CC Designs Sneak Peeks (to come)

Well, I'm still waiting for my new CC Designs sets to arrive ... The post office is not so quick here! BUT, you should totally check out the ATS Blog and design team members for sneak peeks until I get my sets and can actually play with them!! On the ATS Blog, you can even win free stamps!!

Keep your fingers crossed that I get my stamps soon!! We've been through quite a few postal people in the last while (I think 4 or 5 in the past year) and they ALL gimp up the mail ...

Amazing News!!

I am now a part of The Little Paper Shop's Design Team!!! Julia had put an announcement on her blog (Addicted to Paper) a little while ago asking for interested people and I thought, "why not, I love the images and could totally see myself using them". Imagine my surprise when I got an email from her asking if I'd like to be a part of her team!! I'm so excited to join the fabulous design team of the Little Paper Shop! Be sure to check out her stamps, there is a nice variety of style and she'll be adding new sets monthly!!

Kids Birthday Card Class

I was quite busy this weekend as I also had a Kids Birthday Cards class on Saturday! We made 6 cards, three for boys and three for girls. I basically made three layouts and had a boy and girl version for each. I didn't intend to start out that way, but it sure worked well!

Stamps: All in the Family, All in the Family Accessories, So Many Scallops, Curvy Verses
Paper: Certainly Celery, Basic Gray, Rose Red, Soft Sky Prints DSP, Whisper White, Soft Sky, Watercolour Paper
Ink: Stazon, various for watercolouring, Basic Gray, Rose Red
Accessories: Two Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Dimensionals, White Grosgrain, Aquapainter

These are the other ones we made: (click on the pic for a detailed post with a stamp recipe!)

Last Occasions Class Card!

This is also one of the cards that we did at my last Any Occasions Card class. This was my personal favorite of the lot! I absolutely love this stamp set as well as this colour combination. The new Basic Gray cardstock is beautiful and especially paired with Soft Sky, it's stunning.

The scalloped edge is created using my corner rounder but I hear through the grapevine that Stampin' Up! will be offering a new scalloped edge punch in the next catty!! I so can't wait for that, but then again, I'm a punch junky! I have all but two or three in the current catty ...

The ribbon slider is a part of the new silver hodgepodge hardware kit available in the current Occasions mini (which you can now purchase from until the end of June!).

Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, Short & Sweet
Ink: Stazon, Soft Sky & Wasabi for watercolouring, Basic Black
Paper: Soft Sky DSP, Soft Sky, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Watercolour Paper
Accessories: Aquapainter, Ribbon Slider, White Grosgrain, Corner Rounder, Key Tag Punch, Lg and Sm Oval Punches, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

Featured Stamper Challenge #64

Another Sunday, another featured stamper challenge!! This week, the featured stamper is sf9erfan and I chose this card from her gallery (which is fantastic btw!). I changed everything except the layout and brads!

Now, I was originally making this card for an amazing lady I know who is has gone through so much as has a long road ahead of her. My hubby, however, thinks that this card is a little too bright and kiddish. I was thinking is was cheerful and happy. A reminder that God is always nearby whenever we need Him (and even when we think we don't!). But, I will make another card (imagine a long suffering sigh) which will be such a hardship ... *snort* not!

Anyways, I like this card no matter what Paul says!

Stamps: God is Love
Paper: East Coast Prep DSP, Real Red, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Watercolour Paper
Ink: Stazon, Basic Black, various inks for watercolouring
Accessories: Dimensionals, Mat Pack & Piercer, Silver Brads, Pumpkin Striped Grosgrain, Pumpkin Gorsgrain, Aquapainter, Sponge Dauber

Any Occasions Card Class - Project #2

The second project ... I was trying to go for something a little bit different from the first card. More bright and cheerful that could be used for a guy or child or whatever. I also really wanted to use these sets Big Flowers and Little Flowers as they really haven't seen much ink ... It's a fairly simple layout, with lots of white space!

Stamps: Big Flowers, Little Flowers, Short & Sweet
Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Basic Black, Summer Picnic DSP, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Silver Brads, Dimensionals, 1-3/8 & 1-1/4" Square Punches, 3/4" & 1/2" Circle Punches, A Perfect Day Rubons, White Organdy (retired)

Any Occasions Card Class - Project #1

Well, I had my "Any-Occasion Card Class" last night so I can begin posting the card on my blog! I rarely post cards for my classes and clubs ahead of time, I feel they lose their "wow", does that make sense?

So, this was a relatively simple card (as in, not lots of layers). I used one of my favorite sets from the Occasions Mini --> "Bloomin Beautiful" for this card. I haven't inked up the bee before, so I made sure to use it!

Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, Fancy Flexible Phrases (retired)
Ink: Stazon, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel
Paper: Watercolour Paper, Blue Bayou Textured, Outlaw DSP, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Accessories: Corner Rounder, 1-3/8" and 1-1/4" Circle Punches, Dimensionals, Blue Bayou Double-Stitched Ribbon, Aquapainter

"Tweetheart"

Amy Rysavy challenged the ATS Design Team with this sketch. It was fairly easy for me, although I made the circle a bit bigger and it encompassed the square rather than being on the upper left corner. That's the freedom of artistry, right? Anyways, I used the set "Love Ya Much" for this one. I hadn't used the birds yet, although I had plenty of ideas for them! I stamped them on watercolour paper with Stazon ink and coloured them in using my aquapainter. Then, I cut it out with my Circle Nestabilities. Love them!! If you don't have nestabilites, any circle cutting system will work. Until I got the nesties, I used the Coluzzle and before that I used the CM circle cutting system. I have not touched the Creative Memories circle cutters in a looooooooooooong time. The coluzzle, I still use. Anyways, the rest of the card should be self-explanatory, right?

Stamps: Love Ya Much (C.C. Designs)
Ink: Stazon, Chocolate Chip, various for colouring
Paper: Bashful Blue, patterned DSP (?), Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Wide Twill, Classic Circle Nestabilities, Key Tag Punch, Designer Label Punch, Lg Oval Punch, Word Window Punch

Hugs

I was playing with my Heartfelt Thanks set the other day and still had it out so I thought I'd make something else with it. It's a set I loved a few years ago and just had to have it. Sadly, it's been neglected badly over the last year ... I've been so into line-art images, that these all-ready to stamp images are not so easy anymore. I need to diversify!! Anyways, this one is another possible Mother's day card. I used my Chocolate Chip marker to ink up the word "hugs" from the sentiment set "Hugs and Wishes". That's the one thing I love about Stampin' Up® markers! Perfect for personalising stamp sets! What do you think?

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Hugs and Wishes, Sanded
Ink: Blush Blossom, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain and Taffeta, Aged Copper Brads

Sketch Challenge 173

It's the Wednesday sketch challenge over at SCS! I truly do enjoy these sketches. It really helps me get out of a bit of a stamping slump. As I said earlier, my mojo was just not there but I feel it coming back. Anyways, I have not used this stamp set yet (I got it back in early February). That's a long time for rubber to not see ink in this house! I had purchased it because I really wanted to have a good sympathy set in the house for those few occasions that I'd need it. I haven't experienced a lot of sorrow in my life, but I know that it will happen one day (just hopefully later rather than sooner). I chose this set because I wanted to make a sympathy card just because. This way I won't have to make one when I need it and don't feel like it. I used Not Quite Navy craft ink for the sentiment again, and embossed it with clear embossing powder. It really helps the sentiment stand out above the image, in my opinion. I also "prettied" up the inside of the card. I rarely stamp the insides until I need them, but this card is pretty much a "one-way" card (as in, not very all-purpose). You can see a glimpse of the inside from the pic on the left. I also inked up one of the flowers from the bouquet using my markers (LOVE that capability of the markers!) and stamped it to the left of the inside sentiment. It looks really nice.

Stamps: Close As A Memory
Markers: Not Quite Navy, Always Artichoke, Bordering Blue, Mellow Moss
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy Craft
Paper: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Le Jardin DSP, Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Whisper White
Accessories: Jumbo Eyelets, CAD, White Organdy (retired), Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder

Colour Challenge 163 Card!

Finally, a card! I was able to stamp yesterday afternoon. I find I don't get much done in the evening yet. Mattias is definitely getting easier, but doesn't like to sit in the swing while I craft for too long ... It will come soon enough!

This is a very simple card. My mojo just wasn't flowin' but I think it's on its way back. I wasn't in the mood to have a stamp-filled card this time. I'm also thinking about Mother's day and I think a simple design can say so much more. To me, it shows that the card is for my mom and yes, it's beautiful, but the words I can hand write inside will show and say so much more. A how-to note, I stamped the sentiment with Chocolate Chip craft ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. So, the card has texture (embossing and ribbon) and interest with lots of white space! I'm trying to learn how to "embrace white space", quite a challenge.

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip (craft and classic)
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Light Pink Organdy (retired)

So, what do you think of this one? Too white, too simple, just right?

Look at the weather ...

Well, I haven't had much time to stamp lately. I've been catching up on household chores that I'd neglected because of too much stamping!! So, I spent three days doing laundry, bedding, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the fridge, taking care of my plants ... So, I have nothing stamp-related to show you today but I'm planning on stamping this afternoon if all goes well! I just thought I'd show you a pic of our crazy April weather. I'd heard it can snow any time of the year here in Edson but I've never experienced snow in April. I was born and raised in Vancouver BC, so I'm used to rain, not snow ....

Anyways, this is a pic out our front window looking out at the park across the street. Way in the back is a runway for our small town airport (only one or two small planes a day in regular season, more during fire season). Isn't this crazy? It's been so windy there are times I can't even see that guardrail ...

Hope you have a better weather day!! (actually it's kind of fun, the kids have no school today and it's nice and cozy inside!)

Don't forget to sign up for the two classes being held this weekend! There's the All Occasion Card Class on Friday evening at 7:30 and the Birthday Cards for Kids Class on Saturday evening (7:30pm). If you can't make the class but would like the supplies to make these cards, just email me for more information!!

Arte y Pico Award

Linda MacClain (LMac's Catered Crops) awarded me with this one. This an honour, thank you, Linda! Hers is a blog I've been reading for quite some time. Fabulous artwork. I love her colour choices and so much more! Here are the rules for this award. I get to pick five blogs I consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material and also for their contribution to the blogging community. There are so many blogs I visit (as you can see by the blog list on the left)!
I'm going to bow out on naming just 5. All of the blogs I visit are deserving of this award. I also keep finding new ones!! So, if you are on my link list, I've nominated you!!

SC172 meets Pink Cat Studio!

Wow, four posts in one day ... I actually only made these two today! The others have been sitting on my USB memory card for a bit. Just before all the family arrived I got this stamp set in the mail from Pink Cat Studio!! No chance to play until today :( ... So, the sketch challenge was a perfect opportunity to use them!

Stamps: Billy, Plate 1 (Pink Cat Studio)

Ink: Stazon, various markers for colouring, Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow, Really Rust
Paper: Outlaw DSP, Watercolour Paper, Sage Shadow, Really Rust
Accessories: Small Star Punch, Twill Ribbon, Dimensionals

Stamps: Billy, Plate 1 (Pink Cat Studio)

Ink: Stazon, various markers for colouring, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Outlaw DSP, Watercolour Paper, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Really Rust
Accessories: Red Grosgrain, Corner Rounder, 1/8" Hole Punch, Key Tag Punch, Lg Star Punch, Lg Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Aren't these the cutest stamps? I can't wait to ink up the rest. This set is called "Billy, Plate 1" (are there more Billy's to come?!). I used the cowboy image and I thought I'd dig out the retired "Outlaw" designer paper from Stampin' Up! for these cards. Each card uses one piece of the paper, but cut and one side flipped. There are benefits to double sided paper!

Pink Cat Studio awards points for customer referral so if you decide to order these (and other) stamps, be sure to mention my name!

Verve Visual Sketch Challenge

You all know I love sketches and this one was pretty fun! Verve Visual has a sketch challenge running this month, and you have to use Verve stamps. I actually just got some in the mail the other day. Their presentation is absolutely fabulous! When I opened the box, the first thing I saw was the blue and brown tissue paper wrapping my order, then a nice "Thank you for your order" receipt on top. Totally makes me want to order again!

For this sketch, I used the sets "Swirly Star" and "Starlight, Starbright". The stars fit well into the star punches I have from Stampin' Up! (the stamps are a little larger and still punch well) and the oval punches great with the large oval punch. Love that! I went with a bright colour palette again. The saying "Let your light shine" needs brightness, don't you think? I know there is two sentiments on the card front which I don't normally do, but I thought both went together so well!

Supplies
Stamps: Swirly Star, Starlight, Starbright (Verve Visual)
Ink: Brocade Blue, Real Red, Summer Sun, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Paper: Brocade Blue, Real Red, Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: Star Punches, Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Key Tag Punch, Copper Brads, Tag Corner Punch

Tile Coasters!

My stamp club met last Friday and this was our 3D project. I've had tiles sitting around forever, but I didn't have the ones I really wanted ... go figure. Finally went to Home Hardware and ordered a tumbled kind (no specific brand, I was just looking for a rougher textured tile) to make these drink coasters! Plenty of forethought went into this project for once. Usually, I come up with things the week of stamp club, not the month before!

Baroque Motifs Tile

Pick a Petal Tile

Tile coasters are really simple to make. I used craft ink to stamp all the images and then I baked them in the oven (at 350 F for 20 minutes). This is what heat sets the craft ink. It should be waterproof at this point, but I've heard that is not always the case, so I always go the next step: spray it with a sealer. I picked up my sealer at Walmart, it's just a semi-gloss Varathane clear varnish. Any kind of varnish would work, matte, semi-gloss, or glossy are all fine (personal preference dictates your choice!). I only applied one good coat to the tiles, let it dry, and then put a bottom on them. I used craft foam cut to the same size as the tile, but you can also use furniture pads (felt, plastic, or cork).

Supplies
Ink: Earth Elements Craft ink (Spots), Real Red Craft Ink (Pad)
Accessories: Tile, Oven, Varnish, Foam

Stamp Club Technique Card

Our technique this month was "Chalkboard", a super easy technique to do and you don't need a whole ton of supplies! All you need is a white craft pad, the stampin' pastels, a sponge dauber, and a bold image stamp. Simply stamp your image on dark cardstock using the white craft ink. Using your sponge dauber as an applicator, daub the pastel on the wet craft ink. I found that bright colours seem to show up best on dark cardstock and I figured out that to make sure you have a nice bright result, make sure the wet craft ink gets the powder of the pastels all over it. Then pounce the powder in. I found that if you don't do this, there is some white craft ink residue that spreads ...

As for the design of this card, I'm really into bright and simple colours lately, so the new Summer Picnic DSP from Stampin' Up! (in the Occasions Mini) is absolutely perfect! The colours are so bright and cheerful (and certainly not over-bright!). If you haven't ordered any yet, you really should before it goes away for good! Anyways, I used that paper as my springboard for the rest!

Supplies
Stamps: Big Flowers, Short & Sweet
Ink: Real Red Classic, Whisper White Craft
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Summer Picnic DSP
Accessories: 1-3/8" & 1" Circle Punches, Designer Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Black Gingham Ribbon, Real Red Grosgrain, Moss Grosgrain, Stampin' Pastels

lost & found!

I made this card a loooong time ago and just found the pic on my computer. It's certainly not my favorite card, it's mediocre in my opinion. I think it's just too pink? I'll just have to rework it!

Another Brayered Sky card

I'd actually made this card (4"x4") sometime last week when I was in the mood to try Michelle Zindorf's technique called "Brayered Sky". I love the look of this technique. The colours seem to be so striking. The only thing I have a problem with, is colour matching. Trying to figure out what colours of cardstock go well with the main image piece is a bit of a challenge for me ... But, I think this one turned out well. I embossed the image after I'd coloured it in using the Versa Marker and Clear Embossing Powder. Then, I did all the brayering and sponging of all the other colours. Let me know what you think! Did I succeed at a good colour match?

Supplies
Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, So Many Sayings (retired)
Ink: Stazon, Not Quite Navy, Apricot Appeal, Really Rust, Bsahful Blue, Not Quite Navy
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Really Rust, Blush Blossom, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Twill, Oval Punches, Designer Label Punch, Word Window Punch, VersaMarker, Clear EP, Heat Tool, Brayer, Stampin' Sponges

a few more!

Well, here's the last few cards I'd made earlier this week! I still have a few more thank-you's to make so these two cards are just perfect for that! I used yet another of the new-t-me stamps that I've recently gotten. This is "Julia's Diaper Bag", available at Stamping Bella! I think I'll be able to get a fair amount of use out of this stamp. The design of both cards is the same but the colours are totally different.

Julia's Diaper BagSupplies
Stamps: Julia's Diaper Bag (Stamping Bella), Small Sayings (retired, Stampin' Up!), Sweet Stars Jumbo Wheel (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Stazon, Various Markers for Colouring, Basic Black, Bashful Blue
Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Accessories: CB Embossing Folder Tiny Bubbles, Coloured Brads, Celery Grosgrain

Supplies
Stamps: Julia's Diaper Bag (Stamping Bella), Small Sayings (retired, Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Stazon, Various Markers for Colouring, Whisper White Craft
Paper: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: CB Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Antique Copper Brads

This next card I made for a little boy who's birthday party is later today. I loved this MFT set when I saw it a little while ago! Dino-Mite is available at All That Scraps. I used Julee Tilman's Mojo#32 sketch for this one.

Supplies
Stamps: Dino-Mite (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Stazon, Various Inks for Colouring
Paper: Soft Sky, Basic Grey Popcorn Balls Patterned Paper, Basic Black, Watercolour Paper, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Accessories: CB Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, Copper Brads, White Organdy