Simple and Sweet!

Deb Felts, With a Stamp and a Song


Although my time as a DRS guest designer *officially* ended Tuesday, I couldn't resist one more opportunity to share a quick and simple little wood project with you since today's my birthday! For the longest time when I was a little girl, I thought all those fireworks were just for me! ;) One of the trinkets my parents were given upon my birth was a little porcelain cherub with a firecracker...there's something about this Cutie Pie that reminds me of her, and as much as I have loved the coffee stamps from the latest release, I think she is my absolute favorite still!

I don't think any project could be faster or easier than this! I used some pretty designer paper and mono multi glue to cover the box (it has a really cool magnetic closure so it was simple to cover)...I didn't even paint the inside because the wood was unblemished and so beautiful just as it was. The Cutie Pie Kid (Here for the Party) was colored using prismas and Gamsol. I debated adding a sentiment, but in the end decided that this is a case of less is more. I love the clean, uncluttered look and still have the option to add something later if I change my mind!


I will add this to my small 4th of July ornament collection...it is a great little treasure box for jewelry (that *would* be a hint if my husband were reading, LOL!) and it is a reminder for me to pray for our country and for all those who secure our freedom. My husband spent 26+ years in the United States Navy, so we know and appreciate the sacrifices that are made on our behalf! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with friends and family! God bless America!

Read more...

Simple Pleasures

by Deb, With a Stamp and a Song

It's often said and it's true, variety is the spice of life! I've found that to be true in card-making too. Sometimes I love making really intricate, over-the-top designs, and sometimes I yearn to get back to the basics. It is nice to find a balance between the two...a simple card with a little unexpected twist. It is fun to take an every-day thing and use it just a bit differently than you normally would.

My friend Vicki R. gave me a huge box of envelopes, the kind that are for a card the size of a folded sheet of full card stock. My card for today uses a pale pink one, sealed and then trimmed along the long end. I used a round tab punch to make a notch for a pull tab through only one layer.

For the front of the envelope I cut Basic Black and Regal Rose mats in graduated sizes slightly smaller than the envelope dimensions (cut duplicates for inside the pocket while you're at it, along with a layer of white!). I cut two pieces of white card stock large enough that they would overlap slightly with the seam just above the center. I stamped the bottom half diagonally with DRS' open plaid backgrounder (p631) and inked along the bottom and sides. The top half I punched along one long edge with a Martha Stewart scalloped edge punch. I stamped the coffee cups (K747) on the plaid (I didn't even color them) and then adhered all the layers together atop the envelope.

I stamped the cups again on white card stock, colored them with Copic markers, cut them out with paper snips and a craft blade, and then adhered them with dimensionals. I kept the embellishments simple, adding a trio of pearls in one corner, and a ribbon around the entire envelope tied into a bow embellished with a tiny heart hat pin.


The inside is simply layered with the sentiment (F754) stamped in the corner with a pull tab attached to the center. This wide-open white space is perfect for a longer message or for multiple signatures...I very often bring cards like this to group gatherings so we can all sign, and then one group member will hand-deliver it. For smaller groups, a standard sized envelope and pocket card made this way works just fine.

I love the pop of black against the soft colors, and the fresh simplicity of the layout. I hope you like it too.

Read more...

Tool Talk!

posted by Deb Felts, With a Stamp and a Song

I was a painter before I became a scrapper/stamper. For a long time the two hobbies remained separate, but in the last several years, with the advent of acrylic paint specifically for use with paper, they have begun to merge. I thought it would be fun to give you a few pointers about using paint and painting tools in your scrapbooking and stamping...that opens the door to all kinds of fun projects, including a little home decor like the coffee cup holder I'm sharing with you today.

I started my project with a simple pine plaque. (You can usually find basic wood pieces at any of the major hobby stores. A good source for specialty pieces is The Artist's Club...this would have been really *sweet* on this piece!). I marked the placement for a shaker peg using a see-through ruler. I used my drill press (yes, it is MINE, not my husband's!) to drill a hole just deep enough to accomodate the peg without going through to the back of the plaque. I glued it in using Aleene's Tacky glue, being careful not to get glue on the visible surfaces.

It's a good idea to give the wood a quick once-over with some sand paper to knock off the rough spots. For larger pieces (or pieces with alot of wood knots) you should also apply a coat of wood sealer. The wood will *drink* less paint if sealed first. For this piece, I skipped the sealer and went straight to painting.

Acrylic paint for paper has a lesser water content than regular acrylic paint, and so you should choose your type of paint accordingly. Your work will be much easier if you buy the best brushes you can afford...and take proper care of them! Here are a few simple rules.

• Clean your brush frequently as you work. Dip only the bristles into the paint. Keeping paint out of the ferrule (the metal that holds the bristles) will keep your brush from splaying and fraying. Cleaning your brush also loads the bristles with a little moisture, which will help the paint flow smoothly onto your project. Of course, with paper, you will want to be careful of the water content so that you can avoid warping. I keep a cup of water on my paint palette with a paper towel nearby, so I can rinse, blot, and then load my brush with the amount of water I choose.
• NEVER...I repeat, never ever leave your brush standing in water! It will ruin the bristles! If you're still working, rinse your brushes and lay them flat on your work surface. When you are completely finished, stand them on end with plenty of breathing room between their tips so that they stay smooth and straight.

Apply paint in several thin coats, rather than one thick one. Allow it to dry thoroughly in between or the paint may clump. I like to give my wood projects a quick hit with a crumpled paper bag (the thinner ones, like wine bottles are packed in at the grocers') between coats...it is like ultra-fine sand paper and even leaves a nice sheen! When adding paper to my projects, I like to use Mono Multi glue, and if necessary, go over it with a brayer to work out any bubbles or wrinkles.

For this project, I used DRS Designs' soon-to-be-released Fresh Roast coffee stamp, H960 (one of three that work together). I stamped it using Memento ink and colored it with Gamsol, then trimmed the design, matted it with card stock and mounted it with dimensionals on top of the designer paper layer.

The last step in finishing a project is usually to seal it to protect it from dust and moisture. There are many kinds of sealers available, including brush-on and aerosol. A word of CAUTION: make sure your sealer is compatible with the paints and inks you have used on your project. It is awful to spend time, effort and energy on a project, only to have the ink smear when you brush or spray on a sealant. Certain combinations of products will cause the paint to bubble, so it is wise to test first on a scrap before moving to your actual project. I still have to apply sealer to this project (it has been raining)...I plan to use Krylon matte finish spray sealer and then attach a saw-toothed hanger to the back so I can display it.

I hope I've inspired you to try a new medium and make something fun!

Read more...

More ConGRADulations!

posted by Deb, With a Stamp and a Song

Dawn posted some fabulous graduation cards yesterday, and I'm here with a follow-up!

My first post for DRS featured background stamps...I am certainly loving mine and thought I'd show you some more ideas! I spent the holiday weekend playing with new rubber from DRS. I can't wait to show you some images from the next release...you're gonna LOVE 'em, but that will have to wait for now!

This graduation sentiment is actually in the current catalog, but it is new to me and just in time, too! I love the thought it expresses and thought it would be fun to make a never-ending design around it using the open plaid backgrounder. Although I use most of my DRS stamps with tac-n-peel, I have found that the stripes stamp works much better on cushion mount. I also sanded it the way Dawn recommended so that it would make a clean, dark impression.

I love the symbolism of the butterfly, definitely representative of new beginnings, so it is perfect for this sentiment and occasion! This one, with its glittery body, makes an simple, elegant embellishment.

I used the easy dot backgrounder to make a whimsical flip card with the same color scheme. The back is the perfect size for attaching a gift card, something that every grad appreciates! I love that the base of this card takes less than a half of a sheet of cardstock! Here's a link to the tutorial on SCS.

I'll look forward to seeing you for my next post with some new releases! In the meantime...happy stamping!

Read more...

*Designer* paper

posted by Deb/With a Stamp and a Song

As a scrapper-turned-stamper, I have always been drawn to designer paper. In fact, as a lifetime crafter, I have always loved patterns and textures. I can remember walking through the fabric store as a teen (I sewed all my own clothes), walking the aisles and touching the fabrics of nearly every bolt.

One of the things I loved about making my own clothes was the absolute uniqueness of my creation. I could combine patterns, textures and colors to make something truly, completely all my own. The same is true of background stamps. While I still love to *collect* and use designer paper, I really enjoy starting from scratch to create a design that is custom-made for the moment, using colors and prints that establish the mood and match the idea I am inspired to express.

Sometimes mixing colors, textures and prints of designer papers can be daunting. Not so with background stamps. You have total control. The sky is the limit! It can range from mono-chromatic to rainbow-colored, one print or more, simple or ornate...you call all the shots.

Yesterday's SCS color challenge, minus the kiwi kiss, immediately made me think of a monarch butterfly. I used Summer Sun and Only Orange markers directly to DRS polkadot and open stripe background stamps to create harmonizing backgrounds with a happy-go-lucky birthday feel just perfect for this sentiment. I deliberately kept the layout very simple because I wanted the sentiment on the front of the card but didn't want to cover up all of my *designer* paper. (I often make cards for my Bible study girls to give, and we need all the space we can get on the inside of the card for our 12-15 hand-written messages and signatures. I try to keep our cards relatively flat and inexpensive to mail too.) I used versamark and clear embossing powder on the butterfly to intensify the colors and give it a glossy finish. The buttons echo the dots of the background, and the mats and cording bring the colors together for a simple, bold birthday statement. I really LOVE the drama of these colors against the black.

DRS has LOTS of background stamps for you to choose from and some great tutorials on how to use them. I have a few new backgrounders on my wishlist! Can't wait to see what you do with yours!

Read more...