Monday, July 31, 2017

Birthday Cacti

When I placed my first order from our new catalog 4 week ago I purchased a cool new die set called Designer Frames Die set.  This cool new die has 4 inserts, 3 of which are words.  Here's a card I made using the Birthday insert and our new Arizona Trail Bundle.


I used paper from our Mother Nature Collection.  The solid colors are Pomegranate Splash, Denim Days, Oatmeal Cookie, and Green Olive.  The pattern is from Mother Nature Prints.



I flicked some Sparkle Silk on the card and painted a bit on the cactus flower.  All stamping was done using Black Licorice ink.  Did you notice the cacti has some coloring?  I used Whip Cream from our Color Burst pencils and a bit of other colors to make the cacti pop more.  This card came about by accident as I really wanted to play with the Designer Frame die. I cut the die and thought it worked great with this pattern. After that I had to go through me stamps to see what worked with the color palette I was using  Yep, I think it worked out pretty good!  What do you think?

StampinCarol

Friday, July 28, 2017

Wishing You A....

This is the 4th and final card from our RG Presents Holiday event.  I changed up some colors to be more appealing to me. Again, stamps, dies, and some embellishments will not be available until August 1 but that's right around the corner!


There is so much on the card from the new Mini.  The stamp set, Holiday Wishes (sentiment), the holly & coordinating die from Poinsettia Burst Bundle,  the ornament from Ornament Swirls, the Gold Mirror and Christmas Cheer Prints card stocks, and the red berries from the Berries & Holly embellies.



Here's a closer look at the ornament. The top is our Black Licorice card stock layered over the Gold Mirror card stock. It's very difficult to get a good picture of the Gold Mirror card stock but it is amazing!


The Berries are pretty cool and there's also green ones in the package.

As to the rest of the products, here the list:
Black Licorice, Whip Cream, and Gold Mirror card stocks
Journey Rectangles die set
Black Licorice and Fresh Forest inks
Black Licorice reinker (black specks, used like a Silk using a Blending Brush)
Gold PanPastel
Whip Cream Thread
Dauber Dowel

Originally Black Licorice PanPastel was to be used behind the ornament but I preferred Gold. This card is very striking in person. And a fellow coach mentioned the swirls cut out of the black ornament top looked like deer antlers!

Another quick note, you have only a couple more days to join FSJ and get the Starter Kit you desire with DOUBLE the stamp sets.  Effective Aug. 1 we'll be back to the regular Kits. To join just click on the FSJ logo at the top of the side bar then click Join My Team.  There you can choose which kit best suits you.  Don't delay, time is running out!

StampinCarol

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

My Workdesk in 2 Moods

This has been one of those weeks.  The graphics card was fading fast on my last computer so last Thursday I purchased a new desktop.  Took me 2 days to get all the upgrades and programs installed.  Not bad!  I've not done that before, the son or my computer guy has done the majority of that work. But I'm up and running and even got my Print Shop Deluxe 2 to install! That's an old program!  So from there I ended up reorganizing my desk.  Yep. And I'm going to show it to you courtesy of Julia at the Stamping Ground and her weekly What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday! This is week 425 and I've been joining in since about week 185 (just a guess). For more info on how to join in just head over to her place and click on the How To Link for WOYWW page button just under her banner.

Ok, the first picture, my very tidy desk, was taken Monday as I stood and admired the change.  Most of the change is due to selling my Copic markers and rack.  Yeah, I did. After not using them for over 6 months and opting for the products from the company I'm with, it was time.  The 2nd picture is my desk busy with my Gel Press.  I'm most definitely a novice but hope to get better with time.



You can see my Gel Press with a rectangle in it.  This A2 card sized marking is on a piece of acetate that is placed under my Press so I have a focal point when playing.  Above the press are some pieces drying.


These are the nicer pieces I made.  Some turned out ugly but I can salvage pieces.  I took a class from Sally Lynn McDonald with Gel Press and follow Gel Press Junkies on FB.  Fascinating stuff!

Today my car is in the shop getting a new Rack & Pinion, the steering mechanism, along with new belts, spark plugs & wires, and maybe hoses (if needed).  We're heading to California in a week to see our kids and granddaughters whom we haven't seen in almost 2 1/2 years.  I won't be joining in on WOYWW the first 2 Wednesdays of August.  But I'll be back!

Please head over to the Stamping Ground and check out the desks that are linked.  I'll be playing with some of my pieces above and scheduling posts for while I'm gone.

StampinCarol

Monday, July 24, 2017

Merry

This is the 3rd of 4 cards we made from the RG Presents Holiday event.  I love this die (For You available Aug. 1) and the cool Silver Mirror card stock and this past week I've seen some fun cards using this die.  I hope to get a couple more cards made using it.


We started by making circles of colors on the Whip Cream layer with a Dauber Dowel and 3 colors of inks, Candy Apple, Limeade Splash, and Summer Days.  The we flicked some Gold, Silver, and Cranberry Bliss Silks.  Now we did something different.  We added a squiggle of Journey Glaze near the top of the card and spread it thinly using a piece of card stock and sprinkled some Sparkle Dust!


Here you can see the sparkle!  Next we die cut the packages die from the Silver Mirror card stock and foam dotted it in place. We stamped the Merry from the Holiday Wishes (available Aug. 1) with Black Licorice ink on a small piece of Whip Cream and detailed cut it out and foam dotted it in place. We stamped the holly and bow from the Holiday Wishes stamp set using Fresh Forest and Candy Apple inks. I stamped the holly again with Candy Apple ink to get the red berries.  All was detail cut and foam dotted in place. We adhered a strip of Silver Sparkle Tape near the bottom of the card front, added a strip of Christmas Cheer Prints (available Aug. 1) then wrapped some Black Licorice Thread around the card front and tied. A few Fashion Gold pieces (available Aug. 1) were added after adhering the card front to a folded Black Licorice card base.

Did I get your interest going on our new products coming out next month?  I just got in some more cool stamp sets and papers and hope to get some time to play this week.  Tuesday I take my car back to the garage to replace all the hoses, belts, spark plugs & wires, and the rack and pinion.  It just started leaking and since we are heading to California early August to see family I wanted it fixed! And when we get back I'll be posting my for sale stamp sets because I didn't want to get people wanting them while I was gone. I have quite a few and some from other companies, too.

StampinCarol

Friday, July 21, 2017

Golden Poinsettias

Here's another Christmas card I made when I took part in RG Presents last weekend.  Again, the stamped images are all from the upcoming Holiday Mini catalog that goes live August 1.


I used a large Dauber Dowel and Pool Play ink to add the light color on my Whip Cream card stock layer then stamped the skinny leaf from the Poinsettia Burst set a few times using Fresh Forest ink.  Next I splattered some Gold and Silver Silk. I stamped the Merry Christmas from the new Holiday Wishes set with Black Licorice ink. I adhered a piece of Simply Gold washi tape and layered a piece of Black Deco Strip and a strip of Black Licorice card stock over my base images. Some Journey Gold Thread tied on and I'm ready for my focal images.  I stamped the poinsettias on Whip Cream card stock using our Clear Pigment ink then Gold embossed and die cut. The leaves were stamped using Fresh Forest ink and die cut. I layered and foam dotted the leaves and Poinsettias in place.



A few green Holly gemstones finished the front. Last I layered it on a folded card base of Black Licorice.

As soon as I have the link to our Mini I will post it in the side bar.

I am now working on a new computer.  I got an HP Pavilion with and i5 processor.  It came with a keyboard and mouse but I don't like the sizes, both are smaller than my previous ones (which still worked fine).  My old HP was losing it graphics card as I'd get spots of black come and go on my screen and I figured it was just a matter of time before I wouldn't be able to use it.  Poor thing was over 7 years old so it was time.

I also sold my Copic markers (don't faint!) since I haven't used them in ages.  It was a tough decision but the $$$ will buy more FSJ products!!

StampinCarol

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Desks and Open Houses

It's Wednesday!  Another beautiful day of rain!  Yes, we're in our monsoon time and have been getting storms almost daily along with flash flood alerts and a couple little floods in the gully that we drive through.  So far not enough water to cause any issues with getting in or out of our home, thank goodness!  But today is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, the day you get the opportunity to see my desk (and many others should you decide to check them out) in whatever state it's in when I take the picture.  I usually do this on Tuesday afternoon so I can get linked up early.  This fun (well, sometimes almost embarrassing) blog tour is put together by Julia at the Stamping Ground.

So here is my desk:


There's been a major change of my desk this week.  I'm selling my Copic markers & rack.  I haven't used them in ages preferring to use my company's coloring mediums so... bye!  So my desk looks quite tidy at the moment.  I am working on a project of  making sample sheets of some stuff.  I will get back to card making later.  I will be changing the shelves around a bit to better hold/organize my stuff but that may take some time but for now this will work.

Last Friday I had an Open House at a local cafe but only 5 people, all customers of mine) came and enjoyed themselves.  I was hoping for "new blood" but I am really happy that my customers supported me and they almost all placed orders with me.


I put together 2 display boards, one with card samples and one with sign up info and this month's specials.  Also here I have catalogs, a drawing bucket and the large bag I was giving away.


This picture is showcasing some of our products and there was some interest in what we carry.  If you look on the bottom shelf of the unit on the far left you can see my team mascot, Mike from Monster U.


This is my Make 'n Take table along with my Planner and an Album.  Was no interest in those but the gals loved their projects!

So I'm a little heavy in photos so please forgive me.  Please head over to the Stamping Ground and check out other desks as you'll get to see some great projects, too!

I'm still having computer issues, looks like the graphics card is dying and since this computer is over 7 years old, guess I'm going shopping...

StampinCarol

Monday, July 17, 2017

Merry Christmas... What!

This past Saturday I attended a group get-together in Tucson, AZ of RG Presents, a 6 hour YouTube live streaming "party" put on by Fun Stampers Journey. Richard Garay, the CEO and co-owner and many of the Journey crew gave demonstrations, product reviews and uses, and more.  Unfortunately there was about an hour or so of technical difficulties but our group of 7 made the 4 cards from our RG Presents Bundle that we had to purchase to take part (and get the link to join in).  Our cards use stamps and dies from our upcoming Holiday Mini catalog that goes live August 1.  I'll provide the link to the online catalog when I get it.

Here's 1 of the cards...




We used the new Poinsettia Burst Bundle, a stamp set of 8 and a coordinating die set of 5, Holiday Wishes stamp set of 16, and Christmas Cheer Prints, a pack of 12" x 12" double sided card stock.  I didn't add any Journey Glaze to the Poinsettias so there's only the new Berries & Holly dots (also new) that are kinda blingy. Since these aren't available yet I can't give links. Other products used are:
Card stocks: Black Licorice and Whip Cream
Inks: Black Licorice, Cranberry Bliss, Fresh Forest, and Gold Silk

I noticed that I didn't do a couple other things to this card after reading the directions to get the supplies.  Oh well.  I still like it!

I am still having computer issues.  It seems the graphics card is going out.  I'm waiting for my IT guy to get home from his vacation to decide what I need to do, whether replace it or the computer. This computer is over 7 years old. It has all the components I like so I really hate to start over.

StampinCarol

Friday, July 14, 2017

Alpaca Bag

I decided to play with our new set, No Prob-Llama bundle. I fell in love with this set when I first seen it at Convention mid-June and this is my first opportunity to use it!  I started with a folded base of Cranberry Bliss card stock then added a layer of Dark Roast.



 I love our new Designer Choice Prints so used this fun wood-look print for the top layer.   I stamped the phrase on Oatmeal Cookie card stock, cut into a banner then layered it on some Dark Roast card stock and popped in place.


I stamped the Llama on Butter Cream card stock with Black Licorice ink, die cut it then stamped the glasses.  I colored a bit with our Color Burst Pencils and added Journey Glaze to the glasses.


We have such great dies and I used our Fun Triangles die to cut some Green Olive card stock but only used one row and saved the triangles to add to the card edges.  Some Natural Thread was looped on top the Trianges die cut then I popped the Llama over that. I love how this turned out as I'm one of those who likes to make cards that others can replicate.

Other products used:  Amaze die cut machine, Foam Squares, Glue dots, and Easy Glide Runner.
Just click on the product names and you can go shopping

StampinCarol

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Busy Desk and Some itty Bitties

Yep, Wednesday. Desker Day.  Hump Day.  What a week - computer had issues, we had 1 1/2" rain last night with floods, yeah. Been interesting.  But today I'm joining up with many others to give you the opportunity to see my desk and the project I was working on when I took my picture yesterday afternoon.  And our head desker Julia at the Stamping Ground brought us all together!  She and her hubby has been enjoying a vacation in the U.S. (and looks like she's been having a great time for the few weeks they've been here).  I hope they have a safe trip home.


This was my desk yesterday.  I've been preparing to hold an Open House to celebrate the new catalog of the company I'm with.  What's on my desk here is one of the door prizes I'll be giving out on Friday.  What you see is:
Left: my Cricut with the Christmas cards sitting on top for a class I'll be teaching the 28th and a large bag of bags in front of it along with some embellishments in a plastic box.
Middle: my Itty Bitties sitting on a kraft sheet in front and tools, etc. behind.
Right: my Hot Marks tool (used to seam a plastic bag to fit my project) and my Platinum machine and ATG adhesive roller in front and light, ink rack, and paper scraps in back.

Do you want to see my Itty Bitties?  These are basically Card Candy but when I was involved in a swap of them the hostess changed the name to make them more unique to our company.


I used assorted dies, papers, inks, PanPastels, and embellishments but just 1 stamp set with coordinating dies.  This is the 2nd time I've made these but these are a bit bigger than I wanted but still, they are a door prize so who cares the size!  I had an interesting time editing these pictures as my Photoshop Elements 11 quit working. I'm sure it's a result of the computer issues I had last week but I have #15 ordered!  I really like Photoshop and have been using it for 20 years.  I'm not utilizing it to its fullest but I am used to it and it's fun to play with.

Please now head over to the Stamping Ground and check out the other links.

StampinCarol

Monday, July 10, 2017

Double Pocket Card

I was very disappointed when our cool (original) Double Pocket Die retired but then excited when we came out with a new Double Pocket Die set that had so many more options! In order to find this cool die I had to search for it and I had to search for the extra Pocket Trims Die Set so I don't know where they are without searching.


I made this to use as a give-away at my Open House on Friday.  I used some retired print paper as I have oh so much!  The pocket topper trims are die cut from Lemon Drop and Blue Lagoon card stocks.


 Here you can see the tag I made using the largest tag on the Tag Set Steel Rule Die.  I stamped the Flame from the Birthday Bash stamp set (can get as a Bundle but I don't have the die set) using Sweet Berry ink.  The text is from the Word Up stamp set stamped with Blue Lagoon ink on Whip Cream card stock.


The flower was made from some more printed paper from the retired paper pack and Blooming Details Die set. A bit of Whip Cream Thread behind it and some cool Sweet Candy Drops to add some pop.

I hope I get some customers at my open house.  I've taken flyers to the store where I sell my cards and took some flyers to the store where I'll be holding my event along with emailing my customers.

StampinCarol

Friday, July 7, 2017

You Color My World

When I made the card for my previous post I had some bits and pieces of die cuts left over so I made another card kinda similar.


I used pretty much the same products but switched up the card stock colors and the ink on the banner.


I used our Sweet Candy Drops as they are shiny whereas the ones used previously are matte.  And I used Turbo Teal ink for the sentiment.

Well, tomorrow we have dental appointments across the border into Nogales, Mexico.  Our dentist and hygienist are so nice and we've been going to them for 7 years.  I am thankful we don't go very far across the border but we have never had an issue.

StampinCarol

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

A Mystery Item Card

For our monthly stamp club (SALSA - Stampers At Large Stamping Away) I accepted the challenge of using a designated mystery item that was handed out at our May meeting.  It was a couple little washers that looked like gears.  I hemmed, I hawed, and finally, the light bulb lit up!


Do you see them? They've got our colorful Spring Accent Dots on them!


The pattern paper is retired but I used bright card stocks from our Be Amazing Collection,  Sour Lemon, Electric Lime, Turbo Teal, and Outrageous Pink.  The bright silver paper is new and is called Mirror Silver.  It is so very very shiny!! I also used our Whip Cream card stock for the text banner. How do you like the flowers and leaves?  They're all from a new die set called Blooming Details die set.  I just love it!  And the text is from our Color World stamp set. It was 1 long line but I cut the stamp in half. I used Outrageous Pink ink to stamp it.

I am having computer issues, picked up a virus or something recently so will have to find someone to clean it up as my computer guy is on vacation until the end of the month. Bummer.  Hope you have a great Independence Day celebration!

Somehow I've been locked out of my FaceBook account and may have to open a new one.  I'll keep you informed.

StampinCarol

Monday, July 3, 2017

Prickly Planner Clips

I've been making a few items to give away at my open house the 14th and Planners and accessories are a big thing right now so...  I made a set of 4 planner clips!  I may even make more to sell with my cards but not until after my open house.


I was thinking that since cacti is a big thing in our area (and we have some VERY large Prickly Pear cacti) that these would be liked.


I didn't use a lot of product on these.
Stuck On You Bundle (stamps & dies)
Color Splash Pencils (water color pencils)
Blending Brush
Journey Glaze
Foam Squares

I still have to make some flyers..... probably tomorrow.  I need these to put up where I sell my cards and at the venue where I'll be holding my event.

StampinCarol