3/6 Little Friends and Occasions Alphabet and More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper

Good Evening Friends,

If you placed an online order with me Last month or attended my open house, you may be getting one of these pretty friendship cards in the mail this week! 

My good friend Jenny sat down and helped me watercolor a bunch of them and honestly, I had a ball with her!  :) 

If you are interested on how to watercolor with markers, I did a tutorial here.

Measurements:

The Real Red Base Layer measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is scored at 4 1/4" and folded in half.

The large hearts DSP layer is 5 1/4 x 2 3/4" and the small hearts is 5 1/4" x 1 3/4"

The very vanilla strip across the front measures 1/2" wide and was cut down from 4 1/4"

Here's another look at this pretty card.

Stamps: Little Friends and Occasions Alphabet stamp sets
Ink: real red, primrose petals, soft suede, and pool party, and More Amore Designer Series Paper
Paper: Real red, very vanilla, watercolor paper, primrose petals
Accessories: markers and aquapainters, self adhesive rhinestones

Want to see more examples of Watercoloring with markers?  Click here to see more samples!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful night!

Love,
Selene Kempton
Stampin' Up! Creative Coach
My Stampin' Up! Store 

9/24 Stampin' Up! Seasonal Sayings and Cottage Window

Good Morning Friends!

I'm so excited to be getting back to a somewhat normal schedule.  I took 3 weeks to document the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Class planner and the feedback so far has just blessed my heart.  There are several demonstrators who purchased the planner (for charity) and are planning their own October fundraiser for Breast Cancer.  It's fun to see a big idea get bigger!  

Well, it's club this week, and I'm warming up in the studio with this pretty card for Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure if you can see the blue behind the pumpkins, it's very understated, along with the sweetly glittered pumpkins.  I just love this time of year!

So here is a supply list to get started:

Stamps: 

127282 Cottage Window, clear mount

128009 Sensational Season, clear mount.

Ink: 

Stazon black, soft suede ink pads

Markers: 

soft suede, pool party, more mustard, pumpkin pie

Paper, Pool Party, More Mustard, and Watercolor Paper

Accessories:

Pool Party Seam Binding, Bold Brights Buttons (this one is pumpkin pie), Pool Party Bakers twine to tie up my faux bow and an aqua painter.

I'm so thankful to be seeing my clubbers this week and show them how to make this card.  If you are local to me, please come try out stamp club!  We have a few openings now and a new group forming! 

Rubbah hugs!

Selene Kempton

Online Ordering

Stampin' Up! Life Shared ~ Yes! I made it! and some amazing pictures

Good Afternoon Friends!



I'm writing today from vacation up in the white mountains of New Hampshire.  I've done quite a bit of stamping before this week, and didn't bring any stamping with me on a much needed vacation. 

It's a little chilly for these bones to be swimming in the pool today.  It's only 73 degrees outside.  My hubby took my daughter over to the pool.  I've been wanting to share something so very special with all of you and I've been caught up in taking a little time off.  I wasn't feeling very good at the end of last week and wanted to take a little time out to take care of myself. 


Before my hubby woke this morning, I grabbed my little one and walked the campground.  It's good, and I need to get back to taking walks in the morning. 

Yesterday we did a little shopping to support the economy up in North Conway.  We did our part.  ;-)  So, the big question has been if I earned the trip to Fiji with Stampin' Up! 

The short answer is yes!  I earned the trip thanks to LOTS of orders and wonderful friends who support me while I stay at home and am there for my daughter.  Every single order of glue dots and stamp sets make a huge difference to me!  So, yes I earned it, thanks to so many of you!! :)  I'm sure it will be a trip of a lifetime and I'm ever so thankful to my team and friends.  It's hard to call your "friends" by the title of customer. 

This year has been quite a journey, and I'm thankful to so many people.  I'm also thankful to God who continues to bless my life by bringing so many wonderful crafters into my life.  

So the card above is from the stamp set Life shared 126820. This is a single stamp in stampin up's catalog on page 60.  When I assembled this wood mounted stamp set, I cut the words apart from the image and attached it to the side of my block, so if I want just the words, I have that, and if I just want the kids in the wagon, I have that too!  :) 

Using black stazon ink, I stamped the focal point on watercolor paper, and colored it with markers and an aqua painter.  I started by drawing "L's" on different parts that I wanted to color and just moved the color over, making sure to leave some parts uncolored.  The best water colorists, in my opinion, know what NOT to color.  To check out a step by step marker water coloring tutorial, check out this post. I often get the question of "why do you use stazon ink so much", well, stazon doesn't move when you want to watercolor on top of it. 

I found the cute riding hood red taffeta ribbon on the clearance rack and just made a faux bow with the vintage brad.  I used the framed tulips embossing folder, and sponged the outside with riding hood red classic ink.  

Stamps: 126820 Life Shared

Ink: Rich Regals Markers, Aqua Painters, stazon ink black (to stamp on the watercolor paper)

Paper: Crumb Cake Card Stock, Riding Hood Red Card Stock, Watercolor Paper

So ~ after doing some shopping yesterday in New Hampshire, we took a ride up "The Kanc".  That's the Kancamangus highway that cuts up and over a mountain.  There are lots of scenic areas along the way and of course we stopped.  If you are not friends with me on Facebook, make sure you "friend" me, so you can see the rest of the photos we got.  it was a glorious day up on the mountain.  :)  God showed us so many of his paintings including this tree at the Hancock Trailhead off the Kanc.  I had so much fun just taking some pictures and spending time with Brian and Alexis. 

We also saw a fabulous rainbow or two.  We were told that there was a double at one point, but we didn't see that one.   Here's one that I saw and got a quick photo of. 

And finally, here's a photo of my two best buds.  This is my hubby Brian and daughter Alexis at one of the outlook points.  My favorite photo of the day for sure.  :)

So, there is one more thing!  (Speaking of reason's to smile). 

If you decide to place an order with me this month, stampin up is running a sale on the Reason to smile stamp set.  Place a $50 order through my website (or your demonstrator if you have one), before tax and shipping and get the reason to smile stamp set in clear or wood for only $5! 

This GORGEOUS set will only be around for the month of July, so don't miss out on getting yours! 

Here are the links for the
Wood mount stamp set 131274
or the Clear mount stamp set 131275

Note the links or item numbers will only work after selecting $50 in merchandise in my online store first. :)

So ~ just another reason I LOVE Stampin' Up!  They created samples for us to look at!  Check out these cute items made with the reason to smile stamp set!  Just print this fun sheet if you have the stamp set and you'll be able to come back to it over and over again. 

Well that's all for today.. I *might* have more to share this week, but honestly I'm going to go spend some time with the family and try and relax a little!  :)  I actually left my stamping stuff at home!  :)

Rubbah hugs!
Selene Kempton

Clean and Simple Challenge

Good Evening! 

It's school vacation week, so I'll be juggling stuff this week.  I didn't play along with mojo Monday this morning like normal.  I started to put a card together for it, and I just couldn't find my mojo.. LOL

When I saw that the clean and simple challenge over on SCS this week was stitching, I pulled out a set that I have been dying to play with! 

First ~ daisy's are my favorite flower, and I just love this sentiment.  Clean and simple cards are supposed to be simple, more about the design than extra layers or fancy frills.  Although I think I got a little carried away with the bow. 

I started with the center panel which is watercolor paper.  I stamped the flower from the Every Moment Stamp Set using a Stazon Black Ink Pad.  I sponged the background using Old Olive and Bashful Blue Ink Pads.  I colored the main flower with Olive, Espresso and Daffodil markers, and used an aqua painter to water out the markers. 

The Ribbon is Espresso Colored Satin Ribbon, to match layer two.  I added the faux stitching in the corner to add some interest, but in the true form of clean and simple I did just a little.  I also added a tiny little pearl to the middle of the flower.  I'm not sure how good my photos are tonight.  It's awful dark in the house.

Next some measurements.
Base Layer: Daffodil Cardstock:  11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: Espresso Card Stock 4 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Layer 3 Water Color Paper 4 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Keepin it Clean and Simple today!  Hopefully I'll figure out a card to do for mojo Monday by tomorrow!  Have a great night!  :)

Selene Kempton

Winter Blues ~ Saturday Sketch Challenge 240

Good Evening Friends!  It's time for another sketch challenge from the stamping 411 operators! 

This week, Gretchen Barron is at the sketch board again. 

I really struggled with this sketch, there are two separate focal points.. I suppose one of mine is now flying away!  :D  Too funny!

How about some measurements!
Base: (oh yea, shimmer white baby!)11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 4 x 5 4 1/4"
Layer 3: two pieces of The Gorgeous Sweet Shop designer paper (mini catalog) cut to 3 7/8" x 1 7/8" each
Layer 4: Island Indigo 3 1/8" x 2 1/8"
Layer 5: Shimmer white 3 x 2"
Layer 6: Island Indigo stamped on shimmer white and cut out.

I actually made this card with Gretchen Barron on the phone!  :D  This brand(y) new set Just Soaring just arrived in the mail yesterday and of course, I was LATE submitting my card!  Tisk tisk tisk.  I had an especially challenging week and I joked with Gretchen after I stamped the sentiment.  Is it weird to make a card for yourself?  But I suppose it's nice to give back once in a while! HA!

I just love the big soft bow, and once I actually sat down to do it, I was really happy with the result!  I love the big frumpy bow on the side.  It's so soft! I took an aqua painter and water colored the sky, with soft sky ink, I just left the sparkly clouds there to glisten. 

So tomorrow, my family and I have to leave our house for 6 hours while they turn the power off and do some work... Any thoughts on what we should do in a cold rainy New England with my hubby and 7 year old?  I've been writing directions and crafting like a mad woman.  So, it will be good to take a break. Who's got a fun family idea for me?

Until tomorrow,
Selene~

Happy Birthday to my BFF ~ SSC346

When it rains it pours as far as being busy, but you never want to be too busy to send a card to your BFF.

Roxie over on SCS was looking for a few volunteers to make a sample card! How excited am I that she emailed me back?? When I saw the sketch from split coast stampers this week, I knew that I wanted to make a card for my BFF. I just hope that she receives this card BEFORE she sees it here.

A true BFF is someone you can be YOURSELF with and no matter what, they just GET you. So this one is for my BFF, Barbie. This is so US!

So First, I'd like to share my measurements:
Base layer: is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 5 1/8" x 3 5/8" in espresso.
Layer 3: 5 x 3 3/4" GORGEOUS new DSP from the Stampin' Up! holiday mini, holly berry bouquet. (this design looks like spring!)
Layer 4: quilted espresso ribbon from the holiday mini, I used 3 layers to fit the sketch better.
Layer 5: espresso 2 7/8 x 3 7/8"
Layer 6: watercolor paper 2 3/4" x 3 3/4"
Layer 7: espresso scalloped oval punch
Layer 8: Large oval punch

Stamps: Not So Seriously, Occasions Alphabet
Ink: Stazon and markers (cobbler and espresso)
Accessories: Aquapainter, watercolor paper, smooch pearlized accent ink in Gold lame (to paint her earings and shoes), quilted satin ribbon in espresso color (from the holiday mini)

First, I started stamping... I tried stamping the image with sentiment on bright white card stock and instantly knew I'd prefer to watercolor this project. However, I didn't have much DSP that had off white, and I knew she couldn't be bright white. :D

I stamped the images again and cut out the present. Next, I took my markers and aqua painter and water colored the image. For a tutorial on how to watercolor with markers, see this post.

I used blush blossom for the skin color, and added blushing bride to her cheek. I painted the earrings and shoes with gold smooch accent ink to give just the right amount of sparkle. Next, I stuck those layers together and referred back to this week's sketch. I added 3 layers of the quilted satin ribbon to follow the sketch. Then, I tied the gorgeous double bow with Lee Conrey's amazing bow maker.

I inked the sentiment using the two different marker colors again, and punched that out with an oval punch. I LOVE the way the sentiment oval goes up and down instead of the long way. :D Finally I cut two small bouquets of little flowers. One for my BFF's hand, and one for the top of my oval. I cut the flowers right out of the DSP underneath. Isn't that fun??

I hope you have time to play along with Roxie's Sketch over on SCS this week! Thanks for looking!
Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Mojo Monday ~ Recess & Watercolor With Markers Tutorial

Good Morning Friends!

What a cute sketch from Mojo Monday this morning! My little one is home on school vacation this week, and I'm still working on the class planner I promised! I'm hoping to have it done and up by the end of the week. I'm on it for sure!

I made a cute card yesterday for the sweet Sunday sketch challenge (and to help out the playground committee with some cards to send as thank yous), and I got an email last night from my buddy Glenda T. Her down line sent her my card.. (how excited am I that they like me??), so I decided to do a quick tutorial this morning on coloring with Stampin' Up! markers. A shout out to Patti T! Thanks so much for liking my work! There are sneak peeks all over this card... I'll tell you what those are in a moment, but before we get started, here are the measurements for my layers.

Base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 5 1/4" x 4, rose red
Layer 3: 5 1/8" x 3 7/8", daffodil (dont worry too much about seeing a crazy measurment, this layer is only 1/8" smaller than layer 2.. So you would just make it smaller by moving it over two lines on your paper cutter.
Layer 3a: There's a scalloped sticker under there, that I got from the simply scrappin kit.. Almost forgot to put that in the directions!
Layer 4: 4 1/8" x 3 1/8" rose red
Layer 5: Designer paper from a new simply scrappin kit coming out next month! 3x4 (note** you get 12 of these from one piece of designer paper, so with 3 sheets, you could make 36 cards).
Layer 6: 2 1/2" x 3", whisper white.
Layer 7: A self adhesive die cut from the same simply scrappin kit.. I used dimensionals to attach that on the card
Layer 8: Water colored piece, cut with a 1 3/4" circle punch. 119850

That gorgeous bow is tied with Rose Red seam binding, which I'm told will be available for purchase after the mini catalog is gone at the end of the month.. Yea!!! That bow was tied by hand using the "bunny ears" method. It's the same method I'm trying with Alexis to help her learn to tie her shoes.

The stamp set is called Recess and will be available for purchase on May 1st.

Now down to the tutorial...

1. You'll need some aqua painters, and markers to match the project you're working on. I don't like to add too many colors and try and stick to the colors that match my designer paper. The aqua painters are on page 195 (item 103954) and you get two sizes. For watercolor with markers I prefer the smaller brush size.

2. Fill your brush with water, then find something plastic to draw on with your markers. A sandwich bag, a stamp case.. anything plastic will do. Here I used a clear block.
3. Stamp your image in stazon ink. (101406 Jet Black Stazon, page 195). It's important to use an ink that's not going to move when you add water. Stazon.....stays-on.. :D

4. Draw a line with your sky color. This will be your horizon line. Pick up and "GENTLY" water down your blue color and wash it on your background, leaving your focal point white.
5. Repeat the process with the ground.. It's perfectly okay if the line isnt perfect.. Maybe she's standing on a hill! :D

If you look just to the left of her foot, I just added a patch of old olive ink there in a watery stroke. Then, the most important part is... STOP!!! :D A good artist knows when to stop, it's so important to do it sort of quickly and not over do it. If you do, the paper will only absorb so much water, unless you use watercolor paper.. Even then, quick is better. Get it on there and stop... :D
6. I colored her face with blush blossom, and her hair with daffodil, full strength. I could add some brown or black, or change the skin color if necessary.. Alexis says, "oh look mom, you are coloring ME!"

7. Add some color to one section of the focal point.. choose a corner.. in this case I did bottom left and added some color straight with my marker. Then I blended it with the aqua painter. If the line is still too defined, just go pick up a little marker color from the plastic palette you made.
8. I colored the hula hoop with a straight marker in pumpkin pie and photographed it without a flash so you could really see the colors. See how the color was just washed on for the background. I used circles with my brush when adding the color.
9. Here's the 1 3/4" circle punch. I just punched her out and stuck her down as my focal point. :D

Let me know what you think!! :D Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton