Friday, May 29, 2015

Fun Stamper Journey's Specials

Just a heads up that Sunday is the LAST day you can order retiring stamps and product.  Also, that night the website goes down until sometime June 4 as FSJ prepares for the new catalog to go live!  The new site is supposed to be more user friendly to customers and us coaches!  Just click on the FSJ picture in the sidebar and check out the goodies.  Many have sold out already!

And don't forget to check out the Specials page!  Just click the tab at the bottom of my blog banner!

And for a bit of a look at the June "Kit of the Month" I do have this photo:


Great for scrapbooking, too!

The Last of My Trades On the Worktable

Next Wednesday I will be heading out for the Fun Stampers Journey 1st Annual Convention.  But, if you've been reading my blog for the past couple of weeks, you know that.  Yesterday I finished another 24 card fronts for trades and I will not be making any more.  I need to start pulling stuff together and pack.  But here's a bit of a sneak peak of the final set.  I'll show the full finished card and others next week.


My desk work spot as I start coloring cakes.  I did get frustrated as a certain Copic marker ran out of ink as I was coloring!!  I called my LSS and ordered a refill for it and the color next too it as I ended up using the daylights out of it, too.  They'll arrive when I get back from convention.


I will show a bit of the card to give you a HINT of it.  I used a lot of 1/8" and 3/16" glue dots for the sequins. I think I'll have to get some more of those, too, but I get them from Joan's Crafts since I get coupons.

Come back Monday!  I'll start showing my trades!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

6 Years of WOYWW


 Today is a special day in the history of "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday"!  This fun blog hop is having a birthday!  It is 6 years old!!  What an accomplishment!  Julia at the Stamping Ground has done an amazing job of bringing crafters together on a weekly basis to show off their work areas.


My desk is busy starting some more trades for the Fun Stampers Journey's 1st annual convention next week (golly, it is coming up FAST!).  I will not be taking part in this next week as I will not be able to visit so I don't think it's right to join in if I can reciprocate in visiting those who stop by.  But today,  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!.  Thank you, Julia, for a great way to meet crafters from all over the globe!

Please pop by the Stamping Ground and check out the celebration!!

And I will be sharing next week my trades I'm taking for the convention.

Update mid-afternoon at my house.... I will link up next week but I won't be visiting as I'll be heading to the Fun Stampers Journey's 1st Annual Convention in Scottsdale, AZ fairly early in the morning.  

Monday, May 25, 2015

Sketch Saturday Week #362

I've been so caught up in getting stuff ready for going to FSJ's 1st Annual Convention June 3 that I haven't been making cards for my blog!  Oh my!  So yesterday I got busy and made 1 card.  Yes, just 1 card.  But I was inspired by Sketch Staurday's sketch this week that I actually had some mojo!


I used all Fun Stamper Journeys products.  Papers are Whip Cream, Candy Apple, and Bubble Gum.  Stamp sets used are: Scrip (background), Ampersand Notes (Hugs), and Full Bloom (flower which is from this month's Kit of the Month).  I also used Heartfelt dies and Pink World Sequins.  Oh, I used Black Licorice and Bubble Gum inks.  I colored the flowers with Copic markers.


Can you see the gold stamens?  I used my Gold Wink of Stella brush so they have a bit of a shimmer.

Now please head over to Sketch Saturday and see the great inspiration projects and the cards made for the challenge!

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Operation Write Home Finishing Strong


I am honored to take part in this blog hop sponsored by Operation Write Home.  Operation Write Home, a charity that has supported heroes with handmade cards since 2007, will be closing later this year. All cards need to be sent in by August 1st, so we’re helping to get the word out!  Those of us participating have been asked to make a red/white/blue card using 1 of 5 themes and try to use one of their many fabulous sketches.  If you plan on sending in cards please follow the guidelines posted HERE.


I used Sketch #252 but altered it a bit using a star instead of a circle and turned it sideways.  I'm using all Fun Stampers Journey stamps, inks, and card stocks for this particular card.  (If you want more info about FSJ please click on the FSJ Specials page button at the bottom of my banner or the logo in the sidebar.)


I stamped off the red stars to make them light enough to stamp over.  I had some Transcendence embossing powder that enabled me to emboss dye ink (but, boy, you have to work REAL fast) and you can glimpse the sheen in this photo.


For some simple bling I added a coordinating button with some white scrappers floss that was twisted over a skewer.

I'm glad that so many of our troops are coming home but sad that this great organization is closing.  Please head on over to Operation Write Home to follow the hop.  This blog hop will have MANY participants so plan on spending some time.  Grab your coffee, tea, water, or whatever and enjoy. 

Friday, May 22, 2015

Cupcakes, But Not For Eating

In less than 2 weeks I'll be in Scottsdale, AZ at the 1st Annual Fun Stampers Journey convention.  I have my 3 sets of specialized trades completed and ready to go and yesterday I made 23 card fronts for general trades.  I stared with 24 but really buggered one.  Oh well.  Here's a pic of the start


I'm using new stamps and pattern paper that will be available in the new catalog.  I got them at a special mini conference in Phoenix back in March called the "Yummy & Delicious Tour" which is open to ANYONE!  You can check my FSJ Specials page to see if one is in your area.  It was GREAT fun!


Here's a close up of the cupcake.  I'm not going to show the full card until next week as I want them to be a surprise to the those going to the convention.  So stay tuned next week to see all of my trades I've done.

Also, remember to come back tomorrow for the Operation Write Home blog tour:


I am taking part and have a special card to celebrate the years this great organization has been supplying our military troops with cards to send home to their loved ones.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Ducks and Desks

What does ducks have to do with desks?  Nothing but they have a lot to do with my post today.  It's WEDNESDAY!!  And, if you've been following me for any length of time, you know I take part in an international blog hop today of desks and crafting spaces.  The head desker, Julia of the Stamping Ground, started this 6 years ago next week!  I joined in about 2 years ago and love visiting many ladies whom I feel I've become friends with.  (Is that a dangling participle??)  Anyway, my desk today (actually late yesterday afternoon) is getting busy making ATCs to swap at the Fun Stampers Journey 1st annual convention June 4 - 6 in Scottsdale, AZ (a suburb of Phoenix).  I have my Fancy Fold card swap and Summer themed swap done but cannot post those this until June.  And now for my desk....


I am in the process of cutting 30 bases.  I'm using my large Tonic cutter as my portable is broken and I really need to find a new one.  (I've not had the best of luck with Fiskars so does anyone have a brand they like?)  You can see the new paper (available with the catalog reveal at convention) and a set of stamps under it (which I'll not be using for these).  And far left you can see the broken arm of my small Tonic cutter (which I loved!) sitting on the cutter.


Our great grandson turns 5 in a week and he love to fish and such.  I had no fish stamps but since one of the gifts he wants is a hunting dog I decided to do a hunting themed card.   The text stamp is from Fun Stampers Journey and the large image is from Red Rubber Designs called "Masterpiece".


I love the rough look of the text and most of my birthday stamps are fancier or in script which I didn't want for this card.  This looks a bit distressed, maybe a bit too much but I had nothing that matched the text of the large image.

Ok, you've reached the end of my post.  I would like to invite you back on Saturday as I'll be taking part in a blog hop with Operation Write Home.  They will be shutting down later this year and I've enjoyed joining in their challenges.  They've sent out thousands of cards to U.S. troops over the years.  So please come on back and take the tour.  I'm sure there'll be over a hundred of us taking part.

And from here please head over the the Stamping Ground to see the links to all of us desk hoppers.  Grab your coffee (or tea, or water....) and enjoy!


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

My Fun Stampers Journey Website

FSJ will be upgrading our replicated web sites to a better and more user-friendly site!  Therefore effective May 31 at 8 pm Pacific time the site will go down for replacement.  And, effective June 4 it will come back!  So, if you were interested in ordering or checking something out in that time frame you won't be able to.  But, from what I've been hearing, it's going to be MUCH better!  I'm excited!!

Monday, May 18, 2015

In Full Bloom 2

My last post I showed you 2 of the 4 cards I made using the Fun Stampers Journey's "Kit of the Month".  Today I have the other 2 for you.


I love the Iris stamp set that came with the Kit as I have very few flowers so far.  I did have to make changes to the ink.  The directions called for River Stone ink which is a grey but I just stamped off my Black Licorice once before stamping on the included papers and it worked just fine.


Both cards have Gold Silk splattered on them (not included in the Kit) which really makes the cards look more artsy in my opinion.  The black and neutral twines came with the Kits as did the pearls and sequins.


I used some Journey Glaze on this flower which also did not come in the Kit.  There are a few things like the Glaze, Silk, adhesives, and coloring materials that you need to already have or purchase.  I've had to substitute a few items but that just adds more individuality. 

Saturday, May 16, 2015

In Full Bloom 1

It took me a while to start my Fun Stampers Journey "Kit of the Month" cards as I had some obligations to complete but when I did I had them done in a day!  They are so easy with great directions!  Here's 2 of them.  I did change the colors of the flowers.


The stamp set that came with the Kits is fabulous!  It has 2 different flowers and 3 texts.  The flowers are Irises of 1 flower and 2 flowers.  These cards use the 2 flower stamp and the same text.


I colored the flowers to coordinate with the paper.  I used a Gold Wink of Stella brush on the stamens.


I used chalks to color these.  Both cards have Gold Silk splattered on them and black and neutral twine.  And this blue one has sequins.  The twine and sequins came in the Kit but not the Silk.  Aren't these just cool!  For more info on the Kits just click on the FSJ Specials tab on the bottom of my blog banner.  And if you want to sign up for a 6 month commitment.  I will have to resign for the July - December Kits.  I've really enjoyed getting these as I get new stamps and all the paper needed for the cards.  Oops, I'm sounding like a commercial but these are a good deal.  You will have to pay tax and shipping with adds about $10 to the cost but what doesn't.

Friday, May 15, 2015

A Card for a New D.V.M.

Today my niece graduates from a veterinary college in Columbia, MO.  She will officially have D.V.M. behind her name and already has a job lined up in Utah.  We're so proud of her and all the hard work she had to earn this title.  I wanted to make a special animal-themed card to send her gift in and chose one of my favorites designed by Phyllis Harris. Her stamps sell at Unity Stamp Co. and I have quite a few of her fabulous stamp sets!


I colored the dog with Copic markers and love how it turned out!  I added some white to the background bones with my Ranger White Opaque Pen to make the Congrats not stick out quite so much like a sore thumb.  The text comes from a set called "Congrats Grad."  It's an old TAC stamp set but the rights to it are owned by Red Rubber Designs though I don't think they have it available.  I used some Spellbinder dies to frame the dog.


Here's a closer look at the dog.  I think I actually got the shading pretty close. I used a bit of Black Stardust Gel pen on the eye to make it sparkle.  I was a bit slow getting this card in the mail so I sure hope it gets to her in time for her graduation ceremony!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

An Iris, A Desk

It's WEDNESDAY!!  Desker Day!  Hump Day!  But a great day to tour desks all over the world!!  Yep, today is "What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday".   You have the unique opportunity to view desks and fabulous projects from your computer!  This is all brought together by Julia at the Stamping Ground.  And if this is new to you please click on the WOYWW logo in my sidebar or her "What is WOYWW" page tab at the top of the Stamping Ground blog.  But now for my desk...


I have been working on my FSJ "Kit of the Month".  I have 2 of the 4 cards complete, to the left between the red Cricut and my paper trimmer.  Mostly center is the stamp set that came with the kit and some blue painters tape (from a project last week and it needs to be put away).  Kinda center to right is the instruction sheet and the card elements.   Far right are some bottles of sequins and my scissors. 


I actually made a card for a dear friend using the single Iris stamp from the KOTM stamp set "Full Bloom".  She had a mild stroke last week and has been praying for me this past year with the death of my mom and the remarriage of my dad.  Now it's my turn.  I got the text a bit too much to the right or maybe I should have moved the flowers more to the center (I tried that but it looked awkward).  Oh well.  I know she'll love the card. I used my scallop oval dies from Spellbinders, too.


I colored the flowers with Copic markers and used Gold Wink of Stella to color the stamens.  The background stamp is a large FSJ script background stamp.

Ok, I'm done here.  But you really need to head over to the Stamping Ground and continue on the tour of desks and the great projects.  I'll be visiting all day.  Many join in later in the day and I want to check their desks, too!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Two Challenges in One

I had some time today and found a couple challenges that I wanted to do!  I combined a sketch challenge from Operation Write Home, #254, and a theme challenge from Red Rubber Designs,  #219 Give Thanks.


I'm using some paper I got from The Angel Company many years ago.  I have LOTS of paper packs to use, many of which are now available from Red Rubber Designs!  The stamped text and flower behind the text are from Fun Stampers Journey, sets "Flower Stitch" (retiring next month) and  "Greet & Shout". 


Isn't that little paper clip cute?  Its from the FSJ "Fun Day Elements" and this is the first time I opened the pack!  (To see more of the stamps and elements just click on my FSJ logo at the top of the sidebar.)

So please head over to Red Rubber Designs and Operation Write Home for the challenges.  There are great projects and lots of inspiration!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Bottles And Bokeh

I got to play a bit over the weekend and made another Bokeh card.  These are addicting!!  This time I used just plain card stock instead of watercolor paper.


I made the background by sponging FSJ "Whip Cream" pigment ink though various sizes of circles I cut in a piece of acetate. I layered a punched white circle and a scallop circle (made with a Spellbinder die) for the bottle (from FSJ KOTM set "Wish in a Bottle") which I glazed.  Oh, I used a Qtip to color the bottle look a bit like liquid.  The text is from the FSJ "Sentimental Prints" set.


I like how the glaze is a big uneven.  Kind of makes the bottle look more aged.  I added a couple Bokeh circles to the text piece using the matching blue ink (Blue Lagoon) that is the paper and bottle colors.

Friday, May 8, 2015

A Bokeh Card

Another coach from Fun Stampers Journey challenged us on an FB page to make a card "All About Circles".  Well, I don't have the FSJ Journey Circle dies so I headed over to Pinterest to look up a technique that has intrigued me.  It's called Bokeh.  It's a photography term but some smart card makers figured out how to adapt this. 


My circles are rather faint since I used such light colors but I love the effect!!  I did have to cut some circles of varying sizes (1/2", 1" and 2") out of some acetate to make my circles.  I used watercolor paper, taped it down on my kraft mat with blue painter's tape then dampened the paper.  I started sponging the ink on randomly.  I dried the paper with my heat tool, removed the tape, then started sponging our Whip Cream pigment ink through the circles in the acetate.


I even overlapped some circles.  Then I stamped the "Sweet Chirp" stamp with the same red ink, Candy Apple.  Oh, the yellow is "Pineapple Smoothie" ink.  I love this!!  The sentiment is from the "Sentimental Prints" set.  I decided to reverse the colors of the circles on the banner.  I also added some splatters of Red Silk ink.  I think I'll head back to my desk and make some more!!  I'm going to try this with regular white card stock and see what happens, too.

Have you checked out the specials on the FSJ  Specials page?  Just click on the tab on the banned!  We have the retired list out with great sale prices and the May "Kit of the Month" (which I have but haven't made yet) along with other good info.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

More Prepping for Convention at My Desk

We're having some fabulous weather here in AZ.  The temperature is in the low to mid 80's F, a nice comfy temperature.  Sun is shining.  Light breeze.  Just can't get any better.  And today we're enjoying the global blog tour of desks put together by Julia at the Stamping Ground.  The tour is coming up on its 6th year!!  Amazing!  If this is new to you please click on the WOYWW logo in my side bar or at a button at the top of the Stamping Ground  to learn more and how to join in.  Now on to my desk....


I have the start of my "Fancy Fold" swap cards started.  I doing a side step style card which is the beautiful blue cut pieces to the left.  The stamps I'm using are next to them and I'm stamping the pieces which will go across the bottom using matching blue ink.

Here's a photo of the main image I'll be using...


Again, stamped with the same blue ink.  I'll add some text in the bottle then glaze to look like glass.  At least, that's my plan so far.  I also just got my FSJ "Kit of the Month" and the flower set that came in it is FAB!!  Gotta play with that, now, too!  Gorgeous lillies!  Maybe I"ll have a card or two made for next week's blog tour....

Now you're at the end of my post.  Please pop over to the Stamping Ground and tour the wide world of desks.... and fascinating projects!  Bon voyage!