Clean & Simple with Oldest & Newest Stamps
Stash Busters 2024 - A Bi-Weekly Instagram Hop
Good day, fellow crafters. Today I present to you my most recent submission for the Stashbusters 2024 Hop. This hop, hosted by Armen @armenscraftroom, Ave @avedamontedesigns, Barbara @bkeeleycrafts, Hilary @hilarygreek, Kelly @kellysantidesigns, and Kim @touchofmagik, will be posting 3-6 creative, paper-based projects to share every other week. The goal of the hop is for each participant to use the items and supplies already owned to create between 81 and 162 projects in total throughout 2024 calendar year.
The design theme challenge for today is to create a clean and simple card utilizing our oldest and newest stamp sets. For these cards, I chose to a Stampendous set from 2017 and an Altenew set I purchased recently. If you are inspired to participate please use #stashbusters2024 on your posts so that we can see them too! I hope you enjoy.
In the following explanation, I'll use straightforward language to discuss the materials and steps involved in making these cards. All the cards were created using the same method.
To make these cards, I started with cold press watercolor paper, my Misti stamping tool, VersaMark watermark ink, and the Altenew Ambridge Rose stamp set shown on the left (at the time of this post 50% for the complete bundle). I placed the watercolor paper in my Misti, secured it with magnets, and aligned the stamp to my liking. Closing the Misti door held the stamp in place. After applying VersaMark ink to the stamp and inking the image, I repeated this step two to three times for a complete transfer. I then took the watercolor paper out of the Misti and added WoW! Chocolate Caramel Pearl embossing powder over the image. After shaking off the excess, I heat-set the powder with my heat tool. I use this technique regularly when I watercolor because the melted embossing powder acts like a "well," holding in the paint.
The next step involved bringing vibrant colors to the cards. To do this, I used a watercolor set from Altenew. I took my time between applying each layer of color, giving me the chance to highlight and shade the image for a more detailed and nuanced look. Taking breaks between coats allowed me to focus on specific areas, creating shadows and adding depth. Once the images were all colored and dry I fussy cut around each and then set them aside.
I then proceeded to create the sentiment for the cards. I used cardstock that I felt was a good match for the colors I used on each of the images, black ink, and the script font “Happy Birthday” from the Stampedous Brushed Messages stamp set (2017), featured right. I then used a sentiment label from my collection to cut each one out. I set these aside.
The background panels were created using either the Spellbinders Tufted 3D embossing folder or the Altenew Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Die. In all instances, they were then trimmed to their final dimensions and adhered to a mat the same color as was chosen for that card’s sentiment label with double-sided tape. I then adhere those composites to a white card base in the same manner.
The last stage was the final assembly. Using Bearly Arts liquid glue, my preferred craft glue, I adhered all of the focal images into place as well as the sentiment labels and some clear droplet flat-backed gems. After they were allowed to dry I stamped the inside of the card with a sentiment from the Sunny Studio Inside Greetings Congrats stamp set with black ink. With that, I called the card complete.
Note: To support the creation of more content like this, I've included affiliate links for some of the featured supplies. Utilizing these links won't incur any additional costs for you, but it does provide a small benefit to me, allowing me to continue sharing my work with you.
