Thursday 17 November 2016

Stampin' Up! Merry Mice Christmouse Card!


Happy Thursday! It's finally snowing in Calgary today! I don't love the cold by any means, but those pretty flakes are falling ever so softly out there today! I can't help but feel the warmth of Christmas around the corner! To celebrate the season I'm sharing with you one of the cards we will be making at my Stampin' Up!  Christmas card class that I'll be hosting on November 30th. This little mouse from the Merry Mice Stamp Set is so so cute! Who wouldn't fall in love with this little critter?  If you enjoy puns then this card is a keeper for sure. <3 


Did that the nice textured green cardstock in the background catch your eye? Well if it did, that baby was created by running a piece of Garden Green cardstock through the Big Shot using the Cable Knit Embossing Folder. Knitting is such a trend these days! I haven't taken up the hobby yet, but if I can recreate the look of a hand knit gem with my paper crafts then I am all over that!!! Check out the Stampin' Up video below if you are interested in learning how to replicate this simple wow. 


Cool huh? I can't wait to use this tool on more of my Stampin' projects! Well that's pretty much it for today. Time to cuddle up with some hot cocoa and write some Christmouse lists! Or shovel that wee bit of snow since it's so mice outside! Lol!

Carolynn 💖

https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/default.aspx?dbwsdemoid=2120365

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Faux Tile Technique With Stampin' Up's Butterfly Basics


Hi friends! Today I'm sharing with you a card that displays a new & fun technique. New & fun for me, and hopefully for you too! This is called the "Faux Tile Technique". It takes a little time and patience to re-create ... hence the crafty mess that blew up in my craft room yesterday. Saying that the final results are sooo stunning! 


I grew up in the 90's ... okay more like the 80's. Back in the day the flowery hues, such as the ones used on today's project were a big trend. So were flowered tiles! Hence why this colour combo (inspired by the Global Design Project) went so well with this nostalgic technique.

http://www.global-design-project.com/2016/11/global-design-project-061-colour.html
     As far as the technique is concerned there are a few steps of which I will describe below:
  • Stamp your image (such as the flower stamp used here) in Black Stazon Ink.
  • Colour in the stamped image with Blender Pens and Stampin' Up Inks using the colours shown here.
  • I then masked off the flower image (masking is another technique that you can learn about by watching the video in this previous post of mine).
  • After masking off the image I then sponged around it using the Sweet Sugarplum Ink.
  • I then removed the mask and cut the image into equal sized squares (mine were all 1X1 inch).
  • The next step is the tedious part, you are to ink up the entire surface of each wee little square with Versamark Ink and then coat it with clear embossing powder & heat it with your heat gun. Let it dry and repeat this step 2 more times. You will eventually have a nice tile like square.
  • After this is complete you then piece the tiles together in the appropriate pattern and adhere them to a piece of cardstock that you have of course premeasured to fit your squares.
  • Then finish off your card! Voila! It's time consuming (& slightly messy) but fabulous!
  • If you are curious as to how I got that sugarplum baker's twine, I have one last secret tip to share ... I mixed my Sweet Sugarplum Re-inker with water and dyed the Basic Black Baker's Twine with it. You can have twine in any colour if you dye it yourself! Who knew???


I feel like these days I am definitely missing my few BFF's from over the years, all of whom have moved away to various places (North Carolina; Australia; & Saskatoon). I dedicate this card to these special girls who know who they are, and whom I am blessed to still have as my friends. I have to remind myself that "Distance means so little ... when someone means so much."

Well thanks as usual for visiting today! I hope you leave inspired, & that you try this fun technique out yourself!

 Carolynn 💖

 https://www.stampinup.com/ecweb/default.aspx?dbwsdemoid=2120365