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Sunday, June 19, 2016

Watercoloring

Happy Sunday!  I love trying all these techniques and compositions that are not just stamping on paper or die cuts.  They have their place too, but I feel more like me when I am feeling artistic in my creations.  I think I need to buy some canvases and do these techniques in a more permanent way than on a card.  But anyway, I wanted to show you my attempts at some watercoloring with Stampin' Up inks and water color paper.

This was my first attempt.  I wish I had made the background a little lighter because I think the contrast isn't as good as it could have been.  But it's still pretty to me and has a lovely monochromatic theme.  I wish I had heat embossed white for the sentiment too.  Woulda, shoulda, coulda....


On my 2nd attempt, I got a little more aggressive adding depth and texture to my creation.  I layered the ink on, stamped my image in Archival Black ink, embossed the filigree and added my highlighting (with a much more delicate hand) using a small brush dipped in household bleach.  I also splattered bleach all over the project to give it more texture.  I took the new Burlap Ribbon and frayed one end of it to give it even some more interest.


What do you think?  I will attach my supply list for this card, below.



Saturday, June 18, 2016

Aurora Borealis Sky Technique

I wanted to give a try at a really beautiful technique I saw recently.  I didn't know exactly how it was created, but I thought I would try layering colors from light to dark to get that beautiful northern lights look.  My first attempt looks a little more like an alien abduction, but it's cool too.


So, on the 2nd try I wanted to go with some different colors added in to give the illusion of colors streaking across the sky.  I think it's pretty fun!  What do you think?


I started by using Shimmery White card stock and lightly sponging in Sky Blue, and then layering in Marina Mist, Dapper Denim and Night of Navy.  I also added in a Archival Black to deepen the shadows.  The stamp set I used was Lovely as a Tree, and also a couple sentiments from the Rose Wonder Stamp set.  In a way, I wanted to not have any sentiment on these cards, but the more I looked at it, the more I loved the technique, but also thought it was a bit blank.  Sometimes it's hard to know when to stop.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Vintage Masculine

Today I decided to try my hand at a greeting that is a bit more masculine.  I saw this technique last winter, and although I tried it, I wasn't as impressed with my results as I could have been, so I chucked them away and gave up on the technique.  I am still not totally convinced that I couldn't have done better, but in the end, I am liking the results enough, that I thought I would share.  If you want to see a variety of cards using this technique by others here is a Pinterest Link.


The basics of this technique are to ink directly onto the, "Woodland" textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  And after adding the background inking you want, stamp the image directly on the folder as well.  Then, when you run your card stock through the Big Shot, it leaves your image behind the raised impression.

(One of my co-workers is undergoing some pretty extensive health issues and is going to be away for the next few months, recovering, so my team and I are going to send him this card after we've all signed it.)
I had some difficulty in getting the background inks to not be too dark and as you can see the, the vintage cars did not stamp very clearly.  This was frustrating for me, I would have liked finer, more detailed lines,  but after I messed around, adding some ink with my watercolor pen, and allowing it to be a bit grungy, I decided the look was pretty cool.



This card will be for my dad for Father's Day.  We used to have an old broken down vintage in our garage when I was growing up.  Dad was always going to refinish it and get it running again, but sadly it turned into an old rusty pile of metal.  I believe Dad gave it to someone else, and I hope they've been able to get it back to it's glory days...or...at least running!
1925 Star Model F5   I'm not sure if this is the correct model, but it is the year and make of  my dad's car. His didn't even look this good...so you can imagine!!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Under the Lilac Tree

Hello Again!  Happy Tuesday.  I wanted to share with you a card I made over the weekend.  I took some inspiration from Pinterest, from a card that was similar in some ways, but I wanted mine to have a more vintage look.  I am calling this one, Under the Lilac Tree, from a book I read by Louisa May Alcott, when I was just a young girl.  I am using the "Sitting Here" stamp set again, and this time pairing it up with "Sheltering Tree".  I wanted to give the impression of lilacs overhead by using a little Wisteria Wonder ink, and mixing it in with Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz Inks.  I find that I get a lot of satisfaction from creating cards that are a little more artistic than just simple inking on paper, although, that definitely has its place too.

A fun trick I learned at On Stage, that you can do with photopolymer stamps, is if a verse needs to take a different direction than straight across, you can flex the stamp on the acrylic block, as in this case, a curve above the back of the swing.  Pretty clever, wouldn't you say?



A little secret I will share on the goof ups a person can experience while card making.  I had carefully colored the images in with inks and blender pens to accomplish the coloring I did, set both aside, and then bit into a ripe red cherry.  Cherry juice squirted all over my nice, clean and colored image.  Yikes!  I had spent quite some time making that second card, so you will notice the pot of flowers is attached to the inside of the card....strategically covering that mishap.  It's not so bad!


I used so many different colors of inks to do my coloring, that I am not even sure I can remember them all to list them below.  However, the wooden swing and basket were colored in Crumb Cake and then shaded more with Early Espresso inks.  I find that adding a little dab to an acrylic block, makes a nice palette I can dip my blender pen in.  Works like a charm.

Another effect, that unfortunately, didn't come through in the photograph is, I cut out the pillow images and laid them face down on a foam mat.  I then burnished the back of the image with my stylus, and it broke down the fibers in the paper and rounded them out so they looked a bit like a puffy pillow.  Pretty cool technique, and then there is so much more dimension and texture to the card.

I'd like your opinions on my cards.  Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Monday, June 13, 2016

Swimming with the Fishies

With it being so close to summer, and also feeling a bit like summer, I thought we'd take a visit to the seashore with the new "Seaside Shore" stamp set and "By the Shore" Designer Series Paper.  And how better than with a shaker card?  These are so fun.  I used 2 of our new In Colors, Peekaboo Peach and Dapper Denim to set the color scheme, and picked green and blue sequins out of the Brights Sequin Assortment.  I used the Hooray stamp from the new stamp set "Perfectly Wrapped".


I live in Boise, Idaho, now, but the majority of my family still live on the Oregon Coast.  It's lovely there, and "home" to me, so whenever I get the chance to make something beachy, it makes me feel happy.  There's everything to love about this stamp set too, as you can clearly see, and with the coordinating Designer Series Paper it is so adorable.  I will be making more projects from this set!



Don't the sequins look a bit like bubbles?

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Paper Pumpkin Super Special Deal!

Hi Everyone!  Paper Pumpkin has a sweet deal for new Paper Pumpkin Subscribers.  Want to try out this fantastic Subscription from Stampin' Up!?  Check out the story below:

Details
  • The price of the kit ($5 USD)
  • This offer is open to first-time subscribers only. Discount applies to one kit for June 2016. After the first month, the price for the subscription will return to $19.95 USD/$26.95 CAD.
  • Offer starts on Thursday, June 9 at 5:00 PM (MT) and ends Friday, June 10 at 11:50 PM (MT).
  • Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.
Click HERE to order

PP_One Day Deal_Demo Header 

Want to know more about Paper Pumpkin?  Watch these super cool videos!!




Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Another Color Challenge

Here is another color challenge.  The theme was to use one of the new In Colors and match it up with one of the old In Colors.  So, I choose Flirty Flamingo and Tip Taupe Taupe.  What do you think?  The stamp set is a favorite of mine, Awesomely Artistic.  The stamps are so beautiful.  This time when I made my card layers, I opted to distress the edges of the paper a bit and add some sponging around the edges.  It's so fun!



I pulled linen thread through the vintage button for a completely different effect.


Here is a close up of one of the dragonflies.  You may  notice there is a bit of sparkle on it and that was created by mixing in a container equal parts of clear embossing powder and dazzling diamonds glitter.  


I am quite pleased with these two colors together.  What do you think?

Friday, June 3, 2016

Love a Color Challenge

Happy Friday.  I took yesterday off to let the new catalog absorb a bit.  It's so fun, isn't it?  Have you seen anything you absolutely love?  What are your favorites?  I went a bit overboard, I must confess, when I placed my order.  But, a benefit to joining is you do get a discount on the products.  And don't forget, if you join in June, you also get two additional stamp sets of your choice.  (I'd choose the 2 most expensive ones, personally)  :)  So, with that bounty on it's way to me now, I am going to have lots and lots of things to share with you!  Exciting.... :)

I joined a color challenge this week.  The challenge was to use Flirty Flamingo, Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzleberry.  (Other than the flamingo part, that actually sounds like a yummy combination).

Here is what I created!


I actually struggled a bit with this one.  I started out with 3 flowers, then it was 2 flowers, then finally I decided 1 flower and some leaves.  Then, what about the background?  I am pretty pleased with the way it came out though.  I really love the Timeless Textures stamp set.  I think it is a must have set.  Even though it doesn't photograph well, I added some of the clear Wink of Stella pen to the flower and leaves to add some sparkle.  Love that stuff!

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

It's Here!!!! 2016-2017 Annual Catalog

It's finally here and ready to be drooled over!  
Stampin' Up! 2016-2017 Annual Catalog!  YAY!!


Let me know if you'd like to get your hands on the real thing and I can mail it out to you. ($2 plus priority shipping)  However, you can also download a pdf of the entire catalog right HERE so you can start your shopping now!

I could post pictures of the inside, but honestly...just go download that pdf...what are you waiting for??  I'll wait here for you.  :)

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Welcome back.  So, what did you think?  While I have you here, let me tell you about some pretty awesome promotions in June to launch the new catalog:

1.  Every order that is $350.00 or more, will receive an additional $35.00 in Stampin' Rewards!  That's in addition to the 12% extra you receive for placing an order that is over $300.00.  See how the fun keeps adding up?  That's a lot of extra free stuff of your choosing.  You could even ask some friends to order with you, to reach that level.  Either way, the rewards are yours! ( And don't forget, with any order at $150 or more, qualifies you for 10% of your order in free stuff!)



2.  Should you opt to take the plunge and become a part of my team, you will get to pick out 2 additional stamp sets for FREE.  Yes, you will be able to choose $125.00 worth of product, plus 2 extra stamp sets of your choosing, and that's all for only $99.00, free shipping, and some added business supplies.  But, that's not all, they will also add in a free Paper Pumpkin kit!
  And then, you are part of a very awesome group of friends that take their stamping pretty serious.  Seriously fun!  You will also get to join the most phenomenal team as my special guest, where you will see and learn so many cool and inspiring techniques.  (not to mention a discount!)


And now...the winner of the Pedal Pusher Stamp set as mentioned yesterday is:
Adrianne Simpson