Using Clear Blocks to make a Watercolor Background

Hi Stampers!  It's been a while, hasn't it? To say things have been challenging around my house would be an understatement!  We've experienced a health scare with our youngest son, a busy end of the school year and big changes with my husband and his back injury.  Family is number one for me and while I still continued my clubs and some classes, the good 'ole blog took a seat on the back burner for a while. 

I'm happy to say that our youngest son is fine and after a lot of testing and doctor visits we found out we are dealing with something not as serious as we first thought.  Phew!  And, while my husband's back is not better and he is still not back at work, there is hope!  He's participating in an intense back to work program where they are helping him learn how to manage his pain without the help of narcotics and strengthen his muscles so that he will be able to go back to work....although it will be much different that it was before he was injured.  The down side is that he is away from us for the summer, but there is a silver lining!  He's in the beautiful rocky mountains and we get to go visit him often! And, so we begin adjusting to our new normal yet again.

Another wonderful thing that happened was that I was able to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual convention.  I saw my friends from all over North America, learned some new techniques, played with new products and had my bucket filled by my buddies.  I came home feeling inspired and ready to hit the ground running!  One of the things I did while at Convention was participate in an organized swap!  I had to make 80 cards for this swap and I'm thrilled with the 80 cards I got in return...so many beautiful cards and so much inspiration from a group of uber talented ladies!  So, this is the journey of a swap card with a video on the technique at the end!

So what does it take to make 80 swap cards?  80 sheets of cardstock (Blushing Bride, Basic Black & Whisper White), a roll of Everyday Chic washi tape, a package of Old Olive Baker's Twine, 240 gold sequins, 160 inches of Blushing Bride ribbon, and a roll and a half of the new Tear & Tape adhesive!

All the parts and pieces ready to assemble!

Adding Washi Tape!  I had just enough of the design I chose from the Everyday Chic washi tape!

That's a lot of Tear & Tape backing!  After making 80 cards, I can say I LOVE this new adhesive!

Phew....80 cards done and ready to swap!

I was surprised that after 80+ cards I wasn't sick of this card.  I love the way it turned out and I love that each one was a little different because of the technique I did.

As promised, I have a video for you showing how to do the technique.

Here's another close up of the technique as well as another card I did with my stamp clubs using the same technique.

Well, that's all for today!  Thanks for hanging in there with me for this looooong post. I hope that I've inspired you to do this fun technique on a card of your own.  If you do try it, I would love it if you linked to your card in the comments so I can see your creation.

As always, if you are in Canada and need a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I would be happy to help you out!  Contact me for more info or just head on over to my online store to order the supplies you need to recreate the cards I've shown today!

Have an inspired day!

Technique Tuesday-Bokeh Technique

Hi Stampers!  It's the first Tuesday of April which means it's Technique Tuesday around here. I've jumped on the popular Bokeh bandwagon and this month I'm going to show you my take on this fun technique.

When I was learning about this technique I watched some videos by other demonstrators and they all involved ink, water and watercolor paper.  I didn't have any watercolor paper on hand (gasp!) and wanted to do this technique quickly and without the mess.  So, out came my sponges and ink pads and plain old Whisper White cardstock.  It's quick, easy and not quite as messy as if you were using water (you will get inky fingers though!).

I did a quick video so you could see how I achieved the Bokeh look with ink and sponges!

Give it a try....you'll be hooked!

You can get everything you need to recreate this card (and do this technique) from my online store.  Grab the shopping list and take full advantage of the free shipping from Stampin' Up! offer this week!

Shopping List

Stamps: Flower Patch

Ink:  Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Memento Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon, Gold Sequins, Handheld Stapler & Mini Staples, Window Sheets

Tools:  Stampin' Sponges, Big Shot & Circles Framelits

Have an inspired day!

Rock 'n Roll

Hi Stampers!  It's the first Tuesday of the month which means it's discount day at the grocery store AND it's Technique Tuesday!  Could it get any more exciting?!?!?!?!

This month I'm going back to basics again and doing the Rock 'n Roll technique.  This is a fairly simple technique to stamp a solid image in more than one color.

•  Start by choosing a solid image stamp
• Choose 2-3 colors.  Choose colors that are dynamic duos (two shades of the same color for a monochromatic look) or colors that compliment each other.
• Open your ink pads and arrange them lightest to darkest.  This is important so you don't wreck your ink pads.
• Ink up your stamp with the lightest color.  Rock and roll it in the next color and repeat with a third color if you chose 3!

On the card pictured below, I used the medium star from the Bright & Beautiful set for the technique.  I inked my stamp in Crushed Curry, then rocked and rolled it in Rose Red and finally Blackberry Bliss.

I did up a video so you can see me doing the technique and follow along in real time!

I do have some helpful tips for you to be successful with this technique.

• always choose a solid image stamp for this technique
• choose 2 or 3 ink colors.  More than 3 gets a little hard to see all the colors on your image
• try and choose an image that fits on the ink pad to make it easier
• you get a very different look with the new foam pads than you get if you are using the old felt pads

Here's another card done with this technique.  This time I used the solid flower from the Mixed Bunch set with Wisteria Wonder and Elegant Eggplant.

ooooh eeeee...check out all those Rhinestones in the middle of the flower!

All the products I used on both cards today are available in my online store.  Head on over there to place your order today.  Or, if you would rather not order online you can always contact me to place an order.  If you like what you see and are Canadian, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  Please contact me and we can get your creative journey started!

Have an inspired day!