STAMPIN' UP FLOWER SHOP!!

Sorry about taking so long to post something new, but the truth is, tonight was the first time I had a chance to play with some of my new stamps.  Actually, I didn't really have a "chance" -- I just said enough with washing windows and cleaning house, I'm going to do something I love.  Besides that I am way late getting this thank-you card in the mail.  It is almost to the point where I'm ashamed to even send it (don't think that has ever happened to me before).  I have tons of thank-you cards, but I wanted something "new" and "fresh" to send as it is going to a fellow stamper.  And I just wanted to "let loose with my design" as you can see by the picture. 

I have always been an admirer of Impressionist Art because to me it is like doing shabby chic and now grunge art -- all are expressions of how I feel.  Impressionism.org defines "Impressionism" as a depiction of an artist’s impression. "It does not aim to be accurate in detail, but the impression often elicits a stronger emotional appeal, which is variously triggered in the beholder. It is a spontaneous expression, often discarding the basic ability to draw correctly and becomes more an interplay of colors.  Because it is an impression, every impressionist painting becomes more an expression of the heart."  So here is my card, which is definitely a play on our new in-color inks and totally discards the ability to draw (LOL).  However, it is my impression and from my heart:



My background was created using the direct to paper technique, with a twist.  I used watercolor paper, applied the in-color inks with a plain rubber stamp (mounted on wood), and then misting with water.  Using the watercolor paper added the texture I wanted plus allowed me to mist the ink to set the colors.  Of course I added the petals from the new Flower Shop Stamp Set  (Strawberry Slush Card Stock and Ink) and the leaves cut from the Secret Garden Framelits using Old Olive Card Stock.



And yes, I did get another 12" x 12" double-page layout done for my grand-daughter.  I really thought I was done with her album, but I keep finding pictures I want to add.  Normally I never show non-Stampin' Up product because I don't buy anything but Stampin' Up, but the product on the left page was given to me and it matched the color I was looking for these pictures (I did add some new Washi Tape to it however).  The page on the right is retired Stampin' Up DSP, but current accessories.  I love how I was able to match up the colors on the 2 pages.



Close-up of left page.  This layout I intend to use again with all Stampin' Up product.



Close-up of left page -- notice the use of the new Chalk Talk Framelits.  (Right-click on the pictures and select "Open in new Window" and then click on the picture to enlarge for detail.)

Until next time,
Sandi

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I shall say it again:  rejoice!" -- Philippians 4:4

STAMPIN' UP: BEST OF LOVE AND MORE!!

Whew, what a day!!  I have been seriously getting into cleaning this week to get ready for my grand daughter's Open House in about 23 days.  I saved my spring cleaning until now because I didn't want to do it again for the party (actually, if it gets done once it is only for a party!!).  Today was getting all the baby and kids toys bleached from the toy boxes.  Have you ever washed about 300 McDonald toys with a tooth brush before????  That doesn't include all the little Playschool people, army men, jewelry, play dishes, 25+ stuffed animals, a couple of dolls, large toys, and tons more!!  Trust me, a lot got thrown away, but obviously not enough.  As I am doing all this, I kept waiting for my husband to say, "the grand kids are all grown up, so why do you have toy boxes."  Bless his heart, he never said a word because he probably knew exactly what I would say.  That is, "we still have small step grandchildren, great grandchildren, great nieces and nephews, and others that visit with children."  Besides that, some of the grown up grand kids won't let me because they are still known to play with these toys (these are the same ones that have never forgiven me for remodeling their basement playroom into my studio).  So tomorrow I move on to weeding outdoors (I got the pond done!!) and finish painting downstairs.

So between all that, I did do a couple of projects that I want to show you today.



Another 12" x 12" double-page layout for Holly's album featuring Stampin' Up's This and That Product Suite.

Close-up of left page.  This was such a great layout for using lots of pictures.

Close-up of right page.

Card I made for my husband on Father's Day, but can't show you the inside!!  He really loved this a lot, so much so that . . .




I made about 20 of these without an inside sentiment for Project H.O.P.E.  Simple, but mailable and saying exactly what I want to say.

Until next time,
Sandi

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so."  --  Proverbs 3:27

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

A card created last month that I didn't post -- but so beautiful.  This is truly a girly-girl card, that sparkles even with the lights are off (okay, maybe with a candle glowing).  And what girl doesn’t like diamonds?  Of course there was no way I could get all the sparkles to show up with my limited camera skills, but trust me; any girl would love to get this card in the mail:
 

You really need to right-click on this card with your mouse and select "open in new window" to see the sparkle and shine.  I totally love this card!!  It looks like a hard card to put together but it really isn't -- see directions below.

PRODUCT USED:

(Note:  Some of this product is now discontinued; i.e, card stock color & embossing folder, but just switch with current SU product.)
Stamps:  Parlor Prints Background and Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Card Stock:  Rose Red, Very Vanilla, and Basic Black.

Ink:  Rose Red Classic Ink and Illuminate Pigment Ink.

Tools and Accessories:  Dress Up Framelits; Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Folder; Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder; Embossing Buddy Static Remover; Heat Tool; Brayer; Rose Red Marker; Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim; Rose Red Seam Binding; Rhinestone; Word Window, Modern Label, and Little Labels Punches (½" tiny postage stamp cut in half).

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut 4 ¼" x 11" card base from Rose Red cardstock; fold in half.
2. Cut 4 1/8" x 5 5/16" piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and emboss with Vintage Wallpaper folder.
3. Use Illuminate Pigment Ink to brayer over the embossed Very Vanilla layer.  Use heat tool to dry before adhering to base of card (Rose Red).
4. Use a 2" x 5" piece of Rose Red cardstock to run the Dress Form framelit through the Big Shot.  Cut the bottom part of the dress form so you have two pieces.  Attach top half of dress form to Very Vanilla layer.  Set aside the bottom half until your dress is made (see #12).
5. Cut 2 pieces of Basic Black cardstock:  (a) 4" x 2 ½" and (b) 4" x 3" and run through both pieces in Big Shot using dress framelit to make the dress.  (The smaller Black cardstock piece is for the bottom of the skirt only.)
6. Use Embossing Buddy on both the dress and skirt, and then stamp with the Parlor Prints Background Stamp inked with Illuminate Pigment Ink.
7. Quickly apply Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and set with Heat Tool.
8. Attach the skirt bottom under the full dress with Sticky Strip.
9. Wrap dress waist with Rose Red Seam Binding and make small bow.
10. Cut one rose from the Vanilla Flower Trim and color with the Rose Red marker.
11. Attach rose flower to the bow using Mini Glue Dots.
12. Attach dress to the dress form with the previously cut bottom piece of the dress form positioned under the skirt.
13. Use a scrap of Basic Black cardstock (that was stamped and embossed like the dress), to punch with the ½" postage stamp from the Little Labels Punch Pack. Cut diagonally across the square to make a diamond shaped neck choker with a diamond rhinestone in the middle.  Adhere to the neck of the Dress Form.
14. Punch Rose Red cardstock with Modern Label Punch.
15. Stamp "Thinking of You" (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) with Rose Red Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock, punch with the Window Punch, and adhere to Rose Red punched cardstock.  Adhere sentiment to the bottom-right corner and trim off excess.

And finally, additional pictures from my daughter's "You Are . . ." squash book album (see previous posts for other pictures):

Until next time,

Sandi

"He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."  --  2 Corinthians 10:17

BY THE TIDE EMBOSS RESIST

Everybody loves to emboss an image to see the magic appear when it is heated with Stampin’ Up’s Heat Tool.  My customers were thrilled with this fish image from the “By the Tide Stamp Set,” heat embossed with Black Detail Embossing Powder, then colored with the Lucky Limeade Marker.  Plus, we all need a WOW card for males (men love embossed images!!) – a perfect match for this stamp set!!  This is a very fast and easy card for a class.

Wish you could see how Mr. Fish sparkles!!

Product Used: 

Stamps:  By the Tide and From My Heart

Paper and Card Stock:  Whisper White, Marina Mist, and Parker's Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Marina Mist, Summer Starfruit, and VersaMark.

Tools and Accessories:  Apothecary Accents Framelits, Black Detail Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy Static Remover, Heat Tool, Lucky Limeade and Basic Black Markers, and Sponge.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut 4 ¼" x 11" Whisper White cardstock and fold in half for card base.
2. Cut 4" x 5 ¼" Marina Mist cardstock, apply Embossing Buddy; using VersaMark ink, stamp with fish from By the Tide stamp set; apply Black Detail Embossing Buddy; and heat set with Heating Tool.
3. Color in fish with Lucky Limeade Marker.
4. Stamp sea grass from the By the Tide stamp set using Summer Starfruit Classic Ink.
5. Heat the Summer Starfruit images with Heat Tool to dry the ink before wiping the fish with tissue to remove any Summer Starfruit ink from the black (Emboss Resist Technique).
6. Draw air bubbles using Basic Black Marker.
7. Cut 3" x 4" piece of Parker's Patterns Designer Paper and adhere to bottom-half of Marina Mist layer.
8. Stamp From the Heart sentiment in Marina Mist Classic Ink and cut out using the Apothecary Accents Framelits.
9. Adhere sentiment to Marina Mist layer, centering top, bottom, and sides on the designer paper.  Trim off the excess from the two sides.
10. Adhere Marina Mist layer to Whisper White card base.

And finally, here are a few more pages I did for my daughter, Deborah's, "You Are . . . " squash album (some of the Stampin' Up product is now discontinued):

Prom Night

Graduation

Living on her own!!

Her boys (my grandsons)

I have a few more pictures of this book that I will post in my next update.

Until next time,

Sandi

 

"The wind blows where it wishes. . . .  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.  -- John 3:8