Friday, January 15, 2016

Bermuda Bay and Rose Wonder, Simply Beautiful!

Have you seen the new glitter ribbon on page 9 of the Occasions Catalog?  It's actually Pool Party Glitter Ribbon, but I think it pairs very nicely with Bermuda Bay!  And then combining that with the Smoky Slate Classic Ink...beauticious!  I toyed with this card I was sending to my friend, Carolyn, and some other versions had embossing on the background, but I really just like it simple. Stunning and simple are a lot of times synonymous, you know.  Not always does beauty come in a complex package.

I didn't photograph the inside of the card, but I used the 'Thank You' from the same set, Rose Wonder, as I used for my message on the front of my card. Such an elegant font, and many ways to use this set!

I'm looking forward to exploring new and different ways to use this timeless stamp set.  I would love to see some things you are making with it, also!  Send me a note:)

Have an awesome Friday night!!

--Tammie

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Chick in Honeycomb Happiness is Adorable!!

Here is another CASE'd card from Stampin' Up!  This one is from the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) Brochure on pg 15.  Once again, I didn't have the exact items used to create the exact card in the brochure, but it just goes to show, Stampin' Up!s cache of stamps, inks and papers coordinate in so many ways with so many things.  When I look at the big box stores I don't see that same thing.  In addition to coordination, the quality of our card stock, designer series paper, inks, etc. goes above and beyond the industry standards, in my opinion.  Speaking of quality, look at the ribbon on my card. Isn't it gorgeous?!  It's the 3/8" Pool Party Glitter Ribbon (pg 9 of the Occasions Catalog) and once again, the quality goes way above what I've found in craft stores around town. It's nice to be able to craft, and along with that, be assured that the products I use to make my cards and gifts are something I can be proud to share.

I stamped this cute little chick in Stazon onto the thick Whisper White Card Stock (CS) and watercolored him in Pool Party Classic ink, using my Aqua Painter.  I colored his beak and feet with my Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker.  I layered my chick onto a banner punched from the regular Whisper White Card Stock with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch that I ran through my Big Shot Machine using the Tiny Triangles Embossing Folder and then onto a piece of the Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper (SAB) stamped with Timeless Textures from the Occasions Catalog (OC) using Daffodil Delight Ink.  Oh, and in case you aren't aware, the coordinating colors for all of the Designer Series Paper (DSP) are listed on the back of the DSP package making it very easy to match and contrast our creations:)  The salutation is stamped on Basic Black CS using Whisper White Craft Ink and then I finished the card with a Daffodil Delight card base.

Leave a comment if you like this.  I would love to hear how I'm doing:)

Have a great day!

--Tammie

Monday, January 11, 2016

Bloomin’ Heart Thinlits Dies by Stampin’ Up!

Wink of Stella Glitter Brush by Stampin' Up!

Valentines Stampin' Up! Style


I found the design of these cards in the 2016 Occasions Catalog, but didn't have the same Designer Series Paper as was used, so I found the next best one, Birthday Bouquet.  One of the most common themes/reasons people say they don't want to be a demonstrator is that they are "not creative".  I completely understand this thought.  When I began stamping with my sister many moons ago I felt like I had not a creative bone in my body.  I joined her stamp club to find out how to use the products, but I felt like her "creations" were always WAY better than mine.  Sound familiar?  As the years have passed I've become aware that we all have the potential to be creative.  If you've ever watched a child you know that creativity abounds in them, whether it be with music, coloring, creating games to play, etc.  I feel we all have the innate ability to create.  It's one of those gifts we are given in life.  What I've also found is that through daily regimens of work, appointments, getting our children to and from their various activities, making sure that personal relationships are cared for, our homes are cared for, and on, and on, and on, a lot of time we lose that sense of self, of who we are and what we're about. It's almost like we're set on auto-pilot just so we can get through one day, and onto the next.  We get into the mode of chasing after our dreams instead of realizing we are actually existing in our dreams, creating our dreams, swimming in our dreams.  With that being said, once I realized this, I set out on a lifelong journey to focus on the moment, to revel in the experience of the moment.  My creativity is very much present.  It may not always be what I feel it should be, but that's something I'm still working on.  It's okay to NOT be able to "create" all the time.  With all of the creative minds in our world it's important to share and consume ideas.  We must feed our need.  At the end of the day, know that it is always okay to realize someone else's idea and run with it, tweak it, share it.  It's all good.  Enjoy your moments and the creativity will flow:)  That's my thought for the day.  Enjoy your gift of creativity.  --Tammie