Whale Wishes

Hello there stamping friends,
Thought I'd pop in this lovely weekend to share a little card I created for the CYCI #122 challenge this week.  It's been a while since I've participated in a sketch challenge, but I loved the sketch and had some extra time to play, so I figured it was a good time to dive right in!

I chose to use a new stamp set from Fun Stampers Journey called Nautical Sketch.  This set can be found in our Spring Into Summer mini inspiration book/catalog.  I love the sketchy designs in this set and have found it to be a very versatile set.   All of the images are just perfect for masculine and feminine projects.  I prefer to have my cardfronts "sentiment-less" but to follow the sketch, I hunted for a sentiment that would work and not overpower the design.  I hope it works!  The sentiment is from the Little BIG Greetings set (Retiring soon!  On sale at 40%off now!).

As you can see, I also added some embossing using my favorite stencil called Starburst Lines. Modeling Paste helped give texture, and Denim Days/Buttercream inks helped to add color and define the dimensional texture a bit more.

I selected Denim Days, Oatmeal Cookie, Whip Cream cardstock and pulled in a bit of the coordinating Nautical Adventure Prints paper that coordinates perfectly with the set.  I colored the whale with a few Copic markers (C&W grays) then added some Liquitex Iridescent Bright Silver Ink over the top to give it some sheen.  To finish it off, I used a few scrap cuts of gold Vellum Designer Prints, a few twirls on Natural Journey Twine and a couple leaves diecut (from the kraft paper all our products are packed and shipped in) from the new steel rule die called Summer Bouquet.

ETA:  This card was selected as a "Design Team Pick"!  Thank you Chloe for "Liking" my card!  I LOVED the sketch!  :)

Inspired by a sugar cone...

Hello Journey friends,

I'm still on cloud nine about winning a Make-Live-Share visit with Richard Garay and am not sure when I'll land back on Earth, but I thought I'd head to my stamping room tonight and play around! It is FRIDAY and that means a FUN night for me!!! I have been thinking about the project I would do for Rose's Journey Coach challenge this week "Inspired By" and on the way home from school today, I had a vision...

I saw a sugar cone and some mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Maybe it was because I was hungry or maybe it was because I was happy it was FRIDAY.  I'm not sure, but all the while I was driving home, I was thinking about how I would recreate it in paper because after all, it'd be too drippy if I used the real thing.  So my mind went wandering and planning...How could I make paper look ice-creamy?

So this evening, I headed to my stamp room and started playing.  I pulled out my Spellbinders Grand Circle Dies and diecut the 5 1/2 inch circle into some Oatmeal Cookie cardstock.  After that, I cut the circle in half and started making some score lines with my score board.  When the score lines were all done, I distressed the scores with Oatmeal Cookie ink then I glued up the little cone.  When that was done, I decided my cone would have to contain some goodies.  I couldn't send an empty container of deliciousness off to someone special!  So I ran downstairs and got my container of malted milk balls. They'd be perfect to place inside!  MMMM after eating a few, I determined I could place 5 of those babies inside the cone and tie it off nicely!

I created four little "swooshy" cuts of Butter Cream cardstock then distressed those with OC ink. After that, I used my Copics (YR00, G40, BG0000) to add some swirly marks and some dots just to give it a little more whimsy.  I glued those "swooshy" parts to the inside edge of the "cone" and punched holes in the tips.  That allowed me to thread some Natural Journey Twine and add a cherry colored button on top!  Before tying it off, I dropped in some of the candy and secured the "swooshy parts" with the twine.

Next was stamping the little card panel that would rest under the cone.  I cut an A2 sized piece of Orange Creamsicle cardstock and stamped it with the Ink Splat image (with Orange Creamsicle ink). Then I selected some fun sentiments from the Little Big Greetings set to stamp along the edge using Black Licorice and Kiwi Slice ink.

Everyone seems to love sprinkles so I took some of my leftover scraps and cut a few sprinkles out.  I tossed a few of them inside the cone and let the extras just hang out on the table.  :)

Now I have a goofy little ice cream treat to mail off to someone special.  Fat Free, Calorie Free (well, maybe not the milk balls) and OH SO YUMMY!  Will it be you???

Make-Live-Share

Hello stamping friends.  As you may know, I'm an elementary school teacher by day and a crafter by night/weekend.  I make cards and crafty things for friends, family, coworkers and my students.  This month, we had lots of snow days that prevented us from going to school.  Almost a whole week out of school and it wasn't even Spring Break.  Well, needless to say, the Dr. Seuss festivities we had planned for the week were out the window, or so I thought.

This Monday, I have a full day planning meeting where I'll get together with teachers on my team and on other teams so we can plan and collaborate.  I decided I'd put together some little Dr. Seuss treats to have out on the work table as we slave away (ha ha).

So it all started with the iconic Seuss hat.  I created red and white stripes using some FSJ cardstock, then added the "Sweet Treats" sentiment from the Little BIG Greetings (SS-0052).

When that was done, I filled some tiny glass jars that I found in the Target Dollar Spot with candy fishes, gumballs and candy sticks.  Oh, you know...One fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish as Seuss wrote.  

Aren't they the cutest little jars?  I scooped them ALL up because I knew they were PERFECT for this project...and inexpensive giveaways too!!!

And see those little composition books, They'll be featured here soon...They worked well as a prop-for now.  

Now for flavors...  GUESS the flavors of all four fish...If you do, I'll send you a special treat!  

Red:  Yummy!

Yellow: Yummy!

Green: Yummy!

Blue: Yummy!

And HERE WE ARE....(Ugghhh-I'm in the red on the lower left.)

In our fancy-schmancy new library...Fabulously painted by Mural, Mural On The Wall.  

Irish Dancer 2...

Hello Journey friends, I'm back to share another unique Irish Dancer using the Twinkle Toes set. There are only a few more days remaining before the kit will be GONE...and won't return for three months...If you like it as much as I do, you'll want to grab it now...It's sooo versatile with a little doodle here and there.  :)

Isn't she LOVELY?   Every time I look at this little lady, I smile a BIG BIG smile.  She makes me happy!!!

After finishing up the coloring and fussy cutting her out, this card whipped together in NO TIME at all!!!

I think the layout lends itself well to an invitation, birthday or thank you card.  The Label turned sideways creates the perfect "writing board" for a greeting.

Whoever designed this ballerina image gets a big HUG and HIGH FIVE from me!  I just love her whispy curls and the little pearls on her wrist (Not to mention her fluffy-fabulous tutu!)  

Popping the image up with pop dots gives the dimension this card needs to take flight...errrmmm dance across the page.  She fits perfectly against the small/tight green and black floating panel.  And of course, no proper Irish girl would be complete without a little golden sparkle!  

So, don't you just LOVE this little lady?  I've got SO MANY more ideas for her.  Just wait, you'll see...

Feel free to grab a copy of the inspiration sheet I created for this card.  It's perfect to keep in a nice little binder full of FUN projects OR to share with friends (or if you're a coach-share with your customers!).  

Irish Twinkle Toes!

Hello Journey friends!

I'm back to share an extra FUN card I dreamed up before receiving my Feb. Kit of the Month.  This kit is only available until the last day of the month and the set won't be available for another three months...If you want the set, there's no better time than NOW to order it so you can play away!

Now, on to my creation... Can you just hear Celtic music flowing???  Hee hee hee.

...and her lovely red locks tied up so perfectly...

...yes, YOU are AWESOME!!!

Ok...So there you have it...Don't be too shy to add extra doodling to your images...You just might discover you can create a whole new world of FUN!

And in the power of the MAKE-LIVE-SHARE movement by Richard Garay, I'm sharing this project with YOU (and any other person that would LOVE to take an Irish dancer journey with their pen.)  Please feel free to grab a copy of my Inspiration Sheet for this card.  All supplies, materials used- including step-out photos and step-by-step directions are listed for your convenience.   Enjoy!

***PS....I'll be back tomorrow to share another card I finished from the kit.  On Monday, I'll return to share another Irish Dancer card and inspiration sheet.  See you then!