ICS BLOG HOP-SWEET CITRUS

Happy August! Who can believe summer is starting to wind down?! It just started!!! But here on the Inspire, Create, Share Blog Hop we are still celebrating summer with some fun techniques! How are you using your stamps, inks & paper?          Well we are showcasing cards this month with a focus on the technique used to create the card! I bet you'll find some great new ideas!!!

Here's my card:

Now I don't know the name of the technique I used! lol Not even sure it has one! It's just something I like to do! It involves adding some random colors to a piece of Basic White cardstock using a Blending Brush. In this case, the colors are Parakeet Party, Daffodil Delight & Pumpkin Pie. Just throw it on randomly! 

Next, using Versamark ink, stamp an image. In this case the image is the flower from Sweet Citrus! Emboss with clear embossing powder. Looks nice right?       Well to really make it pop I simply spritz the whole piece with my Stampin' Spritzer. It helps blend the colors & really make the image pop!                       Now maybe it would spread a bit more on watercolor paper, but I really like how it looks on the Basic White!

Then I just added the fun elements from the stamp set using the                    Sweet Citrus coordinating dies to cut them out! Words were stamped & fussy cut! I just love the subtle look of the shiny images in the background! Hope you do too!

Other items used are Metallic Woven Ribbon, Loose Daisy Embellishments, Clear Embossing Powder, Wink of Stella.

Next up is Deb! I know she has something really cool for you! Simply click on her name here or on the icon below! Then keep going! And enjoy our last official month of summer!!!

Happy stampin'!!!

ICS BLOG HOP-PAINTED POPPIES

 

Hello & happy spring! This month's Inspire, Create, Share Blog Hop focuses on "girlie" things! So we all have that girlfriend that enjoys a "girlie" kinda card! Join us to get some great inspiration! You may even see some Mother's Day inspiration as you move forward!!!

Here's my card:

So when I think "girlie" I think "frill" & flowers! This card definitely features both! lol The flowers from Painted Poppies stamp set features both watercolored with Watercolor Pencils & Blender Pens and some colored with Stampin' Blends! They are all the same Rich Razzleberry color! I love how the different shades come out with the different mediums! And they are so easily cut using the             Painted Labels Dies!!!! And blinged up a bit with the ALWAYS used                 Wink of Stella!!! lol 

The beautiful mattes are the Ornate Layers Dies! I just love these as a background! Kinda lacy looking!  Fortunately these dies as well as the stamp set will continue into the 21-22 Annual Catalog!!!! The greeting however did not make it! It's from Itty Bitty Greetings. I'd love to have this set remain as it's a great go-to but I have to say goodbye! Maybe that's why they also retired the                   Classic Label Punch used to punch it out! Boo.  The little Butterfly Gem on there is also retiring because it's one of the retiring In-Colors-Purple Posy.  The new      In-Colors are great, but it's always tough to say goodbye.  

Now it's time to hop on over to Terri's blog & see her girlie card!!! Just click her name or the icon below!!! Then keep going! We also love it when you leave comments! So
please do!!! Until next month...

Happy Stampin'!

COLORING DOWN THE LINES!

This week on 

Coloring Down the Lines 

we are featuring our favorite techniques!

If you are hopping with us, you probably arrived from Helen's blog!! Be sure to continue on to Lizzy's blog, then keep going! Join our hop all the way around!!!

So here's my card:

Here's Robbie's inspiration photo:

So I went through all the wonderful techniques I've learned in my many, many years of stamping. Which was my favorite? That's a tough one, but I really ended up going with my "go-to", which to me would indicate a favorite! Watercoloring! Not a fancy schmancy technique-just a plain & simple yet fun & effective technique!

I chose one of our beautiful new stamp sets to feature the watercoloring technique. It's the Beautiful You stamp set.   When I first saw it I was like meh! But now it's one of my faves!!! So pretty!

Here's another example of watercoloring with this stamp set. 

I saw a similar card somewhere so I decided to put my own take on it! Just a different experiment with the Watercolor Pencils & the Blender Pens on the Watercolor Paper. Fun.  

Materials used in these 2 cards include: Beautiful You stamp set,   Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Pop of Pink DSP, Falling Petals Textured Embossing Folder, Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack (from 

Sale-a-bration Catalog), embellishments from My Paper Pumpkin, 

Pearls Perfect Jewels, Pop of Pink Washi Tape. 

Enjoy!!!

Happy Stampin'!!

"PLUNGING" INTO A NEW TECHNIQUE!

Happy Friday! It's The Paper Plunge challenge day!!!! Yeah!!!!

This week our Design Team is challenging you to try a NEW technique!! It's very easy to get in a rut with the same 'ole same 'ole! So this was good for us too!

Here is my card this week:

The new technique I'm using is called the Bokeh stamping technique. I guess it's actually a photography trick for blurring the lines so to speak!  I've seen it on some cards & thought I'd give it a try!

Now in my research, I discovered that this is a watercolor type technique. So I tried it as such.  This is how my first card came out:

But as you may or may not know, working with Watercolor Paper is perfect for watercoloring but not necessarily for stamping!  It's designed to absorb the water, which it does. But the paper isn't "smooth", so stamping is a bit tricky. Thus the tag here. Plus, there's a lag time while waiting for it to dry. Not long, but still some!

So I started playing. I'm more of a CAS (Clean And Simple) kinda stamper so I pulled out my Whisper White cardstock, ink & sponge! I like the way it came out even better! No wait for a dry- it's dye ink with no water!!!

On either one, the white dots or blurring is done with the 

Whisper White Craft Ink. It's a pigment ink. Takes a bit longer to dry, but it has a dimension to it that the dye ink doesn't. It kind of "sits" on top of the card instead of absorbing into the paper. Make sense? I did learn one thing tho-I need to reink my ink pad!!! lol

Although either card is lovely, I'm pretty sure I'll be repeating the first!!! It was actually very quick & easy!  

Stamp sets used are One Tag Fits all from the new Occasions Catalog & 

It's Your Day from the Sale-a-Bration Catalog.  These 2 catalogs are quickly becoming my favorites EVAH!!! I will be so bummed when the SAB catty is gone! This stamp set is amazing!!!

So what new technique did you try? Show us over at 

The Paper Plunge! 

I'm dying to see what my fellow designers came up with! I'm sure I'll be CASEing!!!!!

Happy Stampin'!!!