Border Punch Basics

Stampin' Up!® have two border punches in their current Idea Book and Catalogue. Both work the same way. The one I'm using in my tutorial is the scallop edge punch.

I've cut a piece of pacific point cardstock to 105mm. The width of a standard folded A5 card. This is my finished size. I've centred the cardstock in the punch using the marking on the sides of the punch.

Push down the punch lever, I use the base of my hand, and you have a scalloped bite cut from the centre of your cardstock.

Line up your punched scallops over the silver shapes on one end of the punch and punch.

The scallops are joining up perfectly.

Do the same with the other side.

I've also scalloped a narrower piece of Parisienne Breeze Specialty paper in the same way. You can save the offcut to use in your project.

Here's the finished card. Because I started from the centre on both pieces the scallops line up perfectly. Starting from the centre also makes it easy to keep your punched edge straight.

Thanks for viewing my tutorial.  I hope it's been helpful for you.  If you have any questions don't hesitate to EMail me.

Sponging to Soften the Look of a Card

Sponging is a fabulous way to soften cardstock edges, to add colour to the edge of cardstock to avoid using another cardstock or paper layer, to gently soften stark white cardstock.

Either use a full size sponge or cut it into six or eight trianges. Dab it into your inkpad and gently apply it by gently dabbing or dragging to your cardstock or paper. Gently really is the key as it's easier to add colour than take it away.

One way to use Sponging: -

- Birthday wishes (Sincere Salutations) stamped in Red Riding Hood Ink and punched out with a wide oval punch.

- Softened by sponging the same ink around the edges.

- Then add to a card.


All supplies used Stampin' Up!®
Stamp Set - Sincere Salutations
Paper - Pink Pirouette, Whisper White and Riding Hood Red Cardstock, Bella Rose DSP (you can get 72 of these cards out of one pack of patterned paper)
Ink - Red Riding Hood Classic Ink Pad
Punch - Wide Oval
Accessories - Paper Trimmer, 6mm white grosgrain ribbon, Adhesive, Stampin' Sponges ($7.75 for 3, page 156 of the current Idea Book and Catalogue)

What to do with Chipboard?

At the end of last year I agreed to show the Cards Unlimited cardmaking group I belong to how to use chipboard. But I needed to find out how to use it myself before my turn in September this year. Now I've done my research I think you might see a bit more of it on my Keryn's Cards blog.

There are a multitude of ways to cover chipboard and use it in your projects on the web. I've searched and narrowed it down to 16 that I think are the most usable.

- covered with pigment ink using a sponge dauber.

- trace shape onto designer series paper, cut out, adhere and sand edges. Sponge with dye ink using a stampin' sponge or sponge dauber

- sponge with pigment ink, when dry stamp with a dye ink.

- heat emboss using versamark and gold embossing powder and heat tool

- Two way glue covered with dazzling diamonds microfine glitter.

- Image stamped in stazon ink and coloured with watercolour crayons.

- covered with two way glue and covered with strips of 6mm grosgrain ribbon

- sponged with pigment ink, when dry heat emboss image over the top.

- placed face down over an inked background stamp

- Brayer and rainbow ink pad

- Use a sponge dauber to apply Stampin' Pastels using light colours first and then seal.

- sponged with ‘Encore Metallic’ ink and heat set.

- Stamped with a Stampin’ Around wheel and dye ink.

- Photo applied the same way as the Designer Series Paper.

- sponged with pigment ink then glue on microbeads using crystal effects..

The chipboard I used is Stampin’ Up!® - On Board Essentials.

I'd love to see the projects you create using any chipboard techniques that you see here or find on the web. Leave me a comment so I can see your blog post or send me a picture by EMail.

September 2009 - Uses for Ribbon

With the fantastic ribbon bundle promotion that Stampin' Up!® is running during September 2009 it seemed appropriate to put together a tutorial on all the uses that I've found for ribbon. All projects shown use Stampin' Up!® product although some may be retired due to the age of the project.

As a handle for a gift bag.

Tied to a paper clip for a quick and easy embellishment.


Tied round the bottom of a popsicle card to keep it shut.

To tidy up the edge of a lollipop gift box.

To decorate and tie closed a triange gift box.

With hodgepodge to create a bookmark.

Tied around a card as an embellishment.

Used as a pull on a hidden message card.

Ends stuck to the back of a layer with another small piece tied in a knot.

Used to keep a box in a bag closed.

Pull tie for a waterfall card.

Used to hang a message on a gift box.

Ribbon Weaving

Tied in a bow to embellish the top of a greeting card holder.

These are just a few of the things I've used ribbon for. I hope they'll be able to spark your imagination.

Using a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (Stamp Positioner)

I own a Stamp A Ma Jig (SAMJ) but it's not something that I've used often in my crafting. However, when I have demo'd it at workshops there's always been one guest that really loves the idea of perfect image placement.


Scroll down to see how to use the SAMJ: -

I've stamped the solid flower image from 'Heartfelt Thanks' twice after colouring it with More Mustard and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers.


I then stamped the matching line image on the first one using Close to Cocoa and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers without using the SAMJ.



I like the offset look of this image but if you like exact placement it may be screaming at you. Keep scrolling down to see how to stamp the same image using the SAMJ.


Place the clear plastic sheet, rough side up, into the L shape of the guide.


Ink up your stamp as before and stamp it onto the plastic sheet using the guide for placement.


You now have an image on the plastic sheet. Using dye ink that I am it will never be a perfect image. Position the image on the plastic sheet in the position you want the image on your cardstock.





Line the guide up on the corner of the plastic sheet. Remove the plastic sheet and reink your stamp and stamp placing the stamp into the guide as before.




Here's my finished image.

Here are two cards that I made up with my stamped images.


Thanks for making it to the end. I would love to see what you've made with your SAMJ's. Leave me a comment on this post with a link to your projects.


If you would like to purchase a stamp positioner contact me at keryn.campbell@xtra.co.nz. New Zealand residents only please.