Perfect Peacock meets the Blendies

Ok, one more before my coffee is finished! :)

I have loved the Perfect Peacock stamp since it came out in the catalog last July, and finally got around to ordering it.  While this stamp is gorgeous meticulously colored in using the Blendabilities markers, I wanted to show a way to use it at my club that required a little less work.  So, here is what I came up with.  Please drop me a comment to let me know what you think!  I have to say, I was really pleased with how this came out!  Gorgeous and not hard to do.

Start by stamping the peacock in Versamark on your black panel, and embossing with white embossing powder.  Then use the darkest of each of these Blendabilites marker sets: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Coastal Cabana, and Daffodil Delight.  I started by coloring the whole tail blue with the Coastal Cabana Blendabilities marker, then used the Rich Razzleberry marker to highlight the feathers.  Much easier than coloring each feather individually.  Those little blue sequins are a new product in the Occasions catalog -- Bermuda Bay sequin trim.  The little scalloped strip on the edge of the black, is a strip of Rich Razzleberry card stock punched with the dotted scalloped ribbon border punch.  We just hid most of it under the black panel so we would have just a tiny border.  The card stock base is Bermuda Bay.

I thought this was a great way to showcase another use for the Blendabilites markers besides traditional coloring.  These amazing markers are available as a freebie with a $50 order during Sale-a-bration!  I am SOOO excited about this, as I love these markers and wanted to get a few more colors that I hadn't gotten yet.

Visit my website to learn more!

Ok! Off to ski with my kiddos!

Sweet, sweet Lotus Blossom!

Happy Monday, Everyone!

My kids don't have school today, so it's a lazy morning.  Plans to go skiing a little later, but thankfully, we don't have to be out the door before 8:30 as on ski lessons day, so Woo Hoo! Going to drink my coffee and post to my neglected blog. :)

The new Sale-a-bration freebie stamp set, Lotus Blossom, jumped off the page at me the first time I saw it.  Such a gorgeous stamp set that is a bit different than any we've had before, because this is a THREE step stampin' set -- yes! three images that you stamp on top of each other to create this three toned flower!  In my opinion, this set is well worth the $50 purchase to get it free.  Another cool feature, when you open your stamp set, you will notice that there is a little tab at the top of each of the flower stamps to help you orient which way is up, AND, they also have the stamps numbered on the image sheet -- 1, 2, and 3 so you know which image to stamp first, second and third.  So, here is how you stamp them for the best results: Stamp the smallest flower image (#1) in your darkest ink (here I used Blackberry Bliss), your medium image (#2) in a medium colored ink (here I used Perfect Plum) and your largest image (#3) in your lightest ink (Wisteria Wonder used here).  So, in a condensed sentence, stamp from your smallest to greatest sized images in your darkest to lightest ink choices.  We made this card in my last stampers club.  Love how easy it is to make a really amazing flower with it.  When the card was completed, I used a little Dazzling details and "colored" on the flower tips to add some dimension and sparkle.  Love how it turned out.  This set would be perfect to whip up a big stack of thank you notes with.  Easy and beautiful!

Sheltering Tree meets white crayon resist

Happy Saturday, crafty peeps!

At my last stampers' techniques club, we did this card featuring a new stamp set -- Sheltering Tree -- from the Occasions catalog.  I LOVED this set from the first time I saw it.  It has great possibilities for every season, and good for showcasing a number of techniques.  I've been wanting to show the white crayon resist technique for a while, and this was the perfect set to do it.  For best results, use glossy card stock.  SU used to sell it but doesn't anymore, however, I think you could order it online or purchase it from Staples or somewhere?  Anyways, I think your ink blends better on the glossy.

First, I cut out a glossy card stock die cut, using my starburst framelits.  Next, stamp the tree in tuxedo memento black ink and let dry a bit.  Next, use a white crayon -- raid your kids' crayon stashes!-- and outline the branches with crayon, and make a snow bank at the bottom.  Next, sponge ink over top -- I used Lost Lagoon.  Rub a paper towel over the top to wipe off excess ink -- the crayon areas will resist the ink, and look like snow.  For that awesome background panel, I used the new FREE Sale-a-bration freebie paper -- the Irresistably Yours Specialty DSP.  It has a glossy (like embossed) pattern in the paper that resists the ink when you sponge or spritz over top.  I love the patterns -- stripes, vines, dots, stars, little flowers, and scallops.  To me, this paper doesn't look all that exciting at all until you use it and you realize how versatile and awesome it is. That sweet little embellishment, is also front the Occasions catalog -- Something borrowed embellishments.  Love these little beauties.  Really adds a touch of flair.  When the card was complete, I added some dazzling details to the branches of the trees and the snow bank to look a little bit 3-D on the snow.  Everyone seemed to love this card and decided they liked that SAB paper after all!

Wishing each of you a Happy Saturday!  Be sure to check out all the fabulous treasures you can get for FREE right now during Sale-a-bration with a $50 order.  I am most excited about the DSP featured in today's project, the Lotus Blossom stamp set, and the HUGE selection of Blendabilities markers you can get for free! Yippee Skippeee!!!