Stamping Techniques 101 Blog Hop - Chalkboard Technique

Hello! I hope you're enjoying this month's Stamping Techniques Blog Hop - so many wonderful projects with the Chalkboard technique, a classic!

Here is a photo of my project:

The Chalkboard technique is one of my favorites - I adore projects done with this eye-catching, yet simple style. This time, I'm thinking ahead to Christmas time and went with a more contemporary style. 

My Basic Black card base is cut at 4 1/4" x 8 1/2", folded in half to make a 4 1/4" square card. 

I trimmed 1/2" off the front right edge so I could add the strip of Silver Glimmer Paper at the end. 

There are several different ways to do this technique, I opted for the simplest - rubbing the Embossing Buddy across the black cardstock. 

Seriously, it's that simple. 

Before I do any stamping, I drop the Embossing Buddy onto the cardstock which produces a small dust cloud of white 'stuff' - whatever it is that's in that little sack. 

Then, I rub the Embossing Buddy around on the card front, tapping at times to produce more dust. It gives a look just like a schoolroom chalkboard. 

I stamped my images in Whisper White Craft Ink and embossed with White Embossing Powder. (Full confession here - my white embossing powder is a little old and isn't as brilliant as I'd prefer - you may have different results depending on the white level of your powder.)

Tip #1 - Don't be shy about adding more dust from the Embossing Buddy once the images are embossed. Sometimes it takes a few applications to produce the chalky finish you are looking for. 

Tip #2 - Be sure to have clean, oil free hands when doing this technique. Any oil or grease (hand cream for example) on your hands will come off on the cardstock and you WILL see the spots. 

I completed my card today with a greeting stamped in Versamark and embossed with Silver. I layered it onto a piece of Silver Foil Paper, using Stampin' Dimensionals under each layer. The layers were cut out with the Stitched Shapes Framelits and my Big Shot.

The ribbon side tie is the Pool Party 3/8" Shimmer Ribbon simply wrapped around the card front and tied off in a knot. I added some Clear Rhinestone Jewels for a sparkly finishing touch. 

I really hope you give this fun and easy technique a try for yourself! 

Here's a few of the products I've used for today's card: 

#142110 - Star of Light Photopolymer Stamp Set

#142049 - Christmas Pines Photopolymer Stamp Set

#103083 - Embossing Buddy

#109132 - White Embossing Powder

#147277 - Whisper White Craft Pad

#144152 - Pool Party Shimmer Ribbon

#145372 - Stitched Shapes Framelits

To purchase any of these supplies and more, you can visit my Online Store at this link:

www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to visit the other hoppers blogs and see the fun projects they've created for you! 

Paper Pumpkin Meets Memories and More

So, I've made a few discoveries since I've gotten back to blogging. Such as discovering some creative projects that I'd uploaded into blog posts and never shared! 

I've got about 5 or 6 projects just hanging out in 'draft' status, and even though some of the products I used may not be available anymore, I figured a good idea is always a good idea, right? 

First up is a scrapbook page I created from my daughter's 2nd Senior Portrait session. 

Like I said, it's been awhile - she's a sophomore in college now. Lol!

This page was created obviously when SU! still was in partnership with Becky Higgins and Project Life, but happily, we still carry a solid Variety Pack of 12" x 12" Photo Pocket Pages for the Memories and More line. And I 💖  the Black Faux Leather Album that we carry! 

Even better news is that there are still some of the Pocketful of Cheer Refill Kits available to any of you that are Paper Pumpkin subscribers. 😃 I've linked the photo to my website for you. 

Here are a few close up photos of different parts of the page: 

I love the little pockets, perfect for some sweet fillers and embellishments. 

Even though we did the photo shoot on the outdoor ice rink in our town - on a FREEZING cold day in February, the colors of this kit were perfect for the photos. Bright and cheery like her sweater and the beautiful Winter sky. 

Even though Emma has retired from skating (knee injuries don't mesh well with collegiate skating...) she still has her skates and her love of the sport. 

Oh, and so far, she's kept the boyfriend too. LOL! 2 years and counting...

I wanted to point out the green pearl embellishments. I actually colored those with a sharpie marker to make them match, but it was a pain to get the right color depth. Now that we have Stampin' Blends, it'll be much easier to customize your pearls and rhinestones. 

I know you're wondering what stamp set I used for the stamped pieces - and I honestly don't remember. I'm old and that was a LONG time ago! It was probably the stamp set that came with the Pocketful of Cheer Paper Pumpkin kit, but you can use whatever stamp set you like on your page, right? 

There you have it - Paper Pumpkin meets Memories and More. 

Just a year or so later than I'd planned. 😉

You can shop the entire Memories and More line on my website, just click the icon below: 

I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment to say "Hi!". 

Happy Monday everyone! 

A Little Thank You

Hello friends -
Yep, it's been a while hasn't it?
Almost 20 months since I've met you here on this blog. So, if you're reading this now, thanks for sticking around.
Maybe you wondered if I'd ever get back.
To be honest, I wondered that too.
Depression is cruel, heartless and destructive. And there were times since my Dad passed in 2010 that it came close to taking everything from me. Especially these last 2 years.

I know, most of you would say that you never would have guessed, and that's part of the cruelty of depression.
Most of the time you can put on a happy face, a 'put together' front; enough to fool people anyway. And when friends and family see you leading what appears to be a 'normal', 'happy', 'blessed' life yet you still manage to hurt and disappoint everyone, it leaves them wondering if you even care.

The honest answer is that you want to...desperately...but the depression demon whispers that it doesn't matter anyway; that no one cares about you; that they are better off without you; that you are a fraud; a failure; and worst of all - worthless.
All lies, but so easy to believe when you are always tired and sad and alone with your pain. Because depression tells you to keep it hidden, that no one will understand anyway and really, no one cares.
More lies, but you listen and obey because it's all you have the energy to do some days.

Sadly, I do know that many, many of you can relate - and have lived to tell the tale.
We are surviving depression.
Surviving and making a sometimes minute by minute choice to walk free.
If this is you, please know that I am applauding you right now - cheering for you - because I know. I just know. And you know, and are cheering me on as well.

And if you are suffering silently even now, please know that you are loved. That you matter. You have value and worth and you can survive too. That my friend, is the truth.

So....what does this all mean for me creatively?
I'm not sure - keeping it real here - I don't want to promise something I'm not sure I can deliver. Those days are, for now, in the past.
But I've missed crafting. Missed creating. I've missed the color and cardstock and ink and images and frou-frou that all combines to make something that makes someone smile.
So I think I'll just focus on that - making pretty things to make you smile.
I want to focus on what I CAN do, not what I can't.
Deal?

Today's little thank you card is one of the SU! Whisper White Note Cards w/envelopes. I was playing around with the new Stampin' Blends alcohol markers - just practicing since I'm SO not a color-er. It turned out pretty cute.

And it made me smile.

Wonderland Christmas in White and Gold

So, yesterday we FINALLY got to share the New Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog with everyone - 

those of us who are demonstrators with SU! have been literally drooling over the selection of products available since our Convention in mid-July. 

We've also been pretty much buying everything between the catalog covers, so we're eating a lot of Ramen these days. Just so we can play with all the new crafty toys and create ourselves silly. 

Kind of like being in college again, which is appropriate since it's 'back-to-school' time for all of us. :)

I can hear the grocery store clerks now, "Here come those poor Stampin' Up! demonstrators again, carts full of Ramen Noodles. Must be new Catalog time...." Hehehe...

Now it's your turn. :) 

Seriously...

Someone please tell me how you can resist this:

White and Gold and Vellum and clean simplicity - 

Stunning! 

This is the Wonderland stamp set and I honestly could. not. stop. creating with it. 

Here. See for yourself how awesome these images are: 

Ya'll....those trees....

and the font for the words. 

So. much. love.

Boom.

Anyway, today I thought I'd share one of the several cards I created with this set. Actually, I made this card 3 ways, using different gold for the mat layer. 

Here's two of them: 

The card on the left uses the Gold Glimmer Paper for the mat. The one on the right uses the Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum. 

Here's a close up of that one: 

I created the third version using the Gold Foil Sheets, but I forgot to take a picture of it before I mailed it off for the card swap I was in.  :(

Sorry 'bout that. 

All the cards are the same design. I used Whisper White card stock for the base and stamped layers, Vellum card stock for the accent piece and the New Gold Cording and Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder from the Holiday Catalog. The shapes are cut with my Big Shot and the Lots of Labels Framelits. 

We're gonna be making this card at my Christmas in September Stamp-a-Stack 

on Sept. 28th here in the studio. 

But I know a lot of you can't come to a class here, so I'm gonna offer a Class-to-Go option too. 

There will be three different cards to choose from - you'll get supplies to make 10 total from the 3 designs. Details coming soon, so stay tuned! 

In the meantime, here's a supply list of what I used to create today's cards: 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

All you need to do to purchase from my supply list is click on any of the above thumbnail photos of the products. You'll go straight into my Online Store and be able to fill your cart and check out from there! 

In the meantime, I need to run to the store. 

We ran out of Ramen last night. ;)

Stampin' Up! demos are going hungry today. Tragic.
But at least they still have stamps, ink and their Big Shots. 

Project Life by SU for You Blog Tour - #PLxSU4U

Happy Last Day of August!
Welcome to month #2 of the Oh Snap! Project Life Blog Tour. (#PLxSU4U)

I've teamed up with my 2010 Advisory Board Sisters to bring you all a once a month Blog Hop that highlights all the different creative ideas we have for using Project Life.
Because it's so versatile, you can use it not only for memory keeping, but cards, traditional scrapbooking and your other paper crafting projects.
Look for this logo on the last day of each month and you'll know you've got great creative ideas at your fingertips!

You may have just come from my talented friend Jodi Reinert's blog. I'm sure she had something cute and cool to share with you. If you didn't see her project, you can click back by clicking on the icon below:

So, I told you guys last month that this would be my #yearoflivingawesomely (year of living AWESOMELY).
Because of the crazy busy schedule we've been keeping in our home this year, I knew I'd never be able to document it by scrapbooking the traditional way, so I chose Project Life to help me get it done.
Here is the next page in my 12 x 12 Project Life Album:

One of the things I love is the portability of Project Life.
The month of August flew by for us and I had to take my supplies on vacation with me to complete this page for our blog hop. Ya know what? It was SO easy!
The beauty of this system is that you don't need a ton of supplies to document the important moments in your life.
This next page in my #yearoflivingawesomely book is all about our family Road Trips for my daughter's ice skating team, the National Blades. Kind of ironic that I was on another family road trip when I created it, huh? :)

The photo above is simply showing photos and Project Life cards inserted into the 12 x 12 pocket page. The only embellishments I added were the star and heart stickers that are included in the Accessory Pack. I used the Project Life Journaling Pens to write my commentary - love how precise they are.

This next picture shows the only thing I did uniquely on this layout:

I used one of the clear/colored embellishment punch outs and one of the wood arrows on the outside of my layout to highlight my travel coffee cup in the photo. So easy to add with some Glue Dots.

Even with a memory keeping system as simple as Project Life, you can think outside the "page" and be as creative as you wish. Love that!

Your next stop on the tour is my good friend Stella MacKay's blog. I think she has a little something different and cool to show you today - don't miss it!

Here's the info on some of the products I've used on today's project:

You can place your order in my Online Store for all of these and more Project Life Assortments - including a smaller, 6 x 8 album if you don't want to go for the gusto with a 12 x 12. 

Click this icon to visit my online store today:

Thanks so much for stopping by our Blog Hop today - I hope you've been inspired to do some memory keeping of your own.
Let me know how I can help you!


Happy Creating!
~~Robin