No, this isn’t about the small moon I saw last night.  But, hey, did you see it?  It was almost full but tiny.  Got me thinking about the Total Solar Eclipse coming up in a little over a week.

Is the moon going to be full to completely block out the sun?  And, can a total solar eclipse happen if the moon is not full.  I mean, really, the whole moon will be in front of the sun… so that’s a total eclipse, right?  I partial eclipse is when the sun is only partly covered by the moon.  Oh great!  Now I am so confused…  Well, back to topic at hand!

So, have you seen this beautiful sleep baby on top of the moon?  It’s a great set to welcome new babies into the world!

This card was inspired by Kirsten Aitchinson… and by inspired, I meant I copied it pretty much exactly!  But, who wants to recreate the wheel some days!

It’s just some cardstock, water color pencils and a sleeping baby!  What could be easier?

Until next time… keep it simple, stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Today is one of the most exciting days in the Stampin’ up world.  It’s the first day that demonstrators around the world can pre-order items from the brand-spanking new 2017 Holiday Catalog.

I cannot wait until I have my stuff and can create beautiful Christmas cards and other projects for you all.

But, in the meantime…

Here are a couple of birthday cards that we made at the July Stamp Camp.

This card uses the Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set (143662) available in the 2017-2018 Annual Catalog… check it out on page 77.  I’m pretty sure I CASE’d it from someone.. just am not sure who.  If it’s yours, please let me know!

Here I used the “masking” technique where I placed a piece of super sticky Post-It notes across the middle of the card and stamped over it.  Then, I was able to peel it off and stamp the sentiment in the void left.

I also used the “stamp off” technique to create the lighter background of the flowers and the leaves by simply inking u the stamp and stamping first on a piece of scrap paper.  Then I stamped the flowers full strength to add the detail.

And the next one…

This is such a simple yet elegant card that I CASE’d from Megan Daves.  It also uses the Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set.  But, that lovely die cut birthday wish really makes it stand out, don’t you think!?!  The Happy Birthday Thinlits Die (143700) just bumps up the wow factor of any card.  And that Falling Snow Textured Impression Embossing Folder makes the bubbling so real you can feel the fizz!

So, while I am in a rush to get the new Fall and Christmas stuff, I would be remiss to just toss aside the Annual Catalog when it is chocked full of such great product!

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Have you heard?  A total solar eclipse is getting ready to cut it’s way from Washington state to South Carolina.  It will be darkest the longest right over my house!  They have been planning for this day for a couple years.  Hotels are booked… people are renting out rooms in their homes.  Tourists are searching for off-the-beaten-path locations to view.  Ozzy Osborne is giving a concert!  Schools are out. Area-wide shutdown of life!   In fact… we locals have all been warned!  It’s going to be like a snowstorm in the middle of summer!

So, what is a Stamper to do but make a card to celebrate the occasion?

Here is the one I think I have finally settled on..

What had me so confused was the placement of the saying.  Where on earth should it go?  I opted for directly on the card.

(PS – let the ink dry very thoroughly before embossing.  It took me three tries and the heat tool to get it this good and it’s not even that great!)

Here were my other options…

Which one do you like the best?  Which on gave your heart a total eclipse?

As far as technique goes, I watched a couple of different tutorials on YouTube to figure out how I was going to do this.  But, In the end, I settled on sponges and the following colors…  It’s all about the layering.  Start light then darken!

Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Tangelo Twist, Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, and Basic Black.

(Don’t mind the messy workspace…)

So… What events come to your area that inspire you to make cards?

What else inspires you?  Trust me, I see inspiration everywhere.  In fact, the next Ink & Inspiration Blog Hop (on August 24th) is all about recreating something that inspired us!  Just wait!!!

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Welcome to the July edition of the Ink & Inspiration Blog Hop!

Our theme this month is WATERCOLOR!

I will admit that watercoloring is not my forte.  But, Stampin’ Up provides the tools that make it easy and mistake-proof.   And, there are plenty of tutorials around the interwebs to help you learn the umpteen bazillion different techniques.

So, since really like sets of cohesive cards, I decided I wanted to do something kind of fall-y.  I created a color scheme…

Then I chose a stamp set…  I went with Colorful Seasons because of the coordinating dies.

And, then I chose a technique.  I went with the block spritzing technique.  It’s really simple.  You take a clear BLOCK and color it with Stampin’ Write Markers. Then you SPRITZ it with water using a Stampin’ Spritzer. Then you place the block onto your paper (thick white, thick vanilla, shimmery white and watercolor paper work the best… but you can use regular whisper white in a pinch).  Pull off the block and let it dry.  Ta-da!  You have water colored!

I also did a full page f watercolor paper where I used the markers to color randomly then used an AQUAPAINTER with blur it.  I couldn’t figure out why this didn’t seem to work as well.  Oops!  I had grabbed the aquapainter with the alcohol instead of water.  But, in the end, it worked!

Well, here are my creations!  Hope you like them!!!

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

#IIBH if you’re into hashtags.

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

What a great sentiment, huh!?!

When is everything thing in you life traveling right on track, just like it should be?  Well, that’s kind of that situation I am in.  Sure, I am busy…  Sure there are a ton of things I could be doing – that I should be doing.  But, for the most part life is just humming along fine.

How are things going in your life?  No really, I care.  If you just want someone to talk to, you can always email me.. jlcantrell@toast.net.  I may not have been where you are… but I am here for you!

Well, that got deep quick.  It’s true though.  But, I am going to lighten things up a bit and show you some cards.  But, first… the back story!

So, I was alone at work at Yankee Candle one night.  I had brought my catalog with me because I knew I had an upcoming swap to plan for.  I was looking through the catalog and decided I wanted to use the Daisy bundle.  But, I didn’t know when the punch would be off back order, so I didn’t want to use the punch at all.  And, since I didn’t want to use all my pretty DSP (Designer Series Paper) up on one project, I decided to go simple.  Well, sometimes my ideas start out as simple but turn into something a little more elaborate.

I decided to take a page out of the Stampin’ Up book.  Literally, I did a little CASEing (Copy A Share Everything) of the catalog and combine a couple looks into one.  Here is the sketch I came up with.

But, then my mind started racing and I had to keep pulling it back in.  But, one of the things that Stampin’ Up does is teach us demonstrators about “Stepping Up” a card.  They make a card that is very simple.  Just a few parts.  Made to be done a new stamper.  Then, they recreate the card but add a little to it.  This is for the stamper who wants to do a little bit more but still a bit on the edge about getting too crazy.  Then, they give us a final card that fancy schmancy and may have a few more embellishments and techniques.  So, that was what I decided to do.

Here are the three versions of my card.

See how it gets a little more intricate with each one.

The one that I did for my swap is in the middle.  Because it is a group of fellow demonstrators, I could have done the last one, but since we are making other cards, I decided it would take too much time.

Proj Sheet – Thoughtful Daisies

And, since it’s been awhile since I gave you a project sheet… I did one for the middle card as well.  You can easily step it back by not stamping the leaves or adding the embellishments.

Oh – you want to get all fancy schmancy?  I used the solid leaf stamp.  I also embossed the daisies in clear and sponged Daffodil ink over them.  I kept the leaves masked so I didn’t turn them another color.

Have you ever done a stepping up card?  Share it below!

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Welcome to the June edition of the Ink & Inspiration Blog Hop!

Our theme this month is MASCULINE!  It is always so hard to come up with a wonderful card to celebrate the men in our lives, isn’t it.  They really don’t want all the lace and the pearls.  But, they do appreciate a well-made, handmade card.  So, where are my offerings for you…

This card was made using the Country Livin’ set (141922/141925) on page 144 of the current catalog.  It’s a great set that is very masculine.  The YAY! is from the Oh Happy Day Card Kit (142725) on page 15.  Once you’ve done the kit, the stamp set is so versatile that you won’t ever put it away!  I used a bit of Linen Thread to add the rope.

This card uses a set that many may not thing to pull out for a masculine card: Butterfly Basics (138813/138816/137154  pg. 149).  I mean, butterflies aren’t very manly… maybe a moth… but not a butterfly.. right!  But, it’s all in the color scheme.  This one uses Night of Navy, Basic Black, and Very Vanilla with accents in Copper.  The copper embossing adds a unique touch.  The splatter can be found in Painter’s Palette (141907/141910 pg. 160).  Oh – and round corners is still easy even without the corner rounder punch.  I used the 3/4″ Circle Punch (199873 pg. 207) to round these… simply slip the corner of the paper thru the top of the punch – when you are holding it upside down.

Bet you thought that wishing well was very pretty and your mom would love a card with it!  Well, so would your father.  Again – it goes back to choosing the right colors.  The well and sentiment are from the Bright Wishes (143823/143827) set found on page 91.  I used my aqua painter with lightly color the grass.

And finally – I love this card…

Very simple and very masculine.  I will mention it one more… It’s all about color.  This card uses the same colors as the card above:  Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Basic Black.  The argyle is down using 1″ squares.  The badge is from Badges & Banners (141605/141610 pg. 26) and punched using the Best Badge punch (140633 pg. 206).  The inside sentiment is from Big on Birthdays (142877 pg. 73).  I think this is the perfect font for a manly sentiment.

Well, thank you for stopping by today!

On to the next…

Until next time… keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne

Did you miss me?  Technically, I’ve been back from Haiti for two weeks to the day… but those have been a very hectic and tiring two weeks.  I know you are eager to see some pictures, so here they are.

What did we do in Haiti?

We taught three Vacation Bible School lessons in three locations for a total of over 450 children.  We did the weekly devotion for the Mission’s widow Bible study.  We did many, many pray walks through the local villages.  We helped at the feeding centers.  We helped unload a cargo plane full of rice and corn.  We took the orphans to the river.  We spent the night at the mountain church.  We worshiped and praised and honored God the best we could. And, I… I stepped out of my comfort zone more times than I care to count!

Now, I am back at it.  I have a lot to do to get ready for the upcoming stampin’ season.  With pulling extra shifts at the candle store, my stampin’ time gets put to the back burner.  What do you love to do, but often gets put on the back burner?

Since the new catalog went live while I was gone, I had to wait until I was back in the USA to place my order.  Luckily we had a long layover and delayed flight… so, I was able to order from the airport in Atlanta.  It was in my hands by the end of the week!

But, sad to say, all I have been able to do is unpack my box.  I haven’t had a chance to play with it.  But, that fun will come tonight.  So, after I get my work done here at the church, I am heading home to my craft room and letting the creative juices flow and the stress leave!

But, I will leave you with this.  It’s a card sketch.  I will use this sketch in multiple ways and bring them back here tomorrow to show you how versatile a sketch can be!

What will you do with this sketch?

Until next time…keep it simple, Stampers!

🙂  Joanne