Constantly Stamping

GDP361: Global Design Project Color Challenge

Hello everyone! Can you believe it has been 3 months since my last project post? Life been a challenge since losing my mom in July. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in my day to accomplish all that needs to be done. This is the first time that I felt inspired to craft in a long while. I have had to step away from several things that I enjoy and take time to heal. Life is still hectic, and I can't promise I will be consistent with my stamping, but I did want to drop in for a quick status report. Now let's take a look at the beautiful color challenge we have this week at Global Design Project.

I never really had the chance to totally embrace the new catalog and now we have the amazing new Holiday Mini Catalog. For this challenge I combined the Perfectly Penciled DSP (#159244) from the annual catalog with the banner sentiment from the Hello Harvest stamp set (#159634) in the mini. Just a note, in real life the pinks in the flowers work well sentiment banner, but for some reason, they don't quite look the same in the photos.

I love this Designer Series Paper because of its versatility...especially when it comes to color challenges. Basically, I just colored the DSP with Parakeet Party, Shaded Spruce, and Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends. 

The real fun thing about this card is how I added shading to the sentiment.

1. I stamped the sentiment in Flirty Flamingo ink using a stamp positioner.
2. I added shading to the image using Stampin' Blends.
3. After the image was complete dry I used an Embossing Buddy to treat the image, then I placed the image back into the stamp positioner and stamped with clear VersaMark ink. I heat embossed the image with White Embossing Powder.
4. I used the coordinating dies to cut out the images. I trimmed off the excess portions of one of the images.
5. I added Stampin' Dimensionals to the top portion of the banner.
6. I layered the piece with Dimensionals on top.

To finish everything off I die cut two concentric circles from black cardstock using the Stylish Shapes Dies (#159183) and placed everything on Dimensionals. Then I added linen thread and some bling from the For Everything Fancy Sequins (#159187). I also fussy cut a few additional flowers from the same paper collection to add to the sentiment.

That's all for this week. Be sure to head over to the Global Design Project blog and see some beautiful cards made with this same color pallet.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.

Have a blessed day!

Farewell to my Mom

I have had several people want to know where I have been the past several weeks. Sadly, my mother fell ill on June 16, a few weeks later was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer, and on July 16 she went home to be with the Lord. At 84 years of age she was beginning to show signs of slowing down, but we just we not expecting to lose her this way. To say that I am heart-broken is an understatement.

Here is a picture of a scrapbook page that features her in her early twenties. This is my all-time favorite photo of her. I made this page ten years ago as an Artisan Award entry. You can see the original post here.

I will be posting again hopefully in 3-4 weeks, but for now, I just can't. My mom was my biggest cheerleader when it comes to my stamping, so I will definitely be back, but for now I need to put my family first and help my dad get things in order. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for our family. I love and appreciate you all!

 

 

GDP348: Global Design Project CASE Challenge

We are CASEing Krista Frattin's adorable card this week at Global Design Project. Krista has a really great eye for design, and I love seeing her amazing stamping projects. This card is no exception. She really knows how to bring together all elements of color and layout. Krista has a gift for focusing on the details that put her projects over-the-top.

This is what I see when I step back and take an overview of Krista's card. Immediately I noticed the soft color pallet. I typically shy away from pastels, but the Smoky Slate and Pool Party are so beautiful together. I also adore the little heart, so I just had to use one in my design. There is also a lot of layering going on with her card, so I wanted to pull that into my design as well. Even with all of that, our cards look completely different. Isn't it wonderful how you can take inspiration from someone else's work and make it entirely your own!

For my card I started with a standard size top-folding card base made from Thick Basic White cardstock. Next, I embossed a slightly smaller piece of Smoky Slate cardstock using the Pretty Flowers Embossing Folder (#155428). Now, here is where the magic happens. I swiped a White Craft Stampin' Ink Pad (#147277) over the raised design for a look that takes your breath away. It's difficult to see, but I also dabbed some Shimmery White Embossing Paste lightly over parts of the card front for some added sparkle. Next, I cut two pieces of Metallic Mesh Ribbon to form the foundation for the focal point. I die cut two floral sprays from Thick Basic White cardstock using the Artistic Dies (#155371) and layered them to create a thicker foundation for the sentiment.

I stamped the greeting from the new Charming Sentiments stamp set (#159985) and then heat embossed it with Silver Metallic Embossing Powder. Then I used a label die from Painted Labels (#151605) to cut out the sentiment. I love the soft frame that is embossed into the edge of the label. Finally, I used a die from the Sentiment Silhouettes die set to cut a heart from Pool Party cardstock and I even used a little Wink of Stella (#141897) to add just a hint of shimmer to the heart.

This card has just the right amount of elegance, so I decided to stop right there and not add any gems or additional bling. Wouldn't this be perfect as a wedding card! Let me know what you think.

We would love to have you play along with us this week. Be sure to check out what the other talented designers/players have created for this challenge at the Global Design Project Challenge Blog.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.

GDP327: Global Design Project Theme Challenge

Our theme this week at Global Design Project is plants and leaves. I didn't realize just how many of my favorite stamp sets retired until I tried to make this card. I had to reach way down into my bag of tricks to come up with an idea for this one.

My friend Cindy Schuster once told me that I am a "technique person" when it comes to cardmaking. I think she is spot on, because I really do love a good technique, and this card certainly supports that notion!

I actually started this card base several months ago, but it has just sat on my table waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. I began with a Crumb Cake card panel and used the Stitched Greenery Die to add the detailed pattern. Then I used several different colors of Stampin' Blends to color the leaves. I only used one of the two colors of each blend and then I added shading with similar colors of dry Watercolor Pencils. I would love to tell you what colors I used, but it has been so long ago, that I am not certain. If I had to guess I would say that the Blends are Light Smoky Slate, Dark Crumb Cake, Light Cajun Craze, Light Soft Suede and possibly Light Early Espresso. Also, the pencils over top of the ink changes the color, so it is difficult to say. The watercolor pencils used are Basic Gray, Early Espresso, and Cajun Craze.

I made the Early Espresso frame larger by piecing together two frames cut with the Painted Labels Dies (#151605). I hid the seam with the sentiment strip. The greeting is stamped in Early Espresso ink on Crumb Cake cardstock using a sentiment from the Nature's Harvest stamp set (#156813) and cut with the coordinating label from the Harvest Dies (#156504). The cone flowers are from the same set and stamped with Cajun Craze ink on Crumb Cake cardstock. Finally, I added two Brushed Brass Butterflies to direct the eye into the layout and complete the card.

We would love to have you play along with us this week. Be sure to check out what the other talented designers/players have created for this fun challenge at the Global Design Project Challenge Blog.

I WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR STAMPIN' UP! DEMONSTRATOR

If you are in the United States and need a demonstrator, then you can order your supplies in my online store here.