Hello Sunshine

Well, just when I thought I was over that nasty flu bug, it keeps lingering on. I still have sinus congestion and a cough and it's been two weeks! Ugh! Sure wish it would leave already! I haven't spent much time in my studio since getting sick...I just haven't had the energy. I did manage to get quite a bit of rest over the long weekend, so I'm hoping that does the trick! I have a whole box of brand new product waiting for me in there.
Today I thought I would share a project we made at my Watercolour 101 class last week...

It uses the Black Magic technique, which is one that I haven't used in ages. I used to use it quite often back when Stampin' Up carried chalks, but since those went away, I haven't even thought about this fabulous technique. Enter Watercolor Pencils, which work perfectly! I used images from the Flower Patch stamp set (which is going away for ever at the end of May *sigh*) and stamped them in Whisper White Craft ink on Basic Black card stock. Once the stamped images were completely dry, I used my Watercolor Pencils to add colour to the stamped images. The smaller flowers are coloured using the Pumpkin Pie pencil and the larger using the Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry pencils. I also used the white pencil to add highlights. I had forgotten how much I love this technique and the way the colour just pops against the black background.

The die-cut sentiment is cut from gold glimmer paper using the Sunshine Sayings Thinlits. I added the stamped sentiment from the coordinating Sunshine Wishes stamp set, stamped in Basic Black ink. The only embellishments, aside from the some Melon Mambo 1/8" stitched ribbon, are some rhinestones that I coloured gold using an alcohol marker.

On the inside I added a Whisper White panel on which I stamped the same floral images, this time using Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie inks. I added another sentiment fromt he Sunshine Wishes stamp set.

I am so loving the Watercolor Pencils and discovering new ways to use them. It is such fun to rediscover old techniques and add a new spin on them. Have a super week!


Product List

Flower Patch Photopolymer Stamp Set [134207] $32.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $10.00	Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115320] $10.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25
Gold Glimmer Paper [133719] $6.75	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad [101731] $10.75	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad [126948] $8.50	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [126945] $8.50
Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	Watercolor Pencils [141709] $21.00	Melon Mambo 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Stitched Ribbon [141650] $8.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246] $6.75
Classic Label Punch [141491] $23.50

Flower Patch Ghosting

Happy Tuesday!  I hope your week got off to a good start :)  My son started his baseball season last night, so summer mustn't be too far off!

Today I have a sneak peek at one of the projects we'll be making in my monthly techniques class next week.  This one uses the ghosting technique.  Check it out:

Thank you card featuring the Flower Patch stamp set with sentiment from Work of Art.

I just love the fresh, spring-like colour scheme on this one.  I began by stamping several  images from the Flower Patch stamp set using Whisper White craft ink on Crumb Cake card stock.  Once that was dry, I stamped over top of the white images using the three Colorbox Chalk inks from the Occasions catalogue: Aquamarine, Rose Coral and Yellow Citrus.  While it isn't necessary to use chalk inks for this technique, I like the soft colour they offer.    You'll notice I didn't quite line up the images exactly, but that is part of the charm of this technique.

The sentiment is from the Work of Art set.  I stamped "thank" in Crumb Cake ink and "you" in Coastal Cabana.  I punched the sentiment with the 1-3/4" circle punch and then layered it on a 2" circle in Coastal Cabana.  (What will I ever do without that colour??? *sob*)  I added some pearls that I coloured with my Blendabilities as well as a bit of thick baker's twine in Coastal Cabana.

On the inside I stamped several of the flower images again using the same inks I did on the front, leaving plenty of space to write.

I'm pretty excited that I get to pre-order my new Annual Catalogue Sneak Peek products today!  With any luck they'll be here by the weekend and I'll have lots of new surprises for you next week!

Now, here are this week's new Weekly Deals.  As always, prices are good until Monday at midnight:

1/16" Circle Handheld Punch Price: $11.95  Sale:  $8.96	1/8" Circle Handheld Punch Price: $11.95   Sale: $8.96	2" Circle Punch Price: $22.95   Sale: $17.21
Gift Box Punch Board Price: $24.95   Sale: $18.71	Gold Baker's Twine Price: $3.95  Sale:  $2.96	Soft Sky 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon Price: $9.50   Sale: $7.13
Sweet Taffy Designer Series Paper Price: $13.50   Sale: $10.13	Wisteria Wonder 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon Price: $9.50   Sale: $7.13

Lovely Amazing You

Sometimes one just wants to lift someone's spirit with a handmade card that lets them know how special they are.  Today's project is one that does just that.  It is another of the projects that will be available at my All-occasions buffet this weekend...

Encouragement card featuring the Flower Patch stamp set with sentiment from the Lovely Amazing You set.

I love the bright, happy colour scheme on this card!  I used Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight and Wild Wasabi...the perfect Springtime colour combo.  The background layer is embossed using the Decorative Dots TIEF.  I used DSP from Subtles Backgrounds DSP stack and ribbon from the Best Year Ever Sale-a-bration Accessory pack.  The flower images are from the Flower Patch stamp set and are stamped using Strawberry Slush, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight inks.  The leaves are also from the Flower Patch set and are stamped using Wild Wasabi and Old Olive inks.

The sentiment is from the Lovely Amazing You photopolymer stamp set and is stamped in Strawberry Slush ink, punched with the 1-3/4" circle punch and layered on a 2" circle punched from Strawberry Slush card stock.  The entire card is built on a Wild Wasabi card base.

On the inside I stamped more flowers using the same colour combination I did on the front and stamped another of the sentiments from the Lovely Amazing You set in Strawberry Slush ink.  

A happy card to hopefully make somebody smile :)

Now for this week's Weekly Deals...as always, sale prices are good until Monday at midnight.

Artisan Label Punch Price: $21.95  Sale:  $16.46	Crushed Curry Baker's Twine Price: $3.95   Sale: $2.96	Epic Day Designer Washi Tape Price: $6.50  Sale:  $4.88
Fringe Scissors Price: $13.50   Sale: $10.13	Gold Fancy Designer Vellum Foil Price: $13.50   Sale: $10.13	Label Love Clear Stamp Set Price: $21.95   Sale: $16.46
Petite Petals Punch Price: $15.95   Sale: $11.96

BeYoutiful Flower Patch

Are you sick of the Flower Patch stamp set yet?  If so, stop reading now!  Today I have the final sample from my Fabulous Flower Patch class coming up at the end of the month.  I turned to the new In-Colours for the colour scheme for this one...

Any-occasion card featuring the Flower Patch stamp set.

This is a super-simple, quick and easy card.  I started by stamping the various flowers using the following colour cobminations:  Perfect Plum and Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon and Island Indigo, Mossy Meadow and Sahara Sand.  Then I ran the stamped piece through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots TIEF and mounted it on a Lost Lagoon mat before adhering it to a Sahara Sand card base.  The sentiment is inked with Lost Lagoon and Blackberry Bliss markers and die cut using the Project Life Cards and Labels framelits.  I adhered it to a strip of Lost Lagoon card stock that I embellished with some Blackberry Bliss stitched satin ribbon, and then adhered it to the card with dimensionals.

On the inside of the card I stamped more flowers.  Quick and easy and under 10 minutes from start to finish...gotta love it!

Monochromatic Flower Patch

Yesterday I showed you a card I made using the Emerging Colours technique with the Flower Patch stamp set.  Today I have another version, but this time it is a monochromatic colour scheme...

Thinking of You card featuring the Flower Patch and A Dozen Thoughts stamp sets and using the Emerging Colours technique

Totally different look, no?  On this one I used the following colours:  Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Lost Lagoon, Island Indigo and Night of Navy.  The flower is stamped in Lost Lagoon and Island Indigo and die cut with the Flower Fair Framelits.  I added a little bling in the centre of the flower with some rhinestones and made ribbon leaves from Lost Lagoon stitched satin ribbon.

The sentiment is from the A Dozen Thoughts set, is stamped in Night of Navy and die cut using the Project Life Cards and Labels framelits. 

On the inside I stamped more flowers and omitted a sentiment to all space to write an encouraging message.
I have just the person in mind to send this one to.  Hope it brightens her day!

Emerging Flower Patch

Well?  How was your long weekend?  Mine was good, but yesterday I discovered a leak under our kitchen sink which led to replacing the entire sink.  The new sink was larger than the original one, which led to cutting a larger hole in the counter top which led to a big mess...oh and did I mention that all of this started at 3:00 pm yesterday?  I was vaccuuming sawdust and wiping down kitchen cabinets at 11:00 last night!  Ah well, the new sink looks great and I'm glad there is no more leak.
Today I have one of the projects I designed for my upcoming Fabulous Flower Patch class. 

Birthday card featuring the Flower Patch and not-yet-released Good Greetings Hostess set and using the Emerging Colours technique.

Kinda funkadelic retro, no?  I have to say the photo doesn't really do it justice...the colours really pop!  So how'd I do it?  I started by sponging Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo ink in random splotches all over a piece of Whisper White card stock.  The cool part it that where those two colours overlap I got a shade remarkably close to Pumpkin Pie!  Once the ink had dried (important to allow time for this!)  I rubbed my embossing buddy all over the inked surface (this is also a VERY important step).  Then I stamped various images from the Flower Patch stamp set using Versamark ink all over the sponged card stock.  I sprinkled on clear embossing powder and the heat embossed it.  Then the magic happened,  I sponged Blackberry Bliss ink over the entire surface.  The ink adheres to the card stock, but not to the embossed images, making those colourful flowers just pop.

The rest of the card was pretty simple.  To do the background stripes I cut 3/4" wide strips of Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry card stock and adhered them to a 2-1/4" wide strip of Whisper White card stock.  Then I ran the whole thing through the Big Shot with the Arrows TIEF.  I glued the strip to a Black Berry Bliss card base at a 45 degree angle and trimmed off the excess.  The sentiment is from a new set called Good Greetings that will be part of a Host promotion for the upcoming Holiday Catalogue.  I punched it out with the Curly Label punch and adhered it to the stamped piece, adding a wee Vintage Faceted button and some Crushed Curry baker's twine.

Inside view with sentiment from Endless Birthday Wishes.

On the inside I stamped several of the same flower images in Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie ink and then added a sentiment from the Endless Birthday Wishes set.  I love how this one turned out!

Now since its Tuesdaym here are this week's deals:

Alphabet Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $9.95  Sale: $7.46	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad Price: $7.25   Sale: $5.44	Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Price: $10.95   Sale: $8.21	Hearts A Flutter Framelits Die Price: $30.95   Sale: $23.21
Oh Baby Photobook Template - Digital Download Price: $19.95   Sale: $11.97 Wisteria Wonder 3/4" Chevron Ribbon Price: $12.50  Sale: $9.38	Pear Pizzaz Classic Stampin' Pad Price: $7.25  Sale: $5.44	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad Price: $7.25   Sale: $5.44	Travel Log Kit - Digital Download Price: $10.95  Sale:  $6.57