Keep it Simple

Happy Monday! I'm here in the Northeast enjoying another day inside while a lovely layer of ice coats everything outside! Ah, I enjoy winter but this year I've really starting to long for the warmer days of Spring. But while I'm stuck inside I do have a wonderful opportunity to craft and that makes me a happy girl! Today's Keep it Simple card is super easy but created with a fun technique that I demonstrated at a Wholly Scrap! class over the weekend. This is a one layer card that I dry embossed with a Cricut embossing folder...don't you love that swirly frame?! The stamp is from Tim Holtz. Now we all know how to create different colors on an image, right? You use makers to color on the rubber and then stamp. Well not this time! On this card I created my own custom ink pad! Using Cut 'n Dry Stamp Pad Foam and Distress Reinkers, you can create your own ink pad with your own custom colors. You can even create a rainbow ink pad! And it's super easy to do! Step 1: Stamp your image, using Archival Ink (this is very important!), on the stamp foam Step 2: Cut the image out of the foam Step 3: Use the reinkers to 'color' the image. The fun thing about the reinkers is that the colors, even though they're right next to each other, won't run! Step 4: Use your new ink pad to ink your rubber stamp and stamp on cardstock! Step 5: Store your new ink pad in a plastic bag. Be sure to stamp the image on a scrap piece of paper and attach to the outside of your bag for reference. The one thing I did notice about making these ink pads is that over time it's difficult to see the details of your original stamped image. However, the ink will not spread beyond where you placed it so the shape of the image will remain, allowing you to easily line up your stamp again (so the individual colors will line up correctly). You should be able to use your new ink pad for at least 40 stamps before needing to reink. Cool, huh? The card I created here also uses the same stamp pad technique. Enjoy today's card and be sure to check back tomorrow when the Sweet 'n Sassy design team will introduce March's new release!!