Balloon Celebration for The Paper Players

I confess to being enchanted with the balloon images from Balloon Celebration. That's why, when I saw The Paper Player's Theme Challenge this week, I went right to Balloon Celebration to help me out.

And I love the pastel look of their challenge picture, so I dug out Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride and So Saffron to stamp my balloons in. Then all I needed was a layout, so I thought Freshly Made Sketches had a perfect sketch for their challenge this week, and I had everything I needed.

Here's a closer look at the result:

• I love the two step stamping for the balloons. The little shading dots make all the difference in taking them from boring balloons to balloons with depth and interest. I like the effect of using a different coloured ink for the shading.
• I masked the lower balloons in order to stamp the strings so they wouldn't overlap the balloons. It was so easy to do. I just used the coordinating Balloon Bouquet Punch to punch out several of the small balloon from Post It Notes, taking care to ensure some of the stick stuff was at the top of the balloon shape. Then I just covered the lower balloons with the masks and stamped the strings in Crumb Cake.
• The sentiment is from Suite Sayings, a terrific sentiment set in the Occasions Catalogue. I thought it went well with balloons! I originally wanted to use "You send me Soaring" from Sky's the Limit Sale-A-Bration stamp set, but as it's no longer available, I went with this one!

Did you know that Sale-A-Bration is the best time to join Stampin' Up!? When you order the Starter Kit, Stampin' Up! adds an extra $40 dollars of product of your choice to the kit for no extra cost. It's already a great deal at $125 for $155 dollars of product from any current catalogue with free shipping, but during Sale-A-Bration, you get $199 worth of product, still no shipping costs. If you have a long wish list, I often recommend that you go this route. There is no risk involved. You don't have to purchase any stock. In fact, you don't have to do another thing, and you can enjoy 5 months of 20% discounts minimum on any product you order during that time. I don't know why everybody doesn't do it! Plus you'll enjoy the fabulous bunch of crafters already on my team and lots of great resources from Stampin' Up! and from me!  Give it some serious thought!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Stamp Set [140675]	Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Bundle [140810]	Suite Sayings Wood-Mount Stamp Set [140709]	Suite Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140712]	Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper [140557]
Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337]	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131198]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [131172]	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [126957]
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [138326]	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975]	Stampin' Pierce Mat [126199]	Pool Party 3/8" (1 Cm) Glitter Ribbon [140561]	Balloon Bouquet Punch [140609]
Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Going Rogue

Well, today I was a rebel and totally went rogue, using some products from Memory Box that I got for Christmas, as well as some Tim Holtz Ideology and an unknown copper embossing powder. When we can't find products from Stampin' Up! that will do the same job, as demonstrators, we can use other companies' products providing we're not earning anything from the other companies. For a long time now, I've been wanting SU to come out with some Steampunk stamps and embellishments, but to no avail. I really like the genre, but its not as easy as it looks. It involves melding steam equipment: gears and drive shafts, etc. with Victorian era images. I find the blending a dozen unrelated things together to be the most difficult aside from just finding things to use. What got me started was this week's Mojo Monday Sketch:

Generally, a sketch like this doesn't do much for me. There's too much symmetry and I don't really like tiny images. I feel like they often get lost on a card. But then I thought, "Hey! Those circles could be gears! I could do a Steampunk card!" and I got all excited about it. Take a closer look:

• On the back panel, the Designer Series Paper I used, Going Places DSP Stack, with it's schematics was perfect for this theme. Over that, I applied a gear assembly, die cut from Sahara Sand cardstock using a Memory Box die.
• Using another Memory Box die, I cut several individual gears. The Precision Base Plate, for my Big Shot, was invaluable for both these intricate dies. I had some copper embossing powder, which I can't get through Stampin' Up!, and I applied it to each die, heat setting it. For steampunk, I would definitely use either copper or pewter embossing powders. I also added it to a key that I found in my 'Steampunk Stash'!
• The clock face is a Tim Holtz Ideology product and it is also adds some early techno glitz to the project. The tiny pocket watch is also a find in my Steampunk Stash but perfect for the era this represents.
• The banner is also from Going Places DSP Stack and I stamped a sentiment from Guy Greetings Stamp Set and added some sponging and texture with Timeless Textures Stamp Set. I certainly enjoyed myself and will have to do this again. Meanwhile, I have a great masculine all occasion card to give to one of the men in my family.

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Guy Greetings Clear Stamp Set [138828]	Guy Greetings Wood Stamp Set [138825]	Timeless Textures Wood-Mount Stamp Set [140514]	Timeless Textures Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140517]	Going Places Designer Series Paper Stack [140581]
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119686]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974]	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978]
Stamping Sponges [141337]	Heat Tool [129053]	Banner Triple Punch [138292]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]
Glue Dots [103683]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

* Memory Box Gear Assembly and Deluxe Gear Set Dies, Tim Holtz ideology embellishments.

Crafters Don't Lie, They Embellish

The Occasions Catalogue only has one Host set in it. It's called Love You Sew, and I've been dying to use it! I got my chance on my crafter's retreat two weekends ago and I really had some fun with it. My favourite sentiment among all the great ones that are part of that set is: Crafters don't lie, they embellish, which I decided to use for my card. I got out my Farmer's Market Designer Series Paper just for the gingham paper in it and picked a palette of Bermuda Bay, Old Olive Crumb Cake and Pumpkin Pie.


                      

And I went to work:

• The layout is a bit boring, but I wanted the sentiment to be the star of the show and this arrangement allows it to shine. It's a simple card to make, so give it a try! Want to earn this  cute stamp set? Just contact me to set a date for a private class for you and some of your friends. With qualifying sales, you could earn it for free!
• I just adore all the great crafting images. The two-toned ones I inked up with my Stampin' Write Markers. I love the different stitches that are part of the set. I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to get the different stitches that are part of the set aligned properly. If you want to know how to use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, click on this link to take you to a video tutorial about it. The Bermuda Bay 1/8" Stitched Ribbon is the perfect thing to use as an embellishment here.

Another Tuesday brings a new round of Weekly Deals:

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Love You Sew Wood-Mount Stamp Set [140640]	Love You Sew Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141012]	Farmers Market Designer Series Paper [138448]	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]
Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [126945]	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975]	Brights Stampin' Write Markers [131259]
Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [131261]	Bermuda Bay 1/8" Stitched Ribbon [140569]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]