Lovely as a Tree and Snow Swirled Cards

Keeping it simple! These cards are fun to do and let you play a little bit with watercolouring and alcohol ink rubs. 

Summer is over and Stamp Club will meet tomorrow at 6:30. I will feature the Flower Garden embossing folder and brayering with a spectrum pad as well as the Fabulous Florets stamp set.

This card is a farewell to summer! (unless you live in a tropical climate).

If you are interested in the instructions for this card contact me at inkoutsidethebox@shaw.ca

This card is a reflection of the fall colours to come. The Autumn Splendor Stamp Set lends itself to fall themed cards. The background is another example of brayering with a spectrum pad. This card is suitable for men as well as women.
For instructions for this card contact me at inkoutsidethebox@shaw.ca

My Digital Studio Project

This is a sample from the Birthday Book I'm making for my brother in law using My Digital Studio. The possibilities are unlimited!  You can even use your photos as background paper. You can fade the background as much as you wish to make your other photos pop put on the page!

Autumn Splendor and Lovely as a Tree MDS

Spring has arrived and with it my world has come alive! The yard has splashes of colour and the scent from my  lilac tree infuses our main floor. My planting is done, our baby robins have left their nest but often visit our pond to bathe. Father's Day is around the corner and I have designed a couple of cards that could also be used as birthday cards for men.

Bloomin Beautiful

Back by popular demand!!!                    

This is a favourite stamp set of mine! With Black Stazon ink (101406) I stamped the Bloomin Beautiful image on Newsprint Design Paper (117166). I coloured the vase with Old Olive ink (102277) and a blender pen (102845). I Stamped the flower part of the image on watercolour paper (105019) with Black Stazon ink. I coloured the flowers and leaves with the following markers: Daffodil Delight (119677), Pumpkin Pie (105115) and Pear Pizzaz. I used a blender pen and coloured some with Cherry Cobbler (119669). I shaded the yellow flowers with a blender pen and Pumpkin Pie, the  orange flowers with Cherry Cobbler and the red flowers with Rich Razzleberry (115658). I shaded the leaves with Old Olive. After colouring the flowers I cut them out, covered them with Versa Mark (102283) and clear embossed  with Clear embossing powder (109130). My card is Daffodil Delight (119683) smudged with Pumpkin Pie Ink. I used  Pumpkin   Pie Cardstock  (105117), Rich Razzleberry (115316) and Old olive Designer Series paper Stack  and Rich razzleberry smooth satin Ribbon (119752). I stamped the "Happy Birthday" sentiment with Rich Razzleberry.

Growing Green and Just Believe

Here is the second card I designed for the April Stamp Club with the Growing Green Stamp Set (118758 wood, 120624 clear). This  is my interpretation of Delphiniums.

I chose watercolour paper (105019) to create my delphiniums. When I stamped the image            of the flowers I loaded the stamp with              Versa Mark (102283) first then with               Elegant Eggplant Ink (105210) and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder (109130) and a Heat Tool (100005). I spritzed the paper with water allowing the water to pool in the embossed areas and I used an Aqua Painter (103954) and a couple of drops from an Elegant Eggplant Ink       Refill (105222) . I touched the pools of water with the ink to colour the flowers. When they were dry I spritzed the "sky" area and applied colour with an Aqua Painter and a few drps from a Marina Mist Ink Refill (119787). I removed excess colour with a baby wipe. The bottom of the card front is Elegant Eggplant Cardstock (105126) stamped with an image from the Just Believe Stamp Set (116948 wood, 120453 clear) .I stamped with VersaMark and clear Embossed the image. the ribbon I chose to tie the two pieces together is Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109054). My card is Marina Mist Cardstock (119682). This card is perfect for any occasion.

For more information about the products used visit my website at http://www.express_yourself.stampinup.net/

Growing Green Lattice Window

 I miss the beautiful colours of spring and the revitalizing shades of green and blue found in my backyard during the "non winter" months. I am pleased with the results of this card I designed for the April stamp club.

I cut a window out of my card front slightly smaller than the lattice I cut with my Lattice bigz die (115958) and Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439) out of Whisper White Cardstock (100730). I stamped the leaf image of the Growing Green Stamp Set (118758 wood, 120624 clear) with Garden Green Ink (102272) on Bashful Blue Cardstock (105120). I filled in the leaves with my Garden Green watercolour crayon from the Regals collection (119803) and an Aqua Painter (103954). I glued the lattice to the painted Bashful Blue cardstock and attached it to the inside of the window. On Daffodil Delight cardstock (119683) I stamped the flower images with Versa Mark (102283) and embossed with Silver Embossing Powder (109131) and a Heat Tool (100005). I spritzed the cardstock with water and touched the pools of water with an Aqua Painter and some ink from  Pumpkin Pie Ink Refill (105229). Once the flowers were dry I cut them out. I cut some small leaves with the Big Shot and Little Leaves Sizzlets Die (114511) from Wild Wasabi Cardstock (108641) . I stamped a sentiment with Marina Mist Ink (119668) and arranged the flowers and leaves on the card front.

For more information about the products I used visit my website at  http://www.express_yourself.stampinup.net/

Nature Walk, Plane and Simple, Charming Card Workshop

Here is another card workshop I am having on Thursday April 28th from 7pm to 9:30 pm. and Saturday April 30th 10am to 12:30pm. The $20 workshop fee includes all the supplies you need to make 8 cards with  coordinating envelopes which are perfect for any occasion. Book now to reserve your spot in this workshop by contacting me at inkoutsidethebox@shaw.ca

Here is another card workshop I am having on Thursday April 28th from 7pm to 9:30 pm. The $20 workshop fee includes all the supplies you need to make 8 cards with  coordinating envelopes which are perfect for any occasion. Book now to reserve your spot in this workshop.

Plane and Simple,Fast and Fabulous and Nature Walk Sneek Peek

Here are the three cards I designed for the card workshops I have planned for March and April. You have 3 dates to choose from. They are:
                                                           Saturday March 26th  10 am to 12:30 pm
                                                           Wednesday April 6th  7 to 9:30 pm
                                                           Thursday April 7th       7 pm to  9:30 pm
The $20. workshop fee includes all the supplies you need to complete 8 cards.
Book now to reserve your spot.

Contact me at:  inkoutsidethebox@shaw.ca

        I love the combination of the stamp sets Nature Walk (121925 wood, 121997 clear) and Charming (116519).
nature Walk is available in the Occasions Mini Catalogue that expires April 30,2011.

Plane and Simple (121903 wood, 121964 clear) is also available in the Occasions Mini Catalogue.

Fast and Fabulous (118754 wood, 120133 clear) is a Level 2 Hostess Stamp Set that you can earn when you host a workshop of $395.00 in sales.

I used Elegant Eggplant and Whisper White as my colour palette for this card.

Plane and Simple Open House Sneek Peek

I have a SPECIAL OFFER!

Come to my Open House and see how you can get this stamp set -Plane and Simple (121903-wood, 121964 -clear),an Ink Pad, card stock and envelopes for one terrific price.

"Charming" Clear Block Shadows

Making shadows with clear blocks is a my favourite way  to create a multi-image background. This type of background is very popular on the cover of journals and lends itself to card  and scrapbook page backgrounds. Here's how I made mine.

I left a 3/4" border on the left side of my Very Vanilla cardstock (101650) and used the 2" x 2 1/4" Clear-Mount block (118486) and Wild Wasabi ink (109014) and Marina Mist Ink (119668). I stamped my "shadows" in a checker board pattern. Then I used a larger Clear Mount Block (118485) and stamped with Crumb Cake Ink (121030). I chose the stamp set Charming (116519) to finish the card front. I stamped the writing image with Bravo Burgundy (105214). I wiped off the bottom two rows and stamped twice on the Wild Wasabi "shadows" On the top Marina Mist "shadow" I stamped the small medallion with Versa Mark (102283) and embossed with Gold Embossing Powder (109129). I stamped the flower image with Bravo Burgundy Ink ((105214) twice, removing part of the image the second time I stamped. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049) for placement. I would be lost without this tool.  I distressed the edges of my paper with the  distressing blades from my Cutter Kit(106958). (Another favourite tool of mine.) I mounted  the Very Vanilla cardstock on Bravo Burgundy Cardstock (105123) which I also distressed. I wrapped a piece of Bravo Burgundy Ribbon and tied it with Linen Thread (104199). I stamped "for you"  from the Great Friend Stamp Set (113792) with Versa Mark (102283) and embossed with Gold Embossing Powder (106129) on Marina Mist Cardstock (119668) and punched it out with the Small Oval Punch (119863). I tied the oval tag to the ribbon with linen Thread and covered the knot with a Vanilla Vintage Flower Adornment (121879) from the Occasions Mini Catalogue. I attached the rose with a Mini Glue Dot (103683). I chose Marina Mist Cardstock (119668) for the main card.

An OPEN HOUSE Sneek Peek:


In March I will be having an Open House and I will be offering an "Accessories Sample Bundle" When you purchase this bundle you will get a sample of the accessories featured  in the Occassions Mini Catalogue. These are GREAT for cards and scrapbooking! Included in the Bundle will be some Vintage Flower Adornments (121879), Springtime Vintage Designer Buttons (122301) Sweet Stitches designer Big Buttons (122302), Beveled Windowpanes (121881) , Vanilla Rosettes (118774)and In Colour Glimmer Brads (121005). If you ordered all these accessories you would pay $63.29.
This Bundle contains a collection of 24 buttons, 4 Rosettes, 6 Adornments Roses, 10 Brads and 3 Beveled Windowpanes for only  $16.00. (price includes shipping and Gst).  This is an affordable  way to sample the products.


For more information about my Open House visit me at my website at:  http://www.express_yourself.stampinup.net/

Or you can contact me at: inkoutsidethebox@shaw.ca

Easter Blossoms Silhouette

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I love spring! I can't wait to see all this snow GONE. It was fun designing this card for my Stamp Club.The soft pinks and greens go well together.
   I used the Easter Blossoms stamp set (121905-wood, 122057-clear) from the Occasions Mini Catalogue.
To make this card you will also need to make a spectrum pad by squirting drops of ink refill in rows on a baby wipe. The colours I used are: Baja Breeze (111844),then Marina Mist(119787), Pink Pirouette (111843) and finally Old Olive (100531).
I rolled these colours on to a piece of Glossy White Cardstock(102599) with my Brayer (102395). When the ink was dry, I stamped the image of the tree branch and the girl with Black Stazon Ink (101406). I carefully distressed the bottom of my Glossy paper with Black Stazon Ink. I matted this piece with Basic Black cardstock (121045), then Pink Pirouette cardstock (111351). I ran a piece of Pear Pizzaz cardstock (119795) through my Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439) and dry embossed it with the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder (119277).  I like a lot of texture to backgroung paper. I wrapped this piece with Pretty in Pink 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (119956) and used a second piece of ribbon to make the bow. I mounted all of this on to my card front. I chose Pink Pirouette (111351) for this card.

To see all the Stampin Up products available as well as more projects , visit me at my website
http://www.express_yourself.stampinup.net/

Natures Nest Stamp set

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Nature's Nest (113826) is one of my favourite sets.

I used Tempting Turquoise (102067) , Basic Black  (121045) and Watercolour Paper (105019).
I spritzed the card front with a mixture of Frost White Shimmer Paint (116854) and Rubbing Alcohol
I cut a rectangle "window" out of a Window Sheet (114323) as a stencil for the watercolour paper. I spritzed a mixture of Pacific Point Ink Refill (111840) and rubbing alcohol on the top half of the window and a mixture of Rich Razzleberry Ink Refill (212607) and rubbing alcohol on the bottom half of the window. (Experiment with the intensity of the spritzed colours by changing the ratio of ink to alcohol. I really diluted my ink. ) Allow to dry. Stamp the butterfly image with Black Stazon Ink (101406). Allow to dry. With the fine point of a Versa Marker (100901), outline your coloured area with a  fine broken line and emboss with Silver (109131) embossing powder. You can chose any small sentiment and stamp on the watercolour paper if you wish.
If you wish to order any of these products you can Shop Now at my website:
http://www.express_yourself.stampinup.net/

My first blog!!!!!

My son helped me get through this process and said it was a wonderful experience. (Like pulling teeth.)

Welcome to my world of stamping. I have some great stamping techniques that I would like to share with you.