Super Exciting News from Xyron!!

Good morning! I have some super exciting news for you today!  Attention all Xyron lovers!! Xyron is introducing a brand new Xyron Creative Station-  this combines the functionality of the 5" and 9" creative station into ONE super sleek and stylish machine!  Best of all it takes both the refills from the 5" and 9" machines as well!

                                       

As a member of the Xyron DT I will be one of the first to get to play with this amazing machine and I will SHOWCASE it right here on my blog so stay tuned!!!!

Creative Vision Stamps Showcase

Hello all! Back today with another Creative Vision Stamps showcase.  Today I will be featuring the stamp set: Fight Cancer.

This disease  is near and dear to my heart since I have lost many loved ones to cancer and have many good friends fighting their courageous battle. Last week we also found out that our beloved Golden Retriever Quincy has lymphoma.  It has been a tough couple of weeks but he is fighting and we are fighting for him, taking things day by day and letting him enjoy life to the fullest while he undergoes initial treatment.

So this card is in honor of all those out their fighting and for my baby boy!

This stamp set has a bunch of great images and sentiments- 3 of which I used on this card.  Going with the traditional pink for breast cancer, I used the ribbon stamp to alter pink and white polka dot patterned paper by stamping with Versamark, embossing with clear embossing powder and then distressing with Ranger Distress inks (Picked Raspberry and Worn Lipstick). I then layered the altered paper over the original paper so you could see the contrast.  The sentiments were stamped in black with Versafine Onyx and one was clear embossed to stand out.  A pink ribbon was folded and placed under the starburst sentiment as well. 

 I plan on making more of these in various colors representing the different types of cancer.   This is a fantastic stamp set and gives a shout out to a great cause!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart

Anything Goes

Stamp and Create

Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create Challenge Community

Good Morning everyone! I am so excited to announce that I have joined the team at 613 Avenue Create as a Resident Designer! Chana and Kathi are incredible and you will just love their blog community!  You can check out this weekly challenge community and enter the challenge  here.  This week's challenge is Anything Goes with an optional twist. 

Here's my project to inspire you for this challenge:

The stamp set used here is Tim Holtz's new Fresh Brewed blueprint.  I am addicted to anything and everything coffee so I just love this set and the Bigz die as well (see my projects here).  The background was created with Ranger Distress ink and Tim Holtz's layering stencils using the mono print technique which you can check out in my tutorial here.  I also used the layering stencils to add drip rings to the background for that true coffee stain feel.  The focal images were watercolored with Ranger Distress Inks and adhered to the background along with the burlap with my Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker and Xyron Mega Runner! The encouragement sentiment is from Tim's Idea-ology line.  I also framed the background with Kraft Core Card Stock cut from Tim's Postage Stamp die and sanded to reveal the kraft core. 

So come on by the 613 Avenue Community Blog and enter this week's challenge!

                 I am also entering this card in the Totally Tilda Challenge #118 Tea/Coffee

You Keep Me Anchored "A" is for Anchor SSS Monday Challenge

Happy Saturday everyone! The weather is looking a bit brighter today and spring may finally be here.   Stopping in this morning to share my entry for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "A" is for....

Just got this My Favorite Things  DC Go Overboard stamp set in from my latest Blitsy haul and was so excited to try it out.  The background is a technique using Copic Markers, the anchor stamps, Versamark ink and clear embossing powder.  A plain piece of white cardstock is colored with various colors and shades of Copic markers then the anchors were stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with Simon Says Stamp clear embossing powder.  Using these images as a resist, Black soot Distress ink was placed over the whole background to let the anchors pop!  I also used the sentiment from the same stamp set.

The background piece was then adhered to a A2 card base with the Xyron Mega Runner.

Come join the fun in this weeks Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge!  What does "A" stand for for you?

Technique Junkies : Sentiment Stamps & Misted Stencils Technique

Good morning Junkies!  Today I want to share a project I created with Technique Junkies sentiment

Always Find a Song!

               I just love how this sentiment stands out on virtually any background you create.

The technique used for the background of this card is from the Sensational Stencils CD and is called Misted Stencils.  For this card I used the Crafter's Workshop stencil Aspen Trees and Ranger Tim Holtz Distress spray stains in various shades of blue.

I stamped the sentiment with Ranger Archival Black ink and cut out each piece and adhered to card using the Xyron Mini X.
There are so many color variations that can be used here- so pick your favorite stencil and give it a try.  Be sure to visit the Technique Junkies new website for all their  incredible stamps and technique CDs.

Tim Holtz New Blueprints

Just received several sets of Tim's new blueprint stamps-so excited to create with these!  Since the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge  is Pastels, I thought I would work with the BABY Blueprints.  The piggy bank caught my eye right away.

Here's what I came up with- decided to work with blue and pink so it can be used for either a boy or a girl -baby shower etc.

I used the Stencil Monoprint technique with a Crafter's Workshop Stencil for a bright pink and blue pastel-like background.  I fussy cut the piggy and the coins and used dimensional tape on the piggy and used my Xyron 150 for the coins.  Just love this adhesive for these small items! Added a cute ribbon and the letters B-A-B-Y for a little extra!

You can join in the fun for the Monday Challenge here.

My second card is on the grungier side. For this card I used the same stencil with a different technique- colored with distress inks, embossed (through the stencil) with clear embossing powder, and distressed with vintage photo, using the stenciled background as a resist.  The blueprint teddy bear and ABC blocks were stamped with Memento black ink and colored with Copic markers. For this card I used the Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers for the sentiment "It's a Boy" and adhered the words (using the Xyron 150) onto the blue/pink polka dot burlap panel. I added a ribbon- seam binding colored with distress stain and adhered it behind the teddy using the Xyron 150.

Bunny Hop! Happy Easter!

Spent some time in the studio today on a last minute Easter project.  My sister Regina came over  and joined me in the studio and we made a set of small Easter baskets for our Easter dinner guests.

The baskets were made from a 6x6 piece of Tim Holtz Seasonal Stash paper. The Easter grass was cut from the Sizzix Alterations fringe die- adhered inside the basket with the Xyron Mega Runner. The small bunny and bow are also from Tim's Alterations line- movers and shapers.  

We also made a larger basket for the Easter eggs from a 12x12 piece of the Seasonal Stash paper.

Note the egg in the middle with speckles- I couldn't help but bring at least one egg to the studio and color it with Dylusions and then added specks with the Tim Holtz Marker Spritzer.  We just have to remember not to eat this one!!!