Friday, March 31, 2017

Fish and Jellyfish

Last Saturday me and oodles of people (roughly 500 across the U.S.) took part in an online live streaming YouTube video "party" with Richard Garay (the co-owner of Fun Stampers Journey) and the FSJ crew.  We had demos, tips and techniques, and a make & take.  Here's 2 of the cards we made:



This fun jellyfish and pattern paper will be available tomorrow when our new Spring Into Summer mini catalog goes live. Plus, unfortunately, right now as I'm putting this post together, I'm unable to connect to my shopping cart so I can't provide any links to current products.  But I will give you the names of the products used on this card:

Jelly Wish (AT-0236)
Under The Sea (print paper PP-0041)
Journey Rectangles (DI-0041)
Pool Play (CS-0092)
Tangerine Fusion (CS-0036)
Butter Cream (CS-0006)
Pineapple Smoothie ink (IP-0014)
Citrus Cooler ink (IP-0048)
Tangerine Fusion ink (IP-0005)
Denim Days ink (IP-0010)
Journey Silver Silk (IP-0090)
Journey Thread Silver (AC-0205)
Cut Rhinestones (AC-0151)
Journey Glaze (AD-0003)
Punch Handle (TO-0031)
Summer Pretties punch cartridge (TO-0007)
Fusion Ink Sponges (JM-0014)




I added the 2 fish to this card as I felt it needed more. We played with some of our Media products and had fun coloring the Color Splash sheet.  Products used:

Catching Waves (SS-0439)
Sandy Toes (SS-0441)
Artful Fins Bundle (BD-0238)
Journey Circles dies (DI-0039)
Electric Lime (CS-0123)
Pool Play (CS-0092)
Whip Cream (CS-0040)
Color Splash Sheets (JM-0076)
Designer Vellum Prints (PP-0008)
Black Licorice ink (IP-0041)
Sour Lemon Splash (IP-0124)
Cool Pool Splash (IP-0076)
Turbo Teal Splash (IP-0125)
Sour Lemon Silk (IP-0110)
Turbo Teal Silk (IP-0119)
Electric Lime Silk (IP-0108)
Sour Lemon Silk (IP-0110)
Journey Silver Silk (IP-0090)
Whip Dream Sparkle Tape (AC-0258)
Journey Sequins Special Celebration (AC-0205)
Journey Days Stapler (TO-0118)
Brush Silver Staples (TO-0120)
Journey White Embossing Powder (IP-0098)

When you go to the shopping card you can either search the name or the SKU in the appropriate boxes.

And for those of you who like the links to my shopping cart to view more, effective May 1 we hope to be getting a NEW website and all my links until then will no longer work. Yeah, lots of work to make the links but I'm so excited about the new site!  It will be more user friendly and expanded with more info!  But until then I will continue to link in case you want to order. And as soon as I get the link to the new mini catalog I will add that to my sidebar.

StampinCarol

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

My Busy Desk and an Over The Hill Card

We have finally into spring here in southern AZ after having a couple days of summer (hot, in the 90's*) weather.  Love it in the 70's* but could do without the wind. But today is Wednesday, yeah, that's what the calendar shows. And today you have the opportunity to view my desk and many other desks, should you take up the mission.  These fun views are put together by lovely Julia at the Stamping Ground.  Please head over there when you've finished here.


This was taken yesterday late afternoon as I was busy working on a card to celebrate a friend's 40th birthday.  He's our pastor's son and our music leader at church.  His wife is having a surprise birthday party this weekend.  My, how I ramble.  Anyway, my desk, stamps, a partial card, scraps of paper, an ink pad, other cards from this past weekend, and my ATG adhesive roller.  When the card was finished the desk was cleaned and made ready for my next project.

And here's the finished card.


I used a balloon die and misc. products.  The solid black and white papers have a shimmer.


This is the inside.  I've had this stamp for many many years.  The paper is actually black and I used white ink.

Ok, I'm done.  Please head over to the Stamping Ground for more links to great desks.

StampinCarol

Monday, March 27, 2017

More Great Easter Projects

Here's the rest of the Easter projects I took pictures of to share:








I hope these inspire you for your special projects!

I will share real soon the projects I made this past weekend as 6 of us got together to play and join in with RG Presents, an online video party!  We used stamps from our upcoming Spring Into Summer mini catalog that goes live on April 1.

StampinCarol

Friday, March 24, 2017

All Sorts of Fun Easter Projects!

March 18 I went to Scottsdale, AZ for a special FSJ meeting.  It was great fun with demos, food, card making, fellowship, and even Richard & Gabby Garay came by!  Richard gave a talk about the company and Gabby showed different ways of using our great Journey Girl jewelry.

We were asked to bring an Easter project to display and, oh my, there were great projects!  I made a little Bunny Butt pocket for a munchie.


I started with Beach Ball card stock and our Scalloped Pocket Die.  I also used part of the die to cut the bunny paper from our Eggscellent Prints paper and adhered it to the front of the pocket. I also die cut a piece of Limeade Splash card stock with the grass die from the Border Details die set and adhered that to inside the pocket.  I used our Journey Ovals die set to make the bunny butt and paws out of Whip Cream card stock.  I colored in the pink on the paws with our Bubble Gum pencil from the Color Burst pencil set and added the 2 Pink World Sequins.


I stamped the Hoppy Easter from our Eggspressions stamp set in Beach Ball ink on a scrap of Whip Cream card stock and colored in the ears using the same pencil I used on the paws.  I cut it out and added a bit of Beach Breeze Thread then pop dotted this to the front.  Just too cute!

I will show you some of the great projects from that day in Scottsdale....








I will share the rest next week.

StampinCarol

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

A Cluttered Desk and a Ghost Town

What!  It's Wednesday again??  How did that happen??  I guess when one's been sick the days just roll by even faster.  Today is our weekly get together to show you our desks in whatever shape they're in by way of Julia at the Stamping Ground.   I didn't get much visiting done last week as I had a class then I got hammered with a head/chest cold so I ended up laying down.  Hopefully today....


This was taken yesterday afternoon after I finished the last spreadsheet for our 2016 taxes.  Whew! I'm going to be busting my buns today prepping for a class on Friday so this mess will have to be cleared as I start cutting paper, getting stamps & inks together, and whatever.  Just makes my head spin.  You can see stuff on the far left from a mini get-together in Scottsdale, AZ on March 18 to a pile of stamps, to my scrap paper where I stamp, to my ATG adhesive roller and more on the far right.

But last Saturday hubby and I joined another couple on a ride in their little Wrangle Jeep 4x4 to a ghost town called Ruby, AZ.  It's south of us and 4 miles from the Mexico border.  The road was very rough and was a bit hard on the bladder.


This is part of the old school building.  It was very dirty with so much mouse droppings, YUCK!  We tried not to breathe deep and wiped our shoes on the dirt outside when we left.



As we stood with our backs to the old mine I took these pictures of the town.   It was interesting and the people who lived here 100 years or so ago had to have been quite rough and tough to eke out a living in this desert town.  There was a small lake off to our right. After leaving here we drove to Arivaca for lunch then back home.  I was totally tuckered out from my cold and dozed the rest of the day.

Ok, now please head over to the Stamping Ground and check out the links to the other crafters rooms.  You'll see not only where they work but some great projects!

StampinCarol

Monday, March 20, 2017

Don't Count Your Chicks

This is the last card of the 4 Easter cards I made.  I really need to get back to my desk and make some cards!  But this one is my favorite of the 4.


This cute little chick is from the Favorite Peeps bundle.  I started with a base of Bubble Gum card stock and added a layer of River Stone.  The Whip Cream top layer was splattered with some Bubble Gum Silk.


I layered the stamped chick on a piece of Sweet Spring printed card stock (picture on web site incorrect) that was layered on a piece of Pool Play card stock.  I used some Yellow Flock from my stash and our Craft Glue to make the chick fuzzy.  To finish off the card I made a triple bow using our Bubble Gum Thread.

I may have enough Easter cards for our family but I will continue making some more as I get to feeling better.  I got hit again last week with another cold so haven't been very functional.  I hope you all are doing well!

StampinCarol




Friday, March 17, 2017

A Pot of Tulips

I still haven't gotten to my desk to play, between getting another cold, hubby having doctor appts., and work, but I still have a couple cards I haven't shared.  Here's one using the same supplies as the 2 Easter cards I shared on Monday.


I started with a Bubble Gum base then layered a piece of River Stone card stock then Whip Cream card stock.  I stamped the pot of tulips from the Hope Rises stamp set with Black Licorice ink and colored with Copic markers.  I splattered some Bubble Gum Silk over that. I added some Journey Glaze to the flower pot.


I added a strip of River Stone card stock and the 3 1" squares of  Sweet Spring printed paper layered on some Pool Play card sstock.   I added some Sweet Candy Dots to the centers of the squares to complete the card.

This card can be used for an assortment of occasions, just depends on what is stamped inside.

StampinCarol
 

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

A Garden "Desk" and an Inspirational Card

Well, it's Wednesday.  It sure seems to come way fast, wasn't it Wednesday just a couple days ago?  At least it seems that way.  And today we share our desks with you with the help of our head desker Julia at the Stamping Ground.  My desk is back outside as I've planted the planter that I shared last week.  In fact, this picture was taken a few days ago when I got it planted and the plants have grown quite a bit since then!!


It's hard to see them but I have 6 bell peppers as the back row, 1 bell pepper, a cuke, and a cherry tomatoe as the front row.  The planter to the right has a jalapeno and a zuke planted in it.  Hubby is looking for some concrete blocks to replace the bucket under the planter.  I still have 1 more like it to plant.

I did get some cards made last week plus went to Scottsdale, AZ for a meeting with about 40 others in the company I'm affiliated with.  We had lots of fun and fellowship as we watched some demos, made 4 cards, had a good visit with the owner of the company, and ATE!  Oh yeah, lots of good food.  I still need to photograph the cards I made but I do have lots of pictures!


This card was made in response to a challenge on a friend's FB page.  We had to use a set from a particular theme from our catalog.  Since I purchased a larger MISTI-type tool and I seen a card on Pinterest I gave it a try.  I love how this turned out!


Okey, dokey, I'm done here.  Please now head over to the Stamping Ground for the links to my fellow crafters and their desks.  You'll see all kinds of projects, too.  I'll be here and there but today I also have my last Green Valley Recreation class for the year as our "snowbirds" (winter visitors) will start leaving in a week or two.  I have 9 people which is the largest class I've had in many years.

Hope you all have a great week!
StampinCarol

Monday, March 13, 2017

I'm Just Egging You On

I have so much to post but will do a couple Egg Easter Cards for now.   This first card uses a Bloom Benefit stamp (free with a $50 order before s/t)


The basket and text set is called Happy Eggster. I colored with our Color Burst pencils.  I started with a base of Bubble Gum card stock, added a layer of River Stone then a layer of Whip Cream card stock.  I stamped the text with Cranberry Bliss ink and added some Journey Glaze to the word easter for some pop.  I also splattered some Bubble Gum Silk on this layer.  The pattern paper is from our Sweet Spring paper pad and layered on Pool Play card stock as is the piece under the basket.


Now, the pink pearls are from my old stash but they worked wonderfully for this card.  Lots of foam squares, too.


I used the same papers & Silk on this card but I used our Egg Party stamp set and the Bloom Benefit Egg Party die.  I used Pool Play, Lemon Drop, and Cranberry Bliss inks to stamp the eggs before die cutting.  The Happy Easter is from the Annual Celebrations stamp set which is fabulous for 11 holidays! I stamped it with Black Licorice ink.  I used some of our Rainbow Dots as I keep forgetting about them with all our other cool embellishments!


Here you can see the layers and the Stickles I used as I have about 30 bottles of the stuff.  I usually save the Stickles for my classes but I wanted colored bling.

StampinCarol

Friday, March 10, 2017

Last But Not Least

I'm so excited to start on my March Bloom Box cards but I still need to share the last of the 4 cards from our February Bloom Box.  Yeah, I"m a bit late but, as they (who is they??) say, better late than never.


I love the simplicity of this card yet to me it is still very elegant!  And the Bold Wings stamp set butterfly is just so gorgeous!  We started with a base of Lavender Fusion card stock.  I stamped the butterfly and sentiment with Black Licorice ink on the Whip Cream layer.  I used our Color Splash pencils to color the butterfly by making a puddle of color on an acrylic block with a Blending Brush then coloring.  Using the left over puddles I splattered the card stock like I do with our Silks.  In fact, I used a bit of Silver Silk, too!


I ran a line of Journey Glaze around the outside edge of the butterfly then sprinkled with Sparkle Cuts. I actually prefer Sparkle Cuts (like a glitter but larger chunks, like itty bitty sparkly circles of fun) over Sparkle Dust (a fine glitter)  After it dried I adhered this layer to the card base and added some Silver (Special Celebrations) Sequins.

Next week I'll share pictures from a special meeting I'll be attending tomorrow in Scottsdale, AZ. We are to bring Easter Cards to display.  I have 2 cards made and will be sharing those next week, too.

StampinCarol


Wednesday, March 8, 2017

A Different Work Desk

Today is What's On Your Workdesk Wednsday which brings together MANY great crafters (and not just papercrafters) through the links from our head desker Julia at the Stamping Ground.

I have not had much time at my desk this week between working and taking hubby in for a check-up endoscopy. But upon getting home from the doc yesterday we started working on my "new" garden. We have an issue with rabbits and I'm tired of bending over so much that we had bit wooden boxes on an old metal feed trough. The boxes were rotting out and the trough was rusted out. So, I bought a nice wooden raised garden box and we were busy removing the old and putting in the new.


I will be going into town later this morning to purchase more potting mix (3 bags) for this and a couple more for other pots along with some seedlings.  I hope to plant 1 cherry tomatoes, 2 green bell peppers, 1 jalapeno in this.  I have a couple self watering planters that I'll put maybe a cantalope and a cucumber in.  Dean has to fix the sun shade that goes over this large planter as our sun will cook plants since we get up to 105*F most days in the summer. He'll get that done this weekend.


Here's a card I did get done last week. It's from the company I'm affiliated with.


 Here you can see the glitter on the butterfly. I'm not a glitter person (prefer Stickles) but I used an adhesive sheet that I stamped the butterfly on then cut out and adhered over the butterfly on the card.

I hope you'll head over to the Stamping Ground and check out all (or at least a bunch) of the desks of those willing to show you their work areas in whatever shape they're in.  I hope to get back to my desk soon but still have tax work to do.

StampinCarol





Monday, March 6, 2017

Flutter By, oh Butterfly

This past week I finally got my February Bloom Box cards made and I just LOVE the huge butterfly that was part of the stamp set called Bold Wings.  These cards are so cool!  Are you ready?


Our gorgeous Satin River Stone ribbon really looks great on this card.  The card starts with a folded base of Lavender Fusion card stock. The Whip Cream layer was embossed with the Petals Wall embossing folder then adhered to the Bubble Gum layer.  The ribbon was tied to this layer then adhered to the base.  I flicked some Silver Silk on the Branched Teardrop die cut River Stone card stock and adhered it under the ribbon.  Next I stamped the phrase on the Oval die cut pierced Whip Cream piece with Black Licorice ink and adhered it over the ribbon. Now comes for fun part!





I stamped the left half of the butterfly twice on 2 pieces of Whip Cream. I disregarded the directions to color the butterfly by using our Deco Dots AT stamp and Bubble Gum and Pretty Amethyst inks  I carefully detail cut each saving the body and antenna of one for the top of my butterfly.  I foam dotted the outside edge of the butterfly but adhered directly the body side.  I really should added more foam  dots to make the wings more open.  I added some Journey glaze to the edge of the top wing and along the "veins" then added Sparkle Cuts before letting the butterfly dry. I adhered the butterfly to the edge of the oval and added some Special Celebrations sequins to the branch and oval. In real life this is absolutely sparkly and I kinda got a bit of that to come across in the photos.

Are you ready for another card?


This card starts with a folded base of River Stone card stock.  I stamped the butterfly on the Whip Cream layer randomly using Bubble Gum and Pretty Amethyst inks and stamped the text before adhering to the base.  I stamped the butterfly in full with Black Licorice on another piece of Whip Cream and colored with our Color Splash watercolor pencils.  I flicked the left over puddle of colors on the base and butterfly.  After foam dotting the Pretty Amethyst Circle die cut piece I foam dotted the butterfly on it. 


A few more Special Celebrations sequins and this card is done! For fun I used the Silver Gel pen from the Just Write Gels set to give some pop to the body and antenna.

I've been asked to bring in more cards to sell at the store where I rent a room to teach.  We're going from my table top rack to a floor model that is about 5' high.  I will need to prep many more cards to sell and these will be for sale soon.

StampinCarol



Friday, March 3, 2017

A Little Owl and an Easter Cross

I spent most of Wednesday making some Easter cards to sell and to get some blog posts prescheduled so I can work on taxes.  Well, you're not going to see those this week.  I want to show you a couple cards, one I gave at a baby shower and the other is the 4th card I'll be teaching March 24.


I was inspired by a blanket I gave at the shower that was purple with little owls all over it so I pretty much stayed with the colors in the blanket.  So, I grabbed my new I Heart Embossing Folder (in our current Mini catalog which expires the end of March) and embossed the Pretty Amethyst card stock base. I added a Circle die cut piece of Lemon Drop card stock.  Next, I used the Bread Tag Die and used Lavender Fusion card stock to make the tag.  A few strips of our Whip Cream Sparkle Tape then I embossed with the Love Stripes embossing folder (also from our current Mini catalog).  The owl comes from the Deer Friends stamp set, stamped on Whip Cream card stock with Black Licorice ink, and colored with our Color Burst Pencils.
The banner was made with Lemon Drop card stock stamped with a stamp from our Rock Notes stamp set.  I actually cut a stamp in half to get the Happy.


I added our Journey Glaze to the eyes for a glassy look.


I make a triple bow from our Bubble Gum Thread and added some Silver Sequins to finish the card.

Ok, one card down and here's the Cross.


I like the monochromatic look and this card was inspired by one I seen at our Leadership Conference.  I used Sweet Pear card stock for the layers and Cross and Butter Cream card stock for the doily (Doily die) and flowers.  I used our new Color Cross Bundle (in the current Mini catalog) and Electric Lime ink.  Great subtle look!  The Hope Rises text in the bottom right is from our Hope Rises stamp set.


I love the flower in the center and I made it with our Punch Handle and the Summer Pretties cartridge.  A little Pearl in the flower and a few on the pierced Rectangle and the card is done!

Kinda funny how the flower and doily look white in the photos.  I think my Photo Shop does a bit of autocorrecting when I'm editing/cropping my photos.  Oh well.

StampinCarol