On the softer side

Happy Tuesday morning to you!  Today I am in a funk.  Ever have those days?  Just cannot get the rear in gear! Fortunately, I am ready to post some more cards for you!

The first uses the watercolor roses technique shown to me by my friend, Lynnette.  She's a talented lady! (Shame, shame shame she does not have a blog we can all oogle. Sigh)  Using an aqua painter and some reinker, you float the color on top of glossy or shimmer paper and let it dry.  I used So Saffron and Peach Parfait reinkers because, as Donkey says in Shrek, "Everybody like Parfait!." I used that wonderful flourish from the set Baroque Motifs (may it never retire) and the rose image from Fifth Avenue Floral.  The leaves of the rose are punched from the wing of the Two step bird punch! 

 "Ahhh!" you say, "What a versatile punch!"

  "Yes," I answer wisely, nodding my head, "It is not just for the birds!"  hahahahaha 

 Okay, add ramie to that funky thing I got goin'.  With a Polka Dot dry emboss on the Peach Parfait panel (again, because "Everybody like Parfait!")  and a vanilla Top Note, the card has a Victorian feel.  Yes?

 

"But, Kristine...how did you make those bird wings look like such realistic leaves?" 

I blush, smile and say, "It's easy!  Punch out the wing from Pear Pizzazz card stock.  Then crumple it 'til it's tiny, tiny.  Then uncrumple it and press it against a Pear Pizzazz classic ink pad.  The ink fills in the crumples and makes it look great!" 

You smile at me and we are both happy to know how to make leaves from bird wings.  I only wish I could press myself up against a classic ink pad and make my "crumples" look great. {sigh}  Basic pearls in the swirls of the flourish, some Victoria Crochet ribbon and a pretty font in the sentiment from Fabulous Phrases finish off the card.  Okay, you now get to look!

Next up is a direct CAS card from Mary Fish.  She is becoming my idol.  Love her stuff!  This card uses the Rub-ons from the Occasions Mini called Love Impressions.  An aside: Have you ever stopped to think that there is someone,( maybe multiple someones!) whose job it is to name the stuff in the catalog!  Hmmm, guess that would take a talent for alliteration or maybe just a need to control the world and name things?  Anyway, moving on....The card is framed with the pretty Tulip Embossing folder.  Simple black, red and white with a touch of pink keep it simple.  Not an ounce of ink is used on this card!  I suppose this isn't a stamped card, technically.  It's a rubbed card!  No inky fingers.

And the final card.  Thank you for reading this far.  My... you're a saint. 

This card uses Lap of Luxury DSP and the Square Lattice Embossing folder.  To get the look of a quilt, first layer all pieces and then run the whole thing through the Big Shot with the embossing folder.  It squishes (a very technical stamping term) all the layers together and it looks very "quilty."  The sentiment is from the Occasions set You're a Gem.  And really...YOU'RE a gem if you read my whole post today.  Gracias!

Celebrating #6

Today marks my 6th anniversary as a demonstrator with Stampin' Up!  Gosh.  Has it really been that long?  I have met some really great friends through this hobby and I am grateful for the chance to spend a little time each week using the right side of my brain being creative. 

When I first signed up as a demonstrator, I did it because I l-o-v-e-d, LOVED the stuff and wanted the demonstrator discount.  It was a time in my life when I was stressed, and I discovered that stamping and creating made the stress disappear while I was in the "Stamping zone."  Then I was asked if I could show someone how to make the cards.  And I became a demonstrator in the technical sense of the word.  Six years down the road and SU has become more than I thought it ever would.  I am grateful for all it continues to bring to me.  Tonight I'm having a little party, with stamping included, to celebrate the day.  We're making 10 cards and eating and chatting...and I can't wait! I'll share those cards with you in the next post.

Today I want to share two projects made with the new felt, stitched, Sweat Pea flowers from the Occasions Mini.  I received these as a gift from SU because I did the work to become certified in the My Digital Studio software.  At first I looked at them and thought, "Hmmmm? Those are...interesting."  They just didn't "speak" to me. Even though I was a little non-plussed by them, I was still happy to have received them.  Then I bought the HUGE (I mean this thing is BIG) pad of DSP papers and there was a piece that I liked and then I had the thought that, "Hey, those felt flowers could work with this!"  And here's the thing, the felt pieces look rather strange as they are photographed in the catalog, but they do make very nice flowers when layered...lookie!

And this was a fast, simple card.  The sentiment is from the Chit Chat rub ons, so there isn't even any stamping on this card.  I really like how it turned out.  I gave this card to a friend, and I hope she likes it.

Then, because I liked the card so much, I found myself in "stitched-flower frenzy." (Picture me bopping in my chair, clapping, trying to decide what to make next!)  All of a sudden, I l-o-v-e-d, LOVED these felt pieces.  So I made a couple more flowers and then used the left over pieces of the DSP from the card and made these!

These are going to be raffle prizes at my next event, a Stamp Camp, on March 20th.  Papers really DO look prettier when they are all clipped together with a pretty flower.  Even bills have a little more appeal! :-)

Now I must go get ready for my party tonight.  Fun, fun, fun!

Thanks for popping in for my anniversary day!

Kristine

Color Inspiration Challange #103

This is one of my first challenges. And it was tough for me. These are not the colors that I gravitate to. But it ended up being so much fun! I was working out of my stamping comfort zone, using the In Colors and doing it all just for the heck of it!! You all need to check out Stamping 411 blog. They have an online sketch book and now the color inspirations. So here's the card I designed for the challenge. Whatcha think?

I took the picture so you can see the inside of the card as well.

Well, that was my fun for Christmas Day. I love just puttering and playing on Christmas day. Everyone is enjoying new toys or gadgets and I enjoyed playing with my stamps and listening to carols. I hope your day was just as enjoyable.

Stamping supplies:
Stamps: Chit chat rub ons
Paper: Melon Mambo, Rich razzleberry, Pumpkin pie, Whisper white, Cottage Wall DSP
Inks: White gel pen
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry ribbon, 5/16" Neutral brads, Modern label punch, word window punch, 1/2" circle punch, Large and small star punches.
Thanks for stopping in today!
Kristine