Technique Tuesday: Ombré

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027Ombré means shaded or graduated in tone.  I used a simple ombré technique on today’s card.  I used my ink pads and sponge daubers to make may graduated tones.

I first stamped the flower image from the So Very Grateful stamp set on Whisper White card stock with the Basic Gray ink.  When you’re working with multiple colors it’s always best to start with the lightest color.  I started my ombré effect with Blushing Bride.  Crisp Cantaloupe is the middle color and Calypso Coral is the darkest color.

For the background I stamped the flower image randomly on the Crisp Cantaloupe card stock with the Crisp Cantaloupe ink.  I used my favorite ribbon coloring technique to get the Basic Gray ribbon.  I filled my spritzer with rubbing alcohol and Basic Gray ink and spritzed the ribbon until I had the shade I wanted.  The Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon that I use with this technique is retiring so I am kind of bummed about that but there is some new ribbon in the upcoming catalog that might work just as well.  I can’t wait to try it…

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

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046It’s baseball season so what makes a better masculine card than a baseball?  Yes, I CASEd this card….but it’s so darn cute!  I love how the Chevron Punch makes the stitching on the baseball….very clever.  How do people think up all of these wonderful ideas?

I used a dinner sized paper plate to make the curve up the baseball.  Then it was just a matter of punching enough chevrons with the Chevron Punch to make my stitching.  TSC!  Too Stinkin’ Cute!

The sentiment is from Perfect Pennants in the Occasions Catalog.  For some reason I like to pop up that “a” in another color whenever I use this stamp.  It just seems to add so much to the card.  The star is from Simply Stars.  This is one of the many stamp sets on the retired list that is already sold out. 🙁  Don’t fret if you like stars though….you may see some in the new catalog….just sayin’!  🙂

My mom is a huge baseball fan so I altered this card a bit into a Mother’s Day card for her.  Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of it before I packaged up her gift.  Maybe I’ll have her take a picture of it when she gets it so I can share.  I need to get the gift in the mail today so it gets to the Minnesota Homeland before Mother’s Day!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Hardwood and Doilies

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013My Thursday night event was a lot of fun.  The gals seemed to enjoy making the cards.  This is the third card we made that night.  Hardwood and Doilies.

It’s a pretty easy card which is why I designed it for this event.  I was trying for an old fashioned or Victorian look.  I’m not sure I succeeded with that but I do like the card.

I used the Perfectly Penned stamp set for the sentiment.  It worked perfectly for the look I was going for.  I hope you already have this stamp set because it’s one of the many retiring stamp sets that is already sold out both in clear mount and wood.  I’m amazed at all of the stamp sets that have quickly sold out.

I really like the doily on this card.  I need to incorporate doilies on more of my cards.  They’re just so pretty! 🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Sneak Peek: Work of Art

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012I thought I’d give you a little sneak peek at one of the fabulous new stamp sets from the new 2014-2015 Catalog.  Woo Hoo!  It’s 3 x 3 Thursday so I just whipped up this cute little card for you using the new Work of Art stamp set.  The Stampin’ Up! presenters used this stamp set quite a bit during their presentation at Monday night’s Catalog Premiere.

I used 3 of the eleven stamps on this little card.  I can’t wait to find the time to play some more and use the rest of them!  🙂  There’s some cute images that you’re going to want to check out when you have the chance.

I had to get up early this morning to find out what I could order on my new catalog pre-order!  It was worth it though.  I can’t wait to receive all of my new toys next week.  They’ll definitely keep me busy!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

So Very Grateful

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017Here’s a card that I knew I had to CASE (copy and share everything) as soon as I saw it online.  There was just something about it that said “make me”!  Ha!

I think part of the draw is that right now Crumb Cake is my go-to color.  I’ve been using it a lot!  I was designing the cards for my masculine card class coming up next week and I had three cards designed using Crumb Cake!  Yikes!  I did cut that back to only two though.  Enough is enough!  Besides, I don’t have enough Crumb Cake ink pads for that many cards!

I really like the use of the Angled Tag Topper Punch on this card and the Natural’s 5/8″ Chevron Ribbon.  Everything just goes together so well on this card.  Of course, the So Very Grateful stamp set is pretty darn cute too.  The sentiment is from Perfect Pennants stamp set.  I actually heat embossed the sentiment on the card with White Craft Ink, White Embossing Powder and my heat tool.  I’m not sure when I last heat embossed.  It’s definitely been awhile!

Well, I have another busy day today getting ready for my event tomorrow evening.  I also have to start thinking about getting ready for next week’s classes.   Never a dull moment!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

 

I Have It!

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002I have it!  I have it!  I have the exciting new Stampin’ Up! catalog in my grubby little hands and it’s AWESOME!  I know you’re going to LOVE it as much as I do!  It’s set up to help you find what you’re looking for whether you’re a beginner stamper or an advanced one.

The new In-Colors are awesome, the new stamp sets are awesome, the new accessories & designer papers are awesome.  The whole darn book is AWESOME!  …..have I told you how awesome this catalog is yet?  😉

The new in-colors are Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow and Tangelo Twist.  I can’t wait to share them with you!

I took a stroll through the catalog last night when I got home just to get acquainted with it.  Now comes the fun part of making lists of everything I can’t live without!  🙂

The premiere last night was a lot of fun.  Watching it in a movie theater (there were over 7000 demonstrators across the country doing this!) wasn’t that much different from being at a live event.  At events they always have a big screen showing the presenters on stage and that’s what we saw on the movie screen.  What a fun event!  There were door prizes too!  No, I didn’t win one but my downline Cheryl did so that was exciting.

We came home with the new catalog, the newest issue of Stampin’ Success (the magazine for demonstrators only) and the most beautiful new stamp set called “Work of Art”.  I can’t wait to play with it!

Now, don’t you wish you were a demonstrator and able to attend fun events like this?  Well, you can sign up and if you do and decided to go to convention in July this year your registration fee is FREE!  Be sure to ask me about this if you think it sounds like a fun!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

A New Look!

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Check it out! What do you think of my new look? I hope you like it because it took me all weekend to change!  Did you notice the color I used?  Yes, my favorite PINK!  This way you’ll know you’re in the right place! 🙂

I wanted something a little cleaner and a little friendlier. I hope this does the trick. Be sure to leave me a comment to let me know what you think of the new look!

Speaking of looks….I am SO excited! Tonight is the 2014-2015 Catalog Premiere! I get a sneak peek at the new catalog! It’s going to be so fun. Stampin’ Up! is hosting an event in Long Beach, CA and they’re streaming it live to movie theaters across the country. Lucky for me one of the streamed events is here in Denver. I did have to sign up in advance and purchase a ticket but on top of getting the new catalog I may get a few little treats. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it tomorrow! 🙂

Don’t forget to leave me a post on what you think about my blog’s new look.  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

A Beautiful Card for a Dreary Day

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016We don’t have to say this often here in Colorado but it’s a dreary day.  Usually the sun is shining bright but not today.  Cool and dreary.  Let’s brighten the day up with a beautiful card.

Stippled Blossoms is one of those stamp sets that has been sitting on my shelf FOREVER!  Sad to say, I had never used until I was working on cards for my Flower Card class.  I thought I’d give it a try.  A lot of the samples I looked at for this stamp set had the flower or flowers cut out and I knew that wouldn’t go over well in my classes.  I had to come up with a card that you didn’t need a pair of scissors for.  This was it.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I do love the details you get when you do Two Step Stamping and it’s so easy when the stamps are made that way!  🙂

My Pink Pirouette ink pad was another item that had been gathering dust on my shelf.  Doesn’t it work perfectly with the Strawberry Slush?  This will probably be my Mother’s Day card for both my mom and MIL.  I guess I need to figure out what to get them for a gift now.  Hmmm…….

I hope you have a bright and sunny day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Saturday: Petite Petals Notecard

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003Here’s a cute and simple card for Simple Saturday.  This is another card that we’ll be making at the event I’m participating in next Thursday.

One of the simplest parts of this card is that it’s a notecard from the Notecards and Envelopes.  These notecards are such a cute size.  5″ x 3 1/2″.  The splotch on the card is from Gorgeous Grunge, the sentiment from A Dozen Thoughts and the flower is from Petite Petals.  The best part of using the Petite Petals stamp is using the COORDINATING Petite Petals Punch to punch out the flower!  To finish the card off just add a little rhinestone bling from the Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Slowly but surely I’m getting ready for my event next week.  I have most of the projects cut and now I’m making list of everything I need to remember to bring.  I’m bound to forget something.  Let’s hope it’s not anything too critical!  🙂

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Love & Sympathy: 3 x 3 Thursay!

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3x3 Love and Sympathy.0414 It’s 3 x 3 Thursday again and today I have a beauty for you!  I’ve always loved this Love & Sympathy stamp set.  This flower just called to me.  This is actually the second one of these sets that I had to get.  I must have loaned the first one out to someone and never got it back.  I couldn’t do without the set so I had to get set number two.  Lucky for me this stamp set isn’t on the retired set.  I’d be rather sad if it was.  This set has some beautiful phrases for sympathy cards.  It’s definitely a set that will stay in my stash even when it does end up on the retired list.

Melon Mambo may be my favorite PINK, but Strawberry Slush, which I used on this little card, comes in a close second.  And of course, everything goes better with Pear Pizzazz!  🙂

These little 3 x 3 cards are fun and easy to make.  It’s funny, but when I make them I always have them open bottom to top instead of right to left.  Not sure why….

Yesterday I received my Project Life products that I got to order early as a demonstrator.  Woo Hoo!.  They’re pretty cute.  I just too a quick glance at them but I plan on digging in and creating with them in the next day or two.  I’ll be sure to share.  I think the hardest part of using this great new product will be deciding on what photos to use.  Do I start with photos on my computer or do I dig into all of those boxes in the basement!  I’m almost thinking of starting with the old pictures in boxes only because they’re already printed out.  Hmmm….

If you haven’t heard about Project Life here’s a quick description from Stampin’ Up!: 

Get ready for a scrapbooking revolution with Project Life! It helps busy people (so basically all of us) document life using photos and journaling in a quick, simple, and fabulous way. We’ve partnered with Becky Higgins, creator of Project Life, to offer a complete line of elite products. 

Becky explains, “It’s called Project LIFE because it’s about YOUR LIFE. Whatever your life is. Whatever your stage of life. Whatever your family circumstances. Whatever your lifestyle. Project Life is designed to help anyone and everyone get their pictures into a book.”  In a nutshell, it’s all about spending more time making memories and less time scrapbooking them.

Project Life is basically “pocket scrapbooking”.  You just slip your photos and embellishments into the pockets of your page.   It looks so fun and easy.  I had to smile when I was just reading about Project Life on the demonstrator website.  It mentioned that one of the selling points is “coordination, coordination, coordination”!  Ha!  You know that’s one of my favorite words!  🙂

Be sure to let me know if you have any questions on Project Life.  I think we’re going to LOVE it!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Golden Washi Tape Wednesday

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011It’s Washi Tape Wednesday and today’s card is GOLDEN!  Don’t you love all of the gold (and silver) products in the Occasions Catalog?  This gold Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape is so FUN!  Of course it coordinates perfectly with the Gold Foil Sheets!  COORDINATION!  🙂

I designed this card for an event I’m doing next Thursday.  It could be a pretty large group and I don’t know if any of them have stamped before so I wanted something fairly simple.  I also wanted to use some of the fun products Stampin’ Up! offers.  I thought the washi tape would be especially fun.

Did you notice the strip of washi tape on the inside of the card?  I don’t usually remember to decorate the inside of the card but thought this was a fun addition.  I keep using the word ‘fun’…..I guess in my mind washi tape and fun go together!

The sentiment is from the Perfect Pennants stamp set.  I also added a few pieces of the Gold Sequin Trim.

Have a ‘golden’ day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

P.S.  Have you taken advantage of the FREE shipping this week?  Don’t miss out!  Place that order today!

Use Your Chalk Marker For More Than Writing!

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019Tip of the day Tuesday!  Is your Chalk Marker good for anything other than writing?  The answer is YES!  You can color with it too!  Check out the flowers on my card.  I colored them with my Chalk Marker.

The flowers are from the Peaceful Petals stamp set in the Occasions Catalog.  I colored the stems and the flower centers with markers.

I used the Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder on the background and then lightly rubbed Crumb Cake ink over it to highlight the design.  I like doing that to embossed backgrounds….it really brings out the design.

Have you placed your order yet of retiring products?  Some of the items are already sold out.  Don’t miss out on the items you want.  Place that order today!

Have a great day.  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Say Good-Bye With FREE Shipping!

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MainAd_RetiredListFreeShipping_OLO_April2114_USI hope everyone had a wonderful Easter yesterday!  I tried not to eat too much but we all know how that goes!  Ha!

Today the retiring lists are out!  Yikes!  There’s ton’s of stuff on them but if there wasn’t, there wouldn’t be room in the catalog for all of the new stuff!  My shelves almost look bare after taking off all of the retiring stamp sets.  I’m excited to fill them back up with new product though!  🙂

Retiring Stamp Sets

Retiring Accessories

You can click on the links above to check out the lists or if you’re a visual person you can see all of the retiring products right in my on-line store.

Have fun shopping!  Don’t wait though…..all retiring products are only available while supplies last!  Best of all….there’s FREE SHIPPING this week only, April 21-25.

Just click on the on-line ordering button at the right and start your shopping now!  Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

 

Adorable! More Whales from Hello, Sailor!

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022I was absolutely tickled when I finished this card!  It’s TSC!  Too Stinkin’ Cute!  It’s easy enough to post for a Simple Saturday and it’s cute!  I know, I’ve already said that but this card just tickles my fancy!  🙂

I told you about my infatuation with whales the other day so when this card came together I just had to smile!

My adorable whale is from the Hello, Sailor stamp set.  I just stamped him a few times in Coastal Cabana, layered them on Bermuda Bay card stock and added the Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon.  I think the “bubbles” made with Decorative Dots Embossing Folder on the Coastal Cabana card stock just finish the card perfectly don’t you?  TSC!!!!

Have a great day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!

Simple Stems Shaker Card

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021It’s Spring!  It’s going to be a gorgeous day here in Colorado so we need a card that shouts SPRING!  I think this one will do.

This card was a prototype for my Flower Cards Class next week but didn’t make the cut.  I had designed too many cute cards!  Ha!

I knew I wanted to use the Simple Stems stamp set from the Occasions Catalog but wasn’t sure what to do with it.  Then I saw a shaker card like this online and had my idea!

This shaker card is pretty simple.  I first die cut the oval in the Wisteria Wonder card stock with the Oval Framelits and then I ran it through the Big Shot with the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder.  You have to do it in this order or you’ll squish your embossed dots!

To make the shaker part of the card I cut down a 4″ x 6″ cello bag and put some Silver Glass Stampin’ Glitter in it.  You don’t want too much but then I don’t think I put enough in mine.  I closed up my cello bag with tape and then adhered it directly to the back of the embossed Wisteria Wonder card stock.  That’s it!  Easy Shaker card!

Have a wonderful Spring day!  Take care and Happy Stamping!