Friday, April 28, 2017

Hello Sunshine

I finally managed to watch one of Richard's demos and this time I was able to give it a try.  I did use different colors of card stock but the same stamp set and inks.


I started with a folded card base of Citrus Cooler.  My middle layer is River Stone and top layer is again, Citrus Cooler.  I stamped the top layer with the bold images from our Spring Bouquet stamp set using Butter Cream ink.  Since it is a pigment ink and not a fusion like most of our inks I heat set it to dry faster.  I then stamped the details using River Stone ink over the bold images. I splattered a bit of Silver Silk for fun.


I also stamped the text from our Every Day stamp set using River Stone ink.  I added a few Special Celebrations Sequins then put the card together.  I didn't try to match the details to the bold images but love the way this turned out.

Our retired list came out this week and I have about 40 sets that I pulled from my inventory.  I will be recording the ones I want to sell and their prices.  I am keeping about 12 large sets and 5 ATCs as I just can't bear to part with them.  We will be having a sale on the retired items starting May 10.  I have 6 pages of items at 30% off and 1 page of items at 50% off.  I hope to post these about May 8.  Stay tuned!!

StampinCarol

Thursday, April 27, 2017

May Bloom Box

I just got the info on our May Bloom Box.  Oh my gosh is it cool!  So feminine!  Here's the 4 cards that one will be making with the purchase of the Box.


I also have the flyer with all the info as to purchase.


I will be saving the flyer to my FSJ Specials page.  If you are interested you can order effective May 1 but you will be committing to a 6 month subscription.  Just go to my website, click on the SHOP button or Bloom Box button and have this great product shipped directly to your home!

StampinCarol

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Idle Desk but Busy Organizing

Hump Day.... Wednesday..... What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.... Yep!

Today we give you the opportunity to look at our (there's usually quite a few of us taking part in the weekly blog tour) desks and projects that are on our desks.   This blog get together is put together by our head desker, Julia, at the Stamping Ground.

But I again haven't spent much time at my desk this past week.  Today I'm prepping for a class on Friday so my desk is busy but not in the creative sense.  Oh well, it's coming.  But I have managed to reorganize my sponges and new Daubers.


I started with a 32 slot Floss holder.  I put some decorative paper and the computer generated title in the lid.  I just couldn't have a naked container.


On the back side of the decorative paper I drew grid lines to match the slots.  I had to cut out one divider so I would have a place to keep my dauber handles.  I wrote the ink names for the sponges in the grid but I still have a ways to go.  While I have no problems using a sponge for a couple inks that are very close I do want to have a large and small dauber for each color.  I need to purchase quite a few more packs of 10 of each size but I'll have this completed mid May.

I missed taking part last week as I had to go to Retina Assoc. in Tucson, AZ to get my eyes dilated and pictures taken of my retinas.  They had no problems getting my itty bitty pupils that won't dilate for my optometrist and the pictures turned out good.  My retinas are healthy but since I am extremely near-sighted I am at a higher risk for retina problems.  But I'm trusting God to take care of my eyes and am not accepting that diagnosis. And yesterday I had to replace my car windshield, a very tiny rock chip decided to become a 2' crack.  But I have good insurance and they covered the total cost.  Boy, that windshield looks nice!

Ok, that's all my more interesting news so now please head over to the Stamping Ground and check out all the desks.  Since I'm home today working on my card kits I will be able to visit.

StampinCarol

Monday, April 24, 2017

You're Turtley Awesome!

I've had very little craft desk time this past week but did manage to get this card made.  I'm loving the new Under The Sea collection in our Spring into Summer mini catalog.


This cool turtle is from our Turtley Awesome Bundle.  I stamped this larger turtle on a piece of Whip Cream card stock with Black Licorice ink the stamped the circle from the Brush Strokes stamp set using Citrus Cooler ink in the center of the turtle.  I then splattered some Citrus Cooler Silk on the turtle and die cut him. (I also stamped the text in Black Licorice ink.)


I barely could get the glimmer of the shell to photo but I brushed our fabulous new Sparkle Silk on it.  This stuff is so cool that it sold out almost immediately but should be back in stock shortly.  It reminds me of the Clear Wink of Stella product and can be put in a Blending Brush (according to a couple coaches) and used that way.  I will try this soon to verify.

The background waves stamp is our Catching Waves background stamp and I inked it with 3 different blue inks. I then splattered it with Cool Pool Silk.  I cut out a 3/4" section and adhered a piece of acetate from some packaging I had.  Our Clear View Sheets are perfect for this but I don't have any. I'll add a package of it to my next order.


I added some Pearls around the turtle to represent bubbles. Inside the card I stamped the sea weed from the Turtley Awesome stamp set in Kiwi Slice ink.

I have so many new stamp sets that I have yet to ink.  After I get my card kits made for my Friday class I can play!

Please remember that FSJ will be changing servers in a couple weeks so all my product links will be wrong after that.  But the new site will be so much better and more user friendly.  I have seen screen shots of parts of the site and I LOVE it and you will, too!

StampinCarol


Friday, April 21, 2017

Hello Lovely

This is the final card of the 4 I'll be teaching April 28 in Green Valley, AZ.   I have over 6 signed up but still have a few days to go before registration is done.


I love how this card turned out!  Simple yet classy!  I started with a Lemon Drop card stock base and layered a piece of Whip Cream over it.  A splatter of Silver Silk for fun and the phrase from our Hello Lovely stamp set in the corner using Black Licorice ink.

I stamped a 2 1/2" square of Whip Cream card stock using our Honeycomb ATS stamp.  I inked the stamp with Lemon Drop ink then rolled the stamp on Citrus Cooler ink before stamping the square.  I then cut this square into equal quarters and layered on Black Licorice squares. These were pop dotted as shown.


I stamped the bees on another piece of Whip Cream card stock, colored with my Copic markers, cut out, and, using our Foam Squares, adhered.  A few fun elements from our Rainbow Drops and some Sparkle Silk (new and fabulous!!!) painted on the bees' wings and the front is done!

StampinCarol


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Pink Tulips

I'm a bit late getting this post as this past week has been, um, interesting.  I had to take hubby to E.R. last Thursday and Saturday.  He had the flu and possibly a viral pneumonia on Thursday then chest tightness on Saturday which they determined to be from all the coughing.  Last Wednesday I had to go get my eyes dilated and scanned as my pupils are super tiny and VERY difficult to dilate, yep, Retina Assoc. got 'r done. We were supposed to go to my cousin's funeral on Friday but with hubby having the flu we stayed home and I kept a close eye on him.  My brother and SIL were here for the funeral but we did finally spend some time with them Easter Sunday at dinner as Dean was feeling quite a bit better and all the meds were really kicking in. Worked Monday, took Dad's 2 kittens to the vet yesterday, and today, my Honda got all the recall items replaced. Oh my!  I'm glad this past week is over!

So, no stamping but I still have 2 of the 4 cards for my upcoming April 28 class called "Love for the Ladies".  Since the majority of my students are retired most of their moms have passed, as has mine, this is not a Mother's Day class but I will have a Mom's Day stamp available should they want to use it.. So, are you ready?


I started with a base of Watermelon Fusion card stock. I stamped the Whip Cream card stock layer with the small flower group from the Glass Blooms Bundle stamp set and added a same size layer of the black striped vellum from the Vellum Designer Prints pack using our Stapler and Brushed Silver staples. I die cut the Black Licorice card stock using our Journey Ovals dies and, using Foam Squares, adhered it over a loop of Black Licorice thread.  I stamped the Tulips on Whip Cream and colored with our Color Burst Pencils then die cut.  I adhered to the oval using our Foam squares.  I added a floral clip from our Fun Day Elements for fun. Oh, all stamping was done with Black Licorice ink.


I deliberately did not stamp a phrase on the card front.

I hope tomorrow I can play with some of the new stamps from our current Spring Into Summer mini.  Have you checked it out?  Just click on it in the sidebar!  And remember, about May 10 Fun Stampers Journey will be changing servers so all my links to the products I'm giving now will be incorrect once the change is made.  All products will then have new links.

StampinCarol


Monday, April 17, 2017

Bold Wings

Here is another of the 4 cards I'll be teaching April 28 in Green Valley, AZ.  I love this bold butterfly!  The set, Bold Wings, is not yet available for purchase as it was part of our February Bloom Box.  It should be available June 1.


I stamped the butterfly randomly on Lavender Fusion card stock using Lavender Fusion ink. I also stamped the butterfly on a piece of Pretty Amethyst (die cut and pierced with our Journey Rectangles dies) using the same ink then layered this on Butter Cream card stock. I wrapped and tied a piece of Natural Twine around this double layer.  After inking a Summer Wings wood butterfly (these were a Bloom Benefit a while back) with the Lavender Fusion ink (let it dry!) I used a couple pop dots to adhere it over the bow.


I adhered the butterfly layer to the base layer with pop dots then adhered this card front to a folded Whip Cream card base.  I then used Crystal Stickles on the wood butterfly.   Such a simple card yet elegant.

Please remember that about May 10 we will be changing servers at FSJ and all my links will be worthless.  But our new websites are supposed to be much more user friendly and have more info.  I am so looking forward to an enhanced site!

StampinCarol

Friday, April 14, 2017

Fun Pennant Bloom

This past week has been filled with anything but stamping but I do have my cards done for my upcoming "Love for the Ladies" class on April 28 at 10 am in Green Valley, AZ. My cards for the class do not have "Happy Mother's Day" on them as so many of my gals moms have passed on.


I love how this card came out!  I used our Basic Box Window Plates die set and fun Party Pop Prints for the pennants and strip across the middle.  I started with our Whip Cream card stock for the base and a couple of the pennant layers. Beach Breeze card stock finished the layering.  I stamped the phrase from our Sentimental Prints stamp set in Beach Breeze ink.


I think the Metal Accent with the yellow brad from the Be Brights Brads is perfect to connect the pennants into a bloom!

StampinCarol


Monday, April 10, 2017

Easter Pockets

I usually send little goodies to our grandchildren and great grandchildren for Easter and today these will be in the mail.


They all start with my using the Scallop Pocket Die and assorted card stocks. I used the cute Eggscellent Prints  paper (now retired) on the front of the pockets.  The top left I used the Easter Bunny ATS stamp,  the top middle I used our Journey Oval dies, Color Burst Pencils (to color a bit of the bottom of the feet), Pink World Sequins, the grass die from the Border Details Die set, Eggspressions stamp set (now retired), Summer Pretties punch and Punch Handle (tail) and Beach Breeze Thread.  The top right and bottom left pockets all stamps are now retired but I used Eggspressions and Eggmojis.  Botton right I used Bunny Bum ATS, Pom Poms, and Eggspressions, all retired, and Bubble Gun Thread.  This pocket die is so versatile.  It's great for any occasion.

StampinCarol

Friday, April 7, 2017

Pool Party!

Well, I don't have a pool but this is the last of the 4 cards we made through RG Presents on March 11. Yeah, I know, I'm posting this late but I finally got it glazed where I wanted it, took pics that refused to upload to Google so took them again and again and finally on the 3 try they uploaded.  So, needless to say, it's last to be shown.


Originally this card was to open from the bottom but a few of us at the "party" chose to open from the side. At least I can link my products to my shopping cart so you can see them but remember, early May we'll be changing servers and all these links will not work.  If you want to see the products you can do a search on the product name BUT many of these products are in the current Spring into Summer mini which expires the end of June and I have NO idea if they'll be in the new Inspiration Book that goes live July 1.  Ok, what I did here.

The card base is made of Rich Coral card stock layered with a piece of Pool Play card stock.  I stamped the Citrus Cooler card stock with our Catching Waves background stamp using Rich Coral ink.  I flicked Sour Lemon and Citrus Cooler Silks on the Waves. The Pool Party stamp, fish from Artful Fins, and Beach Ball were all stamped on Whip Cream card stock using Rich Coral and Black Licorice inks.  I colored the beach ball and fish using assorted Silks and Splashes using my Blender Brush.  I used some Whip Cream Thread under the stamped items and added some Metal Accents along with some Journey Brads.  That's a Candy Dot on the beach ball.  I did glaze sections of the ball, the words and the fish.

That's a lots of products on the cover of this card but it wasn't difficult in the least to do and the effect is fabulous!


The inside is a pop out and it was made by just cutting a slit starting on the folded end then folding to the side.  I had to look at my Journey Blooms die as that's what made the splashes.  Yep, they are the leaves!  How clever!  I again colored and partially glazed the ball using the same products as on the cover and I glazed the splashes.

I need to stamp the inside but haven't yet decided with what.  Any suggestions?

StampinCarol


Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Another Wednesday, A Desk, and Class Samples

Ok, it's Wednesday again. And April is becoming an extremely busy month with hubby and I having a few doctor appts. each, my Honda car getting the driver air bag replaced on a recall, a funeral for a cousin (don't know when yet), and so much more.  Whew!  Tires me just to think about it!  But the fun part of today is our weekly tour of desks and you get the opportunity to see what many work areas look like and many great projects!  And this fun get together is put together by head desker Julia at the Stamping Ground.


I have just finished the last of the 4 cards I'll be teaching April 28.  On the far left is a set of butterfly dies sitting in front of my red Cricut. More right is another set on their magnet.  The little black box holds 3 Wink of Stella brushes.  Then the scrap paper pile where I stamp.  To its right are some new daubers from the company I'm with along with some ink pads, my lime green stapler, my ATG adhesive runner.  Now to the back half....  My shelves hold many things.  Top left 2 media bags with my PanPastels in them.  Then my Copic marker rack in the center.  And behind my Ott light my ink pad rack. Today I'll be working on ideas for my winter classes through an organization in Green Valley, AZ which I have to have submitted next week.  But do you want to see the 4 cards I'll be teaching?


The class is  called "Love for the Ladies".  Not quite Mother's Day cards but can be used as such. So many of my class customers moms have passed away so I decided to just make some fun feminine cards.  I'll teach similar for the guys next month.  All products used are from the company I'm affiliated with.  And I'll be doing more detailed posts on these cards later.

Ok, we're done here.  I hope you pop over to the Stamping Ground and check out the desk links.  I'm getting to stay home today so I hope to visit more than I usually do.

StampinCarol



Monday, April 3, 2017

Traveling Together

Here's another card of the 4 we made during the RG Presents event March 25.  This one I finished at home due to all the Sparkle Dust (a prisma-glitter type product).  I prefer to use this cool sparkly glitter in my craft room where it can dry without being bumped or smeared.  But our next RG Presents takes place May 6 and you can take part!  You just need to order the special Bundle (early bird bundle available until April 10 for $75, after that it's $99 from April 11 - 17.  With this purchase you will get the special YouTube link by email just a few days before the event.  The Bundle has a die, 2 stamp sets, a pad of paper, and some embellishments plus 4 card kits and a direction book.  It's an all day event with demos and tips & techniques.  Lots of fun and giggles, too!

Anyway, now to the card....


The background stamp, Catching Wages, was stamped on the Pool Play card stock with our Clear Pigment Ink then gently swirled with the Catalina Splash Pan Pastel from the Party Pop Collection.
It was layered on Black Licorice card stock then, using Foam Squares, adhered to the card base of Catalina Splash card stock layered with Whip Cream card stock.  I stamped the phrase from the Sandy Toes stamp set on Whip Cream card stock with Black Licorice ink then cut it out and adhered it to a circle die cut piece of clear vellum from the  Designer Vellum Prints. I used a Photo Pin Element to hold this piece to the card and stuck the end into a Foam Square that is under the fish. A piece of Black LicoriceTwine was looped and adhered before adding the fish.


Aren't the fish a hoot!  They come from the Artful Fins Bundle (stamp set with a coordinating set of dies).  I stamped them on Whip Cream card stock then used Journey Glaze and Sparkle Dust to really give them bling!

Around the first of May Fun Stampers Journey will be changing servers so all my links for our products will no longer work.  My new posts from that point on will link correctly but you can always search by keywords to find products.  I'm so excited about the new site as it will be more user friendly for both customer and coach.

Our new Spring Into Summer mini catalog is now live and you can click HERE to view it online.  It will be good until June 30.

StampinCarol