Creative Blog Hop continues...

Good Monday afternoon to you all!   Remember my Creative Blog post from last Monday - the reflection technique?  Well, I just wanted to remind you that the Creative Blog Hop continues today with my two nominees:

The creative mind of Carol Matthews has not one but three projects for us today.  Please visit Carol's blog - Creating with Carol -  here.  The projects are all lovely but take a look at the bunny -- adorable!!

The talented Maree Streeter has used the Butterfly basics for her post.  Please visit Maree's blog - Inky Moose - here.  I love this set and what Maree created.  The colours are beautiful.

I figure a blog post isn't complete without a picture of SOMETHING so I thought to myself, what could I post?  Sister's birthday is today and she was going to come visit so I didn't put her card in the mail... can't show you that as she hasn't seen it yet.    I've already shown you the cards for card class held yesterday.  We had a fun time creating!   And I've already shown you the card I made for myself.  Hmmmm -- I know, I'll show you my new FB cover photo.    Just some cards I've made in the last little while.

Happy Stamping!

Cathy
Anything Goes Crafts

Do more of what makes you Happy!!

Happy 1st Anniversary to me!  Yup, that's one year today (Mar 20th) that I bought my Stampin' Up! Kit.  To celebrate I made this card for myself ...and that's another first  <grin>

Well, the card was made on the 20th -- the creating of the post took longer and now it's the 21st.

Hope you enjoy my creation - it's my reminder to stop and smell the roses!

Some of the items used to create this card include:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Stamping! and Happy First Day of Spring

Cathy
Anything Goes Crafts

March monthly card class - this Sunday & Monday

Well, the plow STILL hasn't been by. But I had a wonderful afternoon in my work room - yea, I played hooky from my job again. shhh  don't tell my boss.

Hopefully, the storm forecast for the weekend won't interfere with the March card classes being held this Sunday afternoon and Monday evening.

These are the cards that we will be making at this class.

If you'd like to join us, please RSVP  for Sunday's afternoon class  or  Monday's evening class.  We would love to see you.

Happy Stamping!

Cathy
Anything Goes Crafts

Sale-a-Bration - new FREE items added. Hurry before it ends!

As you may have heard, the selling of the Stampin' Up! Blendabilities has been discontinued for the foreseeable future.  Hope they figure out the quality control issue, these markers make my colouring look good!!     The Blendabilities marker sets were available as a FREE item during the Sale-A-Bration campaign on now until the end of March.

Today, Stampin' Up made an announcement.... and added MORE FREE ITEMS!!

Since Blendabilities are no longer available as a Sale-A-Bration redemption item, we anticipate that the demand on other Sale-A-Bration items will be higher than forecasted. For that reason, all Sale-A-Bration items (with the exception of stamps) will be available “while supplies last.” To help alleviate any inconvenience this may cause, we’ve made more items available to redeem for free during these last few weeks of Sale-A-Bration.

Check out the flyer in larger detail here.

To place an order, please contact me or shop my on-line store.

Happy Stamping! -- and happy FREE goodies, too.

Cathy
Anything Goes Crafts

Creative Blog Hop and the Moon Lake Reflection technique

Hi and welcome to my entry for the Creative Blog Hop.  This is my first ever blog hop. which really isn't a surprise since I just started my blog last week. :)

Thank you to Shallon Vickers for nominating me last week.  Please see Shallon's creative blog hop entry on her blog stampwithshallon.blogspot.ca.  Click the first link for the blog hop, click the 2nd one for her current postings.

This is a blog hop with a bit of difference.  First, I would like to share with you a project and then, later in the post, I will answer 4 questions about creating AND I will nominate 2 people to carry on the creative blog hop next Monday with their posts.

THE PROJECT:
I was a little nervous and shy about sharing one of my own creations for the blog hop and I wanted to challenge myself, so I decided to learn a new technique - the Reflection technique.  This card is CASEd from Jeannie Owens video.

I'm going to have to work on the photography but the card fronts all use a blend of the same background colours to give an early morning, rather foggy-look:

Soft Sky wiped very, very, lightly onto the card stock directly from the ink pad to give the look of clouds in the sky.
And then sponged on using the daubers:
Pistachio Pudding blended into the skyline
Baked Brown Sugar blended into the bottom portion of the green and slightly below
Lost Lagoon, Pool Party and even a bit of Coastal Cabana or Tempting Turquoise depending on the card for the water.

I really like the images from Moon Lake for this technique.

The goose and the bird on a branch were both stamped using Mossy Meadow,  The tree and boat were stamped using Early Espresso.

Now for the fun part - the reflections were created using the clear "imaging sheet" that comes with the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I used the smooth side to stamp on. Then turned it over and placed it just under the stamped main image.  To be sure the ink transferred to the paper, I lightly rubbed the clear sheet before lifting straight up from the paper. I wasn't going for a blurred image on these although I do believe I got it anyway on a couple of the cards.

I did learn from these that you have to plan ahead on the placement of "land" - too high up and you might not get the top of the main image on your card  -- too low down and you might not get all of your reflection on the card.  Case in point - the little birdie isn't on the card.  It's all good -- Anything Goes!

Chances are the placement of embellishments might just be to hide a less-than-perfect spot on the card or maybe because it was just not what I was hoping to achieve. In fact, I wasn't even going to use this one on the left but I figured I'd best practice what I teach -- Anything Goes!  I rather like how it turned out in the end.

These are the other three I did using this technique:

 

some of the additional supplies used but not listed above include but are not limited to --

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

THE QUESTIONS:

What are you working on now?
This week I have to prepare for my monthly card classes and make a couple of birthday cards for some very special people in my life.  Unfortunately, I don't get a chance to stamp as often as I would like - my full time job keeps getting in the way (grin).  My card making is usually on a "need to get it done" basis at this point. Hopefully in the summer I can get a bit more organized.  And of course, I have my new blog that I will enjoy using.

How does your work differ from others in your genre?

Well, I'm not so sure that I have a specific "genre" unless you're just talking about card-making.  My work is definitely basic at this point. I'm learning new techniques and they are all new techniques to me as I just started stamping about a year and half ago and have learned almost everything by trial and error - thank goodness for YouTube videos, Pinterest and blogs.  I've only been to 2 card classes, plus a Stampin' Up! demo event while I was in Edmonton in the fall and the East Coast Stampin' Event last Nov.  So, either I have to do a LOT of research to come up with ideas for the card classes that I offer or I get creative with what I own!

Why do you create what you do?

I don't consider myself a creative person.  I'm a numbers gal.  But I'm slowly finding that inner creativity through card-making.  I'm loving it.  I create to make me happy.  I find card-making very therapeutic at times.  My occupation can be very stressful at times, card making lets me forget about that.  That all being said, I do prefer to come up with projects myself rather than CASE cards.  If I do choose a card to emulate, I normally would put my own touches to it whether it be colours, embellishments or sentiments.  I like to come up with my own ideas, it makes me feel good.   I actually might CASE something quite accidentally.  I seem to view a lot of cards (FB, pinterest, etc) and although I won't necessarily remember seeing a particular card or the details on it, it may stay in my head as an idea and will come out at some point.

How does your creative process work?

Like others I've read from this blog hop, sometimes what I start out creating isn't what I end up with. Quite often I will have a specific person or event in mind when I'm choosing colours or stamps.  As I said my card-making is rather based on the next event that is going on in my life.    I also ask my card class attendees what cards that they would like to see or what events that they have coming up in their lives and we take it from there.


THE NOMINATIONS:

I would like to nominate 2 of the lovely ladies that I met last November at the East Coast Stampin' Event.  Both are extremely talented and creative. I learned so much from them at the event and continue to do so.   I know that you will enjoy their posts next Monday, March 23, 2015 for the Creative Blog Hop.  Please check out their blogs in the meantime.

Carol Matthews     blog: Creating with Carol - http://rubberobsession.blogspot.ca/

Maree Streeter       blog: Inky Moose   -  http://inkymoose.blogspot.ca/


THANKYOU
again to Shallon for nominating me
and to you for stopping by on the Creative Blog Hop - it was a long post.  I hope that you enjoyed it!
See you again soon.

Happy Stamping!
Don't be shy, feel free to leave a comment.  

Cathy
Anything Goes Crafts

Irresistible Wisteria Wonder flowers & butterfly card

Hope everyone is ready for the snow storm coming tonight / tomorrow.  Really hoping we don't get hit as badly as is forecast.  (teehee -- apparently I didn't post until after midnight.... make that NOW/today!)

I wanted to share with you this card we made at the February Monthly Card Class.  I'll call it the Irresistible Wisteria Wonder Flowers & Butterfly card.   This card measures 5 1/2 in x 7 in  closed.   The envelope to hold the card was made using the envelope maker and some 12x12 designer series paper (not shown).

We hadn't done much colouring in our card classes lately, so for the February Monthly Card Class we coloured.....with the blender pen, with the unfortunately-no-longer-available (it's a darn shame) blendabilities and with colouring pencils.  The fourth card was the lotus blossom 3-step stamping.  We had a very busy time!!

the Irresistible Wisteria Wonder card

First we inked up our irresistible paper with wisteria wonder ink with a sponge dauber.  When we had the desired look we wiped the excess off with a paper towel.  After allowing this to dry for a few minutes we adhered the strip to a slightly larger strip of Pink Pirouette card stock.

Then, we stamped the Sweetbriar Rose using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on to white cardstock.  The largest deco label thinlit was used to provide a frame for the rose stamp.  We coloured our roses using the blendabilities markers (class was just before Stampin' Up! removed them from the on-line store). You could just as easily use coloured pencils. It's all in the shading and the blending.  which I am sooo not an expert in but I might someday get the hang of it!

We seem to be big in "edging" our card-stock for these classes so of course, we edged the frame around the flowers.  I used wisteria wonder while some chose the pink pirouette.  Our next step was to stamp our sentiment on the inside of our card using one of the Fabulous Four stamps and wisteria wonder ink.  We did this before adhering any of the embellishments "just in case" we needed to modify our results.  Everyone did a great job in stamping the sentiment and there was no need to modify our original design.  :)  

We adhered the sweetbriar rose piece directly to the inside of the card using snail adhesive but it could just as easily been popped up with dimensionals.   Another card-maker I know & admire, when using the sweetbriar rose stamp for a card, did an extra set of roses and popped those on top of the original to give the flowers some dimension.  Looked great!

 The chevron ribbon was attached using sticky strip and was connected in the middle of the front panels as the joining was then hidden by the irresistible panel. We adhered the irresistible panel to the front side panels using snail although I think a stronger adhesive or dimensionals may be a good idea.

All that was left was to put some finishing touches on the front and insides.  Some small flowers with pearls for the centres for the inside (probably original placement was to hide an ink smear) - lol - Anything Goes!    For the front of the card, we used the "happy birthday" greeting from the Bloom with Hope stamp set that hostesses can choose and punched it out using the large oval punch.  Of course, we had to edge the sentiment with wisteria wonder ink and we popped it up with dimensionals.   I couldn't resist using the middle butterfly from the new butterfly thinlits set, adhering them with glue dots only underneath the body so that the butterfly wings could be slightly bent. I placed mine so that they slightly overlapped the front closure.  A med rhinestone or two on each butterfly body and Voila, you are done!

Supplies used:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thank you for taking a look at my creation.
Happy Stamping!
Don't be shy now, feel free to leave a comment.  How do you colour your sweetbriar rose?

Cathy
Anything Goes Crafts

Irresistibly Yours!

I have to tell you that I absolutely LOVE the Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) that Stampin’ Up!® has available for FREE during the Sale-A-Bration event on until March 31, 2015.  There are lots of free products to choose from but this pack of DSP is   one   of my favourites.  Check it out in this pdf, the DSP is on page 15 but the pictures do not do it justice.

If those free products didn’t catch your attention or you managed to snag all the free ones that you wanted already,  <grin>  Stampin’ Up!® just recently added 4 more products to the offering – oh my, take a gander at the vellum paper – a must have.  You can see the new items HERE. 

Just remember that all of the Sale-A-Bration items are on a "while quantities last" basis.  Don't be disappointed, get yours today!!    shop my on-line store.  for every $60 (before s&h and tax) ordered you are entitled to one free item from the Sale-A-Bration items.

There are a variety of designs in the pack of the Irresistibly Yours DSP but I chose to use the leaves for my card class back in January. The cool thing about this project is that no two cards looked the same.  It depended on how “heavy-handed” you were with the ink application.  We chose to use sponge daubers to apply our ink.  But you could use spray misters, stampin’ write markers, sponges or even the unfortunately-no-longer-available (it’s a darn shame) blendabilities.  I’m sure there are other methods you could use too.  Please, let me know in the comments what you have used.

These 2 cards were made using the same 3 ink colours.  Unfortunately, the picture isn't showing up as vibrant as the real cards.  The colours in the card on the right are a lot deeper/brighter than the one on the left as I was a bit stronger in my application.  and yes, I used 2 different card stock bases. 

Happy Stamping!

and remember, don't be shy, leave a comment

Cathy

AnythingGoesCrafts

Gift Box with bow

These little gift boxes are soooo cute....and just the right size for a small thank you present. I decorated mine using the 2014-2016 In Colors, the gorgeous grunge stamp set, some washi tape, ribbon and twine that I had on hand.

The adorable little bows were made using small pieces of Designer Series Paper (DSP) and the new bow builder punch. A bone folder really helps to curl the paper. I don't do videos but I'd be happy to show you how to make these bows at a workshop in your home or at one of my card classes.  All you have to do is ask.

I filled the boxes with a stamping spot (small ink pad) and a small stamp only available for purchase by demonstrators. Another great reason to join my Stampin' Up! Team. 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thanks for stopping by to check out these cute little gift boxes.
Feel free to leave a comment.
Happy Stamping!

Cathy
AnythingGoesCrafts

Intro card class -- card #2 - simple stamping techniques

Well, I have to tell you we were attempting to make 4 cards the other night.  what a lofty dream! I just don't have the additional supplies and, apparently, sharing among 7 people takes longer.... but what a lot of laughs we had, making the 2 cards we chose to do.   See the previous card on this blog post


This next project was, again, a KISS technique:  Keeping It Simple Stamping.  We used just one ink pad, some card stock, a couple of stamps and a punch. Then a few add-ons.....<grin>

I would love to give credit, where credit is due -- I thought I had found this idea on YouTube, but I can't relocate the video. I'm pretty sure Brian King has a blog post similar to this using a different stamp set so I'll give him the credit :)   This one is NOT my idea but I do like the effect.

This card had the additional techniques of layering card stock and using a blender pen to move the ink around to look like you've coloured the image.   -- I just purchased these blender pens.... what took me so long?  They are awesome! --

I also introduced the concept of partially painting up a stamp using a marker and then "huffing" to re-wet the ink. Check out the inside of the card -- the little bird from the Four Frames stamp set was stamped using this technique.  We also used a corner rounder on the inside piece and a sponge dauber to outline the inner layer.

I can't take credit for this beautiful creation for the inside of the card, Amanda M, my potential future d-i-l, completed this card for me.  She is very talented and I love that she is part of my monthly card class (and a member of our family for the last umpteen years lol)

I also want to show case my belief that every creation is different -- everyone puts their own unique look to a project.  I give them the idea and they make it their own.  So proud!!

These cards are from Amanda M (from monthly card class) 

and Amanda A (my friend's daughter and first time (?) stamper from the introductory class)   Don't you just love the extra daubing on AmandaM's and the cool layering and the envelope embellishment on AmandaA's?

Supplies used for this card include the following (and yes, I had used a blendabilities pen to colour the rhinestone but they are sadly, no longer available -- what a shame that the supplier had quality control issues -- mine are all fine):

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

This card was also prepared at our February Card Class (both Sunday and Monday classes had to be rescheduled to March due to weather and work).  Why not join us for one of the March card classes?  check out the schedule under My Events

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you enjoyed this "stepped up" KISS card.
Happy Stamping!

Cathy
AnythingGoesCrafts

Introductory workshop / card class

What a fun time I had last night!   I was invited to a friend's Mom's place to conduct a card class. I knew ahead of time that most attendees might not have a lot of experience with stamping so I did a bit of a workshop/card class combo so they could learn a bit about Stamping in general and a bit about Stampin' Up! products while having an inky-good time.   Some of us, got a bit 'inkier' than others. Teeheehee.   Blackberry Bliss struck again!!   My friend got a bit more on her hands than the rest of us did -- I assured her these were water-based inks and she would come clean!!

I started out by showing the ladies a quick and simple thank you card- I was so nervous I grabbed the wrong set of blendabilities. So, yes, I know olive green does NOT go well with garden green.  But the card was quick and simple to make using just a set of blendabilities, small pieces of card stock and the wood block Thank You stamp.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

The cards I chose for the class to make were introductory style stamping - just one ink pad per project, some card stock, a couple of stamps and a punch.  Keep It Simple Stamping (KISS) is a technique I love to demonstrate. I also love embellished, multi-layer works of art but that can be pretty daunting to a new stamper.  I wanted to demonstrate that you don't need a lot of supplies to make cards.

These are the cards I've made in the past -- they are a great way to show the different colours of the 2014-2015 in colour group.   I didn't tell the group that part.   But, oh how I love these 5 colours!!  next time I'll use Blackberry Bliss.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

The Fabulous Work of Art stamp set is so much fun to use. It's a shame I only used the one stamp from it but I really like to show the 'graduated stamping' technique to newcomers. It allows me to achieve different colour intensities without having to actually teach the concept - we learn by doing!

But don't you worry, the rest of the stamp set was there and some made use of the other stamps for the inside of their cards and for the envelopes. Because a card just isn't finished until you "sign" it on the very back  and do up a corresponding envelope.  (and yes, sometimes, I forget to do mine before card class).



The card needed a little embellishment and that's where the "popped up" flower comes in.  The beautiful flowers from the Flower Shop set were ideal - gorgeous designs but quick and easy to "cut out" using the made-to-match pansy punch.  NO "fussy" cutting.  we will leave that lesson for another day.  bwahahaha!   Curl the edges of the flower with a bone folder and then pop the flower up with a dimensional and voila! you're done.  A quick and easy card to give to a friend for whatever occasion you might need a card for.   The sentiments used were from various stamp sets I have on hand.  ooops! some might have been retired and I didn't realize.  Oh well, use what you have!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Well, I think I'll leave the 2nd card for another post.  Hope you enjoy this look at an introductory card.

Happy Stamping!

Cathy
AnythingGoesCrafts

Hello and welcome to my blog.  I'm excited, I'm nervous and I'm happy to finally be sharing with you something that I have discovered that I love to do.... Make cards... all occasion cards and even some crafty projects.  I can see scrapbooking being in my future again soon, too.

I thought that I might begin my blogging history with "MY story" - how I got involved with card-making and Stampin' Up! in particular.

MY STORY

I'm more of a numbers person, not artsy/crafty at all, but when my sister, Peggy and a friend, Carol (who's like a sister) got in to card making, it tweaked my curiosity and I decided to join them one day in Nov 2013 - traveled 3 hours to get there since they live on PEI and I'm in Nova Scotia.

Donna, the wonderfully patient lady putting on the class, in her own home, wasn't with any particular company and I didn't realize it at the time, but she does own a lot of SU products!  I enjoyed myself so much that day that my sisters now say they have "created a monster" because I immediately started to gather supplies for my own craft room.  I was/am hooked! :)

My cards have started out very basic - but we all have to start somewhere.  These are just some of the ones I created in Dec 2013 on my own - it felt great coming up with my own ideas.  Unfortunately, none of the supplies were by Stampin' Up!

Someone, probably my sister, mentioned that Stampin' Up! has really good quality products so I found the website, chose a demo who lived sort of close to me and ordered on-line.  Being a "frugal" sort, it wasn't long before I decided I should get my own discount and signed up in March 2014. 

I only signed up to get products for myself but then I decided, since I had all these supplies, I should share my creations & experience and have been doing classes since last spring.  I am really enjoying the sharing with others: crafts with my customers and ideas with other demos that I have met.  Everyone is so welcoming. 

As I learn new techniques, I have found that my style is evolving.  More changes are to come I'm sure.   I'm learning something new everyday.  

These are some of the more recent cards I've made:

I love that SU allows me to do as much or as little as I want with this business.  I do work full-time plus (that's Cathy-speak for more than 40 hours a week at times) so... sometimes it's a challenge to find creative time.  But I have found, that creating is a wonderful stress release for me.  

I make lots of "mistakes" but as I tell all who come to my class.... there are no mistakes, just a chance for embellishment.   ANYTHING GOES.... there is no right or wrong way to express one's creativity; each individual will put their own spin on a project.  I love when someone takes my ideas and makes it their own.  

I hope that you will join me on this journey by following my blog, coming to some classes, sharing your thoughts & ideas and together, we will have a fun time stamping!!   maybe you'll want to order some Stampin' Up! products or sign up to be on my team.  I'd be thrilled.

Don't be shy -- say hello!!

Cathy
AnythingGoesCrafts