Sketch Sunday: Bunny Template

Today we are getting in the mood for spring, flowers, and Easter. We hope you will enjoy this bunny template to help you get in the mood, too.

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Technique Thursday: Rose Card from Memory Box

Hello! Today we would like to share a wonderful video showing the use of several Memory Box dies, Memento ink, and Copic Markers to make a beautiful card. We hope you will enjoy it.

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Warehouse Wednesday: Shipping Charges...

Things are still crazy busy at the Frantic Stamper Warehouse. The new site and shopping cart has resulted in a huge up-tick in the number of orders to process, plus we are still working on adding products to the site, and getting in new product daily. I barely have time to breathe.

But I did want to take just a few minutes to explain something about the new shopping cart that has worried a few customers, and to reassure all of you.

With the new shopping cart comes an automated way of assigning postage costs. Sometimes those calculated costs seem really out of line with the products you have selected, and indeed they are! Unfortunately, there is really no good way for the shopping cart to know how much product can fit into a certain sized box, or whether it would be less expensive to ship flat-rate or otherwise. And so the shopping cart does its best-guess, which is not always very good.

I want you to know that we STILL work to find you the least expensive method of shipping we can, and if there is a difference between actual cost and what the shopping cart calculated, we will take care of it! If the cart over-estimated your shipping, we will immediately reimburse the difference. And if the cart under-estimated, we will contact you to explain the difference and get your approval before we ship.

We pride ourselves in keeping the shipping charges reasonable. So the next time that you order, please note that the shipping charges you see are just estimated, and know that you will get the best shipping deal we can find.

Whew. Now I need to get back to work.

Hugs,
-Fran
www.franticstamper.com
541-826-2500

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Sketch Sunday: March 4, 2012

We hope you will enjoy today's simple sketch and the cards from our design team that it inspired. This week we feature cards from all of the full-time 2012 Design Team members.



Here is Jane's card using Frantic Stampers cling mounted stamp Lady w/ cane, stamped on vellum.



Isabelle chose a Riley image, Snowball Riley, for her card and turned the sketch on its side. Don't you just love the slightly ruched ribbon on the curve?



Kathy chose to do a literal interpretation of the sketch (what else is new?) using the Frantic Stamper Cling-Mounted Stamp Stem Rose (colored with Copic markers) and Frantic Stamper lace background cling stamp. Dimensional rose stickers and a bit of stickles finishes the card.



Kathy also turned the sketch on its side and swapped the proportions to create this "supportive" card. She colored a Penny Black image Uplifting Occasion with Copic markers and matted it on light blue card stock. The image itself had all the elements of the sketch!



Jennifer made a card using the Frantic Stamper Large Rose Cling Mounted Stamp. She stamped it multiple times in sepia ink, and then added sponged-on color to create her own designer paper.



Linda stamped a card using the Kissing Couple cling mounted stamp from Frantic Stamper. The little wire detail on the border between her background colors is fabulous, don't you agree? And we all are impressed with her scissor skills in cutting out the couple!



Sharon's card uses the Vertical Rose cling mounted stamp from Frantic Stamper. We love how the shape of the die she used provided both the curve and the interest points on the curve all at once. Of course the pearl bling really makes it all stand out!




And now, here is a card from one of our readers, Marcelle Roberts.



If you make a card using this sketch and would like to share, too, please send a photo to FranticStamperSketchPhotos@yahoo.com. We'll add it to this post, like we did with Marcelle's.

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Gradient Card Set (Design Team Project)

Gradient Card Set

For today's project I used Adirondack Color Wash and Paint Daubers along with Core-dinations Vintage Collection Retro Mod Squad card-stock and Prima Clear Paintables Frame Mix to create a set of four vibrantly colorful cards.




To replicate what I have done, cut white bazzill card-stock into 4 pieces measuring 6 inch by 6 inch. Spritz the white card with water then apply the color washes as follows: For the first two pieces add Meadow, Denim and Sailboat blue. Then use red pepper, sunset orange and butterscotch on the remaining two pieces. Put aside to dry thoroughly.

Cut core-dinations card to create 4 pieces measuring 5 3/4 inch by 11 1/2 inch. Fold each piece in half to form the card bases for the four cards.

Trim the Prima transparency to create 4 squares, each measuring 5 3/4 inch by 5 3/4 inch.

Turn the first transparency over and use a paintbrush to apply small amounts of the Pearl paint to sections of the design. Repeat with the other 3 transparencies and put aside to dry.

Once you have decided which two transparencies will be used on top of the orange toned card, place the two transparencies face down on a protected work surface. Dab Sailboat blue paint around the transparency design then add in clover paint and blend together slightly.

For the remaining two transparencies, use the same technique with watermelon and butterscotch paint daubers.



Layer each of the transparencies over the top of their respective color washed card pieces; join the transparency and card piece together with brads.



Adhere one card front to each of the card bases, adding the yellow toned card to the blue base card, etc.

Stamp greeting onto glossy card stock (or print this digital stamp onto 4 inch by 6 inch card) then trim around. Attach each to a scrap of blue or orange card and trim around to form a mat. Repeat with a second mat if desired.

Adhere each greeting to the bottom right of the card.



Cut out sections of Prima felt vine and adhere around the greeting, allowing some to overlap it.



Using this technique I completed four cards in barely more time than it would have taken to create one, and yet each card is unique. I hope you will give it a try!

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Technique Thursday: Maya Road zipper-trim butterfly

You really will want to check out this amazing zipper-trim butterfly made by Maya Road DT member Ronda Palazzari. It is just gorgeous!

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60th birthday (2011 Design Team Project)

by Polinka

60th Birthday

To make this page I used some We-R-Memory Keepers Precious Metals paper (Silver Lining Marquee) as a background. I added my photo and then finger-painted some acrylic paint on the photo's borders. I then added some October Afternoon Fly a Kite word stickers to opposite corners of the photo. Finally I added some machine stitching around the stickers using some red thread.

I love using paint and stitching when I scrap. They are inexpensive but really add a WOW factor and for me, make a project uniquely mine.

What do YOU like to add to your pages that give your unique style to your work? We'd love to hear from you. Please leave us some comments!

We would also love it if you would share some of YOUR layouts with us. Email them to FranticStamperSketchPhotos@yahoo.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

:) 

Have a lovely day,

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Technique Thursday: Product Review: Go Kreate!

Go Kreate! Dies

Today we have reviews of Go Kreate! Dies from two of our Design Team members. First up we have Jane Larsson.



I was lucky enough to receive this die set in my first Frantic Stamper DT-package.



The die-set is made by the British supplier “Go Kreate” and it is frames shaped like windows - six different sizes.

Fran wanted me to try a die from this company; she was keen on making her first order with them but needed a review or two first.

The dies seem robust and high-quality, and cut through perfectly with the Big Shot. I really love them! I can hardly wait until Fran puts her first order with “Go Kreate” – I really need more shapes from their collection – NOW! ;)

When I laid my eyes on it, I instantly knew I had to use the die together with one of my favorite images right now: The Eiffel Tower!

I used the stamp Large Eiffel Tower from Fran´s own collection. It is sold cling-mounted, and you can find it here.

I heat embossed it with Tim Holtz Distress powder (Vintage Photo) which gave the tower that perfect look!



Patterned papers and deco’s are from K&Company (by Susan Winget) – gorgeous stuff that you can find here.

I hope to get more of these wonderful dies soon!

- Jane

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Next up we have a review by Kathy Berger



I, too, was lucky enough to receive some Go Kreate! Dies in my design team package from Fran. I got the new Boo on His Bum die and the nesting frame die Frilly Squares #10.



The Boo die is a thin die that comes with a sheet of self-adhesive release foam. Simply put the foam on the ridge side of the die and run through the die-cut machine and the die is ready to use.

This is a very detailed die... all of Boo's little toes are cut individually. Because of the detail, I ran into a bit of trouble getting Boo to cut with my older Cuttlebug which has gotten a little loose with age. I also have trouble cutting detailed dies from Memory Box or Some Assembly Required. In order to cut Boo I needed to add a shim, and never quite got the clean, crisp cut I wanted, though I was able to make do.

But I do have an older Spellbinders Wizard as well as my Cuttlebug, and I was able to cut Boo quite easily with that machine. I also borrowed a Big Shot from a friend for a few hours and had great results with it. I truly believe the problem was with my Cuttlebug and not with the dies.

UPDATE: I spoke with Fran about my Cuttlebug issue and she suggested I try the new metal adapter plate made by Memory Box as the perfect shim and cutting solution for a looser Cuttlebug. I got my shim recently and wanted to let you know how it worked.

Not only did the shim allow me to cut my little Boo Bear die perfectly on the first pass, but it also allowed me to cut a couple of really detailed Memory Box dies I had never been able to get to cut.With this shim plate they cut perfectly, in one pass, in my older, loose Cuttlebug. I HIGHLY recommend the metal adapter plate!



In any event, I cut a pink Boo for a baby card, and then cut some more Boos out of different shades of brown so I could play with mixing and matching his parts.

I wanted to make the pink Boo with foam dots between layers to give him dimension. To do that I assembled his feet on separate card-stock and then hand-cut around the feet. Otherwise, Boo was assembled just as he was cut with the die. Here is my pink Boo.



and here is one of his brown friends who was assembled without added dimension...



I also wanted to try the nesting frame dies I received. This package has four dies in it, ranging in size from about 2" square to about 3 1/2" square. They appear to be made of steel and are quite sturdy. These dies do not come with release foam, and don't need it. (This is the smallest set of dies in the same "Frilly Squares #10 shape... there are also a Half XXL and an XXL set available, for a total of 14 different dies.)

I had wonderful results with these dies even in my loose Cuttlebug. They cut perfectly every time I tried them.

For my baby card I wanted a little frame for my pink Boo so I used the second from the largest die and the smallest die. I cut with both dies in a single pass using a small piece of repositionable tape to keep them in place. Here is a close-up of a part of the frame on my finished baby card:



And here is the finished card. The background is a heat-embossed image from Frantic Stamper's own line of stamps, Lace background. (Isn't that stamp just beautiful?)



The bottom line for me is that I LOVE these dies. I think Boo is about the cutest thing ever and can't wait to get him standing, too, and to get all sorts of accessories for him! I will also be getting more of the frame dies; they are very versatile and cut wonderfully, and come in some really unusual shapes.

- Kathy

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Warehouse Wednesday: We're swamped...

This morning we have already checked in 17 boxes of Bo Bunny product that arrived yesterday and made sure it is all available to order in our shopping cart. The rest of the day looks even busier!

Our little staff of five is absolutely swamped with handling arriving product from our CHA order (as well as from our usual stock orders), with adding items to the shopping cart, and with filling your orders.

We want you to know that our number one priority is YOU, our customer, and that we put you ahead of everything else. We try to bring you the latest and greatest in product, to help you with special needs, and to get your orders to you at the earliest time possible.

But in order to do that this week, there just isn't time to regale you with news from the warehouse. (Why did I flash to Garrison Keeler just then?) I hope that there will be more time for news next week...

In the meantime, just know that we are all busily filling orders, stocking shelves, and adding products to the website. Check us out at www.franticstamper.com.

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Coloring Corner: Template for Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras!

Today is the last day before the start of Lent in much of the Christian world. People all over the world celebrate with festivals, parades, and feasts. Two of the most famous celebrations are the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio Di Janeiro.

Costumes are a major part of those celebrations, as are masks. Feathered, sequined, glamour, and glitz are all elements that make each mask unique to the wearer.

To help you with YOUR celebration, we would like to share a template so you can create your own special Mardi Gras mask. Use traditional colors of green, violet, and gold or some other color scheme. Just color it, or glue on sequins, beads, feathers or flocking. Use rub-ons or designer paper. Decoupage some photos or stamped images. Decorate the mask any way you want!



When you have finished your mask, please share what you have made with us. Email a photo to franticStamperSketchPhotos@yahoo.com and we will add it to this post.

We really would love to see your creation!

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