Feeling Sentimental "Hello"

Aren't you loving the FREE products you can get through Sale-a-bration!?! There's a reason why it's Stampin' Up!'s most wonderful time of the year!! As soon as I saw all the amazing products, I KNEW I had to get Feeling Sentimental first!! I love the sketch images and the vintage feel they lend.

I participated in a Technique Swap at Leadership Conference in Orlando last month and this was one of the swaps I created. It's an original Tamara Creation. (I'm always just a little more proud of those kinds of cards!)

I chose to do the Faux Mosaic technique which I've shared about before here. Quick tutorial:

1. Create a mosaic stamp using left over rubber bits from your stamps. Cut a TON of little pices all with straight sides. Curvy is a no-no. Mount all of those itty bitty pieces onto a clear block (if using clear stamp rubber bits) or a wood block (if using wood block rubber bits).

2. Stamp your image in Black StazOn and colour with your choice of colouring tools. I used an aquapainter and a Real Red Classic Ink pad.

3. Stamp your newly created mosaic stamp in Versamark ink and stamp over your coloured image.

4. Heat Emboss with clear embossing powder.

5.  Take a neutral (I used Soft Suede here) and a Stampin' Sponge and rub ink all over the image. Really work it into the cracks. Pretend you're doing the grout process for tiling. It helps, but is much easier.

6. Wipe the surface with a dry paper towel. This'll just clean everything up and make the image really pop.

 

The next step was just embellishing.  I added a flattened bottle cap, some red taffetta ribbon and the sweet new embroidery textured impressions embossing.

I'd love to see what you create using this technique, so feel free to leave me a comment with a link to your blog or online galllery. 

Tamara 

Stampin' Supplies:
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Parker's Patterns DSP.
Stamps: Feeling Sentimental, Ciao Baby.
Ink: Real Red, Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy Classic Ink, Versamark.
Embellishments: Bottle Caps, Real Red Taffetta Ribbon.
Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Embroidery TIEF, Aquapainter, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder.

Oh, Hello Ombre

Pinterest has brought a lot of great fads to light that I otherwise wouldn't even know about. My new favourite pattern, Chevron, and a great painting and now dyeing technique - Ombre! This technique was featured in our Stampin' Success magazine (Demonstrator perk!) and I knew I had to give it a try. 

It's really quite simple! In the Spring Mini Catalogue there is a new product called Canvas sheets. It's a 12x12 canvas that can be cut down to size.  I used a 3x3 piece here. At my technique class I arranged 3 different bowls filled with about 1/2 cup of water. Add 1 drop of Classic Reinker to the first bowl, 3 drops to the second bowl, and 6 drops to the 3rd. (Now, if you were doing this at home, I would just use one bowl and add 2 or 3 drops after each dip.)

Step 1: Submerge the whole piece of canvas into the lightest colour water/ink mixture. Remove (I use tweezers so my fingers don't get covered in colour).

Step 2: Immerse 2/3 of the canvas in the 2nd bowl (a little bit more saturated colour). Remove.

Step 3: Immerse 1/3 of the canvas in the 3rd bowl (the deepest saturation). Remove and lay to dry on a paper towel or speed the process with a heat tool.  You can always repeat steps 2 & 3 if you'd like a more drastic effect. 

 

 

I also dipped the flower into the 3rd bowl to give the flower some colour as well. There are many, many ways to colour these flowers (direct to ink pad, Drip reinker on flower and spread with an aquapainter, sponge daubers,  spritzers, etc).

I used the new set Oh, Hello from the Spring Mini Catalogue as well. Such a cute set! It was a freebie for us at Leadership. Oh the perks of being a demonstrator! (Ask me if you'd like more info on what's involved with being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator - it's a lot simpler than you may think!)

Hope you're loving the Ombre effect! Give it a try - you'll love it!

Tamara

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamp Set: Oh, Hello

Card Stock: Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand, Sycamore Street (free with $60 purchse - Sale-a-bration), Canvas Creations

Accessories: Sycamore Street Satin Ribbon in Tangerine Tango, Vanilla Flower Trim

Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Islando Indigo Classic reinker

3x3 Cuteness!

Who wouldn't love 3 fun filled days with stamp happy women (and a few men) in Sunny Orlando?!? Recently, the hubs and I went to Orlando for Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference. Actually, just I went to the conference, the hubs went to Universal Orlando. He was going to spend some time with my downline's husband, but, well, his trip turned out much different. (You can read all about that event here)

This was a big trip for us as it was our first time leaving our two kids, Mason, 3.5 and Lucia, 1.5. I made them a little 3x3 card for each day we were gone. There was also a present for them each day. Little things like a colouring book, markers, hot wheels car, new undies...ok, so that's not so fun, but you get the idea. Fun things to remind them that even though we're not there, we're thinking of them. Each card ended with "6 more sleeps until Mom and Dad come home!". They were quick and easy to make and the kids had a lot of fun opening their card each day!

 

 

The last day I gave them a full card that one of my downline members made. Thanks Sandra! The kids loved the owls (and I do too!).

Hope you had fun checking out all these fun and simple 3x3's!

Tamara

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Dinoroar, Easy Events, Owl set is retired.
Card Stock: Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz (retired), Crumb Cake.
Ink: StazOn Jet Black Ink, Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Always Artichoke, More Mustard, Pretty in Pink, Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo (all classic inks).
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Two way glue pen, Owl punch, Crystal Effects, Aquapainter.


I realized that I forgot to include an inside view of one of the cards. It says,

"Dear Lucia & Mason,

 Only 1 more sleep! Daddy and I are going to visit Mickey Mouse today! We'll say "HI" to Donald and Chip & Dale too! So excited to see you tomorrow! 

Love Mommy & Daddy"   

Stippled Blossoms Easel Card

Are you ready for some sunshine? It's pretty gray in our area during the winter months. The sun doesn't make an appearance all that often, but as I write this post, the sun is shining brightly outside. It warms me up on the inside and boosts my mood.  However, I love gray (the colour-not so much the weather) and yellow is up there in my top 5 as well. Pairing them together makes a sweet combination.

I recently had a fun folds technique night and showed my attendees how to make an easel card. So fun! It's a great way to display a beautiful creation. Here's what we made:

 Isn't it pretty? The flower was inked up with Daffodil Delight Classic Ink and then stamped off on scrap paper once before stamping the Whisper White sheet. Then I inked the coordinating stamp in Daffodil Delight and stamped it full strength on top using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up just right! But wait, there's more!

There! I love the crisp white against the gray and yellow. It's a very clean and simple card with just some layers and minimal stamping. What's your favourite piece to this card?


Thanks for checking in today!

Tamara

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Petite Pairs
Card Stock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, International Bazaar DSP
Ink: Daffodil Delight & Basic Gray Classic Ink
Accessories: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive
Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Simply Scored, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

New Year, New Post?

You may have noticed I haven't posted in two months. Did I just say "two months"? Yes, sadly, it's true. It's amazing how good intentions don't mean a whole lot when they aren't backed up by good actions.

The good news... (Is there good news?) One of my goals this year is to consistently post and update the blog a minimum of twice per week. I'm saying minimum as I want to set the bar fairly low so it's achievable for me and I don't get too overwhelmed.

I'm having increasing issues with stamping in my stamping space. Does anyone else have a cluttered or disorganized crafting area? It drains me! We're moving in July and it can't.come.fast.enough! I'm so eager to have a whole ROOM for my stuff (trust me, I need at least a whole room). I waste far too much time looking for things than I do creating things. Anyways, I know you'd love to see a photo of a card, unfortunately, I don't have any pictures uploaded except for this:

It's a sneak peek for my technique night tomorrow. I participated in a Technique Swap at Leadership (organized by the lovely Sarah Naber) and this card was inspired by one I received through the swap. Forgive me as I don't remember who's card it was at this moment in time.

It uses several new products from the spring mini including, but not limited to: Natural Trim Ribbon (kind of like burlap-gorgeous!), Flower Trim (dyeable - yum!), Pool Party Core'dinations card stock (if you haven't jumped on the Core'dinations bandwagon, please do! I want this product to stick around for a long time!), Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and some others (like Pool Party embossing powder and that lovely heart DSP).

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and SALE-A-BRATION has begun!! Now's the perfect time to stock up and replenish your crafting products!! Visit my online store and have your order shipped right to your door! How convenient!

Thanks for checking in!

Tamara