Monday, November 11, 2013

A Stamp Set special for Veterans Day

 
 
There is a wonderful stamp company called CC Designs Rubber Stamps who has recently released a new stamp set that is perfect for using on Operation Write Home cards.  A bunch of Thinking of You stamps and also a bunch of Miss You stamps.  In all shapes and sizes. 
 
 
 
They can be found HERE.  They are having a special on Veterans Day, November 11th. Go check them out today. And thank a veteran or 2.  :)
 
Here are some cards samples:
 





Sunday, November 3, 2013

Cards with a Scratch off message - Tutorial


Scratch offs are fun, aren't they?  Waiting to see what the secret message is.  They are even more fun when it is a lottery ticket and it says you won!  LOL!!

I learned this technique from You Tube, and here is my take on it.

Supplies you will need:
>  grey acrylic paint (or whatever color you want, red hearts would be fun for Valentine's Day)

>  dish soap (doesn't matter what brand)

>  clear plastic sheet of some kind (many use the Window Sheets that Stampin Up sell, I use either the plastic from my Cricut or a transparency sheet)

>  adhesive to glue the plastic to the secret message/image (Stampin Up used to sell an adhesive sheet by Sizzix that they used on the Window Sheet. I use my Zig 2-way glue pen)

>  foam brush

>  stamp with an open area to use as the place for the secret message, or you can use a circle or oval like I did on the above card.

>   StazOn ink for stamping the secret message and for stamping on the scratch off surface (I might have used regular dye ink for the above card, but I don't remember, sorry)

>   Heat tool

>   container to seal the paint mixature for future use













Step by Step instructions:

Mix 2 parts paint to 1 part soap.  Basically 2 teaspoons of paint, and 1 teaspoon of soap.  Mix well.




















Use a foam brush to spread an even coat of paint on the plastic. Don't spread too thick or too thin.  Use a heat tool to dry completely, but be careful to not over heat the plastic.











Repeat process to apply a total of 2 coats.  3 coats are okay, as long as the paint is not too thick or it won't scratch off.



Now if you are using a stamp to display the hidden message, you will want to stamp only the part of the stamp that you will be using as the scratch off.  In my case, the balloon in the front of the bunch is the one that will have the hidden message.  You will stamp with the StazOn ink, allow to dry then cut out the scratch off section you want on the card.  

If you are going to use a circle or oval like the card above, you can now punch out that shape.














Stamp your hidden message with StazOn ink on the piece to be covered by the scratch off.  Once the ink is dry, apply a generous coat of glue using the Zig 2-way glue pen to that piece, making sure you apply glue all the way to the edges. Attach the plastic scratch off piece and let dry.

Hint, if you are using a circle or oval (like on the above card), attach the sentiment stamped shape to the card first, then attach the scratch off piece.  (Ask me how I know :{  )












There you go, the card is done. If the paint is not too thick, you can scratch it off with your fingernail, or a popsicle stick.  (I only have fingernails, no popsicle stick.)

 
 
A couple tips:
~  You won't want to pop up the scratch off image, or you won't be able to scratch off the paint.
 
~  I did color the balloons with Copics, and used Memento ink for the main image stamp.
 
~  This process does not work with digital images unless the painted part does not need to be stamped.
 
~  Contact paper does not work for this process, it is too thin and it rips.