A pretty sparkly Happy Birthday to you!

I'm in the middle of my biannual (twice a year) Stamp Your Heart Out Retreat this weekend, and I'm having SO much fun playing with some of the new stuff that's being released later this week (June 1 - can hardly wait!!). So here's a little sneaky peak for ya!

How much do you love that watercolor-washed background! I don't know if you can tell, but it was watercolor pencils washed with a clear Wink of Stella to give it a satiny sheen. It is SO pretty IRL. And that "Happy Birthday" is from a new thinlit (go figure, called the "Happy Birthday thinlit") that is pretty much my favorite thing in the whole new catalog. I simply looooove it. And it makes such amazing cards without a whole lot of effort. It is an item that will make you look like a cardmaking superstar!

A tip for using those thinlits? Cut two in contrasting colors, and layer them together to create a shadow for added dimension. You're welcome!

Thanks for visiting! What's your favorite item in the new catalog?

Jenilee

Product Spotlight Blog Hop: Watercolor Dragonfly Dreams!

hey friends!

Thanks for stopping by for this week's Product Spotlight Blog Hop. You may have clicked over from Robbie's blog (if not - click through the hop until you get to her!).  Today we're featuring the Dragonfly Dreams bundle, which - yay! - is carrying over into next year's Annual Catalog. Today I decided I would pair it with the Silver Foil Sheets embossed with the Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. If you don't already own this embossing folder, open a new window, go to the SU website and add it to your cart, then come back. You need it. It is a must-have, just like paper, ink and stamps!!

Isn't it crazy?! That was just plain silver foil cardstock. The Hexagons embossing folder changes it so much!!

To make the watercolor wash background, I used watercolor paper with the Watercolor Pencils - in Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, and Daffodil Delight. Then I used the Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Pen to blend the colors. You'll be happy to hear that the clear pen is not being discontinued - but the gold one is! So go back to that other window you have open with the hexagon embossing folder and quickly add the gold Wink of Stella, then come back. Good.

You might be looking at the stamp set and wondering where the sentiment came from. I took a black Stampin' Write marker and just colored the "Thanks" portion of the stamp, and stamped it in the corner. That's my supersneaky trick for making cards say whatever I want.

That Pacific Point Designer Paper is from the Party Animal Designer Series Paper, and the ribbon is from the Succulent Garden Ribbon Combo Pack. And of course, the dragonflies are from the awesome Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits.

Thanks for stopping by! Now go see Joni (and the rest of the blog hoppers) and then submit your order for that fabulous embossing folder and gold Wink of Stella. And maybe you'll want to add a few things of your own accord :) Don't forget to drop me a comment to let me know you stopped by. Thanks, and have a wonderful day!

Bye!

Jenilee

Here's what I used to make my card today. Click on any of the images to go straight to my online store where you can shop (but only if you're in Canada)! 

Watercolor Pencil Techniques Part 4: Love Sparkles!

This is a favorite card of mine, for sure. First of all - it employs a watercolor wash background - one of my all-time favorite looks. Secondly... the watercolor was is done on our Shimmery White cardstock, which just gives it a beautifully subtle shimmer. You probably can't see it in the photo here, but in person it's quite pretty!

 

To create the watercolor wash, simply color strips with the watercolor pencils and use an Aqua Painter to blend them. It's simple and so fun! The more water you use, the more blended the final product will be. I like to use quite a bit of water and then just set it aside for a while to dry before stamping the sentiment. 

The sentiment here is from the Love Sparkles stamp set which is in the Occasions catalog. This is the same set that I used to make Natasha's valentines this year! I love this set. :)

I have another Sale-a-Bration bundle for you today!

143183  $26.00   Love Sparkles (Clear-mount) 

141709  $21.00   Watercolor Pencils

101910  $10.00   Shimmery White Cardstock

142786   $ 8.50   Urban Underground Embellishments

TOTAL: $65.50 - Qualifies you for a FREE Sale-a-bration item! wahoo!

Have a great Tuesday!

Jenilee

Here's what I used to make today's card: