Category: Techniques

July 29, 2014

A Chalk Talk Thank You and Missed Opportunities

What happens when you create, and create, and you take pictures and you don’t share them?

This…

… a Chalk Talk thank you card that includes great stuff that you can’t get anymore.

Big bummer!

All is not lost…lots of great stuff on this card that is still available…but it could be gone too eventually.

Moral of the story?

…I’ll leave that up to you.

I love the Apothecary framelits I used to trim the layers of the tag. And…BONUS…they’re still available!

Using only one color with a couple of neutrals is an easy way to get a unified look. Score!

Coordinating pattern paper, cardstock and embossing powder in Stampin’ Up! Melon Mambo – it’s like Color Coordination for Dummies.

Black always adds so much style and sophistication to a card even if it is a chalkboard. I’m a fan of black. I disagree that Orange is the New Black. Sorry, Netflix.

I still love the chalkboard look. How about you? You can easily achieve this chalkboard technique by heat embossing on black cardstock. Then rub white craft ink randomly across the black cardstock with a sponge for that chalky, just erased look.

Apparently, Stampin’ Up! does not feel the need to consult me before making product retirement decisions.

What’s up with that?

I can guarantee you that if they had asked me, I would have said you can’t retire these sweet open hearts from Hearts A Flutter or the Melon Mambo embossing powder until after I’ve walked on the moon.

Which is NEVER!

But the good news, I guess, is that amazing stamp sets and accessories retire so we can have more amazing stamp sets and accessories.

And we don’t all have to have back surgery from carrying around a catalog that weighs 500 pounds.

And more good news – the bakers twine is now available in seven new colors and the new thick baker’s twine is available in five colors. Seven plus five equals twelve new options. Check it out here.

(All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be ordered through my online store. Thank you! I love my customers! <3 )

Stamps: Chalk Talk wood-mount #130631 or clear-mount #130634

Ink: Versamark pad #102283, white craft pad #101731

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730, Black cardstock #121045

Extras: Big Shot Die-cutting Machine #113439, Apothecary Framelits #127003, White Baker’s Twine #124262, Rhinestones #119246, White Embossing Powder #, Dimensionals #104430

Quick Links:

Shop Stamping Julie Stampin’ Up! store . You know you want to. 😉
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. Only until July 31st.

Enjoy! Julie

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

April 25, 2013

Epic Day Butterfly Thank You

Some accessories have already sold out! Storytime Collection DVD, and some reinkers, watercolor crayons and cardstock are sold out! For the complete list click here.

Also, to clarify, retiring accessories are available while supplies last or until June 3rd, whichever comes first.

Something Old, Something New! This card features the brand new Best of Butterflies stamp set from Stampin’ Up!’s Best of 25 Years series, and the washi tape and designer series paper from the brand new This and That collection.

This butterfly card also includes the Elegant Lines embossing folder which is on the retiring list and will no longer be available after the supplies are depleted. I love this embossing folder and I’m sad to see it go. You can view more projects made with this embossing folder here, here and here.

I used an Easter card to inspire today’s creation. By using the basic design of a previous project it is easy way to be inspired and quickly design a new card! And no one will guess you are copying off yourself!

The This and That Epic Day Designer Series Paper inspired my color choices. To create the butterfly, I used the ‘rock n roll’ technique. First I inked up the stamp with Daffodil Delight and then rolled the it in Calypso Coral before stamping. This stamp works perfectly with the Elegant Butterfly punch and I also layered the butterfly on a punched Basic Gray butterfly.

CHECK OUT THE RETIRING STAMPS and accessories and place your order while supplies last!

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: Best of Butterfly #133345, Teeny Tiny Wishes wood-mount #115370 clear-mount #127802

Ink: Daffodil Delight #126944, Calypso Coral #126983

Paper: Very Vanilla #101650, Basic Gray #121044, This and That Epic Day dsp #130814

Extras: Big Shot #113439, Elegant Lines embossing folder #119277**, This and That Washi Tape #131269, Elegant Butterfly punch#127526, Pearls #119247, Dimensionals #104430

This and That products available 15% off in bundle until May 30th.

** retiring, available only while supplies last

Enjoy! Julie

April 10, 2013

How to Make an Ombre Chevron Birthday Card

This birthday card is simple, but it includes some great trendy elements: ombre color and a chevron pattern. Ombre style is all the rage in hair color, but what about incorporating it into your card making? And ombre has French origins which makes it super chic.

I’ve created a video to show you how I made this ombre, chevron birthday card. You can view the supply list and video below.

This card is not about perfection, it’s about highlighting the chevron pattern with a trendy technique and creating a fun card to celebrate a birthday. Don’t get hung up on perfection because you will likely get a little ink where you didn’t want it, but it’s all part of the effect.

I chose Regal Rose for this card because this color is being discontinued and it is one of my favorites. But the good news is Island Indigo will continue in the new collection instead of retiring this year and Rose Red will continue in the Stampin’ Up! regal collection line up. Check out more information about the color changes and be sure to order your favorites now as they will no longer be available as supplies are depleted.

Here’s the card recipe:

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

Stamps: Friendly Phrases wood-mount #126149 clear-mount #126151

Ink: Regal Rose #126947, Rose Red #126954, Island Indigo #126986

Paper: Whisper White cardstock #100730, Island Indigo cardstock #122923

Extras: Big Shot Die-cutting Machine #113439, Chevron Embossing Folder #127749, Brayer #102395, Island Indigo Bakers Twine #125575, Dimensionals #104430

If you are viewing this post in an email feed, click here to see the how to make an ombre chevron birthday card video.

Have you ordered your favorite retiring colors? Do it fast, while supplies last! And consider adding a brayer and the Chevron embossing folder to your order so you can make an ombre chevron birthday card too!

Enjoy! Julie

March 22, 2013

Feeling Sentimental Bicycle Greeting Card

IT’S THE LAST DAY OF SALE-A-BRATION!

And the last day to get the starter kit for only $99 with 25% more!

Order today to take advantage of all the FREE product available. Get FREE exclusive Sale-A-Bration product with every $50 in merchandise you order! Click here for the complete list of SAB products!

Here’s the Feeling Sentimental bicycle in motion! To create the motion, I inked up the stamp with Raspberry Ripple and stamped it four times, shifting to the left without reinking. I love the effect. Then I added the large Rhinestone to the front bike for added emphasize.

The beautiful paper is from the Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack. The stack includes 48 sheets, 4 each of 12 double-sided designs. Each sheet is 4-1/2″ x 6-1/2″, perfect for card making or picture matting and a variety of other projects. And it’s printed in a lovely array of styles in beautiful In Colors.

“So glad” is stamped from the SAB Bloomin’ Marvelous set. I used a Raspberry Ripple marker to color just the words I wanted from the stamp. It fit just right in the circle punch layered on the scallop circle.

Earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration product with every $50 in merchandise you order!

Click here for the complete list of SAB products!

Feeling Sentimental is a Sale-a-bration exclusive set that will no longer be available after today!

Enjoy! Julie