So Long, Farewell...

Hello there Journey Friends, I'm here to share a creation I made today using the very first Fun Stampers Journey stamp set/die combo of my collection.  The Banner Party Stamp set and the coordinating Pennants Die Set are retiring at the end of the month.  WAAAHHH...It's an oldie but goodie and I'm sad to see it go.

I created this card to say farewell.  If you LOVE this set as much as I do, you can pick it up before it retires and/or while supplies last.

I paired the stripe square stamp with some fun colors and added a few circle stamped elements to play along.  The twine works perfectly, just as the silver scalloped washi!  

 I compiled a little bundle for you if you would like to recreate this card:

Banner Party Set $12.57

Pennants Die Set $13.97

Watermelon Fusion Ink 

Rock Candy Ink

Whip Cream Cardstock

Rock Candy Cardstock

Small Dauber Dowels

Black Journey Twine

Silver Scalloped Washi

Flat Pearls

1" Square Punch

Punch Handle

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Sunday Sip...Keep Calm!

Hello there coffee lovers! Today is my Sunday Sip and Share day on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog and I've got a fun little tag and sketch for you!  I hope you find inspiration in my creation and take a leap to join the fun in playing in the challenge!  The tag above features the yummy but retired set called "Enjoy Coffee".  It is currently in the Clearance Sale going on right now and you can pick up this awesome set for less than 9 (while supply lasts).   Once this set is gone, it's gone FOREVER!

Have you noticed that I have a bit of a coffee mug addiction?  It’s true!  I’m not only hooked on coffee, I’m hooked on their vessels.  I particularly enjoy collecting handmade and handcrafted mugs. The mug/cup in the photo above is one of my most recent acquisitions from an art show.  It’s a mug by ceramic artist and educator Steve Hanson.  I totally adore his work!  He incorporates unique transfer images from the past into his ceramic works.  You can check him out on Instagram (@clayprofessor) or on etsy.
I created the tag using a simple Tag Elements tag diecut from Fun Stampers Journey.  This pierced die makes for awesome stitched tags, but I opted to leave them HOLeY…hee hee…  I selected the retired (but now on Clearance for a super cheap price of $8.48 while supplies last) stamp set called Enjoy Coffee.  It’s a fun set that I will NEVER let go as I LOVE the beans, the fonts and the sentiments.  The mugs aren’t too shabby either.I stamped the tag using the coffee sentiment with Hazelnut Blend Fusion ink then distressed the edges with a Dauber Dowel and Oatmeal Cookie Fusion ink.  After that, I punched a Tag This punch out of Kraft Cardstock.  I stamped the “Stay Calm” sentiment onto Whip Cream cardstock using Hazelnut Blend Fusion ink then attached it and the tag with a Foam Square.  I tied a little Black Journey twine and Banana Cream ribbon onto the tag to finish it off.
 Just a little Journey Glaze to gloss up the coffee beans was the icing on the coffee tag!

Now let’s take a look at this week’s challenge sketch, shall we?!  

You have two options for this challenge so why not just go for it!  Make a CARD that incorporates the tag sketch or simply make a TAG.  Whatever you choose, we hope you have a ball creating and we would love to see what you make! Please make sure to include the hashtag #clcsipandshare in your social media post so we can find it easily!  Please add your link to the inlinkz below!

An InLinkz Link-up

PS...If you're interested, Check out our amazing CLEARANCE RACK that is almost sold out!

While you're at it, you might be interested in our BREAKING UP SALE.  SIX PAGES OF current products that will retire on June 30.  We've gotta make room for NEW goodies in our MASSIVE inspiration book!  

Retiring Soon...

So sad to see so many of my most favorite sets on the chopping block!

In the weeks and months leading to Convention in June when our new catalog is released, I'll be sharing some of my most favorite stamp sets that are on the retirement list.  It's always such a sad time for me as I've grown to love some amazing sets that are going to be gone forever.  I wish there was a way to keep them forever, but I know we have to make room for new and fabulous designs...

Here's one of my favorite sets on the Retirement List.  I've loved using this set- especially in my planner and am sad to say goodbye...For now, I'll just take a few more bites from the yummy chocolate bar.  :)

I have so much fun playing with and coloring this chocolate bar!  The sparkle drops were colored with reinker to give them a bit of color.

I mean, really...If I ever want a chocolate bar that is calorie free, I can just grab this set!  :)

Candy Shop is available for a limited time-while supplies last!  The whole set is discounted 30% off during the Retirement Sale so head on over to my shop and pick one up...before they are GONE for good!

Other FSJ items used on this card: 

Stamp Sets:  Chevron Trail, Brush Stroke

Ink:  River Stone, Whip Cream, Oatmeal Cookie,  Dark Roast Ink, Dark Roast Silk
Paper: River Stone, Whip Cream, Lavender Fusion
Embellishments: Sparkle Drops, Foam Squares

Going, Going, Gone!

Hey Journey Friends,

Today I'm sharing a little thank you card I created using a fun background stamp that is retiring soon. Don't let the stamps name fool you!  It's not JUST for Halloween!

I love this background stamp because it has TONS of bottles to choose from.  Pick your favorite bottle to feature, stamp it, color it and fill it with...FLOWERS!  :)

I stamped the whole background image onto Oatmeal Cookie cardstock with Oatmeal Cookie ink. Then I distressed the edges a bit with a DRY Versafine Onyx pad...Yep, I use an old dried up pad to distress.  It's my favorite distressing tool!  When it gets too dry, I just tap the new pad onto the felt and it refreshens it just a tiny bit.  I set the card base aside and started working on the stamped/colored panel.  I used Butter Cream Cardstock for the "colorable images".  They were colored with my copic markers and distressed again with my dry pad.  I colored a larger panel too and will be sharing that at a later date.  The colored image was mounted on a Pretty Pansy cardstock rectangle that I cut using my Journey Rectangles.  

I wanted to feature one of the bottles in my sentiment section of my card so I selected my favorite bottle (On the TOP SHELF, of course) and colored it in, cut it out, and stamped the "Thank You" sentiment (From the Gifted Wings set) lightly on the label.  I always keep some diecut blooms available at my workstation and this was the perfect place to add one.  A little posy in the bottle, blinged up with a Sparkle Drop and tied with Black Journey Twine a little homemade tag.  :)  Adding foam squares to the bottle, Journey Circle Die and the flower (from Spring Blooms Mini) helped to give the sentimental portion just the spotlight it needed.  :)

The Potion Shelf background stamp is available while supplies last.  Once the supply is depleted, it will be gone forever!  It is discounted in the retirement sale (along with other background stamps) and you can grab yours for $8.33.  Because of the retirement sale, if you purchase THREE retiring background sets, you can get them for the combined price of $25.00.  Every Retirement order will receive an Up-Up-and-Away embellishment pack for free!  The last day to purchase these retiring items is May 31, 2015!