Babies & Weddings

May 6, 2018Leave a comment

Seems like spring comes and all we hear about are babies and weddings. Well, what a perfect opportunity to make some new, cute & beautiful cards for just such occasions! I had so much fun searching for just the right cards. I wanted cards that are pretty but not that hard to make. Because, let’s face it, who wants to spend all day making one card?

I’m quite pleased with my selections. See details below.

From A Little Wild Stamp Set and Little Loves Framelits comes Honey Bear. This card was cased from Liz Yuille at OldStablesCrafts.co.uk but I stepped it up just a little. She has a good video showing how to make this card. I just added the branch from Seasonal Layers Thinlits and hung the beehive from it instead of having it sit on the “ground”. Isn’t it adorable! Because the stamp set and coordinate die set is made to be a tag, folding over to make a more interesting inside was as easy as pie! I’m so happy that this set is NOT retiring.

Now for Weddings: This card is so easy and quick to make but is one of the most elegant ones I’ve ever made. Gold foil is cut using the Blooming’ Heart Thinlits. The base of white is embossed using the Softly Falling Hearts TIEF (retired, but “Softly Falling would look very good too and that one is still available) Heat Emboss the greeting and ta-da! Unfortunately, the thinlit set is retiring so get yours before they sell out https://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/product/140621/bloomin-heart-thinlits-dies

Color Burst Prints are so FUN!

April 7, 2018Leave a comment

Just in from two days at the Stamp & Scrapbook EXPO in Pomona, California. I have to say that it is a little disappointing that they switched venues from the Anaheim Convention Center. The Pomona Fairplex, while being a very nice venue, is much smaller and consequently, there are a lot fewer exhibitors. Took me just an hour to peruse the aisles and see everything. I guess some would say this was a good thing. 🙂

The classes are fewer as well and not as much diversity. However, I still had a great time and am going back today for a couple classes. Yesterday, I took two Color Burst classes with Ken Oliver (Crafts). I have to say that it was a blast! I wanted to take the class so I could learn some new techniques for the new Stampin’ Up! Brusho Crystal Colours made by the British company, Colourcraft.

Once can purchase all 5 colors for $30 at the online store: https://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/product/144101/brusho-crystal-colour

Here are a couple of prints from the class yesterday:

This technique is very easy. Just lay down a stencil on a piece of thick watercolor paper. Don’t touch it or move it. Sprinkle the color powder in various spots. For best results, use colors that are close to each other on the color wheel. I used a warm palette of yellow and orange with a dash of red and brown. I know in spots it looks almost olive green but this is just from the pigmented colors. I did not use any green. Once you’ve laid down a small amount of color, (a little goes a long way) take a very fine spray bottle and spritz the entire surface. Make sure all areas get wet and the color spreads to your satisfaction.

Pick up the stencil right away. Don’t let it sit there because the longer it sits there the bigger the chance of water seeping under the stencil. For the next part, I picked up the stencil and laid it down on another clean surface and then laid another piece of watercolor paper on top. I pressed it down with my hands and then lifted up. And BINGO! I was very pleased with the results. Some people turned the stencil over and laid it down on the paper. I just found the previous way more to my liking. I will try and do a video with the technique soon. Feel free to leave comments or questions. Happy playing!

Hold on to Hope

February 6, 2018Leave a comment

Holding onto Hope is a strong message for a variety of issues one may have. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a sickness or just one of life’s challenges, hope can bring us to a place of joy and contentment. That’s one reason I like the new Hold on to Hope stamp set from Stampin’ Up!’s 2018 Occasions Catalog. This set is great for birthdays, baptisms, Easter and anniversaries too.

The stamp set can be purchased in a bundle with the coordinating Framelits Dies which expand the possibilities even more. View all the products used at the bottom of this post.

Here are two very different cards I made from the set. The first one is for Easter and features a sentiment from the Suite Sentiments Stamp Set (retired).

This next card was CASEd from BrandyCards.com. I changed it up a little by stamping the background on the diagonal instead of straight. I also embellished a bit more with the flourish and butterfly from the set. I also added a few pearls to add some elegance. The sentiment for this card is from the Rose Wonder Stamp Set (2017-18 Annual Catalog).

Purchase this stamp and die bundle with coordinating cardstock and you will also earn a free item from the Sale-a-bration! Catalog. What could be better!

: Clear Mount Bundle 145970 $43.00

Spring is Coming!

January 29, 2018Leave a comment

Well, if you live in Southern California, it just went from extreme cold to very warm. That’s what happens when the Santa Ana’s blow. Yesterday really felt like a spring day and it’s supposed to continue for a few days. The weather really got me into the card making mood. I’m thinking of Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and more. So many holidays in the Spring. I look forward to all of them and why not when Stampin’ Up! makes it so easy to create darling cards and gifts with coordinating products. Just look as these beautiful sets.

1, 2, 3 – – – Happy New Year!

December 30, 2017Leave a comment

What better way to start the New Year than with a sale! A Sale-A-Bration to be exact! Starting January 3, the new Stampin’ Up! Spring Occasions Catalog will be available. For every $50 you spend, receive a FREE product from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog. Stampin’ Up! has really gone the extra mile on the 2018 products. They are amazing. They have even included thinlet dies and a two level compensation award system. If you love paper crafting, you are going to want to look at this new catalog and free stuff.

You might even want everything in it! I know I do! To see inside the new catalog, check back to my blog on Jan. 3 and you can download it along with the Sale-A-Bration Brochure.

2018 Occasions Catalog

Screenshot 2017-12-30 08.16.46

Patriotic Christmas

December 6, 2017Leave a comment

A good friend of mine wanted a Christmas Card that would reflect her patriotism and love for the U.S.A. but also be Christmasy and true to the spirit of the holiday. I came up with this beautiful red, white and blue Christmas card for her.

I started with a standard base of Real Red. Cut a Whisper White front for the card and dry embossed it with the stars TIEF (retired). I used the Wonderous Wreath Stamp Set and Framelets, cutting the bow from Red Glitter paper. I added some shine with the NEW Wink of Stella Brush and Red Dazzling Details. Here are some more pics.