Happy Halloween and happy stamping!

Yesterday I shared some ways to get more color onto your stamps.Today I promised a layout that used these techniques. Here it is!

I used two-tone stamping with this stamp from In the Background.

And I used rock 'n roll stamping with this image from Pefect Fit Halloween.

Why not try this technique today? Share a photo of your creation using this technique and earn two extra entries into this month's contest!
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Stamping 102 - Getting More Color

Do you love color? There are some fun ways to get more color onto your stamps! Check it out.

I experimented with this Perfect Fit Halloween set and have three different techniques to show you today.(Know why it is Perfect Fit? Leave a comment. Don't know? Check back tomorrow!)

 

1. Generational Stamping  

First, I played with getting more than one color from an ink pad. This is called generational stamping. I created all three of these images while only inking the stamp once! This simple technique can yield a lighter shade of the same color. To achieve this, ink your stamp well and then stamp the first generation image onto your scrap paper. This takes much of the ink off the stamp, but there is still some left! Stamp again - without reinking - and you get a second generation look.With some colors it is possible to stamp again - still without reinking - and get a third generation look.

2. Two-tone stamping
Another technique allows you to use two colors on a stamp at one time!
**With this technique always use the lighter ink first!
I inked this entire stamp well with Pear ink.

When you are done with the lighter color, without stamping off ink with the darker color. Ink carefully and only over part of the image. I used black on the top portion of the stamp.

After you have inked both colors, stamp the image onto your project and get a two-tone effect!

Here's an example of two-tone stamping on a recent layout. Check back tomorrow to see the whole thing!

3. Rock 'n Roll Stamping
Rock 'n roll is very similar to two-tone stamping. Begin by inking the entire stamp. Again, I used Pear.
**With this technique always use the lighter ink first!

 

Without stamping off, carefully rock 'n roll the stamp around the ink pad so that only the edges of the image pick up ink.

 

After you are done rockin' 'n rollin', stamp the image onto your project.
Images that are circular tend to work very well for this rolling technique. In addition to circles, consider flowers, gears, clocks etc.

Here's an example of rock 'n roll stamping on a recent layout. Check back tomorrow to see the whole thing!

These are a couple of my favorite techniques for getting more color on to my stamps. Do you have a favorite of these? Which one do you want to try? Do you have a favorite that isn't here?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Ohlala - Christmas Eve Dinner with Yuletide Carol

Sometimes the best way to use a stamp is to cut it! On this two page layout I stamped and cut both the title and part of the cluster of embellishments.

All of the stamps are from the Yuletide Carol Workshop on the Go.

The title stamp is a simple tag shape that was easy to cut around.  I loved the shape, but I wanted to use my own title so I did some fancy stamping. Check back later this week for instructions!

The embellishment tickets are from the same stamp set. These ticket shapes coordinate with a shape on our Artbooking Cricut Collection so you could cut the images with the Cricut or by hand.

What tools do you use to cut your stamped images? What would you like to try that you haven't?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Life is Sweet (and so is this stamp!)

Another layout with some stamped accents today.

On this one I used a fancy sentiment stamp for the title. I love this title because it can be used on so may different projects. Talk about economical!

 

I also repeated a small stamp as a border on the top of the blue paper. I love how easy it is to line up My Acrylix stamps. I stamped my journaling lines and included the "real everyday" subtitle. Again, it was easy to line up the subtitle on the lines in the journaling box with the My Acrylix stamps.

I hope you're enjoying National Stamping Month.
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Can you spot the stamping?

Last week I showed lots of projects where stamped images took center stage as titles, sentiments, or embellishments. It is also fun to use stamps to build the foundation of a page. I stamped in three different spots on this layout. Can you spot them?

Did you find all three? 

Did you spot the stamping after the hash tags in the subtitle?

Did you spot the background stamping on the two strips of paper behind the photo and journal block? (dots and arrows)

Did you spot the circle stamps in the top right corner?

I love the way these stamps let me add some texture to the background papers!

When have you used stamps to build the foundation of a project? Do you have a favorite set for this purpose?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Project Inspiration: Transform Your Stamps

Are you interested in stamps? They really are economical and versatile. This video includes a few examples using just one stamp set - Do Your Best. I confess, this wasn't a stamp set that intrigued me initially. Now that I've seen some artwork, I think I'll order it for the mountain sentiment alone!

Which image is most compelling to you?
Have you ever ordered a whole set for just one stamp? Which set?







Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Don't be a Scaredy Cat - Cards Made with Stamps Are Fun!

I love to stamp on my cards. I get a ton of mileage out of a stamp set with the perfect sentiment. I broke out my Scaredy Cat papers and a few different stamp sets to make these cards.

Check out this one:

I used a sentiment from the You Mean the World to Me set. This set is quickly becoming a favorite of mine! With this everyday sentiment, the Halloween papers quickly become so much more!

I did do some more Halloween-like creating as well. What a difference a stamp set can make!

 

For this one I used  the new stamp Quoth the Raven. The second I saw this stamp I knew I had to have it. I chose to emphasize the purple by using Thistle cardstock behind my image.

 

For this card I went with a stamp from the Magic Potion set. I kept it more traditional with Halloween orange and black.

All three of these cards will be available at my card buffet workshop on 10/6. See the classes tab for more information.

What are your favorite cards to send? Do you celebrate each holiday with a card (even Halloween)? Or are cards reserved for more momentous days like birthdays?

Love (and tackles) - Family is Forever SOTM

Yesterday I shared a card that used the Pathfinding paper and a sentiment from Family is Forever, the September SOTM. Today I'm sharing a layout using the same papers and stamp set.

This layout was inspired by the title. One of my favorite things about stamping is using a single word stamp for a title.

I stamped the title in Autumn Terracotta and the embellishments in Barn Red to coordinate with the plants in Pathfinding paper.

I pulled out an old stamp set to create my journaling lines. (My stamped lines are always straighter than my hand drawn lines).

Another fun project with the stamp of the month, but I still haven't used the tree! I think that is a project for this weekend.

What is your favorite image from this stamp of the month?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Family is Forever - Stamp of the Month!

I really like the September Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Family is Forever.

Stamps of the month are a great value, but they are only available for a limited time. (Have you heard the story about the SOTM that I didn't buy at the second or third CTMH gathering I ever attended as a customer?) When I saw this one, I knew I would have to get it!


The sentiment "Family is Forever" is one stamp and it fits perfectly across a standard sized card base. Check out this simple card:

 

 Check back tomorrow to see a layout I made using different stamps from the set. 

What is your favorite stamp of the month in the current Annual Inspirations Idea Book?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Pigment and Dye Inks

What would stamping be without ink? Check out this video and learn about CTMH's dye and pigment inks.


What ink do you use most often? What projects can you imagine using these inks?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Stamping 101 - The Basics of Stamping with Close to My Heart

Close to My Heart stamps are easy to use.
To get started, you need a stamp set

Family is Forever

A block

2 X 3 1/2

An ink pad

Paper

A scrubber and spritz (substitutions can be made)

1. Remove the selected image from the carrier sheet.

2. Place the flat side of the image on the block.

3. Place a cushion - such as the foam insert in the stamp package - under your paper.

4. Ink the stamp using this pattern:
        tap, tap, tap
        twisty, twisty, twisty
        tap, tap, tap

With CTMH's clear stamps, you can easily check your ink coverage!


5. Stamp the image onto your paper.

With CTMH's clear stamps, you can easily place your image precisely where you want it!

6. Clean your stamp.

(If you don't yet have the scrubber, wet wipes without alcohol work well and don't damage your stamps or blocks.)

What is your favorite CTMH stamp? If you don't have one yet, browse around on my business site, I bet you'll find one!
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set! 

Why do I love stamps? I'm so glad you asked!

I'm glad you're here to continue celebrating National Stamping Month with me! Today I'm sharing the top three reasons I love my stamps!

1. You always have the right letters in an alphabet stamp set!
Have you ever started to spell a title or sentiment only to discover that you were missing a crucial letter? This has happened to me more times than I care to admit. My name has two ns and my daughter's has one. Not many companies see the need for that many ns. What about x or z? How ofter do you have those left over? True, my son has an x in his name, but I bought my first Close to My Heart stamp set before he was named! With my stamps, I can always create another letter!

Glamour Uppercase

2. Stamps are flexible and customizable.
I love that when I'm stamping I get to choose the design and the color separately. If I want to create a Christmas page with a pink color scheme, I can stamp a Christmas tree and wreath to match!

Bright Spirits

3. Stamps are a reusable tool!
When I'm stamping I never feel as if I have to save my favorite image for some future project. I can stamp the image today, again tomorrow and even next month. Close to My Heart stamps are easy to care for and they last! I can't even count the number of times I've used this stamp set!

Love Life

Are you a stamper? What do you love about your stamps?
Not a stamper yet? Which of my reasons gets you thinking?
Remember, every comment this month will be entered into a drawing for a free stamp set!

Celebrating National Stamping Month!

I'm celebrating National Stamping Month here at Scraps and Stories! Let me start by sharing how CTMH is celebrating.

When you spend $30 on any current retail-priced stamps during the month of September, you qualify to receive the exclusive C-sized stamp set #30yearsofhappy for FREE! This special offer is part of our celebration of National Stamping Month and in honor of our ongoing celebration of our founder and CEO Jeanette Lynton’s 30-year anniversary in the scrapbooking and stamping industry. The exclusive stamp set features 30 mini images and sentiments perfectly suited for 30 days of happy stamping! Plus, make sure you check out Close To My Heart’s Facebook page and Instagram during September to follow all the ways we’re celebrating #30yearsofhappy for a full 30 days!

In addition, I'm celebrating here on the blog. I'm challenging myself to blog daily during September to share my love for stamping. You'll see some of my favorite stamps, learn tips and tricks for working with stamps, see stamped artwork, you name it! 

But there is more! I want to hear your ideas, too! Each comment on the blog this month will be entered into a drawing to win a free CTMH stamp set from the new Annual Inspirations Idea Book!

Earn your first entry right now! When was the first time you stamped? When was the last time you stamped? Or, what about stamping has you interested?