Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge 778

Emma and I saw A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood last weekend at our small-town theatre.  The movie's a big deal here in Pittsburgh, of course, since this is where Mr. Rogers and his show were from.  The storyline is captivating - Lloyd's transformation epitomizes Mr. Rogers' ability to relate to people at a deep, soul-winning level.  And I need to say how much I love living in a small town.  When we sat down in the theatre, the woman next to us recognized Emma from her job, even though my daughter hasn't been at work since early August because of college.  I didn't know her and Emma didn't remember her, but this kind woman said she remembered Emma because she was struck by how kind and friendly she was!  *sigh* Can I thank God for that for a moment?

On to today's project!  It was made with last week's Splitcoaststampers Sketch.  

I'm still in Christmas mode.  I have no idea how many Christmas cards I'll need each year; I just crank them out until I get tired of making them  There's usually far more than needed, so the extras get donated to a local assisted care facility at which my mom volunteers.  They sell them and use the proceeds for resident activities.  It's a perfect arrangement because there is nothing stopping me from being a card-making machine - I mail them, gift them, donate them - everyone wins!

Don't you love the deep, rich colors of this card?  The background is a 4" x 5-1/2" Shaded Spruce panel stamped repeatedly in Shaded Spruce ink with the Bible verse from the God's Peace stamp set.  Then I took a Gold Encore pad (which, sadly, Stampin' Up! no longer carries) and dragged it across the panel in different directions.  A Bone Folder was used to rough up the edges before gluing to the card base.

It's all in the details: three of the smallest Gold Faceted Gems; using Stampin' Write Markers to get a multi-colored sentimentl; tearing the bottoms of the Wrapped In Plaid paper.

The glow around the candle flames was achieved with a Sponge Dauber and Daffodil Delight ink.  

Tip: Use a very light touch and go in a circular motion when applying the ink to avoid obvious circles from the dauber.  Start off lighter than you think you need to - you can always add color!

Christmas mode will end soon.  Why?  Because there's HUGE box of new stamping toys heading to my home!  As a demonstrator, I got to order a month early from the January - June 2020 Mini Catalog AND earn free Sale-A-Bration goodies!  Did you know you can sign up now and add product from these catalogs to your Starter Kit?  And did you know you can pick $126 of product for just $99?  And that it ships for free?  Yes!  It's the best deal and there's no pressure to sell or hold events.  Most join for the discount they receive and ability to earn Stampin' Rewards on their own orders.  Find out more here.  I would LOVE to welcome you to my team of My Joyful Stampers!

One Layout, One Stamp Set, Three Christmas Cards

My family likes to tease me that I get fixated on things.  I'll find something I'm interested in and jump in head-first, learning everything I can, testing and experimenting and stretching the limits.  If you've been reading my blog faithfully, you'll notice I did that with Halloween and Stampin' Up!'s Monster Bash suite (and my obsession with that is not over yet....next week I'll have a decor piece I made from the Coffin Treat Boxes packaging....there's a peek of it in yesterday's Facebook Live video I posted, around the 8:00 mark).

However, it's now time to jump into other stamp sets and techniques.  Today, you'll see the God's Peace set (page 28 in the Holiday Catalog) used on the same card layout, but colored three different ways.

Coloring with Stampin' Write Markers

While Stampin' Blends alcohol ink markers are great for adding shading and seamlessly blending multiple colors, Stampin' Write Markers (which are dye-based ink) are incredibly easy to use and offer vibrant, rich color.  Each marker has a brush tip and a fine point tip, but I almost always use the brush tip.  I find that tip offers precise placement of the ink and offers a more natural coloring experience.

Another technique I like to use Stampin' Write markers for is to color directly on my stamps, both clear photopolymer and rubber.  For the sentiment above, I used a Garden Green, Real Red, and Crushed Curry marker to color directly on the stamp.  This sentiment actually says, "Sending love and light your way", but I chose to color only the "sending love and light", selectively omitting "your way".  That's two techniques you can do with Stampin' Write Markers!

No-Line Watercoloring

This was my first try at no-line watercoloring.  The idea is to stamp in a very light color of ink so that when the image is watercolored, the lines disappear beneath the watercoloring.  This attempt was not entirely successful, but I'm showing it to you anyways!  I want you to see that it's ok to try new things and that perfection is not necessary.  

I used Sahara Sand ink to stamp the image and it's still slightly visible.  What I would do next time is to stamp it on scratch paper once or twice before committing it to cardstock.  That would lighten the ink sufficiently for it to disappear underneath the watercoloring.  Garden Green, Crushed Curry, and Real Red ink pads with an Aquapainter were used.

Regular Watercoloring 

I used the same supplies as in the previous card but stamped the image in Staz-On Black ink (it's waterproof and won't bleed when water is applied).  Watercoloring is wonderful in that it's a forgiving technique - there can be uncolored areas, or areas where the color goes out of the lines, and it still looks great!  The vibrancy of the color is controlled by how much water is used to paint with.  In this card, I used more water which diluted the intensity of the ink color.

Another thing I did was to brush my damp Aquapainter over my sentiment-stamped Very Vanilla scalloped square (from the Layering Squares die set).  I adore the slightly blurred look it created!

I hope these tips give you the confidence to try coloring by different methods.  My aim is to give you your BEST stamping experience!  If you need any of the supplies to try today's tips and techniques, shop my online store here.  I'm listing below the main components of my cards today to assist you.

God's Peace stamp set

Stampin' Write Markers - Regals 

Aqua Painters

Staz-On Black ink pad

Garden Green ink pad

Real Red ink pad

Crushed Curry ink pad

Sahara Sand ink pad

Toile Tidings Designer Series Paper

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Of course you want this!  Just ask here.

In October only, two Come To Gather card kits with any size order.

My gift to you!

Use Host Code GZU4ASKR (no exceptions, please).  Shop here.

Faux Wood Technique

I saw the Faux Wood Technique here for the first time and fell in love with the look.  

Then, like I usually do, I made a mistake here and there in the execution!  It turned out fine, though, and since I was gleefully praising myself as I was playing, I decided to make a photo tutorial for you all!  My steps are a bit different than the original tutorial because of my mistakes, which I ended liking.  

I have another card example using this technique at the end of this post!

Faux Wood Technique Photo Tutorial

Choose 3 colors that are a light, medium, and dark of each other, plus Whisper White.  Oh, and that Close to Cocoa ink pad is really Soft Suede.  I kept the pad when the color retired and just reink it with Soft Suede.

Add your lightest color first, which is Crumb Cake here.

This is the way to add the ink in each step to your cardstock.  It's called the direct-to-paper method.  Place your ink pad at the edge of your cardstock, then drag it across.

Add next darkest color, which is Soft Suede here.

Add darkest color next, which is Early Espresso here.  And, yes, you can use your mini ink pads for the direct-to-paper method!

Wait a minute to give the previous applications of ink time to dry, then add Whisper White ink.  I did get a tiny amount of brown ink on my pad, but it's fine!  You can blot it out with a paper towel or be like me and just leave it (I think it's evident from these photos that my supplies are well-used!).

We've made our faux wood cardstock - isn't it wonderful?!  Now it's time to cut our frames.  If your dies are able to nest inside each other, you can do the next three steps at once.

Place the smaller frame inside of the larger frame.  

LOVE!!!  Don't you love that look?  **swoon**  That fabulous wood grain paper in the background is from the Come To Gather DSP.  I pulled on the Copper Ribbon Trim to get a full look.

I loved the Faux Wood Technique so much that I made a second card.

Instead of squares, I used stitched rectangles for the frames.  You could use Stitched Shapes dies to get square, circle, and oval frames, too.

The leaf die is from Gathered Leaves dies (as is the Crushed Curry one in my first card on which I stamped the sentiment).  I pressed the leaf die into a Delicata Gold Glitz ink pad then ran it through my machine with Cajun Craze cardstock.  

The multi-colored leaves were SO easy to create.  I scribbled on the stamp with Stampin' Write markers, breathed on it to rewet the ink, then stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I used my Stampin' Write markers lightest to darkest: Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler.  

Layering Squares dies (item #141708)

Stitched Shapes dies (item #145372)

Gathered Leaves dies (item #150662)

Delicata Golden Glitz ink (item #150711) *currently on backorder but still orderable

Stampin' Write Markers -Regals (item #147155)

Beauty & Joy stamp set (item #150518) **one of my Top 10 picks!**

Copper Trim (item #144179)

Come To Gather Designer Series Paper (item #150454) *currently on backorder but still orderable

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  It's always my goal to give you your best crafting experience.  Your support lets me know that you ARE having your best crafting experience!   

Shop my online store here

Catalogs for you at no charge!  Email me.

  

The Closing and Opening of Doors

It's Monday, my favorite day of the week, because of its fresh start.  Did you have a good weekend, friend?

Once again, ours was packed with cross country running.  And I loved it!  Both our high school and middle school teams went to one of the largest invitationals in the Mid-West (5000 runners) and it was exciting.  

I've been a runner for almost 30 years.  I competed in track and cross country in high school and in college; raced in local 5Ks post-college; finished 7 marathons; and ran just for health and the sheer joy of it.  Then two years ago I developed problems in my left foot, severe enough that I have not been able to run trouble-free since and eventually I realized the wisdom in giving it up.  That was a hard pill to swallow. 

God is good, though!  Just months after I began experiencing problems, I was asked to coach middle school cross country.  As one door closed to me, God opened a door that allows me to not only stay involved in the sport of running but to be a mentor and a cheerleader to up-and-coming runners!  Working with middle schoolers is a privilege and a joy - they lift my spirits with their goofy antics and while as a Christian I am to seek God's approval only, I will unabashedly confess to feeling a thrill when someone tells me how much one of my middle school runners loves having me as a coach.  Do you know how hard it is to get the seal of coolness from a 13 year old?!?!  I just love how life works and how God works in life.

Today's project matches my elation.

It's not fall- or Halloween- or Christmas-themed, but it's happy and bright and celebrates something we all have in common.  It's FUN to celebrate those who add pizzazz and love and meaning to our lives!  And it's FUN to be on the receiving end of the attention!

Can you guess how I made the multi-colored, polka-dotted background?  With masks!

In a previous post, I showed how to heat emboss using the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks (item #150697 pg 35 in the Holiday Catalog).  This time, I experimented with using Stampin' Write markers to color in the masks.  For this background, I did not follow a proscribed pattern.  Rather, I used the colors of Grapefruit Grove, Call Me Clover, Lovely Lipstick, and Basic Black to randomly color in the dots.  Occasionally I'd lift the mask to see what color I felt there needed to be more of, then I'd align the mask again and fill in more dots.

Try coloring in the trees with a white chalk marker for an eerie Halloween effect!  Or how about adding a fall border to a card edge by using Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, and Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write markers on the top right stencil?  Gorgeous!

Stampin' Write Markers collections

White Chalk Marker

Basic Pattern Decorative Masks (holiday catalog)

Pattern Party Decorative Masks (annual catalog)

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you learned something and were uplifted in the pursuit of your creating.  I so appreciate your business and you choosing me as your demonstrator.

I Loved It So Much....

that I used it again - the same color combination as I did in Friday's project, that is.

I've spent the past 10 days travelling around Alaska with my oldest daughter Emma, who just graduated from high school in May.  Part of our trip was spent taking a small boat cruise in Prince William Sound with Northern Explorer Adventures.  That cruise was such a unique, eye-opening, and relaxed way to see Alaska!  There was a loose itinerary but not one we absolutely had to follow, so our captain was able to get us to the most fascinating spots, depending on marine life activity and weather.  I wanted to thank them for going above and beyond in making this trip special so I made them each this card.  

I started with this card sketch from Handstamped Sentiments:

I mixed The Open Sea (retired) with current Stampin' Up! products to design a nautical-themed project with a personal message inside.  I'm confident this card will convey what their efforts meant to us!

Did you notice the splatters on the background?  Here's an easy technique to get that fun look:

Because I love to share, here's the card recipe so you can make it, too:

• The Open Sea or Sailing Home stamp set
• Sahara Sand Ink Pad (background and sponging)
• Night of Navy Ink Pad (stamped nautical images)
• Early Espresso Ink Pad (sentiment)
• Sahara Sand cardstock (5-1/2 x 4-1/4 folded in half, scrap for die-cut sentiment, 4-1/4 x 1/4 for vertical strip)
• Night of Navy cardstock (4-1/4 x 1)
• Balmy Blue cardstock (scraps for stamped nautical images)
• Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker (for splattered background)
• Stitched Nested Labels Dies (sentiment, Sahara Sand cardstock strip)
• Night of Navy/Sahara Sad Baker's Twine
• Clear and Frosted Epoxy Droplets
• Sponges
• Paper Snips (for fussy cutting anchor and compass)
• Stitched Shapes Dies (circle used for world image)
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue

I so appreciate you taking the time to read my little blog on the big Internet and I appreciate you choosing me as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I'm SO excited about this Holiday catalog so please let me know if you'd like a copy.

Daisy Lane Class To Go Project Sneak Peek

Sneak peeks are fun!  Even more so when you know the peek is just a sampling of what's to come.  In this case, it means more beautiful projects are yours for the making and sending in this month's Class To Go!

What You Get with a Joyful Stamper Class To Go:

• Daisy Lane Bundle (includes Daisy Lane stamp set and Medium Daisy Punch)
• 2018-2020 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (set of 5)
• FREE kit with all the cardstock, embellishments, and ribbon to create the projects
• FREE envelopes
• Step-by-step instructions with full color photos of finished samples emailed to you as a pdf file
• $5 Bonus Days Coupon to use in August
• A completely fun crafting experience designed with your enjoyment in mind

I Want a Joyful Stamper Class To Go!  How Can I Get One?

Go to my online store here and order:

• Daisy Lane bundle (item #151118)
• 2018-2020 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (item # 147159)
• You will need to order these basic stamping items if you don't already have them: clear block D, clear block H, Paper Snips, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
• If you have the bundle or markers, simply substitute items of equal or greater value.  You'll still get the free kit and pdf instructions!
• It's also a great time to add on to your order whatever else you like since you'll get a $5 coupon for every $50 you order (before shipping and tax)!  Consider the larger Daisy Punch as it has a coordinating image in both the Daisy Lane and Daisy Delight stampsets. 

• Make sure to use the Host Code KVQ6SS4R if your order is under $150 (very important as this lets me know you want the Class To Go).  If your order is over $150, do not use the host code because you get free Stampin' Rewards!  You'll still get the free kit and pdf instructions.

Deadline to register by ordering is July 15.  I have limited spots for this Class To Go so get in now to receive your kit!

Please email me with any questions.  My desire is to make this a fun, immersive crafting experience for you!  Remember that there are limited spots so it's best to order now.  

One Card Five Ways

I must need bright colors in my life right now.  When sitting down to create, that is what ends up being pulled from the cardstock shelves and the ink pad holders.  I blame Jeopardy James' loss, now almost two weeks ago, for my need of a pick-me-up.    

Say hello to Lovely Lipstick.

Now, I've been a fan of Jeopardy! for years and there exists on my mental bucket list a line that says, "Be a Jeopardy! contestant".  So you can call me a faithful viewer.

Now behold Blueberry Bushel.

But there was something about James Holzhauer and his aggressive style of play that was addicting to watch.  It gave me a predictable high every weeknight at 7pm #nerdgirl  

(I realize hashtags are not a blogging thing but that just adds emphasis to my point, don't you think?).

Meet Pineapple Punch.

James broke the mold for Jeopardy! contestants - he wasn't conventional, he wasn't a teacher or lawyer, and he played to win.  He had fun on the show and he made it fun for the viewers.

This is Call Me Clover.

I shamefully admit I enjoyed watching him shock and awe the other contestants.  No one comes on the show to battle for second and third places, but that's exactly the battle the two other hopefuls were left to fight, often before the first round was over.

And last we have Grapefruit Grove.

When someone other than James found the Daily Doubles, indignation and outrage would sweep through me and I would think, "How dare they take James' Daily Doubles!"  A couple times the game was close, down to Final Jeopardy, and my family had to rush to retrieve cold compresses for me to get my heart rate back to normal.

And then he lost on June 3.  

I've been stamping in bright colors ever since.  I think there is a correlation there.

You Can Make It:

~2018-2020 In Color 8-1/2 x 11 Cardstock Pack
~Whisper White 8-1/2 x 11 Cardstock
~1/8" Grosgrain Ribbon - Blueberry Bushel, Call Me Clover, Grapefruit Grove,                                            Lovely Lipstick, Pineapple Punch
~2018-2020 In Color Stampin' Write Markers (used to color on stamp, then                                  stamp image several times on cardstock without reinking)
~Gold Faceted Gems
~Daisy Punch (punched three times and layered for a fuller look)
~Leaf Punch
~Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set

Stepping It Up: (for heat embossing the dots on the daisy; still cute cards without it!)

Birthday Backgrounds stamp set *

Gold Embossing Powder *

Heat Gun *

Versamark Ink *

Last Call for my Bird Ballad Class To Go!

Sign-up ends today June 18!

Use Host Code VTFXMJVH

Details can be found here.