Explore Blocking

Happy Monday!

I was totally blown away when I saw Jennifer McGuire's technique on Creative Uses of Background Stamps. When I've color blocked and stamped in the past I usually use masking. The technique she shares is brilliant and super easy and doesn't require a stamping tool. Just a few pencil guidelines on the back. Seriously...ridiculous how easy this is. 

Club Scrap papers. Impression Obsession stamps. Tim Holtz explore die. Tonic Nuvo.

  Club Scrap papers. Impression Obsession stamps. Paper Smooches die. Tonic Nuvo.

 Club Scrap papers and ribbon. Impression Obsession stamp. Spellbinders die. Queen & Co pearls.

Wanna learn how to do this?  Here's the video. Enjoy!

Make a Wish

Welcome to the Club Scrap Sea Breeze Linky Party! Today Club Scrap would love for you to share your Sea Breeze layouts, cards and projects on their website for a chance to win a Club Scrap gift certificate. 

I was honored to be the Guest Artist for the Sea Breeze Card collection and assembled my paper layouts so I really had no left over paper supplies.  The great thing about the Sea Breeze digital kit is you can print out the papers and elements over and over to create something tangible.  However, I decided to create a digital layout with the elements. 

Club Scrap overlay, frames, sentiment and shells. Studio DD strip. Joanne Brisebois overlay.

Christmas in July

Paper Smooches is hosting a Christmas in July challenge. With the temperatures being over 100 degrees this week, I needed to think cool.  I splattered white acrylic paint on the card base and brown cardstock before die cutting. I love the final frosted look of the wreath. 

Paper Smooches sentiment and leaf stamps. Rubbernecker frame stamp. Elizabeth Craft Designs die. Nuvo drops. American Craft twine.

Happy Hour Color Challenge

Happy Sunday!

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers is hosting a coloring challenge which was a perfect opportunity for me to use my new Tim Holtz Blueprint stamps. The California temperatures have been so hot lately that I've been hiding indoors and crafting. These easel cards are 3 1/2 x 5 which is a perfect fit for these images with a fun sentiment on the inside. 

 Club Scrap papers and ribbon. Tim Holtz blueprint stamps. Paper Smooches sentiment and die. 

 Club Scrap papers and washi tape. Tim Holtz blueprint stamps. Spellbinders die. Nuvo drops.

 Club Scrap papers and ribbon. Tim Holtz blueprint stamps. Paper Smooches sentiment olive.

  Club Scrap papers. Tim Holtz blueprint stamps. Riley and Co. sentiment. American Craft twine.

Add a little sparkle with Nuvo drops for the salt rims. 

All the images were colored with Chameleon colored pencils.

Have a fabulous week!

Beach Scenes

Need ideas for creating beach scenes?  Club Scrap is hosting a Beachy Background challenge. Link up your ideas and projects for a chance to win a Club Scrap gift certificate. 

With this background I inked the flat surface of an embossing folder with distress oxide inks before embossing the white panel.  I then used a water brush to blend the ink.  The "sand" is stamped but the ink slowly disappeared as it dried. 

The bottle is stamped onto clear acetate with Staz-On ink. Add a green tint to the bottle with a Copic marker.  Wrap the neck of the bottle with brown twine. Stamp the message, tear and adhere so the bottle will be resting on top. Adhere the bottle with bookbinding glue. 

Stamp the starfish on turquoise paper, fussy cut and add Nuvo Crystal drops to add depth and glitter. 

Club Scrap papers, stamps and charm. Cuttlebug embossing folder. Copics marker. 

Have a fabulous weekend! 

Helpful Tips

I was honored to be Club Scrap's Guest Artist this month showcasing the beautiful Sea Breeze card collection. You can see these fun beach themed cards in their entirety here. I wanted to share a few helpful tips and tricks I've learned in my crafting adventures. 

1. When adhering embossed panels use Scor-tape. This double sided tape is super strong.  You can push the tape into the embossed areas for better adhering. 

2. Edge your fussy cut images with a marker.  This give the image sharper edges. 

3. Who doesn't have sticker sheets where all the vowels are gone? I use the left over stickers for adhering wrapped ribbon ends to the back of panels. 

4. I buy adhesive foam sheets in bulk and cut them to fit the panel I intend to elevate. Try to use similar colors as your project card, at certain angles the color will show. 

5. Add depth and shine to small stamped images or die cuts with Nuvo Crystal drops using a needle-tip applicator. 

Paper Smooches "Hope" die. Club Scrap stamp. Impression Obsession sunburst stamp.

6. Ink the inside flat surface of an embossing folder prior to embossing your paper. Use a water brush to distribute ink for a softer watercolor look. 

Club Scrap papers, tags. Making Memories star brads. Tonic Nuvo drops. Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Hopefully you found some of these tips and tricks helpful. 

Have a fabulous day!

Let Your Light Shine

I couldn't wait to create a Master Board with the Sea Breeze stamps. A few years back a group of ladies from the Club Scrap online community did a Master Board swap which was so fun to receive. A Master Board is basically a collage of different stamped images. I tend to use masks and stamp but you most certainly can have your images overlap.  

Stamp on a 12x12 sheet of cardstock with different images and colors. Trim into panels.

I created two cards from the Card Making Idea Deck using the newly created backgrounds. 

Need more ideas? Here's a few links including one with a video tutorial.

Master Board

Tiny Tote

March Master Board

Digital Master Board

Make Life a Great Journey

I promised to share some paper layouts with you now that I'm finally getting caught up.  Here's a layout from an impromptu family reunion to Las Vegas.  My brother and his family were in Vegas on business so we all decided to meet up. It's very interesting to see Vegas from a 3 year old's perspective. 

Club Scrap papers, stamp, ribbon and tags. Cricut title.

Lying About My Age

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers is hosting an "Over the Hill" challenge in honor of Edna's birthday. I couldn't resist using this sentiment because I find it extremely truthful. I actually have to think what my age is when someone asks :)

Club Scrap papers and stamp. Pretty Pink Posh sequins. Tonic Nuvo drops. Mojo Monday sketch. 

Go the Extra Mile

I feel like it's been forever since I completed actual paper scrapbook layouts. I have tons of blank ALSB (Assembly Line Scrapbooking) layouts begging for photos. The title page for my 2018 album has been blank while I waited for just the right photo.  We finally captured one on our recent trip to Iceland. So, next week I hope to share some actually paper layouts from this year. 

Club Scrap papers and border strip. Nuvo Crystal drops. Thrift store snowflakes. 

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July! May you have a safe holiday.  

I wanted to share some really simple cards using Impression Obsession Mega Mount stamps. I love how one stamp can cover the entire background and with a few simple embellishments you can have fabulous cards. Both these cards use Mega Mount or Cover-a-Card stamps and gelatos.

Impression Obsession stamp. Club Scrap papers and gems. Faber Castell gelatos. Tim Holtz die cuts.

Impression Obsession stamp. Faber Castell gelatos. Recollections tag. Club Scrap papers. American craft ribbon. Queen & Co. pearls.

Just For Fun Challenge