Interested in some last minute stamping?

Saturday 28 March 2015

I'm having a class tomorrow to make the Perpetual Calendar kits and have 2 spots left!  Are you interested in joining me?  Class is from 1-3:30pm tomorrow at my house in New Westminster.  Cost is $30.

We'll be stamping and putting together the kit using the supplies included plus some additional embellishments and you'll use my ink pads and stamps.  This is a great project and will make a great gift!  I already know who I'm giving mine to!

Check out the final product...




Email me to sign up.

If you're interested in purchasing the kit and supplies or any of the other products in the Occasions Catalogue, don't wait!  

Happy stamping!
Melva
Have you seen the new stuff on the Clearance Rack!

Have you seen the new stuff on the Clearance Rack!

Thursday 26 March 2015

I'm always excited when Stampin' Up! posts new items to the Clearance Rack.  Have you checked them out?  So many cool things but they are only available until supplies last (insert sad face here!).


Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Do you see anything you like or can't live without?  Email me or go online to my Online store and place your order before the supplies run out!

Happy Stamping!
Melva

It was a fun afternoon of Mixed Media

Wednesday 25 March 2015

I had such a fun time teaching 5 ladies some Mixed Media techniques.  We worked on a canvas that fit on a  20" by 13" frame and applied layers of Gesso, paint and drywall compound.

It was amazing to see how everyone's projects turned out.  Everyone was different but all worthy of being hung in a special place. My piece was very similar colours to the first piece I did in February.  My husband came home in the middle of it and declared that they were exactly the same!  My response was "that's good" because they will be hung together.

First some "before" pictures.  It is always amazing to me how these canvases start and how they end up.  My biggest piece of advice is to "not give up on it".  It won't look like much until the end!

The first step is to lay down some black images on a piece of Gesso'd canvas.




 Now the ladies hard at work!






And finally the masterpieces!  Aren't they amazing!





Here's mine...

And to compare, here's the one I made in February.  "Yes, honey they are very much the same!"


I've had some requests for additional classes.  I have another canvas class scheduled for April 12th from 10am to 1:30pm.  You can click here to register.  Space is limited so register early!

Happy stamping and creating!
Melva

Don't miss out

Saturday 21 March 2015

The Occasions Catalogue and Sale-a-Bration both end on March 31st.  If you've been wanting to place an order to get any of the products in these catalogues, don't wait.

During Sale-a-Bration you receive 1 free Sale-a-Bration reward for every $60 you spend.  Stampin' Up! has added more rewards this year so you can choose from the Sale-a-Bration catalogue.  Check out the new additions:





Unfortunately some of them are already sold out!  Don't be disappointed.  You can email me your order to me or go to my online store.

I thought I'd share some cards that I've received from my stamping friends that use some of the products in both catalogues to inspire you!
Created by Alison Solven
Created by Colleen Vassos
Created by Jenn Tinline
Painted Petals - Created by Jenn Tinline
Baby Bumblebee Created by Ellie Blake

Don't forget to place your order before March 31st and the products are gone forever :(

Happy Stamping
Melva

Bokeh - Have you tried this technique?

Tuesday 17 March 2015

I've been seeing lots of postings about cards made using a technique called Bokeh.  I wasn't really sure what it was but once I saw the cards and also checked out a video to see how to do it, I decided to give it a try.

Here's a definition from Wikipedia:

In photography, bokeh (Originally /ˈboÊŠkÉ›/, /ˈboÊŠkeɪ/ BOH-kay — also sometimes pronounced as /ˈboÊŠkÉ™/ BOH-kÉ™, Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens. Bokeh has been defined as "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light".

It's a little messy, but not really difficult.  I first mixed 3 colours - about 6 drops of reinker with about a teaspoon of water, but you can mix to your liking.  In this card I used Coastal Cabana, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight. I used watercolour paper and then wetted it with my aqua colour painter.  I did find that it works a little better if the paper isn't too wet.   Once you have the paper wetted, I used my Aqua Painter to randomly put spots of colour down until I had the paper full.  Then I went back with my lightest colour and made sure I didn't have any white spots.  Let this dry.

The next step is to make a template of various circle sizes.  I used my circle frailest and a window sheet.  Then lay the template over top and colour in the circles using a White Kraft Ink Pad and a sponge dauber.  You can overlap the white circles.  Here's another tip - I found that I needed quite a bit of white kraft ink to be able to see the circles.  Make sure your ink pad isn't too dry and make sure your watercolour paper is dry.  Someone told me that you might be able to use White StazOn, but I haven't tried this yet.

Here's the final result...

I like how this turned out.  Have plans for more of these cards in the future!
Interested in learning more, email me.

Don't miss out on your chance to order from the Occasions Catalogue and to get free Sale-a-Bration rewards!  Both end March 31st.  For every $60 you spend you choose 1 free Sale-a-Bration reward.  Email me me or shop online to place your order.

Happy stamping!
Melva

Paper Pumpkin - You need to check it out!

Tuesday 10 March 2015

If you haven't checked out Paper Pumpkin yet, you need to!


Paper Pumpkin is a kit that comes to your door every month that includes all of the stamps, ink, paper and accessories to make amazing projects.  Sometimes it's cards and sometimes it's 3D projects - it's always a surprise!  The projects take approximately 30 minutes to make - I love spending the time making a new project - especially one that someone else has designed and gathered all of the supplies I need to put it together.

There are a couple of ways to sign up for Paper Pumpkin - as a monthly subscriber or in a Pre-paid subscription.  The cost is $24.95 per month with some savings if you purchase a pre-paid subscription.

During Sale-a-Bration, it's even easier as you can sign up for a 3 month pre-paid subscription for $68.85 Cdn PLUS you earn 1 free Sale-a-Bration reward.  What could be better! Remember this promotion is only available until March 31st.  After that the pre-paid subscriptions go back to regular price.



Here's some samples from the kits from January and February.  I can't wait to receive my March Kit!


These kits were such fun to make.  There are always very creative ideas on Pinterest for other ways to use the kits.

Interested in learning more or subscribing?  Email me or you can click here to subscribe.  You can order your pre-paid subscription on a regular order - it makes a great gift!  Or get your friends to subscribe and then get together to make the kits!  How fun would that be!

Happy stamping!
Melva





A Mixed Media Share

Saturday 7 March 2015

I've been playing with Mixed Media since I took a workshop in February and I'm loving it.  One of the things I've started is a Mixed Media Journal where I create a different "master piece" on each page.  Definitely some are working better that others, but it is a great way to try new techniques!

I wanted to share the opening page to my journal.  I really like how it turned out.  I tried to stretch myself as far as colours go.  I've discovered that I'm a bit predictable when it comes to colour choices - mostly earthy tones - browns, oranges, yellows, greens.  In this piece I did use browns, but I added in teal.

What do you think?

I have another page almost completed.  They don't take very long to do - you spend more time waiting for things to dry than actually painting.  I can't wait to play some more this weekend.

I'm planning a class on April 12th for 10am-3pm - you'll be able to make a canvas bag or 2 pieces to hang on your wall (your choice).  If you're interested in attending, please email me or click here to reserve a spot.

Happy stamping!
Melva

New Sale-a-Bration Items added

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Wow!  Stampin' Up! has just added 4 new products that you can choose from during Sale-a-Bration!  And they are amazing!  There still time in March to take advantage of Sale-a-Bration - you have until March 31st to place your order.  Even if you have already placed an order, now there are new choices for free rewards!

Check these out!


My favourite is the Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack.  Here's some samples!

Don't miss out!

Also, check out the Weekly Deals!  Some great products available!

Happy stamping!
Melva

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