Texas Two-Steppin’

**I have FREE shipping and FREE tote specials going on now! Scroll down for more details!**

I have a SUPER SIMPLE little watercoloring project to show you today and it includes only TWO steps. Seriously, you can’t color any easier than this!

Materials: Stamp (Because I Care, earn this FREE as a hostess), Watercolor paper, Stampin’ UP! Classic Ink Pads (Old Olive, Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie), Aqua Painter, scissors, Dimensionals, needle and thread, Early Espresso cardstock and ribbon.

*Before starting this project, with your Stampin’ UP! ink pads closed, gently press the top down toward the ink pad inside. This will transfer some ink to the lid – this is what you’ll use for the next steps.

1. Stamp your desired image in solvent ink (such as StazOn). Do not use Stampin’ UP! ink or any other water-based ink for this step as it will run once we start watercoloring.

2. Painting Step 1: Fill your Aqua Painter with water according to the package directions. Place the tip of your Aqua Painter in the lid of your ink pad so it soaks up some ink.  

3. Painting Step 2: Press the Aqua Painter bristles to the watercolor paper to transfer the ink. The color will be strongest right after you pick it up, and will fade as more water and less ink is put down. There’s NO wrong way to do this, so play around with it! 🙂

*When you’re ready to change colors simply wipe your Aqua Painter bristles onto the watercolor paper until it runs clear.

4. Continue putting down ink colors until you’re satisfied with the image.

Tada, totally colored and it took about 15 minutes (which included finding my Pumpkin Pie ink pad in a box in the garage!) TWO steps – YOU can do this! 🙂

I cut out the flower, added it to a hand-cut tag of Early Espresso cardstock, stamped the included sentiment from the stamp set, hand-cut and added a few stitches. Retired So Saffron ribbon finished it off:

Want to see this technique in action?? Host a workshop with me and we will create a similar item with your guests and you can earn this stamp set FREE! Contact me today! 🙂

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A Sneak Peek and Savings

SO many fabulous things are going on right now with Stampin’ UP! and I’m super excited! Some I can share right now and some will have to remain a secret for a bit longer… 😉 Below I’d like to share with you a SNEAK PEEK from our next Mini Catalog and special savings!

Isn’t this set GORGEOUS?! I’m a sucker for flowers and for the hand-drawn look. I can’t wait to use this on all my upcoming layouts and cards. 🙂 Although this is a BRAND NEW set that will be in the next Idea Book and Catalog you can get it NOW! How great is that?! Something to tide you over until this summer!

What’s even better is that you can get this set FOR FREE with any qualifying workshop! And that leads me to my next big announcement: Workshop information is now available on my SU! website! Visit Host a Workshop for all the details and let me know if you’d like to earn Awash with Flowers for FREE!

Now for even more savings:

Order ANY Two-Step Stampin’ set from the current catalog and receive 20% off – no coupons or additional purchases necessary! Here are the available Two-Step Stampin’ sets:

Item	Page	Description	Discount Price
113824	94	Greenhouse Garden	$20.76
113734	98	Fifth Avenue Floral	$19.96
111578	101	Flower Fancy	$29.56
113258	112	Trendy Trees	$14.36

You can view these and all our great Stampin’ UP! products in my online store, just press the button to your right that says “Shop 24/7”.

I don’t know about you, but I’m so ready for Spring! I can’t wait to Two-Step Stamp up a storm and work up some beautiful spring floral cards and layouts! Thanks for visiting, and please give me a shout! ~T~

Layouts and a Haiti Update

Hi friends! I hope you’ve had a great week! I have a couple new layouts to share with you and a Haiti Relief update!

“You Make Me Smile” – 12×12 layout using all Stampin’ UP! products

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack

Beautiful Wings Stampin’ Up! Embosslits Die

Always Stamp Set

White Stampin’ Emboss Powder

The “You Make Me Smile” stamp is retired. I also used a 1.5″ circle punch and corner-rounding punch on this layout.

“Friend” – 12×12 Layout, Stampin’ UP! products only

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Pack

Scallop Border Punch *AVAILABLE FOR FREE DURING SALE-A-BRATION!*

I {Heart} Hearts – Clear Mount Stamp Set

Clear Block D

I also embossed these hearts and used a 1″ and 1.5″ Circle Punch, then popped-up the circles with Dimensionals.

Speaking of I {Heart} Hearts…

At last count Stampin’ UP! customers and demonstrators have sent over $15,000 to the American Red Cross’ Haitian Relief efforts!! WOO HOO!! If you haven’t picked up this set yet be sure to order it before February 28th and $2 of the sale will go to the Red Cross! This goes for both the wood-mounted AND clear-mounted sets! Be sure to see the set here: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ItemList.aspx?categoryID=708

Have a great weekend! Love, T

Clear Mount FAQ

As I wait impatiently for my new Clear Mount stamps to arrive (hopefully tomorrow!) I thought I’d pass on a bit of information about these fabulous stamps:

Q: Why have we decided to offer clear-mount rubber stamps?
A: We have long known of the demand for repositionable clear-mount stamps from both demonstrators and customers. The problem has been how to offer these features without sacrificing the quality of our product. It took us a while, but we did it! With these new repositionable rubber stamps and clear blocks, you get the same superior image quality and durability you are accustomed to, along with the ease-of-use and storability inherent in repositionable stamps.

Q: How is clear-mount stamping different from wood-mount stamping?
A: Clear-mount and wood-mount stamps are both made with the same quality rubber and foam. You will not see any difference in your stamped images with the clear-mount stamps. The clear-mount blocks have grooves on all four sides; the grooves in the block will feel the same in your hand as a wood-mount stamp. Your stamping experience will be the same with either format. The difference lies mainly in their features and benefits. Clear-mount stamps require less storage space, and you can place multiple images on the same block. Also the image on the back of the stamp can aid you in stamp positioning.

Q: Is Stampin’ Up! eventually going to stop carrying wood-mount stamps?
A: We have no plans to discontinue our wood-mount stamps. The benefit of offering stamps in both formats is that your customers will be able to choose the medium that works best for them.

Q: Are the stamps completely clear, so the whole stamp is see-through?
A: No. The blocks are completely clear, but the stamps use our same high-quality rubber and foam. There is, however, an image label for the back of the stamp (between the block and the foam) that will help you position the stamp on the paper.

Q: Are there plans for acrylic (photopolymer) stamps in the future?
A: No. Photopolymer would have been an easy solution for repositionable clear-mount stamps, but it is prone to stretching, tearing, and discoloration, and cannot produce the kind of crisp, finely detailed images Stampin’ Up! stamps are known for. Our commitment to offering the very best products in the crafting market simply would not allow us to offer an inferior product like photopolymer.

Q: Is the clear-mount rubber different from the wood-mount rubber?
A: The rubber on the clear-mount stamps is identical to the rubber used on the wood-mount stamps.

Q: How do you store clear-mount rubber stamps?
A: Clear-mount rubber stamps come in a DVD-sized storage case, and can be housed in any storage system designed to hold DVDs. The artwork on the storage label is shown at 100% on the cover, and thumbnail size on the spine. The
back of the case is clear, allowing you to see the actual stamps from the back of the case.

I was SO thrilled to see that SU! had come out with these! If you’re low on storage space or low on funds (clear mount stamps are cheaper! ;)) check these out!

Have a great afternoon,

TM