Stenciled Birthday Wishes ~ SOA Young At Heart Sneak Peek

It's officially release week for the new Stamp of Approval Young at Heart Collection.   You know what that means?  Sneak peeks!!!  Catherine Pooler will be featuring her projects along with her entire creative design team each day on her blog.  Here is my card for today.

The background was created with a stencil that is included in the collection.  I didn't want to cover it up, so I had to come up with a design that would let the background shine.  I was completely inspired by an open frame in one of the old "Friends" episodes.  Isn't that a fun way to showcase your creative backgrounds?

All the die cuts you see are also included in this collection.  It is jam-packed with goodness!  Hop on over to Catherine's blog, clicky, to see more of this collection and what the other designers have to share today.


Ink: 302, 036, 042,  033 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers) Wilted Violet (Distress) Gold Shimmer Spritz
Paper: Basic Black, Vellum Cardstock (Stampin' Up) Marshmallow (Bazzill)
Accessories: Happy Birthday Wishes (CASual Fridays Stamps for SOA) Harleen Creative Screenings (Winnie & Walter for SOA) Birthday Journaling Card Die (SugarPea Designs)

Sew Saturday ~ OMG Finish

It's the end of the month and time to link up my finish with the OMG (One Monthly Goal) challenge.  Not only did I make my goal of getting caught up on our guilds QAL, but I exceeded it and got next month's finsihed too!  WOOT-WOOT!!!

Linking up my finish with One Monthly Goal, then I am off to see what you all have finished!  I'm so grateful that Heidi picked up the reigns and started a new goal setting/finish party for our sewing.  It helps me stay focused on completing something each month.  Did I mention that my word for 2016 is FOCUS?  I might need to write up a blog post on that, but I digress.

Jan Finish

Hooray It's Your Day ~ SOA Sneak Peek ~ Video

The new Stamp of Approval Young At Heart collection is being released next week and I just can't stop playing with my box of goodies!  When I saw the layered circles in the Ring in the Celebration stamp set by Winnie & Walter I knew I wanted to create a CAS card with the Rings as the star of the show.  

I have teenage boys and I'm in need of cards that they can give to friends. I ended up created 2 cards.  The one above is a more masculine version that my teenage boys could give to a friend.  The one below has a "slightly" more feminine look with the soft yellow glow and pink frosting.

I captured these cards on video so you could see how easy it is to pull off these looks, plus you'll get a peek at the soon-to-be-released SOA collection.  ;) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HBdVx5n2QU

CAS(E) this Sketch has another fabulous sketch this week.  It fits the design of my cards, so I am linking up with them and sharing it with you to play along too!  I love how using sketches helps me focus my design.   This is especially true when I am overwhelmed by all the possibilities a collection, or even a single stamp set, has.  

CTS157

Stamps: Ring in the Celebration (Winnie& Walter for SOA)
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up) Tuxedo Black (Memento) Squeezed Lemonade (Distress)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Circle Punch, Dimensionals (SU)

Clicky to get on the waiting list for the new Stamp of Approval collection.

Harlequin Colored Embossing Paste

This month we have been celebrating StampNation's birthday with an awesome, free, stencil class.  There have been so many amazing techniques and ideas shared in this class that I am on inspiration overload.  Here is a peek at one of the cards I created for class.

For some reason I had an image stuck in my head that I needed to get out on paper.  Does that ever happen to you?  I wanted purple and bright yellow/gold.  Watch the video to find out how I achieved that look by coloring my white embossing paste and also learn some mistakes I learned along the way so you don't have to waste paper too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzxPK9hWDJc

Stamps: Stamp of Approval Young At Heart Collection
Ink: Squeezed Lemonade, Wilted Violet, Seedless Preserves (Distress) Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Marshmallow (Bazzill)
Accessories: Harleen Stencil (Winnie & Walter for SOA) White Embossing Paste (Dreamweavers) Glossy Accents; Palette Knife

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Seedless Preserves

Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste, White, 4 oz.

Viva Decor Palette Knife Set, 3 Pieces

The Best Ever Craft Mat by Ken Oliver

Ranger Accents, Mini Glossy Accents

Color Burst Trial ~ SC121 ~ Video

Stampin' Celebration is back with a new sketch challenge!  I went with a winter theme on this one, in part because the news on the west coast was all about the winter blizzard hitting the east coast.  Praying all my friends on the other side of our country are safe and warm.

This week's sketch is super quick to put together.  Punch or die cut your favorite shape and group them in the corner.  You could use solid colored cardstock, patterned paper, stamped images or make you own custom pattern like I did.  Rotate the sketch or flip it for more possibilities.

Last week was quiet on my blog because I was preparing for the new Stamp of Approval release, as well as the stencil class at StampNation.  I had the video set up and I was playing with my new camera.  That means I have videos to share again!  Woot-Woot!  This card was originally going to be for the SOA release week, but the background did not turn out the way I envisioned it.  Luckily I was able to re-purpose it into this card and another card I will share later.   Plus, I caught it on tape, so I have video for you.

https://youtu.be/HOB-q1jZlcE

Be sure to clicky and see what the design team has linked up.  There will be a new DT call soon, so if you are interested in joining now would be a great time to start participating.  <hint-hint>

Stamps: A Dozen Thoughts, Perpetual Birthday Calendar (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Pthalo Green, Merlot, Violet, Ultramarine Blue (Ken Oliver Color Bursts) Versamark, Bermuda Bay (Stampin' Up!)

Paper: Whisper White (SU) Woodgrain Cardstock (Ellen Hutson)

Accessories: 1" Circle Punch, Embossing Buddy, White Embossing Powder (SU)  Short Round 4 Brush (Silver Brush Company)

***Sale-A-Bration is going on NOW.  Choose a free SAB item for every $50 you spend in the Stampin' Up! store.

Glittered Stencil

Have you heard about the stencil class going on free for members over at StampNation?  We are in our second week and there is still so much awesomeness to see.  Here is a peek at the card I made for the glittered stencil technique.

Clicky to see the full card and tutorial

I just love that I was able to get a colored pattern in my glitter background!  It's super easy to do, but fair warning; you will likely sparkle a bit by the time your card is done.

Ink: 033, 042, 036, 031 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers)
Paper: Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock (Stampin' Up!) Bristol Watercolor (Canson)
Accessoreis: Die Cuts (Stamp of Approval Holiday Magic Collection) Garden Vines Stencil (Memory Box) Icicle Fine Glitter (Darice)
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Pretty Prints Embossing Folder (SU) With Sympathy die (Simon Says Stamp) Sticker Maker (Xyron) Sewing Machine

Memory Box Stencils, Vines

Glitter Ritz Microfine, Ocean Spray

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 033, Persian Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 036, Light Blue

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 031, Cobalt Blue

Xyron, 1.5" Create-a-sticker Machine

Stick It Adhesive Die Cut Adhesive Large Sheets, 5pk

New Class is Live

StampNation has a new class going live this week.  It will be available for sale later in 2016, but right now it is FREE for all members in celebration of StampNation's 5th birthday.  Can you believe StampNation is 5 years old?!!!  Today is day 2 and Maureen is showing us all about masking and stenciling.

I did a stepped up version of this technique back in August.  You can see the video for that in the Inspired By classroom. Here is a sneak peek of that card.

I like this technique so much that I CASEd myself and changed 3+ things to make a new card.  It even made my top favorites of 2015.  Clicky to see the original post. 

I hope you will join us for the stenciling class.  You won't believe how much you can do with this one tool!!!

Here for You ~ Stampin' Celebration ~ SC120

We're back.   Stampin' Celebration is back from our Christmas break with a beautiful new inspiration challenge.  The butterfly among the sparkles was my inspiration.

These elegant images would be lovely on a bridal card, but I am in need of more sympathy and encouragement cards.   I hope you will go check out the challenge and see the updates that our Designer Coordinator, Wendi Lau, has been working on and give the design team some love for their beautiful samples.


***Don't forget about Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration (SAB) going on right now.  For every $50 you spend HERE you can choose 1 item from the SAB catalog for FREE!!!!

Stamps: You've Got This (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Versamark; Silvery Shimmer Delicata
Paper: Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Butterfly Thinlits Die, Silver Embossing Powder, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (SU) Tombow Power Tabs (these are awesome and totally clear!) Blueprints 20 Dies (My Favorite Things)

You've Got This

Butterfly Thinlits

Sunday Share ~ In Memory of Andy

When it comes to making sympathy cards I usually do them on an as-needed basis.  It can be nice to have a few on hand that I can send when it is too difficult to make them, but as I rule I make them for the family as they are grieving the loss of their loved one.  It gives me time to process the grief.   If I did not know the person, then I spend that time praying for the people they left behind.  If I did know the person I also think about them and what they meant to me.  I remember the good moments and try to smile at the funny ones.  Grief is a difficult thing to deal with and we all go through it in different ways.  Making cards is one thing I do to help me through that process.  Unfortunately I have been making cards this week for my friend, my son's friend & his brother who lost their husband/dad early this week.

CTS 154

Even though making these cards is part of the process, I always head to the stamp room and stare at my table not knowing where to start.  Thankfully I had seen the Facebook post from CAS(E) this sketch and thought it was a perfect sketch for my needs.

The background was sponged with distress inks and then stamped with a scripty stamp.  I tried to match the colors, but wasn't concerned if they overlapped.   The mat behind my sponged piece was colored with the direct to paper technique.  It gave it a darker shade than sponging does so that the piece has a noticeable frame.  The stamp I used has been retired, but any script stamp, like Defining Words from Wplus9, will work


Next I stamped the sentiment and heat set it to avoid smearing.  This also helps the sentiment to stand out from the background sponging.  My last step was to add the vellum die cut to represent the butterflies in the sketch and some enamel dots.  I had planned on using butterflies when I started, but the vine called to me.


Stamps: French Foliage (Stampin' Up!) Forever In Our Hearts (Verve)
Ink: Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Wilted Violet (Distress) Onyx Black (Versafine)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah)
Accessories: Geneva Vine (Memory Box) Now & Then Enamel Dots (MME) Blueprints 20, Blueprints 24 (My Favorite Things)

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 20

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 24

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Dried Marigold

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pk

Poppystamps Dies, Beverly Vine

WPlus9 Design Studio Clear Stamps, Defining Words

Final Recap of 2015 Favorite Cards

Have you enjoyed this look back at my favorite cards of 2015 as much as I have.  It's funny... I didn't think I did very much in 2015 until I looked back for these b log posts and realized just how much I accomplished.  Now it is time for me to start setting new goals for the new year.  But first, the final quarter of 2015 favorites.

October

Charlie Brown Tree

This is my current profile picture on my Creative Blessings Facebook page.  I need to replace it now that Christmas is over. 

Video Link: https://youtu.be/66Lr_DALnuE

Power of Pink

In October I really embraced the power of pink.  We are stronger when we stand together.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=JXI5sm76Jl0

November

Bright Baubles

The thing I love about this card, besides it's crisp clean look, is that it is completely different from the Charlie Brown Tree I posted in October.  It's fun to see how many different looks you can get from one stamp set.

December

Easy Watercolor Snowflake

Video Link: https://youtu.be/d_i2RckYdjQ

Happy Birthday

I made this card for my sister-in-law.  I need to make a video on the technique I used to color this one because it turned out easier than I expected to get this watercolored look.