Love of Leaves and a New Catalogue!

Happy Tuesday...happy August...and, more importantly, happy new catalogue! Whew! Today is a BIG day! Not only is it my first day back from vacation, but it is also the launch day for the new August-December Mini Catalogue. Now, in case you're confused and thinking we just had a new catalogue launch, don't worry...you're not losing it! The August-December Mini used to be called the Holiday Catalogue and it used to launch in September, but this year, we are changing the name AND starting a full month earlier! That means more time for fall and Holiday crafting...which is ALWAYS a good thing! Check out all the amazing new goodies by click the image below...or, for your very own hard copy, send me a quick email and request one and I'll put one in the mail for you today!

Today also marks the launch of the brand new online store. This new, MUCH improved website will make shopping SO much easier! It is much more user friendly and intuitive...be sure to take a few moments to check it out by clicking the image below. 

While you are checking out the new online store, don't forget that today is the day you can start redeeming those Bonus Days coupons you earned last month! Simply copy and paste your coupon code from the email you received at the time you placed your order into the appropriate box when checking out. Not sure how to do it? Email me directly with your order and I will take care of it for you :)

Whew...that's a lot of big news for one day! Are you ready for a project? In honour of the launch of the new August-December Mini, I decided to feature one of my favourite fall bundles...Love of Leaves. Check out this pretty fall-themed project I made...

This card uses not only the beautiful Love of Leaves stamp set and coordinating Stitched Leaves dies, but also features the beautiful Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper. Now, I am a sucker for fall imagery and colours and this paper just makes me soooo happy! The cool thing is that it coordinates REALLY well with the images and products from the Forever Greenery Suite in the Annual Catalogue...gotta love cross coordination! On this project I used three pieces from the Forever Gold Laser Cut Specialty Paper. Two of the pieces, I used the white side, sponging with Early Espresso and Mint Macaron ink to coordinate with the DSP in the background. Here's a closer look...

The die-cut leaves are stamped in Cajun Craze and Mint Macaron ink and are cut using the Stitched Leaves dies. The Cajun Craze horizontal element is also die-cut using the cool texturizing die that comes in the set.  I stamped my sentiment in Early Espresso ink on a die-cut Stitched Rectangle in Crumb Cake card stock. I added a bit of gold cord from the Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack.

On the inside I added a Very Vanilla card stock panel on which I stamped some more leaves from the Love of Leaves stamp set as well as another sentiment. 

I'll be demonstrating this card and two others using this bundle in today's Live @ Five video over on my Facebook Business page. I'd love it if you join me at 5 pm ET, but if you miss the live broadcast, the recording will post to my YouTube channel shortly afterwards. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a spectacular week!

Product List

Love Of Leaves Bundle (English) [155195] $64.75	Gilded Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper [153520] $20.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $13.25	Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119684] $12.00
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119686] $12.00	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [120953] $12.00	Forever Gold Laser-Cut Specialty Paper [152493] $20.00	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [147085] $10.25
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [147106] $10.25	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $10.25	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $48.00	Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack [152475] $12.25
Artistry Blooms Sequins [152477] $9.50

Arrange a Wreath

Hello! Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start. Things here are busy as ever with lots of class prep happening in my studio for upcoming virtual events. I find my biggest challenge in our new reality is the amount of die-cutting I have to do, as I am designing my cards around die-cuts rather than stamped images. This is so that people who don't have a ton of stamping supplies at home can still participate in my virtual classes. It means my Big Shot (and my right arm) are getting a serious work out!

Speaking of cards designed around die-cuts, check out this one I made using the Wreath Builder dies and Arrange a Wreath stamp set...

I wanted a spring-like feel for this card, so I started with the Artistry Blooms Designer Paper as the springboard for my design. I actually die-cut both layers of the wreath from the same sheet from that pack...the ombre designs are so yummy! I also used some of another pattern in that pack for my background and for the die-cut flowers. SO quick and easy to make a gorgeous spring card. Here's a closer look at the wreath...

I embellished my wreath with some Purple Posy ribbon and some Elegant Faceted Gems for the centres of my flowers. 

On the inside of the card I added some ombre stamped flowers and leaves from the Arrange a Wreath stamp set. I omitted a sentiment on the inside, so that I could use this card for just about any occasion...the "Best Wishes" sentiment is perfectly generic ;)

I'll be demonstrating this card and two others featuring the Arrange a Wreath Bundle in today's Live @ Five video over on Facebook. Included in the video description will also be all of the measurements for this project and the others I feature. If you miss me live be sure to check out my YouTube channel for the replay.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a spectacular week!

Product List

Arrange A Wreath Bundle (English) [154109] $73.75	Artistry Blooms Designer Series Paper [152495] $15.75	Purple Posy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150881] $12.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $11.25	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [147113] $10.25	Magenta Madness Classic Stampin' Pad [153117] $10.25	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad [147092] $10.25
Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $10.25	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad [147088] $10.25	Sponge Daubers [133773] $7.00	Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder [152718] $12.25
Stitched Be Mine Dies [151814] $48.00	Frost White Shimmer Paint [147046] $11.00	Water Painters [151298] $16.25	Elegant Faceted Gems [152464] $10.25
Playing With Patterns Ribbon Combo Pack [152468] $14.25

Blossoms in Bloom and a Techniques Blog Hop

Hello! Does it feel like you just heard from me? I am posting twice this week because it is time for another Stamping Symphony Blog Hop!

This month we are focusing on techniques. I decided to throw it back to one of the very first techniques I learned as a new stamper: Emboss Resist. Now, there are lots of versions of this technique, so what I'm about to show you may go by another name, but ultimately it is a form of emboss resist, so that's what I'm calling it! Check out this card...

I used images from the Blossoms in Bloom stamp set. Here is how I achieved this look:

1) Starting with a 4"x 5-1/4" piece of Whisper White card stock, I stamped the larger flower images in Magenta Madness and Mango Melody inks.

2) I stamped the smaller flower images in Gorgeous Grape ink.

3) I stamped the flower centres and leaves using Granny Apple Green ink.

4) I used an embossing buddy over the entire panel.

5) I stamped directly on each image again using Versamark ink.

6) I heat embossed using clear Stampin' Emboss powder.

7) I sponged the entire panel in Night of Navy ink.

8) Using a paper towel, I wiped the excess ink off the embossed images.

The result is this cool effect where the embossed images resist the darker ink, making them pop against the sponged background. Here's a closer look...

Now, can you see why I fell in love with this technique all those years ago? It is timeless and works with so many different stamp images. The key is to have solid image stamps that will apply the Versamark evenly so that you get a cleanly embossed layer. 

To complete the rest of the card, I layered the embossed panel on a 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" piece of Magenta Madness card stock and then mounted it on a Misty Moonlight card stock base. The sentiment is stamped in Night of Navy ink on Magenta Madness DSP from the In-Colour DSP pack. I die-cut the sentiment using the Stitched Rectangles dies and added and little bit of frill with a bit of a square vellum doily. I added a bit of Misty Moonlight ribbon and a few Elegant Faceted to complete the look.

On the inside of the card I added a Whisper White card stock layer on which I stamped more of the same florals I used on the front. Isn't it amazing how different they look against a white background, as opposed to the navy??

Emboss resist really is a fun technique with many variations. It's a great way to make your supplies stretch further!

Now, be sure to check out the other talented stampers in our hop:

1. Leena (You are here)

2. Sandy

3. Barb

4. Jennifer

5. Leigh

Thanks so much for stopping by today...have a great week!

Product List

Blossoms In Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [152684] $30.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $13.25	Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [153081] $12.00	Magenta Madness 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [153080] $12.00
2020–2022 In Color 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [153070] $15.75	Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Pad [147093] $10.25	Magenta Madness Classic Stampin' Pad [153117] $10.25	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099] $10.25
Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $10.25	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $10.25	Versamark Pad [102283] $13.00	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder [109130] $8.25
Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $41.00	Square Vellum Doilies [152484] $6.75	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $48.00	Sponge Daubers [133773] $7.00
Misty Moonlight 1/4" (6.4 Mm) 2020–2022 In Color Ribbon [153624] $8.25	Elegant Faceted Gems [152464] $10.25