This sparkly sunset card wasn’t intended to look like a sunset…but it ended up that way and I’m okay with it!
The beautiful sunset effect was created using Brusho Crystal Colour and water. I admit I’ve been a bit hesitant to play a lot with these because I thought they were a bit on the messy side and required a bit of commitment! However – now that I’ve played with them, I think I’ll pull them out a bit more!
The image is from Petal Palette – one of my favourite stamps in that set – I think I’ve used that more than any of the others. It’s currently available in red rubber wood mount and red rubber clear mount. Don’t forget if you really want some of these wood mount stamp sets, you’ll want to order them in the next month or two – because as of June 2019 all Stampin’ Up! stamps will either be red rubber clear mount or photopolymer.
You can “kind of” see the sparkle here I think? It’s subtle, but it’s there. Shimmery White Cardstock is great and will stand up to getting a soaker.
I was a little enthusiastic with soaking my cardstock so I actually was able to tip it and get the wet colour to run towards the side, which resulted in the streak effect. Definitely a bit of a happy accident.
A couple of things to know with Brusho – a little goes a LONG way, and some of the darker colours are quite strong and can overwhelm your piece. I worked on a few layers of older grid paper (“reuse recycle!”), and used my heat tool to speed up the process because I’m a little impatient. You don’t need to open up the Brusho containers – just pierce the lid with a pushpin, and then you can leave the pushpin in place to seal the hole when not in use.
I’ll try to do a Facebook Live over on the YamStamps Facebook Page showing this sparkly sunset card construction in the next few days so you can see the Brushos in action. Please like and follow the page, you should get notification when I’m going live! If you miss it live, there’s always the replay which will remain available indefinitely.
In the meantime, I’m trying to get ready to go to the Kitchener Scrapfest! I’m happy to have a vendor booth there once again this year. Friday April 12 and Saturday April 13 – please stop by to say hi, do a bit of shopping and do a free make and take…and fill out a door prize draw form! Hope to see you there!
This is not an April Fool’s Trick! Stampin’ Up! has released their storage solutions and you can get them starting today! Storage by Stampin’ Up! is perfectly sized for your Stampin’ Up! ink pads, refils and markers!
This modular system is totally customizable – and can expand as your collection expands! You can select which trays and which toppers you get, and then combine them in a way that suits your crafting area!
Check out this flyer to see all the options – and a handy way to calculate how many of each type of storage block you’ll need! (or check out the quick reference image below)
As another cheat sheet helper:
There are 4 colour families, each with 10 ink pads/refills/Stampin’ Write Markers, there are 2 In Colour Families, each with 5 ink pads/refills/Stampin’ Write Markers. By my count there are currently 30 pairs of Stampin’ Blends Markers available (so 60 markers) plus 3 single Blends (colour lifter, Ivory, Bronze) but this number could be slightly off….obviously you’re best to count how many YOU have and order accordingly?!
I can’t wait to get my storage system set up – because I’m sure that will mean I will be totally organized in the next year, right?! *cough*
If you have any questions or need assistance ordering your Storage by Stampin’ Up, please feel free to contact me!
OK I had to save this post because the card recipient wasn’t at band practice last week….and I didn’t want to spoil the surprise! So here it is now – my EASY handmade Harry Potter Greeting Card. So easy, muggles can make it!
I have to admit, I squealed a bit when this card came together like it did! And true confession….not sure if I would do the scar next time…but I know it’s integral to Harry Potter…maybe I’ll just learn to draw it a bit better. (There’s a REASON, well, many, that I am a stamper and not a painter/illustrator etc).
This handmade Harry Potter greeting card is actually VERY easy to recreate, just a swish and a flick and you’re done…
The glasses are created using circle punches – in this case, the 2″ Circle Punch and the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch. Punch the smaller inner circle FIRST, then centre and punch the outer circle. If you wanted, you could also easily do this with coordinating sizes of Layering Circles Framelits and the Big Shot. I just used two scraps of Basic Black cardstock for the arms of the glasses.
For the hair, I had a strip of Early Espresso cardstock that I snipped in jagged points with my Paper Snips. For the scarf, I had a strip of Merry Merlot and I added pieces of Crushed Curry to recreate the Griffyndor colours.
Or…you could give this information to another card maker and then say “Accio, handmade Harry Potter Greeting Card“?!
If you are looking to get into cardmaking, or know someone that is starting out, I’m finalizing details for my Beginners Card Making Class – it’s a 101 class on creating your own greeting cards – from choosing cardstock to cutting and layering, and all the “basic” information you need to build a foundation upon for more intricate cards. I’ll be opening preregistration soon and looking to launch in April. Like my most recent card classes, class registrants will receive an invitation to a private group which will house class information and host the live videos. Stay tuned for more information!
In the meantime, I leave you with this thought….even wizards like to stamp…
Questions? Send me an owl…or just email me. (or leave a comment below!). Don’t forget that my birthday week celebrations are ongoing until Saturday at midnight!
If you are in Canada: place an order with me through to midnight eastern time on Saturday, March 30th, and I’ll send you a pdf download with 10 different paper crafting projects!
Place an order of $50 or more, and I will cover the shipping charges ($9.95 or 10% after $99.50 product order).
To qualify – either contact me with your order and your payment method (I can accept Mastercard/Visa or etransfer), or place the order yourself online in the YamStamps Stampin’ Up! Canada online store (click on the link or type in yamstamps.com/shop). Please use the host code 2DDGZPHG
Due to Stampin’ Up! Regulations, I can only sell product to those in Canada. However, if you are located outside of Canada, purchase access to the Scrapbook in a Box Online Class before March 31st at midnight eastern, and receive the tutorial bundle download as well!
This offer is valid only through me, and only until midnight eastern time on March 31, 2019.
Let Them Eat Cake! OK so I know I’m not using that quote in the correct context, but it talks about cake so that’s good enough for me. Check out this Birthday Cake Card, made with Stampin’ Up!’s Cake Builder Punch which is available for ordering once again!
Today’s Sunday Swap Share is this Birthday Cake Card from Karina Chin – who used the Piece of Cake Bundle on her card. The discounted bundle includes the Piece of Cake Photopolymer (clear/see through) stamp set and the Cake Builder Punch, which is once again in stock and available to order….though I notice it says “Low Inventory” which means it may go on backorder – so if you’d like it and need it now, please don’t hesitate to order it! In the background, the Scattered Sequins Embossing Folder was used to add texture. This folder is available for purchase, or as a Level 1 Sale-a-Bration reward choice with a $60 product order. (please note that there are different item numbers, depending on if you’re purchasing or getting as a Sale-a-Bration item).
There is more good news – Stampin’ Up! has let us know that the Cake Builder Punch (AND the Butterfly Duet Punch – hopefully available to order again in the next couple of weeks) will be available beyond the Occasions Catalogue! I don’t know if the BUNDLES will be carried over, though, so if you’d like to get the stamp set and punch together at a discounted price, you’ll want to be sure to grab the bundle before June 3/while supplies last/once orderable. You can contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing your order.
One week today I’ll be completing my leg of the Around the Bay Relay Race! This is the second time I’m doing the 2 person relay (15km each) – which I told myself would be so much easier than the bunch of times I did the full race….but at this point in time, I’m not so sure about that! It’s been a tough winter for training for sure – but I’m glad to be able to get out there. Wish me luck… (and I will definitely be saying “Let ME Eat Cake!” afterwards!!!)
Spring has sprung! Thank goodness – and fingers crossed that the weather stays spring-like. This is a card we did this month in class – a spring thank you card!
This card features the Abstract Impressions discounted bundle – which includes the Abstract Impressions Photopolymer Stamp Set (the clear stamps) and the Springtime Impressions Thinlits Dies. While we wait to see what will be carried over into the next Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue (coming out in June 2019), one thing that usually happens is that current bundles are discontinued. The individual products may appear in the next catalogue, but the discounted bundle option is no longer available. So – if you like these products, you may want to consider grabbing this bundle soon!
For this card, we played with the Big Shot Embossing Mat – which allows you to emboss with the metal dies, rather than cut. This means you can use these tools in more ways and get more value! (Maybe I should have saved this card for a Frugal Friday feature?!). For this card, the corner flower die was used to emboss the Lemon Lime Twist Cardstock. I love the texture it gives without drawing too much attention away from the die cut butterfly. These colours and images were just perfect for a spring thank you card, in my opinion!
