Stamping With Multi-Step stamps!

 Hello and here's the post that I promised yesterday!! So Multi-step stamps are the next big thing in Stamping world, along with the watercoloring trend. So I decided to jump on the bandwagon and ordered myself the Altenew Vintage flowers. (There are two sets, The Vintage Roses has only roses, whilst, the Vintage flowers has a mix of roses, cherry blossoms and some more tiny flowers.  11 sets of flowers)

And so I took out all my inkpads, sat with my ink swatch book (if you haven't checked out my swatch book post, do check it out) to try to figure out combinations and then start to stamp!! And of course my MISTI. Little did I know how frustrated I was going to be. Lining up the stamps was not easy...could have been for others, but I needed it to be perfect as the pictures on the stamp set showed. So I started testing papers, inks and what not!! Here are my imperfect results.

 This is on Brustro Sketch paper, the one I normally use for stamping. I couldn't get the stamps to line up..if they lined up, the combination of inks was wrong.

 This is the only one on Day 1 that seemed to look okay..and then I saw..it hadn't stamped perfectly!! So I just walked away from the set. Started checking if there were any tips to line them up.

 Day 2. I changed my papers, and tried some other inks.  Paper was Neenah Solar White.
 I tried pearlescent inks, pigment inks, ranger dye inks (these are the worst  for layered stamping. They overshadow every other ink above or below them!!)

 

 

 Then after some more random stamping on scratch paper, I finally got some decent color combinations and better lining up! Sadly this paper has a linen texture to it, and solid stamps don't like texture paper. I love this for coloring with distress and prismacolors, but you can see on the purple flower below, the white shows through the purple.

Since I was using my MISTI, I was able to overstamp and cover the white in other two stamps. 

Just in case you want the colors I used, 

Pink - bottom to top layer - Angel Pink Memento Dye, Rose Bud Memento Dye, Rhubarb Stalk Memento Dye

Orange - (bottom to top order)  Dandelion memento dye, Tangelo memento dye (double stamped) , Cheese puff Ranger Dye

Purple - Lulu Lavender Memento dye, Grape soda Ranger dye, Grape jelly memento dye (double stamped)

 Then I took out my Papertrey ink's The Sweet Life stamp!! And oh my gosh!! This is how a 3-step stamp should be. Effortless. The lining up was super super easy on this compared to the above stamp set.
If you like roses, I would suggest, spend 3$ more and get this set. Its so worth it!!
Again, the linen texture shows through in the bottom left rose. On right I have used a smooth Campap paper which is really smooth and absorbs dye ink superbly!! This is my favorite stamping paper, for my silhouette and I can't find a decent seller. And I won't buy from snapdeal ( I hate their services)

 So the end of all this drama is this.

Here are my tips and tricks. If you are a beginner, avoid this set for now...it will only make you frustrated with stamping. If you already have this set, or are going to buy..

1. Print this chart from their website and glue it on to your stamp set. That way you always have your lining guide.

2. Take a permanent marker and line your sets so you know what flower belongs to what set. Zoom on the picture below and mark your sets. I've have also numbered them. Because apparently, there are 7 stamping guides and 11 flower sets.. Which is when I realized, 4 sets of flowers are in two sizes. Go figure. They should print all this info or let you know!! Could have saved me hours of frustration. Anyhow. number them, so you know which guide to look for when stamping!

 3. Make an ink swatch book...so you know what colors you have and can form a better idea of what colors in the same family will go together. Its like using a trio of copics. One lightest color, one medium and one dark.  Altenew has released color family sets, but that's again a big investment.
Also do save this link...a lot of amazing color combinations if you have all the inks. HERE

4. Lastly my version of the rose chart. The points marked with arrows is what I use to line them up and it works pretty well. The top most flower is slightly hard to layer and especially if your clear stamps are stained with inks. But not impossible!!

So here were my small tips and tricks. Do try if you have the stamp and share with me what you make!! Will love to have a peek and if there are any more tips and tricks that you know, please do share! 

My first Marci..

For those who wonder who or what Marcie is, she's a cutest character stamp from La-La Land Crafts.
I had oogled at all those stamps and was very very lucky to win one at a friend's blog candy...It took me 3 months of trying to color her to accept that it will take a long time for me to learn...but here's my first attempt at coloring and making a card from that stamp!

 Here's the little darling colored with my watercolor pencils!! Isn't she cute or what!! Here's the link to the stamp..Sweetheart Marci. She's been colored, fussy cut, and glued on the die cut below.

Its a 6x6 card and the pattern papers are from Pretty flowers(or something like that)  from papermania. The dies used are Reverse wonky rectangles.  Banners are handcut. I didn't have the "I love you " in any stamp, so I masked different words from Fiskars sentiment stamps....and the I was acutally an L that I partially inked!! Talk about necessity being the mother of invention.

 This is an Easel card...the message is printed and die cut with label 8 die. Butterflies are MS butterfly punch..

 I loved making this flower....guess am on a flower making spree!! Made with Rose creations and an MFT rolled rose on top.

Its a pretty simple card, but I loved making it..considering the sentiment that was within the card...and I do know that the recipient loved it...

Sending this card to Crafter's Corner Bingo - I'm playing the middle line, Flowers, pattern paper and stamping.

New card

hello ya all...Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends around the world.

And I'm back...with another card..too long too late I know..my mojo is gone. Going thru the painful pangs of separation after 2 wonderful years..and what makes it worse is that neither of us is at fault. Circumstances are such that parting is inevitable. The thing I dread the most is will I be able to see him with someone else? Will have to work on that a lot.
Ever heard the saying "The worst feeling in the world is sitting next to the person you love knowing you cannot have them?" I'm going to be feeling the same feeling every day..for God knows how long.

I need strength and I pray that he gets the strength to survive. Sigh........Life sure is funny...gives you what you'd been praying for all these years and just when you begin to appreciate the gift, He takes it back. I just don't want to turn bitter, I don't want to carry hate in my heart for the people who were responsible for bringing about this breakup. I want to carry on but at the same time I wish someday they realize how much they have hurt us. I want them to feel the hurt and the pain. For the first time in my life, I regret the fact that I am an Indian, that a son had to sacrifice his future for the sake of obligations to the family. I do not know if such traditions are followed around the world, but today I wish I was in some other country, where no one else's opinion influenced your decision.

Damn it feels good to unload.

Well after all the ranting and raving, here's my card.


This uses Michelle's sketch 2 and she has really good sketches every wednesday..go hop on over and say hi to Michelle

Do you love the grey PP I found in my local store? It so shiny IRL and fabulous cobblestone look. You're gonna see more of this.

My new favorite colors

I'm so much in love with my new set of favorite colors..White black and turquoise..so far I did not have turquoise CS but on a recent raid to my LSS I found some...and then I already had this great freebie by Pirates and Pixies which was turquoise.

So then I had decided to do Angel's birthday blog challenge..but she has 17 card sketches up already and I was too lazy..but if you're up for the challenge go check out her blog..she has some HUGE blog candy and the loot keeps going bigger and bigger..the biggest blog candy I've seen so far..
And so I found another card sketch..this time on Carla's blog. And whatever came together was fabulous. I think this is my best card yet!!

I know this is a bad pic...my camera batteries are out. And I promise to get a better pic in the morning. The sentiment is handwritten...I could have fooled ya...

i gotta thank Carla for the fabulous sketch. Thanks Girl!!ETA-- here's the pic from the cam...the colors look way different. Well that's ok..the card's gorgeous..

Until later...don't forget to leave a comment for the blog candy..one day to go..check out the posts below!

BnW

I so totally love black and white cards. So when Allison posted a card challenge for a bnw card, I was up for it. Only set back, no christmas stamps..so i borrowed a little ( and I mean a little) plastic stamp from my neighbor's kid..and used it to stamp the christmas tree.
The background paper is downloaded and printed..no idea from where tho...

But i'm not very happy. feels like sumthing's missing...

Well I can't rant today...I'm down with sore throat and sounding like a toad..drowsy like hell and can't seem to sleep...

So i'll just post the card and leave it at that..

Pop up card

I tried a new card, Surprise pop up card made with the excellent instructions by Beate,..there was complete stamping on it...the flowers, the leaves, the bear, and it was cool..made it for my mom's birthday..though i do agree that the yellow is a tad too bright, not my taste.



But that's what i get for making a card at the n'th hour...

cardjacked

I was so tempted to play along with the cardjacked challenge...i went crazy trying to find a suitable image for the card. Found one and as usual, drew it..




I used acrylic pearl paint, my faithful pencil eraser and got a polka dot background..and a strip of polka dot PP across, with the witch hat on dimensionals.
The sentiment is handwritten and distressed with black ink.

Head over to Kort i Focus, if you want to play along too..

black and white.

I saw this fabulous concept on a craft site, ( gotta remember the site and let you know). The idea was to use black and white and oh my gosh, the card turned out to be very very awesome. there were a few drawbacks but overall the card was too fabulous, and very very easy to make. I'll put in the instructions, just in case.

Here's the card


I started with 5" square white CS.
Cut of 2.5" x 5 of the top panel on the right side.
With black CS, i cut a 3x5" panel and glued it under the half front panel.
Two 1.5" squares, one black and one white. The White square will be matted on white and vice versa.
Stamp your image with white ink on black square, and with black ink on white square.
Glue it on the center line where the white meets black.
And if you have some great border punches, create a 1/2" of border on a white and black CS, and glue it on opposite color CS.
And you're done.

now I'll list out the flaws, ( coz i'm sure no one's reading it so far :))
I dont' have white ink, so i used my white acrylic paint. urgh! it blobs and creates bubbles.
I don't have a SAMJ so getting my little heart to stay right in the center of the sq was a pain. I must ave ruined at least 5 sq pieces, black and white. Made my own version of SAMJ with a acetate sheet and a Cardboard in a T shape.

Will i be a happier person when i get my brilliance white dew drop inkpad...i sure hope so...

Cheers till later.

i'm approaching 100 post on my blog, am think of offering a blog candy. The only trouble is i've got only international readers. Coz no one in my country stamps and if they do, the don't blog. ( ok there is just one, she like me draws more than half her stamps)
Time shall tell..

My own corner book mark

It took me the better part of 3 days, but i had been dying to make this. I must have torn at least 3-4 sheets of paper to finally get it right. Still need some changes, but finally I managed to make it.
I had seen a bookmark on Amy's blog But was unable to follow the instructions.
So I made my own.Now my new problem is what kind of camera to use to get clear crisp photographs?
Please be kind enough to leave comments and suggestions. I have a Sony cybershot, but somehow i'm unable to figure out how to get photographs clear and crisp.

So how does my corner bookmark look?

ETA: I spoke with one of my friends, and he recommended some changes. I changed certain settings, and voila, here's the new and improved photo.

My first SCS challenge

I've always admired the concept of challenges in making cards. I use to admire them from a distance. Last week, I felt I was getting bored with no challenges, no birthday's this month to send cards to. So I started with the SC sketch challenge. And boy did I love it.
The card turned out great, I loved coloring it( I'm still trying to improve, i don't have prismacolors or copics) . There were so many first's for me in this challenge..



First time i used glossy paper. soaks up ink like a charm. The ink that would not dry on my regular cardstock, dried without heat.
The coloring was a first for a fall leaf. Loved how it turned out.
The fossil stone technique, i do admit, I dont' have many inkpads, (and sadly the store that used to have them, has stopped stocking them. Isn't it awful that once you get addicted to something, and you don't get it. I'm still trying to findout how to import inkpads from abroad. Most of my pals are coming in only in Jan. )

So overall, I liked playing along. I think there might be many more challenges I will attempt. since India is not a nation obsessed with stampers, I think there are only a handful who love stamping; My mom couldn't understand why I made the card if I wasn't going to give it to anyone. She asked what was the point of making it, if I was hoarding it. hmmm go figure!

Being the only one with the creative streak in the family, I doubt I could explain that challenges make you think outside the box. Make your grow.

Ah well! there's a lot they do not understand. Ranting for later on.

take care.

just a simple card

This is an idea i'd been dying to try out, but was too lazy to do so. When I had to make cards for my neighbor's pre-school going son's teacher, I thought of trying this out.

I used plain copy paper, a bit of clear ink and using my eraser of my pencil stamped dots and then dabbed them with chalks. not bad. then came my stamp, ribbon and awesome glitter stones.

Also stamped is" for you" from the wonderful studio g stamp that Maria sent me. I still have to play some more with them. The swirls are a stamp set that i'd just brought. And i like how the flower came out. I'm still learning to blend colors together.

Have fun ya all. And don't hoard stress. It's making me bald already!! AARGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

new cards.

Yeah yeah, i know lazy me. No new cards, no posts and no participation in challenges. Had lost my creative streak, took ages to find it. I am struggling to get some PP from someone in US or Aus. An aussie pal is trying to send it over. 12x12 sheets are big to send, i'm thinking of basic grey 6x6 pad. Will work fine. too much cribbing over what i want, here's what i made over the weekend.

This card was made for my best friend during college days. The cake didnt' stamp out properly so had to redo it. Looks a bit weird, need a good black inkpad. just mounted the image a lil off. thought it looked neat.This one is for my cousin, just a 15 min card. the watercolorpencils look dull. I need something better to perk up the images. Copics...not for me..way too expensive, prismacolor pencils...maybe someday...

long time no me??

Life is showing me a lot of twists and turns, there have been just tears and tears since one month. But now i'm a lot more composed. I've finally decided to stop crying, its not getting me anywhere and it certainly will not get me what I want. It's something to do with love. And I gave in to the saying "If you love someone, set them free. If he comes back he was yours. And if he doesn't he wasn't " I've left the future in God's hands, coz there isn't much I can do to change the situation. It's practically out of my hands. I'm just keeping the faith and living each day with the happy memories I have. And not lament over what I might or might not get. And at the same time, I'm trying to move ahead. Not get stuck up, not bottle up all my emotions, or feelings. Letting it out in various ways, making cards and listening to good music is another of it.

So I de-stressed by making a few cards. The Dentist my brother assists, sent me an amazing book on the way Mumbai was pre-independence. Great book. So I made him a thank you card and since his 5 yr old chatter box kid would ask why she didn't get anything, I made her a card too.
I used a roller stamp and partially inked images to separate them. It was a pink Fabriano paper. And oh yes I forgot to mention that my brother gifted me a faber-castell set of watercolor pencils. 48 of them. Gifted would be a wrong word coz I kinda bullied him into buying it for me as an advance rakhi present. Sisters can be mean sometimes, especially when Rakhi or b'day's are around.
This one was a very simple one with a handmade marbled paper I brought almost a year back. Since I basically eyeball all my layering and gluing, most of the times my cards are a little crooked. Makes it look hand-made IMHO. hehe!!

till next time

Red and black

This is the card I made for Maria's weekly challenge. I've so far not done any other challenges this week. Hers was to use scraps of ribbon. Who does not hoard ribbon. A good way to use them.
Initially I just had one red layer. It looked naked. So I layered it with black and again with red. And used my roller flourish stamp with black ink. A tiny butterfly sticker completed it.






Right now my brother is eyeing it. I know to whom it will go to. But sending my card to her!! How will that help. I never understand boys.

Wishing a Great weekend for all of you.
Love.

random cards

Looks like i'm very late in posting my cards. Life is a bit twisty right now. I am supposed to make a decision whether I can fight for what I want or take with bowed head what life wants to give me. What I want is what I love, and what I will get, I will have to learn to love. Its a tough choice, not knowing what to do, whom to love and whom to hurt. Because someone is going to get hurt no matter what decision I take. Actually the power of decision has been taken from my hands, I'm just awaiting my fate.

Sounds too cryptic, but I can't reveal more. Maybe once the decisions are made, I could elaborate. Right now, I just need strength to accept what comes my way. I need courage not to break down, and faith to help me get through this phase. And I need lots of positive energy around me. So no more grumbly me!!!


Now on to my random cards, I made this card just to channel my energy to somewhere else other than thinking. So this is what i came up with. I wanted to color the flowers around the heart, but the watercolor pencils I have were to thick to get into the tiny detail. So I left it blankThe right hand side was looking too bland, so added a few bling sequins. And with the scraps left over from this card, I made an ATC for Maria's weekly challenge. Turned out great.
The bling in this card are stones I found in an embroidery store. Tried paper piercing too. Used my pergamano piercing tool and the grid. Its tough as I have to eyeball the distance. Will have to look for a transparent template for piercing.


This next one is also an ATC, I tried out for the first time. I'd never made any ATC before, and I think they're super easy. .I tried faux stitching in this card for the first time. and its cool.

Trifold card

Here's my card for Maria's Tuesday inspirational challenge. She's come up with amazing challenges every week. I never used to participate in challenges, but now I kinda look forward to challenges on every blog, forum, or even from other blogger. It helps to stretch my creativity. It makes me wanna create something new, something good for someone or the other.


The inside sentiment is still pending..depending to whom i decide to give the card to.

I'm thinking of trying paper piercing now. Should check up on Emily's post for that. Awesome tutorials.

more later.

The rains are awesome right now. Love getting drenched and coming home to eat a roasted corn cob.

Roller coaster week

I really dont' know if this entry will get published. Reason, my computer is behaving erratically. just shuts down so before it does that again, here's the stuff i wanted to post.

Two cards, one for father's day. Got the idea from a couple of tutorials, which Allison puts up on her blog. She is one helpful lady. Her's is the first blog i always check.
so anyhow, i made this card for my dad. And got him a Parker pen. I think he has all the Parker pens in the world but will jump with glee if he got just one more.

And this one is for a friend. Tried out the gel card on SCS projects. turned out wonderful. The fish is so cute, just copied the clipart from the net, as i didnt' have any fish stamps.

The week was a bad one, tears, stress and complete failure of my positive thoughts to act. Just kept going bad to worse. Today its a little better, but i wish it could be even better than this. It's utter chaos, if you could peek into my mind. Standing on the cross-road, knowing you want to cross, but knowing you might die if you cross. AArgh!!! misery!! misery of not knowing what road to choose, not knowing where to go...

i guess love will keep us alive!!!

The hardest card to make...

This by far has been the hardest card to make. Not in terms of technique or layout. This card is for my best friend who lost his beloved dog. He was 14, old in dog years.

He was a stray puppy, lying with his 4 sibling pups and mom, all of whom were dead, only this one was fighting for life. My fren adopted him, and as the puppy grew, it adopted my friend's rebellious attitude. There was nothing in this world that could make the dog do what he did not want to do. And of course, the companion thru the darkest hours, that's what makes a dog man's best friend.

I've never owned a dog, but the stories i've heard about this dog, really made me want to adopt one. but an apartment is no place for a dog. when i heard that he was hit by a bike and paralysed waist down, i prayed that he should not suffer. Yet he pulled thru for over 4 days but could not eat anything, and on 4th day he passed away.

Everytime i sat down to make this card, i would choke up, not sure what to write or what to say that could console someone. Its like having lost your very best friend.

The image was taken from the net, and just drawn on a paper and then on acetate sheet, it looks bold.
The card says "mummy" coz i wanted to tell him, that the dog is finally at rest with his mom in heaven.

Is it just me?

When I had decided that I would make cards for all my family and friends this year, I really just wanted to do something new. I was getting bored of my daily 10-12 and 5-9 part time job. Ok, I'm in the profession where I'm helping everyone else heal, but was not healing myself.

Anyways, so when someone tells me that they loved my cards, or even appreciates it, or even just thanks for the card, I'm over the moon. I get the same good feeling when some of my patients come back and thank me, or just tell me that I helped them heal. It makes it worth my time and day.

But 2 days back, when I made 2 cards, one for my granpa, and one for my couzin sistah, well they never said anything about it. No thanks, no I like it, no anything. Sadly they didn't even acknowledge it at all. My granpa is 85, so I can let it go. But my sitstah? We'd been thru a rough patch and I was trying to smooth things out. And I thought the card would start the road to mending, but sadly it's not to be.

I'll just have to forget that i made anything for her. But on the whole, is it wrong to expect people to appreciate you?
is it just me who feels this way?
As I'm writing this I just wonder about my mom, or for that matter every mom in this world. They're caring, working and being happy, yet without an expectation of thanks. I'll appreciate it more when i become a mom myself. Long time to go!!!

I think i answered my own question. Anyways, here's the card i made for her.
Background paper was downloaded from The template section of inkstains forum.
The envelope in the background was stamped repeatedly with a confetti stamp to give it the border.

card goin to Australia

this is card made for my fren whom i used to call bee. dunno how the name stuck. She was my roomie in the hostel and there in started the bond that lasted for 10 yrs and going strong. She just moved to NZ and her hubby is in Melbourne, so i made a card for her. I was planning on using yellow but i saw this card on a blog, and i fell in love with the colors. I think more than the designs the colors inspire me. the patterned paper is by doodlebug desgins. Love the new black and whites they have.
I simply love how it turned out. i guess the sky is a bit smudged out. But i have to compromise on the colors i use so i think its pretty ok. I used a bit of copper glitter on the tree trunk(hand sketched)
overall i'm very happy with this card.