Inspired Stamps Thursday DT

 Today I used one of the stamps from last week's November Release to make a gift card holder.  'Tis the Season to be thinking about Christmas cards and gift card holders.  Gift cards are becoming quite popular due to the fact the recipient can pick out their own gift and you do not have the tremendous shipping costs.  I have to admit I like to receive gift cards but I still love receiving something someone has thought about me and picked out.
I found this particular matchbook gift card fold at songofmyheartstamps.typepad.com.  I liked it because you can make four gift card holders from one 12 X 12 piece of cardstock.
How to:
Cut a 3 X 12 inch strip of cardstock and score at 3.75, 8, 8.75 and 9.5 inches.  Punch a shape out of holder side (I used 1.25 inch circle punch).  This will allow you to easily grab the gift card out of holder.  Then add thin strip of sticky strip (it needs to be thin so you have room for your gift card in the "envelope".  Also add thin piece of sticky strip to bottom of the matchbook fold near the lower edge (needs to be at the lower edge so top flap can easily tuck in to close card).
Card is finished, very easy.  As I said you can get 4 of these from one 12 X 12 piece of cardstock.  I made a minor adjustment to some of the others I made. This version has a flat flap, but if you are adding anything with a bit of bulk (say you want to add the gift card to a tag with a ribbon pull) then I added another score line at 4 inches.  I used all the same score lines as above but added an additional score line at 4 inches and this gives the "traditional" matchbook look.  The flatter version would be much easier to mail, since it is flat.  The second version would be better for hand delivery.
I hope you have a blessed day.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you find this tutorial helpful.  Please be sure to drop by the Inspired Stamps blog to see more beautiful creations by the design team and Jamie's tutorial from Wednesday on how to creatively wrap chocolate bars for gift giving.  Also be sure to find this stamp and all of the new releases and so much more at the Inspired Stamps Online Store. Currently their is a coupon to celebrate Inspired Stamps 3rd Birthday, so hurry so you don't miss the savings.

Happy 3rd Birthday Inspired Stamps-faux letterpress tutorial

Hello everyone.  Did you see the Inspired Stamps new releases yesterday?  How about Deneen's tutorial on embossing with Spellbinder dies on Wednesday?  Well, I have seen that technique on many cards and loved the look but was not sure how to achieve it, until now.  Deneen had showed how to emboss with a Cuttlebug and I have a Big Shot so I tried the the technique with my machine.

 Open the multipurpose platform to Tab 1 and add cutting plate, cardstock, die, embossing matte, embossing plate. Proper Sizzix Sandwich: Later I tried again and altered the sandwich from what you see in the picture:  Tab 1, cutting plate, die, cardstock, embossing matte, embossing plate.  This will work much better.  Voila.  I will be trying this out in the future.  Thanks Deneen for the tutorial.

 I decided to stay with the embossing, but show how to do a faux letterpress.  I love to use my embossing folders to create background designs, but we can take this a step farther by inking the embossing folder on the flat side with a water based ink (tumbled glass Distress ink used here).

 Ink the flat side of folder (without raised image) by swiping with the ink pad to cover completely.

 Add cardstock and close folder and run through machine. Sandwich: Tab 1, cutting plate, embossing folder containing cardstock, second cutting plate.

 Here is the finished design.  The flat parts of paper are now colored in tumbled glass and the snowflakes are embossed and still white (original color of cardstock).
Clean up is quick with a baby wipe or the embossing folder can be washed in the sink with warm soapy water.  The water based inks wash completely off folder, no staining.  I am not sure how pigment inks or chalk inks would work in this technique, if anyone has tried other types of ink please leave a comment and let us know how it worked out.

 I used a music embossing folder and antique linen Distress inks.  This time I wanted to stain the embossed image as well, so I used walnut stain Distress ink and the sponge applicator.  I applied ink by starting off image and moving the applicator in a circular motion.

 I wanted a really distressed image, so I crumpled the paper in a ball and then smoothed out again. My son said, "Mom, why did you turn that paper into a wadded up tissue?"
I admit at this point it does look a little rough, but I love the final results.

 I used the new release Winter Sketches and added a satin ribbon.  I colored the images with Copic markers.  I had colored four of the holly leave images and was playing around with placement when I noticed  a "flower" emerging when I placed them together.  I added red Stickles and had the Cardinal sit in the cluster.

I matted the snowflake background on a white piece then a black piece.  I tied a ribbon around and then finally adhered it to the card base.  I used the sentiment and the images from Winter Sketches.  I hope you try this technique to make some interesting backgrounds for your cards.  Remember that the new releases are available later this afternoon in the Inspired Stamps online store and there is a nice coupon to celebrate Inspired Stamps 3rd Birthday.  Please be sure to check out the Inspired Stamps blog for more tutorials.  Have a great day.

Inspired Stamps November Release

 Hello and welcome.  Inspired Stamps has several new releases just in time for the holidays.  You will need to check out the Inspired Stamps blog for all the new sets to be released this Friday in the Inspired Stamps store.  I have used the new set called Me and My House, this set has lots of sketch images (I did not use them all in my card).  You can use these stamps to "create a scene".  I used the large house,windows, heart, grass, girl, mailbox and home sweet home sign. I colored the images with Copic markers.  On the inside I used Joshua 24:15 and cut and matted it with Spellbinder dies.

I popped up the Home Sweet Home sign and added a red strip that I embossed and inked with white die to match the girls dress.  I used glossy accents on the heart.
Make sure to check out all the other DT designs with other new releases.  Come back and see me tomorrow and I will have a tutorial  and check out Deneen's tutorial on Wednesday.
Remember all the new releases will be available on Friday in the Inspired Stamps online store.
Have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by.