Technique Thursday: Ink to Paper

I'm so excited about Stampin' Up!'s announcement regarding the Haitian Disaster Relief and how we stampers can get involoved! It totally blesses me and inspires me that we can make a difference! I've been in a super good mood ever since I read about their $2 contribution for every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set sold - either clear mount or wood mount! I love it and can't wait to order mine!!! If you do order the clear mount stamp set, the coordinating clear block size is: D.

Okay, so onto today's card, the Stampin' Royalty blog posted a fun challenge: a Single Layer project! Not as easy as it sounds! But my Manhattan Embossing folder is so pretty by itself, that I thought it'd be perfect for this challenge!

Stampin' Essentials Tips:

• The technique I used on this is a pretty simple one, it's called ink to paper! After I embossed the card front with the Manhattan Flower, I turned my Baja Breeze ink pad upside down and applied it directly to the card.
• Obviously the raised, embossed parts of the flower will catch the ink first so I moved my ink pad in several directions to get ink all over the card! This technique is great because you can be a little messy - but it still looks good!
• Then I stamped my sentiment from the Upsy Daisy stamp set in Chocolate Chip ink in the top right hand corner since there was the perfect amount of blank space for some sweet words!
• A touch of 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon around the top of the card adds just the right amount of embellishement in my opinion!
• I miss the retired color Baja Breeze SO much (it retired in 2009)! I just had to use it on this project! I think the color is just so beautiful! Be sure to check back later this week because I'll be posting more cards using my favorite Stampin' Up! color: Baja Breeze!
• The Manhattan Flower embossing folder is perfectly sized for a standard size A2 card front. It measures 4-1/2" x 5-3/4". These are my favorite texture folders since they leave such a deep impression and turn out really beautiful! Plus it's a steal of a deal for only $7.95!

To Shop for Stampin' Up! On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy (111710)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Baja Breeze (retired)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730)
Embellishments: 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon (111367)
Tools: Big Shot (113439) Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder (114517)
Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

PPA14 ~ In the Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the Pals Paper Arts posted this great challenge: to use the color PINK! So many people are effected by this disease and I too have wonderful women in my life who have battled breast cancer, including my grandma Edie and my aunt Sherill. Pink is one of my grandma's favorite colors to wear and she likes to create these crazy color combinations with pink - ones I wouldn't neccessarily think of! When I was about 6, I remember her telling me I should start wearing pink and red together and I thought it was absolutely nuts! I didn't think those two colors went together at all - but now I think they do! Stay tuned next week when I post a project honoring my grandma Edie and her love for Pink with Red! For the PPA challenge, I stuck with one of MY favorite pink combinations: Pink and Brown! I ran a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock through my Big Shot using the Top Note die, then ran that piece through the Big Shot with the Manhattan Flower embossing flower to create the rose impression for the background (my grandma loves roses too)! The letters of the word 'HOPE' comes from the Billboard alphabet die which I cut out of Chocolate Chip cardstock! Then I 'tied' a piece of Whisper White grosgrain ribbon to create the ribbon of hope! Stampin' Up! also has a great stamp of this called, Ribbon of Hope (115552) on page 208 for only $7.95!

Today is October 31st! I've been reading through the book of Psalms and read in Psalm 31 today ~ there was a great verse that I wanted to share about Hope! The Lord is so great that way! Psalm 31:24 'Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who HOPE in the Lord.' May you be blessed today!

To purchase the supplies to make this card, CLICK HERE!

Stamps: Tres Chic (109258)

Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908)

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip (102128), Pretty in Pink (100459), Whisper White (100730)

Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (109025), 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads (112534)

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Manhattan Flower (114517), Billboard (114510), Top Note (113463)

Finished Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"