Have you seen how to use a hinged stamp positioner? In fact, have you ever tried a stamp positioner? They’re ideal for lining up your stamps and getting wonderful placement time after time.
There are several available and you may even have one. Even the Stamp-a-ma-jig is a simple positioner. (Have you got one of those hiding in the depths of your stamping tool drawer?)
But just like everything else, stamp positioners have gone high tech! Better features, more neat techniques. Plus the super cool Stamparatus allows you to do this now too!
See those cute coloured lines in the background? This is what the Stamparatus, Stampin’ Up!’s positioner has over every other positioner out there! Hinge step stamping that’s SO easy, you can do it with your eyes closed! (Well, maybe not completely closed 🤪!
The Amazing Life stamp set works a dream for this. It’s my Product of the Week!
I’m having fun playing with it and I’ll be featuring it on Wednesday on my Facebook Live (4:30 MST on myDesignwithJo Page.) Hope you set a reminder to join in the fun too!
How to Use a Hinged Stamp Positioner
Creating these repeating lines is a simple process with your Stamparatus. I show you exactly how hinge step stamping works in this YouTube video.
Jo’s Steps for this Happy Happy Birthday Card Background
position your first image at the top of your page and pick up with your Stamparatus plate
hinge step one colour (Pacific Point) all the way down your page as shown in the video
clean and remove stamp and insert plate back in top hinge
position stamp about 1/8″ below the first image and ink with second colour (Bermuda Bay)
hinge step one colour all the way down your page
repeat 3-5 for last colour (Granny Apple Green)
The Stamparatus is one cool tool, don’t you agree? If you have one and want some more tips for how to use it, you’re going to want to check out my YouTube playlist.
And if you haven’t gotten yours yet, check out why I think they’re a stamping tool MUST HAVE. Then click on the little image below to get yours on that little UPS truck delivered straight to your door.
This may come as a surprise (not!) seeing I’m trained as an accountant, but I like things to line up nice and neat. So it’s no wonder the Stamparatus quickly became my favouritist rubber stamping tool.
Grab yours and get started making fun backgrounds like this one. Take a peek at your stash of stamps to see what stamps you have that will work especially well. Here are a few of my go to’s:
lines and dots
words and sentences
smaller images both solid and open
letters
Which ones will YOU use now you know how to use a hinged stamp positioner?
Today I have beautiful Valentines cards for guys or gals in some unexpected colours. Crumb cake? Soft Seafoam? What about Balmy Blue? Probably not the FIRST colours you reach for when you start dreaming up your Valentines ideas right?
But take a peek and see what you think!
Colours?
How did I come up with these colours you ask? From the All My Love DSP. And while I could have used that lovely DSP for my background, the Subtles DSP stack with lots of white was calling my name. Who knew they would work really well for anyone on your special list this Valentines. But especially for guys.
That sweet set of hearts? It’s THE “I gotta have it” die in the Be Mine Stitched framelits. Well OK maybe there might have been more than just one…😉
When you have a die this gorgeous, the rest of the card can be super simple and you still have a stunning design. Here are all of the dies in the Be Mine framelits so you can see them a bit more up close and personal.
Let’s Make Some Beautiful Valentines Cards for Guys and Gals
There’s lots – 16! – to choose from. Stitched dies in two fun heart shapes (narrow and full), scalloped shapes, hearts with intricate designs, a pretty rose and a filigree-ish detail.
Plus a super saw-weet stitched scallop edgelit. Did you notice it on my card?
The edgelit takes off about 1/4″ of the card front edge so the stripes in the designer series paper show its pretty face. Then all you need is a tiny linen thread bow on top to complete this beautiful Valentine card for a guy or gal!
See a few more of my TIPS below to make this fun inset card.
Design with Jo Tips for Beautiful Valentines Cards for Guys or Gals
Stamp your greeting on the front of the card first so you can get great placement with the hearts
Cut one of the hearts shapes directly from the cardfront (and save it for another use)
Choose a contrasting cardstock colour for your second heart shape so it shows up well
Save all the little hearts that fall out of the middle of the two die shapes for other projects (except for one little guy in the inside – see my pic below)
glue your DSP and Whisper White panel to the inside of your card first
use your silicone craft sheet, a sponge and liquid glue to adhere your die to the front of your card
Look how pretty the inside is with the reverse side of the patterned paper. And use a small scrap of the same DSP to complete the bottom flap. So sweet!
Make It At Home
Now it’s your turn to get busy with your Be Mine framelits. Here’s everything you need to get started creating right now!
This was our card design at my last Koffee and a Kard class. We all used different DSP and colours although one colour remained our staple…Crumb Cake.
A little stamping, Big Shot therapy, chatter and a few giggles. I’m not sure there’s a better way to spend a morning!
Leave me a comment. Which one of these is your favourite?
Pat’s baby dots on a Crumb Cake base?
My big dots with a Balmy Blue card?
Deborah’s large dots with the subtlety of Seafoam?
Leslie’s big dots peeking through Soft Seafoam hearts?
Do you want more ideas to help when it comes to making guy cards? Check out this post where I give you some hints.
Thanks so much for dropping by today. I hope you picked up an idea or two to keep your crafting fresh. Have fun making your own beautiful Valentines cards for guys or gals – and I’ll see you next time!
I LOVE these easy to make Valentines treat boxes for lots of reasons!
they really ARE super easy
you can make them in a flash!
they showcase the brand new Meant to Be cling bundle
they’re ultra ultra sweet
and…what a perfect size for a little treat!
The All My Love designer series paper is the star of all these little treats. Lovely Lipstick and Whisper White. Maybe not quite as bold as Real Red but perfect for this time of year with hearts and flowers.
Of all the paper, there’s only a couple that I think scream Valentines! The one with the larger bold hearts like the “You make me happy” treat box is the one that jumps out at me right away. Do you think there are others?
I’m pretty sure all the rest can be used for almost ANY occasion. Like on this pretty friend card I shared a few weeks ago. Take a peek at all of them here. Which one is your favourite?
OK, how about we get to the video so you can see how easy these are to make? I’ve got two different designs for you in my Facebook Live Replay.
Easy to Make Valentines Treat Boxes
Cuttin’ It Up!
Cardstock or designer series paper – 4 1/2″ x 6″
scored on the short side at 3/4″ and 3″
turned 90 degrees and scored on the long side at 2″, 2 3/4″, 4 3/4″ and 5 1/2″
Whisper White and Lovely Lipstick cardstock – scraps
Lovely Lipstick 1/8″ grosgrain ribbon or Polka Dot Tulle Whisper White – about 6-7″
Pin this template so it’s easy to remember your measurements and what you cut away.
It’s Up to You!
Now it’s your turn to make up a few of these. For Valentine’s or ANY time! Here’s everything I used. You can order these right now by clicking on any of the images below. Thanks so much for shopping with me.
Which of these little darlings is your number one pick?
The Whisper White with a few kicks of DSP and two small scalloped hearts?
The sparkly layered hearts with the greeting? And some more of that cute Lovely Lipstick ribbon with the coloured heart epoxy droplet?
Or this heart-shaped top made with the scalloped heart framelit and some DSP. With a few bits of rhinestone bling and tied with the pretty polka dot Whisper White tulle ribbon, it just might be the one to catch your eye.
I know. It’s super hard to choose isn’t it? They’re all so sweet!
I hope you enjoyed this quick and cute project. If you did. be sure to join my Facebook Group Design with Jo VIPeeps! Every week I post a Facebook Live, plus I have exclusive popup videos for you to catch too.
We’ve got a super community of papercrafters having fun and every week I share a deal and tip to make your crafting easier. You might even see some different colours of these easy to make Valentines treat boxes show up on there in the next while!
I pulled out my Journaling pens and the Celebrate You thinlits to wish you best wishes for 2019 – Zentangle style. I love the size of the celebrate. It really takes centre stage.
Have you used word dies as the focal point on YOUR cards? Being a calligrapher, I absolutely love words and letters, markers and writing. So it makes sense my Product of the Week is…
Over on my Facebook Group this week, I’ll be sharing a cool deal, my Live and tips and tricks for using word dies in your crafting. Why not join in to have some fun along with us?
Using Word Dies in Your Cardmaking
With word framelits, lots of the creating is done for you already. You just need to add a little more decoration. But only if you like. This other congrats card is so vibrant all on its own, I didn’t think it really needed decoration.
And when you use words as your focal point, the rest is just gravy. Yummy, luscious gravy. Like:
the Swirls & Curls embossing folder on thick Whisper White
a bold Basic Black frame – and card
or the sparkly gold glimmer Starburst punch framed with a stitched circle shape
the swirly metallic gold thread popping up like fireworks
how about the metallic sequins dotted around for added glitz?
Here’s everything you need to make this fun card to celebrate a Happy New Year 2019 too! Or what about a great birthday card for a fab friend? Or a congrats for your kid brother who just graduated?
My mom always says, you want to make sure to start the year off right. Don’t do anything on New Year’s Day that you don’t want to be doing all year!
So that means, shelve the laundry and dishes and the snow removal. And amp up the paper crafting! Make your own Happy New Year 2019 TO ME card to get your 2019 started off on the right foot!
This suite is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful fonts for the stamps, to-die-for papers, pretty ribbons, stunning colour combinations. Not too much more a gal could ask for in a pretty springtime set of goodies!
Let’s take a closer peek at a couple of the items. The Forever Lovely photopolymer stamp set…
Once again the mix of brush lettering and type fonts win my vote for fabulous greetings. So that’s why this card features only one stamp!
2019 Occasions Catalogue SNEAK PEEK: All My Love Suite
A portion of the set is two step stamping for the larger floral image which gives variations in the colour intensity. You’ll see that in a future blog post😉!
You can see the sweet mix of colours on the All My Love Designer Series Paper. This one is probably my favourite…so far!
Here are all of them…
It really is DEE-licious! Such pretty colour combinations. And great for so many occasions with florals, hearts and other tiny patterns. I couldn’t resist adding it to the envelope flap for a special touch.
Design Details
If you’re enjoying this card layout, it’s one of my fall back designs. You might remember this easy one layer card with a similar feel.
In the heady rush of new supplies, you might be shocked to know not everything on this card is brand new. The beautiful Tin Tile embossing folder is carrying over from the Holiday Catalogue so you’re going to see even more of this wonderful design in upcoming posts.
But both the ribbon and adhesive sequins ARE coming your way in the Occasions catalogue. The cute tiny iridescent flowers I “borrowed” from the Gingham Gala suite of products. And soft and flexible pretty ribbon from the All My Love Suite. Using both these embellishments take minutes off your design time with their easy coordination.
And who can’t use MORE time?
Here are all the supplies I used which you’ll be able to order January 3rd.
I am so enjoying creating with the new products. So get prepared. There’s lots of fresh ideas that’ll be coming your way over the next little while. So that means, keep my blog page handy. Or even better. Click here to sign up to get every blog post delivered right to your email inbox!
But now you have a 2019 Occasions Catalogue SNEAK PEEK: All My Love Suite, maybe you’ll you’ll stop right there and not need any more ideas😂 – HAH I didn’t think so🤗!
