Happy Birthday, Dad

Last week was my dad's birthday.  When it comes to masculine cards I like to go one of 2 ways.  Either I keep it clean and simple with an added touch of texture or movement.  Or, I go to the flip side and do very textured and grungy with earth tones, neutrals or blues.   This time I went with CAS.

To create the blue panel I sponged blue ink onto watercolor paper, then spritzed it lightly with water.  After it was dry, I used a stencil to get the translucent embossing paste squares.  Once the paste was completely dry, I die cut out a square to have a place for my sentiment to go.  It's slightly crooked, but I don't think my dad will mind.

Stamps: Birthday To You (Verve)
Ink: Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Broken China (Distress); Black Onyx (Versafine)
Paper: Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!); Watercolor Paper
Accessories: Square Framelits, Clear Embossing Powder (SU); Translucent Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi); Small Checkerboard Stencil (My Favorite Things)

Square Framelits

My Favorite Things Stencils, Small Checkerboard

Studio 490 Embossing Paste by Wendy Vecchi, Translucent

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Broken China

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Salty Ocean

Ranger Distress Ink Pad, Tumbled Glass

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock

2015-2017 Stampin Up In Colors + Video

My new catalog order is in the house!  Unfortunately we are in the last week of school, so I haven't had much time to play with any of my new goodies.  I did make time to test out the new InColors though, and I turned on the video so you could see them in action.  ;)

https://youtu.be/aV6q5ge_CfM

What is your favorite new color? 

2015-2017 In Color Collection

Cucumber Crush

Delightful Dijon

Mint Macaron

Tip Top Taupe

Watermelon Wonder

Summer Coffee Hop + StampNation Sneak Peek

If you are a cardmaker and coffee lover, you've probably heard about the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Today I am adding my card to the mix of over 380 others.  That is a lot of coffee lovers, my friends. 

To give my coffee card a summer feel I stamped my cups in bright rainbow colors.  Then I decided to brighten up the card even more by adding strips of custom made rainbow paper.  To make my rainbow I used my aquapainter and picked up ink from the lid of my SU inks, then applied it in short brush strokes to some thick cardstock. This is a great way to have your paper match your stamping.

Stamps: Time for Tea, Coffee Break (Whimsy Stamps)
Ink: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Concord Crush, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Versamark (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Vellum Cardstock (SU); Marshmallow (Bazill)

Accessories: Aquapainter, White Embossing Powder (SU); MISTI; Coffee Cup Die Set (Whimsy)

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Now for some StampNation updates.  First off we have a new guest designer for June, the fabulously talented Amy Tsuruta is joining us. Yes, the coffee queen herself.  I'm so excited to have her!!! 

Second, an announcement was made recently on StampNation about some design team changes.  Clicky to see the full post if you are a member.  Virginia Lu is stepping down at the end of June.  If you haven't checked out her latest lesson in the classroom, you must.  Gorgeous!  She will be missed, but she promises to pop in when she gets some time. Laurel Beard is being added to the Dream Team.  She has a gift for adding techniques and finishing touches that takes her cards to a professional level.  I can't wait to see what she shares with us.

As for this week's challenge, well, it's all about the dad's.  Father's day is coming upon us fast, and we are helping you get a head start on those cards with a Masculine Muse collage.
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Now I'm headed over to the Coffee blog hop to leave some love.  Check it out when you have time.  Clicky There are prizes up for grabs for participants, so link up your coffee card by Friday.  ;)  

Natural Hearts ~ SC 106

It's time for a new inspiration challenge at Stampin' Celebration.  Come join the talented team of designers and create a project using this card as your inspiration.

SC106

I took my cue from the natural vases in the picture on the left for inspiration in designing this week's card.

Here's a look at the inside.

Now it's your turn.  Head on over to the challenge blog to see how the rest of the team was inspired and then try out the challenge for yourself.  We are doing a DT team call too, so if you are interested in joining our design team, check out the deets over there.

All supplies are Stampin' UP!

Stamps: Groovy Love, Petite Pairs 

Ink: Crumb Cake, Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Accessories: Sweetheart Punch, Natural Chevron Ribbon, White Embossing Powder

Sew Sunday ~ ALYOF June Goals

June Goals

Nothing like cutting it close to the wire for my A Lovely Year of Finishes goal.  That is how June always is.  So much to cram into such a short time.   My goal for this month is to complete the 3rd block, Duplex, from the class I took this weekend.  If I don't make it my goal, I might never finish.

Shanna & Melissa (ALYOF hostesses) were both at this class. I asked Shanna how long I had to link up with my June goal, and then I told her my dilema this month.  Too much to do, not enough time, and she said her goal this month might just be one block.  Thanks, Shanna, for the encouragement to continue making goals, even if I need to make the smaller for the busy baseball season.

My color palette.  <3 

The class was taught by Elizabeth Hartman, and put on by the South Sound Modern Quilt Guild.  It was based on her Patchwork City book.  I was able to complete the first 2 blocks, but had to leave early and didn't get the 3rd one done.

  Our guild plans on doing a block from her book each month, so this will give me a good jump start if I make it my goal to have this complete before the next meeting.

Here are a few photos from our class.

We also had a trunk show put on by Elizabeth Hartman the night before.  I'll have to wait until next weekend to show you pictures from that.  Right now it is time to go watch a movie and have ice cream with the family.

Father's Day Card ~ Fusion Challenge + Watercolor Blog Hop

Double post today.  If you are here for the Card A Day Challenge, please scroll down for that post or Clicky to go there now. 

This card came together in an unusual way.  I've been working on cleaning my stamp room this week.  It's taking me a long time because I keep getting distracted by the things I should be putting away.  Can anyone relate?  The background blue and green piece is from a "failed" attempt at a new watercolor/ink/stencil technique.  I thought about just tossing it, but then an idea struck and this card was born.

As soon as I layered the white die cut on top of my technique piece I squealed with delight.  It reminded me of the ocean, so I due cut some fun dies from Wplus9 and colored them.    Then I set the pieces aside and got distracted for a couple of days.  Yesterday I saw the new fusion challenge inspiration photo and it was just the inspiration I needed to get this card put together.  Thank you, Fusion Card Challenge!

Don't you just love this?!!! I am definitely using it to create another card or two. My wheels are turning.  I love when challenges do that for me.  Here is a close up so you can see the texture and dimension on my focal piece.  The lighthouse was colored simply with Copics.  The starfish were sponged with ink and then I used markers to color in little dots for extra texture & dimension.  The edges of most of the pieces were sponged with Crumb Cake ink.

The finishing touch was to glue on some Seed Beads and Sand Sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.    I had a starfish leftover, so I glued him on the inside.  I can't believe I now have 2 Father's Day cards completed this early!  Perhaps I will even get them sent out on time.

Since I used a watercolor background, I'm also entering this card into the watercolor blog hop over on Pretty Pink Posh.  <3  The makers of those fabulous seed beads and sequins I used for my sandy beach.  Head on over to Fusion and Pretty Pink Posh to play along.  Now that my card is done I'm going to see what everyone else has designed.  :)

Supplies 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Calypso Coral, Crisp Canteloupe, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate (SU); R29, R59, Y08 (Copic); Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Distress)
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake Textured, Very Vanilla (SU); Marshmallow (Bazzill)
Accessories: Guiding Light Dies (Wplus9); Interlocking Die (Penny Black); Silver Shimmer Seed Beads, 4mm Sand Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Penny Black Dies, Interlocking

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

WPlus9 Design Studio Dies, Guiding Light

Pretty Pink Posh Seed Beads, Silver Shimmer

Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, 4mm Cupped, Sand

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Marshmallow, 10 pk

COPIC Sketch Marker R59, Cardinal

COPIC Sketch Marker R29, Lipstick Red

COPIC Sketch Marker Y08, Acid Yellow

Shine Bright ~ Card A Day Challenge Guest Designer ~ Video

Today I have a special challenge to introduce you to.  Theresa Knopf runs Card A Day Challenge and has asked me to guest design for you today.  Clicky to see me there.  If you are ever lacking inspiration or motivation, check out her blog.  There's something new everyday.  :)  Now on to my card.

This is where my card started.  I wanted to see if I could find a way to line the  diamonds on my new stamp set.  What I found was a super easy solution, so I turned the camera one to make a second card.  This time I stepped it up a bit and added some shine to my card.

Want to know how I got those diamonds lined up perfectly?  Good, because I made a video showing you how.  :)

Thanks for having me guest on your Card A Day Challenge, Theresa!

Stamps: Girl's Best Friend (Lil' Inker Designs)
Ink: Lost Lagoon, Pool Party (Stampin' UP!)
Paper: Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Wink of Stella Brush Pen; Glossy Accents

Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Tip Marker, Clear

Ranger Accents, Mini Glossy Accents

Quilled Creations Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle 0.5 oz.

New Catalog Is Live!

It's finally here!  Today only you can order from both catalogs.  Tomorrow the retired items, including My Digital Studio, will be gone.

As a demonstrator I had the opportunity to order new items before the catalog launch, but with my crazy busy schedule I knew I wouldn't have the time to play with my new goodies.  So, this morning I placed my order right along with you.   Here are some of the things in my shopping cart.

Watercolor Wings Bundle

This set will be a great companion to the Butterfly Thinlit Dies I already own.  I'm super excited that they come in the clear photopolymer, as that is my favorite type of stamp.

2015-2017 InColors

Of course I had to get the new InColors.  I'm so excited to get my hands on the Mint Macaron.   This is the one thing I almost ordered early, and I am kicking myself for not doing so.  I'm just not a very patient person.

Dots for Days Background Stamp

Only a fellow stamper can understand how exciting the perfect sized dot background stamp can be.  I can hardly wait to get this one inky!

One Big Thank You

You can never have too many thank you sets.  I send more of these types of cards throughout the year than any other.  I absolutely LOVE the fonts used on these stamps and that there is such a variety.

You've Got This

While I think that flower is going to be fun to color, and I really like the background image, what sold me on this stamp set is the sentiments.  One of my son's baseball coaches often shouts "You've Got This" when the kids are struggling on the field.  His encouragement always makes me smile.  He's battling some health issues and I want to make him a card using this set.  Stay tuned.

If you are trying to get online, please remember it can be slow because the server is overloaded with eager customers just like you and I.  :)  

P.S.  If you ever need a direct link to my store you can find it above my blog header.  Just click the Shop 24/7 button anytime.

Which 3 items are on your new "must have" list?

Happy Shoppin'!