Four Ways Friday #8 - It's The Thought

Today's Four Ways Friday uses the adorable crab stamp from the It's The Thought hostess stamp set in the Summer Mini Catalog.  I'm in love with this cute little crab!!!!

This first card uses the stamp and a 1 1/2" circle punch to create the letter "O" in the word "sorry."  I stamped the crab in Jet Black Staz-On onto Whisper White card stock and colored him using markers and a blender pen.  The letters were cut from Real Red card stock using the simple alphabet dies and the Big Shot.  Notice the net pattern on the Blush Blossom background?  I wrapped rubberbands around my brayer and brayered the background with Blush Blossom ink.  The sand dunes were torn from Sahara Sand card stock.  I used my 2-Way glue pen to attach some sand that I had dyed with Close to Cocoa reinker (check out my video on how to dye sand - it's a lot of fun)!

For this second card I stamped the YoYo Yellow card with the "hello" stamp from the Hello Again stamp set.  I used the spritzer tool to add some interest to the background.  The black card stock was punched using the spiral punch to make it look like a film strip.  The Whisper White card stock was stamped with the crab image and then punched out using my 1 1/4" square punch.  I colored the crabs using my blender pen and ink from my stamp pads.  Isn't this crab adorable?!  Did you notice that he's smiling instead of frowning?  In order to do that, I used my marker to ink up the stamp and did not ink the frown.  Instead, I stamped the crab without a mouth and drew in the smiley face afterwards :)

For the third card I decided to stamp the crab onto Real Red card stock and cut him out using a hobby blade.  I punched a heart from the Heart To Heart punch and was able to put it into the crab's claw by creating a small slit with the hobby blade.  The sand dunes were torn from Sahara Sand card stock and I sponged the edges slightly with Chocolate Chip ink.  The greeting is from the Whimsical Words stamp set and was stamped onto designer series paper (from Sale-a-bration) and then punched out with a circle punch.  I sponged the edges of the circle lightly to add some dimension.  Have I mentioned how much I love this cute little crab?!

Last but not least, this fourth card uses a mirror image technique.  I stamped the crab once and then rotated the paper upside down and stamped the crab again.  Instead of making a mirror image I overlapped the claws a tiny bit so it looked like the crabs were holding "hands."  I used the 2-Way glue pen to add dazzling diamonds to the crabs and once again drew in smiles in place of the frowns.  The greeting is from the Happy Everything stamp set.  I hope you like it!!!!!  If you want to place an order to earn this wonderful hostess stamp set, feel free to shop HERE now!

Summer Mini Stamp-a-Stack Card #4: Elements Of Style

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Plant A Seed And Watch It Grow!

We finally planted seeds in the garden last Friday.  Of course, since then, I have been running out to the garden every day to check out the dirt and to try to catch a glimpse of the slightest hint of green!  What an amazing feeling to see those first tiny green leaves pop out of the brown dirt!!!!!  It's amazing!!!!  Yes, I know it's just a tiny sprout, but it's our sprout!!!!!  :)  I don't think I will ever stop being amazed by the miracle of gardening!  If you have never planted a seed, today would be a great day to give it a try.  Who knows what will grow! :)

This was the fourth card for my Summer Mini stamp-a-stack.  I stamped the floral image from Elements of Style onto Very Vanilla card stock in Soft Suede.  I used the Soft Suede marker in the spritzer tool to add the faint dots to the background and to the focal image.  The central image is from the Vintage Vogue stamp set.  The floral image was also stamped in Rose Red onto the Rose Red card stock and the edges of the Rose Red panel were inked as well.  A touch of Very Vanilla satin ribbon with a modern label punch and a brad finish the look.  I hope you like it!  Now go plant a seed :)

A Twist On A Card: Sweet Scoops

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Try It With A Twist!

No, it's not Groundhog Day and you are not seeing double :)  I had to share today's card as it was a real revelation to me!  The card I shared yesterday was one of my stamp-a-stack cards.  One of my attendees was a young girl named Kelsey.  Kelsey likes to use the stamp-a-stack card as inspiration and then let her creativity add to the card.  I had to smile when I saw her take this Sweet Scoops card and turn it on its side and then place the greeting at an angle!  I immediately asked her permission to copy what she had done (and I added to it by putting dazzling diamonds on the sprinkles and crystal effects on the cherries).  Thanks Kelsey! :)  This was such an eye-opening card for me - an inspiration to get away from my straight lines and symmetrical cards and play around with my layouts.  Sometimes you just need to try it with a twist! :)

Last Chance Lists!

The Last Chance Lists are here!  Now through June 30th you can purchase these retiring stamp sets!  Discontinued accessories are on a first come, first served basis!  Hurry while supplies last!  To download the lists, click HERE and click on "promotions."  Happy shopping!  If you have an interest in joining my team, there is a wonderful $99 mini start kit available this month!  Feel free to contact me for details!  This is a great opportunity to get the new colors early along with the opportunity to purchase sneak peek stamp sets!

Summer Mini Stamp-a-Stack Card #3: Sweet Scoops

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Detours Can Hold Surprises!

I was recently in Amsterdam...well, at least I was supposed to be landing in Amsterdam, but due to volcanic ash, we had to land in Brussels instead.  The detour made me a bit nervous since I was traveling alone and did not have a good sense of European geography!  However, once we landed I was able to get my bearings and hopped a train...make that 3 trains, to get to my destination in The Netherlands.  The detour was wonderful!  First I met a lovely man from Los Angeles who was on his way to Eindhoven to visit his sick mother.  He had no idea how to navigate the train system, so I ended up helping him!  Second, the scenery was just gorgeous!  The highlight was passing by a large brown field...in the middle was a blue recliner chair with a man napping in it and a dog splayed out at his feet!  Yes, in the middle of a field!  Amazing!  Sometimes detours can hold wonderful surprises!

I cannot take credit for today's card.  At the same time, I am not sure who to give credit to!  My cousin shared this card with me and said that she had gotten it from somewhere else!  So, if this card looks like your creation, please let me know!  I would love to give you credit!  I used the Sweet Scoops stamp set and YoYo Yellow, Orchid Opulence and Pink Passion ink.  I covered the sprinkles with some dazzling diamonds.  Hope you like it!  Speaking of surprises, the retiring list comes out today!  I will try to be sure to post it for you so you can start shopping HERE! :)