Color Inspiration, Part 4... the Final Part AND a Little Tutorial

Today's post is the final part of my little series on using color inspiration to guide your artistic creations.  In my 3 previous posts, I've shared color inspiration from children playing in various settings.  Today's colors are all about nature.

Using colors in nature is always a guaranteed way to have a color story that works well every time.  Mother Nature knows how to do it!  I loved my container garden this year and the colors were a wonderful inspiration to me each time I saw them.

As an artist, I love playing with color.  My eye is always drawn to color.  As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I often look at objects, especially in nature, and think of which Stampin' Up! colors I could use to create a project using those colors or shades of those colors.

Here's today's card project.

My color story:
Elegant Eggplant
Wisteria Wonder
Daffodil Delight
Wild Wasabi

Here are a couple of the photos that inspired my color story for this card project:

... and back to the card ... and how I did it ...

This card is made with our Thinlits Circle Card die.  This particular card has an extra piece or flap on it that folds in from the right side.

Here's a little mini tutorial to share with you how to make this kind of card using the die.  The photos show it with the Thinlits Label Card die, but it's the same exact technique.  Try it with both dies and see which one you like the best.

• Cut your CS to 5 1/2 X 8 1/4" --- so you can get 2 cards from 1 sheet of CS.
• Trim off a teeny, tiny sliver from the long side if it will not slip under the die as shown in the photo below.  (It becomes a sliver under 5 1/2")
• Insert the CS into the die as shown, with the right hand end sitting on TOP of the die.
• Roll all the way through the Big Shot, creating a little crease line where you roll over the last part of the die.
• Lay your cut card onto your Scoring Plate and go over the crease to create a crisp score line.  (The score line will be at 5 7/8" on your Scoring Plate.)  
• Go over it with your Bone Folder and fold up to create the flap.
• Decorate 1 or both sides of the flap with 2 1/4 X 5 1/4" CS or DSP in coordinating colors.
• Finish decorating and embellishing your beautiful card.  It's that simple!

See the extra flap.  By laying it over the die on the right hand edge and rolling over it, you create a little crease.  This becomes your scoring line and just naturally creates the extra flap.  Easy!!!

Here's another look at a previous card that was made with the Thinlits Label Card die and cut in the same way.

You can decorate the flap, inside and out, with card stock or DSP.  You can add stamped images and/or write a message.  You are limited only by your imagination.  Have fun with it!

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you'll try making this new kind of card.  If you do not yet have these fabulous Thinlits, scroll down on the left side of my blog and click on the image to get all the details.  Have a great day!

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Sketch Template Series, Part 3

Today's post brings us to Part 3 in our sketch template series.  I really like this sketch a lot and find it quite useful and versatile.

 

Here's what we made with this sketch:

Jenn's card makes use of circle and square punches.  I love how she used just a tiny bit of stamping in the top corner.

For this card, I used the A Round Array stamp set with the papers from the Sent with Love Promotional.  My sentiment is stamped directly onto the cotton ribbon.

I had both my sea stamp sets out, playing with them and decided to make a second card with this template.  I used the cotton ribbon for my 'flag' piece.  I grunged it up a bit with Soft Suede ink.

I love how Lynn layered her squares for this design.  Isn't this a great card?

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

What a fun Open House Party!

I've been MIA while trying to catch up a few things in my studio and get acquainted with a new camera.
Here's a peek at the Make and Take projects that we made at my Open House / New Catalog Party last Sunday.  I had so much fun!  I have the nicest customers ever, I'm sure!

I apologize for being in my 'learning mode' with a new camera.  Bear with me and I'll get better.  Hopefully, you can get the idea.  Here's one more shot.

By the way, if you were unable to attend, arrange a time with me this week to come by and place an order.  Those placing an order this week may still have their free catalog and stay a minute to make our 2 projects and see some of my new displays and, if you wish, check out what's left of my big Garage Sale.  After Saturday, it all gets put away so don't wait and miss out.

I will be practicing like crazy on learning just how to work this new camera and still trying to keep up with my posts.  I have so much more to share with you.  The beginning of a new catalog launch is always so exciting!  This might not have been the best time to start with a new camera, but the old one was just dying a little more each day.

If you missed me lately, I didn't get a chance to post anything because I had my sweet Olive Jane all night Sunday night and then Monday I went to lunch with my girls.  Monday night, my husband and I went out for dinner with another couple with whom we share our anniversary date.  They were celebrating 29 years and we were celebrating 40!  I don't know where the time goes.  We had a wonderful time together and had a really elegant meal.  Now, I'm back on the straight and narrow of my Atkins plan.  I feel a little guilty about the appetizer and dessert that I enjoyed with our meal, but maybe a little guilty that I don't regret it more:)  Once in a while, you have to celebrate, right?

Yesterday was spent playing catch up in my studio and waiting for the initial charging of my new camera.  I should have picked it up earlier in the day because it didn't finish charging until nearly midnight!

By the way, if you still wish to get in on my Product Bundles available, you have until June 30 to do so.  On June 30, I will hold a drawing for a prize.  Each Product Bundle you order will earn you 1 entry into the drawing!  Contact me if you wish more information.

Today, I'm cleaning and then stamping.  No dust will settle in my studio this week because I will be stamping up a storm.

Open House/Catalog Party Details

Here's a peek at some goodies I've made for my Open House/Catalog Party this Sunday afternoon.  I've used the stamp set Betsy's Blossoms and several of the brand new In Colors.  Of course, I'm not telling what's in the bag!

So, if you're in the area, I hope you'll come to my party on Sunday afternoon, June 3.  It's from 2:00-5:00 and I have a lot of fun planned for you.  There will be refreshments, games, make and takes, displays to inspire you, demonstrations of great new products (See them in action!), prizes, the opportunity to get 'Product Bundles' and earn extra free stuff, AND my Stampin' Bucks Store.

At the store, you'll have the opportunity to spend your Stampin' Bucks (No real bucks allowed here!) which you earn in a variety of ways --- all of which are fun, easy and stampin' delicious!

Here's how the Stampin' Bucks work:

-->RSVP by June 1 or 2.  ($20.) Pre-order a catalog (or earn w/qualifying order) ($20.)
Join Hostess Scrapbook Club.  ($100.)
Bring your catalog with you to the party.  ($10.)
Arrive during the 1st half hour of the party.  ($10.)
Bring a friend with you to the party.  ($20.)

Bring a NEW friend who has never been here.  ($50.)
For every $10. you order --- NO LIMIT  ($20. for EACH $10. ordered)
Enter your guess for my favorite NEW stamp set. *  ($10.)
Enter your guess for my favorite NEW In Color.*  ($10.)
Book a Summer Party for June, July or Aug. 2012.  ($100.)
Pay/register today for any of my 2012 classes  ($10. for EACH class)
Sign up today to become a Demo!!!  ($50.)
Order a Big Shot TODAY.  ($40.)
Order My Digital Studio TODAY.  ($30.)
Book a Holiday Party.  ($100.)
  (for Sept., Oct., Nov. or Dec. 2012) 

At the party:

Circle each item you’ve earned.

Tally your score.

Present this tally sheet to the Stampin’ Bucks cashier.

Start shopping in the Stampin’ Bucks Store!

*  Winners of the guessing contests will be announced at a later date.

Sound like fun?  You know it will be.  Come and join us!!!

New Stamps, New Wheel, New Inks... Life is Good!

I had so much fun playing with new 'toys' yesterday that I forgot to post some of my latest projects!  I made a set of little note cards using the new Betsy's Blossoms stamp set, Betsy's Blooms coordinating wheel and all the new In Colors inks and CS.  It was so much fun.  The new ink pads are absolutely amazing!

I cut out each bird and the leaf sprig by hand and then used a circle punch for the little flowers.  I actually stamped 2 each of the birds, so I could cut out an extra wing for each, to add dimension.  All the pieces are on dimensionals.  The print design on the white layer was done with the new wheel.  I finished off each card with a little rhinestone in the center of the flower.

The new In Colors, from left to right:
Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green and Raspberry Ripple.  I love how they all look so pretty together.  Each color seems to compliment the next.

Be sure to put June 3 (2:00-5:00) on your calendar so you can come to my Open House and see more projects and products from the new catalog.  I'll have displays to inspire you, projects to try, activities to entertain you, demonstrations to wow you, refreshments to nourish you and you'll enjoy the fellowship of others who love to stamp and create.  Inspire...Create...Share!  Come and join us!