While I Am Away...

Just to give you a little something to look at while I am away. It is something than can be plain, easy and simple, or more work involved while more elaborate with fun creative things added.

Have you ever heard of BULLET JOURNALING?

If you go to YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram, there are a ton of photos. videos and blogs out there to give you all the information you want. There are minimalist Bullet Journalers, and those that love to decorate from a little to a lot using what ever interests them. Some may look a little more like a scrapbook. others like a doodle pad, some like a sketchbook or include watercolour images, and others yet that love to use colour via tomboy markers. I have even come across some that use their stamps and ink pad in their Bullet Journals.

I have been experimenting in an extra Bullet Journal notebook and since I have a lot of stamps and love what you can do with them all, especially colouring them in. I found however, that with all dark ink colours, the stamped images either seep through the paper or ghost heavily. The same goes for the darker markers one may use. I do not recommend comic colouring as that will always seep through no matter the colour. What does work though is something that many colouring people will love. Coloured pencils work beautifully, and water colour if you do not use too much water. You can also watercolour on watercolour paper and then attach it inside your journal.

One thing that I found I love to do is search out quotes memes and print them off in 5 x 7, 4 x 6. or wallet sized onto sticker paper. I cut them up, and whenever I want one in my Bullet Journal, or'BuJo" as many will say, I will peel off the backing and place them where ever I want.

Without further ado, let me show you the very first page of my BuJo. The "Happy 2018" page.

For this page I used a background stamp from My Favourite Things called "Etched Flower Background". I coloured it in using Spectrum Noir Aquablend (Watercolour) pencils and a blender pen rather then an Aqua water brush. I had great fun doing this while I watched MeTV.

How did I get the white space in the enter? I masked that space using a couple of Post-It notes that I trimmed down a bit, stamping over it and then removing the mask to colour. Then when completed I used a black marker to create the frame.

I almost caught at the hand lettering here, because I think I have improved somewhat since I did this one. It wasn't until after I stamped the image that I noticed the stamp had gone over the right edge of the page onto the page underneath. Next time I start a new BOJO I will remember that first page issue.

OK. That's it for today. If you want to see what come next in the BuJo set up come back tomorrow for a peek.

Happy creating!

• My Favourite Things stamp "Etched Flower Background"
• Spectrum Noir Aquablend Pencils - Naturals
• Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils - Florals

Spellbinders Four Seasons Tree Class Photos

Before I leave for Alberta, I decided to take a moment and quickly post the photos of the last Spellbinders Educator class we had last week. Originally we had scheduled the "Poppy" class, but due to popular demand, we have not yet received our die order, so we switched the March class, Four Seasons Tree and the Poppies classes. (be sure to check out my note/question after my signature)

Here is the link to the class announcement, and here are the photos form the class.

I kind of forgot to take photos while the first card was being constructed. But you can see the 'sympathy' card completed.

In this next photo you can see both the first card, and the completed second card.

Now for the third and final card of the class.

We had a great time in class, and would like to say that those of you that ended up not being able to make it to class, we missed having you there.

Happy creating everyone! See you when I get back.

A question for you all...

Somewhere around the end of September/beginning of October, I came across the "Bullet Journal" system. The more I researched the concept, the more I felt this was something that might help me. So come January1, 2018 I was set up to begin my very first Bullet Journal. Would be interested in seeing my bullet journal layouts on this blog? I have found the system not only helpful, but another creative outlet that I look forward to every day. You can keep your customized system as simple or as elaborate as you like.

Let me know if you are interested in seeing what I do in the comments below, and I will include posts every month on my monthly set up/layout.

Rustic Card Kits for Sale at Scrapbook Essentials BC - Part 2

Welcome Back!  I am sure that you are wanting to see the last four cards in the Rustic Card kit from yesterday's posting.

We will start with the fifth card in the photo. It is a card with a pull out tag.

The two small cards you see are attached together and then popped up on the pull out page with dimensional foam and acts as a stopper so that the tag can not be pulled out of the card, but still reveals a sentiment. The sentiment actually reads 'birthday wishes' but with the stopper you can not see the last two letters.

A fun card! Let's see the side view.

For this card I used:

• Spellbinders "Fall Leaves" (S3-270)
• Altenew  "Tulip" for the 'birthday wishes'

This next card (the photo colours are a bit off) is a great one for a birthday card or Father's Day card.

The three little tags are attached to the card at the bottom, but popped up at the top. Not only does this give some dimension to the card but with the twine it keeps the tags from looking odd if you were to try and attach them flat onto the card. And, it allows for less thickness where you can pop up one of the little leaves. You can see that in the next photo. You will note the highlights created with my white Gel Pen. So the white is not so stark, I used my ink blending tool (which was used on all the cards) and without reining it, gently went over the white marks.

To make this card I used:

• Spellbinders "Fall Leaves" (S3-270)
• Altenew "Bold Alphabet" Die Set

Next is this cute card. The die cut frame you see is cut directly out of the plaid paper and flipped over to the back side and popped up in the spot it was cut out from with a different paper piece under it.

The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is die cut out three times (the kits only have two) and each layer glued over the other making it much thicker. as you can see it pops out of the card so much better than a single layer usually does.

You can see the layering better in this side view.

I used the following on this card:

• Spellbinders "Fall Leaves" (S3-270)
• Spellbinders "Labels Eight" (S5-019)
• Spellbinders "Sentiments One" (S2-082)

The last card in the kit is what is called a Double Z Card. These are much easier to make than you may think. This. card that people always love to receive.

Again the "Congratulations" sentiment is die cut three times (two in the kits) and glued together to form a thicker versions that pops off the card. The die cut "Little Plants" are glued on here and there on top or from behind (on the strip).

The white section inside the card (it actually is ivory) is left blank to write something to the receiver of the card. If you choose to add beautiful collection paper here as well, you can always write on the back of the card, or between the folded parts of the front of the card.

Here is what I used to create this card:

• Spellbinders "Sentiments One" (S2-082)
• Spellbinders "Little Plants" (S3-303)

I thank you for stopping by again today to have a closer look at the last four cards in the Rustic Card Kit. Remember, if you would like to purchase a kit, it does not matter where you live because it will be shipped to you, contact Stacey at - sbebc2011@gmail.com  or  778-533-4290. The kits are $25.00 Canadian, plus tax and shipping costs.

Hope you have been inspired to created your own ideas from these cards as well. 

There will be a long break in posts, as I do not have anything to post for you and schedule while I am away visiting family in Alberta the first half of February. So feel free to check out the blog for earlier posts for any inspiration you need. It is always fun to go back to previous years, too. Just look for the years on the right side of the blog under "Blog Archive" to have some fun browsing.

Happy creating!

Rustic Card Kits for Sale at Scrapbook Essentials BC

Hello everyone!

Today I get to share with you something that was not created for a class, but created for a card kit to sell at Scrapbook Essentials BC. A kit with 8 cards all ready to assemble. All that has to be done is ink, stamp and assemble!

Using the 6 x 6 Authentique "Bountiful" collection. It has a rustic Autumn look, so the kit is named "Rustic Card Kit". Since there are a lot of photos, I will break it up to keep theist a little shorter.

Here are all eight of the cards together in one photo.

I guess I might as well show them to you in the same order as you see them in the photo.

This card can be used for any number of occasions. The 'happy' of course makes you think to add "birthday" to  the card, which you can do. But you can also add "anniversary", "trails", "thanks", "you", and whatever else you can think of.

Here is the card seen from the side.

In case you are interested in knowing the dies I used for this card, here is the list.

• Altenew Bold Alphabet
• Sizzix Framelits Stars

The next card is a very easy card to make. If I were to make this card again, I would double heat emboss the "Happy Birthday" sentiment to make the gold embossing higher and smoother. I would also add some twine in the wood tee button or place loops of gold wire thread behind it. I did not have any of these, but id you do and case t his card, you can give it a try.

Here is the side view.

The stamps and dies used are as follows:

• Spellbinders "Little Plants" (S3-303)
• Altenew Super Script Stamp Set

The third card you see in the first photo is this one -

My one wish for this card, if I were to make it again, is to not ink the edges quite that much so that I could see more of the Aqua colour.  I like the Aqua peeking through the letters. Here is the side view.

This is what I used for this card:

• Altenew Bold Alphabet Dies
• Spellbinders "Fall Leaves" (S3-270)

The last card I will show you today is made up of DIY tags.

Making tags form a collection paper is easy, and a great way to coordinate colour combinations. Here is the side view. The colouring in the photos is poor, but you can see how things are layered.

If you like the large script sentiment, it is:

• Altenew Super Script Stamp Set

If any of you are interested in purchasing a kit or two, you may contact Stacey at - sbebc2011@gmail.com  or  778-533-4290. The kits are $25.00 Canadian plus tax and shipping costs.

Well that is it for today. Stop by again for a closer look at the other four cards in the kit.

Happy creating!

MISTI & Altenew Class #2 - Tulip

Today we are having our first MISTI or Stamping Platform class combined with introducing, new to Scrapbook Essentials BC, Altenew layered stamps! Also today, I am sharing what we will be doing in our 2nd MISTI & Altenew class for March. I will be visiting my sisters and my daughter in February, so the 2nd class will not be until March.

Here is the layered stamping we will do in class.

MISTI Class & Altenew # 2 - TULIP

WHEN: Tuesday, March 13th. FULL
TIME: 6:00 - 8:00 (8:30)
COST: $40 + GST (Includes Stamp Set)

To register for this class contact Stacey at - sbebc2011@gmail.com  or  778-533-4290.

Another Exciting MISTI & Altenew class; our 2nd one! In this class we will focus not only on layered stamping, but the use of white Gel Pens to add highlights to your stamping. We will also used some old favorite techniques that you may not have used for a while to combine with our stamping platform fun.

Just a note...We may only get our stamping, inking done in class, and not actually get to assembling the cards. Your kits will include all the needed pieces to complete the cards at home if needed. If we do get them done in class, that will be a bonus! 

NOTE ON THE INK PADS - Since the focus of the class is how to maximize your MISTI or Stamping Platform tool and introduce you to layered stamping and Altenew stamps, we are not focusing on what ink pads or specific colours to bring to class. As long as your ink pads are water based dye inks, you will be fine. You can even pick different colours from the ones that I used. And, you do not need to have three different colours to use layered stamps. You can use just one colour to get three different tones, or even just two. Your ink pads do not even need to be from the same company. So feel free to choose your colours and ink pads from what you have at home.

I did not use the following stamp pads listed below, however these are the closest in colour to what most of you have (Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads), or just bring whatever colours you want. You do not need to use the same colours for your tulips.

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads
Peeled Paint & Mowed Lawn or Forest Moss, Picked Raspberry & Festive Berries, Broken China, Squeezed Lemon & Mustard Seed or Fossil Amber, Spun Sugar or Worn Lipstick & Abandoned Coral, Shaded Lilac & Dusty Concord, and Candied Apple & Fired Brick.You will also require a black ink pad like Memento Black Tuxedo.

PLEASE BRING TO CLASS - MISIT or Stamping Platform with magnets, Glossy Accents, white Gel Pen, 3 x 3 Super Sticky Post-It-Notes (these have adhesive on nearly the entire back of each note), White 3D Foam Tape (or other white foam tape), scissors, mini-mister with water, heat tool, medium sized clear stamping block, stamp cleaner and micro cloth (or well washed new $1 store kitchen dish cloth), 3/4" circle punch, a ruler, non-stick craft mat, and the ink pads and colours of your choice.

ADDED JANUARY 23rd

The class is so popular, we have had to add a second class, and it too is already full!

WHEN: Wednesday, March 21st FULL
TIME: 6:00 - 8:00 (8:30)
COST: $40 + GST (Includes Stamp Set)

To register for this class contact Stacey at - sbebc2011@gmail.com  or  778-533-4290.

Back to the previous post...

Here is a closer look at the cards we are making. Note the Nuvo Drops & Glossy Accents as well as the white Gel Pen highlights.

Single Tulip hand cut out of the card stock.

Stamping your image bending the stamps to shape and then die cutting a section to pop up.

Love you get a peek of the pink card stock underneath the raised section.

Masking and multiple flower colours...

Looking forward to this class and seeing you there!

Happy stamping!

Altenew Striped Floral Valentine for Dad

Hello everyone! Today's post is not class related, and I know that Valentines is a bit off into the future, but if I do not post it now, I might forget. Plus there is the time does go by quickly and it will be Valentines before we know it.

One day I was cleaning up my craft area and came across the Altenew Striped Floral stamp set. I wondered if I could make a masculine card using the set, and sat down with it deciding to make a valentine card for my Dad, and came up with this card.

Used Altenew's Platinum embossing powder on the black card stock. It looks better in real life than in the photo. Because I used my stamping platform, I was able to double heat emboss the striped flowers which helped to make the embossing smoother, thicker, and added more dimension.

I also love how the Nuvo Crystal Drops in Ebony Black look on the black card stock.

My heart shaped dies are still packed away in storage, so I had to cut a heart out of the red card stock with my scissors. Again the "for you" is heat embossed in Platinum on the the red (single layer only).

I think that I proved to myself that a person can create a masculine card with flower stamps. It just depends on the colours and techniques you use. I think my 84 year old Dad will like this card.

Thank you for stopping by to have a look! Maybe you will make your own personal challenge to create a masculine card using a floral stamp set...

Tomorrow I will share another MISITI / Stamping Platform & Altenew class, so be sure to stop by again to have a peek.

Happy creating!

Sharing Class Photos - Graphic 45 Seasons Step Cards

Saturday I taught my first card class for 2018. It was the G45 SEASONS STEP CARD class, and the ladies did a beautiful job on their cards while having a lot of fun.

I did forget, at the beginning of class, to take some photos until the 'Spring' cards were completed. If you would like to see the photos a littler larger, just click on them.

Starting the 'Summer' card.

Now for the 'Autumn' card.

And the 'Winter' card.

Thank you ladies for coming to class and for the enjoyable time we had in class together.

Happy creating everyone!