Smooch Spritz and Presto Patterns Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! go together perfectly.  Use the Smooch Spritz to color the Presto Patterns paper to create fun and interesting backgrounds.  Here are some ideas and samples!

Ways to use Smooch Spritz and Presto Patterns Designer Series Paper

-Use brayer, sponge, sponge dauber, Stampin’ Spot or Stampin’ Pastels to reveal white patterns embossed in the paper. Then apply Smooch Spritz and stamp directly on the paper.

Supplies used: Gold Glow Smooch Spritz, Cameo Coral and Soft Suede ink

-To make the ink spread faster, wet a sponge with water, pick up the color, then apply to the paper.  Add Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz for a pretty shimmer.

Supplies used: Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Lovely Lilac, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink ink

-Spray paper with water and add color using an Aqua Painter, sponge, etc.  Blot with a paper towel to dry and add more color if needed.

Supplies used: Silver Foil Smooch Spritz, Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue ink

-Spray Smooch Spritz directly onto DSP.

Supplies used: Log Cabin Smooch Spritz

Smooch Spritz Information and Tips

Stampin' Up! is featuring 4 colors of Smooch Spritz in the new Summer Mini Catalog.  Smooch Spritz is a pearlized accent spray that adds a splash of color to any project.  They come in a ready-to-use GLASS applicator (be careful not to drop the applicator). Layer thin coats of different colors for added dimension.

Gold Glow item #118770-Use to add a golden glow
Silver Foil #118771-Use to add a silvery shine
Vanilla Shimmer #118772-Use to add a lustery sheen
Log Cabin item #119921-Use to add a rustic, aged or vintage look

-For best results, use the Color Catcher to protect your work area from ink over spray. It is easy to assemble, compact and portable.  I am a great believer in having the right tools for the job.  The Color Catcher just makes using the Smooch Spritz easier and it is affordable at only $5.95. Item #121093

-Shake containers well before use. The sprayer can clog if particles get sucked up into the tube. To clean, remove the nozzle and submerge in a household cleaner (such as Windex or 409) for 20 minutes.  Rinse, replace the nozzle, shake well and spray.

-Spray in direction of arrow as views on nozzle top. If you don't you might have Smooch Spritz spraying to the side or even towards you! -

Hold applicator 10" away from your project. To speed dry time, heat with a heat tool.

Remember the applicator is glass, so take extra care not to drop it.  You might want to add some padded protection by laying a folded towel over your work surface.

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Woo Hoo, this is my 500th blog post!  Thanks for sharing this blogging adventure with me!

For my 500th post, I decided I would feature one of my favorite gift ideas: stenciled tea towels.  Every kitchen needs at least one tea towel!  And a specially decorated tea towel is even better!

I used bleached cotton tea towels that I purchased at ***mart (5 for 5.95), the flower image from the Elegant Trio Decor stencils from Stampin' Up! and fabric paint.

Here's how:

You will need:

tea towel

stencil(s)

fabric paint-You can find fabric paint at any arts and crafts store.  It comes in small bottles in various colors and is relatively inexpensive. I know my fellow SU Demos will be upset that I am not suggesting you use SU Craft ink.  But, I find that the vivid color lasts longer with fabric paint.  After all, fabric paint is specifically made to use with fabrics.  I am a firm believer of having the right tool for the job.  Otherwise, crafting can be frustrating.

stencil brushes-These can also be found at any arts and crafts store in the stencil aisle.  Stencil brushes have short, firmly packed bristles. Sponge daubers would work too.  You need something that will allow you some control for working in the small spaces of the stencil so you don't get paint under the stencil.

palette to hold the paint-I use the lid to a plastic container

low tack adhesive

Choose the colors you would like to use and squeeze them onto your palette. Position the stencil on the tea towel.  Apply a low tack adhesive to the edges of the stencil to keep it in place while you work.

Pick up your first color of paint on a stencil brush. 

Tip: Don't overload your brush with paint.  Instead, just dab the end of the bristles into the paint.  Having a little bit of paint gives you more control.  You can always pick up more paint if needed.  And, the brushes are easier to clean if the paint in just on the ends of the brush.

Add the color over the stencil using a "pouncing" or vertical up and down motion. You want to be tapping the end of the brush onto the stencil rather than brushing it across.  Pouncing gives you more control so you don't get the paint to get under the stencil.

Add more paint as needed. Pick up 2nd color with another stipple brush and add as desired.  Continue adding  paint to the different sections of the stencil as desired.

Remove the stencil by bringing it straight up from the fabric.  Reposition it on the tea towel as desired for next flower.  Repeat adding color by pouncing on the fabric paint.

Pick up stencil and place on tea towel for 3rd flower. Repeat steps as above.

Once complete, let the fabric paint dry.  I let mine set overnight, but it should dry within 4-5 hours. Before I give them as gifts, I wash the tea towels in cold water, line dry (I don't have a working dryer-don't ask) and steam iron to get out any of the wrinkles.

Thanks for looking! 

 Stampin' Up! is featuring 4 colors of Smooch Spritz in the new Summer Mini Catalog.  Smooch Spritz is a pearlized accent spray that adds a splash of color to any project.  They come in a ready-to-use GLASS applicator (be careful not to drop the applicator). Layer thin coats of different colors for added dimension.

Shop online 24/7

Smooch Spritz information and user tips:

Smooch Spritz comes in 4 colors ($4.95 each):

Gold Glow item #118770-Use to add a golden glow

Silver Foil item #118771-Use to add a silvery shine

Vanilla Shimmer #118772-Use to add a lustery sheen

Log Cabin item #119921-Use to add an rustic, aged or vintage look

 -For best results, use the Color Catcher to protect your work area from ink overspray. It is easy to assemble, compact and portable.  I am a great believer in having the right tools for the job.  The Color Catcher just makes using the Smooch Spritz easier and it is affordable at only $5.95. Item #121093

Shake containers well before use. The sprayer can clog if particles get sucked up into the tube.

To clean, remove the nozzle and submerge in a household cleaner (such as Windex or 409) for 20 minutes.  Rinse, replace the nozzle, shake well and spray.

Spray in direction of arrow as views on nozzle top. If you don't you might have Smooch Spritz spraying to the side or even towards you!

Hold applicator 10" away from your project.

To speed dry time, heat with a heat tool.

Remember the applicator is glass, so take extra care not to drop it.  You might want to add some padded protection by laying a folded towel over your work surface.

Use Smooch Spritz with Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper

Thanks to Michelle Laycock with Laycock Designs for this great resource.   Click on the image above to open the file for templates for each of the clear-mount block sizes along with the order item number, price and size. You will find these templates very helpful when purchasing clear-mount stamps.

The templates are actual size. You may print the template on vellum or on a transparency sheet to match the stamp image in the catalog to the block. 

Please let me know if you have any questions blumoon@comcast.net

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    Remember the ties from Monday's post?  For this challenge, I used this tie as my inspiration. 

Here's my interpretation.  Colors used were Really Rust, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip and Creamy Carmel.  All Earth Elements Craft Ink Spots!  I just swiped the colors onto glossy card stock. The stamp sets used are Branch Out and the greeting is from Essence of Love (retired)

These colors are so pretty.  Looks like Fall!

I recently treated myself and purchased the Wild Rose stamp set (page 88 in the Spring-Summer Collection 2008, $36.95).  It is such an elegant set.  But, cutting and properly mounting this set for ease in two-step stampin' is a little daunting.  Stampin' Up! recently provided a great tutorial on using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to help with label and stamp placement.  I cut and mounted the Wild Rose set using their tutorial, and I thought I'd pass it onto you.  I will be using my Stamp-a-ma-jig (page 184, $11.95)  more often in the future! 

One note, My husband and I tried to take photos of me using the Stamp-a-ma-jig with the Wild Rose stamp set.  None of the pictures turned out, so I am using the photos provided by Stampin' Up!

Perfect Placement: When you assemble your stamps using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, the label will be placed precisely to match the rubber.  This gives you one way to know exactly where you're stamping each time.  Here's how:

Step 1: Mount stamp on wood block as desired.

Step 2: Line up corner of Stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet with your Stamp-a-ma-jig, and stamp image in corner of sheet.

Step 3: Turn imaging sheet over, and line up the label, sticky-side up, over the stamped image.  Lightly adhere label to imaging sheet using SNAIL Adhesive.

Step 4: Line up stamp with Stamp-a-ma-jig once again.  Turn imaging sheet back over, line up corner with Stamp-a-ma-jig over stamp and press down on block to adhere label

There's no need to realign the imaging sheet each time you stamp-just use the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig to guide you.  This method is perfect for Two-Step Stampin' sets, but you may like it so much that you use it with all your stamps!

Step 1: Mount first stamp on wood block as desired.

Step 2: Line up corner of Stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet with your Stamp-a-ma-jig, and stamp image in corner of sheet.  Mark corner of wood block that was lined up with the Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Step 3: Remove backing from rubber portion of second stamp, hold by edges and line up exactly over the stamped image on the imaging sheet with the sticky side up.  You may need to pick up the imaging sheet to see that image is aligned properly.

Step 4: Line up wood block for second stamp with Stamp-a-ma-jig and press down to mount stamp.