Touches of Thanks

Touches of Texture was the first must have stamp set I saw in the Annual Catalog.  I paired it with the Thankful Thoughts stamp set along with a fun bright color palette for this thank you card:

I did a little emboss resist with that fun flower.  For this technique, I stamped the flower in Versa Mark, covered it with white embossing powder and then used my heat tool.  Then I took sponges in Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush and sponged over it.  I also sponged the edges with Crumb Cake and added some extra background stamping and a bee also in Crumb Cake.  I added some banners from the Affectionately Yours DSP and a little bow with some Linen Thread.  Linen Thread is a fabulous accessory and adds just the right touch to any project!  

Just a little note, I love heat embossing, it might be my favorite technique...its adds such a wow factor and really isn't that difficult to do.  If you are looking to step up your paper crafting, investing in some VersaMark, Embossing Powder and a heat tool is a great way.  I LOVE my Big Shot and all the dies that I get, but all of those tools can be expensive. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I promise to be back next week with lots of projects featuring products from the brand new Holiday Catalog!  Head back over to SSI for more thank you cards!

  

A Rose Wonder-ful Wedding Card

With all the fabulous products in the New Annual Catalog, its easy to forget about some of the great returning stamp sets.  One that I am glad is still with us is the Rose Wonder Stamp Set.  This set has that beautiful rose along with lots of great sentiments.  Here is a card I made using the emboss resist technique:

I was really excited to use these three colors together.  I love Mint Macaron and Night of Navy and I knew that Flirty Flamingo would be such a fun addition!  The emboss resist technique really does give a Wow effect with not really that much effort.  And I love adding just a little bit of ribbon for some additional color.  

Thanks so much for looking!  For more projects featuring our returning favorites, head over to SSI!

Ombre Butterfly

Today we are sharing our creations using the Masking Technique over at SSI.  Here is my card:

This was a relatively simple card.  I started with an Old Olive card base and added a Whisper White layer.  I created a mask using the Bold Butterfly framelits.  I sponged Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral and Watermelon Wonder from the outside in to create the ombre effect.  The sentiment and the leaves come from the Butterfly Basics stamps set.  And of course I had to add some pearls onto the butterfly.  Here is the inside:  

I stamped a very faint butterfly in Blushing Bride and added some Pretty Petals DSP along the bottom.  For more creations using masking, head over to SSI.

April Inkspiration Challenge

Another Monday which means another challenge from the gals over at SSI.  Today is the Inkspiration Challenge where you create something based on an image.  You can pull the colors, the subject, the layout, whatever you want!  Here is the image:

So I chose this image because it reminded me of the Going Global paper stack.  But I went a slightly different direction with my card.  And I have to say, I just love it.  Here it is:

So I did use the subject along with the layout a little bit.  I also decided to use mostly neutrals except I added some Pink Pirouette for a romantic vintage feel.  I combined an older stamp, Traveler that might be thought of as masculine with a new floral stamp, Grateful Bunch.  And I love this technique, Triple Time Stamping.  It is so easy to do and creates such a cool look.  Here is a close up:

I did a lot of sponging to give it a more vintage feel.  Here is the inside:

My goal is to always stamp the inside with another sentiment and some additional images!  

Thanks so much for looking at my card.  Let's see what you can come up with now.  Upload your creation over at SSI.

December Inkspiration Challenge

It is Monday so we are back with another great Challenge for you!  Today we have our Inkspiration Challenge where you can create whatever you like based on however the following image inspires you.  Check it out:

Stampin' Up! has a beautiful cardinal stamp set, but I didn't get that one.  I couldn't get the whole Holiday Catalog.  So instead of creating a project with that cardinal, I decided to use the colors and the Bokeh technique for my card.  Check it out:

I sponged on Real Red, Tangerine Tango and a little bit of Daffodil Delight onto some Whisper White.  I then sponged on circles with a stencil made from Circle Framelits and Window Sheet with some white craft ink.  I stamped the sentiment from Jolly Christmas (which is on the Year End Close Out Sale) with the Basic Gray Archival Ink.  I added some silver ribbon and a wooden snowflake embossed with silver.  I matted in on silver foil as well.  

Let's see what you can make now.  Whether you stamp a cardinal, use the colors, try Bokeh, however that image inspires you, create something and upload it over at SSI! 

Lighthearted Leaves

I love the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set from the Holiday catalog.  Check it out:  

The leaves are so fun and of course when I got it I realized that I needed the Leaf Framelits.  So when I saw the challenge over at Friday Mash Up, I knew exactly what I had to use.  Here is the challenge:

And here is my card:

I chose to use both the fall colors and the masking technique.  I actually only used the sentiment from that stamp set.  I created the leaf background by sponging Hello Honey and Cajun Craze from a mask I created using the Leaf Framelits.  I decided to keep the card simple by layering the Very Vanilla onto Night of Navy and then onto an Island Indigo card base.  I added some Night of Navy Seam Binding Ribbon to finish it off.  

Thanks so much for looking!  I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful fall season!  

October Technique Tuesday

Today over at SSI we are doing watercolor backgrounds with our clear blocks.  Check back there for a tutorial.  I gave this technique a shot along with using the sketch from Mojo Monday.  Here it is:

Here is my take on the sketch while also creating a watercolor background with my clear blocks:

I thought I would also share the inside of the card as well...

Thanks so much for stopping by.  You can find a complete supply list below.  Don't forget to check out the other projects over at SSI.  

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August Technique Tuesday - Layered Heat Embossing

Today we have a cool new technique for you at SSI.  It uses one of my favorite techniques, heat embossing but with a twist!  You do it multiple times.  So fun, right?  Here is my card I created:

I used the Wondrous Wreath stamp set with Gold, Silver and Cherry Cobbler embossing powder.  Here is a close up of the embossed section.  

This was really a quick card to make.  I didn't think I needed to add to much because the embossed wreath was so pretty!  And it is never too early to start making Christmas Cards!  Thanks for looking.  Did you get a chance to check out the other creations using this technique over at SSI?

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Technique Tuesday - Bargello

I love trying a new technique.  So when the gals at SSI were doing a post about Bargello, I knew I had to see what it was all about.  This was my first attempt at this technique.  Here is my card:

I used the Pretty Petals DSP stack.  And I love the colors but I don't think some of these patterns worked as well.  Maybe I just felt bad chopping up butterflies?  I used the Kinda Eclectic stamp set, which really is one of my favorites!

Check out the other projects created with this technique over at SSI.  Thanks for stopping by!  

Technique Tuesday: Bokeh

I just love this technique.  It looks like it would be hard to do, but it is really quite simple.  I was also happy to say that the card that I pictured doing is exactly what ended up working out.  Sometimes I have an idea and it doesn't exactly work and I need to tweak it.  This time, everything worked out even better than I had hoped.  Here is my card:

The color palette was inspired by the peach and gold combo in the Occasions Catalog on page 10.  I was worried it would be hard to emboss over the craft ink, but it all worked out perfectly.  Be sure to check out all the Bokeh cards over at SSI.  

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Petal Potpourri

I am a sucker for great flower stamp sets.  And if they come with a matching punch, forget about it.  I have to have it!  So of course I had to get this fabulous set in the Occasions catalog.  I have already made and shared a lot of creations with this set.  I thought I would try something a little different.  Here is a card using the emboss resist technique.

I love the lacy flower in this set and decided to focus on that, embossing it in white and then I sponged on Blackberry Bliss,Lost Lagoon and Old Olive.  I really like the tie-dye effect I created.  Did you see all the ideas for this great stamp set over at SSI?

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Beat the Winter Blues!

Today at SSI, we are trying to bring some happiness into the bleak winter and help snap out of the blues!  I created a fun card using some of my favorite bright colors and picked a perfect fun inspiring sentiment.  Oh and I added some sequins and shimmer, because sparkle and shine always makes me happy!    

Remember these fabulous in-colors will retire in May, so stock up on the card stock and ink refills now!  Don't forget to check back at SSI for some more doses of happy!

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Floating Window

I love trying new techniques.  Today I am sharing a card I made using the floating window technique.  

Be sure to check out more cards featuring this fantastic technique over at SSI.

Thanks for looking!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Technique Tuesdays - Faux Pinwheel

I made this birthday card for one of my daughter's friends.  I received a swap from my upline a few years ago using this technique.  

All you need is 8 little squares of DSP.  This was really easy to do.  I think I will make more of these faux pinwheels to put on some Project Life cards. 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Technique Tuesday - Ink Blowing

These two cards are my very first attempt at this technique.  I definitely need more practice but I thought I would share what I have done.  Its definitely a fun technique.  One suggestion I would make is to use a kids place mat under your work, they will catch all you runaway ink.  I had a lot of that.

 

Technique Tuesdays - Herringbone

This technique is a lot like the Starburst.  I used this fabulous tutorial.  This is my first try:

I used the Color Me Autumn DSP and the "thankful" was cut out with the Gold Foil sheets using the retired Expressions Thinlits (might still be available in the clearance rack for a steal!).  The trick is to use the transfer adhesive strips...it makes it so much easier!  

Technique Tuesdays - Watercoloring

Here is a card from a sketch challenge I made a few weeks ago.  I used the watercolor paper and the blender pens for the first time.  I love how soft everything looks and it was so easy.

Bloom With Hope Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$17.00

Watercolor Paper

$4.95

Blender Pens

$9.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Technique Tuesdays - Starburst Card

I love this technique...its a great way to show a lot of great Designer Series Paper.  Here I am using the All Is Calm DSP along with some silver foil and silver vellum and of course some glimmer paper.  I also embossed the sentiment from Mingle All the Way in silver and added some rhinestones for a perfect amount of sparkle and shine.  I am also particularly proud of this card because it won an online challenge.  I thought it was worth sharing again!    

Technique Tuesdays - Braided Card

I have seen this technique floating around and assumed it would be too hard.  I was so glad I took the time to watch a tutorial from Brandy Cox because as my daughter would say, it was easy peasy lemon squeezy! 

And here it is opened:

I love the Bright and Beautiful stamp set.  Those stars are just begging to be embossed!  

Here is a supply list:

Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Bright & Beautiful Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$24.95

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

$4.95

Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments

$4.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Technique Tuesdays - Triple Time Stamping

I love the technique Triple Time Stamping.  It is so easy to do and it gives you a chance to really showcase a stamp set.  In this card, I am featuring the For All Things stamp set from the Holiday Catalog with some lovely fall colors.

Here is a supply list:

For All Things Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$17.95

Gold Basic Metal Buttons

$7.95

2014-2016 In Color 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock And Classic Ink Pads Kit

$29.95

Mossy Meadow 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon

$8.95

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$8.50

Venetian Crochet Trim

$6.95

Linen Thread

$4.50

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.