Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!

 I'll say it again...and again and again!  I really enjoy participating in a challenge that gives me the opportunity to pull from my very own stash of craft supplies!  Every Friday night, I have no idea what direction I'll be looking, this week...I was able to pull from some very ancient stamp sets from the Stamping Up! past, some bargain buy designer paper that I snagged on the $ .25/each wall of a local craft store (which they no longer offer, sadly, I loved that wall!!!) (Craft Warehouse) and a fairly new to me stamp, November Girl from one of my favorite artists (Angie Blom) at Unity Stamps!  In fact, it was the Angie Girls line that introduced me to Unity... I love everything about this company! 

The parameters:

1.  Dutch Door

2.  Bird Feeder Colors

3.  October

4.  Polka Dots

 

 

 

 

It definitely feels like October in the Pacific NW!  I hope to celebrate Pumpkin Day on October 26th!!! 

 

 

 

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

 I got to play with Scrappy Boy Stamps Neighborhood Bar stamps for this week's Craft Roulette challenge.  I now have a certain song in my head, that I can't stop hearing, and an interest in searching to see where I can live stream the sitcom featuring the neighborhood bar, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name".  

 

I played with some new product, I think I'm in love with this ink:  Cloud 9 Peanut Glow Blending Ink!!!!! I bought mine from Spellbinders, I think it can be found at other great online craft retailers too...I adore this product, I can't wait to see what else I can do with it...  I'm still learning how to blend...not sure I have the best brushes or even the best cardstock to get a smooth blend, but, I'll keep working at it.  :)  This is premium fun ink, and I think I may need a few more.  (beyond the others I purchased at the time, lol...I bought some "sky" colors and "ocean" colors...who knew, they would be so similar?  Silly me.... lol  

 I used a combination of Scrappy Boy designer papers for this one...  I used the beer mugs from the Neighborhood Bar collection, but found the pretzel patterned card stock on one of the newer Scrappy Boy releases:  New Yorkers.  

Now, for the parameter explanation:

1. Every hour is a celebration at a place where "Everybody Knows Your Name"!  Good times for sure!
2. The card is mainly earth tones, browns and earth like colors, which you'd find on the ground.
3. Pretzel and beer go well together!
4. You can find one of these type of establishments down a neighborhood block...and the inside?  Well, the bricks are shaped like blocks....you may even find a blockhead in there drinking a bevvy.  

So my 92nd contribution is complete!  I'm getting closer to my 100!  I suspect I'll see it close to 2026, I know I'll miss a week or 2 as I approach my busy time in the factory.  That being said, this Friday night challenge for me, has been so fun... I love playing in my craft playground, and I'm getting the point, where the harder the challenge, the more fun it is.  :)  I have to admit, I started out with a different character on this card, and was going to say he was a "blockhead" to fit the 4th parameter.... That being said, I didn't like the sound of calling someone a "blockhead".  It didn't seem nice, and I think we need to play nice here!  If you pop on over to my  Urban Jungle post... it kind of resonates with the times....It really does start with us, so ... I didn't want to label someone a blockhead!  YIKES!  I really do interpret things literally!  I hope to participate in episode 289, can't wait to see what the wheel brings!

 

Urban Jungle

 Welcome to the Jungle!  Kindred Stamps has done it again, it has released another set that I think may be my favorite!   Urban Jungle has 8 characters and a variety of sentiments that were easy to design around.  Birthdays, just because, or encouragement cards were a few of the themes I was thinking of.  

My first card, featuring all of the characters included in the Urban Jungle set, reminded me of a certain song that was created by a super group of famous singers in 1985.  Although the times were different than now, these famous artists came together, many singing solos, to raise money and bring awareness to a good cause, the results were HUGE.  History certainly can and does repeat itself..as there is always a good cause to bring relief, but the same applies:  We Can Do This Together.  

 

When you flip it open...you see a magical skyline...

My next project took me back to my Marketing 460/Promotions class at WSU (GO COUGS!  ... IYKYK) many moons ago...  My oh my, how marketing has changed since way back when...  I can picture my prof with excitement describing how creative thinking this fox was for his unique merchandising and product development.  This could be a fun card idea to send a Business and Marketing student or anyone, who is launching a new idea or product.  The box card will fold when you wiggle it to the side, and it will fit in an A2 envelope.  I embellish mine tons, so although it won't lay flat for a one postage stamp mailer...it still is considered a card!  It's super easy and fun  to put together using the Box Card Die!  I used sparkly white card stock to look like "ice", and hope this box looks like an ice chest!  

  

I thought of birthdays and celebrations for my next card.  I love a list type card, one where you can check off ALL the boxes!!!!  Designed to make a recipient feel guilty in a HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY way!!!  I used the Card Basics Die Set  and the Stitched Alpha Die Set for my star and my GUILTY.  

Lastly, my quickies!  When time is limited, and you really do want something you can put to card stock in a few minutes, my answer is to have a quickie in mind.  I have found my groove by coloring up my images...fussy cutting first, last putting to paper.  A quickie in my mind...should only take 15-30 minutes after the image is already colored and cut.  These are simple, easy, and definitely a USPS one-stamp kind of card.  The variety of sentiments for Urban Jungle, combined with the options of 8 different images, makes it easy for many occasions!  I used one character, one sentiment, one stencil, one die on each...add a little bling...and DONE.  And...if this isn't kept as a keepsake from the recipient...that's ok too.  For those of you who mail hand made cards, I know you know what I mean here!!!  QUICKIE = SIMPLE, EASY, ONE-USPS STAMP but that doesn't mean it won't put a smile on a recipients face!!!

  

 The October release goes live tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time!  So many wonderful new offerings, you will NOT want to miss out on this one!!!!  

Dream in Colors

 This stamp set is a must for card makers and paper crafters who love to think and dream in colors.  Although I have to admit, I really had to do some research prior to inking up my characters, I am thankful for doing so, as so many artists paved the way to how each of us may view art.  My craft roulette parameters sent me in the direction of the sunflower enthusiast... deets below:

Work of Art  stamp set from:  Kindred Stamps

 Parameters:

1.  A Dude's Card

2.  Sunflower Field Colors

3.  Bird(s)

4.  Soot

 My justification:  I figured our artist is a Dude...and the sunflower field colors is highlighted with the fun designer paper I used.  Lastly, I stamped the bird image and sentiment in  Distress Oxide: Black Soot ink.

Til next week.  I want to close this post sending my thoughts to my sister in law, who earned her angel wings over the weekend.  Hug your loved ones.  We visited on Saturday, we never would have ever imagined that this would be our last visit.  My heart tugs, especially for my brother in law and her boys & families.  This year has had so much loss sent to our family, and we stay as strong as possible.  Spending my couple of hours yesterday in my craft studio, was a good escape.  

 

Sunshine Winnie

Hello Sunshine! 

I was able to quickly create a Craft Roulette card this weekend, once again, the parameters were extremely easy to crank out a quick card.  They seemed to be in sync, just like last week!  It could be me too, I'm starting to create a little faster too, I'm not as worried about making a mistake.  It's only ink and paper, and it needs to be fun.  I did have a huge blunder on this card, I originally colored those bright yellow colored petals GREEN.  I'm not sure why I thought they were leaves, but, I slept on it...and in the middle of the night, it occurred to me...that they were actually petals.  It was super easy to color & fussy cut, and place over the green ones, lol...and it just goes to show, I might be at the stage of design, where I really don't overthink things...otherwise, I would have looked at examples of this stamp, and it would have dawned on me, that those are flower petals and not strange shaped leaves!!!  hahaha  I think the #3 parameter was on my mind, and that is why I jumped on the green train.  

 I had and extra Winnie, so I made an additional card...same parameters, except #1...

 

And the parameters are listed here!

 5-1/4" square card

Colors of milk, cream, butter, cheddar cheese

Prominent leaves shown

Honeycomb stamped image

Stamps from Unity Stamps: 

Winnie the Pooh: A Brighter Day  

 Honeycomb Chaos Background Stamp

You Got a Friend in Me! Many Friends!

 What a WONDERFUL September release from  Kindred Stamps!... I had hours and hours of creating bliss with Animated Pals and I know you will too...  It's a magical, and I'm sure you will have someone in mind when you create fun cards and projects...

 

 Card #1 took me to the forest where the wildflowers dance and sing...

 I could have kept going and going and going with the flowers!   I used several Kindred dies for this card:

 Bare Trees Craft Die was used to make my own stencil for the background forest.  After ink blending with assorted distress oxide inks (4-1/4" x 5-1/5" panel) (I chose 3 greens that I thought looked foresty), I die cut each tree on a big enough piece of card stock that I could then use as a disposable stencil.  I started with a light brown for a deeper in the forest vibe, and an espresso brown for the remaining trees.  I alternated which tree to use for interest, and staggered the positions where the trunks fell as well.  At this time, I stamped my character & flower image and colored in the leaves of the flowers.  (I failed to color in the leaves, and coloring after the matter wasn't as successful as if I had...)  You can stamp over a trunk, it won't matter, as the final image is a fussy cut image, you will be covering the original up...I would HIGHLY encourage you color those leaves though...it is very hard to fussy cut to the line that small of detail, and you can adhere your flower heads easily over the original stamped image (with colored leaves)...and still appear like they are not a flower head without a body attached, lol...

Next step:  For my magical forest, I applied  Holographic Sticker Paper  over my forest panel.  Next die I used:  Card Basics Die.  I used it to cut my stitched rectangle.  You may need to run it through twice, the sticker paper doesn't clean cut, but, it's cut enough you can pull it apart or run a scissor cut on it, the definition of the actual rectangle is fully cut.  Lastly, I used:  Fairy Cloche Die Set for my random flowers.  This is where I chose bling for the centers, and had fun with my alcohol markers to get a variety of bright colors on the petals and leaves.. 

My last step...DIMENSION!!!  I went 3D, but only 1 of the dimensions, I used dim tape.  The 2nd layer is glued directly on the pre stamped image.   I cut to the line, and I had to do some unique cutting through flower faces to remove those blank spots next to our girl's hair...I felt it was worth this extra step, it sure made fussy cutting 10x easier!!!  

My layers are as follows:

1.  Pre stamped image, stamp over trees, etc., in fact I encourage you to.  COLOR THE LEAVES!!!! 2.  Apply the holographic sticker paper, die cut the stitched rectangle mat... color the second layer, (the girl and the 2 front flowers, really only the edges need colored because the 3rd layer will cover them)  You will need to cut right through the faces of the 2 front flowers on this second layer, to cut around the flowers and the girls hair of the back flowers.  I do not cut any leaves...too hard...I apply this layer directly over the 1st layer with glue.  3.  The last layer is the girl and front 2 flowers, popped up on dim tape.  I do keep the little leaves under the chin of the flowers, but all the other fussy cutting on the 2 layer, I did NOT fussy cut the leaves.  That is why the first layer is colored.   

Now...add the flower die cuts, and run wild with the wildflowers!  This is a very long post, but I know I will be asked how this was done, so, I gave you a run down of the layers.  This truly was one of those cards, I never wanted to end.  It was colorful and fun to create...and I need some of that getting lost in wonderland for a bit these days.  

Now...on to the last 3 cards...lol...I promise, I won't be so definitive on these ones.

#2  Aloha ... I can smell the coconut sun tan lotion and taste the pineapple just writing this... 

 A little more brief here:  I used alcohol markers to make my sand on a random hill die of mine.  I freehand cut the ocean, but did the color of the water using distress oxide / ink blending.  The waves...a random wavy stamp...could easily be a freehand wave too.  I did run a black acrylic marker over the top, to give it a black "stamped edge" look, since this was a freehand ocean.  (I use a black acrylic marker on the edges of everything I fussy cut, it won't bleed into the carefully cut out and colored image) (beware though, it doesn't dry fast, I have smudged a few images every now and then with a big black mark...now, I'm very careful, especially if it was something tedious to cut out!)  Ink blended sky, water distress sprinkles, etc...random dies for the trees/sun/mini flowers...  and Stitched Alpha Die Set for my Aloha, I'll bet Adaline Alpha Die Set would be a great font too...I don't have that alpha set YET, but plan to in the future.  I do know, I sure love having a font die set on hand.  

#3 Jungle Vibes... 

 

 

I used a fun designer paper from a previous Kindred limited edition kit.  I've been hoarding it, as I'm almost out of this particular paper pack.  I think anything jungle looking would be fun too...  You can peruse through the fun selection of Kindred Paper Pads, lots to choose from, each pack has 24 sheets, with 6 different 2 sided printed heavy duty card stock.  Lots of options, and so easy to store, a bonus I was thinking about yesterday while rummaging through my craft room.  PERFECT for card makers!

 

 #4 You've Got A Friend In Me.. 

 My last card used the Card Basics Die set as well.  I made my own designer paper for the red striped, yellow background and the cow spots.  Both felt liberating to make, I randomly made black dairy cow spots using a black alcohol marker, and I carefully drew lines using a ruler and red marker for our square paper.  You see that Holographic Sticker Paper again, I wanted interest on this card, and that was quick and easy.  Although you can't tell much in the photo, I took a black alcohol marker and colored my circle and my black mat over a White Diamond Print Inkjet Glitter Paper another staple product I have in my room.  :)

 

So there you have it!  Sorry for the long post, but, I have been asked about the layering steps and thought process I go through for creating some of my cards.  I did have a few trials on that first card, the others are fairly self explanatory.  I love the fact I made my own stencil with using a die cut...prior to that, I was wondering how to get my trees.  I tossed a few of my originals until I did that.  

 

I say with every new release...this has to be my favorite so far...well...this one, really has to be my favorite.  It was fun creating with these images, it took me to my kiddos youth, and a little bit of mine too...  There was color...fun flowers...just plain old fun...memories to ink to paper.  The new release, Animated Pals , is available to purchase this Friday, September 19th, 8 a.m. Pacific Time.  There are other fun sets to choose from too...it's a GREAT ... MAGICAL ... FUN ... release!  

 

Miss Maggie

 This week's parameters for Craft Roulette was super fun, I used a Scrappy Boy Eternal Guests set for the Maggie Smith character, and was so pleasantly surprised how easy the other 3 parameters were to make this very quick card!  It's fun having practically every themed stamp set, color of paper, or the ability to color my own card stock with inks and markers!  It's like a grown up play ground in my studio!

The parameters:

1.  FUNN Fold Card:  (special fold, more than a basic fold)  A2 Trio Fold Card Die (SO EASY!)

2.  Maggie Smith (She played the character Violet, in Downton Abbey

3.  Birthday Party Colors:  My aunt's favorite colors is purple, and at her recent party, it was all decorated in purples!

4.  Spirals:  Violet's hair has little spirals!!!  Also, the flourish diecuts and embossed card stock background has little spirals too!

So, simple and sweet!  

Now, be sure to stop by tomorrow!!!  I'll be showing my cards with one of the  Kindred Stamps September New Release sets.  This set, is going to go FAST...  It may be one of the funnest ever, but I say that all the time.  They all are fun, and it's a GREAT release!  The release is available starting Friday morning, 8 am, Pacific Time.... lots of fun in this one!  Kindred Stamps New Release