*Stencils*

 I honestly didn't think I'd ever "get in to" stencils... when I first started seeing them it was a lot more mixed media stuff and it wasn't my style.  I don't know what changed (probably me) but I have found myself gravitating towards stencils when I'm shopping.  To the point of wandering around a trendy shopping area in Calgary on the weekend and stopping in front of the art store because of all the stencils they had hanging in the window display.  

Today, the Scrap 'n Stamp Canada Random Acts of Cardness prompt is Stencils... and since I put an "s" on the end of my prompt word, I decided I should use more than one stencil.  I used two LOL!

I wish I had taken photos of the process, but honestly, I was in the creative zone and didn't even think of it.

I started out with the smaller white panel for the front of my card.  I used a Taylored Expressions Masking Stencil and some inks and blending brushes to create the centre panel.  I set it aside to dry for about a half hour before carrying on with the card because I didn't want to work on top of the colours if they were still wet.  I then adhered a patterned stencil on top and using Purple, masked off everything except that colour rectangle.  I put a layer of Glimmer Paste over top and once again, set it aside for about an hour so that it would fully dry. 

The rest of the card came together easily using my Layers Guide to create that great 1/16" mat behind the front panel.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White; Lawn Fawn Sugarplum

*Images:  Avery Elle Loads of Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Distress Inks Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet

*Stencils:  Taylored Expressions Rectangle Masking Stencil; Paper Rose Big Drops

*Tools:  Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes; Layers Guide

*Etc:  Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste; Purple Tape

*Joy*

Let me tell you, I think Stampin' Up! hit one out of the park with their Christmas release this year.  There are several stamp sets and dies that I fell in love with and had to buy... and I can see having them in my stash for many years to come.  This card uses two different sets from Stampin' Up! as well as some other items from my stash.

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black; silver mirror

*Stencils:  Gina K Sassy Stripes

*Ink: Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Sounds of the Season, Joy

*Tools:  Gemini Jr; Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes; Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste

*Button Snowman*

 I saw a card like this on Pinterest a few years ago and of course, saved it.  The original card used pen drawings to finish off the snowman and since I'm not great with drawing (in any way, shape or form), I used some of the stash in my craft room.  Believe it or not, the hat was created using a scrap of black cardstock on my desk that I just cut up despite it's awkward angles and warped edges.

For the snowy background, I used the Studio Katia Confetti stencil and a whole lot of purple tape to have only the dots shown here exposed to first ink with craft ink and then cover with Glimmer Paste.  I think that took longer than everything else put together LOL!

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake, Basic Black

*Images:  Hero Arts Off Beat Holiday Messages

*Ink:  Stampin' Up! White Craft; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Stencil:  Studio Katia Confetti

*Embellishments:  buttons from my stash; red and white bakers twine from my stash; Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste

*Tools:  Sponge dauber; Purple Tape; Glue

*Cheers*

 Have you ever absolutely LOVED a card when you made it and then, a few weeks later, you look at it and wonder what it was that made you love it?  That's me with this card.  I loved how the Glimmer Paste looked on this card when I made it.  But now, I look at this card and wonder what I thought was so wonderful about it.  It's not a "bad" card, but it's no longer catching my eye.  I just don't love it the way I did when I put it together.

*More Sparkle*

Another day, another sparkly card.  I truly love this Nuvo Glimmer Paste.  The Moonstone is fabulous since you can use it on anything to create a custom colour.  You could even add colour to it to create something custom to play with.  I am on my third jar of this stuff (and I've used it all up instead of throwing it out because it dried up!).

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 100lb
• Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings
• Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Gina K Turquoise Sea
• Stencil:  Wild Whisper Fanciful Blossom
• Tools:  Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes
• Embellishments:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste Moonstone
• Etc:  Purple Tape; ribbon from my stash

*Stenciled Bursts*

I had a vision for this card... and while it turned out OK, I don't think it was quite in keeping with my vision.  I don't know that I can describe what I was trying to achieve, I just know that it's not quite what I wanted.  Not to mention it's a whole lot of "busy" for my clean and simple tastes.

I used the small fingertip sponge daubers to ink up each of the pinwheels so that I was able to get the colour where I wanted it.  I cleaned off the stencil when I was done and then carefully put it back in place so I could cover it with the Nuvo Glimmer Paste.  I didn't quite get it exact so up close, it's not quite right.

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Basic Black
• Images:  Avery Elle So Kind
• Ink:  Gina K Blue Raspberry, Lipstick, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion, Grass Green
• Stencil:  Carta Bella Circus Starbust
• Dies:  Spellbinders circle; Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Backer
• Tools:  Gemini Jr; finger daubers; stamp positioner
• Etc:  foam tape

*Stencilled Birthday*

A few years ago, I wasn't at all interested in stencils... and suddenly I have more than a dozen.  I have no idea what changed my mind about them.  But I really like ink blending on them as well as using them with the Glimmer Paste.  For this card, I did both.

Items Used:

• Cardstock:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 100lb; Lawn Fawn Peacock
• Images:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes
• Ink:  Gina K Passionate Pink, Wild Lilac, Turquoise Sea
• Stencil:  Gina K Mandala Burst
• Tools:  Perfect Layers
• Etc:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste in Moonstone

*CASology#372*

Welcome to another month-long challenge with the team at CASology!  We are all about the clean and simple cards!  We will be back to challenges every two weeks in September, but for the summer we're taking a little easier and only doing one per month.

For this month, we want to see what you create using the cue of "ball"...  lots of ideas out there really, but not a lot I had stamps for LOL!  Balls, games, fancy dress (ballgown), having fun.... Please share your creations with us on the CASology Blog for your chance to win a prize from STAMPlorations!

I decided to play with a new stencil for this challenge... they are circles, not quite true "balls", but you get the idea.

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb, Stampin' Up! Highland Heather
*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips
*Ink:  Versafine Claire Nocturne; Catherine Pooler It's a Boy and Sweet Sixteen
*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips and Simple Strips Backer
*Tools:  Paper Rose Bubbles Stencil; Taylored Expressions Blending Brushes
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste in Moonstone
*Etc:  foam tape

*More Glimmer Circles*

I'm back with another card using that fabulous Nuvo Shimmer Paste and the Circlet Stencil from Wild Whisper.  Can you tell they are both favourite products?

Items Used:

*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Granny Apple Green

*Images:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Taylored Expressions Simple Strips

*Stencil:  Wild Whisper Circlet

*Embellishments:  Prima Flowers; Pebbles Pearls

*Etc:  Moonstone Nuvo Shimmer Paste

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Big Blue Happy*

How's that for a blog title for you?!  Geesh, I hate naming blog posts (but you know that already).

Here we are, getting late in to June already.  I don't know about you, but even with all that's going on and being at home more often than anything else in the last 3+ months, I find that time is flying by.  It seems that the older I get, the faster time is going.  I hope it slows down sometime...  I mean I blinked and suddenly I've been married for 29 years, have kids who are 25 and 23 and will be turning 50 next month.  How??? LOL

This Nuvo Glimmer paste is a product I truly love.  Often I buy these new items, use it a few times and then never look at it again until it's dried up and needs to be thrown out.  But this shimmer paste?  I am on my second jar and thinking I should order another.  I love how versatile it is and how much awesome sparkle you get when you use it!

Items Used:
*Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110lb; Stampin' Up! Blueberry Bushel; velum

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*Ink: Versafine Claire Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Big Happy

*Stencil:  Wild Whisper Circlet

*Embellishments:  Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste

*It Sparkles!*

I'm up on the Scrap 'n Stamp Canada blog today with this quick and easy card....  following the prompt of the day which is SPARKLE!  Anyone who knows me, knows I love to add a little (or a lot) of sparkle to my cards!  I hope you'll play along and share your creations on the Facebook Page.  We will be doing a random draw at the end of the month for a gift card to Scrap 'n Stamp!

This card is pretty simple.... I started with the Gina K Mandala Burst Stencil and a heart mask that I cut out of computer paper.  I used the negative of the heart to create a mask so I could create within the heart shape with the stencil.  I used a palette knife and that wonderful Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste... I really love that stuff!  Often I buy these new products, use them a time or two and never look at them again... with this, I'm on my second jar!  I set this aside to dry for about 15 minutes.

I cut out the MFT Friend Duo die from black cardstock and added Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen on it.  Once the Glimmer Paste was dry, I added the die cut and stamped the rest of the sentiment on the front panel.  I cut it down to 4"X5.25" and put it on the front of a white card with foam tape for a little more dimension.

I look forward to seeing your SPARKLE cards!

Items Used:
*Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 100lb; black from my stash
*Images:  MFT Anything But Basic Friendship
*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
*Dies:  MFT Friend Duo
*Embellishments:  Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen; Moonstone Nuvo Glimmer Paste
*Etc:  foam tape; Gina K Mandala Burst Stencil