Hip to be Square!

I struggle coming up with creative titles for my posts! But this card has lots of little squares and I grew up in the 80s, which was synonymous with Huey Lewis and the News, for me at least. It's how my mind works.

This card was really inspired not by Huey, but by Mary Fish. I chose this card's color scheme to give some time in the spotlight to a few colors that are retiring at the end of next month: Really Rust and Sage Shadow.

The retiring colors will be available until June 30, or while supplies last. We demonstrators were informed last week that some card stock has already begun to be depleted, so textured card stock in the same color is being substituted until it runs out too. The reinkers will be restocked until May 30, and then once the stock is depleted, they will not be replenished.

I stamped images from these sets, just pulling out what I liked and what I thought went well together. All were stamped in Chocolate Chip classic ink, which is being moved from the Earth Elements family (which is being renamed the Regals Collection), into the Neutrals Collection.

These 1.25" squares were mounted on the Really Rust card stock, and accented with Sage Shadow .25" grosgrain ribbon, and a butterfly stamped in SS and mounted on top of the same image, creating a shadow of sorts.

Bleaching without Stamps

My second YouTube video featuring the bleaching technique was shot the same day as the first, and was Aldo's suggestion for those who wanted to use the bleaching technique but didn't have any stamps. This one was billed as a good activity for kids to make their own card for Mom.

I cut the letters out using some leftover lightweight cardboard, and substituted a heart shape for the "o". I taped it down using double-stick tape, which you see in the video I have some difficulty removing!, and sponge around it.

It's a bit crude, but it's quick and easy, and I agreed with my producer that providing an alternative to stamps made the technique that much more accessible to anyone.

Bleached Flowers for YouTube!

EDITED TO ADD: Here's the video link: Mother's Day Card Tutorial!

I was asked by fellow Starbucks partner and aspiring videographer, Aldo, if he could make a video of me making a card for Mother's Day. After several scheduling hiccups, we were able to make it happen at the almost-11th-hour this afternoon. I can hardly contain my excitement as I wait for him to finish post-production on it, and as soon as it's available, you'll see it here, and on YouTube, and on Facebook!

Let me post a few pictures of the card I made using the Watercolor Trio that's in the current Summer Mini Catalog and a technique called bleaching. Aldo wanted to post a video demonstrating how to make a card if you had limited resources and limited time. It occurred to me that someone might have stamps laying around, but no ink. What would you do then? Make your own ink pad using bleach!

The most important thing you need when using this technique is dark card stock. This just doesn't have the same effect if you don't. It's so cool to watch the image appear, as if out of thin air. Wait 'til you see it in the video!

I repurposed a Chinese takeout container for my bleach pad by lining it with several layers of paper towel and saturating it with bleach. I didn't dilute it; I just poured it straight onto the towels. I stamped the images and used a simple mat to help it stand out a little more.

The final result makes it appear as though I somehow was able to get Pale Plum ink to show up on Perfect Plum card stock. Love it! Hope anyone in need of a last-minute card who's surfing YouTube, the internet, and Facebook will too.

I Scream, You Scream...

we all scream for ICE CREAM! Summer is just around the corner, and nothing screams summer more than ice cream. Stampin' Up!'s newly released Summer Mini Catalog features a set called Sweet Scoops that captures all the fun and whimsy associated with the summertime treat.

My favorite way to eat soft serve ice cream is to have it dipped in chocolate! Makes me want to drive over to my local DQ right now. That's what inspired this card. I stamped the twist in Versamark on Close to Cocoa card stock and embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder to mimic the shine that that chocolate coating gives the cone. The sugar cone, my favorite choice of delivery mechanism for ice cream, is stamped in Versamark on Creamy Caramel card stock. Looks pretty real, doesn't it?

The layout for this card was inspired by this card, that I saw on Karin and Julie's blog, Two Friends Stamping. I turned it and modified it a bit to better suit my images, and to keep one of the cones a surprise until the card is opened by untying the Close to Cocoa ribbon. The base is Pretty in Pink, with some long-ago retired Designer Series Paper, Whisper White, and Close to Cocoa card stock also used.

This card will go to my friend and former boss who is busy scooping ice cream at Graham's Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream in Wheaton, IL. I spent six summers building my forearm muscles (we didn't make soft serve) scooping the world's best ice cream. If you get a chance to stop by, be sure to order Wild Cherry on a sugar cone for me!

Introducing Watercolor Trio

The Summer Mini Catalog selling period started Saturday, and here's the first card I made using one of the sets from it, Watercolor Trio. This is a fantastic beginner set, as it has images and sentiments. It's also available in wood mount or clear acrylic cling mount. I chose acrylic cling mount because I can see where I'm going to place the images and sentiments--love that!

I created this card for the women I stamped with over the weekend (hi again, gals!), and it was a big hit! I used Kraft as my base, layered with Very Vanilla, and the images were stamped in Rose Red, More Mustard, and Elegant Eggplant. The sentiment was stamped in Old Olive. All that alliteration had the gals cracking up, but they loved the combination!

I love how fast this comes together, and yet how fancy it seems because of the easel fold. Check my archive (4x4 easel card) for the link to complete directions. It's so much easier than it looks!

The women stamped this as a Mother's Day card, but I already had all of those I needed, so I created a blank version but kept the butterfly from the set as my "peg" to hold the easel in place.

It's so energizing for me to share card making with others. Thanks to Bekah for bringing the group together. If you'd like me to share my love of stamping with YOUR group of friends, leave me a comment and we'll get the ball rolling!

Thoroughly Modern Always

I had the great pleasure of facilitating a workshop with a group of friends last Saturday (hey ladies!), and this was one of the cards I taught them to make. They all like birds, so the Always stamp set was a logical choice.

I featured a unique use for the Thoroughly Modern File Folders that are part of a unique office organization collection, featured on pages 116 and 117 of the Big Idea Book & Catalog. I had ordered the file folders for this project, and had some of them left over. Gotta make use of what you have, right? I cut those folders up and made a cute card using the folder pieces as I would Designer Series Paper.

The 3" square featuring the bird image is stamped in Soft Suede, one of this year's InColors that is being incorporated into the new Color Collection as a neutral. The base is Melon Mambo, also an IC that is being added to the core line of colors as part of the new Brights Collection. (To read more about the Color Renovation, see this post and this post.)

I used the Scallop Circle punch and some of the folder to make a great little accent element. The always stamp was colored direct to rubber and punched out with the 1.25" circle punch. A little hemp twine bow adhered with a glue dot, and this card was DONE, quickly and easily, and it was very well received.

Now that things have quieted down, you'll see more posts. There's a new Summer Mini Catalog that has cool stamps in it, including one featuring ICE CREAM!

DONE.DONE.DONE

I have been quiet here the past few weeks because I've been at work on a large project. Last Wednesday, I finished them, and the client received them last Friday. Now I can share them with you!

I made 250 of these 5"x7" invitations for a great organization, Amazima Ministries. You can read all about the work it does by clicking on the icon in my right hand column. Last year I handcrafted 175 invitations; this year they wanted something a little more simple.

There are 5 layers of card stock on the strip that peeks out at the top and bottom of the invite, using Real Red, YoYo Yellow, Glorious Green, Lovely Lilac, and Brilliant Blue, all from the Bold Brights family. The largest swatch was 2" and the pieces went down in 1/4" increments from there. It was a lot of card stock to cut--600 of each color! These colors mimic those in the fingers of the handprint, which is the logo for the organization.

I love being able to invest in this cause in this way. If you're interested in attending the fundraiser in Brentwood, TN, outside Nashville, please contact me, and I'll get you connected to the right people at Amazima.