Thursday, November 29, 2018

Cool Color Wash

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   This is the last of four "just breathe" cards that I'm sharing this week. If you haven't seen the other three, just click the "older posts" link to go back in time and take a look at them. Today's card uses a technique that I think I discovered on my own. Maybe others have used it, but I haven't seen it before. I made my own faux watercolor paper!
I started with a 3-3/4" by 5" Whisper White Card Stock mat and embossed it with the Subtle Embossing Folder. I stamped the "just breathe" sentiment from the "Colorful Seasons" stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto the panel. 

Then I used an Aqua Painter to lay down a wash of just plain water in the center of the card. I dropped a few drops of Pacific Point Reinker to an acrylic block and added some water from the Aqua Painter. I then lightly washed the color onto the wet cardstock.

While that was drying, I cut an Adirondack chair from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits out of Thick Whisper White Card Stock. I adhered this to the card with a bit of Snail Adhesive. You could also use Multipurpose Glue or the Fine-Tip Glue Pen. I adhered this panel to a 3-7/8" by 5-1/8" Basic Black Card Stock mat and then onto a Thick Whisper White Card Stock card base.

I stamped the glass from the "Colorful Seasons" stamp set in Granny Apple Green and cut it out with its matching Seasonal Layers Thinlit Die. I adhered this to the card with a Mini Stampin' Dimensional.

To finish the card, I added several Frosted and Clear Epoxy Droplets. I love those! 

I hope you've liked my set of "just breathe" cards and I hope I've inspired you, too!!










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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Serene Mountain Scene

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   I haven't used the "Waterfront" stamp set nearly as much as I thought I would. Honestly, it intimidated me a little bit. I knew it could be used to make some beautiful scenes--just take a look through Pinterest and you'll see--but I also knew the elements, if used, um, unwisely, could create a cartoonish scene. I wasn't sure whether I could elevate the stamping to a beautiful level. I needed some help! So I turned to Pinterest for some inspiration and adapted a beautiful card I saw there. Here's my Pinterest-inspired card.

I don't know what all my anxiety was about because this card was easy-peasy to create. I started with a 3" by 4" Whisper White Card Stock panel. I stamped the mountain image, twice in Pool Party Ink. Then I added an island and trees in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and a little bit of Pool Party water. I added the sentiment from the "Colorful Seasons" stamp set in Tuxedo Black, too. I adhered this panel to a 3-1/4" by 4-1/4" Basic Black Card Stock mat.

Next, I adhered a 3-3/4" by 5" Whisper White Card Stock Panel to a 3-7/8" by 5-1/8" Pool Party mat. I wrapped a length of Basic Black Shimmer Ribbon around these pieces and then adhered them to a Thick Whisper White Card Stock card base.

To finish the card, I added the stamped panel with Stampin' Dimensionals.

See? Wasn't that easy? I don't know what I was worried about. I should just breathe....













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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Lovely in Pink

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   We're quickly heading into winter here in central Maryland. It's still fall, but the temperature has been quite winter-like. I'm not complaining. I love both fall and winter. The weathermen have been predicting MORE snow than usual and I'm super excited about that. I'm just like a school kid--I love snow days! Only now, I spend them inside with a warm drink and a good book--or some stamping time to myself!

Today's card is definitely not fall- or winter-like. It reminds me of the gorgeous cherry blossoms we have in the spring time. And the "just breathe" sentiment makes the picture that much more serene.

I started by cutting the branch from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits from the center of 3-7/8" by 5-1/8" Basic Black Card Stock mat, like this. That's my favorite PROTIP to save paper--'cause who's going to know there's something missing from the center of the mat?

Next, I used the Woodland Embossing Folder to emboss a 3-3/4" by 5" Whisper White Card Stock mat. I used the Stamparatus to add the "Just Breathe" sentiment to the card in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. That allowed me to overstamp the sentiment a couple of times to fill in some of the nooks and crannies left by the embossing. I adhered this piece to the Basic Black Card Stock mat, and then onto a Lovely Lipstick Card Stock card base, cut lengthwise.

I used a little Snail Adhesive to adhere the tree branch, cutting off the excess. You could also use either Mono Multi-Purpose Glue or the Fine-Tip Glue Pen.

I stamped three of the flowers from the "Colorful Seasons" stamp set in Lovely Lipstick Ink onto Whisper White Card Stock, and again without reinking, for a lighter set of flowers. I cut them out with their matching Seasonal Layers Thinlit and adhered them to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I love the lovely simplicity of this card! Come back tomorrow for another "Just Breathe" card!













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Stamparatus
[146276]
$49.00

Monday, November 26, 2018

Beachy Breath

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   When I attended the Stampin' Up OnStage Live event earlier this month, one of the presenters--I think it was CEO Sara Douglass--said that she doesn't want us to call ourselves "just hobby demonstrators." We are Stampin' Up demonstrators and we are valuable to the company. That was really nice to hear. 

I've always said that I'm "just" a hobby demonstrator, because TBH I joined for the discount. I was buying a lot of stuff and it seemed that I should take advantage of the no-strings attached bundle which is the starter kit ($125 in products for $99 with NO shipping or tax) and take advantage of the discount for as long as I was "just" a hobby demonstrator. Well, here it is 12 years later--and I'm still a member of the Stampin' Up family thanks to my fabulous friends/customers!

A while ago I started this little blog--mostly for my own enjoyment--but I was hoping to gain an online customer base. I also post to Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. I have had a bit of luck there, nothing huge, but always exciting when I get an online order from someone who has liked my creations on one of these social media sites!

But one of the best things that happened recently is that a friend of mine reached out via social media and asked to order some greeting cards! Not only did I get a sale--but I reconnected with my friend, who had moved away. What a wonderful gift this little not-a-hobby has been to me...in so many ways.

My friend wanted some cards using the "Just Breathe" sentiment from the "Colorful Seasons" stamp set. I was happy to oblige. Here's the first of four cards I made for her. (I'll share the others in the next days, so come on back!)

I used the "Waterfront" stamp set to create this cute little beach scene onto a Whisper White Card Stock circle that I cut with the largest circle in the Stitched Shapes Framelits collection. I used Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy, and Daffodil Delight Inks. I backed this with a Crumb Cake Card Stock scalloped circle that I cut with one of the Layering Circles Framelits. PROTIP: I cut the Crumb Cake Card Stock scalloped circle from the center of the Crumb Cake Card Stock mat.

Next, I stamped the sentiment in Night of Navy Ink onto a 3-3/4" by 5" Pool Party Card Stock panel and then embossed it with the Subtle Embossing Folder. I adhered this to a 3-7/8" by 5-1/8" Crumb Cake Card Stock mat. I adhered the stamped circle element to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals and wrapped a length of Braided Linen Trim. And then I adhered everything to a Thick Whisper White Card Stock card base, cut lengthwise.

Come back tomorrow for another "just breathe" card!!





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