Turning My Thoughts Toward Fall…

by Shannon Jaramillo // September 2, 2018 // 3 Comments

Yesterday was the 1st of September and seeing all of the “Fall” photos in my FB and Instagram feeds inspired me to give some of my fall themed stamps some love. We don’t really get “Fall” here in Southern California. We get hot, we get windy, and we get fires, but actual “Autumn” things, not so much. So we create our fall with fake decorations! I will be pulling mine out this next week but in the meantime, here’s a taste of fall:

What do you think? I think it’s yummy and is inspiring me to go with a sunflower fall motif this year!

Measurements:

PTI Rustic White Card Base 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″
PTI Rustic White Layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Soft Suede Layer 2 3/4″ x 5″
Old Olive Layer 2 1/2″ x 4 3/4″
PTI Rustic White Stamped Layer 2 1/4″ x 4 1/2″

Details:

I came across this Stampin’ Up! stamp set a few months ago on one of the FB resale groups I belong to and I was SO HAPPY to be able to claim it! The set is called “Sunflower Serenade” and it’s SU circa 2001. It’s 17 years old but the design is timeless!
I first stamped the image with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and then used the Stampin’ Blends to color everything in. I like to layer color so I won’t lie to you, I colored this image probably five times, making mistakes along the way. But I didn’t worry about it too much as I’m learning the in’s and out’s of the Stampin’ Blends.
After all of my redos, I settled on using the Light Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends Marker and then followed it up with a layer of Dark Daffodil Delight. I learned to apply the light color and then wait for it to dry before applying the darker color, AND to not get too close to the edge! I kept having the ink bleed out because there was too much and the Color Lifter couldn’t push it back in because everything was still wet. It is important to note that I am NOT using Whisper White card stock. I’m sure I would not have had so many issues if I had used the proper paper, but Whisper White is too yellow of a white for me. So Papertrey Stampers’ Select or Papertrey Rustic White are my go to’s.

Something else that I tried and was very pleased with was that I colored all of the flowers, stems, and leaves with the Light Daffodil Delight color and then went over it with a coat of Light Old Olive. I love how the color turned out, the yellow and green work so well together!
I also used my Old Olive Stampin’ Write marker to define the leaf details and used Light Crumb Cake, Dark Crumb Cake and the the Bronze Stampin’ Blends for the flower centers. Probably overkill, but I think they look pretty 🙂
Did you see all of the shine on the flowers? I used Journey Glaze on them, just like I used on my last card, and I adore how it turned out! They REALLY pop!

I have a tendency to keep adding “things” until I get the balance right. For this card I added Soft Suede ribbon (probably long retired) and Old Olive ribbon which was current as of last year. Then I went through my paper stash to find this adorable pattern in the “Moroccan” DSP pack from a few years back and die cut a stitched circle out of it to layer behind my stamped panel.
It still wasn’t enough so I pulled out my trusty Linen Thread, made a pretty bow and then topped it off with a long retired Soft Suede button. Yum!!

As you can see, I had trouble stopping so I continued on and stamped and colored the envelope too. I should mention that I did add two of my “oops” pieces of cardstock in the envelope to protect the back side of the envelope from bleed thru from the markers. And of course, a pretty envelope flap!
But what about the inside? Yep, I decorated it as well but kept it simple:

The little bumblebee is from the same stamp set but the sentiment is from a different set. It’s a very old set as well, I just don’t know the name of it at the moment. I think the bumblebee steals the show 🙂

So there you have it. I truly enjoyed creating this little card, I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing it.

Here is a look at the entire stamp set:

And if you are wondering, I’ve realized that I value the freedom of not worrying about which company something came from and just create what my heart thinks is pretty. I just want to enjoy the process and I love hearing your comments, they really encourage me so thank you for taking the time to comment when you do, I appreciate you!

Thank you,

A Harvest Bouquet of Gratitude

by Shannon Jaramillo // October 6, 2017 // 8 Comments

I was feeling very “Fall” inspired when I made this card, in spite of the Santa Ana winds blowing which drive the temperatures up into the 90’s. That’s Southern California life for you!

Measurements:

Card Base 4 1/2″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
Early Espresso Layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Vanilla Layer 3 3/4″ x 5″
Vanilla Circle 3″
DSP Square 3″ x 3″

Details:

The Early Espresso die cut pumpkin, which together with the Soft Sky sprigs are stand alone dies from the Patterned Pumpkins Thinlits Dies, was the basis for this card and everything developed around it. I adore the pumpkin die cut and have a few more ideas for it, so look for it to turn up again here on my blog!
All of the stamped images you see here, pumpkins and floral stems, are from the Pick a Pumpkin stamp set and you can get both products bundled up in the Pick a Pumpkin bundle at a 10% savings! Say THAT three times fast!! lol
The DSP I used is the Painted Autumn DSP and the pattern I chose to highlight has Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango and Soft Sky in it. When stamping though, I also threw in Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso for a little more fun and contrast.
The pretty sentiment is from the Painted Harvest stamp set and is such an appropriate sentiment, no matter the season!

I arranged my circle (die cut with the Stitched Shapes Framelit Dies) together with a square cut from DSP to for the base for my harvest bouquet. I then stamped and die cut images and shapes and arranged them all around the Early Espresso pumpkin (love) (I had to say it again).
I then took bits and pieces of the 5/8″ Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, 3/8″ Classic Weave Ribbon in Soft Sky, and some retired Pumpkin Pie chevron ribbon (I didn’t have any current Pumpkin Pie ribbon!) and added them to the bouquet, looped around the focal piece and even as banners!
Lastly were some Cajun Craze and Pumpkin Pie enamel shapes to add that last detail.
Wait – did you see the layer of cream is embossed with the Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder? It adds such a sweet soft detail to the design 🙂

I kept the inside simple with just a sentiment from the Remarkable You stamp set, stamped in Cajun Craze.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had as much fun with the color Cajun Craze as I did today! What do you think? Is it a color, or a collection of colors, that speaks to you?

Blessings!

Supplies:

Card Stock: Vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink; Cajun craze, Early Espresso, Soft Sky by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper by Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Pick a Pumpkin, Painted Harvest and Remarkable You by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Patterned Pumpkins Thinlits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies and Envelope Liner Die (retired) by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: Big Shot, Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and Stampin’ Trimmer by Stampin’ Up!

Embellishments: Cajun Craze and Pumpkin Pie Enamel Dots, 5/8″ Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, 3/8″ Classic Weave Ribbon in Soft Sky, and some retired Pumpkin Pie chevron ribbon by Stampin’ Up!

Other: Medium Very Vanilla Envelope by Stampin’ Up!

Counting My Blessings – Tic Tac Toe Challenge #17

by Shannon Jaramillo // September 28, 2017 // No Comments

Hello!! It’s time for another Tic Tac Toe Challenge! I have so much fun deciding which row or column to choose each challenge and then seeing what all the participants decide to use and HOW they use the elements…we are all so uniquely different in our interpretation! This week I went straight across the center: Layers, Circle, Sequins.

As you will see, I have no trouble with the layers element – I believe I have EIGHT! 🙂

Measurements:

I’m so sorry, I’ve already used this card and I forgot to measure first!

Details:

I mentioned that I would swing around back to an Autumn theme and the Painted autumn DSP – isn’t this a fun pattern? It looks so sweet when complimented with Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze.
This delightful sentiment is from the Count My Blessings stamp set. Such a pretty font and saying! (I gave this card to my hubby!)
I must be missing a Stampin’ Up! circle punch because I used the Layered Circles to die cut the sentiment and the Cajun Craze scallop underneath it but had to pull out my Nestabilities Circles for the Crushed Curry circle. I don’t want you to be struggling to figure it out if you decide to use this layout – or perhaps it will be easy for you because you have the correct circle punch!

I used the layout from last week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge as it was a fun one and this just popped into my head.
Did you notice the embossing on the cream layer? It’s the Layered Leaves Embossing Folder, such a pretty background.
A little Crushed Curry ribbon and bow and three perfectly positioned Metallics Sequins finish the card off.

I had die cut some leaves from the Seasonal Tags Framelits Dies and then didn’t use them on the card front, so I found a way to brighten up the inside!

I hope you find inspiration in my project and the challenge board and that I see you over at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge playing along. Please visit the rest of the design team for more projects!

Design Team

Felicita Johnson

Rosanne Mulhern

Peggy Noe (on vacation this week)

Teresa DeWitt-Pierce

Blessing to you!

Supplies:

Card Stock: Vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink; Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Painted Autumn by Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Early Espresso by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Count My Blessings by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Seasonal Tags Framelits Dies, Layering Circles Framelits Dies, Envelope Liner Die (retired) by Stampin’ Up! and Nestabilities Circles

Tools: Big Shot; Layered Leaves Embossing Folder

Embellishments: Crushed Curry 3/8″ Mini Chevron Ribbon and Metallics Sequin Assortment by Stampin’ Up!

Other: Medium Very Vanilla Envelope by Stampin’ Up!

Fall is in the Air – Stamp, Ink, Paper #116 & The Paper Players 362

by Shannon Jaramillo // September 17, 2017 // 7 Comments

Saturday was a beautiful day here in Southern California with temperatures in the 70’s and a nice crisp feel in the air. I stopped by the local Home Goods store and picked up some fall decor and did a little decorating around the house which translated in to fall cards as well, lol.

The ‘At Home with You’ stamp set has a darling pot of sunflowers that has been calling to me so I pulled it out and colored it with my Shin-Han alcohol markers. I then die cut it with the coordinating die, popped it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals on a Very Vanilla card base and stamped a sweet sentiment from the ‘One Big Meaning’ stamp set in Early Expresso. This darling pattern from the Painted Autumn DSP is a great compliment to my coloring, and the linen bow the finishing touch!

It’s seems like I’m not the only one feeling “Fallish” – Fall challenges are also in the air this week so I’m playing along with both the Stamp, Ink, Paper Clean and Simple Fall challenge as well as The Paper Players Clean and Simple Harvest Challenge (LOVE their inspiration photo!):