Friday, March 27, 2015

PLUNGING INTO THE "SPOTLIGHT"!!

This week at The Paper Plunge we are featuring the 
Spotlight Technique!  This is an oldie, but I must admit I'd forgotten what it was!!! After doing a bit of research, I remembered doing this many times before-just not in awhile. So I was happy to be reintroduced to it!!!

Here's my card:


It's rather simple-it leaves the "spotlight" as the focus. See, the spotlight technique uses a small area that is "spotlighted" or highlighted with color. It's used as a way to "feature" an area on the image. It's not always stamped in black, but more often than not is.

This lovely stamp set it Sweetbriar Rose. It's in the Annual Catalog! It's very pretty colored, but I thought it worked well for this technique.  

The sentiment is from The Best Day Ever from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog. Love that stamp set! Gonna miss this catalog!!!

The circles were punched with the 3/4", 1 1/4", and 1 3/8" Circle Punches.  The image was colored with my Stampin' Markers. That's the only downfall for me right now-I miss my Blendabilities. Stampin' Up! though is so strong on their quality that they just felt they weren't cutting it, so they were removed from all catalogs. Too bad. I really liked them.  They are researching alternative alcohol markers however, so we hopefully will have some nice ones to work with soon!!!!  This image would have been much prettier if it were blended tho. Ah well. Life goes on!

Other items used in this card are Black Stazon Ink, Dazzling Diamonds, 1/4" Cotton Ribbon.

Now go pop on over the The Paper Plunge & check out what the other designers have in store for you!  This is a fun technique. Go get some ideas & give it a try! Then post your own creation!!! Maybe you'll become a member of our "SwimTeam"!!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

COLORING DOWN THE LINES!!!

Happy Wednesday!!! And 
Coloring Down the Lines Blog Hop 
day!!! The weather says we will be in the 40'sF today!  May  not seem like much to everyone, but to us here in New England it's like 80 degrees!!!!  Will spring every get here????

Combining blog challenges again! This week I'm using the Mojo Monday 390 sketch as a base. I like the way it works for this.

Hello hoppers from Helen's blog!! I can't wait to see her at convention this year!!! Be sure to continue on to Lizzy's blog!!! So much talent with these 2 ladies-and all the other wonderful friends on this hop!!! Just keep going!!!!

So here's this week's card:


And here's this week's inspiration:


And here are this week's Stampin' Up! colors from MDS:
And here's the Mojo Monday sketch:


Now these colors are very neutral. I figured I'd take the change to go sorta "masculine".  Altho I think it could go either way, the colors might work for a guy.  Now why you'd need a brown congrats card I'm not sure, but I like the shape of the stamp!!!  That comes from the Sale-a-Bration stamp set 
Simply Wonderful!!! A nice little versatile set! And yours only for awhile longer!!! 


I like the way the Darling Doily Thinlets makes the background here. Kind of a different look!

The brown ribbon that you see under the Sahara Sand Lace Trim is some altered Jute Ribbon. I colored it with my Chocolate Chip Stampin' Marker.  There's so much you can do with that ribbon. Very rustic & fun!!!

Other items used are the Apothecary Accents Framelits, Bird Builder Punch, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Pearls Basic Jewels (just because!), Scallop Circle Punch.

Now keep hopping!!!!! See you next time!!

Happy Stampin'!!!

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

COLORING DOWN THE LINES!

We are here for another 
Coloring Down the Lines Blog Hop
Luv my Wednesdays!!! As I post this, it's perfect for today-St. Patrick's Day! We're "wearing'" green here on this hop!!!

You may be here from Helen's blog! Glad you hopped along!!! Now keep hopping & head over to Liz's blog!!! Then keep going until you're right back here!! Enjoy along the way!!!

Here's my "green" creation this week: 


Here's the inspiration:


Here are the Stampin' Up! colors in MDS:
So the minute I saw these colors I thought grass! Of course I haven't seen any in months, but I think it's still under all that white stuff!  And grass makes me think "spring"!!! Oh please let it get here sometime soon!!!  It's just so cold & ugly still! Well maybe this hop will help bring on the spring!

I thought for "green" the Sheltering Tree stamp set would work well. This did not come out at all the way I thought it would look, but I love it! Could be a masculine card, but really it's for anyone.  I just love that tree. It's often used in a sort of "whimsical" way, but I like the softness & rustic nature of it here.  The little frame is made with the Square Framelits & the 
Woodgrain Embossing Folder.  


The leaves are stamped once with the Mossy Meadow ink, then they are embossed with the Wild Wasabi Embossing Powder.  I would have loved to add a bit of darker blue for the sky, but had to stick with the theme. That's one reason I love these challenges-they make you have to think outside of the box! I love that!!

So hope you enjoyed the hop this week! Oh, and Happy St. Patrick's Day a day a wee bit late!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Friday, March 13, 2015

LEARN TO WORK WITH OUR CHALKS!

Great class coming up!!! Learn about our amazing new Chalk Ink Pads & Chalkboard Paper!!! Very Cool!!! 

Click on Workshops link at top of blog for full info, but here are the debts:

Chalk Ink Technique Class

Learn all about our brand new Chalk Inks & Chalkboard Paper!  It's fun & easy! Learn some new techniques with these great new items in our 
Occasions Catalog!
You will make 4 cards with envelopes & have plenty to take home!!! Great new technique!!

Date:March 28
Time:10:00-12:00
Cost: $25
(Includes 1 pkg of our new Chalkboard Paper, 1 Chalk Ink Pad, 1/2 Pack Notecards & Envelopes)
Registration Deadline:March 16


You will need to choose which color Chalk Ink you would like to use. Choose from Aqua, Coral or Yellow. Must let me know when you register for class!

You may order the other 2 colors for $7.00 each.

Happy Stampin'!!!!

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

ICS BLOG HOP SPRING IS IN THE AIR



Hello all you Inspire, Create, Share Blog Hoppers!!! I can't believe it's March hop time already!!!! As  I type this, we are having our first day in the upper 40's F since January 18! It feels like summer! Ugh!  Still snowbanks over my head! With more snow on it's way!!!

That's why I'm so excited about a SPRING blog hop!! Can't wait to see what everyone has! Hopefully it'll help me at least think spring!!! Feels like the only place it exists in in this blog hop!!! lol

So here's my card:


It's kind of going old-school for me! I haven't done something with this type design in awhile!  But I love how the Something Lacy giant stamp makes such a pretty background! This one was done with a sponge & 3 different colors!!! Such a versatile stamp!!!

So nothing says "spring" to  me like flowers do! The flower is from the 
Crazy About You Stamp set and is punched out with The coordinating 
Flower Medallion Punch!  Super easy! I did fussy cut the inner flower & the leaves, but that wasn't too taxing!

Other items used are the Simply Wonderful stamp set for the sentiment, Candy Dots & Candy Dot Brad Base, & Wide Baker's Twine.

Sweet simple & spring!!!

So go pop on over to Tina's blog now & see what she has to offer! Be sure to keep going after visiting hers!!! Hopefully you will get some "spring fever" too!!! Please leave a comment! We love to hear from you!! Just click the picture below!!!

Happy Stampin'!





Thursday, March 5, 2015

SPRING ART!

I am fortunate enough to have a great library in the town next to mine. Every year, they recognize March as Women in Art Month!  And every year they invite me to add something to their exhibit! I am a bit bored with just adding cards, so I decided to try my hand at some Home Decor this year!!!

Here's what I entered into the exhibit:


Now I will admit to "stealing" the concept from the Occasions Catalog! That Painted Blooms DSP is art in itself! In fact, we found out at the Catalog Launch Party that they actually had artist watercolor the designs then used those to design the paper! So pretty!!1

But I didn't want to just CASE the catalog! I wanted to add my own touch! Now keep in mind, living in Massachusetts, I NEED SPRING!!!! And nothing says spring to me more than beautiful butterflies! I wanted to feature my 
Butterfly Thinlits! Love these things!!!!


This butterfly was cut from Vellum Cardstock and "spritzed" with the 
Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz! It makes it somewhat irradescant!!!   I will admit, however, that it takes practice cutting vellum with the thinlets! But once it works, how pretty!


The "smile" was stamped from the So You stamp set! Just a simple banner with a bit of Washi Tape and one more tiny butterfly cut from some DSP using the Small Butterfly Punch!!!

So I hope it is enjoyed! The exhibit promises to be amazing as always! There's all kinds of art so it really gets me some exposure!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

COLORING DOWN THE LINES WITH MOJO!!!

Welcome to this week's 
Coloring Down the Lines Blog Hop!! 
I am combining challenges this week & using a Mojo Monday sketch!!!!

You probably traveled here from Helen's blog! Be sure to continue on the way to Liz's blog!!! Then just keep going!!!

So here's my card:


Here's the inspiration photo:


Here are the MDS colors:

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch:


Fairly simple card this week! Wanted to try out my Big Day stamp set from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog! I think it'll be so much fun with my Chalk Inks & Chalkboard Paper, but the colors don't work for this challenge. So I figured i'd make it the "star" of the show (see what I did there??!!! lol)

Other materials used: Star Embossing Folder, Stars Framelits, Gold Glitz Dazzling Details, Banner Framelits, 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Washi Tape

Hope ya liked!!! Keep hopping & enjoy what everyone else has for you!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

DRINKS ANYONE?

Today I thought I'd share with you something other than a card!!! It's a bit of home decor!  I love doing these, and this particular pack is my favorite so far!

So these are Stamped Tile Coasters:



Yup! Just simple tiles!  Stamped with Black Stazon Ink. Now sometimes I will add a bit of color with permanent markers, but I'm still not 100% sold on that.  I do put them in the oven for a bit to heat them up & "bake in" the ink, but many say it's  not necessary. Some people add some finishing spray, but these simple ones don't really need it!

I used the By The Tide stamp set. First, I stamped the words, then I sanded them a bit. Then just simply stamped the fish in the corner!

I did add the little padded feet on the back so they don't destroy your furniture!  

I will gladly do a class on these for you, or I'll even create ones for you to purchase! I usually do sets of 4, but you can do as many as you'd like! Contact me to order yours! Perfect for you or for gifts! Everyone needs coasters!!!

Happy Stampin'!

Monday, March 2, 2015

WITH SYMPATHY

My Stampin' Up! team met last Friday night! Each time we get together, we do a mini-swap! That's where we come up with a theme or technique or design or something & each make a card. Then we "swap" the cards so we each get some new ones! They are great to pull if you need that card, but they're also great for ideas! 

This month's theme was Sympathy Cards (been needing way too many of those lately unfortunately!).

Here's mine:


This is a very simple card. That is my "rule" for a sympathy card.  Must be not too busy-Clean And Simple. I also will very rarely put the words "with sympathy" on it. I try for "thinking of you" or "you're in my thoughts" or something along those lines. I just think they are more meaningful.

So this card was done with one of my oldest techniques. Haven't done it in awhile, but for some reason I just decided to revisit using tissue paper as a medium.

The design-which is from Butterfly Basics stamp set-was stamped on just an ordinary piece of tissue paper with Black Stazon Ink. I then colored with the Blendabilities. Wasn't sure how they'd work on tissue paper as I haven't tried that yet. I like the result. I've always use the Stampin' Markers before, but either one works well. I was able to do a bit of blending & shading with the Blendabilities tho that I wouldn't have been able to achieve as nicely with the markers.  

I thought the torn edge worked well with the design. I just lightly edged it with a sponge for depth. I simply embossed the sentiment with 
Black Embossing Powder. That is from A Dozen Thoughts stamp set. 

So just a card share today! Enjoy!

Happy Stampin'!!!

ICS BLOG HOP-EASTER LILIES

  Happy spring! Well-almost! Here on the Inspire, Create, Share Blog Hop we are going "springy" this month-Hopping into spring! I...