Waiting, waiting....waiting....

I find myself impatiently waiting on the SU preview due out tonight -- at some undisclosed time.  Why so much secrecy?  It would have been nice to have a little time to go over the preview mini, mulling over which preview sets and accessories I wanted.

Now I'm going to have to make some snap decisions first thing tomorrow morning, most likely without the benefits of a bucket of caffeine.  I like to order early and expedite so that I don't get stuck in a long wait for my items to be picked and shipped.

More Mojo on Monday?

I love the texture of this one!  I'm seriously going to have to lay in a supply of the Tea Party ds -- the colors are gorgeous.

I layered Lavender Lace textured cs with Certainly Celery and sheets from Tea Party ds. All layers were sponged wit either Always Artichoke or Regal Rose and stitched on the sewing machine.

The rose was done with the Shimmery Watercolor Roses technique, which I love!

SU stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, Small Script

SU cardstock:  Lavender Lace textured cs, Certainly Celery, Tea Party ds

SU inks:   Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Lavender Lace, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Aquapainter, dimensionals, Bold Brights II eyelets, Fairy Tale and Sweet Shop Ribbon Originals, sewing machine and thread, sponges

Mojo Monday??

I used the sketch from Mojo Mondays (see the badge to the right!) to do this card.  It's hard for me to work within the confines of a sketch, but I gave it a try.  It looks a bit contrived to me, but what do I know?  LOL!

I layered textured So Saffron and sheets from the Bella Birds ds. The central image was stamped on vanilla, watercolored and overstamped with Canvas in Sahara Sand. All elements of the card were also overstamped with the spatter pattern from itty Bitty Backgrounds in both Sahara Sand and Close to Cocoa.

SU Stamps:   Dear Friend, Carte Postale, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Canvas

SU cardstock:  So Saffron textured cs, Bella Birds ds, Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

SU inks:  Close to Cocoa, Black, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Summer Sun, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Lovely Lilac, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories:  Sponges, aquapainter, buckle from Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware, dimensionals, vintage brads

As usual, thanks for looking!

More of much-loved, sadly missed background stamps....

How many backgrounds can you use on one card??

I layered Blue Bayou, Not Quite Navy and Soft Sky. The main card was stamped with Print Pattern and Weathered in Blue Bayou. The center Soft Sky layer was stamped with French Script and Canvas in Bayou Blue, Canvas again in Sahara Sand and the splatter from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Close to Cocoa, Blue Bayou and white craft ink.

The flowers have gold/brown beads adhered with Crystal Effects.

SU stamps:  In Full Bloom, Print Pattern, Weathered, Canvas, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, French Script

SU cardstock:   Blue Bayou, Night of Navy, Soft Sky

SU inks:  Craft ink: White. Classic inks: Blue Bayou, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Dimensionals, aquapainter, antique brass brads, gold 5/8" organdy ribbon, beads, crystal effects

Blue Hydrangea

is stamped with Print Pattern in Always Artichoke craft and Weathered in Close to Cocoa. The Always Artichoke layer is stamped with French Script in AA and Itty Bitty Backgrounds in both White craft and Close to Cocoa. The image layer was watercolored, outlined with Sahara Sand and Always Artichoke, then overstamped with Canvas in Sahara Sand front and back (so it shows when the edges are rolled), then the edges were sponged, front and back.

SU stamps:  Bloomin' Beautiful, Canvas, French Script, Print Patter, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

SU cardstock:  Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, Kraft, Vanilla

SU inks:  Craft inks: White, Always Artichoke. Classic inks: Black, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Lovely Lilac, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, More Mustard

Accessories:  Dimensionals, eggplant grosgrain ribbon, pieces from antique brass HPH, aquapainter

All of my poor, departed, much missed background stamps -- Print Pattern, Canvas, French Script and Weathered

I made this card for my sister-in-law who's just been diagnosed with breast cancer at the time.

I layered Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Kraft, and Vanilla cs. The Kraft layer is stamped with Print Pattern in Rose Red craft ink, then overstamped with Weathered in Sahara Sand. The Always Artichoke layer is stamped with both French Script and Canvas in AA, then with the spatter pattern from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in both Chocolate Chip classic ink and White craft.

The central image was stamped on Vanilla cs. I drew the notebook lines on it using a ruler and my Bordering Blue marker on both sides, then I punched the edge with the Spiral punch to make it look like a page ripped out of a notebook. The central image is lightly overstamped with Canvas and the spatter from IBB in Sahara Sand. The image is outlined in Sahara Sand and Always Artichoke. The edges are sponged with AA.

SU stamps:  Bloomin' Beautiful, Print Pattern, Canvas, French Script, Weathered, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Everyday Flexible Phrases

SU cardstock:  Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Kraft, Vanilla

SU inks:  Craft inks: White, Rose Red. Classic inks: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand. Marker: Bordering Blue.

Accessories:  Dimensionals, pieces from Aged Copper HPH, brads, Burgundy grosgrain ribbon, artichoke organdy ribbon, aquapainter 

Techniques: watercolor

A Closer Look

I layered Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery and vanilla.

I stamped the Elegant Eggplant layer with Houndstooth (love this bg!!) in EE craft. The Certainly Celery layer is stamped with the text block from Bloomin' Beautiful and overstamped with Canvas, both in Always Artichoke. The Always Artichoke layer is stamped with French Script and overstamped with Canvas, both in AA. 

I created a page of "notebook paper" for the main image with my bordering blue marker, then by using the spiral punch across the top. The little leaf in the frame is cut out, then one end is popped up with Dimensionals. The flower was created from sponging and off-center layering of the Pretties flowers. 

All edges are rolled and sponged, front and back.

SU stamps:  Bloomin' Beautiful, Houndstooth, Canvas, French Script

SU cardstock:   Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Vanilla

SU inks:  Craft ink: Elegant Eggplant. Classic inks: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Sahara Sand. White WCW crayon.

Accessories:  Dimensionals, Aquapainter, pieces from antique brass HPH, flowers from Pretties kit, Theatre ribbon originals

I miss my Knobbly Gnomes, too!!

True to the Splitcoast CC180 color challenge, I layered Ruby, Cocoa and Blush. I would've never thought to combine these! Neat combo -- I like it.

I combined Chocolate 5/8" grosgrain and RHR taffeta ribbons for the Ribbon Stacking challenge.

SU stamps:  Knobbly Gnomes

SU cardstock:  Ruby, Cocoa, Blush, Chocolate Chip, White, Bali Breeze ds

SU inks:  Summer Sun, More Mustard, Close to to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Bravo Burgundy

Accessories:  Dimensionals,scallop edge and Baja Blossoms punches, ribbon, aquapainter, Accents & Elements, Pretties Kit

I'm still in mourning for Canvas...

This is for the Splitcoast Stampers CC181 Crafty Black Roses challenge, as well as a swap. I love these colors together! I really love the way that craft ink stamps onto the Kraft cs.

The chandelier is embossed in black detail and it's background is made up of French Script in Rose Red craft, overstamped with Canvas in Sahara Sand and the spatter from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in RR and Close to Cocoa.

The larger Kraft layer is stamped with Floral in Rose Red craft. Both Kraft layers are sponged with RR classic ink around the edges.

The sentiment is black embossed.

SU stamps:  Grand Soiree, Floral, French Script, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Canvas

SU cardstock:   Black, Rose Red, Kraft

SU inks:  Craft: Rose Red. Classic inks: Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:   brads, ticket-corner punch, black detail ep, Versamark pad, black grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

The look of Crewel Work

I layered Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip and a sheet from the Raspberry Tart ds. The hummingbird is clear embossed.  The grass is stitched at the bottom on the sewing machine, then cut and trimmed for a nice texture.  

I love the stylized look of these flowers!

SU sets:  Sweet Stems, Dream a Little, Warm Words

SU cardstock:  Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Raspberry Tart

SU inks:  Craft in: Ruby Red. Classic inks: Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Antique brass brads, clear ep, rhinestone brad, aquapainter, stitched felt ribbon, dimensionals

I love these colors!

I took the general idea of the card on the front of the new catty and put a different spin on it.

I layered Almost Amethyst, Tea Party and Pretty in Pink textured ds. I created the flowered cs myself so I could get it like I wanted.  Again, I love the textured look of sewing elements of a card.  You can't see in the scan, but there is glitter in the yellow and pink single flowers -- very pretty IRL!

SU stamps:  Playful Petals, Elegant Cheer

SU paper:  Almost Amethyst, Vanilla, Pretty in Pink (textured), vanilla, Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery

SU inks:  Black, Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Summer Sun, Old Olive

Accessories:  Sage tafetta ribbon, ultra-fine Cosmo glitter, rhinestone brads, ticket corner punch, dimensionals, aquapainter, sponges

CC124 Pink Olives Challenge

I worked this up for the CC124 Pink Olives challenge on Splitcoast Stampers.  It's too much pink, though -- is that possible? apparently so -- and I can't get happy with it. I really wanted to put in some Chocolate Chip, but that wouldn't work with the challenge.

The large Pretty in Pink layer was stamped with Bella Toile in Regal Rose craft ink. The central image was overstamped with Canvas in Sahara Sand and the spatter out of Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa.

SU stamps:  Spring Song, Bella Toile, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Canvas

SU cardstock:  Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Old Olive

SU inks:  Black, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy, RHR, Brocade Blue, Going Gray, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive

SU accessories:  Pretties kit, dimensionals, buckle and brads from antique brass HPH, Kiwi Kiss taffeta ribbon, rose 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, aquapainter

Another Vintage Postcard

I cut out the central layer using the Big Shot and the Top Note die out of Confetti Cream cs.  I trimmed the edge at literally the dotted line, then cut out another Top Note with Chocolate Chip cs to make a layer.

The skaters from Winter Post were watercolored, cut out and bumped up on dimensionals.  The trees in the background are from Lovely as a Tree and the "pond" is sponged on in Close to Cocoa ink, as are the edged of the Top Note.  I also added the postmark and snowflake stamps from Winter Post in stamped-off Sahara Sand.

SU stamps:  Winter Post, Lovely as a Tree

SU cardstock:  Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Confetti Cream, Holiday Treasures ds

SU inks:  Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive,Blush Blossom

SU accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note die, 1" chocolate stitched grosgrain, RHR taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, vintage brads, aquapainter

More Watercoloring...

I love how the Indian corn on this card came out!  I overstamped the central corn image with Canvas in Sahara Sand and sponged the edges in Close to Cocoa.  I also lightly distressed the edges an used my sewing machine to stitch around the ds.  I love to use the sewing machine to add another bit of texture to a card!

SU stamps:  Harvest Home, Canvas

SU cardstock:  Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Autumn Vine ds

SU inks:  Basic Brown, Certainly Celery, Garden Green, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy

SU accessories:  buttons, linen thread, dimensionals, aquapainter

Vintage Post Card

My great-grandfather and grandaddy were the postmasters down in SW Virginia (the Post Office was in his house) and this card very much reminds me of the old postcards that they used to stock.

This all started with a piece of the new RHR/Vanilla striped ribbon. I couldn't make it work, though and ended up with this card. You know when your card takes on a life of its' own and demands it's own layout and embellishments?  Well, this is one of them!

The postcard's "message" was made by masking a section of En Fraincais and using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to place it.  The curly embellishment over the "post card" is from Frames With a Flourish and stamped in Old Olive.  I used the snowflake from Winter Post in stamped-off Sahara Sand.  

I distressed the edges by rolling the cs with my fingers and ripping it in places.  I also sponged some Sahara Sand over the whole image in spots to add age.  The hat pin is from the Pretties Kit.

SU stamps:  Winter Post, En Francais, Frames With a Flourish

SU cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Confetti Cream

SU inks:  Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Brocade Blue, Sahara Sand

SU accessories:  Vintage brads, dimensionals, aquapainter, Alpine Ribbon Originals, Chocolate twill ribbon, Accents & Elements felt flowers

Vintage French Rooster

I love the look of anything French Country, especially if it's vintage, and I love to watercolor.  This rooster from the Rustic Rooster set was made to order for me!

I cut the background out using the Big Shot and the Top Note die on vanilla cs, then I cut two more Top Notes out of Chocolate Chip and used them as layers.  Got to love that Big Shot!

I stamped the rooster on in black, as well as the filigree detail.  To get the opposing filigree, I stamped onto the image sheet from my Stamp-a-ma-jig, huffed on it and placed it opposite of it's mate.  The bee image is from the old Botanicals set.

When I watercolor, I take the ink directly off the Classic Stamp Pads with my aquapainter.  I lay down the lightest color in a wash, then layer deeper and deeper colors over it, until I get the shading how I want.

Note re shading:  try to imagine your stamped object in strong light and figure out where the shadows would naturally fall -- that's what your eye wants to see.

The great thing about SU inks is that they naturally fall into lighter/darker combos.  For the red part of the rooster, I used Rose Red, Riding Hood Red and Bravo Burgundy.  The golds were Summer Sun and More Mustard.  The tail was Ballet Blue, Night of Navy and highlighted with Not Quite Navy.  Close to Cocoa makes a nice color to do the deepest shading in.

I love to use multiple backgrounds stamps, as well.  Once all the watercoloring was done, I overstamped the entire Top Note with Canvas in Sahara Sand and French Script, then I added the postmark stamps from Winter Post and Letters From Home, also in Sahara Sand.  To finish, I sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip.

SU stamps:  Rustic Rooster, Winter Post, French Script, Letters From Home, Botanicals, Canvas

SU cardstock:  Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Raspberry Tart ds

SU inks:  Rose Red, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Night of Navy, Ballet Blue, Not Quite Navy, Sarhara Sand

SU accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note die, sponges, aquapainter, 1" red/vanilla striped ribbon, pieces from Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware, dimensionals, navy 3/8" grosgrain ribbon

I love the vintage look!

The flower image on this card was taken from Friends 24-7, which I watercolored and cut out.  I love to layer background stamps, and I used En Francais in Sahara Sand and the spatter pattern from Itty Bitty Patterns in both Sahara Sand and Close to Cocoa.  I sponged around the edges with Close to Cocoa, as well as behind the flower image.

The corners are cut with the SU ticket-corner punch and stamped with the filigree from Friends 24-7.  I drew lines with a ruler and my Close to Cocoa marker through the corner pieces to echo the Close to Cocoa layer and give it continuity.

SU cs used in this project:   Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, Vanilla

SU inks:  Rose Red, Riding Hood Red, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Black, Chocolate Chip

SU Accessories:  Ribbon from Dress-Up Ribbons Originals, vintage brads, ticket-corner punch

Another example of the watercolor roses technique....

I layered this rose on Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip and a sheet from SU's Candy Lane ds.  The leaves are cut out with the Big Shot using the Big Leaf die.  The layered ribbons are SU's 5/8" chocolate grosgrain and the Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon.

The bottom edge was cut using the eyelet border punch on Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke and  Pretty in Pink cs.  I layered the edges and glued clear dark red beads from the Bead Duos in the eyelet "holes" in the Chocolate Chip Layer.

The beads are very striking IRL!

Watercolor Roses

I totally got caught up in Patty Bennet's watercolor roses technique this weekend.  I learned this technique from watching Patty Bennet's tutorial over at Patty's Stampin' Spot. 

http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stampi...-tutorial.html

The technique is very easy, the only problem is how wet you get the paper before you add the watercolor!  To watercolor these roses, you'll need:

SU Shimmer White cardstock

White detail embossing powder

VersaMark pad

Aquapainter 

Reinkers in your choice of colors

I stamped the large rose from Fifth Avenue Floral onto my Shimmer White cardstock with VersaMark.  Then I sprinkled on the  white detail ep and gave it a blast from the heat gun.  I like using white ep, rather than clear, because it gives a very clear demarcation between the petals.  Once you've heated your ep, it

s time to begin to watercolor in your roses!

Using your average spray bottle, spritz water onto your cs, making sure that it's plenty wet -- I had to go heavier than I thought!  I put a couple of drops of ink onto a plastic Cool Whip lid to start with.  I took my aquapainter and picked up a drop of ink and placed it inside the lines of the petal that I wanted to color.  As I dropped it down inside the embossed lines of the petal, I squeezed off a drop of water.  As you go, you can pretty much fill up a section.  When you change colors, make sure to clean off the tip of your aquapainter!

On the above card, I used Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and a tiny bit of Riding Hood Red.

It will take your images about 30 minutes to dry.  I stood them up on their ends so that the excess water/ink would pool at the bottom of the petals, giving them a more natural look.  

TIP:  if you've got too much water/ink, you can soak it up by drying the tip of your aquapainter and letting it soak up the excess.

When your roses are dry, cut them out and they're ready to use on your next project!

Hello!

Hey there -- welcome to my brand-new blog!  I've never blogged before, so have patience while I get this up and running.

I'm a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and exclusively use Stampin' Up! products.  I'm mostly card oriented, but do the occasional 3-D project.  I love SU products, especially how all the colors work together and am totally excited about the new Catalog coming out on July 1st!  The semi-annual catalogs have been a stroke of pure genius -- I now officially buy twice as much as I used to!