Welcome to our Pals Blog Hop, May 2018. This month we’ll be “Stepping Up with Textures or Techniques.” What’s that? Projects that are “stepped up” by using textures or fun techniques. Who knows, maybe both! Join us in the fun while the we inspire you to step up your creations. You may be starting the hop here or coming from a previous Pal’s blog. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find the the full line-up below to help you move, or “hop” along from Pal to Pal. 

Guy Greetings and Flourishing Phrases have been faithful stamp sets for my cards. If you have been to my blog before, you’re probably aware that I absolutely love texture and layers. So, looking for a technique for this fun hop theme, I wanted to do something that I haven’t done before. Then, my Stampin’ Up! preorder came in and there they were – the brand new Big Shot Embossing Mats! So, I started to use them for these two cards and have some tips for you as well. I’m leaving my post as short as I can so you can continue on your way along the hop. Please feel free to ask any questions about this technique in a comment!

My Secrets to Making These Projects

•  First, be aware that everyone’s Big Shot has different tensions. Mine seems to be pretty loose, so if you are following the sandwich instructions on the package (and you need to!), and you aren’t getting the embossing onto the paper, use a shim, such as a piece of cardstock or printer paper to help out. My Big Shot did better after I tightened the handle as well.
• Another tip is to make sure that your dies do not have any packaging adhesive residue. It will rip your cardstock when you try to take the die away! (Yep, I learned that one the hard way!!)
• If you are using a framelit with some details, cut it out first, then flip it over and run it through again with the Embossing Mats to get even more detail.
• If you are using really detailed thinlits, you might want to cut it out first, leaving the paper in the die, then run through the Big Shot with the Embossing Mats. The little holes are less likely to show on your final project.

Quick List of Stampin’ Up! Products

• Stamp Sets: Guy Greetings, Flourishing Phrases
• Paper: Petal Passion DSP, Share What You Love Specialty DSP (New!), Crumb Cake
• Ink: Crumb Cake, VersaMark
• SU Tools: Big Shot Embossing Mats, Flourish Thinlits, Layering Squares Framelits, Layering Circles Framelits, Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends
• Finishing Touch: Gift Card Envelope & Trims Thinlits, Nature’s Twine (New!), Metal Rimmed Pearls, Grapefruit Grove 1/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (New!), Share What You Love Artisan Pearls (New!)

I hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, please:

• Leave me a comment! Which “secret” are you going to try?
• Don’t forget to visit my Gallery for lots of ideas, and…
• Follow me on Pinterest and Facebook.
• Want to know what’s new with SU? Check out What’s New.

When placing an order, don’t forget that:

• LAST CHANCE (Retiring) items can be found HERE
• You can earn FREE products with my SS Rewards.
• Need ideas to get your order over the top for these Freebies? Then,
  • Save 10% on product bundles!
  • Check out the Clearance Rack and save up to 70%!

Now it’s time to see how the rest of the Pals are Stepping up with Textures or Techniques. Please use the Blog Hop Line-Up below to move from blog to blog. Don’t forget to show us some love by commenting on our creations.

Blog Hop  Line-up:

1. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
2. Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
3. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
4. Su Mohr at Aromas and Art
5. Linda Suarez at All Night Stamping
6. Debbie Mageed at Secrets to Stamping  <<<=== You are here!
7. Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
8. Leah O’Brien at Stamp by the Bay
9. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
10. Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
11. Pamela Sadler at Paris in the Spring
12. Mary Hanson at Up North Stampin’
13. Nina King at Ink Paper Sequins
14. Karen Hallam at Karen’s Stamping Habit
15. Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
16. Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity

DIY List of Stampin’ Up! Products