Welcome to the Australasian May Stamp of the Month You’ve got a Friend Blog Hop.
If you have arrived here from Monika – A Sprinkle of Glitter you are in the right place. If you landed here by accident, no problem, please join in by following the link at the end of this post.
Today I would like to share with you a collection of Love Notes which features the May Stamp of the Month S1405 You’ve got a friend, available exclusively throughout May for $24 or for just $5 when you spend $75.
I see this stamp set as the opportunity giving you some new stamping techniques so let’s get started!
Background stamping is a technique where we first stamp the flat back of the stamp in a colour before stamping the detail. pop your stamp on your block upside down. It will look like this. Being new, you will need to season this side – give it a good rub on your arm. Note this technique works best with asymetrical designs, but a little leafy green on the wrong die adds a quirkiness to this finished tag.
Ink it up in one or more colours. On this item I have used Pear and Cranberry pigment inks. These are going on Sweet Leaf Cardstock. I have cut the apple shape from the Artboking Cartridge on page 69 at 2.75 inches. This shape is just right for an apple shaped tag.
Now flip the stamp the right way up and stamp the sentiment.
Add a hole with a hole punch and if you like trim a little of the extra green shape away. There is a cute little tag to stick in a lunch box or put with a gift.
Just to practice the technique let’s do it again! 
To use a precut tag, cut tags with Art Philosphy Tag page 40 at 3 inches. I have used Crystal blue cardstock for this tag. Finish the edge with one of the ink colours you have used in the stamping. I have used Outdoor denim, Whisper, and black for this sample. Punch a hole and thread with bakers twine or ribbon from your stash. You can also do this design directly on card stock and fussy cut the shape with your awesome Microtip scissors.
Masking
Masking with paper. This is a great opportunity to use up some scraps. Stamp the image on scrap paper. Cut out the word you wish to stamp in a different colour. Keep both pieces! So I cut the mustache away but also kept the thank you section intact,
I background stamped this the same as the first two samples but this time used the same colour as the card stock – whisper for a more subtle look. The shape is from p 46 in Art Philosophy. Using Cricut Craftroom I unlocked the aspect ratio and made the shape 3.5 x3 inches for the sentiment. Fist put the mustache scrap in place and stamp the sentiment in your first colour – in this case Slate,
Then swap out the scrap pieces – and stamp the mustache section in a second colour. I chose black. Be sure to line up the mask nicely so you maintain the whole.
Our clear cling stamps allow us to line things up easily. Stand up and look directly down through your stamp block to place exactly where you want it.
Finish with edges distressing and some bakers twine. Add a stud too!
Layering
Here is the same stamp this time instead of masking I am layering. I stamped the image on the card,in cocoa and on some scrap in black. I fussy cut the mustache and then added this to the card with foam tape. There is no background stamp on this sample.
I have also used layering for ‘You’re the best’. The base is a card from Art Philosophy p 48 cut at 5.25 wide x 3.5 high. (Cricut craft room allows you to unclock the aspect ratio! )
Stamp the image in pigment ink on the UV coated card (this is from the Free to be me collection). Stamp again on the lagoon, and on the back of the UV coated red to get 2 more layers. The thick black lines make fussy cutting a breeze if each layer is stamped in the same colour – black. Use foam tape to mount these pieces on.
Masking with Washi Tape
Finally let’s do masking with washi tape! Any washi tape will do. Mask out the bit you do not wish to ink, Ink up the stamp, REMOVE THE WASHI. (Yes I have forgotten to do this sometimes!) Stamp the image, Repeat the process covering what is already stamped and ink up in your second colour, Remove the washi – look through the block carefully for placement and stamp you second word.
You end up with this colourful result.
Finish with Flamingo dots and a bow and you have a cute card. I cut this card from Art philosophy p 52 at 2.5 inches. It is only just big enough. I would recommend trying 2.75 inches just so the design is not right at the edges. I have used Pear and Smoothie as colours for this sample.
Once I had all my love notes done I went through and added sparkle, triangle studs and even washi tape to put a little bling into the finished pieces.
I was experimenting when making these. I am more pleased with some than others and that is largely through colour and shape choices. Don’t be afraid to play because the sentiments on this months stamp of the month are very suitable for lunchbox love notes and your family is sure to appreciate you popping one in as a surprise ‘Just ‘cos’ one day!
Remember Stamp of the Month is available for $24 in May ONLY, or you can purchase it for $5 with every $75 from your consultants online store – Jen’s Creative Classroom at Close To My Heart. (AU only) I love to have comments and feedback so please leave a comment before moving on! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed this little venture into stamping techniques and you can produce some cute little love notes for your family. Your next place on the hop is Patricia Manhire She is sure to have come up with something special for you!
Supplies used in the love notes: Available from Jen’s Creative Classroom.
Arbooking Cricut collection Z1906
Art Philosophy Cricut Collection Z1686
Natural Metallic Bakers Twine z1921
Micro Tip Scissors z1836
Durables Triangle Studs z1928
3d Foam Tape z1151
Washi Tape
Flamingo Dots z1934
Exclusive Inks – Pigment inks – Cranberry, Pear, Outdoor Denim, Whisper, Black, Cocoa, Pear, Smoothie, Slate,
Cardstock – Sweet leaf x5639; Crystal Blue 1292; White, Whisper
Free to Be Me Paper Collection – National Scrapbook Month Offer
The Creative Heart 