Seriously Happy

Have you seen my latest Inspired By tutorial in the StampNation classroom? Clicky if you are a a StampNation member.  I share how I came up with the idea for this card and several others, along with a video on how to create your own masked/sponged/embossed/glittered globe.

In the video I used blues and greens, but when I turned the camera off I was inspired to try it in my favorite beach sunset colors.  I had a technique piece of watercolored paper on my table and decided to cut it out with the "seriously" die.  It looks so pretty against my pink/yellow background, if I do say so myself.  I paired it with a sentiment by CASual Fridays from the SOA box and added some enamel dots to finish it off.

Want more sneak peeks?  Head on over to Catherine Pooler's blog today. She is sharing what all the designers have been teaching in the classroom this month.

Before I go, I just want to remind you that today is the last day to take advantage of the overstock sale at Ellen Huston! Click on the picture below to see if there is something you need to bring home.

Stamps: Girlfriends (CASual Fridays) *coming in 2016
Ink: Evergreen Bough,Peacock Feathers, Pistachio Pudding, Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade (Distress); Versamark
Paper: Marshmallow (Bazzill); Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz Distress); Vellum Cardstock (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, White Embossing Powder (SU); White Embossing Paste (Dreamweavers); Small Checkerboard Stencil (My Favorite Things); Seriously Die (Lil' Inker Designs); Enamel Dots 

My Favorite Things Stencils, Small Checkerboard

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste, White, 4 oz.

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Spun Sugar

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Picked Raspberry

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Peacock Feathers

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Evergreen Bough

VersaMark Ink Pad

Xyron, 1.5" Create-a-sticker Machine

Perfect Card A Day ~ Guest Designer

ETA- There was a mix-up with my feature.  They did not post me on the day they said I was going live.  Instead they posted me earlier in the month.  LOL  I'm sharing this with you now that we are all straightened out.  :)

I'm so honored that Theresa has asked me back as a guest designer for her Card A Day Challenge.  If you missed the first post, clicky, to see my 1st card made for them.

Friday's are "Anything Goes", that leaves the choice WIDE OPEN for me.  I decided to go with a "Perfect" clean and simple card.

As if this card wasn't perfect enough, I made a second card, changing up just a few things to make it unique.

Head on over to Card A Day challenge and leave some love.  <3  Thank you Theresa and Design Team for letting me play along with you again as a guest designer!!!

Stamps: In Every Way (Waffle Flower Stamps)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Rich Razzleberry (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Perfect Word Die (Waffle Flower Stamps); Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); Dazzling Diamonds (Stampin' Up!)

Bubbles

Did you ever play with bubbles as a child?  If you're like me you were torn between watching the lovely globes float into the air and trying to pop all the bubbles you could catch.  :)   This week's challenge at StampNation gives all of us adults a chance to play with bubbles again.

Design Team Sneak Peeks

For my card I used a similar technique to the card I made HERE.   I changed the colors and the layout, but used the same translucent embossing paste over sponging.

I went masculine with this technique because my son went to his friend's 15th birthday party last weekend and I need a "cool" card for a teenager.  I think this fits the bill.   I hope you will play along with the bubble challenge and remember some summer fun from your childhood.

Normally I don't share my design team cards on the internet, but somebody from the party took a picture of the birthday boy with his card and his mom tagged me on Facebook.  Check out the little kid in front... he's blowing BUBBLES!

My son, Michael, is in the eagle shirt on the right.   This was taken after a watercolor waterballoon fight.  The pictures look like so much fun, I wish I had been there too.  Too bad the smoke from the fires here in WA kept me indoors with allergies.

Michael is on the left.

One last picture of the inside of the card.  I used a Treat Yo Self die from Ellen Hutson that I thought was fitting.  His gift was $$ and a big box of CANDY.  :)

Stamps: Let's Chat (Penny Black); Celebrate (SimonSaysStamp); Love Notes (CASual Fridays)
Ink: Versamark; Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean (Distress)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Circle Stencil (Winnie & Walter- SOA); White Embossing Powder, Wooden Arrow (SU); Translucent Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi); Stitched Rectangle Die (Lil' Inker Designs)

A Happy Hello ~ SC111

It's sketch time today for Stampin' Celebration challenge!  Y'all know how much I like sketch.  This is one I have used several times since I got it.  One of the perks of being on the design team is that we get to see all the challenges 2-3 months ahead of time.  If you check out the last challenge you will see I used this sketch loosely for it too.  Clicky

SC111

For my card today I decided to try out my stack of new In-Color DSP in my favorite new color, Mint Macaron.  I can't pronounce it very well, but I love the soft sage-y mint.  

While I didn't use the "Dots For Days" stamp set as I have most Mondays this summer, I did choose a dot background.  You could make this paper yourself by heat embossing the Dots For Days onto cardstock.  hmmm....I may have to give that a try, since this is the only DSP stack I have.  I bet this would look yummy in Blackberry Bliss,  what do you think?

Be sure and head on over to Stampin' Celebration to see what the rest of the Design Team created and then link up your own project inspired by this sketch.  I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Chalk Lines, Tin of Cards

Ink: Mint Macaron

Paper: 2015-2017 In Color DSP pack, Mint Macaron, Whisper White
Accessories: Tags & Labels Framelits, Silver Metallic Thread

Ellen Huston Sale!

Just popping in here quickly to let you know about a sale going on at Ellen Huston.  They are doing an inventory reduction and have select items available at 40% off.  Hop on over there now to see if there is anything you might need to  bring home.  ;)   CLICKY

Inspired By Circles, Globes and SOA

Just checking in and letting you all know where you can find me this week.  We are wrapping up the Watercolor Sketches over at Inspired to Scrap.  Everyone has until September 8th to share their layouts for a chance to win prizes.  This has been such an inspiring class for me personally.  I have a new excitement and love for scrapbooking because I am combining it with the skills I've learned from cardmaking.  I need to ask permission to share my layouts, but I will give you a sneak peek of my favorite page from class.

While cleaning out my inbox yesterday I came across an email from Impress.  It is a (somewhat) local stamping store.  They have a watercolor class coming up next week and I am going to call today to see if there are any spots open.  It's being taught by Sandy Allnock!  I hope there is room.  If you are local, call the Tukwila store and join me!  Wouldn't that be fun?  I've always wanted to learn how to watercolor, but I never thought of myself as an artist.  Perhaps though, I just need to be taught "how", so I can practice and become better.

Image Courtesy of Impress Email
Watercolor Freehand Flowers by Sandy Allnock

If you logged on to my blog early this morning you may have seen my guest design card for A Card A Day challenge.  There was some sort of mix-up and my card isn't on their blog today, so I took it down.  Be watching for it though.  As soon as they put me up on their blog I will post it over here.  ;)  It's a CAS design with a pop of WOW.

Last, but certainly not least, today is my day to teach in the StampNation classroom.  I will be sharing how to create this shimmery card and the inspiration behind it.   If you are ever in a rut and don't know where to start when making a card, then you will enjoy my Inspired By series.  I show you how to gain inspiration from the world around you.

Tag It

There is something fun about creating a tag for a card.  I'm not sure what it is, but I do enjoy making them.  The challenge this week at StampNation is to make a card with a tag on it.  Here is what the Design Team came up with.

I made my card using products from the Stamp of Approval Friendship collection along with some goodies from Pretty Pink Posh.

Stamps: Girlfriend (CASual Fridays Stamps); In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers (Winnie & Walter)
Ink:  Pistachio Pudding, Mint Macaron, Pink Pirouette, Daffodil Delight (Stampin' Up!); Bubble Gum (Hero Arts); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White Thick (SU)
Accessories: Chevron Ribbon, Yellow Iridescent Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh); Tag Dies (CASual Fridays Stamps)

Scrapbooking Again! + Announcement

I wanted to put that title in ALL CAPS with loads of !!!!!!!, but I was afraid that those of you subscribed by email would have it sent to SPAM.  Scrapbooking was my first paper crafting love.   I started scrapbooking before it became popular, putting stickers and notecards in the those old cling albums.  Over the years I have completed over 30 albums.


Over the past few years I have scrapbooked less and less.  In fact, over the past 18 months I've only scrapbooked twice and that was with friends.  Something caught my attention though and lit my fire again.  I'm so excited to share it with you!!!   Stacey Lokovic of Inspired to Scrap has a new sketch class starting this week.  You all know how much I love sketches.   It was bound to be a sketch class that got me scrapbooking again.  This class caught my IMAGINATION.  It is a Watercolor Sketch class.   All of the sketches were watercolored by Stacey and they are beautiful!!!


That brings me to my ANNOUNCEMENT.  Stacey and her design team have asked me to Guest Design for this sketch class and I am Over The Moon THRILLED about it.  After 2 years of very little scrapbooking I am suddenly chomping at the bit to get into my hobby room to create in my albums again.  It's a wonderful feeling!

The class itself does not require you to use watercolor in your layouts, but there will be tips and technique to add watercolor embellishments and pieces to your pages.  My plan is to use some of the watercolor techniques I've been playing with on my cards and add them to my layouts.  Here is a sneak peek of one of my layouts using an inlaid watercolor die cut.

Anyone can join in this class by signing up on the Inspired to Scrap blog.  Clicky    I'll leave you with a sample mini sketch to give you an idea of what you are in for.  It's only $10 for this class and worth every penny if you are looking for some scrapbooking inspiration.  See you in the forums.

Sending Many Thanks ~ SC 110

It's time for another Stampin' Celebration Inspiration challenge, and I am loving this cool collection of photos.  It makes me long for for a day at the beach.

SC110

My card uses the SU World Map background stamp.  I've wanted this stamp since before it was released, but didn't get it until recently when a friend was cleaning out her stamp room and asked me if I wanted it.  Ummm, YES please!  :)  I think it will be a great background for many masculine cards.  

The stamp was inked with the new Tip Top Taupe (In-Color) and then sponged with blues and greens to create an old world colored map.  I just love it!  To finish it off I used a bit of linen thread and two tags with some candy dots.  It almost a one layer card, but has so much interest because of the background stamp.

Stamps: World Map, Petite Pairs

Ink: Tip Top Taupe, Bermuda Bay, Cucumber Crush, Lost Lagoon, Mint Macaron
Paper: Very Vanilla, Vellum Cardstock
Accessories: Linen Thread, 1/16" Circle Punch, Regals Candy Dots, Tags & Labels Framelits

Baby Rattle For Chevy ~ Stamp Of Approval

Recently one of my son's friends became an uncle.  His older sister had a beautiful baby boy.  She was in labor with Chevy the day I made this card, so I had bouncing baby boys on the brain.  The Curtis background stamp from CASual Fridays reminds me a little of a baby rattle, so I decided to pair it with a Soft Sky blue ink to make a shaker card.

Here is a VIDEO
https://youtu.be/ApyD9ik3P6g

The first Stamp Of Approval collection from Catherine Pooler has officially sold out!   I hope you were able to jump in quickly.  Be on the lookout for the Holiday Collection coming this fall.

If you didn't get in on the box before it sold out, you could still make this card with supplies you already have.   Choose a background stamp and an open die, like a tag, and create your own unique spin on my card.


I can't let you go without sharing an adorable picture of Chevy Scott...

Stamps: Curtis Background (CASual Fridays for Stamp of Approval)

Ink: Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!)

Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!) Window Sheet

Accessories: Tag Buddies Fri-Dies, Friendly Flowers Fri-Dies (CASual Fridays for Stamp of Approval); Bright White Sequin Mix (Lucy's Cards for Stamp of Approval)

Flower Friend ~Stamp of Approval ~ Video

It's finally release day.  The first Stamp of Approval box is going up for sale, and I have another card featuring goodies from the Friendship Collection. 

For my card today I used the Pattern of the Rings stencil as a "stamp position-er".  Check out the video to see how.

https://youtu.be/tEA9tVJE_Ig

Want to learn more about the Stamp of Approval collection?  Clicky

Stamps: Girlfriend (CAS-ual Fridays for Stamp of Approval)

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Versamark (Stampin' Up!)

Paper: Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Pattern of the Rings (Winnie & Walter for Stamp of Approval); Friends Fri-Die (CAS-ual Fridays for Stamp of Approval); (Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Melon Mambo Embossing Powder (SU)

Stamp of Approval Blog Hop

It's finally here!  The big blog hop and reveal of the very first Stamp of Approval box featuring the exclusive Friendship Collection!  I'm almost bouncing out of my seat to share this with you.  Is it weird to be this excited about stamping stuff?  I didn't think so!  ;)

It's easier to show you a video then try to explain, so here you go!
http://youtu.be/Oin_zPmeGyI

Now be sure to hop along to the other designers in this hop and leave a comment.  One lucky commenter will win a FREE BOX!!!  Woot-Woot!!!

Blog Hop Order:

• Catherine Pooler
• Maureen Merritt
• Kristie Goulet
• Heather North - YOU ARE HERE!!!!  :) 
• Allison Cope
• Isha Gupta
• Laurel Beard 
• Laura Sterckx
• Jessica Frost-Ballas
• Cas-ual Fridays Stamps

Clicky to get on the wait list for Stamp of Approval Friendship Collection

Stamps: Girlfriend (CASual Fridays for Stamp of Approval)
Ink: Versamark, Cracked Pistachio (Distress); Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Cucumber Crush (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Black & White Twine (Doodlebug); Pattern of the Rings Stencil (Winnie & Walter for Stamp of Approval); Love Ya Fri-Die (CASual Fridays for SOA); Translucent Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi); White Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up!); Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker

Studio 490 Embossing Paste by Wendy Vecchi, Translucent

Xyron, 1.5" Create-a-sticker Machine

Xyron, 1.5" Create-a-Sticker Refill, Repositionable

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

Doodle Twine Spool, Beetle Black

VersaMark Ink Pad

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

Love Ya, Girlfriend

Something exciting is about to be released and I am honored to be helping get the word out.  Catherine Pooler has worked with designers from top manufacturors to put together a unique collection of stamps and dies with her "Stamp of Approval".  Each quarter will feature a unique collection of exclusive products designed to make creating a little less stressful.

Doesn't this collection look like her style?  I had so much fun creating with all the products in the collection.  It felt like I was playing in Catherine's stamp room!

The collection will be available for purchase to StampNation members first, on August 6th.  If there are any left, they will go on sale for everyone else.  Be sure to get on the waiting list, CLICKY, to be notified as soon as the box becomes available.

Each box comes with enough stamps & dies to create dozens of cards along with a PDF filled with card ideas and instructions from some of the top designers in the industry.  (including little ol' me)  The first Stamp of Approval box is a Friendship Collection.  Here's a sample of what I will be showing this week. 

CLICKY  for Catherine's post today with more samples from Stamp Of Approval.  Two other design team members are showcasing SOA today.  Be sure to check them out and give them some love.
Kristie

Isha 

Join us tomorrow for a fun blog hop with all the designers and special guests.

Stamps: Girlfriend (CASual Fridays for Stamp of Approval box)
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Love Ya Die (CASual Fridays for Stamp of Approval box); Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker