Embossed Cards #2

Here are some more of the cards I made from the embossed card base set.  This first one I just colored the embossed dots and added this cute balloon from the ATS "Lift Up"  It lifts my spirits just looking back at it.  Now the hard part sending it off.....

For a totally different feel, but starting from the same base I created this carefree thank you card.  Again, my goal was to use an ATS since there was already so much going on with the background.  First, I chose some paper to fill the center frame.  Next, I colored the dots to match the paper and create a totally coordinated card, at least I think so. The Cat's Meow stamp was the perr-fect accent to say thank you.

I am not super thrilled with this last one, but I included it anyway because I tried a different technique.  Instead of coloring the embossed background, I rubbed my ink pad over it.  It feels a bit busy for me, but maybe I just needed a more bold greeting to stand out more.  In any case it is elegant and sure to come in handy.

Stay crafty,and remember, have fun with it!

Embossed Cards

I found these old embossed cards in my craft room, and decided today was the day I was going to put them to use.  I found it was a lot harder to design a card with the background already embossed. Luckily FSJ has amazing stamps and fun dies that made this process an adventure.  The first ones were baby themed and I just love this set, "Animal Nursery"!  It reminds me of animal cookies on parade.  The 'Treat Label' dies make an excellent and quick backdrop for the stamped images.  I even pulled out another oldie, rivets!!!

Next, I used another darling set called "Moon and Back."  I just love the fact that we have a coordinating cloud die that also has the piercing elements. Again these coordinating elements made for a quick and easy card.  I just love this little lamb, especially with a bit of journey glaze and a sprinkle of sparkle dust!

Of course, after I made this first card, I thought it appropriate to make a more "baby girl" version.  A quick change of colors and I had my second card.  

October Calendar Class

I was fortunate enough to be able to get together with some friends to make cards and the last two pages of our calendar for 2015. I can't believe this year is almost over....but the best months are yet to come. Months filled with celebrations, extra time with family and friends, and some of my favorite foods. To help get us in the mood and prepare our minds for the end of the year, we created the calendar pages for November and December. Take a look at November....

It is is a classic with leaves and fall colors. It may be the closest we get here in California and I will enjoy the changing of the seasons any way I can get it. This was a quick card made even quicker by the use of a coordinating die set to help cut out the greeting.  I also painted the wooden button with gold silk to give the page a little extra slash.

For December I just had to use this retired set from Fun Stampers Journey.  I love the Santa silhouette, and the Merry Christmas wreath is so much fun!  The snowflakes are  from a current set called "Holly Jolly."  Again, quick and easy!

Since we were meeting in October I decided to throw in a Halloween card using my favorite new ATS's from the Holiday Mini, "Lil Monster."  The Candy Dots fit perfectly inside the stamped image to add color and texture to the little guy.  We also practiced coloring with the blending solution and inks.  I love how you can get perfectly matching colored images with this new product!

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The final project of the day was this coordinating fall card.  I layers one of the leaves over a background created by repeating the ATS "Ink Splat" in three different colors.  I actually made a couple different  versions of the card by simply changing the greeting, so versatile.  

Enjoy, and happy crafting!

Getting ready for Southern California's Mimi Yummy and Delicious

For my monthly gathering with my crafting friends we are working on calendar pages.  This is the calendar page I designed for the month of August.  We had fun with the "Hello Scoop" stamp set and always fabulous Journey sequins.  The best thing about this stamp set is that the ice cream scoops are outlines. This means that you can then stamp them on any patterned paper or color them in based on your preference.  I did a bit of each with this page.  The pink scoops are patterned paper and the purple and green are colored directly on the page.  

I absolutely love the greeting also because, well, it's true!

The next picture is of my favorite new product from the Yummy and Delicious line. 

 CANDY MINIS!

They come in five colors and three sizes.  The smallest size, it turns out, fit perfectly inside the gumballs from the "Candy Shop" stamp set. 

I created the following card as I was playing with my Yummy and Delicious product.  I really wanted to use my candy dots, and this was the perfect way!  I place the greeting and swirl stamps on the same block with the gumball machine so that I could stamp all three images at once.  I then stamped the gumball machine a second time on bubblegum paper and cut out the bottom half to add some color with paper piecing.  I used the re-inkers and blender brush to color the rest of the gumballs in with matching colors.  

It's a pretty simple card, but I think it is super cute!

Southern California Y&D

Southern California’s Yummy Gathering

Join us for an afternoon of creativity and inspiration. 

In an effort to bring the inspiration of the ‘Yummy and Delicious’ tour to California a few coaches have come together and are excited to host this event.  Everyone is welcome to attend, no matter what your crafting experience or ability.  Please bring basic supplies including adhesive, scissors, and foam squares.

We will have:
* 4 make n takes
* Demonstrations
* Yummy treats
* Raffle drawings

When: August 29^th from 10-4

Where:  11660 Church St., Rancho Cucamonga, 91730 (parking: Get a permit from the front desk in the main building and you can park anywhere along the street.)

How much: Early Bird registration =$40 (before August 8^th)

Regular registration = $50 (August 9-23)

Last day to sign up is August 23^rd
You can send a check to your Journey Coach or use the link below to pay through PayPal.

Registration

New Product

With the release of a new catalog, there are soooo many amazing new products.  I recently got my hands on some of them and wanted to share.  Although Fun Stampers Journey does not have markers, we now have a way to color your stamped images if you so choose.  We now have:
               Blending brushes              and                    Blending solution                                       
The brushes unscrew so that you can put the blending solution inside.  The caps snap shut so you don't have to worry about leftover product drying out.  They come in three sizes; small, medium, and large.  I have to admit at this time I only have the small, which made coloring bigger objects more time consuming, but works excellently for the detail shadowing.
Now I do not claim to be an expert at coloring, but I am excited to grow in this area.  I used both re-inkers and my ink pads to add color to my images.  I used the flower from Full Bloom because it seemed to lend itself so well to coloring.  Here is my first attempt with purples.

Love it!

The next time I used yellows and oranges. 

Here is the finished yellow card.  

So much fun!

Yummy & Delicious Arizona

There was so much to see and learn at this event. A whole new product line with coordinating stamp sets, dies, and accessories. We recieved a stamp set with our registration and made four different cards with it throughout the weekend. This first card called "Yummy and Delicious" highlights some of the new products including adorable cupcake patterned paper, and candy dots.

The second card we made called "Sweetheart Cupcake" accents a faux shaving cream technique to give texture to the frosting. I have to say, I think it looks pretty cool!

These are some of the purchases I made at the event. One of my favorite things is buying bundles. You get so much great stuff coordinated to go together and at a price that makes it so reasonable. It also helps me take home the enthusiasm created at the event and allows me to keep the creativity rolling.

Finally they had a picture booth. I got to take a picture with the two host of the event, Richard Gabby and Garay.

Now I am looking forward to creating some of the excitement from this event in Southern California. Myself and four other coaches are working together to recreate fun projects and displays of new product.  It is sure to be a day of creativity, fun, and inspiration. 

Breast Cancer Event

 Last week while I was on my Spring Break I was able to attend a fun event with Richard Garay and Fun Stampers Journey to help raise money for Breast Cancer research.  On Wednesday night we met at the Anaheim Convention Center to make some cards.  It was  huge venue, but a cozy affair.  We made three different projects using a combination of the "Awesome You" and the "Be Brave" stamp sets.  The first project was a stationary set which included two cards, the envelopes and a cute package to tie it all together.  Below is my finished project.

 

 

Next we created a gorgeous card emphasizing strength and hope.  It is just a small sample of the versatility of this amazing stamp set, "Be Brave."  The other amazing this about this set is that proceeds from every set that is sold are given to a charity called Breast Cancer Angels.  I think this is such a fantastic partnership, and allows you to give back in multiple ways. 

 

 

The final project I forgot to take a picture of in the great lighting of the Convention Center, but it is still just as cute. It is a little treat box decorated with the ribbon again from the "Be Brave set. It was super easy and super cute and makes a great little box to send someone that extra ounce of encouragement. 

 

 

The night ended with Richard presenting a check to Breast Cancer Angels for their portion of all the stamp sets sold to date.  It was really great to be part of this fun event, to craft with friends and see this partnership in action. 

Each person in attendance was also blessed with their very own "Be Brave" stamp set to take home with them so we can re-create these amazing projects with friends and family.  If you are interested in making any of the projects shown here let me know, I would love to share.   

To the Moon and Back

I recently attended a baby shower for a friend and was in need of a quick card. I knew I was giving a gift card, so I wanted the card to be special. I immediately thought of the double pocket die. I also got a bunch of cute baby stamp sets at last year's Grand Event so knew I had plenty to choose from. I finally settled on the set "Moon and Back".  First I cut the base paper with the double pocket die and then I used it a second time with some patterned paper alternating the direction.  I had to trim the patterned paper along the embossed line to create the outline. 

 

I used as many of the images from the stamp set to decorate the front and to create the elements to go in the pockets.  I used the moon to attach the gift card and had it peak out the bottom pocket.  Of course I had to add journey glaze and journey dust to both the moon and to add texture to the sheep.  Below is the finished and assembled card.  Enjoy and happy stamping!

 

Valentines

Once again I felt compelled to do something other than the store bought Valentine cards for my students.  The flags worked well last year, so I stuck with the same structure and just changed the design. I had an adorable new stamp set to use called "With Love".  I stated by cutting a square at 2 3/8" and stamping the heart a couple times getting different shades by stamping off. 

I added the greeting "Valentine's Day" in black licorice and the little bird from "With Love" on one of the stamped off hearts. 
 

 

The final step was to layer this piece with pool party and candy apple cardstock.  The candy apple piece was 2 3/4 by 4 1/4 scored three times at 1/2 inch apart to create a triangle.  This created a perfect slot to stick a pencil through.  And just like that, I had a cute flag to go on the Valentine pencil for my students. 

First Class of the New Year

I hosted my first calendar party of 2015 last week and had a wonderful time.  We worked on pages for the first two months and I designed a card using each of the stamp sets to coordinate. First comes January....

 

This fun page uses the stamp set "Loads of Fun" one of my favorites! 

Next is the card I designed using the same stamp set and coordinating colors.

 

 

I was in a mood for the window look.  I think my favorite part of this card is the pop-up on the Farris wheel. 

 

Next comes February....This page uses the Heart-Felt die and the stamp set, With Love.  It is a darling set, I especially love the tree that you can decorate with hearts, as did in the card.  It also comes with leaves, so you can use the tree throughout the year.

I thought I would keep the window idea going with this card also, and stamped the background with the background stamp, Script.

 

 

Overall, the class was a success, and I hope you enjoy these ideas.

 

January Kit of the Month

It is a new month and a new year and FSJ has a wonderful new Kit of the month to kick things off.

Celebrate the new year in style with these beautiful cards made with a brand new stamp set!

 

As always the Kit of the Month Club is a 6 month commitment.  Once it is ordered, it will be an autoship item for the next 5 months.  It comes with a brand new stamp set, product (cardstock, embellishments, ribbon, ets.) to complete 4 designed projects.  Color PDF instruction sheets will be included for each of the products.  The only thing you would need to provide yourself is the inks.

 

If you are interested in purchasing the Kit of the Month contact me and I can let you know how.  Even better, sign up and we can assemble them together.  Bonus: I already have all the inks that you could use!!