Blended Bloom

Happy 3-Day Weekend All!

Hopefully you have something fun planned or, maybe, a nice relaxing weekend?  I didn't have anything planned till yesterday afternoon when I decided to paint and update my Craft Room.  I've wanted to do it forever and I've even played with different paint samples...but, never found anything I loved.  In the end, I'm going with a darker brown than I have in the rest of the house and an accent wall of turquoise.  We shall see. The paint is bought and the room is taped, so there's no turning back now.

The card I have for you today, is from a workshop I held a week ago.  I had gone Pinning in search of cards using the Blendabilities.  I saw this card by Amy White over at White House Stamping.  The colors were gorgeous and the simple design let it shine.

This was my first time playing with the Blendabilities and I hadn't ever used Copics markers, so there was a bit of a learning curve.  I watched a few tutorials and sat down and gave it a go.  It took a couple of times through to get the hang of it, but boy is it worth it in the end!  The dimension of color is AMAZING.

What you'll need:

• Memento Tuxedo Black Pad (Item# 132708)
• Color Lifter Marker (Item# 129369)
• Blendabilities (Item# 131000 Coastal Cabana / Item# 130998 Daffodil Delight)
• Whisper White Cardstock (Item# 100730)

What's nice about the Blendabilities is that they are alcohol based, so you can use them on regular 'ol Whisper White Cardstock.  They do bleed through, so be sure to use some grid paper or something underneath when coloring.

The Color Lifter is a marker that is used to correct mistakes, but it can also be used to remove the ink to lighten the shade of the color.  The Blendabilities come in sets of three: one lighter, one darker and one in between. For this flower, I used the lightest blue on the tips of the petals that appear to be bent or folded. {After the flower was fully colored, I went back and used the Color Lifter to remove this color}. 

Once those petal tips were colored, I started my shading.  On the petals where I used the light blue on the tips, I used the darkest blue to color near the tips.  Then, I added a bit of shading with the middle color. Finally, I finished out the petals with a bit of the lightest blue shading. {I did the opposite for the remaining petals-darker on the inside and lighter out toward the tips}  Each petal will have three separate colors that will NOT be blended at this point.  The key is to take the lightest marker and go back over each petal in a circular motion to blend these colors together.  The longer you spend doing this, the more blended your petals will be. Don't worry about ruining your markers, they will not be affected in the least by this technique.

To finish out the flower, I colored the center using the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities. The original card used the Mocha marker from the Skin Tone Assorted Blendabilities for the inner petals, but I didn't have these, so I just used my Chocolate Chip Marker.  The final touch, a brown Glimmer Basics Brad.  Perfection!

I fussy cut the flower and popped it up on some dimensionals/pop dots.  The flourish behind the flower is from the Elements of Style stamp set.  If you don't have this, a great alternative would be the Flowering Flourishes stamp set.  I'll be getting it.  It has three different size flourishes and can be used for any size flower.  It would be great to have on hand.

I love the Blendabilities and can't wait to try them out on some other stamps.  They currently come in (12) different colors in addition to the Skin Tones.  You get three per pack in three different shades, so it takes all of the guess work out of figuring out which shades would work well together.  Pure Genius!  If you'd like to add some to your collection, click the Order Online icon in the top right-hand corner or pop me an email.

Item 131000  $11.95

Item 129369  $4.95

  

Enjoy your weekend!

Stamps: Blended Bloom, Elements of Style {or Flowering Fourishes} and Sincere Salutations

Paper: Whisper White Cardstock

Ink: Pear Pizzazz Classic Pad & Memento Black Pad

Accessories: Coastal Cabana Blendabilities; Daffodil Delights Blendabilities, Color Lifter, Chocolate Chip Marker, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Glimmer Basics Brad and a Pop Dot/Dimensional

A Touch of the 80's

Hi All,

Pastels and watercolors...that's what I have for you today.  What does it bring to mind? For me...the 80's. That's what I feel my card has a touch of anyways.  My inspiration comes from Katina over at Loving Life's Little Blessings.  She had used this simple design to showcase the new In-Colors.  I switched it up a bit and added some Linen Thread and a button.  Everything's better with linen thread is it not?

Did you guess?  Yes, this is another image from the Work of Art stamp set.  So versatile!  I paired up three of last year's In Colors: Crisp Canteloupe, Coastal Cabana and Pistachio Pudding.  As I was searching through my button jar, I was lucky enough to find one that had a similar color to the Crisp Canteloupe, and it also had a soft sea glass look.  It works perfectly with the watercolor feel of the card.

Aside from the Work of Art stamp set, my Must-Have item is the Linen Thread.  It's one of my favorite accessories and I use it quite a bit.  To add either to your collection, feel free to email me or click on the Order Online icon in the top right corner.

Clear Mount: 134114  $21.95    Wood Mount: 134111  $29.95

Item ID: 104199   $4.50

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Work of Art & Sincere Salutations

Paper: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar and Whisper White Cardstock

Ink: Crisp Canteloupe, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding and Baked Brown Sugar Classic Pads

Accessories: Linen Thread, Button and Mini Glue Dot

You Make Me Happy ~ When Skies are Gray

Hi All,

Rainbows...who doesn't love them? I have a ton of cards posted on Pinterest that use some type of a rainbow design, but I think I've only ever made one rainbow card...and that was for St. Patrick's Day. There's something so happy about them, you'd think we'd use them all the time.

Cristine's card over at My Paper Secret was the inspiration for my card today.  She used a watercolor stamp that was a longer brush stroke.  It was very similar to one of the images in Work of Art, so I gave it a go.

The fun part about this card was picking the colors to use.  So many possibilities.  I believe I hit upon some winners:

Island Indigo
Tempting Turquoise
Marina Mist
Daffodil Delight
Wild Wasabi
Tangerine Tango
Riding Hood Red
Rich Razzleberry
Pale Plum

Believe me, there was a lot of trial & error and lots of cleaning of the stamp, but it was worth it.  Love how it turned out!

Most of these colors are current and in the catalog.  Riding Hood Red and Pale Plum are retired, but Real Red and Wisteria Wonder would be great substitutes.  If you'd like to add any of these stamp pads or a Work of Art to your collection, feel free to email me or click on the Order Online icon in the top right corner.

Clear Mount: 134114  $21.95    Wood Mount: 134111  $29.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp: Work of Art & See Ya Later
Paper: Whisper White Cardstock
Inks: Island Indigo, Tempting Turquoise, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Rich Razzleberry and Pale Plum Classic Pads
Accessories: None

Sweet Sequins!

Hi All,

I am keeping with the theme of a Work of Art again today.  This card takes my previous card {masculine} and amps it up a bit to go more feminine.

The basic design comes from Sylvia over at Sylvia's Stamp Corner.  I love that the stamp set takes center stage and the sequins add that perfect little touch.

Since I already had a design in mind, all that was left to do was pick a color combo.  I went with Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar.  They are perfect together.  Sylvia used colored sequins to embellish, but I only had gold on hand.  I have found that Baked Brown Sugar works perfectly with the gold sequins.  Love them together!

That makes sequins my 'Must Have' item on this card.  The sequins come on a spool that you can use as trim or take apart individually {as I did on this card}.  You get 10 yds and they will last you forever.

Item 132983  $4.95

If you'd like to add this to your collection, feel free to email me or click on the Order Online icon in the top right corner.  It will make the perfect addition to your embellie collection. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp: Work of Art
Paper: Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black and Very Vanilla Cardstock
Ink: Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar and Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Gold Sequin Trim & Crystal Effects

Father's Day 2014

Hi All,

I hope your week has gotten off to a great start!  My Monday was pretty good, but my Tuesday will be even better.  We are going to see Raiders of the Lost Ark on the big screen.  I grew up watching these movies, but have never seen them in the theater.  So, we are looking forward to it :)

Today's card uses another image from the Work of Art stamp set.  I guess we could call it the 'paint stroke'. lol! That's exactly what it looks like.

This was my husband's Father's Day card this year.  I got the design from one of my friends that I stamped with a few months ago.  She kept the design simple and the colors are perfectly masculine in blues.  My husband enjoys art, so this card was right up his alley.

Once again, my must-have item from this card is the Work of Art stamp set.  It makes making masculine cards super easy.

Clear Mount: 134114  $21.95    Wood Mount: 134111  $29.95

If you'd like to add this to your collection, feel free to email me or click on the Order Online icon in the top right corner.  It will make the perfect addition to your collection.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp: Work of Art

Paper: Midnight Muse, Baked Brown Sugar and Very Vanilla Cardstock

Ink: Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, Baja Breeze and Baked Brown Sugar Classic Pads

Accessories: None Amazingly

You are a Fabulous Work of Art

Hi All,

Remember me????  Julie Marshall...stamping enthusiast? I know... it's been a while.  I actually didn't realize it had been quite as long as it has {4 months}.  Well, the break has done me good!  I've been back in the craft room this week and stamping away.

Luckily, this wasn't the first I've stamped since March.  I got together with two of my girlies and stamped in June.  I had just gotten my new SU! goodies and brought them along to play.  My favorite and first set that I bought from the 2014 catalog is called Work of Art.  I didn't even notice it the first look through, but then it started popping up on Pinterest and I fell in love.  I adore the abstract watercolor images.

This beauty was designed by Melissa Davies over at RubberFUNatics and is the very reason I bought this stamp set.  I paired up Strawberry Slush {one of my favorite pinks} and Baked Brown Sugar.  The Baked Brown Sugar almost looks gold so it works perfectly with the Gold Sequins, which add the perfect amount of bling.  These can easily be added to your project with Crystal Effects or any clear glue. The cut-outs were made with the punch on the Envelope Punch Board.  So, so cute!

All this week, I'll be showing some other cards I've made with this set.  It's sooo versatile and one of my 'Must Haves' from the new catalog.

Clear Mount: 134114  $21.95    Wood Mount: 134111  $29.95

If you'd like to add this to your collection, feel free to email me or click on the Order Online icon in the top right corner.  It will make the perfect addition to your collection.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp: Work of Art

Paper: Very Vanilla Cardstock

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Pretty in Pink, Baked Brown Sugar and Early Espresso Classic Pads

Accessories: Gold Sequin Trim, Envelope Punch Board, Labels Collection Framelits, Big Shot, Crystal Effects and Dimensionals/Pop Dots