Happy Card on a Rainy Day

I am really going deep into my stash and re-discovering some beautiful papers.   This was one of my favorite collections, as the colors remind me of summer.  Beautiful berry colors and shades of sunshine!  (Wait... can you have shades of sunshine?!)

 Moving on.

It was a rainy day when I put these colors together and immediately, I liked the way the contrast of the lighter shaped card stands out from the more solid pattern cardstock.  

The layout was one I used a while ago with a different card.  I love the simplicity of it, yet it looks, shall we say... a bit sophisticated (said in a British accent).

The gem is placed at the point of the off-set angle, and it is, well... that little bit of sparkle which tells the recipient:  Yes!  Yes, you are worth my using a Stampin Up embellishment that costs $10,000...😜

So, if you or someone is interested in making this card, here are the pieces you will need.  And, if you don't feel like measuring, cutting,

and...

...wait for it...

... tying a bow, all of that is done for you in a kit that I am selling on Etsy.

I am getting more together as time goes on.  They do take a while to coordinate, cut and put together.  So please check back again, soon. 

Want to see something special?  Write to me - let me know what you are interested.  Maybe someone else wants the same, and I can get a nice kit together for you.


Thank you for stopping by.  Please feel free to leave a comment, and/or stop by my Etsy store to "favorite" something.

Think Summer!
Luci

Summer Send Off Stamp Camp - Birthday Sunflowers

When I think of sunflowers, I think of beautiful bright yellow-orange happy flowers.  Somewhere along the line, I spotted pink sunflowers!  OMG - I absolutely adore the Powder Pink layers along with Smokey Slate giving shadow in this 2-step stamped card.  

Look at my imperfect centers!  That's right, imperfection does not matter with this stamp set, Painted Harvest.  It welcomes imperfection.  

Don't like the first stamp impression?  Stamp it again!  These stamps practically beg you to do just that.  Each layer of stamp impression, gives this flower more depth and watercolor-y dreaminess.

So, go ahead and be imperfect.  Stamp and repeat.  The result is ideal.

Thank you for your visit.

Luci

P.S.  My next stamp camp is scheduled for October 13, 2017.  Pencil it in on your calendar and RSVP here.

Summer Send-Off Stamp Camp - Gold Congrats

Here's another stamp camp design.  The 2017-18 SU catalog has a bevy of layout ideas.  This card was for the most part, cased for the shine and beautiful watercolor papers.  I liked the idea of using the snow folder as "confetti" in this happy card.

Feathers, being so trendy right now, seemed to fit perfectly on the left.  The best part of 2 step stamping the feather (which by the way has more than just 2 layers - so you can go crazy with the combinations of colors) is the 3 dimensionality and realistic shading of a feather image, which seems to mimic the watercolored style of the designer paper.

HINT:  I recommend that you put the washi tape on the card first, then run the card through the embossing folder.  That will adhere the tape firmly to the base of the card.

Thank you for stopping by.  

Luci

P.S.  My next stamp camp is scheduled for October 13, 2017.  Pencil it in on your calendar. 

Summer Send Off Stamp Camp - The Light

Goodbye Summer 

Welcome Autumn

Happy first day of Fall 2017.  I've been wanting to post our farewell to summer cards from stamp camp, so here we go…

This has to be one of my favorite 2 step stamps (just to be clear, I have many favorites, and I really like this one). The light house is stamped with a darker shade to show the dramatic shadow of late summer sun on the other side.  

I cut out the lighthouse to add dimension to the layers, plus it provides a forgiving approach to hiding my non-perfect 2-step-stamp line-up.  Beneath the lighthouse are the lime-light beams stamped on a circle shape of seagulls and waves.

What else are my favorites?

• I think the Lemon Lime Twist In-Color is such a wonderfully trendy color that updates whatever other color combos are used.  

• I cannot get enough of the delicate rhinestones.  Here it is used as the "light" in the lighthouse.

• The sponge brayered inks on the glossy can't be beat. 

• Did I mention glossy cardstock is back?!  YAY!

Lastly, I adore the sentiment.  I am so grateful to have people in my life that shine beautiful light… so grateful.


Wishing you a peaceful day,
Luci

P.S.  My next stamp camp is scheduled for October 13, 2017.  Pencil it in on your calendar. 

If You Zoom In - It's One Layer!

Stamping time yesterday was such a gift.  Thanks to some sweet friends, a stamping get-together was simply delightful.  Events in this year have been nothing short of continuous challenge, but in everything, I am grateful for the blessings that have come about through every struggle.  So, who am I to complain?  Instead, let me share a comforting quote for anyone who is feeling burdened - certainly something I have reflected on over and over:

Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

Psalm 55:22 

So, if casting my cares is what I am to do - then cast away I shall.

And, here I am.

Ready to stamp.   

I turned to the Less is More Challenge (LIM #28) to find that there is a one-layer challenge going on there.  WOW.  I cannot be a one layer gal.  I've tried.  

I give you... my attempt of simplicity.  I was so excited to try this technique from this gorgeous card, that my sweet friend, Stephanie posted.  What fun!  

The background is made of a glorious blend of colors and shimmer spray.  I inked up my acrylic block with Certainly Celery and Pacific Point.  In the corner I spritzed some Log-cabin smooch spray, followed with spritzes of water to make the inks a beautiful wash of color.  Onto Whisper White cardstock did the block go.  If you try this, I guarantee that you will hardly contain your excitement, as the inks blend together before your very eyes.

Now, as for the one layer... I tried, really.  It started off that way, but ribbons, embellishments and punches were all looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes.  Naturally, I caved.  Here is my result.  I did try to keep it simple... I did not even add a ribbon!  (But, isn't that vintage brad simply something?!)

Thank you for visiting.

Wishing you a moment to cast away your cares.

Luci

Adding CAS-Tastic Summer Ink

So morning coffee in hand and a brief opportunity to travel the blog-o-sphere, I came upon these lovely challenges:  Over at Just Add Ink (JAI 78), they pulled out of their magic color wheel, one of my favorite color combinations:  Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip... yummy!  And, over at SCS, there is the Summer CAS-tastic challenge (F4A75) that craves those summer colors.  And at the Clean and Simple Stamping blog (#150) there was an adorable, CAS sketch to try!

Completely inspired, stamps practically jumped into my hand and away I went... until, of course, the phone rang and all that reminded me that this day has many tasks ahead.  Yes, it was a brief moment of creative bliss.  So before I tend to the things that need to get done, let me share my CAS-tastic (SCS term) moment with you.


I know I cannot get enough of this Sail Away stamp... I just adore it!  I love how every time I add the sails with designer paper or cardstock (Certainly Celery here), the image seems to pops off the page.  The waves were sponged until I had some movement under the boat.  Hardly able to see, but I choco-chipped some color on the actual boat.

Thanks for visiting.
Have a CAS-tastic Summer Friday!
Luci

Happy 4th!

 Happy 4th of July!  The storms have passed and so a lovely day of sunshine and splashing for all... (Shockingly, our pool is crystal clear blue... and, not the typical shade of cloudy green).  

Well, maybe not splashing for all... you see, the floral brad and splashes of blue (to the upper left) are hiding the poor little birdie that I messed up coloring.  But, since I was following the Mojo Monday challenge here, I moved my "star" element to the other side so I could cover up the faulty feathered friend. 

I chose to use this interesting color combo in the Simply Stampin challenge here.  They have some beautiful samples there, so make sure you visit them, too.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a terrific day!
Luci

Surf's Up!

Masculine cards have to be my most challenging - especially since I admire all the floral cards out there!  Needing a masculine graduation card, and finding this super challenge at CASual Fridays, I thought going with Kraft and beach-y blues might be just the way to go. 

I started by masking the sun or moon (whichever mood you are in) on a piece of Kraft CS, and sponged the blue sky around.  Then I added some drifts of Kraft sand (sponged of course).

 

Here, I tucked in a few embossed surf boards so that they had a glossy/wet look (ya' know after surfing all day, they had to dry off...)

I added 3 tags to the upper left, using just the Happy part of the Happy Graduation stamp for the smaller tags.  The 3 tags and the 3 sea shells I thought fell right into sketch challenge that inspired this layout.  You can see the sketch here from iheart2stamp.  

I hope it's a happy, happy day for the graduate!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hope your day is happy, happy!

Sunscreen Needed on this Sail Away Adventure

Well, there are more "Out of the Garden" projects to show you.  Unfortunately, the pictures are stuck in the computer that needs repair... sigh...  Plus, it's probably too hot to be in the garden these days, so - I'll take you to the shore (as they say in Joisey).

And, how much do I love this cute little sailboat?  It's one of those stamps that you can use in a scene, rather than just on its own, if you know what I mean.  Here, I wanted to put the boat in some waves under a beautifully sunny day.   I used the giant Medallion stamp for the sun and added too much yellow for my taste - so, I figure it's a reeeeealllllly sunny day!   I had to reapply sunscreen when making this card.   :)

Since it was used for a masculine graduation card, I added the saying from Stampin Up's Set, Word Play:  "Go Confidently in the Directions of Your Dreams" on the inside.  I thought it was fitting for the occasion.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have a bright day!
Lucian