Clearly iStamp

April 2010 Featured Friend

It's time again to feature a stamping friend whom we have found in blog world using Clear Dollar Stamps!

For April, we would like to introduce you to

Tina Hale

We found Tina when she posted some of her CDS work over at SCS and participated in the CiC challenge.

We asked Tina a few things about herself and here is what she told us:

• How and when did you discover stamping?   It's been almost two years and like most everyone else, it was a home party that got me started.
• How would you describe your stamping style?  
  I think my style is clean, linear, but with lots of layers. The more layers, the better.
• When did you discover Clear Dollar Stamps?  
  About a year ago, there was a discussion on SCS about the quality of Clear Dollar Stamps, and I took a look. I always look forward to the releases, they never disappoint. 
  
• What do you like best about Clear Dollar Stamps?  The quality of the stamps is fabulous! And, there are so many different choices to suit whatever type of paper crafter you are. I like the variety of stamps available and adding them to my collection!
• Do you have any other hobbies other than stamping?   Not really, unless shopping is considered a hobby. I also do some light gardening, mostly just plants and flowers to enjoy on my deck and patio area. We are expanding this to includes herbs and a few veggies this year.

And now for some examples of Tina's beautiful work with Clear Dollar Stamps!

Featuring Blooming with Blessings

 

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Featuring Fruity Fun

 

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Featuring Elegant Flourishes

 

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Featuring Fruity Fun

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Featuring Bless my Bloomers

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Tina a bit better and seeing some of her work!

Keep posting your creations on your blogs and in our gallery at Split Coast Stampers, and you never know, you might be the next featured friend!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #11 (CIC11) - Color Challenge Clear Dollar Stamps Style

Hey friends, welcome to Clearly Inspired Challenge #11.  For this challenge I decided to go with a color challenge, but to do it Clear Dollar Style.  If you didn't catch it yet, Lori has introduced the store's own line of coordinating cardstock, and ribbon!  Not only that, but she has also matched them up to both Copic and Tombow Markers.  Can you say easy?

Today's color challenge is based on the newly released colors from the Summer fun collection.

Color Challenge

Main Colors:   Lime Juice * Cherry Go Round * Bee Pollen

Neutrals: White or Cream or Black

Click ---> HERE <--- for a good representative of the colors.

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Here are the basic details for our challenges, they are sweet and simple and 

one of you will definitely go away with a prize.

• These challenges will occur every other Friday
• You have until the following Thursday to link your project using Mr. Linky (below)
• Challenges will vary each and every time
• Your work is important so there will be 5 Inspirational Cards/Projects chosen to be featured here
• Use CDstamps if you have them... IF NOT PLEASE PLAY ANYWAY... use what you have!
• A PRIZE (your choice of stamp set) will be awarded to a randomly chosen winner
• If you upload to Splitcoast Stampers or another online gallery please use CIC11 as one of your keywords

This Challenge will close late on Thursday April 15th

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And to get your creative juices flowing check out some of the Design Team's  creations.

Sarah Taylor - featuring past Stamp of the Month

Tricia Traxler - featuring With Thanksgiving

Joan Ervin featuring Circle Chit Chat

Cassie Trask -  featuring Charlie Bee Happy

 

Tracy Johnson - featuring Wagon Wishes

 

Laurie Wilson - featuring Birthday Moose (Digital Image)

Linda Anderson - featuring Little Frog (Digital Image)

Lisa Lara - featuring Fabulous Fruitstand

Gloria Dojlido - featuring Blooming with Blessings

Alex Maldonado - featuring Blooming with Blessings

Please use the Mr. Linky below. All I ask is that you post on your blog that you are playing along with Clearly Inspired Challenges sponsored by Clear Dollar Stamps and provide a DIRECT link to your new card and/or project! You have until next Thursday evening (late)- April 15th to join the fun and get a chance to win your choice of stamp set. Can't wait to see your cards/projects.

Second Generation Stamping Technique

Happy Tuesday friends!  Its Katie here to welcome you to a fun little technique known as Second Generation stamping.  I'm sure that for many of you this might be a technique that you've heard of and forgotten about or I also hope for many of you this is a new technique and will show you a way to maximize the use of your Clear Dollar Stamps.

There are several reasons why I love to use this technique.  First of all, it really does maximize the look of your images.  I tend to use this technique with more solid types of images though.  Secondly, you really get every ounce of your ink usage!  Thirdly, this is a great way to create depth and dimension and yet keep things flat.

And lastly, its easy, easy, easy and fun to boot.

Stamp your image just like normal.

 

Pull off.

 

Immediately stamp again.

Now its just time to get your card together.  I played with some of the new Clearly Coordinating Collection of Cardstock and Ribbon for my card today.

My card front features Marrakech Basic Grey paper, Tangelo Smoothie Cardstock, Still Waters Cardstock, and Still Waters Satin Ribbon.

 

Attach to card front.

 

Add image and sentiment and voila, finished card!  I kept the shadow look with the use of the same Spellbinders Labels Nine Nestabilty.

 

I wanted to share some other looks with several other stamp sets that are available at Clear Dollar Stamps.

This first stamped background features a newer set called Plumes and Blooms.  If you aren't aware yet, I love to create my own backgrounds and I love this look with this set.  Remember, you can stamp your 1st image on scratch paper and then stamp your 2nd time on your project to get that softer look.

Bitty Botanicals... a perfect fit for this technique.

 

And finally, how about 3rd and 4th generation stamping?  This works best for your darkest inks.  This sample uses the just released set called Martial Arts.

 

Some final tips...

• Darker inks will create more "generations"
• Overlapping your images creates the best dimension and depth
• "Huffing" can help between your stamped "generations"...what and why you ask?  "Huffing" is just breathing onto your inked image.  Your breath adds extra moisture to the ink since there is less of it.  Don't spit though (hehe)... FYI... I did no huffing for any of these images.
• Its ok to stamp off that first image on scratch paper and use the 2nd generation image

If you know or think of any more... share with us please.

Thanks for hanging with us today and I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday.  Make sure to come back this Friday for another Clearly Inspired Challenge!

Part 2 - A free digital image for you!

OK, sorry folks!  We had the wrong download link in the previous post!

Here is the correct link for the flower basket free download. DOWNLOAD FLOWER BASKET (UPDATED 4/4/10! This is the correct link!)

Flower Basket by Laurie Wilson

A FREE digital image just for you!

Everybody likes free stuff....so here is a free digital image you can download and create with any time!

We've also included some basic starter directions if you are new to digital images!

Flower Basket by Laurie Wilson

Link to download your free basket digi!

Here are some basic instructions if you are new to digital images.  There are many programs to use for printing images, but Microsoft Word seems to be one of the simplest applications to use.

1. You have to download the image to a folder on your computer where you know they will be when you need them.  Most of the time images download as "zipped" up folders and you have to unzip the file to expose the actual picture file(s).

• Unzipping a compressed zip folder. Right click on the zipped file, and select "extract all",  then you follow the prompts your computer gives you, one of which is selecting a folder on your computer to save it in.

2. Once the images are on your computer, you have to place them, or open them in some sort of photo editing program or printing program in order to flip them, resize them, and print them.

3. Below are instructions for two versions of Word and Picture It (a photo editing program).

MS WORD 2000:

• Open a new document
• Go up to the pull down menu "insert", pick "picture", pick "from file"
• It may default to coming in "behind" text, which is what mine did, and this will not allow you to move it around or resize it, so you need to modify it to be "above" the text.  You do this by right clicking on the picture you just inserted, click "format picture", click the "layout" tab, and then click on "in front of text", then "ok". Now you can move it around as desired.
• If you want to set it as a specific size for a die you are using, select the "size" tab in the "format picture" window, and simply type in one of the fields at the top the size you need it.  Make sure the "lock aspect ratio" is checked so that you resize it proportionally.
• Click OK
• You can right click and select "bring to front" or "move to back" with PNG files to overlap images
• Add more images or copy and paste the image you just inserted to fill the page, keep in mind to leave room for die cutting image or trimming around it
• Save your Word doc for quick future printing

MS WORD 2007:

• Open a new document
• Click on the tab marked "Insert"
• Select "Picture"
• Browse your computer folders and find the digital image file that you saved to your computer and click on it
• Click "insert"
• Now that the image is in your document, to resize it, simply put your mouse cursor over one of the corners of the image and left click on it and hold the click down as you move (click and drag) to resize the image to desired size
• Or you can right click on the image and select "Size" and find the sizing tab and you can set an actual dimension size in there
• Click OK
• You can right click and select "bring to front" or "move to back" with PNG files to overlap images
• Add more images or copy and paste the image you just inserted to fill the page, keep in mind to leave room for die cutting image or trimming around it
• Save your Word doc for quick future printing

Photo Editing programs:

• You can use your photo editing program and treat them like photos.

Picture It (photo editing program)

• Go to File/print
• Select the printer you would like to print your image to
• Select choose print multiple pictures on special paper
• Select a layout (wallet size, 3x5, whatever size you are wanting.....even an 8x10)
• Choose the option to "scale to fit"
• Drag and drop your picture into the photo option sections that you chose....if you have multiple digital images open you can drag a different one to each spot
• print!

4. Now you need to select your cardstock, paper, or watercolor paper to print your image on. 

• If you are using Copic markers (alcohol based ink pen noted for its blending abilities), you can use the Neenah white cardstock.  Most printers it will feed through the manual feed if not the tray also.
• If you are wanting to watercolor your images you can run watercolor paper through your printer.  We are now carrying lightweight 100% silk watercolor paper at CDS (lightweight for digital printing).....the colors flow beautifully on this paper! 
• HINT: You can change the page setup parameters in your Word document to be 7.5x11 so that I have an accurate view of the full sheet and how it will print.

5. You are ready to print!  A laser printer with toner works best if you watercolor images.  The ink in an inkjet tends to smear with water or other markers. Insert your paper or cardstock and print your sheet(s) of images.

TIP: The more you "handle" your image, from cutting out parts of the image for popping up, that the laser toner wears off slightly. You can QUICKLY heat set the printed sheet with your heat tool, and that generally helps to reduce the smearing while coloring and some of the wearing off from handling.  But keep in mind that it might not work for everyone or in all cases.

6. Color your image as desired.

7. Once your image is colored and ready for adding to your project, it is highly recommended to seal your image so that minor handling will not make the printed image wear or chip off.

Sealing your image will prevent you from making ANY more coloring changes, so make sure you are completely done with coloring.  It is recommended that if you like to enhance your image with white gel pen or glitter accents, do that before you spray seal.

A good sealer to use is a matte finish clear acrylic sealer.  It comes in a spray paint can and can be found at most hobby stores.

HOW TO SPRAY SEAL:

• Do NOT soak or saturate your image!
• You do NOT want the coating to appear shiny.
• Use 3-6 QUICK half second long sprays while holding the can about 6" to 8" away from your image panel.
• Your image panel should appear to have a light mist on it while it is still wet.
• Allow 5-15 minutes to dry completely before finishing your paper craft project.
• Once dry, your image panel should not appear glossy or shiny from the sealer.  If you do, you have sprayed (coated) too much.
• You might benefit from practicing the spraying on scrap papers first before moving to your final colored image.
• You may apply a second coat if you feel you need extra smear proofing protection.

We hope you enjoy your digital image and have fun!

Lori and Laurie

Clearly Inspired Challenge Winner (CIC10) and Top 5

Hey everyone!  I hope you are enjoying your weekend.  Its that time again and its time to pick a lucky winner.  If you played this past week the odds are good that you might be the lucky one.  I'd like to thank each and every one of you for joining us for the sketch challenge.

Our lucky winner of their choice of any stamp set is....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1

Timestamp: 2010-04-03 14:49:54 UTC

Congratulations to  Christi Bryant

Christi, please e-mail me (Katie) at [email protected] with your snail mail address and your stamp choice... no restrictions.

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Now for your Top 5 Inpsirations (in no specific order)  Please feel free to take our badge and post on your blog if you so wish.

Michal - Michal's Log

Linda McClain - Catered Crop

Brandi W. - Splitcoast Gallery

Shelly Schmidt - My Creative Rumblings

Tina Hale - Splitcoast Gallery

Thanks again everyone for joining us this week and have a wonderful Easter weekend.  See you next week!

Coloring Tutorial with Copic Markers

Hi!

True here.

Today I am doing a tutorial with one of Clear Dollar Stamps new April releases. It is "Butterfly Bunny" and it is illustrated by.....ME!!!! Wooo hooo!

I will just start out by giving basic instructions and then you can follow along on the pictures that show what colors to use and what areas to use them in.

You want to make sure that you stamp your image with a brand that works well with alcohol inks. I use Memento's Tuxedo Black and then set it with my heat gun for good measure.  I personally always use the pointed (brush) end of my Copic Markers for more control in smaller areas. I always start with the darkest shade first. This is the shadowed area. My imaginary light source is in the upper left hand corner this time so the darker shading will be on the right side and under overlapping body parts. The lights and darks in the shading give the image a more dimensional look.

The rest of the colors will be used in decreasing color value also. For instance I used 5 colors on the brown part of the bunny's fur,darkest to lightest. You will also want to overlap the previous color so that the lines are blended out. I sometimes use straight lines when blending but usually do tiny circles. It really depends on the size of the area and how much color I want to "pull " out.

OK..enough of the boring stuff. Let's get to coloring!

Remember, you can always click on the picture to enlarge for better detail.

Let's start with the grass. Colors used: G99, G21, Y11.

Tip: I didn't quite have the shades of greens I was looking for so I went over all of the grass with Y11 yellow.If you need to blend in the edges, use your colorless blender.

On to the brown fur. Colors used: E47, E35, E33, E51, and colorless blender.

I left a little white in the center of the bunny's hip and around his eye then used the colorless blender to smooth it all out as shown in the next photo.

Next is the bunny's white fur. Colors used: C5 and colorless blender.

Next is the nose, ears, cheek and flowers. Colors used: E04 and E93.

For the flower centers and parts of the butterfly I used Y08.

The other parts of the wings are done with YG41 and B32.

Tip: Don't worry about shading the tiny little parts.

I absolutly love useing B0000 to go around the edges of my images. It adds just a touch of blue so it looks like the sky and any stray marks get erased. Go back and look closely at the previous pictures...I don't always stay in the lines! LOL!

I always seem to add extras on top of my coloring. I just can't help myself! I added a tiny dot of white acrylic paint to give the nose and eye highlights. I then went over them with Crystal Laquer to make them shine. I also added some Stickles to the grass, flowers and butterfly. A girl's gotta get her sparkle on!  ;)

I decided to do a CAS (Clean And Simple) card for this tutorial so the image coloring would be the focal point.

If you have enjoyed this tutorial, and I so hope you did, please leave a comment below.

Then you can hop on over to my blog and see the other samples I have done with this stamp. While you are there, don't forget to mention that you saw my tutorial on Lori's blog!.

Thanks so much for taking the time  to follow along.

Hugs,

True :D

An Extra Day....

Hey friends, its Katie here just wanting to let you know that you've got an extra day for our Clearly Inspired Challenge.  If its all new to you then click ---> HERE <---- for all the details and if its old hat and you haven't gotten around to creating, then get going!

I'll be posting the winner some time on Saturday so make sure to come on back.