Colored Reverse Grid technique

Yes...this technique is really simple! It reminds me of bathroom tiles! Or, maybe even kitchen backsplash type tiles! The raised part of the lines is on the back of your cardstock so the squares are raised like tiles with the "lines" being the grout! The only tools you need are either a Scor-It or your paper trimmer with a scoring blade! Other than that all you need is your cardstock, some ink and your stamps! Can't get much easier than that! According to the tutorial you can make your "tiles" 1 inch, 3/4 inch or 1/2 inch. You decide how big you want your tiles to be! Just line up your cardstock and start making your score lines at the intervals you decide to use. I used 1 inch. Then, turn your cardstock to make your score lines along the other side. Then, with your raised lines from scoring on the back side of your paper use a stamp pad to apply ink directly to your cardstock. Don't press down too hard. That's what will make your "grout lines" stand out more. Then, start stamping. Again though, don't press down too hard so that your stamped image doesn't show on your "grout lines". Then, it's just a matter of finishing your card or project! Here are the items I used to make my card.

Stamp sets: Priceless, Oval All

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Night of Navy

Other: Scor-Pal (or other scoring tool), Night of Navy 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

All products made by/sold by Stampin' Up! (except Scor-Pal)

Bleached Coloring technique

Yes, again, SIMPLE! Basically, stamp your image with VersaMark or pigment ink, heat emboss, "paint" inside of image with bleach, use heat tool to dry cardstock, color in image with markers! See? Simple! Here is a list of the products I used to make this card.

Stamp sets: Crazy for Cupcakes, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Basic Gray

Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black

Other: bleach, Q-Tip, black embossing powder, heat tool, Whisper White Satin ribbon, beads (these are Stampin' Up! but they are not available anymore), Stampin' Write markers, Stampin' Dimensionals, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch

All products (except bleach, Q-Tip) made by/sold by Stampin' Up!

Polished Stone technique

I'm not sure where I got this technique. I've had the tutorial for quite a while. But, yes, as usual, it is really simple and easy! You need reinkers and a metallic reinker, glossy cardstock, rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls! That's it! All you do is put a few drops of the metallic reinker on your cardstock. Then, soak your cotton ball in alcohol and then add a couple of drops of your other reinkers onto the cotton ball. Then, just start dabbing on your cardstock. You will end up picking up the metallic reinker onto your cotton ball of course. Allow the cardstock to dry and then spray on some acrylic sealer. You can then use StazOn ink to stamp on the cardstock or use it as a background as I did for this card. Here is a list of the products I used to make this card.

Stamp set: Butterfly Prints

Cardstock: Glossy White, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Soft Suede

Ink: Marina Mist, Marina Mist reinker, Daffodil Delight reinker, Encore Gold metallic reinker

Other: rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, acrylic sealer, 1 1/4" Circle punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Flower Folds die, Two Tags die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit

All products (except cotton balls, alcohol, acrylic sealer) made by/sold by Stampin' Up!

Texture Plate Smoosh Technique

Yes...another really simply technique with really cool results! Basically, you pick out a texture plate, use your ink pads to apply ink directly to the texture plate, spray the texture plate with water, lay your piece of cardstock on the texture plate and run it through your Big Shot, let dry and use on your project! The hardest part is waiting for your cardstock to dry! (have you noticed that I'm not a very patient person? LOL) Here is a list of the items I used to make this card.

Stamp set: Cheep Talk

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight

Other: spray bottle filled with water, Brights Glimmer brads, Rich Razzleberry 3/8" Taffeta ribbon, Small Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Daisies Texturz plate, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Ticket Corner punch, Big Shot

All products made by/sold by Stampin' Up!

Embossed Vellum

OK....first things first! Some of you who are "ALL" Stampin' Up! might get a little peeved at me over this one! So, NO, the stamp of the dasies in the vase is NOT Stampin' Up! But, any time I see a stamp (or anything really) with daisies or daisy looking flowers on it I MUST have it! Daisies are my all time favorite flower! Anyone who really knows me knows that if they want to give me flowers for some unknown reason they should NOT buy roses...buy daisies if you want me to be happy! Anyway, when I started to do this technique this particular stamp just called out to me so I answered the call!

This technique is really simple. You just stamp your image (and, of course, you want an "open" image so you can color it) using white pigment ink. Then, apply white or clear embossing powder and heat. Flip your image over and use a stylus and mousepad to trace over the embossed lines to give it a dry embossed look on the front. Then color in the image. The embossing is the "front" and the coloring is the "back". Allow the coloring to dry and then flip it back over and attach to your project! EASY! Here is a list of the products I used to make this card.

Stamp set: Just Believe, other stamp that is NOT Stampin' Up!

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Crushed Concord

Ink: Whisper White Craft, Concord Crush

Other: eyelets, vellum, stylus, mousepad, heat tool, white embossing powder, Stampin' Write markers in Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz

All products (except daisy stamp and mousepad) made by/sold by Stampin' Up!