New stamp set and Chalkboard technique

I finally got my new stamp set from the new catalog. It is called Inspired by Nature and I LOVE IT! The samples here (plus a dozen more in my room) are done with the chalkboard technique. To do this, stamp the image with white craft ink. Then using chalks, color the image on your CS. My favorite chalks are the shimmery chalks made by Pebbles Inc. If you have more questions, feel free to ask. This is a very simple technique and can be done on numerous colors of CS not just black.

The one above is Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze CS. The one below is Elegant Eggplant and Pixie Pink CS.

Mounting Stamps with EZ Mount

I LOVE Stampin' Up stamps. The images are so clear and crisp. And they coordinate with so many of the other products: paper, punches, brass, etc. But I also love the idea of being able to see where I stamp. So I purchased some EZ Mount and am changing my wood mounted stamps to cling mounted. Here is my first tutorial ever and how you convert SU stamps. There are a few steps in this process - but it is worth it in the end. Currently I am converting only my new stamps but soon will start on my wood mounted stamps. When I do that, I will add a tutorial for that.

Step 1 - Take the rubber portion of your stamps

and pull the rubber away from the foam

Step 2: Cut out the image from the rubber as you have done in the past

Step 3: Place the rubber image on the side of the EZ Mount with blue writing - leaving the paper backing on.Step 4: Holding the rubber image in place, cut out the foam to the same shape

Step 5: Peel away the backing from the side that has no writing on it. This is the cling side (no sticky).
Step 6: Ink up the rubber image with Staz-On and stamp in the cling side of the foam - matching up the edges. This is in place of the sticker that we put on the wood block. This step is optional. Note: Clean your stamp immediatly and you can prevent staining and allow time for the ink to dry on the foam.

Here is what you should have now, stamped foam and clean rubber image:
Step 7: Almost done.... Clean the backside of the rubber image with rubbing alcohol and let it dry. Sometimes when you peel apart the rubber and foam, it leaves a "furry" residue. You will need to scrub this off. Once you get it started, it isn't so hard to get it off.

Step 8: Peel off the backing from the foam that has the blue writing. This is the super sticky side.

Then stick the rubber image to this super sticky side of the foam - carefully lining up the edges.

Step 9 - This is it. You now have a cling mounted stamp ready for that acrylic block.
If you are interested in doing this - I have EZ Mount sheets available for sell and I promise I am cheaper then EBay (where I bought my first set of sheets).

Latest Creations for Card Class

Wow it has been a long time since I posted. I have been focusing my time on the retreat that was last weekend and finding a new job. My intentions are to post every weekend - so sorry.

These two cards I created (they are originals) for the Card Class tomorrow night.

I used Textured Wild Wasabi for the base. I made two of the same design - one for boys and one for girls. The ribbon is the same color as the cardstock base - not sure why it scanned as a different color. I also used Textured Pumpkin Pie for the Arrow (used the My Way punch) and the Flower (used the Die Cut Flowers from the mini). The other color is Brillant Blue and Jersey Shore DSP.

Valentine's

Saturday, my nephew and I made his Valentine's. He is four and loves to stamp. Sometimes he starts telling me how to stamp which is pretty funny since I have stamped a few more years then him. :)
Anyway, we used Pun Fun and he stamped them with Night of Navy and colored then with regular crayons. He also glued some of them together (the top and bottom one in the picture) but since we used a glue stick, at some point he said it was disgusting. Well, I am not a glue stick fan so I have to agree with him but I become the officail gluer that night. Then I punched two holes in the cards using the crop-a-dile and stuck a Tootsie Pop in them. He was supposed to write his name on them but said he was too tired and laid down on the couch. Hopefully his mom and him will do some every night this week. If not, he will just be a secret admirer to his whole class. ha ha

Upcoming Retreat and Bus Trip

I have been working hard to update the Croppin' Train Retreat website. Our retreat is coming up in March and we are trying something new this year - a BUS TRIP to the Great American Scrapbook Convention in ARLINGTON. Woo Hoo! I am excited for our new adventure - I have always wanted to go.

Check them both out at www.croppintrain.com

Hope to see you there, at one or both.

Embrace Life CASE #4 and inspiration

This is the last CASE for yesterday. This uses Ruby Red and Choc Chip CS with Ginger Blossom DSP. I also used the jumbo eyelets and the crop-a-dile. I colored the flowers in with Watercolor crayons and a blender pen. I used the pumpkin pie and ruby red crayons. I stamped the Canvas BG on the tag. Oh yeah - I embossed the flower with the (now retired) brown EP. If you do not have brown EP, there are two other ways to get it brown - ask me how.

Here is what the CASE inspired. This is a pop up card. Same colors and inks. We may do this one at my next class.

Embrace Life Case #3

Another CASE from SCS - can you tell what I did yesterday. My room is finally clean so instead of doing homework, I stamped. Yipee. I needed that.

On this one I used River Rock, Soft Sky and White CS. I embossed the leaves with white EP and colored them in with Wild Wasabi ink and blender pen. I used the blender pen and ink pads (bashful blue and brocade blue) to color in the flowers. I used the White Tafeta ribbon.

Embrace Life CASE #2

Here is another CASE from SCS. I used Wild Wasibi, Black and White Cardstock. I colored in the flowers with the white gel pen.

Embrace Life CASE

I CASEd this one from Splitcoast Stampers (SCS). I used Whisper White, Gable Green and Bashful Blue cardstock. I also used the White Taffeta ribbon. I colored it with the Watercolor crayons and a Blender Pen.

New Catalog Open House and Customer Appreciation

Here is the invitation I sent out for the upcoming New Catalog Open House and Customer Appreciation. If you are on my mailing list, I sent one to you right before Christmas. Which I decided was a little too early. It uses the new Celebrate Everything set and Mark the Date set. Also the Spiral Punch and Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon.

Inspired from stamping school

Here is a card I did from a video I watched on stampingschool.com. It was inspired from a sample in the catalog, page 82. The colors I used are Regal Rose, Purely Pomegranite, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip. I used the new Bali Breeze designer paper and a new rub-on (love them).