April Tutorial Bundle

Have you ever sat down at your craft desk only to find you've lost your crafty mojo? Well, it's happened to me quite often. Yes, even demonstrators feel creatively stuck and it's hard to get back into the groove. That's one reason I decided to listen to my crafty friend (and fellow demonstrator) Tracy, who suggested I join in the Crafty Collaborators Tutorial Bundle. This month, 52 of us Stampin' Up! demonstrators created projects and compiled them into one file! That's one card a week for an entire year! Honestly... this blows my mind - and has me excited about getting back to the Craft Shack (my she-shed in the backyard).

There are three ways to get this massive tutorial bundle:

• Pay $20 for the tutorial using this link.

• Place a $50 order (before tax and shipping) using host code HYVAH34C in my online store.

• Join my team and receive monthly tutorial bundles FREE every month!

Upon notification of payment, order, or joining, you will be emailed a link to access the tutorial, as the file is too large to email.

Not only does it feel good to be stamping again, but it also feels good to be a part of such a supportive stampin' community! Stay tuned for even more fun things coming up in the near future!

As always, I appreciate you supporting my little Stampin' Up! business and being a part of my crafty journey!

Let's Get Hopping - My Happy Color

Welcome to another round of Let's Get Hopping! I can't believe we've been hopping for almost three years! You've likely hopped over from the talented Eimear Carvill, but if you didn't and you're starting here, then be sure you keep hopping until you've seen all the gorgeous colors! 

When I think of a happy color, I can't help but think of my two happy places. Yes, I have two... and I can't actually decide which makes me happier. It's odd because one reminds me of the other.

My first happy place is the beach. I don't care which beach... or which body of water, for that matter. There is something so soothing about being by the roar of the crashing waves, or the sloshing of swells against a buoy or anchored boat.

 

Since I have two happy places, I think it's appropriate to have three happy colors! The beach (including these pictures from some of my earlier vacations) reminds me of Stampin' Up!'s Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, and Pool Party. Could it be the names? LOL!

Although the colors look more green on some computers, they are such calm blue colors that remind me of the ocean.

My other happy place is Disneyland... or specifically the Disneyland Hotel. How does this remind me of the ocean? With its tropical and Polynesian theme, it immediately calms me and makes me feel like I’m home - just like the beach. 

It made sense to combine my three happy colors from Stampin' Up! with the Timeless Tropical stamp set and Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper. Oh those Palm Trees!! The Designer Series Paper also reminds me of my hubby, who is very much into vintage cars... so the "woody" station wagons just complete my collection of happy things (Hubby being one of them). 

This was such a fun card to make and it just makes me scream HAPPY! What do you think? Does it bring a smile to your face?

Just a little bit of the details... I distressed the edges of the paper behind the greeting, as well as the greeting itself (I wanted it to feel very "beachy"), and did a curl on the opposite corners of the embossed Bermuda Bay cardstock and Soft Suede piece of Designer Series Paper - something I consider a  signature style that's used by Susan Wong - which I just LOVE!

Thank you for visiting! I hope you enjoyed my little piece of paradise! Now, hop on over to Teresa Brown's blog by clicking the "Next Blog" arrow below.

If you'd like to create my card, or it has inspired you to create your own, these are the supplies I used. Just click the individual picture and it will take you to my online store! 
 

Timeless Tropical Cling Stamp Set (English) [151497] $23.00	Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper [151252] $11.50	Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [122924] $8.75	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197] $8.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $9.75
Brights Stampin' Write Markers [147157] $30.00	Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [147158] $30.00	Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder [151503] $9.00	5/16" (8 Mm) Braided Burlap Trim [151254] $8.00	Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels [150457] $6.00
Snail Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

We all need a little encouragement...

Hello! And thank you for joining us for the next round of Let's Get Hopping! You've likely just hopped over from my dear friend Tracy Bish. It's hard to believe, but it has been almost a year since I've been able to hop with these ladies. Who am I kidding? It's been almost a year since I've actually been able to blog! I have missed these ladies more this time than my last absence. What's amazing about this creative group is they understand and let me "hop" in after some time away. This is what everyone needs... a little bit of understanding and encouragement. 

I absolutely love this sentiment! Let hope be your anchor through the storms of life. It seems we are going through a storm right now, but I'm holding out hope that our modified normal will go back to... well, our real normal.

Our theme for this month's hop is Sharing Positivity and Uplifting Thoughts, which is quite appropriate for what's going on in the world today.  It certainly is a treasure when you have a friend (or more) who know just when you need a little pick-me-up. I have a few who have sent me cards over the past month since my company has temporarily closed and I have been furloughed (I may blog about that later this week).

My friends really are the best... not only do they send cards, but they loan me stamp sets when I don't have what I need... like my close friend Pam who loaned me the Sailing Home bundle so I could create my card for this hop! It's been on my wish list but it's now going on my next order since I love it so much (and I have to give this one back LOL!).

This card is really easy to make, but it takes a little time to add stripes to the white bakers twine, tie knots, cut words, and die cut the lighthouse then "bump it up" with dimensionals. To create the beam of light, I just used a piece of paper to mask the rest of the card, then I sponged the background "sky" to create a "fog" effect.

I'm looking forward to next month's hop... and yes, I am committed to it! I'm furloughed from work so I'll have more time for stamping!!

I hope you enjoyed my card. I appreciate you hopping by, but now it's time to hop on over to the next blog. Click the arrow below and see what the sweet Mikaela Titheridge has created!

Happy hopping!

If you want to recreate this card, these are the items I used. For your convenience, clicking on a picture takes you to my online store.

Sailing Home Bundle [151066] $50.25	High Seas 3D Embossing Folder [149577] $10.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867] $8.75	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044] $8.75	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $7.50
Seaside Spray Classic Stampin’ Pad [150085] $7.50	Night Of Navy Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144040] $9.00	Pineapple Punch Classic Stampin' Pad [147141] $7.50	Pineapple Punch Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [147030] $4.50	Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine [124262] $3.50	Stamping Sponges [141337] $4.00
Sponge Brayers [141714] $8.00	Snail Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo Pack [150893] $6.00

Just in Time for a Colorful Hop!

Welcome! It's so nice to see you again!! It has been a long time since I've been able to hop along with the Let's Get Hopping ladies and oh how I've missed them! I haven't been doing much stamping lately, which is why I haven't blogged. It's a long story - one for another blog post. Just know I'll be back more often than I have been over the past eight months.

You've likely just arrived from the ever-talented Eva Potts. Don't you love what she did with this month's theme Favorite Coloring Technique? She is so inspiring!! If you're just starting the hop here, then follow the link at the end of my post and make your way around. You won't want to miss one blog!

Recently, hubby and I had a date night and spent some time walking around the Disneyland Resort, including the Disneyland Hotel. There I found the most beautiful Hibiscus and it reminded me of my favorite bundle from the Occasions catalog - Humming Along! My stamping supplies have been in storage (remember, I'm saving that story for another blog post) but I had to get some of them out after seeing this flower... and I had to start creating!

What I love most about this stamp set is that its images are large and line art. Stampin' Blends are the perfect coloring tool for this type of image since the ink flows seamlessly over the paper... no lines when overlapping what I've already colored. Alternating between light and dark Blends allows more depth of color.

If you don't recognize the striped background paper on this card, it's because it's actually a sneak peek of a new Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. Fun, isn't it?

I hope you like my card and it inspires you to try the Stampin' Blends - if you haven't already. And I hope you find inspiration while you're out and about, then go home and create something beautiful!

Now hop on over to the amazing Mikaela Titheridge to see which coloring technique is her favorite.

Want to re-create my card? Here's what you'll need:

Humming Along Cling Bundle [150621] $42.25	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Pick A Pattern Washi Tape [144166] $8.00	Old Olive Linen Thread [148811] $5.00
Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144585] $4.50	Daffodil Delight Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144586] $4.50	Calypso Coral Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144042] $4.50	Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144044] $4.50	Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144573] $4.50	Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144574] $4.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $7.50	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00