Love Paris ~ Fun Stampers Journey Card

I'm finally getting a chance to post another card for you.  I'm hoping to post four or five more this week too while I'm on vacation.  I was pretty busy prepping for my stamp a stacks that I had last week using the few supplies that I now own from Fun Stampers Journey.  I have some more goodies ordered so I'm hoping when I come back from vacation I'll have them to play with!! :)  Today's card is for this week's challenge at Try Stampin' - or Not - on Tuesday.  I have to admit I fudged it quite a bit to make the sketch work with what I had.  That said I made a clean and simple birthday card for anyone who likes Paris. :)

Here's the sketch we're playing with this week.  Make sure you stop in at Try Stampin' - or Not - on Tuesday to check out what all the designers created and play along with us if you have a chance. :)

I was trying to use fall colors for this card since the optional theme is autumn colors, but with only four ink pads right now it was kind of hard to do! lol  I checked out pics of the Eiffel Tower and saw trees around it and decided to make it look like it's in the distance with the edges of trees around it that are closer.  I didn't want the leaves to be really dark so I stamped on scrap paper once, then quickly re-stamped the leaves on my card stock to give the leaves a lighter color.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your Journey Coach! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you would like to be a Fun Stampers Journey Coach click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you on my team!

Fun Stampers Journey supplies used on this card:

Stamp Sets
Sentimental Prints p. 206 (SS-0072) $19.95
 Love Paris p. 89(SS-0054) $17.95
Branch p. 69 (AT-0046) $7.95

Card Stock
Dark Roast p. 288 (CS-0091) $6.95 (25 sheets)
Oatmeal Cookie p. 288 (CS-0023)  $6.95 (25 sheets)
Buttercream p. 288 (CS-0006) $6.95 (25 sheets)

Inks
Fresh Forest p. 288 (IP-0013) $7.95
Journey Gold p. 290 (IP-0106) $14.95

Tools
Details Pro Shears p. 273 (TO-0063) $13.95

Autumn Days with Fun Stampers Journey

I finally have my first card to show you with Fun Stampers Journey!!  I actually made it three days ago, but had to wait to post it because I made it specifically for the challenge at Try Stampin' - or not - on Tuesday.  I love to make fall cards, or at least use fall colors and that's what I did today. I have to admit it's looking a little empty at the bottom where my sentiment is supposed to be, so I put my watermark there hoping it wouldn't look quite so odd!  It still does, but whoever gets it eventually will have a finished card. :) 

Make sure you head over to Try Stampin' - or not - on Tuesday HERE to check out all the other fun cards made using this week's sketch.  I didn't do the banner, but tried to "copy" the shape across the cards with the leaves

I used the stamp set Autumn Days and stamped the leaves with Black Licorice.  Then I used my Journey Color Splash watercolor pencils to color my leaves in.  I didn't actually color them though.  I used a paint brush to pull the color off of the tips of my pencils onto a block.  Then it was simple to watercolor them since it was like having a mini-palette of watercolors.  Once the leaves were dry I cut them out using the Autumn Days Die and spritzed them with Shimmer Gold Color Splash and let me tell you I sure have been waiting to get my hands onto something shimmery like that again!!!  I've been making my own for the past few years and was almost out of the supply of what I used to make it and it wasn't nearly as sparkly because I diluted it.  I only bought the gold and silver so far and sprayed just a bit of the silver to see what it was like...yup, it shimmers and sparkles!  I think I'm going to need to take it easy and not buy any of the other colors for a while. lol  Now on to the rest of how I made the card.  I spritzed a bit of the shimmer gold onto my background piece, then got a paintbrush wet and using the watercolor left on my block I tapped a couple of different colors on both the background piece and the leaves.  Then I just assembled the card.  It was actually pretty quick and easy (well, as quick and easy as it is for me to put a card together from start to finish! lol).

Thanks for  looking and have a great day! 

Sara 

I would love to be your Journey Coach! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you would like to be a Fun Stampers Journey Coach click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you on my team!

Change is Good!

I have been busy, busy, busy making changes here in Michigan.  I said I would get back with you in a day or two, but it's taken me a lot longer than that!  As you can see I've updated the look of my blog.  Because I have resigned as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I needed to make that change as well as a lot of other little changes.  As a demo for SU! I was exclusive to them and their product meaning I did not buy stamps from any other company at all.  The only thing I didn't buy from Stampin' Up! was paint brushes (because they didn't sell them) and watercolor paper (because I go through a LOT!).  If you're wondering, I did not leave Stampin' Up! because I was angry or upset with the company.  They are a great company and I'm sure they will continue to be great in the future.  I was just ready for a change and to see what else is out there.  

With that being said I want you to know I have joined up with a relatively new and growing company called Fun Stampers Journey.  They have a lot of different products out there that I haven't seen because I was exclusive to SU! This will give me a chance to continue being creative with products that are new to me!  I haven't had a chance to do any crafting lately, so I'm definitely ready to get my fingers inky again and try some new techniques.  I don't have a lot of product yet, but I will start to share with you again as soon as I can!

If you want to check out what Fun Stampers Journey has to offer just look to the right of my blog and you can click on either of the catalogs and check them out.

Thanks for stopping by...Have a delightful day!

Sara 

I would love to be your Journey Coach! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you would like to be a Fun Stampers Journey Coach click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you on my team!

Changes for Simply Sara Stampin' !

Hello again, Everyone!  I hope you've all been enjoying your summer!  I sure have...except yesterday.  We don't get many tornadoes here in West Michigan, but there sure was a lot of activity going on with one yesterday!  I've watched a little bit of the news, and I'm so thankful that the one in my area wasn't very severe!  We definitely (not me personally other than a bit of water in the basement and back yard) have some damage, but nothing like I've seen pictures of out west.  I have a pic of our backyard shortly after the heavy rain stopped.  Nope, it's nothing like the people are suffering with down in Louisiana. :(  It's still hard to believe about 30 minutes of rain can do this though...

Anywhoo I know I haven't been blogging much lately.  Partly because I've been busy this summer and partly because I have some changes that have been going on.  I'll be posting more about those changes in a day or two...stay tuned and happy stamping! :)

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

Stampin' Up! ~ Golden Ornaments

I've been working on my Christmas cards lately and used this week's sketch at Try Stampin' or Not on Tuesday to create today's card.  It was a fun and easy sketch for sure, although taking pictures of the embossed gold was not nearly as easy!  I did some light and dark backgrounds trying to get decent pics!  

Along with this week's sketch is an optional technique: paper tearing.  I tore the edge of the card stock, then dragged it through my Versa Mark pad so I could emboss the edge of it gold.  It never really melted like it normally does, but didn't flake off either.  I was afraid if I heated it much more I was going to start my card stock on fire! lol  Make sure you head over to the Try Stampin's blog HERE to check out all the great cards made using this sketch.  We'd love to see what you create if you get a chance to play along. :)

I guess I can't add my color squares like I usually do since it will just show Whisper White and that would be pretty boring! lol

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

retired ornament punch

(both stamp sets are retired also)

Stampin' Up! ~ Penned & Painted Birthday

I created today's card for this month's stamp a stack using the stamp set Penned & Painted.  You could actually use this set to create your own DSP pretty quickly.  I think my background kind of looks like I used some DSP, but it was a little boring with just that.  So to change it up a bit I cut out one flower and two leaves and popped them up with dimensionals.  Just by adding a little bit of dimension it changed the card.  

I also used a few rhinestone jewels inside the popped up flower and clear Wink of Stella in the middle of all the other blue flowers and the tiny ones too.  I just could NOT get my pictures to show the sparkle much at all though. :(  That really adds to the card, but that's the way it goes sometimes!

Whisper White

Basic Black

Island Indigo

Dapper Denim

Garden Green

Emerald Envy

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Stampin' Up! ~ Noel

It's been a while since I've posted a Christmas card on my blog.  This week at Try Stampin' or Not on Tuesday we have a fun sketch for you and the optional technique is beading or anything holiday related.  Since I'm a little behind on my Christmas cards I thought I'd work on a few of those.  It's hard to tell in the pictures, but I used gold Wink of Stella on my flowers.  They're so shimmery and pretty in person!  

Here's this week's sketch challenge #282.  Make sure you check out all the other great cards the designers made HERE and play along if you get a chance. We always love to see what you create!

Cherry Cobbler

Cucumber Crush

Whisper White

Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Stampin' Up! ~ Detailed Floral Birthday

Wow, I see I've been a little lazy with posting lately, but summer is flying by and I feel like I'm missing so much of it. :(  I've still been crafting, but taking a bit of a break from blogging.  I created today's card last week for my sweet sister's birthday.  She's very dear to me along with the rest of her family.

I wanted to use a new stamp set and thinlits that I bought and ending up only using the thinlits, but I'm happy with how it turned out. :)  I added a few pearls here and there along with some clear Wink of Stella to make some of the flowers shimmer.

Peekaboo Peach

Whisper White

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Stampin' Up! ~ Sponged Florals

It's time for another sketch challenge from Try Stamin' or Not on Tuesday.  I decided to play with a new set that I bought, actually a new thinlit for this week's sketch.  I had to turn the card to get my idea to work, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. :)

This is the sketch for challenge #280.  Make sure you check out all the other cards HERE using this sketch.  They are all so fun and yet very different!  We'd love to see what you create if you get a chance to play! :)

Watermelon Wonder

Daffodil Delight

Pear Pizzazz

Old Olive

Whisper White

It's hard to tell when looking straight at the card, but I popped the big flower up and tipped the budding flowers up with a glue dot.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Stampin' Up! ~ Penned & Painted with Sympathy

I don't know about anyone else, but for me making sympathy cards is the hardest when it comes to making cards.  I want to make sure the person or family I'm sending the card to knows that I truly care about them and what they're going through.  Since I am NOT a writer at all I have I hard time expressing my feelings, so I want the card to help in that area...and that's why I say sympathy cards are the hardest for me to make.  

I almost forgot to take pictures of these cards , but managed to quickly snap a couple of pictures of the group.  I was taking off for a few days and needed to get them mailed out ASAP!

Peekaboo Peach

Flirty Flamingo

Sweet Sugarplum

Pear Pizzazz

Basic Black

Whisper White

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on these cards:

Stampin' Up! ~ Happy Birthday Bloom

Today I have a fun shaker card to show you that I made for my daughter's birthday last month.  Boy are shaker cards hard to get a good picture of!  The light wants to glare off the window sheet!  I finally managed though...whew!  I used some of the left over glitter from this month's Paper Pumpkin kit to put inside.  And I was picky and had to pick through them because I didn't want some of the colors in there.  I also added some hearts in Pool Party using the Confetti Hearts Border punch to fill it up a bit more.

Pool Party

Bermuda Bay

Cucumber Crush

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Stampin' Up! ~ Gift of Love

I did it again...I made my card for Try Stampin' or Not on Tuesday's challenge early (weeks early, believe it or not!), but didn't post it!  Today's card is pretty simple since the optional theme is blue and white...and I actually played along with the theme this time. lol  

This card was really simple to make.  I cut the card stock to the size I needed, stamped the images, did a little sponging on the edges of the white card stock and did a little dry embossing on the card base and blue background piece, attached the pieces together and I was done!

Dapper Denim

Whisper White

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Stampin' Up! ~ Colorful Calla Lilies

I have another card to share with you today made with the set Remarkable You.  My cousin just had a birthday and I figured that was a good excuse to try my hand at watercolors again. :)

Can you tell which flower I painted first, second, then last?  My lines weren't as dark and harsh the more I worked it.  I painted the back flower first, then the one on the left and the right one last.  I really like the soft edges I did on the last one.  I'll keep on practicing, but I'm still happy with how they turned out over all. :)

To create this I taped around the edges of my watercolor paper with masking tape using the biggest Stampin' Up! block. Next I stamped the flowers with Sahara Sand.  Yup, with Sahara Sand (I'd use any really light color like Blushing Bride or So Saffron, depending on the color the flower is going to be).  Then I masked both the flowers and stamped the left one again back behind the other two.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position it.  That's one reason my back flower is darker on the edges.  I stamped it with Pear Pizzazz on the stamp-a-ma-jig plastic piece and didn't get the stamp cleaned off well enough before I put on the Sahara Sand, so when I stamped it it was greenish brown...ugg.  I started by coloring the little "nib" in the middle with Daffodil Delight...which I shouldn't have done!  They're usually white if the calla lily is blue.  Too late...I was going with it because the yellow didn't lift as much as I would have liked.  After those were dry I started with the top flower by first getting the top area of the flower wet including the edge of the flower (in this case greenish brown! lol).  Getting the edge wet makes the color bleed and it will blend in with the color your using so it "disappears".  Then I used Island Indigo to color it in.  Basically I put it around the edges of the flower and let the water pull the color in.  That's why it's darker on the outside and lighter as it goes toward the middle of the flowers.  I did that with each part of every flower, making sure that the previous part was dry before going to the next so the colors didn't bleed into any other part of the flower.  I wet each of the stems, then added Pear Pizzazz starting that was diluted with water and before it completely dried added more in, just not quite as diluted.  Once the flower and stems were completely dry I did my background by wetting the whole thing and dropping in Pear Pizzazz by the stems and a very diluted Island Indigo around the flowers.  I made sure I kept the watercolor paper wet so the colors flowed outward.  I wanted the color a little darker closer to the flowers and stems and lighter as it got farther away.  As that was drying I added the "splashes" with my paintbrush using the same watered down colors.  Once it was completely dry (believe it or not I never used my heat gun with this card!!) I pulled off the masking tape and put it on card stock.

Daffodil Delight

Pear Pizzazz

Island Indigo

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies use on this card:

Watercolor paper and various paintbrushes from local craft store