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Posted by on Jul 10, 2018 in Copic style coloring, Mediterranean Moments, Stampin' Blends | 2 comments

Quite Moments

Every once in a while I just want to take a little time to really color something in great detail.  Normally, it is a Saturday morning having coffee and trying to recouping from the week. Taking a few quite moments to just be.  Coloring is a great way to escape and is a great way to learn meditation.  coloring is the closest we can get to meditation without actually really working hard to.  It is an activity that you can completely get lost in.  It can give you a sense of being centered and focused.  It really is a wonderful therapeutic activity.

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Recently, I shared a card using the Mediterranean Moments stamp set. It was a very simple card on Smoky Slate.  I loved the elegance of the gray-scale look of the card! You can see it here. Today, I have a version of the same card colored with Stampin’Up Blends.  The fun thing about using Stampin’ Blends on Smoky Slate is that the marker gives a very watercolor look.

Mediterranean Moments Stamp Set

Mediterranean Moments Stamp Set

I really love this stamp set!!!

We just got 11 new colors of Stampin’ Blends!  These markers are just fabulous!!! They are my favorite coloring tool at the moment…

Stampin' Blends

I love these markers so much they were the product featured in The Creative Way.  I really enjoyed taking a month and really exploring what all you can do with these markers.  The Creative Way is just a jumping off place for many ideas when it comes to such a awesome product!!!

Mediterranean Moments

  • One of the things I did was the bridges are colored with the dark versions of each color in the front. The ones in the back are using the light version of the colors. This is an easy way to add lots of depth to the picture.  The same was done with the bushes and the wall below the bridge
  • Don’t be afraid to try something different. The Stampin’ Blends are very unique looking on the Smoky Slate paper. The ink moves quite a bit more and gives a watercolor look
  • After the image was colored, I used the colorless blender to soften the edges.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  Coloring can be very intimidating.  Just remember that creating is an exploration in the unknown, so really none of us have a clue what we are doing… Lydia at Understand Blue always says “create for the trash can”  I love this idea.  It gives you the freedom to let go and just create.

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

There are a few Stampin’ Up! specials this month. One is a Designer Series Paper Sale that is quite special!! Buy 3 get one FREE!!

Sale

The second is for those who Join Stampin’ Up!!  Everyone who Joins Stampin’ Up! to save on their favorite stamps, inks, and papers will receive a FREE family of inks!!! That’s 10 ink pads for FREE! How awesome is that???

Special

The Creative Way – A Product Feature

I adore sharing with you guys all about one product each month! This months feature product is the color Granny Apple Green!! I love the modern fresh feel of this awesome color!!! To see more about Granny Apple Green check out this month’s first post in the Series!

I always enjoy sharing with you guys!  I will be back very soon with a new instalment of The Creative Way! Till then go and live creatively.  I hope you find a few quite moments to try something new or revisit a favorite coloring tool!!

Peace-

Jennifer

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Posted by on Jul 7, 2018 in Accented Blooms, Big Shot, Embossing, June 2018, Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, The Creative Way, Varied Vases | 1 comment

Modern color combination

I love a good card challenge and this weeks Fab. Friday challenge is just awesome!!!  I have always loved the design team for this super fun Card Challenge!  That being said, I have not played along with them in a very long time!!! It was the perfect sketch for a modern card I had been working on!! Yeppie!!!!!

Fab Friday Challenge

 

The Creative Way – A Product Feature

I am having so much fun playing with color combinations using the New color Granny Apple Green!  Today’s color combination would be perfect for modern Christmas, spring, and summer crafting!!!  I really like the fresh feel of Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade, and Gray Granite!!!

Modern and Fresh Color Combination

Granny Apple Green, Poppy Parade, and Gray Granite

I know, I’m supposed to be convincing you that Granny Apple Green is the boom!  Because, it truly is!!! But, I just have to tell you today’s card features my most favorite new item! It is the Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder!!! This embossing folder is beyond amazing!! It leaves a soft texture that is somewhere between linen paper and textured wallpaper from days of old.

Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

This picture does not do this embossing folder justice!  It really is beautiful, promise!!

So, the fresh and modern color combination and the super cool embossing folder were combined with a great stamp set Varied Vases!!

Varied Vases Stamp Set

Varied Vases Stamp Set

I truly adore this modern stamp set!! The vases just makes me happy!! And the sweet flower are just perfect!! Even though I did not use them today…

A Modern Hello Card

  • The first thing was to stamp the outlines of the vases with Gray Granite.
  • The second step was to use Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green to add color!
  • The Hello was stamped in Granny Apple Green using the Accented Blooms stamp set and the Tailored Tag Punch
  • The Gray Granite layer is embossed with the super cool new embossing folder Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions

No card is complete with out a coordinating envelope!!

Hello Card and Envelope

The envelope was created using the same process as the background of the card. First stamping the gray outlines of the vases. Then randomly filling in the vases with color! 

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

There are a few Stampin’ Up! specials this month. One is a Designer Series Paper Sale that is quite special!! Buy 3 get one FREE!!

Sale

The second is for those who Join Stampin’ Up!!  Everyone who Joins Stampin’ Up! to save on their favorite stamps, inks, and papers will receive a FREE family of inks!!! That’s 10 ink pads for FREE! How awesome is that???

Special

The Creative Way – A Product Feature

I adore sharing with you guys all about one product each month! This months feature product is the color Granny Apple Green!! I love the modern fresh feel of this awesome color!!! To see more about Granny Apple Green check out this month’s first post in the Series!

I’m so glad you chose to spend a few minutes with me today! I will be back soon with more fun inspiration for you all! Till then, go and live creatively!

Peace-

Jennifer

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Posted by on Jul 5, 2018 in Mediterranean Moments | 1 comment

Mediterranean Moments

One of the great joys in the stamping world is to find a stamp that is beautiful just simply stamped.  There are always those moments when you need a quick and simple card.  I adore Mediterranean Moments because it is just beautiful!  You can stamp it simply, like I did today! Or you can choose to color it and create something completely different.

Mediterranean Moments Stamp Set

Mediterranean Moments Stamp Set

There is so much to love about this stamp set!  It is drawn very beautifuly. The sketchy look is perfect! It truly reminds me of old photographs of Italy.  And the gray-scale of an old photo was inspiration for today’s card.

Mediterranean Moments

  • Keeping it simple was the theme
  • This card was super simple, I just simply stamped the image in Basic Black on Smoky Slate paper .
  • The black layer was torn to add a little interest to the vintage feel
  • If I had wanted to I could have used graphite pencils or three grays to add more color to the photo.  But, for the sake of simply it was kept to a bare minimum of poor stamping (maybe soon)
  • There was on sentiment because I wanted to have the feel of a framed black and white photograph

I love it when a card is just simple because the stamp set is so beautiful it requires very little extras to make it look amazing!  I did make a Stampin’ Blends version of this card that I will be sharing soon. And now I want to do one in a true gray-scale!  Or even sepia toned. I have been working with coffee and tea as watercolor for mixed media class I have been taking. They make beautiful sepia tones so maybe I will try that as well!  Anyway, this stamp set is Awesome!!!

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

There are a few Stampin’ Up! specials this month. One is a Designer Series Paper Sale that is quite special!! Buy 3 get one FREE!!

Sale

The second is for those who Join Stampin’ Up!!  Everyone who Joins Stampin’ Up! to save on their favorite stamps, inks, and papers will receive a FREE family of inks!!! That’s 10 ink pads for FREE! How awesome is that???

Special

Thank You for stopping by today!  I hope everyone had a amazing 4th of July!! I always enjoy watching fireworks and just having a relaxing day during the middle of the week. I was thinking this morning Wednesday is a great day to have off from work!!! I finished my first project for the Wild Awakening mixed media class over at Jeanne Oliver!!!  I will share pictures soon!! Go and live creatively my friends-

Peace

Jennifer

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Posted by on Jul 3, 2018 in Itty Bitty Greetings, July 2018, Lilypad Lake, Stampin' Wright Markers, The Creative Way | 0 comments

Granny Apple Green

I’m not a big reader of non fiction books. I tend to read to escape this world or for poor entertainment.  There are a few exceptions to this rule. Book that expand my philosophy on life. I love reading about different philosophes.  Right now, War on Art is this book.  I have so enjoyed reading this book about the creative process and what it is that keeps us from our muse.  War on Art was a suggested reading in an online art class I am taking.  Wild Awakening, painting Big  is a mixed media class by the very talented Jeanne Oliver.  I am learning so much about myself and my creative process from this class.  If you want to learn something new check out all the awesome classes from this sight!  And check out the book War on Art.  I truly am learning what keeps me from creating and why I should push myself to create more, blog more, paint more, live more!  I have learned that blogging for you guys is an area that I really feel a lot of resistance. Witch means it is something I should be doing more!!! Like sharing with you beautiful color combinations including today’s Granny Apple Green, Night of Navy, and Whisper White.

The Creative Way – A Product Feature

Each month, I pick one product to share with you guys. It can be a stamp set, a coloring tool, a color, a die, a embossing folder.  Just about anything!!!  I thought a lot about exactly what I wanted to share with you guys. Did I want to do a Christmas in July idea, or did I want to use a stamp set, was I going to feature the new upcoming watercolor pencils.  That’s right, you heard me right!!! There are new watercolor pencils coming soon!!! This made me very excited!!! In the end, I picked a color to feature this month.  This color speaks summer to me!!! And since it is July, hot as all get out, and summer it was the perfect time to feature the all NEW Granny Apple Green!!!

So, what will you see this month.  You will see fun color combinations, different techniques to use ink and paper, you will see it stamped, with Designer Series Paper, and how the color Granny Apple Green is Awesome!!!

Granny Apple Green is available in cardstock, Ink pad, Stampin’ Blends, Ribbon, and in the Designer Series Paper Tropical Escape! In August a new set of watercolor pencils will be available!  And Granny Apple Green will be apart of this assortment of pencils! Yeppie

Granny Apple Green – Products!

Granny Apple Green

Granny Apple Green Ink Pad

I adore this color!! It is happy and fun! Full of life and just perfect!  Just so that you know, Granny Apple Green is a darker version of Lemon Lime Twist! So, if you love Lemon Lime Twist then you will be over the moon for Granny Apple Green!!

Granny Apple Green

Granny Apple Green Cardstock

Stampin’ Up! makes amazing cardstock!  Granny Apple Green is no exception!! Matter of a fact, the card stock was the first thing I wanted to feature for you guys!!

Granny Apple Green

Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends

You know how much I love Stampin’ Blends!! And the new colors are now available!!! I can’t wait to have this awesome set of colors in my hands to color with!

Granny Apple Green Ribbon

Granny Apple Green Ribbon

Can we say, Love it!!! This ribbon is awesome!!! It is apart of the Tropical Escape Suite of products!! This is absolutely one of my favorite suites in the Annual Catalog!!! I love the colors, the beach fell, and the happy vibe!!! Witch leads me to the Tropical Escape Designer Series Paper.

Tropical Escape Designer Series Paper

Tropical Escape Designer Series Paper

Boy, do I love this awesome paper!!! So, the only product that is missing from this list is the Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Wright marker.  This marker is available two ways. Either with the New Color Assortment or the  Brights Stampin’ Wright Markers

Today,  I chose to pair Granny Apple Green with Night of Navy and Whisper White! This color combination is just perfect for manly cards! It is also great for anyone who loves a nautical feel!!! It screams preppy!!! And I love that!!  I so would love a plaid out of this color combination, maybe one day!!!

Happy Birthday

  • The Granny Apple Green was cut into 1/2 inch strips
  • Then glued down onto the Night of Navy cardstock
  • The next step was to use the layering ovals dies to create a stacked look.
  • The sail boats from, Liliypad Lake was stamped in Night of Navy.  Then colored with the Granny Apple Green, Gray Granite, Night of Navy, and Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Wright Markers. These images are small, which make them perfect for coloring with the Stampin’ Wright Markers
  • The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Greetings! I adore this stamp set. I really debated about which sentiment to use from Itty Bitty Greetings.  Happy Day, Thank You, Always & Forever…in the end Happy Birthday won out!!!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this preppy fun color combination as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you!

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

There are a few Stampin’ Up! specials this month. One is a Designer Series Paper Sale that is quite special!! Buy 3 get one FREE!!

Sale

The second is for those who Join Stampin’ Up!!  Everyone who Joins Stampin’ Up! to save on their favorite stamps, inks, and papers will receive a FREE family of inks!!! That’s 10 ink pads for FREE! How awesome is that???

Special

Thank You for stopping by today!  Tomorrow is the 4th of July!  I hope each of you have wonderful times celebrating with friends and family. I will be celebrating with a little creativity!!! I will be back soon with another The Creative Way!  Till then go and live creatively my friends!!!

Peace-

Jennifer

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Posted by on Jun 27, 2018 in June 2018, Perennial Birthday, Stampin' Blends, The Creative Way | 0 comments

Happy Birthday blooms

Today I am sharing a card made for a fellow stamper for her birthday.  I decided to use Perennial Birthday stamp set.  I really like how the blooms are drawn in this birthday set.  Of course, they would also pair well with just about any sentiment.

Perennial Birthday

Perennial Birthday

Perennial Birthday stamp set

You can create your own blooms and pair this with the blooms already created to make beautiful backgrounds or clusters of flowers.

The Creative Way, A Product Feature

This months creative way is all about Stampin’ Blends.  I love these fabulous alcohol based markers by Stampin’ Up!  They bring the coordination of Stampin’ Up! Colors to a fun coloring medium! There are so many fun things you can do with these wonderful markers. I have enjoyed exploring all the possibilities while creating ideas for you guys.  Some have been epic fails, some have been surprise successes. But, that’s what creating is all about.  If you are not creating for the trash can, then are you really creating???  Meaning, give yourself the right to make mistakes.  Today’s card went through several generations before I got it exactly how I wanted it!

  • The first thing I did was to create a pattern using the stamps from Perennial Birthday and the returned Poppy Parade
  • Then using my blends and a very loose coloring and the brush tip the blooms were colored.
  • The next step was to use the colorless blender and lightly make brush strokes over the coloring
  • The final step, for the background was to add the little smoky slate dots with the bullet tip of the blend.

Birthday blooms with Stampin' Blends

  • Matching envelopes make the world a happy place .
  • If you are going to use Stampin’ Blends with an envelope, be sure to use a scrap piece of whisper white between the layers so they don’t bless through

I’m sharing a few of my trash can creations that lead to this card.  I always sample on the paper I am planning on using.  Also, I test different colors to get the card just how I want it.

Mistake

A lot of people love thick whisper white for Stampin’ Blends.  My preference is the regular whisper white.  I feel it is easier to get the blends to do their thing on the thinner paper.  And what is their thing??  It is a blend of color that is smooth. For this to happen the fibers have to be soaked with ink.  That’s the point real magic of using blends happen.  I highly suggest you try both regular whisper white and think whisper white. And sea which you like better to get the look you want.  I find when trying to color images on thick whisper white that the point of saturation of fibers is the same point the color bless an outside the lines.  When you use your blends it is perfectly normal to see the coloring on the backside of the paper…you actually want this!!! That means your paper fibers are soaking in the ink and the blends can do there thing!!! In the above picture you can see where the ink is showing through from a test on the other side…..here’s the second side

Not right

Remember, to create for the trash can. It is more than okay to make mistakes!  They are how we learn. And trying something different takes some guts, mistakes, and a positive attitude while figuring it out!!! So, just go for it and create!!!

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

Shop

The All New Catalog is available and ready for you to shop from.  You can shop online here

The Creative Way – A Product Highlight, Stampin’ Blends

If you would like to see more about the Stampin’ Up! Blends click here

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Day 5

Enjoy your awesome day!!! I am in the middle of two art classes. I’m not really sure why I choose summer to learn new things.  What am I learning??? Well, I am taking a colored pencil coloring class with Sandy Allnock. She is awesome!!! And I’m learning so much. I hope to be sharing some things I have been working on for this class with you very soon.  And just because I though life was not busy enough, I decided to mix things up with a large piece mixed media class by Janie Oliver. Wild Awankings  has  already offered a reading assignment and a rust transferring assignment!!! This class is definitely going to take my way out of my comfort zone!!!  I hope each of you have a wonderful Summer!!! And that you fin that living creatively is your vibe!!!

Peace-

Jennifer

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