To Love What We Do and Share What We Love

by Shannon Jaramillo // February 28, 2018 // 2 Comments

“To LOVE what we do and SHARE what we love, as we help others enjoy CREATIVITY and worthwhile accomplishments…in this we make a DIFFERENCE.” This is Stampin’ Up!’s Statement of the Heart and reflects who we are as demonstrators and why we do what we do.

I adore this basket of flowers, which is FREE with any $50 purchase, and I thought it would fit perfectly with the newest Freshly Made Sketches challenge. But then I saw the statement of the heart stamp, which I recently acquired secondhand for $1, and wanted to use it as well. Since I couldn’t decide which one to use, I used them both!

While I was creating this card I received a message from someone who had reached out to me recently. Her message to me this evening was to share with me how much she appreciated my time and patience with her. It didn’t seem like much at the time, but I tonight I realized how fitting this statement of the heart is. I shared my time and love of stamping, perhaps helped her a bit in the process, and it made a difference to her. It really made this statement hit home and resonate with me. I made a difference. I’m so glad I had the opportunity!

I stamped this darling basket from the Blooming Basket stamp set with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, then colored with Stampin’ Blends in Crumb Cake, Light and Dark Calypso Coral and light and dark Old Olive. I added a bit of Fresh Fig marker to the berries and finished the basket off with a simple bow. Of course I added Wink of Stella to the flowers…it’s a huge ‘wow’ in person!

The statement of the heart was stamped with Staz-On ink and adhered using Ranger Multi Medium matte liquid glue which dried clear underneath the vellum except for where I adhered it over areas colored with alcohol markers. You still really can’t see the glue so I’ll take it since adhering vellum can be quite the challenge!

Here is the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches that inspired today’s project:

Thank you again for sharing a bit of your day with me, I hope you like the card…

Blessings,

Friendship’s Sweetest Thoughts – Freshly Made Sketches 322

by Shannon Jaramillo // February 3, 2018 // 6 Comments

Oh my gosh, isn’t this flower cart image from Stampin’ Up!’s new set ‘Friendship’s Sweetest Thoughts’ the cutest thing EVER??? This was my absolute number-one-can’t-live-without-it stamp in Stampin’ Up’s Occasions Catalog! Mr. Brown just brought me my order this week (with this darling in it) and as soon as I saw the latest Freshly Made Sketches layout by Cecile, I knew it was meant to be 🙂

Measurements:

Card Base 4 1/2″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
DSP Layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Basic Grey Layer 3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″
White Layer 3″ x 4″

Details:

With the sketch layout in mind, and knowing that I was going to color the flower cart, I thumbed through my DSP collections and tried a few, but this pattern in the Naturally Eclectic DSP paper pack was the landslide winner…I really love the color combination!
Now how to color the image? Lemon Lime Twist is the green in the DSP so I colored the leaves with my Stampin’ Marker. I added the detail to the leaves after they had dried to give it more depth.

Next were the flowers and I chose another color from the DSP, Soft Sky. I also used a Stampin’ Marker for this one as well, coloring one layer and waiting for it to dry before adding another layer. It actually has three layers of Soft Sky and a small layer in the center of Pool Party.
The flower cart itself and the awning are colored with the Light Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker. I added a second layer randomly to give it depth as well.
The little birdie up top is Soft Sky and Pool Party, and the sweet heart he’s holding was colored with the Dark Pirouette Pink Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker.

I saw a card made with this ribbon just a few days ago and was reminded that I owned it! It is the most delicate ombre ribbon, soft and pliable and so so sweet in Lemon Lime Twist. I tried the ribbon a few ways and then decided to wrap it like I used to wrap ribbon around Christmas gifts as a little girl. It feels so fresh!
And the darling bow. I love how it lines up with the angle of the ribbon. I must say, creating this bow was a bit of a challenge as the loops are smaller than my fingers…I ended up using small paint brushes to insert in the loops so I could tie the bow tight!

I’m so disappointed that the camera didn’t pick up the sparkle on the flowers and the heart from using Wink of Stella, they are so sparkly and perfectly topped off with itty bitty Pearl Basic Jewels. Oh, and I added a pearl to the center of the wheel too 🙂
I didn’t mention the sentiment before, but it is from the same stamp set. As are the images I stamped and colored on the inside of the card:

Seriously, this is the cutest set ever and you can anticipate more creations from me using it!

The Freshly Made Sketches design team knocks it out of the park every week with their sketches, pop on over and see what they have created and maybe play along!

Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate you!

Blessings!

Supplies:

Card Stock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink; Basic Grey and Lemon Lime Twist by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Naturally Eclectic Designer Series Paper by Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Dark Pink Pirouette and Light Smoky Slate Stampin’ Blends Alcohol Markers; Soft Sky, Pool Party, Lemon Lime Twist Stampin’ Write Markers

Stamps: Friendship’s Sweetest Thoughts by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: None

Tools: Stampin’ Trimmer by Stampin’ Up!

Embellishments: Lemon Lime Twist 1/4″ Ombre Ribbon and Pearl Basic Jewels by Stampin’ Up!

Other: Medium Whisper White Envelope by Stampin’ Up!

Floral Feel Better – Freshly Made Sketches 319

by Shannon Jaramillo // January 13, 2018 // 8 Comments

Hello my stamping friends! I woke up today with the Santa Ana winds blowing again (yuck) but also to a perfectly clear bright blue sky and that was the inspiration for today’s card. The sun just fills me up with ‘happy’ and so I poured it out onto my card.

Measurements:

Card Base 4 1/2″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
White Panel 3 1/2″ x 5 1/2″
Orange Layer 1″ x 5 1/2″
Blue Layer 1/2″ x 5 1/2″

Details:

I broke out a new-to-me stamp set and had fun playing not with alcohol markers, but with good old Stampin’ Up! foam ink pads! LOTS of them!!
The ‘Hello Lovely’ stamp set is made by Concord & 9th, a stamp company I had not really noticed until now (Thanks Michelle). I love that it is a large image, and really open to personalization. I think I could make a hundred cards with it, all different.
Besides the large image, there are lots of watercolor type images to fill in the flowers. The large blossom has three stamps for the interior color. So I stamped the largest image in Powder Pink, the next largest in Blushing Bride, and the smallest in Flirty Flamingo.

The smaller pink bud was stamped in Flirty Flamingo with Rose Red accents, The blue ones are Coastal Cabana with Bermuda Bay centers and the the daisies are stamped in Daffodil Delight with Crushed Curry centers.
The largest leaves are stamped in Lemon Lime Twist, the medium leaves are stamped in Pear Pizzazz, and the little leaves are Lucky Limeade.
Once I was done I decided everything needed more depth of color so I pulled out a bunch of pencil type stamps that I purchased from ‘Stamps by Judith’ (which are featured on the main photo) and went to town. I added lots of Powder Pink, Flirty Flamingo and Rose Red squiggles to the main flower. I adore the addition of Rose Red to the center of it.
The Hello Lovely stamp set comes with an ink splotch stamp so with some masking, I added Daffodil Delight ink spots all around the stamped image. That wasn’t enough so I added more in Sahara Sand.
Still wasn’t enough so I added a three dot pencil stamp all over in Crushed Curry and Fresh Fig. I still wanted ‘more’ so I used the squiggle stamp again in Fresh Fig. The touch of purple makes my bouquet complete 🙂

I found some patterned paper that went well with my colors in a 6 x 6 paper pad by My Mind’s Eye, appropriately called ‘Happier’
I fussed with the sentiment for a bit until I found this one by PTI. I tried in on vellum first, nope. Then tried it on white card stock, nope. The third time was just right, stamped in Versamark Ink on Basic Black card stock and heat embossed with Ranger white embossing powder. I placed it flat onto my card rather than popped up as I wanted the card to be very mailable.
I felt everything was a bit off balance with all the black to the upper right so I added black sequins to the opposite corner. It feels balanced now!
I couldn’t just stop, so I added shimmer to ALL of the flowers…so sparkly!

And that’s it! I left the inside blank to leave room for lots of writing space.

I want to thank the Freshly Made Sketches for my layout this week, a perfect blank canvas to decorate!

I’m also playing along with Concord & 9th‘s challenge to use your first (or closest to first) C9 set! How fun is that!

Thank you so much for visiting me! Making cards is a wonderful way to wind down and the process makes me happy so I’m always delighted to share with, and hear from, those who share this passion!

Blessings to you.

Supplies:

Card Stock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink, Basic Black by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Happy by My Mind’s Eye

Ink: Versamark Onyx Black; Powder Pink, Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Rose Red, Costal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Lemon Lime Twist, Pear Pizzazz, Lucky Limeade, Sahara Sand and Fresh Fig by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Hello Lovely by Concord & 9th, Inside & Out: Healing Touch by Papertrey Ink

Dies: Envelope Liner Die (retired) by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: Heat Embossing Tool and Embossing Buddy by Stampin’ Up!; White Embossing Powder by Ranger

Embellishments: generic black sequins and Wink of Stella

Other: Medium Whisper White Envelope by Stampin’ Up!

It’s the BEST Time of the Year – Freshly Made Sketches 306

by Shannon Jaramillo // September 22, 2017 // 2 Comments

I’ve been on a roll with fall cards and colors, and will go BACK to fall cards and colors, but I wanted to take a moment to remind us all that there are only 13 Fridays before Christmas! Eek! So if I only make one Christmas card a week from here on out, I will only have 13 made. That will NOT do at all…what is on YOUR to-do list? Anything yet?

Measurements:

Card Base 4 1/2″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
Next layer 4″ x 5 1/4″
Top layer (DSP) 2 1/2″ (cut at 1 1/2″) x 4 1/2

Details:

I wasn’t sure about black as a Christmas card but have to say that after using this fabulous paper, I’m a convert! Basic Black and Old Olive look stunning together…very classy.

I kept very close to the sketch with this card, simply changing out the rectangle on the left hand side for the Christmas Tree from Santa’s Sleigh. I stamped the tree in Tuxedo Black right onto a simple pattern from the Merry Little Christmas DSP pack, and then die cut the tree with the coordinating die.
The tree is popped up off of the simple black star pattern DSP, also from the Merry Little Christmas DSP pack, and next to it is a sweet sentiment from the Christmas in the Making stamp set. I stamped the sentiment in Tuxedo Black and then again in Versamark and then heat set clear embossing powder on it to make the sentiment really pop.

Simple Black Baker’s Twine looped around the card and tied in a pretty bow give the card a nice balance of the three elements. Old Olive Enamel Dots are the perfect finishing touch!
I purposely kept all of the design elements clean, no layers or extras. This would be a good card to mass produce.
And isn’t the plaid pattern I used for the envelope liner fabulous?!? It’s so pretty, it’s hard to cut into!

I kept the inside simple as well with just a simple sentiment from the Snowflake Sentiments stamp set stamped in Tuxedo Black. The set also as this A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E little swirl which I stamped in Old Olive. I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to get the placement I wanted.

Thank you to the Freshly Made Sketches design team for another outstanding and inspirational sketch! Without it this card would never have been born!

And remember, only THIRTEEN more Fridays until Christmas!!! 🙂

Supplies:

Card Stock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink

Pattern Paper: Merry Little Christmas by Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Old Olive by Stampin’ Up! and Tuxedo Black by Memento

Stamps: Santa’s Sleigh, Christmas in the Making and Snowflake Sentiments by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Santa’s Sleigh, Layering Circles and Envelope Liner Die (retired) by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: Big Shot, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig by Stampin’ Up!; MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

Embellishments: Old Olive Enamel Dots and Basic Black Baker’s Twine by Stampin’ Up!

Other: Medium Whisper White Envelope by Stampin’ Up!

More Painted Harvest Inspiration! – Freshly Made Sketches #301

by Shannon Jaramillo // August 20, 2017 // 6 Comments

I just wasn’t quite ready to put Stampin’ Up!’s new ‘Painted Harvest’ stamp set away…so I tried another soft and non-fall color combination out on a card I need for an upcoming wedding…what do you think?

Details:

The new Powder Pink in-color has to be my favorite pink ever and when combined with Smoky Slate…swoon!
I’ve had many questions about the stamping of this stamp set so I want answer them all:
- The only color I used on the flowers was Powder Pink
- I DID NOT do any stamping off
- I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to stamp each of the two flower petal stamps three time each
- There is a notch next to the flower stamp on the stamp index that shows how to line them up
The magic is in the design of the stamp set itself…the depth you see is built right in! Honestly, it’s amazing.

If you are a free spirit, instead of stamping three (or four) times in the same spot, turning the stamp once between stamping will achieve a different look. Isn’t it wonderful to have so many options? Each artist can create their own, one of a kind design!
If there is just one shout out I can give to Stampin’ Up! this year, it’s fonts. They have really delivered some timeless, elegant sentiments. The two I used today (one is on the inside) are from the Beautiful Bouquet stamp set (another favorite of mine).
DSP. I have been having so much fun mixing old and new product. The Smoky Slate pattern on the card front is from the retired Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack. It looks so sweet with the coordinating bow and flower centers. And it sets off the yummy Powder Pink pattern (Whole Lot of Lovely DSP Pack) on the envelope flap perfectly!

The 1/2″ Smoky Slate Gingham Ribbon…seriously, is there anything better than gingham? Well, yes, gingham in every color. Just sayin’!
Love the bow? I learned from the best, fellow Pal Ann Schach. Watch her video and learn to make one too! Everyone can do it, I promise.

I only stamped the Powder Pink flower one time with each stamp on the card interior, and I DID stamp off for the Smoky Slate flower center as I was worried the sentiment wouldn’t show up otherwise. I’m in love with stamping a design underneath the sentiment, it’s such a pretty effect!

The layout for today’s card is courtesy of this week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge…