Stamping Sunday Blog Hop – Amazing Life

Thank you for stopping by today, and welcome to the Sunday Stampers Blog Hop! I’m excited to have been asked to join this blog hop each month on the second Sunday. It includes a talented group of demonstrators that focus on a particular Stampin’ Up! product each month. For example, this month we’re focusing on the Amazing Life stamp set.

Each participant has the choice of designing either 1) three variations of the same card geared towards Beginner, Casual, and Avid stampers, or 2) a card and a 3-D project. I love this, because it’s such a great way to show the versatility of the featured Stampin’ Up! product.

You’ll find links to all the blog hop participants below, so be sure to follow along for lots of great inspiration!

I decided to create three different versions of the same card. The first card is geared towards beginner stampers. Beginner stampers have limited supplies, so I kept it simple … purely ink and paper! (OK, and I slipped in a sponge.)

I stamped the four images with Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Whisper White cardstock. This is easy to do with photopolymer stamps, as you can see through them for perfect placement. Then, I used the first technique I ever learned as a stamper. I sponged Calypso Coral ink on the bottom of the layer and graduated to Petal Pink ink in the center to create an ombre look.

Next, I added a layer of Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper, and stamped the border with Petal Pink ink. (You could get a similar effect by stamping with Versamark ink, which is a great purchase for Beginner stampers! With that ink pad, you can stamp watermarks on any color of cardstock.)

Casual stampers are more invested and have access to a few more products. Therefore, to step up my next card, I added some ribbon, a punch, and embellishments.

I stamped the sentiment on Calypso Coral Cardstock and punched it out with a Classic Label Punch. This adds a little more dimension. I also made the cake stand out more by stamping it on Whisper White Cardstock, coloring it with Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, and Mint Macaron Stampin’ Write Markers, and then cutting it out with scissors. Finally, I added some pretty Petal Pink Frosted Flower Embellishments.

Avid stampers are the ones who want it all! (I definitely fall into this category!!! Haha!) So, to step this card up even further, I added die cuts and a couple coloring techniques, including watercoloring and Stampin’ Blends Markers.

I substituted Shimmery White Cardstock for the background layer, and this time I cut it out with a Rectangle Stitched Framelit Die and used an Aqua Painter to watercolor an ombre wash using Calypso Coral to Petal Pink ink. To accomplish this, I squeezed my stamp pads to pool ink in the lids. Then, I added a little water to the ink and used it to paint.

For the cake and flowers, I stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink on Whisper White Cardstock and then used Stampin’ Blends Markers to color, including Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, Daffodil Delight, and Mint Macaron. I like to start with the dark marker and then add the light marker to blend. You can also mix colors, as I did on the flowers.

Finally, I added a white embossed sentiment stamped on Basic Black Cardstock and cut out with a Rectangle Stitched Framelits die, as well as some Basic Pearl Jewels.

I hope I’ve inspired you with my projects, whether you are a beginner, casual, or avid stamper. Have a great day and be sure to continue on through the blog hop!

Stamping Sunday Blog Hop participants:

Supplies used on my cards: