Friday, January 29, 2016

Bread Tag Valentines

I purchased some fun Valentine tags with my recent order from the new Spring Mini Catalog and have been enjoying playing with them.  On one side is 4 different scenes and on the back is a To, From phrase. Very versatile!


And after cleaning my craft room closet I found the fun heart crystals and paper doilies so I just had to make this card.  I used Pomegranate Splash and Bubble Gum card stocks, the cool tags, and Bubble Gum ribbon for this simple card.


Here's a close up of the bow with the heart.  I'll save these crystals for my GVR classes as there's way more than just hearts in the package.


I also made these 3 Heart Kiss Holders for some of our family.  I pinned the pattern from QBee's Quest. I'll have to use bubble envelopes to mail them.


I attached the tags with some red scrapper's floss from my stash and stamped the text from our Selfie Love set.  Now I can eat the unused Kisses....

Products Used:
Love Treat Tags Bundle
Selfie Love stamp set
Pomegranate Splash cs
Bubble Gum cs

Bubble Bum Ribbon
Candy Apple ink

Now that my closet had been cleaned and things in there are so much easier to get to I'm enjoying playing a bit more.  My ankle is much improved though there is still some swelling, bruises, and pain I have gone back to cleaning at our church.  Almost 4 weeks of down time has also taken it's toll on my body and am looking forward to slowly getting back in shape at Copper Fitness in Green Valley.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

My Closet, WOYWW 346, and a Heart

We've been having gorgeous weather, upper 60sF, and my ankle is doing so much better.  I'm actually trying not to overdo so that it will heal completely.  I go back to work tomorrow cleaning at the church and will start next week at the gym (but only the bicycles with no resistance).  But last weekend I went on a cleaning spree of my craft room closet. So, for the What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday you get to see the before and after of my exhausting weekend. And this is part of a fun blog tour of crafters who are brave enough to show you where they craft/work and it is all brought together by head desker, Julia, at the Stamping Ground.


Before....


After....

I threw away 4 LARGE garbage bags (we had to make a trip to the garbage dump because of me), took 1 1/2 trunk loads to the local thrift store (maybe about 200 magazines involved plus lots more stuff), and reduced totes in the closet by 3 large ones.  I reorganized and now know what is in the closet and totes.  Still can do more and will later.



I was challenged on an FB page by a fellow Fun Stampers Journey coach to make a Valentine-themed card.  Well, that was easy!  I even did some stencil work on the red base layer and oodles more!



The text is actually wood which I colored with Silver Silk (a liquid ink) then glazed with a product similar to Crystal Lacquer then added fine glitter.  What a fun card! Yes, I'm proud of it.  If you want to know more about the products contact me.

Now please head over to the Stamping Ground and continue on your tour!  Maybe we'll cross paths somewhere along the way!  (Strange but the majority of my hits today are from South Korea....)

Monday, January 25, 2016

GVR Class Photos

Last Wednesday I taught a class for Green Valley Recreation.  I had 8 wonderful ladies attend and they seemed to really enjoy themselves.


Here is Sandy, Leslie, Ellen, and Beth


And Julienne, Jeanette, Marti, and Angie.


I had partial kits they purchased to get started (so that they didn't waste their good paper) and I think they were all surprised how easy this Sunburst technique was to do!  Here's Ellen with her 2nd card.  At this point they had to cut their own papers.


And Leslie with her 2nd card.  I love how she (and a couple others) changed up the technique using solid and print card stocks for a very dramatic look! 

One of my students, Sandy, told me at church that she made quite a few cards using this technique and that her hubby told her she was having too much fun with this technique!  Makes me so happy to know someone is enjoying what I taught!

I sure hope to see them all again!  My next class is Feb. 17, same place, same time.  I'll be teaching the Side Step and Center Step cards.  (And I'll have lots of paper packs to sell as I cleaned my stamp room closet.)

Friday, January 22, 2016

Going Fruity, huh?

I think I finally got a rather catchy post title, what do you think??  Are you ready to see my other 2 cards from the Bloom Box?  I'm really thrilled with them as I used products that's a bit outside the box for me!


I "kinda" followed the directions for this card but I moved things around and added some colored modeling paste using Bubble Bubble Stencil,  Sweet Berry Splash to color the Modeling Paste and the palette knife.  The cute pennant was made using a punch as was the circle for the sentiment.  Oh, first thing I did was brayer some Bubble Gun ink on the Whip Cream base.  After adding the colored modeling paste I splattered a bit of Bubble Gum Silk.  (I love our Silks!)  I colored the berry with the Blender Solution, Sweet Berry Reinker, and a Blender Brush.


Here you can see the  colored modeling paste a bit better.  I also added some Journey Glaze and  Sparkle Cuts to the berry.  A few Pink World sequins  and I love how it turned out!


I got a bit carried away with this card.  So much did I do it to.  I brayed Pineapple Smoothies, Citrus Cooler, and Sweet Berry inks on the base.  Then I sponged the same 3 inks through the Bubble Bubble stencil in various spots.  Splattered some Silver Silk and I'm ready to start with the stamping.


 I stamped the various fruits, colored with the Blender Solution and different reinkers, covered with Journey Glaze and sprinkled with Sparkle Cuts.


The Summer Pretties flower punches flowers used Pineapple Smoothie and Citrus Cooler papers. I cut the petals and gently made them concave, added the rhinestones, made a double bow from the Whip Cream Thread, and mounted everything on the Citrus Cooler base.  This is so out of the box for me but I think I'll be doing more of this from now on!

Stamp Set:
Tropic Cool

Card Stocks:
Sweet Berry
Whip Cream
Sweet Pear
Citrus Cooler
Pineapple Smoothie

Inks, Reinkers, Silks & More:
Black Licorice
Pineapple Smoothie
Citrus Cooler
Sweet Berry
Bubble Gum
Bubble Gum Silk
Silver Silk
Sweet Berry Reinker
Sweet Pear Reinker
Sweet Berry Splash

Punches & Dies:
Punch Handle
Pennant Punch
Circle Punch
Journey Circles die set
Summer Pretties Punch

Tools:
Brayer
Spatula (Pallete Knife)
Bubble Bubble Stencil
Modeling Paste
Blender Solution
Blender Brush

Embellishments:
Pink World Sequins
Black Licorice Twine
Whip Cream Thread
Sparkle Cuts
Rhinestones

Are you enjoying this new style of cards that I'm making?  I still love my simple, clean cards as they are definitely easier to reproduce or replicate.  But it is fun to go crazy once in a while!!!

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

A Pocket of Hearts and My Desk

I don't know about you but it seems Wednesday comes faster than every 7 days.  Maybe it's because I'm not getting much accomplished with trying to stay off my ankle.  Until today.  Today I have a class to teach in Green Valley, AZ and have 10 people coming to learn the Sunburst Technique.  I know one has possibly never stamped and called me to find out where to purchase the supplies she needs for class.  I asked a friend who is coming if she'd help me a bit and I think another will, also, since I'm still not walking without pain.  But this morning, you get the opportunity to see my desk and the desks of others through Julia of the Stamping Ground.  If this international blog tour is new to you and you want more info just click on "What is WOYWW" when you head over to the Stamping Ground at the end of my post.

I was going to have 2 different views of my desk for you but yesterday I spent too much time on my ankle/feet and had to sit with the foot elevated.  This view is from Saturday after I FINALLY cleaned it up and reorganized some stuff.  The eye lever area at the back of my desk is now cleaned and I have stuff there that I use frequently instead of digging into a drawer.


I still need to clean up some glitter that's stuck to the blue craft mat and table but I got most of it.  I still have a pile of small scraps to the far right.


This card is very clean and simple and a far cry from the cards I posted Monday and will post on Friday.  I actually did some mixed media on those.  This card is almost cased from one I have pinned on Pinterest. All supplies from Fun Stampers Journey.


And this card didn't take but maybe 15 minutes to make.  There are a lot of differences from the Pinterest card but the general look is the same.

Oh, last week I mentioned the Big Brown Truck that I watch for.  It's the UPS truck that delivers packages to our home.  Buddy, our regular driver, is a real sweetie and makes a bit of visiting fun.

Ok. You've gotten to see my desk clean and kinda busy and a card.  Now, please head over to the Stamping Ground and continue on your tour.  The crafty gals are wonderful and many share their projects, too.  Enjoy!  I'll be here until noon (AZ time) before I have to head in to where I teach.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Pears and Pineapples

This past weekend I managed to make the 4 cards from the January Bloom Box.  This month's kit is a hoot!  I love the "cool" fruit stamps and I did get a bit carried away using some of my mixed media products, too.  I have 2 cards to show you today and 2 more on Friday. 


The stamp set, Tropic Cool, will not be available for general purchase until May.  Yes, that's a 3 month exclusivity to promote the Boxes.   I colored the pears with my Copic markers and splattered some Silver Silk on the white layer.  A bit of Journey Glaze, some Bloom Time sequins, Sweet Pear Ribbon and Cream Journey Thread, and it's done.  The original card was horizontal but I have a tendency to change things up a bit.


This would be great for an anniversary card!


And isn't the Pineapple just hilarious!!  Love the glasses! I purchased the Blending Solution and a bunch of reinkers and a small Blending Brush to learn a new way of coloring.  Was interesting and it will take a bit of practice (just like the Copic markers did) to get the shading figured out.  But I added something different to this card.  Not only did I brayer Pineapple Smoothie ink on the base white layer but I splattered d some Citrus Cooler and Silver Silks and spritzed it with Lemon Grass Splash after adding the strips of Orange Creamsicle, Limeade Splash and Pineapple Smoothie card stocks and the fun die cut circle.


I stamped this guy twice and cut out the sunglasses to pop up.  I colored with the Silver Silk. A bit of Natural Journey Twine and some Rhinestones and it's complete (for me, again I didn't follow the directions).

Stamp Set:
Tropic Cool

Card Stock:
River Stone
Whip Cream
Sweet Pear
Journey Basics Pastels Paper Pack
Speciality Paper Pearled Celebrations
Limeade Splash
Pineapple Smoothie
Orange Creamsicle

Inks, etc.:
Black Licorice
Pineapple Smoothie Reinker
Sweet Pear Reinker
Silver Silk
Citrus Cooler Silk
Lemon Grass Splash

Punches and Dies:
Punch Handle
Scalloped Circle Punch
Circle Punch
Journey Circles die set

Embellishments:
Bloom Time Sequins
Rhinestones

Ribbons and Threads:
Sweet Pear Ribbon
Cream Journey Thread
Natural Journey Twine

Adhesives:
Journey Glaze
Glue Dots
Foam Squares

Tools:
Brayer
Blending Solution
Blending Brush

I hope I have everything listed should you decide you want to make an order.  But remember, you may also have oodles of stuff in your stash that you have forgotten about that will make a very memorable card!  I just hope I gave your mojo a little jump start!  And Friday I'll be using modeling paste, a Splash for coloring it, a stencil and more as I am learning (getting brave, maybe) to play with more and more products.  I have to admit my card style is expanding.  Oh, and Wednesday I plan on taking part of the weekly tour of desks so don't forget to come back!  I will be away  Wednesday afternoon as I have a class to teach through the local recreation department.

Friday, January 15, 2016

Flowers and Robots

I had some fun the other day playing!  Finally feel like it as my ankle is feeling better but still swollen and bruised. (Hopefully I can wear shoes this weekend.)  I needed a card for the Technique Junkies 1 on 1 swap and found a technique that was a bonus on the 2004 (I think) CD.  I actually had done this "rolled" technique long before I got the CD and it was great for a refresher.


I used the Sweet Today Bundle and Journey Circles for the die cutting and went with a pink theme.


I have oodles of beads and embellishments so found this cute little pink heart that works perfectly for the flower center.  Love how this turned out!


I haven't decided if I like this card or not.  I'm not an "orange" fan.  I had pinned this sketch and  wanted to play with it.  I used part of the Pocket Card die to make the scallops but I do have Border Basics die set that has a great scallop in it.  Waiting, watching for the big brown truck....


To make the large circle I traced my White tape roll as I didn't have one in the Journey Circles large enough.  I did all stamping with Citrus Cooler but stamped just the heart of the robot with Black Licorice on Kiwi Slice card stock then glazed it after pop dotting it, too.  And I used my Stardust Clear Gel pen on her eyes to make them sparkle.

Stamps:
Sweet Today Bundle
Bot Love Bundle
Journey Blooms Bundle

Dies & Punches:
Journey Circles
Pocket Card
Border Basics

Inks:
Bubble Gum
Sweet Berry
Citrus Cooler
Black Licorice
Citrus Cooler Silk

Paper:
Sweet Berry
Whip Cream
Citrus Cooler
Basic Brights
Kiwi Slice

Other:
Special Celebrations Sequins
Journey Glaze

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Desk and Retro Chic Cards

It's a beautiful Wednesday!!  The rain is gone (got over 1" last week) and the sun is shining.  There is snow on the 2 peaks east of us but melting fast.  There's still a lake at our driveway but should be gone in a few days.  But today is also the day you get the opportunity to visit my desk and the desks of many who take part in this fun blog tour every week.  I have finally been able to stamp though my right ankle and lower leg is still very swelled and in pain with lots of color (mostly black, blue, purple...).  But I digress,  you came to see my desk and any projects I may have.   Julia at the Stamping Ground does a fab job at bringing us together and if you want to know more head over and click on the "What Is WOYWW? tab below her banner.


I have stamps and dies to the left in front of my Cricut.  Acrylic blocks and assorted die cut items between the dies and the work pad.  Then a card I just finished on the pad with a jar of sequins, foam tape, scissors with it.  To the far right are some rolls of white tape,  Bloom tool, scraps, sanding block and the handle to my ATG gun.  Been busy.  Trying to get some cards made for swaps and such.  I'm able to stand a bit more now as I usually have to in order to do die cutting with my Grand Calibur. 

I did get a set of cards made before I had my fall.  I was playing with a 6" x 6" OSW template I found on Pinterest.  I grabbed my Graphic 45 "French Country" 6" x 6" pad and my Retro Chic stamp set from Fun Stampers Journey and I started playing.


Here's all 4 that I made.  I used mostly scraps for the base layers and such as I have so dog gone much!









And the close ups of the elements I stamped.  All coloring was done with Copic markers.  This set is not my style but one I got at convention last year.

Ok, you've reached the end!  Please head over to the Stamping Ground and check out more desks!   I'm still not doing much walking and have to elevate my ankle a lot still I'll be visiting quite a bit today.  Hope to see you on the tour!

Monday, January 11, 2016

Love You For A Bagillion Reasons ATCs

I did manage to finish my ATC swap early last week and got them in the mail with time to spare.  I've not done much stamping since I sprained my ankle so I'm scrambling to have projects to post.  I really shouldn't post these until after the 15th but that's only a few days away so here it is:


I made 11 and mailed 10.  I'll get 9 back.   I used a variety of product on this.  I started with a base layer of Watermelon Fusion card stock then added the torn layer of Whip Cream.  I splattered this with Bubble Gum Silk.  I punched the Whip Cream hearts using the Love Is punch cartridge and punch handle then splattered them, too. Using the Basic Brights paper and Sweet Berry card stock I cut the ovals using the Journey Ovals die set and layered them to look like a heart.


I popped up the white heart, stamped the text from the Be Happy set and added the pink sequins.  All in all I think this turned out pretty nice.  What do you think?

Paper:
Watermelon Fusion
Sweet Berry
Whip Cream
Basic Brights

Dies and Punches:
Journey Ovals
Love Is
Punch Handle

Inks:
Bubble Gum Silk
Black Licorice

Stamps:
Be Happy  (Not yet available)

Other:
Pink World Sequins
Foam Squares Med.


Friday, January 8, 2016

Another Bot Love Card

Sometimes it's very difficult to come up with a catchy title.  Don't think this one is particularly good but it's all I could come up with.  I am getting a bit of time daily to craft but my sprained ankle does keep my down and off my feet.... I stand up a lot when stamping so now you can see why I'm not stamping much.


I used the new Bot Love Bundle for this card.   I used my Journey Rectangles to make the Black Licorice layer and Black/White layer.  I stamped the heart balloon again on Candy Apple card stock, cut it out, pop dotted it on the main image then added some Journey Glaze and some Sparkle Dust.


The little red circular sparkly things are stickers left over from my teaching days at a LSS.  I just can't throw things away and I know my grandkids do not care if all products from from FSJ.  But I found them when looking for something else so they got used.

I also just found a picture of me at our 1st annual FSJ convention last June in Scottsdale, AZ.  This picture is just prior to our banquet and I have a gorgeous black sheath on with an amazing Peacock sequin and beaded poncho.


The front isn't quite a spectacular as the back but you get the general idea.  I love this picture! Need to  remember to show it to hubby!

Stamps:
Bot Love Bundle

Punches and Dies:
Chevron Trends Cartridge
Punch Handle
Journey Rectangles

Paper:
12 x 12 Black/White Paper
Black Licorice card stock
Whip Cream card stock
Candy Apple card stock

Ink:
Black Licorice

Other:
Journey Glaze
Journey Sparkle Dust
Red stickers (brand x)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  We've been getting rain but today it ends.  Got over an inch this week with snow on Mount Hopkins and Mount Wrightson across the valley from us. 

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Robot Love and Desks

I did manage to get another Valentine card made prior to my "accident" Sunday morning.  And I thought I'd share that card with you today as I join in with the What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday blog hop brought together by the head desker, Julia, at the Stamping Ground.  If you are new to this just click on the "What Is WOYWW?" page when you head over to the Stamping Ground for more info.  So, are you ready?


Nope, nothing going on.  That's because Sunday as I was heading out the door I took a tumble down our back steps.  I was going slow and hanging on to the hand rail because the steps were a bit icy but, with my caution, I still went down.  Two butt bumps and my right leg twisted under.  After I got hubby calmed down, made sure there were no compound fractures and everything wiggled or moved like it should I got up.  Leg wasn't quite right so, since I was right next to the car, I got in the driver's seat.  I drove us to the local hospital E.R. (hubby was more stressed than me).  He did get a wheelchair and, about an hour later and 3 or so Xrays,  my diagnosis was a sprained my right ankle.  Then off to Walmart to get an ankle brace and some Tylenol Extra Strength.  So, no stamping for a couple days. I did drive to Bible Study yesterday and buy a pizza but even that wore me out.  I'm not real confident on crutches but did manage to maneuver. So, now that the excitement level is dropping I'll show you the card I got made about Saturday.


This cute little guy is a new set from Fun Stampers Journey.  This is my 2nd card made using this fun Bot Love set.  You'll have to go to my last post to see the first.


 I added some Stardust Black gel pen to make the eyes sparkle and added some Glass Glitter to the top heart. All products are FSJ.

Now, head on over to the Stamping Ground and check out the other crafters taking part in this fun event.  I'll be working my way around a bit later.

Oh, how do you like my blog's new look?  I spend a bit of time Saturday morning updating.  I thought with 2016 some things need to change.