Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 8

Recently, I shared an Acrylic Block Technique card with you, using By the Tide and silver embossing.  Today, I have a similar one, using gold embossing. 

I've used some of our new Gold Cord on this card, as well.  I chose the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder to give a vague nod to underwater bubbles.

This pretty card could work for most any occasion where a card is needed.  I've been using Marina Mist a lot lately.  It sat by quietly just waiting for me to come back.  It really is a beautiful shade of blue.

Come back for more Acrylic Block Technique cards.  

- 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 look on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

Acrylic Block Technique Cards, Part 1

Today, I'm starting a little series on cards I've made using the Acrylic Block Technique.  This technique involves literally scribbling onto an acrylic block with 2 or more colors of Stampin' Write Markers, spritzing it 2 or 3 times with water, and then stamping it onto CS, to create a beautiful background.  I use Shimmery White CS for mine because it takes a little water nicely and it's just plain gorgeous with it's subtle shimmer.  

I tried using a larger block on this card.  It's our E block.  (I usually use our D block.)  I stamped the sea fan in Pear Pizzazz, after letting the background dry, and then stamped it again with VersaMark Ink and embossed it with silver EP.

I added a silver embossed sea shell to the bottom of the card.

I used a combination of blues and a bit of green for my background and then used Marina Mist and Pear Pizzazz for my card.  I think it turned out pretty nicely.  I love the blues and greens together.  The super fun thing about this technique is that it turns out differently every time.  It's like a fun surprise!

Come back for more Acrylic Block Technique cards.  

- 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 look on the left for sneak peeks. 

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

Baked Brown Sugar... Yummy!

Today, let's continue our series on meeting the new colors.  Meet a new In Color, Baked Brown Sugar.  This is a really yummy color and the Color Coach suggested some combinations that I would not have thought of trying.

The first color story is Baked Brown Sugar, Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler.  This combination makes for a very rich looking card.  With the red and green, I tried hard to NOT make it look like a Christmas card.  I just wanted something different, for more of a challenge.

The second color story is Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe and Bermuda Bay.  Crisp Cantaloupe is also a new In Color.  Bermuda Bay is an old favorite, returning color.  I used my Aqua Painter to color in the sea star and the sea shells.

Both cards have images that are cut out and mounted on dimensionals, for added texture.
So, once again, I'll ask you --- which color story do you like the best?

- 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.

Sneak Peek at June 14 Cards and A Happy Anniversary

Here's a sneak peek at the cards for our first Friday Night Cards class on June 14.  I want to introduce you to our new In Colors and to a brand new color called Smoky Slate.  We'll be making 6 cards - one with each of these new colors.  My color stories are based on the new Color Coach cards.  These 2 cards feature Baked Brown Sugar (with Crisp Cantaloupe and Bermuda Bay) and Smoky Slate (with Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz).  Don't you just love the color names of our colors?  Most of them make you hungry!

Here are the details on the class:

• Pay ($16.) to register by June 12.
• Get a friend to sign up and pay by June 12 and you AND your friend will get to make an EXTRA, bonus card!!!
• The class fee includes all materials to make the 6 cards, envelopes AND adhesive.
• While you're here, enjoy my displays featuring lots of brand new products.
• While you're here, get a close-up view of what we'll be making at Stamp Club for the next 3 months.
• At the class, you'll have the opportunity to try new colors, new products and a lot of fun!

I hope you'll join us!

And...before I go... a Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband.  We're celebrating 41 years today.  Where does the time go???  He surprised me with flowers this year!!!

Have a great day and make it a creative one!  Make something beautiful.

A Card with Sea Squares and Our Wonderful Trimmer

Today's post will feature a favorite card and our wonderful new trimmer.

Here's my latest creation I made using the trimmer.

This stamp set (By the Seashore) is one of my very favorites.  I'm so glad it is going to carry over into the new catalog.  This is a monochromatic card, using Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede. 

Here's a closer look:

I used our By the Tide stamp set for the background, still keeping with the monochromatic color story.  The trimmer made it easy to cut and layer the squares.

Our Stampin' Trimmer is an amazing tool and I just love it!

And...
It comes with 2 blades -- one for cutting and one for scoring.  It has an arm that extends out to enable you to cut larger pieces of paper or CS.  The feature that I like the best is that you can see exactly where to cut for 6" pieces without even using the extending arm.  Check here for more details and to watch the video to learn more about the trimmer.

Even better:
You can alternate cutting and scoring without removing either blade.  This saves a lot of time when you're busy creating.

More news:
The new catalog that goes live on May 31 will have a rotary blade you can use with it (available in August 2013) and there will be small scallop and tiny scallop rotary blades as well.  Get the trimmer now and be ready when the new accessories are available.

So now it's time for you to go stamp something.  Go on now.  You know you want to!  Come back and leave a comment and share what you made.  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.

Another Journal from the Try It Kit

In my last post, I showed you a journal that was pretty much like the suggested version.  Today, let's step it up a bit!  Here's a vintage version with a little seaside thrown in for fun.

Here's how I made it:

• I stamped directly onto the journal, using Crumb Cake and Soft Suede inks.
• I sponged around the edges of the journal with Soft Suede ink.
• I wrapped linen thread around the front cover of the journal.
• I tied in some seam binding and crochet trim.
• I attached a piece of the gorgeous lace from our Artisan's Kit.
• I stamped a shell and some sand dollars, cut them out and attached them over the lace.
• Liquid Tombow holds everything securely in place.

That's it!  A beautiful, vintage journal in no time at all.

After all the excitement of getting to peek at the new catalog online yesterday, not to mention ordering a few of the new goodies, I am still kind of reeling.  My advise to you:  If you want to get something from the current catalog - DO NOT WAIT - get it now, because things will be going fast.  Once they're gone; they're gone.

- 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.

A Fishy Card

Today's card would be a great card for a guy.  It seems like everyone is always looking for a masculine card idea, so here you go.  But... don't be surprised if the ladies like it, too.

I have to say that I love it too, because I just have always liked fish, water, seashell, or ocean themed cards.  I think it's because I love the ocean and I love my guy who likes to fish.  He won't eat them, but he loves to go fishing.  Go figure.

 

 My color story:

• Soft Suede
• Marina Mist
• Very Vanilla

 Inks:

• Soft Suede
• Lucky Limeade

Coloring with the Aqua Painter (on the fish):

• Marina Mist
• Lucky Limeade 

Could there be a better combo for this card?  I'm pretty happy with it.

I did a lot of layering on this card --- with inks, as well as CS.  I stamped the background in various shades of Lucky Limeade (stamping off to lighten) and then went over it with Illuminate Ink, embossing it with clear EP.  I just could not capture all that in a photo.  You need to see it in real life.  The seahorses were stamped in Soft Suede.  The fish were stamped on separate CS, cut out and attached with dimensionals.

If you look very closely, you'll notice that I used the debossed side of the embossed layer.  Why?  I just wanted a different look for this card.  I like how it works together with the focal pieces.

I stamped the inside of the card and added a little bit of decorating in the bottom corner.  Notice that whenever I use a darker color for the card base, I add a lighter color of CS inside, so you can easily write in your card.

I'm off to continue Day 5 of my Work Like a Dog mission.  So far... so good:)

By the way, I noticed that I had reached over 50,000 hits on Wednesday.  Thanks for stopping by and letting me share some of what I love with you.  Be sure to keep coming back because I have lots more to share with you ... for Easter, Spring... and more.  While you're here, before you go, be sure you've signed up as a 'follower' of my blog.  I'd be honored.  Have a great day.