Stamp-a-ma-jig

The Stampin Up Stamp-a-ma-jig is one of the most useful tools I own, but I have not used it a lot in the past. It is so easy to use and makes a much more professional looking card, I think I need to find a spot on my worktable to store it permanently. Here is a short tutorial showing how to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig (SAMJ).
The SAMJ is a black molded plastic guide and a sheet of thick acetate that is smooth on one side and rough on the other.

For the tutorial I am going to stamp one of the Four Frames and then place a sentiment in the center. This is the frame, just stamped on a scrap of Very Vanilla using Lucky Limeade ink. I am going to punch it out with the Decorative Label punch so it does not need to be centered - but I could use the SAMJ to center it if that was needed.

Here is the SAMJ. For this use I don't believe it matters which side of the acetate you place down against the card stock (for other uses like stamping a reverse image, it would matter - but that will be for another tutorial).

Place the guide down on your work area. Slide one corner of the acetate into the right angle of the guide. Make sure it is in the corner and has not slid under the guide.

Stamp the image (in this case the sentiment) by placing the stamp snuggly in the corner of the guide. If you are using the clear mount stamps you must not take the stamp off the acrylic block after performing this step until you have completed the process or your alignment will not be correct. With the clear mount it does work to just 'eyeball' your placement since the blocks are clear and you can see where you are stamping but sometimes I just want that extra little assurance that I get from the SAMJ.

Here you can see the stamped image on the acetate. You can just use the ink you are going to use for your final image but I used Basic Black so it was easier to see.

Lay the acetate on the stamped image and position the image where you want it. Once you are satisfied, hold it firmly against the card stock on the work area.

Keeping your hand on the acetate and holding it firmly, place the SAMJ at the corner of the acetate. Be careful not to move the acetate until the guide is positioned.

Hold the guide and slide the acetate away. You must be very careful to not move the guide or the card stock.

Stamp the image by placind the stamp in the corner of the guide in the same position as the previous stamp on the acetate.

Remove the stamp and the guide and you have a perfectly placed image.

And here it is punched and placed on the front of a card. Items used:

Ink - Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral

DSP - Everyday Enchantment

Card Stock - Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla

Embellishment - Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon

Stamp sets - Four Frames, Bring on the Cake

Bride and Groom Hearts

One of my favorite 'punch art' designs is the bride and groom hearts. I have at least 3 wedding scrapbook pages to do for our church and also a mini scrapbook to make for a co-worker. I made a bunch of these heart couples to embellish them.
So - thought I would do a tutorial for anyone else wanting to make some.


Here is my work area - look at all those hearts. To make your hearts you will need -
Large Heart Punch
Card stock in Whisper White, Basic Black (can also use Basic Gray or Designer paper in Black or Gray)
Embossing folder - I used Elegant Lines
Frost White shimmer paint and sponge
Adhesive of your choice - mini glue dots are a must!
Jewels
1/4 inch taffeta ribbon in Basic Black

I will start with the Groom heart - you will need one black and one white heart.


Take the black heart and cut down about halfway from the top along the center. This is to make the opening for the jacket.


About 1/4 inch over cut at an angle to meet the end of the first cut in the center.
Save the piece you just cut off.


To make both sides fairly close to the same, lay the small piece you cut off on the other half of the heart and cut again. Save both small pieces - you will use them as the lapels on the jacket.


Lay the lapels on the work area, making sure you have them reversed. Apply adhesive to them. I used Tombow liquid glue for this.


I usually let my Tombow glue dry a little bit before putting the pieces together. Once it starts to dry a little it gets very sticky and you can just press it together and don't have to hold it until it sets. Works very well.


Apply the small pieces to the front of the heart along the opening - cute little lapels.


You will use the white heart to make the shirt. If you are wanting a bowtie you can continue but if you prefer a necktie style, skip below and add your tie before gluing the hearts together.


Glue the black jacket onto the white heart. If any white shows around the edges, trim it away carefully.


Tie a small knot in the taffeta ribbon and trim down to make the bowtie.


Use a mini glue dot to attach the ribbon to the shirt top. I usually roll the glue dot up between my fingers to make it narrow enough so it is not seen behind the ribbon.
Add a couple jewels - I used rhinestones - to make some buttons. You could also use the mini silver brads.


NECKTIE - If you prefer a necktie rather than the bowtie, once you have tied the knot in the ribbon take one end and attach it to the back of the white heart just so the knot is above the V.

Here you are looking at the front of the heart.
Pull the ribbon around to the front and attach near the bottom of the heart. You don't want the adhesive showing through the jacket opening. Adhere the jacket to the white heart making sure the necktie knot is in the opening.

Now - on to the Bride (ironically the Bride heart takes much less time and work than the Groom. Not so with the real thing :-)

The bride will take 2 white hearts. Emboss one with the embossing folder and rub on some Frost White shimmer paint. She has to have a little sparkle.

Glue the embossed heart to the plain heart. You probably don't have to use two layers but I feel the embossing weakens the fibers so like to add some support with the second piece.

Add a few jewels for buttons and you have your bride all ready for her groom :-)


Here are three different ones that I made.
The one on the right uses the Snowburst embossing folder. This is for a scrapbook page of a January bride who decorated with snowflakes. I used the strip of pearls to decorate it.
The center one was using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. It is fun to use because there are so many ways to punch it out and have a symmetrical design. It shows how you can use just a couple pearls for buttons.
The one on the right is with the Elegant Lines embossing folder and shows another way to arrange the pearls.

Here is one of the lovely couples I made today. This is for the January bride's scrapbook pages. The groom had a white necktie and white shirt. I used Very Vanilla ribbon (did not have any Whisper White) and the tiniest pearls for the buttons. Cute couple, aren't they?

This is for another couple (actually the sister of the January bride) who got married in May. The groom at this wedding had a black bowtie so I matched that with my ribbon.

Here are a couple other options for the groom. I used Basic Gray card stock on the left and the tiniest rhinestones for the buttons. On the right I used the Basic Black Designer paper with a necktie.

These would also be great embellishments for scrapbooking prom pictures or any formal occasion.

Here is a couple using Real Red cardstock and ribbon. I used the Champagne shimmer paint to add some glitter to the dress.

Aren't these fun? Let me know if you have any other ideas for these cute couples.

Cube Card Fold

This is a cute fold I like to use for children birthday cards - although it could be used for anything.

Card Stock:Pacific Point, Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Pacific Point, Garden Green, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black
Stamp Set: I Dig You
Ribbon: Retired Pacitic Point Striped Grosgrain


You start with the following sized squares of card stock.
8 x 8 inches - Color A (Real Red) 1 square
3 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches - Color B ( ) 2 squares
3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches - Color C ( ) 2 squares
3 x 3 inches - Whisper White 3 squares

You will also need some coordinating ribbon.

Score the 8 inch square (Color A) at 4 inches along both two adjoining sides. The Simply Scored from Stampin Up is great for this - but I have found I do much better staying in the grooves if I stand up - not sure why but it works for me.


The lines intersect in the center making 4 smaller squares. Cut along one of the score lines from the outer edge to the center. Turn the piece of card stock so the cut is on the right hand side as shown in the photo above. Working with the lower right square fold diagonally from center to square tip. Put adhesive on the triangle that borders the score line cut and the outer edge. You only want to add the adhesive to the triangle - not the whole square - or it will not fold.
Fold that up behind the upper right square matching the corners. This will form the cube.

Here is the cube. The diagonally folded square is behind the square in the upper right.

The photo above shows the back side of the cube. You can see the scored line - the adhesive would be behind the triangle on the upper right corner.

Here is the folded card.

This shows the card half-folded. The square that is adhered to the diagonal is pulled forward and toward the card front, folding on the diagonal score line, until it lies flat.

To decorate my card, I used the new I Dig You stamp set. This is a fun set for boys. I used the Many Marvelous Markers to color in the sections of the stamps. Once all the sections have been colored, huff on the stamp before stamping on the card stock. The huffing is just making a short fast breath (or huff) onto the stamp. This moistens the ink if it has started to dry out.


I layered two of the images on Garden Green then Pacific Point. These two will be used on the front of the card and the square that is adhered to the diagonal. I don't layer the image on the bottom inside of the card because it makes the card stock drag over the extra thickness when folding.

Add the ribbon. Cut plenty of ribbon so you can tie a bow at the card opening. Fold the ribbon in half and place the halfway mark at the fold of the card front. Attach the ribbon with some snail adhesive or double sided tape.

Adhere front image over the ribbon.

Adhere the other matted image to the upper inside square - this is the square adhered to the diagonal fold. Adhere unmatted image to the lower inside square.

Here is the card opened up.

To finish - tie the bow along the open edge of the card.

This is another cube card. The club last weekend made these.
Card stock: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Not Quite Navy
Ribbon: Peach Parfait
Stamp Sets: Look Who's Turning, Bring on the Cake


And here it is opened. I did mat the lower inside image on a sheet of Not Quite Navy but it does make the card hard to close. The other card moves much more easily since I did not mat the image on an additional color of card stock.

Hope you try these - they really aren't hard and once you get the hand of the fold it comes easily.
And if you are struggling with it remember - it always goes better with CHOCOLATE!