Botanical YOU (2nd Take!) and Winner Announcement

Hello friends!

It's time to announce the winners of my monthly Altenew $15 GC giveaway and Mystery Happy Mail! Please check it out at the end of the post to see if you are the lucky winner!

But first, it's about a card....

Botanical You Stamp & Die Bundle

with Botanical You

This set is super trendy and easy to work with.

As far as I can see, there is no other set quite like this one!

I came up with an unusual color combo.
I knew that I wanted to use grey and then I decided to add purple and teal.



Once I followed the guide and stamped and die cut the YOU. I then worked on the background with Grey ink. Starting with some ink-blending in the center, I used Warp Speed Stencil to accentuate the focus and color.
 
Warp Speed Stencil


To go with the warp speed theme, I added splatter with Antique Silver Ink Spray Mist and Pure White Ink Spray . I love how this turned out.



"YOU will do great things" is such an empowering sentiment.
I think the added Warp Speed Stencil truly enhances the design. 

Now onto the good stuff....my monthly Altenew giveaway goes to

From this post, Random.org picked

Glennis said...

Gorgeous card, and a perfect rescue!

May 22, 2018 at 2:29 PM

 Next, the Mystery Happy Mail goes to.....

Teresa Doyle said...
So beautiful Virginia and the Washi on the Hi sentiment looks great. I really like the Rustic Linen stamp as I think it would be great for masculine cards (or any type but I struggle with cards for men). The Garden Silhouette set is one of my faves, I'd LOVE to see a wreath made with that!
Side note: IF I 'were' to win your mystery pack, would you mind "rubbing it with a little crafty talent" before you mail it? Thanks! HAHA

May 29, 2018 at 8:43 AM

Congratulations, Glennis and Teresa. 
Please contact me to claim your prize by 11:59pm, EST June 5th. (prize claimed)

I will definitely do the pop-up Mystery Happy Mail again.
Please be sure to watch out for my future posts.
Again, thank you for your support and feedback.
Glad that you stop by today!
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All the latest sales and promotions from Altenew, Spellbinders, Scrapbook.com, Concord and 9th, Neat and Tangled, Simon Says Stamp can be found here (updated daily).

 Shop Altenew
 Halftone Circle Nesting Die---> 35% off shop here

From Altenew May 21st release

Shop the latest here,  sales here

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Scrapbook.com offers FREE SHIPPING for US order over $55

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY (till 11:59pm PST)

use code SHIPJUN2018 at the check out
Use code SAVEJUN2018 to get $5 off international shipping

Add Textures with Embossing Paste (& Faux Watercolor Stamping)

Hello friends!

I am popping in with a quick post about using stencil and embossing paste.

There is nothing new about this technique. 

However, I came across with this new embossing paste and thought it is really cool one. 

If you are thinking of getting the Embossing Paste. AC Mixed Media Glaze
is great and easy on the budget (versus others cost up to $10-12)

American Crafts - Mixed Media Collection - Glaze

from: Scrapbook.com (I used Iridescent Glaze)
Shop SSS here


Altenew - Clear Acrylic Stamps - Just for You 

I have been wanting to create with the Stamp set "Just For You"  and I finally got around to it.

I used the color combo of Coral and Orange and loved how it mixed! The inks I used are listed at the end of the post.

Not sure how you can get a faux watercolor look?

Ding---> First, you will need Bristol or Light to Medium watercolor paper as they are water-absorbent. All you need to do before stamping,  simply spritz a very small amount of water before stamping. Then let the water mix with the ink and do all the work!

I love doing Partial Stenciling as it adds just the right amount of textures and interest without distracting the focal point. I did also sprinkle some of my old Martha Stewart Glitter over the wet stenciled paste and let it dry.


I hope that you find today's post helpful and inspiring.
Please check out the Mystery Happy Mail Giveaway if you have not done so.
I will announce the winners (along with Altenew $15 GC Giveaway) tomorrow.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All the latest sales and promotions from Altenew, Spellbinders, Scrapbook.com, Concord and 9th, Neat and Tangled, Simon Says Stamp can be found here (updated daily).

 Shop Altenew
 Halftone Circle Nesting Die---> 35% off shop here

From Altenew May 21st release

Shop the latest here,  sales here

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scrapbook.com offers FREE SHIPPING for US order over $55

use code SHIPJUN2018 at the check out
Use code SAVEJUN2018 to get $5 off international shipping

EASY Way to Add Shine to a Die (& Mystery Happy Mail)

Hello friends!

First of all, I'd like to mention that there are still lots of Memorial Day sales going on as today is the last day. You can find all the details in this page here (updated).

I am planning to mail and give out more cards in the coming months.

Today's card will be perfect for mailing.

Altenew RUSTIC LINEN Clear Stamps
from: Simon Says Stamp

 The textures from Rustic Linen is perfect for ANY style of background.

Other than stamping twice with  Rustic Linen,
 I also used Altenew's Watercolor Washi Tape to add interest.



The sentiment is consist of the design paper and gold glitter tape (from The New Day Card Kit).
The NEW Fine Alphabet Diesoffers great modern and trendy look.


Altenew FINE ALPHABET Dies ALT2272
from: Simon Says Stamp

 Ding--->  Dress up your dies with a piece of  Washi Tape 

You can see the example "HI". I used Gold Glitter Tape with the word die. All you need to do is 

1. apply it onto the card stock

2. position the die (depend on where you want the shine!)

3. run it through the die cut machine. Voila!

Simple? YES. Do you do that often? Probably not!

  


The Garden Silhouette is such a versatile set.

Garden Silhouette Stamp Set

This is the kind of stamps that I would love to bring when traveling.
I would LOVE to stamp a WREATH from this set!!
Would you like to see that? Do let me know in your comment!

💥💥💥Would you like to receive a mystery happy mail from me?💥💥💥
Please leave me a comment in TODAY''s POST (one comment per person)

I will announce the winner on May 31st (along with the lucky winner of $15 Altenew GC).


NEW!!!
Special promotion from Altenew!

Receive a FREE Create and Inspire Scrapbook Edition 2(value $7.99) with every order of the Reflection Scrapbook Collection from 5/28/2018!
 Get the Reflection Scrapbook Collection here

edited: Scrapbook.com offers FREE SHIPPING

Shop Altenew products here

FREE Shipping on orders $55+ (Coupon Code: SHIPJUN2018)

FREE standard shipping on any order of $55 (or more). Shop for any items you want in the Scrapbook.com Store then enter coupon code SHIPJUN2018 during checkout. All shipping costs will be removed from your order.* Expires May 31st at midnight PST.

*Please note: If your shipping address is outside of the contiguous US, enter code SAVEJUN2018 at checkout to get $5 off your order discount instead.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

A Dramatic Take with Starry Flowers!

Hello friends!

I hesitated about sharing today's card!

BECAUSE it is kind of ....well. a Hot Mess and.... too. much. alcohol ink!

Starry Flowers Stamp Set from ALTENEW

Starry Flowers Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp

However, I debated and decided that you might not mind seeing it. 😁

So, without further ado, ta-da!

First of all, I planned out where my Starry Flowers will be and then inked up each area with alcohol ink. Using alcohol ink is kind of a bold move, but I wanted to experiment....

The uncontrollable element of alcohol-inking is all part of the fun!
When it comes to alcohol ink (or crafting in general), there is no right or wrong.
To me, as long as you spend the time to hone your skills, you will get SOMEWHERE.
It took me many years to learn to stamp and stamp to my satisfaction...
I am constantly learning and experimenting.

I hope that you take my cue and try experimenting with the medium that you own and have fun with it! Sometimes it's just nice to be reminded of things that you already HAVE and try it!

Lastly, a little heart-to-heart share! 

A few of you asked me whether I will still do videos....
The truth is, I still want to create videos!  I just don't know when yet!
I feel bad for my YT subscribers that I have not post anything over a year!
 The card-making/ blogging itself took up all of my free time. Each post takes me at very least an hour to link up the products and describe my cards.  AND we are not talking about creating the cards itself, taking good photos of t the card. Sometimes I wish I have more time to create than doing other things. But then again, I will never be able to share with you all if I don't do those task.

I now work part-time as the Coordinator of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I know I bombard you with sales and promotions nearly every post. To me, this is how I "justify" my time since I share all my tips and techniques without any cost to you. If you purchase through my affiliate links, GREAT. If not, I totally understand. I mean, how many more MISTI and Distress Oxide.....do one NEED?😁😉 As long as you care to spend some time here and watch me do stamping tricks, I will continue to blog and share! I hope to create videos some day.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by!
You will find all the latest SALES on THIS PAGE! 

(all products are linked below. Please use them to get to the source.
Sorry... I forgot what set that the sentiment is from.)

 
 From Altenew May 21st release

Shop the latest here,  sales here 

 3 days only! Get 15% off on the Memorial Day Sale collection with code MEMORIAL2018 at checkout. Valid from 5/26/2018 at 12:01 am EST until 5/28/2018 at 11:59 pm EST. 172 products available! Not valid on previous orders. Cannot be combined with other promo codes. 

Shop HERE

$7 off on all orders over $100 with code SHIP70FF 

FREE U.S. shipping on orders over $200 with code SHIPFREE 

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Simon Says Stamp's new release "Sending Sunshine"

You can check out my post about Bohemian Lace here.

Use code: RANGER25 
Use code FWR528 to get $5 off of your order!
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Scrapbook.com offers 15% off---> here

Shop Clearance here over Scrapbook.com

Shop clearance here 
Tim Holtz Stamp Positioner (travel size)--> here

A Card with Layers and Multicolor-Stamping

Hello friends!

I am popping in with a card with LOTS of layers and details.

Garden Silhouette Stamp Set
(all product links are listed at the end of this post)

Once in a while, I love making cards with tons of details...

Today's card is one of those!

I simply could not help adding more and more layers of stamping and embellishments.


Garden Silhouette Stamp Set

A card with layers usually comes with three basic elements:
1. background: it's the foundation of the card. I chose to stamp around the border with Garden Silhouette Stamp Set as they give such a subtle and soft feel to the design.

2. focal point: I used a frame die in Gold Foil paper as it draws the eyes to the center of the card. In this case, I stamped the sentiment in multi-colors.

3. embellishments: I created some simple floral embellishments with Washi Tape. These embellishments make the card look even more appealing.

A card like this requires few skills, yet with some advance planning, it is easy to create! 

When you are stuck with card ideas, think of the three elements (background, focal point, embellishment) that I mentioned in this post. 

If you find my posts helpful, please kindly consider using my affiliate links to make your craft-shopping. This will encourage me to continue to share!

Here is my other design with

Garden Silhouette Stamp Set.

Please note that every month, Altenew offers my followers/readers a chance to win $15 gift card. 

Do feel free to comment on any of the Altenew post for your chance.

3 days only! Get 15% off on the Memorial Day Sale collection with code MEMORIAL2018 at checkout. Valid from 5/26/2018 at 12:01 am EST until 5/28/2018 at 11:59 pm EST. 172 products available! Not valid on previous orders. Cannot be combined with other promo codes. 

Shop HERE

MORE SALES at the end of this post.
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(click on photo to shop)

 use code RANGER25 at the check out to get 25% off
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Scrapbook.com offers 15% off---->shop here

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Shop Altenew SALES here

You can check out the sales and promo page here.