Saturday 30 May 2015

Sleep is over rated, right???

I have decided that my days definitely need more hours in them! Either that or I need to stop sleeping! Lol!

It's been a long while since I had the chance to do some crafting, but I recently made a large purchase and I am now the proud owner of a Big Shot!
I am hoping to finally be able to use a die that I had bought that was just a smidgen to wide for my Cuttlebug! Lol!

I also received 4 new Stampin Up! stamp sets and I got to play with them this morning! Here are two cards that I created.


This first card I made using the Kinda Eclectic stamp set and a flower from the Best of Flowers set. While spending some quality time on Pinterest the other day, I noticed quite a few cards that had black stamping against softer colors. I loved the look! 


Of course I had to add some sequins!


I stamped the flower three times in the blue ink and once in the green ink. I then fussy cut them out and stacked them.


This next card was basically the same idea as the first, in the same color scheme.
To create the background, I rubbed my two ink colors over an embossing folder, spritzed it with water, then laid a piece of watercolor paper over it and pressed down.

Once my watercolor paper was dry, I stamped my black images.


The stamps I used for this card were the sentiment from the Forever Florals set and the rest from the Butterfly Basics set.



The ink colors I used were Tim Holtz Distress ink pads (Broken China & Shabby Shutters) and my Jet Black StazOn ink pad.

Check out my Pinterest board to see where I got my inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
~ Cayla ~

Saturday 21 February 2015

Card Crazy!

Hello everyone! 
I am going to try to keep my words down to a minimum because lately I have gone on a card blitz, so I have quite a few cards I want to put in this post!
So lets just get right to it shall we!
:D
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I loved making this first card!
I have gone crazy buying all the new Stampin Up products from the Occasions catalog! This butterfly die and the larger butterfly stamp came from those products.


Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" Kraft Cardstock
4" x 5.25" White Cardstock
Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder
Follow Your Heart "Be Happy" Stamp Set by MME
Butterfly Basics Stamps by Stampin Up
Butterflies Thinlits Dies by Stampin Up
Crumb Cake Ink by Stampin Up
Aged Mahogany Distress Ink by Ranger Ink
Misc Twine
Misc Sequins
Wax Paper, Kraft cardstock & white cardstock to cut out butterflies

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This next card was inspired by a card a saw on Pinterest (actually all the cards you will see here today are inspired, if not downright copied, by cards I saw while spending "quality time" on Pinterest! :D)

As you can see, I have a love for sequins right now! They are so darn easy to use and come in so many different colors, sizes and shapes! I love them, love them, love them!!!! 


Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" White cardstock
4.25" x 5.5" Cardstock (times 2)
Misc Sequins
MME Washi tape
Red Cardstock
Misc Black Twine
Pool Party Ink by Stampin Up
Coastal Cabana Ink by Stampin Up
Bermuda Bay Ink by Stampin Up
Chevron Punk by EK Success

Technique: To get the ombre look behind the Chevron, I first took one of the 4.25" x 5.5" white cardstock pieces. Starting with the darkest color and using a sponge dauber, I applied ink to the right top side, working down. Then I took the next shade and applied the ink, blending up into the darker shade. I repeated this step with the lightest shade, closest to the bottom. I then took the second 4.25" x 5.5" white cardstock piece, punched the chevron pattern and placed it over top. Lastly, I adhered the whole piece to the card front. Practice on scrap paper till you get the hang of doing the ombre!

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I saw this feather stamp set used so many times on cards on Pinterest that I just had to have it! :D

This was a tricky card to get the feathers all lined up straight but in the end it has a simple yet classy look!


Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" Kraft Cardstock
4" x 5.25" Yellow Cardstock
3.75" x 5" White Cardstock
Four Feather Stamps by Stampin Up
Wonderful Words Stamps by Stampin Up (retired)
Scattered Straw Distress Ink by Ranger
Smoky Slate Ink by Stampin Up
Jet Black StazOn Ink
Misc Sequins

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Another card that I loved to make!


Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" White Cardstock
Crazy About You Stamp Set by Stampin Up
Hello You Thinlits Dies by Stampin Up
Sahara Sand Ink by Stampin Up
Pool Party Ink by Stampin Up
Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim by Stampin Up
Misc Bakers twine

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I did a couple, more masculine cards because I know those men can be a little bit fussy! They don't like bling and they don't like flowers! Sheesh! Who do they think we are? Lol!



Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" White Cardstock
Black Cardstock for stars
1" x 4" strips of varying shades of grey & blue cardstock
Diamond Plate Sizzix/Tim Holtz Embossing Folder 
Riveted Metal Sizzix/Tim Holtz Embossing Folder
Honeycomb Sizzix/Tim Holtz Embossing Folder
Gears Set Sizzix/Tim Holtz Embossing Folder
Big Day Stamps by Stampin Up (Sale-A-Bration Catalog)
Stacking Stars Die-namics (Mft Stamps)
White Sharpie Paint Pen



Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" White Cardstock
4.25" x 5.5" Black Cardstock
4" x 5.25" Kraft Cardstock
3.5" x x4.75" White cardstock
4.5" x 1.5" Pattern Paper banner strip
.75" x 3.75" Black Cardstock banner strip
Misc Off-White Pattern Paper to make Stars
Misc Black Rhinestones
Crazy About You Stamps by Stampin Up
Jet Black StazOn Ink
Sahara Sand Ink by Stampin Up



Supplies I used:

8.5" x 5.5" White Cardstock
4" 5.25" White Cardstock
2.5" x 5.25" Woodgrain Pattern Paper
Misc Off-White Pattern Paper to make Stars
White & Black Cardstock
Lucky Stars Embossing Folder by Stampin Up
Stacking Stars Die-namics (Mft Stamps)
Hello You Thinlit Dies by Stampin Up
Crazy About You Stamps by Stampin Up
Sahara Sand Ink by Stampin Up
Word Window Punch by Stampin Up
Jet Black StazOn Ink

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This Pear stamp is a set I have had forever! I love it but hardly ever use it! Lately I have finally caved and started getting into the world of alcohol markers! I don't know why I have resisted it for so long, because it is simply wonderful!


Supplies I used:

5.5" x 8.5" Kraft Cardstock
4 1/8" x 5 3/8" Black Cardstock
4" x 5.25" White Cardstock
3.25" x 2.5" White Cardstock (Tag)
Black & white cardstock for word & stamping
Seeing Dots Embossing Folder by Cuttlebug
Spectrum Noir Markers
Old Olive Assortment Blendibilities by Stampin Up
Hello You Thinlit Dies by Stampin Up
Crazy About You Stamps by Stampin Up
Infinite Goodness Stamps by Stampin Up (retired)
Peeled Paint Distress Ink by Ranger Ink
Black Memento Ink
Misc Twine

Technique: I have said this before I know, but I love when I can find more than one way to use a tool! To get this patterned background, I took my embossing folder and spread my Ranger Distress ink over it. I didn't apply ink evenly but pressed harder in some areas and lightly skipped over other areas. I then LIGHTLY misted the inked embossing folder with water. The "lightly" part is important, because if you use too much water your ink with just run all over the place! I then placed my paper in the embossing folder and pressed down! I didn't even run it through my machine, although you totally could do that to give it more dimension & texture! 

The reason I used the Ranger Distress Ink is because the ink is designed to react with water in a fantastic way! So you get some really cool watermark effects without the colors separating! YouTube has some great videos on Rangers Distress Inks, so check them out!

Technique: When using alcohol based markers such as Spectrum Noir, Copics, Stampin Up Blendibilites, etc, you want to use a fast drying, water based ink like Memento ink. That way as you are coloring in your image, the outline is not bleeding into the areas you are coloring with the markers.

To color the pear, I chose two shades of yellow (dark & medium) and started by outlining the image with the dark color. I then went in filling in the image using the medium color making sure to work in a circular motion, blending the two colors together. I left a white spot in the top left corner and used the blender pen that I had purchased with one of the Spectrum sets, to blend the edges of the spot so there was no defined lines. Practice this technique on scrap paper to get the hang of blending with alcohol based markers.

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So I am the worst sister ever! I made this next card for my baby sister, whose birthday is on Valentines day, and then forgot to send it! Lol! But now she can see this picture and know that I made her the best card ever! :D






Supplies I used:

5.5" x 8.5" White Cardstock
3.75" x 5" White Cardstock
4.25" x 1 7/8" White Cardstock
4" x 5.25" Red Cardstock
2" x 4.25" Red Cardstock
White & red cardstock for hearts and feathers
Heart Punch by Stampin Up (retired)
Four Feathers Stamps by Stampin Up
Feathers Framelits Dies by Stampin Up
Happy Heart Embossing Folder by Stampin Up
Big Day Stamps by Stampin Up
Smoky Slate Ink by Stampin Up
Real Red Ink by Stampin Up
Misc Sequins

Stamping the candles was fun! It was a single candle that I stamped over and over, so don't judge cause they are definitely not in a straight line! :D

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Grey & Yellow! Two of my fave colors put together!


Supplies I used:

5.5" x 8.5" White Cardstock
4" x 5.25" Woodgrain Pattern Paper
3.25" x 3.25" Printed Pattern Paper
White Cardstock for flowers
Fabulous Florets Stamps by Stampin Up (retired)
Scattered Straw Distress Ink by Ranger Ink
Washi Tape
Black Fine-tip Sharpie
Glossy Accents

I added some Glossy Accents to the center of the flowers to give the flowers an added dimension. It's hard to tell in the pics though, sorry!


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I hope I have inspired you to go get crafty and create!
Thanks for stopping by!
~ Cayla ~

Check out my Pinterest board:
  "CARD IDEAS"
for all the great ideas that inspired me to create these cards!

Also check out Allison Okamitsu's Blog:
NICE PEOPLE STAMP
Allison was the wonderful gal who taught me the fabulous ombre technique and how to overcome my fear of alcohol markers! :D

Friday 16 January 2015

Counting down the days...

Woot! Woot! 
Only one more week and then I get to make that borrrrrrring 6 hour drive back to Saskatchewan to come scrap with some of my crafty peeps! I am soooooo excited!!! :D
I have been looking forward to this trip for months now and I would drive half way around the world to be at this crop!
It's not going to be fancy or have big time, headliner scrapbook designer people there... but it will have some of the nicest ladies I have ever met, good homemade food and a whole lot of laughs! So I wouldn't dream of missing it for the world! :D 
I have been to this crop every year for the atleast the last 5 years (maybe more) as a store rep, but this year I am going just as myself and I get to play! :D 
Yayayayayayay!!!

But of course I was thinking I needed to be doing something a little extra for my good friend Lana, who is the one putting on the show with her lovely ladies from the Langham Library (this is a fundraiser crop to raise money for their local library!) So I started gathering a few things and may have put together a beautiful prize basket to donate! :D

Here is a little sneaky peak, but only a little one! I don't want to spoil the surprise!


I know that anyone who wins this fabulous prize is going to love it! I want to win it! Lol!

So now before I go and spend the next week agonizing over what supplies, tools and projects and I can fit into my vehicle between my kids and their suitcases, I want to share this cute little card I made. I have even written up a quick tutorial for you, so I hope you will give it a try!

Supplies I used:

"Work of Art" stamp set (Stampin Up!)
Whisper White Ink (Stampin Up!)
Black StazOn Ink
White Cardstock (5.5" x 8.5")
Black Cardstock (4" x 5.25")
Coral Cardstock (1.25" x 5")
Teresa Collins Sequins
Misc Dk Coral Twine
Glossy Accents
Corner Rounder
Heat Gun
Tweezers
Acrylic Block (for stamps)
3L Foam Adhesive
Scissors


  1. Round the corners of the black cardstock piece using the corner rounder.
  2. Stamp the background of the black cardstock using the Whisper White ink. I love this ink but it takes FOREVER to dry (if it ever dries), hence the heat gun. Use the heat gun until the ink is dry but be careful not to hold it in one place for too long!!! You can burn the ink and turn it brown! The heat gun is also hot enough to start the paper on fire, also another good reason NOT to hold it in one place for to long! :D
  3. Adhere the black cardstock to your card front using the foam adhesive. (I love dimension!)
  4. Trim your coral cardstock piece to make the banner.
  5. Stamp the zig zag pattern using black StazOn ink (Any other black ink will do too. I just love my StazOn. :D )
  6. Tie some of the dark coral twine around the banner and make a bow.
  7. Adhere the banner to the cardfront using the foam adhesive. (Yay! More dimension!)
  8. Using the Glossy accents and tweezers, add some sequins to your card. Again, there are other adhesives that would work to adhere the sequins, so use what you like best!)


This is a really cute and quick card that would work well for upcoming Valentines day or change up the colors and turn it into a birthday card! 



I just bought this stamp set and I LOVE it!  You can scroll through my 
for some great inspiring ideas on how to use it!

Well I guess I should run along now and get busy doing things! I look forward to seeing some of you in Langham next weekend! :D

~Cayla~







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