Shana Gaff
(260)897-3911
stressfreestamping@gmail.com
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Eclectic Feels Good

It's time for another challenge at ATCAS and it is the perfect time of year for this code word:
Everyone who knows me KNOWS that I am always cold. ALWAYS. I carry a fuzzy blanket around with me everywhere I go, including to church and restaurants. It's kind of like a purse or a cell phone. It must go everywhere with me!  So, I am particularly fond of the sun and am always questioning why we live in Indiana, the most indecisive state I know when it comes to weather! lol

We have Karen joining us again this week and, as usual, she did not disappoint! I cannot wait to find out what technique she used on her beautiful sun!  Make sure you pop on over to her site to find out as well! 

I was also inspired by the challenge at TIME OUT Challenges, which was to CASE this beautiful card with a twist. 
As soon as I saw that lovely honeycomb, it reminded me of a technique I saw over on Splitcoaststampers so that is what I did for my background. You take an embossing folder and sponge ink onto it, then spritz it with water. Then place your cardstock on top of it and press it into the ink. Really easy and oh so pretty!  Here is what I came up with:
I waited for it to dry and then stamped the sentiment in black ink. I then stamped the sun from Kinda Eclectic twice, once on the panel and once on the card.  I lined up the two suns as best as I could and then popped up the front panel on Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by. Make sure to check out the rest of the cards by the design team at ATCAS

Stamp Sets: Kinda Eclectic, Feels Good
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Black
Tools: Chevron Embossing Folder, Sponges, Spritzer

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Kinda Eclectic, Kinda in LOVE

It's time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More and guess what??? ATSM is celebrating its 2nd anniversary with this challenge!  Kylie has put a ton of work into this challenge site, so make sure you stop by her blog and congratulate her on reaching her 2nd anniversary!

This week is a photo inspiration challenge, and there are so many options for this one.
Don't you just love all of those colors?  Lots to choose from here!  I also used the sketch challenge at Stampin' Celebration on my card.  It really worked well with the ideas I had in my head. 
I just got my first new catalog order today, and couldn't wait to ink up Kinda Eclectic. I'm kinda in LOVE with it already!  I honestly don't think it is going to be possible to create an ugly card with this set. I think it may even be my new Gorgeous Grunge I love it so much! :) 
That kraft panel is the new kraft paper that is thinner than our regular cardstock. It is definitely going to be a staple in my crafting from now on. It's awesome! 

Thanks for stopping by. Make sure to hop on over to ATSM to see what the rest of the design team has created for us!

Stamp Set: Kinda Eclectic
Cardstock: Kraft, Hello Honey, Whisper White
Ink: Hello Honey, Mossy Mellow, Real Red, Pacific Point
Tools: Circles Collection Framelits, Bitty Butterfly Punch
Accessories: Dimensionals 

Sunday, June 15, 2014

The Stamp Review Crew: Life in the Forest Edition


Happy Father's Day to all of the dads out there today!  Today is also another kind of special day, because it is time for another Stamp Review Crew challenge! :) This month's set, Life in the Forest, is on of my favorite sets because you can use it for so many different occasions. This time I needed a baby card, so I picked up some of the 2013-2014 In Colors to help me out.  I also used the sketch challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch.
I thought this was a really fun sketch, and perfect for popping in some of my little forest friends on Dimensionals. 

The sentiments are from the new Photopolymer set Bravo, a great addition to the catalog.  The sentiments are nice and big and can be used for a variety of occasions. I hand cut the "Congrats!" out and glued it to my panel. If Stampin' Up! ever comes out with an e-cutter, it is SOOO on my list to get immediately! :)

The braid has a funny little story that goes along with it. I have been watching Youtube videos like crazy, learning different braids for Janae's hair. Now, I am 35 and JUST NOW learning how to french braid. I've had short hair most of my life, so I never really cared to learn. But now that Janae is 10 and has hair past her shoulder blades, I decided to learn how to do some braids. I've been braiding her hair, my hair, the babysitting kids' hair...and now my ribbon and Baker's Twine. lol This is just a regular braid, I know, but I just cannot keep from braiding everything in sight. :)

Stamp Sets: Bravo, Life in the Forest
Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Smoky Slate, Strawberry Slush, Black StazOn
Tools: Window Frames Framelits, Blender Pen
Accessories: Crisp Cantaloupe Baker's Twine, Dimensionals


Thanks for stopping by. Make sure to check out the next stop on the blog hop...the amazingly talented Dawn Tidd! Pssst...Make sure you check out the rest of her blog too...she has lots of fun projects using brand new supplies from the new catalog!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

More Endless Birthday Wishes :)

I cannot get enough of this new photopolymer stamp set!  Apparently it was very popular because it sold out within days and is currently unavailable.  Don't fret though, because Stampin' Up! has informed us that they are getting in another shipment sometime soon. Make sure you order it as soon as it is available again, because once it is gone, it is GONE!

I paired it with another one of my favorite new stamp sets, Work of Art, for our latest CAS challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  I also used the challenges at retro sketches, Seize the Birthday and The Paper Players.
My grandpa's birthday is on the 4th of July, so this was a great chance for me to knock out a card early for him. Look at me, being all AHEAD of schedule! lol 
I just love how quickly I can create a card using these two stamp sets!  The paint swooshes from Work of Art remind me of smeared frosting too. :) I added a little bit of Silver Dazzling Details to the tops of the candles to make them look more like sparklers for the 4th of July celebration. The Top Note panel is popped up on Dimensionals. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to check out the awesome cards created by the rest of our ATSM design team!

Stamp Sets: Endless Birthday Wishes, Work of Art
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Black, Night of Navy, Real Red
Tools: Top Note Die
Accessories: Silver Dazzling Details, Dimensionals 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Greetings From

It's time for another challenge at Addicted to CAS and this week we have a very creative code word:
We are so lucky to have Karen joining us as Guest Designer this month. Make sure you stop by and check out her lovely card. I LOVE her work. She does some FABULOUS backgrounds! 

For my card, I decided I wanted to keep it VERY clean as simple, because the only "transport" images I have are very tiny.  I used the challenges at CAS(E) this Sketch and Colour Me...Monochromatic as well. 


I forgot how much I love creating cards that take less than ten minutes to create. This card was truly stress-free, because I didn't have to drag out a ton of supplies, I didn't make a mess, and I didn't have a lot to clean up!  
As much as I like my card in person, I hate it on the computer!  I don't know WHAT happened to my editing program, but everything has changed from what I usually do. UGH!!!  The colors here look so muddy. Sad, sad day. :( Unfortunately, I only have access to a computer for a little while each night, so it is what it is. lol 

The stripes are from Work of Art. I just love this set!  I just stamped it three times, without reinking, then did the same thing again. Then I stamped my images and sentiment with black ink and colored in the little flags on the boats with my Coastal Cabana marker. So easy!  I think I am going to CASE this card using Wild Wasabi and the little car image or bike image instead.  This would be a great card for kids to make for their birthday thank you cards!


Stamp Sets: Greetings From, Petite Pairs, Work of Art
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Black

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Endless Birthday Wishes

It's Tuesday and you know what that means! It's time for another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More! :) This week is a HOLIDAY challenge, so it is really up to you what holiday you choose!  Here in our house, the next holiday is Talan's 8th birthday, so I decided to use a few challenges at retro sketches and Stampin' Celebration to make a card for him.
I loved all of the bright colors in the Stampin' Celebration inspiration photos, so I used some of those on my card. I was also able to use my brand new Endless Wishes Birthday photopolymer stamp set for the first time!  Perfect for this occasion. :) 
I just loving having those paint splotches from Work of Art to "color" images in!  I think it is such a modern look, and so easy to do!  I couldn't help but add a few more of the polka dots down at the bottom too. :) It just felt like it needed something there. lol 

Thanks for stopping by today. Make sure you visit the other design team members at Addicted to Stamps and More! too! 

Stamp Sets: Endless Birthday Wishes, Work of Art
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Black StazOn
Tools: Envelope Punch Board (corner rounder punch)
Accessories: Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Brights Candy Dots, Brights DSP Stack

Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Stamp Review Crew: Everything Eleanor Edition



Woo hoo!  It's time for another round of The Stamp Review Crew, and I get to play this time! :) The stamp set chosen for this week is Everything Eleanor. It's one of my all-time favorite sets, for the swirlies alone, but I decided to make use of the flowers and the fun backdrop image too. :) 

The colors I chose are Wisteria Wonder, Silver and Elegant Eggplant.  The silver is hard to see in my picture, but it really shines in real life!  The flowers are stamped on Wisteria Wonder in Elegant Eggplant ink and then I fussy cut them out. I know some people hate doing this, but I just love it!  I added a few rhinestones for some bling and Ta Da! All done! :) Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to hop on over to the fabulous blog of Yapha Mason next,  or you can find the complete blog roll at the bottom if you get lost. :) 
  1. Debra Burgin  http://heartfeltinkspiration.com/2014/06/01/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor
  2. Shana Gaff  http://stressfreestamping.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-stamp-review-crew-everything.html
  3. Yapha Mason http://yaphamason.com/blog/2014/06/01/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor-edition/
  4. Betty Traciak  http://kittystamp.blogspot.com/2014/06/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor.html
  5. Beth Beard  http://www.mylittlecraftblog.com/2014/06/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor.html
  6. Tanya Boser  http://tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com/2014/06/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor.html
  7. Lisa Young  http://addinkandstamp.blogspot.com/2014/06/stamp-review-crew-blog-hop-everything.html
  8. Cindy Beach  http://stampspaperandink.typepad.com/stamps_paper_and_ink/2014/06/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor-edition.html
  9. Holly Krautkremer http://rubberredneck.typepad.com/rubber-redneck/2014/06/the-stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor.html
  10. Heidi Baks http://runningwscissorsstamper.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor.html
  11. Wendy Weixler  http://wickedlywonderfulcreations.blogspot.com/2014/06/stamp-review-crew-everything-eleanor.html