Sepia Red-Tail Hawk

I much appreciate the nobility of this Red-Tail Hawk image from CreativePlayStamps. Today, I have featured the Ranger Inkssentials Sepia Accents. I wanted a little boldness to go with the beautiful Hawk image, thus the Taken with Teal stripes.

Stamps: Red-Tail Hawk, Thinking of You(all CPS)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Bravo Burgundy, Blush Blossom & Taken with Teal (all SU); Stampers Select White(Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Adirondack Espresso Dye Ink
Accessories: Antique Brass Hodgpodge (retired SU) ENJOY!

Spooky Wolf

So - do you think this Wolf looks spooky? In my last order from CreativePlayStamps, (for MORE COPICS of course! lol) Laura included some new product freebies - THANKS Laura! - They are Ranger Inkssentials: Matte Accents, Sepia Accents & Crackle Accents. My dear friend and CPS co-Design Team Member Patti, had sent me this stamped image after she received her initial CPS box. (Thanks Patti!)

Have you seen the animal images over at CreativePlayStamps? They are so realistic looking - like this wolf. I colored it in with YR00, then E33. Then I smeared him all over with the Crackle Accents. The Crackle Accents go on smooth and clear, and they dry to what you see here - it's almost like the cracked glass technique without all the work! Okay - the cracked glass, is cool in it's own right! See the CPS Red-Tail Hawk under Cracked Glass here.

The Crackle blurred the image lines a little, and the brown faded to a pinkinsh/reddish color around the wolf's eyes - so he looks a little spooky to me! Now that the wolf looked spooky, I thought I would aim to make a non-traditional Halloween card. for the first time EVER, I wished I had a sewing machine! LOL I thought the jagged of black stitching would add to the spookiness for my design. Well, I don't have a sewing machine, and I DON"T sew. SOLUTION: Faux Stitching technique. I grabbed my SU! Crafters Tool Kit and pulled out the paper piercer and mat pack, then added the "stitching" with my Basic Black Stampin' Write marker. I used the NEW In Color Riding Hood Red to accent the wolf's spooky colored eyes. The drab Kraft mixes with the red and Basic Black well - and I feel good about the spooky look I've tried to create!

Stamps: Wolf(CPS)
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Kraft, Basic Black (SU)
Copics: YR00 & E33
Accesories: Crackle Accents; Basic Black Stampin' Write, 1/4" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Vintage Brads, Dimensionals(all SU)
ENJOY!

Horse Birthday Hugs & Wishes

Well, I should have titled this post "belated" as the recipient of this card had her birthday two weeks ago! I know you all *know* how it is - now that you stamp cards, buying one is akin to cutting off a body part! heehee

I stamped this horse image several months ago when we went to visit our cousins (you know, the CreativePlayStamps people). It isn't a CPS stamp, but I thought it was a beautiful horse image(edited to add - the stamp is by Serendipity Stamps), and of course, with Copics on the brain (a condition I am *thrilled* to have! lol), I knew this image would be great to use my Copics on.

So this past weekend, as we were driving to the campground, I worked on coloring a couple of these horse images. I simply *must* say again how I ADORE these Copic markers. I hope the shading and blending shows up for you when you click on the pic and see it a little larger. I was really pleased with how this turned out. When I look at it, I want to touch the picture becuase I think I will be able to feel the softness of the horse's head!

So how did I do it? I am sooo glad you asked! One of the many great features of Copic markers is their blendability. I began with a solid layer, except for the nose's white spot, of YR00. Yep - you read it correctly - YR00. When you color with Copics, you really want to soak the paper (and type of paper *does* affects this!), and soak it evenly. You can tell how even your soaking, I mean coloring is, by turning over your image and looking at the back of it. Then I covered over all the YR00, with E25 - many layers of it. Then I went back over the E25 with MORE YR00, but not coloring evenly this time. The lighter shade of YR00 pushes around some of the E25 color and creates the texture you see in my horse. I also used the YR00 to blend the edges of the E25 around the white spot, and to highlight the horse's eyelids and just under it's mouth to differentiate it from it's neck. Tip: Always remember to have several sheets of crap paper under the image you are soaking with your Copics!

Card Details: Stickles played double duty here as I used Cotton Candy Stickles to add a little more pink in, and then covered them with Microbeads for extra pizazz. I am happy with how the pink shows through the Microbeads.

Stamps: Hugs & Wishes (SU); horse image (Serendipity Stamps)
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, and Loves Me DSP(retired) (all SU); Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU; Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: YR00; E25
Accessories: Marvy Scallop Circle Giga Punch; Stickles - Cotton Candy; Microbeads, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals & 1/4" Rose Grosgrain (retired) Ribbon (all SU)
ENJOY!

Copics, Nestabilities and More On Sale - OH MY!

If you haven't signed up for CreativePlayStamps newsletter yet, get on over there and do it, so you can find out about these great sales directly!

COPICS ARE IN and on sale for 25% off!
So its a good time to try them if you have been thinking about them, or to add colors to an already existing collection. We are selling the markers both individually as well as in sets. We are still waiting on some colors - the rest should arrive after the end of the month. (Note: I placed my own order today - there are MANY individual colors in - so go check it out!)

http://www.creativeplaystamps.com/copic-sketch-markers-c-288.html

Spellbinder's Nestabilities are new for us and selling quickly at 20% off.
And don't forget to check out Spellbinder's other dies - they cut, then they emboss, and then they stencil! Those are 20% off too!

The latest Cuttlebug releases are also 20% off.

http://www.creativeplaystamps.com/die-cutting-dies-c-264.html

All Graphic 45 papers are 10% off!
We have started to venture into the world of paper. Out of the whole sea of paper we saw at CHA, one booth grabbed my attention and I knew right away that I wanted to carry that product. It is a newer company called Graphic 45, family run, just like us. The paper is grouped into 4 categories, Botanicabella, Playtimes Past, Baby 2 Bride, and Times Nouveau. It is cover weight and double sided.

http://www.creativeplaystamps.com/graphic-45-c-280.html

There are quite a few other new items on our site. The CHA releases are starting to trickle in, more will be out in September. Some of the items we have now are Glitz stickles, some of the new Tim Holtz stamps, and Marvy Extra Giga Punches.

We also have many of the new Clearsnap products in stock, but things have been too crazy to get them up on the site yet. Check back in a couple of days! There are new colors of Vivid dye ink, new Rollagraph wheels, Watermark ink, Clearsnap's glitter, and more!

Glimmer Mist, many full size pads, alcohol ink, and various other items are on sale too - come on in and look around! ENJOY!

Party Hearty

I got this fun birthday card from fellow SU! demo and Sudsol sister, Bobbie Lawrence. She did a great job using three New In Colors and a New Stamp Set from the Stampin' Up! Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog. The sentiment background is a nice change of pace, and having only two of four corners rounded, with the other corners pierced adds some nice texture and interest to the design. The focal piece is popped up on Dimensionals too, and she finished it all off nicely with some sponging around the edge of teh base layer - tone on tone. THANKS Bobbie!

Stamps: Party Hearty
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, KIwi Kiss, Baja Breeze & Whisper White
Ink: Tangerine Tango & Baja Breeze
Accessories: Corner Rounder, Crafters Tool Kit and Dimensionals. ENJOY!

New Catty GiveAway WINNER!

Congratulations to Robin - who wins a copy of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog!

robin_titan said...

hmm my favorite thing about fall ..i think it's that halloween is in the fall, i love halloween!!! it's soo great

lc_intocable at yahoo.com

9:57 PM

Robin - I've sent you an email for your snail mail address.

Upsy Daisy - On Sale!

Did you know that SU! is offering TEN of the NEW Stamp Sets from the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog at 15% Off?!? You can find out more about this awesome promotion on my SU! website here.

This is the third and final project of my SU New Catalog Workshop for August. I have found silhouette images so appealing lately. This one is no exception, and it's on sale to boot! This card features many new SU! products. The flower image is from the Upsy Daisy set. The Curly Label Punch Bundle is also featured - both the punch and one of the four stamps it comes bundled with (no tin box or ink spots this time!) Lastly, there is one of the NEW In Colors = Tangerine Tango card stock, along with its 5/8" Striped Grosgrain ribbon.

The use of ribbon as a kind of faux layering was inspired by the sample on pg. 142 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book and Catalog. The paper piercing adds a nice texture that also coordinates with the dotted design on the Curly Label stamp image. A Sudsol sister, Dannie Graves, was playing with her Curly Label Punch and came up with the layering technique shown here. Thanks Dannie!

Curly Label Punch Layering Mini-Tutorial: Stamp your image and punch it out. Then punch TWO labels from your layering color. Turn one label vertically, and adhere to the back of your image. This gives you the top and bottom under-layer. Hold the second punch horizontally and cut it in half. Adhere one half to each end of stamped image to create the side under-layer. Voila!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Curly Label Punch Bundle
Cardstock: Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Curly Label Punch Bundle, Dimensionals, Tangerine Tango 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/4" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Vintage Brads, Crafters Tool Kit.

ENJOY!

Krafted Dreams du Jour

This little beauty is another SU! New Catalog Workshop project for August. So far, I have *very, very rarely* used Kraft card stock. I put off buying the Kraft Taffeta Ribbon too. WHAT was I *thinking*?!? The Kraft Taffeta Ribbon is gorgeous! As far as Kraft card stock is concerned, I had always thought Creamy Caramel was "better". Ugh - I realized I was an SU! 48 Colors Snob! LOL So I bought some Kraft card stock to go with the Kraft Taffeta Ribbon. Dang, I forgot to order the Kraft Envelopes. Ah well, next order! :) Creamy Caramel took the backseat, being used to stamp the Butterfly image on the Kraft card stock.

This design was inspired by the example shown on page 137 of the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog (Want to see the catalog online? Go to here for the link!) I still had some of the gorgeous Bella Rose DSP left from the Double Pocket with Flap card shown in this post. I adore the idea of using DSP inside a card! So I created this little cutie 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 card. I hadn't used Microbeads in a looong while. They are perfect to add detail to the butterfly bodies, flower center and edge of the card. And then I got to use that yummy Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, AND how about the NEW Scallop Square?! Oh my!! :)

Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Cardstock: Bella Rose DSP, Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Scallop Square, Cutter Kit, Microbeads, Two Way Glue Pen, Pop Up Glue Dots, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Lt. Pink Gingham Ribbon.
ENJOY!

Christmas in August?!

Yep - Christmas in August! Even Santa has to do some scouting at some point in the year - heehee. This is one of the projects for SU! New Catalog Workshops this month. All the projects feature one or more NEW SU! product. I CASE'd (copy and share everything) this design from my Sudsol sister Connie Babbert.

Usually I change something when I CASE, to "make it my own" - but this was perfect the way it was! The Twill Background is stamped tone-on-tone to create a nice texture to Santa's suit. The card would be cute without the Twill stamped on it too. I am always looking for those 'little extra things' that add a lot visually, and provide a more finished look.

Stamps: Deer Friends (Host set); Twill Background
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Brushed Gold
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Scallop Edge and Circle Punches, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches.
ENJOY!

Wedding Gift 6 x 6 Scrapbook

We are enjoying a family wedding this weekend. I LOVE weddings! Here's a tidbit about me you don't know - I worked in the wedding business for over 17 years, first with my mom in her retail store where we sold wedding invitations and all the accessories that make weddings so special - decorations, cake toppers, garters, knife & server, unity candle, etc. When Mom sold her business, I started selling the professionally printed wedding invitations (you know, those huge books/catalogs you see at Hallmark stores and print/copy shops?) from my home. When I started in SU! five years ago - I added handmade invitations to the offering. I've since dropped the "big" catalogs, and now only make invitations for family and friends, and of course I have SU! workshops!

Here's the 6 x 6 album I made for our gift this weekend. The Priceless set swirls are very elegant, perfect for a wedding scrapbook. I stamped the larger swirl tone-on-tone in Very Vanilla CRAFT ink on Very Vanilla card stock. I clear embossed the smaller swirl on Basic Black for the album accents. How about the Decor Elements on the cover? The pages are shown in their album order. This was a simple layout, done a couple of hours - easy and fun! I hope they like it! I am including a Stampin' Write Journaler too.

Stamps: Priceless
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink: Very Vanilla Craft Ink, Versamark
Accessories: SU! Linen Post Album, Decor Elements, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Love & Happiness RubOns (retired SAB), Narrow, Black Organdy Ribbon (retired SU).

Look What I Got! New Catty GiveAway!

I wonder if the UPS employees consciously feel all the prayers and love directed toward them when new catalogs come out? lol So here's my first Fall/winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog order (I admit I stuck in the preview order too!) New Stamps, Ribbon, Punches and Brads - OH MY! I feel like I just found Oz on Christmas Day! heehee A couple NEW Stamps Sets, a couple NEW Hostess only Stamp Sets, a couple NEW Punches, LOTS of NEW Ribbon and ALL the NEW Brads! I think by all my exclamation points you can tell how excited I am!!!! :)

You can view the Fall/Winter Idea Book & Catalog online from my website at:

www.2stampinjewels.stampinup.net

Nothing beats a hard copy in your hands though - soooo, I'm giving away a brand, spankin' new Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog! Just leave a COMMENT on this post sharing your favorite thing about Fall, along with your name and email. I'll randomly draw a winner on Aug. 20th.

YOU Did It! - A Teacher's Perspective

This adorable card came from Sylvia M. Don't you just love the pictures of old? They are a wonderful contrast with the primary colors (Brilliant Blue, YoYo Yellow, Only Orange & Real Red) she used. Sylvia is teaching Kindergarten this year, and has been having fun creating things for her classroom using SU! card stock and punches.

On the inside of this card was a sweet verse:

See me skip,
See me run,
I'm going to school like everyone.
See me smile,
See me grin,
When the bell rings, I walk in.
See me work,
See me play,
I'm in Kindergarten -
My first day!
by Elise S. Lindgren

Thanks for sharing with us Sylvia! ENJOY!

British Soccer Camp 6 x 6 Page

I made this 6 x 6 page for the Coaches from the British Soccer Camp held in our town last week. The kids had a good time learning some new skills and games. It was appropriate that one of the Challenger Sports colors was "Brilliant" Blue, as the word "brilliant" was common usage with these coaches. :)
THANKS Coach Vicki and Coach Tony!!

Stamps: SU! Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, Sporting Goods (retired)
CS: Confetti White, Brilliant Blue and YoYo Yellow
Ink: YoYo Yellow, Brilliant Blue
Accessories: Stampin' Write in Brilliant Blue, Paper Snips, Dimensionals
ENJOY!

Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog is HERE!

WAAAHHOOOOO! Today is the first day of ordering from the Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog. I am sure you have been enjoying sneak peeks all over the internet!

While I was waiting for ordering time so I could place my first order, I decided to do something else NEW - I started my own website with Stampin' Up! Check it out at http://2stampinjewels.stampinup.net

and let me know what you think!

There is SO MUCH going on with Stampin' Up! right now - I feel blown away but in a GOOD way!! Here's a couple of the current promotions...

$99 Starter Kit

There has never been a better time to join Stampin' Up! From August 11th to October 11th you can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for only $99. As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you'll enjoy making money while doing something that you love, getting a discount on all of your purchases, and having support and help from me. Best of all, you can customize your starter kit! Click here to read more details.

Never Before Seen Savings

For the first time ever, Stampin' Up! is offering 15% off select new stamp sets from the catalog. No minimum purchase required! Click here to read more details. I'll be featuring one of these sets as a make-n-take project at my workshop this weekend! Contact me TODAY to book your workshop!

Online Ordering - Coming Soon!

Yep, you read it right! Soon you'll be able to order from me online - directly from my new SU! website. Look for details this Fall!

BigShot & Exclusive SU! Die Designs!

This was HOT Convention news last week! SU! has contracted with Sizzix to carry some of their dies, but more importantly to create some EXCLUSIVE SU! Die Designs. This will be available to order as of September 2nd and will be shown in the Holiday Mini Catalog out in October.

Still need a copy of the NEW Fall/Winter 2008 Idea Book & Catalog? Contact me today!

Bridal Shower Favor

What a week! We were in the midst of 5 funnel cloud spottings, lost power for 18 hours (so I trudged the contents of our freezers to two different peoples homes for safe-keeping - (THANKS Sylvia and Brigid!) and British Soccer Camp was this week for our two oldest. I guess this is my sign that I will not be posting daily to my blog anymore - big sigh. So I am now shooting for every other day with Sundays off.

The Bridal Shower last Sunday went very well, and the bride & groom-to-be are doing well for stocking their new home! Here is the favor we used - a sour cream container made out of vellum card stock. These are quick and easy, and oh so cute!

Stamps: Sketch an Event (retired SU)
Cardstock: SU Vellum, Basic Black and Very Vanilla
Ink: StazOn Black
Accessories: Crimper, 1/8" Circle Hand Punch & Black, Narrow Organdy Ribbon (retired SU), Candy inside was large wedding conversation hearts by Wilton. ENJOY!

Last Workshop Project - Lighthouse

Good Day! I decided to take Sunday off from posting, and will continue to do so to observe the day of rest God gave Himself after all those days of creation.

British Soccer Camp was supposed to start this morning, but alas - thunderstorms! Hopefully it will clear out, and NOT get to 94 degrees, so they can start in the afternoon.

So here is the last project we did at the workshop last week. I have always liked lighthouses, but since dh and I became presenting team for Marriage Encounter weekends, lighthouses have extra special meaning for us.

It is always difficult to say goodbye to the In Colors each year, even though it is also very exciting to welcome in and get to know the new set of In Colors. This design showcases the retiring Blue Bayou.

Stamps: A Light Unto My Path
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Basic Gray & Naturals White
Ink: Basic Gray, Stampin' Write Marker in Barely Banana
Accessories: SU! Corner Rounder Punch, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, & Mini Glue Dots.
ENJOY!

Workshop - Retiring Set & In Colors

This was the second project from the Workshop last Thursday. It showcases two retiring In Colors - Groovy Guava & River Rock, as well as the retiring stamp set Polka Dots and Paisley. I like the look of the color blocking, plus it is quick and easy. All you need to remember is that the three rectangles are 1 7/8" x 2 1/2" if you want the standard, layering border around them like this sample. I also stamped tone-on-tone for these. The Blush Blossom is very subtle and very pretty in person. The Groovy Guava piece was stamped off for a lighter shade, otherwise the bold image would have overtaken the design. The Ruby Red piece didn't need to be stamped off because the line image is delicate enough to not be overbearing.

Soooo - where DID this color combination come from? The In Color color coach sheets SU! does every year for its demonstrators, when the newest batch of In Colors is released. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Color Coach (currently shown on pg. 162). So when SU! did up some color combos with the In Colors, I was all over that.

Did you just ask "What is the Color Coach?!" No way? WAY?! Oh my - run, don't walk to your demonstrator [or ME if you don't already have a demonstrator :) ] and order this really useful tool. (Yep - Thomas the Tank Engine is BIG in our house! lol)

The Color Coach is a wheel of all 48 SU! colors - that lists one complementary and three coordinating colors for almost every one of the 48 colors. There are also Dynamic Duo combos when you want a two shade look. I reach for my Color Coach OFTEN, and have found some amazing color combinations *I* never would have thought of. It also has helped push me outside my "color comfort box" with wonderful results.

When you go to order the NEW In Colors in just a short 9 days - WOOHOOOOOO!, oops, sorry, well not really - lol - ask your demonstrator for a copy of the In Color chart to go with them. I know I'll be giving a copy of this really useful tool to my customers who are purchasing the NEW In Colors.

Stamps: Polka Dots and Paisley (retiring)
Cardstock: River Rock, Groovy Guava, Blush Blossom & Ruby Red
Ink: Groovy Guava, Blush Blossom & Ruby Red
Accessories: Earth Elements Brads, Crafters Tool Kit Paper Piercer and Guide
ENJOY!

Workshop Sneak Peek Project

First Sneak Peek of NEW Stampin' Up! products...Isn't this NEW Bella Rose Double-Sided Paper (DSP) GAAWWWWGEEEOUS? Oh my - I obviously think so! LOL I am not a huge printed paper freak but this is so darn pretty. The second Sneak Peek - the stamp set Dreams du Jour. This design uses three of the four images - though I don't think my scanner picked up the small butterfly image stamped tone on tone on the largest insert. The third Sneak Peek is 3 of the NEW In Colors - Pirouette Pink, Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss - along with the every lovely Chocolate Chip and fabulous ultrasmooth, very crisp image provider Whisper White. (The whisper White envelopes are the same way, silky smooth, giving clean, crisp images. That's why I hadn't used anything else but SU! Whisper White and Very Vanilla until I needed a different type of cardstock for the best Copic blending. Even now, I use the SU! white cardstock on everything else except the image that is being colored with Copics.)

This was one of the projects at Sylvia M.'s Workshop last night (I'll be posting the other two projects over the next two days.) I found this Double Pocket with Cover flap tutroial on my Sudsol friend Barb's blog. You may remember the Bridal Shower invitation I designed from this post. To color in the focal image - I squeezed the stamp pad/cover together before opening it, which creates a pool of ink inside the cover. then I used the Blender Pen to lift off the ink and color in the desired parts of the image.

Stamps: Dreams du Jour
Cardstock: Bella Rose DSP, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Pirouette Pink & Riding Hood Red
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pirouette Pink, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: Blender Pen, Ticket Corner Punch, Dimensionals,Mini Glue Dots, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, staples
ENJOY!