Product Review - JustRite home stamp making kit

I saw this kit on CraftTV weekly (the scrapbook lounge) demonstrated by Tricia at clubscrap, and I thought "How flippin cool is that!" So, I mentioned this to my DH as a possible Christmas present! Guess what I got?

So, here I am, just dying to jump right in on Christmas day and start making stamps, but I had to wait for my company to leave before diving in. I'm also thinking to myself that there's no way that I'm ever going to be able to make a stamp like Tricia did. My doubting self decided that we would at least give it a try.

After two failed attempts at making a stamp, and using several four letter words that can not be typed here, I'm still thinking that this is never going to work for me....my talent and patience is at it's end! It's because I'm trying to create my own designs and it's not working, or maybe I missed a step in the directions...Have you ever had that happen to you?

Then I had happen to see this template in my paper holder and decided to give that a try. It's bold, it's paisley swirls, it would make a really cool background stamp! This time I read and re-read the directions to make darn sure that I followed everything to a "T"....guess what? It worked! I was so pumped! What's that quote? "You always make a rough draft before creating the final masterpiece.” In my case it was several rough drafts....LOL!

Here is the template and the negative I created to make my stamp:



This is the actual stamp I made!

I have to tell you that I have to give this kit a two thumbs up! Even after all my goof up's, this is still something that works! You wont be a great stamp designer overnight or make the kind of stamps your used to, but this is sure fun to play around with. The kit comes well stocked with lots of pre-printed negatives and a cd with more images to use! What I like is the ability to be creative and this kit gives me the flexibility to make anything I want. Sometimes you need a specific stamp for your scrapbook layout or card and it doesn't exist....this gives you the ability to make your own!


This is the background I created. It's stamped in white craft ink and then embossed. I also did the direct to paper blue jeans technique.

Here is the card that I made with my background stamp.



Supplies:
Main stamp image: TAC swirly gigs, sentiment from TAC live inspired
Inks: Palette starry night, white craft ink
Glaze gel pen

You can view and order the kit here and it also has a link to the Scrapbook Lounge, too.

Card Sketch #43 - Distressed

Here is sketch #43. I did a lot of distressing on this one, actually I was playing around and ended up with this!

I bought some of that new distress crackle paint that Tim Holtz just put out! This stuff is great and so much fun to play with! I painted it on some acetate and the results were, well you can SEE for yourself! It's mounted onto some brown cardstock so that the crackles stand out a bit more. I also used it on the main panel, and stamped over it.


The back ground panel was done using the direct to paper technique with creamy brown chalk ink and distress ink in walnut and tea dye. It ended up looking a lot like bark from a birch tree. I matted both of my distressed panels and then glued them together. For a different look, I decided to layer them together and matted it using a piece of taupe cardstock, then added black behind that. I used my window word punch on the same color cardstock and stamped a phrase on one, and added black brads. All three are up on dimensionals. Lastly, I decided to add a bit of a girlie touch to this very masculine card by adding the ribbon at the bottom.

Supplies:
Distress crackle paint by Ranger in antique linen
Acetate
Distress inks by Ranger in Walnut and Tea Dye
Chalk ink in warm brown
Palette ink in Noir
Stamps: Artfully Asian by SU (colored in with a green gel glaze pen)
Just a note sentiment by Studio G
Black brads
Brown ribbon
All cardstock by DCWV

The Angel Company new catalogue!

The new catty arrived at my house the day before Christmas! What a great Christmas present from TAC! The picture on the right is the new cover.

There are quite a few really cool new paper packs that are a "must" to get!
Here are two of the new packs for you to get a sneak peek at.




I also scanned a few pictures of some of the new stamp sets that are on my wish list! We begin taking orders out of the new catty on January 2nd.

Nugget box with Acetate

I made this 8 nugget box and decided to try putting a cut-out on the top and back it with a transparency. I think it came out very cute and decided it was worth putting on my blog.

Paper is from the Paper Company called Snowflake Stripe. I used my Spellbinders Nestabilities die to cute out the rectangle in the center. I taped a piece of transparency on the back. Make sure to use the red liner double sided tape to get a good hold!

I used Papertrey's Holiday Treats stamp set to make the wrappers for the Hershey's nuggets and for the round sentiment. I used colorbox chalk inks in Wisteria and Azurite that went well with the designer paper. I added two ribbons to match the paper! However, I think I'll take off the purple one and just go with the blue. Keep it simple....hmmm?

Card Sketch #42 and a technique!

Here's twist for you. A card sketch and a technique all in one!

I started off doing my technique challenge #38 over at a shade of blue and liked how my card was turning out and decided to sketch it, too!

The main panel is done using the faux silk technique using tissue paper. I also stamped the flower sprig with versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder for the background panel. Both of these are layered with brown cardstock. The sentiment was stamped on ivory paper and layered with pink to match the flowers. I used Marvy LePlume markers in pale pink, bubble gum pink and leaf green to color in the asian flower. Pink brads were added to finish off the card. Be sure to click on the "A Shade of Blue" challenge blog tag to your right to get the details on how to do the faux silk technique!

Supplies:
Stamps - Stampin' Up! Artfully Asian
Sentiment stamp - Savvy Stamps
White tissue paper
Brown and ivory cardstock
Ivory paper from HOTP
Pink Brads

Samm's take on sketch #41

Hi everyone....take a look at this from Samm on sketch #41! Nice job Samm!

Card Sketch #41 - Holly

I do believe this will be the last card done with a Christmas theme. LOL!



I bought this new stamp set for 50% off at Craft Warehouse and had to use it as soon as I got home. This is the sketch I came up with while playing around.

I used green cardstock from DCWV as the base, the white core kind. I didn't particularly care for the white showing when I scored the fold on the card, so I ended up lightly distressing the outside edges.

I stamped the holly in warm green and deep green chalk ink from colorbox. The shadow stamping was really easy to do since these stamps are the clear kind. The red berries are stamped in Palette Moulin Rouge, as is the sentiment. The back ground designer paper is sepia music by Colorbok, which I bought at Michael's. I thought the music sheet went very well with the sentiment, it just reminded me of the song! (giggle) I matted both of the squares using DCWV red cardstock. The strip down the left is done with the same designer paper and red cs. I added a green grosgrain ribbon and tied it in a flat knot.

As I stood back and looked at this, it seemed to me that it was missing something....So I ended up adding some paper piercing around the corners of the two squares. Ok, I think I'm done! No, wait...I need to add some bling to the berries with my stardust glitter pen! Now I'm done!

Supplies:
Clear Stamps: Holly set by Impression Obsession
Paper: DCWV red and green cardstock
Designer paper: Colorbok Sepia Music
Grosgrain ribbon
Inks: Warm and dark green chalk ink by colorbox, Palette Moulin Rouge

Card Sketch #40 - Red sparkles

Here's another easy sketch design, but with a twist on the fold. I left a 1/2 inch on the right side to add my sentiment.



The main image is something that I saw done on SCS and thought it was just wonderful in its simplicity and style. Therefore I cased the idea of adding the ornaments to the tree and used it in my sketch. The glittery red balls are done using Xmas red stickles. I matted it with red and green cardstock, but chose to distress the green.
The background panel is done using the weave backgrounder stamp. It's stamped in white craft ink and then embossed with clear ep. I then took my warm green chalk ink and added color using the direct to paper technique, wiping off the excess as I went.

The sentiment on the side was done off of my computer since I don't have any vertical Christmas sayings. It was printed in green on white adhesive mulberry paper and then cut to fit. I took my stipple brush and lightly added some warm green chalk ink to match the rest of the card.

Supplies:
Pine tree stamp from Lovely as a tree - Stampin' Up!
Weave background stamp - SonLight Impressions (CHF)
Green and red cardstock from DCWV
Red gingham ribbon
Xmas Red glitter stickles
White craft ink from Joann's
Chalk ink in warm green from colorbox
Clear embossing powder

Card Sketch #39 - Noel

This card measures out to a 5x5 square. I started with a piece of ivory card stock cut to 11x5. I scored it at 3 1/2" on the left side and 2 1/2 on the right. I matted the designer paper with green card stock and centered each on the front panels. I used brads for the handles to hold the gold bow closure in place. Make sure you leave some room with the brads (don't smoosh down all the way) to hold your ribbon or whatever you use for your closure.



I stamped my sentiment on a piece of acetate with versamark and embossed using gold EP. I mounted the actetate on the designer paper with gold brads. I covered all the brad butts up with additional ivory card stock to finish off the look of the card.

Supplies:
Ivory card stock
Green card stock
Designer paper: K&Company (Elizabeth Brownd)
Acteate (transparency from the office supply store)
Sentiment stamp - ???? got it at a stamp show a few years ago, no idea who made it.
Gold brads
Gold cord


Another note of interest - for all of you who haven't been watching the news today (Monday) - mother nature really stomped on us out here in the Northwest. Wind, record breaking rain, flooding.....It's been fun! Thankfully, I have a hobby that let's me unwind at the end of the day! Without it, I would've gone bonkers with what I went through today! Quite frankly, I'm counting my blessings....I could be in the Northeast right now....with all the snow. I think I'd rather be here.