Magic of Christmas

Hi Stampers -

So Sorry for my late post for this week's Loves Rubberstamps Challenge! I wasn't feeling very good yesterday after I got back from visiting my sister before she had to leave for Florida so I didn't get my pictures taken. I had a massive headache that would not go away for anything! I ended up getting the post pre-scheduled for the challenge and then laying around on the couch doing nothing - trying to get my headache to go away :(

The challenge this week is a 1, 2, 3, challenge! We want to see 1 - Image, 2 Designer Papers, and 3 Embellishments! Here is my LATE project...

I am bound and determined to get some Christmas Cards made this year that I can send - LOL! I am up to THREE!! YAY! That is a record I think!! I used the GORGEOUS Candy Cane stamp from Saturated Canary! This is one of my favorite favorite stamps! I decided to color her in soft teal blues and warm greys. I like how she turned out. I decided to make one of my panels look like a pretty vintage, wrapped Christmas Present. My Sentiment is from the My Favorite Things Seasonal Sentiments stamp set. This is actually one sentiment but I cut it apart to make it fit my card better.

Here is a look at the inside of the card - which I kept pretty simple.

And here is a close up of the lovely Candy Cane...

I added some iridescent ice to her wings too for just a touch of bling :)

Be sure to check out my earlier post for this week's Crafty Sentiments Designs Challenge too! 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you play along with us this week!!

Laura

Here is a list of products used on my card:

Saturated Canary - Candy Cane

My Favorite Things - Seasonal Sentiments

Prima Flowers (coming soon)

Martha Stewart Branch Punch

Martha Stewart - Alpine Snowflake Punch

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Copic Markers

Copix XPress Blending Card

Fancy Pants Designs - Blissful Blizzard Paper Pack

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain

I will be entering this into the following challenges:

Saturated Canary - Shabby Chic

Creative Craft Challenges - Use Ribbon

Holly Jolly Christmas - Non-Traditional Christmas - No Red or Green

Bunny Zoe - Something Blue

Card Mania - Favorite Color Combination - Pale Blues and Light Gray

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas - Cut It Out

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Non-Traditional Colors

ABC Challenges - V is for Very Cute

Emerald Faeries Challenge - Magical Creatures

CMC Copic Challenge - Anything Goes

Lace and Pearls and Spring Colors!

Hi Stampers!

Sorry for the late post today, we were having internet issues - GRRR! It seems like our internet provider knows exactly when I have tons of stuff to get done online!

Today is Tuesday and this is an extra special Tuesday for me because this is my FIRST challenge inspiration project for Crafty Sentiments Designs since being chosen for the Design team! Their challenge this week should have some gorgeous, gorgeous entries because it is Lace and Pearls!

Here is my project...

I used the Annabelle Elegance stamp from Crafty Sentiments Designs and colored her with copics. The papers are from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found collections and that neat ticket is a Tim Holtz one that I distressed and then sponged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I just found that awesome rose trim with the pearls interlaced at Hobby Lobby last week! It was such a great find :)

I also added dazzling diamonds to the dress to give some bling and sparkle, here is a close up of the bling:

And here is a close up of my main image:

Now to me... nothing says Spring has arrived like Prom and this image totally reminded me of a girl all dressed up to go to her Prom so I made my colors be soft pastels which reminds me of Spring...so I also used this project as inspiration for our Loves Rubberstamps Challenge this week - Spring Colors!

So I hope that you will play along with us at Crafty Sentiments Designs by adding Lace and Pearls to your project and if you use Spring Colors also - play along at Loves Rubberstamps too!

Have a great night!
Happy Stampin!
Laura

I will be entering this is the following challenges:

Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - Toddlers, Teens & In Betweens
Everybody Art Challenge - #232 Bling
ABC Challenges - L is for Lovely Lace
Alota Rubber Stamps - Lace/Ribbon & One Round Shape
OOzak - Anything Goes with Lace, Pearls & Ribbon
Sparkles Monthly Challenge - Hearts

Sweetie Pie

Hi Stampers!

Well since I had my Cutting Cafe project done and shown yesterday...I thought I would just make something for fun today using one of my favorite stamps that I have had for a loooonnng time but have never inked up! Shame on me! Well I am using her now :)

This is the Cheeky Cherry Pie from the Cheeky Cherry Collection from The Greeting Farm. I colored her using mostly copics on her hair and skin. The apron and pie are spectrum noirs and her shoes are colored with the cherry cobbler Stampin Up! Marker. I paper pieced her dress and the pie plate to match the background papers which are from the Love Note paper pack from Fancy Pants Designs. Did you notice I tried sewing again? I tried a different stitch this time and decided to try cornering - LOL, I was a little off, but oh well...have to keep trying :)

The background circle that she is mounted on is stamped with the recipe stamp from the Spice Up Your Day stamp set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps. I stamped this using Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink. This is my absolute FAVORITE color combination too ... kraft, a cherry cobbler style red, chocolate chip, very vanilla! So pretty!

Here is a closer look...

I created this as my entry into the Yumi & Fumi challenge this week which was to case a card that they had on their blog! Hopefully I did it justice :)

If you love The Greeting Farm Stamps as much as I do... one of our Design Team members, Marcy Dangcil made their March Guest Design Team! She has been rocking out some STUNNING projects for their March Release! I am super proud of her and know that she will do amazing! I have seen her first two days of projects and WOW! They are gorgeous! When you get a chance... visit her blog and check them out!

Well I better get going - have to work at my other job from 3pm - 3am  - I would rather stay home and do crafty stuff though LOL!

Have a great day all!
Laura

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Yumi & Fumi Handmade - Challenge #10 Case Sandie
The Greeting Farm - FFF Challenge - Flowers
The Ribbon Carousel - Love Is In The Air
Bunny Zoe - Flowers & Pearls
Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Stamp You Love But Don't Use
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - #51 Paper Piecing
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen - Layer It Up
Lacy Sunshine Challenges - #2 - Favourite Color Combination
Color Me Creative - Girly & Feminine
Sweet Stampin' - Mother's Day or For a Special Lady
Totally Gorjuss - Happy!
Simply Create Too - Mother's Day or Female
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes - 2nd Entry

Seed Packet Gift

Hi Stampers!

Sorry for the late post today! I decided at the last minute that I wasn't happy with my Design team project that I created originally for The Cutting Cafe so I decided to start over..LOL...this morning...and I just finished because I am a mega slow at coloring! But I am super happy with my project now so that is all that matters :) How those people that make such detailed and beautifully colored cards just whip them out I will never know...I am just not that kind of crafter.

This week at The Cutting Cafe we are taking a break from Valentine's Day and sending some sunshine instead! We could choose to use the Sunshine Word Shaped Card, The Seed Packet Holder Template, or the One Spring Day Printable Stamp Set.

I decided to use the Seed Packet Holder Template. I love this little template and I will use it a lot! It is so cute and goes perfect with my Seeds of Friendship stamp set from Flourishes that I have been dying to get inky. You can just create all kinds of scenes on your packet and them pop it right on Regina's Seed Packet Holder! Here is my version...

I used the template a little bit different because I wanted the top to be open. Instead of gluing the tab at the top closed, I just cut it off and then made a little tab slot to pull the inside out easier. Then I have the flower seed packet mounted on a little pull out insert.

The little scene on my seed packet was created using Primrose Garden Flowers and the Roses and Tulips both are from Crafty Sentiments Designs. I have had both of these stamps awhile and this is the first time I have got to color either of them up! I used spectrum noir alcohol ink markers on everything except the hair and skin, I used copics for those. I am still a newbie at coloring with markers so it takes me super long time but I love how this turned out. I fussy cut the little girl and the front flower pot out and mounted them on dimensionals.

The "Water Everyday" sentiment and the "For Your Garden" sentiments both come with the Seed Packet Holder Template. I sponged everything with my Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink (going to need gallons of this stuff - love it!)

Here is a close up of my little girl image and the flowers...

Ok... now please do not laugh at my next picture because I had every intention of getting a real flower seed packet for my project but didn't make it to the store...so I printed one that I found of the internet to use as a substitute so you could see how it works a little better :)

Anyway...I hope you like my Seed Packet Holder Template! You should get this file because it makes super cute gifts for someone and you can decorate it for any occasion that you are needing! With the way I used the file with the top open and a tab, you could easily mount this on a card front and give a little extra gift with your cards! Super fun and I will be using this file a lot!

Please pop on over to The Cutting Cafe Blog and see what the other Design Team Members created this week!

Thanks for stopping by!
Laura

I will be entering this in the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Shabby Chic Valentine

Hi Stampers!

Happy Wednesday! This week I have been working some crazy hours so I combined my Design Team project for The Cutting Cafe with my inspirational piece for this week's Loves Rubberstamps Challenge because I wasn't going to have much time to craft. It actually all fell together perfectly I think :)

This week at The Cutting Cafe we are creating some more Valentine's Day Inspirational projects. Regina gave us a few choices for files to use. We could pick from Valentine's Mini Sentiments Backgrounds Printable Stamp Set, Fun With Hearts Printable Stamp Set, Heart Lace Shaped Card, or the Valentine Window Tops. All of these are so pretty and fun!

I chose the Valentine Mini Sentiments Backgrounds for my project. What I loved about this one is you can select one of the backgrounds, I used the Be Mine one, and place the pictures side by side and it creates the perfect background paper :) LOVE that!!

Here is a look at my project...

I wanted a shabby chic, vintage feel for my card today. The image I chose is from Saturated Canary called Free Hugs. This is the first time I have got to color this cutie... AND my very first time using copic markers! Yep...I bought my first 3 colors for hair :) I have a lot of practicing to do but I didn't think it turned out too bad for my first copic hair experience :) The rest of my image is colored with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers. I layered my image on a doily that I sponged to make it look more aged. My pink background paper is from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Madison Avenue paper pack.

Here is a close up of my Saturated Canary Image...

This week in our Loves Rubberstamps challenge we are to look around on the Kirkland's Website and choose any product to use for inspiration and create a project. I love inspirational challenges because they are super fun! This is the product I chose to use:

It is the Vintage Rose Buffet lamp. I loved the vintage, shabby chic look PLUS I think the lampshade roses look a lot like my new vintage rose ribbon that I bought from Stampin Up! That is the trim I used on my card :) I LOVE LOVE LOVE this ribbon and need to buy TONS before it is gone! Super cute!

I took a quick peek at what this week's Saturated Canary Challenge since I was using one of their adorable images and this week it is to make a project based off a movie. My project was inspired by the movie Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore. This is one of my FAVORITE movies! If you haven't seen this you need to it is super adorable. As you can see by the coupon...my girl only gives hugs...no kisses :)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope that you play along in our Kirkland's Inspiration Challenge this week. Please visit The Cutting Cafe Blog to see what the rest of my teamies created with this week's files!

Have a great day!
Laura

I will be entering this in the following challenges:

Saturated Canary -  Movie Inspiration Challenge - Never Been Kissed
Crafts and Me - #117 Vintage
Whimsical Designs - All About Love Challenge
Creative Card Crew - Girly Challenge
7 Kids College Fund - #65 - Something Old & Something New (old = My Mind's Eye Papers, new = rose ribbon)
Top Tip Tuesday - Lavishly Luscious Layers - TIP - Wait for your glue to dry under your vintage rose ribbon BEFORE taking pictures because it looks like it has blue hues under it... :(
Bearly Mine - Tic Tac Toe - 4 in a row -  Lots of Layers, Pearls, Stamped Image, Lace (my lace doily)
Inky Chicks - Becky's Bingo Grid - Pearls, Lace (lace doily), flowers
Bunny Zoe's - Anything Goes
Card Mania Challenges - #12 Oh so Girly
Kaboodle Doodles - #155 Ribbon
The Ribbon Girl - Pink & Ivory
Sugar Creek Hollow - #45 Tic Tac Toe - Embossing, Ribbon, Distressing
Stampin For The Weekend - Something Girly

Standing Pretty

Hi Stampers!

Today is Tuesday which means it is a new Loves Rubberstamps Challenge!!
This week's challenge is a Pinterest Photo Inspiration Challenge! I love these! Here is the photograph that we had to use:

Isn't this adorable? There are TONS of ways to be inspired from this photograph. You could be inspired by that sweet little girl herself. You could be inspired by the gorgeous dress with the lace, pearls, and the creamy white layers. You could choose to be inspired by that gorgeous flower headband. Or just the vintage, shabby chic feel of the photo! Or combine it all! Your choice that is what makes it so fun!

Here is what I came up with for my inspirational piece...

I have always loved the look of the white on white layers using different embossing folders and this was the perfect inspiration piece to try it out myself! I used the little girls dress as the inspiration for my background. I distressed the edges, but I did it after I used my embossing folder so it was kind of hard to do it without tearing it too much. I also punched the edges of the strips with my tiny heart border punch from Stampin Up!

With having an all white background I really wanted my little girl image to pop so I chose to color her with deep, rich colors. This adorable image is called Standing Pretty and is from the Elisabeth Bell Designs Collection from Sweet Pea Stamps.

Here is a close up of my image. I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the ribbon in her hair and the front of her dress for some added sparkle.

I hand drew the grass using my prismacolor pencils and went around the image with pencil first and blended it out. The added some very faint clouds and sponged sky. I wanted it to be really faint. I think I got a little too much glitter on her dress and I noticed my red bled a little into her arm. Red is such a booger sometimes! I still think she turned out pretty though :) I added little pearls to her dress and ribbons too.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be inspired by that gorgeous flower so I created my own "scrunch flower" This is my absolute favorite flower to make. I love how they turn out! Reminds me of little carnations which are one of my favorite flowers.

Here is another look at the main panel and flower together...

The little sentiment on the jewelry tag punch is from Stampin Up! I wanted just a subtle one nothing too big and this was perfect.

I also used this week's sketch from My Favorite Things because it had lots of awesome layers which I wanted for creating all of the white on white embossing. Here is a look at the sketch:

I am also entering this in the Elphine House challenge because it is for Elisabeth Bell images. Their challenge is a 3,2,1 challenge. I used 3 - Different Embossing Folders, 2 - Large Pearls, 1 - Homemade Scrunch Flower :)

This challenge was a lot of fun and our Design Team really rocked this one with creations that are simply STUNNING! But you will have to go visit the challenge blog to check them out... you won't be disappointed ;)

Hope you will play along with us....

Happy Stampin!
Laura

I will also be entering this in the following challenges:

Card Mania - CMC #4 Handmade Flowers
House of Gilli - 2 Favorite Things - Large Pearls & Punches (Scallops for flower & Heart Border)
Incy Wincy Designs - Friends
Lollipop Crafts - 2 Different Punches or Dies - Scallop Punch & Heart Border Punch
Love To Create - Anything Goes
Stamp and Create - Anything Goes
Tammy's Scrappin Corner - Design a Kiddie Card
Gingerloft - Embossing - 2nd Entry
Challenges 4 Everybody - Anything Goes
Joanna Sheen Challenge - So Sweet
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Something Handmade on Project - Scrunch Flower
The Secret Stamper - Distressing
Delightful Challenges - Distressed
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Vintage
Divas by Design - Lots of Layers
Elphine House - 3,2,1
My Mum's Craft Shop - Hearts & Flowers
Simon Says Stamp - Emboss It!
Lia Stampz - Challenge 25 - 3 of Something - Used 3 Different Embossing Folders
Unique Crafter's Challenge - Anything Goes
Pattie's Creations Design Challenge - Anything Goes - Must use an Image
The Stamping Boutique - Challenge 52 - Embossing
The Order of the Opus Gluei - Challenge #140 -A Little Sketchy
Heck of a Challenge - Anything Goes
Natalie & Amy's Challenge - Anything Goes

Rain Boots...Not Made for Splashing!

Good Afternoon All!

I am back with my VERY FIRST Design Team Post for The Cutting Cafe! I am SOOOO excited to be on this team!

For our first Design team Challenge we were to use the adorable Rain Boots Shaped Card. I think these little boots are the absolute CUTEST! One thing that I LOVED about this file was that it comes as the full shaped card, and then the little boots are seperate. You cut them out and layer them on the card shape. With the boots being seperate you could use them as embellishments on a scrapbook page, or use a single boot on a card. LOTS of possibilities!

Here is my creation...

For my little boots I chose to use them as the shaped card. I think the shaped cards are so fun to give because it makes them more unique :) The paper I chose is from the Simple Stories 6x6 paper pack called Baby Steps. I love this paper because it has kind of a distressed aged look to the patterns which is what I wanted for my boots. One thing that you have to remember is that when you are tracing your boot pattern on the back of your patterned paper...remember when you flip it over it will be the mirror image. Ask me how I figured that out - LOL! Oh well... I have not one but TWO cute little designer boots facing right to use on another project :) That is another cool thing about this file - You can make your boots face either way by just flipping the way you trace it on your paper! My boot trim piece and the heel pieces are both cut from scrap pieces of paper from this same pack. I did sponge the edges of both my boots and the heel pieces with early espresso ink to give them some definition and to help seperate the pieces.

I added some pearls to my boots and some cream colored ribbon roses from my stash. The sentiment is from the Flourishes stamp set called Apple of My Eye. I punched it using a small oval punch from Stampin Up!, sponged the edges with Early Espresso and popped it on a dimensional. I added a couple more pearls to tie it together.

I have a lot of ideas on other ways to use this file so you will definately see more projects using these adorable boots :) I love that they can be used for a lot of occasions and you can change the look and theme just by your paper choices!  I don't have a cutting machine but Regina creates these files so they are easy for everyone to use! They come with a PDF version for you to hand cut and they match up perfectly!

I also posted this card on the Loves Rubberstamps Challenge Blog. This week's theme is ANYTHING GOES and The Cutting Cafe is the special sponsor this week! Be sure to visit the challenge blog and play along ... and don't forget to visit The Cutting Cafe and get this file... trust me - You will LOVE creating with it :)

Also... be sure to visit The Cutting Cafe Blog this Wednesday and see ALL the fun samples created by the Design Team using these cute boots!

Happy Stampin'
Laura

Grid Technique in Monochrome!

Good Afternoon all!

I am super EXCITED for today's new Loves Rubberstamps challenge because, not only is it fun, BUT we start the search for our September Guest Designer! I know we will have some amazing entries because our players each week do some G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S work! Can't wait to start seeing the entries :)

If you want to try out here are the details...

Our Guest Designer will create projects for our weekly challenges for the month of their term. You will have your work showcased on the Loves Rubberstamps challenge blog along with the design team samples, on our facebook page, and possibly in our store as samples. Term will be 4 - 5 weeks depending on how many weeks there are in your month. The only requirement is you HAVE to use stamps from companies that we carry in our store on your projects and they have to be in their current line, no retired images. Even if we do not have that particular image in stock, as long as it is a current one we can order... you can use it.

As a guest designer you will receive a 20% discount off any stamps that we carry in the store during your term!

If you want the chance to be our guest designer for the month of SEPTEMBER just play along in one of our weekly challenges and put GDT after your name next to your entry. We will be accepting applicants in this week's challenge and next week's and will announce who the Guest Designer will be on August 21st. We will be looking for entrants who stand out through any of the following... awesome coloring skills, paper piecing, great use of color, creativity, outstanding design, and just pure genius :) Hope you will try out for a spot!

Now speaking of this week's Loves Rubberstamps Challenge...this week we are playing BINGO! I love Bingo! There is a casino about 45 miles from us that has BINGO sessions and my husband and I used to go on Sundays. You payed $25 to play 17 games that payed out $500 to win. We didn't win very often but it was fun. In fact... I ended up getting myself a BINGO bag that said.... "How come everyone ELSE gets to yell BINGO and all I ever get to yell is "Oh S%#T" ... probably not the most appropriate but it was funny. It would give the elderly ladies a giggle :) 

The challenge is to create a card that features the three elements from our Bingo Card that creates a straight line. Here is our Bingo Card....

The line that I used for my card was - Monochromatic Color Scheme, Flowers & Buttons or Brads! Here is my card...

I used the Crafter's Companion Daisies from the Paint Fushion line from Sheena Douglass. I colored them with prismacolor pencils on Stampin Up's Sahara Sand cardstock and then clear embossed them to make the colors pop. I fussy cut them out and popped them on my background that I created using the grid technique. LOVE THIS! I also created the background for this week's Splitcoaststampers technique challenge. You were to go to their resources page...type in background... and then use of the techniques to make your card. I mentioned in another post that I usually end up creating my own backgrounds over using designer paper...not because I don't like it...just the opposite...I LOVE it and I am a paper hoarder because I love to look at it, over and over - LOL!

I hope you like my card today and will join our challenge!

Here are some other challenges that I will be entering this card in:

Splitcoaststampers - TLC389 Blissful Backgrounds
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash - Monochromatic
Tuesday Alchemy - Bingo - Line Created - Ribbon or Bows, Your Choice & Buttons
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts - Monochromatic
The Shabby Tea Room - Soft Neutrals

Happy Stampin!
Laura

Faux Patina....Sunflower!

Looking for this week's Loves Rubberstamps Blog Challenge? Go Here: April Showers

Hi Everyone! Hope your day has been a good one! Today's card was really fun for me to make! I used a technique that I had never tried before and thought it turned out really pretty!

The Technique I used on the background is called Faux Patina and I saw the tutorial on splitcoaststampers. I used different colors than in the tutorial so it would qualify for this weeks color challenge (CC372) on splitcoaststampers... using More Mustard, Pool Party, & Early Espresso. The thing about color challenges sometimes is that I would probably NEVER have chosen these on my own but after making this card - I love them together! This would be a great color combo for Fall projects too.

The colors I used to create the Faux Patina background on this card are: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Always Artichoke & Early Espresso

The stamp that I used is one of my favorite flowers... SUNFLOWERS! This sunflower is from the Paint Fushion Collection by Sheena Douglass from Crafter's Companion.

I colored my flower by sponging on ink. I used More Mustard on the petals, Early Espresso in the middle. I used pool party in the middle of my leaf and then always artichoke and sponged the edges with early espresso. I did two layers of the sunflower and popped them on dimensionals to give it more of a 3D look.

The layout for my card is this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #238

After making this card I played around with the Faux Patina Technique and tried using a few different color combos and thought they all turned out pretty neat in their own ways. Just remember to use:

1 - A light base color
2 - A blue color
3 - A green color
4 - A brown color
5 - then versamark random areas and gold emboss

Here are the other color combos I tried left to right:

1 - More Mustard, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olove & Chocolate Chip
2 - Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Pear Pizazz & Soft Suede
3 - Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso

Hope you will try this technique!
Happy Stamping! - Laura

Cracked Glass - Cozy Christmas Lodge

Good afternoon stampers!

Today's card will be another one that I designed for my Christmas card class coming up. It uses the GORGEOUS stamp set Christmas Lodge that is in the Holiday Mini. The layout and basic design was inspired by this card I saw created by flowerbugnd1 on splitcoaststampers. I changed the colors of mine and used the cracked glass technique on my card as well. Here is my version:



I really love the cracked glass technique with this stamp set! I really love how the lodge looks like a vintage old photograph cracked with age using the sahara sand cardstock as a base. To get this look I stamped my lodge with early espresso on sahara sand, filled in the snow with a white gel pen and then sponged the edges with chocolate chip ink before doing the cracked glass technique.

If you want to try the CRACKED GLASS TECHNIQUE here is what you do:

First you will need a versamark pad, Stampin Ups! Glassy Glaze (retired now) or you can use UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel) or regular clear embossing powder (you will just have to use more layers) and then you will need your heat tool.

1. After you stamp and color your image, stamp the whole panel with the versamark ink pad.

2. Completely cover the panel with your embossing enamel or powder. Shake off excess and heat with the heat tool. If you are using glassy glaze or the UTEE the first heating will look lumpy and it will look like spots are missed. Don't worry about it!

3. As soon as the powder is melted, stamp the whole panel again with versamark ink. Cover your panel again with a new layer of embossing enamel or powder, shake off excess and then reheat. This time it will be much smoother and even looking.

4. If you are using the UTEE or glassy glaze you need to do only 2 or 3 layers of embossing powder. IF you are using the regular clear embossing powder you will need to repeat the versamark and then emboss with new layer of powder a total of 4 or 5 times to get it thick enough.

5. After you get your last layer of embossing powder done - stick the panel in the freezer for about 2 minutes. This makes it hard and it cracks easier. It may curl a little bit but that is OK because when you crack it, it will straighten out.

6. Remove it from the freezer and start bending it where you want the cracks to be. Keep going until it is cracked how you like. You can sponge over the top with a dark ink like, early espresso or chocolate chip and it kind of fills in the cracks to give it a more aged look. I didn't do this on mine because of the darker background I stamped on, but it works good when you do this technique on white or very vanilla.

7. After your done cracking your piece, layer and add to your card :)

Hope this makes sense! There is a picture tutorial and a video posted on splitcoaststampers on how to do this technique also which you can see here.

Here is what I used on today's card:

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Christmas Lodge

Paper: Stampin Up! Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Stampin Up! Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Versamark Ink Pad, Glassy Glaze (retired), White Gel Pen, heat tool, Big Shot, Perfect details texturz plate, texturz silicone rubber pads, sponges, dimensionals

Vintage Field Flowers

Good Morning everyone!

I had a chance to break out one of my favorite new stamp sets in the new catalog - FIELD FLOWERS. This is a GORGEOUS two step stamp set. I haven't really used the two step stamp sets much but this one was too pretty to pass up! With all the different color combinations you can do this set is one I will use ALOT! Playing around with it, I created two cards using the same layout. I just changed the flower colors and color pallettes. The cool thing about this set is that you don't have to do the two-step using two differenr colors to create your flowers. You can use the more solid flower image and just do one color. I did that with the cherry cobbler card. Here they are:



This is my cherry cobbler, early espresso & very vanilla version. Like I said this flower uses the more solid image flower stamp in cherry cobbler ink only. I then stamped the center of the flower in early espresso.



This one is my Baja Breeze, soft suede & very vanilla version. This flower set I did the two-step stamping using pool party first and then baja breeze over it. Here is a close up of the flowers - hopefully you can see the two colors.



This is an awesome stamp set that you can use for all occasions. With all the color combinations you can try the possibilities are endless! Here is what I used on these cards.

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: En Francais, Field Flowers

Paper: Stampin Up!
Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in
Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso
Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Pool Party

Accessories: Stampin Up! Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, White Taffeta Ribbon, Always Articoke Marker, dimensionals, sponges, polks dots textured impressions embossing folder, big shot, edge distressor.

Weathered Stone Technique

Evening All!

Today's card is one that features a new technique that I call Weathered Stone. It is really simple to do and looks very cool! To do the technique all you do is take a Crumb Cake ink pad and swipe it across the front side of a textured impressions embossing folder and then place a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock inside the folder and run through the Big Shot. This transfers some of the ink into the flat areas around the raised design creating a weathered stone look! Has a very vintage look. LOVE IT! The color ink and cardstock is important. There is a more subtle version of this technique called Bisque Pottery that uses Sahara Sand ink on very vanilla cardstock. So try both styles! Here is my card using this technique:



Doesn't that look neat? It really reminds you of old stones that have that algae and aged look from being in the elements for years. Here is a close up of the technique:



The butterfly that I used on this card is from the Strength & Hope Set. This is a special set you can purchase to help combat breast cancer. For every stamp set purchased Stampin Up! donates $2.00 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. So if you haven't got your set order it now because it is only available until August 31st! You get a gorgeous stamp set and you know that your purchase helps go to fighting this horrible disease that affects so many families.

Strength & Hope Stamp Set Wood Mount - #118100 $17.95 & Clear Mount #123660 $13.95:


Here is what I used on the card:

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Strength & Hope, Elements of Style, Four Frames, Pocket Silhouettes

Paper: Stampin Up! Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Stampin Up! Top Note Die, Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions embossing folder, big shot, basic pearls, edge distresser, decorative label punch, sponges, dimensionals

Old World Vintage - Using New IN COLORS

Hello Stampers!

Long time since I have posted! I had to have emergency surgery about 3 weeks ago and am just now getting back into the stampin groove after recovery. Nothing major but unexpected! Anyway back to the fun & important stuff - LOL! As you may or may not know the NEW Stampin Up! catalog starts JULY 1st! YAY! I have to say I received mine and some of the new goodies in it and it is AWESOME! My wish list is already 100 pages long I swear! I should just write down stuff I DON'T need it would be ALOT shorter - LOL! The cards I am going to show you today each use one of the NEW Stampin Up! IN COLORS! They are absolutely gorgeous and I am really loving them! These in colors will be available July 1st and you will be able to purchase them for two whole years!
I made these cards for a technique challenge on splitcoaststampers for making an "Old World Style Card." I don't know how old world these look but they are vintage looking to me and I love how the new colors look with the neutrals.

Here is my first card using the new in color POOL PARTY



This uses the STRENGTH & HOPE stamp set that is available in the Summer Mini. My layout was also inspired by the sample card in the catalog. If you do not have this stamp set I strongly recommend purchasing it because not only is it gorgeous but it is a special stamp set for breast cancer! For every stamp set purchased Stampin Up! is donating $2.00 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This cause is near and dear to me because my Grandma is currently battling this disease for the second time. You can purchase your own stamp set here: WOOD MOUNT or CLEAR MOUNT

Isn't the Pool Party color gorgeous? It goes so well in a vintage style card. I paired this color with early espresso, crumb cake & very vanilla. Looks so pretty paired with the neutrals! The flowers in my collage background are from Elements of Style. I then just quickly colored them using the white uni-ball gel pen.

Ok now for card two! This card is actually one that we will be making at my next birthday card class. This uses the new in color WISTERIA WONDER. This card is the same basic style but I changed the collage background and the text says Happy Birthday. The flowers on this collage background is from Messages For Mom. This color also looks gorgeous in a vintage style paired with the neutrals. This time I used soft suede, crumb cake & very vanilla.



I hope you love the sneak peek of the in colors! They are all so pretty! Check my blog tomorrow when I show you another new in color - Calypso Coral - in an escape to the tropics card!

Summer Hydrangea

Good Morning everyone!

Today's card is the second project that I made using the Because I Care Hostess set. This card is super quick to make and turned out gorgeous if I do say so myself! :)

This would be a great card to have in your stash because it can be used for many types of occasions.



This is a square card that measures 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" so it does not cost any extra postage to mail.

To make it I inked up the stamp with versamark then used my elegant eggplant inkpad to put ink just on the flower head. Then I used my old olive marker on the leaves and stem and stamped on whisper white. I then clear embossed the flower. Added a little more color to the leaves with my marker. Cut the circle out using my coluzzle and then sponged the edges with early espresso. Mounted on the scallop circle die. That is it! Hope you enjoy it! I want to try to do this with some other colors too. I have seen this flower done with melon mambo and it is so pretty.... hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin Up! Stamp Sets: Because I Care Hostess Set

Paper: Stampin Up! Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Very Vanilla

Ink: Stampin Up! Classic ink pads in Elegant Eggplant, early espresso

Accessories: Stampin Up! Square lattice embossing folder, versamark, clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, scallop oval punch, large oval punch, dimensionals, big shot, coluzzle, Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die