Stamp with Alicia

Saying "goodbye" to the kitty stamp set!

Parting is such sweet sorrow!

But it is time to bid farewell to the Stampin' Up! stamp set called Peace Within (#114312). This stamp set is on the retiring list this year along with many many others, and this week is your very last chance to buy it before it retires!

May 31 is the last day to order retiring products!!!

This lovely little kitty in the Peace Within stamp set was watercolored using Watercolor Pencils by Stampin' Up! as well as the Aqua Painter. I was able to achieve the varying depths of color by "layering the color on".

Simply put, I touched the tip of my Aqua Painer to the watercolor pencil and then worked from the edge of my "object" to the center making sure to keep the darkest shade of the color at the edges.

You can see this technique in the pillow on this image... note the edges are a darker blue than the center. This easy technique gives the pillow "depth". I also used various depths of color on the chair, flowers and the kitty, herself! If you'll notice, I added some light blue color to the back of the chair also, this gives the image additional depth. 

Watercolor Pencil details:

• They come in a set of 24

• Pigmented colors

• Use dry as colored pencils

• Blend with dampened brush, Aqua Painter, or Blender Pen for watercolor effect

• Soft and blendable

• Come in sturdy tin storage container

Tips for using Watercolor Pencils:

• Dab the tip of your brush, Aquapainter or Bender Pen to the tip of the pencil instead of using the pencil direct to paper. This will enhance the watercolor quality

• Use Stampin' Up! Watercolor paper for the best effect!

• Start coloring at the edge of your object and move inward to create depth and gradiant in color density

• Leave a few "white" areas in your watercoloring for contrast

• Use Stampin' Up! Black Craft ink to print your image. Craft ink will not "run" when water is added to your artwork. (You could also emboss your stamped image with the black Craft ink for added appeal!

Please click on the images below to view details of this card!

 


 

Are you a dog person?

For those dog lovers out there, I'd like to share with you another Stampin Up! stamp set which is retiring shortly. This one is called Not So Seriously (#123085). This project can be found on my Stampin' Up! website here!. Like my own card above, this card is also watercolored. However, instead of using the Watercolor Pencils, the artist at Stampin' Up! used assorted Classic ink pads to create this watercolored look! Click on the image below for full details and a "recipe" list of supplies used in the card!

Contact me TODAY to reserve your copy of the brand new Stampin' Up 2012-2013 catalogue! Hope to see you at my June stamping events!

 

 

Paper Dahlia gives a pretty effect!

The Paper Sculpting technique using Stampin' Up! Crystal Effects (#101055) is one of my favorite techniques! I'd like to share a card I made with this technique. I used the lovely Dahlia stamp from the Creative Elements stamp set (#122647) to do this technique. Here is the card with the flower:

Paper Sculpting Technique

To do the Paper Sculpting technique, first stamp your flower on Whisper White cardstock 3 times. Next, use your ink pads, or markers and a Blender Pen to color your flower petals as desired. Let those dry and work on the rest of your card. Next, Cut out your flowers, the first one around the entire image, the 2nd one at the middle petals and the third one at the center petals. So you have three different layers/sizes of the Dahlia for your project. Brush Crystal Effects in a thin layer on each of the three cut layers and sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds glitter (#102023). Set aside to dry. Continue to work on the rest of your card. When the flower layers are dry, you'll gently take your fingers to the edges of the petals and bend inward! This will give the lovely dimension! Add more dimension by sticking each layer to the one below it using Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430) adhesives. Then attach your lovely sculpted flower to the front of your card in its place!

Please click on the images below to see details: 

 

Do you notice the lovely white embossed flourishes on this card? If you like the subtle effect of these flourishes, make sure to order the Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate (#114512) for the Big Shot before it retires at the end of this month! I used the Texturz plate with the flourishes to create that background! The "Love Always" greeting on this card is a stamp in the Valentine Love stamp set (#122697), which is also retiring at the end of this month. Please remember to get your orders in to me by the end of this month so you don't miss out on purchasing your favorite retiring products!

Colors I used on this card:

Always Artichoke (Cardstock and Ink)

Perfect Plum (ink)

Elegant Eggplant (Cardstock and ink)

Whisteria Wonder (Cardstock and ink)

Daffodil Delight (Stampin' Write marker)

Whisper White (cardstock)

I also used the Itty Bitty Punch Pack (#118309) for the mini flowers and added Basic Pearl Accents (#119247) to the centers of all the flowers!

My next post will feature a retiring stamp set that I will miss, and I'm sure you will too, if you don't order it soon! Make sure to visit my blog again next week to see what I create with one of the retiring stamp sets, it will be a bittersweet goodbye, as I'm getting very excited about the new catalogue and all the wonderful new products we will be getting in June!

Now is the time to start booking your New Catalogue workshops with me! Contact me today to reserve a date!

Just for Mother!

This Mother's Day, make your mother a "Timeless Treasure" made with the Stampin' Up! Timeless Treasures stamp set (#120615)! If the vintage look doesn't suit your mom's style, try something with a more modern twist, such as using the Flower Fest set or Cottage Garden set. There is a wide variety of stamps in the Stampin' Up! catalogue which will suit your mom's personality!

Speaking of stamp sets, remember that the Retired Stamp Set and Retired Accessories lists have been released and this is your last opportunity to obtain your favorites from this catalogue! Please click the buttons on the right side column of my blog to view the Retiring lists and place your order with me today!  ----------------->

Now back to the Mother's Day card! When I decided to make this card, I decided I wanted to play with retiring stamp sets! So along with the Timeless Treasures stamp set, I used the Charming stamp set and the Tagtastic hostess set! These sets will only be available until May 30!

 

This card was made using an effective and easy technique that makes the layers on your card look spectacular! And, the best part is that you can use the same stamps as you use in your main design!

Faux Patterned Paper

This technique is called "Faux Patterned Paper" and you can see it between the two Chocolate Chip layers on this card. All you need to do is cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock 1/16th of an inch smaller than your Chocolate Chip cardstock base. Then take a stamp from the stamp sets you are using for the main area of your card (for this card I chose the medallion from the Charming stamp set) and stamp the pattern along all four edges of this piece of cardstock. You don't have to stamp in the middle area because this area will be covered up. Then cut your next Chocolate Chip layer 3/16ths of an inch smaller than your cardstock base. This will be placed as the frame to your main layer which is 1/16th of an inch smaller than it. Notice this technique creates a "mat" for your main area, just like a picture frame!

TIP: I recommend tucking both ends of your ribbon under your main image mat layer. This gives the card a nice finish.

Fussy Cutting

The main background front layer is simply a random placing of images stamped in a collage fashion. I stamped the tea cup from the Timeless Treasures stamp set in Whisper White craft ink and cut it out with my wonderful Paper Snips! Then I stamped the "Just for You" image from the Tagtastic stamp set and cut that part out with my Paper Snips. This is called "Fussy Cutting".

These elements are layered on two punched elements:

• 2- 3/8 inch Scallop Circle Punch
• Extra Large Oval Punch

The Scallop Circle was punched in Garden Green cardstock and the Oval was punched in Pink Pirouette cardstock. These elements were secured with Stampin' Dimensionals and Whisper White 5/8 inch Organza Ribbon. To top it off, I added a small faux pearl at the top of the "Just for You" greeting! Such a perfect touch for a vintage card, don't you think?

Click the images below to see details!

 

Do you need a great gift idea for your crafty mom? Here's a fabulous gift idea that your mom with love! Click the image below to view the "ingredients" of the "Mother of Mine Jar" project!

 

Tea for Three!

 The Occasions Mini Catalogue ordering period will be over on April 30th! Make sure to get your Mini Catalogue orders in to me now! The stamp set called Tea Shoppe (#125547) is one of my favorites! Here is a lovely Mother's Day card I made with this stamp set!  For this Mother's Day card, I paired the teacups trio with mini flowers punched from the Punch Pack (#118309) and I put Pearls (#119247) as the flower centers!

The color combination I used on this card is one I particularily like. I paired warm brown tones (Early Espresso and Soft Suede) with the pretty and bright Pool Party "In Color". The combination proves to give the warm expression of tea with the cheerful pale expression of spring!

Notice the bottom edge of the vertical piece of Pool Party cardstock in the middle... it has a lovely decorative edge. I was able to achieve this edge with the Curly Label punch (#119851). I put the piece of cardstock into the punch hole opening at the back and positioned the cardstock half-way in so only one side of the label would cut... just at the bottom. This is a great example of a way our punches can be used to create borders! 

Take a look at the gorgeous Chocolate Chip satin ribbon (#124327) I placed on top of the vertical Pool Party piece! Wow! I simply LOVE the smooth texture of Stampin' Up!'s satin ribbon. It is so luxurious! The ribbon is attached at the top with a Glimmer Brad (#121003)!

The pretty embossed border on this card was created with the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions embossing folder die (#121809) and the Big Shot.  The lovely patterned paper I layered behind the teacups from the Mocha Morning (#122366) Specialty paper collection. I cut the paper into a scallop circle using the Big Shot and the Scallop Circle Bigz Die (#113468). I love the graceful effect this scallop circle brings to the tone of the card, don't you?

Click the images below to see details!

 

We have a special "Sneak Peek" offer going on now called "Summer Smooches"! This is a collection of wonderful products that well be in the upcoming 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue in June! Click Here or the graphic below to learn more!

 

Retiring Stamp Set list has been released!!

Don't miss out on your chance to order these stamp sets! They will no longer be available to order on June 1! Click Here or on the graphic below to see the list!

 

Vintage Typewriter card showcases the Mixed Bunch stamp set!

Sometimes one thinks of "yesteryear" and the time when letters and correspondence were hand typed on typewriters. There was no email at that time and letters went by post office. It seems like such a long time ago, but it really isn't. Sometimes I long for those days... which is when I like playing with vintage stamp sets! Here is a card I made, which showcases the beautiful flower in the Mixed Bunch Stampin' Up! stamp set (#125537) in the current Spring mini catalogue. This stamp set coordinates with the Blossom Punch (#125603) in the same catalogue! What a great pair!

The colors I used here are Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, and Whisper White. Here I combined several stamp sets to show you how Stampin Up! stamp sets can easily be mixed and matched so you can get greater use from them! Along with the Mixed Bunch stamp set, I used the Frame It stamp set (#122852), and the Established Elegance stamp set (#122532). The greeting is from the Spring Mini Catalogue stamp set called You're My Type (#125650).

This card reminds me a bit of something a, Edwardian lady would give to her beau!

I'd like to point out that the flourishes in the background of the card were stamped in Stampin' Up! Sahara Sand Craft Ink and embossed with Clear embossing powder (#109130). Stampin' Up! inks come in a pigment ink that is recommended for scrapbookers for its waterproof qualities. But it is also the perfect ink for embossing because it remains on the top of the paper (it doesn't get absorbed) and stays "wet" long enough for you to pour embossing powder onto it and heat it with your heat tool.

Stampin' Up! carries all of their colors in Craft ink as refills. When you purchase Craft ink as a refill, you should also purchase a blank, uninked ink pad (#122265) so that you can fill the blank ink pad with the Craft ink refill. In this case, I purchased a Sahara Sand Craft Ink refill (#121618) and a blank ink pad.

Please click on the images to see details!

 

The lovely vintage "button" in the center of the flower is actually a brad from the Antique Brads kit (#117273). Isn't it divine! I also used Sahara Sand seam binding on this card for a soft touch!

Here is another project made with the Established Elegance stamp set shared by the concept designers at Stampin' Up!

Click Here for details on this lovely card. As you can see, this stamp set is fun to play with! Below is the image of the stamps you will receive in this stamp set:

Feel free to contact me and ask any questions about products in the Spring Mini Catalogue. I will be featuring more projects from the Spring Mini Catalogue next month, both will be perfect cards you can give to your friends and family during the lovely springtime months! Please visit again!

 

St. Patrick's Day green and orange floral card to celebrate Ireland!

This is the time of year when orange and green go together perfectly! And the Happy St. Patrick's Day stamp in the Stampin' Up! mini catalogue is perfect to use on Orange and Green cards! I used the Stampin' Up! Decorative Label punch to punch it out!

I decided to add some lovely watercolored orange blossoms to each side of the greeting! I used the Bordering on Romance mini catalogue stamp set to stamp the flowers onto Watercolor paper and I used the Watercolor Pencils to color them in, making sure to leave some light and dark areas for depth. When I use the Watercolor pencils I like to layer the color. For example, the first thing I did was use a light orange shade and cover the areas fully. Then I blend with my Aquapainter. Next I choose a darker shade of red-orange and I add shading near some of the edges of the flower petals. Then blend those areas again with my Aquapainter being careful that the color doesn't blend too much with the lighter areas.

When I cut out the flowers, I used my wonderful Stampin' Up! Paper Snips. You may say "I already own scissors, why do I need these?" The response is easy! These paper snips are slim and have a very thin point so that you can cut very detailed images. These are the best scissors for this kind of detailed cutting and nothing can do a better job. Take a look at the picture of the scissors and see for yourself:

The flowers and greeting are layered on patterened paper from the Stampin' Up! Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper. And then on Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke cardstock on a Very Vanilla base. I added some pearls to the flower centers to finish it off!

Click the images below to see details!

 

Get your Sale-a-Bration benefits before it is too late!

View the Promotion here!

Here is a cute card featuring some of the free products you can earn during Sale-a-Bration! Click Here to view the list of "ingredients" for the card!

Sale-a-Bration ends on March 31, so make sure you place your orders now to get your benefits! Click the button below and then click "Shop Now" to place your order!

 

 

Beautiful flowers for a lovely birthday!

Good morning! I simply love flowers, don't you? Today I'm sharing a lovely card that I made with the Apothecary Art Stampin' Up! stamp set (#125527) which is in the Occasions mini catalogue. I also used the Tea Shoppe stamp set (#125547). I combined several techniques on this card which I'd like to share with you today.

The first technique I'd like to share is watercoloring. The flowers on this card were watercolored using Stampin' Up! Watercolor Pencils (#101879) and the Aquapainter (#103954). First I stamped the label image from the Apothecary Art stamp set in Black Staz-on Ink (#101406) onto Watercolor paper (#122959). I added a bit of water to the tips of the pink and purple watercolor pencils and lightly touched areas of the flowers to place color. Then I took my Aquapainter and blended the colors nicely. I did the same with the green watercolor pencil to color in the leaves. After this was dry, I added Crystal Effects (#101055) to the flowers to enhance their color and add depth to the image. I took my Rose Red Stampin' Write marker and outlined the inside of the label border. Then I added some diluted watercoloring to the inside of the label around the flowers. So pretty!

Next I cut out the label using the AWSOME new Framelits Dies Label Collection (#125598) and my Big Shot!

The Label Framelit Dies are designed to cut out the Apothecary Art stamp set images perfectly! Here is a tutorial for using the Framelit Dies (this video tutorial features the Hearts Collection):

 

I hope if you haven't tried watercoloring yet, that you do so soon! The effect it creates in your card art is simply amazing, and the Watercolor Pencils make watercoloring so easy!

Do you notice the lovely shimmer around the edge of this card? This was also easy to create. I simply took a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock and brushed the edges with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (#116806). Then I used my  Cutter Kit (#106958) to rough up the edges and took my Rich Razzleberry ink pad and rubbed the ink onto the rough edges to create a shabby look!

The floral embossed pattern behind the label image was created using the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions embossing folder (#116824). I lifted up a bit of the embossed layer to reveal some of the Rich Razzleberry color underneath! The result is that it looks like there is an additional layer of cardstock (even though there isn't!).

Two silver brads and Crochet Lace ribbon accent the card and draw your eye to the middle where there is a "Happy Birthday" greeting (from the Tagtastic hostess set).

Click the images below to see details!

   

 


This is a lovely, handmade, one of a kind special card to give to that special person, whether it be your mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, or friend!

I simply feel that giving a handmade creation makes all the difference in today's busy world. Handmade creations have a way of saying to the receiver "I cared enough to create the very best from the bottom of my heart."

Please, shop with me now at this wonderful Sale-a-Bration time of year to stock up on beautiful supplies to create cards like this for those you care most about!

Click Here to learn more about Sale-a-Bration!

Below is an image that shows what you get when you purchase the Apothecary Art stamp set:

And here is the image of the matching Label Collection Framelit Dies:

 

Pretty card made with Tea Shoppe stamp set!

The Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini catalogue has some amazing products and the Tea Shoppe stamp set (#125547) is one of them! Here is a pretty card that combines the Tea Shoppe set with the Bordering on Romance stamp set (#125482)!

 

With this card, I stamped the flowers from the Bordering on Romance stamp set and colored them with Stampin' Write markers. The colors I used are: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, and So Saffron. Then I cut them out. I stamped the tea cup from the Tea Shoppe stamp set in Rose Red ink and cut that piece out. Next I stamped the Louisa May Alcott quote and punched it out with the Extra Large tag punch (#119866)! Isn't it wonderful when Stampin' Up! makes stamps that can be punched out with our matching punches! I used a sponge dauber and Sahara Sand ink pad to rub a bit of ink on the edges of the punched tag to give it an "aged" look.

The background pattern paper is from the Paisley Petals Designer Series paper (#122367) and I layered it with Certainly Celery and Whisper White paper layers.

I positioned the tea cup on the right side of the card because I decided to hang the punched tag from the handle of the tea cup with linen thread! The tea cup is slightly raised with Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430) so that I could position the cut flowers underneath the cup to make them appear as if they are in the cup!

I always add my Dazzling Diamonds glitter (#102023) at the end of the project so that the glitter can dry properly on the paper without getting smudged. In this case, I used the 2-way Glue Pen (#100425) on the tea cup flowers as well as on the flowers that are positioned behind. I used Stampin' Up!'s Basic Pearls (#119247) as the flower centers! The brads are from the Square Rhinestone Brads collection (#109112).

Lastly, I added a bit of Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon (#122966) and Crumb Cake Seam Binding (#122332) on the tea cup handle!

It is fun combining stamp sets in creative ways! And you can too! Simply take a look at all the great possibilities with the stamp sets in the Occasions Mini Catalogue!

Click the images below to see more details of this card:

   

Sale-a-Bration has started!!

Contact me to book your workshop today!

For your Valentine!

Oh my! Valentine's Day is coming soon!

Pinks... Reds... and lots of hearts! How fun! I remember when I was a child making Valentine's for my friends and sharing "heart candy" at school! That's why I love Stampin' Up! and cardmaking! I get to continue making my own Valentine's now that I'm grown! 

Take a look at this pretty Valentine that I created using the brand new matching Edgelits and Adorning Accents embossing folders from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalogue!

 

Oh my! These were so fun to play with!!! Notice the lovely bottom edge on this card. Can you believe that is very easy to make?! It is with the new Adorning Accents Edgelits (#125595, $11.95) and Adorning Accents Embossing Folders (#125601, $10.95)!

This is how I used these products:

First, I used Pink Pirouette paper and I lined up my swag along the bottom edge of my card. I ran this through my BigShot. This is the "sandwich" I used:

• 1. Standard cutting pad
• 2. Embossing folder with material inside
• 3: Standard cutting pad
• 4. Multipurpose Platform on Tab 1

Then, I lined up my Edgelit die with the cutting edge on the bottom part of the embossed area. I ran this through the BigShot again using this "sandwich": 

• 1. Standard cutting pad
• 2. Edgelit with material (I recommend using dotto or temporary adhesive to hold the die in place while cutting)
• 3: Standard cutting pad
• 4. Multipurpose Platform no tabs

 

Watch a video tutorial on how to use these:

Back to my lovely pink and brown Valentine card...if you'll notice, I added an additional white layer under edge. I simply cut an additional edge in Whisper White cardstock and adhered it under the pink front layer.

The mini raised heart pattern in the Chocolate Chip cardstock was made with the Embossing folder that is included in the Adorning Accents package. I brayered just a touch of white ink onto them to make them "pop". I also used a thin strip of Wild Wasabi above the Chocolate Chip cardstock to accent the Wild Wasabi marker coloring I did in the vine around the heart.

I also used the following punches in this card: Full Heart (#119883, $22.95), Pinking Hearts Border (#117649, $20.95), Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack flower (#118309, $21.95), Boho Blossoms punch (#119858, $22.95).

Click on the images below to see additional details:

 

 

Don't you just love the layered heart? That heart is from the Stampin' Up! stamp set called Valentine Love (#122697, $17.95). Included in this set are the following: Cupid, row of Hearts, Heart with vine, "Happy Valentine's Day" greeting and "Love Always" greeting.

 

Here is another project you can make with this stamp set:  Click the image to learn more!

 

Tea stain technique is perfect to warm a winter friendship!

I love tea and coffee, especially at this time of year! Here is a card I made using the tea stain technique!

How to do the tea stain technique:

I warmed some tea with a tea bag and when the tea bag was wet, I simply wiped the tea bag over Very Vanilla cardstock to create a nice rich warm tone. I let the tea bag create varied tones all over the cardstock so that the tones are darker in some areas and not so dark in others. Then I used my Heat Tool (#100005, $38.95) to dry the cardstock!

The mug of warm brew on the tag is from the Stampin' Up! Morning Cup stamp set (#120489, $20.95). I thought I'd carry over the heart theme in the mug image by adding a few layered hearts from the Stampin' Up! I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (#118571, $22.95). 

I wasn't really thinking about making a Valentine card... just a card for a friend, but this card actually could be a Valentine! The card base is Very Vanilla with a layer of Chocolate Chip cardstock sandwiched between the base and the piece of Well Worn Designer Series Paper (#122359, $13.50).

After the tea stained cardstock was dry, I tore the bottom edge and layered it underneath to give the card depth. I used the Mat Pack (#105826, $12.95) to create "faux stitching" by poking holes and connecting the holes with a marker. 

The hearts are Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, and Cherry Cobbler. I added glitter to the large Early Espresso heart.

I used the Extra-Large Tag punch (#119866, $22.95) to make the tag. And the tag is embellished with Crumb Cake Seam binding (#122332, $9.50) and Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (#123125, $3.95)

As you can see in the image below, the hearts and tag are raised using Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $5.25).

You can see close up details in the tea staining by clicking the images below!

 

 

 

Occasions Mini Catalogue is Here!!!

Next week I have a beautiful project to share with you made with products from the new Occasions Mini Catalogue!!!

Click the image below to shop!!!