Third time's a charm???

When I sat down yesterday to do Poetic Artistry's Mojo #38 sketch challenge with Mary and Lisa, I had my tin of Die-Cut Blooms sitting out for my class tonight. I thought I would build the card around them. I matched the blooms to some of the Summer Picnic paper, added a Build A Brad for some bling and used my white gel pen around the flower. Getting into the card, I realized that the finish card was deviating too much from the original sketch. I had moved the words, I didn't use the rectangle focal point or the oval...so I set it aside to use as a sample at my class tonight. OK...start over.

I already had the blue Bloomin' Beautiful flower done and sitting in my leftover pile from a previous Ink Wash Technique Class. This technique is in the April/May 2007 issue of Technique Junkies Newsletter! I decided to build the card around that rectangle piece. I love how Night of Navy turns into Almost Amethyst when watercolored, so I matched those two colors together, along with a touch of Always Artichoke green. I also used an oval piece from my Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware and the Almost Amethyst designer prints, along with some white Taffeta ribbon. Cool...happy with how it turned out. Looked at the sketch again to see if I missed anything and saw that a part of the challenge was to use specific colors! Grrrr....

So...now I use the Verve Visual Summertime colors that we were SUPPOSED to use on the challenge (Soft Sky, Cameo Coral or Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive or Certainly Celery). OK...at this point I should be working on my class samples, so I quickly made up the same card using these Summertime colors. I again used the Ink Wash technique from Technique Junkies Newsletter. I started with the background of Soft Sky. On white I stamped the flower, the Pumpkin Pie watercolored to the So Saffron color. Yeah! Just a hint of the Cameo Coral behind the So Saffron designer prints makes the layers POP! I used the Soft Sky double-stitch ribbon and Antique Brass hardware since those tones seemed to match a little better.

And the best thing? I have 3 birthday cards done! Woohoo!

Canton folks, we are doing this technique next week at our Technique Class, so if you haven't signed up...it isn't too late!!!

Fun & Fast Notes

My Technique Class did this card a couple months ago using the Frosted Filters technique. The Yo Yo Yellow reinker obviously "took over", but there is some white and Only Orange in the background, too. A lot of the white is hidden by the focal point. I love this technique because you get really MESSY fingers!

I also had them watercolor the vase of flowers from Fun & Fast Notes using Watercolor crayons...it gives it such a soft look. I punched a hole in the upper left side of the focal point layer and tied the black gingham ribbon. The Green Galore layer pulls out the color of the leaves in the vase. The vase itself is colored with Bashful Blue crayon.

A simple card, but this technique is really showed off by this layout, and the crumbled background almost looks like fabric.

The rain has finally gone away and the sun is back out, warming up the temperatures again. Yeah! My pots of flowers and bedding flowers are taking off! The Dogwood trees are in FULL bloom, too, along with my Lilac bushes...oh...they smell SO awesome!

Nature's Sketchbook

Yes, this is a retired set, Nature's Sketchbook, but it is one of those sets that I will never let go. I especially love the butterflies in this set, but the strawberries come in a close second for my favorites. I used the Waxy Cuttlebug technique again, found in the current (April/May) Technique Junkies Newsletter. It is a FUN technique to do! On the background I used the Bamboo embossing folder and Pumpkin Pie Spectrum pad. The butterflies I colored with More Mustard and Close to Cocoa markers. Since the technique is striking on its own, I left the rest of the card simple...layering the focal point on Basic Black, then More Mustard and finally the Really Rust base card. A length of 5/8 wide Olive grosgrain ribbon finishes it off!

It was a beautiful weekend, can't believe it is over already. We had nice weather again today and tomorrow is expected to be nice, too. Tuesday mornings I get together with a couple of my stamping friends (hi Candy and Dina) to walk. Looking forward to chatting with them.

AND, tomorrow is registration day for Convention! Woohoo! I'm getting up early to jump online and get registered. Already have my airline reservations, so I'd better get in! lol!

Always - Waxy Cuttlebug

OK, OK! I've heard from several of you that you are in withdrawal since I haven't published anything on my Blog in a few days. I know I thought I'd have time to do timeposts while I was gone, but it just didn't happen. We had a nice visit with our son and flew home last night. Today I left early this morning to travel a couple hours to Canton where I used to live and did a Stamp Camp. So...I just returned home about an hour ago. Beautiful day for a drive...the flowering trees are gorgeous.

Many of you know that I am on the Design Team for Technique Junkies newsletter. This is one of the techniques, Waxy Cuttlebug, that is in the current newsletter. I especially liked the colors I used and the Birds and Swirls background is really prominent! I used the retired Twist Spectrum pad on Glossy cardstock for the focal image and overstamped the bird with Black Stazon. The background colorblock colors are Gable Green, Almost Amethyst and So Saffron, with the base card of Taken With Teal. I used both the 5 petal flower punch and the BoHo Blossom punch with a mini brad in the center.

Need to go catch up on the hundreds of emails I have waiting...plus American Idol elimination is tonight!

Spring Solitude - Pouncing technique

OK...here is another Pouncing technique background I made up with spring colors and the Spring Solitude stamp set (Level 2 hostess set). On this card, I still used the Green Galore and Pixie Pink, but added Tempting Turquoise for a little twist! Pouncing technique is in the latest February issue of Technique Junkies newsletter! See my link in the sidebar to check it out!

Can you tell I'm hoping to see a "Bluebird" out my window soon? Come on SPRING! The "hello" is a rub-on from the Anchored package. These are SO much fun to play with! I spent yesterday morning rubbing them on different things. Stampin' Up! certainly puts out quality product because I had no trouble with them at all! And remember, you can get a Sale-a-Bration rub-on set to try FREE with any $50 order...included are four colors of rub-ons...olive, white, chocolate and black! Email me today with your order so you don't miss out!

Well...I'll be busy stamping today. I have several projects that are coming due in the next couple weeks, plus some additional prep for classes. And my assignments for the next issue of Technique Junkies newsletter are calling to me!

Have a great day!
Connie

Always Valentine

This was a card my Techniques Class did last week (and also the one I'm giving my husband tomorrow!)

EDIT: Actually this is a technique from Technique Junkies newsletter called Go Retro back in June 2003...thanks Pat! Although it seemed familiar, I couldn't find the proper name for it!

Notice the spiral clip from the Hodgepodge Hardward clip in the corner? I ran pink grosgrain ribbon thru the clip and secured it around back. Then I tied a knot of pink gingham around the center of the spiral clip to make a bow! I'm not sure who first showed that little trick, but I think it is great! Hard to see, but I also used dimensionals to pop up the floral heart.

This week I've been getting ready for a class I have on Saturday and working on a future class. I finished making a birthday gift for my son's girlfriend and I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it.

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day tomorrow!

Connie

Boho Backgrounds 4

Here is a scrapbook page that was displayed at Leadership for the Boho Backgrounds stamp set. I used Technique Junkie's Brayered Spots technique on Whisper White cardstock for the background on the side panel, plus the 1" punched circle in the center of the Boho medallion image. I inked the medallions with Brilliant Blue and Basic Black overtop the Brayered Spots background. I think the colors were perfect for this picture of my nephew. You probably can't tell, but he was crawling out of one of those inflatable rubber ball contraptions. Isn't he cute? Want to learn how to do this technique? Check out my sidebar for the link to subscribe to Technique Junkies newsletters.

This 6x6 page base is Real Red, with Brilliant Blue and Glorious Green layers. You Make Me Happy is inked with a marker using the Omit Method. Use your marker to just ink up the portion of the image you want to stamp. I used a Real Red mini brad in the center of the medallion and popped the entire scallop circle with dimensionals. Again, I love that wide 5/8 Real Red grosgrain ribbon...hope you remembered to get some when it was on sale last month!

I'm headed to Las Vegas early in the morning, so won't be posting for a few days. "See" you when I return on Sunday!

Enjoy!

Connie

Heartfelt Thanks

Gosh...it has been AGES since I pulled out this set to use! I did a big Stamp Camp on it when it first appeared in the catalog...I think I burned myself out using it. But when I needed a floral image for my Technique class last week, the set caught my eye (besides it is one of the small collection of stamps I have that didn't retire!)

It is a pretty set and I like the two step stamping. The Technique we did was rubber band brayer for the background. My classes I try to break into a simple technique, a medium type technique and a more challenging technique. The was the simple category, yet it gives a lot of impact to a background! I don't know why I don't use it more often! This card I used two brayers with two different colors of ink...Apricot Appeal and Certainly Celery. The flowers I used markers in order to color the stem separately than the flower. Finally, I knotted the ribbon before adhering it to the back.

Oops...I photographed this before I added the greeting (right next to the stems). I used Thank You from Warm Words.

Sets: Heartfelt Thanks

C/S: Apricot Appeal, Ruby Red, Whisper White

Inks: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Ruby Red

Other: 5/8 Celery Grosgrain ribbon

Joseph's Coat Inside Out Priceless

I'm so sorry! Not my intent to neglect my Blog these past couple days. Time just got away from me. I've been working on restoring my Studio to normal after my husband built my shelves. He finished painting them on Monday and placed the crown molding on Tuesday. I have almost all the boxes of stamps put back on the shelves...just two more to go. I am going to like the new way I've sorted them and it makes it so much easier to see what I have and to find it when I want it! I've also been sneaking in some time to organize some of the things that have been driving me crazy. Ribbon is a big thing...I have it in several places and I'm trying to get it all together. A couple more batches of that to sort.

On top of everything, I'm getting ready to go to Leadership next week!!! Still working on projects for swaps. Glad I have a few days coming up to dedicate to it.

Thought I'd share a card my technique's class did tonight called Joseph's Coat Inside Out from Technique Junkies. We used the Priceless stamp set. I love the heart in this set!

Cracked Glass snowman

Just a quick post here...I'm still busy finishing up my Display Maker items...just a few more things to make. I'm also getting ready for my Stamp Club on Friday, plus pulling together things for a Women's Expo I'm doing the beginning of December. My mom called and wants to get her Christmas shopping done for my family TOMORROW! It has become a tradition for us to go shopping together...and it is fun, just a really busy time for me. Actually, it didn't have to be tomorrow, but between her "retired" schedule and my schedule, there was not another available day until after Thanksgiving...and she likes to be almost done by then!

This is always a fun technique...cracked glass...although it does make a mess! That Glassy Glaze embossing powder blows all over the place! We did this at my technique class last week and it always is a huge WOW! No one can believe you actually put it in the freezer and then crack it! Fun.

This is a simple card, using the Snowman from Holiday Tag Team. Great for making a lot of cards because it isn't too involved. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of this little guy...he just seems to be the perfect size. Something a little different, I tied 3 knots in the ribbon before I wrapped it around the back of the Bashful Blue layer to secure...just a little extra texture on the front instead of a knot.

Don't forget to comment on the 40,000 hits post for Blog Candy! I'll be picking a winner on Sunday!

Faux Layers Technique

Woohoo! Grey's Anatomy is on tonight! Can't wait to see it...the one show I simply CAN'T miss! But, I recorded last week's since I was gone and just remembered that I needed to watch it before tonight's show! So, today I get a DOUBLE dose of Grey's!!!

This will be a quick post...I'm still frantically working on Display items for Leadership. Any stamping time I get I am working on that assignment. I haven't even had time to photograph the things I did over my Retreat weekend!

This is another card my Techniques Class made the other night! This technique is called Faux Layers...a quick and easy way to add some depth to your card. On this card, I tore a piece of cardstock longer than my cardfront, then used the torn edge as a mask, covering the side I didn't want colored. I used a sponge with So Saffron to color. Then inked up the Paisley BG with More Mustard and stamped over the colored area...leaving the mask in place. Once removed, the "torn" edge resembles another layer on the card! I stamped the flower and tag with Blue Bayou and cut them out. The center is a Faux button...More Mustard punched with a 1/2 circle and tied with hemp!

Sets: Be Happy, Paisley BG

C/S: Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, More Mustard

Inks: So Saffron, More Mustard, Blue Bayou

Other: Natural Hemp, 1/16 punch, 1/2 circle punch, dimensionals

Season of Joy

Ack! Only two more days until the craft show on Saturday. I still have pricing and labeling to do on some things and need to put together my "kit" for working the table...money, flyers, class schedules, etc. I spent the day making several notebooks with my Bind-it-All machine! I love that little machine! I'll make sure to take a picture to share with you tomorrow after I finish decorating the fronts.

This was another card we did last night in my Techniques Class. The technique is called Glitter Ridges...another Technique Junkies technique features in the April/May 2005 newsletter. I love using this technique on winter or snow type holiday cards! It just seems to fit! It is SO sparkly in person!

The card is actually a tri-fold card. The cardstock is cut to 4 1/4 x 11, then scored at 4 1/4 and 8 5/8. The remaining 2 1/2 inches is torn to about 1-1/4 inches and overlaps the front of the card...held closed by a spiral paper clip. There is a layer of vellum torn and placed under the Season of Joy focal point...I think it adds to the "icy" appearance of the card!

Sets: Season of Joy

C/S: Ballet Blue, Whisper White, Cardstock Vellum

Inks: Blue Frost Spectrum pad

Other: Spiral clip, Blue gingham and Bashful Blue grosgrain ribbon, Liquid Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Crimper

With Gratitude

Still working on getting stuff ready for the craft show this weekend. I think I'm getting in pretty good shape. I started the packaging of some of the items and pricing. To me that is almost the hardest part!

My Technique Class was tonight and this was one of the cards that we made! It is called Rainbow Strip Flip and was featured in the June/July 2005 issue of Technique Junkies. (Pat is celebrating 5 years of the Technique Junkies newsletters with great prices and giveaways every day in October! Go over here and check out her newsletter...it is well worth the price AND you'll learn these techniques before everyone else!)

We used my new set, With Gratitude. I purchased it because I love the veins and lace that are apparent in these leaf stamps...so realistic looking. The Pumpkin Patch Spectrum pad is also one of my favorites...although I also enjoy making up my own color combos using an uninked Spectrum pad and reinkers. Look at the Snow Blossom punch, too! I think it looks fun as a little flower with the ribbon pulled up thru it and knotted.

Sets: With Gratitude, Sincere Salutations

C/S: Glossy White, Only Orange, Old Olive

Inks: Pumpkin Pie Spectrum, Basic Black

Other: Snow Blossom punch, Ticket corner punch, Artichoke ribbon, 1/8 circle punch

Wild About You

This cute kids card is one that we did at my Technique's Class a couple weeks ago. This rolling marbles technique is one I can remember doing in elementary school! I used reinkers in the colors of Taken with Teal, Apricot Appeal and Gable Green...enclosed a few drops in an empty stamp box with three marbles and cardstock and rolled them around! Fun! A quick and easy background!

I'm off for a couple days...have another Technique Class and a Stamp Camp out of town. I've been crazy busy trying to get ready today. Still need to work out a couple things in the morning before I leave. I always have worked best under pressure! ha!

Rain, rain, rain here. It is either too little or too much! I think they expect rain all week! Have a good one!

Sets: Wild About You
C/S: Taken with Teal, Whisper White, Apricot Appeal
Inks: Taken with Teal, Gable Green, Apricot Appeal reinkers and Classic pads
Other: Apricot grosgrain ribbon, Ticket corner punch

Another Fast & Fun Notes!

This card is the one that my Technique Class did last week. The technique is Embossed Watercolor Crayons, although it is hard to see the shiny look to the image on screen. It is one of my favorites and I always get a WOW when I demo it. It has sold a TON of Watercolor crayons for me! lol! Again, I love the little chick in this set! So fun to color.

Sets: Fun & Fast Notes, On the Spot BG

C/S: Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi, Pink Passion, Basic Grey, Whisper White

Inks: Wild Wasabi, Basic Grey, Versamarker

C/S: Clear EP, Mustard mini brad, white grosgrain ribbon, Watercolor crayons

Down to the wire!!!

Whew...I was really cutting it close! I am participating in an email group swap with some of the gals going to Session 1 of convention. My swaps (54...27 each of 2 different designs) had to be in Colorado by Friday. I had the general layout in my head and one sample done (similar to the Priceless one on my blog), but I started yesterday to pull them together. The layers took me MUCH longer than I anticipated! I literally spent ALL DAY stamping and adhering all the pieces...8 FULL hours! I'm exhausted now! lol! I hate leaving things to the last minute, but with the computer problems, then classes and club meetings I had the past few weeks, I had no time to work on the swaps...especially since I didn't get my new sets until last week! I'll be sharing my swap cards once I get back from convention.

This card uses one of the techniques from last week's Technique Class called Faux Linen. My version uses Craft ink and sanding blocks on Glossy paper. One fun thing I learned, when using a blender pen with my classic ink pads to color the flowers and leaves, the blender pen fluid seems to eat away the Craft ink...allowing the color from the Classic ink to flow onto the paper! Cool! That is how I got blue flowers and green leaves showing thru the Regal Rose Craft ink! The simplicity of this card allows the technique to be featured.

Sets: Artfully Asian, Fine Lace

C/S: Glossy White, Regal Rose, Bashful Blue

Inks: Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Craft Regal Rose

Other: Blender pens, sanding blocks, Light Blue gingham ribbon

I'll try to keep up with posting over the next few weeks, but I still have another group swap to finish (52 cards), a 3D Shoebox swap to pull together, some commission work, room mate gifts and general swap cards to do before I leave for Convention Session 2!!!!

Woohoo! My Stampin' Up! new catalog order ARRIVED around 3:30 PM this afternoon! I met the UPS guy at the door...lol! I took a picture of all my goodies, but I'll have to post it later when I have time to "wait" on my computer to upload the camera. Good news is tomorrow my sick computer should be FIXED...yeah!

I just HAD to cut and mount one of my new, favorite stamp sets...Priceless! I love the butterfly and swirls in this set. Here is the first card I made with it. (Plus, I also stamped the name tags for my class tonight using it!)

Did you notice the NEW ribbon in Regal Rose? It is the new 5/8" size and it is MUCH bigger than I expected! Great size and same great texture and ease of using as the 1/4" size.

On the left is another one of the techniques we will be doing tonight called Faux Linen. They are doing another card because I didn't have my new stuff in time, but I'll have this card on display.

Got to get off here and finish getting ready for tonight!

Sets: Priceless
C/S: Glossy White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery
Inks: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Basic Black, So Saffron
Other: White Gel Pen, 5/8 Regal Rose Grosgrain

Hmmmm....for some reason I've lost the ability to place a title on my posts! Wonder if there is a Blogspot glitch. I see the place for it to go, but it won't let me type in the block. Anyone know anything about it?

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. They go by SO fast, don't they? Our son left for his home...it was good to have him back here for a week. I miss him when he is away.

Guess what!!! My FIRST order from the new catalog should be here tomorrow! I'm hoping since I expedited it, that UPS will get me on an early route and I can open and play a little before my Technique Class tomorrow night. I have 2 out of 3 cards done and need to work on one more...plan on getting that done in the morning. I was good...I didn't order everything I wanted, but I am getting several new sets and lots of new ribbon.

I've been doing Technique Classes for a couple years, but this is a new group. So I've been going back and doing some of the techniques I've taught before. But, since I lost a LOT of stamp sets due to retirement, I'm redoing the cards with updated sets. However, my options of CURRENT sets is SLIM! One of my projects over the weekend was to clear out the retired sets on my current shelves. My current shelves are looking pretty empty! The order tomorrow should help fill them up a little! lol!

This is one of the cards we will be doing...Faux Diamond Dust...it is such a fun technique. Easy but with WOW results! I think my group will like it!

Sets: Baroque Motifs
C/S: Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Bravo Burgundy
Inks: Garden Green, Versamark
Other: Iridescent Ice EP, 1/4" circle punch, Burgundy grosgrain ribbon

Double Line Doodles

This is a NEW set in the 2007-2008 catalog that we were given at Regionals this year. I'm so happy to finally start using it again. Our Regional was in September of last year and I didn't feel I could start demoing it until now to start promoting the new catalog.

I made this card for a group challenge to do Unique Backgrounds. One of my favorite backgrounds is Heated Pearls. Those of you in my stamping Technique Classes may remember this technique from a year ago! This one I used brushed gold cardstock as the background (you can barely see it peek through), then I spread Elmer's Glue over the cardstock and stippled Misty Lavender and Spring Green Pearl Ex over top. Heat set until the glue bubbles and dries. Neat, huh?

Tip on cutting the flowers that I picked up from someone. It works great! Stamp the flower image and color as desired. For the large flower here, I used the 1-1/4 circle to punch it out. Then use your paper snips to cut diagonals out between each petal. Do the same with the small flower and use the 1/2 circle punch. Easy, peasy! The grass I just cut a strip of Certainly Celery and used my paper snips to cut into the top of the strip. Cut some on the slant and then ruffle the edges so it looks like grass. I highlighted the grass with Certainly Celery ink for a little dimension.

Sets: Double Line Doodle, Aida Cloth BG, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

C/S: Brushed Gold, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla

Markers: Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst

Inks: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Basic Black

Other: Misty Lavender and Spring Green Pearl Ex, Elmer's Glue, Stipple brush, Blue Narrow Organdy ribbon, mini Celery brad, 1/16 hole punch

Triple Mosaic #3

Here is the last of the Triple Mosaic technique I learned from Technique Junkies newsletter! I'm glad to have these partially completed projects off my desk and made into cards. Check out Pat's site at www.techniquejunkies.com She is offering a Connie's Special Price for you...$16.95 for issues 2-07 to 12-07!

Again, notice the subtle different in the grout color on this card. I used Night of Navy to accent the lines a little more...a different look than the other two cards. I kept the focal point simple because the background is so dramatic.

American Idol is on tonight! Yeah! I'm going to be out of town next week for the finals...hoping I'll be able to catch a TV somewhere to watch it. If not, I'll have it recording at home...but I don't want to wait a week to see it! lol!

Sets: Floral Background, That's Nice
C/S: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Regal Rose, Shimmer White
Inks: Night of Navy Classic ink, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst and Regal Rose markers, White Craft ink
Other: Ticket corner punch, non-SU hydrangea flower