#artistschallenge

I was chosen by my friend Barbara Schweiger to post one piece of art on Facebook each day for ten days.  The aim of #artistschallenge  is to support artists and makers everywhere.  I posted this picture on Tuesday.  Unfortunately it losses some of it's sparkle (Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint) in the photograph ~ I wish you could see it in person.  Let me know if you would like to try this 'shimmer embossing folder' technique.

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Loveliest Layers Masks

You can find these MASKS on page 62 and 63 in the January Mini Catalog.  AND, they are also part of the second half of SALE-A-BRATION so you can get them for FREE with a purchase of $50.  Masks are so easy to use with the BLENDING BRUSHES!  You can find the original Blending Brushes in the annual catalog (page 129) and the new, and smaller, ones on page 67 in the mini catalog.  I used the brushes on both of these cards.  Let me know if you have questions or if you are interested in getting the masks ~ for FREE ~ we have one more week of SAB!!

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Adhesive Sheets to the Rescue!

 

 

Bunny with Kite Card

If you are like me, you have a hard time getting tiny drops of Multipurpose Liquid Glue on those tiny die-cuts. Not only do you get too much glue but the glue gets all over your fingers! I hate that! But…Adhesive Sheets (152334) to the rescue!

These sheets are 6” x 12“of adhesive between two sheets of paper. You peel off the paper backing and apply it to your paper before die-cutting it. When you are ready to adhere the die-cut to your project, you remove the other sheet of paper. Easy peasy!

I used the adhesive sheets on the kite and the ties on the kite tail in the above card. There is no way I could have used liquid glue without getting too much and making a mess. Unfortunately I’m always remembering to use the adhesive sheets AFTER I have die-cut the cardstock.

My tip is: apply adhesive sheet material to the back of a piece of 5 ½” x 4 ¼” of each color cardstock you have. Then it will already be on the cardstock when you decide to use that color. You have it ready when you need to die-cut something.

 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 

Review PLUS....

This is definitely a REVIEW for most of you but sometimes that is just what we need.  This video from Stampin' Up! was available when the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine first came out.  I reviewed it again recently and thought that it would be good to add it to my blog.  I found myself just fast forwarding through parts of it but other parts were a good 'how to' reminder.   If you don't have the machine in your collection of craft tools this might be very helpful.  And, during SALE-A-BRATION the Mini Machine is available when you join as a demonstrator (see the second video for more information).  Questions?  EMAIL ME!

                                                                

 

                                                                




SEEING SPOTS!

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ONE of the best things about being a PAPER PUMPKIN subscriber is that in every box you get a SPOT!  A spot is a miniature stamp pad.  I store mine in a retired plastic box designed for our old design stamp sets with wooden blocks but, really any plastic storage box would do.  You can also find spots on page 129 in the annual catalog ~ a CLASSIC ASSORTMENT of 8 colors (#153183 for $24) or UNINKED set of five spots below.

 

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Uninked Spots, #141822, $9


I am very fond of spots and use them often, particularly when I am using my STAMPARATUS (#146276, $49, Page 147 AC).  Because they are small it is easier to ink up your stamp without getting ink in the wrong place and creating a mess!  Spots don't come in every color but, with your handy little refill bottle, they come in any color that you desire!  Just label them and you can easily use them over and over!  How do you store your spots?  How do you use your spots?

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Thank you!

Loved using the Adorable Owls and the Conversation Bubbles stamp sets on my last card using the Kraft Note Cards & Envelopes & my watercolor pencils.  Instead of using the whole note card this time, I cut off the front of the card so that I could adhere it to a piece of the Country Gingham DSP (page 9 in the mini catalog) and then to a Sahara Sand base card.  

IMG_9277Thanks to everyone who left a comment in the last couple of days!  And, particularly to Beth Ann in Rapid City, SD!!!!  


Watercolor Pencils...

As a continuation of yesterdays use of our Watercolor Pencils I used them to color the images in the retired stamp set, EASTER FRIENDS.  This set is from the 2022 January Mini Catalog and a 'keeper' because of the darling little Spring images included.  I used two of the blue shades of the pencils to shade around the cute animals ~ Pacific Point and Bermuda Bay ~ to make them stand out a little bit more.  Comments?  (I'll send you a card!)

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Kraft Note Cards

You can find KRAFT NOTE CARDS & ENVELOPES (#159247, $10) on page 137 in Stampin' Up!'s annual catalog.  There are 20 cards and 20 envelopes AND a coordinating box included.  I recently used these note cards with the IN THE COUNTRY sale-a-bration stamp set and my watercolor pencils (page 126 AC).  Note cards & envelope sets also come in Very Vanilla and Basic White ~ without the box!  

IMG_9262I love using the white watercolor pencil on the kraft note cards.  What do you think?  Leave me a comment and I'll send you a notecard!!!  Happy Saturday!

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Alison Sloven solving problems ...

Alison is a Canadian demonstrator who has been having trouble using the Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine.  She provides information in this video about how she uses the plates and I thought that it might be helpful to those of you who have this mini machine.  I don't use mine often because I have two of the regular size machines that never get put away.  I hope this is helpful for some of you.  Let me know what you think.  Wednesday hugs, se

                                                                

 


Layering Circles

Pat Saul, a demonstrator on my team of STARS, presented the Layering Circles technique at our meeting yesterday afternoon.  She did a fabulous job and I love her card!

IMG_8942She used the LAYERING CIRCLES DIES at the top of page 172 in the Annual Catalog.  She die cut three circles, glued them together and then cut them in half.  Confused?  I think we all were for a little while but we all made our own cards.

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I typed in Layering Circles in Pinterest today and found a lot of samples and started a new board, Paper Craft Techniques.  Check it out.  I will refer to this technique again soon as I am going to be using our new COUNTRY FLORAL LANE collection for Valentines next month in Stamp Club.  In the meantime ~ thanks so much Pat ~ I had totally forgotten about this unique technique!