Joy to the World

Christmas is just around the corner.  It's time to amp up my cardmaking game!  First up is this card colored with Zig Clean Color real brush markers.  Of all the coloring mediums I have tried, I think I like these best.  My only wish is that I had more colors! 

To bring a little more highlight to certain areas, I used a white gel pen.  After coloring them in I did a wash of wink of stella to add some sparkle, then used yellow stickles to help make them stamen pop. If you click on the picture to see the close up, you'll notice the embossed die cut of the Merry Label Die.  I just love that double line embossed detail. 

Stamps: Hello Gorgeous (Altenew) Snowy Sayings (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Candy Cane Lane (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Midnight, (Catherine Pooler Designs) Real Red, Tranquil Tide (SU)Versamark

Paper: Bristol Vellum (Strathmore) Lost Lagoon (SU) Fairy Dust, Silver Bells 6x6 (Kaiser Craft)

Accessories: 024, 029 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers) Clear Embossing Powder (WOW) Merry Label Die (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Yellow Stickles

Hello Gorgeous, Altenew Stamp & Die Bundle

Hello Gorgeous, Altenew Clear Stamp Set

Hello Gorgeous, Altenew Dies

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (6-1/8 X 7)

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Midnight

Midnight, Catherine Pooler Mini Ink Pad

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pk

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 024, Wine Red

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 029, Geranium Red

Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Tip Marker, Clear

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Rockin Red

Foundations, Catherine Pooler Mini Ink Pads

VersaMark Ink Pad

WOW Embossing Powder, Regular - Clear Sparkle

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 8

Uni-ball Impact Gel Pen, White

Strathmore Bristol Pad 9x12

Scotch Foam Mounting Tape

Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 oz.

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte Mini, 1/2 oz.

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

Ranger Stickles, Yellow

My Sweet Petunia MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool (8-1/8 X 10-1/2)

Paradise Found Blog Hop Day 3

This is the 3rd day of blog hops for Catherine Pooler's new release including the Spa Ink collection along with new stamps and dies.  If you missed the first 2 days you can find the start of them here DAY 1 and Day 2

My creative mojo has been on a break for a long time.  I wasn't sure I had it in me to even create for this release, but I set aside a day to just sit at the stamp table with my new box of goodies and see what I could come up with.  3 days and more than a dozen cards later I would say that my mojo was hiding in that box!

Stamps: Winter Woodland (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Daydream, Royal Treatment, Juniper Mist, Peppermint Scrub, It's A Boy, Sweet Sixteen (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamark

Paper: Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories: Ditress Sprayer (Tim Holtz) Silver Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up)

This was one of the first cards I came up with.  I just had to see how the new purples and blues would blend together.  Then I sprayed them with my new Distress sprayer, and the spray I got was like a galaxy of snowflakes and stars.  I loved it!  The only downside was that, I had planned to create a different card with a snowbank and I forgot to mask it.  It sat on my table taunting me while I continued to make more cards and get all my design ideas out.  When I had made about 10 cards I came back to this one and created a card closer to what I had envisioned.  Here it is below.

Stamps: Winter Woodland (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: W1, T2, T4 (Copics) Daydream, Royal Treatment, Juniper Mist, Peppermint Scrub, Green Tea, Eucalyptus, It's A Boy, Sweet Sixteen, Icing On The Cake (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamark
Paper: Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories: Distress Sprayer (Tim Holtz) Silver Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up) Winter Woodland Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs)

It is one of my favoritist cards ever.  The background turned out even prettier with less purple and more blues.  I used Copics to add some shadows as well as bark to my trees to make them birch trees.  (sidenote- I love birch trees and had 3 in my backyard until an ice storm took one of them out.  Now we have 2)  I had no idea that the bough from the winter woodland was supposed to be paired with the other greenery stamp until I tried to die cut it out and couldn't find a die for it.  I cut out the other greenery and noticed it left a big white blank space.  The lightbulb finally went off and I made this amazing spray for my deer's head.

The trees I cut from the background will be making another appearance soon in the StampNation challenges.   I used them for another card that I am smitten with.

Below are some close ups so you can see just how reactive these new inks are to water.  I love that it lifted the color and left a lighter shade behind.

The distress sprayer makes all the difference.  Don't you love how these spa inks react with water?!!!

Here is a quick collage of most of the cards I made with the new inks, dies, and stamps.  To see more, visit my posts from the past few days HERE, HERE and HERE and be sure to come back tomorrow or subscribe by email to see more.

Now on to the hop and prizes.  Be sure to leave a comment on each blog on the hop, including mine, for your chance to win.  Happy shopping and hopping!

NEXT UP IS THE CREATIVE EMILY LEIPHART

Catherine Pooler

Taheerah Atchia

Julie Mogford

Lydia Evans

Heather North *you are here*

Emily Leiphart <<<go here next>>>

New Release ~ Paradise Found

Have you caught any of the new release videos Catherine & Ingrid have been doing over on Facebook?  She has a new collection of earthy spa colors of ink, plus stamps and dies. Today's cards feature the new Plaid Background stamp along with the Winter Woodland stamps & dies.  I managed to use all but 2 colors between these two cards.

This first card was a happy accident.   When we designers get these products we have NO samples to go off and it can be quite tricky trying to figure out how the designer intended the stamps to go together.  I played around with the greenery and using the heart and bird together.  I wasn't sure which was supposed to be in the center, but it doesn't really matter because they both look great.  Earlier I had stamped out the plaid background in both Rockin' Red (Party Collection) and Peppermint Scrub (Spa Collection) to see how the two reds compared.  This paper happened to be on the table when I set the bird on top.  Later when I was looking for something else I saw the small doily and the birdie gift tag on top of the plaid background and almost squealed it was so cute.  I stamped the arrangement on the center of my doily and put this quick card together.

Stamps: For Everything, Plaid Background, Winter Woodland (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Eucalyptus, Rockin' Red, Peppermint Scrub, Royal Treatment, Green Tea (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Paper: Premium White (CPD)
Accessories: Small Doily Die (Catherine Pooler Designs) 

This second card came when stamped out the deer and other images, then die cut them.  I couldn't find a matching die to the greenery that the bird is sitting on.  I had used that stamp to make a wreath on yesterday's card.  I had thought perhaps they were supposed to be in the place of antlers, tough there are antlers in this stamp set.  So, I grabbed the green stamp I had used on the cards above, then grabbed the die to cut it out and I couldn't get it to match.  There was all this extra white space sticking out that side.  That's when it dawned on me that the 2 greeneries were designed to be stamped over each other.  Pretty cool, eh?! 

One I put that die cut "bouquet" on my deer's head, I had to jazz up his background too.  I would have grabbed the gold glitter embossing powder I've been seeing Catherine use, but I don't have it in my hot little hands.   I do have sand dunes, and decided to experiment to see how it would look.  Originally I was going to just have it be a small background like it was on the card I made yesterday, but I loved it too much to cover up, so I pulled out the small doily die instead to anchor my deer.  This happy accident turned out to be one of my favorite cards from this collection.

Stamps: Plaid Background, Winter Woodland (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Eucalyptus, Peppermint Scrub, Juniper Mist, Green Tea (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Paper: Premium White (CPD)
Accessories: Sand Dunes Embossing Powder, Small Doily Die (Catherine Pooler Designs) 

The entire spa collection, plus new stamps and dies along with the Naturally Inspired collection is on sale now.  Hurry before the initial supplies sell out.  Check back in here all week for inspiration on the new releases.

CLICKY TO BUY ALL THE NEW THINGS

Catherine is doing 3 days of blog hops, so be sure to head on over to her site to see how some of the design team was inspired.  A little birdie told me there might be prizes.  <wink-wink>

Catherine Pooler New Inks

Have you heard the news?  I'm sure you have.  Catherine Pooler is releasing her second line of inks called the Spa Collection.   Today she announced her final 2 colors, so I get to start sharing some cards with you!  I've had the privilege of playing with these inks and some of her new products that will hit the store on the 14th.  Would you like to see a peek at what is in store for you?  

I actually made this card last week for the StampNation challenge before I realized that the inks would not have been revealed, so I quickly made another card.  This card uses the new Eucalyptus, Green Tea and Peppermint Scrub inks. 

Stamps: Merry and Bright Boughs (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Eucalyptus, Green Tea, Icing On the Cake, Peppermint Scrub (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Paper: Gold Glimmer Paper (Stampin' UP) Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Accessories: Gold Glitter Pen (Marvy) Joy Wreath Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs)

This next card I made specifically for the release coming tomorrow.  It uses the new Plaid Background stamp with Sand Dunes embossing powder.  I love the way the sparkly sandy gold looks as a background for my card.  In fact, you'll be seeing it again on another card this week.  I created the wreath out of a couple of stamps in the Winter Woodland stamp set.  Then I glittered the bow in the same embossing powder as the background.  I can hardly wait to show you the rest of the cards I've made.  I'm hopping up and down for this release that we've all waited so long for.

Stamps: Plaid Background, Winter Woodland (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Eucalyptus, Green Tea, Peppermint Scrub (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamark

Paper: Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Accessories: Sand Dunes Embossing Powder (WOW)

In case you are wondering what card I ended up making for the challenge last week, here is a sneak peek for you.  I was really in a wreath mood.  You can see the full card here.

Winterhaven Stamp of Approval Blog Hop Day 3

It's almost time for the newest Stamp of Approval collection to be released, so you will want to get on the waitlist NOW if you are not already on it.  cpstampofapproval.com  This collection goes beyond the traditional Christmas collection and encompasses the entire season from Christmas, to celebrations, gift tags, thank you and more!  If you aren't familiar with Stamp Of Approval, it is an exclusive collection of stamping products curated by Catherine Pooler.  She puts these collections together in a limited supply for a limited time.  Once they sell out, they are not released for sale until months later and never again in a complete collection at this great price!

Both of my cards today are a take on the traditional Reds & Greens of Christmas.  First up is my Party Dress pink card using the new background stamp along with the Joy Wreath die.  It is so pretty die cut out of glimmer paper, that the card really doesn't need much more.

Stamps: Here We Come A-Caroling, Ornamental Background (SOA Winterhaven)

Ink: Party Dress (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamak

Paper: Champagne Glimmer Paper (Stampin' Up) Midnight, Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Accessories: Joy Wreath Die (SOA Winterhaven) White Embossing Powder (WOW)

To create both cards I first stamped in Versamark using the Ornamental Background stamp, then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Next I sponged on my color started at the bottom of the card and getting lighter as I moved up.  The difference comes in the colors of ink and the embellishments/sentiments to finish off each card.

My second card is a play on the traditional green using Aqua inks instead.  To jazz up the Joy sentiment I first die cut in white, then sponged on color on the bottom 2/3 of the word.  Next I covered the entire thing in Versamark ink and sprinkled Wanderlust embossing powder over it, heat setting it to bring out the sparkle and shine.  The little sentiment strip was part of a larger sentiment that I masked off, inked in versamark and heat set white embossing powder.   Then I sponged my lightest color over the strip and my darkest just around the edges.

Stamps: Here We Come A-Caroling, Ornamental Background (SOA Winterhaven)

Ink: All That Jazz, Aquatini, Something Borrowed (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamak

Paper: Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Accessories: Joy Wreath Die (SOA Winterhaven) Wanderlust Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder (WOW)

The Winterhaven Stamp Of Approval will open up for sale to the waitlist very soon.  You will want to get on that waitlist NOW if you are not already on.  The previous 2 collections sold out within hours of opening up to the waitlist before the link to shop went public. 

Go to:
www.cpstampofapproval.com 
to subscribe.

Now on to the fun stuff!  Seeing what everyone has been creating and commenting for your chance to win a collection for free!

Today is the 3rd day of blog hops.  If you missed the other 2, don't worry, I will link them below.  Make sure you leave a comment on each blog today for your chance to win.  If you get lost on the hop, start at Catherine's blog and work your way down. 

*Up next is the beautifully creative Cynde*

BLOG HOP PRIZE

One winner will be chosen at random from each day's comments and announced on OCTOBER 11th on Catherine’s blog. The winners will win their box and if they already bought it, they will be issued a Gift Certificate worth $100 towards a future purchase.

Catherine Pooler

Laurel 
Emily

Heather *you are here*

Cynde ***GO HERE NEXT***

Julie

Melissa

Taheerah

In case you missed them, you can still comment on the first days of blog hops.

Blog Hop Day 1 Blog Hop Day 2

Winterhaven Is Coming

How are you spending World Card Making Day?  Winterhaven is coming next week, and blog hops for the new Stamp Of Approval start today.  My blog hop day will be Monday, but I just couldn't wait to start sharing my cards with you!

Stamps: Here We Come A-Caroling, Tis The Season (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: It's A Girl, Rockin' Red, Tutti Frutti, Garden Party, Grass Skirt, Lime Rickey (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamark 

Paper: Premium White (Catherine Pooler Designs) Vellum Cardstock (Stampin' Up)

 Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up) Gold Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh)

I took the Tis' The Season stamp set from this collection and paired it with a sentiment from another set in the collection to make this card.  The instructions for this card will be included in the project guide that comes with every Stamp of Approval collection.   Make sure you are on the waitlist to find out when these products are released. cpstampofapproval.com

If you would like to join the first day of blog hops and comment for your chance to win, start HERE at Catherine's blog. 

In case you haven't popped on over to StampNation yet, here are my sneak peeks for 2 of the challenges.

Snow Is Coming

Did you know that StampNation has a bi-monthly (or is it bi-weekly) Christmas challenge to help inspire us to get our cards made before December 25th?  There have been some great ones already, but this is the first time I have joined in.  My plan is to go back and do the others after the kids are back in school.  (8 more days, but who's counting?)

The challenge this week is SNOW, so I pulled out my snowflake collection of stamps and dies and went to work creating my own snowy background with an emboss resist technique.

I hope you will join in on this challenge.  To see what the design team and fellow members have created for inspiration CLICKY.

Stamps: Bring On the Snowflakes, Snowy Sayings (CASual Fridays Stamps)
Ink: Fiesta Blue, It's A Boy (Catherine Pooler Designs) Versamark

Paper: Silver Shimmer, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Funky Flakes Fri-Dies (CASual Fridays Stamps) White Embossing Powder (Stampin' UP)

Christmas CASE

For those of you who don't know, CASEing, in the stamp world, means Copy And Share Everything.  In October I had the priviledge of caseing my friend, Kristie, as part of a design team challenge over at StampNation.  As I said in the video I made for that class, my first card turned out a little too much like Kristie's, so I had to scrap that one and change it up a bit more for my tutorial.  It's funny because I used different stamp sets, different theme and with the exception of black & white, different colors.  I did use her layout and design.  Here is my original card.

Don't you just love him?  If you would like to see Kristie's card, the second card I came up with and my video tutorial, you can clicky, if you are a StampNation member.

Stamps: Beautiful World (Gina K) Candy Cane Lane, Hip Holiday, Merry and Bright Boughs (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Ink: Cotton Candy, Grapesicle, Limeade, Razzle Berry, Tropical Teal (My Favorite Things) 
Paper: Basic Black, Vellum, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Circle Dies (SU) Foam Sheet (Sugar Pea Designs) Hip Holiday Dies (Catherine Pooler Designs) Gold Thread

Winter Woodland Color Layering Deer

Last week I shared a simple card using my new Color Layering Deer stamp set from Hero Arts.  Today I'm sharing a slightly stepped up version of that card, using a simple masking technique to add "depth of field" to my card.

To watch the video on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ0vyxIJPwg

Close up, so you can see the amazing detail in this stamp set.

Stamps: Color Layering Deer (Hero Arts) Winter Woodland (Wplus9)
Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Real Red, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Tip Top Taupe (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Solar White (Neenah) Patterned Paper (???)
Accessories: Blueprints 24(My Favorite Things) Color Layering Deer Dies (Hero Arts) Mini MISTI

Hero Arts Clear Stamps, Color Layering Deer

Hero Arts Frame Cuts Dies, Color Layering Deer

WPlus9 Design Studio Clear Stamps, Winter Woodland

COPIC Sketch Marker W1, Warm Gray No. 1

Neenah Cardstock, Neenah Heavyweight, Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb, 25 pk

My Sweet Petunia Mini MISTI Laser Etched Stamping Tool

The Magnet Source Magnets, Neodymium Super Disc 5/8

Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy

Inkadinkado Stamping Mask Paper, 5x7, 12 pk

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 24