Sun & Sand Paper Craft Challenge

Oh how I wish I was at the beach!  I ache to walk on the sand, bake in the sunshine and just soak in the salt spray!  How did a beach lover marry a "I hate the sand and sun" type of guy???  I don't know but I guess after 40+ years, I should be used to it by now!!  Marianne and her family are on their annual 4th of July camping week at Myrtle Beach.  I'm hoping that the tropical storm that is lurking in the Atlantic Ocean does not cause them too many problems.  I don't think it will.  They will probably have to do indoor activities tomorrow but after that, they should be ok.

Here is my digital card I made for Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge.  Just about everything on this card came from the Anchors Away MDS kit.  I really like to try and use one kit - makes coordination a lot easier!

Check out the rest of the designers' cards HERE.  Also ... you could win some blog candy if you go the the site!! 

In celebration of our 100th Card Sketch we are going to offer some BLOG CANDY!  Pam will be doing a drawing after the Sketch ends and will announce the winner when she announces the Featured Artisans.

The blog candy you'll receive includes:

Blackberry Bliss Stamp Pad

Pistachio Pudding Thick Backer's Twine

Chevron Embossing Folder 

Island Indigo Chevron Ribbon

and.. the Banner Punch!

Also, you'll want to visit the other blogs…  You never know who else might be offering some blog candy!

Moonlight Pouch

I have been working hard on my convention swaps and I think I have enough.  Last count was about 100.  I don't know what I will do with them all but it is just so much fun to walk around the convention center and swap with everyone.  It's like a contagious disease!  Here is one of the cards I made this weekend.

I used the new in-colors for the card base and embossed them with various folders. I created a little pouch for a tag and adhered it to the card.  I started with one sheet of Moonlight Paper Pack DSP (measures 4-1/2" x 6-1/2").  Score it at  1", 2", 2-1/2", 4", 4-1/2" and 5" with the long side at the top of the Simply Scored Tool.  Then turn it so the short side is at the top and score at 1/2".  Trim away the two sides (at the 1/2") leaving the middle section.  Fold the pouch to create mountains and valleys and adhere the pouch closed with adhesive of your choice.

The flowers are punched with the Flower Fair thinlets.

I was playing with my Kindle Fire tonight and took a "selfie".

How to Use Blendabilities

Blendabilities You Tube Video

Blendabilities are coming!!

If you're tired of waiting to order Blendabilities, you'll be happy to know that Stampin' Up! has finally published a release date of JULY 1st!!  That's next Tuesday!

If you don't know what Blendabilities are and what all the excitements is about, read on.

First off, Blendabilities are very different from our Stampin' Write Markers.  They are alcohol markers instead of water-based ink markers.  That means you can actually BLEND the colors which you can't do very well with the water-based markers.  Each color assortment includes light, medium and dark shades of one color.  I've been playing with mine and I think they are awesome!  Alcohol markers work very differently than the water-based markers.  The ink actually soaks into the card stock, as opposed to sitting on top.  You can go over and over the area with different shades without degrading the card stock.

One of the Blendabilities pens is called a COLOR LIFTER.  It doesn't act as an eraser exactly; it's more like it moves the ink you've applied around a bit.  It's also alcohol based and when applied to an area, it can push the colors into the card stock more.  That's how you can get light areas into whatever you are coloring.  The Color Lifter is great for blending layers of colors.

The are also super great for coloring your rhinestone, pearls and even buttons!

They work best with Stampin' Up's Whisper White card stock.  And another must have item is the Black Memento Ink.  It is the best black ink I have ever used and you really need this ink for the Blendabilities.  You can find it on page 212 along with the Blendabilities markers.

To see one of the cards I have made using the Blendabilities Markers, go to Blended Bloom and check it out.  Also, here are a couple of other cards I made:

Can you tell I also really love the Blended Bloom single stamp???  It is a bargain too - pg. 167 - $11.95.

If you are ready to order your very own Blendabilities, click above ORDER ONLINE and then SHOP. Please use the July Hostess Code when inputting your order:   7TJFYD2M 

This & That Paper Craft Crew Challenge

I forgot to share my MDS card I made this week for Paper Craft Crew's sketch challenge.  Probably because I was on the ball last week and did a couple of sketches at one time and then forgot I had done them!  Anyway, this is for challenge #99!!

The elements for this card are from the This and That Epic Day download.  I love to use just one download - paper, elements, stamps, etc. to make a project.  That way I am assured that it will all coordinate nicely.

I am playing Hand and Foot Friday at the Mooresville Bowling Alley.  We have started meeting there and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the place is.  We order our lunch there and there is a large and varied menu to choose from.  Tomorrow night is our Newcomers annual Bingo night.  This is the only fundraiser we do all year and it is a lot of fun.  Sonny doesn't agree with me and I am having to drag him along!  He's a good sport and won't complain too much!  My mom and Angela are coming also.

Kick Up Your Heels

We are definitely in the hot, muggy days of summer where just a little bit of rain makes the air so heavy.  But this is what we were wishing for back in January and February.

I have been plugging away at making swap cards for convention.  I'll be sharing those later.  But I took a break and created this fun card.  I had been neglecting this Bootiful Occasions set so I dusted it off and inked it up.

 

I used some retired paper with the Woodgrain embossing folder and the new stars frameless.  My favorite is the "rope" I made with the Baked Brown Sugar thick Bakers Twine.

June Paper Pumpkin and Weekly Deals

This week's deals include some great prices on FRAMELITS!!  I'm ordering the Envelope Liners this time since I have put it off in the past.  What about you?  I have seen some great projects on Pinterest using them for things other than just lining your envelope.  Check out this link - HERE





I received my June Paper Pumpkin last week.  This month it is all about patriotic pinwheels and it was a box chocked full of them!  The kit contained 3 stamps, an ink spot, 24 pre-cut pinwheels, 24 red and white paper straws, 20 banners, 24 cello bags, Basic Gray Baker's Twine, 24 silver brads, 24 silver clips and 96 glue dots .... that's a lot packed into a little box!  I put together several of the pinwheels this morning (in about 15 minutes) and put them in a Mason jar.  At STamp Club Tuesday, each person took one home with them.  They were really cute.

I took one of the pinwheels and cut it down (before making the pinwheel) about 2 inches and made a spinner card with it.

Stamp Club Cards

I have Stamp Club tomorrow and we are going to do things a bit different this month.  We are all going to make two cards together to learn a couple of techniques.  The first one is a spinner card using the "two pennies" to make the slider.  It has been years since I made one of these cards but in the past month, I have made several.  I thought I would demonstrate it for the girls.

This card also uses a new stamp set from the 2014-15 catalog - Cupcake Party as well as a new embossing folder, Large Polka Dot.  These are such fun cards to make!

We are also making a type of shaker card using Sea Street stamp set.

 
I used a cello bag to make the pocket for the shaker stuff.  The background is a piece of the Maritime DSP.  Another fun card!

After doing these cards, I am going to let them do a couple of card creations using Work of Art.  I got carried away and made about nine different cards using the set.  I couldn't pick just one or two for them to make so I decided to let them choose their own.  I shared a few of the choices in THIS POST.  Here are a few others:

Using the swirl from Just Eleanor in different colors.

Polka Dots with labels from Chalk Talk framelits

A sympathy card using the tree and sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers

So .... what would your choice be???

The Versatility of Work of Art!

I was really on a roll yesterday and made a lot of cards - some for convention swaps and some for my stamp club next week.  I pretty much used one stamp set for all the cards!!  I just love the versatility of Work of Art which is the stamp set we received at the catalog reveal party.  I wasn't so sure when I first got it but I have been definitely won over!!  Most of the cards I made are soooo easy and take just a few minutes to make.  That's my kind of creating these days!!  Here are a few ideas for you.

Make a sailboat!  I embossed the Coastal Cabana card with the chevron folder to carry on the waves theme.  And how about the little crab from Sea Street?  Colors on this one are Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar and Calypso Coral.

Yummy popsicles to celebrate the first day of summer tomorrow.  Colors used are:  Real Red; Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay and Perfect Plum.  The sentiment is from Really Good Greetings.

Stamp the birds from Wetlands on the beach.  Colors used are all the new in colors - Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, Lost Lagoon and I added Baked Brown Sugar for the sand.  

How about a rainbow for these summer storms that keep cropping up?  Add the saying from Feels Good.  Rainbow colors are:  Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Lost Lagoon, Rich Razzleberry and Wisteria Wonder. 

This one is just a soft "love you" but a sentiment could also be added to the bottom.  I used the Envelope Punch Board to make the little cut-outs on the side.  Colors on this one are:  Hello Honey, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush and Coastal Cabana.

I had a request for an anniversary card - how simple!  Colors used are:  Strawberry Slush, Pink Pirouette, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pistachio Pudding.  The sentiment is retired.

I think Sonny and I are going to go see Jersey Boys today.  The Four Seasons are one of my all time favorite groups and I can't wait to see the movie.  I have seen the play in Las Vegas and we both loved it.  When I was in college (at ECU), I dated a boy who was in a fraternity.  A few of the guys rented a house out in the country and we would go there on the weekends to party.  It never failed that they would put on a Four Seasons album (yes, no CD's or smart phones back then!) and we would all gather 'round and sing every song on that record belting them out one after the other!  Those were some fun days!  Needless to say, we were thrilled when the Four Seasons played at ECU one year for Homecoming - none of us missed them!!

Paper Craft Crew Challenge #98

Well, summertime is here!  It has really been hot with not much relief in sight.  Of course, I could be in Texas where it is really HOT!!  Enjoy that heat, Ashley!  I think instead of going to the Y tomorrow, I will just exercise in the neighborhood pool instead.

I am hoping to get a few swaps done tomorrow and Friday as well as finalize my cards for club next week.  I haven't had much time this week to get anything done with bridge on Monday and mahjongg today.  Plus I got a new Kindle Fire HDX this week and Sonny got a Kindle reader (for Father's Day) so I have been learning how to use both of them and download books for us.  Ashley and I weren't too sure if Sonny would like the Kindle but he has finished reading one of the books that I downloaded for him on Sunday.  So I guess he is handling the digital age ok!

Here is the card I made for Paper Craft Crew Challenge sketch #98.

Make sure you check out the other designer's cards HERE.

Here is the sketch if you would like to make your own card using it: