Mojo Madness

So, I had this idea for card making!  Actually the idea was swimming around up there in the brain fluid for a few weeks.  When I used to teach art as an elementary school teacher, we used to do a project where we chose two similar sized, but quite different photos - maybe one landscape of some kind, and one an animal close up shot.  Then we would crop them to the exact same size - half the length that we needed for the final product.  Each photo would be cut into, say, 1/2" strips, then we would mount them on the backing alternating the first strip from one photo, then the first strip from the other photo, and repeated until the backing was full.  It created some striking looking projects.

When I saw this week's Mojo Monday challenge sketch, I almost squealed!  It was perfect for my technique!!  I could hardly wait to get started.  I was wishing I had some large animal stamps.  In retrospect, I could have used Swallowtail, and I think I will give it a try, but see what you think.  Do we have a new technique here?  Let's call it the Paper Strip Mosaic Technique!

This, by the way is the Mojo Monday #285 sketch:

See what I mean?  Julee Tilman is a mind-reader!  Yes, she is!

The longer strips in front were stamped with an image from Serene Silhouettes in VersaMark ink, then heat embossed with Early Espresso Embossing Powder.  Then the Very Vanilla card stock was sponged using Pretty in Pink, Wisteria Wonder, and Pool Party ink.

The strips on Crumb Cake behind them were stamped in VersaMark with Secret Garden stamps and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.  I then used an Aqua Painter and painted White Craft ink all over the images.  When this had completely dried, I again use the Aqua Painter and added some touches of Pretty in Pink, Wisteria Wonder and Pool party to the flower images.  I just love the look this gives - sort of a faux vellum effect!

The sentiment is from Vintage Verses, one of the free rewards from the Sale-A-Bration folder for every $60 you spend.  I wanted to feature the Sale-A-Bration rewards, because they've been soo awesome this year and there are only 3 days left of Sale-A-Bration!  Don't be disappointed and miss out.  I made sure you knew about it, right!?  Make sure you call or email me with your order of $60 or more by midnight, Thursday, March 21, so that I can get the order in on time!

You know what else is awesome - My Digital Studio!!  I love it and Stampin' Up has gone and done something unbelievable!    They Lowered the Price!! Who even does that these days!  Because MDS is so popular, the suppliers lowered their price due to volume, so Stampin' Up passed on the HUGE savings to us.  The former price for the software was $99.95.  Now we can get the same product for $24.95!  How crazy is that?  You can't afford NOT to try it at that price!  Call me if you are interested!  Check back over your emails for the last 8 days and look at all the Sale-A-Bration bundles I am offering to help you earn those Sale-A-Bration rewards, and get yourself invited to Celebrate Sale-A-Bration party on April 20!  Call me if one catches your eye!

Stamps:  Serene Silhouettes (w127322; c127324); Secret Garden (w129141; c 129144) (also available bundled with the Secret Garden Framelits); Vintage Verses (w129633; 129636)

Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Early Espresso (119686), Very Vanilla (101650), and Pretty in Pink (100459) card stock 

Ink:  VersaMark (102283); Classic Stampin' Pads in Pretty in Pink (126955); Pool Party (126982), Wisteria Wonder (126985), and Early Espresso (126974); Craft Stampin' Pad in Whisper White (101731)

Accessories:  Stampin' Emboss Powder in Early Espresso (128980) and White (109132), Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Artisan Embellishments Kit (129328)

Tools:  Heat tool (129053); Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199); Paper-Piercing Tool (126189),  1 3/4" Circle Punch (119850); 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874)

Fund Raisers

I am doing a short program by proxy tonight, with a group who wants to pay it forward!  I told them about Stampin' Up's support of Ronald McDonald House, a home away from home for families battling serious disease and injury.  They were excited to make cards that can be sent to Ronald McDonald house for the families and children staying there.  I'm not able to be there because I already had a class scheduled for tonight, but it was the only night the group was able to do this program and I know Ronald McDonald House is eager to get the cards.

Stampin' Up has a dedicated stamp set called Moving Forward.

Three dollars from the sale of each stamp set goes to Ronald McDonald House Charities, so this was the stamp set I chose to use to design two cards and create kits so that the ladies could craft the cards to send.
Here are my designs:

I love the bright In Colours for 2012-14 used here, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green and Midnight Muse.  These designs are not difficult but create really nice up-beat cards.  I hope they will be able to complete the cards without my guidance.  I will be coaching the program leader in how to do them.

I am also in the process of planning another fund raiser in April.  This one has been on my heart for months and I have finally been able to set a date for it.  It will be held on Saturday, April 27, from 10 am until 2 pm. For now the location is my home, but I am hoping to have to relocate because of large numbers.

The charity I am fund raising for is Dominican Feed the Kids, run by a couple who formerly lived in my area, but are now living full time in the Dominican Republic, one of the poorest areas on earth.

After vacationing in the Dominican for several years, they felt called to minister to the people they had grown to love and their hearts were broken by the desperate needs.  Donna and Bill Reimer created Dominican Feed the Kids ministry!  Click on the link to learn more about it!

I am planning a day of fun: Make and Takes; Games; Demonstrations; Goodies and the use of my non-consumable equipment to work on your own projects. $10 of the $20 admission fee will go to Dominican Feed the Kids and 20% of all orders placed will be added to that.  Please come out and make this the success Dominican Feed the Kids deserves!

Time Flies!

Welcome to another busy week!  I can't believe how fast they are flying by these days.  In fact, it startles me when I see I need to do laundry or get groceries, because it feels like I just got them!  I feel like I should be good for another few days, but no!  Another week has passed.

So here we are at Monday again!  And time for some more challenges.  This time I have created a card that will fit two challenges:  The Paper Players #137 , a sketch challenge;   and Dynamic Duos #44, as always, a colour challenge.

Here's my card using The Paper Player's layout:

And Dynamic Duos' Colour Palette:

• I'm planning a Technique class coming up using Crystal Effects in different ways, so I wanted to try out some of the techniques I've seen using it.  
• So I flattened some of the large Soda Pop Tops using the Big Shot and stamped some 1" circles using  the Collage Curios stamp set.  
• I mounted them in the  Soda Pop Tops and added a thick layer of Crystal Effects......

Several hours later......

• Still waiting for them to completely dry! If I'm going to do this for Technique Night, this will have to be the first project and the layer of Crystal Effects will have to be a lot thinner!                                                                                                                                       

• I don't know if you can tell, but the bubble like things on the Soda Pop Tops are Rhinestones added before the Crystal Effects.
• I finally got to use one of the Needlepoint Borders Embossing Folders with the cross-stitch design, near the Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon at the top.
• The sentiment is from the Curly Cute stamp set.

SALE-A-BRATION ENDS THIS WEEK!!

I can't believe that Sale-A-Bration is almost over either!  Where did those two months go?  Friday, March 22nd is the last day!  I hope you've been reading your emails or watching my Facebook posts regarding the last 10 Days of Sale-A-Bration Bundles, because there are some great opportunities to take advantage of Stampin' Up's free Sale-A-Bration products.  I will be featuring them in further posts this week!  

Make sure you email me before midnight, Thursday, Mar. 21st, so you don't miss out!  Everyone who orders $60 or more from me during Sale-A-Bration will receive an invite to my free Celebrate Sale-A-Bration party where I will spoil you with lots of free stuff! 

• There are other ways to get an invite.  If you join my team during SAB, I will send you an invite!  It's the best deal ever - $194 worth of product for only $125!  
• If you booked a private class with me during Sale-A-Bration, you are invited, but you could still book an event with me.  I have set a goal to book 9 classes during April, May and June, and I need you to help me achieve it!  If you call me before I call you on Thursday, with a date in mind during those months, I will see that you are invited to Celebrate Sale-A-Bration!

Make my little daffodil bulb grow - every 2 bookings will cause it to show new growth!  Help me turn it into a whole field of blooming daffodils!

Stamps: Collage Curios (w129099; c129102); Curly Cute (w117014; c120510)

Paper: Basic Black (121045) and So Saffron (105118) card stock

Ink: StazOn Jet Black (101406)

Accessories:  Soda Pop Tops (129388); 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Black (119962); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Crystal Effects (101055)

Tools:  Curly Label Punch (119851), Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882), 1" Circle Punch (119868), Needlepoint Border Embossing Folders (129383) 

Reaching Goals

I'm kind of afraid to set goals, because once it's down on paper, I HAVE to achieve it.  I'm genetically wired that way!  But Stampin' Up has invited us to set some goals post Sale-A-Bration to book some private classes during April, May and June!

And I've set a goal to book 9 private classes during those 3 months!  That's 3 a month!  Seems like a lot, but so did selling 40 stamp sets last fall and I did it!

So here goes:

Have you been wanting a share of that FREE Stampin' Up product lately?  Would you like to win a free stamp set of your choice?  Well then, maybe you could help me reach a goal.  I'm trying to book 9 new private classes during April, May and June. I have to have the events booked during this next week, March 15 -22.

You don't even have to bake and clean.  You could hold your private class at my house if you wanted to.  All you need to do is message me that you want to book a private class and give me a date between April 1 and June 30.(I'm away between Apr. 8 - 13 and Apr. 29-May 10.) Then start making a list of your friends to invite!

All hostesses will have their names entered into a draw to win a free stamp set of your choice! And when your friends order, they may qualify you to earn FREE Stampin' Up product.

Who will be the first?  I will keep you posted on my progress in achieving my goal!

Here's how I will keep you in the loop:  We'll start with a daffodil bulb in the ground:

Every two bookings I get, I will add some growth to the bulb until we have a field of lovely blooming daffodils!  Are you with me?  We have a week to get this done!

Call me: 250-768-7379, email me, message me on Facebook, or leave a comment here!  Thanks for your help!  You are all amazing!

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

I was busy trying to come up with some designs for my Birthday Stampers' Dozen next week, when I came across the Dynamic Duos Challenge for this week - Pool Party and Lucky Limeade. "Mmmm!  Delicious!"  I thought, "let's incorporate that colour scheme into a kid's birthday card and I could enter it into the challenge.  Then I noticed the deadline - I had 44 minutes to create, photograph and post the card on my blog!  The race was on!

"And Entry Number 60 takes the corner by the Big Shot and flies over to the punches.  She's opening the Classic Stampin' Pad..... Look at that technique, Bob!  Now she has her paper piercer out and...... yes, Bob, the brad is in!  A little snail, and ...... YES! Bob, the card is finished.  Number 60 has finished her card and all she needs to do is take photos, and write her blog post, but is she going to make it in time?  It's going to be nip and tuck!  Oh, I can't look, Bob!  .....     .....   .....  No!" (groan of disappointment from the crowd)
"Number 60 is going to miss the deadline by seconds, Bob!  What a shame!"

But I can't let a good card go to waste so here's my Pool Party/Lucky Limeade Kid's card:

I love that colour combination, don't you?  Have I told you how much I'm going to miss Pool Party and Lucky Limeade when they retire at the end of May?  Yes, a hundred times?  Well, I am REALLY going to miss them.  Stampin' Up:  please keep these two colours around somehow!

I used a stamp set I've had for a while but never used:  Blue Ribbon, and the sentiment is from Bring On the Cake.  I stamped the ribbon in Pool Party and then in Lucky Limeade, punched out the Lucky Limeade scalloped circle with the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch and mounted it with dimensionals right over the Pool Party image.  You can see it peeking out underneath a little.  The middle circle was also stamped in Pool Party and the 1 1/4" Circle punch used to punch it out.  I used snail to adhere it to the middle of the Lucky Limeade scallop circle.  

Two little Designer Printed Brads add a little balance to the design.  I also added Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon that I notched at one end to the stamped ribbons on the award.

I may be late, but it's never too late to make someone you care for a hand-stamped card!  Let me know how I can help you get started!

Stamps:  Blue Ribbon (w125979; c125981); Bring On the Cake (w121899; c121958)

Paper:  Lucky Limeade (122926), Pool Party (122924) and Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink: Classic Stampin' Pads in Pool Party (126982) and Lucky Limeade (126984)

Accessories:  3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Pool Party (122975); 3/8" Designer Printed Brads (122940)

Tools:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874); 1 1/4" Circle Punch (119861)

Bring on the Cake Stamp Set

Blue Ribbon Stamp Set

A New Video on Distressing Ribbon

I received a couple of cards recently that I want to show you plus one I made myself and I want you to tell me what these three cards have in common!  Okay?  It's a game. So here goes:

The first one was given to me by my team leader and up line, Desiree Spenst!  It's a beautiful card.  Take a look:

I love the sponged textured panel and the shimmer all over it, and especially the sentiment from the Feel Goods stamp set. Lovely muted vintage colours!

The second card was made for a team swap by one of my friends in our oh-so-friendly team, Amy Jasper.

This is made with one of the hostess sets in the Spring Catalogue, Million Dollar Moments, available only if you host a Private Class with your friends!  (Call me right away if you would like to do that, because I only have one or two spots left during Sale-A-Bration, when your benefits are better!)

And this is the last card, one I've already shared with you, made for a Wow Vintage Swap at Leadership back in January:

So, quick:  What do they all have in common? (Don't scroll down until you have a guess. )

Right!  They all have a vintage or distressed ribbon!
Did you get it right?  Of course you did!  Do you know how to achieve that look?
Well, I just happen to have the video tutorial that will show you how!





So there you go!  Now you know everything!  See you soon!

Stamps: French Foliage (w120845; c121166)
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Soft Suede (126978)
Accessories:  1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Pool Party (125582)
Tools:  Stampin' Up Heat Tool (129053)

CAS Challenges

Our team recently had a Clean and Simple Challenge in which to participate.  If you know me, you'll know that CAS is the biggest challenge EVER for me.  I haven't found the balance to master this art yet.  But I intend to work at it.  I always seem to want to add one more thing to the card for balance, instead of learning how to balance two or three elements.  Here was another one of my entries in the contest:

Cute it may be, but CAS it is not.  I don't think.  This is the new Oh, Whale stamp set.  Isn't it adorable?  And the Cloudy Day embossing folder?  The Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP is the perfect back drop with those cheerful rainbow colours.  Then there's the little fork bow again. (I am going to do a video tutorial on how to make them, but I have footage for two other videos I have to edit first!)  I really like the Striped Organdy ribbon from the Spring Catalogue and it makes the perfect little bow!

But tell me, how would you make this card more clean and simple?  What should I have done without?

Leave me a comment with your ideas and I will try to rework the card so you can see my progress! 

Stay tuned tomorrow for a new  "Crafty Clues by Heather" video tutorial.  Ta-ta!

Stamps:  Oh, Whale (w129129; c129132)

Paper:  Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP (126922); Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Melon Mambo (126948), Pacific Point (126953), and Marina Mist (126962)

Accessories: 3/8" Striped Organdy Ribbon in Melon Mambo (129293); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

Tools:  Cloudy Day Textured Impression Embossing Folder (127022), Paper Snips (103579)

Oh, Whale Stamp Set

Cloudy Day Embossing Folder

Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP