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. Sandy from Tennessee's avatar Sandy from Tennessee

    Your card is AWSOME!! Please enter me in your give away…I believe Christmas is a year-round holiday! We just don’t have the snow and ice as much as some!!!!LOL 🙂

    Like

  2. Toni Murphy's avatar Toni Murphy

    Oh how I love how you layered this one! and the unique landscape…another fantastic creation. I also love the blog candy set, please enter me for a chance to win!! Thanks, Toni

    Like

  3. Mary J.'s avatar Mary J.

    I have been a part of splitcoasters for such a short time, but I have been learning from you the whole time! I love your work and your patience for each step of the process. Thank you, Michelle, for you time (& I know it must take ALOT of time!)
    I would love this Christmas set! Thanks for offering it to us!
    Mary Jarvis

    Like

  4. Linda's avatar Linda

    Please enter me into the drawing to hopefully win the Christmas set.
    I love… love… love….. watching for your tutorials each week!
    It is the high light of my day!
    Linda

    Like

  5. Jinny Boyce's avatar Jinny Boyce

    I love how you used the word window to make the ‘wrap around’ effect! I always enjoy your tutorials – you do such a superb job.

    Please enter me in the drawing for this wonderful new Christmas set!
    Thank you for your continued inspirations!

    Like

  6. Genie Rosenblum's avatar Genie Rosenblum

    Wow–the Christmas punch set is one I don’t have and would love it since I have all the punches that go with it, lol! Hope you pick me. Thanks for all the great tutorials you do, they are so amazing.
    Genie

    Like

  7. Karen's avatar Karen

    Yea! Chirstmas stamps – my favorite!!!! Please enter me for a chance to win!

    PS I love all your cards, it amazes me how many different looks you come up with. Thanks for the step by step directions too!

    karen

    Like

  8. Pam Phillips's avatar Pam Phillips

    As always, absolutely beautiful! Thank you for the inspiration and for your generosity in sharing these techniques.

    Please enter me into the contest for this set – I’m a Christmas fanatic!

    Like

  9. Lagene Sands's avatar Lagene Sands

    Michelle, YES!!! enter me in the drawing for these wonderful Christmas stamps! And thanks once again for another wonderful tutorial!!!!!

    Like

  10. Lagene Sands's avatar Lagene Sands

    Wow, Please enter me in the drawing for the Christmas Stampin Up stamps! And once again, thank you for a most excellent tutorial!!!

    Like

  11. Jacki's avatar Jacki

    Such a great card! I may never be brave enough to try one of your tutorials! Please enter me in the drawing for the Christmas stamps, thanks.

    Like

  12. Dana's avatar Dana

    cool card. I think it’s the best smear direct to paper card I’ve seen! I’ve not been a huge fan of the technique, but I really like this! And, yes, I would love to win the Christmas stamps 🙂 thx for the opp!

    Like

  13. Lori Auge-O'Hara's avatar Lori Auge-O'Hara

    Oh what a great tutorial today. Wonderful card. Thanks for all you do, tutorials take a lot of time to do. Please ewnter my name in the wonderful blog candy drawing, thank you!

    Like

  14. sarita's avatar sarita

    did you make the cracked up card because you’re coming to california for a class?! thank you for the chance to win the christmas stamp set..looks like a fun set.

    Like

  15. Kathy Mc's avatar Kathy Mc

    Perfect stamp set for an early start to making holiday cards and tags. Love this set and if I should be so lucky to win, it would give me just the “punch” I need to get motivated. Please enter me in your wonderful giveaway ~ love your blog!

    Like

  16. Annie's avatar Annie

    Another fantastic Tutorial!! I look forward to them everyday.
    and a chance for blog candy…….gets me thinking it would be good to start Christmas cards early!!

    Like

  17. Kris in Alaska's avatar Kris in Alaska

    What a fun look! You make it look so easy too! I’d love to have a chance at that stamping set too… such fun blog candy!

    Like

  18. Mary Ann Daugherty's avatar Mary Ann Daugherty

    What a lovely card. Thanks for all your inspiration. I will definetly be trying some of that this weekend. I will have a good excuse for getting ink on me. Please enter me for the blog candy. I just love this set and could use it when I make all my goodies to give away at Christmas. Thanks so much for the opportunity to win. Have a wonderful weekend.

    Like

  19. Susan's avatar Susan

    Another great tutorial. I like this technique and will be trying it soon. I would love to be entered in your blog giveaway. Thanks for the chance.

    Like

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