The "Ber" Months are Just Days Away!

Bring on fall!  I am happy that the "ber" months are a couple days away.  I totally enjoy the colors, smells (pumpkin spice) and food of the fall season best.  I like that it's not quite as hot and you can wear cozy sweaters but you don't need a big coat.

To usher in the season I stamped a card using the Fond of Autumn Bundle.  If you haven't seen the dies for this bundle go and check them out.  They are brilliantly designed to die cut the gorgeous imagery as a large single image or you can use a different die to cut the large image into four separate pieces.  When I first saw it my mind was blown away!

My top fold card base is Cajun Craze.  I added a second layer of Cajun Craze which was inked up with a Blending Brush in an ombre from bottom to top with Cajun Craze Ink.  I splattered the ombre with water and then die cut the background with one of the dies from the bundle.

All the images were stamped with Early Espresso and then colored with Stampin' Blends.  The tiny bit of DSP backing the Deckled Rectangle greeting is a piece from the Rustic Harvest pack.  I splattered the entire card front with Wink of Stella and added more Wink to the flowers on the inside of the card.

You know what to do now.  Either click "next" or "back" you decide.  Have fund and keep on stampin'.

to Julie

to Dani

There is an opportunity for you to earn TWO FREE class kits. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use September's host code you will get a FREE #useitup! class kit and a FREE Technique Time! class kit sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. September's host code is 63S43FRA.

#TGIF383 No White Cardstock?

Now this is a challenge and a half!  For #TGIF383 you are not allowed to include Basic White Cardstock! That can be tricky or possibly really simple.  I would say that white paper is used lots and lots, but every now and again it's fun to step away and use other colors in a primary role.

My super fast to make card features a bold printed paper from the Rustic Harvest Designer Series Paper pack.  To that I added a die cut greeting from the Fond of Autumn Bundle and a shoestring bow of gold cord.  And there you have a card with no white cardstock.  Or, is there?  Yes, white the focal layer doesn't include any white cardstock, the DSP is glued to a card base of Thick Basic White.

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.

Stampin' Fancy Friday Super Sketch

This month we had a sketch to follow for our challenge at Stampin' Fancy Friday.  In my mind I could totally visualize how this sketch would come to life using the Trees for Sale Stamp Set and coordinating Trees Lot Dies.

Here is the sketch I am referring to.  It was drawn out by the fabulous Jenn Frost.

Along with the stamps and dies I used a piece of the Sweetest Christmas 12" x 12" DSP.  I pulled cardstock and ink to match the paper, Garden Green, Real Red, and Pool Party.  Along with that I used some Silver Foil for the camper and Evening Evergreen Glimmer Paper for the wreath and Real Red Glimmer Paper for the bow on the wreath.

To make this card extra special I stuck three Red Rhinestones on the camper to give the illusion of brake lights and reflectors.  For the aqua colored gems I used a Pool Party Stampin' Blend to color Basic Rhinestones.  Take a super close look and you'll see some twisted silver thread.  I grabbed those pieces from the Silver Threaded Twine.

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.

Casing the Crafty Carrot

For our color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments I decided to case a card and technique shared at the Crafty Carrot Collective.  Cindy Schuster posted a great video where she tore a variety of cardstock, arranged them in a rainbow fashion, and then cut the arrayed papers with a circle die.  As I watched I knew I wanted to try this cool idea, so I did.

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.

Full of Love Stamp Set

Have you taken a close look at the Full of Love Stamp Set in the Annual Stampin' Up! Catalog?  I did and then I bought it!  I made this card I paired the stamps with the Tea Boutique 6"x6" DSP.  I find the coordination of the envelopes stuffed with a bouquets of flowers on the paper and on the stamp totally awesome.

I included three techniques on the main image.  The first one you can tell is that I did some white heat embossing.  To color the envelope I did some paper piecing.  I used a scrap of Orchid Oasis DSP.  And for the flowers and leaves I painted with Whisper White Ink and painted over that with Sweet Sorbet and Granny Apple Green.

I cut the circle and banner layers with the Stylish Shapes Dies.  I love how the dies cut the shapes and pierce all the border dots.  To me the finished look is awesome.

Be sure to hop along to each of our blogs.  Use the links below to work your way through.  Enjoy!

to Cheryl

to Emily

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.

#TGIF381 Sending Love Your Way

For #TGIF381 we have another sketch challenge.  I used the Full of Love Stamp Set and the Tea Boutique 6" x 6" DSP to meet the challenge.

I started with a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of Crushed Curry Cardstock.  Along the long edge I scored at 3 1/4" and 8 3/4" to create a horizontal gate fold.  My next layer is a piece of Basic White dry embossed with the Gingham Folder.  

To mimic the circle layer in the sketch I placed a large focal stamped image.  I stamped with Gray Granite Ink and colored with Stampin' Blends.  I love the pop of bright red that I included for the greeting.  I blended Sweet Sorbet onto a small rectangle of Sweet Sorbet cardstock to intensify and brighten the color.

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.

Hello There it's Sketch Challenge Time

For this latest sketch challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments I opened and inked up the Full of Love Stamp Set.  It's a classic red rubber cling mount style set that includes sweet images and greetings.

You can see I went with a bunch of power colors to create a super bold palette for this "hello there" greeting card.  My colors were inspired by the Tea Boutique 6" x 6" DSP which I featured for this challenge.  I used four prints from the pack of DSP.  Can you find all four? ...

Here's where I used the Tea Boutique DSP:

1. The vertical strips on the Starry Sky Gingham dry embossed layer.

2.  The Sweet Sorbet piece for the heat embossed "hello there" greeting.

3.  The flowers were die cut from a piece of Crushed Curry and White DSP.  I colored all the white stripes with Mango Melody Stampin' Blends before die cutting.

4.  The leaf was cut from a piece of striped Parakeet Party DSP.  I colored that piece first with Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends to even up the green tones.

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.

Creation Station is Embossing

Being that it's the first Sunday of the month it's time to have a Creation Station Blog Hop.  This month we are having some fun exploring embossing.  It could be any type of embossing we wanted, so I opted for some basic embossing techniques.

Embossing technique #1 - heat embossing.  I stamped images from the Splendid Thoughts Stamp Set with Versamark Ink on Sahara Sand Cardstock.  Next I sprinkled White Embossing Powder all over and then melted and heat set the powder with a Heat Tool.

What's super pretty is that I painted the embossed images.  First with a coat of Whisper White Ink and when it was dry I watercolored one with Fresh Freesia and the other with Pool Party.

 Embossing technique #2 - emboss resist.  For this technique you start with heat embossing which I did on Watercolor Paper with Versamark and White Embossing Powder.  Next you add ink or paint and cover the entire image.  Once the ink/paint is dry you buff the image to fully reveal the embossed areas.

I watercolored with Soft Seafoam and Pool Party Ink Refills.  Once they were partially dry I splattered them with more Pool Party.

I love how the Stylish Shapes Dies compliment the Splendid Dies.  All the mini pierced holes look great.

Embossing technique #3 - dry embossing.  This is my most tried and true favorite embossing technique.  I love how it adds both visual and actual depth and texture.  It always looks intricate but is so quick and easy to accomplish.  

For this card I used the Hive 3D Folder.  To me it made perfect sense to tie it to the petite bee.

One last thing I'll mention is to take a look at the tied bow.  That is Linen Thread that I colored with a Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blend.

Coming up next is the awesome Julie Beltramo.  She's one of my Stampin' Besties and she always creates clean and classic, lovely and layered, inspirational projects.  Be sure to leave her some love.

Are you interested in earning a FREE class kit. When you purchase $75 before tax and shipping and use August's host code you will get a #useitup! class kit for September sent to you. Also, here is the really awesome part of this deal, you can be a part of my Seeinginkspots Backstage Pass, my private Facebook Group where my classes are posted. August's host code is F4KNXYJ6.