Big on Birthdays--Two Ways!

I fell immediately for the new set, Big on Birthdays. I make more birthday cards than anything else, and I needed new inspiration. There are so many options with these stamps!

Here's a more masculine card with the same stamp:

Which one do you like better??

************************

tams# 11412

Product List

Big On Birthdays Photopolymer Stamp Set [142877] $27.00	By The Shore Designer Series Paper [141640] $11.00	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock [133674] $7.00
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $9.00	Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $4.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $8.50
Copper Metallic Thread [141696] $3.00	Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder [141636] $5.00	Sending Love Embellishments [142735] $6.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack [141642] $10.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Linen Thread [104199] $4.50

Mixed Media Hearts

I love playing with stencils and masks and embossing paste. This was a card-size sheet of watercolor paper that I embossed leaves on (from a Holiday Catalog stencil). I was just experimenting with Emerald Envy and Pool Party and Gold Wink of Stella, and it didn't look so good. That's what happens with experiments, right? So I cut off this part, which I thought looked fine by itself!

I added a few gold vellum hearts cut with the Sunshine Thinlits (one of my favorite dies ever!), and stamped the word LOVE in variations of blues and greens with the simple stamp from the matching Sunshine Sayings. Both these products are great to use with mixed media projects! And if you buy them as a bundle, you save 10%.

************************

tams# 11288

Product List

Seasonal Decorative Masks [141848] $6.00	Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies [141489] $27.00	Sunshine Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141594] $23.00
Sunshine Sayings Wood-Mount Stamp Set [141591] $31.00	Sunshine Sayings Clear-Mount Bundle [142339] $45.00	Sunshine Sayings Wood-Mount Bundle [142338] $52.00
Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [141401] $3.25	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [122933] $3.25	Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141898] $8.00
Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00

Fear of Coloring--anybody else?

I love the Inside the Lines Designer Series Paper, available as a FREE choice with your $50 purchase. The designs are beautiful and inspiring. And also terrifying. I confess to having several adult coloring books, along with many different styles and grades of colored pencils, stashed away. I'm AFRAID TO MESS UP! I like to call it my coloring disability. I *want* to color. But fear of choosing the wrong color or going outside the lines prevents me from starting.

One of my favorite bloggers, Carolyn Dube at A Colorful Journey, had a suggestion I love. She recommended using easy, plentiful supplies to overcome your fear of playing with colors. Because I had just cut up several sheets of my Inside the Lines paper, I had several scraps lying around my desk. I decided to play with flower colors on one scrap, since it wasn't of much value as it was. I didn't worry about all the colors coordinating, or about being exact. I just *played*.

And it worked!!

After I finished coloring it, I turned it into this fun bookmark! I think it was worth the effort.

tams# 11250

Product List

Sunshine Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141594] $23.00	Sunshine Sayings Wood-Mount Stamp Set [141591] $31.00	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock [133674] $7.00
Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122924] $8.00	Inside The Lines Designer Series Paper [143830] $0.00	Watercolor Pencils [141709] $16.00
Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker [100082] $3.50	Tag Topper Scalloped Punch [133324] $23.00	Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’S Twine [138413] $3.50

Sale-a-bration: Pretty Pockets Card Kit

You can choose the Pretty Pockets Card Kit FREE with your $50 purchase! I love the colors (So Saffron and Pool Party) and all the fun details! Here's what you get in your kit:

 I've also been stamping my own sentiments (like Happy Birthday) right on the card insert. It's easy, and a great way to customize your card!

You can see a few of my own Pretty Pocket cards on Facebook. Check them out! I'd love to have you follow my Amy's Cardbuffet page!

Here's the Stampin Up video for the Pretty Pockets Card Kit. It really is as easy as fold, adhere, and write a note!

Beautiful You and the Beautiful Gown

My talented friend Tandra Boyer gave me permission to share this gorgeous watercolor image she made! She masked off the image (from Beautiful You), stamped on watercolor paper, and then drew in the skirt with watercolor pencils. She blended the lines with an Aquapainter, then added some Clear Wink of Stella as an accent. Isn't it lovely??

I will be sharing more ideas with this lovely set! I managed to get a concussion last week, which has limited my stamping time. I am itching to get back in the craft room though!

***************************

tams# 11050

Product List

Beautiful You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143637] $28.00

Beautiful You Wood-Mount Stamp Set [143004] $39.00

Watercolor Pencils [141709] $16.00

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00

Watercolor Pencil Swatch Chart

After playing with my Stampin Up Watercolor Pencils, I wanted to experiment with blending colors. I printed this chart on Stampin Up Shimmery White and on Strathmore Cold Press Watercolor Paper 300 series (better). For example, to get a "redder" red, combine Real Red and Melon Mambo.

This first page shows all 13 colors. I also made a second page which leaves out the Basic Black and only mixes the colors once. 

I'm sharing my blank chart here so you can make your own! Think of all the possibilities!

Click here to download Blank Watercolor Pencil Swatch Chart.

Old and New Watercoloring

As I wait (impatiently) for my order of new goodies to arrive, I've been pulling out some old favorite sets to watercolor! This cute kitty and the bird fountain are from the retired set Touch of Kindness. The new Watercolor Pencils are easy to use! Watch the video below for tips and tricks.

tams# 10859

Product List

Watercolor Pencils [141709] $16.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00
Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	Blender Pens [102845] $10.00