Hello friends and happy Thursday!  Yay, it's actually my Friday because I'm taking off for a few days to visit a friend in LA and go to the Scrapbook Expo show in Ontario, California with her.  Since I've been working so many of these shows recently, I'm so excited to be attending one FOR FUN!  I'm even signed up to take two classes on watercoloring.  I'm excited to learn different ways to watercolor because it's not something I'm comfortable doing at the moment.  Be sure to follow along on my Instastories as I share a behind-the-scenes look at my weekend adventures!  

Before I leave, I'll share a few cheerful and uplifting cards with you today featuring the Very Sweet stamp set from RG Avenue.  I'll be taking a few days off while I enjoy this mini vacation and will see you back here when I return on Wednesday, October 23rd. 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of blue gingham from the Sunny Studio Classic Gingham paper pack to mount directly to the card base.  Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Dies, I die cut the white piece from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Because this Very Sweet stamp set was a digital stamp, I printed off the images on Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored the images using Copic alcohol ink markers.  I added small highlights to the images using a white gel pen.  I splattered the white paper with Sour Pineapple Sugar Drops.  I adhered the images and sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.

Here is the Very Sweet stamp set from RG Avenue that I used to create these cards:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of yellow gingham from the Sunny Studio Classic Gingham paper pack to mount directly to the card base.  Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circle Dies, I die cut the white piece from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Because this Very Sweet stamp set was a digital stamp, I printed off the images on Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored the images using Copic alcohol ink markers.  I added small highlights to the images using a white gel pen.  I stamped the "hello" sentiment (from the "Yay Greetings" stamp set) in Black Taffy ink.  I adhered the images and sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.

Thank you for visiting and see you next week!

I don't know if I'm more excited to share today's card with you because it's a beautiful new stamp set that I'm loving, or because of the surprisingly beautiful color combination!  You might recall that last Friday I shared this Fall Foliage wreath card with you that was inspired by Davina's September Mood Board.  I was very skeptical about the crushed curry, blush pink, mint and teal colors, but pleasantly surprised with the end result!  So much so, in fact that I wanted to create another card using these same colors.

Here is the Butterfly Reflections, Ink Mood Board that inspired me:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock.  Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I cut the largest die from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I heat embossed the sentiment in gold embossing powder on the lower left corner of this white cardstock.  On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the butterflies twice in Versamark ink and heat embossed them with gold embossing powder.  I colored in the butterflies using my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink markers and then die cut them using the coordinating Confetti Cuts dies.  Lastly, I added the butterflies to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. 

Here is the Butterfly Blossoms stamp set and coordinating Confetti Cuts dies from Reverse Confetti (available through Butterfly Reflections, Ink):

I hope you have enjoyed today's card.  Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

Hello friends and happy Monday!  I hope you all had a nice weekend.  Ours was fairly quiet due to all the rain, so after stamp camp on Saturday, we did a whole lot of nothing.  I didn't even have the energy to craft!  Shocking, I know!  I tried.  I went into my craft room and sat there waiting for the creativeness to take over, but nothing.  Nada.  The three cards I made went in the trash,  I spilled an ink refill bottle and jabbed my index finger with the paper piercer.  I muttered under my breath a few times and called it quits.  It's okay, it happens.  These are the times when I know it's better to just walk away. 

Today's card was actually one of the cards I made on Saturday and plucked out of the trash Sunday night thinking it wasn't really all that bad.  I neither particularly love it, nor hate it, but in an effort of full transparency on this blog, I'm going to begin sharing more of that process with you.  Tomorrow I'll be discussing more about my creative struggles. 

The base of this slimline ( 8 1/2" x 3 1/2") card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock.  The first  8 1/4" x 3 1/4" layer is a sheet of gold foil woodgrain pattern paper I pulled from my scrap pile.  Next I stamped each acorn in a series of colors - Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry.  I die cut the acorns using the coordinating Happy Harvest acorn die.  I cut an acorn top for each from Crumb Cake cardstock.  I assembled the acorns onto the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  

Here is the Happy Harvest stamp set by Reverse Confetti that I used to create today's card:

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great week!

Hello friends and happy Monday!  Welcome back from the weekend and cheers to a new cardmaking season!  Last Friday, I announced the "end of my summer cards" and today we are kicking off all things fall.  Fall truly is my favorite time of the year because of all the gorgeous colors and yes, all things pumpkin spice!
I'm excited to begin using lots of golden hues, burnt oranges and rich earthy browns in my color palette.  
  I'm also itching to start playing with my Halloween products too!

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a piece of Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper measuring 5' x 3 3/4" and mounted it to a sheet of Soft Suede cardstock.  I heat embossed the sentiment in the lower right corner using white embossing powder.  I die cut a large circle in the middle of these papers to create a shaker card with.  I adhered a piece of clear acetate film behind the circular hole and lined the card base with some fall leaf paper (source unknown, sorry!)  I die cut two birch trees from the Lawn Fawn Birch Tree Lawn Cuts and adhered them over the fall leaf paper.  I filled the shaker frame with amber sequins.  On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the Color Layering Fawn in Sahara Sand, Soft Suede and Early Espresso inks.  I die cut the fawn and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I stamped the leaves in Versamark ink on both Pumpkin Pie cardstock and Crushed Curry cardstock and die cut the leaves with the coordinating die.  I adhered the leaves around the deer using 3M foam adhesive. 

Here is the Color Layering Fawn set from Hero Arts that I used to create today's cards:

Additionally, I used the leaves and sentiment from the Second Spring stamp set by A Muse Studio to help complete these cards:

I hope you have enjoyed today's first seasonal cards and are as excited as I am about the holiday projects
to come.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

Hi friends and happy Fri-YAY!  I hope you have fun (and cool) plans for the weekend ahead considering it will be 10,000 degrees outside here in Massachusetts!  Okay, maybe I added two extra zero's on that temperature, but you get it, it's gonna be H-O-T hot!  I have a craft room with central air calling my name! 
Yesterday I shared with you how to create a beach scene with two different color layering stamp sets from Hero Arts.  Today we are going to focus on just those beautiful color layering clouds from the Color Layering Sea and Sky stamp set that I used to create a sympathy card.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Basic Gray cardstock.  Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitches Nesting Rectangles, I cut the largest rectangle from Balmy Blue cardstock.  I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray ink.  I stamped the raindrops in Balmy Blue ink using the Sunny Studio Stamp called rain showers.  On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the layering clouds in Balmy Blue ink and Basic Gray ink.  I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the clouds for added sparkle.

Here is the Color Layering Sea and Sky stamp set and coordinating dies from Hero Arts that I used for today's cards:

Here is the second card I created using the color layering clouds:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  On a 5 " x 3 3/4" sheet of Basic Black cardstock. I stamped the sentiment and burst of stars in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.  I mounted this stamped image onto a piece of Goil Foil paper before adhering it to the card front.  On a separate sheet of Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock, I stamped the layering clouds in both Smoky Slate ink and Basic Gray ink.  I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the clouds for added sparkle. 

I hope you have enjoyed seeing different ways to use this stamp set, both to create a serene beach scene and a peaceful sympathy card.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

Hi readers and thanks for taking the time to visit today!  I hope you find inspiration and creativity as you look around.  Today I am sharing two new-to-me stamp sets by Hero Arts called "Color Layering Waves" and "Color Layering Sea and Sky."  I think you will agree how beautifully these two sets pair together when creating a stamped scene.  These stamps were part of Hero Arts "My Monthly Hero" cardmaking kits last summer and they were so popular that they sold out!  I was so happy when Hero Arts brought them back for individual purchase after high demand.  I really enjoy color layering stamp sets because they offer so much depth and dimension.  You can see a variety of other cards I have made featuring other color layering stamp sets here, here and here. 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a piece of Pacific Point cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" as my mat.  On a sheet of white cardstock I began to stamp my scene starting with the waves.  The first base layer was stamped in Soft Sky blue.  The second layer was in Marina Mist ink (sorry, both retired from Stampin' UP!) and the third was in Pacific point ink.  I added a touch of watercolor in pale pinks and blues to the sky above the water.  Next I stamped the seagulls in Tuxedo Memento Black ink.  I stamped two sailboats in Soft Sky ink and Mango Medley ink on scrap white cardstock and cut them out using the coordinating dies.  I adhered the sailboats to the ocean using 3M foam adhesive.  I stamped the color layering clouds on white cardstock first using Soft Sky ink and then the second layer was in Pacific Point ink.  I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly I created the sand by cutting a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and heat embossing the word 'Hello" in gold embossing powder.  Using a distressed dot stamp, I added dots to the paper as though to resemble sand in Crumb Cake ink.  I added footprints in Early Espresso ink.  I ran this sheet of Crumb Cake cardstock through my Big Shot using the Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes border dies.  Lastly I stamped the Adirondack chair in Pacific Point ink on white cardstock, die cut it and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

Here are the two Hero Arts color layering stamp sets I used to create this card:

Tomorrow I will be sharing another way of using those beautiful color layering clouds to achieve an entirely different look for a sympathy card.  I hope you will come back to see other ways this set can be used.

Thanks again for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

Yes! Yes! Yes!  Amen to Taylored Expressions for creating this beautiful Be A Mermaid stamp set with a killer empowering, "strong women make waves" sentiment!  Yes! Yes! Yes!  Also because it's Friday!  Who's ready for the weekend!?  My parents are coming down from Maine for a visit and I look forward to seeing them.  I also have a full class on Saturday in my home studio with 14 people attending and I can't wait for my mom to participate and meet many new crafty friends.   Live in Western Mass and want to come to a class?  See my class calendar here.

Because I am not currently creating technique video content on my website, I highly recommend checking out this Easy Alcohol Ink Background Tutorial by Jennifer McGuire.  She has created a very simple introduction to working with alcohol inks to create some basic backgrounds.  This was the first video I watched after purchasing my alcohol inks and then I just spent time playing around with them!  The great thing is there is no right or wrong when it comes to art.  You just have fun (and usually make a mess) with it!  *My only tip would be that you don't need to spend your money purchasing polysynthetic Yupo Paper at nearly $1.00 per sheet.  You can use the reverse side of any high quality photo paper (like this one by Kirkland) and achieve the same results!   I used this same Kirkland photo paper to create today's alcohol ink backgrounds.

I am, however, s-l-o-w-l-y beginning to dabble in some video content.  Essentially still photos with animated displays and music.  I haven't attempted audio voiceover or video while creating cards yet, but it's a slow work in progress.  I hope you enjoy this short 1-minute clips of the mermaid cards I have created this week:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Tempting Turquoise cardstock (sorry, it's retired Stampin' UP!) Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles, I die cut the scalloped background on Kirkland photo paper.  To create the background I used Ranger Alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue, Turquoise and Pool.  I stamped the sentiment in the upper left corner in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in silver embossing powder.  I stamped one mermaid tail in Tempting Turquoise ink (retired) on Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock and one in Granny Apple Green ink on the same paper.  I stamped the third mermaid tail in Versamark ink on Tempting Turquoise paper and heat embossed it in white embossing powder.  I die cut the tails and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive. 

Here is the Be A Mermaid stamp set and coordinating die from Taylored Expressions:

The base of this second A2 sized card is also made from Tempting Turquoise cardstock (retired, Stampin' UP!).  I used a scrap sheet of 5 1/4 x 4" paper with tiny light clouds on it for the background.  Sorry, I do not recall who made this paper!  I cut two pieces of a previously colored alcohol ink background with the Lawn Fawn Stitched Waves Border Die and adhered those to the center of the card.  On a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, I stamped "Let's Shellebrate" in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in white embossing powder.  Then I used a Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes die to create a stitched border on the "sand."  I tapped a small eraser into Crumb Cake ink and stamped the background of this Crumb Cake border.  I stamped one Mermaid Tail on Temping Turquoise cardstock and heat embossed it in white embossing powder.  I die cut another mermaid tail from Granny Apple Green cardstock and backed it with a piece of Turquoise Glitter paper.  Lastly I stamped the seashells on Neenah Solar white cardstock, Granny Apple Green cardstock and Tempting Turqoise cardstock and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive. 

I hope you have enjoyed these vibrant cards and, even more, their powerful message. 
Strong women make waves!

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Hello readers and Happy Wednesday!  Today I'm sharing the first two cards I created using the July Bee Yourself card kit from Simon Says Stamp.  I have really enjoying receiving these card kits once per month, because I feel like it's forcing me to use them, instead of just letting the cute oversized boxes pile up in my craft room!  Don't get me wrong, the boxes (albeit, empty) are still piling up in my craft room because I re-use them for storing other kits!  Unfortunately, this particular kit is now currently sold out, but if you love it, keep checking the SSS website, because it should be restocked after the initial rush.  Yup, we stampers sure are crazy buying things up overnight as though there will ever be a stamp drought in the foreseeable future!

Let's take a closer look at the Bee Yourself card kit:

This kit includes a wide variety of hand selected coordinating supplies, enough to keep you creating for hours! Included in the box is an inspiration sheet with 6 ideas using the kit. You'll also receive inspiration via email newsletter with even more project ideas and video links using the kit. 

Included in this kit:
Simon Says Stamp Bee Yourself 6 x 8 clear stamp set
Honey Bee The Bee's Knees exclusive 6 x 6 paper pad
Simon Says Stamp custom foilable cards
Rainbow Shattered Glass 5 Foil Transfer Sheets
Simon Says Stamp White envelope
Simon Says Stamp Small Hexagon Cluster wafer thin die
Black and Yellow custom sequin pack
Simon Says Stamp Sunshine cardstock
Simon Says Stamp White 120# cardstock
Simon Says Stamp Black cardstock
Simon Says Stamp Seaglass cardstock
1 new Glue Sponge

$34.99/kit

Here is a video created by Simon Says Stamp showcasing the July Bee Yourself card kit:

Here are the first two cards I created using this kit:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock.  I adhered a piece of the yellow hexagon paper directly to the card base.  I stamped two of the bee hive trails on this paper using Early Espresso ink.  I created a honeycomb shaker component using the Stitched Hexagon Dies from Gina Marie Designs.  I stamped "Just Because" on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock in Early Espresso ink to place behind the shaker frame.  I stamped the bees on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them using Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers.  I added some highlights to my coloring with the Sigma Uniball white gel pen.  I added Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter to the bee's wings using a Sakura Quickie glue pen.  I adhered the bees to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

The second A2 card is made from Basic Black cardstock.  I adhered the patterned hexagon paper directly to the card base.  I stamped the sentiment in the lower right corner using Early Espresso ink.  I stamped the bee trails also in Early Espresso ink. I stamped the beehive in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on one of the patterned pieces of paper included in the kit.  The beehive is from HoneyBee Stamps  - called Bee Hive.  It has a coordinating die too. I stamped the bees in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them with Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers.  I added extra details to the coloring using a Uniball White Gel pen.  I added Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter to the bee's wings.  Lastly, I adhered the bees to the card front using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

I hope you have enjoyed today's cards.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

It's time for another fabulous My Monthly Hero release! This month they're combining some of your favorite techniques - Color Layering - with a happy place - the lake!  July is the perfect time of year for summertime fun. This month's My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts celebrates the great outdoors. From enjoying the fresh air, to fishing, to doing a cannonball from the end of the dock, life truly is better at the lake!  This month's kit will be excellent for making some of those masculine oriented cards for all the special men (and nature loving women) in our lives.

With all of the goodies packed into this kit, it's an incredible value at $34.99!
(Contents add up to $76 if bought separately!)

Let's take a look at some of the beautiful creations made using this kit by the Hero Arts Creative Team!  I have provided the artisan's name below each card and a direct link to their website for you to check out.

I can't wait to receive MY Monthly Hero Kit and share with you what I create!  To see what I created with last month's kit jungle themed kit, please click here and here.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!

Hello readers and welcome to the start of a new week!  I hope you all had a nice weekend.  I spent a lot of time in my craft room again, so you'll hear no complaints from me!

Last week I shared with you two very different sets of cards I created using the June Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit.  I created these very colorful animal inspired cards and these simple note cards.  Today I am sharing the first four of seven cards I created using the Simon Says Stamp "Leafy Frames" monthly kit.  While this set is currently sold out on the Simon Says Stamp website, I do think you'll find it back in stock fairly soon, so if it's something you are really interested, please just keep checking. 

Here is the "Leafy Frames" June kit by Simon Says Stamp:

Carta Bella Botanical Garden 6 x 6 inch papers
NEW Simon Says Stamp Leafy Frames exclusive 6x8 clear stamp set
Kaisercraft Coconut Mini Paper Blooms Flowers
1 Package Carta Bella Botanical Garden Frames & Tags ephemera
1 Jar Ranger Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter
Stampers Anonymous Glitter Duster
Simon Says Stamp Metallic Gold envelope
Simon Says Stamp Metallic Green Leaf envelope
Simon Says Stamp Metallic Black envelope
Simon Says Stamp White envelope
Simon Says Stamp Black cardstock 8.5 x 11
Simon Says Stamp Ivory cardstock 8.5 x 11
Simon Says Stamp Cotton Candy cardstock 8.5 x 11
Simon Says Stamp Green Leaf cardstock 8.5 x 11
Neenah Desert Storm 100# cardstock

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the different cards I made.  Please come back on Wednesday as I will be sharing three more cards made from this same kit.  Thanks for visiting and have a great week!