Fancy Friday - Color Challenge

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back together again!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with a blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways each month! These are a group of past and current Stamping' UP Artisans that have become fast friends thru the amazing Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 12 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 

Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color, sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we have a color challenge inspired by a recent Stampin' UP! project for demos. You can take this color combo and run with it in either feminine or masculine style.

I recently bought the Perennial Birthday Stamp Set from the Occasions 2018 Catalog. In that catalog, it is paired with a great card kit but look closer at this stamp set as it is a keeper! I love that large font HAPPY BIRTHDAY image!

Here is my project for this color challenge. I focused on the Pool Party being the main color with small bits of the Emerald Envy and Night of Navy. I used the Pocket Framelits to create my focal layer and bent the edges back to make it pop up off the back layer. Some sponge daubers to "color" in the flowers. I added "MY FRIEND" from the You're So Sweet Stamp Set. Super easy for a card class I think and you could change the colors for variety.

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my sweet friend, Holly Stene
 by clicking on the next button below! 

WHAT'S THE CRAFTY CARROT CO.?

We're a group of past Stampin' Up! Artisan award winners that love to share! Every month we bring an interactive online program for stampers all over the globe. The whole idea is to equip you to get the most out of them the Stampin UP! products you buy whether a customer or demonstrator. This is also a valuable resource for Stampin' UP! demonstrators for class ideas and get your customers stamping! It is more than stamping as we build relationships with each other is sharing our love of creating! We'd love you to be an active part of our wonderful crafting community! 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Sketch Challenge

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back together again!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with a blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways each month! These are a group of past and current Stamping' UP Artisans that have become fast friends thru the amazing Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 14 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 

Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color, sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we were to take the sketch made by the lovely Jen Timko but casing our talented newcomer Holly Stene!

I needed a birthday card for one of my besties and here is what I came up with. 

Colors are Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand and White.

While I was in Banff Canada recently with my some of my dearest stamping friends from all around the world, I attended Allison Okamitsu's Stamping Retreat. She had tons of stamp sets sitting out and this is one that I have not had the pleasure of using yet. Can I say....LUV! I used the Rich Razzleberry ink to watercolor in the flowers. You have to work in layers and letting it dry in between to get the soft coloring effect.

That pattern background layer is from the Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper. Many of the patterns are non seasonal and can be used outside of Christmas. I also used the Decorative Ribbon Border Punch for the mini scallop edge on the side of layer. See below on where the scallops came from?

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a project and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my sweet friend, Jeanna Bohanon
 by clicking on the next button below! 

WHAT'S THE CRAFTY CARROT CO.?

We're a group of past Stampin' Up! Artisan award winners. Every month we bring an interactive online program for stampers all over the globe. The whole idea is to help you decide which products to buy and we equip you to get the most out of them. We'd love you to be an active part of our wonderful crafting community!

Look out for our Crafty Carrot Co. blog hop next week on Monday.

We're rolling out some exciting changes for the New Year so join the fun!

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - A Piece of Art

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 10 of us this month so don't miss a one!

 
Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we were to create a card WITHOUT adding a greeting or any wording on the front. Shocker I know! The idea is to make it a piece of art!

I first took the Shimmery White Cardstock and ran it thru the Big Shot with the Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. The four ink colors I then watercolored with are Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Lemon Lime Twist and Berry Burst. The later two are the BRAND NEW In-Colors coming out June 1st! I can just say very loudly.....

LOVE LOVE LOVE them! The Shimmery White piece becomes pretty saturated so I let it dry completely and then even add it on top of a layer of cardstock for strength before popping it on card base with Stampin' Dimensionals. The Butterflies Thinlits and Bold Butterfly Framelits are still a favorite of mine to use and completes the whimsical feel of this card. 

I stamped the greeting on the inside of the card instead. This one is a sneak peak from a BRAND NEW stamp set called Just Add Text. Love this quote from one of the most famous artist! (I did a huge project on him when going thru college back in the day) 

Today especially, I love this quote as I love all my Artisan friends who join me on this blog hop team! They make my world better with their art!

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a card or two and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my fun and talented friend Shannon Lane
 by clicking on the next button below! 

A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop - A Sara Thing Kit

Welcome to the A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop!

A group of talented and creative Stampin' UP! Demonstrators have come together to showcase some alternative projects of the Paper Pumpkin Monthly Kit program! This month was a kit designed with Stampin' UP CEO Sara Douglass!
I highly recommend watching Sara's video on how to put together the kit if you have it! She demonstrates how to watercolor the pieces with the pencils and gives great tips! 

SARA'S VIDEO

For my first card, I just colored the heart with the Melon Mambo watercolor pencil only and blended the color together with the paint brush. I then cut the envelope open to use the inside liner pattern for a layer on my card. I stamped the greetings on the sticky strip and cut smaller to adhere to the heart shape. I stamped the BEST right on to the embossed heart. I placed all of this on the NEW Lemon Lime Twist cardstock. (by far my favorite new in color ever!)

Here is just one more card...again just using one color - Daffodil Delight watercolor pencil - I colored in the other embossed pattern. I cut it down to 4x4 as well as the Basic Black card base to 4 1/4" x 4 1/4". 

So what did you think about this kit? I am very excited about the direction Stampin' UP is taking to step up the technique side of Paper Pumpkin!  Perfect for that beginner stamper to try watercoloring! 

Want to get a complete "A Sara Thing" Paper Pumpkin Kit for FREE?

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY: To be entered into a drawing for a FREE "A Sara Thing" Paper Pumpkin Kit, you must leave a comment on EVERY blog. Drawing closes on Saturday, April 29th at 9 PM EST. The winner will be announced on Monday, May 1, 2017. Open to international participates as well which is AWESOME because it is only in US and Canada markets!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to the super talented Maria
 by clicking on the next button below! 

OR follow the list....

Andrea Tracy-Tucker 

Pam Staples  

Dena Rekow  

Melissa Davies  

Kim Smith  

Kimberley Morris  

Sara Levin  

Cindy Schuster  

Maria Willis  

Jennifer Hill  

Rick Adkins  

Lori Mueller  

Carolynn Sander  

Cathy Caines  

Monika Davis  

Sue Plote  

Megan Thompson  

Tina Riddle  

Cindee Wilkinson  

Rachel Tessman  

Lydia Fiedler  

Nurture Nature with the Creation Station Blog Hop

Welcome back this month with the Creation Station Design Blog Hop! I was beyond thrilled to join this group of talented women that inspires me! We plan to inspire you each month with Stampin' UP! creative top of the line projects with a theme from all around the globe! We hope that you hop thru each blog and leave comments as we all love to hear praise about our creations!

This month our theme was Nurture Nature or Flowers to Showers. 
Well.....a cactus count as nature, right? I was at my friend Monika's Stamp, Scrap and Create Retreat last weekend and one of the lady there had the Birthday Fiesta Photopolymer Bundle which I have been on the fence about getting myself. I mean I bought the bright and fun Festive Birthday Designer Series Paper so what is the hold up?

I love a good shaker card but making them is time consuming. This was super easy to create with the Fringe Scissors, cardstock and the Clear Envelopes. I just slide a piece of Whisper White in one half of the envelope, added the cut pieces of cardstock and folded the envelope in half. I secured it with washi tape and use my bone folder to make the folded edge crisp. I stamped the cactus in Emerald Envy on Emerald Envy cardstock. The greeting comes from Sunshine Sayings Stamp Set.

Why not make a matching gift box too? This is a 3.25 x 3.25 x 2.5 size box made with the Gift Box Punch Board. I have a whole spool of this Melon Mambo 1/8" Stitched Ribbon and it is stiff enough to make a large bow with it. 

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Creations Station Blog Hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

You saw Dena's awesome project before me and now move on to 
Denita's incredible project by clicking on the next button below! 

Dena Rekow

Denita Wright

Come join us in May to get free tutorials, live video classes and more!

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Step Up Sketch Challenge

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back!!! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 14 of us this month and many new fresh faces...my dream team of Artisans!

 
Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we are going with a simple theme: Step Up Sketch Challenge!
Take our simple sketch created by our own Jen Timko shown below and create two cards showing how to take a simple card and stepped it up.

My first card is the simple or Beginner's card with technique, lots of stamping and low key but still elegant and eye catching. I stamped the Birthday Blooms Stamp image with Archival Basic Black on a piece of 3.5" x 3" Shimmery White Cardstock. I took another piece of Shimmery White and stamped the greeting from Window Shopping Stamp Set. Then I added some color on top with the Calypso Coral Watercolor Pencil and a Blender Pen. Finish off with a Calyspo Coral layer and the Pool Party 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon.

My second card is the step up version or Avid Stamper which takes a step up with a big WOW! This involves using the Watercolor Pencils to color in the stamped image this time. I would color with the pencil first and then use the blender pen to spread the color around. Working in layers to add darker areas. I used the Old Olive, Bermuda Bay and Calypso Coral pencils. My friend Jen Campbell and Janet Wakeland recently did a live video on Facebook that shared the technique and well I HAD to try it! OMGeez! LOVE to the max! I am hooked! I finished my card by adding the Calypso Coral Ribbon from the Cupcakes & Carosel Embellishment Kit, the Sunshine Sayings Stamp greeting, the Sunshine Wishes Thinlit Die in Basic Black, and the Brushstrokes Stamp in Crumb Cake on Crumb Cake card base.

Would love to have you join us in the Fancy Friday Challenge so make a card or two and let us know in the comments if you did or post on social media somewhere and add the #FANCYFRIDAYBLOGHOP

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my fun and talented friend Sue
 by clicking on the next button below! 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Time of the Year

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back with some NEW fancy friends too! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here! We have 14 of us this month and many new faces...my dream team of Artisans!

 Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we are going with a color theme: Neutrals Challenge. We were to use mostly white with one neutral color in the mix. Optional touch: Think Snow, Ice, Winter, New Years, Champagne, 2017.......basically January if you live in North America!

I was playing with a piece of Shimmery White Cardstock and trying some watercoloring techniques. I took Mint Macaron Ink with the Aqua Painter and painted just the edge multiply layers around the piece to create a frame. Then I added the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper cut with the Santa's Sleigh Thinlits Dies. A mixture of stamps created the greeting....the Annual Hostess Time of Year Photopolymer Stamp Set and Sunshine Sayings Stamp Set. My neutral color was my favorite Smoky Slate. I added it with the banner and the 1/8" Stitched Ribbon. The background is done with Softly Falling TIEF. I added the white round sequins from the Metallic Sequins for a little more bling.

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my awesome friend Marisa's GORGEOUS project by clicking on the next button below! 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Christmas Inspiration

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back with some NEW fancy friends too! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Stampin' UP! Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here!

 Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color, sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we are having fun with the upcoming holiday season! Are you ready? How about a little collection of Christmas decorating? I have decorating for the holiday on the brain so I came up this collection with some Pinterest pins I had on a board of mine.

I reached for a Hostess Stamp Set called Time of Year in the Stampin' UP! Annual Catalog. I paired it with the Warmth and Cheer Designer Series Paper Stack in that green plaid pattern, the Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Embossing Folder and the Cherry Cobbler 3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon Combo Pack. The Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies has to be my favorite item from the Holiday Catalog and I used them here in Garden Green and Pear Pizzazz to make my pine swag. The MERRY is done in the Labeler Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set with Archival Basic Black. I like hoe it plays on the book titles in the inspiration photo. The background holly stamp from the same Hostess stamp set is done with Versamark Ink on Crumb Cake base. Notice the size of the card? It is a little larger than a normal 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card. It is 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and I love it! Gives me a little more writing room on the inside!

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my awesome friend Jennifer's GORGEOUS card by clicking on the next button below! 

Fancy Friday Blog Hop - Embossing Fancy Frost Specialty DSP

 Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back with some NEW fancy friends too! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey. Glad to have you here!

 Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month we are having fun with a Fancy Technique (or Tip) Challenge! Each person will share a tip or technique that they have found in their creative mode!

I wanted to challenge myself to come up with a different technique to use on the Fancy Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper. It is a thick white textured embossed images paper in the Stampin' UP! Holiday Catalog. I have been using it recently on some secret projects made for a special assignment. It is really pretty as white too!

Wham Bam!!! Can you see how I changed it?

To create this look, cut your DSP to the size you want. Then take your Versa Mark pad and lightly rub across the surface of the DSP. Now cover Gold Emboss Powder all over the layer. Use your Heat Tool to melt the powder. (watch your fingers on this part!) To finish, take your sponge dauber with Delightful Dijon Ink and fill in the white spaces.

I used products from the Paisley and Petals Suite in the Stampin' UP! Holiday Catalog to finish up the card. I am loving the Paisley Framelits Dies with the two layer piece here and the added Metallic and Regals Enamel Shapes.

I used the rest of that bold pattern paper in the Petals and Paisleys DSP to make a gift bag with the Gift Bag Punch Board. I topped off with the yummy Rich Razzleberry in the 3/8" Ribbon Trio Pack.

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
Now move on to my awesome friend Allison's FANTASTIC TECHNIQUE by clicking on the next button below!