Many Thanks

There are many things I do in life that I don't ever expect any gratitude or recognition for, my motivation is not in those things. So I'm not saying if you don't get the gratitude it isn't worth doing. What I am saying is, "if I can make someone feel special, isn't it worth the little bit of effort it takes to say thank you?" I fail at this miserably most days. But I had a wonderful experience a couple of weeks ago and really felt urged to make the effort.

We hosted a women's conference at our church a few weekends ago. It was overwhelming to see women turn out to say, "How can I help?" And honestly events like the conference would never be possible if it wasn't for people stepping up and giving their time. Not everyone can be just a spectator. We are such a society of expecting people to be there for us, but what if no one was ever there, what would that look like? No one to ask for a recommendation on restaurants, no one to help us when we have lost our way, no one who was willing to serve. I hope this series of Thank You cards will 

1. Remind you to be thankful when someone helps you, even in a small way. We are quick to be critical but someone's effort is more than others lack of stepping up to be available.
2. Encourage you to serve others because it is a big deal to give your time to those who need it.
3. Be creative and have fun when creating.
4. Learn from other's mistakes when creating.

They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

1 Corinthians 16:18 NLT

Now you know why I made these cards so lets get into the creating process. I wanted the cards to be inspired by the conference. It was a queen theme with lots of glitz and glam and that is what I tried to pull off using colors that resembled precious metals. 

The stage for the conference was decorated with these gorgeous beads that formed a curtain. I automatically thought of Charming Cascades that had a descending dot background stamp. And don't forget in March when you buy 2 stamps from CTMH you get 1 FREE!!  I used the Galaxy Gold ink by Tsukineko Brilliance to show a little glam, but I was disappointed that it didn't show as much of a metallic look like what I was expecting. So I added gold sequins by CTMH to try to bring that look back in. I also used Hero Arts Ombre Lilac to Grape purple ink pad for the Thank You sentiment. I love this ink pad!! The colors matched perfectly with what was used in the conference. You do have to more the stamps a little back and forth on the pad when inking so you don't have a line mark when you stamp. The Thank You sentiment is from the set For Every Occasion by CTMH which is retired but they have plenty of other Thank You sentiments to choose from just head over to my website www.tamra.ctmh.com.

I used the same stamps on this card but I wanted to experiment with different embossing powders. I used WOW Midas Touch Embossing Glitter.  I would not recommend this embossing glitter. As you can see the top left did not look like it had any embossing powder, the problem is that the glitter keeps the powder from adhering to the glue. When you turn on your heating tool to melt the powder it blows off the glitter. Myself and my craft room were completely shimmery by the time I finished making these cards. Also the color was more on the pewter side than the golden color that is seen online. I added silver sequins with bitty sparkles from CTMH.

Hoping that something with more of a shimmer than chunks of glitter would have a different result I tried Ranger Bridal Tinsel, and it turned out great!! Of course it doesn't stand out against the card base but it left a beautiful shimmer. I added different sized sparkles to add a little dimension and pop to the card.

D1668-Chaming Cascades

Sunday Refresh-February Week 4

You know you wouldn't think people would need a reminder to love, but we do. In a week where I am  going come in contact with hundreds of people, I want to remember to show love. Not a fake love but one that comes from deep inside of me because I care about them. One that puts all of my troubles and frustrations aside to care more about someone else than myself. You never know what people are going through and maybe they just need to be shown a little love!

11Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 

1 John 4:11-12

This is the last week I will use the La Vie En Rose paper. I focused this week on the kraft paper die cuts that are included in the La Vie En Rose Complements pack. I took the die cuts and colored them in using the Touch Twin Cherry Pink alcohol marker by ShinHan. These markers blend and color beautifully leaving no lines behind and allow me to customize my projects with the perfect color. I also added a few stickers from the Fundamental Basic Sticker Pack. 
I have to keep it short and sweet today because life is busy so I hope everyone has a great week and use your planner to remind your self to love and "accomplish much"!

X7201 C-La Vie En Rose Complements

All supplies used:

          X7201B-La Vie En Rose                    Simon Says Stamp-Plan On It

   
        Z3166 Fundamental Basic Sticker Pack  Z2450 ShinHan Twin Touch-Cherry Pink

Sunday Refresh-February Week 3

Some people dread their birthday, but absolutely love birthdays! It's equivalent to New Year's Day in how I like to think about it. I spend a good bit of time reflecting over what all has transpired over the last year. Then in turn, what I would like to accomplish over the next year.  reminding myself that there is so much to be grateful for. God has truly blessed me in so many ways. 

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

I had so much fun designing this layout. I don't know what it is right now about stripes but I love them. I would wear stripes everyday if I could. So of course I love the black and white striped paper that was in the La Vie En Rose paper. And since it is my birthday this week I decided to use my favorite paper out of the pack to decorate my birthday week. I used a lot of the acetate ephemera this week. I love that it is clear because you can use it on the darker papers and it stands out beautifully. I used the Bonding Memories glue to adhere the clear pieces because it goes on blue but dries clear! If I had to do over I would've put the black cardstock completely behind the "HAPPY" pennant just so it would've contrasted better.

I have been attempting to learn hand-lettering. I actually used an old CTMH alcohol marker in Blush to do everything in pink.  I didn't really expect it to come out since alcohol markers bleed so bad but I really liked it. 

X7201 C-La Vie En Rose Complements

All supplies used:

             

                     Z3198-Limeade Washi                        D1683-Woodland Romance                

          X7201B-La Vie En Rose                    Simon Says Stamp-Plan On It



Bonding Memories Glue

Sunday Refresh-February Week 2

One thing I am constantly struggling with is how to find the line between being structured and being flexible. Sometimes I can be so goal oriented that unless it is on a piece of paper I don't make time for it. I believe the result of my orderly personality is that I miss the parts of life that can really bring about joy. The best cure for this has been my family getting sick. Illness is the one thing I dread in my house. No one likes to feel bad or see their family struggle with feeling bad, but the benefit is that I am forced to go rouge. My list isn't going to get accomplished and I've learned it is okay. That is truly life. And the down time reminds me that God is the one truly in control of all that is around me. To rely on Him daily means I am accomplishing all that really needs to get done and that is where JOY comes from.

With this layout I kept things a little less busy. The floral print on the paper I felt was already busy and didn't want to overwhelm the layout with too much. I did think the flowers were a perfect reflection of what this week will be about as everything will be about red, pink, and flowers!!

I did a rock-n-roll technique on the stamp "love" that is on Valentine's Day using Pixie and Ruby.

X7201 C-La Vie En Rose Complements

All supplies used:
                                

D1683-Woodland Romance                Z3129-Gold Foil Tape

          X7201B-La Vie En Rose                    Simon Says Stamp-Plan On It

Sunday Refresh-February Week 1

Every Sunday I sit down and look at my week ahead, plan meals, and go to the grocery store. Therefore I am hoping to share with y'all every Sunday my planner designs to help inspire you to start your week off right. So please subscribe to my page so you don't miss any pages.

I am a planner by nature. You can find many list around my house, which is why I am such a big fan of paper planners. And I love my MAMBI Happy Planner. I have tons of room to make list to my heart's content instead of being limited by characters or screen space digitally. My problem is actually executing those plans. So one of my goals this year is not to just plan, but to accomplish, not just talk but do!

I decided to use La Vie En Rose for most of my projects for the month of February including my planner because of the classic black and white patterns, pink and red floral, and gold accents. Close to My Heart not only created these beautiful papers, but started carry an ephemera pack for only $5.95 that includes craft die cuts, cardstock stickers, and plastic die-cuts. It is perfect for my planner pages!

X7201 C-La Vie En Rose Complements

All supplies used:

        

D1683-Woodland Romance         Z3166-Fundamental Basic Stickers  Z1920-Gold Washi Tape

    

Z3129-Gold Foil Tape                  X7201 B-La Vie En Rose         Simon Says Stamp-Plan On It

Valentine Bouquets

It has been a long time since I have really loved a stamp as much as I do the Beloved Bouquet by CTMH. The layered stamping really reminds me of stamps from when I began 8 years ago. So I also did something I rarely do which is just play. I got the stamp out and my favorite colors and just tried things out until I found the result I liked. I'll give you a little peek into my process.

Colors:

     Eggplant

     Pansy Purple (retired)

     Fern

     Ponderosa Pine (retired)

Technique:

     Second generation stamping: 

          Second generation stamping is a great technique to use with layered stamps so that you can use

          one color to create a beautiful image with depth. To achieve the lighter color with the same 

          tone you ink your stamp and apply it to the paper (1st generation). Then, without cleaning it off 

          stamp the image again, which will produce a lighter shade of the same tone. (2nd generation)

         Then you can stamp the detailed image on top of the solid image and it will appear darker and

         pop. Since you are having to stamp so much I advise making a lot at one time that way you 

         have options to choose from without having to start the process over again. As you can see I

         didn't use all of the flowers that I stamped because a couple didn't turn out very well.

     Layered stamping:

          If you don't do second generation you need a one color to be darker than the other so you can 

          see the detail of the flower. For example I used Fern (1st generation) and then went back with 

          the detail of the leaves with Ponderosa Pine. I try not to use retired colors but it was the only 

          darker shade I owned that would coordinate with Fern.

So the next thing I did was design the sentiment. I wanted to keep everything simple because the flowers are big and quite busy. I knew that I wanted to stamp the sentiment on a banner so I pulled out the Artistry Cricut Cartridge and cut a frame in Fern. I then cut the background banner in White Daisy and stamped the sentiment "Happy Valentine's Day" from the Beloved Bouquet in Eggplant and glued the two pieced together to form the banner. I then started to layout the card. I was a little surprised when I found out all of my pieces wouldn't fit on a standard A2 card so I decided to make a 5"x7" card and found a pack of gray envelopes from Hobby Lobby in my stash.  I then added a piece of Slate Cardstock to the card base to coordinate with my envelope and to take away a little of the white. I used a zip-top that was in the La Vie En Rose paper pack and put it centered behind the banner. Lastly, I adhered the banner with foam tape.

 

At this point I was pretty happy with my card except I felt that there was still too much white on the banner. I thought about adding a little bling from my stash, but I really didn't want to take away from the flowers. So I crossed my fingers and hoped that if I added a few lines by hand that I wouldn't hate it because I didn't want to have to recut/stamp the banner. Fortunately I really liked and was astonished that something so simple and subtle could make such a big difference. 

And since Beloved Bouquet is such an awesome stamp set it covers the inside sentiment as well as the front. I took the negative from the banner I cut for the front and stamped the sentiment and added one of the smaller flowers that I stamped when doing the second generation technique.    

I hope you like the card I made. Please feel free to purchase any of the items that you see on my website www.tamra.ctmh.com

Oh and another hint. While you are stamping with a stamp set go ahead and make extras especially if the creative juices are flowing. My mom's favorite flower is the yellow rose so I went ahead and stamped some Canary/Saffron flowers for a Mother's Day card. Of course I have a while to actually get that made so I will post pictures of the finished product later but, Beloved Bouquet is only available until January 31 and I didn't want you to miss out.

 

Mother/Daughter Class 2016

I usually ask for mothers not to bring their children with them to my classes. It's not because I don't like kids or because they are not capable of doing the stamping but because as moms we do a lot for our families. Many of us mothers give so much and rarely treat ourselves to something that is just for us. I would like my classes to feel like that, a quick vacation from life. A time to laugh with friends and catch up once a month, while enjoying a hobby that is just for them.

Once a year I try to hold a class that invites you to bring your daughter with you. Bring your daughter to either spend one on one time with her or to expose her to stamping with the hopes that it will be a hobby you can enjoy together as she gets older. This is a great class for beginner stampers. The class will stamp 10 - 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" mini cards using the Georgie Paper Pack. It will be stamping simple images and phrases with coloring. Who doesn't like coloring? I think the puns are whimsical and perfect for children and many of the phrases would work great for Valentine cards.

This year's class is extra special because it is using the Animal Greetings stamp, which is the Operation Smile stamp. Operation Smile is a non-profit supported by Close to My Heart that provides cleft palette surgeries for children all over the world. For every stamp set that is purchased, Close to My Heart will donate $7 to Operation Smile. I'll be talking more about Operation Smile in another post.

Sign up with me and pay no later than Jan 14th.

BASIC PACKAGE: $25* (includes shipping & tax)

     

     D1679 Animal Greetings stamp set

     Z1475 White Daisy 3x3 Envelopes

     All paper cut for you. 

          *Additional Supplies needed: I know some of you already own these items so I didn't include 

                 them in the package.

•  Adhesive tape
•  Coloring Tools-I used CTMH: Watercolor Pencils & Blending Pen  OR  ShinHan Markers
•  Permanent Black Ink ( I will have 1 available but if you don't want to wait please bring your own)      

EXTRA PACKAGE: $40 (includes shipping & tax)

     Basic Package

              +

     Z3122 Blue Dots

     Z3086 Aqua Shimmer Trim

Again please turn in all orders and payment by Thursday, Jan. 14th.