Watercolor Background Using Clear Blocks

Happy Friday!!!

Spending time with the family today preparing for Easter ... that means coloring eggs!  No card making today so let's watch another Watercolor technique, shall we?

Wishing you and yours a blessed Easter xoxo


Tam

Watercoloring with the Stampin' Spritzer

Happy Thursday!

It's movie time!  Last week for our Technique Class we learned how to use our Aquapainter to make a great Watercolor background.  Here is a quick video showing another great Watercoloring technique!

Enjoy - and have a stampy day :)




Tam

PROJECT LIFE!!!!

OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!  We interrupt this Wednesday for some breaking news!!!  Stampin' Up! has partnered with Becky Higgins and Project Life!!!  Don't know what Project Life is??  It's "memory-keeping"  … similar to scrapbooking but in a new, fresh, quick, EASYn way!  To be honest I didn't REALLY take notice of it until a few weeks ago.  I was at that "M" store (shhhhhh …..) and I walked by a display that was full of Project Life products. I had seen it before but, in the past, I managed to resist the urge to stop, browse and/or BUY any of it. Two weeks ago I could resist no longer - I stopped, browsed, fell in love, and I bought a binder and journalling pages (and journaling cards) for Rebecca to scrapbook our upcoming trip to Disney World.  I was taken by how quick, easy, fun and DO-ABLE it would be for her … and me!  Of course I usually resist non Stampin' Up! lines as I'm VERY loyal to SU and always figure "if it's hot SU will come up with something similar".  Well they did better than that - they partnered with this FABULOUS company to provide us with EXCLUSIVE products in EXCLUSIVE Stampin' Up! colours and patterns!!!  Yes, my heart started to race as I read the news release and squealed loud enough to make the dog look at me and cock his head *lol*

Check out this video for more information!

I can pre-order a few products next week and YOU can order these same products starting May 1st.  When the new catalogue goes live on June 2nd we will ALL be able to order from the full offering of products.  BRING.  IT.  ON!!!  My mind is already full of project and class ideas.  Yes … I WILL start "scrapbooking" … but in this new, easy, QUICK way …. not the more traditional way.  THIS I can do!!

Until next time, have a stampy day!!


Tam

Many Moustaches

Happy Wednesday!

OK … last card from my SAS a few weeks ago.  It's not 100% CASEd but was certainly inspired by this fun masculine card thatI found at cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.ca - I don't know the name of the creator but I loved it!

Here is my twist on it:

LOVE it!!  SO simple.  I used the retired MAny Moustaches stamp that I have in my stash of "keepers".  The stamp itself has 4 different moustaches all on one block.  I only wanted one, though, so out came my handy dandy exact knife and I sliced that bad boy right off the block.  I then peeled off the sticky wood-mount foam and converted the one moustache to a clear-mount stamp.  How did I do that?  Well … I recently purchased some clear-mount foam from our catalogue (yes, we sell it …. who knew???!!!) and just stuck the red rubber piece to the clear-mount foam and cut it out.  Done!  I can now use just the one moustache without any hassle!

I inked the 'stache in tmy FABULOUS new Basic Black ink and got a crisp, clear stamped image.  I then grabbed the bow tie from the retired Dapper Dad set (another keeper from a few years ago) and inked it in a) basic black and for the second version b) in Raspberry Ripple.  The strip of black behind the layer was run through the Houndstooth Embossing Folder so the texture matches the pattern on the tie,  LOVE when that happens!  The sentiment is from yet ANOTHER retired set, Best Dad Ever (I think that's what it's called … a great set with a bunch of neck ties on it … great font for the sentiments!)

That's it!  Quick, easy and perfect for a "guy" (although Craig said he didn't "get it" … not sure what there is to "get" but ….)

Pop in again soon to see what's going on in my little corner of crazy :)  Until then, have a stampy Wednesday!


Tam

Oh Hello!

Happy Tuesday!

Not much time to "chat" today … I'm off to Elaine's to de-grey!  (if only de-wrinkling was as easy!)

Today's card is another one we did at my SAS a few weeks back.  My inspiration came from a few places.  First is one from Geri over at manitobastamper.blogspot.ca … I tried to recreate it using our chevron punch but it was too tricky to line all the chevron punched pieces up evenly so I moved on … but I love this card!

Next I was inspired by the clean and simply layout from Justin Krieger's card over on jkcards.wordpress.com :

Love it!  Justin is somewhat of a celebrity in our Stampin' Up! world.  He does amazing work and is one of the few MEN who are Stampin' Up! Demonstrators.  He (and his work) are loved by many!!!

Here is the card I made, inspired by the two above: 

It's a quick, clean card that can be used for so many occasions.  The chevrons are from Oh, Hello! (another set you may not notice but I say is a must-have-keeper!)  I stamped the Melon Mambo chevron in the centre directly on the layer.  I then stamped it again twice on scrap in Bermuda Bay and cut them out with my paper snips.  The sentiment is from the retired Curly Cute, in Basic Grey.  I punched out a small heart and added a rhinestone for a wee punch of pizzazz.  Quick, easy and cute!

Right!  That's it for now - I'm off to walk Doodles before heading to Elaine's.  Pop in again soon.  Until then, have a stampy Tuesday!

Tam

Vivid Vases CASE

Happy Monday!

How's your week starting??  Mine is going great!  Not only is it Monday …. my favourite day of the week … but it's also my 10 year Anniversary :)  Yep - 10 years ago today Craig and I got married in Jamaica … and 10 years ago today I won the "husband lottery".  I simply couldn't wish for a better life partner.  I don't know what I did to deserve the blessing that is Craig in my life but I am truly grateful and love him with all my heart.  Wanna see some wedding pics? OK!

This one cracks me up!  This is our wedding party … Grant and Linda.  Craig met Grant AT the altar!  I met Linda AFTER the wedding *lol*  Because we eloped we didn't have a Best Man or Maid of Honor.  The Sandals Resort have stand-by witnesses for weddings.  That was the plan … some Resort Employees would stand up for us.  2 hours before the wedding, though, I met Grant … in the hair salon!  I recognized a Canadian accent and we started talking.  They were from Alberta too!  High Prairie, I think it was!  ANYway!  I asked if he and his wife would like to be our wedding party.  As any good, fun-luvin' Albertan would do, he said yes!  And so it was *lol*

 Ahhh … the kiss …tis picture is still on my bathroom vanity.  I love it.

Awwww …. like it was yesterday :)

OK …. enough about that - one with a project!  Today's is another CASE.  I've said it before and I'll say it again … there is no shame in copying a card.  A great card is a great card … and when you are flat on your back for a week with no time or lucid moments to come up with an original creation why re-invent the wheel??!!  This card comes from fellow demonstrator Sandy Mathis.  I love Sandy's creations and check her blog often for inspiration.  Pop over to www.StampwithSandy.com to see her work!  Here is her card:

… and here is my CASE:

Virtually identical.  I use Daffodil Delight for the layer.  Vivid Vases is stapes in black Staz-on so the black doesn't bleed when you colour it.  You may spot that the Vivid Vases wood stamp comes with a sentiment attached to the image.  It says "you are a whole lot of wonderful".  While I like the sentiment I wanted just the image for my SAS so my stampers could apply any sentiment they wanted.  That meant inking only the image … which is fiddly and just asking for mistakes at a SAS … so I cut the sentiment off.  Since my stamp was already mounted on the wood block I had to use my exact knife to slice it and gently peel it off the block.  If you ever need to do this and can't get the stamp un-stuck just pop the whole thing in the microwave for about 10 seconds to soften the glue!  Once I got the sentiment off I simply glued it to the side of the wood block.  This really expands the use of the stamp … now I can use just the image on a card or I can use just the sentiment … double duty :)

I coloured the flowers with Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, MArina Mist and Old Olive markers.  I shaded the sides of the vases using Pool Party ink and a blender pen.  I attached a button with a glue dot and a little bow of Pear Pizzazz Bakers Twine (I pre-made the bow and attached it with another glue dot).  The sentiment was from Cycle Celebration, stamped with my new Basic Black Classic Ink.  YES, you read right … not Staz-on, but black ink!  At long last the black ink is smudge-free and JET BLACK!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  Good thing I now have 3 of them … I love it that much!!!

That's it for today … I think I'll go send My Love a mushy e-mail.  Pop in again soon … until then, have a stampy day!


Tam

Off the Grid CASE

Happy Sunday!

I know, I know … it's been almost a week since I promised more projects.  I hang my head in shame :( I don't know where the week went!!  Oh ya … I remember … I had Technique Classes last week and as of 2 hours before my first class I was still prepping!  Now whilst I'm the first one to admit I leave things to the last minute WAY too often lately this time it wasn't really my fault … I NEEDED to take it easy, as my back was playing up again.  Sitting REALLY throws it out of whack so I had to pace myself and could only create in small time chunks.  That slowed me down a LOT!  Nevertheless it all got done in time(it always does!) and I had a ball Tuesday night.  I love my Gals!  The rest of the week was eaten up by "life-in-general" … and this weekend it's taxes.  Ugh.  I'm about 3/4 of the way done but again, I sat too long yesterday resulting in me being up at 6:30 on a Sunday morning.  Ask me how happy I am about that??!!   On the bright side, it gives me a few hours of peace, quiet and coffee to myself … and allows me to work on those posts I promised you!

So!  First up is the card that was voted the "favourite" amongst my Stamp-a-Stackers (????!!!) and class attendees:

 

Isn't it pretty??  I CASEd it from scrappinandstampiningj.blogspot.ca and fell in loe with the simple layout.  Here is how mine turned out:

It looks simple enough but once I started demonstrating it at the Stamp-a-Stack I realized it was a little fiddly and there were a lot of steps to it.  It wasn't HARD, just fiddly.

I used Whisper White for the base and layer.  I stamped Off the Grid (a single stamp that seems to have been overlooked by many - it's a fun, easy, affordable background stamp!!) in Baked Brown Sugar.  The green splotches are Garden Green and the splotches are from one of my Paper Pumpkin kits!  Yes, there is a similar splotch in Gorgeous Grunge … I was using the set for another card at the SAS so this one was used).  I punched Garden Green leaves with my Bird Builder Punch (I don't think I've ever actually used that punch to make a BIRD … just leaves … and other things!).  I stamped the sentiment using a retired set … Sincere Salutations??  Can't remember the name but I know I'll never part with it! I used this one because all 8 of the sentiments are the same size and that allowed my SAS'ers to use what ever sentiment they wanted on their cards and they would all fit in the Apothecary Framelit piece that is punched out.  The sentiment is stamped in Cherry Cobbler and I used a finger dauber with Baked Brown Sugar to shade the edges before popping it up with dimensionals.  I stamped the flowers from Petite Petals in Cherry Cobbler and punched those out with the corresponding punch.  I used Candy Dots for the flower centres … although for my classes I needed to pull out my retired brads asI simply didn't have 150 candy dots in the right colours!!  The flowers were attached with glued dots.  See?  Not hard but lots of pieces.  It was worth it, though - a great card that can be used for many occasions.

So that's my offering for today.  I supposed those taxes won't do themselves … and I promised Craig I'd get 'em done by the end of the weekend so I better crack on!  Pop in again to see the other projects I promised you!  Until then … have a stampy Sunday!

Tam

Flower Shop CASE

Happy Monday!

Yes, I KNOW it's 8:13 pm and I'm just getting around to posting but HEY!  Better late than never, right??  It was one of those crazy busy days today … and although I'm ready to drop into bed I must admit I LOVED it!  Why?  Because I could MOVE!!!  Seriously.  It was a dream to get out of bed this morning and not have to stand tilted … my weight on my right leg, fist pressing on my back while I tried to shift my weight and stand straight.  This morning I simply got up!  I enjoyed every pain-free step to the loo!  Of course the downside of the morning was that we were back to the "what-to-pack-for-lunch" dilemma … made more difficult by the fact that I haven't been grocery shopping for 2 weeks.  I thought the Principal might call social services if I sent the girls to school with nothing but a limp stick of celery in their lunch kit *lol*  We somehow made it to school on time and with quite the mix of ingredients in their lunch!  I walked the dog (and enjoyed every step!!) and then it was off to the chiropractor for my last session.  He confirmed I am much straighter than I was - he re-aligned my hips, got rid of the screaming headache I'd had for the last 24 hours and I was good to go.  I spent the rest of the day running errands and catching up on all the things that were left undone while I was horizontal.

Now the day is winding down and although I SHOULD be in my craft room putting the finishing touches on my Technique card for tomorrow's class I thought I'd post instead.  After all, I DO have a few hours to work on it tomorrow, right?!

Last week I did a lot of Research and Development while I was flat on my back.  R&D? I had a lotos cards pinned that I planned to use for my Stamp-a-Stack (that was yesterday).  Alas, as usual, I start OUT CASEing a card but when push comes to shove I end up changing it.  This card was what I PLANNED to case:

It was created by Danielle Daws over at www.danielledaws.com  I realized I must REALLY like this card because I found I had pinned it three times!!  I actually came really close to copying her layout.  I used my Flower Shop flower stamp and my retired square punches and corner rounder and it looked quite similar.  Buuuuuttttt … the more I looked at it the more I decided I really SHOULD use current SU products .. then I could use the card for upcoming workshops and classes (like tomorrows class!)  So … I played and played and cha ged and played … and this is what I ended up with:

LOVE it!!! It never ceases to amaze me that a card as simple as this could take 2 hours to come up with.  Seriously.  2 hours.  I REALLY wanted to use this colour combination - Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo and Basic Grey (thank you once again dear Color Coach!)  My favourite part of the card is the use of my new Basic Black Ink Pad!  I FINALLY got 3 brand spanking new ones … and they DON'T SMUDGE!!!  Even better, they are JET BLACK!!!  … not the dark purple the old felt pads were - these are super crisp, deep, deep black.  I highly recommend them!!!  I stamped the background pattern in the black using the Summer Silhouettes set.  I stapes the flower on the various card stocks using my White Craft ink and punched them out with the coordinating Pansy Punch.  I then stamped the black flower centre using my retired Itty Bitty Shapes (I think that's what it's called!) and punched it out with the corresponding (current) punch.  I used glue dots to attach those … 'cause life is WAY too short to try to get adhesive on something so small!  The sentiment is from the hostess set Express Yourself … and the Eggplant flower is popped up on a dimensional.  I love the final product!  What I also love is that this card works for most occasions … just switch the sentiment with what you need and Wa-Low!  You're good to go!

Right … it's bed time … hopefully I'll be able to shut my brain off for the next 9 hours so I can hit the ground running again tomorrow … SO much to do … Pop in again soon to see if I manage to post another project for you,. Until then,  have a stampy night!


Tam

March 2014 Paper Pumpkin Kit

Happy Sunday!

I have 9 ladies coming over for my Stamp-a-Stack in an hour so I can't "talk" long!  Just wanted to let you know that yes, I have 5 projects almost ready to post … it's just taking a while as I still struggle to sit for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time.  My recovery is slow but steady … but of course I keep overdoing it.  I can't HELP it!  No, the world didn't stop spinning because I was flat on my back for most of the week but it DID put me way behind on things!  Bills didn't get paid (oops!), laundry didn't get done, e-mails didn't get sent and taxes are still calling to me.  Now that I can MOVE I forget that I'm still injured … but as soon as I bend down to try to pick something up I'm quickly reminded that I'm not 100% yet!  So!  Don't give up on me … I'll try to post them all this week!  In the meantime, here is a quick little video showcasing the March Paper Pumpkin kit.  Not a subscriber to Paper Pumpkin yet?  Sign up at "My Paper Pumpkin" … it's $24.95 per month to get a craft kit in the mail.  Love this one? I can get you one … I accidentally ordered two! Oops again.  See what happens when I'm drugged to my back teeth for a week?!

Pop in again soon. Until then, have a stampy Sunday!


Tam

Some Good, Clean Fun!

Happy Tuesday!  And Happy April Fool's Day!

OK … so today's post has absolutely nothing to do with crafting… but I noticed something while taking a shower that made me giggle.  For reasons unknown to me I had four different shower gels in my shower - Dial, Axe, and two different scents from Bath & Body Works - Country Chic and Midnight Pomegranate:

While waiting to rinse out my conditioner I started reading the back of my soap … and then Craigs.  As I read the different "instructions" I had to laugh at how different the "girl" gels were from the "guy" gel:

First up Dial Naturals Body Wash:  "Clean, healthy skin naturally inspired."  "Invigorate your senses with the crisp, refreshing scent of Tangerine & Guava body wash.  94% natural origin, our formula leaves hands feeling clean, healthy and revitalized after every wash."   Hmmm … only my HANDS will feel clean, healthy and revitalized?  What about the rest of my body??

Next was "Country Chic" Shae & Vitamin E Shower Gel from Bath & Body Works:  "Sparkling lemon, golden sunflower and amber wood.  The perfect cleanser:  Contains Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Aloe; Provides a luxurious rich lather; Leaves skin feeling irresistibly soft and beautifully fragranced."  OK … pretty much what you expect a body wash bottle to say.

Next up is Midnight Pomegranate - this is where the fun started:  "Our Signature Shower Gel is supercharged with benefits that make it the world's best daily luxury.  It has been formulated to provide the ultimate shower experience, pampering you with luxurious lather, moisturizing Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E that gently clean, soften and fragrance your skin.  Smooth over skin and enjoy the fragrance of our exclusive, enticing Midnight Pomegranate, a flirty fruit and spice blend that conjures an image of rubies sparkling in moonlight."

Wow.  Really??  This soap is the world best daily luxury???!!!  And it will give me the ultimate shower experience??!!  Who knew!! Shower Gel is NOT what comes to mind when I think of my "ultimate shower experience"!!! Even better …  when I use this soap I'm going to have images of rubies sparkling in the moonlight??!!  Awesome!  Heck, I just wanted to de-stink!  Bonus!

And finally Axe Vice - for men:  "Rich lather and irresistible fragrance to give you a super-charged clean.  Use Axe Vice in the shower daily and you just might become someone else's vice.  The cleaner you are, the dirtier you get!"

And check to the image! LMAO … hilarious!  *lol*  Well I don't even know what to SAY to that!!!

All I can say is when I grow up I want to be the person who writes these things *lol*

That's all I've got for today!  Now off you go … I just KNOW you're going to go see what the back of YOUR shower soap says!  

Pop in again soon to see what I've been up to.  Until then, have a stampy day!

Tam