Single-layer Sympathy

Happy Sunday!  It's time for a new sketch challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  This time we are all about single-layer simplicity.  Check it out:



...and here is my project for the Design Team:

Sympathy card featuring the Butterfly Basics, Gorgeous Grunge and Everything Eleanor stamp sets with sentiment from the Best of Greetings (retired) set.

This card was fun to create!  As someone who LOVES to add lots of layers to my designs, it was a huge challenge to work with a single layer.  So, I set out to create the illusion of layers by using the masking technique.  I die cut a flower-shaped mask from a scrap of card stock using the Floral Frames Framelits.  Laying that over my Whisper White card stock panel, I then stamped several images from the Butterfly Basics stamp set using Crumb Cake and Soft Suede inks.  Then I sponged the entire area with Crumb Cake ink to soften and blend the images. 

After removing the mask, I heat embossed the flourish image from the Everything Eleanor stamp set in gold.  I also used gold heat embossing to add the sentiment from the retired Best of Greetings 25th Anniversary set.  I added some specks of gold with the splatter image from the Gorgeous Grunge set and metallic gold ink and then finished the design with a few strategically placed pearls.  The completed panel is adhered to a Baked Brown Sugar card base.

As I said, this card was a real challenge for a layer-lover like me.  Why not stretch your own creativity a little and give this one a try?  We'd love to see your work, so be sure to share it with us over at Sunday Stamps!

Purple Haze for Sunday Stamps!

Today's new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps is all about the purple! 

Now, I will admit, these are not colours I use often...in fact my Perfect Plum ink pad is in almost pristine condition!  It was a true challenge for me to come up with a project featuring these colours.  Here it is:

Birthday card featuring the Everything Eleanor, Papillon Potpourri and Simply Sketched (retired) stamp sets, and using the Stampin' Mist ghosting technique.

 Since I had my monthly techniques class this past week, I decided to use one of the techniques we would be doing on my project.  We were learning the Stampin' Mist Ghosting technique, so I decided to try it with this colour scheme.  Here is how I did it...

• I sponged Whisper White card stock with Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum and a touch of Elegant Eggplant ink.  
• I spritzed the flourish image from the Everything Eleanor stamp set with Stampin' Mist until it was quite wet.  Then I stamped the image on the sponged card stock, allowing the stamp to sit on the card stock for a few seconds before removing it.  The flourish image begins to appear and gets more pronounced as the Stampin' Mist dries.
• Once it was dry I stamped the flourish again using Versamark ink, offsetting it from the ghosted image, and then heat embossed in silver.

• The focal piece is layered on a piece of Brushed Silver card stock.
• The butterfly, from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set, is stamped in silver metallic ink on Wisteria Wonder card stock and punched with the Bitty Butterfly punch.
• The background panel is embossed using the Beautifully Baroque TIEF.
• The card base is Wisteria Wonder.
• I used Whsiper White Organza ribbon and pearls I coloured with the Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities by way of embellishments.
• The sentiment is heat embossed in silver and then die cut using the Banners Framelits.

Inside view with sentiment from World of Dreams.

 On the inside I stamped the flourish again in Perfect Plum.  The sentiment is from the World of Dreams stamp set.
I would love to see your take on this colour challenge, so be sure to give it a try and then enter your project over at Sunday Stamps.  Have a great Sunday!!

More Blurred Watercolouring for The Twist

Success!!  12 hours later than I had hoped, here is today's post!

Happy Monday!  The first full work week of 2014 and time for me to head back to school.  We have just three weeks until the start of exams, which means mucho marking for yours truly!  Good thing I managed to get most of this month's classes prepped last week!
Today I have another sample of the Blurred Watercolour technique for this week's challenge over at The Technique Twist.  If you saw my post on Saturday you know we have a Blog Hop happening to celebrate our three new Design Team members.  I'll post the list below in case you missed it on Saturday :)
This project is one of those types of cards that no one likes to make but everyone needs from time to time.  It is a sympathy card that uses the Blurred Watercolouring technique in two different ways...

Sympathy card featuring the Everything Eleanor and Flower Shop stamp sets and using the Blurred Watercolouring technique.  Sentiment is from Best of Greetings.

Here's a quick how-to:

• For the background I first brushed my watercolour paper label with my Aquapainter so that it was damp, but not soaked.  I then stamped the flourish, from the Everything Eleanor stamp set, in Pistachio Pudding ink.  The ink ran slightly on the wet paper.  Once the paper dried I ran it through the Big Shot with the Fancy Fan TIEF.

• The flowers are from the Flower Shop set and are stamped in Crisp Cantaloupe ink on Naturals White card stock.  I brushed over each image with my Aquapainter and then went back and added more colour with my blender pen.  I punched them out using the coordinating Pansy Punch and then added the pearls in the centre of each flower.

• The sentiment is from the Best of Greetings set and is heat embossed in pewter on a label cut from watercolour paper using the Apothecary Accents framelits.

• The DSP background layer is from the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack, available as part of the Sale-a-bration promotion beginning January 28th.

• The sentiment on the inside of the card is from the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set.

Inside view with sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers.

Now, in case you missed it on Saturday, here is the Blog Hop list:

The Technique Twist

Julz

Becky B

Pam

Terria

Leena (You are here!)

Katie Zoey Ha

The Technique Twist

 Be sure to check out our new Design Team members:  Terria, Katie and Becky.  They do amazing work!  in the meantime have a great week!

An Autumn Welcome...and surprise deals!

 I recently welcomed a new friend to my Tri-City Stampers team.  Last night we made it official as she joined us for her first team meeting.  To mark the occasion I made a card just for her...

Featuring Everything Eleanor and Workshop Words stamp sets.

I am always so pleased to welcome new friends to my fantastic team.  For the next two weeks I hope to be able to welcome many more!  From now until October 21st you can join my team for just $25.00!!  Yes, you read that right...just $25 gets you the full Stampin' Up! experience!

(Notice the Bokeh technique in the background??  Coincidence...I think not!)

• This offer is only good for two weeks, so take advantage of it right away!
• During this offer, only the special $25 starter kit will be available; the regular $125  starter kit will not be available. The $25 Starter Kit includes
  • $26.95 worth of Stampin' Up! product (it must be more than $25, but not more than $26.95 before tax)
  • Business pack which includes
    • A box of annual catalogues
    • A package of the current seasonal catalogue
    • Getting Started DVD
    • Order Forms
    • Customer postcards

But Wait...there's more!
If you place your first workshop order of at least $200 within 30 days of your start date, you can:

• choose any stamp set from the 2013-2014 annual catalogue (redeemable with your first demonstrator order in December).*
• receive 30% instant income on your first order and any eligible hostess benefits if you host your own event (yes, its ok to do that!).

*This perk is only available to those who sign up between October 7-21; don't miss out!

Click HERE to learn more about what I offer the members of my team, and what Stampin' Up! offers all of it's demonstrators.   I hope to be making a welcome card for you soon!

Now for some more GREAT news!  Stampin' Up has just announced a new Weekly Deals promotion that will see a selection of products on sale beginning each Tuesday (that's today!).  These sale prices are only good while supplies last...if Stampin' Up sells out, you're out of luck, so don't delay...order today!  Here are this week's deals:

Chevron Textured Embossing Folder (127749)  Reg. $9.95  Sale:  $7.46

Essentials Paper Pirecing Pack (126187) Reg. $10.95  Sale:  $8.21

Festive Paper Piercing Pack (127857)  Reg. $10.95  Sale: $8.21

Petite Curly Label Punch (129405)  Reg. $15.95  Sale:  $8.21

Squares Collection Framelits (130921)  Reg. $32.95  Sale: $27.95

Today and Everyday Photobook Template Digital Download (126157)  Reg. $16.50  Sale: $8.50

 When you place your online order be sure enter the following hostess code to be entered into my Mystery Hostess draw for this month.  You could end up with an extra $35 worth of free stuff!

Mystery Hostess Code:  KD29EGA7

Time to Get Twisted!

It's the 15th, which means it is time for a new challenge over at The Technique Twist!  I have to say I am loving be part of the design team for this awesome challenge blog...it is pushing my creativity in all sorts of directions!
Today's technique is Emerging Colours (aka Joseph's Coat).  I've featured this technique before.  You can see that project HERE.  Here is one of my new Twisted projects:

Thank you card featuring the Everything Eleanor stamp set (124164) with sentiment from Lacy and Lovely (122887)

Now, if you've been following my blog for a while, you know this isn't exactly my style.  I'm not really a froo-froo, lace-and-pearls kinda gal, but this card sort of took on a life of it's own and this is what I ended up with.  It is pretty, I suppose, but not the type of card I'd generally design (or give to any of my friends, for that matter!).  It looks like something one would send their granny (if I had one!) :(

So, if you've been dying to create something to send to your granny, or you just love this style and want to recreate it for yourself, here are some tips...

• I started the stamped panel with a piece of Whisper White card stock.  I stamped the flourish from Everything Eleanor in Pear Pizzazz and the flower in Raspberry Ripple.
• I stamped the label from Everything Eleanor over top of the stamped images using Versamark ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
• I sponged (heavily!) all over with Always Artichoke ink.  The goal is to cover as much of the stamped images as possible.  The clear embossed label will resist the ink.  Be sure to wipe off the embossing to remove any excess ink when you're done sponging.
• I used Raspberry Ripple Core'dinations card stock for the background panel and embossed it using the Fancy Fan TIEF.  I then sanded it lightly to expose the lighter-coloured core.
• I added a Tea Lace Doily peeking out behind the focal point.
• The sentiment is from the Lacy and Lovely stamp set and is stamped in Always Artichoke in on Sahara Sand card stock.  I punched it with the Large Oval punch and layered it on a Scallop Oval punch in Raspberry Ripple.
• There is no short cut for the pearls...each one gets placed on each scallop.  Tedious?  Yep.

This technique has been around for a while, but it sure was fun to try to come up with something new.  Give it a whirl and be sure to link up at The Technique Twist this week!  We'd love to see what you come up with!!

Monday Morning Blues

I really dislike Mondays.  Especially after a busy weekend where I feel like I had no down time.  Ah well, the show must go on, as they say, and so must the school year, so off to work I go.  Before I do, I want to share a project with you that was inspired by one of the Make-n-Takes at Hamilton Regionals last month.  I blogged about it here, so you can see the original version of this project.  Here is another take on it that we did as one of the Make-n-Takes at my team meeting this month.

Vellum Note Card Pouch...love that stitched satin ribbon that is FREE right now with a $50 order!

Note cards and envelopes featuring the Everything Eleanor and Perfectly Penned stamp sets.

Isn't that a great little gift set?  I loved the vellum pouch idea from Regionals and also the single layer, stamps-and-ink-only design.  I really wanted to replicate that to show you that you don't need a ton of supplies to make something beautiful.  I used the Note Cards and Envelopes, stamped with three different colours of ink: Sahara Sand, Pool Party and Midnight Muse and used an image set and a sentiment set.  The possibilities for this project are just about endless!  The best part is that because you get 20 note cards and envelopes in a package you could make up five sets like this for just $7.50.  Talk about an economical gift idea!  I can tell you Max's teachers are going to be getting some of these little beauties come Christmas this year!
Have a great Monday and a good week everyone!

She's Done it Again!

Wait until you see this adorable project from Amanda Corbett at Craft Project Central!  I am in awe of her creative talent.  Check this out...

Butterfly Gift Box designed by Amanda Corbett

Isn't that just beautiful?!?  Who wouldn't love to receive a gift enclosed in that lovely box?  To access the tutorial for Amanda's project simply subscribe to August over at Craft Project Central.  For only $10 you'll receive TEN full-colour, step-by-step tutorials for fabulous projects.  Then stop by Amanda's blog and let her know how much you love this project.  Oh...and before you go, be sure to enter my draw for a free month's subscription to CPC by leaving a comment on any post dated August 5th - 12th.  I will post the winner on August 13th.  Good luck!!