My first tutorial...Watercolor Sparkle

Well at least on my blog...I actually have a tutorial over at SCS...Stamping on Candles

But this one...well I am not sure if I came up with it - I do know I discovered it myself soon after getting my Water Color Crayons and having an "accident" while crafting...I accidently grabbed the Versamarker instead of my Aquapainter

I have used this particular technique ALOT when I do swaps because I personally feel it is a little beyond ordinary...

So I give you - Watercolor Sparkle...(hey if anyone can come up with a better name let me know)

So what do you need....


Watercolor Crayons
Versamarker
Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder
Permanant Ink (I used Basic Grey)
Stamp set with open design
Embossing Gun
and of course Cardstock




Stamp your image using a permanent ink











Use Watercolor crayons to add color to the stamped image - it doesn't have to be fully colored in...in this case I used a lighter yellow (So Saffron) in the middle, a rose color (Regal Rose) ringing the yellow and finally a Coral (Cameo Corel) on the outside






Use your Versamarker to blend the crayon together - I work from the middle out using circular strokes







Dump your Iridescent Ice EP on the image...you want to do this fairly quickly after you have blended your colors with the Versamarker. Shake or tap off any excess - the EP will only adhere to the areas you have used the versamarker on.

Use your embossing gun to melt and set the EP






Finally put your card together...now you have a card with a beautiful, colorful sparkle image.











Side view to see the sparkle...





I have used the technique a number of times you can see samples

Sparkle Birthday

Ornament Card

Sparkle Butterfly

I {heart} stampin' gal val

If she ever reads this blog she is going to think I am a big stalker...and I am of her BLOG

She comes up with the cutest ideas...so do a lot of people but what I love about her is they are uncluttered, simple and well fabulous...

She had a posting one day about using Junkitz paper to create easy beautiful cards with no stamping involved... and another one where used preprinted cards she and very little stampin'. I will tell you that after i saw the Junkitz cards I HAD TO buy that paper and recreate them...

I have pitures of her completed projects in a little folder (yes I obsess much) and whenever I need a quick card and I am not in a creating mood I usually find one of hers to CASE because they are fast quick and simple - but STUNNING...

So I was wandering around a LSS in my parents hometown and back in the corner were some holiday Around the Block papers...I thought to myself "self these are cute" and my self replied "yes they are you MUST buy them"... so I bought them, brought them home and put them away...


Yesterday I decided to clean up my workspace since I had finished most of my holiday crafting and I came accross the paper...so I decided to whip up some cards...they took me all of an hour from start to finish....


Cards I dub - "Val style"...

I used Around the Block "Seasons Sayings" "and "Christmas ribbons" - I simply cut the word blocks out...on the dark red ones I swiped the edges with a little white craft ink...on the green ones a bit of SU Pomegrante ink. I used prefolded white cards I bought from Micheals (note these are 4 x 5.5 cards) and some dark green and wine organdy ribbon I had hanging about that I had dug out of the $1 ribbon bin at Micheals.

I cut the Christmas Ribbon paper into 5.5" x 2" strips and attached it to the bottom portion

The saying blocks are popped up on SU dimensionals. I thought about adding some colored brads to the sides or the the blocks like Val did with her Junkitz ones...but since I was planning on giving them to my husband to give to his coworkers I decided not to waste my precious brads and kept them simple...

So my final cost - let see...

.75 per sheet of paper (it was on SALE :) )

1.00 for the ribbon (cause I still have half a roll of each left)

~$1.65 for 11 cards and envelopes (got to love that 40% coupon - $3 for 20 cards)

so my final cost for 11 cards (note I had more squares left over but a few were too big for the size card I had) is about $4.15 - so a whopping .38 cents each to make...

I have recently found out that Around the Block makes a ton of other "blocked" word papers...I'm in heaven....

and better yet a great place to get them is A Scrapbookers Legacy - which is having a fabulous holiday sale of 40% off EVERYTHING... plus get FREE goodies...and FREE shipping on orders over $50. I have bought from them before and have had fabulous service...(and no they are not paying me to say this :) )

ACK - only 12 more days til the big man comes...

OK a post today without pictures... {edited to say NOW there are pictures :) }

More about my musing on being a crafty person in this the Holiday giving season....

I enjoy crafting - it all started with a Creative Memories party about 8 years ago and well probably thousands of $$$ later I am swimming in the big pool of crafting...

BUT...just because you are crafty and you make things you think are...well...pretty cool - doesn't mean everyone does...

My favorite place on the web has to be Splitcoaststampers I have been a "member" since May of 2004 and I have seen some simply wonderful and stunning creations...

some of them I have CASED for my personal use...others I have CASED to give to friends and family...

Some of the creations have been so breathtaking I look at them and think "man I would love to do that BUT who would appreciate it" - sure my good friends who are crafty like me would appreciate things...my sister who is pretty artistic in her own right would appreciate things....my best friend in the whole wide world - Michelle - would appreciate things...but beyond that circle it turns into a crapshoot...

I just finished up personalized BIA journals for my nieces for X-mas...(pictures tommorrow I promise) - I thought about really embellishing them out but in the end I decided to go simple, for fear that they won't appreciate the work I put into them...Sure I could have save myself a lot of time, money and sanity and just bought them a little journal and wrapped it up...but in my heart I am a crafter...

So that is the crux of what I am getting at...here I sit among all my crafty stuff - itching to make something...I do elaborate plans in my head - I sketch out my ideas but when it comes to actually implementing them I fall short...either I give up and don't make something as elaborate that I had planned for fear that the receiver will just throw it in a drawer or I just give up altogether and buy something storebought and call it good...

anyone else feel this way?

Edited to add pictures of the journals...see this is what I am getting at - I had ideas to add more ribbon...maybe an extra felt flower or two with a rhinestone brad...but then I just decided to stop...and leave them as is...had I known that they would really APPRECIATE them for what they are I might have gone a step further... but for all i know in a months time they will be shoved under a bed somewhere...

Sometimes I surprise myself...

So one of the things I love to do is make slider cards...for popcorn and hot cocoa.

This year I had a friend order some popcorn sliders for Halloween and she asked if I could make some for the Holidays...

Why of course!!!!

It also needed a place for a gift card and a To: From:

Not a problem - or so I thought...then I got to the nitty gritty...how to have a place for a gift card...how should I do a To: From: label...

Hemmed and Hawwed...hawwed and hemmed...tried a few different things that were a no go

THEN I finally came up with this...

The pouch itself is 6.5 inches tall and holds a small bag of microwave popcorn.

The front has a small card (3.5 x 4.25 folded) - inside the card is a small pcoket I made using designer paper - it will fit a standard gift card perfectly. The top half has a little decorated To: From: label.

The card is held closed with the scalloped circle. The circle is popped up on dimensionals on the bottom half.

It is hard to see in these pictures but I did use a bit of cinnimon Stickles in the centers of the flowers on the front stamp, the scallop and inside next to the Merry Christmas.

28 more days...

ACK......only 28 more days until Christmas!!!!

so every year I send out close to 75 cards....all handmade. In previous years I have taken part of lots of X-mas card swaps and sent those out - sort of fun sitting on my bed with all different types of Holiday cards surrounding me trying to "match" the card to the receiver.

This year time just got away from me and I didn't participate in any swaps...so I am on my own for creating holiday cards...something "easy", something "quick" but something "good" - and since I can't stand making more than 20 or so of the same cards...it means a few different designs....

Officially a Craft Ho with no willpower...

Until yesterday I owned 4 different trimmers/cutters, A cuttlebug, a Bind-it All, various types of scissors and scads and scads of other stampin and scrapping items...

I managed to resist the call of the Cricut...

This week i heard of a little rumor...a rumor that Wal-mart was going to be selling a special "holiday" Cricut with 2 cartridges for the price of $119...my heart quickened...but I told myself I really didn't need one...really...I didn't

I went out Black Friday shopping with my mother and my sister...we didn't even leave the house until 8:30...and we even stopped for a pastry and coffee....

We went to Target and to Walgreens and to Tuesday morning...we were looking for a specific item for one of my daughters...I strode through the Walmart and couldn't help myself...I had to go to the craft section...

They only had the $189 ones with one cartridge...a nice lady helped me check the price but it was truely $189 - I asked about the $119 ones and she told me the rumor was in fact true but they seemed to be out of them...

Wasn't meant to be....

So today I drove home from my mothers and realized I needed a few items from my local Walmart - so I left the kiddos with my husband and headed out to Wally-World...

I hit the craft section looking for a wreath form (for a project I am working on) but no such luck...I decided to go around the back of the craft section and check out the clearence section...on the back endcap what do i find but TWO Cricuts...both with 2 cartridges and a big beautiful sign that says "Holiday Cricuts - $119"

I have no willpower....none at all....

Sometimes SIMPLE is better...

I love clean simple lines...what I love even better is quick, fast stamping too...

If you happen to peruse the isles of Target you will see a trend now-a-days with very simple notecards ... an image and a small saying on a basic folded white notecard and that's it...and for that you pay $2+... not me - I get them same look for a fraction of the cost (umm yeah I don't include the cost of my stamp set...)

Last year I made up a set of cards to show my customers that you don't need a whole lot of stamp sets to envoke different feelings in your cards...you can do fun, whimsical and elegant all in one. The two stamp sets I used to create my set were both from SU - Many Merry Messages and Holiday Tag Team -

I used only a handful of colors - Old Olive, Kraft and White for the cards themselves and then basically Black, Red & Olive for the colors with a little Saffon, Bashful Blue and Gray thrown-in

Next...I used the very cute SU Sell-a-Bration set - Very Punny (retired)...Can I just tell you to make this whole set took me LESS than 10 minutes...yes - I grabbed some SU notecards, the stamp set, my black stamp pad, some Black Gingham ribbon and a few markers and in less than 10 minutes I had this...

seriously simple and seriously cute

And last but not least...I won't say this is my best work...because it is far from it....and I was just trying to hurry up and get stamp and ink to paper to have a collection to showcase two SU sets - Year After Year and In My Thoughts - with these two sets you can easily make a card for just about any occassion - birthday, baby, graduation, wedding, friendship, holiday. I used Su notecards (gosh I love having them on hand), Watercolor pencils and Blender pens to color in...and various bits of ribbon...

So remember when you are stampin'...sometimes simple is better

A Threesome of Cards

I'll admit I am at the very basic sense a "simple" stamper...I am drawn to nice clean cards, ones with a layer or two, maybe an embellishment...so I have been trying to work outside of my "comfort" zone and branch out a little bit...

I got my new Green Grass stamps in the mail the other day and they were calling out to me to make them dirty...
I'll admit this isn't my usual style...This is more of a "Shabby Chic" look to me...but I do love the way it turned out...hard to see in the picture but the Live, Laugh. Love is embossed with Iridescent Ice EP to give it a bit of dazzle...

Stamps : Dream Come True (Green Grass Stamps), Cheesecloth (SU), Canvas (SU)

Paper: Cranberry (SU-retired), Designer Paper (SU-retired) Chocolate Chip (SU)

Accessories; Ribbon (SU-retired), Primas, Rhinestone Brad (SU)

This next card was done because I wanted to try and give those great Criss-Cross cards I saw on SCS a whirl. Like the last card I delved into my retired Stampin' Up stash. Some of the elements I used here were the SU scallop punch with holes punched in the scalloped edges (1/8th hole punch used) - the heart is cut out and raised up on SU dimensionals. I used Snap Stamps on the front to spell "You are my" - and see that pink little prima...that is a self adhesive Rhinestone...cute no?

Stamps: Dream Come True (Green Grass Stamps), Snap Stamps (Karen Foster) Heart stamps (SU-retired) Season of Joy - swirl (SU)

Paper: Kraft (SU), Carribean CS (SU retired) Loves Me Paper (SU retired)

Accessories: Prima, Ribbon (SU retired), Scallop punch (SU) 1/8 hole punch (SU) Round Tab Punch (SU)

And of course I have to make a quick simple card - grabbed a SU Notecard and went to town in about 2 minutes...the flower is from set - Papertrey Beautiful Blooms stamped in 3 different colors across the front...used Basic Grey for the inner part of the flower and for the saying. I did add a bit of bling in the form of Stardust Stickles in the center dots of the flower.

Stamps: Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey), Dream Come True (Green Grass Stamps)

Paper: SU Notecard

Accessories: Stickles

O' Christmas Joy

So I saw THIS beautiful Bind-it-All book over at Danielle's site Fat Cat Stamper - (go check out her work - FAB-U-LOUS)

Anyway I loved the look of her book and said hummm....I would love to do something similar - so here is my version....

Paper - Dashing (SU), Vanilla (SU) Real Red (SU) Old Olive (SU)
Main Stamps- Season of Joy (SU), Merry and Bright (SU) Joy stamp (unknown)
Accessories - Bind-it-All, Scallop Punch (SU), Round Tab Punch (SU), Jolee flower stickers, Rhinestones

Also...my other half is leaving for a business trip tonight for 3 days...which means once the kiddies go to bed it will be time for momma to play.... who has time to do laundry when there is so much stamping to be done :)

My Stampin' Space...

I get asked all the time "WHEN do you find time to be so crafty?" - the answer is simple...I have my own space...My space has definately grown over the years...it started with a small desk and well sort of mushroomed...

My Craftin' space is located in my bedroom - we have this odd little cutout in our bedroom - I guess it is suppose to be a very tiny sitting area...well it is now MINE...I can leave stuff out...I taught my daughters from day 1...MOMMY'S SPACE is MOMMY'S SPACE...although they are more than welcome to anything in my craft trashcan or anything that they find on the floor (forces me to clean up after myself...learned my lesson after loosing 3 precious rhinestone brads to thier greedy little hands)

Here are some pictures

OVERVIEW OF MY LITTLE CORNER OF HEAVEN

My main area is comprised of a Corner Computer Desk I bought from OfficeMax on clearance...I also bought the matching 2 drawer filing cabinet (Holds all my 8.5x11) paper in hanging file folders and the matching rolling printer cart - whcih holds some magazines on the right side and has 2 shelves on the left side for storage.

Starting from the picture on left against the wall is the 3 shelf small storage unit I bought from Target. On top of that is a Ribbon Storage I bought from Micheals (40% off baby)

Then my big Wardobe...I bought it a few years ago from Walmart on-line...they don't seem to have it anymore...but the inside is divided in half vertically with one shelf going right across the top and then adjustable shelves down the side. This is where I store ALOT of my craft junk...My stamps are stored in there in Sterlite white open baskets - I have one for Retired SU image Stamps, one for Current SU image stamps and one for SU Sentiment Stamps. I also have a smaller one that holds my UM stamps.

Next to that is a stack of greent front plastic drawers I bought at The Container Store - I have one for all my flowers (Prima, Heidi Swapp, etc..), one for all my Brads and other small embellishments, one for Misc. embellishments and one for Special blank notecards (SU, Fabrino's)

Moving on you will see my desk and two sets of shelves...know what those are???? I'll tell you SHOE STORAGE ...yep they are designed and sold as Shoe Storage at Target...but I think they make great CHEAP shelves (I got mine for about $12 each) one side has storage for the stuff I use on a regular basis for the Grab and go convience - the other side holds stamp sets that i am using for the moment. On top are my Stampin Up Paper Holders for my 12x12 paper as well as various metal mesh drawers I have picked up here and there on Clearance....see that pink 2 drawer one...$2 at Kohls...can't beat that...I keep a lot of my extra adhesive and smaller craft stuff in those drawers...and then the shelf above for more storage....

Moving around the room you will see 2 railings on my walls....I LOVE this storage...and it is SUPER cheap....I am not laying when I tell you the total cost with all the containers - ready for it $12....yes $12....It is the Bygel rail system from Ikea (found in the Kitchen section) -

I have the 21" Bygel Rail on both walls...on the left hand wall I have three plastic containers hooked to the rail - I store my wheel handles, my hole punches, my SAMJ and other various things I need on a daily basis.

The one on the right hand side has two different containers - the wire basket and the cutlery caddy and if you notice - whats on top....ALL MY BIG SU PUNCHES...they have found a home snuggled right on the rail...up out of the way but within easy reach.

I also have the S hooks on the rail system to hold my various scissors, Bind-it-All Guide, brayer, etc...

Below the rail on the right hand side is my Portaink storage - I personally love this storage because as you can see I have very little space...this storage fits right up against the wall and stores my SU ink pads perfectly with room on top for reinkers (and Stickles :) )

I also have a small magnetic board and a 12x12 piece of corkboard in my area to keep track of all those important papers, along with various containers on my desk to control my crafting Chaos...I also have a folding OTT task light...similar to this one this one - only mine is black with no handle...I got mine at my loacl warehouse club for about $35...WELL worth the money....and of course you can see all the stuff I store under my desk...there is a space just big enough for my feet...

Well I hope you liked taking a look around my craftin' space...if you have any questions about anything in particular in my space just ask away:)

It's on the way....

I love stamps of all shapes, sizes and colors...my main preference is wood mounted stamps for the sheer stamp and go convience of them.

But every once in a while an unmounted set just calls my name...

While perusing Amy R's blog Prairie Paper and Ink I came across Green Grass Stamps and of course HAD to look at what they had to offer...

I stopped in my tracks...and clicked the order button when I saw this....Dream Today Always a set of 5 different stamps....

I am a "LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE" fanatic...I have a few other stamps that have the staying but none as bold and beautiful as this one...and they have some other delicious stamps as well...

Now I'll be stalking my mailman....

Beauty in Clearance Items....

I am a sucker for Clearance items...every time I go into a Target I HAVE to whip past all the end caps to see what is on Clearance for that week...some weeks they have nothing I want...other weeks it seems I have timed my shopping trip just right and the Clearance Gods have smiled down upon me...

I found this little tri-frame buried under a bunch of a other Clearance Items - the cost was .25 cents...I rummaged some more and came up with 2 others. They were orginally marked at $3.99

for $3.99 nope would not have bought them...but for a quarter....I figured I could use them for something at some point...

It was very simple to throw together this for a friend.

I used Both Way Blossoms (SU-retired) and Snap Stamps (Karen Foster) colored in using Watercolor Crayons (SU) and added some sparkle with a Stardust Clear Glitter Pen (Sakura)

BOO to you

How appropriate I begin posting to my blog on Halloween...

Hopefully you will enjoy what I have to offer and come back time and time again :)

This is the first year I have really made something for Halloween

So for today I give you...

A fun BOO book....

Covers are 4x4 medium weight coasters covered by some Halloween paper that caught my eye at my local LSS...rest of the paper is SU WW and Lilac.

BOO is done with SU BIG DEAL alphabet using Pumpkin Pie ink and

to you - Karen Foster Snap Stamps

and the EYES...those delicious large Googly EYES...from a big bag of googly eyes...that I got at the Dollar Tree...a huge bag of eyes for $1...really you can't beat that

Inside pages are 3.75x3.75 with rounded corners...in colors of Pumpkin Pie, Green Galore and Lovely Lilac

I used my oh so fun Bind-it-All with a 3/8 O wire to bind it all up and tied various ribbons from my stash...

Keep checking back...more to come