Crazy Crafters Blog Hop with Special Guest: Martha Groeger

Welcome to the Crazy Crafters' Blog Hop with our Special Guest stamper, Martha Groeger - we are thrilled to have Martha join us this month and so excited to CASE (Copy And Selectively Edit) any project that has been created by her.

Click to visit Martha's blog post

Whether you are starting the blog hop here at my blog, Stephanie Fischer - The Crafty Thinker, or have come from the person before me, be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey through the blog hop.

I really enjoyed looking through Martha's Blog and she has such fresh and interesting ideas that I ended up with quite a long short list!  Eventually I selected this card because I love versatility and I really appreciate the way that Martha has expanded the use of the humble embossing folder.

A Mix of new and retiring: New Hand Delivered stamp set and Blueberry Bushel colour
Retiring Tempting Turquoise and Tangerine Tango

This card is a mash up of retiring colours (Tempting Turquoise and Tangerine Tango) and a sneak peek of some new items that will be released on June 1 in the new Annual Catalogue.

The base card is the one of the new 2018-2020 In-Colours called Blueberry Bushel.  Then there's a very narrow edge of Whisper White followed by Tempting Turquoise which I embossed twice with the Simple Stripes folder at an angle (see below for some tips).

I used a strip of Blueberry Bushel cardstock embossed with the Hexagons folder, that was leftover from this card, and some white ribbon to "weight" the lower part of the card to balance the bulk of the balloons.  I also added some Tutti Frutti sequins to bring the orange down the card.  Even though they're Pumpkin Pie in colour, I think they do their job.

The image of the lady hidden by the balloons was created with the new Hand Delivered stamp set.  This is a Host set in the new Catalogue, so if you'd like your own set, maybe consider organising a crafting get together with your friends.

This is such a fun and versatile set!  I used three of the stamps in the set to create this lady.  She can have a different pattern on her skirt, or no pattern at all.  She can be holding a cake, a pile of books or a sign and there are some really useful greetings in a beautiful font.

I stamped the images on a piece of Whisper White cardstock using Powder Pink ink so that the outlines wouldn't show.  I think there's a name for that technique which escapes me at the moment!  I then watercoloured using Blueberry Bushel, Powder Pink, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise and Smoky Slate inks.  I added the balloon strings later by hand with a black marker.  Hint:  I stamped the skirt details after I'd coloured the skirt.

Using the largest of the Layering Ovals framelits and the Out of the Box technique, I cut out the image and then sponged the edges with Tangerine Tango and Tempting Turquoise inks.  I adhered this panel to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

EMBOSSING TIPS:
1.  My piece of cardstock measured 3 7/8" x 5 5/8" so that when I placed it into the embossing folder at an angle, there was a small section hanging out of the folder.

2.  It's important to place the paper in the folder such that neither the folder nor the paper will snag on the sides of the Big Shot.

Step 1

3.  After running it through the Big Shot, I turned the paper around so that the unembossed piece was inside the folder and made sure that the embossing was lined up correctly.  I then ran only that small piece through the Big Shot (IE: I rolled, stopped and reversed).                

The small section that didn't fit into the folder

Rotate the paper in the folder, lining up carefully

4.  I then placed the cardstock back into the embossing folder at the opposite angle so that the lines would cross at an angle and repeated the first two steps.

Placing the paper back into the folder at the opposite angle

The next step is to rotate the paper in the folder again
to emboss the small remaining section

Thanks for following our blog hop.  Remember that currently you are at my blog - Stephanie Fischer - so click on the next name in the list to ensure that you don't miss out on seeing any of the blogs and the amazing inspiration that they contain.

Thanks for visiting.

'Til next time!

Stephanie

Current Product List - all available in my online store

Simple Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$15.00

Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$16.00

Whisper White 1/8" Sheer Ribbon

$10.50

Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock

$14.00

Powder Pink Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Tutti-Frutti Adhesive-Backed Sequins

$12.25

Ink it! Stamp it! Design Team Blog Hop : Technique - Easel Card

Welcome to the Ink It! Stamp It! Design Team Blog Hop - we hop every month so be sure to pop back and visit us again!  Today our theme is Technique and I've made an easel card using the gorgeous new Graceful Glass Vellum that will be available in the new Annual Catalogue from 1 June.

You are currently at my page - Stephanie Fischer, The Crafty Thinker.  At the end of my post there is a full line of team members, please click on the name after mine in the list to continue the hop.

A stained glass window achieved with an easel card and the Graceful Glass Vellum

I used Stampin' Blends alcohol markers to add some colour to the front of the printed vellum and them made some frames from Poppy Parade cardstock.  Poppy Parade is a returning colour in the new Annual Catalogue.  Real Red would work really well too.

The Poppy Parade red and Graceful Glass vellum make a striking contrast against the neutral easel card

I made the base easel from a 12" square piece of Basic Black card and have included the dimensions below.

When the easel card is propped open, the light shines through the "stained glass window"

I added layers of Poppy Parade and Sahara Sand cardstock to the easel and then added my framed pieces of vellum.  From the photos you'll see that I adhered both to the lower section of the front of the card so that the top frame stands proud when the easel is propped into position.

The inside of the easel card is quite clean and simple

Inside the card I adhered a decorative strip with Stampin' Dimensionals and above that I adhered a piece of Whisper White cardstock for writing a greeting.   I didn't want the white to show when the card was propped open on it's easel.

I cut the piece of vellum larger than the Whisper White strip underneath it, folded it over the white strip and taped it at the back so that no adhesive would show through the vellum.  I then adhered that strip to a slightly larger piece of Poppy Parade and added a couple of Faceted Dots that will also be available from 1 June.

The finished size of this easel card is 7" x 6"

I stamped the greeting from the matching Painted Glass stamp set onto a piece of Sahara Sand and layered it onto a piece of Basic Black card.

DIMENSIONS:
Easel card:  Cut to 12" x 7".  Score and fold long side at 6" and 9"  

Layers:  Cut 2 each  Red 2 3/4" x 6 3/4"
                                  Sahara Sand  2 1/2' x 61/2"

Vellum: Top piece           3" x 6"
             Lower piece       1 3/4" x 6"

Frames: (Cut out the middles of the pieces, leaving 1/4" frames)
Top Frame (red)              3 1/4" x 6 1/8"     - Adhere only the lower edge to the card
Lower Frame (red)          1 7/8" x 6 1/8"     - Adhere all edges to the card
              
I hope you've enjoyed this this technique and card and I welcome your comments. 

Thank you so much for joining us today. We hope you'll join us again next month for projects featuring our Favourite Retiring Bundle! I'm Stephanie Fischer and to keep hopping around see the list below to see who is up next with another great technique.

Thanks for visiting
'Til next time
Stephanie

Current Product List - all available in my online store

Basic Black 12" X 12" Card Stock

$12.25

Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock

$14.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

$6.00

Stampin' Trimmer

$50.00

Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop: Theme - Favourite Designer Series paper

Welcome to the monthly Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop.  This month we are showcasing our favourite Designer Series Paper (DSP).  You are currently visiting Stephanie Fischer (The Crafty Thinker) from Australia.  I hope you enjoy my cards.

I'm afraid I'm quite fickle when it comes to favourite Designer Series Paper!  At the time I sat down to work on projects for this post, my favourite was Sweet Soiree!

A very feminine easel card using Sweet Soiree Designer Series Paper

I started out by making an easel card with Night of Navy cardstock and then layering the front with pieces of Marina Mist (one of the retiring colours) and a piece of the Sweet Soiree with a smaller floral pattern - which is so beautiful with its silver outlines!

The retiring Sweet Soiree DSP is quite versatile

I then cut flowers from a piece of the paper with a larger floral pattern and adhered them, in a semi-random way, to a rectangle of Marina Mist card layered onto a piece of Silver Foil Sheet.

The easel card is embellished with flowers fussy cut from the Sweet Soiree paper

Inside the card I adhered a frame of Silver Foil Sheet followed by more Marina Mist.  Using Stampin' Dimensionals I then adhered a strip of Night of Navy layered with a small piece of the Sweet Soiree.  I also cut out some more of the smaller flowers and adhered them to the strip for extra interest.  I used some yellow Glitter Enamel Dots for centres as well as a couple of the new Faceted Dots that will be available in the 2018 Annual Catalogue on 1 June.

The inside of the easel card

The greeting on the front of the card is from the Beautiful Day stamp set and I used Night of Navy ink.  I cut it out with a die from the Petals & More thinlits and adjusted the length of the label like this.  I edged the label with Calypso Coral ink before I stuck it down.

The easel card looks like this when closed

I've only ever made feminine cards with the Sweet Soiree paper so I then challenged myself to make a masculine card with one of the leftover bits I'd kept.

Sneak Peek of the beautiful stamp set with the embarrassing name "Rooted in Nature"

The base card is Sahara Sand. I placed a layer of Garden Green cardstock under the Sweet Soiree paper (which is Old Olive with silver) to provide some definition and interest.  I then used my trusty Stampin' Trimmer to make a frame with Early Espresso cardstock.  

Using the Layering Squares framelits, I cut a square of Sahara Sand and a slightly larger one in Early Espresso.  I stamped the greeting in Early Espresso ink and sprinkled it with clear embossing powder while it was still wet.

Both the greeting and the trees are a sneak peek of a brand new stamp set that will be available from 1 June in the new Annual Catalogue.  It's an incredibly beautiful stamp set with an embarrassingly terrible name - "Rooted in Nature".  Apparently it doesn't mean the same in America!

I stamped the front tree with Old Olive ink and the three tall ones with Garden Green ink.  I then used Stampin' Write Markers in Early Espresso, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake to colour the trunks and a few bits of branches.  Then I used some green markers and a sort of morse code action (dots and dashes) to deepen the shadows here and there for extra dimension.

Birthday cake?  Wedding cake?  Could be either!

By the time I made the last card, I was running on empty and I'm not sure I like it but I'm not sure why.  The base card and ink are Rich Razzleberry to pick up the tiny flowers on the cake.  The greeting is from the Graceful Garden stamp set and I cut the end with the label die in the Petals & More set then layered it onto a piece of Silver Foil cut with the retiring Lots of Labels dies - I'm really going to miss those!

I hope the projects you've seen here on my blog today have inspired you and brightened your day.  You are currently visiting Stephanie Fischer.  Please see the list below and hop through all of the people on the list to see all our projects.  You don't want to miss any!

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Current Product List - All available in my online store

Sweet Soirée Specialty Designer Series Paper

$21.00

Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock

$14.00

Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock

$14.00

Rich Razzleberry A4 Card Stock

$14.00

Marina Mist A4 Card Stock

$14.00

Silver Foil Sheets

$7.00

Petals & More Thinlits Dies

$59.00

Calypso Coral 1/4" Ombre Ribbon

$12.25

Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies

$45.00

Sneak Peek - Graceful Glass Suite with 2018-2020 In-Colours

I originally made it for Sunday's Crazy Crafters Blog Hop but wasn't entirely happy with it.  So this card is a CASE of a card by Rachel Tesselman featuring:
New ink colours: Blueberry Bushel, Pineapple Punch, Grapefruit Grove, Call Me Clover, Lovely Lipstick, Gray Granite
New products:  Graceful Glass Suite, Delightfully Detailed Laser Cut paper

Sneak peek of Stained Glass dies and Delightfully Detailed laser cut paper as well as the 2018-2020 In-Colours
The base card is the new colour: Gray Granite

I sponged the Delightfully Detailed laser cut strip with Lemon Lime Twist, Pacific Point and Tranquil Tide inks.  I coloured the rose with Stampin' Blends alcohol markers.  The label was cut with one of the Petals & More Thinlits, the top layer was embossed with the Simple Stripes embossing folder and the strip of Blueberry Bushel cardstock was embossed with the Hexagons folder.

I love the new Graceful Glass Suite (Painted glass stamp set, Stained Glass dies and Graceful Glass Vellum) but there's something about this card that I find a bit disturbing and I'm pretty sure it's the colours.

I'm really excited to have the new colour Gray Granite in the colour range - I'm pretty sure it's going to become one of my go-to neutrals.  I also really like the new In-Colours, even though I find the Pineapple Punch a little strong - it'll be great in small doses.

I think the problem is that I don't yet have any matching inks and it's been a great eye-opener!

The truth is that I'd started to take for granted the wonderful array of matching shades, automatically reaching for ribbon, cardstock, patterned paper, inks, markers and embellishments all in matching and coordinating colours.

I had forgotten my pre-Stampin' Up days when I spent ages finding colour matches (and they were never exact!) and blending ink colours.

So, even though I may not love this card, I'm grateful for the reminder of just how awesome the Stampin' Up colours and products really are! ..... and I'll have some matching inks next week!

Thank you for visiting.
'Til next time!
Stephanie

Current Product List - All available in my online store - just click on an image below

Petals & More Thinlits Dies

$59.00

Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$16.00

Simple Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$15.00

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50

Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad

$11.50