More Flowers not Branches

Today, once again, I’m stamping flowers and not branches with my current favorite set Thoughtful Branches.   And once again…I love the beautiful sentiments that work for every occasion.  This time around I’ve used the beautiful Thank You sentiment from the set.

It seems that everyone in the SU stamping world has gone hydrangea crazy with this set so I thought I’d jump on board as well using some of my favorite colors in a soft but elegant color combo.

 

This design also gave me a chance to once again use my favorite Baker’s Twine.  I love the black and white variety of the twine.  Added a bit of pop I thought.  The little black dress of bows if you will.  Always appropriate…always coordinates with other colors.  Of course black also works well with pearls.  Hm…next time I create this design I’ll have to play with bitty pearls on the flower section.

I love how easy this card is to make.  Even with the die cutting it took under 10 minutes to create and doing multiples is extremely easy.  Especially if you have the Big Shot Die Brush and the new Big Shot Platform that makes cutting intricate dies a joy!

Yet another design that’s perfect for Spring, Summer or varied Occasions cards.  From Mother’s Day to Wedding to Sympathy.  You can vary the flower and color layer colors for different effects.   Another card too that would lend itself to a bit of metallic embossing on the top floral die cut and the sentiment.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Thoughtful Branches

Inks: Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder Classic Ink &  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Mint Macaron, Wisteria Wonder & Whisper White Cardstocks

Punches: none

Tools & Adhesives:  Big Shot, New Big Shot Platform, Big Shot Die Brush,  Bone Folder, Basic Black Baker’s Twine (variegated variety), Dimensionals, SNAIL

Directions:

1. Mint Macaron cardbase – 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″.  Score at 4-1/4″.  Fold and crease with bone folder.
2. Adhere Elegant Eggplant layer (4″ x 5-1/4″) to Mint Macaron cardbase.
3. On focal Whisper White layer (3-1/2″ x 4-3/4″) stamp chosen sentiment in either Elegant Eggplant or Memento Tuxedo Black on the lower right hand side of paper.  Adhere to layered cardbase.
4. Die cut the Stem section in Mint Macaron.
5. Using Wisteria Wonder or Elegant Eggplant ink stamp the flower petal hydrangea image on Wisteria Wonder cardstock and die cut .
6. Die cut the hydrangea flower image in Elegant Eggplant cardstock.
7. Crumple the Wisteria Wonder flower top.
8. Adhere the Mint Macaron stem piece to the focal layer after checking the placement with die cut flower pieces.
9. Adhere the Elegant Eggplant flower die cut with SNAIL to the focal layer.
10. Crumple again and using cut up dimensionals (or the new adhesive strip pieces) adhere the stamped Wisteria Wonder flower offset on top of the Elegant Eggplant flower.
11.  Combine three lengths of Basic Black Baker’s twine and tie a bunny ear bow.  Adhere to card layered front and trim as needed.
12. Decorate interior of card and envelope as desired.

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That’s it for this sample design.  See previous days for other recent ideas for this fun stamp and die set.

Check back before September 1 for more Thoughtful Branches ideas.

Hugs and happy creating!

 

Here’s a closer look of all that’s included in the Thoughtful Branches Bundle.

Don’t forget…last day to purchase this wonderful set is August 31.

 

To see the purchase details and a larger view of the images click the link below.

Thoughtful Branches Flyer – purchase details

Thinking Flowers not Branches

Today I’m thinking about flowers and not branches with my new favorite set Thoughtful Branches.   While I love all the trees I can create with this wonderful set of stamps and dies I also love the simple flowers that can also be created.  And once again…I love the beautiful sentiments that work for every occasion.

Not being a botanist or florist I’ve no idea if these are lupine or lilacs or just what.  All I know is they are fun to create!  {grin}

The same images that created the snowbanks in my white on white card yesterday also work for stems when turned sideways.  And a dense grouping of the leaf image covers a multitude of sins.   I think I ended up with the odd petal patterns because I double stamped the image that also creates a series of leaves for the trees more than once.  Either way…it’s fun.  This design also gave me a chance to use my favorite Baker’s Twine.  I love the black and white variety of the twine.  Adds to the light and casual feel of the card.

I love how easy this card is to make.  With all the layering pieces cut and prepped it takes about 5 minutes to create and doing multiples is extremely easy.  Perfect for Spring, Summer or varied Occasions cards.  From Mother’s Day to Sympathy.  You can vary the flower and color layer colors for different effects.   You could even emboss in gold, silver or copper on a dark color of cardstock for a very elegant effect as well.

Supplies:

Stamps:  Thoughtful Branches

Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder,  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White Thick cardstocks

Punches: none

Tools & Adhesives:  Bone Folder, Basic Black Baker’s Twine (variegated variety), SNAIL

Directions:

1. Whisper White cardbase – 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″.  Score at 4-1/4″.  Fold and crease with bone folder.
2. Adhere Wisteria Wonder layer (4″ x 5-1/4″) to white cardbase.
3. On focal Whisper White layer (3-3/4″ x 5″) stamp chosen sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black on the right hand side of paper.
4. Using Pear Pizzazz ink stamp the wavy line image 3 times on the left hand  side of the paper.
5. Using Wisteria Wonder ink stamp the flower petal image (cone type dot image) over ends of stems.
6. Using Pear Pizzazz ink stamp the leaves at the base of stems.
7.  Combine two lengths of Basic Black Baker’s twine and wrap around the focal image piece and tie a bow.  Adhere to card layered front.
8. Decorate interior of card and envelope as desired.

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That’s it for this sample design.  See previous days for other recent ideas for this fun stamp and die set.

Check back before September 1 for more Thoughtful Branches ideas.

Hugs and happy creating!

Wacky Watercooler July 2016 Blog Hop: Our Third Anniversary Celebration!

Welcome to our July Third Anniversary Celebration Blog Hop

Hello and Welcome to the third anniversary of the Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop series.  After three years together I can’t help feeling I should be making Anniversary cards for each of my hopping buddies.  I love my fellow artists and you dear readers as well, for sticking with us, and visiting today!

Who are the Wacky Watercooler Artists?   Most of us are Stampin’ Up demonstrators (or were when we started the hops) who hang out in a back corner of our company chat site and do precisely that…chat.  We’ve shared our ups and downs.  Funny and sad lives and stories for so long that even though most of us only know each other from online or the occasional meet up at conventions or on the phone you’d believe we’ve been neighbors for years!   It’s amazing how close we’ve gotten and how the friendships have grown.  Bless you Internet and Bless you Stampin’ Up!

It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 years since we started the hops.  At the beginning I was the captain and I was honored to lead such a wonderful gang of friends and rubber stamping artists.   Behind the scenes was so much fun (and occasionally challenging) coming to consensus for designs and hop policies as we got started.   We’re all strong minded but with loving spirits so the best of the best always came out in the end.   If you’ve been following us for all that time you know that Heidi is now at the wheel of the bus and is also our able and beloved captain and there have been a few other changes in the line up over the years.   I’m jazzed that so many who were in at the start are still regular contributors and even more that Heidi was able to bring the entire gang from the first hop back together to join the celebration along with newer members of the band to share some inspiration.  If you are as nostalgic as I am you can see the very first hop here.

As usual you can follow this hop in a circle going either direction.  Of course you can also return to the home hop site if you ever get lost along the way.   That site will also, with a bit of scrolling back lead you to any and all of our past hops that you might still find inspiring.   In fact…we’re hoping to lead you there with many of our CASE projects this time around from the original hop.  Enjoy!

Now that you’re here I hope you’ve arrived from  Gail’s blog.   Gail is another dear friend I first met in the Watercooler.  She’s also one of our many (and talented) Canadian stampers.   I seem to be bracketed by my sisters from the north this hop. {grin}   I hope you found her as inspiring as I always do.  While not an original hopper Gail has jumped in with a heart and soul that keeps the Watercooler itself (and our hop) hopping with her original take on life and stamping.

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Today’s hop, as part of our celebration has us featuring older stamp sets that are still current on our stamping shelves – a mean feat for some sets to last that long don’t you think?  Two in particular.  Gorgeous Grunge and Wetlands you’ll see as you follow along through the hop.  Of course we may throw in other sets as well to keep it interesting (or ones we hope will still be around in another 3 years).  At least I did.  LOL

Here’s my first celebratory offering.   Appropriate don’t you think that it’s mixed with a set called Picture Perfect.   Beaches and wetlands so often are don’t you think?  A perfect picture?  And also gorgeously grungy?  Sorry…I couldn’t resist saying that. 😀

The secret ingredient is gold.  Check the directions I’ve shared in PDF form and you’ll see touches of gold everywhere that add to the texture.

Picture Perfect Starfish

(click the image for a larger view)

 

Inside

A version closer to Penny’s with a wonderful and inspiring sentiment from Rose Wonder.

And a detail of the gold embossing that gives the starfish so much life and texture.

Note:  This lovely design is a CASE of fellow artist Penny Hanuszak who shared the original version on a Watercooler Wednesday Challenge posting a few weeks ago.  Thanks Penny!  I added a sun and different sentiments to change it up just a bit.  Check the post for Penny’s directions or my own PDF below.

Do you have Gorgeous Grunge yet in your stamping arsenal?  It took me a while to add it to mine but now it’s there that speckle image is one I reach for time after time.  Here I’ve also gotten the lined image baptized with ink.  Another popular image for creating roadways and waves in their respective places.

Do you remember that saying that “today is the first day of the rest of my life”.  It was popular as a philosophy and even in song back in the day.   Probably why I fell in love with the Suite Sayings “Forever begins today” sentiment.  Possibly it’s just me but I find it applies to so many occasions.  I’ve left a sentiment off the inside of this so I can decide later on the occasion Forever will be paired with.

Supplies:

Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Kinda Eclectic, Picture Perfect, Wetlands, Suite Sayings.

Ink: , Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Versamark

Paper:  Soft Suede (5-1/2” x 8-1/2”), Island Indigo (4″ x 5-1/4″), Crumb Cake (3-1/2” x 3-1/2”) for the Starfish, Whisper White (3-3/4″ x 5″, 4″ x 5-1/4″)

Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool,  Stampin’ Sponges, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, SNAIL

Picture Perfect Star Fish-Jean Fitch – PDF directions and dimensions

Tool Tip:  Do you remember this old trick for keeping your sponges organized?  A punch piece folded and stapled to the bit of sponge with the paper and title that reflects the ink color.   I’ve added to it with a plastic cup to keep the sponges in while working with them so I don’t get ink all over the table (or where I don’t want accidents to happen on projects in progress).

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Next up is a fun popup Spring Fold card using our stamp and punch combo Grateful Bunch.  I also used the brand new copper embossing powder.  I wish you could see this in person.  Much more coppery!

Pop up Grateful Bunch Spring Card

View from the back

Collage that shows you the full front, side and folded flat

As you can see from the pictures the card folds flat for mailing.  The flat size is a 4-1/4″ square so it’s perfect for our regular envelopes.   This version made use of our new Peekaboo Peach In Color.  Another color combo that has a bit more zing a bit less vintage look uses Watermelon Wonder.   My sideline Linda made off with that version before I could take a picture so I’ll have to share that version at a later date.  Smart woman.  The stampers at the Stamp Camp where I debuted this all loved the Watermelon Version and grabbed for those papers.  Myself…I rather like the vintage look of the peach.  A bit Victorian don’t you think?

Supplies:

Stamps: Grateful Bunch, Rose Wonder

Ink: Soft Suede, Mint Macaron, Versamark, Peekaboo Peach

Paper: Mint Macaron (4-1/4” x 8-1/2”), Soft Saffron (2-3/4” x 2-3/4” & 1-3/4” x 1-3/4”), Peekaboo Peach (2-3/4” x 2-3/4” & 1-3/4” x 1-3/4”), Whisper White (2-1/2” x 2-1/2”). Measurements apply only to the colors you choose to use. White and Background color scraps.

Punch: Blossom Bunch

Other:  Stampin’ Trimmer, Bone Folder, Heat Tool, Copper Embossing Powder, Copper Metallic Thread, SNAIL, Glue Dots, Dimensionals.

Here’s the directions in PDF form and if you don’t have a bone folder yet…you’ll want one now!

Pop Up Grateful Bunch Spring Card Hop Version-JeanFitch

And a link to Dawn’s video that showed me how the folds work for the basic Spring Card.  The decorative design is mine (grin):  https://youtu.be/LE5p70Rwx9s

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I encourage you to play with the products that I’ve showcased today.  As you can see, they coordinate with products you may already have or can find in our new Annual Catalog.

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That’s it for my share of the hop.  Time to move on over to my friend  Terri’s blog   Terri and I met up online originally and then in person at a Stampin’ Up! convention.  One of my fondest convention memories ever!   We’ve been friends ever since.  So many of her fun, interesting and inspiring projects have landed on my CASE lists over the years that I’m expecting that to be the “CASE” this time around too! {grin}  Can’t wait to  see which of her wonderful projects I’ll be making next!   Terri is another one of the original hoppers.   Take it away Terri and Happy Anniversary!

To follow the hop click on the link below:

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Watercooler Wednesday Challenge – WWC77 – Sweet Wreath

WWC77 – Marsha’s Color Challenge

Welcome to this weeks Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.

Trust me when I say you are going to love this color combo.  It’s gorgeous!

However…pay special attention to the actual colors.  Miss Marsha (hi friend) is very firm on what colors you can use for this challenge if you want to compete for the prize.  No substitutions and no deletions.  Now that’s a challenge!

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Sweet Wreath

(as always click the pictures to see larger images)

Sweet Wreath says it all don’t you think?   I love wreaths.  One of the reasons I’m still sad that the Bird Builder punch retired in May.  On the other hand…the new Jar of Love bundle has some possibilities in this direction.  I was pressed for time on this design so I grabbed my bird punch for the main wreath boughs but I have a feeling that the long stalk die cut will also work when rounded a bit and shortened as well.   That was my thought anyway when I first saw the set in the new catalog.   AND…the baby’s breath image also works if you only ink the top portion.  Can you see it peeking out under the leaves?  Something else to play with another day. 😀

Have I mentioned how much I love the ribbon bow from this bundle?  BEST EVER!!  It really looks like the silky taffeta ribbon or seam binding we used to work with in days gone by.   Very possible that this image and matching die will soon become the most used of the entire bundle in my stamp room.  Of course the jars and sweet flowers won’t be far behind. LOL

I was also wowed to see how nicely this new In Color plays with core colors and other In Colors from last year.  A perfect balance of soft/subtle and brighter more regal colors for contrast.  Brilliant color selection Miss Marsha!!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Jar of Love

Inks: Mint Macaron, Night of Navy, Pink Pirouette, Sweet Sugarplum, Very Vanilla

Paper: Mint Macaron, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla

Punches: Bird Builder (ret.)

Tools & Adhesives:  Big Shot , Everyday Jar Framelits, Circle Collection Framelits (ret.), Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Tombow, SNAIL

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That’s it for this challenge.  To see the rest of the design teams contributions to Marsha’s Color Challenge head on over to the Challenge blog website here.   That’s also where you can add your own creation with the linky doodad.  When you add your own design and there are more than three entries, one of you will be a challenge winner or runner up and have the option to place our badges on your own site.  Of course…you’ll also win bragging rights!

Check here to see the winner of last weeks challenge.  And here to see all the other linky and Artist Team entries.  Check the challenge site for rules on competing for future challenges.

I really hope you will add your own creations this week.  These colors will win your heart!  And…I love the inspiration I find in your shared creations.

I hope you’ll join us next Wednesday for yet another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  I’ll be driving the challenge bus next week and I hope to see you on board!  Whoot.  Whoot!

 

 

 

 

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Wacky Watercooler June 2016 Blog Hop: New Catalog Open House

Welcome to our June New Catalog Open House Blog Hop

Today we’re opening our hearts, homes and studios to the New 2016-2017 Annual Catalog.   Hopefully you’ve had that little darling of a catalog in your hands already for a week or two.   And I hope you will agree with me that it’s the best catalog ever!   Yeah…I know…I say that every year…but this year I really mean it! 😀   So many wonderful items carried over from my favorite ever Occasions Catalog and even better…new toys (er…creative tools) to play with for the next 12 months.

Now that you’re here I hope you’ve arrived from  Marsha’s blog.  Marsha and I have been friends for years and often bounce ideas off each other.  Today is no different since Marsha never fails to come up with interesting and inspiring projects that always land on my CASE list!  Can’t wait to go back and see which of her wonderful projects I’ll be making next!

As usual you can follow this hop in a circle going either direction.  Of course you can also return to the home hop site if you ever get lost along the way.

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For today’s “open house hop” I’ve decided to share the same cards I shared at last Saturdays live open house.  Friends were able to make these next two cards and play with new colors, new punches, new images and of course new Big Shot bits and pieces (as well as the returning favorite Woodland embossing folder).

Now that we are into June Stampin’ Up has returned the Woodland Embossing Folder to the lineup.  It departed for a short time after the Holiday Catalog retired last January but after an outcry from customers and demos alike they brought it back.  If you’d like a repeat of that for the Cups and Kettles dies and stamps from Occasions call Stampin’ Up at 1-800-782-6787 and share your thoughts!

Please note:  If you would like the directions to either of the following projects please drop me an email or leave a comment.  I’ll be happy to pass them along.

Foxy Friends in the Woodland

With the dark hues of Tangerine Tango and the bare birches of the Woodland EF this card will work perfectly for Fall.  Add a die cut Santa cap and it works for Christmas.   Of course foxes are out and about any time of the year so the basic design works all year round as well.

Foxy Friends and the new Duet Banner Punch and matching Thoughtful Banners stamps are turning out to be two of my favorite bundled product packs.   The only thing I forgot was the coordinating Foxy Friends Designer Series Stack!  No worries…it’s coming.

Check back next week for a quick look at what I’m planning for both bundles come Christmas!    Our local Rogue Stampers group will be doing Christmas in July and I’m hoping an early peek at two of the cards will fill our roster of attendees at the Stamp a Stack we have scheduled.  There is always room for you dear reader if you are in the area.

Supplies:

Stamps: Foxy Friends, Thoughtful Banners

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi

Paper: Tangerine Tango (5-1/2” x 8-1/2”), Whisper White Thick (3” x 3-1/2”), Whisper White Thin (4” x 5-1/2”, strips)

Punches: Fox Builder (new), Duet Builder (new), Corner Rounder or Envelope Punch Board

Other:  Big Shot, Woodland Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, SNAIL

 

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Floral Affection’s Flirty Wink

Two variations.  One with all but the dots inked and the other with only the flowers.  Pity you can’t see the sparkle and shine that the Wink of Stella clear pen imparted.  Pick your favorite.  I’m curious to hear which you prefer.

 

Supplies:

Stamps: Various text stamps – First Sight, Wetlands

Ink: Basic Black, Flirty Flamingo (reinker), Wink of Stella Clear Brush Pen

Paper: Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White (thick)

Other:  Big Shot, Floral Affection Embossing Folders, Dimensionals & SNAIL

Technique:  Painting with Wink of Stella brush pens.

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Technique:  Painting with Wink of Stella Clear Brush Pen using the Flirty Flamingo ink refill.

Technique Tip:  It’s easy to paint with the Wink of Stella pens.  Place a wee bit of reinker in a dish and pick up the ink with the Wink of Stella pen and apply to the area you would like to color.  Works with an inked image or an embossed image.  To clean the pen just wipe it on a scrap of paper until the color disappears from the pen tip.  Much as you would use a blender pen.  Of course…you are losing a bit of the shimmer fluid that way.  You might prefer to keep a variety of pens dedicated to color ranges like pink, red, orange, green, blue and so on so you can just pick up a pen and go.

As an alternate: You can also just squeeze the pad and use the ink from the pad cover that transfers from the squeeze.  However…and it’s a big one…make sure you wipe up the leftover mix of ink and shimmer fluid from the Stella pen.  You’ll contaminate your ink pad if you don’t thoroughly clean all the leftovers from the cover before closing the pad.   Much safer to use the reinker in a separate dish in my opinion.

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I encourage you to play with the fun new products that I’ve showcased today.  As you can see, they coordinate with products you may already have or can find in our new Annual Catalog.

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That’s it for my share of the hop.  Time to move on over to my fab friend  Heidi’s blog (she’s also our wonderful hop coordinator so leave her some comment love!) her wonderfully inspired creations are another set always fun to see and CASE.  Heidi my dear…you really have to stop enabling me into new product!   Of course…what else are friends for.  LOL

To follow the hop click on the link below:

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Watercooler Wednesday Challenge – WWC65 – Anything Goes Has Rose Wonder Blues

WWC65 – Anything Goes Challenge

Welcome to this weeks Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Today Anything Goes.  Don’t you love days like that…when anything is possible?  Well…as far as the challenge goes…today…anything goes!   The rest of your day/week is totally up to you and the other rules in your life.  {grin}

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Since anything goes today….I decided that some die cuts that have been sitting on my desk needed a bit of sponging.   Heidi got me going with our Spring CAS challenge last week and I had seen a fun design by Leonie Shroder last winter that got me going.   Nothing much simpler than a bit of sponging and then add the sponged die cuts to the card.   Made me feel as if I was Spring Housecleaning what with cleaning odds and bobs from my desk and throwing in a bit of sponging to boot.

Rose Wonder Blues

(as always click the pictures to see larger images)

Hm…just occurred to me…this card would make quite a nice Mother’s Day card don’t you think?  Or just about any occasion with an appropriate change in sentiment.

Supplies:

Stamps: Rose Wonder, Suite Sayings

Inks:  Night of Navy, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum, Blushing Bride, Soft Sky, Pacific Point, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive

Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White (thick and thin), Shimmer White Cardstocks

Punches: None

Tools & Adhesives:  Big Shot, Rose Garden Thinlit Dies, Big Shot Brush and Pad, Sponge Daubers, 2-Way Glue, Snail, Basic Jewel Pearls

Technique:  Sponging on Shimmer Paper

Cost per card: 48¢ + envelope – as shown without pearls

PDF Directions Created by Jean:  Watercooler Wednesday Challenge – WWC65 – Rose Wonder Blues with Shimmer Paper

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I’m happy to note that both stamp sets used here (Rose Wonder & Suite Sayings) and the Rose dies will be available in the new Annual Catalog going live in June.  They’ve turned out to be popular with me…and my customers.   But why wait until then.  The Rose Wonder stamps and dies are being offered now in the Occasions Catalog at 15% off.  Can’t beat that deal.

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That’s it for this challenge.  To see the rest of the design teams Anything Goes Challenge contributions head on over to the Challenge blog website here.   That’s also where you can add your own creation with the linky doodad.  When you add your own design and there are more than three entries, one of you will be a challenge winner or runner up and have the option to place our new badges on your own site.  Of course…you’ll also win bragging rights!

Check here to see the winner of last weeks challenge.  And here to see all the other linky and Artist Team entries.  Check the challenge site for rules on competing for future challenges.

I really hope you will add your own creations this week.  Really…this challenge is an easy one.  Anything you have completed that hasn’t yet been shared online qualifies.  Easy peasy!

I hope you’ll join us next Wednesday for yet another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.

 

 

 

 

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge – WWC64 – Spring CAS – Bridal Showers

WWC64 – Spring CAS

Welcome to this weeks Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Today…Heidi has brought us a CAS (clean & simple) Challenge with Spring as the theme.  Perfect for the weather we are having here in Southern Oregon.  Look out the window and inspiration is there to be found.   Of course if you live in Denver, CO this week…..that might be a tiny bit harder.

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When it comes to CAS it’s hard to think how this creation could be any simpler.  Stamp, stamp, stamp (in one clear ink), sprinkle a little powder and heat.  No extra colors, no lists of tools.  Okay, truth to tell…I did use one punch and two dimensionals.  But if your hand is steadier than mine you might not need those.  Of course having a little bit of contrast in height for the sentiment does add a little something without taking away from the simplicity.

And did you notice?  I reversed the usual color proportions.  Instead of a white card base with color ink.  I went color base with white images.  Or gold…or you could use black or whatever other color of embossing powder you prefer.  It’s the layout and design itself that makes it CAS.

While I have this card marked for a Bridal Shower really it would work just as well for a Birthday, Graduation or other occasion.  Especially if you have other sentiment stamps to substitute.

You’ll see I have two different versions.  If you don’t mind leaving a comment I’d love to know which you prefer.  The White or the Gold embossing.  The rest is the same.

Spring – A Bridal Shower in White

(as always click the pictures to see larger images)

and for an alternative….

Spring – A Bridal Shower in Gold

Always fun trying to get the color shots to match up from one card to another isn’t it?   Truly…both card bases are Mint Macaron.  It’s just the color adjustment software that isn’t quite convinced.  Must be the gold that throws it off.

Supplies:

Stamps: Best Thoughts (Hostess Set from the 2015-2016 Annual Catalog)

Inks: Versamark

Paper: Mint Macaron

Punches: Extra Large Oval (retiring)

Tools & Adhesives:  Heat Tool, Gold Embossing Powder or White Embossing Powder, Dimensionals.

Cost: 25¢ per card – envelope extra (assuming you have all the materials on hand)

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Hard to believe you can put together such a lovely full size card for so little cost isn’t it.  Saves the real money for a bridal shower or birthday gift.

Another simple element in this card that you might notice.  I used images from one simple stamp set.  I’m quite sad that this lovely hostess stamp set will be retiring very, very soon.   If you find you can’t live without it I’d be happy to help you place an order that will qualify you for the set.  Or if you have your own demonstrator already I’m sure they will do the same.

I’ll be back in the future with a slightly stepped up version for this simple card.  Just using a Mint Macaron layer on top of a Whisper White card base would add a bit more presence to the card.  Add a faint background image, a punched corner with the Trio corner punch and maybe a bit of gold metallic thread looped under the raised sentiment and away you go.

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That’s it for this challenge.  To see the rest of the design teams Spring CAS contributions head on over to the Challenge blog website here.   That’s also where you can add your own creation with the linky doodad.  When you add your own design and there are more than three entries, one of you will be a challenge winner or runner up and have the option to place our new badges on your own site.  Of course…you’ll also win bragging rights!

Check here to see the winner of last weeks color challenge.  And here to see all the other linky and Artist Team color challenge entries.  Check the challenge site for rules on competing for future challenges.

I really hope you will add your own creations this week.  Really…a CAS challenge is an easy one.  And for most of us…Spring is all around to fill you full of creative ideas.

I hope you’ll join us next Wednesday for yet another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.

 

 

 

 

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge – WWC63 – Jean’s Birthday Garden

WWC63 – Kath’s Color Challenge

(if you live other places in the world it might be Kath’s Colour Challenge)

Welcome to this weeks Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  Today…we’re playing with soft Spring colors as well as one that makes your mouth water.  {grin}  I don’t know about you but my mouth is watering for watermelon after a day of playing with the color and typing the name.  Thanks Kath for the craving and the colors!

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After playing with the Number of Years stamp set at my last Stamp Camp I just had to bring it out one more time for these lovely soft colors.  And with my sister-in-laws birthday this month it was the perfect time to create a lovely Spring birthday card just for her.

Jean’s Birthday Garden

Outside

Inside

Supplies:

Stamps: Number of Years, Happy Birthday Everyone, Papillon Potpourri

Inks:  Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Watermelon Wonder & Wink of Stella Gold

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Watermelon Wonder, Whisper White Cardstocks

Punches: Itty Bitty Punch Pack (flower), Bitty Butterfly

Tools & Adhesives:  Basic Jewel Rhinestones, Glue Dots.

Cost: 44¢ per card. Assuming you have all the ingredients. 😀    Extra for envelope.

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I love quick and simple cards.  With the exception of a couple of stamping oopsies that meant I had to recut some paper this was one of those 15 minute cards.  It really helps to take that extra few seconds to mount the stamps so the text is straight and level on the block!  Duh!   And now that I have the design down and all the equipment in place it would be more of a 5 minute card for creating duplicates.

One trick is to stamp the first set of leaves/stems (love that it’s all combined in one image stamp) in the middle of the row and then stamp to the left and right with some of the image a bit lower and off to the sides.  I also found that stamping the sentiment in the top corner first gave you a better idea on where and how high to stamp the leaves/stems image.  Originally I stamped the greeting in the left upper corner but well…did I mention that oopsie thing when the stamp wasn’t correctly on the block?  As they say…paper has two sides…but of course Watermelon Wonder is a fairly dark color and does show through.  So when I flipped the card over it was prudent to change the text to the right hand side.   Not really a big deal and gave me a chance to add the butterfly to balance the overall design.  Gotta love the mother of invention right?   The Gold Wink of Stella (love those Stella pens.  So easy to use) was used to add centers to the flowers and a bit of dash to the punched flower as well.  You can see on the inside stamping that I also played a bit with it on the stamped flowers as well.  I couldn’t find my Clear Wink of Stella pen or I would have added a bit more sparkle.  Now that it’s stopped hiding (of course it waited until the picture taking and posting) I’ll add a bit of bling before dropping it in the mail to my lovely SIL.

One other subtle bit of color I love is the very narrow Pear Pizzazz mat.  It adds just the right punch of color separating the vivid Watermelon Wonder and the plainer Whisper White.  Pity I forgot to replicate that on the inside.  Ah well…there is always a next time.   After all…this is the base design for one of the cards at my next Stamp a Stack on April 23.  If you are in the area I hope you will join us.  You can find us at the Central Point Presbyterian Church at 456 W. Pine St.  Central Point, Oregon.

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That’s it for this challenge.  To see the rest of the design teams Color Challenge contributions head on over to the Challenge blog website here.   That’s also where you can add your own creation with the linky doodad.  When you add your own design and there are more than three entries, one of you will be a challenge winner or runner up and have the option to place our new badges on your own site.  Of course…you’ll also win bragging rights!

Check here to see the winner of last weeks challenge.  And here to see all the other linky and Artist Team entries.  Check the challenge site for rules on competing for future challenges.

I really hope you will add your own creations this week.  Really…this challenge is an easy one and you can start stocking up for those Spring Summer occasions ahead.

I hope you’ll join us next Wednesday for yet another Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.