ACT45 Merry Christmas

I created this card for the Curtain Call Challenge #45 (ACT45. See http://www.stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com/ for more details and other examples.

Using the new Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, ink up the folder using a brayer with Concord Crush and process this through the Big Shot with Whisper White cardstock. For the upper layer, use the same embossing folder with Whisper White and a sponge dauber with Concord Crush (tear edge with the Tearing Edge). Spray the upper layer with Frost White Shimmer Paint and attach the ribbon.

The sentiment is from Occasional Quotes and is stamped with Crushed Concord on Whisper White and layered with Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake and Crushed Concord (using the XL Decorative Punch and Large Oval Punches).  The snowflake embellishments are created with the Snowflake Punch and an Antique Brad topped with a pearl.

I hope you like this card- have a great week!

PPA57 and Stamping411 Color #138 - Submission #2

Hi Stampers! 

Today I decided to create another card using the sketch from Pals Paper Arts http://www.palspaperarts.com/ and the colors from the Stamping411 #138 - http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/.  I enjoyed both of these challenges and after my “experiment” with the previous card, I wanted to create another card that reflected my normal “style”.

This card uses two types of embossing - it seems as though I can not resist the embossing lately! :-) 

Stamp Sets: Friends Never Fade, Herb Expressions; Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Versamark, Elegant Eggplant, Peach Parfait

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press and Vintage Wallpaper EF, Embossing Buddy, Clear EP, Color Spritzer Tool, Elegant Eggplant marker, Frost White Shimmer Paint Mist, retired ¼” Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Antique Brad, Large Oval Punch

Thanks again for looking- have a blessed day!

Two Cards- Three Challenges!

CCMC113 Wish Big

Hi Stampers! Today I decided to create two cards for several challenges.

The first card was created for the Create with Connie and Mary sketch challenge #CCMC113 http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/ and as you can see in the inspiration photo, the colors are bright, summery and fun!

At the first viewing of this photo, all I could focus on was the birthday theme, the bright yellow, multiple shades of beautiful blue along with the pop of red and the stars. The yellow and blues remind me of French Country and so I decided to use the emboss resist technique and focus on the colors versus the images.  I find that the emboss resist technique works so well with Upsy Daisy, so I could not resist :-)

Stamp Sets: Upsy Daisy, Flores Sauves, Short & Sweet

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Versamark, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Real Red
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice EF, Embossing Buddy, Clear EP, Heat Gun, Sponge Daubers, Modern Label and Word Window Punch, Pearls, Ribbon from my stash


I first embossed the Clear EP on the Whisper White and then sponged the sun and sky using a mask. The flowers seemed to need something else, so I inked the stamp in Versamark and then into Real Red and stamped over the original image. When I heat set, the Real Red seemed to recess into the White (clear). I like the effect- what do you think?

PPA57 Sketch Challenge with Stamping411 Color Inspiration #138

The second card was created using the sketch from Pals Paper Arts http://www.palspaperarts.com/ and the colors from the Stamping411 #138 http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/ and was what I call an  “experiment” card.

The "experiment" was the enhanced designer paper with the floral images.  The base is Designer Series Paper- Blushing Bride from the Hostess Pack and I stamped the main floral image and the matching smaller flower with the 2-Step process using Elegant Eggplant. 

I felt that the flowers needed more dimension, so I first shadow-outlined the flower images with the Blushing Bride marker.  It still seemed to be pale to me so I decided to color with the Elegant Eggplant marker and that seemed to be too much of a contrast with the rest of the Blushing Bride background, so I ended up filling in all of the areas between the flowers!

I then grabbed my Color Spritzer Tool and “spritzed” the card with the Blushing Bride and Elegant Eggplant markers and colored the centers with Peach Parfait. Final step was to spray with Frost White Shimmer Paint mist and then again with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mist and add the pearl details. All of the coloring brought back memories of my childhood- I always loved coloring :-)  To the left is a close-up of the new DP- it has a lot of "dimension" in real life!

Stamp Sets: Flower Fancy, Herb Expressions and En Francais

Cardstock: Whisper White, Peach Parfait, Elegant Eggplant, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press EF, SU! Markers- Peach Parfait, Blushing Bride and Elegant Eggplant, XL Flower Punch, Pretties Kit, Pearls, Frost White and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Color Spritzer Tool, retired ¼” Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon


I hope you like my “experimental” DP- thanks again for visiting me today!

CQC47 & SSC165 Gratitude- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers! It is that time of the week again- new challenges!

 

This card incorporates two challenges- CQC #47 see http://colourq.blogspot.com/ for more details (and the other wonderful samples submitted by some very talented artists).

I decided to incorporate the colors along with the sketch challenge #SSC165 from Stamping 411 - see http://www.stamping411.blogspot.com/ for more details.   

To create this card: Use the brayer technique described in an earlier post (see CCMC112 instructions)- brayer Whisper White cardstock with More Mustard and Poppy Parade. After applying the colors, use an Embossing Buddy to “de-static” the cardstock. Ink the medallion image with Versamark ink and then directly onto Basic Gray Classic Ink (Craft ink could be used instead of the Versamark/Classic combination). Apply Clear Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Gun until melted. Carefully cut the image around the outside edges and mount onto a scallop die cut (Big Shot, Scallop #2 Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder).

Using the leaf image from the same stamp set, stamp in Basic Gray and stamp off the page first, then stamp onto Whisper White and stamp again (see faint image to the right). Ink the sentiment in Poppy Parade and stamp over the leaf images, layer onto More Mustard and Basic Gray.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White with the Vintage Embossing Folder and spray with Frost White Shimmer Paint mixed with 70% alcohol. Attach the straight piece of ribbon (I used 5/8” satin ribbon from my stash and it is only a shade darker than the Bermuda Bay although in the photo it appears more teal than it is in real life) . Adhere the medallion and sentiment layer to the Whisper White. Layer the embossed Whisper White onto More Mustard and attach the bow portion of the ribbon. Adhere pearl in the center of the medallion and layer all onto Poppy Parade.

I hope you like this card- the color combination was a bit out of my normal "comfort zone" but that's why I enjoy the challenges!  Thanks again for visiting and I hope you have a blessed day!

APP12 Just Believe Sympathy

Hi Stampers!


I needed another sympathy card and thought that the classic look of River Rock, Basic Black and Very Vanilla would be appropriate for a sympathy card. 

I drew inspiration from The Paper Players Challenge #APP12. 
Are you as thankful as I am that several of the In Colors from previous years were brought back as part of the Color Renovation and that River Rock was one of them?  It is a great neutral and I love it with black!

The floral image is from the new set Just Believe and is embossed with Versamark and Black EP on the oval (oval was cut from the Ovals Die with the Big Shot). This is layered onto a Basic Black oval (also cut from the same die). The Very Vanilla background is embossed with the Square Lattice Folder and the River Rock strip in the center is embossed with the Finial Press Folder. I tried to incorporate red (for the strawberries in the photo) but I liked the card better without the red.

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and was punched with the Small Oval Punch and layered onto Baic Black punched with the Medium Oval Punch.  I used pearls and 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon to finish off the card. I hope you like it and have a wonderful day!

CCMC112 Medallion

Hi Stampers!  

I love the sketch layout for this week's challenge on Splitcoast Stampers (#SC294- see http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?page=5&si=sc294 for the entire gallery of ideas). 

I also loved the inspiration photo for this week's Create with Connie and Mary color challenge #CCMC112 - see http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/- colors to be used are Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, White and Black.  I found the contemporary "fluid" feeling of the inspiration fabric to be my inspiration and decided to create my own designer paper by using several brayers and Whisper White cardstock.  

UPDATE- I was honored to have this card chosen as one of the Top Three Picks! 

To create the background paper:  I used three separate brayers- if you only have one brayer, clean before loading each color.  Load the brayer with Daffodil Delight ink and apply to two separate pieces of Whisper White cardstock (it does not have to be perfectly applied and leave some white).  Next load the brayer with Bashful Blue ink and roll the ink over the Daffodil Delight but do not cover all of the yellow.  Next do the same thing with Pacific Point ink and apply the ink over the Bashful Blue (again leaving some of the Daffodil Delight, White and Bashful Blue showing).  The ink will appear to have hard edges from the side of the brayer but do not be concerned, they will seem to disappear with the next few steps.  After brayering the ink onto the cardstock, spray the cardstock with alcohol to intensify the color (or you can lightly mist with water for a watercolor look).  Use a heat gun to dry the paper. On one piece, stamp the En Francais background stamp in Basic Black and on the other brayered piece, again using Basic Black ink, stamp with the scroll stamp from Elements of Style. 

On a third piece of Whisper White,  brayer only Daffodil Delight and Bashful Blue. Using the Embossing Buddy and Versamark ink, heat emboss the medallion from Day of Gratitude (available Sept.1 from the Holiday Mini) with Black EP.  After the EP has cooled,  trim the cardstock, mount onto Whisper White and Basic Black (add pearl to the center).  Using the Big Shot, emboss a piece of Wild Wasabi with the Square Lattice Embossing and mounted this layer onto Basic Black.  Finish the card with 5/8" Black Satin ribbon and I decided to intentionally leave off a sentiment for the moment.

I hope you like this card.   Thanks for visiting- God Bless!

CQC46 Kindness from the Heart

I love weekly challenges to keep you stamping!  I generally participate in several each week and some of my favorites are:  Always Playing with Paper (The Paper Players) http://www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com/  Create with Connie and Mary http://www.createwithconnieandmary.com/   ColourQ  http://colourq.blogspot.com/  and Pals Paper Arts http://www.palspaperarts.com/  and the many challenges at Splitcoast Stampers http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/.  

  

This week for the ColourQ #46 challenge, I decided to make two cards-see http://colourq.blogspot.com for more details and the many other artist's submissions for this week's challenge. 

The first card submitted was what is called Clean and Simple (CAS).  This card has minimal stamping and utilizes several punches- 

5 Petal, Boho Blossom, Large and Medium Oval, Modern Label, XL Designer Label and the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  

To create the floral embellishment:   

Using the 5 Petal Punch, punch enough flower layers from Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla.    For the center of the flowers, punch a piece for each flower with the Boho Blossom punch. Here I used a previously embossed piece of Daffodil Delight (aligned the cardstock to punch only the medium floral image).  Using either a piercing tool (I used a 1/16" handheld punch) create an opening in all of the layers to insert the gold brad.

To assemble the card: Using the Big Shot, emboss a layer of Very Vanilla with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder (I just love this folder- it gives the look of fabric and adds so much texture!).   Adhere the ribbon (retired Wild Wasabi stitched grosgrain) to the lower part of the Very Vanilla piece and attach this entire layer onto a piece of Cherry Cobbler.   Adhere a strip of Wild Wasabi DP to Cherry Cobbler  (I used a piece of retired DP from a previous Hostess Level 1 pack).  Adhere this strip to the Very Vanilla and attach the flower embellishments with Dimensionals or Pop Dots.  The sentiment is from the Hostess Level 3 set Occasional Quotes and was stamped with Cherry Cobbler ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.  Using the Medium Oval Punch, Modern Label Punch with Baja Breeze, Large Oval Punch with the retired Wild Wasabi DP and the new XL Designer Label Punch (from the upcoming Holiday mini) in Cherry Cobbler. 

The first card did not have enough stamping for me:-) so I had to make a second card for the same challenge.   

The second card utilizes one of my favorite techniques- Emboss Resist. 
To create the main image:  Use an Embossing Buddy to prepare a piece of Very Vanilla for Heat Embossing.   Stamp the large medallion from the new set Day of Gratitude (upcoming Holiday Mini) first in Versamark, then in Daffodil Delight onto prepared Very Vanilla cardstock.  Apply Clear Embossing Powder and set with the Heat Gun.  Once this has dried, use sponge daubers with Baja Breeze (center), Wild Wasabi(middle) and Cherry Cobbler(outside edges) and in a circular motion. apply the ink over the embossed image.  Once the ink has reached the desired intensity, use a very lightly moistened paper towel and gently rub the ink off the embossed images.  Cut the image out carefully around the outer edges. 

Using a Circle Cutter Plus, detemine the size of your circles to encase the medallion and cut a three circles:  smallest from Daffodil Delight, middle from Baja Breeze and largest from Wild Wasbi.  Adhere all three together and mount the medallion with Dimensionals.  Attach a pearl to the center of the medallion and set aside. 

To assemble the card: Adhere a Cherry Cobbler layer onto Wild Wasabi.  Emboss the Very Vanilla piece with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, adhere the ribbon (used retired Wild Wasabi stitched grosgrain ribbon) and adhere to the Cherry Cobbler layer.  Adhere the circle focal piece to the Very Vanilla layer and attach the bow. 

Stamp the sentiment from Heard from the Heart on Very Vanilla with Cherry Cobbler ink.  Layer over bottom area of card. 

Thanks for looking-  Have a blessed day!

PPA56 Day into Evening

You will need to check out the newly designed Pals Paper Arts site http://www.palspaperarts.com/ - it is gorgeous!
This week they decided to give us this beautiful Vintage photo for inspiration with the challenge to create two looks of the same card- one for “day” and another for “evening”.

I decided to focus on the glorious browns and spice colors from the atomizer (it is in the middle between the two lovely shoes).

For "Day":


Stamps: Bella Toile Background , Greenhouse Garden and Favorite Thoughts

Ink: More Mustard, Early Espresso

Cardstock: More Mustard, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Victoria crochet trim, sponge daubers

Stamp the Bella Toile Background onto More Mustard.  Cut the cardstock in half (with the lower half being approx two-thirds of the cardstock).  Sponge Early Espresso around the edges. Attach layers to Cajun Craze.  Cut a length of the Victoria trim crochet and attach to the exposed Cajun Craze area of the card front.  Attach the Cajun Craze layer to Early Espresso for the card front. 

Stamp the Greenhouse Garden floral image in Early Espresso over the Bella Toile Background in the center of the upper piece (make sure that you have enough cardstock on both sides of the image for the next step).  Punch this out with the 1 3/8" punch (don't worry- the hole will be covered with the layered pieces when you are finished- no one would be the wiser:-)  Once you clean your stamp, use the Embossing Buddy and with Versamark ink, stamp the floral image again over the stamped Early Espresso image.  Sprinkle on Clear Embossing Powder and set with the Heat Gun.  Sponge Early Espresso around the edges.  Cut out a 1 1/2" circle of Cajun Craze and a 1 3/4" circle of Early Espresso.  Sponge the edges of the Cajun Craze layer. Attach the floral image to the center of the layer at the top of the card. 

Using the Large Oval Punch, cut out an oval from Cajun Craze and run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  Sponge Early Espresso over the edges and lightly on the raised images.  Attach to the lower part of the card.  Using the sentiment from Favorite Thoughts, stamp with Early Espresso onto More Mustard.  Cut out image and sponge around the edges with Early Espresso.  Attach to card front layering onto the Oval Embellishment.  Take another length of the Victoria crochet trim to create a bow and use a Antique Brad in the center.  Attach to the center under the floral image.

For "Evening" :

Use the Color Spritzer Tool and Early Espresso marker to spritz the entire card (cover the crochet trim). 

Add Pearls, Vintage Trinkets and additional Victoria crochet trim to the corners of the sentiment. 

Final step- Spray entire card with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint Mist (Champagne Shimmer Paint mixed with 70% isoprophyl alcohol), again protecting the crochet trim from the spray. 

I hope you like these two- they were a lot of fun to make!
Thanks for looking- God Bless!

Introduction and Welcome to my blog!

Hi Stampers! 

First and foremost, I want to give all of the glory for my talents to the Lord Jesus Christ since without Him I would be nothing!   I am starting this blog in an effort to share with you some of the creations that I have made recently.  I have been a SU! demonstrator since 1999 and therefore, use SU! products 99% of the time.

I also have a SU! website at http://www.juliegearinger.stampinup.net/ where you can order SU! products, see specials and contact me if you are interested in hosting a demonstration or receiving more information on joining my team.  I also post on Facebook at Stamping with Julie Gearinger and my gallery is posted on Splitcoast Stampers- see http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=97563.  Once I figure out how to create the links on the sidebars, I definitely will do so.  Please be patient with me as I am just learning about blogging :-)


I hope you enjoy the cards and feel free to CASE (Copy and Share Everything).  If you do decide to CASE or post to your blog, please be so kind as to link back to my blog as the original creator.  Comments are always welcome and thank you again for visiting my new blog!