Heartfelt Inkspiration

Although Christmas is in the air in the studio, I need to tidy up some loose ends here before they get away from me. So, one last camp card — this one from August:

I have Chris Smith to thank for this beautiful idea, another card I immediately fell in love with! The effect on the gray panel she calls “carved stone,” and it’s a technique we’ve been doing for years (but without that intriguing name). The process is really simple — just a little messy: apply white craft ink to the reverse side of the front of an embossing panel and, after carefully lining up the panel, pressure emboss it.

I prefer to apply the craft ink with a hard-rubber brayer, which Stampin’ Up! sold a number of years ago. You can find these in the art (not craft) section of a hobby store. Unlike a sponge brayer, the hardness of the rubber brayer ensures that the ink will generally hit only the high areas of the folder — the parts that will create the embossed areas of the cardstock. It might be a challenge to understand how this works, so I encourage you to try it yourself!

Another note: I can’t put away the Tailor Made Tags die set, so that’s what I used for the sentiment. However, there’s no way I would ask my stampers to tie a knot and bow through that hole and expect the ribbon to lay just so! (I’m very sensitive to people scowling or yelling at me.) It’s an illusion, with the knot of the bow in the approximate location of the hole, and a Glue Dot to make sure it stays there!

I’ve had Hand-Penned Petals since April, and even though I went through the how-many-floral-sets-do-I-really-need routine, I reach for it again and again — no regrets!

Click the images below to add products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Hand Penned Petals Photopolymer Stamp Set [155070] $22.00

Hand Penned Petals Bundle (English) [155492] $46.75

Whisper White Craft Stampin’ Pad [101731] $8.00

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $7.50

Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [155518] $9.00

Polished Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [155520] $9.00

Old Olive Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154892] $9.00

Mossy Meadow Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154890] $9.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $8.25

Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044] $8.75

Polished Pink 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [155710] $8.75

Beautifully Penned 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [156630] $0.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276] $9.75

Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder [151474] $10.00

Whisper White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon [151326] $7.50

Tailor Made Tags Dies [155563] $22.00

Penned Flowers Dies [155557] $30.00