Treat Yourself to some inspiration

Have you checked out ClubCr8, yet? It's a great little treat that seriously anyone can afford. This month's project package is all about getting the most from die cutting. Check out the links below and go find out more!

Want to know more about the private class this month? 

Click here to view more details

Have some free time now? Go grab this month's class and start having some fun die cutting that stash of pattern paper in a new way!

Traveling, traveler, traveled with Stampendous

Just getting ready to travel for Spring Break or just getting back. It's time to think about putting down those memories. There's a great little stamp with lots of fun labels you would find on old luggage just right for scrapbooking, smashing, or a project life pocket decoration. It's from Stampendous and you can find it online or in stores now! It's from their January catalog and it's been calling to jump up on my blog. So here is what I made with it.

I loved all the great vintage labels on the background stamp, so that's all I put on my card {insert big teethy grin}. I colored with pencils and then blended with Mineral Spirits and a paper stump. It goes well with the stamp set I used last week for the Mix-Ability challenge card called Baggage Claim.

It's getting close to the end of the month and the March Stampendous Challenge will soon end. Grab your new Stampendous Jumbo flower stamp and use the FREE template that came with it. It's that easy! Stamps with the new template are Jumbo Sunflower, Jumbo Poppy and Jumbo Daisy. I'll be back next week with a challenge sample... because I've been cooking up a great little card with a big wow using the template!

Details:
Stamps: Luggage Labels (Stampendous)
Paper: Kraft and spring green Bazzill Papers
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento, Tsukineko), Prismacolor Pencils
Accessories: May Arts Ribbon, odorless mineral spirits, distress tool (Tonic, Tim Holtz)

Just Saying... Hello

 

(There has been some difficulties with my posts getting saved and published, so this is coming late, but was supposed to be sent out later on Thursday.)

The week's this year just seem to be whipping through aren't they? I'm just sure it's because we are all so excited to get to the next Mix-Ability Challenge, right? Yeah, it's me. I'm excited about it.

Trudy Sjolander is hosting this week. She is asking us to Rip It, Paste It and Ink It! She really knows how to win an artsy girls heart. I broke out my paints just so I could get it all over my fingers, but what was more fun is that a couple of items are handrawn on my card, too!

Here's just a little photo roll of close-ups of my card. I could go into step by steps on this card, but most of that you can't see on the finished card. 

I found a set of stencils at Walmart the other day. Just perfect for small embellishments. I used acrylic on my finger and smoothed it around in the heart shape stencil and once dry just sketched around it with a pencil then Copic Multiliner. Two little flowers are peeking over the "o" in hello. Those are my doodles. :)

This darling little girl is from Birdie Brown called Thinking of You. I know that the sentiment is from Birdie Brown as well, but it might have been a free digital stamp at some point. I've had this girl colored for quite a long time and just never could create quite the right card with it until now. And such the right time because Torico of Birdie Brown is having a 2nd Birthday Challenge and I think I just might drop a linky in to say "hello" and congratulations.

Some more stencil work with the new Wallies stencil. This design had flowers and polka dots, but they eventually were covered up by the layers of lace and sentiment.

Now for the part that really tickles my artsy heart. I drew a cluster of flowers (similar to the one Thinking Of You girl is holding) to add to the collage of torn paper and drawn elements.

Details:
Stamps: Thinking of You (Birdie Brown), Just Saying Hello (Birdie Brown)
Paper: Cream (Wausau), graph paper, blue scraps, texture Yellow Ochre (Craft Warehouse package), text book, pattern paper (not showing from the layers of other paper and paint)
Ink: inkjet printer, alcohol markers (Copics), acrylic paints, black multiliner (Copic)
Accessories: stencils, white texture medium (Hellmuth), blue lace, 6B woodless pencil, 

Verve Cards Machine Stamp Mail Style

I can get all caught up in my designs sometimes and not remember that the card IS going to be mailed at some point. That's when I opt for a second card for the mailing and hand-delivery for the embellishment rich first one. (For a little bit of information on the US mailing work of a blogging stamper go here. Rates have changed since the post, but the work to have accurate postage still applies.)

So here is a card that has all the fun, but no extra bulk in design.

I'll be creating this with a few wonderful ladies tonight in class at Inspiration Boutique! Yay, I can't wait for a night out with the ladies. See you soon!

Details:
Stamps: Fabulous You (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Pewter (Wausau), pattern paper (unknown), Lilac (Core'dination), textured green cardstock (Bazzill Basics)
Ink: Black Soot (Ranger)
Accessories: Ribbon Banner die (A Cut Above, Verve), Lilac twine (The Twinery), green resin rhinestones (Buckle Boutique), score board

Here's the whole CARD now

The photo shoot card gets it own day on the blog today. I made a small photo tutorial earlier this week for my MIX6 challenge card. Here is the tutorial again,

and here is the finished card! 

Have you been trying out a little mixed media? It really is fun and relaxing for me. If you want to try and don't know where to start you can always jump on over to Splitcoaststampers and try out the Mix-Ability challenge. Tiffany has us splattering this week. Go check out all the challenges so far.

Stampendous Innovation Alert!!!!!! If you have ever wanted a reusable mask while stamping  around images Stampendous has done it and gone beyond! Check out this video to see the new FREE template with their Jumbo Flower stamps.

The month of March Stampendous challenge is to use this FREE Jumbo Template and have a chance to win. So your already free might get you more new free! Not sure if you have a template with your Jumbo stamp? Just look in the top right corner of your packaging and if there is a red triangle, you are all set to participate!

Details:
Stamps: Baggage Claim (Stampendous)
Paper:  kraft (Wausau), Lime (Wausau), book page, chipboard
Ink: Jet Black (Archival Ink, Ranger), acrylic paints, white gesso Accessories: Chevron embossing folder (Sissix)

Friday's a Double Day

Double day? Yep, I'm doubling up on challenges today. They are both quick, fun and perfect for each other. They are both on Splitcoast Stampers even!

Check out Tiffany's Mix-Ability challenge Splatter-ific! for MIX7. She's has this one spot on, {pun intended}, and lots of tutorial to choose from and a video. It's easy peasy!

I pulled out some watercolors and splattered with a small brush using different mixed colors and then I pulled out two more green colors in acrylics and splattered those with a larger brush. Still wanting more mixed media style design I smeared some acrylic paint on my craft mat and then pressed a small piece of bubble wrap into it just like a stamp pad and added that in a couple of places. That was fun and took very little time, so I grabbed one of the circles and repeated the technique.

Hey Moe! You've got your inspiration cashed in here! Happy {early} Birthday!

I loved the inspiration+sketch for this next week on the Viva La Verve forum because it reminded me to get a card done for my hubby.  It's a first{date} anniversary for us. It involves a movie and some spilled candy so I've cleverly added that into my card.

The base mat was edge punched and distressed with Making Memories distress tool and then sponged with Old Paper ink. I stapled some elements cut out from Verve's Flag It Die Set, one onto the printed index card mat and the other onto the layered circles for the sentiment from Remember This stamp set.

I wanted to show a couple of elements from our first date so the Bird Cage and DIY m&m's came onto the card. Verve's bird cage from Doodled Occasions was perfect and then I handmade the m&m's with Copic markers (G05, G28) and a white opaque marker for lettering. Once the base and layered circle element was done and added to the base, I stamped the day of our first date on the index card using Calendar Countdown. That's it!

I hope you all have a great weekend...

Details:
Stamps:  Calendar Countdown, Remember This, and Doodled Occasions (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  ginkgo (Wausau), printed index card, scraps of green
Ink:  Soft Suede and Espresso (Stampin' Up), watercolor and acrylic paints, Copic Markers, opaque white pen
Accessories:   Flag It die (A Cut Above, Verve), Round Spiral edge punch (EK Success), mini stapler (Bostitch), edge scraper tool (Making Memories)

Taking on the Verve Diva Dare Challenge

Ready to be dared? It's March Diva Dare Challenge and I've got my take posted on the Verve Stamps blog today! I'll only show my card here, but the full details can be found over there. Get going, why don't ya. It's a great dare to take!

My card used has a few more challenges added on to it. I used The Play Date Cafe Challenge #172. I really did start out with these colors, honest. You can see them on the background paper. Also the week 2 sketch challenge over on Viva La Verve forum hosted by new Diva Jen S.

Details:
Stamps: So Fluttery (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Picadilly (BasicGrey), cream and white (Wausau)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento, Tsukineko), Going Gray (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Scalloped Trim Trio Die (A Cut Above, Verve), Flag It Die Set (A Cut Above, Verve), Scalloped Flowers Die Set (A Cut Above, Verve), Signature Ribbon Collection (Verve Stamps), black pearls (Kaisercrafts), twine (The Twinery), button, sewing machine, Chevron embossing folder (Sissix)

Have a New Year's Resolution to join a CLUB?

For about a decade of my life I always thought my New Year's Resolution should involve joining a "club". You know one of those places people pay to go and sweat, feel pain and drained as they leave the building? Yep, it eventually was left off my list until recently.

I've found a club I think YOU will love as much as I do. It's not too late to put a new line on the resolution list so get your virtual pen and right this down!

Paper Craft Planet has a NEW club where you can get all the best tips and tricks conveniently in one place. It's called ClubCr8 for a reason so...

Go check it out now!

Mix-ability lets you color outside the lines

I've been super busy with a little, okay a lot of Stampendous catalog designing, but I squeaked in a time to play with the Splitcoast Stampers Mix-Ability challenge. I've missed it this past week and must catch up, but today is a new challenge and Birgit has brought a super awesome challenge.

Use print plus gesso! That's super easy and hey, if the print gets mostly lost from the fun of gesso and color, that's okay. We know it's down underneath all that goodness.

My card was a CAS'MM. It's clean and simple meets mixed media. The sentiment panel was put together quickly by  taping around the edges of the pre-sized chipboard. I glued torn book page pieces onto the chipboard and tried to stay off of the tape with the glue. I painted and gesso'd then stamped the sentiment as it would be put on the lime card base. Heat set if you're in a hurry (it is a CAS card). I carefully pulled the tape directly away on the same plane from the chipboard so the book pages would tear off as well. The card base was run through my Cuttlebug with Sissix' chevron embossing folder. Here is a photo step-by-step in case you're visual like myself.

Details:
Stamps: Color Outside (Stampendous) (step instructions - Baggage Claim by Stampendous)
Paper: chipboard, book paper, lime (Wausau)
Ink: Jet Black (Archival, Ranger), white gesso, acrylic paints
Accessories: embossing folder (Sissix)

Fresco-like Stamping in a Papercrafting world

Good morning and hopefully it really is for you! I'm popping in to say that I've got a fabby little tutorial for you all. It's over on Paper Craft Planet Blog right now!

Details:
Stamps: Fresh Bloom and Thoughtful Wishes (Stampendous)
Paper: Kraft (Wausau), Black (Hobby Lobby), white tissue paper
Ink: Jet Black (Archival, Ranger), water soluble oil pastels
Accessories: Matte finish decoupauge glue (Mod Podge), white gesso (ProArt), white seam binding (Hug Snug)

A little Verve CAS

It's a sweet clean and simple day. I love Sunday's for the afternoon nap and the low to no schedule hustle and bustle. It's a good day when I can get up for church and then come home and hang out with my family. Dogs sitting in my lap and watching sports or a movie. Sometimes I grab my knitting bag and then on a few occasions I actually take the knitting out of the bag. :)

I hope you are having a relaxed day and enjoying something simple in life.

I managed to leave off my CAS card for the Viva La Verve Challenge during release week. I thought I'd get this up on the blog last week and then the whole week flew by. That is a constant during the school year, with loads of events and times to be here or there so I should have expected it.

Anyway, I made this CAS card for the sketch I hosted a couple of Friday's ago. It uses the new Banner Bundle Die Set and Scalloped Trimmed Trio Die Set. Two die sets that will be used over and over and over! The sentiment comes from So Fluttery which has a great mix of phrases to match up for multiple sentiments. The butterflies in the set are WAY cool!

Julee has a sale for the February release going until tomorrow, March 4th. Head on over there and check them out before it's gone!

Details:
Stamps:  So Fluttery (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Paper: Anthologie (We R Memory Keepers), kraft (Wausau)
Ink:  Archival Jet Black (Ranger)
Accessories:   Banner Bundle Die Set (A Cut Above, Verve), Scalloped Trim Trio Die Set (A Cut Above, Verve), Black Dots (Smash Tape)