Stamping on a Budget

I have been looking forward to putting together a class that focused on using just one stamp set.  I know that before I became addicted to stamping, I could get overwhelmed with all of the amazing stamps and supplies out there.  So, this month I started offering a class "Stamping on a Budget".  I am hoping that this can allow my friends, family and customers (who are my friends as well) to find ways to use their stamp sets in more versatile ways - not to buy a stamp set just for one card they have seen somewhere.

I have to say that this was a lot of fun to work on as well as a challenge for me.  I, too, get frustrated when I see a stamp set on my shelf and know that I have only used it once.  This class is going to make me use my stamps more as well - which will make both my husband and me happy.  Nobody likes to spend money on something that just sits on a shelf.

I'm hoping that you can see all the "bits" I've added to my cards.  The scanner does not pick up everything that you can see in person.  I have not figured out the watermark issue, so please note that all images are owned/copyrighted by Stampin' Up!  I love looking at other people's blogs, magazines and technique books/sites.  I try to make up my own style and design, but if I have created something too close to your own - please send me a post - I will be glad to credit you.  I will say that the techniques used are not my own.  I love all of you that teach those of us who are creatively challenged all of these wonderful techniques.  Unfortunately, I cannot remember all of the wonderful artists from whom I have learned.  Thank you, though, for sharing your artistry.  I will always love learning new techniques, but will never be the person who says "hmmm...I wonder what would happen if I put Future floor wax and re-inker on transparency...".  But, I am so glad that some of y'all are out there doing just that.

Okay -- so here are the cards for tonight's class.  Hope you like them.

I haven't used the technique from the first card in a long time.  I used drywall tape for the background after coloring it with a sponge and an ink pad.  I've been wanting to do a cut-out of this flower for ages and this class pushed me into doing so with this second card.  I really like it.  I also love making my own leaves, so I have to say that this is my favorite card.

This 3rd card is really hard to see.  The white card on a scanner just didn't do very well.  It is a cute card in person though.  I just thought I would have some fun with stripes and colors.  The 2 end flowers use glitter, while the center flower is glitzed up with a rhinestone.  The 4th card I kind of stole from a Just Cards magazine.  The designs are way different, but the card cut is what I copied.  Basically, you cut the front at a diagonal while cutting around your image.  I embossed all of it, cut out the lower flowers and backed with Brushed Silver cardstock.

This 5th card was a lot of fun.  I love playing with vellum.  The flower is on vellum and I "watercolored" the color onto the back of the image.  It gives it the look of stained glass.  LOVE IT!  The 6th card is simple.  The technique on the center rose is a faux plaid.  It's kind of hard to see the colors, but I basically chose 2 colors and dragged color from both directions which created the lines that you see.

This is the simplest card of all, but I think it is still cute.

Well, that's all from me today.  I had a lot fun coming up with so many cards just using my one stamp set.  Today was great!!