Artisan Post #23 - Umbrella Days

Well, this is my 23rd Artisan post for 2024. It is also my final Artisan post. My role as a Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team member ends with the 2024 year. It's bittersweet to be finished with all of my assignments yet it feels great to have accomplished a year of opportunities to create with tons of amazing products, to make lifelong friendships with demonstrators from around the world, and to have been entrusted to lead the Group with the wonderful Mikaela Titheridge.

Now, my last assignment was the new Umbrella Days Bundle which is available as an Online Exclusive. This is one of those bundles that is what I call a "sleeper." What do I mean by that? Well, I would not have bought this set or even given it a close look and here's the stupid part, I don't even know why I wouldn't. This is one of those stamp sets that once you get working with it you see the awesomeness--the power of the images and how they pair with the dies.

Now, for this last assignment I decided to challenge myself and use this printed card base. The colors and pattern is bold and kind of crazy. I just really saw how the small flowers matched with the small flower dies. And here's the crazy thing. I didn't use the little flowers in this card! I did use Stampin' Blends and Wink of Stella to add soft colors to match the open line images.

Okay, so this luggage style tag was inspired by the Simple_Stamper, the lovely Verena Shapiro. She calls this look a fringe-style background. I used the grass die to cut lots of "fringe" from the Unbounded Beauty DSP and then framed it with a Basic White Everyday Details die cut. A couple details to point out include the ombre baker's twine and the handle of the umbrella. To make the ombre twine I used Peach Pie, Pretty in Pink, and Petunia Pop Stampin' Blends to color white twine from the Baker4;s Twine Essentials Pack. For the handle I added a coat of Fine Tip Glue to give the illusion of it being acrylic.

I had some fun with this last card. I used a Paper Piecing technique and some masking. Masking? Yes, it's subtle. I masked the area under the umbrella to make it look as though the umbrella was doing it's job. My favorite addition to this card are the flower rain drops.

Well, that's a wrap for my role in the 2024 ADT. There is lots more paper crafting to come so stay tuned for more stampin' from me in 2025.

#TGIF504 Christmas Cookies

#TGIF504 is all about Christmas Cookies.

Artisan Post #22 - Tuesday Tip

For my last Tuesday Tip I decided to feature my MOST used product and that is Wink of Stella!! I say "she is always invited to the party!" So, now here are my tips for creating shimmering paint effects with Wink of Stella.

Squeeze a drop or two of any color ink refill and a couple drops of Wink of Stella on a Clear Block. Use a Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush to mix the drops of ink refill and Wink of Stella then paint as desired. Clean brush immediately.

Create your own splattered paper. Select two or three ink refill colors and squeeze a couple drops each color on separate Clear Blocks. Add Wink of Stella drops to each block and mix with the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush. Splatter a piece of cardstock with each of the mixed colors. When cardstock is dry stamp as desired.

Make your own gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush. Remove the brush tip and then carefully pry the central barrel out of the brush bottom. Add six to eight drops of Wild Wheat Ink Refill to the brush bottom. Return the central barrel, screw the brush tip back on, shake to mix the ink, then squeeze the sides to prime the brush. Splatter specks of shimmering gold over your card as desired.

And here is a card that incorporates all the Wink of Stella effects. I used the Umbrella Days Bundle which is an Online Exclusive that came out this November.

#TGIF503 Reindeer Fun

Check out this cute sketch challenge from #TGIF503. I used several of the sweet die cuts from the Reindeer Fun Bundle to mimic the sketch.

Everything for the card comes from the Reindeer Days Suite Collection: the stamps, dies, twine, embellishments, and embossing folder. Even the colors palette is inspired by the Reindeer Days 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper.

Before I adhered the deer layers I used Petal Pink Stampin' Blends to color the inside of the deer's ears. It's such a simple addition that lends to the sweetness of the cute deer.

A Paper Pumpkin Thing: Filled with Joy

Merry Christmas and welcome to A Paper Pumpkin Thing blog hop! This month we are showcasing alternative projects made with the Filled with Joy Kit from November.

I created this card on a Thick Basic White base and then had some fun making a stamped with striped background to set the stage for a trio of ornaments.

Each ornament is stamped with images from the Filled with Joy stamp set which came in the Kit. I used Pretty in Pink ink instead of the Poppy Parade spot. I like the softness it lends to the spunkiness of the rest of the card elements. Two of the ornaments are embellished with Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels and the third displays the "merry" die cut. I used the Merry Tags and More to die cut the greeting from 2024-2026 In Color Glimmer Paper.

To finish it all up I used Gold Twisted Thread to hang the ornaments and then added Real Red and White Peppermints for an extra punch of seasonal decor. And last, it wouldn't be me if I didn't splatter Wink of Stella all over. I just love shine and sparkle; not just for the holidays but all days!

Thank you for taking a peek at one of my Up!STYLED Paper Pumpkin projects featuring the Filled with Joy Kit and the Merry Tags and More Dies. Keep hopping along to get a look at what the rest of the A Paper Pumpkin Thing Team has been whipping up.

Creation Station Shares Christmas Traditions

Merry Christmas! As the song says "it's the most wonderful time of the year!" And, it's time to paper craft for the season. So, the Creation Station Design Team members are sharing their Christmas Traditions through hand crafted goodies. One of my traditions is to make lots of tags ranging from simple to over the top. Today, I am sharing my fancy tags that I made using the Christmas Ornaments Kit from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by today. Next up in our hop is Yvonne over at The Creative Tea Cup. Let's go see what Christmas tradition she has to share with us.

Artisan Secret Santa Exchange

The 2024 Artisan Design Team is feeling the spirit of the season. Today we are hopping over on Instagram, but this isn't an ordinary hop. This is a special Secret Santa Gift Exchange Hop! Earlier we drew names and then got busy hand stamping a project just for the name of the person we drew. The projects in the Insta' hop are all gifts to one another.

Merry Christmas Verena Shapiro! I was SUPER excited to have drawn Verena's name for our Artisan's Secret Santa Exchange. She has an impeccable stampin' style which she calls "simple and not so simple." I cased a card of Verena's, shown below, and added several touches inspired by other card designs I found of hers. 

First, I included Verena's fringe-style background, next her use of Basic White and hues of blue, and lastly I included a technique I saw in another one of her cards which was to stamp and then dry emboss. 

While I cased her card I included a bit of my stampin' style too. There are lots of colorful Bubble Bath and Balmy Blue micro splatters, and I couldn't resist using a bit of Wink of Stella. I say Wink is always invited to the party, she gives any card it's finishing sparkle.

Here's a look at the inside of the card. You may be wondering why I added a white layer to the inside of a white card. I did that to give the back side of the card both physical and visual weight to counterbalance with the front.

I mentioned that the Artisans are hopping over on Instagram. There are several of us who are also sharing our Exchange on our blogs. Below are links to those who are blogging. To see all the gifts head over to Instagram.

Narelle -  https://www.narellefarrugia.net/?p=10973

Su - https://aromasandart.com/artisans-secret-santa-exchange

Maheswari - https://mystampgarden.com/2024/11/2024-artisian-blog-hop-secret-santa.html

Teri - https://alaskastamper.com/artisans-secret-santa-exchange

Yvonne - https://thecreativeteacup.blogspot.com/2024/11/artisan-designteam-2024-secret-santa-hop.html

Monique - https://www.moniquedekok.com/2024/11/cake-celebrations-artisan-designteam.html

Mikaela - https://thecraftyoinkpen.co.uk/2024/11/artisan-design-team-secret-santa-exchange.html

Ashley - https://designwithink.blogspot.com/2024/11/secret-santa-casing-with-2024-stampin.html

Jacque - https://stamphappy.co.nz/hearts-of-elegance-masculine-valentines-or-anniversary-card

#TGIF501 Let It Snow

#TGIF501 is an inspiration challenge. I created a winter scene with help from the A Little Bit Festive Specialty Designer Series Paper and the Joyful Sayings Ephemera.