Thursday, July 28, 2016

Thoughtful Branches {Masculine}

I never have a problem coming up with images to make a card for a female. However, making one that has more of a masculine feel has always been a challenge for me. This is just one of the many reasons I LOVE the new Thoughtful Branches stamp set & dies that will be available to order on August 2. All products Stampin' Up!



This card was very simple to put together. I stamped the triple tree image on watercolor paper, then did a light wash of water over it, extending it down to give the sentiment a background of color. Then I masked the sentiment area and stamped the image again to give it a bit more definition of the branches. I stamped the sentiment with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I layered that piece on to some Old Olive cardstock and wrapped Basic Black Bakers Twine around it. Instead of tying it, I used the Handheld Stapler to attach it to the cardstock. I stamped the triple tree image several times on a Whisper White cardstock base and added the splatter using my favorite image from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. The strip of Designers Series Paper is one side of a piece from the Pop of Pink DSP. 






Supply list:





Bonus Days are almost over...until July 31st, for every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you'll receive a $5 Bonus Days coupon that you can use towards a purchase between August 2nd-31st! Buy now, save later! 


Do you have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? If not, I would love to be your source for these amazing products and hopefully give you a good dose of inspiration from time to time. This is not just a hobby for me, it is a passion! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,
Kim





Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Thoughtful Branches {Framed}

Are you excited about August 2nd getting here? You should be! That is the day the new Stampin' Up! stamps with matching dies called Thoughtful Branches will be available for purchase by the general public.  

Several months ago, I had purchased a few plain wooden frames from one of the big box stores for $1 a piece. I painted this one with inexpensive white paint for this project. The rest is pretty self-explanatory and I've listed the supplies under the photo. Once you have the layout and your colors chosen, this is actually a very quick project. What a great gift to give someone to show you appreciate them!


Supply list:




Bonus Days are almost over...until July 31st, for every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you'll receive a $5 Bonus Days coupon that you can use towards a purchase between August 2nd-31st! Buy now, save later! 



Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,

Kim

Monday, July 25, 2016

Merry Christmas in July!

Christmas in July...I love it! If you are a paper crafter (or want to be), the holidays are literally just around the corner. This is a slight case of one of my own cards I posted a couple of years ago here. All products Stampin' Up!


I watercolored a panel using Cucumber Crush and Bermuda Bay inks. After it was dry, I embossed the snowflakes from the Flurry of Wishes stamp set with White Stampin' Emboss powder. I die cut the word using a die from the Wonderful Wreath Framelits set from the watercolor panel.  I layered that piece on to 4 of the same word cut from Emerald Envy cardstock. (It gives a ton of dimension to do it this way) It is a bit hard to see, but I applied the clear Wink of Stella to the top word and the edges of the Emerald Envy cardstock that is showing. I used the corner rounder from the Envelope Punch Board. It gives perfect results just about every time and even cuts through 2 layers of card stock. 

Supply list:




Do you have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? If not, I would love to be your source for these amazing products and hopefully give you a good dose of inspiration from time to time. This is not just a hobby for me, it is a passion! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,
Kim


Wednesday, July 20, 2016

GDP 045: My New Business Card

After playing along with the Global Design Project yesterday, I realized those were the colors I wanted on some new business cards for my Stampin' Up! business, so I'm playing along again today.  





I've done something like this before when I first started in this business over 2 years ago. (Click here to see the first one I made) I adore the matching envelope made from the Pop of Pink Designer Series Paper. The matching envelope took under 3 minutes to make using the Envelope Punch Board. ***Side note: if you are a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, I did speak to the company about this card and I am in compliance, just in case you want to make your own.*** Edited: I've had so many questions regarding this card, I wanted to give more detailed instructions.  I downloaded the logo from the Stampin' Up! business site for demonstrators. Uploaded that logo to Vista Print and completed the rest of my information. I left the card blank on the left side, so I would have room for my stamped images. I chose matte cardstock. I did personally OK this with Stampin' Up! but would always encourage other demonstrators to contact them regarding their specific uses of the logo, etc. 

Supplies used:







From July 7th-31st, for every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you'll receive a $5 Bonus Days coupon that you can use towards a purchase between August 2nd-31st! Buy now, save later! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,

Kim





Tuesday, July 19, 2016

GDP 045: Thoughtful Branches

I'm playing along with the Global Design Project this week. It is a color challenge. I also thought I would use this opportunity to post another sample from the Thoughtful Branches stamp set. Unless otherwise noted, all products Stampin' Up!


These were such fun colors to work with! I almost went with a Christmas (in July) card, but thought I would save that for later. 


For this sample, I simply used the leaf canopy stamp to emboss watercolor paper with White Stampin' Emboss Powder. I did a simple color wash on top of the embossed image with Melon Mambo ink and my Aqua Painters. Stamped the sentiment and added Black Metallic Thread and some random sequins from my stash before layering it up and using double Stampin' Dimensionals to really give it some depth. 





Isn't this a great set? Don't forget...this set will be available during the month of August only, starting August 2. I expect this set (and the matching dies) to sell out quickly and may only be ordered while supplies last. 




From July 7th-31st, for every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you'll receive a $5 Bonus Days coupon that you can use towards a purchase between August 2nd-31st! Buy now, save later! 




Do you have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? If not, I would love to be your source for these amazing products and hopefully give you a good dose of inspiration from time to time. This is not just a hobby for me, it is a passion! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,
Kim



Monday, July 18, 2016

Thoughtful Branches: Sneak Peek

This is a sneak peek into an amazing stamp with matching die set that will be available next month. The set is incredibly versatile and gorgeous! All products Stampin' Up!




I watercolored the top layer of the flower, then cut a second layer from Cherry Cobbler cardstock to go beneath to give the flower some depth. I colored Pearl Basics with Wink of Stella Gold and flicked some on the flower also. I distressed the sequins by heating them up with my heat tool. (I'm in love with how they look)



I will be posting more samples in the coming week. There are so many things to love about this set. Don't forget...this set will be available during the month of August only, starting August 2. I expect this set to sell out and can only be ordered while supplies last. 







From July 7th-31st, for every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! products, you'll receive a $5 Bonus Days coupon that you can use towards a purchase between August 2nd-31st! Buy now, save later! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,

Kim




Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Pals July Blog Hop: It's A Pattern Party!




Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for July 2016. We are thankful you stopped by to take a look at our new 2016 Blog Hop monthly themes.  This month we are featuring projects using our favorite Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper as well as coordinating embellishments. What we love about Stampin’ Up! is they make it so easy to mix and match colors. And, the amazing selection of embellishments provides a wonderful finished look to our projects. We hope to provide you with lots of ideas and that you enjoy our creations.


You may just be starting the Blog Hop or may have come from the previous link from the Line-up on the Pals Blog Hop listing shown below.  The full lineup will help you move along from blog to blog so you may see all the projects.


I knew the exact piece of paper I wanted to use from the new Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Pack.  The somewhat grungy feel of the wood-like panel called my name in a big way! I stamped the flowers from the Awesomely Artistic set a few times with Soft Suede ink. The card base is made from Pool Party with a layer of Soft Suede between the DSP & the card base. 




Now for the details.


Who knew you could heat emboss sequins?? Not me. However, I knew I wanted to use them, but they were a bit too shiny for my taste for this project. I simply sponged some Whisper White Craft ink across them somewhat haphazardly, then embossed those areas with White Stampin' Emboss powder. They are a bit misshapen afterwards, but they look amazing! I die cut the large swirly circle from Swirly Scribble thinlits using watercolor paper, then wrinkled it up and sponged it with Soft Suede ink. The sentiment from Endless Birthday Wishes was stamped on another piece of watercolor paper using Soft Suede ink after I had lightly watercolored it with Pool Party ink. The somewhat suede looking piece that is under the sequins was achieved by running a bone folder over and over a strip of Soft Suede cardstock, (breaking down the paper fibers) then peeling the layers apart. When you do this, the inside really does almost look like suede! I layered a small scrap of Gold Glimmer paper and some Linen Thread under the central design piece and called it done. I'm happy with the eclectic feel of this project. 

Thanks for visiting. To continue with the hop, please refer to the Blog Hop Line-up below. We hope to see you on next month’s Pals Blog Hop! 

  1. Rae Harper-Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts


Do you have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? If not, I would love to be your source for these amazing products and hopefully give you a good dose of inspiration from time to time. This is not just a hobby for me, it is a passion! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,
Kim



Monday, July 11, 2016

Layering Love

The new stamp set called Layering Love that made it's way in to the annual catalog this year is wonderful. There are so many ways you can use these word images. This is a very simple card I created with a little oval cut watercolor panel and some metallic thread and sequins. 


I'm finding my time short this summer, so images like these really pack a punch in a short of amount of time for a quick & elegant card. 


This card took me about 10 minutes to make. I used Marina Mist & Sweet Sugarplum inks to do the watercolor wash. I used one of the oval dies from the new Layering Ovals Framelits to cut the panel after stamping the image. 



Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,

Kim


Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Sunshine Sayings Congrats

When I saw the Sunshine Sayings bundle in the new Stampin' Up! annual catalog, I knew I would have to have it. I'm very fond of a bold word (or two) on top of a few stamped design elements and this set has several good words. All products Stampin' Up!


I started this card with a barely there wash using Marina Mist ink on watercolor paper. (It didn't photograph well, but I assure you it is there.) Then stamped the flower using Watermelon Wonder and Wild Wasabi inks. The speckles are from my most used stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge set. Due to time constraints, the word is only one layer of Basic Black cardstock, but I really prefer to stack about 3 of them, it really makes it stand out and adds lovely dimension to the project. I layered the watercolor piece to a card base of Watermelon Wonder and tied some Baker's Twine at the top to complete the look. There you have it...simple, quick congrats card. 

Look at all the cool elements in this bundle! 



Do you have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? If not, I would love to be your source for these amazing products and hopefully give you a good dose of inspiration from time to time. This is not just a hobby for me, it is a passion! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,
Kim



Friday, July 1, 2016

My Most Pinned Card EVER

Wow. When I woke up the morning of 5/27/16 with the idea of the card below, I wasn't even sure if my idea would work. I hadn't seen anyone else do a flag card yet with these Swirly Scribble thinlits, but literally woke up with the idea of how I could make it look like the flag was kind of waving in the air. 

What do you think? I think it worked!


Want to know what I really think made it work? See below. The 2 pieces that have arrows pointed at them were some of the remains after I cut 3 of the red long swirls. I think it is those 2 pieces that finished it off and gave it the illusion I wanted to create. Those pieces helped indicate movement. 


By the way...it is exciting to see all of the CASE's of this card and the different variations of it out there. That's what is so great about Pinterest and stamping! 

For more information on products used, see the original blog post here



Do you have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? If not, I would love to be your source for these amazing products and hopefully give you a good dose of inspiration from time to time. This is not just a hobby for me, it is a passion! 

Please use the hostess code shown in the top right corner when ordering online, unless your order will total $150 before shipping & tax. At that point, you become your own hostess and get all the rewards! 

As always, let me know if you have any questions about the project or the products used. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Artfully Yours,
Kim