Category : Techniques

88 posts

I am super excited to announce I have been selected to be part of the 2018-2019 FSJ Creative Team!!!! I love designing not only cards, but scrapbook pages and 3D projects for the home or a celebration. Being part of the team means I will be one of eight members designing paper projects for Fun Stampers Journey. This could be a blog hop (one is coming soon), display boards featuring new stamp sets at convention and/or leadership and bringing paper to life for new catalog introductions, etc.

I am honored to display this badge:

Here is how it began. Becoming part of this amazing team required submitting a resume along with projects in a two round process.

Round 1 submissions:

Those coaches chosen to continue to Round 2 had to submit two projects (one project included a step-by-step tutorial and the other project featured on Instagram).

Round 2 submissions:

The Flamingo cards tutorial can be found here.

Here is the Instagram card (@martyzstamps).

So incredibly blessed moving forward with this awesome company!

 

I love incorporating FSJ mixed media products to create one-of-a-kind designs. The flamingo cards are a submission requirement to becoming part of the FSJ Creative Team. I hope you are inspired to create and bring paper to life!

Important read all instructions. Gather supplies (products at end of blog).

TIP: Clean Gel Press with damp towel before changing to new color/color combo.

Pull – each time cardstock is applied to Gel Press, smoothed out and pulled up.

TIP: All pulls are made on two pieces of Whip Cream 8 ½ x 11 cardstock. The first pull is the initial application of paint; second pull is created from leftover paint from first pull (may need to lightly mist Gel Press with water).

Place Gel Press on table.
Apply Sweet Berry and Whip Cream paint, mist with water (picture 1).
Mix with fingers as shown (picture 2).
Initial pull with first sheet and another pull with second sheet.

Repeat with Cool Pool, Pineapple Smoothie and Lemon Drop paints. Don’t incorporate Cool Pool with the yellow paints (picture 3).
Repeat pull instructions.

Place Vintage Screen stencil on Gel Press, add Whip Cream paint onto top of stencil. Brayer paint over entire stencil. Repeat covering Gel Press (picture 4).
Repeat pull.

Dilute Black Licorice paint with water. Take a small bottle, press into paint and transfer image onto the Gel Press (picture 5).
Repeat pull.

 

Apply Limeade Splash and Whip Cream. Brayer covering press. Apply Wallpaper stencil (leaves portion) to press – VERY IMPORTANT TO READ – Use SECOND pull cardstock on top of the stencil, rub transferring image onto cardstock. Repeat over entire Gel Press.

Mist the press with water. Use FIRST pull cardstock, make a pull of the entire press. *Aim for hints of green on cardstock.

Bend Deco Dots ATS slightly dip Black Licorice paint.
Stamp randomly onto both cardstocks.

Cut dry cardstock into fourths (4 – 5 ½ x 4 ¼ pieces).

Sponge Limeade Splash and Kiwi Slice using Wallpaper Stencil adding hints of green leaves around edge of mat.

Stamp flamingo image; color with Color Burst Pencils. Die cut.

Card base – Sweet Berry cardstock.
Black mat – 5 ¼  x 4.
Mixed media mat – 5 1/8 x 3 7/8.
Circle dies – Pierce vellum and cut circle.

Position flamingo on vellum circle (do not adhere).
Turn circle over, place adhesive where it won’t show once card is finished. Place foam squares onto flamingo, set aside.

Adhere mats and vellum circle to card base.

REMIX CARD, wrap white thread onto mixed media base before adhering to Black Licorice mat.

Stamp sentiment onto Bubble Gum cardstock with Black Licorice ink.
Mat onto Black Licorice cardstock.
Add Lemon Sparkle tape and adhere sentiment.

Sprinkle with Bubble Gum and Sparkle Silk.
Adhere flamingo.
Add sequins and Journey Glaze to sentiment and flamingo (dust flamingo with Sparkle Dust).  Allow to dry.

 

Original:

 

The REMIX CARD uses Color Splash Pencils.

REMIX CARD – make a double bow from White Thread and adhere using glue dot.

Remix:

Product List

Spatula

$3.95

Brayer

$7.96

Can you create a one layer card? For those who like clean and simple this might be an easy task, but for me, it is a challenge. I love to create a lot of depth and dimension on my papercrafting projects. This means layer upon layer of mats and the stamped images are often raised using FSJ foam squares, not to mention embellishments such as Rainbow Drops, ribbon, twine, clips, etc. . .

When Christine Pennington called her Bloomin’ Buddies to take part in a one layer card challenge, I jumped on board. I needed a quick and simple thank you card to place in the envelope with my Ebay sales of retired stamps and dies. I immediately knew our NEW Wallpaper stencil from our NEW Inspiration Book and Catalog would make a beautiful card (click here to order). To begin the project, I chose fusion inks which would blend together nicely. They are Cool Pool, Turbo Teal, and Pretty Amethyst (if you want a darker shade of purple, you can choose Lavender Fusion).

I began by cutting my Whip Cream cardstock into 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ rectangles.  I placed the stencil onto the cardstock and using my large dowels I began applying color.

TIP: To keep the cardstock and stencil from moving, place a rolled piece of washi tape on the backside of the cardstock and place onto your stamping surface, add washi tape onto the stencil to hold it in place.

TIP: Use the small dowels for better application management; otherwise, tilt the large dowel back towards you to apply a small amount of color at a time.

Apply the Pretty Amethyst with the sponge dowel starting from the bottom of the image and going up about a third of the way. Using a different sponge, apply the Turbo Teal from the top of the Pretty Amethyst and to a little above the mid-point of the image. Finish sponging the image with Cool Pool (use a different sponge). Go over the entire image with Cool Pool to help blend all colors seamlessly.

TIP: Since Turbo Teal is a deep, rich ink, dab off some of the ink before apply.

Once all the color has been applied, add a sentiment of your choice. That’s all there is to it. I was able to create approximately 20 cards in an hour. Here is the finished project.

 

Product List

There is a background story to this creation. I have an Instagram account @martyzstamps, and I wanted to share an image I colored with the artist that (I thought) created a digi-stamp I had purchased several months ago. Well, it wasn’t her image; and boy, did I really feel embarrassed. So, I went back to Etsy and did a search for JuliaSpiri. Of course, I found several digi-stamps to use on future projects.  I’m sure you know where I’m going with this . . . . Yep, JuliaSpiri Etsy store had just the digi-stamp image I needed to complete this challenge.

As luck would have it, Paper Craft Crew Challenge #279 this week is a Mardi Gras themed card and this girl from JuliaSpiri  Romantic Fantasy – The Venice Collection – The Mask of Peacock is perfect for this challenge.


Since Mardi Gras is all about the party with glitz and glamour, I created a shaker card to get the party started . . . shake, shake, shake . . . shake your . . . well, whatever you got shake it!  Let me just stop this party to say check out the card below. The featured color scheme are those traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and yellow, which make her pop right off the card. The  Fun Stampers Journey Color Burst Pencils were the perfect coloring tool to create nice blended shading on the digi-stamp image.  She is just too elegantly adorable! So much fun!

Let me know in the comments if you have ever been to a Mardi Gras celebration and whether you liked it or not.

Supplies: juliaspiriart (Etsy Shop), We R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing folder, all other supplies are Fun Stampers Journey (if you would like to order any of the FSJ supplies, please check out my website here and click on the Shop tab).

Last week was the second class in how to create beautiful backgrounds using Fun Stampers Journey (FSJ) 8 1/2 x 11 Gel Press (JM-0107) and FSJ Liquid Colors. After we finished creating some backgrounds with the planned class format, we just had fun experimenting with some stencils, bubble wrap, liquid color and the Gel Press. After everyone left, I stacked the backgrounds I created and went about my everyday weekly routine. That is until I saw the Freshly Made Sketches #323 Sketch Challenge.

When I saw this sketch, the light bulb went off in my head, and I knew exactly the card I was going to create. One of the Gel Press background pulls I created used the FSJ Chevron Stencil (JM-0011), some bubble wrap and River Stone liquid color (IP-0138). The chevron and the bubble wrap pulls were two separate pulls using FSJ Whip Cream card stock as the base (CS-0040) and for this card, I married them together by cutting each piece into fourths as shown in the sample sketch above. Once I had adhered them to the mat, I knew this was a marriage made in heaven. I then found a floral piece I had colored with Spectrum Noir markers from the FSJ Summer Garden stamp set (SS-0078) and added it to the design with a medium Foam Square (AD-0085). I used the “Thinking of You” sentiment from the Storybook Occasions stamp set (SS-0538), and the finishing touch was to place the mat on a base of FSJ Rock Candy card stock (CS-0031).

I think this card turned out so elegant.

Let me know what you think about this card in the comments below. Feel free to share this with a friend!

If you would like to create this card, you can go to my website and shop (click here).

Supplies not mentioned in the narrative:

Brayer (TO-0087), Craft Glue (AD-0111), Rock Candy Fusion Ink (IP-0028), Block A (TO-0095), Block G (TO-0076), Journey Blooms Paper Trimmer (TO-0039), Grid Paper (NC-0011), Journey Gel Medium (JM-0071)

I am still creating cards from the backgrounds I made this last weekend from my Gel Press How-To Class. I wanted to create a WOW card for a co-worker to give her husband on Valentine’s Day. We both love Chemistry and her work is directly involved with chemical data analysis; so, I thought the Perfect Atoms (SS-0457) stamp set would be ideal for her card. I drew inspiration for her card using this week’s Paper Craft Crew Card Sketch #PCC277. Here is the sketch challenge:

This card turned out to be one of my favorites. I had a Gel Press pink background with white hearts left over and decided to use it.  I stamped the beaker with Black Licorice ink and colored it with FSJ Color Burst Pencils; then, applied Journey Glaze with a sprinkle of Sparkle Dust and let it dry while I completed the other parts of the card. The base is FSJ Whip Cream cardstock, the mat is the background stamp created with Sweet Berry Splash with the white areas created using die cut hearts from the Heart Felt die set (DI-0033). There is a small vellum rectangle (very hard to see in the picture) with a rectangular crimped strip of FSJ Bubble Gum cardstock layered on top of it. The sentiment is stamped in Black Licorice onto a strip of FSJ Watermelon Fusion and the ends snipped to create a banner.  I stamped the I LV U onto another scrap piece of paper that had been created on the Gel Press and cut them into squares. The I LV U and the beaker are given dimension using Journey Medium and Small Foam Squares.

There are so many possibilities of bringing paper to life using the Gel Press. I hope you like this creation.

This past weekend I held a class to learn the basic “how-to’s” of creating simple backgrounds with the Fun Stamper’s Journey Gel Press. The class was full, and we had a funtastic time playing and creating some awesome backgrounds for cards.

Since this was a Keep It Sweet and Simple class, I did not feature any stencils or mixed media products. The main focus of our Gel Press fun was using Fun Stampers Journey’s fusion inks, acrylic paints, and liquid colors. In keeping with the simple theme, I chose to create interest in the backgrounds using common craft tools and items found in a papercrafter’s stash. This included paper cut with heart dies, a balloon die, a fern die, and a leaf die. We used the bottom of the Journey Glaze to create circles on the Gel Press (remember don’t use anything sharp, it will pierce the gel). Creativity is unlimited with this amazing product.

As you know Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and the FSJ Bloom This Way trend catalog has the most adorable Host Exclusive stamp set with coordinating die called Bug Love (SS-0535 and DI-0393); therefore, the featured background for this class was hearts.  I couldn’t help but make a card using this set with the third background pull I created from the Gel Press. I used the FSJ Sweet Berry Splash in a Media Mister along with a Media Mister filled with water, some die cut hearts, FSJ Gel Medium, FSJ sequins, and several pieces of white cardstock cut down to 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ (if you would like to purchase any of the supplies featured in this post, go to www.funstampersjourney.com/martymcgee).

Here is my “Cute As A Bug” card:

It’s so darn cute, I decided to enter it into the Paper Craft Crew Challenge #276. This week’s challenge is a color challenge:

Prior to the Gel Press class, I had created some background pulls to make samples for the class showing the versatility and uniqueness of backgrounds created using the Gel Press. Some of the pulls were just plain ugly; but, my number one rule of using the Gel Press is . . . . . Keep your mind open to making beautiful from the impossible.

Here are the cards I created with the various Gel Press backgrounds:

I hope this post inspires you to play, create and bring paper to life!

I know I can’t say enough about how much I love being a coach with Fun Stampers Journey. I particularly love their catalogs which feature amazing card and project ideas. This year for Christmas inspiration, I went straight to the catalogs for some card ideas. I re-imagined or Case’d card ideas straight from our catalogs and some from our group of wonderful coaches.

The first card featured is the Fresh Forest stamp set (SS-0487 or the bundle BD-0271) and Holiday Wishes (SS-0469). I gained inspiration from the card featured on page 56 of our main Inspiration Catalog. Since my group of stampers would be creating a lot of cards in one class, I wanted to make sure most of the cards were easy to recreate. I created a remixed version below.

I used FSJ Whip Cream (CS-0040) as a base and the main piece of cardstock used for stamping. I stamped the Merry Christmas and two of the smaller trees with FSJ Beach Breeze fusion ink (IP-0044). The rest of the trees I used FSJ Lemon Grass fusion ink IP-0022). The shadowed affect behind the trees is created using one of the smaller trees stamped using FSJ Sweet Pear fusion ink (IP-0054). To create the snowy hills, I masked the lower portion of the card with a curvy piece of cardstock. This kept the bottom of the trees from making an ink impression and created the illusion of snow banks and smaller trees stamped with the same stamp. The flecks of blue on the card was created using FSJ Beach Ball acrylic paint (JM-0102) thinned down with water and flicked onto the card with a paint brush. The stamped piece of cardstock was adhered to a mat from FSJ Beach Breeze cardstock (CS-0088). The card was accented with Special Day Organza Ribbon (AC-0316) and Silver Tinsel (AC-0341). Last but not least is a strip of Silver Sparkle Tape (AC-0259). Super Cute, Super Easy, Wow!

I feel in love with this next card, and I Case’d straight out of the catalog. I mentioned to Rose Curtis on FSJ Coach Connection Facebook Page; if I create a card way in advance of a class, I should make another sample of the card the night before the class so I can remember how I made it. I really had those ladies at this class working really hard to complete the textured snowflake. I helped one of the attendees with her stenciled image, and I thought, “I don’t remember this card being this hard to make.” Well, when I got home, I happened to look at the directions in the catalog and yes, I wanted to beat my head against the wall. I can really make something very simple, very complicated. LOL

You can get the directions for this card by viewing the Journey Holiday catalog on-line (click here). Note: The sentiment was stamped from the Hostess Exclusive Night Star stamp set (SS-0518) – I cut off the Joyful portion because it was too long. I used the following cardstock: Cranberry Bliss (CS-0090), Black Licorice (CS-0003), Whip Cream (CS-0040), and the Christmas Cheer Prints (PP-0049). The snowflake mask was created using the Snow Blooms die set (DI-0253). Other supplies needed were Journey Gesso (JM-0072) – Note: the catalog references Journey Modeling Paste (JM-0073), but I didn’t have any and the Gesso worked just fine, a Spatula (TO-0089), Special Day Organza Ribbon (AC-0316) and Silver Tinsel (AC-0341).

I had the Black Licorice snowflake mask left over from creating the previous card (the catalog suggest using chip board, but I didn’t have any; therefore, the Black Licorice snowflake). I was thinking how could I use this instead of throwing it away and I saw the card idea featured on page 40 of the Journey Holidays catalog and decided to re-imagine this card idea. Here is my version below:

The base of this card is FSJ Whip Cream cardstock (CS-0040). I cut two mats from the Christmas Cheer Prints 12×12 paper (PP-0049). I must mention the Christmas Cheer Prints (PP-0049) contains 24 12×12 sheets, 4 each of 6 two-sided designs! What a deal. I cut two more large snowflakes from the Snow Blooms (DI-0253) out of Whip Cream cardstock (CS-0040). I glued the white together and the black one on top of the two white snowflakes. I added sparkle to the snowflake with FSJ Sparkle Dust (AC-0151). I die-cut the smallest snowflake out of Whip Cream cardstock, applied Silver Pan Pastel to it and adhered it to the other larger snowflakes. I accented the snowflake with a large Sparkle Drop (AC-0022). The sentiment was stamped using Black Licorice fusion ink (IP-0041) onto Whip Cream cardstock and Candy Apple cardstock (CS-0007). I added some interest and dimension to the card by die-cutting the Bloom Cluster (DI-0163) from Journey Brush Silver (CS-0135). The final accent is a Fashion Silver (AC-0293) drop of goodness. This is my favorite card!

If you are looking to create a super simple, super quick, quick, quick card for a mass mailing of Christmas Cheer, this is your card.

I was inspired by the card featured on page 41 of the Journey Holidays catalog. I took the word stamps from the Holiday Wishes stamp set (SS-0469) and placed them on one clear block. This made stamping the sentiment in Black Licorice fusion ink (IP-0041) onto the Whip Cream cardstock (CS-0040) really easy. The green bows were stamped using FSJ Lemongrass Fusion ink (IP0022). The bows and curly swirls were stamped using Candy Apple fusion ink (IP-0017). I used Fashion Silver (AC-0293) accents on the bows. The red dots are not FSJ because I did not have my most wonder Rainbow Drops (AC-0178), yet (they will arrive today) and I had to make due. The mats included the following cardstocks – Candy Apple cardstock (CS-0007), Limeade Splash cardstock (CS-0020), and the Christmas Cheer prints (PP-0049). There is a splash of Sparkle Silk (IP-0126) to finish it off.

The next beautiful card was Case’d straight from another coach Marcie Besecker. I tweaked it a little bit for my Christmas Buffet Make-It class. Here is my version below:

The tweaks were: Star of Wonder sentiment is stamped onto the embossed mat with Huckleberry Fusion ink (IP-0035), Silver Tinsel (AC-0341) instead of the Gold Tinsel (AC-0340), triple bow instead of a double bow from the Special Day Organza Ribbon (AC-0316), a large star with a medium star instead of two medium stars, and a Huckleberry Fusion cardstock base mat (CS-0015). The stamp set for this card is the Night Start (SS-0518) from the Journey Holidays catalog.

The next card I cannot find my inspiration for this layout, but I know I looked at something to create this because of the tree. This is what I get for not making notes as I create (like that will ever happen – once I get going, I’m off and running, no time to slow down and write down any notes). Anywhoo, I love this stamp set Snowmen Days (SS-0519) from the Journey Holidays catalog. I must have a snowman card every year for my Christmas card classes and this set was too cute to pass up.

The base and all cardstock used for stamping is FSJ Whip Cream cardstock (CS-0040). The snowmen were stamped using Black Licorice Fusion Ink (IP-0041), the tree was stamped using Lemongrass fusion ink (IP-0022) with some Fresh Forest fusion ink (IP-0013) barely stamped onto the stamp down the middle. The tree was die-cut with a die from the Fresh Forest Bundle (BD-0271 found on page 86 of the Inspiration catalog. The oval mat was pierced and die-cut using the Journey Ovals (DI-0042). The background is sponged onto the oval using Pool Play and Beach Breeze fusion inks (IP-0051 and IP-0044). The base mat is cut from Denim Days cardstock (CS-0113) and embossed with the $100 level Bloom Benefit Love Letter Embossing Folder (EF-0025) NOTE: It’s free with a $100 purchase!! I turned the embossed piece of cardstock upside down (the de-bossed side) and using a little water to make the Journey Gesso (JM-0072) move easier, I smeared and rubbed the Gesso over the entire mat leaving a few places untouched. The snowmen were colored using the Journey Color Burst Pencils (JM-0077). The final touch was a piece of Silver Sparkle Tape (AC-0259). Love it!

These are all the cards I came up with using inspiration from other sources. I hope this gets your creative juices flowing. Fun Stampers Journey provides amazing card, scrapbook, and project ideas throughout both their catalogs. As a Journey Coach, I have access to a private Facebook page for Coaches only where we all share our ideas and encourage each other in our journey.

Last week I received my Fun Stampers Journey order and in that order was my new 8 1/2 x 11 FSJ Gel Press. Yes, Fun Stampers Journey has joined up with Gel Press to offer an exclusive to FSJ 8 1/2 x 11 Gel Press. It is so much fun! I love it!

This past Saturday I was demonstrating to a couple of my class attendees how you can create awesomely unique paper for card making. I played around with FSJ Limeade Splash and Pineapple Smoothie Acrylic paints along with the Starburst Lines stencil on the Gel Press. I made quite a few different designs with acrylic paint, splashes, and the Fusion ink pads. Once I had finished, I set them aside to use later.

That being said, I looked at the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge 301 and decided one of those designs would make a clean card. Here is the sketch:

For the designed piece on my card, I took the design I created with the FSJ Limeade Splash (JM-0101) and Pineapple Smoothie (JM-0023) acrylic paints. To create this design, I placed several small dots of each color onto the Gel Press (JM-0107) and using my brayer (TO-0087), I tapped across them lighting to create a solid layer, BUT not blended enough to loose each separate color. I placed my FSJ Starburst Stencil (JM-0007) onto the paint then placed a piece of 5 1/4″ x 4″ FSJ Whip Cream card stock (CS-0040) and rubbed my hand across the back making sure to press firmly down so the card stock would pick up the paint between the plastic of the stencil. I pulled it off and there you go. It was just that easy. You can then pull the stencil up and get another impression off of the Gel Press. I made some flowers from the FSJ Summer Pretties punch (TO-0007) using left over impressions of this design. To accent the flowers I placed FSJ Fashion Gold (AC-0292) embellishments in their centers. The sentiment is from FSJ Punny Punny stamp set (SS-0421). A thin strip of FSJ Whip Cream card stock is showing below the designed paper. All of this is adhered to FSJ Electric Lime card stock (CS-0123).

 

If you would like to purchase any of these supplies, please click here.

I am really super excited about the August Bloom Box. I LOVE the Comic theme designs Fun Stampers Journey designers put together for this card kit. It is fun, on trend, exciting, and youthful. One of the card design features a 3D effect. I even bought some 3D glasses to give to each of my Bloom Box purchasers this month. Here are the card designs with this month’s kit:

For those of you who are new to the Fun Stampers Journey Bloom Box card kits. Here’s the scoop. Each kit comes with a full stamp set, a colored step-by-step instruction booklit, materials to complete 4 cards (inks, splashes, and silks are not included). Note: If you live in my area, those of us who purchase the Bloom Box meet and complete the cards together. I provide the inks, splashes, and silks. The Bloom Box is a great way to experience FSJ products on a limited budget. See the picture below for this month’s kit.

There are two ways to purchase a Bloom Box:

Subscribe & Save!
6 month subscription: $24.95/month (+tax and shipping) Order number KO-0002
Ala Carte for August kit $29.95 (+shipping and tax)  Order number KO-0003 (Ala Carte Bloom Boxes are while supplies last for that month).

Another great benefit FSJ provides for each month’s Bloom Box kit are videos showcasing some of the more unique techniques. I have attached this month’s video for your viewing pleasure.

If you need assistance purchasing a Bloom Box, please contact me.

PAGE TOP
[dealsbar preview] Amazing Deals: !!toolbar-deal-title!! - !!toolbar-deal-merchant!!