from my ink pad to yours

Step it Up with Artistically Inked

This month's theme for our Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop is "Step it Up". Team member Cheryl Hamilton suggested it.  Traditionally "step it up" means to plan a project that is simple, often requiring just the basic papercrafting supplies and then develop one or two more versions that involve more skills and, sometimes, more diverse craft stashes. Our leader, Angie McKenzie has encouraged us to think outside the box for this theme so who knows what you might discover as you hop around the world!

I'm going to share a few cards with you today.  They aren't "step up" cards in the traditional sense.  Rather one uses very basic papercrafting supplies and the second still uses rather simple techniques and design but takes advantage of more sophisticated supplies that the more experienced stamper might be able to take advantage of. Both are strong designs on there own, wanting for nothing.

This first card is just stamps ink and paper ... with a little doodling...

• This card starts with a bold Magenta Madness bloom, a Daffodil Delight center and some Granny Apple Green leaves all stamped on a card front (1/4 sheet or 5 1/2 x 4 1/4").
• Then I grabbed the somewhat long blob-like image and stamped it with Pool Party multiple times around  the Magenta madness bloom.  It gets lighter each time and lends a softly mottled background.
• I stamped the "Happy Birthday" greeting in black in the lower right corner.
• I thought it might be finished but I have this quirky little rule: if I use black anywhere on the card, often as a greeting, I need to use it one more time. You can't let black become lonely you know. So...
• ...I grabbed a black fine point marker and doodled around the bloom and its leaves, drawing lines wherever the depth of color changes. Don't worry about being too exact. You want to just relax and scribble. There is no wrong way to scribble!
• While I could have just stamped on the front of a full card, I had started with just the front so I trimmed it down to 5 1/4" x 4" and then mounted it onto a folded Basic White card. I really like it just the way it as with no other embellishments to detract from the bloom and its doodles.

Now it's time to move on to a "Step it Up" card. I'll keep the simple concept with some detail for interest using the same stamp set but we will take advantage of some more advanced papercrafting products:

• This time we use a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of the beautiful Expressions in Ink Specialty Designer Series Paper for the card's color. This is adhered to the front of a top fold Basic White card.
• Next I took a 5" x 4 1/4" sized piece of Thick Basic White cardstock and used the large detailed leaflet die to cut a leaflet that extends form the lower left corner to the upper right corner.
• Stamp "thanks" in the upper left portion of this piece.
• Adhere the 5" x 4 1/4" piece to the card leaving a 1/2" of the DSP showing at the bottom of the card.
• Clear the tiny put out pieces from the leaflet and adhere the leaflet onto the card in the space it was originally cut from. I like to use a sponge with Mulitpurpose adhesive to attach detailed die cuts like this. Another option would be the adhesive sheets meant for use with the Stampin Cut & Emboss. (page 153 of the Annual Catalog).
• Embellish with a Soft Succulent Open Weave Ribbon, Mint Macaron Genial Gems, and a 4 1/4" skinny strip of Shaded Spruce.

And now it's time to continue around the world...

 

...by way of Texas where you can see what my talented friend, Anne Marie Hile, has been up to:

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cazz Boylan - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Satomi Wellard

Pia Gephardt - DE

Ximena Morales - DE

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Emma Goddard - UK

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US   you are here!

Anne Marie Hile - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Tricia Butts - US

Elaine de Montmorency - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

Gallery Links

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the June host code, YWDXR9BW I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

 

Hand-Penned Petals with Carved Stone Technique

Today's Crafty Collaborations Blog Hop is all about Pressure Embossing techniques.

I couldn't resist joining in to share one of my favorite techniques, one I call Carved Stone. This is basically just tapping your white craft ink pad on the inside of a 3D embossing folder and then embossing a piece of Basic Gray cardstock. Of course you can use any color of ink or cardstock with pressure embossing but when I use these I get a look that I think of as stone (like the Lake Superior basalt) that has been carved. 

• While you want to get a good amount of ink on one side of the inside of the folder, don't push too hard. You want to ink most of the raised parts of the folder which will result in the recessed parts of your cardstock taking on the white ink.
• Usually I get the best results by inking the side with the Stampin' Up! Logo. I used Stampin' Up!'s Parisian Flourish 3D folder.
• I used my "stone" piece to highlight today's Splitcoaststampers Color Combination: Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink and Old Olive. I really think the gray background made these beautiful colors pop.
• I also used Basic Gray ink to stamp my images and the greeting. The colored sprig is colored with Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink and Old Olive Blends. I also used Light Smoky Slate on the white Seam Binding.

 

Here are a few other samples of the carved stone look.

• The finished card on top was a quickie I made with a standard embossing folder from the Thanks & Hello duo. You can see it doesn't have quite the same look as the 3D folder but it still puts more emphasis on the design.
• I added a lovely detailed Basic Black fern cut from the Iconic Dies.
• Other folders used are Hammered Metal 3D and Dandelions 3D.

 

Blog Hop

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the June host code, YWDXR9BW I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

 

Play Date: Color & Contour Meet up with Plenty of Patterns Masks

Have you had a chance to play with Stampin' Up!'s new In Colors 2021-2023 yet? Or maybe you are on the fence? Well, I've got the post (and Blog Hop!) for you today. I'm hopping with the Crafty Collaborations team and everyone will be featuring the In Colors, with or without Stampin' Up!'s other fabulous colors.

Every year I pick out a few of the new colors that quickly become favorites and then over the next few years I slowly grow to love them all as I find new color combinations to love. This year I think it is love at first sight for all of five.

Here are a few that I put together yesterday as I was playing around with the Color & Contour Bundle and the new Plenty of Patterns masks:

I added some Daffodil Delight to Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink and Pale Papaya when I used this cute little scalloped mask as a stencil with my blending brushes. And then I couldn't wait to add even more scallops with big scallop die that is part of the Color & Contours Bundle.

Why not add even more scallops by layering a piece of this luscious Fresh Freesia Shimmer Vellum? Hint: I used Stampin' Seal + to attach the vellum to the white cardstock and it doesn't show through. This next photo catches the shimmer of the vellum a little better if you excuse the wonky angle.

I even embossed my blooms on the vellum. Add scallops on the greeting, some Open Weave Fresh Freesia Ribbon and a sprinkling of Fresh Freesia Jewels and I've fully gone overboard - in such a fun way - on this cheerful card.

My piece of stenciled paper was big enough for at least 3 cards. Here is one more with a tried and true card sketch:

After layering a leftover strip on the folded edge of my card, I cut a large stitched triangle and use it to trim a white card front to get the correct angle.

Add a quick little flower, using the Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen for the leaves and I've got all of the new colors accounted for - and well loved besides! The ribbon, jewels and shimmering vellum that come in these colors are kind of like frosting on the cake.

Now to continue with the blog hop, first with a little explanation of who is participating.

The Crafty Collaborations team is comprised of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators from around the world. Each month, we participate in several collaborative projects including blog hops, like this one, to inspire all of us in our passion for crafting. Our goal is to create, share, and inspire every crafter to keep our creative energy flowing.

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the May host code, X9BCT4AQ,  I will send you a free gift. May's gift is the  Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack plus a selection of coordinating products. US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $75 will still receive the May card pack.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Fancy Folds with the Around the World On Wednesdays Blog Hop

Today I'm hopping with Around the World on Wednesdays and if you love cards with special folds this one is for you.  Grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable because this month's theme is Fancy Folds.

To be honest, I don't make many Fancy Fold cards but every time that I do I usually ask myself why I don't try them more often. This was extra fun because, since we have a new Stampin' Up! Catalog there are so many new toys to try out. Today I'm using the Party Puffins again and mixing them up with the new Basic Border Dies.

Design Tips:

• This is a really easy fold to do, especially if you are familiar with using both the ruler and the scoring blades on the Stampin' Trimmer. I used the Splitcoaststampers pattern by our blog hop's own Wendy Lee. You can find it here.
• I chose my colors around the colors in the new hostess designer series papers, Pattern Party. I had planned to use a colorful stripe on the side panels, only to find out that I preferred the way that the mostly black with tiny white dots pattern recedes better and seems to emphasize the special folds in this card.
• Since I'm not that familiar with puffins I googled them and most of the real and artistic renderings had them standing on rocks. Usually ragged rocks but I used some artistic license and made some smooth rocks with my new border dies. I cut them from Gray Granite cardstock and added some extra Gray granite ink with my Blending brushes. The cloudy sky also makes us of the cloud shaped die in that set.
• I used watercolor pencils to do the little bit of coloring.

Here's one more shot:

 

Now it's time to see what the fabulous Brenda Nelson has in store for us.

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Satomi Wellard

Pia Gephardt - DE

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Tina Zinck - CA

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Tricia Butts - US

Elaine de Montmorency - CA

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

Gallery Links

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $75 (US) order using the May host code, X9BCT4AQ  , I will send you a free gift. May's gift is the  Expressions in Ink Ephemera Pack plus a selection of coordinating products. US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $75 will still receive the May card pack.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Handstamped Cards From 2020-2021 Annual Catalog: Masculine Sets

We have been enjoying spring up along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Sometimes that means snow, sometimes it is crashing waves, once in a while in means lunch on the deck, better yet it means lovely hikes to check out waterfalls on the rivers that feed into the big lake.

It also means that I have trouble getting the perfect light to take photos of my work so I haven't been posting so much.  Later today I'll fiddle with a poster board I've set up in the spare bedroom but for now, with Stampin' Up!'s Annual 2020-2021 catalog coming to an end on May 3, I'm just going to settle for posting a few of my favorite cards with a few retiring "masculine" products.

As I go to publish this, the Beautiful World stamp set is already sold out though the dies appear to still be available. The dies are very useful on their own.  The images for the first cards use just the dies with blended backgrounds so you would be able to make similar cards with different greetings if you only had the dies. The second card also features the Best Plaid Builder dies, tone on tone with Merry Merlot. I used the baby wipe technique for the stamping on that card.

High Tide is a beautifully designed stamp set with so many possibilities. I'm so glad we had it for two years! Click on the picture to see the original blog post:

The following card is made with Game On, grouped with masculine sets but certainly useful for any game lover. I've even used the small checked image to make longer checked borders - just no pictures. The embossing folder I've used, Pinewoods Planks is also retiring. I've loved using it with masculine and more feminine shabby chic cards alike. I posted this just recently but you can still click on the picture to find the original post.

Rooted in Nature is another true work of art. As I write this the stamps and Nature's Roots dies are both still available. I used the Black Ice technique on the first card.

Geared Up Garage is another fun set that fills the bill a certain segment. Sadly the dies are sold out but this was such a favorite card I couldn't help sharing it one more time. The stamp set is available right now but the list of stamp sets no longer available is getting longer quickly.

The availability of these products will change over the next few days - but no matter what they will officially retire on May 3rd.

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, CCTYVJAU, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many Messages for a Monochrome Rainbow Challenge

Today is the second Wednesday of April and that means, not only that it's the day I do the Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop,

but that we celebrate the whole rainbow of colors with the Monochrome Rainbow Challenge.

Our leader, Angie MacKenzie has organized the colors by time zone.  Here in Minnesota we are UTC - 5 which means I get to work with green! That certainly isn't hard for me. In fact, last week's color challenge over at Splitcoaststampers was Black + White + Gray with your favorite color for dessert. I love all colors but I especially love to work with green. Lately Soft Sea Foam and Granny Apple Green have been getting a lot of use!

This is my card:

• Of course I used my favorite combo of Soft Sea Foam with Granny Apple Green to color in these flowers on some of the True Love designer series paper (DSP).
• I took a chance on overdoing the diamond theme but I was happy with the way it turned out.  The edge is simply the flip side of the paper that the flowers came from. The embossed white is done with the Dainty Diamonds embossing folder. I've featured this folder on some of my favorite cards over the past year and I'm so disappointed that it is retiring. If you don't already have it you can now get it for 10% off. Get it while you can!
• The greetings is from Many Messages, a background sized stamp full of greetings that can all be cut out at one time with one large die. This bundle is from the January - June Mini catalog and will even have another coordinating stamp in the upcoming annual catalog.

Beautiful card, right?  But then I received a package with new colors and ... TWO new greens: Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen and I knew I would have to add another green card to this rainbow.

I chose to play with the Pansy Petals Suite to get to know these greens.  Pansy Petals, the coordinating DSP has a stripe with the two new greens AND Soft Sea Foam:

These are just some of the possibilities with the three greens along with Basic White and Very Vanilla. Here is my first card using one of these pansies:

• You can see I drew all the greens from the stripe. I made the stripe a little more feminine by bringing in the scallops which are from the Scalloped Contours Dies, another new set coming out in May. (Seriously, there's nothing better than being able to order early by being a demonstrator!)
• The Genial Gems (upcoming catalog - Hand-Penned Suite) are technically Mint Macaron but blend beautifully with the other greens.
• Ribbon is white faux linen from Flowers for Every Season combo. OK. Is that right?
• I've now used products from four Suite/Bundles. Well, that's the beauty of suites. The products in them do work together beautifully but stamping doesn't have rules and you can use them anyway you want!
  

Well, that's all for me this month so it's time to check out the rest of the hop.

We have 4 special guests this month and one of them, Lisa Martz, is next on the hop. I'm sure you will emjoy her beautiful work!

Jan Clothier - NZ

Tatiana Tobin - AU

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Melissa Gifford - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Satomi Wellard

Pia Gephardt - DE

Ximena Morales - DE

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Mary Brown - US - Special Guest

Connie Babbert - US - Special Guest

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US

Lisa Martz - US - Special Guest

Tricia Butts - US

Wendy Weixler - US - Special Guest

Elaine de Montmorency - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

Gallery Links

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, CCTYVJAU, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Beautify of Friendship Sneak Peek

I'm excited to share a sneak peek with you tonight but first I want to let you know that Stampin' Up! will be refreshing the Clearance Rack on Tuesday, April 13th. Check it out here!

Beauty of the Earth is a gorgeous new suite in the upcoming Annual 2021-22 Catalog. While there is some truly amazing watercolor style designer series paper that is part of the suite, I ordered just the bundle of stamps and dies thinking I would force myself to explore the bundle's possibilities in even more colors. For instance...

...the new In Colors:

 

Pale Papaya

 

Polished Pink

 

Fresh Freesia

 

Soft Succulent

 

Evening Evergreen

Pale Papaya, Pink Polish and Fresh Freesia make a amazing sunset don't you think? I did these with our blending brushes.

• At first I used just one tree die, layering a Soft Succulent die cut over another cut out of Evening Evergreen as sort of a shadow.
  
• I was using the Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss so I had to trim my 1/4 sheets down to die cut the trees.  I hand trimmed curves into the portion left over from the trees and used this for my "ground".
• "friendships refresh the soul" is a wonderful sentiment. Once I decided to use this I decided my tree really needed some "friends" in the form of birds. I cut them from Pale Papaya and added some shading on the bird's breasts with the Pale Papaya and Pink Polish Blends. This year we have Blends Combos for all of the new In-Colors!

These new colors and the suite will be available on May 4th!

This is my first card with this set but Beauty of Friendship already has it's own gallery. You can find it here.

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, CCTYVJAU, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

 

A Birthday Blog Hop: His & Hers

Today we are doing a Birthday Blog Hop with Stamping Inkspirations! I decided to do his and hers birthday cards with a few soon to retire sets that have been calling for me to play with them.

Before you get too comfy grab a cuppa and get ready for lots of birthday ideas. Angie has put together a group of over 30 stampers to give you loads of ideas!

 

• This is the first card I made. I got the sketch idea from a two year old Stampin' Up! catalog. Basically it involved a larger circle in the upper right portion of the card. Perfect for my CAS style.
• I used a blending bush to add Bermuda Bay ink to my Basic White card base in the area my overlaid circle would be.
• I cut a circle out of a Basic White card front and ran it through my Stampin Cut & Emboss with the Pinewood Planks folder.
• Then I cut another circle out of a piece of heavy Basic White cardstock. Setting the die cut circle aside for another card, I used a large scallop circle from Layering Circles dies to cut the scalloped frame from the remaining piece.
• The umbrella is punched from Daffodil Delight DSP. I'm going to miss the polka dots when these designer series papers retire! I filled it with flowers that were colored with Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo Blends.
• Add a few Basic Pearls or a little punch.
• Itty Bitty Birthdays supplied the inside greetings for this and the following card along with a few extra flowers.
• 
  

• To be honest I bought this first set, Game On, because of the little checks image. Lately I've been seeing a cards on social media using these great collage images.
• I prepared the Misty Moonlight card layer just as I did the Basic White layer in the previous card. I added it to a Basic White card base.
• Using the leftover white circle from the previous card I stamped the greeting, playing cards and checks from the Game On stamp set. I also stamped the dice image on Basic White Heavy cardstock and cut it out.
• I used a little Light Crumb Cake Blends to age the images a little more.
• The skinny Cherry Cobbler frame is done with the largest Stitched Shapes circle die which has the center cut out with a Layering Circles die.
• Sprinkle with Gold Metallic Pearls.
• The Itty Bitty Birthdays message and chess images were used on the inside of the card.
• 
  

Many of these supplies, including Game On, Under My Umbrella, Itty Bitty Birthdays and the Stitched Shapes Dies  will retire in early May (5/3) and I really had been itching to use them a little more...

...but then along came a box of goodies with some new stuff and I just had to add a card for anyone who is young at heart:

• These little birds from Party Puffins are so adorable! This guy is going to be "puffin" out those candles.
  
• Same basic sketch but I eliminated the circle frame and chose to use a newer pattern of DSP (3 7/8" x 5 1/8") in Bermuda Bay. This is layered over a piece of Bermuda Bay cut just 1/8" larger.
• The images are stamped with Stazon to get a nice deep black.
• Colors are Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Granny Apple Green.
• Make a Wish is from the same set and is white embossed on Basic Black on a hand trimmed flag, layered onto a similar Melon Mambo flag.
• Party Puffins will be available beginning May 4, 2021.
• 
  

Now it's time to check out the other blogs. Cheryl Hamilton is next.

Angie McKenzie  ●  Leonie Stuart  ●  Alejandra Gomez

 Danielle Kassing  ●  Annette Ball  ●  Kirstie Pattrick

Linda Moore  ● Mo Rootes  ●  Libby Fens

Tricia Butts  ●  Jan Musselman  ●  Aurélie Fabre

Narelle Fasulo  ●  Sandra Mastello  ●  Karen Henderson

  Susan Simpson  ●  Susan Webster  ●  Melissa Faust

JoAnn Pollock  ●  Gez Carpenter  ●  Jo Blackman

Jill Chapman  ●  Rochelle Laird-Smith  ●  Melissa Gifford

Terry Hamilton  ●  Deb Macdowell  ●  Satomi Wellard

Shel Anderson  ●  Elaine de Montmorency  ●  Ann Krucek 

Chris Smith  ●  Cheryl Hamilton  ●  Teri West

 

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, CCTYVJAU, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floating & Fluttering Backgrounds with the Stamparatus

Welcome to my blog, whether this is your first visit or one of many.  I've taken much of the last week off from stamping and blogging but I'm back today with a post about the Stamparatus, the Floating and Fluttering Bundle along with links for a blog hop so you can really get your fill of Stamparatus ideas.

 

While this set was designed to arrange the butterflies after they've been die cut, the stamps also make wonderful backgrounds, especially when you add the Stamparatus. I've had fun experimenting with different ways to work with these two. While I meant to do a video, I've had trouble getting the lighting right while we are staying up near Lake Superior so I hope the extra pictures will help.

• This card takes advantage of the wreath technique. This technique makes use of a template that has two perpendicular squares cut into it. I used a square from the Stitched Shapes to cut this pattern:
  
• 
  
• If you want to make sure that you make the die cuts evenly, score two perpendicular lines to mark the center of your template. You can use these to line up your dies.
• I then used a Seaside Spray square cut with the same die as the base for my wreath and the small leaflet stamp to make my wreath.
• 
  
• Rotate your square base, stamping an image in each spot until you have eight images forming a circle. I moved my leaflet to a second spot on my Stamparatus plate and repeated the process to get to total of 16 leaflets in my wreath.
• I added a butterfly and greeting from Itty Bitty Greetings to finish off my wreath element. That tiny greeting works perfectly as a little tab much as you might find on a pocket. Itty Bitty Greetings will retire at the end of this month.
• I used a background piece I had stamped earlier, softening it with vellum on top of my white card base. I think I did it with the Stamparatus - but didn't write down how I did it. Arghhh!!!  I did keep track of how I did this next card:

• I wanted to see if I could make a template that allows you to stamp on a rectangular piece.
• I started with a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (A2 Cardfront) as my pattern and also cut a 7 3/8" x 7 3/8" piece which is as large a square as you can use in your Stamparatus:
• 
  
• It might help to score/mark the center with a diagonal (optional).
• 
  
• Then you will want to lay your A2 pattern on top so that it looks like all of your A2 corners are about equidistant from the edges of the template square. Trace and then do a quarter turn, line it up again and trace again.
• 
  
• I used my trimmer to cut a little "x" into the middle for a place to get my scissors started. I think it is faster to trim this out with my scissors but you could choose to do so with the trimmer itself.
• 
  
• 
  
• Here it is all cut out.  It is the same piece - I'm taking these pictures up near the lake. I either have too much light or not enough so it's hard to keep them consistent.
• 
  
• Here is how it looks in the Stamparatus.
  
• 
  
• You will want to practice a bit on some scratch paper to make sure you get your multiple butterfly image just where you want it.
• Then you rotate it through a quarter turn between each image stamped. You will get a few blank spots with this particular image. Use the tiny leaflet to fill them in or incorporate the blank spots into your other images.
• This template can be used with any other stamps. Just have fun playing!
• 
  
• This was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored in with Granny Apple Green Blends. I trimmed it down to allow a black and white border. 
• 
  

Now it's time to check out some other ideas! You are at Chris Smith's blog. The next stop on the hop will be Vicki Kello.

 

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, CCTYVJAU, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Hey Birthday Chick or Ornate Style???

It took me awhile to wrap my head around this week's color challenge over at Splitcoaststampers ... and a Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge. Dessert is supposed to be anything spring.  As you can see I used a little different idea for "spring"! Even though I struggled in the beginning, in the end in the end I created 4 cards.

Here are the colors...

 

Pool Party

 

Pacific Point

 

Old Olive

...and the card I brought to the challenge:

• As I've blogged before, these chickens look good in any color and I couldn't resist the "spring chicken" line!
• I added depth and detail to my coloring with Old Olive and Pacific Point watercolor pencils after first putting down a layer of Pool Party and Light Old Olive Blends.  Mixing them let me get the challenge colors in all of the coloring.  It's also easier to get deep colors on the edges without bleeding by using the pencils.
• Polka Dot DSP - 6x6" subtles - keep a light hearted spring like theme going. To be honest this piece has been cut with a Stitched Rectangle Die for another sketch and then set aside. It worked perfectly here and let me stay in my CAS comfort zone.

Here is a second "spring chicken" card that didn't quite seem to have enough Old Olive to flesh out the challenge:

• This makes use of the Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder which will retire at the end of next month. Tap your Crumb Cake ink pad on the inside of the folder before doing the embossing to get the added definition.
• The stitched circle is made with my well loved Stitched Shapes Dies, also retiring. The scalloped circle, part of the Layering Circles Dies will stick around for the next catalog. Whew!

Now, for this challenge it is totally acceptable to add colors from Stampin' Up!'s Neutral color family - but there are no yellows so once I had my color challenge card I moved on just a bit and added Daffodil Delight to the challenge colors when I moved on to the Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge:

 

Pool Party

 

Pacific Point

 

Old Olive

 

Daffodil Delight

Here is the Paper Craft Crew #420 sketch challenge:

You can see I tried to get quite a ways out of the box for the sketch challenge. You probably know I'm a lover of white space  and I often don't do well with symmetry. So....

• I used the Whimsy Dies that basically just cut designs into you cardstock instead of cutting out shapes.  I used two sizes, breaking another symmetry rule.
• I wasn't sure how the little rectangle element would work in that spot so I decided to anchor it with the Ornate Style bouquet stamped into the corner.  You will want to do the stamping and coloring prior to adding the die cut "stitches".
• This is another card where I wanted just the skinniest of borders so I cut the Pacific Point layer just 1/16" larger than my main layer which was 4" x 5.25".
• "I'm here for you is from Itty Bitty Greetings. Both stamp sets are requiring.

Finally, here is a card that I started for the Color challenge on Monday but just couldn't seem to pull it all together until I had worked through all of the others.

• Lots of retiring goodies here: Ornate Garden Specialty Paper which was colored for the border
• Ornate Border Dies was used for the lacy Pacific Point edge.
• So Sentimental is the source of the beautiful wedding card greeting.
• The Ornate Style Bouquet is colored much the same as the previous card except this one was cut out and attached to the corner.  I did use the part that were trimmed off on the inside of the card.

BODY

BLOG HOP

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

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March Paper Pumpkin Idea Blog Hop

It's a Paper Pumpkin Saturday! Have you received yours? The March Paper Pumpkin is a versatile outdoor scene set that comes with a free set of stencils.

I have a few ideas to share that you can use even if you have made all of the card, plus a handy idea to make using the stencils easier. Then I'll send you on your way to visit some other blogs that are sharing March Paper Pumpkin ideas. Lastly, I'll share a little video from Stampin' Up! so you can see a little more about what this kit offered. While it's too late to order this Paper Pumpkin you have until April 10th to order next month's kit. I hope whether you have this month's kit or not you will find some ideas that you can use.

I have several friends who are new to stamping so I wanted to share some ideas that don't require too many other supplies. Since some of them also have the February kit I did use some of those supplies, along with a few other basic options.

 

• I had fun playing with the stencils on this card! Since my friends are using ink spots I though a bit about how those work with stencils. I added a Basic White card base, along with a leftover envelope from the February kit.
  
• First of all you receive a sponge with your kit this month. I cut mine into 1/6's but you might like to try 1/4's or 1/5's.  Since these stencils aren't to large I thought smaller might work a little better.
• It might be easy to get ink on your fingers as you try to hold the small ink spot still as you ink your sponge.  I you have a silicone sheet or some other non-slip surface in your kitchen it may help to put your little ink spots on that.  Another thing you can do if you haven't opened up your spot yet is to only remove the label on one side so that you have kind of a hinge.  You can hold it open in such a way that keeps the ink off your fingers.
• I used Mossy Meadow and Calypso Coral since these were the ink spots in the February and March Paper Pumpkin kits.

• I added Some Crumb Cake cardstock and a Pretty Peacock ink to make this simple yet classic card. You have 4 extra laser cut Tree scenes in you kit and this is about the easiest thing you can do with them.

• This card makes use of another one of the extra laser cut trees. I just sponged over the stars stencil with White Craft ink and then embossed with white embossing powder.
• The greeting, which I think is intended to go with the birthday greeting but with the stars and trees I think it would work for a Nwe Year's card. I stamped it on a scrap strip of Basic White and cut a little flag into the left edge.

It's time to move on to the next blog. Just a reminder that you are now at Chris Smith's blog and will want to move on to Jennifer Sharron's blog.

Here is the video to show you more about this Paper Pumpkin kit, Here's To You:

Would you like to get in on the surprise of Paper Pumpkin?  The theme is "cool treats" and your kit will involve some kind of treat packaging.You have until April 10th to order your own Paper Pumpkin for next month.

---

Next month I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watery Blues

I'm joining  in on a watery blues color challenge today:

This challenge is with the:

...and these are our colors and inspiration!

When I was first thinking about this challenge I thought I might play with some of my lighthouse stamps but then I decided to get a little more adventurous and break out a new set, Circle Celebration. Whether they are under the sea miniature sea life of microscopic waterdroplets...I'll let you decide.

• There is nothing fancy about the stamping, just pure playfulness as I started getting to know this versatile set.  I used a couple of blended scraps about to be discarded do add a little interest to my border. I think that now that I'm getting to know this set it will make wonderful abstract designs all on it's own PLUS be a source of accents while I'm using other stamps.  I'm looking forward to mixing it up with some more flowers!
  
• This card only uses Basic White cardstock for paper and the challenge colors in ink pads - as far as ink and paper go.
• The greeting is from the So Sentimental Bundle: wonderful messages with great stitched dies.
• The twine is from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo. I looped it through a small hole punched into the side of the die cut with Detailed Trio Punch.

Now it's time to check out the rest of the blog hop! You are at Chris Smith's blog and the next stamper on the hop is Susan Elise Schultz.

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Ideas Blog Hop

Today's post is part of an Easter Blog Hop:

I'm featuring a pair of stamp sets, Gift of Hope and Butterfly Gala, today. I've featured them together in the past and now I'm going to show them with some rather simple supplies, yet feature three variations.

• All three of these cards use the same cardstock measurements:
• 8.5" x 5.5" Crumb Cake folded into a 4.25" x 5.5 card base.
• 3 5/8" x 4 7/8" Crumb Cake Layer for embossing
• 3 3/4" x 5" Basic White cardstock for layering.
• I suggest a 4" x 5 1/4" layer for the inside greeting.
• Crumb Cake and White is a very classic combination. Though you can certainly add you coloring medium of choice, white embossing does well all on it's own!
• I stamped with White Craft before embossing with white emboss powder. You could also use Versamark but I especially like to use white when I am stamping more than one image since it is easier to see. Sometimes I also think I get a crisper image when I use craft.
• I think you could use several of Stampin' Up!s butterfly stamp sets for these cards.  I really like the scale and fine detail of Butterfly Gala with this springlike wreath.

• I think this is my favorite Easter card layout because it features "He lives" as the focal point.

• I think this version would work well for a sympathy OR greeting of encouragement.

• This is such a versatile design. I think it could work for Easter, Confirmation or Sympathy, depending on what you use for your inside greeting.

All of these could be somewhat mass produced for a great supply of cards to have on hand. Just add your Stamparatus!

 

Now it's time to check out some more wonderful ideas. You are at Chris Smith's blog and if you are following in order you move along to see what Susan Elise Schultz has prepared for us.

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Arrange a Wreath for Spring

Spring Fever is in full swing (up here in the northern hemisphere, anyway) and I have a project and a hop for you to enjoy. Angie has everyone sharing Easter or spring projects today and I think it will be great fun to see what everyone created along the hop.

Here is what my project looked like earlier this morning:

I had my color scheme and expected to come up with a number of mostly CAS cards with the Arrange a Wreath Bundle.  Then I pulled out a pack of mini pizza boxes and decided to see where it would lead me...

...not a card and it doesn't actually look as simple as it truly is.

• I decided to test out my theory that the suspender bow that I introduced this past Tuesday could work on a box. If it did it means that you could put it back on the box after devouring the treats and no one would be any wiser!
• So the first thing you do is tie the ribbon around the box. Pool Party Sheer Ribbon would be perfect here since I already had Pool Party die cuts and the wreath would show through it.
• Fold a 32" piece of ribbon in half and place the fold on your box wrapping the rest of the ribbon around the box going away from you.
• Bringing the ends around the box thread them through the fold and tie a knot.  This knot is what will keep your ribbon tied after you've opened the box
• Then tie a bow and spread the "suspenders" so that the ribbon is taut. Now test your ribbon by lifting the folded part of the ribbon over your bow to release it from the box. Did it work? Leave it off while you decorate your box.
• I glued 3 layers of die cut wreaths to my box colored by an assortment of die cut Easter eggs.
• My next puzzle was to figure out the recipient would know how to get the bow off of the box. I made an Easter Tag and hand printed the words "pull me!" on the back of the tag. First I tried tying the tag around the bow but it really seemed to work better tied to the fold of the ribbon. I still need to make a video of the initial tying of the ribbon but here is a short clip of opening the box.

It is an absolutely gorgeous, though not quite Spring, Saturday here in Minnesota so I'm going to procrastinate making the CAS cards and get outside. Tomorrow it might snow so I can make cards then. Enjoy the hop!

Now it's time for you to go and check out JoAnn Pollack's blog. I'm sure you will love it!

Here are the other participants:

Angie McKenzie  ●  Mikaela Titheridge  ●  Alejandra Gomez

Leonie Stuart  ●  Danielle Kassing  ●  Annette Ball

Vicki Milyard  ●  Aurélie Fabre  ●  Kristie Wilson

Mo Rootes  ●  Gez Carpenter  ●  Terry Hamilton

Deb Macdowell  ●  Narelle Fasulo  ●  Karen Henderson

  Jill Chapman  ●  Melissa Faust  ●  Susan Webster

Anne Marie Hile  ●  Chris Smith  ●  JoAnn Pollock

Cheryl Hamilton  ●  Tricia Butts  ●  Teri West

Susan Simpson  ●  Rochelle Laird-Smith  ●  Lisa Mackey

Libby Fens  ●  Ann Krucek  ●  Jan Musselman

Shel Anderson  ●  Sue Allen  ●  Jo Blackman

---

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peony Garden Goes Around the World on Wednesday

Today I'm doing double duty with a sketch challenge for the Paper Craft Crew and our monthly Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop.

The blog hop theme for this talented group is 3D projects so I'm sure that you are going to see a lot of inspiring variety. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

This reinforced box is 6 1/2" wide, 3" deep and 4 1/2" tall. I use them to organize projects when I'm trying to clear my desk or even just to gather elements of a collection or a palette that I'm putting together for a project. It holds 6"x6" DSP, coordinating cardstock, a stamp set or two and their dies, embellishments, etc.( I cut all of the DSP I use for designing into 6x6" squares.) I use Stampin' Up!'s smaller cello bags to gather smaller die cuts before adding them to the box. I also use some of the tins that Stampin' Up offered several years ago during Sale-a-Bration but there are never enough. These are sturdy enough to move around and bring your work to a sunny table or out to your deck. Add a little ribbon and they just plain look pretty on your desk!

• The main trick is to reinforce each side with additional cardstock on the inside and a decorative embossed layer on the outside.  I used the Parisian Flourish Embossing folder on this box.  You will need to cut 2 additional layers of 4 1/2: x 6 1/2"  to reinforce the inside of the front and back, along with 2 3" x 4 1/2" layers for the sides. The bottom will already have two layers, though depending on your use you may wish to add a 3" x 6 1/2" additional layer. This is something you can do with any box.
• I've tried shorter and taller boxes for this and 4 1/2" seems perfect for holding the 6" square paper yet still letting you see what you have. I have adjusted the sizes  and added covers in the past to accommodate larger cards.
• You will notice on the PDF available below that you use two 7 1/2" x 11 pieces of cardstock that are prepared almost identically. The only difference is one will have both of the bottom tabs cut off so that you can layer one bottom on top of the other. You can save these tabs and use them to add additional reinforcement on the top of he sides.
• Please note that you will trim off 3/4" off of each side tab leaving a 1 1/2" tab. When put together the two tabs meet to form a 3" side without any lumpy overlaps. Since you are lining these, the "seam"  is covered up.
• I like to use Multipurpose Liquid glue because it gives me just a little more flexibility in getting the position just so. I do prefer the Stampin' Seal + when adding embossed layers because the edges will appear more finished.
• Another thing I like about these is that they fit on my shelves perfectly.
• Download the PDF here: Download Box Diagram 1_2-1
• Someday I should get ambitious and do a video on this...

Since I've got this box organized with the Peony Garden Collection, I used it to put together this week's Paper Craft Crew card:

• Don't you just love these gentle blooms? And the greeting font is perfect! This bundle has been ignored too much over the holidays and winter. 
  
• Colors are just like yesterday's post Plus Gray Granite!

Gray Granite

Cinnamon Cider

Petal Pink

Soft Sea Foam

Mossy Meadow

 

• It won't be long until demonstrators will get a sneak peek at the next annual catalog. I'm hopeful that these stamps and dies will carry over but it is unusual to see all the accessories of a suite make it to another catalog. By having them all out in my "box" they will hopefully see more playtime soon!

Here is this week's sketch - it is just perfect for the Peony Garden Collection!

Now it's time to move along to Anne Marie Hile's blog. I know you will love what you see:

BLOG HOP ROLL CALL

Jan Clothier - NZ

Leonie Stuart - AU

Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU

Cheryll Miller - AU

Melissa Gifford - AU

Danielle Kassing - NL

Satomi Wellard

Ximena Morales - DE

Aurélie Fabre - FR

Mikaela Titheridge - UK

Annette Ball - CA

Angie McKenzie - US

Wendy Lee - US

Shel Anderson - CA

Chris Smith - US - You Are Here!

Anne Marie Hile - US

Brenda Nelson - CA

Tricia Butts - US

Elaine de Montmorency - CA

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US

Teri West - US

Cheryl Hamilton - US

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forever Blossoms for Spring

Today I'm going to share some winter into spring colors AND give you a little more information on a ribbon technique that I introduced a few weeks ago. Then I get to send you on your way to check out whole bunch of other ribbon ideas because that is the theme for this month's:

I originally saw some fabrics with these colors together and was intrigued. So... I used them as the color challenge that I am hosting over at Splitcoaststampers this week.

Cinnamon Cider

Petal Pink

Soft Sea Foam

Mossy Meadow

 

They impressed me as seasonal colors that we see in nature as the Minnesota winter moves towards spring. We've been fortunate to have great weather to be getting outdoors this past week. While we are seeing hints of subtle greens as the snow disappears we still see crispy cinnamon colored scrub oak leaves on our hikes around area lakes. I really love the Cinnamon Cider color and loved the chance to use it for a spring look. Anyway, on to my first card:

• I started my card by stamping the large blossom branch several times in Cinnamon Cider ink: once to be colored and die cut and more as kind of a background toile look.
  
• As I played with these pieces I decided to color just the background of the toile piece - in Soft Sea Foam - to use as a border.
• The main blossom branch includes all the challenge colors though just a bit of Mossy Meadow in the shadows on my leaves. I added a Soft Sea Foam background with my blending brush before embossing that layer with my beloved Tasteful Textile embossing folder.  I confess I wasn't planning on using this but I got a little "bend" as I was experimenting with the layout and that folder covered it right up!
  
• What do you think of my "Suspender" bow? Though I've used this several times over the years I've never had a name for it. I went to get my husband's opinion for a name and before I could mention the name I already had in mind he said "Hey, it looks like suspenders." No more discussion needed.
• Suspender Bow technique:
• Fold a large (34"-36") piece of ribbon or twine in half.
• Holding the fold about 1 1/4" from the bottom of of your layers, wrap the rest around the card and bring it up around the bottom.
• Loop the ends through the fold and tie it into a knot.
• Turn your card upside down (so that your bow appears near the top instead of the bottom) and then tie a bow. Somehow this trick helps to get the ends on the bottom.
  
• Turn your card back to the original position and adjust the "suspenders" so that they are taut and you like they way they appear on your card.
• The bow usually holds firm on its own though you can put a mini glue dot under the bow to make it more secure.
• As you can see below you can release the suspenders for repositioning or adjusting other elements of your design, if you wish. The bow tied over the original know will keep its shape.

Here are some photos if you would like some visual hints:

 

 

 

If you fasten down the bow, this suspender bow is great to use on a card that needs a closure so it's a good alternative to a belly band. Here is an example of how I've used it on a gate fold card.

 

• This card uses the same colors as the first card with the Forever Fern Bundle.
• Note the little ladybug accent!

 

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you found something to use in your own stamping projects!

 

Now it's time to move on to see what Melissa Faust has in store for us.

BLOG HOP ROLL CALL:

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly Brilliance

Happy Friday!! Butterfly Brilliance is on the agenda:

Today I'm taking part in a blog hop about the beautiful advance release of the Butterfly Brilliance Bundle and the limited release Butterfly Bouquet Collection.

Before I cut into the beautiful limited release Butterfly Bijou designer series paper I took just the bundle out for a spin. Getting so many butterflies from one pass through the Stampin Cut & Emboss allows so many creative possibilities.

• The butterflies are all together on one background sized stamp so using the Stamparatus is a sure way to make sure all of your butterflies get stamped perfectly.
• I used Poppy Parade Blends to deepen the color near the body of the butterfly.
• The vellum is optional here but I think it really adds a special touch.  I added 1/2 inch beyond the left fold to attach it to the back of the card. Using Multi-purpose Liquid Glue I also attach the vellum to the card underneath the butterfly body and the greeting.
  
• I've made over a dozen cards so far combining this bundle with the Happy Thoughts greeting stamp set. I embossed white on black for this dramatic congratulations card.

Here is another version of the same card featuring the Butterfly Bijou DSP:

• Just substitute DSP for the stamped and die cut butterflies.

There are over 2 dozen participants in today's hop so so grab a cuppa and enjoy! 

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I'm putting the finishing touches on a tutorial that will show yI so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

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Ornate Borders Meet the Butterfly Brilliance Bundle

I've got a couple of quick cards to post today, inspired by this week's sketch over at the Paper Craft Crew. One for the sketch and one for fun!

Here is the sketch:

...and this is the card I came up with:

• I wanted to keep the contrast between the card base and my three columns low so I made them of the same Pool Party cardstock. The Columns are die cut with the Ornate Border Dies. The base is embossed with the Tasteful Textile Folder.
• The butterfly is one of a stash I've made with the new Butterfly Brilliance Bundle. This one is clear embossed and watercolored.
• The greeting is from Happy Thoughts, a great sentiment set to use with these butterflies.

This next card is an Easter card I redesigned from one of last year's cards, this time with a layered butterfly.

• I layered the detail die cut in Pool Party over a butterfly cut from the Butterfly Bijou designer series paper that is only available this month.
• The Artistry Blooms Sequins are adhesive backed - so easy to use!

 

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BLOG HOP

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

SHOPPING LINKS

Here Comes March with a Spring Colored Trio

I found this week's colors for the Splitcoaststamper's Color Challenge a bit challenging so I started early.  I stamped some pieces to color while we sat down to watch a Saturday night movie. Each try proved disappointing. Well, this morning I sat down, determined to make these pieces work. And they turned out so well I still haven't decided which one to post on their site - and it's due in less than an hour... 

COLORS:

 

Balmy Blue

 

Melon Mambo

 

Daffodil Delight

 

Just Jade

DESSERT OPTION: Flowers

As I write this it is not yet live but you can find the challenge here.

Here are the cards I came up with:

Here is how I started solving the first problem:

• The colored image wasn't doing much for me.  I had first used the challenge colors and then gone back and added shading with the watercolor pencils (minus any water).
• It always helps to add a border and stripes can help too so I thought I would pull these in with the challenge colors.

• oh, and have I ever told you I love gingham ribbon?
• I played a little with where to add the greeting, which comes from the Word Wishes/ A Wish for Everything duo.
• Please indulge me as I play with some different photo taking and editing techniques...

Since I had much more of the stripe border I decided to my original idea of using the In Bloom Bundle - but I stuck mostly with the dies:

• I made a quarter sheet of 1/4" cardstock stripes in the four challenge colors . This proved to be a great way to pull  a couple of the cards together
• To add a little more texture I added some of the die cut elements in 6"x6" Designer series papers in Just Jade  (In Color 20-22) and Balmy Blue (Subtles).
• The Tasteful Textiles Embossing Folder has really been a workhorse - it works with so many styles!
• 2020-2022 In Color Enamel Dots - in Just Jade - give added polish.

Finally, here is another that began with a mistake:

• I got a BIG smudge in the middle of this colored garland/wreath after it was colored so I cut it out - while listening to the radio... And then I trimmed a little of the extra rubber off of the "He Lives" stamp that owned the smudge.
• More Balmy Blue DSP.
• Be Mine Stitched Die gives a subtle but effective scallop detail
• Butterfly Gala - colored with Daffodil Delight.
• Of course you can tie it up with a Polka Dot Tulle bow. I love the sheer look of these. This card would also look good with no bow if you find that easier to mail.

 

Would you like to see more?  You can check out more of my gallery pages with the gallery link near the top of the right sidebar.

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

---

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Product List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So Long Sale-A-Bration with Berry Blessings Bundle

We are saying so long to Sale-A-Bration, so I'll be sharing a a few last cards using some of my favorite sketches with the Berry Blessings Bundle...

...and then I'll send you on one last blog hop for February.

In my opinion, the 12" x 12" Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper is one of the best packages of DSP ever. The colors are bright and cheerful and the mix of patterns is, well, delightful! And, since it has such limited availability I thought I would share with you some ideas on getting the most mileage from it. By limited availability I mean that it only comes as a bundle with the lovely coordinating stamp set, Berry Blessings. And today, Sunday - February 28, 2021, is the last day you can get it. It is free with a $100(US) purchase.  Now to the cards.

I often say that I like to use DSP as  seasoning - not the main ingredient. Today's cards will give you a taste of what I mean. All three of these use the same 6"x6" piece of DSP and I still have more left over. You will see I've used both sides.

• First of all I need to share a little about how I "manage" my DSP. While I have a great 12 x12 storage shelf below my work area I have slots for 6"x6" papers right above my work area.  Even if it comes as 12 x12 sheets I cut one of each pattern into 4ths and keep it in the labeled slots. 6"x6" papers are much easier for me to work with on my small desk.
• I typically slice of one 1 3/4" piece to use as vertical borders or with this triangle card, a sketch I've used fairly often.
• Adhere the DSP to a left side of a folded (A2) card base.
• One of the larger isosceles triangles works great for the Rich Razzleberry triangle here though I used to just make my own pattern before that was available.
• Line up the triangle against your white cardstock to cut it at the right angle. I usually start about 1 3/4" in from the top right corner.
• However you decide to cut your white and Rich Razzleberry layers for this card you will cover up the area where all three papers meet so it doesn't have to be perfect.
• I fussy cut the blackberries and layered them onto a small Stitched Shapes circle.
• If you like polish it off with some Flowers for Every Seasons Gems.

• The sketch for this next card is one I sometimes refer to as a napkin corner. It's kind of like a folded napkin that has a border.
• I use my trimmer to trim the remaining piece from my first card to 5.5" x 4.25" This will leave a 1/2" scrap that I save for an flag embellishment on another card. Then I cut a 1/2" corner. You need to stop trimming 1/2" from the edge, turn your paper 90 degrees and then finish cutting the other edge. You will need a trimmer similar to Stampin' Up!'s with the pointed blade. A rotary or guillotine style cutter won't work for this as you need to be able to start and stop you cut after or before the edge.
• More gussy cutting for the blackberries.
• The greeting is from a companion Sweet Strawberry set. (Note - this bundle is currently on backorder but you can still order the stamp set alone.) I did the Brick & Mortar embossing after stamping the greeting.

• This card sketch makes use of the Stitched Rectangle Dies but you could also cut these rectangle frames with your trimmer.  If you are using the dies you will need to carefully place two frames together, taping over the top so that all sides are equal distances. You also may want to use some wax paper to loosen these. Once I have them taped together I usually cut several. Sometimes I also cut some from regular cardstock and use these to stabilize the thinner DSP frames.
• Here I've placed the frame and inner rectangle over a piece of stamped vellum. I used the outline leaf with white craft ink to do this.  All time to dry. Another option is to layer these over an embossed layer of cardstock.
• Lately I've been enjoying using my blending brushes to add variegated color to my inner rectangle.
• The berries are colored with Blends though you could use the bolder stamp  instead.

Once you've tried some tricks to "conserve" your DSP you will realize you have enough to try using it with stamp sets besides Berry Blessings and Sweet Strawberry. On this last card, I've used the Art Gallery Bundle:

• You can't see it on this one but the DSP layer is just a frame, not a solid sheet. I just love the way these colors in the watercolor fashion play well with anything floral.
• I did my stamping before embossing with the Tasteful Textiles folder.
• I cut my Rich Razzleberry layer just 1/16th inch larger than my main layer, giving a skinny but effective border against the DSP.

We are having a snowy Sunday here in Minnesota today. Perfect for grabbing a cuppa and checking out the rest of the blog hop:

 

Would you like to see more?

Berry Blessings Gallery.

Fine Art Floral Suite Gallery.

Sweet Strawberry Gallery.

You can also check out more of my gallery pages with the gallery link near the top of the right sidebar.

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I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at cbondersonsmith@gmail.com

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the February host code, R9ZD7JQE, I will send you a free gift.  US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

---

SHOPPING LINKS

Product List