Happy 4th of July!

Just a quick post to share this layout we made at my last scrap class.  I am (slightly) obsessed at the moment, with Ranger embossing paste.  It is absolutely the coolest stuff!  You spread it over a stencil, lift the stencil off, and you have this raised, textured pattern.  My mind automatically went to.... "how can I make it sparkly, too?" So, I put Irridescent Ice embossing powder over the paste while still wet -- then let the project sit aside and dry for a while.  Then, melt the embossing powder with the heat gun.  Note: if you use the heat gun before the paste has dried, then the paste will puff up -- giving you a different look, so that's why you let it dry for a while first.

SU has the stars and stripes masks (which are basically stencils) -- as well as several new ones right now, so I immediately thought of how I could show case my new obsession, embossing paste, with the SU stars and stripes mask -- on a Fourth of July layout.  I wanted to keep it simple, so this is what we made.

The 3" squares with the cute sparkly stars on them on the right hand page, are simply squares of red card stock that we added the stars to, so you can see how versatile this idea is -- add any sort of pattern you like to your project with a stencil and some paste!  AND, you don't have to get the fancy Ranger paste -- you can make the paste yourself with cornstarch, glue, and not sure what else -- just Google embossing paste recipes or look on Pinterest.  There are hundreds out there.

For the Navy striped square, we embossed a navy 3" square with the Stylish Stripes embossing folder, then used the white craft ink pad and just "drug" it across the embossed square to add that look to it.

Other products used on this layout: Larger than Life alphabet, retired Bright and Beautiful set, various star punches and Real Red, Night of Navy, DSP, Red and silver glimmer paper.

Have a safe July 4th, everyone!

The Wilderness Awaits gift card holder

Happy Monday!

Just a quick post to show you a couple of new stamp sets I used to make a cute gift card holder for my New Catalog Open house this past weekend.  I used an oval die cut for the central image -- from the oval framelits.  Stamped the Mallard from Wilderness Awaits set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then colored it in with blender pens and inks -- Garden Green, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, and Soft Suede.  I used a 6x6" pc of Kraft card stock, and used the envelope punch board to score and punch it into a gift card holder -- just follow the measurements on the envelope punch board, for a 6x6" square.

I offered a more feminine gift card version using the Me = Grateful set -- a new sentiment set that has such fun fonts and unique messages.  I used a 1 1/2" strip of retired DSP for the belly band, securing it in the front with the new tear easy tape -- such a nice adhesive replacement for the red line tape we used to have.

I was going for a kind of organic look, so I reached for my Soft Suede ink and the Gorgeous Grunge set.  Perfect for adding some interesting splatters to the background.  So there you have it!  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Rumor has it, that NEW items will be added to the Clearance rack tomorrow, so be sure to check back then and snag the good deals while you can! :)

Definitely Dahlia meets Watermelon Wonder

Happy Friday, Everyone!

A new background stamp called "Definitely Dahlia" was calling my name when I first looked through the new SU catalog.  It is a realistic looking, beautiful stamp -- and makes for an easy, yet gorgeous card.  I also LOVE the new Watermelon Wonder In Color.  It is a vibrant pinkish red color -- but not too pink.  Truly a watermelon color.

This first card is one we will be making at my upcoming New Catalog Open House.  I paired it with Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake.  That spectacular little butterfly is from a new set called Watercolor Wings that has a matching set of new bold butterfly framelits.  This stamp set is a three step stamp set -- you can get a three tone butterfly by stamping three different images on top of the other.  For simplicity, I only stamped two images with this butterfly.  But, the possibilities with this set are really incredible. Another fun, have to have product used on this card -- the banner triple punch.  Easily punch perfect, matching flags with this punch -- which has "slots" for 1", 1 1/2", and 2" strips of paper -- all though you can punch any size up to 2" pretty easily, I've found.

Other products used on these cards: Memento Black ink, Watermelon Wonder ink, Crumb Cake ink, Basic Rhinestones -- colored red with a Sharpie, Linen thread, stamp sets: Definitely Dahlia, Gorgeous Grunge, Endless birthday wishes, and Me = Grateful.

Happy crafting to each of you!!!

Sneak Peak -- "You've Got This" stamp set

Here is a brand new stamp set called "You've Got This" that will be in the new catalog coming out June 2nd. It was a must have on my list, as it comes with this cool cross hatch background as well as that beautiful floral image.  I stamped the flower onto watercolor paper in black Stayzon ink, and then used an aqua painter and a new In Color ink, Watermelon Wonder, to color in the flower.  This color is my definite favorite of the New In Colors this year -- a vibrant watermelon color -- very poppy like.  And, for those of you who know me, all things poppies are special to me, as they grew everywhere when I was a little girl, thanks to my mom who planted them in honor of her mom....  I, too, have poppies growing all around my yard....

The card base is also a new In Color, called Tip Top Taupe.  It is a great neutral color that will play well with many other colors in our line up.  I randomly stamped the cross hatch background in the same ink color -- Tip Top Taupe.

The leaves and stems are colored in with another new In Color, Cucumber Crush -- a very vibrant green.  The flower stamens are colored with Delightful Dijon -- also a new In Color.  Of course, I added a little dazzling diamonds glitter to the flower center with my two way glue pen -- it just makes that flower 'pop'!  That little lace trim you see, is the new In Color lace trim -- I only purchased it in the Tip Top Taupe color.  Soft, easy to tie, and a subtle accent to your project.

 Here is a second card I made, featuring this stamp in a "non-colored in" fashion.  I wanted to try different neutrals together with the new Tip Top Taupe to see how they look together.  I rather like how it came out.  I stamped the central image on a Sahara Sand die cut in Memento Black ink.  I then used the white signo gel pen to highlight the petals lightly.  The die cut mat is Tip Top Taupe stamped with the cross hatch stamp again.  LOVE that stamp!  So versatile.  I know I will be reaching for this stamp for dozens of projects.  Will be perfect for scrap book pages as well.

Another new product in the upcoming catalog, is heavy weight Whisper White card stock -- perfect for a card base as it not so flimsy and holds up to adding layers to it much better.

Other product used on this card:  Basic Black card stock, the Tip Top Taupe lace trim, Soft Suede ink,  deco label framelits, and Tuxedo Memento Black ink.

These are easy peasy lemon squeezy cards, but I thought they show cased this new stamp set in an easily re-creatable way. :)

Happy long weekend to each of you, and may we pause and remember those who have given their lives for our freedom!

Indescribable gift and spiral flower die wine tag

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Yesterday my crafty stampers' club made this gorgeous wine tag, perfect for spring and summer!  The hostess had requested a wine tag, and I decided to go with a color combo out of my comfort zone -- Coastal Cabana (a soon to be retired color) and Calypso Coral.  I really like how it turned out, and it is definitely on the trendy side. :)

For the base of the wine tag, I used an embossing folder from the spring catalog, Spring Flowers.  This cute little folder is not carrying over to the new catalog, so get it before June 2nd if you love it!

The flower is made with the spiral flower die -- using two die cut flowers (Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe) layered together.  To achieve this vintage looking flower, spritz your die cuts liberally with water, wad them up in your hand, crumpling them well, then smooth out and roll up into your rose and hot glue it together.  Smoosh and scrunch your rose till you like the look of the petals.  To make the leaves, I scored a pc of Pear Pizzazz card stock, then folded on the score line and punched petals with the large oval punch.  I then put them through the Stylish Stripes embossing folder to make it look like veins on the leaves.  For that background behind the rose, I used a die cut piece from the Artisan Embellishment kit (no longer available to purchase), and turned it into a stencil by coating it well with gel medium to make it waterproof, then sponged Coastal Cabana ink over it with a sponge dauber.  For the second wine tag, I used the Indescribable Gift stamp set from the Occasions catalog -- a set that isn't carrying over, so if you love it, get it!  Just sayin'!  I stamped the brach in Memento Black ink and then colored the flowers in using my Blender pens and Calypso Coral, Espresso, and Pear Pizzazz inks.  I added Crystal Effects to the larger flowers to add some dimension to them.  I rather like how it turned out.

Other products used: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, and Coastal Cabana card stock, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, Costal Cabana, Calypso Coral, and Pear Pizzazz ink, Pear Pizzazz and Calypso Coral chevron ribbon.

Be sure to check out the Paper Pumpkin special by clicking on the button on the upper right -- 50% off your first two months subscription.  SWEET!!!!!  Who doesn't love getting a crafty box delivered right to their door every month? :)

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

It's Teacher Appreciation week!  I am so grateful for the teachers that each of my children have.  It is an often thankless job, I think, and they put SOOO much into our kids and help shape their lives in ways that we, as parents, can't.  So, thank you to all the teachers out there!  We appreciate what you do!

I, once again, headed up the teacher appreciation gifts for my son's school.  Three ladies, including my friend, Leah, whose kids don't even go to our school, came over and helped put these together. We gave out a little lotion in a cello bag with a cute washi tape tag on it, and a packet of four note cards -- stamped with the Perfect Peacock stamp, Bordering Blooms stamp set, Sheltering Tree stamp set, and a retired tractor stamp.  The SU note cards come in a pack of 20 for $5.95 each.  That is a lot of little cards with matching envelopes, making it a very inexpensive, yet awesome, little gift -- we could get 5 gifts out of one pack.  Score!  It was fun to see the looks on the teachers faces when we handed them out.  LOVE that part.

Other products used:  Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, and the following inks:  Bermuda Bay, Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzaz, Early Espresso, Lost Lagoon, Real Red, and Old Olive.  I just love stamping all the little parts that come with the Sheltering Tree stamp, and especially wanted to stamp that little bike.  However, after 65 of them, I was feeling like I had given that stamp set plenty of love!

Today, for Sabina's little pre school, we picked up drinks (of their choice) from Starbucks for each of her teachers, and gave out little card packets, and Sabina made them each a card as well.  She did a great job of giving them their little gifts and saying "Happy Teacher Appreciation Week".  Awwww - it's the little moments that make life grand!

Happy Friday, Everyone! and don't forget to thank your teachers!

Wetlands meets "reflection technique"

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Here is another card we will be making at my next Stampers' Techniques club.  I was really glad to see that this stamp set, Wetlands, is NOT on the retiring list of stamps that are going away, as I really, really love this set, and reach for it often when I am making a masculine card.  I have committed to making one masculine card in every class that I do, as we all need cards for the men in our lives, even though they might not be the most fun to make.  I have also been wanting to teach the reflection technique, so this was the perfect set to do it with.

You'll start by cutting a Whisper White die cut with the Labels framelits (which are retiring, by the way -- so if you want them, get them now!).  Next, stamp your top Canadian goose image as close to the top of your die cut as you can using Memento Black ink.  Then, use the slick side of your stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet, and stamp the goose again in the black ink.  Turn your imaging sheet over, so the inked area is facing your card stock -- line up the reflection image with the original goose you stamped -- making sure the legs and body match up.  Lay your imaging sheet down and rub it firmly to transfer the inked image to your die cut piece.  When you lift the imaging sheet off, you will have the reflected image on your die cut.  It will not be as crisp of an image as the original stamped one, and that is ok because a reflected image is more fuzzy in real life.  Now, to get that sponged look, I started by masking the body of the goose so that I didn't get blue sky ink on him.  I then sponged the sky with Pool Party ink.  Next, I used a sticky note and sponged the grasses and soil line with Old Olive and Soft Suede ink.  I wanted the part above the water to be more vibrant than below the water line, so I sponged accordingly.  I then used a Blender pen to add some Crumb Cake ink to the goose body, and also blended the sky/water line a little to create that blurred border.  I used a Pool Party marker and a chalk marker to add some streaks to make the water look more realistic.  After assembling the card, I added crystal effects to the water area -- scribbling it over the entire water area to further add to the "water look".

I really love how this card came out.  Makes me want to try this idea again.  One note about this technique: I think a die based black ink, like the Tuxedo Memento black, works best for this rather than stayzon ink, as the stayzon won't transfer from your imaging sheet to the card stock very well, I've found.

Other things used in this card:  Pool Party card stock base, Basic Black card stock, Neutrals candy dots, burlap ribbon, the zig zag embossing folder, Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set, word window punch, and the retiring modern label punch.

Hoping this inspires you to try the reflection technique for yourself!