Blended Bloom gets a wash!

A new single stamp in this year's catalog, Blended Bloom, jumped into my online cart the first time I saw it.  It is a gorgeous image to color in -- either with the Blendabilities markers like I did here, or several different techniques -- like this Water color splash technique like we did at my last class or embossing it in white embossing powder on black card stock and coloring parts of it in with the Blendabilities markers -- stay tuned for a post on that technique later.  (Here is another link with all the detailed instructions of how to do this technique.)  A cute side note -- at my first scrap booking class after the new catalog came out, a long time customer of mine saw cards I had made with the Blended Bloom stamp and said, "Oh, I knew you would get that stamp!  I saw that stamp and said "THAT is a 'Beth' stamp."  I will admit, this stamp makes me happy. :)

This was a card we made at my stampers club earlier this month.  Besides the watercolor splash technique, I showed my peeps how to use the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities markers to color on top of the white embossing in the center of the flower to make that stunning center look so realistic.  Hard to see in this photo, but we also stamped the background of the card base with the same Blended Bloom image in Versamark to create that water mark look -- i.e. another use for the Versamark pad.  Those cute leaves are cut using the Autumn Accents die.  I showed how to use a stylus to create "veins" in the leaves to make them look more realistic, as well as sponging the leaf edges to add color depth.  Simple, but adds a wow factor.  Of course, I used the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and matching framelits to create the little sentiments.  AND some Dazzling Details to add some sparkle to the flower centers.  The colors used on this card are: Rich Razzleberry, Mossy Meadow (a new In Color), Blushing Bride, and Shimmery White card stock for the flower part.  Important note: you DO need the shimmery white card stock to achieve this look with this technique.  Something about the way it resists water or something.

If you haven't checked out this weeks "weekly deals", you simply must!  The  Gift Bow Bigz Die is 25% off this week!  Besides making, well, bows... check out the adorable snowman or these santas or my favorite -- these little angel ornaments.  Such clever projects really thinking outside the box.  To see the weekly deals, click on the link below and then on the Shop button from my website.

Happy Wednesday to each of you!!!

My wee moment in the spotlight!

Happy Monday, Crafty Friends!

I recently returned from a super exciting adventure -- my very FIRST SU Convention!  It was more than incredible -- inspiring, thought provoking, and just plain FUN!  The theme this year was "Inspire, Create, Share" and attending this event made me realize what a difference SU really does make in the lives of people everywhere -- in small and big ways.  I personally have seen that some of the best friends I've made over the years are ones I've met through stamping....  And these friendships have motivated me to continue "doing" Stampin' Up!  Anyways, 2014 marks my tenth year as a SU demonstrator, and I have never gone to Convention, so it seemed fitting that this was the year I should go.  My wee moment in the spotlight, was walking across the stage to commemorate my 10th year as a SU demonstrator.  So,.... here I am!!!

And here is a photo with two of my Seattle uplines, Michelle and Christine as well as my downline, Audrie.

And, finally, there was this really cool photo booth where the wall was solid paper flowers!  Big, gorgeous paper flowers.  Still not quite sure how they made these -- perhaps with MDS and a big cutter of some sort???  Lovely!

One of my very favorite things at the Convention, was all the sample boards.  I took MANY photos of them and enjoyed basking in the sheer creativity of demos from all over the world!  I also participated in several organized swaps and received some beautiful samples back.  Wooo Hooo!

Ok, off to get going with my day! :)

Flower Patch happiness

Happy Monday, Everyone!  Hope that each of you have recovered from July 4th craziness. :)  For us, the kids finally went to bed last night closer to the usual 8:30 time, rather than after midnight.  Yikes!  My pyro husband did TWO big fireworks displays this year -- one on the 4th, and another on the 5th.  And, oh yes, don't forget the "trial runs" on the night of the 3rd! :) So,.... we were all ready for a good nights sleep and now a week of "normal" :) routines!  As I type this, the kids are both still snoozing -- which, for my early bird son, is unusual!

A brand new photopolymer stamp set and matching framelits called "Flower Patch bundle" caught my eye instantly when I opened this year's new catalog.  Its many stamps are designed to work together to create all different combinations of two-step (or multiple) stamped images -- i.e. you stamp the base flower or leaf image, then stamp one or more images on top of that original one.  It also has matching framelits so you can die cut any of the images to create dimension.  Because it is a photopolymer stamp set, it is completely clear so it's easy to see through the stamp to ensure the placement of your image.  There is a tad of a learning curve with photopolymer stamps -- they stamp slightly differently than the regular rubber -- and you will get a much better image if you place the stampin' pierce mat underneath your card stock before you stamp.

This card is one we will be making at my next stampers' club next Sunday.  It's a card of options -- choose to make it with the new "Flower Patch Bundle" (save 15% off the price when you purchase the framelits with the stamp set) or the "Beautiful Bunch" stamp set and it's matching fun flower punch.  The truth is, I couldn't wait to show off ALL my new toys, so here you go! :)

For the Flower Patch card, I used these inks: Pool Party, Lost Lagoon (a new In Color), Calypso Coral, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Mossie Meadow (another new In Color), and Early Espresso.  Isn't the layering effect incredible???  There are multiple images I could have incorporated into this card, but I decided to try and keep it on the simpler side -- i.e. I could have die cut each flower color to make a 3-D flower, or added several more flower images, but I still love the effect created with the simple stamping!  For the "other" card, I stamped images from the Beautiful Bunch set and punched them out with the matching Fun Flower punch.  The leaves are made with another flower image from the set -- stamped in Wild Wasabi ink and cut the petals apart to make the leaves.  The white panel behind the flowers, is embossed with a brand new embossing folder -- lovely lace embossing folder.  The card stock used here is Pool Party for the card base, and Whisper White and Early Espresso for the front panel.

There's a sweet special for the month of July -- buy three packages of the designer paper priced at $10.95 and get a 4th pack FREE! so it's like getting 25% off your paper.  If you're not sure you "need" four packs of paper, go in with a friend and split the special. :)

One more news flash -- seven color assortments of the Blendabilities markers are now available for purchase: Cherry Cobbler, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and the Skin Tone assortment.  The remaining color offerings will be available August first.  If you haven't tried these new alcohol based markers out yet, you simply must!  The blending abilities are outstanding -- see