Getting Back in the Groove

I returned from vacation late Wednesday night, went straight back to work early Thursday morning and today (Saturday) was my first opportunity to be creative.  I failed miserably today, but I did have a chance to put finishing touches on some cards I created when I was at StampNation Live last month.  I wanted to share a few of them with my followers.

First let me tell you a little about StampNation.  It's a fabulous online community of crafty people from all over the globe.  I'm not one for message boards, but this is the most accepting and amazing group.  I just love it there.  So much to learn and share, and everyone is super nice.  The design team is amazing as well, and while I've been papercrafting for years and consider myself an expert at scrapbooking, I've learned so much about stamping and card making from StampNation.

Last month I attended StampNation Live in Raleigh . . . and it was awesome.  They had "try-it" tables where you could try some techniques.  I walked away with some swatches that I was able to take back and create a card with, and I thought I would share a few of them on my blog.

I'm focusing on two techniques/products today.  The first is Hero Arts daubers which I had not used before.  At the table we tried two techniques using these daubers.  The first was to basically wash them across white cardstock using a light gray, a light blue and a white and create a bit of an ocean look.  I took that back to my table and created the card below.  
 

You can see the colors of the daubers as they blend across the cardstock.

Using those same daubers, we created a background using two colors and overlapping.  I chose a turquoise and a yellow.  And then at a second try-it table, we were exploring using Faber-Castell Gelatos, mixed with a glaze that we brayered onto watercolor paper.  That is the orange piece that you see in the card below. 

I am loving the texture of that orange/yellow piece created with the gelatos. 

And here is a second card using more of that gelato-brayered piece.  For this one I went a little crazy to make a card for a friend. 

The cat has an Action Wobble, so he is not only popped, but he wobbles.  

The inside of the card has a cute little surprise . . . the cat's behind, also with an Action Wobble.  And those sentiments are just so fun (from Lil' Inker Designs).  

I have some other cards created with other "try-it" pieces.  I'll share them in a future post.

If you're looking for a place to learn and grow, I highly recommend you check out StampNation.  It's a great place to create.

Supplies Used - Always Praying for You

Cardstock:  Neenah (card base) and ? for the swatch

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Always & Forever

Ink:  Hero Arts Daubers and Stampin' Up

Ribbon:  Scrap of Twine from my stash

Other:  Flower from my stash, Ki Rhinestones

Supplies Used - You Amaze Me

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up (card base), ? For the swatch, and watercolor paper

Stamps:  Rat Race from Lil' Inkers

Ink:  Hero Arts Daubers, Faber-Castell Gelatos, Stampin' Up, Memento

Ribbon:  Stampin' Up

Other:  Ki Rhinestones

Supplies Used -

Cardstock:  Neenah and Watercolor

Stamps: Art Impressions Little Behind Set, Lil' Inkers Shiny Happy Sentiments and Snarky Sentiments.

Dies:  Memory Box Cornerstone Seal, My Creative Time (star button on inside of card)

Ink:  Ranger Archival, Copic Markers, and Faber-Castell Gelato

Ribbon:  Some Odd Girl Bamboo Twine

Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Action Wobble, Arrow Clip from Stampin' Up, and a random charm