Endless Wishes Happy Hour

Here's a card appropriate to share on "Thirsty Thursday". It's made using Happy Hour and the Endless Wishes Photopolymer set...which is super cute, and unfortunately officially sold out. All the photopolymer sets are only available for a limited time, and in this case it was so popular it sold out in record time.

The set came with three snowflake images and a large variety of phrases that can be mixed and matched. I used my largest Clear Mount Block F and arranged the snowflakes to create my own background stamp. It was easy to then stamp the Soft Sky layer with VersaMark and then emboss with White EP. The hardest part about this card was deciding which greeting to choose, so I did a variety...

It's hard to tell from the photo, but I used Crystal Effects on each glass to make it shiny.

Don't have any red rhinestones? Easy...color the clear ones with a sharpie marker like I did here. I used the Deco Labels Framelits to cut the Real Red mat for the image...and they're on SALE for 25% off right now during Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Sale!

Thanks for popping in today...wishing you good cheer!
Supply List:

• Happy Hour
• Endless Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set
• Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Real Red 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
• Versamark Pad
• White Stampin' Emboss Powder
• Heat Tool
• Deco Labels Collection Framelits Dies
• 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch
• Silver 1/8" Ribbon
• Crystal Effects
• Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents
• Clear Block F

Enchanted Butterfly Post it Notes

This project was inspired by Angie at Chic 'n Scratch. After seeing her idea on Pinterest, I couldn't wait to make some of these cute post it holders using the Two Tags Die .

They are perfect size to keep in your purse or handy in the car. I decorated them with DSP from the Everyday Enchantment pack (as you can see, I just cannot stop using these pretty prints!) and the Beautiful Wings Sizzlet.

I made grommets using  1/4" & 1/8" Circle Punches and then covered them with Crystal Effects to make them look like they have a shiny, epoxy finish. The easiest way to do this is to first glue the grommet in place, then cover with Crystal Effects being careful not to go off the edge. You will need to set these aside for at least an hour to dry before adding the ribbon.

Have a great day!

Just a Sliver

I finally got a chance to ink up this adorable image from the Level 1 Hostess Set, Birthday Bakery. It was fun to watercolor the row of cute cakes, plus I love the sayings that come with this set...so cute! You cannot really tell from my photo, but all of the cakes are "iced" with Crystal Effects.

Stamps: Birthday Bakery
Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip plus various other Classic Ink for watercoloring
Card stock: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette & Whisper White
Accessories: Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Epoxy Brads, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing folder, Scallop Trim Border, Word Window & Modern Label Punches, Aqua Painter, Crystal Effects

Thanks for stopping by...ENJOY your day, and remember...this is no day for "just a sliver!" ;-)

Thoroughly Modern Vase

I've seen so many cute cards using the Ornament Punch as a vase, and I thought...how creative, why didn't I think of that? When looking through some of my things in my craft room I came across a stamp set I haven't used in a while...Eastern Elegance, and decided to use it to create a card using the punched vase idea.

I used Crystal Effects on the vase to make it look like glass. Here's a closer look...

Stamps: Eastern Elegance & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Card stock: Rose Red, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Whisper White & Thoroughly Modern DSP
Ink: Rose Red, Bermuda Bay & Soft Suede
Accessories: Soft Suede Polka Dotted Grosgrain, Rich Regal Brads, Photo Corner, Ornament & Word Window punches

The challenge this week on Stamp Something is to create something with a birthday theme so I'm happy I had a chance to play along. Have a great day!

You make me smile

This weeks challenge at Stamp Something is a color challenge...stamp something using the color combo of pink, yellow and green. The sponsor is Peachy Keen Stamps, so I got the pleasure of using an adorable smiling flower image from their set called Funny Flowers. They have some super cute images,and generously donated a $40 gift certificate which will go to a lucky winner who plays along this week.
I water colored the cute flower and then added some shimmer using a stardust jelly roll pen along the edges of the image. While it was still wet I blended it with my aqua painter. I also used Crystal Effects on the lady bugs.

The ribbon is So Saffron grosgrain with a sheer pink polka dotted ribbon layered over the top. With the pink, yellow green color combo, using one of my favorite SU! paper packs - Tea Party was a no-brainer. I also used some retired Pretty in Pink designer print paper as well. The "you make me smile" sentiment was perfect for this image I thought...it is from the Lots of Thoughts set that was available during SAB one year.

Hope you get a chance to stamp something with this color combo and play along with us this week at Stamp Something! Have a wonderful weekend!

Tea Party and Cupcakes

I hope you had a nice weekend. I spent most of my weekend working on putting my house back together after getting new flooring in our dining/living room area. LOTS of furniture and stuff to move! I'm sure glad it's done and things are mostly back to normal...but it was worth the disruption, as I love the way it looks. :-) Since I didn't get to do any stamping, here's an easy card that was a make & take at one of my recent workshops.With the Crazy for Cupcakes set and matching cupcakes wheel, it's easy to create cute cards in a snap! I took it a step further by doing a little paper piecing using one of the striped papers from the Tea Party paper pack and finishing off my card with Crystal Effects on the icing and candle.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes, Cupcakes wheel
Card stock: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Tea Party DSP
Ink: Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, So Saffron
Accessories: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Sizzlets, Large Oval punch, Aqua Painter, Soft Subtle brads, So Saffron grosgrain (SAB ribbon bundle), & Crystal Effects

Have a sweet day!

A Happy Hello

I've been so busy this past week with my bathroom remodel that I haven't got much stamping done. This past Friday night one of my stamping friends came over and we did a little stamping, but I think I did more talking than stamping as I did not actually finish anything! She brought her Songbirds set, so hopefully I will have something finished with that to show you later this week.

I'm really happy with the way our bathroom has turned out so far. Like I told you in a previous post, I painted the walls kind of a Mellow Moss color and I did end up going over the top with a rag rolled glaze in a lighter color. I really like the way it turned out. I'm excited to get it all done! But...you know how one thing leads to another? Now it seems I've decided to update the finish on my laundry room walls also. I stenciled a pretty floral design in there a few years ago and I still love that, so it will be a color wash over the walls to freshen them up but still allow the stenciling to show through. I'll share some photos of the completed rooms hopefully by the end of the week. I want it to be done before Easter when we are having family over for brunch! So forgive me for not posting very much lately.

Today's card is one that I made a couple weeks ago. It turned out pretty cute so I thought I'd share it today. I used Crystal Effects on the fishbowl and splashes of water after I got done water coloring it, so in real life it looks shiny like glass or water would. I had just gotten my new round tab punch, so of course I had to use that! For the background I used my Speckled jumbo roller inked from my pad and rolled it from several different directions until it needed to be re-inked and then I did it again & again until I was happy with the effect. That is how I achieved the lighter and darker shades of ink as opposed to using an ink cartridge inside the handle which would produce a more uniform look.

Stamps: The Cat's Meow, Trimtastic, All Year Cheer I & Speckled Jumbo Wheel

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, White Craft & Tempting Turquoise

Card stock: Apricot Appeal, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean & Whisper White

Accessories: Watercolor pencils, aqua painter, sponge, Crystal Effects & Round Tab punch

Dazzling Dragonfly

Today is my Aunt's birthday, so I thought I would share the birthday card I made for her. She works at a Hallmark Store so I tried to create something extra special and perhaps a little different than the cards she sees every day. I think what makes this card different is that it was lovingly handcrafted instead of mass produced, right? I chose colors I know she likes and paired that with an image she will like, so I'm sure she will love it.

For this card I finally got a chance to try the Stampin' Up! watercolor paper I ordered recently. Wow! I cannot believe I haven't tried this stuff sooner! I love to watercolor and this paper is so nice and heavy - it is much easier to work with. I used my watercolor pencils and they blended so easily and the colors remained much more vibrant. There is a bit of texture to this paper so the finished product looks very rich. In addition to the watercolor pencils, which I used on the dragonfly, I also used ink refill to color the background. I just wet the background area with a large brush and came in with a little ink on my aqua painter near the dragonfly and let the color bleed and fade into the background. I did the same thing for the sentiment below the image.

After that dried, it was time for some bling! I brushed some Crystal Effects over the dragonfly wings and sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds. I let it set for a bit and then brushed on another coat of Crystal Effects, this time also on the body of the dragonfly. I like to add a top coat like this because it keeps the glitter from falling off and it adds extra shine.

For the background I grabbed French Script, which I think is a natural for this image because of the script written around the edge of the design. I thought the white organdy ribbon worked well because it complimented the shimmer of the wings, but I felt it still needed something. The Turquoise grosgrain that I had was a little too strong of a color than I wanted to use, yet it did match. That is when I thought I would try a new ribbon technique I learned from my upline at my group meeting on Monday. (Thanks Karman!) For the frayed ribbon technique I was able to use the turquoise grosgrain without it appearing so dark because once the fibers were separated it looks softer. More on the frayed ribbon technique. I used the grosgrain fibers to tie on a piece of pewter Hodge Podge Hardware and I was done. Wish I would have had time to make two of these...I almost hated to send this one off!

Stamps: Measure of a Life (Level 2 Hostess set) French Script background & Beautiful Beach (sentiment)
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, So Saffron & Black Stazon
Card stock: Cool Caribbean, Barely Banana & SU! Watercolor paper

Have a beautiful day!

Fishy Friends Shaker Card

Earlier this week, my Aunt Roberta came over and we spent the afternoon stamping. We had a great time! She brought her Fishy Friends set because I had an idea I thought we could try.

First we stamped the fish images in black Stazon ink on Whisper White card stock, then colored them using water color pencils and our aqua painters. After we got our fish colored the way we wanted, we covered them with Crystal Effects so that they looked wet and shiny.

The coluzzle template was used to cut the circle from the teal mat, which was the final layer of our shaker card. We used foam mounting tape to create the space and adhere our window sheet and mat, but before we attached these we put some clear beads and glitter inside. This card looks so much cuter in real life because you can see how shiny the fish are and also just how sparkly the inside is from the glitter!

This is a fun card, but it would also make a really cool element on a scrapbook page too, wouldn't it? I love using the Spot On wheel inked in white to create bubbles, and I think it makes the perfect background for this card. Have a great weekend!