Tuesday, June 21, 2016


Just Sitting Here....

This stamp set was on my wish list and I'm happy to say I did get it.  It just reminds me of lovely lazy summer times.  So, as I was thoroughly enjoying the first day of Summer yesterday, I began this card.


  


Using the Sitting Here stamp set, I stamped the swing in Archival Black, so I could color it without worrying about smearing the original image.  I used the Stampin' Up Blender Pens and my Chocolate Chip inkpad to color the swing and the Marina Mist to color the cushion on the swing.  I added a couple Calypso Coral and Night of Navy pillows stamped with Chocolate Chip and fussy cut.   

I didn't want my swing to be just hanging from nothing, so I stamped the top of the panel with trees and leaves from the Sheltering Tree stamp set.  I used the Chocolate Chip to stamp the branches and an old In-color, Pistachio Pudding, for the leaves.  Then, I added some darker leaves with Always Artichoke for a more realistic dappled look and was very happy with how it turned out.  I could have used Pear Pizzazz or Wild Wasabi for the lighter green, but I still have the Pistachio Pudding, and I was determined to use it.

Below the swing, I stamped the sentiment from the Sitting Here set.  Important note to all stampers--stamp the sentiment early BEFORE you've done all the coloring and work on the panel.  I actually stamped mine last, and it's a little crooked.  Oops.  Hopefully, I'll remember next time.

And finally, to ground the panel, I stamped an image from Work Of Art across the bottom in Pistachio Pudding - I still do love those old In-colors!  And since they were designed to coordinate with the classic colors, they still look beautiful.
The stamped panel is embellished with a strip of twine, then adhered to DSP and a Calypso Coral card base. 

The inside is decorated with a scrap of DSP - I love using up my scraps!  The sentiment is from the Sitting Here set.  The flower pot is stamped again with the Archival Black ink and colored with the Stampin' Up Blender Pens using Night of Navy, Calypso Coral, Pistachio Pudding, Always Artichoke, and Chocolate Chip. 

I love it!  Hope you enjoy as well.


 http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=142409
 
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=138232
 http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=134114
 http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=102845


Be sure to contact me about my end of June special offer!

If you would like to place an order online, please do so at:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/carolscards4fun/

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Roses are Red

I am trying to find my inner artist by exploring watercolor.  Recently I was inspired by fellow demonstrator Elizabeth Jeanne Thatcher when I saw her creation using the Stampin' Up You've Got This stamp set.

   


Since I'm not really sure of the technique she used, I tried to recreate her project using Stampin' Up inks and Aqua Painters on 2 different paper types.  On the left card, the Rose was painted on water color paper.  On the right card, the rose was painted on Whisper White card stock.  In looking at the pictures, there's not really a large difference in the appearance, though I must say that the watercolor paper was much easier to use. 

I used the Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive inkpads by squishing them just a bit to create a smear of ink on the lid.  The lid them became my palette for the aqua painter.  I found that I had a lot more opportunity to layer on paint and blend with the water color paper.   The Whisper White will get too wet and ball up and tear if too much water is added.  But I'm pretty happy with them both.  I like the finished look of the Whisper White because it is smooth, but the water color paper is so much easier to use and blend the colors.

The painted image was layered onto a piece of Whisper White stamped with an image from the You've Got This stamp set stamped with Night of Navy, and then layered onto Night Of Navy cardstock and adhered onto a Whisper White card base.  A strip of Cherry Cobbler and a twine accent was added for embellishment.

The inside is also stamped with a sentiment from the Kinda Eclectic stamp set with Night of Navy and layered onto Night of Navy cardstock and then adhered to the Whisper White card base. 



Products used:
http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=139575  http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=135350



If you would like to take advantage of my end of June special offer, please contact me directly or if you would rather place an order online, please do so at:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/carolscards4fun/

Friday, June 10, 2016

Botanical Affection

I had a vision pop into my head soon after I got the Affectionately Yours paper.  I really wanted to combine it with the Botanical Blooms thinlits.  So, I did and here is what I got.
 


 
The Affectionately Yours DSP and coordinating cardstock was used to make these cards.  I placed the Vine from the Botanical Blooms thinlits over the Affectionately Yours DSP and Mint Macaroon and ran through the Big Shot both papers at the same time so they would be sure to match.  That gave me enough to make 2 cards.  See how the 2 cards above are reverse image.  Be sure to save all the little leave inserts!  
 
The first card is on a Crumb Cake base with a Night of Navy mat. The flowers are Watermelon Wonder and Crushed Curry using the Botanical Blooms thinlets and the leaves were stamped with the Botanical Blooms stamp set.  The sentiment is from the Love & Affection stamp set and punched with the Banner Triple punch.  I really like to use banners, so I've used that punch a lot.  I just knew I needed it when I ordered it!  It punches banners 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, and 2 inches wide. 
 
The second card is on a Night of Navy base with a Watermelon Wonder mat.  Butterflies were stamped on Watermelon Wonder and Crushed Curry with their matching inks using Papillon Potpouri stamp set.  Then they were punched with the coordinating Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Butterfly punches.  The sentiment is stamped from the You've Got This stamp set and punched with the Decorative Label punch.
 
Stampin' Up stamp products:
Affectionately Yours Cardstock
Affectionately Yours DSP
 

 

 






Botanical Builders Framelits
Botanical Blooms


 
Love & Affection
Papillon Potpourri
Elegant Butterfly
Bitty Butterfly
     


Monday, June 6, 2016


Artistically Done

Last week was really busy with the new catalog launch.  I hope you all were able to order your favorite item(s).  I am eagerly awaiting shipment so I can play with even more of the new catalog items.

But, while I'm waiting, I am not idle.  I have created another little masterpiece - I like calling them that - using the new 2016 Painter's Palette paired with the returning Work of Art stamp sets.

 
 
  

When I saw the new Painter's Palette, it just seemed totally natural to pair it with the returning Work of Art stamp set.  The card base is Whisper White, layered with Night of Navy, then another layer of Whisper White has been stamped mostly with the Work of Art set.  The Thoughtful Banners stamp set and coordinating Duet Banner punch were used to create the Happy Father's Day banners.

The Painter's Palette easel was popped up with the sentiment from Work of Art.  The inside was stamped with Painter's Palette and layered on Night of Navy.  I love it!

Note the little decoration on the envelope from the Work of Art stamp set.  The card just isn't complete unless the inside is finished, and I do like a bit of something on the envelop too.

Stampin' Up products used:
Painter's Palette
Work of Art

Thoughtful Banners Bundle

You can find these items on my website at:
http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/carolscards4fun/