A Bit of Ornamental Joy

***Don't forget to enter this fabulous BOOK GIVEAWAY! Trust me... it's a super fun read!***

Today I have another card inspired by the Online Card Classes Holiday Card Workshop. I seriously love these classes! They just motivate me to PLAY and THAT, my friends, is an awesome thing! No pressure, no deadline, no requirements... just PLAY WITH ALL OF THE THINGS!!!!

Whoa. Got a little excited there. Okay. I've got it together now. Moving on....

So, anyway, today's card was inspired by the embedded ornament card that Jennifer McGuire created for the class. I loved the idea of an ornament that could be pulled from the card. My execution didn't work as well as I had hoped, but I think if I create a second one I can correct some of the issues. Another option with this card would be to use a bit of magnet tape on the back of the pull-out piece and create a magnet instead of an ornament, which would be great for cards for all occasions!



I inked both the die cut circle ornament (layered three times to give it some Ooomph!) and the background piece individually. I then stamped and embossed the wisemen and the star from the Blessed Christmas set from Paper Smooches onto the ornament. On the background, I used the Sci-Fi Star Creative Screenings stencil from Winnie & Walter with some pearlescent embossing paste to create a shimmering, starry background.



The sentiment is from the Winnie & Walter The Big, The Bold, and the Merry Cutaways set. Which I love. With all of my heart. And all of my soul. And all of my inner most being. (Wait..that might be your soul... hmmm... I suppose that's a philosophical discussion for later....) I cut it twice, so it is on the ornament and on the vellum, leaving the card looking halfway decent even after the ornament is removed. But only half way. HA!



Here you can see a bit what the ornament looks like outside of the card. I like this idea and I want to play with it a bit more. It is certainly a fun way to include a small gift with your card AND encourage people to keep your art.

I am also entering this card in the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes Challenge.

Have a Happy!

Because Creamsicles are Delicious

Mmmmmm! Yes. They. Are. I'm a big fan. Which is funny, because I'm not actually a huge fan of oranges, I mean, they are okay, but not something I reach for often. And the orange flavored jelly beans really aren't my favorite, either, but for some reason, the minute you mix an oragey flavor with creamy goodness, I am in heaven, my friends! HEAVEN! I do so love creamsicles. And creamsicle flavored drinks with alcohol in them. For reals, though... those are awesome. Just sayin'.

ANYWAY, when my August kit from Simon Says Stamp arrived at my door, I saw creamsicles as soon as I this stamp set fell into my  hands! And what better way to create that refreshing, creamy look, than with watercolors?! Yup. I'm in love. With creamsicles. All over again.



The new Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, yes, afterall, that is the reason we have gathered together today (Nope, not MAAAWAIGE this time, folks.... or for this thing called life... nope, not that one today, either. Although, now I do really want to listen to Prince all day and watch the Princess Bride. K. Tangent done. Moving forward.). Right. New challenge. It's EMBOSS IT! Yup! We want to see you emboss! You can heat emboss, dry emboss, use embossing paste, WHATEVS, folks! Just EMBOSS IT!



I used the super awesome matt dull embossing powder from Wow for my image and then watercolored over it to create a resist. For the textured background, I mixed embossing paste with glitter, because glitter, and then spread it over a stencil to create the dotted background. I kind of love it. Lots. For reals, though.



And now it's YOUR TURN! One lucky participant will win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! Yup. Dudes. You know you want that. SO, all you need to do is create a NEW project (up to FIVE) with the EMBOSS IT! theme and link it up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog! Happy Crafting, folks!

You can find the links to the goodies I used to create my card below! 

Have a Happy!

Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit Simon Says Stamp Ice Cream Dream Stamp Set Bo Bunny Lemonade Stand 6x6 Paper Pad *Sakura KOI WATERCOLORS SKETCH BOX 24 Colors with Waterbrush Kuretake Gansai Tambi 24 Color Watercolors Set *ZIG Wink of Stella ELEGANT Set Glitter Black Silver Clear Brush Tip Markers 025375 *Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD *WOW Embossing Powder CLEAR MATTE DULL LARGE Jar Regular WC02-L Matt *Ranger EMBOSSING POWDER LIQUID PLATINUM Rubber Stamp Ink *The Crafter's Workshop MINI CIRCLE GRID 6 x 6 Template *Wendy Vecchi WHITE EMBOSSING PASTE Studio 490 *Martha Stewart CRYSTAL Fine Glitter White M111022 *May Arts IRRIDESCENT WHITE Metallic String *Pretty Pink Posh 6MM SPARKLING CLEAR Cupped Sequins *Sakura KOI MEDIUM WATERBRUSH Water Brush Watercolor #6 *EK Success POWDER TOOL Applicator EKT001 *Precision Heat Embossing Emboss Tool Gun Hero Arts PW200 *EK Success CUTTER BEE Scissors EKCB01 *Simon Says Stamp Card Stock 100# GREEN LEAF GL11 *Crafter's Companion 50 PACK ULTRA SMOOTH PREMIUM WHITE CARDSTOCK 752252 *SSS White WATERCOLOR PAPER 6 x 9

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No Day Like Today! And... De-STASH Boxes!!!

I have a couple of fun things for you today!  I am DE-STASHING my studio and have put together some mystery boxes!   You can find more information about those at the end of this post!

Before we get there, however, I'd like to share a fun card I created using a great Ronda Palazzari stencil!

For this card, I used an applicator to apply ink over the solid stencil for the cityscape background.  I then layered the detail part of the stencil back over the image and used black embossing paste for the outlines.  I love the texture that this adds!  I also love that I can play with things like embossing paste and still stick with my CAS style!  YAY!


The sentiment stamps are from Mama Elephant and I love how using them together creates a fun, unique birthday sentiment!

AND... about those mystery boxes!

I have gone through my supplies and purged so much stuff!  LOTS and LOTS of stamp sets, some papers, tapes, embellishments, stencils, and more!  I am selling mystery boxes STUFFED with the goodness that I simply cannot use!!!

Each box is a Medium Priority Flat Rate box.  It is promised to include a minimum of ten stamp sets (there will be more than that.  Just sayin').  In addition to the stamps, you may receive paper, embellishments, tapes, stencils, and MORE!  Items are gently used and some things may be partial packages, however, all is in good, useable condition.  All Sales are Final.  I am asking $60 per box and that INCLUDES Priority shipping in the United States.  If you are interested, please email me and I will send you the payment details.  These are ready to go, so the first business day after payment clears, your box will ship!  YAY!!!

*Mama Elephant Clear Stamp SAY WHAT Set ME1302-019 *The Crafter's Workshop MINI URBAN LANDSCAPE 6 x 6 Template RP *Dreamweaver MATTE BLACK Embossing Paste 4oz DMBP *Memento Luxe Ink Pad GRAY FLANNEL Tsukineko *Simon Says Stamp Premium Dye Ink Pad BLACK Ink008 *Simon Says Stamp Card Stock 100# BLACK BL8 *Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD *Tsukineko Embossing Powder GOLD Emboss *Crafter's Companion 50 PACK ULTRA SMOOTH PREMIUM WHITE CARDSTOCK 752252

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Baby Got Background

Yup.  That's my post title for the day.  Yup.  It's awesome.  Obviously today is going to be awesome because of it.  For reals, though.

That title, however, is not JUST for being awesome, it is to tell you about the brand new Wednesday Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp!  We are challenging you to create your own backgrounds this week!  No patterned papers - you can use plates, stencils, stamps, or whatever you'd like to create your own background!  The design team is showcasing stencils and Gelli plates this week, so you are going to have some AWESOME inspiration!  I decided to play with a stencil and some embossing pastes!  DUDE!!!  It was messy.  I don't usually do messy, but I had a BLAST with this one!!!



I used both the black and the pearlescent embossing pastes from Dreamweaver.  I started with one, allowed it to dry, shifted my stencil (after cleaning it, of course) and then did the second color.  Seriously, you guys.  WAY FUN STUFF!!!



SO... here's the deal.  Create a NEW project with a background created by YOU and link it up to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Blog!  Be sure to include a link back to the challenge in your post.  You can enter up to FIVE times.  Please turn off your word verification so I don't have to punch your blog in the face.  Hmmm....  other than that, HAVE FUN!!!!

One lucky participant is going to win a $50 Gift Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store!  DUDE!  That's flippin' amazing!  So join in.  What do you have to lose?!

*Simon Says Clear Stamps SMALL FOLDED BANNERS Holidays *The Crafter's Workshop MINI TRI MOSAIC 6 x 6 Template *Dreamweaver PEARLESCENT Embossing Paste 4oz DPP *Dreamweaver MATTE BLACK Embossing Paste 4oz DMBP Color Factory Palette Knife *Versamark WATERMARK Rubber Stamp Emboss Chalk Resist INK PAD *Precision Heat Embossing Emboss Tool Gun Hero Arts PW200 *Tsukineko Embossing Powder WHITE Emboss *My Mind's Eye HELLO Enamel Dots Adorbs Cut & Paste CP1014 *My Mind's Eye UP & AWAY Enamel Dots Find Your Wings & Fly FLY151 *Crafter's Companion 50 PACK ULTRA SMOOTH PREMIUM WHITE CARDSTOCK 752252 *Bazzill LICORICE TWIST Card Shoppe Heavy Weight 8.5 x 11 Cardstock *EK Success 1/16"" SQUARES 3-D Foam Dots Adhesive SPAF-THS *Glue Arts CARTRIDGE HANDLE Glider Pro 00211 *Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro 1/4 x 58 HighTac REFILL Adhesive Applicator

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