Sweet Stuff and New Blendabilities Markers

You may have noticed some new markers in the Annual Catalog.  Unfortunately, they won't be available for a few more weeks (be patient, it's worth it!)  These markers are alcohol markers, which means they work a little differently than our regular water-based markers.  Both are great and have different uses, so don't think that these are replacing the markers you know and love!

The Blendabilities are true to their name in that they blend wonderfully!  Each color comes in a set of three shades, and when used together, they create smooth, blended shading.  I'm not sure the Daffodil Delight shows up that well on the screen, but you can see it with the Rich Razzleberry on the ice cream cone.  I made these little 3x3 cards to give to my kiddos, and I know they will love them!

I'll be sharing more about Blendabilities in the coming weeks, but if you'd like to see them in person, contact me and you can come and play!

Supplies

Stamps:  Sweet Stuff
Ink:  Memento Black Ink Pad, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, and Skin Tone Blendabilities
Paper:  Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  assorted ribbon, Dazzling Details

Stampin' Up! Nuts About You

When I saw the new catalog, I absolutely fell in love with this adorable hostess set, Nuts About You.  It's so cute, and I can think of so many people that I'll make cards for with this set.  The tree is kind of funky and super-cute, as you can see in the picture.  This card shows a little 'possum hanging from one of the branches.  It's the only 'possum I've ever seen that's actually cute!

Tips & Tricks

• Get our your paper snips, because this set doesn't have matching Framelits.  You'll need to do some fussy cutting if you want the tree to be cut out like this one.  With so many Framelits to choose from these days, it's easy to forget how we used to have to cut out everything! 

• I stamped the tree on Naturals White card stock, and as you can see, it gives kind of a mottled look.  This is partly due to the fact that I used markers to color directly onto the rubber, and that tends to add to this look.  But it's also part to how porous this particular card stock is.  If you'd like a smoother, crisper image, stamp on Whisper White card stock.  I'll put an example of that up later on this week.

• I popped the tree up using Stampin' Dimensionals...it makes it easier to hang the 'possum by his tail! 

Supplies

Stamps:  Nuts About You, Woodgrain (retired)
Ink:  Garden Green and Soft Suede Stampin' Around Markers, Early Espresso and Soft Suede ink pads
Paper:  Soft Suede and Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

Another Endless Birthday Wishes Card

Today my oldest daughter turns twelve.  Every year when birthdays roll around, I have a hard time believing my children are as old as they are.  I remember thinking this when she turned four, and now she's twelve.  I am confident this is a universal problem for parents everywhere, as my dad tells me he has a hard time believing that his oldest (that's me) is in her forties!  Anyway, today we celebrate our sweet girl, who has a heart of gold and that's as big as an ocean.  She's just an amazing kid and I hope it's the happiest of birthdays for her.  (And please don't remind me that on her next birthday she'll be a teenager!) 

I needed a purple card for my purple girl, and I thought she'd appreciate one that's a little different.  I made a simple shadow box card for her, and the only embellishment is the Strawberry Slush ribbon and the Dazzling Details I dabbed on top of the candles.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show up well in the picture, but it gives just a bit of sparkle.  I also cut out the cake and greeting with my Ovals Framelits, then mounted them in the center with Stampin' Dimensionals.  It's a little different, and adds some extra dimension to this card.  For directions on how to make a shadow box card, check out this one...I even used the same color scheme!

Supplies

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink:  StazOn Jet Black, Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Slate, and Strawberry Slush
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Naturals White, and Strawberry Slush card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Framelits, Strawberry Slush Stretch Ruffle Trim (I love this...why did they retire it?!?),  Dazzling Details, Stampin' Score scoring tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

Endless Birthday Wishes Banner Card

We're in full-on birthday mode at our house, so I thought I'd share yet another birthday card.  This one uses some brand new Designer Series Paper and makes great use of my Stampin' Write markers.

Tips & Tricks

• To get the lowest banner to be that lovely Lost Lagoon color, I used my markers to just color the white ribbon.  It takes the ink so well, and I ended up with a piece of custom ribbon!  The ribbon adds a more interesting touch than just another piece of card stock would have, and as I've said a million times, I'm all about lots of texture on a card!

• I also used my markers to color in the cake from the Endless Wishes Photopolymer stamp set.  I don't often use this technique, but I actually like it here. It adds a fun pop of color to this line art image.  I'm excited to try out Stampin' Up!'s new line of alcohol markers, Blendabilities.  While they are in the catalog, they aren't available quite yet.  But sit tight...it will only be a short wait of a few weeks.  This set lends itself perfectly to the Blendabilities, so I can't wait to get my hands on some to try out.

Supplies

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink:  Basic Gray, Smokey Slate, Hello Honey, and Lost Lagoon
Paper:  Basic Gray, Smokey Slate, Hello Honey, and Whisper White card stock, Moonlight DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Decorative Frames and Decorative Dots embossing folders, Large Oval Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Paper Snips, 5/8" Whisper White Satin ribbon, buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Tulip Frames Thinking of You Card

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to make some cards with a lovely group of girls.  This is one of the cards we made, and while it uses pretty much all retired products, those are easily substituted with any item in your stash. 

Tips & Tricks

• Unfortunately, the Tulip Frames embossing folder is retired, but if you are lucky enough to own it, it makes a great frame for this card.  I added a little bit of distressing to it by lightly sponging some soft suede ink over the embossed parts.  

• When I want a mat behind the decorative label punch piece, I simply use the same punch with another color card stock, then cut it down the middle (the long way) and adhere to the top and bottom of the piece.  It's not a full mat, but it's something, and it does add interest.  You may want to snip off the pointy parts on either end, in case they looks weird to you.  It's all in the eye of the beholder...those little points drive some people nuts, and others don't mind it at all.  Isn't it great that we're all different? :)

Supplies

Stamps:  Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Soft Suede, Old Olive
Paper:  Naturals White and Riding Hood Red (retired) card stock, Everyday Enchantment DSP (retired)
Accessories:   Big Shot, Tulip Frame embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Old Olive taffeta ribbon, sponge
 

Today's the Day!

The 2014-2015 Annual Catalog comes out today!  If you'd like to place an order, or get your own copy of the catalog, let me know!  If you'd like to take a look but don't have a catalog yet, just click on the catalog image to the right.