Category: Cards

July 25, 2014

Blendabilities LOVE and How Perfectionism Can Ruin Your Creativity

Maybe you’ve noticed I’ve been absent from this space for far too long!!! And I’ve missed it. A lot. I love having a reason to get up and create everyday. And I’ve missed you. You’re amazing, and you keep coming back, and you continue to order from me. Thank you!!

So what’s with the title? Perfectionism is the reason I’ve been absent. Now I could say it is grandbabies and moving and school and volunteer work and, and, and, but truthfully, it’s perfectionism. See, if I couldn’t do blog everyday, with all the bells and whistles I wanted to add, then I just couldn’t do it. Which is ri-di-cu-lous!

In fact, right now I want to change everything about my website. And I mean everything! I want a different layout, a different color scheme and a different header, etc., etc. But I’m going to embrace the here and now, and remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, for heaven’s sake. I’m sure you would rather for me to post three or four imperfect blog posts every week on my imperfect blog than just disappear. Am I right? Well, I hope I’m right, because that is my new No-More-Perfectionism Manifesto.

How has perfectionism stopped you this year? Join me and embrace your imperfections and enjoy your creativity!! Don’t let perfectionism ruin your creativity!

I am in love!!! Yes, it’s true! My new, true loves are the Stampin’ Up! Blendabilities markers!!! Oh My Goodness!!!!!!!! Seriously, folks, FUN, FUN, FUN! I love coloring. Ask my grandkids. I can color Ariel, Barbie and Scooby Doo like nobody’s business. So give me a new tool for coloring and I’m in heaven. Love, love, love!

But patience is NOT my strong suit. If you look closely at the flower above you’ll notice that it is not perfectly blended. (Yep, there’s that perfect word again.) If you’ve used alcohol-based markers, like Copics before or you’ve seen a demonstration, you know that working in small areas is ideal because it allows the color to blend together while it’s still damp or something very scientific like that. But I, on the other hand, do not like the idea of using four different markers on one petal before moving on to the next one. People, that’s seriously time consuming!

Each color comes in a three pack. Brilliant! No blending guess work. My approach on this flower was to start with the darkest color of the Cherry Cobbler assortment, coloring in the shadows of the petals. Then I used the medium Cherry Cobbler marker and pulled the darker color out a little further. And finally coloring with the lightest shade, I blend out to the petal edges. I love the look of white spaces in watercoloring so I left some small white spaces. I then went in with the lightest Pumpkin Pie shade and blended into the white spaces for some additional color interest and depth.

I used the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities markers for the flower center. I then added a few of the tiniest pearls. Be sure to use the Memento stamp pad with your blendabilities. The Memento stamp pad and Whisper White card stock are a perfect pair for “blendabiliting”. Yep, I made that up. “Blendabiliting.” I think I will be doing a lot of that. I hope you like my very first blendabilities project. There are many more to come!

This card also features other great, new products: the Something to Say stamp set, the Moonlight Designer Series Paper stack and the Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon.

(All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be ordered through my online store. Thank you! I love my customers! <3 )Stamps: Blended Bloom wood-mount #135906, Something to Say wood-mount #134177 or clear-mount #134180

Ink: Momento Stamp Pad #132708

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730, So Safron cardstock #126957, Moonlight Designer Series Paper stack #133701

Extras: Big Shot Die-cutting Machine #113439, cuddlebug embossing folder (the Lovely Lace ef #133737 would make a great substitute), Hello Honey Stitched Satin Ribbon #133671, Corner Punch #135346, Dimensionals #104430

Quick Links:

Shop Stamping Julie Stampin’ Up! store .
Subscribe to monthly My Paper Pumpkin craft kit. You’ll love getting these kits in your box each month. Sign up now and get 50% off your first two months!! Yay!
Weekly Deals! Check out this week’s deals.
Buy 3 Designer Series Paper packs and get one FREE

Enjoy! Julie

October 11, 2013

A Pool Party Cycle Celebration Birthday Card

I love bicycle stamps! And I wanted the Cycle Celebration stamp set the minute I saw it in the new catalog! This bicycle is adorable!! So cute!

And yes, I know I’ve been missing in action on the website, but rest assured that if you email me, call or text me at the email address or phone number at the top of the website I’m always available to you! I will not bore you with everything that has been going on since June. It has been crazy!!! – moving, surgeries, a funeral, a birth, etc. But things are starting to settle down and I’m hopeful I’ll be in a new house in about two months and I’ll be able to set up my new stamp studio and share it with you! Yay!

The inspiration for the design and colors in this card came from page 10 of the Stampin’ Up! catalog. If you look at the picture you may be surprised that gift packaging on the birthday ensemble could be the inspiration for a card, but notice how I stamped the tag and repeated the bicycle pattern across the card – all inspired by the packaging.

The ruffle ribbon is the perfect border for the ‘road’ these cycles are rolling on! And it’s super easy to work with. I used a bit of SNAIL adhesive on the ribbon to set it in place and then taped it behind the Quatrefancy designer series paper.

(All supplies are Stampin’ Up! Click on the product link to visit the online store for pictures, details & ordering.)

Stamps: Cycle Celebration wood-mount #130279 clear-mount #130273

Ink: Crushed Curry #131173, Pumpkin Pie #126945, Pool Party #126982, Black StazOn #101406

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730, Pool Party cardstock #122924, Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper #130141

Extras: Itty Bitty Shapes Punches #118309, Little Labels Punches #126881 , Rhinestones #119246, Coastal Cabana Ruffle Ribbon #130024, Dimensionals #104430

cycle celebration birthday card stampingjulie cards stampin up

Quick Links:
Stampin’ Up! membership kit only $25!! Ends October 21st.
Weekly Deals! Check out this week’s deals. To see the sale price add it to your cart.
Shop Stamping Julie Stampin’ Up! store.
Subscribe – monthly My Paper Pumpkin craft kit. You’ll love getting these kits in your box each month.
View the special edition 25 Year Anniversary stamp sets.

Order your Cycle Celebration stamp set today. I promise you’ll love it!

Enjoy! Julie

August 2, 2013

Cycle Celebration Sweet Birthday Card

Easily, one of my very favorite new stamp sets is the Cycle Celebration. Fun, fun, fun. I love the bicycle in this set but I also love the candles. Well, really, I love just about everything about this set.

I wanted to group three bright candles together as the focal point for this card so I used the Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper for color inspiration and chose Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie and Strawberry Slush for my candles. Using Paper Snips I had no trouble trimming these out in a snap.

cycle celebration sweet birthday card stampingjulie.com

Also, I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter shimmer to the flames with 2-way glue. And I added a sliver of dimensionals under the tops of the candles so they would stand out from the card a little.

Because I chose the bright colors for the candles and I wanted them to stand out on the card I chose a paper from the pack with a monochrome pattern to complement the candles and the message. The paper backed with a piece of Island Indigo cardstock is lifted off the card with dimensionals.

cycle celebration sweet birthday card stampingjulie.com

To create the “sweet birthday” oval tag I stamped with the Strawberry Slush and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder mixed with a touch of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. Then clipping it out was super fast and easy with the oval punch.

Here’s the card recipe:

(All supplies are Stampin’ Up! Click on the product link to visit the online store for pictures, details & ordering.)

Stamps: Cycle Celebration wood-mount #130279 clear-mount #130273

Ink: Island Indigo #126986, Strawberry Slush #131178, Pumpkin Pie #126945

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730, Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper #130141

Extras: Heat Tool #129053, Clear Embossing Powder #109130, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter #102023, 2-way Glue #100425, Oval Punch #119859, Dimensionals #104430

Introducing Thinlits Card Dies!

Quick Links:
New Fabulous Thinlits! Check them out!
Shop Stamping Julie Stampin’ Up! store.
Subscribe – monthly My Paper Pumpkin craft kit. Use promo code: pumpkindeal and get 50% off your first two months.
View the special edition 25 Year Anniversary stamp sets.

Order your Cycle Celebration stamp set today and get started now on all those birthday cards you’ll need to send this year.

Enjoy! Julie

July 26, 2013

20 Washi Tape Thank You’s in a Jiffy

I always need a stack of thank you cards. But lately the need has been even greater. So many friends have helped me as I’ve prepared to move. I’ve had friends come over and help me do a bit of painting, cleaning and packing. Not only was their help wonderful for getting a lot done, it also was just GREAT to have the company and moral support. When I was a kid I used to beg my sister to just come sit in my room with me while I cleaned. I’m a social cleaner, for sure.

I love to find a design that’s cute AND fast. Washi tape came to the rescue on this note card. I started with the note card pack of precut cards and envelopes. And the Gingham Garden Washi Tape comes as a pack of these three patterns that harmonize together. Just tear off three strips and adhere for an instant colorful design.

And four punches really amped up the quick and fun factor. I stamped ‘Gee, thanks’ from Really Good Greetings and punched it out with the Modern Label punch, then punched the end with a corner of the 1″ square punch.

The punched sentiment was layered on the base stamped with the Label Love stamp and punched out with the new and coordinating Artisan Label punch. The center was decorated with a scallop circle punched from Whisper White cardstock spruced up with the Gingham wheel.

I used the same Gingham wheel to decorate the envelope flop for a coordinated surprise. Don’t you just love getting a note card with a decorated envelope?! Not much chance it will be mistaken as junk mail when you embellish the envelope.

Here’s the card recipe:

(All supplies are Stampin’ Up! Click on the product link to visit the online store for pictures, details & ordering.)

Stamps: Label Love Bundle includes the Label Love stamp set and the Artisan Label punch with a 15% discount: wood-mount #132723 clear-mount #132722

Ink: Melon Mambo #126948, Island Indigo #126986

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730

Extras: Note Cards and Envelopes #131527, Gingham Garden Washi Tape #129314, Rhinestones #119246, Modern Label Punch #119849, 1″ Square Punch #124094, 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch #129404, Gingham Wheel #130110, Dimensionals #104430

Quick Links:
Shop Stamping Julie Stampin’ Up! store .
Subscribe – monthly My Paper Pumpkin craft kit.
View the special edition 25 Year Anniversary stamp sets .
Buy three, get one FREE Designer Series Paper packs. Ends July 31st.

Need some thank you cards on hand. The Label Love Bundle makes it quick and easy. Order the supplies you need above and you’ll be on your way to 20 handmade thank you’s that your friends will love!

Enjoy! Julie

July 15, 2013

Label Love Mr. & Mrs. Wedding Card

Our oldest daughter, two of our grandchildren and my mother just pulled out of town. Over a month ago we found out that we were moving and I got busy working on the house, plus we had over two weeks of company already coming to town, and a family wedding to attend. (The house painting blog post I promised will post later this week!) I was also facing important deadlines for some volunteer work that I do. In addition, other family emergencies and events came up that could not be foreseen.

I apologize for the silence on my end here. I was already planning for a very busy summer, but when the move suddenly came up, that just cranked up my schedule past manageable. Normally I can plan for these things and schedule posts in advance, so I don’t leave you hanging if you check in often as I hope that you do. But the move and other surprises just took it over the top and I found myself falling far behind!!

But no fears, I’m back now with new projects and new ideas!

The card above is the one I made for my niece Danielle’s wedding that we went to last week. I made it specifically with Danielle in mind. Tomorrow I’ll show you some cool wedding decorations my sister made using Stampin’ Up! products and My Digital Studio. So, so awesome! You won’t want to miss it.

I used the new Smoky Slate ink to stamp the Mr. & Mrs. from the new Label Love stamp set. I then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder to which I added a little dazzling diamonds glitter for a little extra special sparkle. And of course, I punched it out quickly with the new coordinating Artisan Label punch.

hint: I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to an extra tub of clear embossing powder and labeled it so I always have this mixture on hand.

Look closely. Can you see the glitter shimmer? Also, did notice the pearl accents? The adhesive-backed basic pearls makes adding this little embellishment super easy.

The card base is the new Stampin’ Up! In Color Crisp Cantaloupe with the clear mosaic-patterned window sheet from the Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper. hint: I only applied adhesive and adhere the window sheet to the card base only where the label and ribbon would cover it.

To cover the ribbon on the inside I used a piece of gray polka dot dsp from a retired dsp paper stack. I also used this same dsp to line the envelope. Danielle loves polka dots and she used subtle polka dots on her wedding announcements, her wedding dress and other wedding décor.

The ribbon tie is a combination of a (retired) gray taffeta, white bakers twine and White Organza ribbon. One end is taped down under the left side and the other end is adhered with glue dots and knotted on the right.

Here’s the card recipe:

(All supplies are Stampin’ Up! Click on the product link to visit the online store for pictures, details & ordering.)

Stamps: Label Love Bundle includes the Label Love stamp set and the Artisan Label punch with a 15% discount: wood-mount #132723 clear-mount #132722

Ink: Smoky Slate #131179

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730, Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock #131298, Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper #130141

Extras: Basic Pearls #119247 ,White Organza Ribbon #114319, White Bakers Twine #124262, Clear Embossing Powder #109130, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter #102023, Heat Tool #129053, Dimensionals #104430

Quick Links:
Shop Stamping Julie Stampin’ Up! store.
Subscribe – monthly My Paper Pumpkin craft kit.
View the special edition 25 Year Anniversary stamp sets.
Buy three, get one FREE Designer Series Paper packs.

I love making a wedding card that is specifically designed with the bride in mind. The Label Love stamp set and punch bundle helped make this card perfect for my beautiful niece and her new hubby!

Enjoy, Julie