Clear Block Shadow Technique

If you want to create an easy background on your card- try this technique! Take a clear block, ink it up and stamp firmly in your card stock. It creates a shadow background that is perfect to stamp a darker color on.

Emboss Resist Challenge

Good Morning!

This month our Luv 2 Stamp group leader, Patty Bennett, challenged us to learn and use a technique called Emboss Resist.  It's really simple.

1. Stamp your image with Versa Mark ink.
2. Sprinkle some embossing powder.
3. Heat set with heat gun.
4. Ink up a sponge with your favorite Stampin' Pad and ink over and around the stamped image as light or dark as you want (I did it in a circular motion).
5.  Wipe off excess ink with a paper towel.
6. Finish embellishing as desired.

I did a quick video on this that I will try to post tomorrow (If I can figure out how!). 

For this card I used Whisteria Wonder CS and ink, Medallion Stamp and Sincere Salutations stamp set (retiring this month!). 

Have a great day!

Mayra

New Catalog Sneak Peak!!

Happy Mothers Day! I've had such a relaxing day. While my girls took a map I pulled put my new sneak peak items from the new SU catalog (available June 1) and made this card. I used the new Betsy's Blossoms stamp set and the new Floral District DSP and some new In Colors. I love the fresh summer feel of this card. I cased this card from the talented Ilina Crouse. I visit her blog often for inspiration.

I hope you enjoy your day and you gave a chance to do something you love!

Mayra

First Communion Invitation

Yesterday was my godchild's first communion. It was a great day and everything ran really smoothly. Here is the invitation my sister and I made for the event. We wanted to make it mainly white with a slash of melon mambo. So we pulled out my Big Shot and a couple of my favorite embossing folders and came up with this simple, but elegant card. The words were stamped with the Wedding Sweet stamp set that is retiring May 30. This is technically a hybrid card since the cross on it was a digital stamp from My Digital Studio. Stampin Up also sells the stamp set, Crosses of Hope, but because I wanted the cross to be a specific size I just created it in MDS and had the perfect size I needed. I love MDS!

Enjoy and Happy Mothers Day! As you can see from the multiple posts today, I have a little extra down time today and am taking advantage of that down time to share some projects with you.

Mayra

April CSD Class

So I am a little late at posting this but today I am trying to catch up a bit. These are the projects we made at our last CSD Stamp a Stack class. The theme was Moms, Dads, and Grads so we made 2 cards of each design to fill our upcoming holiday needs. For more information on my monthly CSD Stamp a Stack classes, go to www.yourcsd.com, and find them under leisure classes for adults.

Teacher Appreciation, 2

Here is another Card Portfolio I made and gave to my older daughters teachers. Inside it was filled with cards of the same design, chalkboard look a likes with a thanks stamps. To create the chalkboard look, I simple embossed the Thanks stamp on basic black card stock with versa mark ink and white embossing powder.

On a separate day we also gave her teacher a fun summer bag. I stamped a sun with the Every Little Bit set and typed " You've worked so hard all year long to make learning fun... Now it's time for you to have some fun in the sun". I cases the idea from another crafty blog. Inside the bag it was filled with magazines, a beach towel, plastic water cup, and sunscreen. She loved it! We also gave it to our preschool teachers the week before.

Turtle & Co.

It's teacher appreciation week and one of the ways I am saying thank you is with cards. I choose to use my brand new Turtle & Co. Stamp set to make a gift pack for one of the teachers. I thought she would like the bright colors and fun images.

This stamp set is part of Stampin Ups effort to support the Ronald McDonald House charities. For every stamp set purchased until May 31, SU will give $3 to the RMHC. I love to support a good cause and these stamps are adorable too! Contacted before the end of the month if you are interested in this set.