Black Magic

One thing I love about my Stamp Clubs is the ladies always challenge me to learn new techniques.  I learned this particular technique at the request of a lady who has been special blessing to me and to my Stampin' Up! business.  

This is called the "black magic" technique.  It's not hard to do at all.  You simply stamp your image using Stampin' Up! whisper white craft ink on basic black paper.  Then heat set the image using your heating tool, or embossing gun.  Next you color the image with Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils.  Then heat set the image again.  And wah-lah!  You have a work of art.

You can do this technique using your whisper white craft ink on any dark-colored paper.  You can also use very vanilla craft ink on chocolate chip or early espresso paper.

Here is a list of Stampin' Up! products used to make this card:

Stamp Sets

Just Believe

Heard from the Heart

Paper

Rose Red

     5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored halfway to create base of card

     2-1/2" x 4-1/2"

Basic Black

     5-1/4" x 3-1/2"

     4-3/4" x 2-3/4"

     4-1/4" x 2-1/4"

Garden Green  

     5" x 3-1/4"

Ink

Whisper White - craft ink

Basic Black

Punches

scallop edge border

Tools

SNAIL adhesive

Heating Tool

Watercolor Pencils

If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.     

                      http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Here are a few other cards I've made using the black magic technique.  If you'd like a list of materials used, please email me at BRAYpartyof4@yahoo.com

Circle Circus

     I have so much fun using the Circle Circus stamp set.
     My favorite use for it is to design paper.  Many times I do not have a paper that coordinates with the colors I want to use.  However, because I have this stamp set, that doesn't have to keep me from creating a eye-pleasing card.
     As you can see in this picture, it makes a very nice background for a masculine birthday card.
     I've listed the Stampin' Up! products used to create this card.

Stamp Set

Circle Circus

Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper

Chocolate Chip 

     5-1/2" x 8-1/2" - scored halfway to create base of card, + scrap

Wild Wasabi 

     5-1/4" x 3", + scrap

Whisper White  

     5" x 2-3/4", + scrap

Pacific Point

     5-1/2" x 3/4", + scrap 

Ink

Wild Wasabi

Pacific Point

Chocolate Chip

Punches

1-3/4" scalloped circle

1-1/4" circle

1" circle

word window

modern label

Tools

SNAIL adhesive

Stampin' Dimensionals

If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Here are a few other cards I've made using the Circle Circus stamp set.  If you'd like a list of materials used, please email me at BRAYpartyof4@yahoo.com

Easter Basket

I designed this basket last year for one of my stamp clubs.  I wanted to do something "Eastery", but I quickly realized I have no Easter stamp sets.  So I improvised.  I thought, "Easter signifies new life.  Butterflies make me think of new life".  It's a bit of a stretch, but it came out really cute. 

 

I brought the basket back out yesterday to show the ladies in my newest stamp club.  (That's right!  I'm up to three clubs!  Woohoo!)  Of course, it had been a year since I last made this box.  My brain was a little fuzzy on the details.  Instead of a 6" square, I started out with a 9" square.  So yesterday's basket came out a little bigger than the original.  The bigger the basket, the more chocolate you can stuff in it.  Am I right?  :)

 

I am hoping to get a chance to post this later as a tutorial with more details and more pictures.  For those of you who are in  my stamp clubs, you know what to do from here.  Happy Scrapping!

 

 

Stamp Set

Teeny Tiny Wishes

 

Paper

Pacific Point textured paper - 6" x 6" square for basket, and 1" x 9" strip for handle.

Score at 2" and 4".  Turn 90 degrees.  Score again at 2" and 4".

Blueberry Crisp designer series (retired) - scrap

Very Vanilla - scrap

Night of Navy - scrap

Sahara Sand - scrap

 

Ink

Pacific Point

 

Punches

2-3/8" scalloped circle

1-3/4" circle

word window

1/16" circle

 

Tools

Big Shot

Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Sizzix Die

2 brads

SNAIL adhesive

Stampin' Dimensionals

 

If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Build A Blossom

I love this card!  I think I say that about most of the pictures I post, but I wouldn't want to show you one I don't love!

This stamp set - Build a Blossom, along with its coordinating punch - Blossoms Petal Builder, were introduced last Spring.  They must have been a hit, because Stampin' Up! decided to put them in the 2011-2012 idea book and catalog. 

The set I used for the sentiment is no longer available, but you could easily substitute any sentiment to replace it.  May I suggest Teeny Tiny Wishes or a recent favorite My Friend.

You may have seen this card before.  I  pretty much duplicated the card that was in last year's Occasions mini-catalog.  I'm not too proud to admit that.  :) 

Still, it's cute.  It's simple.  And it's versatile.  You could make this card too!

Here's a list of the Stampin' Up! products I used.

Stamp Set
Build a Blossom

Paper
Marina Mist - 8-1/2"x5-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" to form base of card
Chocolate Chip - 4"x5" or scrap big enough to cut top note
So Saffron - scrap (I used to strips of 2"x11" to punch 10 petals)
Old Olive - scrap

Inks
So Saffron
Old Olive

Punches
Blossoms Petal Builder
Word Window

Tools
Big Shot
Top Note die
paper piercer or anywhere hole punch
antique brads
crystal effects
stampin' dimensionals
snail adhesive


If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Love Birds

I'm a little late getting this card posted.  Valentine's Day was over a month ago.  I finally uploaded all the pics of my recent cards to my computer.  So forgive my tardiness. 

I had a recent demonstration where I used the bird builder punch for our make-n-take.  When we finished our project, I made this card, also using the bird punch, to show the ladies another example.  It was the week before Valentine's, hence the "happy valentine's day" sentiment.  However, you could swap that sentiment out with another one from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set to make this a wedding card, or an anniversary card.  You could even make it a "love you" card, using the Short & Sweet stamp set.

This card seems to be a favorite among my customers.  So I thought I would share it with you.  I've listed all the Stampin' Up! products used to create this project below.

Stamp SetBaroque Motifs
Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper
Basic Black - 8-1/2"x5-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" to form base of card
Real Red - 5-1/4"x 4" + scrap
Whisper White - 5"x3-3/4" + scrap
Old Olive - scrap

Inks
Basic Black
Old Olive

Punches
Bird Builder
Word Window

Tools
stampin' dimensionals
2-way glue pen
snail adhesive


If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Tea Bag Holder

I ordered the Morning Cup stamp set at the request of one of my customers.  She is a coffee addict, and wanted to do something with this set.  So we made a coffee packet holder, which came out really cute.  I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.

I was browsing the web, trying to come up with other ideas for this stamp set, when I came along this tea bag holder on Julie Davidson's blogspot.  It was simple and purposeful, so I copied the instructions and made one of my own.

I chose my colors based on the color of my tea bag, which for some reason is not included in the picture.  My apologies. 

I hope you like it.  I've included my Stampin' Up! supply list below.  Please visit Julie's website http://juliedavison.blogspot.com/2011/02/morning-cup-tea-bag-holder.html for further instructions.





Stamp Set
Morning Cup

Paper
Certainly Celery - 10-1/2"x3-1/2", scored @ 3-1/2 & 7", cut end square diagonally for base of card
Pumpkin Pie - 3"x3" and 3-1/4"x3-1/4"
Whisper White - 2-3/4"x2-3/4" and 3-1/4"x3-1/4"

Inks
Chocolate Chip
Pumpkin Pie

Markers
Certainly Celery
Pumpkin Pie

Tools
Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon
stampin' dimensionals
sticky strip
snail adhesive


If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

You're in My Thoughts

I saw this card on another website, but I failed to keep a copy of the link.  So to whomever designed this card, I give you full credit.  I just don't know who you are.

I love this card!  I have used this basic format to make multiple cards for multiple purposes.  I've turned it into an anniversary card, a wedding card, and even a Christmas card.  It is quite versatile. 

Embossing the flowers by running them through the big shot is what really adds the finishing touch.  I hope you like it!

The following Stampin' Up! products were used to make this card.

Stamp SetsWord Play

Paper
Certainly Celery - 8-1/2"x5-1/2", folded in half for base of card, + scraps
Whisper White - 5-1/4"x4"
Baja Breeze - scraps

Inks
Baja Breeze

Punches
5-Petal Flower
Bird Punch
Brad Punch

Tools
Big Shot
Big Shot platform
Big Shot cutting pads
Perfect Polka Dots - embossing folder
Framed Tulips - embossing folder
flower brads - subtles, certainly celery
glue dots
2-way glue pen
snail adhesive


If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Snow Swirled

The ladies in one of my stamp clubs wanted to learn how to heat emboss.  I designed this card purposefully using three different embossing powders.  I figured going through the heat-embossing technique THREE times would help them to remember it better. 

Seeing how the snowflakes on this card may be the only ones we'll see the rest of this winter, I think it  is the perfect one to share with you today. 

Happy Scrapping!


Stamp Sets
Snow Swirled
For All You Do

Paper
Baja Breeze - 8-1/2"x5-1/2", folded in half for base of card,
                    - 4"x3-3/4" + scrap
Whisper White - 4-1/4"x4", + scrap

Inks
Whisper White
VersaMark

Punches
5-Petal Flower
Small Tag
Word Window
Brad Punch
Hole Punch

Tools
embossing buddy
embossing powder - white, silver, and iridescent ice
white  ribbon
rhinestones
white brad
snail adhesive


If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

All in the Family

I made this card a couple years ago for my best friend.  I used the Stampin' Up! All in the Family stamp set.  Creating images with this particular stamp set is time consuming, but the finished product is so worth it.

The "Friends" image is from a retired stamp set that is no longer available.  But there are many current stamp sets you could use to create the same idea.  I would suggest possibly using Teeny Tiny Wishes, Short & Sweet, or My Friend.

The flowers were made using a punch that is also  no longer available.  However, you could use the
                                                                                     Boho Blossoms punch to get the same effect.

Stamp SetsAll in the Family

Paper
Marina Mist - 8-1/2"x5-1/2", folded in half for base of card
Chocolate Chip DSP, Neutrals - 5-1/2"x3-1/2"
Whisper White - 2-1/2"x2-3/4", + scrap

Inks
Chocolate Chip
Whisper White
Certainly Celery

Punches
Boho Blossoms

Tools
colored pencils
certainly celery ribbon
marina mist ribbon
snail adhesive
Stampin' Up! dimensionals

If you would like to order any of these products, please visit my Stampin' Up! website.                           http://www.marcibray.stampinup.net/

Driving by with a Birthday "Hi"

The first stamp set I ever purchased from Stampin' Up! was Loads of Love.  I was so impressed with its versatility.  You can make so many different types of cards using this set, including valentine's, Christmas, and birthday.  When you purchase the coordinating Loads of Love Accessories set, you can also make harvest time, Easter, moving and friendship cards. 

I made this particular card three years ago, before I ever became a demonstrator.  I still use this set today.  Let me know if you'd like to have it for yourself.

Stamp Sets
Loads of Love
Loads of Love Accessories

Paper
Chocolate Chip - 8-1/2"x5-1/2", folded in half for base of card
Basic Black - 5-1/2"x1"
Marina Mist - 2-3/4"x3", + scrap
Whisper White - 2-1/2"x2-3/4", + scrap

Inks
Chocolate Chip

Punches
1" circle
1-1/4" circle
brad punch

Tools
colored pencils
white brads - qty 3
snail adhesive
Stampin' Up! dimensionals