Make your own Patterned Paper with SU Card Stock and Ink!

My sister is a real packrat and she has such a hard time actually using the patterned paper she buys. She says if she USES it, she won't HAVE it any more, LOL!  She loves stamping her own background paper as you never run out that way, so to celebrate our Grand Opening Sale of 15% off on card stock, ink and markers, I asked her to tell us about the steps for this technique.

Supplies:
Paper - 8½ x 11 Card Stock in Crumb Cake (kraft) (120593); Stamps - Artistic Etchings (clear 120573/woodmount 118517); Ink - Versamark (102283), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Chocolate Chip (100908), and Dark Green (she used retired Hunter green, but a combination of Garden Green (102272) with Always Artichoke (105219) in the centers would be even more lovely). Whisper White Craft (101731); Embossing Powder - Clear (109130); Tools - Sponge Daubers, Embossing Buddy (103083).

First, stamp alternating rows of the two stamps in Versamark. Stamp a row and then emboss it with clear detail powder before moving on to the next row. Otherwise it is too easy to smear the previous row as you continue stamping. Generous use of the Embossing Buddy will help avoid powder clinging where it shouldn't.

This is actually quite beautiful and you could stop right here if you wanted. But we were going for some Christmas paper and we really wanted to highlight the embossing by increasing the contrast. So we moved on to step two, which is sponging ink colors over the embossed areas. This is the fun part where the design really comes alive!

On the right end, alternating motifs were sponged with red or green. Each time you dab the sponge dauber on your ink pad, always start in the center of the motif and work out, so you have the most intense color in the center and the soft color around the edges. Then sponge the intersection motifs with Chocolate Chip.

On the left end, the centers of the motifs are sponged with white Craft ink and that's it! This gives the embossed motifs a really lacy look, perfect for a vintage or snow themed card!

When you are done, polish the embossing clean with a soft paper towel.

I wish you could see how lovely and rich this paper is in real life. Everything is a bit bleached out in the photo, the colors are actually deeper. It is like Presto Patterns that you make yourself. The shiny raised embossing adds such great detail and texture. This would be a great technique on any light colored paper with any color scheme!  We'll show you some cards made with the papers soon.

Remember to check out my October Grand Opening Sale - 15% off on card stock, ink, and markers! Click here to see all the details!

Grand Opening Special - It's all about COLOR!

Stampin' Up! has undergone a color renovation and it's time to stock up on all those luscious new colors!  Let me know if you need a catalog and/or the new Holiday Mini catalog.

2010 In Colors

To celebrate the Grand Opening of my Stampin' Up! business, I am offering all solid-colored cardstock (smooth or textured) and ink for 15% off! Basically, if it is in the "Shop by Color" section of the online store, it is on sale!


Here's how it works:

• This sale is from me, not from Stampin' Up!, so only the product total will be discounted. Tax and shipping are calculated on the original total and are not discounted.
• If you email your order to me, I will send you an invoice with the sale discount subtracted from the total. You can pay via PayPal or I will provide a phone number where you can call me with your credit card info. Email is not secure, so don't include credit card info in your email.
• If you order online, be sure to use my shopping link in the right sidebar to ensure proper credit. This will take you to my Stampin' Up! page where you can click "Shop Now." Once your order has processed, I will send you a rebate via PayPal for your sale discount.
• You must be in the United States.
• Offer ends Oct. 31, 11:59 p.m. EDT.

So which new colors do you need? I love the new Concord Crush and my sister is crazy about Poppy Parade!  We are both thrilled at the return of Baja Breeze, an In Color from the past. Cherry Cobbler would be a fantastic deep Christmas red, and everyone's favorite stand-by neutral, kraft, has been renamed "Crumb Cake."

Are you just getting started? There are color assortments where you get two of each color of card stock in a color family.  Would you like the matching ink? Our Stampin' Spot ink pad cubes can be a very economical way to start, and Stampin' Up! has the BEST priced re-inkers (refills) in the business, which you can order individually or by color family. Don't forget markers are available that exactly match our ink and card stock, and you can buy individual colors or color family sets.

With the Christmas card season coming up, this is a great time to stock up on card stock and ink!

NEW - Holiday Mini Catalog is Available!

The all new 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog is now available! You can see all the lovely new holiday products, including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas items, in the PDF catalog HERE. You can also shop in my online Stampin' Up! Store; once you are in the store you can click Holiday Mini in the left column.  Would you like to order from me? Ask me about how to get a print version of the catalog!