Beautifully Happy Watercolor Background

After a decade of drought, Southern Utah is enjoying an unbelievable amount of rain, so on this wet day, it just feels like I should be creating with WATERcolor!

In my Live crafting video, I demonstrated how to make a unique background in two ways for the Beautifully Happy Sale-a-Bration stamp set, and it’s easier than you may think:

I’m not a professional…it just amazes me what can be made with paper, ink and a bit of water! Which one appeals most to you, left or right?

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Remember to check your ink refills and card stock supply when you place an order, and you could choose the Beautifully Happy set FREE during Sale-a-Bration!

Sending Healing Thoughts

We are in the mid-winter months, when illness seems to linger just around the corner and we take our vitamins in the hopes that we can stave off a cold or flu. But when someone does fall sick, a message of love and support can let in a little ray of sunshine.

The In the Country Sale-a-Bration stamp set is a “sleeper” you may have overlooked, but it’s truly so artistic, it makes you look fancy. My image is watercolored on watercolor paper (go ahead and let the colors run together!) and I love that you can add any sentiment you already have to these drawings!

I paired my image with another Sale-a-Bration product, the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper. Originally I had thought to use some of the delicate floral patterns, but as I was putting my card together, I felt that the Starry Sky lattice design was the best choice.

Apparently TGIF Challenge designer Kayla McCreadie had the same thoughts for #TGIFC403, for you can see her take on the sketch using the same stamp here; isn’t it nice to have two ideas to use?

Will the “In the Country” set be a product you earn free before February 28th? Unleash your inner-artist and set the scene for any occasion with this exclusive offering you could choose complimentarily with a $50 order.

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Watercolor Inspired by Charlet

The saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” is true for the card I created today, inspired by a card from demonstrator Charlet Mallett on the Global Design Project #344:

I really loved her watercolored image and knowing that some of you are intimidated by watercoloring, I wanted to make it really simple. This is simple enough that ANYONE could do it:

I stamped the flower image from the Blessings of Home stamp set in opposite corners of a 3-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ piece of Watercolor paper (the key to a beautiful watercolored background), then used ink pads from the Subtles color family as my palette to pick up the color (from the inside of the lid, see example here) using Water Painters.

What I love about watercoloring is: It’s MESSY and BEAUTIFUL!

TIP: Keep a piece of scratch paper and a paper towel at hand to “practice” on and wipe off your Water Painter when you move to a new color…just squeeze the barrel to run the water and wipe the brush until no color transfers to the towel.

Mounted on a piece of Basic White card stock as a frame (3-3/4″ x 5″) and then attached to the front of a Pool Party card base, it’s a simple card that makes you feel like Picasso and the sentiment embossed in white on black card stock really stands out against the watercolored background.

Give this technique a try soon!

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New at SU! In-Color Happiness

New Catalog, New Colors, New Stamps…and we can’t wait to share it all with you! Today we are featuring the 2022-2024 In-Colors that made their debut this month and as you visit the website of each of our International demonstrator design team, make sure you PIN your favorites to remember for later.

Bright and bold, I adore these new colors, and I wanted to show how lovely three of them (Parakeet Party, Sweet Sorbet and Orchard Oasis) coordinate in WATERCOLOR:

The Happiness Abounds bundle was perfect for this simple technique! Here are the easy steps:

  1. Heat emboss the flowers and leaves with white embossing powder on thick Basic White card stock.
  2. Squeeze your ink pads (while closed) to get a bit of ink inside the lid of your case, then open the ink pad and pick up a bit of ink from the lid using a water painter. (Don’t pick up ink directly from your ink pad). TIP: Start with a light wash of color and add more as desired..
  3. Use the dies to cut out the watercolored flora using the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss machine and add to your project with liquid glue or dimensionals.

Putting these flowers onto one of our new striped Emboss Treat bags makes me ready for the next birthday or wedding gift I need to wrap.

Before you move on to Andrea’s pretty project (or click anywhere on the list to see more In-Color Inspiration), tell me which In-Color matches your personality!? For me, I think it’s going to be Tahitian Tide (which I didn’t even use on this project!).

May 2022 New At SU!: In-Color Inspiration

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If you don’t have a demonstrator serving you in the US, I’m happy to help you! If you live in Canada, Netherlands, Germany or Australia, choose one of our Design Team members in the list above to shop with! Here’s the list of supplies used on my project:

Product List

The BEST way to collect all the new In-Colors is with the In Color Starter Kit in May! Click image below to get started.

New at SU: Beautiful Day for Love

It’s the New at SU! Design Team “Moms, Dads, Brides and Grads” blog hop!

Our international design team wants to help YOU get ready for all the big events coming in the next few months, so visit all the posts and PIN your favorites to try. I had fun creating this card for brides (and grooms) on a wedding day using the Blessings of Home Bundle…and BONUS, it’s perfect for gifting money to the newlyweds as it’s a large slimline card that fits in our coordinating Slimline envelopes

For this size of card, start with a piece of 8.5″ x 7″ card stock and score it in half at 3.5″ (finished card is 8.5″ x 3.5″).

Have you ever tried Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils? They are easier than you’d think to use and they give this card a soft effect, different than my usual preference for Stampin’ Blends. This is literally how I started…just by scribbling color onto my Watercolor Paper:

I do TRY to follow the lines and details of the image, then I use the Water Painters to blend the colors out, working from lightest to darkest. A tip for watercoloring: You will have MUCH better success when using Watercolor Paper or SU! Shimmery White paper, as they hold up to the moisture best and won’t “pill up” when you add water.

Once dry, use the dies to cut out the image for the front of your card. I’ve layered it onto some lovely Designer Series Paper.

I’m also practicing (but not proficient, yet) the art of the double bow, which I call “The Tammy” in honor of fellow demonstrator Tammy Wilson, whose cards are immediately identifiable by her lovely bows. Luckily for you AND me, she’s made a video, which I’ve watched and attempted numerous times on the Stampin’ Up! Facebook page. With enough practice, I’m confident my double bows will get better.

All the supplies I used are listed below, and you are ready to travel on to the next post in our Blog Hop:

Moms, Dads, Brides & Grads: New at SU! April 2022

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Product List
Blessings Of Home Bundle (English)
$51.25
Soft Succulent 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.75
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper
$9.00
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
$8.75
2021–2023 In Color 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
$11.50
Heart & Home 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
$11.50
Watercolor Pencils
$16.00
Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2
$12.50
Water Painters
$12.00
Basic Borders Dies
$29.00
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine
$120.00
Basics Embossing Powders
$18.00
Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad
$10.00
Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill
$9.50
Heat Tool (Us And Canada)
$30.00
Tasteful Labels Dies
$31.00
Soft Succulent 3/8" (1 Cm) Open Weave Ribbon
$7.00
Baker's Twine Essentials Pack
$11.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
$4.00
Mini Glue Dots
$5.25
Slimline Envelopes
$10.00

Hydrangeas Abound

The Annual Catalog Inspiration

Hydrangeas represent gratitude, grace, abundance, and beauty. The Hydrangea Hill Suite offers you abundant beauty & grace with for your Spring creative projects with a two-step stamping set, coordinating dies and Designer Series Paper and accessories. 

Warm up your creativity with this bundle or suite from my Stampin’ Store in March 2021 and you’ll also receive supplies for 3 exclusive projects from me! UPDATE: We are getting low on inventory for some of the products in the suite, so this is your best opportunity to order!

Sharing a few “bonus” project photos with you as well; The first shows how lovely the hydrangea blossom is when embossed in white and watercolored.

WATERCOLORING TIP: Squeeze your ink pads when they are closed, then pick up the ink from THE LID when opened (never put your water pens onto your ink pads to pick up ink!)

This is one of our acetate card boxes that you could decorate and fill with a small gift like tea towels, napkins, cash or thank you cards for a newlywed couple. While the mercury glass acetate sheets in this suite are colored Rococo Rose or Highland Heather on one side, they are silver on the back side, as used on this sample.

Hydrangea Hill Card/Gift Box


Coordinating Products

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite
January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite

January-June Mini Catalog - Hydrangea Hill Suite


 

Hydrangea Hill Suite

VIEW THE SUITE ONLINE

DOWNLOAD OUR LATEST CATALOG

January - June Mini Catalog

New at SU! Warm, Cozy & Wildly Happy

Welcome to our “Warm & Cozy” Blog Hop: The best way to view these projects from talented demonstrators around the world is wrapped in a blanket with a warm cup of cocoa!

Once you have hopped through all the blogs, you may either feel like crafting, OR having a nap. Either way, we’ve got you covered:

My project is a sign to hang from your door when a baby (or yourself) are sleeping! If you are a new mom, you should take this advice: “SLEEP WHEN YOUR BABY SLEEPS”. You need the rest, and during the winter, we need more sleep. Let this notice keep it quiet during that important time.

The photo-realistic textures of the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper felt cabin-cozy for my Naptime Door Sign and with the Playful Alphabet dies, you can say what you want to say! TIP: If you happen to drop a die in the garbage can while crafting, grab a magnet to fish it out (not saying that happened or anything…)

I made it the same size as a card (5.5″ x 4.25″) so you can mail it to a friend who just had a baby.

I’ve been really enjoying the new Water Painters for watercoloring…it’s so relaxing to color! Doesn’t the mother and baby fox from the Wildly Happy stamp set just make you want to curl up for a snooze?

All the supplies I used for this Warm & Cozy project are listed below and please leave me a comment before following the hop over to Terry’s blog to see what she’s cooking up with the Heartwarming Hugs bundle!

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December 2020 Warm & Cozy New at SU! Hop

Tricia’s Stamping Creations – Freezin’ Fun

Carterie Plus – Coming Home

Stampin’ Xime – Nothing Better Than

Stamping Flair – Wrapped in Christmas

Stamping with the Copper Cropper – Lots to Celebrate

As the Ink Dries – Fireside Trimmings

Stampin’ Mak – Warm Hugs

Creative Juice by Loni – Wildly Happy

Terrific Cards – Heartwarming Hugs

A Little Kinder – Menagerie Mix Up

247Inkspiration – Press On

Watercolor Wash: Wild Rose

July is World Watercolor Month and the new Water Painters from Stampin’ Up! will have you feeling like an artist in minutes.

water painter

Wondering how they work? Watch the video tutorial on my Facebook Page! This is one of the cards I showed you how to make:

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The layout follows the #GDP250 sketch challenge250

I love watercoloring over embossing because the raised edges keep the colors in place, or in the case of the watercolor wash, the image appears like magic.

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Have fun trying this technique yourself!

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A Watercolor Rose For Christmas

I’ve been looking for an excuse to try watercoloring on darker paper, and the Global Design Project color challenge #GDP213 gave me the perfect reason to pull out the Aqua Painters!

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This is also a sneak peek at a NEW product suite coming on November 1st and I’m using the “Christmas Rose” stamp set from that breathtaking collection:

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It looks sumptuous, doesn’t it? But it was surprisingly simple! I embossed the outline image on the top and bottom of the Smoky Slate card stock in white, then did a quick watercolor wash with an Aqua Painter and a few drops of Whisper White ink over the places I wanted to color. Once that dried, I picked up the colors with my cleaned Aqua Painter and started to add the color.

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The embossed image helps keep the ink in place and the colors just POPPED off the paper! I practically broke my arm patting myself on the back, it turned out soooo pretty!

After multiple ribbon variations, I settled on a flat “mailing” bow to finish it off, and dressed up the inside of the card like this:

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This is also going to be one of the cards we make at my Christmas Card Class on November 9th in Spanish Fork, UT:  if you register for the class, you’ll find out how easy it really is!

Out with the Old, In with the New

year end sales LONI

Year end means taking stock of inventory and clearing out to make space for new products, so it’s time for the year-end sale! Some items are discounted and others are ready for retirement. A few things will be available in next year’s annual catalog as individual items, but not as a bundle (which saves you cash now).

Here is a short sampling: The Smitten bundle makes lovely cards and gifts, but are only available while supplies last~

Smitten

And the Watercolor Christmas Card Kit (SO EASY and fun!) and coordinating stamp set is on sale, too:watercolor

I’ll be showcasing the Watercolor Christmas Card kit in my Monday Facebook Live Lunchtime Crafting ~ with ways to “dress it up” and use it in a few new ways other than cards, too! Join me on my Creative Juice by Loni page at 12:30 MST on Monday, December 4th.