Stamps, Paper, and Ink

It's all about the reasons......

It's been wisely said that remembering the WHY of what we're doing helps us connect to the true motivation of our hearts. I've been giving this some thought, and I hope you don't mind if I spill over in writing some of the reasons I love what I do. 

I've always known I love the process of creating something beautiful with my stamps, paper and ink. But more recently, I've gotten a different focus. Our pastor said yesterday that every one of us is born to give. I think that's really true. Making beautiful things to give to others is my WHY.  

I don't always mail my cards. As a matter of fact, I mail relatively few of them, and the rest fill shelves, baskets, and boxes in my craft room. Or decorate random places around our home! Recently I gave a huge bunch of my samples to a stamping friend who makes and mails cards for her husband's business. I was so touched because she wanted one card for her to keep - and she wanted my Artisan Design Team stamp to be on the back.I loved giving her the very first card I designed as an Artisan Award Winner last year. 

I've had another request for cards this month, and I wrapped up a boxful to help raise money for a cause very, very dear to a reader's heart. What a joy to think these cards might bring profit for her and blessings to someone else! 

A loving husband bought a gift certificate last week for his wife's birthday. Here is what I made.

A popup card, with an envelope inside. 

The gift certificate was inside the envelope. Sometimes giving means making something a little extra special. I loved working on this design! My friend wants to buy the pop up die and it made me smile to picture her opening her gift. 

Why do I write my blog? Because it's another way that I can give. To you. I give time to teach and ideas to inspire you.

The statement from the heart of Stampin Up! says "To love what we do, and share what we love, in this, ..........we make a difference!"  Is this an adventure you've thought about?

Today is the last day to sign for the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit for only $25. If you're excited about loving to give, and creating with exciting products, won't you consider taking advantage of this one time offer?

I truly can say I had no idea how much I would gain, grow, learn and have FUN when I signed up to be a demonstrator almost 10 years ago. Questions? I'd love to answer them! 

Back tomorow with a new project and news is there will be a NEW *special promotion you won't want to miss! 

 

 

 

 

 

*How does 25% off 25 stamp sets sound?***

Artisan Wednesday Wow 7-31-2013

Welcome to the last blog hop from the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team 2012!  I want to say a HUGE thanks to Stampin' Up! for this tremendous opportunity. It has been an amazing year and such fun to be part of an awesome team of stampers. I hope that you've found inspiration here on my blog as I've worked to bring new and exciting projects each week. 

This week we're sharing our Facebook Projects with you from the Stampin' Up! page. Amy's blog is before mine, make sure you don't miss her project. I love the gorgeous pages she creates!

I am in love with butterflies! They inspire me so I made a framed keepsake with the Swallowtail Stamp for my craft room that sums up this year's experience on the team. 

I stamped the butterfly on Coaster Board - I love this new product! I inked the stamp with Versamark, then Basic Black ink, and heat embossed it with Clear embossing powder. I wanted detail without TOO much black. The coloring was done with Stampin' Write markers in shades of Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry. The colors are a bit muted so I gave it a good spritzIng with Smooch in Vanilla Shimmer. The lustre it added blends perfectly with the color hues.

How about some fussy cutting? Yes, I did cut that butterfly out!

The background includes embossing with the Honeycomb folder, Off the Grid stamped in Encore Gold, Candy Dots and a Vintage Faceted Designer Button. The message to SOAR seemed perfect for the Silver Glimmer Paper we received in our box,with the Modern Medley Designer Series Paper. Thanks to all at Stampin' Up! for the generous gifts you sent every month! 

I hope as you continue the hop that you'll be sure to let us on the DT know that you appreciate our work this year. I'd love it if you'll continue coming to my blog as I have begun posting daily again. I hope you’ve been inspired by my work.

May your creativity soar!

Next on the hop is Erica Cerwin. Waving to you, Erica, it's been fun and an honor to be on the team with you. 

Tea & Me #happy

I've been saving my favorite project created for the Artisan Contest for last. It's also the last thing I made and I got rather fond of it during the process. I wish that I could have it back to hang in my kitchen! 

When it came down to making the 3D items, there are only so many ways that you can go. A box or gift, something made from fabric (no longer an option!) an altered item or frame art. I had altered the suitcase box (if you missed seeing that it's HERE) so I decided framed art would be it.

I purchased a 12 x 12 canvas frame and painted it with acrylic paint, added a layer of paper from the Tea for Two Designer Series collection. Actually Tea & me became not only the theme of this project, but the title as well!

 

How did I combine so many things I love into ONE project? Oh, my! Polka dots, bright colors, happy scallops, soft fabric, a cool ampersand, a teapot, flowers and jewels! It's like a feast for my heart. Here's the big view.

A few of the details - each teacup shape was an MDS image, printed on carboard and covered with DSP. Each was then cut with my CRAFT knife. I thought I could use my e-cutter, but alas, this MDS file was NOT SVG. There are some fun details on each cup. The colored triangles on the lower left corner cup are individually cut from patterned paper and pieced to make the strip. If you look closer you'll see the three big rhinestones on the side near the handle. 

Who wouldn't love drinking from this dainty cup with fabric roses and a jeweled teacup tag? I know I would!!

Each square begins with a scalloped square patterned paper panel. Layered next is a cardboard square base with Afternoon Tea fabric ironed on.  So there's lots of dimension.

You've now seen all my contest entries. Even though I didn't place as a finalist, it is so stretching to complete the requirements to enter. I'm so glad that I did. I like the way every one of my projects turned out. I think as a whole my strengths were creativity, originality and a variety of styles.

After all, I am a 2012 Artisan Design Team Winnner!  My post next Wednesday will end the year term.

I hope you've found these projects inspiring! I appreciate you spending time here during your busy day!

 

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Artisan Wednesday Wow 7 - 24 - 2013

Hi and welcome to the Artisan Wednesday Wow blog hop! The Stampin' Up! 2012 Artisan Design Team will finish out this month of posting and then the *new 2013 team* will begin their exciting year! Congratulations to those who won for the coming year, and for my team-mates who will carry on. Speaking of team-mates, you should have arrived here from the blog of my dear friend Amy Bollman. I love her work but more importantly, I admire her so very much for the wonderful person she is!

What to make for today's card? I began with the desire to create with my best style - a classic elegance that features ribbon and bows, a bit of shabbiness and pearls. You'll have to let me know if I achieved that today. 

My product focus is the fabulous set of Chalktalk Framelits. I used two framelits to form a window which is raised on pop dots. I will use this layout again! You will notice another favorite of mine. Pool Party. It seems I haven't been able to make a card without it! 

Did you noitce the medallion image was embossed on the Venetian Romance Designer Paper? I added shading after heat embossing it by using the Versamarker in parts of the design.

I loved combining the sentiments for this project. I always have wanted a stamp that says "Just Because". The thought continues on the inside:

I hope you've loved our blog hops this year, please take a minute to leave some love on the way around. Next up is Erica Cerwin, who will continue on the 2013 Design Team. I'm not a BIT surprised and I'm sure you aren't either! I look forward each time to seeing her creations.

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Lovely Romance, A Dozen Thoughts

Paper: Venetian Romance, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party Core'dinations

Ink: VersaMark, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Tangerine Tango Embossing Powder, Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Chalktalk Framelits, Big Shot, Basic Pearls, Ruffle Stretch Trim, White Taffeta Ribbon, Versamarker, Sanding Block

My Digital Studio Page

Writing to you from convention, WOOT! I'm off having a day on the town with the Artisan Design Team! We've looked so forward to this day to share some time together as our amazing year winds up. 

Our son loved a day at the rodeo quite a few years back - and this page done totally with My Digital Studio captured the great memories. Here's the first of my three scrap pages that I entered in the contest. 

Isn't he the cutest cowboy dude ever? 

You may want to click to enlarge this photo in order to see more details. I added quite a few layers, splatters and textures to this page. I love the way the woodcut letters add dimension! The photo itself was a bit grainy, so I created the rest of the page in keeping with that.

As convention begins, I know you'll be checking for photos and news. I'm not sure which way I'll go with my post tomorrow, but I'll be back!

 

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Artisan Wednesday Wow - 7-17-2013

Welcome to the Artisan 2012 Wednesday Wow Blog Hop! There is excitement in the air as everyone on our team will be heading to Salt Lake City for the big 25th Stampin' Up! Convention Celebration! I can hardly wait to see in person the friends with whom I've shared this most amazing year!! We have made some plans!!

As always, we've made some WOW projects to share. You should have followed me here from the blog of Amy Bollman who makes the most gorgeous projects! 

In our box this month we received each of the following from the Subtles and Brights Collection: Card Stock, Designer Series Paper Backgrounds, Designer Buttons, and Candy Dots. I love those things!

I thought it would be fun to make a card using a Soft Subtles Color Combo - just perfect for a baby card.

I used strips of patterned paper and layered them on a white card stock panel. They are lined up but not woven. I love the look of a quilt to welcome a baby, don't you? The tag is from the Chalktalk Framelits, and the sentiment is from a new set called A Dozen Thoughts.

Next up is  Erica Cerwin, who is so talented and makes such FUN things for her daughters! We only have two hops left, so leave some love along the way! 

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Negative Space for Stampin' Up!

Hello everyone!

Today I'd like to share the blog post that I wrote for the Stampin' Up! blog (posting on May 28) about using negative space to create interest on your projects. It is also a great way to accent your images. As you'll see in the first sample, this adds to your focal point but can be flat for mailing your card. 

FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE?

Focus on the positive. That’s a wonderful perspective to maintain in our daily lives. But just for today, I’d like you to focus on the negative. Negative space, that is.

Leaving negative space on a project is a hot trend in the world of paper crafting right now. When you remove an image, you include the paper it was cut from. I know many of us have seen cards with text cut out and patterned paper peeking through from behind. That’s a perfect example of negative space.

I experimented with this technique today and I’d love to show you the results. 

I love how easy it is to use the Secret Garden Stamp Set and the Secret Garden Collection Framelits Dies to create a bouquet of flowers. But do you notice how placing the flower over the negative space adds an interesting detail to this card?  Utilizing negative space is an exciting new way to create with all of your Framelits Dies.

Can you imagine the possibilities?

Punches are also fun to use for this technique. The negative image of the “butterfly”  looks as if it’s soaring among the clouds. 

It took only a few minutes to create this card.

I know you’ll enjoy giving this technique a try! Let me know how it goes in the space below!

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Artisan Wednesday Wow 7-10-2013

Woot, it's Wednesday!

It's blog hop time! You should have the hang of this now. Amy's amazing blog is the one before mine, be sure to hop on around back to see her project! 

We were sent the Butterfly Collection Wheel to use this month, and I'm hoping to feature butterflies in these last few Artisan Projects. I love me some flutterbys!  The other reason? A butterfly and dream theme played a role in one of my Artisan Entries from the contest last year. (If you've been with me awhile, you may remember THIS card.)

Here's today's card. 

The wheel makes a wonderful background and I found a fabulous new product for this technique. You'll find Coaster Boards on page 156 of the catalog. It is thicker than card stock and makes a great surface for the emboss resist technique. I inked the wheel with Versamark, and heat embossed with clear Embossing Powder. The best part of Coaster Board is that it holds up really well for sponging. The inks blended beautifully and even with spritzing it didn't buckle. I'll be back later this week to share the technique, but for now, how about a close-up?

The Wish Big sentiment from the A Dozen Thoughts set is really my way of cheering for my friends from this year's team who are Finalists again. Wendy, Jeanna, Jane and Erica, I'm rooting for you! On next to Erica's blog.

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Butterfly Collection Wheel, A Dozen Thoughts

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Coastal Caribbean, Coaster Board, Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Caribbean, Versamark

Accessories:  Stampin' Sponges, Clear Embossing Powder, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim, Modern Label and Elegant Butterfly Punches, Linen Thread, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz,  Large Scallop Edgelits, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder; hot iron.

Sent with a Smile: Notable Notions

I want to focus my regular posts this week on a practical subject -- keeping your cards interesting enough but also flat enough to mail. Today's card also shows you another way to use the Notable Notions set in quite a different style than my last card made with the same set. It was a very vintage style, you can see it HERE. 

Today we've got a contemporary theme!

I wanted you to see how versatile this set could be! I've added this to my Twice is Nice Category where I feature at least two cards made using the same set or sketch. 

Just a few tips for ways to keep your embellishmnets interesting but still flat enough to mail.

Designer series paper 

• a little bit goes a long way to set the mood for your card and the color scheme.
• I've used the new I am Me DSP which features a travel theme. 

Repeated elements

• I love the way the You Make Me Smile image looks like a camera lens with this paper!

Simple embellishments

• the new Candy Dots are perfect for mailing! Use them with or without the brad base.
• Baker's Twine is a good choice of ribbon.
• Add interest with a well-thought-out snip or punch. I notched the panel to make it a banner, and punched out circles to mat my main image.
• Don't forget Framelits! The Chalk Talk Framelits were used to shape the sentiment.

I hope you will give this set a try! You can order it from me today at my online store. Delivered to your door. Sent with a smile from me to you.

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Artisan Wednesday Wow 7-03-2013

Woohoo! Wed-nes-day is here and so is another Artisan Project!! I think this blog hop is one of my favorite parts of the Design Team experience, and I know how many of you have told me that it's a highlight for you too. That makes me happy! 

We're sharing our Facebook projects for June. Did you see the gorgeous and elegant page on Amy Bollman's blog? If not, hop all the way around until you find her post, you don't want to miss it.

I've focused on the In Colors and elements from the Quatrefancy Suite all month in my projects. Most were cute and fun, but I was ready for a style make-over for this project. Soft and elegant, right? 

 

I LOVE our luscious In Colors! My favorite is Coastal Cabana, and it blends easily with Pool Party for a soft monochromatic card. Using Pool Party Cardstock for the background, I inked the raised edge of the Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with VersaMark, then ran it through the Big Shot. The slight darkening enhanced the mosaic shapes and adds contrast. These soft shades are just right for a light and airy look.

Erica Cerwin recently traveled and you won't believe the adorable "Minnie" Album she made! 

 

 

 

 

All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps
132076 (wood mount) or 126747 (clear-mount): Stippled Blossoms Stamp Set
130324 (wood mount) or 130327 (clear-mount): Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set

Ink
131171: Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin’ Pad
131176: Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin’ Pad
126986: Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Pad
126956: Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin’ Pad
101406: Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad
102283: VersaMark Pad

Paper
131175: Coastal Cabana Cardstock
122924: Pool Party Cardstock
100730: Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories & Tools
119247: Pearl Basic Jewels
130021: Crisp Cantaloupe 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim
113439: Big Shot
129984: Modern Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
129381: Ovals Collection Framelits Dies