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Posted by on Jul 12, 2018 in Christmas, June 2018, Stylish Christmas, The Creative Way | 0 comments

Season’ Greetings take two…

Yesterday I shared a clean and modern feeling holiday card. Today we are going to take a second look and the process that I took to get from yesterday’s card to today’s final card.

The Creative Way – A Product Feature

We started with a very clean and modern card that featured a combination of greens and gold. I really wanted to keep the feel of the original card.  Yet, I wanted to kick it up a notch using the holy leaf distinktive stamp from Stylish Christmas.

Modern Christmas Card

There is so much that I love about this card!! My favorite part it that it was quick and easy to create. Witch means that it is perfect if you are going to mass produce Holiday Cards. You can see more about this card here

The question is what if you wanted to add a little Jazz to this design.  By the way, I think about Stylish Christmas as smooth Jazz…

So, the first step was to decide did I really want to keep the design clean and simple. And the answer was yes!!!  The second question was did I want to add any additional colors.  The answer was no…So then I stamped the leaves in Granny Apple Green (this month’s The Creative Way product feature) and I was in love!!! How, exactly was I going to add this beautiful leaf into this card???

This is what I did…I fussy cut the leaf I had just stamped.  I used it as a template moving it around on the card trying to decide exactly where I wanted the leaf.

Holiday Card

This version of the card is quite lovely!! I really love how the leaf adds a little holiday flair!! I think you could leave it here and it would be beautiful!! Just as beautiful as the original.   The thing was, The card did not feel like it had given me everything it had to offer…. So, I kept tinkering…

Here you can see where I used my “template” trying out options of places to put a second leaf.

Holiday Card

This is when I know the card was Completed!  I love how the leaves play off each other.  Just like in Jazz…

So the absolute final touch was to create a coordinating envelope!! Our envelope are just like the album cover of days gone by!! The album cover was how you knew the record inside was going to be awesome!!! The same is true for out envelopes! The envelope shows that there is something extra special inside!!!

Who new one little leaf stamp had so much to offer!! 

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!

Day 2

Day 3

I hope you enjoyed seeing how you can make several different versions of a card from one basic design!  Have a great Thursday!! I truly hope you find time to be creative, even if it is 5 minuets!!!

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 Jun 29, 2018 in Beautiful You, June 2018, Stampin' Blends, The Creative Way | 0 comments

New Stampin’ Blends Colors!!!

I’m super excited that the New Colors of Stampin Blends are now available!!! This makes me so happy!!! That we now have 11 new colors with two shades of each color!!! That’s 22 new shades of Stampin’ Blends!!!  If you can’t tell I’m jumping up and down as I tell you this!!!  And I’m squealing like a teen who just saw her favorite celebrity in real life ?  These markers are just wonderful and so fun to work with!  If you have always wanted to try alcohol markers but, never taken the plunge well now is the time!!!

The Creative Way – A Product Feature, Stampin’ Blends

Like I said we have 11 new colors!!! The new colors include: Call Me Clover, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, Highland Heather, Lovely Lipstick, Mint Macaron, Petal Pink, Pineapple Punch, Poppy Parade, Soft Sea Foam, and Soft Suede.  Each of these new colors come in two shades, a light and a dark.  They are available as a set of 2 or as individual markers!!!  The addition of these colors expands the collection to a total of 22 colors plus bronze, ivory, and a colorless blender.

Shop the new colors here

 I have been using these markers all month for The Creative Way, they are just so much fun to color with!  Today’s card is colored on  Sahara Sand cardstock. This is a beautiful color to use your blends on!  Don’t be afraid to experiment with coloring on different colors of cardstock!

Sahara Sand Cardstock

Sahara Sand Cardstock

One of my favorite all time stamp sets is Beautiful You. I adore the way the set is drawn!  It reminds me to take time and slow down and enjoy life!!!  The stamp I am using today stays on my desk always! It reminds me of a peaceful moment.

Beautiful You

Beautiful You Stamp Set

The sentiments are beautiful!!! I love that you can color the girls however you would like. Or you can use the watercolor wash stamps to add a little color! So fun both ways!

Stampin' Blends

  • The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black.
  • Then using the Stampin’ Blends the image was colored in. Here I used Daffodil Delight and Pool Party
  • The sentiment is from Eastern Beauty
  • I tried several different ideas for the background.  But, in the end I decided to keep the card quite simple.

I have really enjoyed sharing with you about the Stampin’ Blends.  I hope you have seen a little something along the way that makes you want to try out these wonderful markers!!

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

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

I hope your Friday is just perfect!!! Coffee, creativity, and maybe just a little work….

Peace-

Jennifer

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Posted by on Jun 28, 2018 in June 2018, Petal Palette, The Creative Way | 0 comments

Thank You Creative Souls

Life is strange how we want to save our favorite creations for special moments or just the right time. I have been holding on to this card for a few weeks waiting for just the right moment to share it!  Why, because I wanted you to love it as much as I do.  Because, I was proud of the card and the moment had to be just right.  Truth be told, there is no better time than now!!!  Each creation deserves to be shared with the world.  Weather it is a masterpiece painting, a beautiful piece of music, or a wonderful paper creation.  Art is ment to be shared.  We create because it lives and breathes within us!  We share our creations to bring joy to others. Creating can be very personal even in paper crafting, those creations that mean the most to us are sometimes the hardest to share. They contain a piece of our soul. And it is hard share that with others… I often hold on to my favorite creations, like they are security.  Well, today is the day I say no more!!! I’m sharing it all! Every card gets mailed or given away or sold so someone besides me can find a little happiness in the world!!  Let’s all make this world better by being givers of art!  Share our passion to make cards with those around us! It is The Creative Way after all –

 

Thank You

  • Set back stamping is the perfect way to highlight a stamped image. Especially, one you colored
  • Sometimes it nice to keep the coloring quite simple! The Stampin’ Blends are just the right tool for easy coloring. Not all coloring has to be over the top to be beautiful!!! That’s a good thing! Most of us don’t have time for a lot of over the top “detail” coloring!! Life is busy, Right???
  • Simple coloring pairs well with bold images like this one from Petal Palette

Set back stamping is easy to create!  To learn more about the process click here.  I love wood mount stamps. And this card was created using the wood mounted version of Petal Palette.  The process was 1.  I stamped the image where I wanted it on Whisper White.  2.  Lay the Mint Macaroon layer over the stamped image. 3. Later my die cut in place over the two layers, using micropore tape to hold it in place.  4. The final step was to die cut the Mint Macaroon layer.

The black and Petal Pink were added to the card after everything else was in place!

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

I just want to take a moment and say Thank You to all the creative souls out their that have shared there talents with me!  Each one of you have blessed my life more than you will ever know!

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

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

I have really enjoyed sharing the Stampin’ Blends with you guys this month!  I’m still trying to decide exactly what will be the next Product Feature in The Creative Way Series!  Go live creatively my friends!! The other and I are catering a group tonight at “the real job”. So, I’m going to make myself squeeze a few paper crafting moments into my day!!

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

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

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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