Cloud Stencils and Up & Away Thinlits

I spent quite a bit of time last week playing around with the cloud dies in the Up & Away Thinlits set. I really wanted to make a stencil so I could customize a sky on any project. Despite what you'll see here for the next week, sometimes I actually make cards without hot air balloons. :-)

I tried just regular cardstock, but I put the clouds too close together and kept catching edges when I sponged ink. Then I tried watercolor paper and LOVED it! That's the one you see pictured here, with a card I sponged clouds on. I saved the cloud cutouts--they'll be really fun on just the right card!

I still wasn't satisfied because I wanted to make some embossing paste clouds, and paper just doesn't work for that. I had some stencil blanks from a local store, but the cloud dies left the thin material too warped to get a clean line.

So fun foam was my next idea! It worked pretty well, with the bonus that the white fun foam clouds really turned out to be a fun idea on a card, too! That's a photo for another day. The only issue I had with the fun foam stencil was that I kept feeling that the "sky" was too blank. I wanted overlapping clouds, and I just couldn't figure out how to do that effectively with what I could make. I'm hoping to see a cloud stencil from Stampin Up in the future.

What do you think? Do you like stenciling clouds, or would you rather just stamp them?

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Product List

Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142896] $21.00	Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set [138946] $17.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00
Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197] $8.00	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock [133674] $7.00	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975] $6.50	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181] $6.50
Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [126982] $6.50	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171] $6.50	Up & Away Thinlits Dies [142748] $30.00

Watercolor Kitties

A few months ago, I posted about some images from the retired Touch of Kindness set that I was having fun with. Well, I finally made them into cards! The one on the right features the Sale-a-bration item Carried Away Designer Series Paper. The left one is just plain Kraft cardstock with a little doodling. (You might have to click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Pull out those old favorite sets and freshen them up with some new colors, new papers, and new accessories. Old sets deserve the love, too! Happy stamping!

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Product List

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set [142924] $21.00	Birthday Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set [141506] $17.00	Carried Away Designer Series Paper [143608] $0.00	Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337] $8.00
Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock [133674] $7.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [126945] $6.50
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975] $6.50	Watercolor Pencils [141709] $16.00	Smoky Slate Thick Baker’S Twine [138415] $3.50	Whisper White Thick Baker's Twine [141688] $3.50
Festive Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [141471] $8.50	Sending Love Embellishments [142735] $6.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love making little treats for holidays, and Paper Pumpkin is my greatest secret! I used the January Paper Pumpkin kit, Adoring Arrows, to make the darling boxes in the background. Everything I needed (except the chocolate!) was included.

In the front are simple treat bags wrapped Hershey Nuggets. Just cut your favorite Designer Series Paper (here I used Sending Love DSP Stack) into 1 inch by 3 inch strips. Adhere around the Nugget, and you have instant festive fun!

I found the tiny treat bags on the jewelry aisle and simply tied them shut with baker's twine. What did you make for Valentine's Day? I'd love to see it! Share in the comments, please!

Old and new valentine

I was looking through some older cards and found one that inspired this valentine. It's great to have old ideas we can turn into something new and fresh!

This is a simple card made with the Sweetheart Punch, Sending Love Designer Series Paper Stack, and the Sealed with Love stamp set. But you can make one like it with whatever you have on hand! Just punch out (or die cut) 6-8 hearts, align them along the bottom edge of your mat, and trim off the excess. Add a greeting and a bit of doodling, and your card is ready to go! I added a layer of black cardstock to give it some definition, but if you have lots of contrast on your hearts, you may not need it.

Here are the two cards together:

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tams# 11570

Product List

Sealed With Love Photopolymer Stamp Set [142815] $21.00	Sending Love Designer Series Paper Stack [142733] $10.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.00	Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122924] $8.00
Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [126982] $6.50	Project Life Journaling Pens [135304] $5.00	Sweetheart Punch [133786] $16.00