Stamping Techniques 101 Blog Hop - Stampin' Blends

Hello and welcome! 

I'm happy to share the news that I've been invited to join a fun blog hop comprised of some stellar Stampin' Up! demonstrators from across the globe. The first Wednesday of each month, we'll be bringing you creative ideas that focus on simple, basic techniques; how-to's and design basics. 

Creativity is for everyone - no matter how seasoned a crafter you may be! 

If you are taking the January 2018 hop in order, you will have arrived here from the talented Pam Jorgensen's blog. 

This month, we are focusing on the use of the Stampin' Blends alcohol markers. These markers are really wonderful coloring tools. They make it easy to achieve realistic looking images with rich depth of color

Here's my card project for this month:

You should know first of all that coloring is NOT my specialty! 

I've always said I am a lazy stamper, and I've always gotten frustrated when it came to coloring - lets just say I didn't think too highly of coloring books when I was growing up. :)

BUT...I've had a blast playing and coloring with the new Stampin' Blends! Being able to add layers of color without making a big, blotchy mess is awesome and the Blends make it super easy. 

For this card project, I stamped the image using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, the recommended ink for use with the Stampin' Blends. 

Tip #1 - allow to dry completely before coloring in the image to help prevent bleeding OR do what I did and heat set the ink using your Heat Tool. (I'm lazy AND impatient! Ha!)

Then, I just chose my colors and began to color in the images! 

For the little piggies on the background piece, I colored their bodies with the Ivory Skin Tone blend, mainly because I couldn't find my Crumb Cake ones - grrr....

I deliberately added more color on their bellies and in a few splotches on their bodies -they are pigs after all. Ears and noses and tails and hooves were colored in with the light Pink Pirouette marker.

Tip #2 - I learned pretty quickly to NOT color all the way up to the inside edge of the image. If you do, you risk the ink color spreading beyond the edge. If you look really closely at my card, you can see evidence of that, but it wasn't awful and I was like "It's handmade, might as well look like it!"

For the wings, I colored even further back from the edge, but this was to leave more of the white showing on purpose. I did add some Clear Wink of Stella to the wings for some shimmer, but it's hard to photograph well - it's there though, promise!

The focal piggy is colored in entirely with the Light Pink Pirouette blend adding more color where you see darker patches. 

Honestly friends, I'm never gonna be a master watercolorer, but the Stampin' Blends helped me create a sweet card with some pretty realistic colored images - and if I can do it, anyone can!

Plus, it made me smile, which is the most important thing anyway, right? :)

One more thing:

Tip #3 - I cut my stamp apart into two images, separating the greeting from the piggy image. That made it easier for me to stamp the piggy randomly. Don't be afraid to customize your stamp images - they're yours! Make them work for YOU!

Well, you made it this far - thanks! 

Next up is the lovely and talented Tamra Davis - click on the 'next blog' picture below to visit her blog. 

Here's the entire line up for the Blog Hop:

Stamping Techniques 101 – January Blog Hop – Stampin Blends 

• Amanda Fowler
• Ann Craig
• Carmen Sahadat-Morris
• Delys Cram
• Heike Vass
• Leonie Schroder
• Libby Dyson
• Pam Jorgensen
• Robin Merriman
• Tamra Davis

Here are a few of the supplies I used to create this card - 

This Little Piggy - 143922

Thick Whisper White Cardstock - 140272

Pink Pirouette Light Stampin' Blend - 144593

Ivory Stampin' Blend - 144606

Smoky Slate Light Stampin' Blend - 145054

Cookie Cutter Builder Punch - 140396 (used for the iridescent glimmer paper embellishments!)

Bunch of Banners Framelits - 141488

Layering Circles Framelits - 141705

You can shop online 24/7 in my Online Store - just click the icon below!

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.

Soft and Sweet Floral Thank You

Last week, many of my stampin' friends gathered in locations all over the globe for the Stampin' Up! On Stage events. 

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend this time - just way too much going on here with family - BUT, my swaps made the journey and were traded out for some gorgeous cards! 

Two of our awesome Advisory Board Alumni planned a group dinner and card swap and I was so happy to be able to participate long distance. 

The theme for our swap was Thank You cards - which we all need. 

I'll be sharing some of the lovely cards I received in return here on the blog, so stay tuned! 

Here's a supply list for my card so you can recreate it at home: 

There aren't any tips or tricks to this one - it's just basic layering - I know you can do it! 

Good to see you back here today - have you been stamping this week? 

I sure hope so - you NEED your creating time! 

Clean and Simple Circles Card

Last month, I needed to create a bunch of cards for some special people so I went the clean and simple route with a touch of glam: 

The green palette was inspired by the month (March), the holiday (St. Patrick's Day), and a photo of multiple greens I saw online. 

Lots of great inspiration I'd say.... 

Once again - a pretty straightforward card - 2 punches, one greeting, card stock scraps - easy-peasy! 

The one trick you need to know is to adhere your center circles down first. 

When you place the others, they will hang over the edge a bit, just take your Paper Snips and trim to the edge of the card sides. 

So, here's a supply list for you:

The best part of this card is that you can take the simple design and re-create it in any color combo, with any greeting for ANY occasion. 

Ya gotta love multi-tasking... :)

So glad you stopped by today - now, go create something fun! 

Sweet Circles Hello Card

I have to say it - 

this card makes my heart SO happy!!

It's fun and sparkly and floral and layered and embellished and just super girly

and I LOVE it! 

There is a Whole LOT going on with this card, but honestly, 

it was super simple to create. 

Assemble it in 'layers' - it's like building blocks:

a) card base; b) solid circles; c) embossed strip; d) circle rings; e) stamped circle; f) buttons; g) greeting. 

The Circles Framelits made it easy to cut the 'rings' - here's how I did it: 

1) You need 2 Circle Framelits that are only one size difference from the other. (If you're counting from the middle of the framelit set - I used the 3rd, 4th and 5th for the two 'rings' on this card.)

2) For my Blushing Bride circles, I used the two smaller framelits (3 and 4). I placed both framelits on the paper and ran them through the Big Shot. This created the solid inner circle and the 'ring'. 

(This photo example is on different designer paper.)

I simply repeated this, using the two larger framelits (4 and 5) for the larger 'ring' and solid circle. 

You can create a similar look with Circle punches too. 

3) The Pink Pirouette card stock strip was embossed with the Lovely Lace embossing folder and is popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals as is the stamped floral circle. 

4) The two paper 'rings' and the hello greeting were adhered with the Fine Tip Glue Pen and I used Glue Dots to adhere the buttons. 

5) The twine in the smaller Vintage Faceted Button is a strand from a length of the White Jute Ribbon, pulled out and tied through the button. 

As a final touch, I painted the flower with the Clear Wink of Stella - such a lovely touch. 

Here's a complete supply list for you: 

Don't ever look at a card and say "I can't do that!" 

Because you can! 

Most of the time, a fancy, layered card just needs to be broken down and built - think of it as legos for paper crafters. :)

Thanks for stopping by today - don't forget, the Lost Lagoon card stock is on it's way out - hopefully it's not sold out already....If you love it, you might want to shop for some before it's gone, gone, gone. 

Click on any of the product photos above to visit my Online Store and shop today! 

www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

You're My Anchor Encouragement Card

I don't know about you all, but I sometimes struggle with "Guy" cards. 

True story. 

It's not that I don't like creating them, but for this gal who loves all things girly, it's just hard to get in that man-style creative groove. Can you relate? 

I can tell you what helps tho' - having a stamp set to work with that has strong images and (bonus!) great co-ordinating graphics. 

Guy Greetings to the rescue: 

This card is pretty straightforward - 3 colors, simple stamping and layering, minimal embellishments. 

Keeping it clean and simple is sometimes the best way to go for "Guy" cards.

Yeahhh.....not a whole lot of guys can appreciate a sweet lace ribbon or vintage button....

So, here's a supply list for you AND because I'm good like this - a FREE, printable tutorial. 

To order any of the supplies listed, simply click on one of the product photos and you'll be taken right into my Online Store to shop! 

(The Washi Label Punch is Sold Out and is retiring, but the greeting is easily hand-cut or you can use the Bitty Banners Framelits)

Click the link below for the FREE, Printable Tutorial:

You're My Anchor Encouragement Card

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you get sometime to get crafty with your stamps and ink today!

Repurposing Paper Pumpkin Boxes

This past weekend, I spent some time with my daughter creating a couple of boxes to hold cards that she can keep in her dorm room this Fall. 

Well, I shared this photo on my Instagram account:

and it received such a great response, I shared the idea on a Paper Pumpkin Facebook Group I belong to. It received such a huge response there, that I decided to make another one - in MY style - and share it with YOU along with a quick tutorial. 

Sound good? 

Cool! Let's get started! 

Here's my finished box:

I just LOVE how it turned out! The bicycles on this Designer Paper just make me smile! 

How to create the decorated box:

(I'll put a supply list at the bottom of this post for you.) 

1) Turn your Paper Pumpkin Box inside out so the 'kraft' side is showing. Remove labels and tape if you wish. (I took the tape off of mine, but left the label on the lid because it gets covered.)

2) Choose your Designer Series Paper (I used Schoolhouse for this box) and cut according to this photo:

3) Adhere Designer Paper to Top and Sides of box. I used Fast Fuse to adhere mine, but Multi-Purpose Glue would work well too. 

4) Decorate as desired. I used the Sheltering Tree stamp set for my stamped images.

(**directions below)

**Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock and a piece of Designer Paper at 2" x 5 1/2". Punch into a tag with the Ornate Tag Punch. Adhere together with Fast Fuse as shown. 

**The greeting was done with a Stampin' Write Marker. I markered the part I wanted to stamp first, stamped, cleaned, then markered the second part, stamped. It's EASY to re-size a greeting that way!

**The tree was stamped on a piece of Whisper White card stock then trimmed out with Paper Snips. I used Garden Green ink and stamped the image three times - moving the image slightly between impressions.

Both the tree and bicycle were adhered to the two tags with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

**Cut a 8" length of White Jute Ribbon and cut down one side, exposing the threads. Pull out 5 or 6 long strings and bunch together, threading the two tags as shown. 

**Cut a 22" length of Tangelo Twist Striped Cotton Ribbon and adhered it in a 'z' fashion to the back of the tags. All of this was adhered to the top of the card box.

5) Decorate the inside lid as shown for envelopes and stamps:

**Cut a piece of Designer Paper at 6" x 9". Cover the inside of the lid. 

**Cut a piece of Designer Paper at 1 1/2" and 9". Cover the top flap.

**The Designer Paper that holds the envelopes should be cut at 4 1/2" x 6". Score across the 6" side at 1/4", 1/2", 5 1/2", 5 3/4". 

Fold on score lines and adhere to the inside of the lid.

**The Designer Paper that holds the stamps should be 3 1/4" x 4". Adhere to the lid as shown.

All that's left is to fill with cards, envelopes, stamps and a pen! 

Here's another look:

And here's your supply list:

As always, you can place your order for any of these products by clicking on the product photo. You'll go directly to my Online Store where you can shop 24/7!

www.trinitydesignstudio.stampinup.net

I hope this tutorial was fun and helpful for you - have fun repurposing your own Paper Pumpkin Boxes!