Play Time with All Things Nauticool...

I have three cards for you today. I woke up this morning to a dreary cloudy northwest day. While those days get fewer come late June, early July, they still come and the only way to combat the darkness is with some paper crafting sunshine! What better way than with nautical stamps. This is the new Wicked Nauticool Stamp set from Paper Smooches and I've been dying to play with it. I got so carried away I just kept making cards.

I had fun trying to keep certain elements or themes running through each card while trying to give them a different style. I used white wood grain cardstock, Navy, Red, Kraft and White color scheme, as well as accent stars, and faux white stitching. 

For the first card, I knew I wanted to try and create a ship's portal. I used Lawn Fawn's circle die stackables to get the red frame and metal brads really gave it the look I was going for. 

I love using the white wood grain look for a more realistic "ship" feel. 

I added a subtle tone on tone to the red circle for added interest and of course I HAD to use Glossy Accents to give the sails some dimension. I also did a scalloped edge on the wood grain card stock to give an ocean feel. 

This third card was an after thought and I kind of love it. I love the little bird perched next to the life preserver as if it is ready to throw it out and help. 

Hope you get inspired to try some nautical themed cards for yourself. 

Happy Stamping!

*Paper Smooches WICKED NAUTICOOL Clear Stamps Kim Hughes	*Lawn Fawn CIRCLE STACKABLES Lawn Cuts Dies	*Simon Says Stamp WOODGRAIN CARDSTOCK WHITE 111 LB	*Hero Arts Shadow Ink Pad NAVY Blue Mid-Tone 2013 af234	*Hero Arts Shadow Ink Pad RED ROYAL Mid-Tone 2012 AF225
*Studio Calico TINY STARS Wood Veneer Shapes 331052	*Ranger Inkssentials GLOSSY ACCENTS Glue Dimensional Adhesive	*Uni-ball Pen Signo Gel Pen WHITE Smooth Broad	*Hero Arts Rubber Stamp DESIGNBLOCK TWEED PATTERN 2013 s5654	*Hero Arts Rubber Stamp DESIGNBLOCK TINY INK SPOTS 2013 s5637
*IO Cling Stamp THICK STRIPES Rubber Impression Obsession	*PRE-ORDER Impression Obsession Cling Stamp FLUFF Rubber Cover a Card CC014	*CUSTOM ORDER Ranger Inkssentials Non Stick CRAFT SHEET Sized BY THE FOOT	*Hero Arts EMBOSS WHITE EMBOSSING POWDER	*Simon Says Stamp Card Kit of the Month FEBRUARY 2013 STYLE OF LOVE

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Two Cards and a Lucky Find

So...ever since the new Stamp your Story collection from Hero Arts came out I have wanted the "Brush" set and it has been back ordered everywhere. Saturday morning I walk into my local craft shop and wouldn't ya know it? They had one left. I couldn't wait to get home and play with it. 

Now my funny story. I showed my 17 year old daughter the set and her exact words were, "You were excited about this why? It's just a bunch of blobs...I don't get it". So...I couldn't let that stand, right? I made her sit there while I whipped out a card. While she grudgingly admitted it was, "ok", I couldn't stop giggling at how easy it was. I LOVE THESE STAMPS!

I also had to try out my new Mint Julep and Fresh Peach Shadow inks because they are well..amazing. 

Next, I was on a roll so I had to do another one

On the same shopping trip I found this 6x6 paper pad called Fruit Stand from Doodlebug and it was love at first sight. 

I had to make a fun summery card and together with my new Brush set it was match made in heaven.

Don't you just love this sugary, glittery popsicle? YUM!!

Happy Stamping!

Technique Play - My Attempt at a Collage

Today was sad because my husband wasn't here for Father's Day. I made great use of my day, however, and played with some new stamp sets. I made three cards...woo hoo! This is card number one.

The other day I was watching a video on how to use several different types of stamps to make a collage. I loved how that card turned out and wanted to try it. This type of project is NOT something that comes easily to me.

Where I can typically make a card in 30 minutes or less this one took two hours. I know if I like it when it is finished but I can't visualize it in my mind ahead of time. I don't know if anyone out there has that issue but I would love to hear your stories.

Anyway...I did not like this card the whole time I was working on it. It was only pride that made me try and salvage what I was doing. In the end I ended up LOVING it!! It's probably one of my favorite cards I've done. I'm obviously going to have to practice this technique a lot more so I am not so afraid of it.

I finally got a set of Paper Smooches, Reflections stamp set. The leaves are from this set and I can tell already that it will be one of my favorites. 

Here is a close up of the flowers I used. I tried paper piecing, I tried hand made from circles and finally die cut and than stamped over the top of the pattern paper and I'm really pleased how it turned out. 

What is your favorite card technique right now?

Have a great day and happy stamping!

A Spring Time Gift Set

Flowers make me happy. Stamping makes me happy. I didn't get enough of these beautiful rose stamps after making Mother's Day Cards last month so I had to make a set. I used distress inks to water color the flowers and some new PTI stamps for the greetings.

I covered the flowers in some light glitter and used liquid pearls for the accents. LOVE the peachy pink flower here the best. *sigh*

You can see the glitter a little better here when the light catches it.