Timeless Stampin' with Lisa

I’ve always believed in the saying that when one door closes, another opens. So it is with only a twinge of regret or sorrow that I announce the closing of my Stampin’ Up! business.

Family and regular job responsibilities have taken my focus away from building a customer base that can withstand these little bumps & bruises.

The Timeless Stampin’ blog will remain open, but stagnant for a bit. There is some valuable information here, as well as some fun creative ideas. At some point it will move, with a rename and fresh face. In the meantime, I will continue to explore and share my creativity on my personal blog, Lisa’s Whiteboard. I hope you will join me there.

As a big thank you to all who supported me in this endeavor, I will place one final order with Stampin’ Up! on Sunday,  and I would like to offer a 20% discount to anyone placing an order by 9:00 pm (Eastern Time), Sunday, January 31, 2010.

Orders  must be for US delivery only, and must be paid by credit card or paypal at the time of order.

You may use the contact form, email me at wilkinsla [at] gmail [dot] com, or phone in your order at the number listed in the blog header.

The current Idea Book and Occasions Mini are available for online browsing using the menu above, or for download in the sidebar to your right.

All Stampin’ Up! promotions are being honored – including Hostess Benefits and the Free Sale-A-Bration sets. Also, please note the Make A Difference campaign below – Stampin’ Up! will donate $2 for each I {Heart} Hearts stampset purchased.

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From now until February 28, 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set you purchase will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

By taking advantage of my 20% discount offer (now thru 9:00 pm Eastern January 31, 2010) you can purchase these sets for $15.16 (clear mount) or $21.56 (wood mount), and the $2 set aside will still apply.

Contact me at wilkinsla [at] gmail [dot] com or use the Contact Me options for ordering information and how you can make a difference!

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You don’t want to miss Week #3 running now thru October 25th – brads, clips, & grommets are great additions to your cards and scrapbook layouts! Contact me TODAY to place your order, or use the Online Shopping link to your right!

Week 3 Deals of the Week

Things to Remember:

• Deals of the Week items may be purchased on workshop, demonstrator, customer, and online orders.
• Deals of the Week products are only available at their discounted price during the specified time.  At any other time during the month, the item will sell at the regular price.
• Individual products will not be announced early. All Deals of the Week announcements will be made on the Monday the Deal starts
• There is no limit to the number of Deals of the Week items a customer may purchase.
• This offer is an ideal add-on to workshop and online orders.
• All Deals of the Week are current products and featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.

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Big Shot Fans — check out Week #2 running now thru October 18th. Contact me TODAY to place your order, or use the Online Shopping link to your right!

Week 2 Deals of the Week

Things to Remember:

• Deals of the Week items may be purchased on workshop, demonstrator, customer, and online orders.
• Deals of the Week products are only available at their discounted price during the specified time.  At any other time during the month, the item will sell at the regular price.
• Individual products will not be announced early. All Deals of the Week announcements will be made on the Monday the Deal starts
• There is no limit to the number of Deals of the Week items a customer may purchase.
• This offer is an ideal add-on to workshop and online orders.
• All Deals of the Week are current products and featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.

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Now that we’ve covered Cutting Tools, Adhesives, Inks, and Stamps, this week’s installment of our Basic Supplies series is going to talk paper. I know. It seems pretty obvious — of course you need paper! How hard can that be?!

Well, for the uninitiated, not understanding your choices can be overwhelming, expensive, and fraught with frustration over inconsistent results that can easily lead you to the conclusion that this craft is just not up your alley. Trust me. I remember the feelings well. So let me break it down for you!

All paper is not created equal.

Construction paper, index cards, poster board, and printer paper has its place. But unless you are going for a very specific or edgy look, that’s not what you want for your card making or scrapbooking.

Quality Cardstock.

Don’t skimp here.

Cardstock is your most basic supply, and you will want to have plenty of it on hand. It is your canvas — the first layer that you build upon to create your cards and layouts, and the medium that you actually stamp and color your images on.

Papers come in various weights, finishes, and absorbencies.  For your card and layout bases you want a good quality paper. An 80 lb. weight cardstock will give your projects the stability to maintain their shape when you start adding layers. You want your friends and family to be able to stand up the cards you make for them without collapsing, and you want your scrapbook layouts to stand up to years of browsing — so start with the best!

Surface finish and absorency are a matter of personal taste for scrapbooking, but are very important for stamped images. Textured surfaces will not take a stamped image very well. Flocked, velvet, and metallic finishes will require special techniques. For stamping, you want a smooth finish for the best results — but be careful! This is where absorbency comes into play. Too much and your ink will bleed. Too little, and pigment ink will smear unless set with heat.

Stampin’ Up!® cardstocks take the guess work out of the selection process. The 80 lb. weight has a quality “feel” to it that you will recognize the minute you touch it. Available in both textured and nontextured, and manufactured specifically for stamping, you can be assured that you will get the best possible inked image.

Color.

Let’s stop right here and talk cardstock color and the best way to select a “stash” that will not break the bank.

If you’ve seen any of my projects, you know I am not a kahki, beige type of person — and I rarely, if ever, use a stark white. I love color! Bold, bright, funky colors make my heart sing! Quiet, muted, earthtones appeal to my more “pensive” side.

That said, when you start stamping, you will want a decent supply of good quality whites, creams, beiges, and grays. These neutrals give you the most flexibility for stamping images – you get truer ink colors and unlimited options for selecting project color schemes.

I keep a steady stock of Stampin’ Up!® Whisper White, Very Vanilla, White Naturals (with flecks of fiber) and Going Gray for stamping on. For my card bases, I do like colors, but most often use the Whisper White, Very Vanilla, White Naturals, and Kraft. Again, they give me more flexibility for adding color, and I get the most mileage from my crafting budget.

These basic choices come in packages of 40 8-1/2 x 11 inch sheets for $7.50. My standard card size is 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches — exactly one half of a standard sheet. That’s less than $.10 per card — or just pennies for the background of a stamped image.

I add color with my layers, inks, and accessories. Using the same 8-1/2 x 11 inch sheets, you can get four 4 x 5-1/4 inch base layers per sheet of any color you choose. And you can keep adding layers.

Sticking within a single color family – Stampin’ Up!® Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals, Soft Subtles, or In Colors guarantees a cohesive, matching color scheme for your project. Purchased in variety packs, the 8-1/2 x 11 inch size gives you 3 sheets of 12 colors (or 6 sheets of 6 colors for the In Colors) for $7.95.

The variety packs also give you a chance to “discover” which specific colors you tend to reach for the most, and you can stock up on those with the confidence of knowing they are already your favorites.

Designer Series Papers.

Yes. You are probably going to want to add printed papers. They are a marvelous way to add color and depth to your projects. The Stampin’ Up!® Designer Series Papers use designs, patterns, and colors that coordinate with our stamps, cardstocks, and inks.

Available in 12 x 12 inch sheets, they come 12 sheets to a package with 2 each of 6 double-sided designs. That’s 12 coordinating designs per package, on 100 lb. text weight* paper for $9.95 or $11.95 (depending upon the design).

When used for accents, or even large layers or matting, you are talking pennies per project and endless possibilities.

* Text weight is a lighter weight than cardstock. The 100 lb. text weight of the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper has a feel that is similar to a light weight cardstock.

Archival properties.

For scrapbook layouts, be sure to select papers that are both acid and lignin free. Acids added in the paper manufacturing process will do exactly what you think they will — they will detoriate anything they come in contact with — like your precious photos. Lignin causes discoloration over time — from yellow to brown.

“Archival Safe” is not always the same thing — look for the words acid and lignin free.

All Stampin’ Up!® cardstocks and Designer Series Papers are both acid and lignin free.

A few final words.

Now, you may be wondering, “So ok. I buy. But what about all this other paper I have on hand?” The simple answer? Use what you can for accents and mats. But where it counts – for your canvas – stick to quality choices. You won’t be sorry.

That’s it. Of course, there are other paper options out there — and Stampin’ Up!® carries a wide variety of specialty papers – chipboard, window, metallics, glossies – and we will get to those in a special Beyond the Basics series. For now, I hope that I have taken some of the mystery out of selecting papers.

Next week, we will wind up our Basic Supplies series with a discussion of cleaning supplies and storage options. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

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Oh yes it is — and there are more deals this time!!! Week #1 runs now thru October 11th. Contact me TODAY to place your order, or use the Online Shopping link to your right!

Week 1 Deals of the Week

Things to Remember:

• Deals of the Week items may be purchased on workshop, demonstrator, customer, and online orders.
• Deals of the Week products are only available at their discounted price during the specified time.  At any other time during the month, the item will sell at the regular price.
• Individual products will not be announced early. All Deals of the Week announcements will be made on the Monday the Deal starts
• There is no limit to the number of Deals of the Week items a customer may purchase.
• This offer is an ideal add-on to workshop and online orders.
• All Deals of the Week are current products and featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.

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If you saw the October Newsletter, you saw examples of a watercoloring technique using Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen from Stampin’ Up!®. This technique is just as easy as coloring in a coloring book, and adds color and sophistication to your stamped images.

In the thumbnail, the pumpkin is colored with a Stampin’ Write Marker, and its shading is part of the stamped image.

If you look closely, you can see that not only is the leaf watercolored, but the wheat behind the pumpkin and the base of the image, as well as a tinge of soft yellow in the background.

To achieve this look, start with the lighter colors first. Let the colors overlap a bit. Use a light hand, adding multiple coats to get the intensity you are looking for. Mistakes are easily erased with an art eraser.

*Watercolor Pencils cannot be used on your stamps — only on the stamped image.

When you are ready to blend for the watercolor effect, there are two things to remember:

1. Make sure your stamped image is dry, so you don’t drag the ink color into your shading. Only the Basic Black and Basic Brown Classic Ink Pads from Stampin’ Up! are waterproof – but they need to be dry first.**
2. The more water or moisture you use, the less intense your colors will be.

** I really love using the Soft Suede (as I did on this card) and the Chocolate Chip Classic Inks. I have noticed that if  I let them “set” overnight, and use a light hand, they don’t bleed into my watercoloring. Your mileage may vary, so be careful!

I used the Blender pen to drag my color where I wanted. The Blender Pen gives you great control, and wipes clean on a piece of scratch paper. You can also use a brush and water or a Q-Tip.

The leaf was outlined with a green pencil, and the color dragged towards the center.

The shading at the bottom of the image was colored with two shades of brown, the lighter bleeding into the dark, and the dark dragged to an uneven base.

The background shading was achieved with a very light coloring of yellow and blended out into the white space until I could no longer see the color.

If you don’t get the Newsletter, you’re missing the full effect of this technique, so go  sign-up now!

Rediscover your childhood joy of coloring! If you have any questions on achieving this look, be sure to contact me!

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Have you signed up for my monthly newsletter yet?! Brought to you by MailChimp, you’ll get newsletters the first of every month (that’s tomorrow!) filled with exclusive articles, ideas, and projects!

This month, we will look at a few things you should keep in mind as the Holiday Silly Season starts – with tips to not only get you from Halloween through Christmas with your sanity intact – but keep the creative juices flowing too! And, you’ll find two easy projects to create this month! There’s even a coupon for newsletter subscribers only!

Fill in the form in my sidebar (to your right) or click on the image above! Everyone wants alittle Monkey Love – sign-up today to get yours!

* Be sure to check your email and follow the instructions to confirm your subscription!

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Here’s a quick Halloween Card – perfect for all the kids on your list!

This card features the Stampin’ Up!® Sweet Centers stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog and our new Sweet Treat Cups filled with real candy corn!

Sweet Centers includes stamps for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines — as well as stamps suitable for many other occasions! Contact me today for more information on this versatile stamp set!

Click the link below for the project recipe.

Read the rest of this entry »

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So far, we’ve talked about Cutting Tools, Adhesives and Inks. In this week’s installment of our Basic Supplies series, we are going to look at the cornerstone of our craft — rubber stamps.

Why rubber? Well, for starters, this is a Stampin’ Up!® blog, and our stamps are rubber. While I’m “here,” let me give you the pitch, then we’ll move on …

We make our stamps of premium wood and rubber to guarantee the best impression possible. With deeply etched images on foam-backed rubber that ensure sharp and clear stamped images, it is no wonder that our stamps–renowned within the stamping industry–earned the Creating Keepsakes’ Readers’ Choice Award for best rubber stamps–for the eighth year in a row!

Got it? Ok. Moving right along, let’s talk the basics — choosing stamp sets and their care and feeding.

Choosing Stamp Sets

Choosing your first rubber stamps can be both exciting and overwhelming — in both the wide variety of selections and the price. So follow a few tips to get the most from your investment.

Think about the projects you want to make. Cards, scrapbooking layouts, invitations, decorative items, gifts? Will the projects be images only, or do you need words and sentiments? Write it down and try to stay focused when looking at the selections. It’s as easy to get distracted from your goal as it is to get overwhelmed.

Tip: When you start looking at stamp sets, you are going to fall in love with sets that don’t “fit” the project you are shopping with. Keep a Wish List handy and make a note! The next time you are shopping, you will remember exactly which sets caught your eye! Click here for your own -free- printable Wish List!

Stamp Size. This one is a fine line. For the beginner, look for stamps that are smallish. Large stamps, like background images, require consistent pressure to achieve a clean image and can be alittle tricky. Very tiny images, especially single line words are easy to “rock,” giving you a blurred effect. Stamps that are slightly smaller than the palm of your hand are easiest for new stampers.

Outline or Solid Image. This is mostly a matter of personal choice. Stamps with solid image stamps ink fully and make strong, colorful images. Outline image stamps are line art. Think coloring book images. These can be used as is, or colored in with markers, chalks, or inks after stamping, and offer you the chance to try different techniques.

Detailed or Plain. Detailed stamps look great but are alittle more difficult to work with, requiring careful inking and solid, even pressure. Don’t rule them out, though — just keep it in mind!

Care and Feeding

Once you’ve selected and ordered your stamps, and they’ve been delivered, you’ll need to mount them. Don’t worry! It’s easy! Stampin’ Up! stamps are diecut, you just pop them out of the sheet — no trimming necessary.

Stamp Assembly:

1. Match the images to the wood block sizes.
2. Peel protective paper from back to expose adhesive.
3. Look at the enclosed label, and apply the rubber to the wood matching the position to the label image.
4. Apply the peel off label to the top side of the wood block.
5. Apply the label with stamp set name to the end of the box.

Cleaning Rubber Stamps

It’s a messy job, but someone’s gotta do it. Cleaning your stamps when you are finished using them is an important habit to get into …

• Clean stamps will prevent the unwanted transfer of inks from one pad to another, as well as miscoloring your images.
• Dried ink can imbed into the etched portions of your stamps and ruin your projects with poor images.
• Dirty stamps tend to collect more dirt and dust.

Before cleaning, be sure to stamp off excess inks on a paper towel or scrap paper.

After trying several methods and products, I can honestly recommend Stampin’ Up!’s Stampin’ Mist as the best — its special formula not only cleans, but conditions the rubber. Stampin’ Mist can be sprayed directly on the stamp and blotted off, or used in conjunction with the Stampin’ Scrub.

The Stampin’ Scrub has two pads – a wet side that you can spray the mist directly on, and a dry side for scrubbing the stamp completely dry.

Alternatively, you can use alcohol-free baby wipes, or plain (dish) soap and water with an old tooth brush.

Cleaning Tips:

• Do not soak
• Remember to stamp off excess ink before cleaning
• Do not use alcohol based products
• Store stamps only when they are completely dried

Remember, there is a difference between a clean stamp and a stained stamp. It is natural for stamps to become stained from dark inks over time, even though they are thoroughly clean. Do not try to scrub stained stamps, as this could damage the surface of the stamp.

That’s it! Careful selection of stamp sets, and their proper care, will give you years of enjoyment!

Be sure to tune in next week for a discussion on paper!

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