Altenew honors and July release preview!

 Hi all!

Warning...this is a LONG and exciting post!

I have VERY exciting news to share...I have been asked to be a Guest Designer for Altenew's July releases!  I'm absolutely humbled and honored to have been asked to participate in this.  I've had to keep it quiet working on this release since the end April.  NOW I'm ready to share all that I've been up to!  For the next 3 days I'll be posting some of my favorite projects with information on how to get them.  BUT FIRST...

If you LOVE Altenew like I do and don't want miss out on anything from this release, you can pre-order it in it's entirety HERE.  Get on it, because many of the items will be going FAST!

 

Today I'm going to talk about the die sets I really love and I've showcased one with the fabulous coordinating stamp set last week for a challenge.  They are called Wooden Boat, Boat Adventures, and Pond Flowers (all sold together  Boat Ride Ensemble or separately), as well as Dotted Waves cover die and stencil. Those links won't work until the 5th, but bookmark them if you like what you see and pick it up then!

Actually all the dies in this release are adorable!  I may just like these because we did just buy a boat last month?  Perhaps, but I do love the sentiments in the Boat Adventures bundle as well, CARPE DIEM was our senior year moto in 1990...yes I'm old...and it brings back fond memories for me.

What I love about the Wooden Boat dies, is that you don't have to make a plain brown or grey boat...I LOVE the colorful boats from Thailand, the Mediterranean islands and Caribbean!  That's what inspired this card and the matching gift tag. 

Changing the colors of all the pieces of the boat is so fun!  A great tip with this set...you see those shadows?  They are a separate die cut piece.  If you don't have graduated paper colors, cut them from the same color as your interior boat piece and color them with a grey alcohol marker...that's how I did it! The fantastic Dotted Waves cover die with matching stencil work amazingly with these water themed pieces, but they can be used for SO MUCH MORE!  I have used the die for backgrounds on most of the cards I made for this release it has a great texture!

  

I think Pond Flowers is the most versatile die set of the bunch!  It has great flowers you can assemble in many different configurations to make endless options and 3 adorable foliage  dies.  The pond and it's outline die can be used for other things as well which I love.

 

 

I was even able to use the foliage dies to emboss the background of the mint card, so, so great!

What do you think?  Pretty fantastic eh?  If you think these are awesome, wait until tomorrow when I'll showcase the Simply Beautiful Ensemble with sentiment foil dies, new fresh die inks and gorgeous floral stamp set!

I hope you have a colorful day and I'll see you tomorrow!

#altenewboatadventures #altenewdottedwaves #altenewpondflowers #altenewwoodenboat #altenewllc #altenew

THIRLLED!

 Hi all!

I'm so excited to share with you all today...I was selected by the team at Just Us Girls Challenge (aka JUGS) to be their guest designer for the month of July!!!  

Its such an honor...I love this challenge site.  They are always changing it up each week with their challenges, which makes me think outside of the box.  That's when I do my best creating!

The first challenge this month is Pastels.  This is a challenge for me, as I LOVE COLOR! (as a former art teacher is kind required) Most of my projects have lots of bold color, so to keep the colors soft and muted is a bit outside of my comfort zone.

I used a new stencil set from The Ton called Sweet Bouquet.  While for me it creams for the need of bold colors, I do love this pastel version.  All the inks are from Altenew, Vanilla Cream, Frost Pink and Pink Pearl. The centers were done with Industrial Diamond ink (also from Altenew), it's a soft but deep grey color that I love using.  The greens are Frayed Leaf and Forest Glades and the back ground is Mountain Mist using the Broken Chevrons stencil.

The sentiment is from Bold Sentiments and again I used Industrial Diamond to ink it.  I added gunmetal Stickles to the centers of the flowers and a few dots around.

NOW...show me your pastel creation!  I can't wait to see them...

Have a colorful day!  See you next week!

Rainbow Sneak Peek!

 Hi all!

My exciting news to share is almost here...but here is a sneak peek at what I've been up to!

I'm absolutely humbled and honored to have been asked to participate in this as a guest designer.  I've had to keep it quiet while working on this release since the end April and I'm ready to share all that I've been up to!  I'm just going to give you a few sneak peeks leading up to the release day of July 5th.  Here's the first one, I decided to start here because of the Addicted to CAS challenge this week, Rainbow Colors.

This card is very misleading on what the die set actually is, which means its a VERY versatile set to have!  There are SO many things you can do with it.  I am able to share some the details AND the pre-order information today!!!  

This amazing set is called Pond Flowers, part of Altenew's NEWEST release coming July 5th!

It correlates with so many of the other items in the release, the creations are never ending.  This die set has so many options, it could be used with virtually ANY stamp or die set out there.  

  

For this card, I used only the Pond Flowers die set and the new cover die Dotted Waves, it was so flippin' easy to make!  The background paper was run through the machine with the Dotted Waves cover die and set aside. I then used the Altenew paper colors for a rainbow selection.  I used a paper punch  for make 2 large circles/  One was used to plot and glue my 12 leaves to, the other went over the mechanics and the 'hugs' sentiment was added on top.  A few dots of enamel glue and this sucker was done!  And since I was able to run 2 pieces of paper at the same time through the machine, this card to no time at all.  As a matter of fact, I made 3 in less than 20 minutes.  It really is easy peezy lemon squeezy!

If you're interested in learning more about this release follow me here, on Instagram or stay tuned for my video for the release dropping on July 5th!  OR...if youre're ready to pull the trigger now and order the whole release, here is a link for the PRE-ORDER.  They have several bundles to choose from, or you'll have to wait until the 5th to order items separately.  

Thanks for joining me today, stay colorful!

Almost forgot!

 Hi all!

I've been so busy, I almost forgot to post my creations for the Color Hue challenge, yellow and green!  So I'll make this a quick one (it's 1am here....)

All Altenew products, Gilded Rose stencil, Vintage Tile embossing folder, and Versatile Greetings 2 die set.  BTW...the Versatile Greetings 2 die set is on SALE only through Altenew's app until July 8th! Then it will be on the website. It's a great set...totally get it.

I did all the stencil layering first, and used green as my darkest color.  Then I used Simon Hurley yellow Lunar Paste with the second stencil.  As it dried, it looked better and better!

Finished off with an embossed background, added the sentiment and sequins and voila!

I'm off to bed...have a colorful day!

A second late entry

 Hi all!

I've been so busy, I almost forgot to post my creations for the Color Hue challenge, yellow and green! AND I MADE 2! So I'll make this a quick one (it's 1am here....)

Just like the first one, All Altenew products, Gilded Rose stencil, Vintage Tile embossing folder, and Versatile Greetings 2 die set.  BTW...the Versatile Greetings 2 die set is on SALE only through Altenew's app until July 8th! Then it will be on the website. It's a great set...totally get it.

I did all the stencil layering first, and used green as my darkest color. No lunar paste this time, I kept it simple and added some gold foil dots with glue.  I like the simplicity of this one, and we just gave it to a cousin that had her graduation party this weekend!

Have a colorful day!

Simply Peachy

 Hi all!

I have a TON of projects I'm trying to complete before I leave for vacation..I'll be gone almost the ENTIRE month of July!  It's exhausting planning out my week, but who can say that being in your art studio playing with stamps and paper is work?  

The card for today is really quick.  I just purchased some stencils from The Ton, they have AMAZING floral stencils!  This is their Sun Kissed Layered Dahlia.  I love the salmon-peachy multi colored dahlias, so I thought I'd try my hand at creating one on paper.  AND the Colorful Options Challenge this month is Peach, so it's a peach perfect fit!

The colors for the stencil were Altenew's Frost Pink, Pink Pearl, and Buttercream.  With the last stencil, after inking it in, I ran a layer of texture paste on it and added some glitter.  I think it needs a darker color to it?  A bit washed out, but still pretty and the shimmer is fun.

 

After creating the dahlia, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to mount it on!  I thought peach, but HATED how it looked, and white seemed to bland, and I wanted to keep it in the color challenge.  I found this grey paper that has a subtle sparkle to it so I went for it.  I gave it a grey splatter and added a sentiment from Bold Sentiments inked in Industrial Diamond both from Altenew.  Its finished off with some old gunmetal glitter Stickles.

If I were to do it again...I may opt for a pale blue background....

Anyhoo...have a colorful day!

Scraps and Sequins - JUST ADD INK HONORABLE MENTION! & TIC TAC TOE DESIGN TEAM PICK

 Hi all!

Raise your hand if you have a scrap bin...we all do, right?  It's nearly impossible to throw away even the smallest piece of paper if there is space for a die cut or stamp.  I have 2 binders for scrap papers AND a drawer under my paper cutter, as well as 5 little bins for extra die cuts, sentiments, and background papers...yes I'm very organized, HA!  When I saw the challenges for Just Add Ink and the Tic Tac Toe Challenges, I knew I could easily whip up something for it!  For JAI, I of course chose the sequins and added some scrap die pieces. For TTT, I went with Craft tool (die cutter), patterned paper (which I made this week) and die cuts (the window and leaves)

 

The patterned background paper was made when I featured a technique on my very first YouTube video this week.  HOWEVER, the vellum and heat embossed die cut leaves were from my scrap bin from a card I didn't complete YEARS ago, and the vellum came from my paper cutter scrap drawer.

I absolutely adore the granite background paper I made.  The colors and textures are just amazing!  When I found the Altenew Leaf Canopy vellum die cuts in my flower/leaf scrap bin, I pulled out the set and stamped the image all over the granite paper with Grapevine fresh dye ink.  It just kicked that paper up a notch!

The window has 3 layers, 2 white 110 lb card stock, and the background paper.  It was cut using Altenew's new Ornate Nesting die set.  The papers were stacked, then a piece of vellum with a heat embossed sentiment from the stamp set was attached on the back side.  The positive piece from the granite paper was placed behind the vellum and centered in the window.  

The scrap die cuts were added, and no card is complete without a little sparkle!  Pink sequins were added following the direction of the leaves.  This little creation will be given to one of my girlfriends on our upcoming trip in July.

If you're interested, here is the video on how the background paper was created.  Please like and follow!

Have a colorful day!

Sooo...we bought a boat....

 Hi all!

I have another sneak peek for you today!  I'm a guest designer for Altenew for their July release, and this die set and coordinating stamp set is a classic design.  AND...it's kind of perfect that I'm a part of it because.....we accidently bought a boat.  Yup, we are now boat people......

Anyway, starting July 5th, Altenew will release this adorable die set Wooden Boat and its coordinating stamp and die set Boat Adventures (the links won't be active until the 5th...you'll have to be patient!)  It makes such fun and classic cards and is an amazing set also for those scrapbooking boat-y people!  I'm completely hooked on it and its not just because I have a boat.

I was inspired by this weeks JUGS Inspiration Challenge photo and knew I had to use this die set for it.  I don't own any beachy type stamp sets or even papers for that matter, so this set came to the rescue!  I wanted to create the texture of sand so I used Kraft cardstock for the background sand color and added splatters of every color of brown (and black) watercolor paint I own. 

The boat itself is SO incredibly easy to put together!  I decided to use the color of the sand again for the boat but added red and yellow accents to match the odd ball house in the inspiration photo.  The little die cut of pond of water is also from a new release set, but I'll feature that at a later time...I've got to save something to surprise you all with!!  The pond is cut our of some blue granite patterned paper I made to match the blue houses in the photo.  If you're interested in learning how to make the paper, visit my new YouTube channel, I've made a tutorial on how to do it.  The technique makes paper with an amazing pattern, I love it!

I finished the card off with the sentiment from the Boat Adventures set, stamped and embossed with black powder.  If I were to do it again, I would stamp with black ink and use clear powder...but I wasn't thinking so, it'll do for now.  It's finished off with these amazing sequins...they are like a chameleon...they work for every card even though they are supposed to be green?!?  I've used them for ivory, yellow, green and now brown cards and they magically match each project...I love it when that happens...

Stay tuned for the next 4 weeks for LOTS of new products from Altenew I have the privilege to work with!

Have a colorful day!

It's finally LAUNCHED!!

 Hi all!

Its been 6 days since I've been able to sit down in my studio to create... Instead of creating, I've been developing my NEW YouTube channel!  I'm very much a newbie, so I'm trying to give myself some grace with the finished product.  I've officially launched it today, so if you have a chance, check it out and give me ANY advice you might have to make it better, it would be greatly appreciated.  SO without further ado, here it is! 

I decided to focus on a technique that I loved doing with my students, and it translates well into paper crafting.  You have all seen this before, but I'm hoping this video makes you realize bubble art makes INCREDIBLE granite patterned papers! This is a great watercolor project. 

  

The dye ink reinkers are the same as liquid watercolor paints so they are perfect for this technique.  I've decided to add this to the Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge his month, with the theme of bright colors.  I've also decided to add the second card to the Inkspirational Challenge this week, Embossed Backgrounds, Addicted to Stamps & More Birthday Challenge and the Shop Our Stash challenge this week, Sentimentally Yours.

Isn't the paper stunning?  I really love how it came out.  I've made other papers with blue colors you can see HERE.  This easy technique is easy and only needs water, dish soap and dye ink refillers!

The Mega Hello die from Altenew is the perfect die to use with this beautiful paper.  And using only 1/4 of the piece of cardstock I created, I was able to make 2 different cards.  To complement my first card, I used the Sentiment Strips stamp set to add the 'you make me so' strip.  

This second card has a sneak peek die set on it!  The Versatile Greetings 2 die and foil set will be available on July1st, so stay tuned here for updates and a giveaway from Altenew then!

Thank you so much for visiting me today, I hope you like the video and hope you'll subscribe!  

Hope you have a colorful day!

Still learning...

 Hi all!

Learning a new skill takes time and I really need to be patient with myself.  I'm starting a YouTube channel as was suggested, and it's harder than I thought it would be!  Any one have any pointers?  Until I get that up and running (hopefully by the 1st of July) I'm trying to keep going with some challenges.

I received this Altenew Botanical Line Art Set w couple weeks ago, it's part of their amazing Craft Your Life series.  I think this was a one-time offer set as I don't see it on their site, but you should join the subscription, otherwise you can miss out on some really beautiful limited edition sets!  I feel this set lends toward a loose watercolor type of coloring, so I opted to use my Atenew watercolor pan set for it.  Like videography, watercolor painting has always been elusive.  I always ended up with grainy washes, but love the look of a beautiful watercolor botanical like the ones from the uber talented Helen Dealtry.  Someday I will paint like her, but until then, this stamp set is a perfect substitution.  

I started by heat embossing with white powder the images onto Bristol cardstock.  I like the smooth texture it has. Since I didn't have any smooth watercolor paper left, its a good substitution.  I decided to follow the Altenew's June Inspiration Challenge color story and started by filling in the background of the flowers with Evergreen paint.  I hated it...like really hated it.  I figured I just needed to fill int he flowers with the purple and pink colors.  I painted the blossoms and added a bit of salt to the washes to give the blossoms some texture.  Now that I loved!  HOWEVER...I still hated the green background.  

I decided to do what I avoid at all costs...I fussy cut the blossoms.  Much better.  I did use the left over background paper for the leaves in the background...still didn't like it, but since it's not the entire background, I deemed it passable.  I placed all my pieces on a dark green panel that I splattered with Evergreen and gold shimmer watercolor paints.  Very subtle.  I finished it off with a white heat embossed sentiment from the same set.  

It may not look like much of a sympathy card with it's bright colors, but I figure that's when people need some brightness in their lives...right?

Have a wonderfully colorful day!