Kissing Technique….

Stampin' Up! UK I think your great kissing

Before your mind wonders off somewhere else, I’m talking Stamp Kissing today, I am not about to discuss romance or any other life lessons!

Today is the launch of the brand new Stampin’ Up! catalogue – have you got your copy yet? if not, get a physical copy here or a digital version there.

There are heaps of great stamps, tools, and new in-colours in this catalogue. I will be doing a full catalogue tour for newsletter subscribers this month. Not a newsletter subscriber yet, why not! but you can sign up here, or in the link at the bottom of this post.

Stampin' Up! UK I think your great kissing

Ok, so onto the technique for today. How great is this card! and its so simple to create. I love the kissing technique, it allows you to add pattern to solid stamps. Check out the video tutorial below for visual instructions,.

The Kissing Technique:

For this technique you need two stamps, one solid and one patterned. I love that Stampin’ Up! this year has stamp sets specifically for certain techniques and this stamp set, I Think You’re Great, is designed with Stamp Kissing in mind.

Ink up your solid stamp

Kiss the two stamps together, I do this by laying the patterned stamp face up on my desk, and stamping the solid stamp onto it. Don’t wiggle the stamps, use a straight down and straight up movement, otherwise your pattern will blur.

Stamp the solid stamp onto your project.



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Farewell Painted Petals!

Stampin' Up! Indescribable gift painted petals

Just in case you have been living under a rock, tomorrow is the launch of the brand new Stampin’ Up! catalogue! which also means that tomorrow is the last day of the current annual catalogue, spring/summer catalogue, and the retiring list! so, today I’m saying goodbye to a heap of items, but tomorrow is HELLO! to a brand new set of stamps, in-colours, catalogues, tools, and heaps of those great items!

So, when I was planning out this coming fortnight, I had a great plan to do a blog post saying goodbye to Painted Petals – I have LOVED using this stamp set! and it has totally inspired me to try watercolour properly. However, when I came to making this weeks blog projects inspiration for using Painted Petals completed deserted me! I know, I know, I probably shouldn’t admit to being completely un-inspired, however, as you can see, I did manage to make a card!

Stampin' Up! Indescribable gift painted petals

I returned to my stamp stash, and pulled the other sets that are retiring from the Spring/Summer catalogue, and found Indescribable Gift. I have loved using this floral stamp too! Although I have used the sentiments from this set, the floral image is one of my most used stamps from this past few months. I have used the Painted Petals here, but just for the sentiment in the end.

The card base here is Blackberry Bliss, and I have used Shimmery White card stock for the layer. I adore this card stock, I have to admit it’s one of those things that has been sat in my card stock drawer for a few months completely unused, but I recently discovered that its great for water-colouring on, and seeing as I have run out of Watercolour paper, Shimmery Water card stock is very handy (and cheaper!).

I stamped the Indescribable Gift in Rose Red, stamped off once, before very carefully but loosely water-colouring using Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, and Crumb Cake. When water-colouring an image, you should use a waterproof ink (like Stazon) because Stampin’ Up! ink is water-based, it will move when water is applied to it, so either carefully water-colour (like I did here) or use a Stazon inkpad.

Which stamp set was your favourite from this years Spring/Summer catalogue?



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Freshly Made Sketches #188 – Something to Say….

Stampin' Up! UK something to say itty bitty accents petite petals

I’m here on a Saturday again joining in over at Freshly Made Sketches, I have been really enjoying using sketches to push my cardmaking out of my comfort zone. I have to admit, when I first looked at the sketch for this week, I panicked! I don’t tend to make cards with lots of layers, I don’t really know why, because I think I should!

Stampin' Up! freshly made sketches

 

So, the very first thing I do when I get my hands on a new sketch is to stand in front of my stamp sets. This week I came up with nothing, I try and check the sketch early in the week, after its release on Tuesday. This week when I looked on Tuesday night, I stood in front of those stamp sets, and stood, and stood. Inspiration escaped me. Completely.

Stampin' Up! UK something to say itty bitty accents petite petals

I grabbed the sketch again on Friday, and took more notice of the images. I try to just see shape when I look at a sketch, and I’m always tempted to turn things around. But this week, just getting something made was more important. So the flowers jumped out at me, and I ran through my collection looking for small floral stamps with coordinating punches – Petite Petals and Something To Say. I actually started from punches, and then looked for stamps to coordinate;  Petite Petals and Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack.

In order to keep things simple I decided to stick to two colours (plus Whisper White) and used Pear Pizzazz card stock and ink, along with Early Espresso for depth.



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Wedding Week – Congrats to you two….

Stampin' Up! UK wedding card

I hope you are enjoying my week of Wedding themed projects!

Today I thought we would move away from being part of the wedding party, and make a card as a wedding guest – the perfect congratulations card. I get married in August and if I receive just one hand stamped card like this one I will be a super happy bride! Saying that I won’t be opening any cards until 3 weeks after the wedding, after several members of my family have been cat sitting in my house, so I might even get this card!

Stampin' Up! UK wedding card

Its another super simple card from me, I’m loving white space at the moment. I’m not sure if that’s just my style (it always was when I made 12×12 scrapbook layouts) or whether its just because my head is so full of wedding planning and work that I need some space somewhere!

Using the Your Perfect Day stamp set (about to retire! so grab it now!) the cake is stamped in Sahara sand stamped off once. The Congrats was then stamped over the top in Versamark ink and heat embossed in gold.

So pretty



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Retiring List Information

Stampin' Up! UK Retiring List 2015I’m sorry, I don’t have a card post for you today, but I wanted to pop in and remind you that the New Annual Catalogue launches on 2nd June 2015 (that’s one week away!) and the retiring list ends on the same day!

Check the list out now – HERE

Stampin' Up! UK Catalogue 2015

If you have managed to miss the news that the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue launches on 2nd June – where have you been!!!! I just wanted to let you know about my Catalogue Launch Party – held at my home in Stockton-on-Tees, this FREE event gives you a chance to get your hands on the new catalogue on 3rd June 2015, featuring a great make and take, my bargain basket, and some great stampin’ company! RSVP today!

 


 

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To purchase any of the items featured in my projects please use the links above. To join my team of Stampin’ Friends select ‘Join My Team’ or send me a message!

Please support StampinByHannah by using the Hostess code featured in the top right hand of my blog. For orders of over £150 please do not use this code, as you are entitled to your own Hostess benefits!

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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Freshly Made Sketches #187 – Just For You!

Hello!

I am so sorry I missed my challenge Saturday last week, but I was at Stampin’ Up! Regional Training (having heaps of fun!) and in my excitement I completely forgot! Shocking I know, But I am back this week playing along with Freshly Made Sketches #187, and this fabulous sketch:

FMS Final 187-001

 

I love this sketch, it really pushed me. I’ve been stuck in a bit of a craft rut recently, or, as my darling mother said the other day “your cards are always muted!” (thanks mother!), and so I grabbed for a set of super bright colours; the new In Colours Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush!

I will admit to being a little scared of the brightness of these two; Watermelon Wonder is an almost Neon Corally Orange, while Cucumber Crush is a vivid green, definitely not colours I would have chosen of my own accord, but absolutely one of the reasons I love Stampin’ Up! and playing along with challenges, so….

The Card!

Stampin' Up! UK Freshly Made Sketches Cherries on top

I decided seeing as I was using new colours, I might as well go the whole hog and use new stamps and Designer Series Paper too!

The Designer Series Paper is Cherry on Top; and is a fabulous mix of bright colours and birthday prints, paired with the coordinating Washi Tape. While the stamp set is called You’re So Sweet – I love this set, its great for adding a special something to a present, or using as a card accent, and it coordinates (and is available bundled with….) the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits dies! Awesome!

The heart is punched from Watermelon Wonder card stock and adhered with half a dimensional before I covered it in Crystal Effects for a super shiny look.

All these products will be available to purchase from the 2nd June (or now if you choose to become a demonstrator!). I will be sending catalogues this coming week, to get your FREE copy (UK only – sorry) fill in this form!

speak again soon



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Stampin’ Up! UK Regional Training Swaps

One of the many many great things about being a demonstrator for Stampin’ Up! is the opportunity to attend Stampin’ Up! organised events. This past weekend I drove the 180+ miles to Telford for this years demonstrator training event. I will share the full details with your soon (well, as much as I can!) but for now, I thought I would share what I made for my Swaps!

Stampin' Up! UK Telford swaps 2015

Swapping is another great part of being a demonstrator. Each time we get together we make things to share; they are a great way of getting inspiration when you’ve lost your crafty mojo, and are a wonderful way of meeting new people. I found some cute little chocolates during a recent dash to Home Bargains (there’s one at the end of my road, perfect for those chocolate emergencies! they sell other stuff to, but chocolate is my main reason for a visit!) and knew they would have to be part of my swap!

Stampin' Up! UK Telford swap mini chocolate gift bag

Aren’t they just adorable! I loved making them, although the Typeset Designer Series Paper is interesting to work with! Its a lovely thin weight, and acts a little bit like vellum when you score it. You have to keep a tight hold otherwise it has a habit of moving and shifting – resulting in wonky bags!

Measurements:

Designer Series Paper – 4 3/4 x 3 1/2″ (12 x 9 cm)

Score on the long side first with the print facing the right way at 1 3/8, 2 1/8, 3 1/2 and 4 1/4″ (1, 4.5, 6.5 ad 10 cm)

Score on the short side at 3/4″ (2 cm)

Cut the little rectangle from the bottom corner, and cut up the other score lines just to the horizontal score

Use Fast Fuse to stick your bags together, applying the glue along the long thin edge. Then work out which side is the back (the one with the seam), fold in the bottom – sides first, then the back, then the front – applying Fast Fuse to the inside of the front flap.

Insert your chocolates

Use the 1/8″ Handheld punch to create a hole in the middle near the top.

Thread your ribbon from the inside through to the front, and then over the top and in through the back and through to the front. You should end up with both ends of the ribbon at the front.

Tie a bow! (I know, that makes it sound a whole lot easier than it is!)

Stampin' Up! Telford swaps basket

I couldn’t leave you without showing you my swaps basket (it doubles as my Bargain Basket!), don’t they look cute!



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Collage stamping

One of my favourite stamp sets from the current Spring/Summer catalogue is Butterfly Basics. I have created a whole heap of cards with this set, and I’m sure I have plenty more cards with this set left to create (yes, it’s in the new Annual Catalogue too! Yay!)

Stampin' Up! UK butterfly basics collage

I have really enjoyed the pieces of this stamp set, both individually and collaged together  – like the card here. Almost all the stamps from the set are stamped on this 5 x 5″ square card in Sahara Sand. The only different colour used is Early Espresso for the Happy Birthday.

The card is finished with a beautiful butterfly die cut from Early Espresso from the Butterflies Thinlits dies. I usually bend the wings of these butterflies to create some dimension, however, this time I decided to use my bone folder to create a curved wing. To create this look run the wings of the butterfly around the bone folder as if you were curling ribbon. I love the effect this gives.



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

Watercolour Stamping

As you may be able to tell I love watercolouring with my stamps; either sprintzing water onto my inked stamp, adding water to a stamped image or using my inks to colour an image, and I just couldn’t let this card onto the blog without a very short video!

Stampin' Up! UK watercolour butterfly basics

Isn’t this card just so pretty!

I do have a bit of a top tip for using that sentiment; use the top edge of the stamp to ensure your stamp is stamped straight, if you line the top edge of the stamp up with the top of you block when positioning, you can then line the block up with your card stock to ensure your sentiment is straight.

Stampin' Up! UK butterfly basics video tutorialHow to:

Cut your sheet of Early Espresso card stock in half, and fold in half to create your card base. Measure the front or your card and cut a piece of Stampin’ Up! watercolour paper to half a centimetre (or 1/4″) shorter and narrower

Ink the fern stamp up with Sahara Sand ink and stamp 3 times in the bottom right hand corner of your watercolour paper.

Ink you flower stamp up with Rich Razzleberry, and mist with water, the amount of water you mist the more the ink will move, causing the two different effects as seen above, stamp over the top of the ferns. Allow this to dry, either naturally or with the assistance of a heat tool.

Ink the postage label in Early Espresso and stamp three times around the flowers.

Stamp the sentiment in the bottom left using Early Espresso.

Mount the watercolour paper to the front or your card base using Fast Fuse adhesive.



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator

 

 

 

Big News…. It’s Your Birthday!

Big News being the name of the stamp set I’ve used here.

Stampin' Up! UK Big News Birthday card

I recently managed to order a second ink pad in this colour; Tempting Turquoise – very unlike me as I almost always consult my marked catalogue before ordering, in fact it didn’t even register as a colour I already owned until I tired to put it away! I keep all my inks in a Colour Caddy, in alphabetical order by colour family, so it was really easy to spot that I had managed to duplicate! Oops!

Anyway, the card. I just love the Big News stamp set, it has a great collection of useful sentiments for birthdays, weddings, and just being awesome! And so the ‘its your birthday’ is stamped in Tempting Turquoise, while the candles are in Pacific Point, coloured with Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red Stampin’ Write Markers

A great, simple, birthday card. Perfect for those awkward men!



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Hannah Wilks

Stampin’ Up! UK Independent Demonstrator