Candy Corn Week Sneak Peek!

Candy Corn Week is almost here! I'm so excited to share the projects I've made and maybe a few other surprises, that I've decided to give you a peek at some of the supplies that I used to create the cards and tags.

So just  a recap, the fun starts Monday, September 1st! I will be posting cards and treats inspired by candy corn and I'm inviting you to play along with me!  So get out the yellow, orange and white inks and paper!  I know you will want to create some tasty treat inspired projects too!

I will share candy corn memes, cards, tags and treat containers along with step by step directions on my blog so you can recreate them. I hope you will join in the fun by visiting my sites, leaving comments and even joining in by sharing your cards, treats and tags.  You can also see them on Instagram using #CandyCornWeekSU. I added SU to the end of the hashtag because I will be using Stampin' Up! products but you can use any products you enjoy creating with!

So start thinking about all things candy corn and mark your calendars to join me on Sept. 1st.  

And now for the sneak peek...

Fright Night Bundle

Party Celebrations Stamp Set

Stay Warm Stamp Set (available Sept. 3rd)

These are just a few of the supplies I'm using on my projects.  Have they inspired you to join in the fun?

See you Monday!

How to Cure Creator's Block Part 3/3

I've recently shared two posts on how I work around creator's block and today I will share another way I work around it.  

This one is simple but very effective!  I get one of my Stampin' Up! catalogs, either the Annual Catalog or the Mini Catalog and slowly look through it.  I don't simply look at the cards created by talented artists, but also the color combinations used and the sketches used to make the cards.  

I also have a notebook that I jot ideas in so that I can refer back to it when I'm in my craft room and ready to create. I create a page for each stamp set I have and jot ideas/sketches on that page.  

What do you do when creator's block hits you? I'd love to hear your tips on getting past it!

Such Splattery Goodness is Easy to Create!

 Do you like to make inky backgrounds?  I love how no two ever come out the same! 

I created this background using Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green and  Basic Gray inks.  I began with Granny Apple Green and ink blended a spot at the top and lower panel of the card.  Then I filled in the rest with Gorgeous Grape ink.  I ink blended around the edge of the entire card using Basic Gray ink. The Granny Apple Green ink almost appears to glow!

Next came the fun part...splattering!  I used a splatter brush for each layer of splatter on the card today. Did you know Stampin' Up! inks are water reactive? This means that water causes them to change. The first splattering was done with water.  After allowing the water to sit on the card for a few seconds, I dabbed the water up with a paper towel. 

The panel needs to dry before the second splattering.  You can allow it to air dry or use a heat tool to dry it.  I placed a small amount of white acrylic ink on a stamping block with a little water mixed in to add a layer of white splattering. Allow the card to dry before moving on to the third splattering.

I placed a small amount of Black Memento ink on a stamping block with a small amount of water to create the third and final splattering.  Once again, I allowed it to dry before moving to the next step.

Tip: Create a splatter box by cutting the side panel on three sides of a medium size box to create a flap opening.  Place your paper panel in the splatter box to protect your desk/stamping area from all the inks and paint you use for splattering.

Next, I used the stamped images from the Fright Night bundle to create my focal point in Black Memento ink.  I used a stamping platform to re ink the image several times in Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape and Basic Gray inks.  I used ink daubers to apply the ink to specific areas of the stamp several times to build a dark, solid image.  The back panel is stamped in Gorgeous Grape ink and I used the coordinating dies to cut both of the images out.

I added a piece of metallic green ribbon behind the image and adhered the panels with dimensionals.  For the final step, I added some black Shimmer Star Foam Stickers.

If you haven't tried ink blending and splattering, I'd highly recommend it! Not only is it beautiful, it is fun and exciting to see each unique background emerge right before your eyes!

Just Add a Greeting...

If you are an animal lover, you are going to be so excited to see the North Pole Delivery Suite in the upcoming September Mini Catalog .  There are dogs, cats, bears, badgers and more preparing for their holiday deliveries in this cute Specialty DSP.  The stamp set also has these animals gearing up for the holidays.  There are coordinating dies and a 3D gift card envelope die to create with so many options for gift giving. 

Today, I've created  two cards using the DSP pack with the punch outs that are also in the pack.  I began by matching pieces of DSP in the pack and arranging them to fit an A2 card base. The measurement for each completed panel is 4 x 5.25. Then I simply chose some of the cute punch out images and arranged them on the card.

The Petal Pink card base has three pieces of paper from the pack, punch outs, and a sentiment stamped in Poppy Parade ink from the Keeping Traditions stamp set.  This set also has some larger fonts that would work great on scrapbook pages.

For the Garden Green card base, I cut the stamps out from one of the pieces of DSP and arranged them in a linear position to create a border to separate the other two sheets. For this card, the sentiment was stamped in Garden Green ink and framed on Poppy Parade card stock. The sentiment and bow are from the Gift of Joy stamp set.

These are just two of the many simple cards that can be created with this DSP pack.  Mark your calendars for September 3rd! The new catalog is full of great products for the upcoming holidays!

Candy Corn Week in Coming Soon!

Candy corn may be the biggest controversy in the sweet industry.  It has a love/ hate relationship with consumers...you either look forward the time of year it appears on store shelves or can't understand the lure it has on others!

I am definitely in the love it category! And to celebrate this wonderfully delicious treat that has appeared on story shelves this past week, I am going to host a Candy Corn Week Crafting Share!

Beginning the week of September 1st, I will be posting cards and treats inspired by candy corn and I'm inviting you to play along with me!  So get out the yellow, orange and white inks and paper!  I know you will want to create some tasty treat inspired projects too!

I will share candy corn memes, cards, tags and treat containers along with step by step directions on my blog so you can recreate them. I hope you will join in the fun by visiting my sites, leaving comments and even joining in by sharing your cards, treats and tags.  You can also see them on Instagram using #CandyCornWeekSU. I added SU to the end of the hashtag because I will be using Stampin' Up! products but you can use any products you enjoy creating with!

So start thinking about all things candy corn and mark your calendars to join me on Sept. 1st.  

Holiday Treat Container Class Coming Each Saturday in September!

A BIG thank you to those who attended my virtual Back to Basics Saturday Classes in July!  I noticed a large increase in views as each Saturday passed. So I'm very happy to announce I will be teaching another class each Saturday in September!

The class will be titled Holiday Treat Containers.  The goal of the class is to demonstrate how to create holiday treat containers that are easy to create with a handful of supplies. I will share with you a different container each Saturday in September, giving you lots of time to create them before the holidays arrive.  The containers will be projects that can be used to gift small trinkets or snacks for Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. 

Below is a list of basic supplies that we will use. 

If you choose to order any of the basic supplies before the class and you don't have a regular demonstrator, I'd love to be yours.  To choose me as your demonstrator, simply find my name, Tonya Byrd, in the Demonstrator Selector before closing your order and click on it. Thanks so much! Be sure to opt in for mailing and emails so I can keep you up to date on specials and exciting information that will be coming later in the year!

Paper trimmer  

Bone folder       

Tear and tape adhesive        

Spooky Sweet DSP                    

 

Various patterned papers from the September Mini Catalog which will be available September 3rd.

  -Gathering Together DSP

  -Christmas Tags and More Paper Pack

  -North Pole Delivery DSP

From Paper Pumpkin Floral to Halloween

I had a few floral pieces left from the June kit so I thought with the gray and blue colors I could change it to a Halloween card!

I began by cutting an A2 Lost Lagoon card base. I flipped the floral image over and ink blended over it like a stencil in Pretty Peacock ink.  Then I  adhered the front of the floral image to the front of the card.  I stamped the pumpkin from Party Celebrations using Pumpkin Pie, Pretty Peacock and Crumb Cake inks and fussy cut it out.

I used the Fright Night dies to cut out the BOO! in Pretty Peacock card stock and the Halloween banner in Pumpkin Pie card stock. I also cut the spider and spiderweb out of Basic Gray card stock.

Then I cut the house and bats from the Spooky Halloween dies using Basic Black and Basic Gray card stock.  I cut a ghost from the vellum in the July Paper Pumpkin kit and drew eyes and a mouth on him with a Sharpie pen.

I like the non traditional color of my card base and would love to hear what you think of it!