Stained glass butterflies -- Butterfly thinlit dies

Yep! I just can't stop playing with the butterfly thinlets -- which, incidentally, are on sale for 15% off through April 30th!  AND if you purchase one of the bundles including the Butterfly Basics stamp set as well as framelits, you can choose one of three Sale-a-bration items for FREE -- the Irresistably Yours specialty DSP, the Best Year Ever DSP, or a ribbon/button pack.

This is a card we will be making at my next techniques stampers club.  I am in love with this stained glass technique, and just wanted to try another twist to this idea.  In a previous post, I showed how to emboss an image on vellum and color the opposite side with markers to create an amazing stained glass look.  On this card, I have die cut the medium butterfly out of black card stock, carefully glued it to a scrap of vellum, and then colored the back side using just a sponge dauber and inks.  Start with your lightest color of ink first, and add as much color to the vellum as possible.  Then get your darker color and add that to the outside edges of the wings, taking care not to get too much on the lighter color or your butterfly won't have that two tone look.

Another new treasure I used on these cards, was the striped scalloped thinnest die.  I've had this die on my wish list for a long time, and just recently got around to purchasing it.  I wanted the butterflies to 'pop' on this card, so I did a tone on tone look -- using Very Vanilla for the card base as well as my scalloped overlay.  Soft and elegant.

For the first card here, I used Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry inks on the butterfly, and on the second one -- Crushed Curry and Tangelo Twist inks.  My idea was a version of a monark butterfly with the latter.  Of course, I'm not striving for realism here -- just beauty! :)

Letterpres Winter and the Snowflake thinlets die

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

Recently two items were added to the Clearance Rack that I HAD to purchase -- the Letterpress Winter stamp set and the coordinating snowflake card thinlits die. I had wanted these when they came out in last year's holiday catalog, but just couldn't justify the cost.  Well,.... now they are on clearance for a killer deal and so I snatched them up.  As you know, with the clearance rack, things sell out, so jump on there and grab them if you love them as much as I do.

This die makes the cutest fun fold Christmas card.  I used the All Is Calm specialty DSP which is also on the clearance rack, with a Lost Lagoon card base.  To make this card larger than the die is intended for, read this blog post.

Also used in these cards: silver foil paper, Island Indigo card stock, Lost Lagoon ink, Island Indigo ink, and basic rhinestones.

The retirement list is also here, with many beautiful treasures up to 50% off!  -- check out the framelit sets and punches especially that are on sale.  Many awesome deals to be had.

Four Feathers found my house!

I'll admit, I wasn't jumping on the feathers band wagon when this little stamp set, Four Feathers came out in the holiday catalog last fall.  And, THEN..... I kept seeing all these beautiful things done with this set, and, well, I changed my mind, and this little set and it's matching framelits made their way to my door...

This set and framelits were carried over from the holiday catalog, and are still available to order.  Since I had never used them yet, I decided to feature them at my stampers club this month.  I was inspired by a few cards I've seen on various sites.  I wanted a masculine card to add to my line up, so World Map background stamp fit the bill perfectly, and it show cases how simple stamping can make an amazing background.  I stamped the map stamp on Very Vanilla card stock in Soft Suede ink, and then sponged the edges with more Soft Suede ink to give it that weathered, vintage look.  The little strip of Soft Suede card stock on the front was embossed with the zig zag embossing folder, and then sponged with Suede ink to make the pattern pop.  The feathers are stamped in Old Olive and Bermuda Bay ink and cut out with their coordinating framelits.  One feather is cut from the gold glimmer paper.  A button from the neutrals collection, or a stamped and sponged wood element piece, some linen thread, and a couple of candy dots complete the card.  A little zip, but not TOO much for the man in your life!

Be sure to check out the latest four NEW Sale-a-bration freebies you can get with a $50 order just during the month of March.  I'm loving these new options!!!http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/SAB2015/2nd%20Release/Flyer_SAB2_demo_Feb1715_US.pdf

Stained Glass Easter -- "Indescribable Gift" stamp set

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I have been playing around with the stained glass technique lately, and wanted to share this card we will be making at my next club.  Note: this card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest, by Teneale Williams -- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/497507090062226749/.  I loved the springy look of it, and the white embossing gives such a soft look.  I did my own twist on it, but the inspiration came from there.

This technique is really pretty simple: choose a stamp image that you can color in, stamp your image in Versamark ink on vellum card stock and emboss with your choice of embossing powder color.  Here, in the first card, I used white embossing powder, because I wanted a soft look, and in the second one, I used black embossing powder for a bolder, more modern look.  Once you have embossed the image, color the images in on the back side of your vellum using the Blendabilities markers.  They dry more quickly on the vellum than some other mediums.  You won't get a blended look necessarily, and that is ok -- I think the contrast adds to the final result.  What do you think????  The vellum front panel is adhered to a Whisper White card stock panel that is the same size, using glue dots in the corners, and then placing rhinestones over top to conceal the glue dots that want to show through the vellum.

Other products used on the first card: Calypso coral card base, whisper white card stock, Early Espresso card stock, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, and Calypso Coral Blendabilities markers, Calypso Coral chevron ribbon, and Basic rhinestones.

 This card, features the Blended Bloom stamp set and the little Valentines paper stack from the Occasions catalog.  I wanted to create a more modern, chick look with this one.

During the month of March, four NEW Sale-a-bration freebies have been added! -- a cute vellum paper stack, two stamp sets, and a set of In Color twine and button pack.  I'm excited about all of them.  Really great new options!  check them out by clicking the link below to my website.

Butterfly mania -- Butterfly thinlets

Just a quick post to share another of my new crafty friends -- the butterfly thinlets from the Occasions catalog.  I just can't quite cutting out butterflies cause they are just so beautiful.  Another Occasions catalog favorite, is the Something Lacy background stamp.  While you might look at this stamp in the catalog and go "Meh", once you stamp with it, I think you'll change your mind.  It really comes to life when you stamp it.  Check out these cards and see if you agree. :)

This first card, is a Crisp Cantaloupe (an unloved color on my shelf) card base, stamped with the same color of ink.  The top butterfly is Pistachio Pudding card stock, and those beautiful rosettes in the center, are from the Artisan Embellishment kit.  There is actually a whole lot of bang for your buck packed into this little kit.  I plan to use one of the rose die cut pieces as a stencil pattern for a card.  Have seen some beautiful things done with it.

 This next card is one we will be making at my upcoming Techniques class.  The top butterfly, is cut out of the Dazzling Diamonds glitter paper, and is then colored with an aqua painter and Blushing Bride re inker on the edges, to create that glittering, pink edged butterfly.  The sparkly purple strip along the bottom by the sentiment, is another strip of the glitter paper that I have spritzed with rubbing alcohol mixed with Blackberry Bliss re-inker, so you can die your dazzling Diamonds glitter paper any color you wish with a little re-inker and alcohol in a spritzer.  OR use your aqua painter for localized applications.  Pretty cool, huh? I thought so!!!  Glitter paper in every color????  BRING IT ON!!!  Again, we're using the rosette trim from the Artisan embellishment kit.  So beautiful, I think!

 Closer up of the purple glitter strip.

 And all the other butterflies I cut and colored with different inks cause I just couldn't stop playing with these lovelies!

Stay tuned for FOUR ADDITIONAL SALE-A-BRATION FREEBIES being added to the lineup on March 1st!  There are two stamp sets, a cute printed velum stack, and a pack of the 2014-2016 In Colors bakers twine and buttons combo -- a 5 yard roll of twine in each In Color, and some really cute matching little buttons.  Can you tell that's the one that interests me the most??? I LOVE the 2014-2016 In Colors -- possibly my most favorite In Colors ever.  So glad I still have a year to play with them and show them off, and make you want them too!  Hee hee

Until I stamp again.....

"Crazy for You Bundle" goes scrappy

Happy Saturday!

Just a quick post this morning of the scrap layout we did in our scrappers club last night.  I'm still playing with my "Crazy for You Bundle".  LOVE these die cut words and all the options there are to make custom titles, special cards, etc.  GREAT bundle for so many occasions and applications.

Other new products I used here, is the Petal Potpourri Bundle, the Something Borrowed DSP and embellishments.  I think this DSP is some of the most versatile I've ever used, and it is great to have so many pages of the same color to work with.  Just a gorgeous, neutral DSP!  I also used "That's the Ticket" stamp set and punch, as well as the Top Note Bigz Die, and the 7/8" scallop punch. Other colors used: Basic Black, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Real Red, and Crumb Cake.  That beautiful flourish stamp, is from the "Everything Eleanor" stamp set.  I have used this flourish so many times.  Elegant and classic.  I stamped it in Soft Suede ink on the Crumb Cake card stock.

I used "Hello Sunshine" for the title for these skiing pics from last year, because it can be a little rare on Big Mountain to have a clear, sunny day where you can ski fog-free at the summit.  :)

Enjoy your day, Everyone! and be sure to check out all the fun Sale-a-bration freebies you can get right now -- through Mar 31st -- with a $50 purchase.  Some of my favorites, are the Blendabilities markers, the Irresistably Yours DSP, and the Lotus Blossom stamp set.  See previous recent blog posts to learn more about these products.

Hello You thinlets!

Happy Monday!

I'm STILL playing with the Hello You thinlets!  Just love any words you can die cut, because the cool factor is WAY up there -- in my book, anyways.  They can be a little tricky to cut out, but the magnetic platform really helps a lot -- must be less give in the sandwich. :)

Just a little Black and white and Tangerine Tango!  Oh yes, and some of the new Stacked with Love washi tape.  Who doesn't love black and white washi tape!  So versatile.

The flowers from Flower Shop stamp set were colored with the Calypso Coral Blendabilities markers, and punched out with the Pansy Punch.  I used the stem from the Lotus Blossom Sale-a-bration set for the stems.  Other products used:  Scalloped tag topper punch, Tangelo Twist ribbon, Wild Wasabi ink, Tuxedo Memento black ink, Basic Black, Whisper White and Tangerine Tango card stock.

Be sure to check out all the free stuff you can get during Sale-a-bration!  Woooo Hoooo!