Splattered Masked Heart

My birthday was this past week, and I have a bunch of thank you cards to get sent out.   Growing up, my grandma was very big on making sure that I got thank you cards sent for birthdays and holidays. My stash is running a little low, so it's time to rebuild.  You can never have too many thank you cards around!

For this card, I wanted something fun, and cheery.  I love this color combo, and the finished card looks as though it took much more effort than it actually did.

I began by cutting my whisper white to 3-7/8".  I cut a heart (Sweet & Sassy Framelits) out of a piece of scrap type paper.  I attached that, slightly off-center, to my white panel with a bit of painters tape (TIP: stick, and unstick, the side of the tape that you plan on placing against your card stock, on the inside of your wrist a couple of times before putting the tape on your project.  This will keep it from being too sticky when you go to remove it.),  Then, I used my Gorgeous Grunge stamps to stamp the spatters around the edge of the heart.  Once I had the spatter effect that I wanted, I sponged just a little bit of Sahara Sand ink around the edge of the heart to emphasize the outline.  After that, I carefully peeled off the mask.  

I cut a Watermelon Wonder mat to fit underneath the white panel, and die cut a smaller heart from the Watermelon  Wonder, as well.  I stamped my sentiment onto a strip of Basic Black, in Versamark, and heat embossed it in white.  Then  I used my snips to make an angled cut on the end.

I added a little Wink of Stella to the smaller heart, as well as around the edge of the spatter heart.  Because that just wasn't enough sparkle for me, I added some random rhinestones mixed into the splatters.

This card came out so cheerful, with that fun color combo!  I hope you try this technique as masking is a fun way to a different look to your card.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                         

                                              

PS.  Want to earn free products?  Sale-A-Bration ends TODAY!  Don't miss out on the items you want -  shop and earn today!

Supplies: 

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Watermelon Wonder 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock	Sweet & Sassy Framelits Dies	Gorgeous Grunge Clear-Mount Stamp Set
One Big Meaning Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder
Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Pen	Rhinestone Basic Jewels	Stamping Sponges	Clear Block E	Clear Block D	Bone Folder
Embossing Buddy	Pink Heat Embossing Gun | Hobby Lobby | 506345	Big Shot	Big Shot Platform	Stampin' Trimmer	Stampin' Dimensionals
Scotch CAT 085 Advanced Tape Glider,Cure Pink	JVCC ATG-7502 ATG Tape [Acid Neutral]	Stampin' Mist	Stampin' Scrub

InLinkz.com

Paper Pumpkin | A Sara Thing

Stampin' Up! CEO, Sara Douglass, stepped into the designer role for the April 2017 Paper Pumpkin kit.  We're going to have a chance to work on a kit that she designed!

And, to sweeten it a little more, Sara is including a Free gift inside each April Paper Pumpkin kit.  For more information please watch this video.  And be sure to subscribe by April 10th to get this fun kit!

Paper Pumpkin is a fun, all inclusive, craft kit.  It's easy to take on the go, or it is a great gift for someone you know who enjoys creating.  Each kit includes all of the pieces to create the surprise project, and directions to make the assembly easy!

Sign up for a month-to-month subscription here, or sign up for a 1, 3, 6, or 12 month prepaid subscription here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                         

                                              

PS.  Want to earn free products?  Sale-A-Bration is currently going on, and with every $50 you spend you earn a FREE product.  There are some adorable stamps, ribbon, boxes and more in this year's Sale-A-Bration.  But the this doesn't last long so shop and earn today!

IIOTR | Presenting & Nerves

Finally - the presentation post!  This is the final post I will be making about IIOTR.  I've linked to Becky's blog at the end of this post if you would like to see more about this fun stamp camp event.

The Saturday session for Inking Idaho on the Road, is a bit of a blur to me.  At least the morning half.

When Becky first asked me to be a presenter, as part of the session, I knew I had to try.  But I warned her that public speaking terrifies me, and I might need a barf bucket nearby.  The last time I had spoken in front of a larger crowd was in my early twenties, and, quite frankly, I was practically in tears while doing so.

The first project I shared was this adorable little gift card envelope.

But I agreed, and I busily set to work figuring out what to create that I could demo for a larger group.  I finally decided on gift cards - since I'm the gift card queen in my family!

I love making gift card envelopes, and figured that I could find a way to make several things using the envelope punch board.  So I started with my standard envelope, and designed 3 other types of holders from there.

The second project was this file folder gift card holder - that holds two gift cards.

I decorated up each gift card holder in Carried Away Papers (A Sale-A-Bration exclusive item), and Used the Lift me Up Stamps, and the Up & Away thinlets to decorate the completed projects.

I spent the weeks leading up to the demonstration watching videos about public speaking, and rehearsing for my cats (they are STILL sick of gift card stuff at this point!!).  I was super anxious, and didn't sleep at all the night before.

The third gift card holder has spots for 3 gift cards, and folds up like a card.   A belly band keeps everything together.

I was the third to demonstrate that morning.  I figured as long as I didn't totally blank out when I sat in front of everyone, I'd be fine.  I started speaking, and then...

The camera watching my hands decided to go into sleep mode.  Darn Technology!  It threw me off a bit, but, as it was taking so long to reboot, we decided to keep going, and I just held the projects up for the audience until the camera restarted.

I also had a bit of trouble with the headset.  I recently cut my hair, and it kept getting in my face.  As I'd push my hair back it would get caught up in the mic.  By the end, the microphone was hanging on by the ends of my bob.  Looking back now - it was actually hilarious!  I was busy doing my best to power through, and not forget a step.

The final gift card holder, had spaces for 4 gift cards.

Thankfully, I had all the measurements and directions written out for those who attended, so they were able to get photos of how to recreate each of the projects.

After my presentation, I was able to sit back and enjoy the rest of the event.  It was great to be able to leave the anxiety behind and enjoy some time with some crafty friends.

After the presentations, Becky called me up to the stage to give me a thank you gift.  As a bonus - since I had not needed it after all - she presented me with the barf bucket.  

The whole event this year was amazing.  I heard many comments about how fun and inspiring it was, and such a great deal for what you experience.  There were so many people involved in bringing this together, and so many other wonderful displays, demonstrations, and project.  I highly encourage you to take the time to go visit Becky's blog, and see all of the wonderful images and stories she has shared about this year's Inking Idaho on the Road.

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,                                                         

                                              

PS.  TIME IS RUNNING OUT!  Sale-A-Bration is nearly over - just a few more days to shop and earn free products.  Every $50 you spend earns you a free Sale-A-Bration item, so get your order in before it's too late! Ends March 31st.