Washi Tape Sale 50% off ends today!

 Are you like me?  Do you have to plan your crafty purchases around payday?  With a teenage boy, draining me dry, I absolutely have to budget.  Which is why, I couldn't wait for today, the final day of the Simon Says Stamp Washi Tape sale.  Unfortunately for me, the super spectacular

extra-alley-docious (that's my word, not theirs...) watercolor tapes from We R Memory Keepers is already out of stock.  NOOO!  I'll be checking back throughout the day to see if they're back in stock (crossing fingers and toes).

Regardless, there's a whole host of other super cool washi tapes; Doodlebug Design, Heidi Swapp, My Minds Eye, just to name a few.  So hightail it over there before the rest are gone!

Use code WASHI at checkout.  It doesn't cost you a thing to use my affiliate link and I certainly appreciate it:  SSS Washi Tape Sale

 Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links so, if you purchase a product using the link I may receive a commission. I only participate in the affiliate programs linked above because they are products that I use and love. Your purchase price is not affected in any way, by using my links.  Thank you for your support and helping me keep my content free!

#simonsaysstamp #sss #washi #washitape #promocode #50off #wrmk #wermemorykeepers #cre8time

Painting and Distressing Paper Flowers (plus a little whimsy!)

 I see a lot of serious mixed media art and I'm blown away by the talent that's out there.  I personally know a few of those talented artists and can attest to the time and energy and love that goes into the art.  I've dabbled myself but, today, I thought I'd make something that mixes in a bit of whimsy.   Plus, Simon Says Stamp is having a fun challenge starting today, if you use their products.  More at the end of this post.

(Before you leave...come like me on FB!  facebook.com/wavingmywand )

I made some die cut flowers using my Cuttlebug and Simon Says Stamp Delicate Flower dies, along with the coordinating stamp set, Friendly Flowers.  You can purchase the set which is called Hi Lovely, here: Simon Says Stamp Hi Lovely set

I stamped the flowers with Simon Says Stamp Lavender Ink and then added some additional coloring by stamping onto my craft mat and diluting the color with water, then adding a bit of Ranger Picket Fence dabber mixed in and painting on some additional color.  I scrunched  up my flowers a bit,  then let them dry overnight.

For the whimsy, I colored onto the flower and petals with a white gel pen and gave it a "cartoonish" look.   Hey, sometimes it's fun to not take life too seriously!  I did some background stamping with the stamp that coordinates with the die, then, for the center of  the flowers on the card, I placed some Ranger glossy accent and added sead beads.

Here's a picture of the stamp and coordinating die set.

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge (use SSS products)
Sister Act Card Challenge #105

Additional supplies: Simon Says Stamp Premium Dye Lavender Ink, Twinkling H20's green shimmer paint, Quick Quotes Powder Puff purple chalk ink, May Arts Ribbon pink natural burlap string, Recollections Enamel Dot pastel green, seed beads (maker unknown), foam square dots

#ssswchallenge #simonsaysstamp #mayartsribbon #powderpuff #quickquotes #rangerink

Starting A Scrapbook Layout "About Me"

My friend Nancy suggested I start an album about me.  Actually, she suggested this a long while ago, however, I've finally decided it's time to do it.  I've been making cards for so long, I've sort of lost my "touch" with scrapping.  It wasn't until a weekend crop about a month ago, that I renewed my gusto for making layouts.  I would say it was my son who was the impetus.  Or rather, his nagging, that I get back to making layouts of his achievements.

Also, National Scrapbook Day just happened.  It's such a fun time to focus on the craft.  I plan to enter my layout into a couple fun challenges, one of which revolves around NSD.  Look for those at the end of this post and enter yourself!

Keep scrolling and I'll show you how I made this layout.  

I started by cutting some fun embellishments with my Cricut Explore and Graphic 45 papers.  I used the Floral Embellished cartridge for the designs.

I used my Tombow Dual brush pens to make watercolors on an acrylic block.

This is the technique I used, dipping a toothbrush into the color, then misting my doilies.  I also did some font writing using my Cricut to create the beauty sentiment, along with a Cricut pen in blue.  I added some Ranger Tropical Tangerine Stickles Glitter Glue as well.

What would we do without our crafty friends?  My good friend MariLynn made me some quilled flowers.  They're so tiny so I took my Tombow adhesive dots and cut them into four pieces to stick my pretty little flowers down.  It's a great way to use just a small piece, and extend your stash!

Here's a close-up of the butterfly that I cut with my Explore.  My layout background paper is Graphic 45  Time To Flourish and the butterfly is G45 Sweet Sentiments.

I've also added some pretty May Arts Ribbon.  Below, is the scalloped adhesive ribbon.  I also used the tiny floral bud adhesive ribbon, along with natural burlap string.

This definitely took some time to put together, particularly since my brain isn't functioning at full capacity by the days end, but I think I did okay.

Here are the challenges that I'm entering:

Tombow National Scrapbook Day Layout Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Coral

Graphic 45 May Challenge Layout on Facebook

Additional supplies: Bo Bunny crochet flower, We R Memory Keepers Enamel Dots, Gold foil chevron washi tape from Hobby Lobby St. Patricks Day collection, 6" doilies from Hobby Lobby, Recollections mini enamel dots pastel, Tombow Mono adhesive Power Bond, Bic Metallic gel pen, Cricut, Prima Marketing Flower clip, foam squares

#ssswchallenge #tombow #mayartsribbon #wrmk #graphic45

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links so, if you purchase a product using the link I may receive a commission. I only participate in the affiliate programs linked above because they are products that I use and love. Your purchase price is not affected in any way, by using my links.  Thank you for your support and helping me keep my content free!

Stranded Crafter Makes Card!

So, what do you do when you're dog-sitting for a week and don't have a craft room on wheels?  Well, first thing you do is make a quick trip home, if you don't live too far away (10 minutes) and grab some stuff.   Oddly enough, I'm at my mother's house.  I turned her to the dark side a couple years ago.  Yes, I dragged her kicking and screaming into my crafty world....guilty as charged.  Normally, I'd be able to work with some of her supplies.   Unfortunately, all her stuff is still boxed up from the last crop she went to. Ack!

I ran home and grabbed adhesive, stamps, ink, twine and and a bag that was still brimming from the last crop I went to.   My intent was to make a birthday card and use a stamp I recently received from Craftin' Desert Diva's.   I'll be using the Celebration WordArt today, found here:

Craftin' Desert Divas WordArt

I also plan to enter this card into a couple challenges listed below.  But first, the details.....

I used DCWV cardstock from the Blossoms and Butterflies stack including the flower die cuts which were cut from the stack, as well.   The balloons?  I hand-cut them from the same DCWV cardstock and embellished with my Laura Kelly Designs buttons from Buttons Galore and May Arts Ribbon pink natural burlap string.

I used my Tombow Dual Brush pens from the Bright Collection and directly inked onto the stamp.  Once stamped, I then re-traced with my pens for additional coloring.

Oh my golly goodness, I have discovered Gold Stickles glitter glue!  I am in love!  If you could see this card in person, the cupcake liner looks just like those gold liners you buy in the store.  I colored with my yellow Tombow pen, then added the Stickles.

Here is the crafter-math, on my mother's dining room table.  It's not too bad, is it? 

I'm entering  these challenges:

Craftin' Desert Diva's Anything Goes Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Birthday"

Sister Act Card Challenge

Additional supplies:  Thermoweb Medium Zots, Marvy ultra fine point Le Pen black, Tombow Mono Super Bond adhesive runner, Ki foam squares, American Crafts Taffy ink, Ranger blending tool