Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Desks and a Mountian to Climb

Happy Desker Day!  Yeah, this is a weekly thing where so many of us crafters enjoy (sometimes but we are brave souls to show you our work areas) give you a glimpse into our lives where we work and play at our crafts.   This weekly event has been put together by lovely Julia at the Stamping Ground but since she's in recovery from major surgery the fabulous Jan at Lunch Lady Jan's Fabric Frenzy has been so gracious to fill in.  My desk today (actually yesterday afternoon) is between projects.  I have been asked to make 15 or so cards of encouragement with Scripture for a wonderful lady at church.  She facilitates a Grief Share program for those who have lost a loved one.  I took this 13 week program 2 years ago to help deal with an anger issue after my mom passed away and something (and someone) caused great pain.


A pile of 12 completed cards are just to the left of my blue craft mat and work spot and in front of my red Cricut.  I will be sharing them soon.  You can also see a box of waxed paper as I was working with some intricate dies and the paper helps the die release the card stock.  Far right, my Ott lamp and the handle to my ATG adhesive runner.  Between them is a pile of scraps left over from card making and die cutting.


When I was at convention 3 weeks ago I purchased much from the new catalog (going live on Friday) and just had to play with 2 new stamp sets and more!


The starry background, boots, and card base have all been spritzed with our cool Shimmer Silver Splash to add a LOT of sparkle!   And how do you like my mountains?


I was trying to give you a glimpse of the sparkle of the card front but it is difficult. All products are from Fun Stampers Journey.

So my post was a bit longer than usual but I just had to share this card!  I have a class scheduled July 13 using more of our new products and yesterday I got a reservation!  How exciting!  But now please head over to Jan's blog and check out all the other brave crafters.  Be prepared, this could take some time but you'll see some great projects, beautiful scenery (sometimes) and desks in all sorts of array!

Monday, June 27, 2016

A Slice of Life Cards Part 1

I'm so excited that our new catalog/inspiration book goes LIVE on Friday!!!  I did get lots of new product at convention 3 weeks ago and have already scheduled a class using our soon-to-be released collection called A Slice of Life.  This is a fun summery collection!  So, here's 2 of the 4 cards for the class dated July 13 (Wed.) at 10 am at the AZ Scrapbooking store in Green Valley, AZ.  Cost is $18 and "students" need to bring their own adhesives, pop dots, glue dots, favorite coloring medium, and payment.  I will take reservations for the class until July 11 at 5 pm.  I do need time to make the kits.


This card uses the new set "Let's Twist".  It's a set of 13 stamps, 6 assorted fruits such as the Kiwi used in the card and a watermelon slice, 2 different strawberries, and more along with 7 different phrases.  I also used our new Lime Green stapler and Silver staples.  I did emboss the Lemon Drop yellow layer with our Yummy Dots embossing folder.


I'm slowly playing with our new PanPastels and have pinned a few helps to my Pinterest board.  I have all 4 new palettes,  gold, silver, and a colorless blender.  Lots of learning!


I used the piercing elements from our Journey Circles die set, PanPastels, and the This Way punch cartridge and handle.  A bit of Lemongrass Thread, some Citrus Cooler Silk and Rainbow Drops. Oh, I used the new Life Stories stamp set which consists of 8 stamps, 4 images and 4 phrases.


I colored the orange with the PanPastels and love how one can use a plain simple pink eraser to correct boo-boos or add highlights!

Products without links will be in the new catalog.

I'll share the other 2 cards on my Friday post so come back!  I hope to have the link to the new catalog and info on the July Bloom Box then, too!

Friday, June 24, 2016

June Bloom Box Cards, Part 2

Did you like the cards in Part 1?  Well, here's the other 2 cards that Angie and I made from the June Bloom Box.


The directions had us stamping the pots in Black Licorice but I used Pumpkin Bread.  I like the look so much better.  We had to do the masking technique which looks pretty cool.
Stamp set: Love Grow (available Oct.)
Card stocks: Pumpkin Bread, Cool Pool, Turbo Teal (available July 1), and Butter Cream
Inks: Black Licorice, Pumpkin Bread
Silks: Turbo Teal (available July 1)
Embossing folder: Beach Towel
Dies: Journey Circles, Journey Rectangles Long
Other: Blue Skies Sequins, Gold Thread (Summer Mini - hopefully July 1 too)


I did not like the original cards but after stamping the left pot the opposite direction and stamping with Pumpkin Bread ink I like it MUCH better!  We also sponged Green Olive around the circle and the text piece for more pop.  We also used Bloom Time sequins instead of the Blue Skies that came with the kit.  On this card I stamped the Green Olive cacti on an acrylic block before stamping on the card which gave a great watercolor effect!  Unfortunately I kinda hid mine behind the text.
Stamp set:  Love Grow
Card stocks: Green Olive, Pumpkin Bread, Butter Cream
Inks: Pumpkin Bread, Green Olive, Black Licorice
Silks: Gold
Other: Bloom Time sequins
Dies: Journey Circles, Journey Rectangles Long (piercing element used on Green Olive framing the Pumpkin Bread strip)

The monthly Bloom Box is quite the deal as you get the stamp set and all the precut papers and most embellishments (no Journey Glaze or adhesives) for $24.95 plus tax/shipping.  You subscribe for 6 months and can renew or cancel after that.  Real easy to sign up!  If you do and you're in the Green Valley, AZ area you can join me and Angie for our monthly get together as we work on our Boxes!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

A Desk and a Full Moon

We've been struggling under high heat alerts here in southern Arizona with temps up to 114* F in Tucson.  I've had 111*F here at my house and my Air Conditioner is working quite a bit keeping us kinda cool.  I have the thermostat set at 82" because of the electric rates but it's bearable.  I have been busy creating cards as I'm preparing for a possible class next month.  So, my desk is busy!  And your opportunity to view my desk is part of the fun What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and this is week 368.  Normally our head desker Julia at the Stamping Ground does the weekly link-ups but she is recuperating from surgery so Jan at the Lunch Lady Jan's Fabric Frenzy blog (thanks so much Jan!) is stepping up to keep this weekly get together going. As of last week Julia was doing pretty good but she has a lot of healing to do.


I have stamp sets, inks, paper trimmer, and more on my work area.  Pretty much in the middle is a "step-out board" that goes with one of the cards.  It's a 12" x 12" board with the steps and directions needed to make the card.  On the back is a list of the supplies and paper sizes.  I'm working on a class of 4 cards and I have 1 more to make.  I have to have these  done by Friday to submit to a friend who arranges the classes at the (now closed but location available) store.  Now that the store is closed I get to promote the company I represent which is wonderful!


I took a pic of the full moon the other morning.  I didn't see the "strawberry" moon but this one had a bit of pinkish color to it.  It's actually a bit lighter out than the picture shows.  I didn't want to lighten it much with Photo Shop.

Now please head over to Jan's blog to get the links to all of us participating in this global blog hop of desks!  I'll be hopping around while I finish some more cards and step-out boards (which I'll share later) and doing laundry.

Monday, June 20, 2016

June Bloom Box Cards, Part 1

Saturday, my friend Angie and I, got together to work on our June Bloom Box cards.  She learned a new technique (to her) of masking (I've been doing this for YEARS).  She kept the masks as she has difficulty cutting things close due to having had a stroke a few years back.  The Bloom Box comes with a full sized stamp set, this month it is a fun cacti and pots set called Love Grow (set of 13). 



I love that the kit comes with a great little booklet of directions with color pictures of the cards we are making.  My thing is to change them up if my mojo kicks in.  It basically did on every card.  And Angie enjoyed changing things, too!  This particular card got minimal changes.  We just switched the cacti around a bit. Products used (other than the stamps):
Card stocks: Turbo Teal (available July 1), Cool Pool, Butter Cream, and Green Olive
Inks:  Black Licorice, Lemon Grass, Kiwi Slice, and Green Olive
Silks: Journey Gold
Dies: Journey Rectangle Long
Embellishments: Satin Ribbon Green Olive
Other: Journey Glaze (on my center pot)
                     

This is a gate fold card with a belly band.  The directions did have the score lines wrong but since I've made many of these I knew where to score.  I did get into my sewing stuff to use a needle threader to get the Gold Thread through the button holes.
Card stocks: Butter Cream, Turbo Teal, Cool Pool, Pumpkin Bread
Inks: Black Licorice, Cool Pool
Silks: Journey Gold, Turbo Teal (available July 1)
Dies: Journey Squares
Embellishments: Journey Gold ThreadMetal Buttons 

I'll share the other 2 cards on Friday.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Anything Goes Journey Blog Hop


Welcome to our Fun Stampers Journey "May Flowers & Growth" Blog Hop! I'm so happy you're hoppin' along! If you arrived here from Kim's blog, you're on the right track. If not, that's ok too! Just continue the hop and you'll come full circle!

I'm just home for our 2nd Annual FSJ Convention in Scottsdale, AZ but I had to prep for this hop just before I left.  I want to show you something I made for the 4th of July which is right around the corner.


Last year at convention I purchased the Large Sparkle Locket from the Journey Girl collection and the 27.5" chain and Large Locket Kit (gotta have!).    I traced the size of the locket from one of the "windows" of the kit on Whip Cream card stock.  I die cut Candy Apple and Denim Days card stock with the star border from the Border Details die set (in the new catalog!).  The stamped star was made by die cutting the new Cascading Stars Die (you gotta wait until July to see this!) with Whip Cream card stock then fussy cutting a star the size I needed to stamp the word from the Tag Elements in Candy Apple ink.


I sponged a bit of Denim Days ink on the edges of the star, added some Journey Glaze and Sparkle Dust for bling.  The celebrate star is not adhered down as I went for more of a shaker style so I added a few bits of Candy Apple Confetti Sparkle Elements.



This fun Bloom Catcher (JW-0043) is one of the new products added to the Journey Girl jewelry line.  This little baby is only1 1/4" high (top of cap not including ring) and just over 1/2" diameter so it is fairly small.  It comes empty so you can fill it with what you want.  I purchased a jar of Slice-fetti (AC-0222), a cool confetti of all kinds of summer fruits.  It sells for $15.95.


This jar sells for $8.95 and is .5 ounce.  Both these items are in the new catalog and will be available for ordering July 1.  I will share the link to the new online catalog then.

Thanks for hopping to my blog. Please head over to Janice's blog to see what he/she has to share.  Here's the complete list of the FSJ coaches involved in today's hop.

Crissy Rivas 
Rosemary Roca
Wilma Payne
Sandra Kay Tate
Kim Lamos
Me, Carol Norby.... you are here!
Janice Whiting
Susan Berg
Ruth Cooper
Betsye Rose Cimino Erazo

Again, thanks for joining us today!  And happy Father's Day!!!


Friday, June 17, 2016

Convention Make And Takes

Convention last week wasn't all fun and excitement, oh wait, yeah, even the classes and creating was fun.  Here are the 4 cards we made using mostly NEW products available July 1 when the online catalog goes live.  I'll share that link with you then.


Here's the 4 cards we made.  All the stamps are new.






This card uses the new Happy Sentiments set (SS-0304) and Delightful Lights (SS-0344).  I never thought I'd like the light bulbs but after doing this I'm impressed!  I love how the Gold Splash really adds a glow to the new Color Splash sheets (IP-0076, a watercolor paper).  We also used Cool Pool Splash, Gold Silk and Silver Silk.  We were taught a new (but I've done this before) technique adding the Splashes using our Clear View Sheets.  It was a great reminder! We also used Black Licorice Thread, Black Licorice ink, Black Licorice card stock, and Cool Pool card stock.  Did you see the new Gold Staple (TO-0119) on the card? We also came out with a cute new lime green Stapler (TO-0118) along with Silver Staples (TO-0120).







I really like this new set and have purchased the matching dies.  It's called Climbing Mountains.  The bundle (BD-0123).  The background blue is from the new PanPastels from the Confectionary Days collection (JM-0079).   The PanPastels are pure pigment powder in cake form.  Kinda goes on like chalks but the colors are so brilliant! We used Whip Cream, Black Licorice, & Brushed Silver (CS-0135) card stocks, Black Licorice & Whip Cream inks, and Silver Silk.  Also Journey Circles dies, This Way punch and Punch Handle, the new Stapler & Silver staples, and Silver Thread (AC-0204).



This card took time as we sprayed a lot of products on the Color Splash sheets.  First we sprayed with water then Green Olive Color Splash.  We leaned the piece against something to allow the Green Olive Splash to dip, even added more water to make it do so.  After letting it dry just a little bit we sprayed Shimmer Silver Color Splash in the lower right corner.  I didn't exactly follow directions but I love how this turned out.  We stamped the 2 animal images from the Spirit Animals (SS-0355) set using Whip Cream ink. We sprayed a Clear View Sheet with Blue Lagoon Color Splash and water and swirled a 2nd piece of Color Splash sheet on it to color then stamped with Black Licorice ink..  A bit of Silver Thread and some Blue Skies Sequins, pop dots and voila!  Oh, we also used Rock Candy and Green Olive card stocks.


We used the new Happy Sentiments set on this card, too.  Pretty much the same technique as the word panel in the last card using the Gold Splash.  We splattered Gold and Silver Silks and the Color Splash sheet.  We added some Black Licorice Thread then the strips of Brushed Silver, Brushed Gold (CS-0134), and Black Licorice card stocks. The Whip Cream piece was cut with the Journey Rectangles die set, stamped, and layered on a piece of Clear View sheet.  Lots of pop dots were used.

I know this post is long but I have so much to share!  And I hope you are excited for our new catalog/idea book!  It is 316 pages of fab!!

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Workdesk.... No, Bookcase

I got back from the Fun Stampers Journey 2nd annual convention Sunday afternoon and I pretty much slept/dozed the whole afternoon/evening after unloading my car.  What a great time I had!  And my poor credit card is still a bit hot after all the purchases I made of new products.  Ouch.  Anyway, today is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  Lovely Julia sponsors this weekly blog tour of desks but she had surgery a couple weeks ago and handed the reins over to Jan of Lunch Lady Jan's Fabric Frenzy until she is better.  Her surgery went well but she has lots of PT to do to aid in her recovery.  So, Julia, I hope and pray you recover quicky and completely and Jan, thanks so much for stepping up and taking over for now.  I don't have a pic of my desk but I do of my bookcase where all my stamps, dies, and stencils are stored.  Yesterday I pulled about 75 sets to sell from the previous company I represented. 


The top shelf has a few of my OLD well-loved stamps that I can't give up. Many I've had since I started stamping about 20 years ago.  Many companies are represented that have gone out of business years ago.  Also on the top shelf in the 2 white baskets are punches, Silks (liquid ink for splattering),  and embellishments. There are 2 birdhouses I decorated and fun stuff from the 2 conventions I've attended. Second shelf are all stamps in the baskets but on the left are previous catalogs, large dies, and large stencils.  Third shelf are a large steel rule die, small stamp sets, large stamp sets, dies, stencils, & embossing folders and retired stamps, sales book, and FSJ apron in the last basket.  Bottom shelf has old stamps and favorite wood stamps, Color Burst bottles, and who knows what.

I don't have any projects to show you right now.  I'm still taking pics of all the demos at convention and the make & takes we did.  I'm still unpacking.  So please head over to Jan's blog to get the links to all of us brave crafters willing to share our work places!

Monday, June 13, 2016

Convention Fun

I got home from convention yesterday, unpacked, and basically slept the rest of the day.  Today I've been photoing my purchases, trades, organizing, and what not.  I also cannot stop looking through our new catalog and Holiday Mini!!  Oh my gosh!  The catalog is just amazing!  It's 316 pages with approx. 400 NEW products!  I purchased oodles of the new products through our bundles and will share that soon. 


Our main catalog is HUGE! (But it is NOT spiral bound, that was for us at convention.) So many great ideas along with all the products.  This baby sells for $12.99 but I'm willing to make a deal.  If it needs to be shipped it's $15 (includes shipping).  I'll rebate $10 on your first order of $50+ (before ship/tax) placed by Sept. 1, 2016.  I should have the catalogs in about a week but I have a limited number coming of 16.  One is already spoken for.


Our holiday mini is 31 pages of products and inspiration (I gotta have the Winter Hills dies to make bendi cards).  I'll include 1 with the big catty.

The Journey crew put out a fun video on the making of the catalog.  Just click HERE to see it.

And I have some GREAT news for July!!!!  Our starter kit (includes the Platinum die cut machine) is only $149!!!


Friday, June 10, 2016

A Nautical Birthday Card

Since I'm at the 2nd Annual FSJ convention in Scottsdale, AZ and the masculine birthday card swap has taken place I thought I'd share my card with you.


I made 25 of these card fronts for the swap.  I love how it turned out and it took me a while to make all 25.  I used 4 card stocks, Denim Days, Candy Apple, Oatmeal Cookie, and Whip Cream. I used 3 inks, Oatmeal Cookie, Denim Days, and Candy Apple.  The background image is the new Voyage Bound ATS stamp (this stamp is extremely popular!) , the little sail boat is from the Anchor Me set, and the text is from the Yummy Wishes set.


After die cutting forever using the Journey Circles die I spent hours wrapping the Whip Cream thread in the 4 spots on the top "wheel".  I used lots of Foam Squares, too.

I'll be back on Monday and will share the card fronts I got in trade. 

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Here's one of my Father's Day cards, this one is for my hubby.  I used a stamp,  P.S. , that seems a bit unusual for a Father's Day as it is considered a holiday stamp.  But I wanted to play with it as I've been on a kick to use "virgin" stamps, you know, those that haven't been touched by an ink pad yet!


I brightened up the penguins with a couple Copic markers and even colored the little wooden button to match the critters.  Along with P. S. I used the Annual Celebration stamp set  I used Black Licorice & Whip Cream card stocks, the Journey Basics Black/White paper pack (retiring and on sale through June 30 for $10.17, and the Journey Rectangles die set (with piercing elements).


I couldn't help myself but to add some Wiggle Eyes for fun and there is some Black Licorice Thread behind the sentiment.

I now have all my cards done except for a sentiment in side and my name on the back.  I'll be able to get them in the mail next Monday or Tuesday to be delivered right on time!

Monday, June 6, 2016

This Owl's For You

This fun owl ATS stamp has also been retired yet this is the first time I used it.  I was inspired by a fellow coach (card is pinned on my FSJ board) and I loved how she put her card together.



I only "copied/cased" the owl and the threaded layer.  The Artful Owl (now on sale for $4.77) was stamped in Cocoa Powder ink on Oatmeal Cookie card stock.  I used Journey Twine Natural to wrap the Cocoa Powder layer.  I stamped the Pineapple Smoothie base layer with the Happy Father's Day text from the Annual Celebration set in Oatmeal Cookie ink and sponged the edges. 


I used lots of Foam Squares to pop layers.   I added 3 little star buttons (after inking with the Cocoa Powder ink) to the bottom right for the finishing touch.  I only have 1 more Father's Day card to make for my hubby (and I'll make that when I get back from convention).  How are you coming along with your cards?

Friday, June 3, 2016

2 Father's Day Cards

Since I'll be heading to the Fun Stampers Journey 2nd annual convention next Wednesday I hustled to get my Father's Day cards completed to mail immediately upon return.  I played with a couple ATS stamps that have been retired yet I have not used until now.  And GOOD news, the 40% off retirement sale has been continued to the end of this month!!! 


I sorta know who gets what card but I'm not going to reveal that just in case they happen to read my blog.  Doubtful but being cautious.  I used Denim Days and Pool Play card stocks along with some glossy that I had.  I stamped the Pool Play layer with the fish image from the Out Fishing set using Pool Play ink and splattered with Cool Pool Silk.  I die cut the glossy piece using the Journey Circles die set (and piercing elements) after I stamped the Gone Fishing image (no longer available) with Denim Days ink and also splattered it with the same Silk.  I wrapped some Beach Breeze Thread around the Pool Play layer before using Foam Squares and layering the circle.  The text is from the Annual Celebration set and also stamped in Denim Days ink.


I just got the Annual Celebration set in my last order.  I realized I didn't have the stamps I needed when I made my Mother's Day cards, and now I do!


I do have a tendency to cut stamps apart to use in different ways.  This card using one of them, the golf bag.  It had the club and ball as part of the stamp from the My Champ set.   I stamped the Oatmeal Cookie base layer with the golf club in Oatmeal Cookie ink and sponged the edges.  I then wrapped  Lemon Grass Thread  around this layer and through a Star Frame Element (a freebie you can choose if ordering over $50).  I die cut a piece of Lemon Grass card stock with the Journey Ovals and piercing elements then stamped the text with Lemon Grass ink.  I stamped the golf bag using Limeade Splash ink on Whip Cream, cut out, and foam dotted in place.


I have quite a few packages of the Star Frames as they are SO versatile! 

How are you doing on your Father's Day cards?  I have a couple more to share later.