Last week there were posts every day and this week there have been very few from me. Sorry about that. I was struck with a cold last weekend and though I am feeling better I am still tired and dragging. My body must need extra rest. :)
Today I am posted another tutorial in my Inspired By series over in the StampNation classrooms. You will never guess what inspired me to make today's card. Here's a sneak peek for you.
StampNation members can CLICKY to go to the post. If you aren't a StampNation member and want to become one CLICKY to sign up now and then the link should work for you.
It's time for a new challenge at Stampin' Celebration. Check out this amazing inspiration photo.
As soon as I saw this photo I knew I wanted to sew on my card. I planned on sewing in white thread, but there was black thread in my machine. The sentiment was black so I thought the black thread would look good and tie into the sentiment. Now I wish I had chosen a lighter thread.
Aqua, pink, white or gray might have been better choices, but I don't think the person that gets this card will mind too much. This card is going in my OWH box. Even though it has hearts on it, it doesn't have "Valentine" anywhere so it can be sent all year long.
On the inside of the card I used a couple of my heart punches. It adds a little bit of decorations, but leaves plenty of room for a long note of love. <3
Stamps: Groovy Love (SU)
Ink: Black Staz-On
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White (SU); Smitten (Authentique)
Accessories: Heart Punch , Bitty Banners (SU); Rounded Stitched Rectangles (Lil' Inker Designs)
Last week I was super busy with the StampNation Birthday Bash and didn't get any time at the sewing machine. Today I needed to get a card made for the Stampin' Celebration Challenge that goes live tomorrow. The inspiration photo for the challenge was a perfect opportunity to sew on my card. I put it into my machine and discovered I still hadn't plugged it in from the sew-in before the last South Sound Modern Quilt Guild meeting. My poor sewing machine must have felt so lonely.
Sew In at Ruby Street Quiltworks with South Sound Modern Quilt Guild.
It's not a quilt, but it is fun. Sewing on cards is so easy! I wish I had chosen a different color thread, but not enough to re-thread my machine and remake the card. :)
Much progress has been made on my ALYOF goal for January. In fact I have finished adding the binding on the quilt, but I don't have a picture of the completed project yet. Sorry. I'll try to get a picture taken this week to share with you next weekend. Now it's time for me to take some more cold medicine and take a nap. Hope your sewing machine is seeing more love lately than mine has.
Today is the last day of our week long celebration on StampNation celebrating our 4th birthday, and you aren't too late to join in. Come in fashionably late because you have another week to get your cards made and enter the challenges for your chance to win some amazing prizes from our sponsors.
I'm wrapping up the week with a double video day. The first one is here on my blog and the second card/video will be up on StampNation later today. It was a fun process to see what I came up. The challenge was to create a project inspired by one of StampNation members. I chose Karolyn Loncon from Paper Therapy. You can see her original card in the StampNation gallery here. Clicky
http://youtu.be/4oQ_0rB0eFE
While I was cleaning up the mess I made from this first card I decided to make a second card instead of throwing the painted outline balloons away. Here's a sneak peek for you of the card and video coming exclusively to StampNation later today.
Don't forget to pick up your code and freebies today from our sponsor. Some of them expire TODAY.
Stamps: Celebrate (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink: Surf Blue (SSS); Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade (Distress) Onyx Black (Versafine)
Paper: 120lb White (Simon Says Stamp); Distress Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz); Basic Black (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Balloon Bouquet Die, Happy Die (Simon Says Stamp); Clear Embossing Powder (SU); Washi Tape (Little B)
Tomorrow is the last official day of StampNation's Birthday Bash. Have you been enjoying the fun? The challenge today is anything goes. I'm enjoying getting my stash of birthday cards up again. It was seriously depleted, especially in the teenage guy category. That is why I am back today with another masculine card.
My sponsor focus for this card is Verve Stamps. Verve is one of the first companies I found that made high quality clear stamps. I discovered them through one of my favorite sketch challenges: Mojo Monday. They were a dream to work with, as were all our sponsors. When I think of Verve Stamps I often think "pretty" and "floral", but that is not what I made. I used this super cool set to create a card any guy would love to receive. (with a little money inside, because let's face, not many teenage boys are actually into cards)
This is a fairly "Clean & Simple" card for me, but I could have gone much cleaner and taken the basic design down to a one layer card. That's not how I roll though. :) Check out the video to see how this card came together.
If you only enter one challenge this week on StampNation, this should be it, because the only limit is your imagination. :)
In the video I mentioned I would give you a little more info about StampNation. StampNation is online community of passionate paper crafters. We have classrooms with video and written tutorials, weekly challenges, quarterly events (like the birthday bash), an amazing picture gallery that every member can submit their project to, and forums for us to just chat & share ideas. Sound like something you might be interested in? Membership is just $9 a month and you can cancel at any time by emailing them to let them know. Give it a try for a month, enter to win one of fabulous sponsor challenges, watch as many videos as you can and see if it is something you might enjoy.
All week long we are celebrating StampNation's 4th birthday with challenges and prizes from our sponsors. The challenge today is to use 4 of something in honor of our 4th birthday. :) I chose to use 4 colors on my card.
This card was very quick to make. Watch the video to see it come together.
http://youtu.be/Ct04Hb0Wlq8
Whimsy Stamps sent each of the design team members at StampNation this adorable Birthday Balloon stamp set. Today it is being released in their shop. I didn't even know that I was getting a preview product until I looked for the link in their store. :) How cool is that?! Thank you Whimsy!!! If you are a StampNation member you have one of 3 chances to win gift certificate to their store. Every member can also use a special code to get a FREE gift with purchase. Clicky to find out more.
We are halfway through the Birthday Bash over at StampNation. I don't want this party to end. :) Today I am highlighting one of our sponsors, Simon Says Stamp. I call them SSS for short here on my blog. Simon Says Stamp in an online super store for paper crafters. If there is something you want to buy for making cards, chances are Simon Says Stamp has it.
One of my favorite things about Simon Says Stamp is their exclusive line of products. They fit my style. :) You can find stamps with coordinating dies, ink with matching paper and stencils that are completely unique. SSS doesn't just follow the paper crafting trends, they create them. If you've been following along my blog this week you have already seen me use their ink & paper. Today I'm showcasing their stamps, dies and stencils.
In the video you will see several "experiments" and at least a couple of "fails", but I think I turned them around and turned them into two beautiful cards I would be proud to send to anyone.
I'm back for Day 3 of the Birthday Bash with another card using supplies from Whimsy Stamps and adding in some ink + cardstock from Simon Says Stamp (another fabulous Birthday Bash sponsor that I will highlight tomorrow). Today's challenge is to create a card for kids.
This little set is so cute I couldn't make just one. I had to make one for a boy and one for a girl. Check out the video to see how you can make your own sweet as candy card.
Be sure to check out the StampNation challenge forums for your coupon code to get a free gift with $50 purchase from Whimsy Stamps. Trust me, it's going to be easy to fill your cart at this fun store.
Whimsy stamps is also giving away $25 gift certificates to 3 lucky StampNation members who play along with this week's challenges.
Members click here to find out more
If you aren't a member, and want to join clicky
StampNation is sponsoring Operation Write Home as their charity for this event. These cards were made with our troops on my mind. I picture a mom or dad writing to their son and daughter and I tear up every time.
Stamps: Sweet As Candy, Birthday Balloon (Whimsy Stamps)
Ink: Audrey Blue, Doll Pink (Simon Says Stamp); Smoky Slate (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Audrey Blue, Doll Pink, White 120 lb (Simon Says Stamp)
Accessories: Aquapainter (Stampin' UP!); Birthday Die, Sweet As Candy Die (Whimsy); Wink of Stella Pen; Glossy Accents
The party is going strong over at StampNation celebrating its 4th birthday. New challenges every day, along prizes and gifts from our sponsors. If you aren't yet a member, it's not too late join. Sign up today and you can take full advantage of the Birthday Bash fun along with everything else that StampNation has to offer.
Each day I will also be posting challenge cards on my blog and spotlight our sponsors. Today I have a card made with stamps & dies from Whimsy Stamps. This company is fairly new to me, but I am already in love! In fact, I'm about to place my 3rd order to take advantage of the special offer for StampNation members only! Woot Woot!!!
Today's challenge is to create a masculine card. My supply of masculine cards is completely depleted so I made a card exclusively for StampNation, one for my blog and another card is probably coming later this week.
It can be difficult to find patterned paper that works for teenage boys, so I decided to make my own with stamps. Check out the video to see how.
If you are a StampNation member, be sure to check out the forum to see all the special offers from our sponsors and get your code for a FREE gift with purchase from Whimsy Stamps. If you are not a member, join now and get in on all the fun.
StampNation's 4th birthday is today and we are celebrating with a week of challenges and fabulous sponsors including Simon Says Stamp, Verve, and Whimsy Stamps. There are prizes, specials and discount codes at StampNation and I will be partying along with the challenges on my blog spotlighting each of our sponsors.
Verve Stamps will be giving away a $50 Gift Certificate to one lucky member that participates in the challenges this week, plus a FREE digital download to all members.
Simon Says Stamp will also be giving away a $50 Gift Code to one lucky participant in the challenges this week at StampNation.
Whimsy Stamps will be giving away $25 Gift Certificates to 3 lucky StampNation members who join in this week's challenges. Plus, they have a special gift with purchase offer!
If you are a member, head on over to the forums for all the deets and to see the exclusive content on today's challenge. If you are not yet a member and want to take part in the birthday bash, then join today. :) I joined 3 years ago for StampNation's first birthday, and I'm so glad that I did.
The challenge today is to make a card "for her". I took the challenge a bit further than I needed to and made 3 cards and 2 videos for you. All week long I will be highlighting our sponsors. Today I am focusing on Verve Stamps. Verve stamps fit my style with their lovely script fonts and beautiful images.
***Note- if you cannot view the video below, head to my blog or click on the link to watch it on youtube. http://youtu.be/mNR1AZQ0bGA
Check out the second video to see what I did with some of the pieces leftover from the first video. http://youtu.be/IswHqgDYZBs
Stamps: Be Blessed (Verve) Ink: Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberry, Salty Ocean, Shaded Lilac, Squeezed Lemonade (Distress); Black Onyx (Versafine); Versafine
Accessories: Sequins (Verve); Clear & White Embossing Powders (Stampin' UP!)
Being creative has been such a blessing in my life that I want to share it with others. On my blog you will find cards, scrapbooks, quilts and a bit of my family life mixed in.
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