Spring into Summer!

Check out (click the catalog above) a sneaky peek of the newest mini Catalog and Inspiration book.  It's jam packed with amazing new products!  I'm sooo looking forward to my first order!  I've got a huge list growing!

Take a peek, start making your list and let me know if you'd like to join my New Catty Release Party on April 1 (My birthday!)  The top sales shopper in this party will be crowned "Hostess with the Mostest" and will receive all privileges and freebies/benefits from the party!

Lucky Me Deal Ends Soon!

Have you seen this amazing deal!  It's almost OVER!  Take 20% off most thin dies and products that are GREEN!  Just head to my shop and start taking advantage of the savings!  

Visit my store at www.funstampersjourney.com/401 to get your GREEN ON!  :)

I've got a CITRUS CRUSH!

Oh my goodness!  The "Spring into Summer" mini inspiration catalog has been revealed and I spied SOOOO many MUST HAVE ITEMS!  I've got a HUGE crush on this yummy ORANGE planner and it will most definitely be one of the items in my first order next month.  It'll be available on my birthday and you'd better bet that I'll be ordering it as a gift to myself!  I LOVE orange and it's perfect for my summer planning!  :)

This new Citrus Color Crush Planner by Fun Stampers Journey is sure to be a hit this summer.  It's exclusive to FSJ and will be offered for sale April 1.  If you're interested in ordering one, please comtact me!  :)

Easter Plans???

Hello stamping friends,

I'm sure many of you have big plans for Easter this year.  I'm looking forward to another amazing service at church followed by a visit to the lake. I'm spending Easter without family this year and this is the first time that it'll be just me...and my pups. 

I'm enjoying my spring break at home by spending time in my craft room stamping and doing some Spring cleaning.  If you know me well, you know that there is a TON to clean out and pitch...I'm hoping to get almost all of the clothes in my closets pitched or donated.  I haven't done that in years!!!

I also decided to dedicate my planner spread (Webster's Pages/FSJ Black and White Journey Girl Binder) this week to childhood memories and Him...after all, this week is a reflection of all He gave and the blessing of His resurrection.  

So I've been spending some time in prayerful thought this week too.  It's been a week of difficult and sad news for my family and with prayer, it helps the heart and encourages the spirit.  I was able to select some of my most favorite verses...meaningful verses this week.  My spread will probably remain pretty blank as I don't plan on doing much until Sunday...Unless I head down to my sister's on Friday.  We'll see what the week brings for her.

So this was a FUN spread to make (as if none of my other spreads are fun, right?).  I imagined some kiddos celebrating and having a big Easter Egg hunt...so I pulled out my Party Time set.  I stamped the background with the pinked-edge circle to create a faint wallpaper effect then doodled up some bunny ears, some eggs and some grass.  I like how I can add a little character to these kiddos by changing their hats!  :)

I also colored the kiddos with Banana Cream, Bubble Gum reinker and Fusion Blender with a tiny bristle brush, then went over that with a light Copic marker.  I also colored the TIME! banners with a few Copic Markers.  To finish the pages off, I applied some of my trusty FSJ Be Cool washi tape to the edges, re-punched the holes and POOF!  It was done.  :)

I hope you have a wonderful Easter and are blessed beyond measure.  :)  

Coffee Playtime...

I decided to create a little coffee loving locket for myself this time for the Spring Coffee Lovers Blog hop.  It was quite fun sitting down to get inky while having the yummy aroma of freshly ground coffee lingering around (and on me).  I thought I'd take some photos of the process from beginning to end so that I could share it with you.  

The first step was to sprinkle some coffee grounds onto a piece of watercolor paper.  I cut the circle after using the glass from the locket as my cutting template.  After laying the coffee beans on the circle, I spritzed with high-test Vodka.  I wanted there to be no aroma and rapid drying so the alcohol did the trick.

After letting the Vodka soak into the paper, I took my heat gun and heated up the grounds.  As I heated them up, they browned the paper and left a very yummy aroma.

The next step was to brush off the coffee grounds.  I used my Journey Bloom Tool because the bristles were firm, yet gentle enough to brush the beans away without leaving dents or brown swipe marks.  

After removing the beans, I used the Media Pattern stamp set to add a few "splats" of Beach Breeze ink.  

I applied some Hazelnut Blend ink to the "blob" pattern and stamped it to the outer edge of the circle.

I wrapped some Natural Journey Thread around the stamped circle then realized I wanted some silk splatter on it too...SOOO...out came my Dark Roast Silk and some splattering commenced.  :)

Pure splattery goodness right there!  I heated it up to dry the splatter and then it was on to stamping the sentiments.  I pulled out my trusty Bezel Block set because it's just the right size for my locket!

I ended up adding quite a bit more stamping as I discovered that the coffee grounds and charms covered up the stamping when they were inside the locket.  I also added a bit of handwritten "coffee" words too.

Adding a little bit of coffee grounds, a few Coffee Cup Charms and the Red I Heart Hearts bauble finished up the locket.  I tied a little bit of jute (then rubbed it up a bit so it would unravel).

Hope you enjoy this little locket.  It's a perfect accompanying gift with my card!  :)

Locket Parts Used:  Large Sparkle Locket, Crystal Ring and Hoop, Large Diamond Cut Chain, Large Locket Kit

Spring Coffee Lovin'...

Hey stamping friends!

This Spring I'm joining the hundreds of Coffee Loving Papercrafters from across the globe as we hop, hop, hop to share our paper-crafty goods and get inspired to create, shop, brew and GUZZLE a few cups...

If you're not familiar with this MASSIVE hop, check it out HERE.  I know you'll be inspired, blown away by the creativity and um...encouraged to shop for new goodies to add to your coffee loving collection!  I've been hopping with this hop for many seasons and I appreciate all the work that Amy (and others) always put into it!  It's always something I look forward to doing each season and I wouldn't miss it for well, maybe a coffee factory or farm-to-table tour. wink wink.

So this hop, I decided to create a coordinating set.  A card AND a little Coffee Loving Locket.  I just loved creating this set as the fresh coffee aroma filled my craft room and soaked into my hands as I got lost in creating. MMMM...

The watercolor paper was spritzed with high-test Vodka then sprinkled with coffee grounds...After about a minute or two soaking in the grounds, I used my heat gun to dry the paper and "cook" the bean coloring into the paper.  After it was dry, I used my Journey Bloom Tool to brush off the coffee grounds.  I then added some stamping using a few of my favorite "Artsy" stamp sets from Fun Stampers Journey.

The locket was created in the same manner and I will create an additional blog post to show the step-by-step process in creating this fun "aromatherapy" treat.  Of course I had to add a few fun elements like the coffee grounds, the coffee cup charms AND the cute little red heart.

Items used to create these projects can be found/purchased in my FSJ shop HERE.  

Hope you enjoy!  I'll be back again to share more photos and a little tutorial Until then, I'm off to visit other hoppers!  

Items Featured In Today's Post:  

Stamps:  Enjoy Coffee,  Media Pattern, Bezel Block ATS, Damask Print

Inks: Hazelnut Blend, Beach Breeze, Dark Roast Silk, Cool Pool Silk

Papers: Oatmeal Cookie, Vellum Designer Prints, Kraft (Michael's), Watercolor Paper (WalMart)

Fibers:  Natural Journey Thread, Beach Breeze Journey Thread, Jute (WalMart)

Embellishments:  Wooden Star (FSJ Freebies), Pearl

Locket: Sparkled Round Locket, Locket Kit (used one glass) , Diamond Cut Link (Long), Crystal Ring Hoop
Charms: Coffee Cup Charm, I Heart Hearts

Tools:  Journey Bloom Tool

Adhesives:  White Liner Tape, Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares

Just Bloomin' Because!

Such a quick and easy card to create.  I love how the hexie background helps create such a fun card! The florals were stamped in a trio of blues to help develop some depth.  I added some sparkle dust and some Liquid pearls in the center of the flowers to add another layer of dimension.

I love the softness of the taupe seam binding so I decided to add that to this card.  No card of mine is complete without some sort of fiber ribbon, so this worked perfectly.

To finish the card off I added a stamped tag tied with some natural twine...and a bit of bling!  

I'm thrilled to announce this card was named a "weekly Favorite" for the week ending March 22. Thanks for your kind comments!  

Supplies Used:  

Stamps:  Branch Out, Hexagon Print

Inks: Beach Breeze, Pool Play, Huckleberry Fusion, Hazelnut Blend

Papers:  Whip Cream, Oatmeal Cookie

Dies/Punches:  Tag Time, Punch Handle

Fibers/Ribbons: Natural Journey Thread, Taupe Binders Tape

Embellishments: Sparkle Drops, Journey Glaze, Sparkle Dust, Baby Blue Liquid Pearls

Adhesives: Craft Glue, Foam Squares