Using my MISTI

Welcome back!

Have you ever created a background or started a card, and inspiration stalled? I get that all the time. When it happens, I create a pile of my "unfinished designs" and they usually get shoved in a corner, or a drawer and forgotten.

This beauty was shoved away, and I finished it off and mounted it on brown cardstock. (not my usual go-to color) It turned out fabulously! I love the texture the birdcage gives to the background. It looks so planned.....I am encouraged when this happens.  Take a look:

To be honest, I am not sure all I used to create this card, But I recognize the stamp sets. Here are the details:

Card Details:

Stamps: Free Flight from Penny Black

White cardstock: Solar White Neenah

Black and Brown: SU! cardstock

Ink: Various Distress inks and black for sentiment and butterfly

Stamp Set: Insightful Meadows by Unity Stamps

Hello all,
I was thrilled when I ran across this very expensive stamp set by Unity being offered in a Buy/Sell/Trade forum online at SCS for half of its original price! I scooped it up SO fast! (Thank you, Terri)  It just arrived yesterday, and I quickly got busy putting a few of my already created backgrounds to use! Take a look:

On this last card, I am experimenting with the "smooshing" technique with a distress inks. I don't know how I missed this technique...it is TONS of fun.

What is the smooching technique you ask? Here is the video that got me all excited. Funny thing is that if you go to Google, type in SMOOSHING TECHNIQUE and hit videos, many of them appear! too funny.  Try it! Any inks will work.

I entered it into this challenge: Seize the Birthday!
Card details:
Stamps: Insightful Meadows by Unity stamp, Cursive writing - SU!, Sentiments by various stamp sets. (If you need to know, simple leave a comment, I can let you know asap)
Cardstock: Watercolor paper
Inks: Various Distress inks

Birthday Challenges: Hamlet PigWit PigOut strikes again!

Hey There,
With this long weekend, I wanted to get crafty, and join a few challenges. I love this little piggy, and use him often for birthday cards and cake cards. This time, I used a cupcake ribbon down the side to add a new touch.

I entered this card into a two challenges:

Addicted to CAS (Challenge #79):  http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/
Seize the Birthday: http://seizethebirthday.blogspot.com/

Here are the card details:
Digital Stamp: Hamlet PigWit PigOut
Markers: Copic
Paper: Stampin'Up!
Ribbon: Joanns

Simon Says Heart Vent Die and Word Salad

Did you really think I would wait very long before creating something with my new purchases? Nah...

Simon Says Stamp "Heart Vent Die"

I plan to create rainbow colored hearts, but before I could dig out my scraps, I found a very cool patterned paper that I wanted to try out. Here is the result. The stamp is from Paper Smooches, Word Salad. It fits perfectly here. More to come! Enjoy!

Fun Purchases!

Hey Bloggers,
Guess what I got in the mail? I placed an order at Simon Says Stamp, and it arrived today! I am so excited! Take a look:

This is an adorable die called "Heart Vent" from Simon Says Stamp.

These are new "On the edge" dies that read "I love you" and "Thank You" from Simon Says Stamp.

I am not a big believer of buying small brand ink. Frankly, I cannot afford it. But I am finding my go-to black inks are drying up, and one of them are not copic-friendly. So after hearing several other crafter that I watch often speak highly of this black ink, I thought I would give it a try,

As for the Distress ink, I have mentioned this before, Joann's and Michael's are not carrying the newest colors. Tim Holtz and Ranger have released a new color each month of 2015. This color was for December. (see image)

So, I had to decide, should I wait go a few months to see if I could find these hot colors elsewhere cheaper, or bite the bullet pay the extra dollar or so, and pay the shipping and enjoy the newest color while it is new?! (As a side note, I am supporting a smaller company rather than a huge craft store chain.) I take pride in that, however, I have to keep my budget in check too. It is a very hard balance.

Stay tuned, I will be using these new purchases to create Valentine's day cards with my classes. With my students, I would like to mimic these. I talked to my students, and they are excited about these cards too. I will be sure to share their creations. See you soon!