Stars for Kids

Looking for an extra dose of 'joie de vivre' in your card making?   
Possible suggestions include unexpected sharing and/or creating for a cause!

Falliday Fest 2016 includes 4 different card drives.  Card drive #4 is for the Bright Star Center, serving children dealing with the grieving process.   Please check out this post if you're interested in contributing.

  I opted for colors appropriate for either boys or girls, and as I pondered adding the requested multitude of stars, I punched strips of Bermuda Bay and Daffodil Delight C/S with the Confetti Stars.  Next, I punched those strips and Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper with the Balloon Bouquet punch.  The Softly Falling embossing folder was used to add a bit of texture to the Calypso Coral balloons.  I wanted stars ... and found some retired dsp seemed perfect for this card.

So much going on here as October quickly falls away!  Wow!  So many (((hugggsss))) to collect at a stampy gathering just one week away, while hoping to get a stash of thank you cards created + sent before then.  And ... the dreaded "real" - not cyber - visit to the local municipal area for drivers license renewal.   OMGosh ... the mere thought of that unceasing line gives me shudders.  May the force be with me!   

Inky (((hugggsss))),

Product List

Sweet Cupcake Photopolymer Stamp Set [141498] $21.00	Confetti Stars Punch [135861] $22.00	Balloon Bouquet Punch [140609] $18.00	Large Numbers Framelits Dies [140622] $31.00
Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672] $8.50	Basic Black Baker's Twine [134576] $3.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Big Shot Magnetic Platform [130658] $40.00
Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119683] $8.00	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.00	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197] $8.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00	Motley Monsters Designer Series Paper [135819] $10.95

Purrrrtty Awesome Stampy Guests & a Card Drive

Last week's studio guests were delightful stampy friends from Colorado and Oklahoma ... and oh did we stamp!!   Since we had the treat of a few days together, we could literally just leave our in-process creations laying on the stampy table until getting back to it the next morning.   Very cool.  No rushing to get it all stamped, colored, plus complete the chatting!  Photo is (L-R) Lee Murphy, myself, and Misti Oblander.  

Well, it's been a very long time since my Copic markers came out of hiding, #backthereinthestoragehideaway .  But, we do make exceptions for stampy friends.  When said friends departed, those markers were still sitting right here on the stamp table.  Hmmmmmm.  Then, the Falliday Fest kicked in like a stampy vortex ... and ... 

it was really just too tempting!  Add those coloring tools just "sitting there" to the card drive for the Humane Society ... and there you have it.  This adorable kitty had been just waiting to pounce out of the stamp set ... resistance was truly futile.

It was very natural to pick up the cool grays to begin very basic coloring.  I was actually enjoying the entire process ... but editing the photos today and sharing is actually bringing out some tears that seem always easy to come.  I have crayon colored her, colored with Prisma pencils, and now used a primary touch with Copics with my Symphony in mind.  Barely 5 pounds of a 19-year treasure in my heart.  My coloring skills have waned without keeping up practice, but she is always my purrrrrrty inspiration.   {{{heart}}}

So much different that what I normally share, huh?  This one includes a banner of long-retired SU dsp, a Wendy Vecchi stencil (Hello!  It's polka dots!),  'twas nearly a 1-layer card (but I caved), and now I really want to make a few more for the card drive of TY cards for those who adopt or foster animals from the Humane Society.  Probably going to need to act on that urge.  ;)  If you would like to join in, check out this challenge over at Splitcoaststampers!

Hope you've found a bit of inspiration today! I do love doing what I do. 

Inky (((hugs))),

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Good Sense - Happiness is Coming!

For all of us who have taken advantage of the sweet Buy 3 Get 1 Free designer series paper promotion ... it just makes good sense to use some DSP!  (Designer Series Paper)

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So, for the FFScraperwannabe Falliday Fest challenge today, that's exactly what I chose to do.  Misti's challenge is to create a gift card holder.  As I thought about it, I opted to try for something new instead of using one of my previous efforts as a template or inspiration, and I reached for my Envelope Punch Board.  
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Essentially I left the smaller end of the envelope open, then created an insert to fit inside. Then I used the super-simple method of affixing the gift card ... just 1 or 2 glue dots will hold it in place until the receiver is ready to go with it.

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Isn't this Candy Cane Lane DSP yummy 'n fun?  It's included in the Buy 3 Get 1 Free paper promotion!  I fussy cut the gingerbread house image from one of the paper designs.  Both sentiments + the little extras on the insert layer are all from the Hang Your Stocking stamp set.   If you want to add some sparkle, just use some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to accent the gingerbread house candies!  

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I hope you've found a bit of inspiration here today!  I appreciate your online orders ... and I'm always happy to answer your emails or assist you in your choices.  See you back here very soon!

Inky (((hugs))),

Product List

Hang Your Stocking Photopolymer Stamp Set [142114] $21.00	Envelope Punch Board [133774] $20.00	1-3/8" Circle Punch [119860] $16.00	1-1/2" Circle Punch [138299] $16.00
Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine [141983] $6.00	Candy Cane Lane Designer Series Paper [141981] $11.00	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] $6.50	Real Red Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [103287] $3.25
Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $8.00	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $8.00	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] $7.00
Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $4.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Aspens in First Snow

I'm so glad to have seen Lee's FF16LuvLee challenge at the Falliday Fest!  She lives in the mountains of Colorado, so is privy to the beautiful Aspen trees of the cooler climate + higher altitude.  So, the challenge is to create 'snowy leaves'.

This was my first time to use the new Mica Flakes offered in the  Holiday Catalog. 

What a cool and distinctive new product!  It comes in a trio pack of White, Green, + Golden mica flakes.  The flakes are much larger than glitter bits .. and results in a beautiful texture along with its unique sparkle.  Tex's Tip:  I used a little ice cream sampler spoon to drop it atop the liquid glue I had used on the leaf edges and on the card base as well.  

Leaves are stamped with Crushed Curry ink then smeared a bit with Multipurpose Glue.  Tex's Tip:  Remember ... the Multipurpose Glue has a broad 'smearing' tip on the bottom that also dispenses the glue.  You'll want to allow a wee bit of drying time before handling the mica-flaked leaves. 

If you had to have the Vintage Leaves stamps and coordinating Leaflets Framelits last year as I did, this is a brand new idea for "falling" for them all over again.  So glad these classics are still in my collection this year!  

For added texture, I chose Vellum card stock - that look of white is a natural for "frosty" appearance!  The Petal Burst embossing folder created the leafy look.  Then, I used the oak leaf die to make a leafy cut along the right edge of the vellum layer for added interest.  I really like how that turned out .. so much more cool than just a straight cut, IMO.

Now to get back to my studio de-stash!  Not completely overhauling as in clear it out + start over as we've seen trending in this stampy world ... but a quasi-clean-out of sorts.  A vintage crafty store in a nearby town is offering booth/table space on Saturday.  Crafters will be 'de-stashing' unloved, not-needed items that have been taking up precious space.  Not a retail sales venue at all ... so not a "crafters fair" for selling hand-made wares or retail items.  I've got so much stuff to price-label by then!  

If you have any stamping needs or questions, I'm always easy to find + happy to help.  Email me any time.  If you're ordering online, I so appreciate your order!  Please use this Host Code on orders placed through October 22:  6V7EFBM9       Thanks a big bunch!

Inky (((hugggsss))),

Product List

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Stamp Set [140675] $26.00	Vintage Leaves [138802] $26.00	Leaflets Framelits Dies [138283] $25.00	Mica Flakes Trio Pack [141998] $9.00
Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [141493] $7.50	Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] $6.00	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $4.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25
Sponge Daubers [133773] $5.00	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $8.00	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173] $6.50	Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131199] $8.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00