Inkie Fingers meets Oh So Eclectic

I had lots of fun yesterday playing with one of the new stamp sets.  I got Oh So Eclectic when I went to Virginia Beach for SU's On Stage.  I wasn't too thrilled about it at first.  But, oh how I have changed my mind!  This stamp set creates a wonderful soft watercolor look with no effort on your part.  It is a two-step stamp so you can use the images by themselves or layer them to get a different look.  And the added bonus is the framelits that you can get if you purchase this set as a bundle.  There are 13 dies in the set.  These dies have a unique feature - the flower pieces nestle together to create the two layered look.  So you can use just one flower image or use the two together!  

Here's one of the cards I made yesterday using a technique that I will tell you about.

So what do you think?  Love it like I do???  The background paper uses SU's new glossy paper.  It's been so long since I played with glossy paper, I had to think back to some old techniques.  Here's what I did.  (note:  you might want to wear gloves - see my fingers below!)  Cut a piece of glossy paper in half (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")  Spray one of the pieces of glossy paper with a spritzer filled with alcohol - get it pretty wet.  Next pick two reinkers - I used Lemon Lime Twist and Bermuda Bay and drop several drops onto the glossy paper.  Next I picked up the paper and let the ink run all over the paper.  Then take the second piece of glossy paper and put it on top.  You can give it a twist or just pull it straight up.  Now you should have two background pieces of paper to use!  2 for 1 - I like that! Let it dry and then use it to make a beautiful card!

See my inkie fingers -

I also did a piece using Melon Mambo and Dapper Denim (I picked up the wrong ink refill -  thought I was using Flirty Flamingo ink instead of Denim.)  So I'm not so crazy about it.  But wanted to show you this cool imprint on the paper.  When I realized what I had done, I grabbed a paper towel and lay-ed it over the paper to blot up some of the ink - see the impression of the paper towel - it's texturized! The colors get muted as it dries.

The Berry Burst flower on the card was stamped with VersaMark  on watercolor paper and embossed with gold embossing powder.  Then I "smooshed" some ink in the lid of the Berry Burst and painted the flower with my Aqua Pen letting the color run out to the edges.

Eclectic, what does that mean? According to the dictionary…

ec·lec·ticəˈklektikadjectivederiving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
synonyms: wide-ranging, broad-based, extensive, comprehensive, encyclopedic

Stampin’ Up! loves the idea of broad and diverse range of sources that they used the ‘Oh So Eclectic’ stamp set on the cover of the new annual catalog. I love the bright colors, water coloring possibilities and so much more!

Stampin’ Up! trainer, Shannon West, demonstrates many of the eclectic ways that the Oh So Eclectic Bundle can be used to create fun and interesting projects!

Here are pictures of other items included in the Oh So Eclectic Product Suite - ribbon, DSP, thinlits, card stock pack and overlays!  I'm loving the DSP although I haven't ordered it yet.  Stay tuned - I made a card using the DSP as inspiration!   

Crafting Forever

I'm back!  It's summer time and I've been super busy!  Most of today was spent getting ready for my bridge group tomorrow.  I have 12 gals coming in the morning for a day of bridge.  I made a quinoa salad (that Sonny turned his nose up on!), a watermelon and blackberry salad, and some Pumpkin Chocolate cups (a new recipe I wanted to try.) 

Yesterday Marianne and I went to Allison's Stampaganza and made a bunch of different boxes.  I have a box for every occasion now.  I'll be sharing them later.  We also did some swap cards and I got a lot of new ideas for some of the new stamps in the catalog.  I want to share my cards with you today.  

This first one was pretty labor intensive.  Luckily I only had to make 6 cards to swap - it's not one that you'd want to make a bunch of!!  I found an apron template on line and used it to make this cute card using Crafting Forever.  The labor intensive part was in cutting out the pens, paintbrushes and scissors!!  I stamped them all in black and used markers to color them.  

I used all the new in colors to make the cards.

My second card also uses Crafting Forever.  It has a surprise inside!

Do you remember making paper dolls when you were little?  I loved them!  So this took me back to my childhood.  They are attached to the inside with a glue dot under the hand of the doll on the right and the one on the left.  No adhesive in the middle.

For these cards, I used the DSP from the Color Theory stack.

More Swaps!

I'm back with a few more card swaps from Quarterly.

This is the last one that I received for the sketch swap.  It is by Phyllis Thurston and uses the wonderful stamp set, Colorful Seasons.  This is such a versatile stamp set!  You can use it for all the seasons since it has snowflakes, beach chairs, fall leaves and spring flowers!

This card is just so cute!  Beth Queen combined This Little Piggy with the Birthday Delivery set!

This card, using Eastern Medallion, is by Connie Gentry.  I love the Lemon Lime with Black!  And check out below - there is a little surprise when you open up the card.

Another great card (by Lisa Pressley) using the Birthday Delivery set.  I'm telling you, you need to order this set!!  There is the stamp set, the Birthday Friends Framelits Dies AND the Birthday Memories DSP as part of the bundle.  The framelits not only fit the stamps, but also some of the images on the designer paper!!

This card uses the Daisy Delight stamp set and was made by Gayle Presnell.

This card was made by Robyn McClanahan and uses the Daisy Delight stamp set.  I love the new Pretty Label Punch!

Sketch Swaps #2

These are the remainder of the Sketch Swap from Quarterly.  Hope you enjoy them!

This card by Carol Snow uses the Eastern Elegance and the Daisy stamp setts.  The pretty DSP is Delightful Daisy.

No name on this card but I love the Pretty Label punch she used.  The daisy is made with Vellum that she colored yellow and card stock.

This card is by my downline and travel buddy, Debbie Michael.  She put a lot of time into this card, folks!  It is a shaker card!!

Love these primary colors that Lisa Pressley used.  This Birthday Delivery set has grown on me and is now in my list of things to order.

Suites in the NEW Catalog!!

The new catalog launched today!  It is pretty awesome.  As with other catalogs, this one is divided into suites of products - each themed suite has its very own personality.  While everyone can find something that speaks to them in the variety of suites, many of will find all the suites appealing!

Here is a quick look at the suites in the catalog:








































Aren't they great?!  Have you picked a favorite yet?  Don't worry - you don't have to limit yourself to just one - you can pick from them all!  You can go to my ONLINE STORE by clicking the link above (or just click on ONLINE STORE in this sentence) and seeing all the suite themed products.

If you need a catalog, just let me know.

Thanks for visiting me today!