Category: Silicone Craft Mat

Tuesday with Wendy, May 21st

5/23/2019

Check out the WONDERFUL cards that Wendy designed for card making class last week!!

I LOVE this grouping of cards!!! THEY ARE SO FUN!!

The first card that Wendy designed was inspired from this Pine Tree stamp from Stampscapes and this Cloud Stencil from Rosie's Roadshow. Wendy also used a number of Distress Inks for creating the sky and sun!

To make the card:

For this technique, you will need to use a piece of 110# solar white card stock. The heavier-weight card stock will have more body for doing the ink-layering and glazing.
Take a piece of copy paper and cut out a circle in the middle of the paper using the Hero Arts Nesting Circle dies. SAVE THE CIRCLE and use the piece of paper with a hole cut-out as a stencil.
Use the paper with a hole cut out and line it up on your paper where you want your sun to be. Use the Picket Fence Blending Brushes to create an orange sun... this is meant to replicate some of the smokey skies and cloudy sun we saw last summer. To do this, brush on a soft layer of Distress Ink, Spiced Marmalade. You can make your sun as light or as dark as you'd like depending on how much ink you brush on.
Next, remove the paper. THEN lay down the CIRCLE ON TOP of the orange sun you created (this will act as a mask). Then use the Picket Fence Blending Brushes and Distress Inks to apply a soft layer of ink across the whole page (make sure you hold your mask in place so it doesn't move!) Lay down the Cloud Stencil and apply ink (starting with light colors at the bottom and dark colors at the top) moving the cloud stencil from the bottom of the card up to the top, brushing on layers of ink as you go. When you are done, you can brush on a soft layer of other colors to create a "halo" around the sun. You can also add some black ink along the edges and the corners of the image to really add dimension!
Then stamp the Pine Tree stamp with Versafine Clair, Nocturne ink a few times along the bottom edge of the card
Once you have created your scene, take the Versamark Ink Pad (clear ink) and press the ink pad DIRECTLY onto the surface of the image. **This might make your ink pad dirty, so if you have an old Versamark Ink Pad, you may want to use that one!!**
Now apply a layer of Detail Clear Embossing Powder. It should coat the ENTIRE image. Use a heat-gun to heat-set this image and watch as your image becomes more vibrant and glazed!!
To finish the card, layer a piece of white and black card stock behind the image and mount it onto a dark brown card stock base.

I LOVE the look of this card!!! It looks like a smokey sky.. and it is just STUNNING!! I also love the texture the glaze creates

What I love MOST about this card is how EVERYONE's sky turned out different!! Check out some of these other cards that students made in class!!

The next card that Wendy designed was inspired from this paper pad from Craft Consortium, Tell the Bees as well as this stamp from Hero Arts, Friendly Bee

To make the card:

Start out with a ochre card base (or a very soft orange color)
In the Tell the Bees paper pad, there are SEVERAL bee-themed papers!! Cut out 3 different bee-themed papers to fit on the front of the card. Wendy chose this honeycomb paper with a metallic design on it for the left side of the front of the card. She layered it with a piece of dark brown card stock.
Next, Wendy added in a piece of paper with a few bees on it for the right side of the front of the card base and finished it off with a small piece of paper with bee-words written on it for the bottom right side of the front of the card.
Then, Wendy stamped the Friendly Bee image across the paper. She stamped the bee with Versafine Clair ink, Fallen Leaves and stamped bees across all 3 images so there would be a bunch of busy bees!!
To finish off the card, Wendy used her Black Glaze Pen to add a few dots behind each bee to add movement to the card!!

I love how sweet this card is!! It's so nice to get one of these pads of paper... because you KNOW the papers will all go well together!!!

The last card that Wendy created was inspired from this stamp set from Stamper's Anonymous, Media Marks 2 as well as.... PACKING TAPE!!!

To make the card:

Start out with a black card base. On the right side of the card, stamp one of the "scribbles" along the right side. Stamp with Versafine Black, Onyx and emboss with Detail Gold embossing powder
Next, on your Silicone Craft Mat, create your designs with Acrylic Paint! To do this: squirt out a thin layer of Acrylic Paint onto a paper towel (Wendy used black, purple, orange, green, and blue Pebeo Acrylic Paints) Then, attach your stamps to clear acrylic blocks and STAMP INTO THE PAINT and then onto the craft mat. As you do different images, WAIT FOR THE PAINT TO DRY before doing your next layers. Remember, the less paint you use, the faster the paint will dry!! You want your painted collage to DRY COMPLETELY.
After your paint-collage is DRY, take a piece of Packing Tape and place it ON TOP of the acrylic paint collage. Press it FIRMLY to the silicone mat/acrylic paint. Use a bone-folder if needed to really adhere the tape to the top of the silicone mat
Peel the tape away from the Silicone Mat and as you do so, the image will lift off with the tape!!
On the back of the tape, brush on a very soft layer of Pearl-ex powder. This will adhere to any place where the tape is still sticky
Lay the tape-design (sticky-side down) onto a piece of white card stock. And wrap it around the top and bottom of the paper. Use double-sided tape to adhere it to a piece of black card stock. Layer this with gold card stock and finally bright orange card stock. Mount the final piece onto the black card stock base making sure to put the design on the LEFT side of the front of the card so the gold design is on the right side of the acrylic paint collage

Look how fun this card is!!! I love the colors and the scribble-media look!!

Thank you to everyone who came to class today!

You can join us for the NEXT card making class on June 4th! Please call us to reserve your spot!!
360-647-9663

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Tuesday with Wendy, May 7th

5/10/2019

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I love the BRIGHT, SPRING cards from class this week!!! Just look how beautiful they are!! Wendy really is in the Spring-Mode this time!!

The first card that Wendy created was inspired from this new fairy stamp from Lavinia, Sky and this sentiment, also from Lavinia, Secrets are Hidden

To make the card:

Start out with a blank card base, Wendy used the Sundance Felt card stock, white (this paper has a felt texture that is really nice!)
Wendy used a piece of the Alexandra Renke paper, Ginko Leaves, on the left side of the card front. DO NOT TAPE IN PLACE, only use a very small piece of tape to "tack" it in place
Next, Wendy used her Tim Holtz Stamp Platform to stamp the sentiment and fairy AT THE SAME TIME. To do this:
- ink up the 2 images with Versafine Clair ink, Fallen Leaves.
- Stamp down onto the front of the card base. PART of the fairy image WILL NOT STAMP.
- Now, pop-off the Ginko-Leaf paper, DO NOT RE-INK THE IMAGES!!
- Stamp down again in the EXACT SAME SPOT on the card. The ink that did not transfer the first time will now transfer all the way.
Now, apply Detail Clear Embossing Powder to the entire card front (and that piece of Ginko Leaf paper with a part of the fairy image stamped on it!) and heat-set all the images.
Use double-sided tape to fully adhere the Ginko-Leaf paper the the card front, on the left side.
Use 3 colors of Tombow Markers (Wendy chose soft blue, green, and purple ones with similar colors to the Ginko Leaves) and colored onto an old CD (you can color onto a piece of plastic... it just needs to be a non-porous surface). Wendy used Waterbrushes to watercolor with the ink from the Tombow Markers .
Finally, Wendy chose the Midas Touch Shimmer Pen, from Nuvo, to apply a coat of shimmer to the wings of the fairy and the "ground" we created with the Waterbrush and Tombow markers

This is SUCH A FUN CARD!!! I love how magical and whimsical it is!!

The next card that Wendy designed was inspired from this very sweet, mini stamp set from Altenew, Vintage Rose Add-on stamp.

This stamp comes with a nice sentiment too that pairs nicely with the leaf image

To make the card:

Start out with an ivory card base. On the front of the card, at the bottom, adhere a piece of green dotted paper (Wendy chose a double-dot paper from BoBunny)
Next, use your home die-cut machine and the Hero Arts Infinity Circle dies to cut out a large circle out of a piece of Dark Green card stock.
Then, cut a slightly smaller circle out of lighter green piece of card stock.
Finally, cut out a slightly smaller circle out of ivory card stock (this one will layer with the other 2 green circles you just cut out). In the middle of the large ivory circle, cut out a small circle.
On your ivory circle, you will stamp the leaf image all around it. Wendy chose this leaf stamp because it is a "multi-step stamping" stamp. This means that when you stamp the 2 images with 2 shades of green ink, the image looks watercolored! Wendy stamped the BOLDER leaf image with Distress Ink, Peeled paint and the FINE LINE leaf image with Distress Oxide, Peeled Paint. **Yes, this is the same color but one is DYE-BASED INK and one is OXIDE INK. The colors look monochromatic when you stamp them on top of each other **
Now, layer and paste the 3 larger circles together. The largest circle (dark green) will be at the very back, then the light green, then the ivory circle (this one has the middle cut out and leaves stamped all over it).
Place a piece of green-striped ribbon down on the front of your card base, on the top edge of the dotted green paper.
Now adhere your green/ivory circle stack onto the front of your card.
Now on the tiny white circle you cut out from earlier, stamp the sentiment, Thank You. Wendy stamped the sentiment with Distress Ink, Peeled Paint. She also used the ink pad to rub along the edges of the tiny ivory circle.. this technique is called "inking"
Use a pop-dot to adhere the tiny circle on the very front of the card in the middle of the ivory circle from earlier.

The last card that Wendy created was inspired from this Texture Stamp set from Creative Expressions, Background Slices as well as this stamp from Lavinia, Zen Leaf 2 and this sentiment from Impression Obsession, Smile

To make the card:

Start off by using piece of 110# Solar White card stock to create a collage.
On your Silicone Craft Mat, smoosh 4 colors of Distress Ink down. Wendy chose the Distress Ink colors: Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, and Rusty Hinge. Spritz the "smooshed" ink with water and do a mono-print onto your heavy weight card stock. Heat-set the card stock with a heat-gun.
Next, spritz the same piece of card stock with Dylusions Spray Ink, Pomegranate Seed, and coat the paper so there are no white chunks of color on the page. Heat-set the card stock AGAIN using a heat-gun.
Now, stamp the Background Slices stamps across the page using Versafine Clair ink, Chianti. Also stamp the Zen Leaf 2 on the card stock page using the same color of ink, Versafine Clair Chianti.
Now that you have created a cool-looking collage, cut your card stock page down to size to mount on the front of a card base. Wendy backed the collage with a piece of black card stock THEN mounted it onto the front of her card.
Now, stamp the sentiment, "You Make me Smile" on a small piece of white card stock using Versafine Clair Ink, Nocturne. Wendy also mounted this on a small piece of black card stock to add contrast.
Cut small pieces of your collage art to add interest to the card! You can be as creative as you'd like!!

My FAVORITE part about these cards is seeing how each person's creation is DIFFERENT!!

Just look how fun these cards are!!

Join us for the NEXT card making class!!

It will be offered on Tuesday, May 21st

Give us a call here to sign up! **You MUST sign up by the Saturday before class to reserve a spot**

360-647-9663

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Mail Art Fun!

11/2/2018

Last week for Demo, Bekah was the demonstrator! She shared some ideas on how to make your mailing envelopes MORE FUN!!!

This is a fun idea!! Here, Bekah showed how you can use a stamp just along the edge! She picked this fun image from Stampotique and stamped just the top part of the body... then she used the No-Line Watercolor Technique to really make the image stand out!!

You can learn about no-line watercolors by visiting our past blog:
https://www.stampadoodle.com/stampadoodle-blog/no-line-watercolors

Taylored Expressions makes some REALLY fun stamp sets for decorating envelopes!

Check out this Halloween set, Spooky Mail, that Bekah stamped and heat-embossed onto a black envelope!!

Taylored Expressions offers 3 different sets for decorating envelopes... Love Mail, Snail Mail, and Spooky Mail

This is a fun idea!! Bekah explained how you can use the techinique from the Reflections Demo to add a reverse stamp image on the front of an envelope!

Hint: Use your Silicone Craft Mat!!

Learn more about creating Reflections by checking out this past blog:
https://www.stampadoodle.com/stampadoodle-blog/category/reflections

Here, Bekah used the Lawn Fawn stamp set, Concert Critters

If you want to add some fun additions to your envelope, but don't have time to get out your stamps, you can use Mrs. Grossman's stickers!!

These Monster and Birthday stickers that Bekah chose are just PERFECT on this lime green envelope!!

You can add a fun element by creating a mask:

Cut out a circle and lay it on the front of an envelope. Use a tiny piece of double-sided tape to hold the circle in place
Use Nuvo Blending Sponges to apply some Distress Ink. Bekah used 3 colors of Distress Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, and Peeled Paint
Gently blend the ink into the paper by softly rubbing the sponges across the surface of the envelope. Start with the lighter colors and then add the darker colors
Once you have applied a generous amount of ink, remove the stencil mask
Use fun pens to address your envelope in the empty space you created with the mask (Bekah used a Parrellel Pen on the sample below)

I love how Bekah followed the curve of the circle here!! It looks SO FUN!!

Wouldn't you love to receive this bit of art in the mail?!?

Stop by to see us 7 days a week!!

See you soon, friends!!

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Oct 23rd

10/26/2018

We have been busy creating new things here at the store! Check out the newest cards Wendy designed for her last card making class!!!

The first card that Wendy designed was made using this snowflake die-cut from Penny Black, Crystalline as well as this stamp set from Lawn Fawn, Winter Scripty Sentiments

To make the card:

Start out with a white card stock card base. Select a piece of Handmade Paper 4" x 4" (Wendy used this iridescent blue/green paper that looks like ice!). Use double-sided tape to adhere the paper to the front of the card base.
Next, cut a piece of navy card stock that measures 3" x 3" and adhere that to the front of the Handmade Paper
Take 2 pieces of Stardream TEXT WEIGHT paper that both measure 3" x 3". Wendy used Stardream Ice Gold paper. Stack the 2 Stardream papers together and die-cut the Crystalline Snowflake out of the papers at the same time
Then, use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere ONE of the snowflakes completely to the front of the navy card stock
With the second snowflake, press the Versamark ink pad to the snowflake until it has clear ink all over the snowflake. Sprinkle on Star Dust Embossing Powder and heat-set it with a heat gun
Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the CENTER ONLY to the other snowflake and curl up the ends of the snowflake to add dimension
Then, take 6 strips of paper (1/4" x 8 1/2" for each strip) and curl each strip into a little circle.. this is called Quilling. When you have completed your curl, use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to hold the curl in place.
Then attach the coils to the center of the snowflake on your card and adhere the coils with Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
Finish off the card by stamping a sentiment from the Winter Scripty Sentiments along the bottom of the card using Versafine Clair ink, Twilight

I LOVE how this card turned out!! Just look at this DETAIL!!!!

The next card was SO STUNNING and is absolutely perfect for a Thanksgiving card... It was made using these stamps:
Winter Still by Penny Black
Grateful Hearts by Impression Obsession

To make the card:

Wendy started out by taking a piece of ivory card stock and stamping out the Grateful Hearts sentiment using Versafine Clair ink, Chianti
Then, Wendy inked up the Winter Still leaf image by tapping on the different colors of ink. Use Distress Ink starting with Rusty Hinge, then Aged Mahogany, then Peeled Paint.. making sure to tap and gently massage the ink into the stamp
Then, stamp out the Winter Still leaf image onto the ivory card stock, overlapping the leaf image with the sentiment just slightly.
Then, layer the ivory card stock onto a card base.. Wendy chose this beautiful fall-tones color that matched with the Rusty Hinge ink color PERFECTLY

I love how this card turned out! Such a quick technique with BEAUTIFUL results!!!

Mary McClary (one of the gals from class) said she accidentally messed up on her card!! But, clever as she is.. she used some of the quilling papers to make it BETTER!!!

Well, I just LOVE that!!

The last card of the series was inspired by this STUNNING image from Impression Obsession, Deployed

To make the card:

Stamp out the image in Versafine Clair ink, Medieval Blue onto white card stock
Use a Blue Tombow Marker to color onto a craft mat and use a Waterbrush to pick up some of the color. Watercolor your image giving light and dark tones to create depth
Use a pair of scissors to fussy-cut around the image.. cut around the head and around the feet so that it looks like the soldier is walking away
Mount the image on a piece of red card stock and apply mounting tape on the back
On your card base, use red-white-blue decorative card stock and put one pattern on the left and a corresponding pattern on the right
Adhere the soldier image onto the card front using the mounting tape so it has a little bit of dimension

This card is GREAT for anyone who may be Serving our Country or a Veteran of War... it is just a FANTASTIC card

I love how this card has the idea of a 3D card without having to do a lot of extra fussy-cutting

What a GREAT series of cards this week!!!

If you would like any of the items listed above, please give us a call at the store!

To sign up for the NEXT card making class on November 6th, give us a call!
You only need to bring double-sided tape and scissors to class, but you MUST register by the Saturday before class!!

360-647-9663

Apoxie Clay

7/20/2018

This week at Demo, Elli was the demonstrator for one of our favorite new products, Apoxie Clay!

We learned all about this *fantastic* new product and saw how it can be used in a variety of ways!!

What is Apoxie Clay??

Apoxie Clay (or Apoxie Sculpt) is a 2 part clay. You take equal parts of PART A and PART B and knead them together (It is EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT that you wear gloves during this part of the process!) for about 3 minutes. After the clay is mixed, remove your gloves and work with the clay like you normally would. You have 1-3 hours to work with the clay before it starts to harden. The clay dries to *HARD AS A ROCK* in just 24 hours and requires NO HEAT or baking to finalize the hardening.

That being said, check out all the fun things you can do with the clay!!

You can take any old box and add embellishments with the clay!! Use any Silicone Mold to shape the clay. The clay bonds *beautifully* to the surface of this box we made using Thin Chipboard. You can color the clay after it is dried with Acrylic Paints

You can even make jewelry with Apoxie Clay! This miraculous clay bonds to rocks, precious stones, metal, and MORE!! This necklace (shown below) was created using NO GLUE... The bond is incredible, durable, and long lasting!!!

You can also use Gold Leafing (aka Composition Metal) to add color to the Apoxie Clay...

Here we took an old pen and added the Apoxie Clay and then rolled it through Gold Leafing... WOW what an incredible effect!!!

You can also shape and sculpt miniature pieces of art!!!

We shaped the covers of this mini book and let it dry on a Silicone Craft Mat (Parchment Paper also works). *we made the holes for the book before the clay dried by using the tip of a small skewer*

You can add details into the book cover by using the tip of an X-acto Knife to create designs, or bits of lace or ribbon to add texture.

After the clay dried, we added paper to the inside and attached the book using 3 small rings we made using bits of wire.

The Ball Chain is from Tim Holtz

One of the coolest things to do with the Apoxie Clay is make leaf impressions.. you can use fresh leaves from your garden!!!

Just use an X-acto Knife to shape the piece of clay to be "leaf-shaped" and then lightly press the leaf down onto the clay.. VEIN SIDE DOWN. The veins of the leaf with give the best impression in the clay.

*Don't forget to create a hole if you are planning to make it a pendant*

After you make the leaf impression into the clay, you can colorize the image using Pearl-ex Powders.

*the Pearl-ex Powders will only stick to the clay when the clay is wet*

To apply Pearl-ex powders AFTER the clay has hardened, you will need Versamark ink and a Low Odor Spray Finish