Happy Watercolour - and something new coming from Stampin'Up!

Coastal Cabana, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake

Here are couple of cards using the new Happy Watercolour stamp set from the Occasions Catalogue.
This set was on my wish list from the beginning, but I was a bit hesitant with it so I didn't include it in my preorder in December. Then I just had so many regrets that I had to order it - got it this past Friday and these are the 2 cards I have done with them so far.

I like how with this set you don't have to colour the flower, you just stamp that smuched watercolour image at the back!

Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Smoky Slate

The Second card has a vellum background and you know what happens to vellum when you emboss it? It turns white! so it gives you additional colour and texture at the same time!

I also used the new Scalloped Tag Topper Punch on this card. I just love those new tag topper punches! What's so great is that you can make your tags as long as you want them. Unfortunately it does limit the width of the tag to 2", but that is generally wide enough for most usage!

And then the news about the new product coming this spring!!!!

Blendabilities – Alcohol based blending markers

These markers will come in sets of 3 – with different shades (light, medium, dark) of the same color that will blend together to allow you to create gorgeously smooth colored images. The US price for the set of 3 is $11.95 (so the canadian will be a bit higher), and since they are not refillable (at this time), they are priced lower than other alcohol markers (like Copic)

There is also a Skin Tone Assortment set of six Blendabilities for $22.95 (US). Other new products will include a Memento Ink Pad, which you need to use with these alcohol markers, for $5.95 (US) and a refill for $4.95 (US). There is also a Blendabilities Color Lifter - a "magic eraser" - for $4.95 (US).

 

If you like Copic markers but don’t like the price, you will love these. Alcohol markers that blend beautifully and even a marker that removes color if you make a mistake. The chart shows the 12 color groups that will come in sets of 3. They will not replace our regular markers – the alcohol markers dry too fast to use on your stamps or to use aquapainters with. Think of these as another color tool to add to your tool box. They are square and won’t roll off your table, bullet tip on one end, brush tip on the other. They recommend using the Memento Tuxedo Black pad and NOT using StazOn, which is an alcohol based pad.

Petite Petals - what a great little stamp set!!!

Now this was one of the stamps sets that I thought that I would pass FOR SURE. After all, there were SO many other really cool stamp sets in the new Occasions Spring Catalogue. But you know what happened next - right??

Of course.... I saw someone (thanks Kim Skinner!!) use the stamp to create her own pattern paper - and I was sold! I just had to get the stamp - and as it comes in a bundle with a matching punch - well... it was a deal I could not pass :-)

So this first card was the one that sold me for the set - I modified it a bit from Kim's original (used different paper behind the bottom banner, used different greeting and didn't use the ruffle ribbon.

The colours are: Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush (all this year's in-colours)

Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron
all colours from the Retro Fresh family (Occasions)

Then I saw a cute card by Lisa Curao, where she had punched out the flowers (not sure if her version had them popped up with dimentionals). So the next card is a case from her card, with popped up flowers.

Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana,
Pistashio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe

Then I just had to do a spin off from that with different colours and this time I tried using just regular glue dots, so the flowers are not as raised.

So I'm really happy with the stamp set and the punch. Now I just have to use it more on my own designs and maybe use some other colours (I just love all the new in-colours and the colours from the Retro Fresh family!

But these cards just have such a sweetness to them - and they make me feel, like the summer is just around the corner - oh well... one can always dream (and it's snowing really heavily outside my craft room window....)

So, will this set be in your wish list now too?

A true WOW card!!!!

Okay, I take NO credit for this! This is all Cortney Kaczor's design. 

When I saw this card! I thought WOW!!!! And I had to see how she did it = case it to the umpth!!!

This is also a sneak peek for couple of things available in the new occasions Catalogue (starting early January)

Wow, right???

It's using 'peachy keen' stamp set (has a camera, couple of sentiments, arrows...) and 'on film' framelits, which has a polaroid, film strip, camera, arrows...

The colours are basic black, smoky slate and whisper white. The patterned paper is Winter Frost Designer Series paper from the holiday catalogue.

 The images are stamped with black Staz'On ink, except the 'hello' is stamped with Whisper White craft ink on basic black card stock. Oh and the film strip on the background is an individual stamp from the annual catalogue (forgot to write down the name of the stamp)