I don't usually
write to you on Thursdays, but there was such an outpouring of alternate ideas from Tuesday's email that I wanted to share them with you.
This community of stampers is so awesome! I love that you felt compelled to help. Just one of the (MANY) reasons why I love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - everyone in the stamping community is so generous with their time, ideas and kindness.
Thank you for responding back to me, with solutions for our stamping friend and her dilemma of making 200 Christmas cards without Designer Series Paper, and with your other responses/suggestions. Your feedback helps me be a better demonstrator for you.
If you missed the email I sent on Tuesday, you can read it here.
To recap, one of my readers has noticed a trend of using Designer Series Paper on most cards and she felt this was financially not possible for making &
sending her 200 Christmas cards.
Here are some of the replies that were sent to me to share with this card maker:
From Jenny - You can also stamp on blank "back" layers. For example, she can stamp Christmas trees all over the blank back layers and stamp going in all directions. Talk about an original
card, they would all be different! Happy stamping!
From Bonnie - Thanks for sharing the comment/response! I make about 125 Christmas cards each year. What I try to find are stamp sets/bundles that have multiple season use.
From Chris - Another way to keep cost down. Make own pattern paper with stamp set using versa
mark or ink coordinating with paper. I learned that 20 some years ago before DSP became so commonly used for ease.
Easy to randomly stamp 12x12 or 8.5x11 solids and cut to sizes needed
Also the embossing folders can ad the DSP feel when just a solid paper
You’ve also had a technique I think fairly recently with rubbing ink pad over embossed for contrast color (
link to that technique).
From Ellen - 200 cards is a lot! She could use a combination of a DSP panel and an embossing folder embossed panel.
There is also the trick of cutting out the center of a layer that’s covered by another layer.
That cut out piece is large enough to work as an accent layer on another card.
Or die cut a tag out of the bottom layer to be used on card #2. The secret is to take the time to plan both card layouts in advance.
From Dottie - Instead of DSP check out the inside of the envelopes you get in the mail - especially those from financial places
like banks, investments and other. When making cards, we often stack papers with just a slim edge showing anyway. So if I want black, I take a black design and cover the visible edges with black ink. The same goes for blue over blue designs etc. It takes time to cut out from the envelopes but kids can do this or while watching TV. I store these by color and it has cost me nothing.
From Mary - My response to her - does she already have the stamps and ink - make her own background paper - this just takes time...but saves you a lot of money on the dsp.... but she can use the dsp card making ideas.
From Lisa - One thing I like to do is make my own designer, serious paper stamp images on paper now take theChristmas one and just stamp that on
paper.
From Christine (me) - I love using embossing powder for Christmas cards. You can keep the design fairly simple because the elegance of the shiny gold or silver embossing power really makes the card stand out.
Because many of the responses recommended creating your own paper, I will demonstrate making your own background paper AND show you
how to maximize your card stock with this card on my live next Tuesday (8/5). And, the card I'll be making will be a Christmas card so you can copy it now and mass produce to get ready for December.
Be sure to watch my live tonight! I'll be creating my with my friend Ann Lewis, a demonstrator from Australia.
We will both be making 3D projects.
(Warning - many 3D projects use Designer Series Paper 😉). Here's a hint, my project will and it will also involve chocolate!
