Hello Fri-Yay

Did I mention I was super inspired by the colors in the CAS14 inspiration photo?  I used color burst in a small box to make several backgrounds that turned into 4 or 5 cards.  Don't you love when inspiration strikes like that?  You can see my first card HERE and my reminder card HERE.

Today's card is actually my favorite of the entire set.  I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out!!!

For this card I did several things.  I should have made a video to show you how it was made, but I'll try to explain the highlights.  First stamped and masked and stamped some more.  I wanted the flowers to overlap.   I also stamped a few extra flowers and die cut them out of leftover pieces from my other cards.  ;) To color these flowers I used my Zig markers to add bits of color, then spritzed heavily with water to blend. 

Once everything was dry, I masked the flowers again and placed the panel into a shallow box to color burst the background.  Not sure if I added water to the background first or added color burst, then water, but either way I used highly saturated amounts of both.  :)  This panel was left overnight to dry and then I cut it down to about 3.5"

To finish off the card I added a thin black diagonal stripe stamp to one side of the card, die cut the hello sentiment out of white and black cardstock and layered them together.  Finishing touches including embossing the "girlfriend" sentiment as well as popping up a couple of additional flowers.

If you are inspired by the photo, I encourage you to add your encouragement card to our challenge. Clicky

Don't forget to use the coupon code when shopping at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.  ;) 

Stamps: Girlfriend, Pretty Posies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Diagonal Stripes (My Favorite Things)

Ink: 025, 036, 032, 080 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers) Versamark

Paper: Watercolor (Tim Holtz Distress) White (CPD)

Accessories: Color Burst-Violet (Ken Oliver) Hello Die (CPD) Posies Fri-Dies(CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) White Superfine Embossing Powder (WOW)

Colourcraft Brusho Crystal Colour Watercolors Set of 12 (850007)

Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock

WOW Embossing Powder, Super Fine - Opaque Bright White

VersaMark Ink Pad

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

My Favorite Things Cling Stamps, Diagonal Stripes Background

My Favorite Things Die-Namics, Hello

Wild Blooms and Sneak Peeks

Did you hear that Catherine Pooler's online store soft launch is now open?  It's only open until Friday though so Catherine can restock before her official opening in August.  I showed you a couple of cards last week using products that are available in her shop right now.  A sympathy or thinking of you card and a friendship card.  Would you like to see a sneak peek of a couple more cards I shared exclusively with StampNation?  

Send a note to a friend for this week's challenge:

Stamps: Wild Blooms (Catherine Pooler Designs) In Bloom: Eva's Favorite Flowers (Winnie & Walter) Ring In the Celebration (Winnie & Walter) 

Ink: Black (Staz-On) Cotton Candy, Ripe Raspberry (MFT Color Box) Cockleshell, Bloomsberry (Wplus9) Daffodil Delight, Pistachio Pudding (Stampin' Up)

Paper: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder (Stampin' Up)

Accessories: Circle Punch, Tea Lace Doily (Stampin' Up)

Using a new sketch by Allison Cope

Stamps: Girlfriend (CASual Fridays Stamps) Wild Blooms (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Lilac to Grape Ombre (Hero Arts) Versamark

Paper: Basic Grey, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)

Accesories: Clear Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up)

Friend, You Make Me Smile!

I saw this stencil technique awhile ago and had to try it out on my friendship card. Basically you sponge the rainbow of colors over the stencil, move the stencil slightly and without re-inking your sponge, stencil again.  It gives you a lighter shade of the colors you first stenciled.  Pretty cool, eh?  Sorry, I can't remember who I saw doing this technique.  Whoever you are, THANK YOU!

The sentiment is a combo of  stamps from the Wild Blooms stamp set and the Friend Fri-Die.  My tag was looking a little bare and not popping against the background, so I matted it in black.  It was still too plain, so I pulled out some flower stamps and stamped along the bottom, then added a skinny strip of black cardstock.  Now I love it!

All of the products I used today, with the exception of ink and paper, come from Catherine Pooler's new online store.  She is doing a soft launch this week of her store that will be opening in August.  StampNation members already have the link.  Those of you on the wait list for Stamp of Approval will be getting an email tomorrow and if there is anything left, the store will open to everyone else on Monday and close on July 1st, if she doesn't sell out before that.

Stamps: Girlfriend (CASual Fridays Stamps for SOA Friendship Collection) Wild Blooms (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Cracked Pistachio, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers Wilted Violet (Distress) Black (Staz-On)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Accessories: Harleen Stencil (Winnie & Walter for SOA Young At Heart Collection) Tag Buddies Fri-Dies (CASual Fridays Stamps for SOA Friendship Collection

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Squeezed Lemonade

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Cracked Pistachio

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Picked Raspberry

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Peacock Feathers

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

Stazon Solvent Ink Pad, Jet Black

Love Ya Valentine ~ Video

There is a fun Facebook group called Stamp Junkies and they are running a challenge sponsored by CASual Fridays Stamps.  The theme is RED and I immediately thought of the bold Love Ya sentiment I have from Casual Fridays.  I wanted it to be on a soft pink background, and this is the card I came up with.

Here's my video showing you how I made this valentine card for my love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_-bJuPUnb0

In the close up you can see how some of the distress ink smeared when it came in contact with the wet glue.  It adds "character" to this piece.  (that's my story and I'm sticking to it)  You can also see some of the glossy texture added with the embossing paste and glossy accents.

Stamps: Girlfriend (CASual Fridays Stamps) Scenery: Holiday Trimmings (Winnie & Walter for SOA)

Ink: Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Spun Sugar (Distress Inks) Onyx Black (Versafine)

Paper: Whisper White

Accessories: Harleen Stencil (Winnie & Walter for Stamp of Approval - Young at Heart) Love Ya Fri-Die (CASual Fridays Stamps), Translucent Embossing Paste (Wendi Vechi) Glossy Accents

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Spun Sugar

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Picked Raspberry

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Festive Berries

3M Post-It Adhesive Roll, White, 1x400 in

Studio 490 Embossing Paste by Wendy Vecchi, Translucent

My Favorite Things Die-namics, Blueprints 20

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 8

Ranger Accents, Mini Glossy Accents

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

Ranger Multi Medium, Matte With Brush, 1 oz.

Go Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

As many of you know October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart.  <3  It's a disease that has touched the lives of many of us and the ones we love.  My sincere hope is that there will be an (easy) cure to cancer and that it would not take the life of one more person.  Until then, we fight for the cure and do what we can to raise awareness.  

In honor of breast cancer awareness month I will be going pink on Fridays this month and sharing some stories, facts and inspiration for you.  For my first post I wanted to dispel a myth that might keep many of us from seeking medical help.

Myth: All lumps found in the breast are cancerous.

Fact: FALSE!  Clicky to learn more about the different types of lumps and which one may be cancerous.  It is not uncommon for woman to find lumps in the breasts throughout their lifetime, but not all lumps are the same.  If you find one, seek medical attention.  It could just ease your mind or it could save your life if detected early!

Our local high school has gone pink for tonight's football game.  To show his school spirit and to honor family members that have faced this nasty disease, my son has worn pink for the first time.  When he dives into something he goes all out.  

That is my brave boy!   Real men wear pink, especially when they are supporting women.   One last shot of him walking into school to grab his trumpet and warm up before the game.  His high school band plays during the game to support their team.

Finally I will get to my card.  :)  This card could be sent to any loved one facing cancer or as a reminder to your friends & family to get their check-ups.

This card was made using this week's CAS(E) this Sketch challenge. 

CTS143

Stamping on the curve is easier than it looks.  First I used a light mechanical pencil and traced the curve from the Stitched Borders Die.  Then I curved the sentiment on the die and used a clear block to pick it up.  To create a shadow effect on the sentiment I stamped it in 2 different shades of pink ink, slightly offset from each other.

The pink rhinestones were added as a finishing touch.  Again I used the curve die as a guide.  Don't have that die?  No problem, any round object would work as long as it is bigger than the card.  Try a plate or bowl in a pinch.  ;)

Stamps: Girlfriends (CAS*ual Fridays Stamps for Stamp of Approval - releasing Jan 2016)

Ink: Bubble Gum (Hero Arts); Doll Pink (Simon Says Stamp); Mint Macaron, Pink Pirouette (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Whisper White Thick (SU)

Accessories: Pink Rhinestones (ki for Hampton Arts); Stitched Borders 1 Die (Pretty Pink Posh)

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