Challenging Myself

I absolutely love stamping, I go through withdraw if I don't stamp at least once a week.  When I first started stamping I would create my own cards more often than not, but over the last 2 years I have stopped creating and instead have been "CASEing."  Not that there is anything wrong with that (as long as you give credit where credit is due), but I just feel like I'm getting lazy.  So, the best way for me to step out of what has become my comfort zone I have been scoping out the many challenge blogs out there and really pushing myself to create some of my own cards.

Which brings us to today's post, a color challenge from Pals Paper Arts, and I must say I am rather excited about the card I developed.

Here is the challenge...

Strawberry Slush is a new Stampin' Up! In Color for 2013-2015, and it has become an absolutely favorite color of mine.

For my card I used a new technique that I have just recently started seeing, it's called Magical Masking Tape, and it is unbelievably easy to do.  Here is a link to the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  

I'd love to hear what you think.

Products Used (All Products are Stampin' Up!)
Stamp Sets: Kind and Caring Thoughts (retired hostess set), and Petite Pairs
Cardstock: Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate, Basic Black and Whisper White
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate and Versamark
Embellishments: Neutrals Candy Dots (Love These!), Basic Black Stampin' Emboss Powder
Tools: SNAIL, Heating Tool, Painter's Tape, Embossing Buddy

Tips

1. Always use an embossing buddy when embossing, it really works well.
2. The tutorial uses masking tape, I used blue painters tape instead.
3. The candy dots can be used with the Candy Dot Brad Bases, or just adhered directly to the paper, like I did here.

If you try this technique let me know, I would love to know how you liked it.
Until next time.

Fabulous Florets

Sometimes the best things come in simple packages, and this card is a perfect example of that.  I CASE'd this card from what is obviously a talented demonstrator, but unfortunately I don't know who that is...if you do please let me know so that I can give them credit.

Supplies
Stamp Sets:  Fabulous Florets, Petite Pairs

Card Stock:  Confetti Cream, Early Expresso

Craft Ink:  Cherry Cobbler Craft Ink (great for heat embossing)

Punches:  Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch

Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Powder Pals, Gold Glow Smooch Spritz, Color Catcher, Dimensionals

Tips

1. Whenever you are heat embossing the Embossing Buddy is a must, it helps keep your embossing powder stick only where it is supposed to.
2. When heat embossing you can used Versamark or Craft Ink, I used the Craft Ink.  Both of these inks take a little bit to dry so the embossing powder sticks to it.  Classic ink dries to quickly and the embossing powder won't stick.
3. The Heat Tool gets very very very hot, so be careful!
4. When using the Smooch Spritz you need to do it in an encolsed space so you won't get the Spritz all over every thing; I used the Color Catcher.
5. The closer the spritz bottle is to the card the more concentrated the Spritz will be, the farther away the more spread out.
6. When using the Smooch Spritz you may need to clean the nozzle before spraying because it can get clogged up, and be sure to shake the bottle well.

That's all for today, and please STAY COOL today.

Triple Treat

The first stamp in the new catalog that I knew I just HAD TO HAVE is called Triple Treat Flower.  It is just an a la carte stamp, not a set just a single lone stamp.  This is what it looks like

So whats the big deal right?  Well it's one small single stamp that you can use 3 punches on and all of a sudden this stamp has so many possibilities.  I made 2 different yet similar cards to show you what I mean.

Supplies
Stamp Sets:  Triple Treat Flower, Petite Pairs
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Classic Ink:  Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder and Pretty in Pink
Punches:  Large Oval, Scallop Oval, Flower Fancy, 5-Petal Flower and 1/2" Circle
Accessories:  3/8" Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon (I LOVE this ribbon), Basic Pearls, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, SNAIL

Tips:

1. I used Pool Party Classic Ink to stamp the images on the Pool Party Card Stock making my own DSP
2. To make the flower first I stamped it in Wisteria Wonder and punched it out with the Flower Fancy Punch, then I stamped it again in Pool Party and punched that out with the 5-Petal Flower Punch, and finally I stamped the flower one last time and punched the center out with the 1/2" circle punch.
3. Once I was done with all of the stamping and punching I layered it using SNAIL and then placed it on the Pool Party Card Stock using Dimensionals and then I placed a Basic Pearl in the center of flower.

So now lets check out the second card I made.

Supplies

Stamp Sets:  Triple Treat Flower, Thanks for Caring

Card Stock: Whisper White

Designer Series Paper:  Flirtatious Speciality

Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Pretty in P

Punches:  Moder Label, 1/2" Circle, Flower Fancy, 5-Petal Flower, Scallop Trim Border

Accessories:  3/8" Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon (did I mention I LOVE this ribbon), Dimensionals, SNAIL, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Basic Pearls

Tips

1. I stamped the Triple Treat Flower in Pool Party first, then Wisteria Wonder and Pretty in Pink.
2. This card is essentially the same layout as the first one, I just switched the colors around a little and voila!

That's it for today, I hope you enjoyed my cards today.