Iced Blooms and A Blog Hop

Well, we're officially half-way through March! I can't believe how fast this month is flying by. Of course, it helps that I'm off on March Break right now ;)

Before I get into today's project, I have some exciting news! For the final two weeks of Sale-a-bration even MORE new items have been added to the offering. This third release includes some of the most popular items from the current Occaions Catalogue...except you can earn them FREE with a $60 order! Check out all of the available items by clicking the image below:

 It's not too late to take advantage of these amazing offers. Those dies are simply...well...to DIE for and you can earn them free with a $120 order! What a deal!

Today my Stamping Symphony team is hosting our montly blog hop. This month we're all about heat embossing. This is the technique that sold me on stamping all those years ago. There's something positively magical about watching that powder melt! This theme gave me the chance to use a new technique I've been dying to try. It's called Black Ice and, boy, does it ever create a WOW! Check this out...

Now, I have to say, the picture doesn't do this card justice. It truly is stunning! And SO easy to do! I used Champagne foil and dragged my Archival Black ink pad lightly across it to create faint streaks. Then I stamped the flower image from the Heartfelt Blooms stamp set in the same ink. (Note that this technique requires the archival ink...classic ink won't stick to the foil.) Then I heat set the ink with the drying setting on my heat tool. Once it was set, I VERY lightly dragged my Versamark pad across the foil sheet. You don't want to lay down too much ink or you'll lose the ice effect. I heat embossed with clear embossing powder and that's it! So easy yet stunning!  Here's a closer look...

To assemble the rest of the card I embossed a piece of Basic Gray card stock with the Garden Trellis TIEF and mounted it on a Basic Gray card stock base. I matted the stamped panel on black, added some Basic Gray shimmer SAB ribbon and adhered it to the card base. The sentimetn is stamped in Basic Black ink and die cut using the Layering Ovals Framelits. I added a little silver metallic doily peeking our under the sentiment.

On the inside I stamped the floral image again on a piece of Whisper White card stock using Basic Black ink. So simple, yet such a wow!

Ready for more heat embossed inspiration? Hop on over to Sandy's blog and be sure to tell her I sent you ;)

1. Leena (You are here)
2. Sandy
3. Barb
4. Jennifer
5. Steph

Product List

Heartfelt Blooms Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147202] $0.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $10.00
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $10.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $5.25	Heat Tool [129053] $40.00
Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder [109130] $6.75	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Garden Trellis Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143741] $10.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $46.00
3/8" (1 Cm) Shimmer Ribbon Pack [147243] $0.00	Metallic Foil Doilies [138392] $5.25

Last Call for Merry Patterns!

Happy Monday! I hope you've had a wonderful weekend. I certainly enjoyed a somewhat less hectic one than I have since school started. Wrapping up my fall retreat last weekend has allowed me to spend some time in my studio getting caught up on class prep and even designing some new projects. It felt SOOO good to create again! Another advantage to having the retreat behind me is having the time (and energy) to get back to blogging regularly. I've neglected my poor blog for too long!

Today I have a project that features the Merry Patterns pomotional stamp set. Time is running out to earn this exclusive set, so I thought I'd show you a project before it is too late.

I think my favourite stamp in this set is the pine bough! I know...crazy, right? It's just so perfect for adding subtle texture and is so perfectly festive I'm finding myself using it all the time. Here I began with a piece of Color Theory DSP and then stamped the pine branch several times in Old Olive ink, stamping both full strength and 2nd and 3rd generation to create depth. This creates the perfect backdrop for my focal image.

The outline of the candles is heat embossed in gold. This makes it super-easy to line up the patterned candle images because the embossing resists the ink, so if you're off a little it's pretty forgiving. I used Real Red and Old Olive ink to stamp the candles. The flames are stamped in Crushed Curry. I used the Stitched Shapes framelits to die-cut my oval and then layered it on a scalloped oval in gold foil. I added some gold mini sequin trim as well as some die-cut pine boughs and glittery red sprigs. The pine boughs were cut with the Christmas Staircase Thinlits and the springs with Pretty Pines. The sentiment is stamped in Basic Black ink on a strip of Real Red card stock.

On the inside I added a Whiper White panel on which I stamped more candles, using Basic Black for the outline rather than heat embossing in gold. I added another pine bough in Old Olive ink (see what I mean about that stamp??) and the sentiment in Basic Black.

I have to say I really love this Merry Patterns stamp set...I just wish it would stick around a while longer! Don't miss out on your chance to own this fabulous set. Get some friends together and place a qualifying order before October 31st at midnight when this deal turns into a pumpkin ;)

Product List

Merry Patterns Photopolymer Stamp Set [144973] $0.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $10.00	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $10.00
Color Theory Designer Series Paper Stack [144193] $12.50	Gold Foil Sheets [132622] $5.25	Red Glimmer Paper [121790] $6.75	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953] $8.50	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] $8.50	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173] $8.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25
Embossing Buddy [103083] $8.00	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $6.75	Heat Tool [129053] $40.00	Big Shot [143263] $136.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $40.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $46.00	Christmas Staircase Thinlits Dies [144679] $51.00	Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies [141851] $34.00
Gold Mini Sequin Trim [144128] $8.00

Happy October!

Can you believe today is October 1st?? With the brand new month, comes a ton of exciting news from Stampin' Up! Firstly, today marks the start of the new World Card Making Day Promotion.
From now until October 10th, save 15% on selected stamp sets and notecards & envelopes. Plus, get TWO FREE REFILLS when you buy a Fast Fuse...that's $20 in free refills with a $13.50 purchase! WOW!

 

Click the image to view the sale flyer.

Remember, this promotion is only valid until October 10th, so place your order today!

Also this month, buy three packages of beautiful Designer Series Paper and you can choose a fourth pack FREE! This promotion includes products from both the Annual and Holiday Catalogues, so it is a great time to stock up for your Christmas crafting needs. The best part? Many of the stamp sets that are on sale during the World Card Making Day promo coordinate with the DSP packs that are on sale! Gotta love great minds at Stampin' Up! ;)

Click the image to view the sale flyer.

Want some more exciting news? Stampn' Up has just announced the release of a new line of blendable alcohol markers! Many of you may remember the previous line called Blendabilities. These markers were FABULOUS but, due to manufacturing issues, the line had to be prematurely discontinued. Since then, Stampin' Up! has been hard at work in search of a new manufacturer who could ensure the level of quality that  would live up to  the company's reputation. After several years, I am thrilled to announce that today marks the start of the demonstrator pre-order for Stampin' Blends, our new line of alcohol markers! This is a limited offering for demonstrators only to purchase and experiment with this new product line. Stampin' Up! will monitor and analyse the buying patterns of demonstrators to forecast how much product they will need to ensure a sufficient supply to meet the demand when the product line launches for customers. We don't yet have a customer launch date.

Click the image to learn more

The great news is, that new demonstrators who join during this pre-order period can also order these fantastic new products! You can even add them to your starter kit! Click HERE to join my Tri-City Stampers team and order your Stampin' Blends before October 15th!

Now for today's project! I designed this one for my recent Christmas card buffet...

Can you guess which paper pack the background came from? (Hint: It's one that is part of the B3G1 DSP promo!). It's Naturally Eclectic! It makes a perfect snowy backdrop for this wintry scene. I used a 3-1/2" x 5" piece of DSP and layered it over a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of Whisper White card stock which I embossed using the Softly Falling TIEF. I love the perspective it give my scene. The trees are die-cut from silver foil and Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper using the Card Front Builder Thinlits.

I stamped the deer from the Carols of Christmas stamp set in Night of Navy ink and die-cut it also using the Card Front Builder Thinlits. The sentiment label is from the Merry Little Labels stamp set and is punched using the Everyday Label punch. The only embellishment is a bit of silver metallic thread behind the label.

On the inside, I added a Whisper White panel on which I stamped the sentiment and snowflakes from the Peace This Christmas stamp set in Night of Navy ink.

Thanks for sticking with me through this rather long post...have a super Sunday!


Product List

Carols Of Christmas Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144804] $26.00	Peace This Christmas Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141570] $24.00	Merry Little Labels Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144795] $26.00	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [126970] $8.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100867] $10.00	Naturally Eclectic Designer Series Paper [144185] $14.50	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $5.25
Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper [135315] $6.75	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672] $11.25	Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies [144674] $40.00
Everyday Label Punch [144668] $23.50	Silver Metallic Thread [138402] $4.00