If the Shoe Fits

Hope you had a lovely weekend. There aren't too many summer weekends left, are there? I'm really going to miss the long days of summer and the juicy fruits that come along with it, but then there will be falling leaves and pumpkins to carve. There's always something to look forward to! 

Today I have a Fun Stampers Journey card to share with you that I created with the oh so cool Which Witch stamps set. 

For the background stripes I placed a few drops of Tangerine Fusion re-inker on an acrylic block, mixed it with some of the Fusion Blending solution and then painted the stripes on my card base with a sponge. 

Once the stripes were dry I used a couple spider web stamps from the Creepy Crawly stamp set to create a spooky background for the witch's shoes.

Lastly I splattered a little Lavender Fusion re-inker onto the card base to add just a touch of color and a few sequins for sparkle. 

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies: SS-0088 Which Witch Stamp Set; DI-0069 Which Witch Die Set; SS-0218 Creepy Crawly Stamp Set; JG-0001 Journey Grand Die Machine; AD-0084 Small Journey Foam Squares; JM-0014 Fusion Ink Sponges; CS-0040 Whip Cream Cardstock; IP-0041 Black Licorice Cardstock; RI-0047 Citrus Cooler Re-inker; RI-0038 Tangerine Fusion Re-inker; RE-0019 Lavender Fusion Re-inker; IP-0088 Fusion Blender Solution; AC-0115 Journey Sequins Special Celebration; AC-0013 Journey Sparkle Dust; AC-0004 Black Journey Twine

Boo!

Eek! I had a holiday card making marathon last weekend and this spooky Jack-o-lantern card came out of it. 

I love this guy's big eerie grin! He's from the Fun Stampers Journey Trick or Treat stamp set. 

Lots of goodies went into this card to make all these luscious layers and texture. Notice the dry embossing on the Tangerine Fusion card stock? I used the Splash Embossing Folder for that which kind of looks like the bumps on some of those fancy bumpy pumpkins.

That cool spider web was created with one of the Holiday Window Box Plate dies...also great for accenting cards! What do you think? Makes me want to make some more Halloween cards! Stay tuned...

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies: SS-0084 Trick or Treat Stamp Set; DI-0081 Trick or Treat Die Set; SS-0218 Creepy Crawly Stamp Set; JG-0001 Journey Grand Die Cut Machine; DI-0039 Journey Circles Die Set; DI-0069 Which Witch Die Set; DI-0100 Holiday Window Box Plates Die Set; EF-0008 Ink Splash Embossing Folder; AD-0084 Small Journey Foam Squares; AD-0085 Medium Journey Foam Squares; CS--0018 Lemon Drop Cardstock; CS-0036 Tangerine Fusion Cardstock; CS-0003 Black Licorice Cardstock; CS-0040 Whip Cream Cardstock; IP-0041 Black Licorice Ink Pad; RI-0043 Citrus Cooler Re-inker; IP-0005 Tangerine Fusion Re-inker; RI-0035 Pineapple Smoothie Re-inker; RI-0025 Limeade Splash Re-inker; PP-0012 Journey Basics Black & White Paper Pack; 

Happy Halloween

Eek! Look at these new 'You're Batty' stamps available in Fun Stampers Journey Holiday Mini catalog! Only minutes out of the box and I had my black embossing powder in one hand and a heat gun in the other ready to create a card! Seriously! 

Don't you just love orange, purple and green for Halloween colors? They're my favorite so I had to go with it! Oh and yellow would look awesome too! 

There are some great dies that match this set, but I envisioned circles for this card. 

I found the perfect sentiment in the Annual Celebrations Stamp Set. 

Since I have yet to get my hot little hands on the Halloween themed 6x6 Treat Time Prints paper pad, I picked this square pattern from the Journey Basics Black & White Paper Pack. I really like the combo of the printed squares with the circle die cuts, how about you?

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies: SS-0219 You're Batty Stamp Set; SS-0167 Annual Celebration Stamp Set; JG-0001 Journey Grand Die Cut Machine; DI-0069 Which, Witch Die Set; DI-0039 Journey Circles Die Set; TO-0083 Journey Heat Gun; IP-0102 Clear Pigment Ink Pad; IP-0099 Journey Black Embossing Powder; CS-0089 Citrus Cooler Cardstock; CS-0020 Limeade Splash Cardstock; CS-0012 Grape Fusion Cardstock; CS-0003 Black Licorice Cardstock; CS-0040 Whip Cream Cardstock; PP-0012 Journey Basics Black & White Paper Pack; AC-0115 Journey Sequins; AC-0004 Black Jouney Twine

Elastic Heart Cards

Hey Scraptastic Club fans! Sniff sniff...it's my last project post for the team. Sniff. And I had a ball creating cards with all the goodies in this month's kit, Elastic Heart.

So pretty in pink and gold are many of the papers and accents from the kit. 

I especially love the Ephemera Bits by We R Memory Keepers! They're the clear and gold accents I used on the card above and the Luv U design below. 

I really like these tags too! The camera doesn't always pick up the shine like on these chevron stripes. 

And the glittered Sprinkles from Doodlebug Design....swoon! 

I'm really going to miss finding these Scraptastic Club kits on my doorstep each month and creating projects with them. I will, however, be watching you and the rest of the design team to see what you create! 

Together

Today's post is bittersweet...a sweet little monkey card for my last Reverse Confetti project. I pulled out lots of RC stamps and dies to make this one. It's a combination of Monkey Business and Weather it Together along with various sizes of circles from three separate sets of Confetti Cuts to create these fun little windows. 

Goodbyes are the hardest, aren't they? So let's not say goodbye...let's say we'll see each other on blogs and social media. You know I'll be watching you! Where else do you think I get so much inspiration from?!?!? 

Just a Note

Last week I had time to sit down and play with the Fun Stampers Journey new coloring system and created this floral card to share with you. 

Every time I paint with these re-inkers and Fusion Blending solution, I learn something new and always look forward to playing and learning more! 

One of the things I learned from this session is that if you've ever used alcohol markers you know that it's important to work quickly and blend your colors before the ink dries, but this system works best if you let a color dry before you add another. 

See the white dots on the center of my pink flower? 

I found that using the smallest embossing stylus from the Bloom Tool creates lovely dots! Just add a drop or two of Whip Cream re-inker to an acrylic block, then dip the tip of your Bloom Tool directly into the ink to transfer to your project! You can also use the other two sizes for even bigger dots. 

Isn't this tiny sentiment adorable? I love it! It's just one of  19 in the new Tag Elements stamp sets. It's an ATC size set which means it's only $7.95! 

Another thing I learned was that I can easily clean my brush between colors by using a baby wipe saturated with the True Fusion Stamp Cleaner. I folded my baby wipe in half and set it on an acrylic block before giving it several pumps of the cleaner. Then each time I finished a color I simply swirled it around and around the baby wipe for a quick thorough cleaning. 

If you have a coloring tip to share, I'd love to hear it! 

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies: SS-0079 Sweet Today Stamp Set; AT-0130 Tag Elements Stamp Set; JG-0001 Journey Grand Die Cut Machine; DI-0016 Sweet Today Die Set; DI-0031 Banner Parade Die Set; AD-0002 Journey Glaze; AD-0085 Medium Journey Foam Squares; TO-0073 Bloom Tool; TO-0097 Small Blending Brush; CS-0099 Bubble Gum Cardstock; CS-0020 Limeade Splash Cardstock; CS-0040 Whip Cream Cardstock; IP-0027 Watermelon Fusion Ink Pad; IP-0041 Black Licorice Ink Pad; IP-0088 Fusion Blender; AC-0029 Mini Wood Clothespins; AC-0114 Journey Sequins Bloom Time; AC-0135 Candy Minis; AC-0005 Natural Journey Twine; Assortment of  Re-inkers

Goodbye to Design Team Work

I don't quite know how to start this post so maybe I should just say it...I'm hanging up my design team cap to go to work exclusively for Fun Stampers Journey. Whew! This is a big deal for me! I've been paper crafting since my son was born in 2001 and what started out as a hobby grew into so much more. What started out as a project to create my son's birth announcement and scrapbooks turned into a greeting card business that unfortunately wasn't successful but I kept doing what I love, paper crafting. Then I started submitting my work to industry magazines and began working on design teams. 

I've been part of a lot of great teams from my first two at Bella Blvd. and Doodlebug Designs to my most recent with Reverse Confetti, We R Memory Keepers and Anna Griffin. There have been many others in between, and all of them helped me to grow into the creative person I am today. 

I've been feeling a roller coaster of emotions these past few weeks making the transition from freelance designer to employee. On one hand I'm so excited to join Fun Stampers Journey and their amazing crew and take part in this fast growing young company. And I'll still get work at home with my kitty cats! I will however miss working with all the companies I've grown to love. Luckily, we're all in the same industry and I will be able to keep in touch with my favorite manufacturers and designers. 

I officially begin my Fun Stampers Journey (FSJ) on September 1st and will continue to share lots of crafty projects with you on this blog. There are so many fabulous products and lines that were released during June's convention, like the new mixed media line called Journey Media. Stay tuned...

I will also have to opportunity to travel to Arizona where FSJ is located and to take part in various events such as their annual convention and CHA. It'll be a great chance to meet more of the talented people in this business.

So...these are some exciting times!

A little about this card too...it's made with Reverse Confetti goodies. And that leaf patterned paper...one from Bella Blvd. that came out years ago, even before I joined the design team! Oldie, but goody for sure! 

Capture the Moment

Today I have a card to share with you that I colored with Fun Stampers Journey's new coloring system. 

As with any coloring system, there's a learning curve to using these re-inkers and blending solution so I hope to share some tips and techniques with you as I learn how to use them myself. 

For this card I worked on finding the perfect blend of colors to make this lovely lady's skin tone. 

I started by blending a couple drops of Butter Cream ink with the blender fluid and then just pulled in a dab of Oatmeal Cookie in so she has the slightest bit of a tan. Then I pulled in a wee amount of Bubble Gum to give her skin a little glow. 

Turned out lovely except that I over saturated the lower left hand side of my image. Oops! That's okay because you can always hide a little mistake by covering it up with an accent. I used a leaf, turning my card into a fun fall theme. 

Even the Petal Embossing Folder looks like falling leaves, don't you think?

So, what do you think? Like? Did you notice the window in the card? For a little dimension I created a die cut window and stamped the image on the inside of the card. 

Fun Stampers Journey Supplies: SS-0224 Capture the Moment Stamp Set; SS-0041 Give Thanks Stamp Set; DI-0024 JG-0001 Journey Grand Die Cut Machine; DI-0041 Journey Rectangles Die Set; Thanksgiving Die Set; EF-0007 Petal Folder; AD--00847 Small Journey Foam Squares; CS-0006 Oatmeal Cookie Cardstock; CS-0040 Whip Cream Cardstock; RI-0050 Pool Play Re-inker; RI-0027 Beach Breeze Re-inker; RI--0005 Buttercream Re-inker; RI-0041 Oatmeal Cookie Re-inker; RI-0034 Hazelnut Blend Re-inker; RI-0052 River Stone Re-inker; IP-0041 Black Licorice Ink Pad; IP-0088 Fusion Blender;  TO-0097 Small Journey Blending Brush; ST-0119 Oatmeal Cookie Envelopes; AC-0092 Tangerine Fusion Gingham Ribbon; AC-0005 Natural Journey Twine