Stamped Texture

Isn't that a pretty card? I can compliment it without being a braggart because I didn't design the original--I stole the idea from a demo friend of mine here in Colorado Springs! But there is one part of it that is original, and that is the Stamped Texture. [REMEMBER: Click on any image in the post to see it larger.]

At the team meeting where everyone was making this card, I was wandering around taking pictures, so I didn't get my card done. I finally pulled out the pieces to it this weekend and finished it. The white texture on white card stock is very elegant, but I just felt like I wanted to add something to it. The main ornament on the card is from a stamp set called Delightful Decorations. There is one little stamp in that set that I thought would make a cool background, but the card already had the background texture embossed into it. Then, I noticed that it just happened to be the same size as the flowers on the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder that had already been used on the background layer...and I thought, Why not use both backgrounds?

You can probably already see where I'm going with this, but let me walk you through exactly what I did. First, I inked up the stamp (in Ruby Red for this card), and then I stamped the ink off, one time, onto scratch paper.

Then, without inking the stamp up again, I stamped it over one of the flowers on the card stock which had been run through the Big Shot in the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder. You don't have to be precise. My only caution is that you shouldn't SMASH the stamp onto the embossed flower, or you'll lose some of the charm and subtlety you get when only part of the stamped image shows up.

Use the R.A.N. (Repeat As Necessary) Method to create the look you want. (I just made that up, it comes from a sweetie-ism. Blake often uses that phrase tongue-in-cheek when he's teaching my kids something. Usually it's in conjunction with something the kids are complaining they weren't able to perfect after doing only one time!)

You can stamp over all of the flowers, as I did on my card, or you can stamp in a pattern, like a checkerboard, or every other line of flowers. You can even alternate colors. It's just that easy! It sort of gives the card a stucco look, in my opinion. This would probably look very elegant when stamped in neutral colors like Sahara Sand or Creamy Caramel. And, you know you'll just have to try stamping over the top of these flowers with that gorgeous Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint! Oooh la la!!!

TIP: Save yourself time if you are adhering layers over the top, and don't bother stamping the pattern where your card stock layer is going to cover it.

Shop in my ONLINE STORE for these Stampin' Supplies: Delightful Decorations stamp set, Four the Holidays stamp set (greeting), Tree Trimmings stamp set (ornament hanger), Whisper White Card Stock, Ruby Red card stock and ink, Stampin' Sponge, Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, Two-Way Glue Pen & Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (to accent the center of the ornament).

~Kimberley Morris
Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator
Colorado Springs, CO
http://kimberley.stampinup.net
procrastistamper@gmail.com