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!

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

Kre8tors Blog Hop - Water

It's blog hop time again! This time with the Kre8tors group! You probably just arrived from Rebecca-Jo Unwin. Did you just love what she did with this month's theme?

As you guessed it, this month's theme is water. AHHHH! I love this month's theme! I LOVE ANYTHING that has to do with water!! And I knew immediately I wanted to use the Magical Mermaid stamp set, as I've had it for a quite a while but haven't had a chance to use it.

I'd like to say I came up with this card on my own, but I actually used the annual catalog for inspiration. Look at page 152 and you'll see something familiar! Although I did put my own spin on it, I kept it close to what the talented concept artists at Stampin' Up! originally designed.

First step... color and fussy-cut the mermaid. I do love fussy-cutting! 

Next, use a stylus (I grabbed the one from my score board) and rub it on the back of the mermaid, which is on the piercing mat. This gives the mermaid a bit of dimension (see below).

Next, sponge the background using the sponge brayer and a few different inks, blending them together. Neatness and perfection do not count... think whimsical.

And now for a little texture...

And finally, the finished project!

I hope you enjoyed today's project! Now hop on over to Jo Blackman! If you get lost along the way or want to go back and see a specific project/blog again, you can always use the list below to find your way.

Have a hoppy day!

August 2018 Kre8tors Blog Hop Roll Call

Melissa Tennison

Lisa Kmiec

Su Mohr

Anastasia Radloff

Tracy Marie Lewis

Sue McDonald

Linda Handford

Jan Musselman

Cheryl Taylor

Alexandra Rauf

Kirsteen Gill

Laura Kate Mackie

Tricia Butts

Rebecca-Jo Unwin

Diana Tillery --> You are here!

Jo Blackman

Maria Calia

Jackie Lawless

Let's Get Hopping - Favorite Technique

You have just hopped over from the sweet and talented Nina McMillan. I always love her projects!!

In case you're starting here, the theme for this month's hop is My Favorite Technique. I have to say... my favorite technique has always been - and will always be heat embossing - it's the reason I fell in love with cardmaking. But... it's hard to show just how amazing it is to have a raised image on a piece of paper when looking at a picture on a computer (or phone), so I decided to go with my second favorite: watercoloring. Why is watercoloring my favorite? Because it is SO relaxing! You know me... I love quick and easy cards, but when I actually have time to sit down and do something "not so quick," I turn to watercoloring. In fact, I decided to take the time to make two cards using two different watercoloring techniques - just watercoloring and (new-to-me) no-line watercoloring.

What's the difference? Just look!

The above card is watercolored. I stamped the outline with Soft Suede and used ink and an aqua painter on shimmery white cardstock - which is nice and heavy and can withstand water saturation. The Designer Series Paper is from Garden Impressions. I think it adds such a nice touch behind the watercolored truck. Who knew such a beautiful paper could be used on a handsome card? (wink)

This card uses the same tools, colors, and technique... except you may notice the colors look a bit more muddled or muted. This is because the line disappears when it's watercolored - hence the name no-line watercoloring. To achieve this effect, just stamp off your outline image twice before stamping on your shimmery white cardstock.

Pretty cool, right? I love that they are SO different! And of course, I had to change each slightly and chose different ribbons for each card. I also decided to not have a greeting... it's not often I design a masculine card, so I wanted to be able to add a sentiment for a specific occasion - when it happens.

Which version do you like best? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Thanks for stopping by! Now hop on over to my creative friend Tracy Bish and see what she's created with her favorite technique.

Country Livin' Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141925] $15.00	Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119684] $8.50	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686] $8.50	Garden Impressions 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [146289] $11.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115] $7.50	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad [147085] $7.50	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $7.50	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105] $7.50	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [147087] $7.50
Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad [147118] $7.50	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165] $7.50	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $7.50	Copper Metallic Thread [141696] $3.50	1/4" Copper Trim [144179] $6.00
Stampin' Trimmer [126889] $30.00	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00