Just Saying Thanks

Many of you long-time stampers are no strangers to Ellen Gordon of Evolving Images. Now retired, she was the designer of many clever and time-saving stamping tools, in addition to a line of stamps.  My favorite tools were her Layering Templates.  These were sets of graduated clear acrylic pieces in basic shapes that were sized for A2 cards.  Using these took all of the guesswork and tedious measuring out of making frames as well as layers.  You simply laid out your stamped piece or cardstock of choice, topped it with a template, and cut around it with your craft knife.  Instant perfection!  You could also sponge around any of the shapes for soft framing.

The background on today's card was cut out with one of her templates . . .

By more than ten years, Ellen also beat the current stencil mania (and then some) when she designed beautiful sets of stamps, and provided stencils to match.  Always one to go for the extra touch, her stencil sets included the cutout pieces as well as the mortises.  This allowed you to stamp the images, cover them with the punch-out, and sponge in your background.  Or you could surround the image with the mortise and sponge in just the image.  Both methods were used on this card which uses two of her leaf sets.

Ellen's clever ideas made designing and card-creating easier for thousands of happy  stampers and her input is very much missed.  Happy Retirement, Ellen!

 Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Cougar Opaque Cover White

Stamps:        Evolving Images Leaf Sets #42 & #43, Simon Says Tilted

                           Banner Sayings

Inks:               Hero Black, ColorBox Black, Distress Dusty Concord,

                           Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick, Black Soot, Weathered Wood,

                           Stormy Sky

Marker:          Copic W3 Warm Gray #3

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail Black, Stampendous Shabby White

Dies:              Simon Says Tilted Banners

Stencil:          Evolving Images Leaf Sets #42 & #43

Doo Dads:    Perfect Pearl Mist Silver