A Christmas Carol

This is one of my very old Stampin' Up! sets.  It just is one of my favorite Christmas movies - Scrooge from 1971 with Albert Finney. 

 I watercolored both images - the card front, and candle on the inside.  I love the look watercoloring gives.  It doesn't take a long time to do and gives wonderful gradients of color on the image.

The card base and mat are both Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler cardstock.
I also added Wink of Stella to give the light some sparkle.

2017 Annual Calendar Project July - September

Here are three more of the calendars.

The backgrounds measure 4 1/4 inch by 7 1/4 inch.  I ordered cases from a website called calendar-case.com (or something like that)  These calendar pieces fit the landscape design. 

 As always, July MUST have fireworks!  I also got out a favorite stamp; God Bless America.  I used the new watercolor pencils on it - SO pretty!

 I had more hot air balloons stamped and cut to add to the August page and didn't.  Looking at it more and more, I feel I should have added those other balloons. 

THIS is one of my very favorite designs this year!  I LOVED it when I first saw it on Pinterest a year or two (or more) ago!  It uses gorgeous grunge, and the stamp set Gently Falling.  YES, I fussy cut each of the leaves - the other leaf dies I have were too big!  

Christmas Card Santa!

Here are two of my very favorite Christmas Card designs!  I LOVE the Santa Stamp - it's so Victorian!  The other is the wood-cut look NOEL stamp.  It's just spectacular by itself without much embellishment.

 On the Santa Stamp, I used the NEW Stampin' Up! Watercolor pencils.  They're SPECTACULAR!  Wait til you can play with them!

The NOEL is stamped in Emerald Envy ink, Stickles were added for the holly berries.  I used Real Red cardstock for the card base, and ribbon.

December Birthday - Late Posting! It's Busy at the Holidays!

My cousin's wife's birthday is almost mid-December.  Mom and I finished the calendars early enough that there was time for me to show her this set of dies and stamps I ordered from Papertrey Ink.

I've made this card quite a few times since I first bought the bundle.  Each time it's a different color set...  Dark Blues, Purples, Sky Blue as on this card.  My beloved Bermuda Bay...

 I saw this on Pinterest, and after some investigation I found this comes from a company called Papertrey Ink.  The stamp set is called Paper Clippings.  Scroll down on the page, and you'll find the two coordinating die sets.

The inside is a new stamp set available in just a few days from Stampin' Up!  You can find more information on my Stampin' Up! blog... Susan Vilar Stamps!

Secret Sister Reveal - Thanksgiving

This past Monday evening, we had our Secret Sister reveal.  I didn't take pictures of the other cards I sent because it might have been a give away.

Here's the last card I made for her - with the other reveal card appearing on my other blog - Susan Vilar Stamps!

The card base and die cut are in Old Olive with the scroll work highlighted in Old Olive ink with a sponge dauber before I removed the die cut from the die.

I've had this cornucopia stamp for a VERY long time!  I'm not sure if I got it at Hobby Lobby, or found it on our travels. 

The BEST part about this, is I used the NEW  not-yet-released Stampin' Up! Watercolor pencils.  When we were in Kansas City, we had an opportunity to try them, and I fell in LOVE!  I love watercoloring anyway, but this was fantastic!  I used the blender pens to move the color around.

You can get a wonderful close-up view by clicking on the picture.  I love the shading watercoloring gives.  Definitely a medium I love to use!

New Catalog (2016-2017) Event Samples 8

This card comes from a new stamp set in the catalog called Sitting Here.
It very much reminds me of home.  There is a porch that leads out to the mailbox, and Dad always had a swing out there for us. 

I made this later in my samples because it is mostly watercolored... and I know better!  It doesn't take long! It doesn't take long, it doesn't take long!!

Please enjoy.

Here are the supplies I used:

Sitting Here Photopolymer Stamp Set

$17.00

Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$7.00

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Aqua Painters

$17.00

New Catalog (2016-2017) Event Samples 3

This card comes from the Stamp Set Rose Wonder.
I might call this Watercolor Wonder.

This is totally a technique card.  I used watercolor paper as the white background to get the bleed I needed from the ink.

This card would be perfect for all different occasions...  Definitely someone very special!  Birthdays, Wedding, Thank You, even a Sympathy card....  all with just the change of the sentiment.

Don't let the watercoloring fool you.  It's a technique to learn, and goes much faster than you realize!  I forget that myself sometimes, and think, "Uh!  I need to do some watercoloring."  and when I'm finished (quite quickly) I remember how much I enjoy doing the watercoloring.  The results are always spectacular!

If you'd like to learn more about this technique or other stamping techniques and don't already have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, contact me, and I'll help you along your crafting journey!

Rose Wonder Photopolymer Stamp Set

$27.00

Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$7.00

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Watercolor Paper

$5.00

Aqua Painters

$17.00

Banners Framelits Die

$27.00

Paper Tole Technique

Paper Tole? 
Paper tole is a layering technique.  I've used it before.  This flower image lends itself really well to the layering technique.  I stamped, colored and punched out 3 of the large flowers.

After cutting the petals to the centers, I glued the first flower down to the paper, then layered the other two on top of it, curling the petals back, and placing small pieces of Stampin' Dimensionals under the petals to lift them. It gives really nice lift.

I also hand colored and used dimensionals under pieces of the other flowers as well.

It looks great in person, but looking at it here, I think I'll go back and add some "lifted" leaves to add some dimension as well.

The materials I used:

Birthday Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$19.00

Sweet Sugarplum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$8.00

Aqua Painters

$17.00

Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

$8.00

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

$8.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$4.00

Pansy Punch

$16.00

Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

ONE Easter Card

This year I made just one Easter card.  It went to the January birthday boy....  I thought it would be perfect since he couldn't enjoy Easter last year - he was just too little.

This is a stair-step card.  Directions for construction can be found on Splitcoast Stampers.

I keep a copy of the Egg Wheel on my craft desk all year round (like I keep Christmas trees up in my house all year) (NOT the big tree).  I broke out the watercolors, and colored each image on this card - the Egg Wheel with 7 eggs, the 2 bunnies, the egg plants, mushrooms, the chick and balloon.

I don't use it often, but the grass scissors came in handy for this one!