You Make Me Smile

Yesterday I showed you 3+ ways to use a background piece created with the new Tilly's Magic Garden from Catherine Pooler designs. If you missed that post and video CLICKY to see it now.  Today I am going to share yet another idea for using that background piece created with tiny stamps.

My favorite part of this card is that custom striped paper.  I used YAY Stripes and Black Jack ink on a 1/4" strip of Smoke & Mirrors cardstock.  Isn't that a fun little addition to this card?  I also cut the white panel on an angle for added interest to this otherwise Clean & Simple card.

Stamps: Tilly's Magic Garden, Wild Blooms, Yay Stripes,  (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Ink: Black Jack, Garden Party, It's A Girl, Mint to Be, Party Dress, Tiara, Pixie Dust (CPD) Versamark
Paper: Smoke and Mirrors,  Premium Bright White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder (SU) Stencil Brushes (Clarity)

StampNation's 6th Birthday Bash

Wow!  From reading the comments on my blog hop post yesterday, you all seem to really love the new ink.  What's not to love right?  In case you missed it you can still clicky and leave a comment until 6pm EST on Thursday for your chance to win one of the gift certificates Catherine is giving away. 

One thing I might have forgotten to mention yesterday is that today is the kick off day for StampNation's 6th birthday.  We will have 8 days worth of challenges and videos to inspire you.  Each challenge was created using the names of the 8 new ink colors released yesterday, but you don't need to use them in order to participate.  And, sistah, you are going to want to participate.  Check out the line-up of sponsors we have.  I wish I could win these prizes myself!!!

I joined StampNation 5 years ago for their first birthday and it has taken my stamping to places I never dreamed it could go. Happy Birthday StampNation!!!

I can't let you go without a little sneaky peek at some of the awesomeness created by the design team.

I'm up for day one with this adorable gift tag.  (If I do say so myself)

Stamps: Peppermint Stick, Wild Blooms (Catherine Pooler Designs) Young at Heart (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) 
Ink: Party Dress (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper: Bright White (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up) Tag Buddies Fri Dies (CAS-ual Fridays Stamps) Ribbon-Bag-Tissue Paper (Heather gift wrap supply closet)

I'll be sharing the other 2 projects I made with you later this week and next.  Plus, I have a full card and video to share with YOU on my blog at the end of the celebration.  Can you guess which colors I'll be using?

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

Thoughts & Prayers | Stamp of Approval | Store Opening

The day many of you have been waiting and asking for is almost here.  Catherine Pooler is getting ready to launch her online store filled with goodies from previously released Stamp of Approval collections, along with a few extra goodies.  She is opening her store for just one week with a soft launch this weekend that will run until July 1st (while supplies last) and then a grand opening will happen later this summer. 

For my card I used 2 brand new stamp sets along with 1 special new die to go along with previously released Eva's Favorite Flowers.   Check out the video for at least 3 techniques to bring color to your cards.

Or watch on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRkpu38hFjw

Be sure to head on over to Catherine's blog to see more samples and get on the wait list to find out when the store goes live.  If you are a StampNation member, you will want to check out this week's challenge.  The design team is using goodies from the store opening to inspire you too!

Stamps: And Sentiments, Wild Blooms (Catherine Pooler Designs)  Eva's Favorite Flowers (Winnie & Walter)
Ink: 083, 082, 081, 080, 302, 042 (Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers) Onyx Black (Versafine) Wilted Violet (Distress) Versamark
Paper: Bristol Cardstock (Strathmore) Whisper White (Stampin' Up)
Accesories: Eva's Favorite Flowers Die (Winnie & Walter) Journal Tag Dies (SugarPea Designs) Clear & White Embossing Powders (Stampin' Up)

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Wilted Violet

Ranger Ink Blending Tool Replacement Foam, 1 Inch Round

Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Powder Tool Adhesive Deactivator

VersaMark Ink Pad

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 083, Lilac

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 082, Purple

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 081, Light Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 080, Violet

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 302, Haze Blue

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

WOW Embossing Powder, Regular - Clear Gloss