Friday, December 29, 2017

Be Mine Sketch Challenge

Yesterday afternoon I finally found some time to make a card and I hadn't yet tried the sketch challenge by fellow coaches.  Since I am now needing Valentine cards I went that direction.

Here is the sketch:


I mostly followed this layout...


I started with a card base of Cranberry Bliss and layered 2 prints from our Spring Filled Prints collection (available Monday!). I added a strip of Sweet Slice Washi Tape down the center.  I used our Heart Felt die and Piercing Elements on more Cranberry Bliss and our Detailed Foliage Die with Sweet Pear card stock for the focal point.


The sentiment comes from our new (and available Monday) Storybook Occasions stamp set.  I stamped it on a scrap of Whip Cream card stock with Black Licorice ink.  The little hearts are Magical Candy Drops (wished there were more in a pack!).

I have updated my FSJ Specials page and Stamps For Sale page so please check them out!

StampinCarol

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

WOYWW 447 and Nothing Else

Well, I'm sure this post title left you giggling.  Other than my desk I have nothing to share!  I do have a project I'm working on but, yep, nothing completed.  So, this goofy post and a picture of my desk is being linked with many others through Julia at the Stamping Ground.  I have made some fun stuff from a little Winter House (that I put under our tree) posted last Thursday and the last of my Christmas cards on Friday and Monday.

But I digress....   Here's my desk from late yesterday afternoon.


I was working on a special swap for an upcoming conference in Texas that I'll be attending.  I have qualified for our Fun Stampers Journey Leadership Conference Jan. 11 - 13 and I signed up for a technique swap.  I'm sharing some of our border dies and you can see the pile of 30 on the left side of my grid paper sitting on packages of stamps and dies that I've used. On my grid paper are the little ovals of Hello that I'm adhering with the white thread looped behind them off to the far right. This morning I'll be working on the labels to stick to the back of the card fronts and packaging them to put in my suitcase along with other things that I can pack now.  I won't be sharing this project any more until I'm at Conference.

And now I'm done.  Please head over to the Stamping Ground for links to oodles of desks and lots of great projects!

And I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with many blessings. We got to spend a almost an hour on Google Duo with our son watching our grandson open gifts and play. We also sent and received some funny Snap Chat photos with the daughter.  I did got to work (I clean our church) for a couple hours then made a ham dinner for me and hubby.  He worked around the yard tidying up and making our electric gate work better. A couple movies in the evening and our day was over. Very relaxing.

StampinCarol

Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As I reflect on what He has done for me and the life He gives I wanted to share a special card I made for today.  I know so very many celebrate with Santa Claus but he never did die for us to give us eternal life.


I've had this image for many many years.  I searched high and low for it about 20 years ago.  It is not on its wood block so I don't know who made it or the sentiment, either.


I colored this image with my FSJ colored pencils. And the pattern paper is retired from FSJ.

Luke 2: 1 - 20
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 
This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
"And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peach, goodwill toward men!"
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Now when they had seem Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

May you have a most blessed Christmas season and remember, Jesus IS the reason for the season.

StampinCarol

Friday, December 22, 2017

A Couple Last Christmas Cards

I made a mad dash early this week to make a few more Christmas cards for "just in case" and I headed over to Pinterest to get some inspiration!  Are you ready??  I have 2 to share!


Of the 2 I made this card came in 2nd.  I love it as I'm originally from country that got snow, and many times, lots of it!  We used to live in northwest Wyoming just 70 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone Park.  Anyway, I started with a folded card base of Whip Cream card stock then added a layer of Pool Play card stock that was embossed with an embossing folder from my old pre-FSJ stash. I die cut 3 sizes of Whip Cream card stock using our Circle dies and lightly sponged the edges of all with Pool Play ink. I stacked them using our Foam Squares. Next I hand cut (using my Details Pro Shears) arms from Hazelnut Blend card stock and adhered.  Then using my smallest 1/16 hole punch I made the eyes, mouth, and buttons.  A bit of Christmas Cheer prints (available through Dec. 31) for a scarf and Citrus Cooler card stock for the nose and Frosty is done. I stamped the phrase from our Snow Burst stamp set with Black Licorice ink, banner cut and adhered.  Last I splatted some Sparkle Silk and Whip Cream Silk (available Jan. 1, 2018) and the card was ready!



Isn't he just adorable!  And now for my favorite! 


I've seen oodles of this design over the years and had to make it myself! Again I started with a folded base of Whip Cream card stock  Next I cut my Black Licorice card stock layer and proceeded to stamp with one of the trees from our Fresh Forest stamp set using Whip Cream ink.  I did 2 - 3 generations of stamping to get some distance and perspective on the trees. And in person the trees have a faint bluish look!



Then I stamped the star from our Silent Night set and, after the Whip Cream ink was dry, I went over it with the white pen from our Just Write Gels.   Last I splattered some Whip Cream Silk.  I LOVE the new Silk!!!  To finish the card front I stamped the phrase from the Silent Night stamp set with Black Licorice ink and adhered with Foam Squares.

Are you ready for Christmas??  Hubby was wanting to take in a theater play but he didn't realize it isn't like a movie.  The tickets have been sold out for a LONG time!  Maybe we will go see a movie but last Tuesday while finishing my Christmas shopping I stopped to see the newest Star Wars moving. Oh my, it was good!

I hope you all have a very wonderful CHRISTmas! And remember, Jesus is the reason for this season!

StampinCarol

Thursday, December 21, 2017

A Winter Cabin

I recently purchased the cool Steel Rule House die during Fun Stampers Journey's 12 Days of Deals and yesterday I was having so much fun making this little cabin that I discovered I was still in my pajamas and bathrobe at 1 pm!!  But it was fab just spending time listening to I Heart Radio and being creative that I was totally engrossed in what I was doing.  One does have to use a large die cut machine for this die and my Platinum was perfect! And this project qualifies for the Tuesday Morning Sketches #424, Anything Goes!


I made the cabin itself from our Corrugated Stock and the roof from a retired Christmas print. The windows are covered with Vellum that I colored with Summer Days color from the Rich Sorbets PanPastel collection.  I wanted a red door so I used a small piece of Pomegranate Splash card stock and added a Silver Fashion dot for a door knob.




I used our Modeling Paste (it was starting to dry out so it worked great) mixed with a few drops of Sparkle Silk for snow. The Spatula worked great applying the Paste as I wanted.  A bit of Sparkle Dust added more pop to the "snow".



I even added "snow" to the sides of the cabin since it looked kinda like logs and, being from snow country myself, I know snow sticks to logs.


I stamped 2 trees from our Fresh Forest Bundle with Fresh Forest ink to make this tree.  I should have added some "snow" to it but that was an afterthought.  I used a piece of Whip Cream card stock for the base and discovered it warped from the moisture of the "snow", next time I'll use some chip board. I used our White Liner Tape and Craft Glue for adhesives.


I cut a hole in the bottom of the base and set a battery powered tea light in the cabin.  Love how it lit up!  I hope to figure out how to make a steeple and a chimney and make a small village for next year.

So head over to Tuesday Morning Sketches for more inspiration! I seen wreaths, advent calendars, and so much more!!

StampinCarol

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

WOYWW 446 and SNOW!

I live in southern Arizona and it's winter, well tomorrow anyway.  And it's hump day, yep, the middle of the week.  And it's also What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! Today you get the opportunity to view my desk and many others, should you head over to the Stamping Ground where our head desker Julia so graciously helps so many of us link together.  But before I show you my desk I wanted to show you a nearby mountain from Monday morning. This is Mount Wrightson on the left and Mount Hopkins on the right.  On Mount Hopkins is the Whipple Observatory run by the Smithsonian.


This is the first time this "winter" for snow that was noticeable!  Almost makes you shiver but we did get up to the low 60's F toward noon.  And now for my desk...


I was just finishing up a couple more Christmas cards as I ran out.  I guess over 40 just wasn't enough.  On the left the lime green thing is a die and its packaging.  I used another one from this set to make the cards in the middle.  The reddish thing to the right of the die is a stamp set of Christmas sayings.  Then the cards. Next right is a blue ink pad, my scissors, a black ink pad and the corner of another stamp package.  Above the cards is my palette knife as I used some modeling paste on the cards.


And here's one of the 2 cards I made (both are alike). The blue pattern piece was made on my Gel Press.


Here's a closer look at the snowflake.  I colored the modeling paste with some of our paint and added some fine glitter after getting it on the paper.  The snowflake is made from die cutting my snowflake and using the negative for the modeling paste. I'm thinking I should have made the snowflake a bit darker but it works.   All products used are from Fun Stampers Journey.

I hope you head over to the Stamping Ground from here.  I do have some laundry and other chores to do so I will be popping in and out.  And I hope you all have a very blessed and wonderful Christmas!

StampinCarol

Monday, December 18, 2017

Christmas Gift Tags

I did a bit more Christmas shopping this year, mostly stuff made in our area, and got everything mailed out last week.  But many of those gifts needed tags and so....


How cool are these!  All use the Bread Tag die and are embossed with either the HoHoHo (retired) or the Happy Holiday embossing folders.



Three tags I added this cut stamped Santa from the Holiday Clips stamp set. I added a bit of color with my Color Burst Pencils, Journey Glaze, Sparkle Cuts, and Magical Candy Drops.


I just got the coordinating die to this stamp,  Blitzen ATS.  I stamped him using Gold ink and added some Fashion Gold drops.


I made some snowflakes out of Pool Play and Black Pearl paper using our Snow Blooms die set. A few Special Celebrations sequins for a bit more pop was added.

Now I cannot understand why I don't have a close up of the tree.  I used the Fresh Forest Bundle, Fresh Forest ink, and a few Stickles from my stash.

I just hope our family appreciates these.  They were relatively quick to make and so pretty in person!

StampinCarol

Friday, December 15, 2017

Tuesday Morning Sketch 433

Yep, another sketch challenge!  And I wanted a more whimsical card and needless to say, this was my 2nd attempt!  Yeah, I'm not at all crazy with the first one I made but I do like this.  And here is the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches:


I turned the sketch on its side and came up with this:



I used a variety of products:
Card stocks: Cranberry Bliss, Whip Cream, Summer Days, Lemon Grass, and Christmas Cheer Prints
Ink: Black Licorice
Embossing folders: Happy Holidays and HoHoHo (retired)
Stamps: Jolly Friends Bundle
Other: Color Burst Pencils (& Baby Oil to blend), Sweet Candy Drops, Journey Glaze, Foam Squares, Easy Glide Runner, and the Amaze machine


I should have given him a red nose but this little guy still turned out pretty cool.

Please head over to Tuesday Morning Sketches and see the great inspiration cards and cards made to answer the challenge!

StampinCarol

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

WOYWW 445 and a Tree

Hump Day!!!  For me, a time to play catch up on stuff to do.  Yesterday I mailed out 4 packages and about 25 cards.  I may have to make more today.  But right now you have the opportunity to see my desk (which is totally boring right now) and a project. And in case you're wondering, the WOYWW in my post title stands for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, a fun weekly blog hop of desks put together by Julia at the Stamping Ground.  And the 445 represents how many weeks this has been going on!

So this is my desk yesterday.  I just cleaned it off to regroup and be ready to start today.


Yep, empty, tidy, whatever. You can't see the pink painted box drying on my Amaze die cut machine far far right.  But you do see the gesso'ed box far left.  In between, a pile of new goodies just to the right of my red Cricut, and a little black twist gift box by my OTT light. Oh, a pair of pliers I needed to open a bottle.  So, boring. But I do have a view of a little box I recently made....


This little cutie stands about 5 1/2" high.  A fellow coach shared her directions and this box holds a gift certificate to my company and some M&Ms for a friend.  All supplies are from Fun Stampers Journey.


The opening is at the top.  You just untie the ribbon (adhered on side and bottom) and carefully squeeze.


I didn't add a lot of embellishments but I like the more simplistic look. I used 2 leaves and a snowflake die along with the silver dot for the tree.  And my recipient just loved this!!

Ok, I'm done. I hope you enjoyed my project (hard to enjoy a tidy desk) and now please head over to the Stamping Ground for the links to other desks.

StampinCarol

Monday, December 11, 2017

More FSJ Presents Cards!

I just could not come up with a catchy title today.  Just nothing.  Oh well.  But the cards I'm going to show are gorgeous!!  These are the other 2 cards we made from the FSJ Presents Bundle.


Isn't this just gorgeous!!!  I did particularly like the card the way we were supposed to make so I changed it and simplified it to my taste. Originally we stamped black feathers, leaves, and arrows over the flowers but, nope, just didn't much like.
Card stocks: Whip Cream and Lemon Drop
Stamps & Dies: Spring Botanicals and Everyday Scrip Bundle (available Jan. 1, 2018)
Inks: Lemon Drop, Kiwi Slice, and Black Licorice
Silks: Black Licorice (available Jan. 1)
Embellishments: Deco Strips Black, Journey Glaze, & Magical Candy Drops
Other: Foam Squares, Easy Glide Runner, and the Amaze machine

We did mask the 3 large flowers before stamping the leaves.  Lesson learned, after inking the large flower with Black Licorice and stamping some sticky notes clean the stamp with our stamp cleaner, an old tooth brush and a damp rag.  If not the black ink will goof up the next time stamping with it.


Here you can see that I added some Journey Glaze to the sentiment. Turned out pretty cool.

And the last card...



Isn't this little lame just adorable! He's part of our new Storybook Occasions stamp set (available Jan. 1, 2018) along with the sentiment.
Card stocks: Whip Cream, Catalina Splash, and Spring Filled Prints (available Jan. 1)
Dies: Journey Circles, Treat Label, and Border Basics
Ink: Black Licorice
Coloring Mediums: Bubble Gum Silk & Fresh Forest Liquid Color
Embellishments: Journey Glaze, Special Day Organza Ribbon, Bubble Gum Thread and Photo Pin Elements
Embossing Folder: Layered Scallops
Other: Foam Squares, Easy Glide Runner, Small Blending Brush, and the Amaze machine



We made a triple bow with the Bubble Gum thread and tied it to the Organza bow.  Really adds to the overall effect!

I really need to work on Christmas stuff and I do have a little Christmas Tree gift box I made for a friend. I'll be sharing it this week.  So come back on Wednesday or Friday, I haven't decided which day I'll be sharing it!

StampinCarol

Friday, December 8, 2017

Bunnies and Flowers

Last Saturday me and 2 friends (also my downline) took part in FSJ Presents.  It's a 6 hour live YouTube party put on by Fun Stampers Journey with make n takes, demos, and more.  To take part one does have to purchase the "bundle" which has the stamps sets we use, 4 card kits, a booklet of directions, a paper pack, the upcoming new Mini catalog, and a surprise.  I'll share a couple of the cards with you today and another couple later.


I did share this card on my FB page but it is just so darn cute I have to share a bit more of it.  We used 3 solid card stocks, Fresh Forest, Sweet Berry, and Whip Cream, and our new Spring Filled Prints (available Jan. 1, 2018). The bunny and sentiment are from the Storybook Occasions (available Jan. 1).  We used Black Licorice ink and Sparkle Silk (you can see the Sparkle!).  And to give you a heads up, we're getting 3 new Silks!!!!  No, I'm not telling you yet what the colors are but I will soon!


We colored the bunny with watered down Fresh Forest Liquid Color and Bubble Gum Silk. Very cool! Oh, did you notice the black splatters with the Sparkle Silk?  Yep, it's one of the new colors, Black Licorice Silk!  (See, I told you this color real soon!) We used a number of embellishments, Journey Twine Natural, Heart Sparlke Drops, Deco Strips Black, and (I did use this last one) Journey Sparkle Cuts. I was supposed to use them on the hearts but I didn't bring my Journey Glaze and really didn't want to take the time to let it dry.  We embossed the Whip Cream layer with the I Heart embossing folder (retired).  Other items used: Details Pro Shears, Journey Days Stapler, Brush Silver Staples, and Journey Blending Brush Small, Easy Glide Adhesive, and Journey Squares medium.

And another card....

I really like the new set, Spring Botanicals!  The flowers and leaves are so pretty! So, we used 3 card stocks on this: Watermelon Fusion, Whip Cream, and Mirror Gold (for the embellies under the feather and flower). And besides the Spring Botanicals set we used the  new Everyday Script. Also used was our Journey Rectangles die set and Romantic Blooms die set (available Jan. 1).  Lots of inks were used, Lemon Drop, Watermelon Fusion, Kiwi Slice, Lemongrass, Black Licorice, and Tangerine Fusion.  We were supposed to use our Rich Sorbets PanPastels on the flowers as shading but I didn't do that.


This card used a lot of product, as you can see by the inks.  We had to mask the big flower before stamping the little one and the leaves. And we used a bunch of embellishments, Journey Twine Licorice Twist, I Heart Clip, Fashion Gold dots, Classic Elegance Journey Tape, and Simply Gold Journey Tape. We used the same adhesives and such on the previous card.  I have to admit I don't much care for the arrow on the yellow flower but over all this card is gorgeous!

I hope you are enjoying our 12 Days of Deals!  I'm placing an order today for some dies that have been on my wish list.

StampinCarol

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Wednesday Desk 444 and Coffee

I was a busy beaver yesterday and got a project started and some of it accomplished for our Church Coffee Shop.  And as I was starting I decided to take my picture of my desk for today's fun international blog hop of desks put together by Julia at the Stamping Ground.  (And truth be known I was watching The Nightmare Before Christmas while I was working on my projects!)


My desk actually got quite messier as I worked but I did manage to tidy it a bit as I finished the projects I made.  You can see a 2" circle punch but dog-gone it, it wouldn't punch far enough in so out came the cutting mat and my craft knife. I didn't even have a 2" die! I cut a 2" circle on my Red Cricut and used it as a template.  Bummer. But you can see some stamps on the far left, one of the projects in the middle, and my ATG runner and edge of my Amaze die cut machine far right.  Want to see what I was working on??


I found a pattern to make the basic 4 oz. cup holder on Pinterest and made these little holders.  I'll get back to some more later.  All products are Fun Stampers Journey though the pattern papers are retired.  I'll take these to church tonight and give them to the gal who runs the coffee shop. She has some great recipes to fill the cups and the proceeds from the sales go to missions.

I really need to get going on some Christmas projects for myself but wanted to get some of these special projects out of the way.  Hopefully today I can get a ways on them.  I also found a gift store that may be interested in selling some of my cards and such.  Need to stop by and see them again later this week.  Anyway, please head over to the Stamping Ground and check out the links to a few dozen others who take part in sharing their desks and sometimes projects!

StampinCarol

Monday, December 4, 2017

A Blue Brocaded Doily

I have had to restock my card rack at a local store (unfortunately no sales for 2 months) with some sympathy cards and replace the seasonal cards.  Using a sketch from a FSJ page challenge I came up with this:


I wanted to make a card that was a bit brighter than usual and love the elegance of this card.  I used 3 card stocks, Huckleberry Fusion, Pool Play, and Whip Cream along with the pattern paper from the Designers Choice Prints paper pack.  I used a retired embossing folder (oops) on the Pool Play banner that kinda matched the paper pattern.  I used 2 stamp sets, Decorative Doily Bundle and Sentimental Prints.


I love the Detail Foliage die and cut it into a few pieces to use.
Using Foam Squares, Easy Glide Runner, and Glue Dots I assembled my card.  I used our wonderful little Detail Pro Shears to do all my cutting.  This little scissor is non-stick and self-sharpening!!  Great for small areas but it's always right close to where I'm working.  I did all my die cutting on our Amaze machine which sits right next to where I sit at my work table.

Saturday I took part in our 4th FSJ Presents get together and played with stamps and items from our upcoming Bloom This Way mini (goes live Jan. 1, 2018).  I have ordered 16 minis to share with my customers and it will be available online, too.  I will be sharing the 4 cards we made later this week along with one of the great new products we got in our FSJ Presents bundle.  You can take part in these as a "customer" and be eligible to receive new products, make cards, receive the upcoming mini catalog, and get to purchase more product in bundles from the new mini! I did order 2 product bundles and they should ship about the 7th.

StampinCarol

Friday, December 1, 2017

Tuesday Morning Sketches #431

I think I almost have enough Christmas cards but this fun sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches was fun to play with. 


I did take a bit of liberty with some embellishments...


I tried the card without the Cranberry Bliss leaves just it was just boring!  I started with a Black Licorice card stock base then added the FALALA print from our Christmas Cheer Prints.   I cut a little strip of Black Licorice and added some of our Deco Strips Black (first time I've opened the package!) and adhered across the card base.  Next I cut a layer of Black Licorice and Whip Cream then stamped the sentiment from our Holiday Celebrations stamp set with Black Licorice ink. This sentiment layer I used Foam Squares to raise it up.  I love our Sparkle Silk and splattered some of that on the card for some, yep, sparkle.  Last I die cut the spring from our Blooming Details die set from some Cranberry Bliss card stock and adhered.  Finally a red dot from our Magical Candy Drops and I love how this turned out!


I'm having trouble getting that today is December 1 in my mind!  I really need to work on some Christmas projects and will share them as I get them completed.

So now head over to Tuesday Morning Sketches and check out the cool cards in this challenge and the great inspiration cards!

StampinCarol