Cracked Up – Tutorial #326 and Blog Candy

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How about smearing a little ink today.   This tutorial is all about the technique of “Direct to Paper”.   Direct to Paper, aka “DTP” is the art of smearing the ink pad directly onto the card stock.   I use the short end of my ink pad throughout this piece and leave a bit of the Whisper White card stock showing through for sparkle.

Before I get into the tutorial though I want to announce the blog candy that I now have to give away.  This is a special blog candy, a brand new Stampin’ Up! Level 2 Hostess set, Christmas Punch.  Can you get excited about that?  I can!

To enter to win this set, please leave a comment on this post telling me to enter you in the drawing.  If you are getting this blog update via e-mail, please click HERE and then leave your comment at the bottom of the post.  Please no e-mail enties.

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I will select the winner using a random number generator on Tuesday, May 4, 2010.  Until Tuesday I will be on the road teaching my brayer workshops to the fabulous ladies in Riverside, California.

Now let’s get started on that tutorial. . . .  . . . . . .  . . . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! Trendy Trees
Paper: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Perfect Plum and Almost Amethyst
Ink: Stampin’ Up! Perfect Plum, Going Gray, Almost Amethyst, Really Rust and Basic Black
Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Word Window Punch, White Gel Pen, Basic Black Marker, Sponges, paper Snips and Rhinestone Brads

Live in the USA and need a copy of the Summer Mini Catalog?  E-mail your mailing address to mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  )  Are you getting inspiration from this blog?   One way you can help support it is to order your Stampin’ Up products through me.   Click HERE to place an order.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator , receive a 20% discount on product and earn instant income on orders?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team and start your own business.  Click HERE for more information.dsc03707.JPG

Using the sort end of a Almost Amethyst ink pad, smeared the ink on a 4″ square piece of Whisper white card stock, leaving plenty of white showing.

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Added Going Gray ink by using the short end of the ink pad and smearing it.

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Stamped the trunks of the trees using Basic Black ink.

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Stamped the leaves of the tree by loading the leaves stamp first with Going Gray ink and then tapping a bit of Really Rust on the bottom half of the leaves before stamping it.

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Ripped a post it note and masked right at the bottom of the tree trunks.  Took a Basic Black marker and traced the jagged edge of the mask, leaving a tiny unmarked area in order to form the crack in the next step.

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Removed the mask and drew a crooked line down from the Basic Black line opening to the bottom of the card stock to form the crack.

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Sponged a tiny bit of Going Gray in the rock area to tone it down a bit.

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Added white gel pen highlights in the leaves of the trees.

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Added Basic Black marker under the leaves of the tree to give them a bit more definition.

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Decided to put a little more drama in the sky by adding a tiny bit of Perfect Plum ink by smearing it on the right and left sides of the sky area.

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Added White Gel pen highlights to the left side of the tree trunks.

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Cut a 5.25″ square piece of Almost Amethyst Card stock and sponged Perfect Plum ink on the edges.

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Punched a Word Window from Basic Black card stock and cut one end off of the punch.  Assembled my card front and added the punch.

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Added purple rhinestone brads to the punch.

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Here is the finish card measuring 5.5″ square.

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May your weekend be over flowing with Joy!

Until my next post. . . . . . .  ..

Hugs,

Michelle

dsc07090.jpg    Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Riverside, California (Southern California) (only a couple of seats available for Saturday, May 1st)  Click HERE for info.

Salem, Oregon (Sold Out)

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota (Sold Out)

Rockville, Maryland (Sold Out)

North Chili, New York (near Rochester) (Sold Out)

Kenova (Huntington), West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama (Near GA border close to Cedartown)

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

North Liberty, Indiana

Soledad, California

Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Frequently asked questions answers:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/ 

390 thoughts on “Cracked Up – Tutorial #326 and Blog Candy

  1. another chance at blog candy is good, and another tutorial is always needed (but i was wondering, this design isn’t because your expecting an earthquake this weekend, is it?).

    Like

  2. Marita Kovalik's avatar Marita Kovalik

    LOVE LOVE LOVE your cards and blog. ALWAYS inspiring! Also would LOVE to win, so please enter me in your drawing.THANKS for all your inspiration Michelle!
    Marita

    Like

  3. I LOVE your direct-to-paper cards. This card is amazing and lifelike (at least what I’d expect to see in Arizona lol). Thank you for the chance to win that fabulous set. I’ll be crossing my fingers for no earthquakes.

    Like

  4. Rita Paradis's avatar Rita Paradis

    I just love all your cards ! You have such wonderful ideas ! Thank you so much for sharing them with us ! Please enter me in the drawing !
    Rita

    Like

  5. Mary Schmidt's avatar Mary Schmidt

    Please enter me in the drawing. Why the crack in the earth? That is unusual. You never get boring. I wish I could come up with ideas like that. I draw a blank when it comes to designing. I need something to spark an idea.

    Do you know how to make the tulips with the bird punch wings? I have seen in done but don’t know how to do it. I have that punch and it would be nice to be able to use it for another purpose besides the bird’s wing. The twig part of the punch was used for the flower’s stem. I was wondering if there was something about it in the demonstrator’s magazine.

    Like

  6. Maryann's avatar Maryann

    Oh my god, your card is so gorgeous. I really wish, I lived over there sometimes, so I could try and be on one of your classes. I´m sure, it would be so great, but as I live in Denmark, that´ll be pretty unbelieable, but I would sure love to win this awesome stamp set here, that´s for sure.
    Big hugs Maryann

    Like

  7. Melody's avatar Melody

    What more can I ask for? Beautiful card, new technique, and the inspiration to actually try this and see if I can make something so lovely this way!

    Well, one more thing — pick me, pick me!!???!!! Love this set, and it’s never too early to start that holiday card & decor planning!

    Like

  8. Karen Mills's avatar Karen Mills

    Beautiful card, Michelle. I do love the DTP technique. Enjoy your class in California, those ladies a fortunate and I’m sure they will have a wonderful time. Be save. Blessing… oh by the way please enter me in the drawing….

    Like

  9. Freida's avatar Freida

    WOW! My DTP never looks like this! 🙂 this is sooo GORGEOUS! Thank you so much for the fabulous tutorial! Thanks also for a chance to win this fabulous set! You are amazing! 🙂

    hugs

    Like

  10. kathy's avatar kathy

    MORE blog candy??? WOW! Maybe I’ll win some after all; please enter me. Thanks and thanks for your continued tutorials that inspire!

    Like

  11. Angela Fletcher's avatar Angela Fletcher

    Hi Michelle,

    Love your ideas!! Also love SU and make my own Christmas cards every year. This is a great set and would look great on my cards. Please enter me in your drawing. Thank you and happy stamping! Angela

    Like

  12. Margaret Thompson's avatar Margaret Thompson

    What a nice stamp set. Stampin’ Up! always comes out with nice stamps as it is but this one is nice and very usable too.
    Needless to say I’d like to be that winner but I do know for sure that the person who wins it will be happy and will be able to make good use of it.
    As always Michelle, thanks for the opportunity to enter your drawing.

    Like

  13. Carole S.'s avatar Carole S.

    Michelle, this color combo is incredible ~ I love it and your card. When you use tree stamps, whats not to love? LOL!
    Thanks for the opportunity to win the Christmas set. Now is the probably the perfect time to start stamping for the holidays!

    Like

  14. hi michelle,
    hope all is well with you and yours. you must get awfully tired from jetting around the country.
    thank you for the opportunity of winning a great stamp set.

    take care and be careful out there.
    tricia

    Like

  15. Linda LaCrone's avatar Linda LaCrone

    Michelle, please enter me for this fabulous blog candy set. It’s the perfect set for the wintery day we’re having today in Montana: snow, snow, and more snow!

    Thank you…L.

    Linda

    Like

  16. Sharyn Moy's avatar Sharyn Moy

    Hi Michelle

    Please enter me in the draw to win this great stamp set. Love your cards and maybe one day I may be half as good. Sharyn

    Like

  17. cher's avatar cher

    Hi Michelle..I just love this card …and the stamps used. As always they are lovely cards. I just don’t know how you think these up! Please enter me, cuz I really luv the set you are giving away….ty for a chance, Cher

    Like

  18. Joanne's avatar Joanne

    What a cool card – as usual! I appreciate you sharing tutorials – they are wonderful and detailed. Love that you give step by step photos!

    Like

  19. Ann's avatar Ann

    I’ve always wanted this stamp set. Please enter me in the drawing.

    This is a beautiful card & you make dtp look way prettier than I ever could!

    Like

  20. Michelle, thank you for travelling to Boise to teach us your beautiful techniques. I regret that I did not sign up for both of your classes. I was so enthralled with what I learned and took home three beautiful cards Michelle style.

    Yes, I’d like to be included for a chance to win these stamps; it is never too early to think about projects for Christmas.

    Like

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