Friends Never Fade In Marina Mist and Brayered Folder

I have so many new favorite colors from the New Color Collection… everyday has been a new adventure since I received my new Catalog Sneak Peek merchandise.  Now, my job is to make YOU want all this stuff too.. LOL!!

Two cards today.. Today’s cards both use early espresso, marina mist, and whisper white cardstock and the Friends Never Fade Stamp Set.

Both cards use the lovely new blue shade of ink:  Marina Mist.  In the first sample a brayer was used to add color to the concave side of the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder to make a lovely custom background paper. 

Card 1 – Additional supplies Narrow Early Espresso Ribbon

That background really pops, don’t you think?

Here’s card #2 – using much of the same supplies, a plainer background with the addition of the en francais large format background stamps and some brushed silver brads perfectly placed with a mat pack and paper piercing tool.

I think it needs a bow or something on that ribbon.. what do you think???

Two cards again tomorrow… this time featuring the Sketch Frenzy Friday June 18th layout… I meant to post them to the link on my friend Connie’s blog.. but totally got busy and forgot!!  Yikes!!

I look forward to reading your comments.. have a wonderful day, and stay cool!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,friends never fade,classic ink,high desert stamper,catalog

Flowers and Friends Never Fade… Two Cards

Playing around with the flower from the Friends Never Fade stamp set… I really wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with this flower! 

This first sample uses the tiny background dot-dot-dot stamp, and Early Espresso lusciously rich classic ink.  The flowers were stamped with yummy Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink (are you hungry yet?).. but then I colored them with a Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker before highlighting with more color from Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Markers.

The narrow strips of Early Espresso Cardstock were cut in 1/4” wide lengths to create a window pane effect.. so, what do you think?

Here’s another card using another floral image from the Friends Never Fade Stamp Set… a much simpler design using just two colors of classic ink:  Marina Mist, and Cherry Cobbler.

Very simple design.. but a real wow factor.. very quick and easy to put together.. just need to remember to clean your stamp before switching ink colors LOL!  Aren’t you loving the new narrow ribbons?  They add a touch of pizzaz to your cards without a lot of bulk!

My shipment of the New 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogs arrived late last week.. I know you’re looking forward to having your very own copy.. contact me today if you’d like to arrange to have one shipped directly to you, or to pick up one here in Jacksonville  You’re going to love the new designs, cards, and layouts.  The artwork is tops!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,friends never fade,catalog,ink

Lunchtime Sketch Challenge… Christmas in June!

OK.. so we’ve all heard of Christmas in July.. what about Christmas in June??  So many people are making their own Christmas cards these days… they start way ahead of time… June is not unreasonable!

This is a card I made this morning for Mary Jo Price-Williams’ Techno Stamper Lunchtime Sketch Challenge TSSC128.  Conveniently it also qualifies for the Late Night Stampers Challenge #77 which is to use NEW Idea Book & Catalog Merchandise.

Here’s Mary Jo’s cool sketch:

The Greeting on this card is from Occasional Quotes.  Embossing folder for Cherry Cobbler Background:  Vintage Wallpaper.  Paper used:  Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla.  A little faux stitching along the edge of the greeting/ Norman Vincent Peale quote adds some balance to a left heavy card.

I hope you like it… now I’ve got to go back to work :)

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: TSSC128,Lunchtime Sketch Challenge,Stamps,Paper,Ink,Late Night Stampers,Challenge,LNS 77

Faux Stitched Posies… two cards

Remember a few years back when Mary Englebright Posies were all the rage?  They were fresh and fun, whimsical and new… a bright and colorful escape from tradition, weren’t they?

These are two cards make in the Mary Englebright tradition.. layers of  bright fun colors and simple design.  I’ve used the Sizzix buttons #5 Die & Modern Label die, Large Bird and Branch and Modern Label punch, Newsprint Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Dimensionals, the Faux Stitching Technique and the  Because I Care stamp set in both samples.  There are subtle differences between the two cards.. see if you can pick them out!

Card #1 –

Additional Supplies:  Cardstock-  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Very Vanilla  and Basic Black Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon

Did you like that card?  It’s kind of fresh and fun… simple and easy to create.  Here’s a re-make of the same card, where I’ve eliminated the basic black cardstock, added bitty buttons and linen thread, and some tearing.

Card #2

Isn’t it amazing how the same card can look so different?  Hope you liked them!

See you tomorrow with some more samples featuring the Friends Never Fade Stamp set… have you ordered your new Idea Book & Catalog yet?

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,sizzix,buttons,mary englebright,itty bitty buttons,ink

Late Edition: Challenge Submissions

Well, I actually had a little “play” time today.. and had an opportunity to take advantage of the many card making challenges out there… Gosh there are a lot of challenges out there!!!  Challenges are so much fun, and a great way to jump start your creativity weather you are making cards, scrapbook pages, ATC’s or altered art!!  Put on your seatbelt… let’s go for a challenge ride!!

First up… Create with Connie and Mary, following their sketch and combined with the CAS-Tastic color challenge CWC009 which required us to use the colors blue, white and neutral:

Next up, Paper Players Plus #4 PPP4 – Sketch Challenge, LNS Demo Only Challenge – Incorporate an ATC into your card, and Paper Pal Arts #48 – Create an Easel Card:

First, here’s the ATC (Altered Trading Card)

Here’s the card:

And here’s the open “easel card” view:

I love creating vellum butterflies.. they look so real.. the tutorial may be found on my tutorial page here:  Vellum Butterflies.

Tomorrow you’ll see some Mary Englebright type cards… I’d love to know which one you like best!

Hugs!

Technorati Tags: CWC009,PPP4,Always Playing With Paper,Create With Connie and Mary,PPA48,CAS-Tastic Challenge,Late Night Stampers,LNS Demo Only,Vellum Butterflies

All A Flutter… Magnetic Inspiration and Zindorf Enabler Alert

Here’s yet another vellum butterfly… done with the vellum butterfly technique found on my tutorial page.  I really love this butterfly, can you tell?

Cardstock used on this card:  Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Garden Green, and Soft Sky.  Now, I KNOW I’m not the only person out there hoarding soft sky cardstock… it was such a beautiful, soft color.  I also KNOW I was not alone in secretly hoping that Stampin’ Up! would bring it back with the Color Renovation this year…. oh well!

The Bashful Blue Background was stamped with Versamark Ink to achieve a watermark effect using the Bella Toile Large Format Background Stamp from Stampin’ Up!  The Soft Sky cardstock was also stamped with Bella Toile, but inked first with versamark, then soft sky classic ink (yes, I have my ink pad too:) and then covered with clear embossing powder before using a heat tool to set and achieve the shiny elegant look of the background.

So… where did my inspiration for this card come from?  It was a refrigerator magnet!  I’ve had the magnet for over a year, and kept thinking “I have to make a card like that”…. with the help of All A Flutter,(and soft sky cardstock) I finally did!

Here’s the magnet:

 

What do you think?

Enabler Alert:  Zindorf Workshop Opportunity

I received an email from an online friend who is hosting a Michelle Zindorf workshop Sept. 11th and 12th in Piedmont, Alabama which is on the border of Georgia and Alabama.. not far from Birmingham, Huntsville Alabama or Dallas, Rome, Carrolton, or Douglasville, Ga.  As you know, I hosted Michelle earlier this year… and I can tell you, if you live within a few hours of Piedmont, don’t miss this workshop!!  My workshop attendees travelled for up to 5 hours to be here for the workshop here in Jacksonville, Florida… many of whom were repeat attendees.  It is a fabulous experience, it is a wonderful learning experience and well worth the investment!!  What a wonderful day trip with friends it would make!!  You can register for this fabulous workshop HERE on Michelle’s site.. you won’t be disappointed!

Hugs,

Sharon

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,inspiration,butterfly,magnet,soft sky,stampin up

, Zindorf

Try a New Technique: Acrylic Block Stamping! And 4 Cards too!

Clear mount blocks are good for much more than mounting stamps!  I just couldn’t help it… just before I put my clear mount blocks away in my stampin’ studio… it came to me:  Why not stamp with them?  That was just the beginning… and I now have a new appreciation for my Clear Mount Stamps and Blocks!

First, you’ll need to gather your supplies:

• Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Clear Mount Acrylic Blocks
• Cardstock

Whew… what a list!!

 

And here you go:

Ink up your clear mount acrylic block with classic ink…   and then stamp on your cardstock!

And you’ve got a stamped image!!

Really quick, Clean and Simple… FOUR cards using the Paradise Stamp Set and my clear mount blocks as stamps! 

The first one uses different block sizes…

A second one using a smaller block and the new yummy Crumb Cake Classic ink to stamp the background for the leaf image.

A third card using the same quick and easy clear block technique:

 

And one more… using the long, narrow clear mount block and “I’m so glad it’s back” River Rock Classic Ink

So.. hey, imagine the possibilities… Clear Mount Acrylic Blocks… they’re not just for stamp mounts… they’re for stamping too!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: acrylic blocks,stamps,clear mount stamps,rubber stamps,techniques,tips,stampin up

Welcome To Sketch Frenzy Friday!!

Welcome to another edition of Sketch Frenzy Friday!  This weeks’ sketch is really fun, and features the Top Note Die! I know a LOT of you own this die, so I really hope you’ll play along and add your interpretation of the sketch at the bottom of today’s post!
Here is the sketch for today’s edition of Sketch Frenzy Friday, designed by our very own Brenda Taylor!

So.. you see the top note die… it’s cut off a bit to fit on the left side of the card, right?  Well the nice thing about sketches is that there really are no rules.. you can change it up, step it up or down… (you’ll see when it’s my turn to create the sketch, I did something very, very basic).
So.. here’s my card done with the sketch… what do you think?

Colors:  Early Espresso, Whisper White, and Baja Breeze.  The background paper is a piece of designer series paper from the new Greenhouse Gala DSP pack.  I ran it through my sizzix big shot machine using the vintage wallpaper embossing folder (the design is concave on this side).. and then sanded off some of the paper to reveal the white tones beneath.. I’m thinking this paper would make a great winter card… I can almost see the snowflakes, can’t you?
The top note die was stamped with the En Francais large format background stamp, new 1/8” ribbon tied along the bottom of the card, and a little double row of faux stitching using my mat pack.  I used a very special, new technique behind the flower focal image… that technique will be shown in tomorrow’s post, so I hope you’ll check back.
Next stop along the Sketch Frenzy Friday tour:  Susan Grant  be sure to give her a warm welcome, she’s new to the group.. tell her I said hi too!  The tour doesn’t officially start until 9amEDT… and I know I’ve got some early-birds here.. so if you want to check out the individual blogs, simply click on the Sketch Frenzy Friday member names on my left side bar!
Check back tomorrow for a new but very quick and easy tutorial.
Hugs!!

Your turn! Simply upload your sketch card to an online gallery (such as splitcoaststampers) or blog and click on the inlinkz icon to add!

Technorati Tags: sketch frenzy friday,challenge,sketch challenge,blog hop,greenhouse gala,vintage wallpaper

True Friends Never Fade… Idea book & Catalog Share 2010

When I look at the stamp set “Friends Never Fade”… I think wow, what insight, how true!  Today, I’m featuring just one of the stamps from the set.. it’s kind of like a pineapple, dutch welcome sign, and traditional stencil all rolled into one!

Another bonus today:  NEW ribbon featured in the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog.. this time in Early Espresso and Marina Mist.  I’m really not a ‘blue’ person.. but the new Marina Mist color reminds me more of the ocean, the clear blue waters of the Florida keys.. and it embosses beautifully too!

Enough Chit Chat.. here’s the first card share:

The old olive ribbon from the Theatre ribbon essentials pack was added behind the new Marina Mist 1/8” ribbon… and then I used my mat pack to place silver brads on the front layer of the card.  Vintage wallpaper embossed marina mist card stock really stands out here.. I love how deeply embossed the image is.  The Marina Mist cardstock is paired with bashful blue cardstock, and I’ve added a punchy flower with lots of layers after stamping regular computer (or office copy paper) with the a to z stamp set… and of course a flat backed pearl from the pretties kit.  What do you think?  Want to see another sample using just ONE of the stamps from the Friends Never Fade Stamp Set?  Here you go:

More of that yummy vintage wallpaper embossing folder!! AND… this time I’ve paired Marina Mist with Early Espresso and Whisper White Card Stock, but turned the embosssed image upside down.. fun, isn’t it?.  Still the same pineapple image (or is that an artichoke?) from the Friends Never Fade stamp set… and more narrow 1/8” ribbon…  All available in the New Idea Book & Catalog.. Click the Contact Me tab at the top of my blog to find out how to get your new idea book!

Tomorrow is Sketch Frenzy Friday.. I just know you’re going to love this sketch, and hope you’ll play along!  I’ll have a link to post your samples too, and look forward to sharing your creativity with the world!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: new idea book and catalog,friends never fade,vintage wallpaper,rubber stamps,embossing folder,sketch frenzy friday

Vellum Butterfly Collage… and another butterfly card too!

Not too sure where this color combination came from… the cardstock just must have been lying on the table in my stampin studio!  Certainly an odd color combination, but it does seem to work!  The card base is Night of Navy, and it is topped with Pumpkin Pie and Sage Shadow.  Lots and Lots of ink colors were used, along with a wide assortment of stamps… charming, paradise, elements of style, flores suaves, all a flutter, and thank you kindly!

Aha… so this is a more traditional color combination.. basic black, whisper white, rich razzleberry, old olive.  Just two stamps used here:  dot dot dot, and Flores Suaves.  Ha ha… the inspiration for this card actually came from the old olive and basic black checkered grosgrain bow.  The bow was made for another project some time ago… but just didn’t work…. so it went in my stampin’ collage pile… until it found a new home on this card!

Hope you participated in the sketch frenzy friday link upload!  Anyone who uploaded a card based on the sketch posted last Friday will be eligible to win the blog candy prize!  BUT you’ve got to upload your sketch interpretation to be entered…  I’ drawing a winner tomorrow!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,stamps,stampin' up,collage,art,butterflies,vellum butterflies

Vintage Wallpaper.. Because I Care! and More Quarter Sheet OSW Samples to share!

Wow.. I’ve had a phenomenal response to the Quarter Sheet One Sheet Wonder Tutorial posted earlier this week!!  Everyone is having so much fun with this quick and easy tutorial, and some of my demo friends have even emailed me some of their beautiful samples!!  Although my tutorial included hand stamped DSP, others have taken my suggestion and used DSP to make the same cards…. Click on the items below to check out these sites and samples… you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

                   Nancy Dawson

                  Pam Browne

                   The Original Quarter Sheet Wonder Tutorial

You’ve probably been seeing the Because I Care Hostess Level One stamp set all over the place by now… an maybe even the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder as well.  Last week, while trying to get my stampin’ mojo going, and seeking inspiration, I found it in the “Because I Care” stamp set!

Here is the card created with these two fabulous items:

Don’t you absolutely LOVE the new embossing folder?  The deeply embossed cardstock really adds a LOT to an otherwise plain card! 

Colors used in this card:  Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, and Wild Wasabi.  The narrow ribbon is also a new item in the new catalog… I’m staying awake at night trying to come up with new ways to use it LOL!

Here’s another card where I’ve embossed a square of Cardstock Vellum with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  After faux-stitching along the Pink Pirouette Cardstock, flat back pearls were added as an accent.

A second embossing folder (dotted) was used along the bottom of the 4” x 5 1/4” card front (whisper white)… just added a quick little extra to the card, don’t you think?

Here’s a tip:  Do you know how to tell if your vellum cardstock is very, very old?   Sometimes it will discolor or yellow.. but it can also dry out… so much so that when you attempt to emboss it, it will crack!  THEN, it’s time to buy some new vellum cardstock!  LOL!

See you tomorrow, I think I’m going to share some more butterflies, if you can stand it!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,vintage wallpaper,embossing folder,because I care,faux stitching

Artistic Etchings, New Catalog Sneak Peek

When I first flipped through Stampin’ Up’s! new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog, the Artistic Etchings Rubber Stamp collection immediately caught my eye!  This stamp has so many wonderful essentials for scrapbook pages, for card making, for Artist Trading Cards or Collage Canvases!  The images are crisp, well shaded, and profound.. I love them ALL!

So.. today’s card shares will feature the lovely Artistic Etchings Stamp Collection!  I’m sure the stamp set will inspire many more creative projects in the future as well!

Here’s the SECOND card I made with the Artistic Etchings Stamp Set:

Snuck a little retired ribbon in there (didn’t you just love the velvet ribbons we had a while back?)  Colors used on this card:  Wild Wasabi, Basic Gray, and Whisper White.  I also had a little help from the “Punch Potpourri” collection.. that is the stamped scallop “thanks” image you see popped up at the bottom of the card.

Here is the first card I made using this set… using Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White colors:

If you’re wondering about the square and rectangle masking on each card… it was done with post it notes!  I couldn’t help it, just had to try it and see what type of results I got.  On the second card, my central/focal image was stamped first and then covered with a post it note which I used to space and center the corner images.

I look forward to reading your comments, and hope you’ll stop by again tomorrow!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,artistic etchings,stampin up,stamping,new catalog,2010-2011 idea book & catalog

Happy Fathers’ Day… Revisiting the Glossy Ghost Technique

The Glossy Ghost technique is one I came up with for one of my Stampin’ Up! Convention Swaps back in 2008.  It was something that just happened after making hundreds of swaps… and taking a break!  Today I’m revisiting the technique which can be found on my Tutorials Page (click the tab in the upper right corner of this blog.)

Today I’m revisiting the technique.  I’ve changed it up a bit, using my brayer to add some color(Wild Wasabi) to the ghosted Paradise Stamp Set leaves!  NO embossing powder was used in the creation of this card :)

One more card share today, in honor of Fathers’ Day… just had to make a quick and punchy golfers’ card.  I didn’t come up with the idea for this card… but did tweak it a bit when we made it at my Senior Stampin’ session a week or so ago! 

You can see the inspiration card and basic instructions for making your own at StaceyStamps… from June, 2009.  Be sure to stop by and tell her I sent you!too!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: techniques,rubber stamps,punch art,glossy ghost technique,staceystamps

Quarter Sheet Wonder - Tutorial

Last month, at my downline meeting, we walked through creating and executing a One Sheet Wonder Class.  It was a lot of fun, and using a quarter sheet of 12” x 12” cardstock made it a feasible evening activity for the downline meeting too!  Everyone was not only impressed with the results, but quite surprised at how quick and easy it was to complete 5 cards!

Today, I’m sharing my quarter sheet wonder with all of you! 

First you’ll begin by making your own Designer Series Paper by stamping a 6” x 6” of Whisper White Cardstock*, you’ll be able to make 5 cards!  * A 6”x6” sheet of Designer Series Paper may also be substituted! 

Then, you’ll follow the cutting diagram found at the bottom of this post to cut up your rubber stamped faux Designer Series Paper.

Once you have cut all your supplementary cardstock, it’s easy to assemble all five cards following the photos for each card!

Photo of 6”x6” cardstock stamped with an assortment of stamps (listed below)

And here are the cards we made!

Card A

Card B

Card C

Card D

And Card E

Supplies Used for Today’s Class

Stamp Sets:

• Flores Suaves
• Paradise
• Sincere Salutations
• Oval All
• Thank You Kindly
• Heard from the Heart
• On Your Birthday

Card Stock:

• Whisper White
• Bashful Blue
• Night Of Navy
• Certainly Celery

Punches:

• Scallop Oval
• Large Oval
• Crop-A-Dile

Other:

• Signo White Gel Pen
• Sponge Dauber
• Snips
• Silver Brads
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• ¼” Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon

Card Stock Cutting Guidelines

Card A

• Whisper White : 5.5” x 8.5” scored at 4.25” AND 4” x 5.25”
• Bashful Blue: 1.5” x 5.25”
• Night Of Navy: 5 3/8” x 4 1/8”

Card B

• Whisper White: 5.5” x 8.5” scored at 4.25” and scrap for stamping/punching Large Oval
• Bashful Blue: (3) 1.75” x 1.75” AND scrap for punching Scallop Oval
• Night Of Navy: 5.5” x 1 7/8”

Card C

• Whisper White: 5.5” x 8.5” scored at 4.25”, 4” x 5.25”, AND 1.5” x 2 1/8”
• Bashful Blue: 2.25” x 4.75”
• Certainly Celery: 1.75” x 2.5”
• Night Of Navy: 5.5” x 4.25”

Card D

• Whisper White: 4.25” x 11” scored at 5.5”
• Night Of Navy: 3” x 3”
• Bashful Blue” 3.5” x 3.5”

Card E

• Whisper White: 5.5” x 11” scored at 4.25”
• Bashful Blue: 2.25” x 3.25”
• Night Of Navy: 2.75” x 3.75”

Before you start cutting into your One Sheet Wonder, here are a few tips and hints! 

• When stamping images on blank 6”x6” cardstock, always stamp images Light to Dark (ie. Begin with lightest ink color and migrate to darkest).
• Use largest stamped images first, and migrate to smaller images which can easily be used as fill for open spaces.
• Stamp each image 6-7 times on your 6”x6” cardstock… and remember it is OK to stamp OFF the paper!
• Cut parts in Alpha Order (in this case Card Parts A thru E)

 

One Sheet Wonder Cutting Diagram – the areas with no measurements are considered “scrap”:

Tomorrow is Fathers’ Day!  I hope all the Dad’s out there have a wonderful day!  My DH and I will be celebrating quietly.. our DD is in China, and DS is in Utah.  It will be a quiet day with a couple skype calls and phone calls… and probably every sports game found on the television:)

Still working on the blog makeover… have you checked out my tutorials page?  I’ll be adding this tutorial to the page next week.  I look forward to your comments…

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: Rubber stamps,One Sheet Wonder,Quarter Sheet,Tutorial,Make your own DSP

Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday and my Blog Make-Over!!

My blog make-over is still a work in progress… but I hope you like the changes thus far!
Welcome to Sketch Frenzy Friday!  I’m very excited to be a part of this creative group… and I hope you’ll join us by linking your very own sketch interpretation at the end of this post too!
Here’s today’s sketch:

And… here are two views of my sketch entry!  I used the Faux Denim technique to create the upper (Night of Navy) denim piece… Whisper White and lovely new Cherry Cobbler Cardstock.

Silver metal brads with half back pearls, faux stitching, and Vintage Wallpaper Textured Embossing folder were all used on this card… Reminds me of my DD wearing pearls with her blue jeans… fresh and fun, clean and simple, young and fun.  (Just like my DD!)
Couldn’t stop there.. I just HAD to do the inside of the card… a leftover piece of the faux denim embellished cardstock, and stamped image inked with cherry cobbler classic ink… what do you think?

The stamp set used on today’s Sketch Frenzy Friday card was “Friends Never Fade” which will be available July 1 in the NEW Idea Book & Catalog… you’re going to love the new catalog, contact me to reserve your very own personal copy!!
The Sketch Frenzy Friday crew operates kind of like a mini blog hop…. so from here, you’ll be visiting Tammy Baldwin’s blog:  Creative Apple Scrampers.
If you want to go back to the beginning of the tour, you can click HERE to visit Angela’s Blog!
I’d love to see your sketch interpretations too… simply use the link below to upload your creations directly from your blog, gallery, or even Splitcoaststampers!  Everyone who uploads their sketch will be entered into a special June 24th drawing for BLOG CANDY too!  (It’s a secret… I’m not going to tell you what it is… just that it is Stampin’ Up! merchandise, and it’s valued at more than $30.00)
Hugs,

Technorati Tags: sketch frenzy friday,blog tour,rubber stamps,blog hop,blog candy

It's Spring.. the leaves are green, and so is my Wild Wasabi Ink!

Lots of rain, you know it is the 'in between season' in Florida.. the leaves and grasses are green... and everything is wet at 3pm daily.  Rain:  it's a good thing... cools off the asphalt and pavement a bit AND it's a bad thing, contributing to the humidity x 100.  With all the green, I just had to stamp some nice green leaves!!

First card, sparkling with the help of champagne shimmer paint, which I brushed on using a small angled paint brush.  The stamp set used:  Paradise.  These are all leaves which are commonly seen in Florida too!

Behind the gold brads, I’ve added small circles of soft suede cardstock, also enhanced with champagne shimmer paint.  The circles are part of the new mini punch pack featured in the summer Mini Catalog.

I’m so glad that Stampin’ Up! has brought back Wild Wasabi Ink!!  It was one of my very favorite in-colors, right up there with River Rock!

The next card uses the stamp set “Autumn Splendor”… instead of enhancing the leaf images, I’ve used a sponge dauber to gently spread champagne shimmer paint onto the lattice textured embossed cardstock… almost makes it look like an old, woven basket, doesn’t it?

Using an Aqua Painter, and Garden Green Classic Ink, each leaf was enhanced along stems and veins.

Both these cards are suitable for guys or gals… and could easily be converted to Fathers’ Day, Birthday, or Just a Note cards as well.

Working a ‘blog lift’… what do you think of the changes so far?  I do listen to my readers, and recently received an email from a follower who wanted to see larger pictures of projects.  She commented that she wanted to see the finer details of the images.  Another change:  type is darkened, background lightened, and words are now larger… all to make it easier for you.  Hope you like the changes, if you have any suggestions, please feel free to contact me with suggestions!  It’s a work in progress… isn’t everything?

Have a wonderful day, hope you’ll stop by tomorrow for Sketch Frenzy Friday!  The team has been working hard to bring fresh and fun new cards to you based on one little sketch :)  I know I’m looking forward to being a part of the team, and hope you’ll take the mini blog tour as well!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: ink,wild wasabi,sketch frenzy friday,cards,champagne shimmer paint

More butterflies… and two more collage cards

Each time I show this card to guests, they ask me what Stampin’ Up! Designer Paper I used.  LOL… I have to answer NONE!

Thanks to a fabulous collection of rubber stamps, everything on this card was hand stamped on solid colored cardstock!

Supplies Used in the card show above:

Stamps:  En Francais, Elements of Style, All a Flutter, Charming

Cardstock:  River Rock, Soft Suede, Basic Gray, Whisper White, So Saffron, Vellum

Classic Ink:  River Rock, Basic Gray, Versamark, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Fire square brads, Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon, mat pack and piercing tool, Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker, Paper Snips, Heat Tool, and Black Embossing Powder

The card below is similar to one posted yesterday, featuring bright colors, a masked butterfly, and the yummy square lattice textured embossing folder.

Supplies used in the card above:

Stamps:  Flores Suaves, All a Flutter, Charming

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Garden Green Melon Mambo, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

Classic Inks:  Rich Razzleberry, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Basic Black, melon Mambo

Accessories:  Sponge Dauber, Signo White Gel Pen, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Scallop Oval and Large Oval punches, dimensionals

Yesterday it hit 100 degrees in Jacksonville… with a few sprinkles to cool us off, it was a very warm and muggy day… quite toasty these days!

Last week some stamping friends came over for a ‘play date’… we had so much fun!  When is the last time you allowed yourself a stamping play date?  It’s really a wonderful way to get creative and try new things!

Speaking of trying new things, I received my new Stampin’ Up! 2010-2011 catalog merchandise and have been playing around with some really fabulous new stamps and tools.  Can’t wait to share some of them with you!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: rubber stamps,charming,2010-2011 idea book & catalog

Butterfly Stamp: All A Flutter… Clean and Simple, and Artistically Presented

Aren’t you absolutely IN LOVE with the All A Flutter Stamp set featured in the Summer Mini Catalog from Stampin’ Up?  If not, I’ve got to tell you that this is an absolute ENABLER ALERT!  This stamp does the classic “clean and simple”  aka C.A.S. style, migrates to collage style, and even ATC’s (future post).

All A Flutter can be stamped, embossed, masked.. gosh, so many other things to result in absolutely fantastic cards.

The first card feature today shows you a very classic clean and simple (C.A.S.) style with a masked image and very simple layers of cardstock in classic bashful blue, and whisper white.

Not really a WOW card… but clean and simple (C.A.S.)… great for a workshop WOW!  It uses two simple basic stamps, All  A Flutter, and the En Francais large format background stamp.

A very versatile stamp set… two stamps to buy, very simple design.

So… let’s see what can happen if you step it up a notch… Perhaps everyone in you in-home demonstration / workshop made the Clean and Simple card displayed above… What A WOW! if you pulled out this card employing just two more stamp sets:  Elements of Style, and Charming!! 

The collage of artistic art elements employed in this sample is very easily achieved… and I can show you how… simply stamped, there are no mistakes just creative opportunities!  Contact me to host your in home demonstration or attend a class in your Jacksonville, FL. neighborhood… A portable art that comes to you!

Hugs,

Technorati Tags: stamps,clean and simple,step it up,all a flutter,art