pad in the middle of a stamp project is a creative stopper!

You must use Host Code GZU4ASKR when placing your order!  If your order is $150 or more, do not use the host code - I will still send you the card kit but you'll also get Stampin' Rewards (free Stampin' Up! product of your choice!).

Click here to shop now!

Use this code when you shop with me in October