Ink It Up! with Jessica Taylor

How to Use an Aqua Painter to Color a Stamped Image

One of the questions I frequently get asked is What is an Aqua Painter and how do you use it?  Watch the video below to find out!

 

Buy an Aqua Painter and give it a try!

How to Get a Good Stamped Image

I love the cherry stamp from the Mouthwatering stamp set, but this weekend I had a heck of a time getting a good stamped image from it.  Bold stamps can be tricky to work with sometimes, so here are a few tips for getting a good stamped image from a bold stamp:

• Rough up the bold surface of the stamp with your fingernail or a fine sanding block.
• Ink Pads work better than markers.  Markers tend to just smear the ink around on bold images.  For the cherries on the card below, I inked up the cherries with an ink pad, then wiped of the excess ink from the stems and inked them with a marker.
• Ink up the image, stamp it, ink it again, stamp it.... the more you do this the more ink will stick to the stamp every time.
• Use good card stock.  A smooth card stock like Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White will take ink better than a rough card stock. 
• Hold your stamp down longer.   This is no time for quick stamping.  Hold the stamp down on your paper longer, with even pressure, giving it a chance to soak in evenly.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Mouthwatering stamp set (125675 Wood or 125677 clear)

Ink: Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad (122939), Lucky Limeade Stampin' Write marker (123002)

Paper: 2011-2013 In Color Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (122384); Whisper White Note Cards (107311); Whisper White (100730) and Lucky Limeade (122926) card stock

Accessories: Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine (125572), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), SNAIL adhesive (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

 

You can order the supplies you need to make this card from my Online Stampin' Up! Store.  Once you've clicked through to the store, just enter the item codes above in the Search the Store Box to find the supplies you are looking for.  SHOP NOW!

*Pick a FREE Gift with EVERY $50 purchase in February!*

Stamp Your Image EXACTLY Where You Want It...

When I first started stamping, all the words on my cards were stamped at an angle.  Why?  I could never get them perfectly straight, so I stamped them on an angle so it looked purposeful instead of like a mistake.

Then I was introduced to the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  The what?  The Stamp-a-ma-jig.  It has a funny name, but it is my favorite stamping tool ever.

 

Watch the Video below to see how it works.

 

Click here to get your Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Want to Make Your Cards Smell Good?

I am totally in love with the Sweet Shop Products in the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog. 

My favorite?  Scented embossing powder!!

The scented embossing powder comes in three scents - vanilla, melon and cherry. It's clear, so you can use ink colors to coordinate with your scent.

Of course it coordinates beautifully with the Mouthwatering Stamp Set.

I could go on and on about the Jelly Bean Brads and Baker's Twine in fun colors, but I think you should just check it out for yourself!  Shop for Sweet Shop Products Now!

P.S. Don't forget that you get to pick a free Sale-a-Bration product for EVERY $50 order you place this month!

Big Shot Framelits Tip

This was my favorite tip from the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference last week.  It was one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" moments.

Put down your card stock with the stamped image on it.  Place your framelit die on top and then use a Post-It note to hold the framelit in place!

Viola!  Perfect cut!

How pretty is that?  It's an image from the Apothecary Art stamp set cut out with one of the Labels Collection Framelit dies.  Guess what's on my wish list now?

 

Want to Make Better Cards?

Change the blade in your paper cutter.

Rough, frayed edges only look good when that's the look you're going for.

I love my Fiskars Paper Cutter and it's so easy to swap in a new cutting blade.  Don't throw out the old one yet!  Mark it with a Sharpie as dull and use it to cut window sheets.

 

2 Tools to Make Your Cards Look Better

Before the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped all of my word sentiments on my cards at an angle.  That way it looked purposeful instead of just crooked.  Once I got my hands on this simple stamp positioner, I started stamping my words straight and my cards started looking better.

Grid Paper by Stampin' Up! is another great tool.  If you have trouble lining up the elements of the card, this will help you. Ribbon, card stock, Designer Series Paper... whatever you are putting straight across your card will truly be straight when you use the grid paper to line it up.  Just put your card stock down, lining it up with the grid, then use the lines as a guide to tape down your next element. 

Ready to make your cards look better? 

Buy the Stamp-a-ma-jig and a pad of Grid Paper.

Designer Series Papers Coordinating Colors

Thanks so much to those of you who left a nice comment for Rachel yesterday.  She is looking forward to sharing more videos with you!

Today I have a tip for you regarding Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Papers.  I love to use patterned paper and Stampin' Up! makes it easy by using colors that coordinate with their core colors.

So here's my tip...

When you purchase a pack of Designer Series Paper, put a label on the outside of the plastic wrap that lists the colors that coordinate. 

 

Here's a list of the current Designer Series Paper and their coordinating colors.

Beau Chateau - Pink Pirouette, Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Berry Blossoms - Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder

Beyond the Garden - Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango

Big Top Birthday  - Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Real Red, Peach Parfait, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Domestic Goddess - Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Pool Party, Calypso Coral

First Edition - Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Flirtatious - Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White

Frightful Sight - Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Basic Gray, Old Olive, Basic Black

Frostwood Lodge - Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Whisper White

Holly Berry Bouquet - Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Just Add Cake - Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Letters to Santa - Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Whisper White

Mocha Morning - Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Nursery Nest - Perfect Plum, Marina Mist, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz

Paisley Petals - Cajun Craze, Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango, Bravo Burgundy, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Pick Your Poison - Basic Black, Peach Parfait, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla

Pocketful of Posies- Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Whisper White

Spice Cake - Soft Suede, More Mustard, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, River Rock, Very Vanilla

Timeless Portrait - River Rock, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Island Indigo

Well Worn - Not Quite Navy, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, River Rock, Soft Suede, So Saffron

 

When you are looking at the Designer Series Paper in the catalog or online, it's hard to tell what the paper actually looks like because you are only seeing a sliver of it.  If you'd like to see more before you buy, there is a way to do that!

Go to my Online Store and click on the Designer Series Paper of your choice.  Underneath the photo, click on MORE IMAGES.

 

You'll be able to see the full sheets of paper, making it much easier to make a decision to buy.

Shop for Designer Series Papers Now!

Gate Fold Thank You Card

Here's another gate fold card that I made recently...

If you need directions on how to make a gate fold card, you can watch a video here.

I've been making a lot more of these lately because they are so easy to do with the new Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  Once I have my markers set at the right measurements, I don't need to measure again! Watch the video and you'll see what I mean.

If you like to make fancy fold cards, card stock boxes and other 3-D items, then you NEED a Simply Scored!  This tool will make your scoring so much easier.  Just measure, mark and score away!

Order your Simply Scored Scoring Tool today!

 

Stampin' Up! Triple Layer Punch Video

I've had a lot of questions about how the new Triple Layer Punches work, and this video by Stampin' Up! explains it well.

Now that you've seen them in action, I know you'll want to use them on your own projects!  To order either of these punches, just click on the links below to go to my online store.

Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch

Doily Triple Layer Punch