Good Morning and here you go! I am scratching my head and saying….why in the world did I wait so long to blog about this fabulous and fun stamp set, Bella & Friends! It is just one adorable stamp set.
Today is all about the stepped up version from yesterdays card….please click here to see that card and now tell me….as it is up to you ~ so side by side…YOU to decide!
The card and masked off inked area is a single layer and wow, it was super easy to do! The photo will tell the story but in a nut shell, I used a low tack masking tape and here is a tip…
Just to be super sure that it would not stick to the card base as I peeled it off after I did my blending, I took the tape I touched the tape to my hand to make sure that the “sticky” is minimal…and then I taped it to the card base before I applied soft sky ink and blended it in with a blending tool.
You can see in the below picture that I opened my vertical thick whisper white card and then simply laid the tape down to make a rectangle. There are lots of great tapes/products out there to do masking but today I just grabbed a low tack masking tape.
I would like to do a video one day showing you how easy it is and also creating an interest on the center of the card like this is an INSTANT WOW because if makes for a great focal backdrop.
I know that I will be asked what did I use to blend it. I say use what works for you. Many people like sponge daubers but I think that for a bigger area like this it is too hard to use them (They are PERFECT for the highlights on the clouds) you could also use a sponge as that would give you more flexibility, you could use blending brushes but what I like to use as it just seems to work for me is the Ranger Mini Blending Tool.
You can see that I hyperlinked it to Amazon and the reason that I always pick on Amazon is the fact that I know I will find it there but you can get these at any craft store. I do know that some people prefer a simple sponge but for me I feel like I have more control and I have a steadier pressure….just a personal preference!
After I stamped the image and colored it as I did for yesterdays card, I fussy cut it out an then POPPED it up with some dimensionals. So fast and easy yet so effective.
I forgot to add in the products that I used for today at the end of the post that the clouds for this card were from the bundle….Lift me Up Bundle and if you want to see a fun card that I did with this bundle – please click here!
This bundle is one that I would not pass up on at the bundle pricing. Remember, if they go into the Annual Catalog, this bundle pricing will not be offered….so get it now and you would be soooooooo close to a SAB item – add some adhesive and get a FREEBIE!
The best tip I can give you about fussy cutting is simple…..JUST GO FOR IT! It does not have to be perfect as heck – what is perfect…I have no clue and if your cutting needs some help, just take the marker and go around the edges so do not see the white from the paper….works every time!
One last look for you….I just adore and use ALL OF THE TIME the DSP paper Stack. They are always the perfect touch to finding a DSP in a jif that will work well with a project.
Well I can say that I do love both cards and I would smile if I received either one. I do think that it is the great artwork on this stamp set that wins my heart! To me it is kind of like the Merry Mice Stamp Set that we had in the Holiday Catalog….we sure did have fun with those little guys and trust me, they will never leave Randall Lane.
There you go…another 2 day post for you and I already have in my pea brain what I in mind for next weeks 2 day post. I know that you are going to like it and I also know that you will be amazed at how easy it is to pull together.
I will not see you until Tuesday but please feel free to email me if you need something! Remember, if a chicken can have blue hair….and people can go to Walmart in their jammies….than YOU can easily have permission to shop away in your jammies and not have to do your hair!
No judging on my end – hit that PAW PRINT below and get some goodies and play with ink and paper! Bring out that inner child and have FUN…as I know and believe that WE ALL have an inner talent – let it out and shine!
Although both cards have that smile factor, but today’s card wins my vote. I love your coloring of the background and the popped up clouds, etc. Really cute. Always appreciate the details of how you make them.
Your blending is amazing!!! Adorable cards my friend!!!
Love the masking on today’s card! I will definitely have to try that! They are both adorable cards!
This is one cute card!!!! Great technique that I haven’t thought about in a while. Receiving either card would definitely make someone smile!!!!?
Great job. I love cards with the big bold white border and ink blending in the middle. Grabs you into the scene. You hit this one out of the ballpark.
Great coloring technique. It does add a lot to the card. I liked the placement of the bird in yesterday’s card though and the extra dots and dashes you added so it looked as if he was eye level with the puppy. Both cards are very sweet. I guess with a name like Robyn, you notice the birds.
Oh so very cute. Making me re-think this set . . . again?!
🙂
I like the bird looking at the puppy (he needs a name!) in yesterday’s but love the sponging and feeling of floating in today’s. Both are smilemakers. love the two-day versions.
Both cards are Special, Susan, but WOW do I ever Love today’s version! Good for you stepping out of the box and doing something different! Just Beautiful!
I like both cards ! I really do ! They are both adorable ! Really think I would add polka dots to that balloon! GIGGLE !!
Susan K. ….that bird already has a name ,but I don`t remember it . This is Angie Juda`s little dog Bella and this was her stamp set chosen for her MILLLION DOLLAR SALES ! I wish SU would put the personal info on these special stamps for all to know.
So adorable! I like this masking technique and your blending is quite nice as well as your fussy cutting. Way to go Susan!
I will take one of each, please! Hey Sonny you are right and I think the bird’s name is Skittles since Angie mentions that name a lot in conjunction with Bella. I think it would be fun to know the info for the special stamps too especially on people I don’t follow as I have FOMO and could be missing some really great people. Back to the card, both are wonderful. I do like having Skittles at Bella’s eye level made me smile. Wonderful clouds and oh that blending of the sky is terrific. I had to smile as I have one of those blending tools and I have never used it. I have used the little cotton pads to pad embelishments for mailing. I didn’t buy it, my BFF in Iowa was visiting her sister in Colorado and they just happened upon the big scrapbook show thing. She sort of scrapbooks and made some cards. They spent hours there looking at stuff and her sister said she was getting tired so please buy some stuff and lets go. She came upon the Ranger booth and decided I would love to have that and bought it for me as a Christmas present. Henry, our anxiety ridden rescue basset, got a hold of the package and ripped it to shreds so I didn’t have the instructions and then the cotton pads were all over the place. I just put it up on a shelf and forgot about. I think now I need to play with it. Henry was also responsible for mangling lots of card stock as he wanted me to pay attention to him and not be making cards etc. My other smile for the day was when you said you used the method of applying it to your skin to see how sticky the tape was. That reminded me of the one commercial where the guy is at the spa getting a massage, pedicure, facial and then a wax treatment where they pull the tape off his chest removing hair and skin! Wonderful fussy cutting and to think I ruled that out yesterday as too much to cut out! I forget about going back over with the marker. Your blending of the sky is just so pretty – maybe I need a video on how you did that so I can put mine to use. Of course I told Rose it is a great gadget and receives a lot of attention. It is sitting on a shelf I pass 50 times a day! Again, I will take one of each, please!
Love both of your cards ! Saturday’s card is a much faster card to make ! I was just on Understand Blue site and Lydia talks about her friend’s stamp set “Mediterranean Moments” – we are so lucky to have these amazingly creative people share their works ! I’m going to have to stick with Saturday’s card FAB – Fast And Beautiful ! TFS Susan
What fun cards! You are an amazing fussy cutter. That string on the balloon still gets me. Either card would be fun to receive.
Such sweet cards, although I am partial to the dog and bird eye to eye and your little ” motion marks “. I’d probably make a 5×7 card to incorporate all the details from the stepped-up version including the white space AND Bella and buddy at eye level. The design is so stinking’ cute! Either card would put a big grin on the recipient’s face. TFS
I adored yesterday’s card but this stepped up version really brings your critters to life!
Oh Susan, I really LOVE your cards. I have this stamp set and I haven’t used it yet but now I have to get it out and make some cards. Thanks for sharing. BTW, What tape did you use???
I like the large masked off panel and it really works for this card. I have seen others do this same technique but never think of it myself. I must remember to try it!