blending

EBE SUMMER OF STAMPING STAY COOL

Here’s three ideas for using all the fun shapes in Stay Cool! As I was developing the concept for this set, it was fun to imagine what I would want to do with all these shapes—I have a tendency to work backwards and think with the end result in mind, and then figure out what is needed to get to that point.

Nothing’s more chill than plenty of scoops of ice cream on a sugar cone, right?! This particular design played out well on a 4-bar size note card; it’s all one layer, except for the sentiment and I’m super stoked to have coordinating dies for cutting them out. Not that I mind fussy-cutting; it’s just super convenient not wield the scissors for things that are more intricate. Besides, I couldn’t do it that perfectly by hand anyway… Ask me how I know… (chortle)

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I stamped the waves here starting towards the BOTTOM on my top panel and worked my way up using a MISTI so I could slide the paper easily; I eyeballed, rather than actually measuring. Used Mint-to-be, Lime Rickey and All That Jazz inks. The sun was stamped with Limoncello, and then I blended Orange Twist along the lower portion on the stamp and stamped over it; repeated one more time with Tutti Frutti to get that blended sun effect. LOVE. And, as long as I’m working from lightest to darkest inks, I usually don’t have to clean off the stamp when switching colors.

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I’m also stoked that I included some textural stamps in this set—that pin dot background was stamped in a quadrant pattern with Mint-to-be and it makes great visual support for the popsicles without overpowering them! The popsicles were stamped tone on tone, using inks a little darker than the scraps of card stock they were stamped on and the sentiment was “shadow” or “3D” stamped. Sometimes, I like this better than stamping onto white; it doesn’t look so much like a sticker when you camouflage that border edge from the die cutting.

Have you seen all the colors of twine in the shop? I have a drawer full—I love having an assortment of colors available for cards and tags—I even use them in lieu of ribbon when gift wrapping small packages!

Hope you’re keepin’ cool this summer!


If you’d like more info on products that coordinate well with the Stay Cool , please visit the release page HERE.

Disclosure: Yup, those are affiliate links to the products used in my projects and I make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for buying all the things!

BLOOMIN' GOOD DAY

Those Picket Fence Life-changing brushes literally have changed my ink-blending life. I didn’t have paper in these exact colors so I faked it! •chinkle• By that, I just mean that I white embossed the sentiment multiple times (from Everyday Punnies) onto white card stock, trimmed it apart into strips and then used the brushes and Catherine Pooler Inks to blend over the top.

I ALWAYS struggled with the ink blending tool no matter how much I practiced. (insert frowny face) There’s something about the handle on these brushes, tho, that makes a huge difference for me—my grip is naturally, and almost unconsciously, loose and the flexibility of the handle prevents me from applying too much pressure, especially wonderful when I’m trying to achieve a “pale” blend. Super satisfying. •fist pump•

Hope YOU are having a bloomin’ good day and thanks for stopping by!