STAMPtember - Day 1 - Simon Says Stamps Branded Products

It's September 1, which means the kickoff to STAMPtember at Simon Says Stamps.   I am super thrilled to say that I was able to get a sneak peek at the Day 1 products.  I received a stamp set cz395c - EZ Strips You Got This designed by Cathy Zielske at CZ Designs.

I love the font and the sentiments!  There are so many occasions that these fonts will be perfect for.  

This is actually one stamp to be cut out with a coordinating die plate.  Unfortunately, I do not have the plate that fits it, so I did cut out each sentiment individually.   But that is the diversity of this stamp.  You can either stamp all the sentiments at one shot or individually, like I did.

If this set is any indication of what STAMPtember is going to be, we have a great month coming our way.

I was able to create two cards.  The first is using SSS image from set sss202692c Mother's Day Dogwood.  I colored this image with a variety of Copic markers.  Colors don't matter - I just wanted a lot of bright, happy colors.  I fussy cut the image.  I'm one of those people that enjoys fussy cutting.  I know, that's strange but I find it very therapeutic.  I popped the image with foam tape and I stamped the sentiment on the banners from Gina K's Master Layouts 2.  These sentiments fit perfect with those banner dies!  I wove those through the image to create some attention.  I mounted the whole thing on some dark blue cardstock I had in my stash.  

The second card is very somber card that would be perfect as a get well or sympathy card.  I used a Gina K. ink called Sandy Beach on a basic oval stencil.  I went super light with that.  I tend to be very heavy handed, so I just tried to keep it as subtle as possible.  The silhouette image is another Gina K. image that was the perfect size for this oval.  That sentiment is from the new STAMPtember set I received.  I love this font - sometimes you don't want something with a lot of flourish.  These stamps are perfect for those times. I cut the white and black cardstock using Master Layouts 2 from Gina K.  The cardbase is another Gina K. product.

This was a treat to get a sneak peek at some STAMPtember products and to be able to play along with the new product.  Keep watch as Simon Says Stamps will be featuring new product from numerous designers every day, all month long.  Talk about sensory overload, in a good way.  

Now for the back story!  Simon Says Stamps was looking for people to help promote their STAMPtember sale.  100 people would receive a sneak peek package and be able to play along with the sale.  I was all in.  I emailed as instructed and I was selected to be in on this.   My husband and I are retired and we volunteer as Camp Hosts at a Wisconsin state park that is about an hour from our home.  We were scheduled to leave home on August 25th.  Even though SSS is quite local - only in Ohio, my package got hung up at the USPS distribution center in Oshkosh.  My package did not arrive at my PO until the day we were pulling out.  I actually had to go to my local post office to snag the package because we would have been gone before the carrier would have delivered it to my mailbox.  I doubt my PO appreciates me pestering them for packages but I wanted to be sure to have it before we left for the campground.  It was a sigh of relief to have it in my possession.  

Since we stay in our RV, I am able to take along SOME of my crafting supplies but I definitely don't have access to everything.  I am pretty much guessing what to pack and no matter what I pack, I always wish I had packed something different.   I just work with what I have with me. For instance, I didn't pack any bling so those gems on my 2nd card are too large but it was all I had on hand.  I'm okay with this, but it just adds a little extra challenge.

Be sure to head over to Simon Says Stamps to check out check out all their new products.  Most are limited editions, so when they are gone, they are gone.

#STAMPtember

Freshly Made Sketches #650

 Happy Monday Morning! It's a scorcher here in Central Wisconsin.  Temps in the 80's but heat index well over 100 degrees.  That is very unusual here and very likely to end with severe storms.  We're praying everyone stays safe.

Tomorrow we are going camping.  We are spending 3 weeks at the at Chain 'O Lakes near Waupaca, Wisconsin.  So, today is spent mowing grass, packing the camper and getting things ready to go.   

Before we leave, I wanted to enter a card into the current Freshly Made Sketches - #650  A Sketch By Judy.  

This is a card I created for my sister and her husband for their anniversary.   I have been reorganizing my craft room - something I'm constantly working on - and I came across a stack of black and white printed paper that was left over from a previous project. When I saw this weeks sketch, I knew they would work perfectly.  Just a little trimming and mounted on black cardstock and my card base was all set.  

The images I colored while on a previous camping trip.  I really had no project in mind.  I was just doing some random coloring, knowing I would use them on a project somewhere along the way.   Believe it or not, that butterfly image is from a stamp set I purchased at Dollar Tree a while back.  It colored up so beautifully.  I definitely will be using that on future projects.  All coloring was done with my Copic markers that go everywhere with me.  

I love to pop up almost everything and this card was no exception.  

Thanks so much for looking.

Joyce

Gina K. Designs - August 2023 Monthly Mix Challenge - Smackin' Acetate

This month, I was determined to participate in the August Monthly Mix Challenge on the Gina K. Designs & Stamp TV Friends Facebook page.  Gina challenged us to use the Smackin' Acetate technique.   I enjoyed watching Gina's video where she demonstrated 3 different ways to accomplish this technique.  I used ink cubes (Gina K's Blue Raspberry, Ocean Mist & Jelly Bean Green) smeared on acetate to create this technique.   It took a little practice since I don't believe I have ever done this technique before, but it was pretty fun, although kind of messy.  lol!!!

 

 I created this card last week but never had a chance to post it.  I giggled a little when I saw Gina's 'Foil it Friday' card last week.  Though my card is nowhere near as elaborate as Gina's, it made me smile that we might have been on the same wavelength when designing our cards.  Lol!!  But I flatter myself!!!

I had taken about a 6 year break from making cards.  I had just plain lost my mojo.  About a year ago, as I struggled to get back into card making, I found Gina's videos.  Her humor, her soothing voice and her inspiration really helped me find my card making creativity again.  It doesn't hurt that she is a fellow Wisconsinite.  

I used several Gina K. products for this card.  Other than the ink cubes I already noted, I used the butterfly stencil, butterfly die and the word 'friendship' die, all from the Create Friendship set.  For those stenciled butterflies, I used Gina K. Sweet Corn, Prickly Pear, Honey Mustard, Sea Glass, Powder Blue, Blue Denim and Slate ink cubes.  This was my first time using the Master Layouts 11.  I love that postage stamp look.  I used some layering weight white cardstock for the smackin' acitate technique, some basic black, and blue cardstock in the background and I used white cardstock for the card base and 3 mini pearls to bling it up.  

It does not show well on the photos, but I used a Gelly Roll Clear Star gel pen to outline the spots on the butterfly wings.  I love those gel pens. No matter what color you use, it just adds some subtle sparkle. It just seems to take on whatever color you are writing on.   I wish it showed on the pics.  

I had a blast playing along with this months challenge. Hopefully I'll get a chance to play along next month too.  

Keep that mojo going!

Joyce

With Sympathy and Prayers

 Recently, a good friend lost her baby brother to cancer - he was 44.  It was devastating news.  When he was born, she was like a second momma to him.  

I'm loving this set by Arjita Singh from Gina K. Designs called Sweet Memories.  Those flowers are just lovely and the sentiments are touching for some sad situations.  

For this A2 size card, I dragged out my much neglected Copic markers to color in the flowers and leaves.  I used a 3-D embossing folder to add dimension to the white cardstock, added a base of shimmery pink and mounted that to some printed paper from the Bo Bunny 6" paper pack called Pincushion.  The sentiments are from the same Sweet Memories set from Gina K. Designs.  I used Gina K. Designs Master Layouts 2 to cut out the white cardstock and the sentiments banner.  I fussy cut the "With Sympathy" sentiment and shadow.  I used 2 layers of foam tape to pop that banner to give it 

a lot of dimension. 

Happy Crafting!

Joyce

Summer Themed Challenges - Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamps

Summer Themed Challenges!!

It has been a very long time since I have participated in a challenge but both Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamps are having a great summer theme challenges.  What says summer more than daisies? 

We are camping this week, so I had to improvise with my photo a bit, but I think it turned out all right.  The card is resting on the spare tire of our motor home with the beautiful Wisconsin north woods in the background.  I will take the opportunity to craft anytime, anywhere!  

I used quite a list of supplies for this card.   That sentiment stamp and the die cut of the word blessing both come from the Hero Arts set Blessings Stamp & Cut.  They go perfectly together.  I cut about 3 or 4 of the word Blessings out of black cardstock and stacked them to create more strength and depth to that sentiment.  

For those daisies in the background, I used the Gina K Designs stencil from the Spring Daisies set.   I also used several Gina K inks - Powder Blue, Blue Denim, Grass Green, Fresh Asparagus and for the sentiment, I used Momento Tuxedo Black.  I also used the Gina K. Designs Master Layouts 2.  Such a handy set.  

That lovely, soft green gingham paper is from a Bo Bunny 6" paper pack called Pincushion.  

I will be entering this card in the current Hero Arts Stay Crafty Challenge - Celebrate Summer and the Simon Says Stamps Monday Challenge - Summer Mood Board.  

Happy Sunday! Have a wonderful, safe week.

Joyce M.

May All Your Dreams Come True

We recently attended the high school graduation party for my great niece.  She is an exceptional young lady who is going to go far in life.  I wanted to create a card to reflect that.  

I am still learning when it comes to ink blending with stencils so I have been doing a lot of practicing.  I used this stencil I had in my craft room.  I am not even sure what brand it is.   The inks also were from my stash of supplies from many years ago.  Most are dew drops inks.  I like how this turned out but definitely will be getting more practice.  

This week, we are camping in Northern Wisconsin.  As usual, I packed a bunch of paper craft supplies with me and hope to spend a little time creating each day.  I have gotten a couple of cards completed and I hope to get those posted soon.  

More soon,

Joyce

 Hello, is anybody out there?  I am just checking if I am even able to post to this blog anymore.   It has been 6 years.  So much has changed in that time.  Most recently, I have retired and I am planning on getting back into card making (along with several other crafts that I do), and keeping my blog active again.  Is that even how people share their makes anymore?  Or is everything done on Instagram or some other form of social media..  I guess I will be learning a lot.  

There are so many new products that everyone is using, that were not even available 6 years ago (layered stencils, 3-D embossing folders).  It has been interesting to learn some of the things I have been missing all along.  

Strangely, I prefer the style that was popular 6 years ago.  Images like Saturated Canary, Sassy Cheryl, Mo Manning.  Is that odd?  I guess it is going to take me a bit to catch up with everyone else.  

So I am going to get crazy here and even post a card I made recently.  I used one of those images from Sassy Cheryl, colored with my beloved but much neglected Copic markers.  I added a little bling by using some flourish gems from Recollections.  

Let me know if you can see this, maybe I am talking to myself.  

Hugs, Joyce

Hang In There! - Sassy Cheryl Just Hanging Around

I just had to share a card I made for a friend.  She's having a rough time at work and I wanted to try to help lift her spirits. 

Time to color up one of my favorite images - Sassy Cheryl's Just Hanging Around. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Joyce

Chris & Alli's Wedding - Tiddly Inks Image

Today my niece and her fiancé are getting married.  Such a fun, adventurous, hard working couple.  I'm really looking forward to their wedding and knew I had to make a special card for their big day. 

 

I saw some of the new summer images at Tiddly Inks and when I saw I Love You Mostest, I knew exactly what image I was going to use.  Seriously!  It's like this image was drawn for them.

 

 



I am entering this card in the current Tiddly Inks Challenge - Super powers.  Their super power is Love!!! lol!  Okay, I know that's stretching the challenge theme a LOT but I had to try. 

Gotta go get ready for the wedding!  Its going to be fun

Joyce

A Retirement Card

One of my husbands co-worker's is retiring this week and he asked me if I would put a card together for the occasion.   40+ years for the same company is almost unheard of these days.  That's quite the achievement.

This image is from  Stamp Shoppe Creations, perfect for the gentlemen who is retiring - an avid 4-wheeler rider.  I do all my coloring with Copic markers. 

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:
Amusing Challenge - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Scrapper's Delight - Always, Anything Goes
KK's Wonderful Wednesday - Anything Goes



Thanks for stopping in!
Joyce

I've Been Gone Far Too Long! But I'm Back Now

I was going to take just a short break from my blog, just a few weeks off.  Here I am, several months later, finally making a return.   I'm still crafting, doing some sewing and some crocheting and, yes, even some card making.  

Like springtime, everything looks bright and renewed to me and I'm ready to go again.

I'm starting my return with an entry in the coloring challenge on the new Mo's Clubhouse Blog.  The theme of the challenge is Springtime.  I decided to use the image called Big Whoop because this is how spring has me feeling - like jumping for joy.  I know this is a coloring challenge, but once I got going I just had to make it into a card.  I know my hearts border is upside down, but I'm lovin' it anyway. 

I also took the opportunity to color this cute little Easter Chickie that Mo had on sale recently.  I couldn't resist this little cutie for a $1.  I'm not sure if I can have more than one entry in this challenge, but I wanted to share it here.

It's good to be back and I plan on being back very soon!
Enjoy the blessings of spring!
Joyce