Tags & Scraplings with the twist of recycling….hmmmm….I thought about this for a few days and kept my eyes opened for things that were being tossed in the garbage, but could be used on a tag.
Do you see anything here?
I don't either, lol! I decided to RECYCLE something from my “discards and leftover” pile! If you follow my blog, you know I love to use stuff from my leftover pile….view the video to see how this tag came together and how I colored the leaves. I LOVE how they turned out!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial as much as I did making it!
At the end of the video, I mentioned that Virginia has been hanging out with us at StampNation. She was a Guest Dream Team member last month and she has completely knocked the socks off of our members.
I knew she was an incredible designer…what I didn't know is that she is an even better TEACHER. She has jumped in all over the site helping members become a better paper crafter. We are so darned lucky to have us with her!
Want to have a front row seat to Virginia's awesomeness?
I told Randall this weekend that I think the two weeks that we are in the middle of right now are the busiest of the year.
It all started on May 30 with Alana's 5th grade graduation. Which actually cracks me up. When I was a kid we graduated from HIGH SCHOOL. That's it. Now we celebrate graduation from preschool, Kindergarten, elementary, middle AND high school! Phew! That's a lot of graduations!
The same day as Alana's graduation, Anna had her 8th grade formal which was followed the next day by the start of Little Girls' (Alana and Eva) dance rehearsals. Five in five days.
Of course, all of those rehearsals had corresponding Recitals!
During all the Little Girls' recitals and rehearsals, Anna finished up softball, started volleyball and had a piano recital. AND swim team practice has started, which we've barely made it to so far!
This week, we have Anna's 8th grade graduation, Eva leaves for camp for the week (tomorrow!) and the Big Girls (Anna and Alana) will go to NY with Grandma.
Now I am not one to be overscheduled but it sure does sound like it, right? haha!
In the middle of all of this, I had a few minutes to steal away and make something cool…seriously, I had so much fun making THIS and I can't wait to share it! I'll be sharing very soon….like Wednesday. Video tutorial and everything!
I hope you are having a fabulous start to summer and are holding it together because I know if it's busy right now for me, it must be busy for you as well. Thanks for stopping by and spending a few minutes with me today. 🙂
I've never seen such a detailed and informational video on how to take care of your Copic Markers as the one that Kristy Dalman did for StampNation last week! Wowsas! That girl knows what she's talking about. (above is a snapshot of her tutorial…not the actual video)
At the end of March, Kristy opened her “Coloring with the Odd Girl” classroom on StampNation and has taught members, basically all you need to know about working with Copic Markers!
The last Friday in June is her next tutorial and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting…she's going to show us how to tie all the previous lessons together and successfully color in an image.
If you've wanted to learn more about alcohol based markers (Copic, Spectrum Noir, or Stampin' Up Blendabilities), you'll definitely want to start your StampNation Membership right nowand get learning tonight!
Before I go, I wanted to share this amazing card made by Kristy. Check out that coloring, she's amazing, isn't she!?
For the past year, I've been learning how to use Copic Markers as well. If you'd like to view some of my videos,click the photo to visit the vidoe and blog post:
QUESTION FOR YOU: Stampin' Up! has come out with their own alcohol based markers called Blendabilities. Are you interested in learning about them? As in, a comparison video showing how they color compared to the Copic Markers?
I have used the Blendabilities and I definitely see some pros and cons to them. Leave me a comment and let me know if you want to learn more.
A couple weeks ago, I wrote THIS POST about going to my Mother-in-law's retirement community with Anna and stamping some cards with the ladies.
The ladies hadn't stamped before, so I kept the cards simple.
A white card base, a 3 x 4-1/4″ piece of patterned paper, a quick ribbon and greeting, topped off with a stamped and punched out flower.
Hope you like today's quick card…we are knee-deep here in the Pooler household with 5 dance rehearsals and 5 recitals in 10 days along with swimming, volleyball and a piano recital for the oldest Pooler girl. I think these are the busiest two weeks of the year!
Don't have these supplies in your stash? No problem! Use different colors, different patterns, different greetings. Try any shape flower, or use an anchor and go nautical!
It's time for the next KISS Card – Keep It Simple Stamper!
This one is truly simple…it's a One Layer Card, y'all!
Change up the images…use florals or swirls or snowflakes or hearts or any graphic pattern and any greeting and you've got a basic card design for many occasions!
I couldn't help myself…I finished this card and promptly went to work, cutting and layering and embossing to take this card to the next level.
That card will be StampNation'sMonday video tutorial.
StampNation continues to grow and change and evolve! This month we have some amazing new additions to our Dream Team!
Susan has been a long time StampNation Member and it's been amazing to watch her grow as a paper crafter. She is a vital part of our site, always around to lend a helping hand and share her fabulous projects with us.
“Hi, my name is Susan Powell and I am thrilled and honored to be a guest designer this month. I have been a scrap-booker for as long as I can remember but a few years back I went with a friend to a card class and fell in love!I joined StampNation in Dec. 2011 and I have learned so much since joining. Everyone there is so encouraging and supportive!
I am married to a wonderful man who understands my ‘need’ to craft and we have 2 amazing daughters that I couldn’t be more proud of! When I’m not stamping, with my family or visiting here, I work as a Teaching Assistant at an elementary school.”
You can learn more about Susan and peek at some of her artwork by visiting her blog here.
Not only do we have a Guest Dream Team Member, but we have a regular Dream Team addition this month as well!
Allison was Guest DT with us a couple months back and we now welcome her to the DT for the next 6 months! Ooooh, WEEE! 6 months of Allison! Lucky us!
You can learn more about Allison and see her artwork on her blog here.
If that wasn't enough, we have one more addition to StampNation to announce – long time Dream Team Member, Heather North is going to be sharing exclusive video tutorials in her very own section of The Classroom, “Heather Creates”.
Over at StampNation, we've been talking a lot about what makes a card work and what doesn't. Members have been sharing cards, getting feedback and tweaking their designs – learning along the way.
Even though paper crafting is my job, I don't always hit home runs. And even if I think it's a home run, someone else may not. Art is subjective and everyone likes something different.
Virginia (our Guest Dream Team member this month) has been sharing some of her fabulous design tips and cards that she's made that were beautiful, but then she added one or two small things and took these cards to amazing! What a great way to learn, right?
Along these lines, I told members the other day that I was filming and I had a card design idea in my head. I couldn't wait to get home to make this card. Then, I struggled all the way through the video. I even said in the video that I wasn't sure if the video would hit youtube. I just did not like the end result at ALL! The members encouraged, cajoled, then they dared me to post it.
Art is subjective – You may hate my card. You may love it. You may have great ideas and tips for me so I can go back to the stamp table and try again! Can't wait to hear your ideas!
Studio Calico has these super nifty card making kits! In this video, I will show you everything that comes in the kit and I'll walk you through making this card.
Have you joined us on Facebook yet? We just hit 7,000 likes, Wowsas, so with that many crazy stamper friends there's always something fun to talk about over there.
Hi Friends! I hope you had an amazing weekend! Here in the US we had a long weekend for Memorial Day, so I swear today is Monday! No? Ok…I'll go back for a second cuppa and maybe that will help. 😉
We are gearing up for an exciting week here in the Pooler household.
Alana graduates from 5th grade on Friday, followed by 10 days of dance rehearsals, recitals, a piano recital, the 8th grade formal and an 8th grade graduation…all within 13 days. My mom comes on Thursday for a long visit (2 weeks! She's NEVER visited for this long! I hope she survives it…lol!) so she can partake in all the festivities. It will be busy and super fun.
When mom leaves she's taking the Big Girls with her. We'll take a quick trip up to NY later in June to get them, followed by a trip to Orlando for me and a family trip to Tennesee after that. I KNOW! A crazy month is ahead! It's a good thing that I was a mad-video-maker in May and even though there's lots-o-family stuff going on here, I will still have crafty goodness for all of you.
Speaking of crafty goodness…I had so much fun making this card. I actually made it quite a while ago, but haven't shared it yet. Remember my Mixed Media for Card Making cards a while back? I made this then. I remember it was a late night, I just couldn't sleep so I stayed up whatching “How I Met Your Mother” while the cardstock flew in my stamp room.
Supplies:
Casual Elegance (CAS-ual Fridays stamps)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Vellum
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Versamark
Accessories: Spring Branch Die (Hero Arts), Circle Interlock Embossing Folder (Darice), Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder, Rhinestones, Two Step Bird Punch (SU)
Thanks for stopping by today! Two reminders:
My next newsletter goes out tomorrow…are you subscribed?
StampNation members – make sure you take advantage of the 50% off coupon for the Cards For Him online class. It expires on the 31st!
As I prepare a Cilantro, Black Bean and Corn Salsa to take to the pool today to celebrate with our neighborhood friends, I wanted to take a moment to remember the reason we have the day off and get together with friends and family.
It's to honor the men and women that sacrifice every day for our country. We thank them.
In honor of that, my friend Sandy Allnock, from Operation Write Home is hosting a fabulous blog hop this weekend. Be sure to CLICK HERE to go check it out. Maybe you'll be inspired to make some cards and send them to Sandy for our heros.
I love the weekly challenges at StampNation. Maureen is our coordinator and always has something to get our Mojo flowing! Each week, our Dream Team shares amazing samples to inspire SN members and I put up a video of my challenge card.
This week is my favorite type of challenge…it's a sketch.
Here's a peek at my project.
Members, hop over to check out the challenge thread and see the DT samples…they did an amazing job and it's incredible how each card is different, yet the same.
I found the sketch to be so inspirational that I sat down to make a second card. View the video to see what I did and the inky fun I had!
“I learn something new everyday. It never ceases to amaze me how much you can learn from this one website. It just blows my mind. The ladies are so creative and willing to share their talents, its incredible. Normally it would be scattered all over the place not on one site. That to me is incredible. The ease, all in one place. Galleries, tutorials, challenges, swaps. I mean, wow, its all here!” Bibi L.
“There are so many incredible tutorials here and samples that it would be hard not to grow as a paper crafter. The support and encouragement that I have received here has helped give me the confidence to start a blog and enter all kinds of challenges (and win some too). It's because of this site that I am doing my very first guest designer spot – (which goes live tomorrow) I'm not afraid to try anything now – I don't have a comfort zone anymore – I've learned to embrace all styles of card making!” Susan
“Aside from the community feeling and friendships, the main benefit of the site is continual exposure to new products and companies that I would otherwise not see without hours of internet research. SN is a true one stop shop for techniques, products, ideas and SO much encouragement. I was brand new to card making when I joined and have grown immensely in the past year. People really compliment my cards now, and while I still make some that I am not happy with, I am learning why they don't work and how to fix them.” Fran
“It feels like a close “family” and I feel very “safe” here. Love the wonderful sistahood. I am learning about other parts of the world. Adore learning and having a go at new techniques and trends, and challenges, and everything! Love how we all share, (not just carding), help and support each other here in times of need. I am learning new things all the time that I would othewise never have learnt, in a very safe and nurturiing environment. Love the inspiration at SN. My confidence is really growing! Thank you Catherine for SN and all the Sistahood!” Lynn
“This is my family. I have relationships with people all around the world that I would otherwise have never met. There is a bond, a sense of genuine caring not found on other web sites. There is so much to learn and share also not found in one convenient place as good as SN. I have been here so long I have seen my stamping grow from very amateurish to some real quality work.” Elaine
“The inspiration is amazing. Only being a card maker for about 1 1/2 yrs, I've learned SO much here and with the loving support of my sistahs, I've gained confidence in my work. I would have never come this far, had it not been for SN. I love the the unity of my extended family, and that, to me, makes my life so much richer.” Debbie
This is a peek of the DT projects.
If you'd like to see more videos using this technique, check out these exclusive StampNation Video Tutorials:
In March, we introduced a new teacher to StampNation, Kristy Dalman from Some Odd Girl. She is a master at coloring with Copic Markers and I thought it would be amazing if she did some exclusive tutorials for us at StampNation. Thankfully, she agreed!
Here it is a few weeks later and she has added SIX exclusive video tutorials to StampNationteaching the basics of using alcohol markers whether they be Copics or Stampin' Up new Blendabilities.
Here is a snapshot of what her classroom looks like:
Kristy covers:
Getting Started
Copic Color System
Smooth Coloring
Basic Blending
Shading
What an amazing resource this is and this is included with your StampNation Membership!
At the end of the video, I mentioned that Virginia has been hanging out with us at StampNation. She was a Guest Dream Team member last month and she has completely knocked the socks off of our members.
