Friday, July 31, 2015

"Forever Friend" KOTM

The August Kit of the Month is just so cute!  Here are the cards you make if you are subscribed to this monthly Kit.


The stamp set is called Forever Friends.  If you choose to sign up for this you get:
the stamp set - exclusive for 3 months before it can be purchased by non-KOTM members
all papers needed to make the 4 cards shown
all die cut papers used
any embellishments used such as mini clothes pins and buttons
great printed directions

You need to use your own adhesives, inks, Glaze, Silks, and pop dots, corner rounder or crimper if needed.

All this is $24.95 plus tax and shipping.  It comes right to your mailing address!

If you want this please click HERE then on the KOTM tab but not until August!!

A Journey Flower Card

I now have a pretty good collection of cards ready to go to the gallery store but the owner has been gone so I'm not getting information I need to put on the cards.  Hopefully soon as Susanne and I are going to the gallery next Wednesday and I'm going to Wyoming next Friday!

Here is a card I made using the Journey Blooms set and the matching Journey Bloom Flowers die set.


I stamped the flowers using Citrus Cooler ink along with Citrus Cooler and Whip Cream card stocks. I stamped the background using the great Script stamp with the same ink.  The wider ribbon is Citrus Cooler Satin and I added a strip of some white satin from my other stash.


The little citrus dots in the middle of the little flower just begged for something so I added some Liquid Pearls from my other stash.  I sponged the Citrus Cooler ink around the background Script piece, too.


Since I had the negative of the large die cut flower I sponged around the inside of it on the inside of the card and stamped the sentiment from the Sentimental Prints set in them middle.  I think it finished out the card pretty good.  What do you think?

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Santa Treat Box and a Desk

What a glorious morning here in the southwest of the U. S.  We've been getting some much needed rain, not quite as high heat, but unfortunately, lots of humidity.  But enough of the weather report.  Today is the day many of us crafters celebrate our desks.  Yep, regardless of what our desks look like you get the opportunity to see where we work.  And this is all brought together by Julia at the Stamping Ground.  She's headquartered in England and if you want more info click on one of the page tabs at the top of her blog.  But now my desk.


I stepped  back to give you a full view of my desk area.  I have a small room, about 10' x 11' and the left outside wall is just to the left of the TV.  A small (and VERY full closet is just to the right of the table.  There are 2 shelves above my desk but you can't see the top one which has my Bind-It-All, large Zyron, basket with 100s of bottle tops, box of paints, and some empty containers.
The shelf on par with the TV has 2 sets of drawers of scrap paper sorted by color, a set of drawers with printed instructions of past classes, printed tutorials, who knows what.  Then there's 2 bins of cards, FSJ card stocks & printed papers, then my clear shelf with tax stuff, speciality paper (like watercolor pads, vellum).
The table has my red Circut sitting on it's bin of cartridges, a large paper gazebo (I'm adding Stickles to the top that's sitting on my ATG gun, shelves of misc. stuff, my rack of ink pads, then baskets of cards semi done and crap, I mean scraps.
Under the table are 3 Iris cards of punches, ink refills, and other stuff.  I have gone through and purged so much from these 3 carts but one could never tell as I reloaded them with stuff from the shelves.
Ok, that's one wall but it's where I work other than the wall with my computer.

I also want to show you a little treat box I made last Saturday at a make 'n take at a local crop sponsored by the local scrapbook store.


 Here's a closer view of the embossing...


I thought I had some white flocking but didn't so used some sparkly white embossing powder.  I used a black/gold mixture for the belt and silver for the buckle.  A few black rhinestones and it's ready to be filled.  I was told the svg pattern came from Crafts U Print.com or something like that.

Those of you from other countries, does my blog show a notice about the use of cookies?  Google told me I'm required to verify if it does.  This is all new to me.  Thanks!  I have seen this notice on European blogs.

Ok, kind of a long post but now you've reached the end.  Please head over to the Stamping Ground to see the links of other crafters brave enough to show you their desks and projects!  

Monday, July 27, 2015

Birthday Present and Gray Skies

Last week I popped over to SplitCoastStampers and caught a challenge to make a Flap Fold card.  I've done these before but this one was turned differently.


I used Denim Days, Raspberry Berry, and Whip Cream card stocks and Journey Basic Brights pattern  card stocks.  The border punch I used is my own Treading Waters by Fiskars.  I also used my Spellbinder scallop circle dies along with the Journey Circle dies.



I colored the present from the Yummy Party set (Yummy & Delicious collection) with coordinating Copic markets then used my Stardust Clear gel pen to add the glitter.  The greeting is from the same set and all stamping was done using the Black Licorice ink pad.


Here's the open view.  I stamped a cute saying from the Yummy Wishes (also in the Y & D collection) for a great finish!


This card was inspired by the little piece of pattern paper from my scrap basket.  It works great with this great set called Hello Sunshine (available August, I think) set from the April Kit of the Month.  I used quite a few different FSJ card stocks for layering.


I also used the Above the Clouds embossing folder, the Cloud Dreams die set, Cool Pool Silk ink and some Stickles to complete the card.

Which is your favorite?

Friday, July 24, 2015

Faith Cards

A week ago there was a challenge on an FSJ FaceBook page to make an inspirational card.  It took me 3 tries before I got one make that I really liked.  I'll show you the 2 ok ones first and you can see if you agree with me.


I used only the stamp set Faith Plan.  It's not available right now as there was a misspelled word on one of the stamps.  And no, I didn't use it on any of my cards.  I used Pineapple Smoothie and Whip Cream card stocks, Beach Ball, (stamped off once for the background) and Candy Apple inks. This card kinda follows the sketch for this month over on Creative Blooms.  Lots of cool ideas and projects if you want to head over there.


I didn't do the color challenge part as I'm still purchasing paper and inks and I'm lacking a couple of the colors.  I could have colored something using my Copics but decided to just stick with the sketch.



Our inks aren't meant to be stamped off unless you use an acrylic block.  The color can get a bit wonky otherwise.  Just play with the inks if you want that more subtle look.  I colored 3 of the Pearls with a red Copic marker to match the Candy Apple card stock.  Worked pretty good!


This card I used the Journey Basics Black & White Paper Pack but I brayered Candy Apple ink on it.  I used a small die from the Heart-Felt die set to cut out the heart in the banner.   I stamped the Faith with Black Licorice ink, added the Sparkle Love Element (puff heart - a package is a freebie with a $50 + order if wanted, item # AC-0149) and some Pink World sequins.


And now my favorite of the 3....


For the birds on a branch I stamped the Sweet Chirp stamp in Candy Apple ink on my main piece of Whip Cream for the card.  I then stamped it again on some scrap in Beach Ball in and cut out the bird.  I pop dotted him.  The ribbon is from my stash but the button came from the Black & White Buttons pack.


I added a dot of Stardust Clear Gel pen to the birds' eyes for a bit of sparkle.  Oh, the Bubble Gum card stock was stamped with the Script stamp using Bubble Gum ink.  And all is layered on Candy Apple card stock.

Don't forget to head over to Creative Blooms to see more cards following the sketch and color challenge!

So which card is your favorite, and why?

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Fun Stampers Journey August Special

FSJ is having a fabulous August special... DOUBLE rewards!


If you are wanting to order through me, please click through the  Holiday Mini FSJ Logo at the top of my sidebar then click shop.  Don't forgot to order your FREE items!  And if you're in the Tucson, AZ area, contact me if you want to party with FSJ!

I also just uploaded to my FSJ Specials page the newest info on product release.  FSJ has had some issues with products not shipping to them so a few items will not show up if you try to order them.  Please check the page and scroll down to the 2 jpeg images of the "Release Wave Dates!".

And if you do place an order you may find some of your wanted items are on backorder.  There has been massive ordering since the catalog came out and many items have run out.  Please be patient!  Knowing that some product is not available just means it's VERY popular!  Check back again!

Desks and Dahlias

Another Wednesday.  Seems they come faster than once a week.  I had a real issue last week with lost mojo. Yesterday it started coming back as I worked on cards to sell in a gallery by getting inspiration from Pinterest and SplitCoastStampers.  And since it's Wednesday you get the wonderful opportunity to see my desk in all its glory and desks from all over the globe.  Cool Julia at the Stamping Ground brought many wonderful crafters together with this weekly blog tour for over 6 years!  I've made a few friends and so enjoy checking out their desks and projects. If you are new to this click HERE to learn how to join in or what it's all about!


I have out some dies, stamps, my die case, and, on my scrap paper, die cuts to be stamped.  The card I'm working on is just to the right of the ArtBin of dies.  This particular bin holds all Spellbinder dies.  You'll have to stay tuned to see the card as I'm working like crazy to get at least 5 - 10 cards made to sell at a gallery.

This card was sent to a gal for a monthly swap through Technique Junkies.  I've been on this 1 on 1 swap for a LONG time, years.  I used a technique called Diagonal Popped Strips but I forgot to pop them.  I wasn't about to redo the card so it went out as is.


I used all Fun Stampers Journey stamps, the Dahlia Burst and the Script background.  I thought this card would be relatively easy but I changed things up a bit and made it a bit more difficult but it turned out good (except for not popping the strips).  I used 2 different stamp sets on this card.


I used my Stardust Clear Gel pen on the insides of the flowers.  A bit of bling is always nice.

This morning I'm heading in to Copper Fitness in Green Valley for their open house.  Last week the Curves workout place for women closed so I enrolled at the fitness place.  Quite a few Curves ladies and some staff also joined.  I've been working out 2 - 3 times a week.  The workout is very different than what I'm used to but I'm getting quite the workout.  I'll be back home soon and start visiting unless I go see the movie Minions.  Who knows!  So head on over to the Stamping Ground and enjoy!!

Monday, July 20, 2015

The Wild West

As I have been cleaning/purging my craft room I came across some western-style vinyl-like stuff I purchased a year or so ago.  Since I just got in my Wild West stamps and matching Wild West Die set.


I used Cocoa Powder, Oatmeal Cookie, and Pineapple Smoothie card stocks an Cocoa Powder ink.


I found some dark brown brads in my stash which I think are perfect on this card.  The lasso is made with Journey Twine Natural.  I really like this card.  I'll share the other with you later.

Friday, July 17, 2015

July Kit of the Month Cards

I finally finished my 4 (actually 5) cards I made from the July "Kit of the Month".  There was a boo boo in the kits sent out and I didn't get the correction until after I made cards with what I had.


This kit is fabulous! (But I haven't met a Kit I didn't like so far....)  I love the 3 different watermelon stamps along with the fun ants.


The card on the right was supposed to be a pocket card but the card stock for the pocket was accidentally left out of the kit. (I got it a few days after the Kit.)  I learned how to make a double bow on my fingers but this card has a triple bow!  How fun!


I paper pieced the rind then added Journey Glaze to the seeds and rind.  A few Pink World sequins, Cut Rhinestones,  and some Bubble Gum Silk (splattered before the 3 strips of card stock were adhered) really finishes out the card! Oh, the circle is made from the Journey Circle dies with the piercing element. 


Here is some of the Black/White paper is used.  Really makes the watermelon images pop, don't you think?


After making the double Black Gngham ribbon bow I tied some Black Licorice thread to it, glazed the watermelon and sprinkled a bit of Sparkle Dust to it.


Since I don't have the Watermelon Fusion ink I used another I had and stamped off once.  This ink formulation doesn't do that well but it worked good enough for this card.  Again, a few sequins and rhinestones add some pizzazz to the card along with glazing the seeds.


Here's the correct pocket card.  The Whip Cream insert fits nicely in the pocket. 

Everything but the inks, glaze, silks, and adhesive comes in the kits. All paper is cut or die cut as need be and there are the pieces you need to stamp, too.  If you order it you are signing up for a 6 month commitment which will be Auto Shipped to you for $24.95 per month plus shipping ($6.95) and tax.  You get an exclusive stamp set, too, that's not available for general purchase for 3 months.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Desks and Coyotes

Today is weekly DESK day!  You have the unique opportunity to see my desk (photo taken last night) in whatever shape it was when I grabbed my camera and the desks of fellow crafters all over the world!  And the honorable Julia at the Stamping Ground brought us all together with Mr. Linky.  If you are new to my blog and want more info just click over to the Stamping Ground when you finish here and click on the "What is WOYWW?" page tab at the bottom of her banner for more info.

But today is also a sad day.  Eliza of Queenartoypia, a fellow desker and one whom I visited (and she visited me) almost every week, has passed away.  I never met Eliza but I enjoyed her posts and her pics of her cat, Yoda, who was always by her side. She left such nice comments when she stopped by.  My heart breaks for her family and friends and she will be missed greatly. 



I'm right in the middle of making a pocket card.  I have the pocket completed other than adding the ribbon and a stamped circle to the bottom right of it.  The stamps I'm using are on the left in front of one of my ribbon holders.  The directions for this card (the FSJ "Kit of the Month" are inbetween. Far left my new Tonic trimmer and the stamp envelope.  Red Cricut, stack of cards, stamp cleaner and Ott light across the top from left to right. Far right is the handle of my ATG adhesive gun laying on some scrap paper.  I'll have this card done in another 10 minutes or so.

It has been a busy area the last couple weeks.  I've actually been a bit inspired while on Pinterest.  Well, I'm trying to make cards by looking at the hundreds I have already pinned! But I don't think these were inspired over there.  But my future posts definitely have  been!


I purchased the coyote die (by Spellbinders) last week and started playing I used a Spellbinder Label and FSJ stamps.  The paper is all from my stash.


I cut the coyotes twice, one in brown and the top "moon" in yellow.  I adhered the yellow over the brown then onto the labels.  Not bad.  I have other ideas running through my head for this die (if they don't get lost somewhere).


This colorful critter is a Gila Monster.  He was traveling by the church wall a couple weeks ago as I was working. This guy is about 1 1/2' long and did NOT appreciate me and another taking his photo.  I stayed well back as it is venomous and, I understand, once he gets a bite on something he does not let go.

Ok, you've reached the end of my post.  Please remember to click over to the Stamping Ground and check out about 60 - 70 of us that have been taking part.  Grab your beverage and enjoy!  And please, say a prayer for Eliza's family.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Lemonade at the Beach

I've been able to get some cards made this last week and weekend and here's one that I made using the Surf's Up set in the Adventure collection.


I'm thinking the beach ball is a bit too big for where I put it.  What do you think?  I also used one of the piercing elements from the Journey Circles dies on the Whip Cream top layer.


After coloring with Copic markers to try and match the Beach Ball & Pineapple Smoothie card stocks I added some Journey Glaze to the Lemonade and ball. Other than the size of the ball I do like this layout.  And with the heat we've been having I think I'll go get some lemonade! I'll take it with me to Curves and work.  Gotta stay hydrated!

Friday, July 10, 2015

Cats and Birds

I will be drawing a name from the commenters on my June 26 post for the 2 new stamp sets later today.  Have you entered??   At the time of this posting we are heading to my husband's  Gastroenterologist and he's getting a radiofrequency ablation (cauterization) done in his lower esophagus. He has a spot that is considered pre-cancerous and this procedure is supposed to stop any chance of problems later.

Last week a wonderful lady in church asked me to make her a card for a friend who purchased a new home.  I was trying to think of what I could do when I remembered a great set I purchased at convention called "Sweet Home".  I made the focal point as an ATC for a challenge then made a full sized A2 card with it.


Here it is as an ATC, a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" little card. I like the monochromatic look using Citrus Cooler and Whip Cream card stocks and Citrus Cooler ink.  The oval was made using the Journey Ovals die set.  I sponged a bit of the Citrus Cooler ink around the edges of the oval and the white rectangle.


I fussy cut the 2 birds and pop dotted them over the bird house.  I also cut out the heart shaped "door".


Here's the finished card.  I randomly stamped the pair of birds on the larger Citrus Cooler layer and stamped the text with Black Licorice ink.  I found some black rhinestones in my stash to add a bit of bling around the words.


Nikki, another coach, showed me how to make a multi loop bow.  I almost forgot but did manage to get this one made.  I added a glue dot behind it to keep in in place and together.  Oh, I used Whip Cream thread for the bow.  Doris really liked the card.  I did tell her to turn it inside out to mail to keep the rhinestones from tearing the envelope.

And now for my cat card....


This cute stamp set is FREE with a $50 + order!!  It's called "Feed Me" but you can't find it in the online shopping cart.  It is in the catalog.  If you place an online order and want this set the # is AT-0160.  I used River Stone, Pineapple Smoothie, and Whip Cream card stocks.  The Chevron Trail background stamp is actually much bigger but I cut it apart to have 2 stripes separate for uses like this.  I stamped it in Pineapple Smoothie ink and the words in Black Licorice.



I colored the cat using Copic markers.  And the Black Licorice thread bow was threaded through a couple itty bitty holes that I punched with a hand punch from my stash.  And how do you like the little tag?  I used the Punch Handle and the Tag Time punch cartridge.  Again, I punched the tiny hole and added another Black Licorice Thread bow.  I added dots to the eyes with my Stardust Clear Gel pen to make them kinda glow.  I think this card would be a fun birthday card, especially for an older person like a Big 0 birthday.  But then, that's my sense of humor.  I will leave the inside blank. 

I have noticed as I as adding links that I was NOT using my replicated site in prior posts.  I hope I got that fixed with this post.  If you want to order you can click through the Holiday Catalog picture at the top of my sidebar then click on Shop.  The products come right to your door!  I've been told that ordering is fairly easy.