So, here we are at day 2 of our first release!  I am so excited to show you more of our release today!

I made this card using some masculine papers this time around. I started with a Poptone Hot Fudge card base, measured at 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 and scored at 4 1/4. Next I used Pink Paislee’s Old School Curriculum and cut that to 5 1/4 x 4. I used my Ink Blending Tool and some Distress Brushed Corduroy ink around the edges of the paper.

Next, I took some Kraft Glassinie paper and cut it to 1 x 5 1/4. I crumpled it up, straighten it out, and then crumpled it up again. Then I rubbed my Distress Brushed Corduroy ink pad over the glassine paper to have it go in the broken glassine creases. I heat set the glassine to seal the ink in the creases.  If you don’t heat set it, the ink will keep smearing.

For my focal image, I stamped our new Black Eyed Susan flower stamp from the Natural Landscape set in Memento Desert Sand on Bazzill’s Simply Smooth Ivory cardstock. If you notice, using the Desert Sand to stamp the outline makes the image look completely different than if you stamp it in black ink. Then, I pulled my Copics and colored in my image. I used E07, E09, G94, G99, Y23, Y26 and E29 to color my image.

Then I grabbed my Big Shot and diecut my focal image using the Spellbinders Label 2 using the #3 die.  Before I lifted out the paper from the die, I blended some Antique Linen around the paper, to give it that cool halo effect. I used the Spellbinders Label 2 and the #4 die to cut out the Pink Paislee Old School Curriculum (b side) to mat it. I swiped some Brushed Corduroy around the edges of that die. I also diecut 2 little buttons from our new Stamp School felt in Hot Fudge. I used the My Favorite Things buttons die to cut them out. I find that using the Cuttlehug plate works the best for cutting out the felt.

On the inside, I used some PopTone Whip Cream Cardstock cut to 4 1/2 x 3 /14 and stamped the Black Eyed Susan stamp in Memento Desert Sand in the corner. I also lined the cardstock using my Memento Desert Sand marker all the way around. I stamped the Christian Sympathy sentiment using PopTones ink in Hot Fudge.

Our new stamp sets, cardstock, ink, and felt will be available in the store on January 1, 2012

Check out what our Faculty made today with our new goodies!

Amber created a beautiful handmade felt flower on her card today.

Rochelle colored in some Black Eyed Susans on her card.

Vicki’s card layers some Spellbinders for a pretty card.

Judy made a card with a very unique background.

Copics Used – E07, E09, G94, G99, Y23, Y26, E29

Welcome to Release Week at Stamp School!  The last 3 days of each month, you will be treated to some beautiful creations by our Faculty here at Stamp School! Each month, we release 2 stamps per month.  The first part of 2012 we will be releasing 4 colors of Poptone cardstock and matching inks until we stock all of their 24 colors.  We also will be releasing 100% wool felt along with the cardstock each month.

Our Faculty will post their projects on their personal blogs (which we will link you to at the end of each post) and then during the month, they will post tips, tutorials, inspiration, ideas here on the Stamp School blog.  If you want to be kept up to date on what is going on here at Stamp School, you can keep track of us a number of ways:

1) Our website and blog.  You can subscribe to our blog feed, simply by clicking over on the Subscribe button to the left. You will then get a daily email of what is posted here on the site.
2) Our Facebook Page.  Like our Facebook Page for exclusive content, contests, and chatting about our favorite hobby!
3) Email Newsletter. You can sign up for our Newsletter by clicking on the Join our Newsletter button to the left.

OK, so now that you know how to keep up to date, let me show you what’s going on this month!

My first card today is so simple but yet calming I think.

I started with a cardstock base of PopTone Hot Fudge. I cut it to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 and scored it at 4 1/2. I would DEFINITELY recommend scoring this cardstock and not just folding it. Our cardstock is a heavy weight 100# coverweight and it is very thick and sturdy. You will be happier with your cards if you score it. 

I cut a piece of watercolor paper to 4 x 5 1/4. I used Distress Ink in Bundled Sage, Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade and Scattered Straw along with the Ink Blending Tool to make my background paper. I started from the side of the paper and blended to the other side, to get the “strips” of color. Next I took my mister filled with water and sprayed it lightly. While it was wet, I drug a dry paintbrush through the water from red to yellow to blend the colors together. Zap it with a heat gun to dry the paper (or let it dry naturally).

Next I took Distress Ink in Forest Moss and stamped the big weed stamp. I just repeated and layered it all across the bottom of the watercolor paper. I finished it up with Distress Peeled Paint with our small grass bunch and filled in the bottom. I used a few colors of ink to give the card some perception of depth.

To finish off the watercolor paper, I used a little Distress Walnut Stain and my blending tool again around the edge of my paper. I used the With Sympathy stamp from our new Christian Sympathy set in our new Poptone Ink in Black Licorice.

Our new stamp sets, cardstock, ink, and felt will be available in the store on January 1, 2012

Check out what our Faculty made today with our new goodies!

Judy created a beautiful card using both sets AND some felt!

Check out her blog Joy in a JAR

Amber created her own background paper with one of our stamps!

Check out her blog The Country Scrapper

Rochelle made the most amazing felt flowers on her card today!

Check out her blog Two Tears in My Bucket

Vicki created a serene background for her card!

Check out her blog All I Do is Stamp