Totally Trendy Techniques!

Stamping is all the rage right now and I’ve found that there are many different ways to acquire the perfect ‘stamped’ look that you might be looking for.  I have created a set of cards that will show the difference between three techniques.  To get ready, I gather all my supplies so I have them right at my fingertips.  I used my Spellbinders™ die cut machine for the first two techniques.

1^st Technique – Reverse Stenciling

To create this flower embellishment, place die on scrap piece of paper and apply ink right on the die template with the cut side facing up.

Then cut and embossed it with a die cut machine (I used my Wizard™.)

With regular stenciling, the white parts that appear here would be colored and the green part would be white.  Adding ink directly on to the die allows you to ‘stamp’ the actual image on to your paper.

Add a pop dot on the back and adhere it to brown cardstock base.  After that take a 1 1/2" strip of white cardstock and cut a border on top edge.  Finish off with sentiment and ribbon.

2^nd Technique – Letter Pressing

I love this technique!  It’s similar to the first one in that you’ll need a piece of scrap paper to lay one of the Impressabilities™ on.  Then in the same way, you will apply the ink directly on top. 

You can keep the scrap paper under your Impressabilities™ to keep your plate from getting all inky.  Place the paper in which you wish stamp or letter press your image on, over top of the Impressabilities™ and then add an embossing mat.  Run it through your machine and you have this beautiful stamped/embossed image!  Add a touch of ribbon, a simple sentiment and a cardstock border and your card is complete!

3^rd Technique – Repetitive Stamping

This technique is simple.  Use a background stamp and repeat the image down your paper 2/3rds of the way.  Add ribbon, sentiment, and cardstock mat and you once again have a quick, elegant card less than 5 minutes!

These three techniques can be mixed and matched to create a quick set of cards to give as a gift or to just have on hand for one you need to grab a card.

Supplies: 

Die Cut template - Spellbinders™ # S5-004 Sunflower Garden, Impressabilities™ (Fleur De Lis Stripe, Floral and Stone)

Ribbon - Papertrey Ink

Cardstock - Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Kraft)

Ink - Clearsnap (Colorbox: Citrine,) Staz-On (brown)

Stamp - Papertrey Ink (Autumn Abundance,)  Fiskars

Julie Overby