Stampin’ Up! Undefined Kit – Two-for-one

I’ll try almost anything once.  If I don’t like it, I’ll probably give it one more try – or maybe two.  You know how much I enjoy challenging myself to make myself like stuff, right?  If I try it a second time and still don’t like it, then I make the decision to (a) never touch it again or (b) give it ONE more try.

When I first saw Stampin’ Up!’s Undefined Kits (that allow you to carve your own images and words right into Stampin’ Up! rubber), I was out-of-my-skin excited.  It was Convention 2013 – you can make ANYTHING with these kits, and I couldn’t wait to shimmy over to the carving table to give it a try.  A couple of swipes of the cutting tool, and I was done.  This was something I needed to take time with.

When I got home, I tried another time but decided it wasn’t for me – “I like to make things with stamps, but I guess I don’t like to make stamps.”  Well, I picked up my kit again this past week, and here’s what I came up with:

Stampin' Up! Undefined, stamp carving, Brian KingA puzzle piece.  So, I messed up.  So concerned that I wouldn’t get a super-clean cut, I trimmed too deeply into the rubber.  After a couple of clear, crisp stamps (see the background on the card below), the rubber started to curl under.  Totally not the fault of the rubber or the product – completely my “rookie mistake.”

Stampin' Up! Undefined, A Dozen Thoughts, stamp carving, Brian KingSee how the cropped out puzzle pieces are less defined than the ones in the background?  That’s my excessive carving.  Hey!  The product is called Undefined, right?  Maybe I achieved “eureka!” by making the image progressively less defined.  🙂  As the image became less and less puzzle-shaped, I was puzzled about what to do with it.  OMGosh!  I am really cracking myself up here.  That’s when I decided that this blog could definitely pass as a camouflage background, so I made this:

Stampin' Up! Undefined, The Great Outdoors, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Brian KingDoes the shape pass as camo?  Or is it too much of a stretch?  Either way, I’m willing to share them with you here.  Here’s a picture of both of my puzzle piece creations:

Stampin' Up! Undefined, stamp carving, Brian King

Happy Together Card:  Stamp sets:  A Dozen Thoughts  Papers:  Pacific Point, Real Red, Whisper White  Inks:  Real Red, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight  Accessories:  Undefined Stamp Carving Kit, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Happy Retirement Card:  Stamp Sets:  The Great Outdoors, Teeny Tiny Wishes  Papers:  Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Very Vanilla  Inks:  Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Crumb Cake  Accessories:  Word Window punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I’d love for you to give Undefined a try – I will be playing around with it again soon.  If you want to learn more, click on either of the pictures below (the first is the kit, the second is the refill kit).

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian

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33 Comments

  1. Laurie Burns Gachewicz

    Thank you for not just thinking out if the box Brian, but carving and stamping out of the box too!!! 😉 I like what you have done here and can hardly wait to see more!!! Your tips and tricks are immensely helpful (as usual!), as well as your hints about the actual carving. The retirement card with the tent image and camp background is a homerun, and I like your bright color combo on your Happy Together card!!! 🙂

  2. Brian,
    Thank you for sharing about the undefined stamp kit and your experience. I Like both cards that you made. The Camo card makes me think of all the Hunters in my family. and the Happy together cards as you noted can be used for many ideas. Kitty

  3. What a great save! Outside the box thinking : ) TFS!

  4. How crafty you are ! Love the puzzle pieces and the camo card is over the top . I have seen different stamps made with this kit and your originality wins the prize !
    This is a great kit for a challenge and you made it work . Both cards are examples of your range of awesome creativity.

  5. Well, I think both cards accomplished their goal. The “Happy Together” card looks great because, well….. puzzle pieces look great together, this could be used for a very unique anniversary card. The card you made with the camouflage background is also great, for fans of the outdoors, this really would be perfect, specially with the image of the tent, I know a few people who would love it.
    Once again Brian, you showed your incredible talent by tackling a project totally outside the box. Well done, my dear.

  6. Well, you’ve inspired me to try Undefined again…thanks, Brian. Great cards.

  7. Brian, great cards. Love the background this stamp makes. Why not try this combination: The camo background and Wetlands……HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY. 🙂

  8. Kudos for trying and sharing. Even if you trimmed or carved too deep, it makes the image unique to you. You have created two wonderful cards. It works so well with the camo card. Also makes and interesting background on the happy together.

  9. Brilliant Brian! And I think Leah is on to something! Lol!

  10. Great use of undefined! I have been on the fence with that one. Looks like its time to jump off and see. You have to think in reverse, like mirror image, right? Sounds fun and slightly puzzling! 🙂

  11. In all honesty, I like the camo better than the puzzle. The puzzle is great, but the camo is wowzers!

  12. You are a brave soul, Brian King, to make your own stamps, via “Undefined”. Your puzzle piece idea is cute, and the camo/tent card is perfect. That second green looks like River Rock…. Could it be?

  13. Love, Love, and Love the puzzle cards. Always support Autism!!

  14. Ha. Ha. Brian! It looks great as camo. On the puzzle picture, I thought they looked like leaves, and in the right colors, you could use it for a leaf. The camo is so great and I really like that card too!! 🙂

  15. What a great idea. Love both cards! : )

  16. Love the camo! Great job showing Undefined!

  17. Brian, I like both cards. The Happy Together card is so cheerful. Super color combo! I LOVE the camo card. I agree with Nancy that they look like leaves…crumbling maple leaves in the fall is what I see ( of course I’m Canadian, lol, lol). Great works as usual, Brian. Just love your blog!

  18. You nailed it with the camo background & tent! What a great idea! Nancy B

  19. Brian – I am sooooooooo impressed! I love both cards. My, my – you never cease to amaze me!

  20. Love that you designed your own stamp! Two more of your “so very creative” cards, Brian, thank you.

  21. Pretty cool if you ask me! I love the puzzle piece you carved out as well as both cards you created utilizing your newly carved stamp! Awesome as always! 🙂

  22. Wow, Brian!
    Great job! I love both cards!

  23. WOW….love the camo idea….just love looking at your ideas….the undefined is a must for me!!

  24. The camo card for retirement is soooo good! love the puzzle shapes.

  25. WOW!!! I absolultely LOVE the camo….. put a deer on the front, or maybe a bear…. and instant man card… lol…. but the camo was inspirational!! LOVE IT!!! what colors did you use on that? I do like the bright colors on the anniversary card… but the camo card? WOW!! 🙂

  26. I think the camo looks great…might be fun to use fall colors and call them “leaves.” I am also intimidated but what very much to be able to get images I don’t have….minion! I made a minion. Undefined really allows you express yourself. I love the “smoodge” stamp in Happy Watercolor set…can make my own “smoodge” shape….hmmmm. Always a pleasure to visit your site!

  27. Too cool Brian!!!!
    I like the one with a tent!!

  28. I like both of them. I actually think the camo could still easily be a puzzle piece. Your puzzle card would be the perfect card to make during Autism Awareness week. Their logo is a puzzle piece that is multi-colored. You could change careers and be a sculptor!

  29. The camo is fab! If I carve a camo shape, it will look just like this! I love Undefined, and have accepted that I get a handmade/hand-drawn look to my hand-carved stamps (not surprising,maybe?!) rather than a super-sharp outline and detail. There’s a place on my stamp shelves for both.

  30. It’s art – and art is beautiful! It’s stamping design – and there are no wrong designs! Looks like bold watercoloring – and watercoloring is on trend. So how could we not like this!

  31. I like the both! When I first looked at your carved stamp, I said to myself: “What is it?” Then I saw the puzzle card and thought to myself: “Ooh! Neat!”. Then it became camo. “Wow!” I love both cards and think this could double as both a puzzle piece and camo. Great job Brian! I’m too scared to try this 🙂

  32. Great job Brian! The camo is perfect!

  33. LOVE the camo card! Made me giggle!

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