July 21, 2023

Playing Along with a Colour Challenge

Amy Jasper As You See It Challenge, Cards As You See It, challenge, technique, watercolour 6 Comments

I’ve felt as though something has been missing in my world of Stampin’ Up!® and I finally realized what it is!

I miss playing!

I’ve been completely focused on designing cards for others to make at events and classes, that I forgot to do the one thing that drew me into this art form in the first place. I need to create for the sake of creating!

When I make cards for a class, I have to consider the skill level, how many steps are involved, how to work within the time available for the class, and adhere to the limits of the supplies available to the number of people involved. However, when I create for the sake of creating, I can be free of limits and can let myself become absorbed in the joy of the moment. It’s delightful. It’s when I’m at my happiest in my craft room.

For those reasons, I thought, “What if you did a colour challenge?”. Of course, my first thought was to go to my favourite challenge blog: As You See It Challenge! I used to be a designer for them a couple years back, but I really love their challenges. I also like that theirs are posted every two weeks, giving you plenty of time to create a card and share it.

Here’s the colour challenge that they posted last Friday:

My Card

I chose to use the Crafting with You Bundle for my design. You can see that there’s a bit of everything on this one: A watercolour technique, some ink blending with a mask, die-cuts and heat embossing, OH MY!

Technique for the Floral Image

I think some of these methods are familiar to you. However, you may not be able to achieve the floral image without a bit of explanation. With the Poppy Parade, Tahitian Tide, and Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write Markers, I applied ink to the floral image stamp, than stamped it on the Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper. Little dots were applied around the image with the same coloured markers. I then very lightly misted the image with water from my Spritzer to soften the image and the dots.

I let this dry while I worked on other aspects of the card. Once dry, the markers were used again to accentuate the outline of the flowers and leaves. This allowed the image to appear watercoloured, but still have some definition. The final touch was to add a bit on Basic Black splatter. To do this, I simply flicked the brush tip of my Basic Black Blends Marker across the lip of the marker lid (this frays the brush tip, so be warned!). A little curl of the watercolour paper in the upper left hand corner, some Classic Matt Dots, and it’s just as I hoped it would be!

Other Products Used for this Design

Artistic Mix Decorative Masks, Black Baker’s Twine, White Embossing Powder, Versamark Ink, Heat Tool, Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Blending Brush, Blends Markers (Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Gray Granite, Basic Black), Cardstock (Crumb Cake, Tahitian Tide, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Gray Granite.

You can purchase all the elements that I used on this design by going to my Online Store or clicking on any of the specific links. And, hey, if you’re wondering who the heck I am, you can go to my About Page and find out. 🙂

Got questions? Ask me in the comments. I’m happy to help if I can.

April 21, 2023

Special Farewell to the Adorable Forest Friends

Amy Jasper Cards, Techniques card, Stampin' Up, technique 0 Comments

I had big plans for the Happy Forest Friends Suite when I purchased it in March. Unfortunately, I forgot to account for the possibility that it would retire at the end of April!

The “out-with-the-old” phase of the new catalogue is always a difficult time for me. Not only because I lose the use of some of my favourite products for my business, but also because it can be difficult to navigate what is still available for my customers to purchase, what to feature in my classes, and the awkwardness of having to let customers know that the product they want has sold out.

It can be frustrating, to say the least.

The only thing that makes it all okay is knowing that the “in-with-the-new” phase is just around the corner!! Change can be difficult, but it can also be incredibly exciting!! I look forward to playing with the new colours, discovering my new favourite products, and the security of knowing that a new annual catalogue ensures that these items will be around for an entire year!! THIS is the time for me to make grand plans with a product suite!

I still have big plans for the suite. The designer series paper, the stamp set and dies, and the ribbon will all play a part in making mini baby albums that I can sell or give as gifts. My original plan was to offer a class so others could make albums with me. I’ll simply have to create an album class with a different, and equally amazing, suite of products from Stampin’ Up!©️

Forest Friends Baby Card

The first thing I made with the Happier Than Happy stamp set and the coordinating dies was this sweet little baby card.

This design features a simple acrylic block stamping technique. To accomplish this, you apply ink to the acrylic block (for this card, I used Mint Macaron, Soft Suede, and Crushed Curry), then spritz the block with a water and rubbing alcohol solution using the Stampin’ Up! Spritzer. Adding alcohol to the water helps it to dry more quicky on the Basic White cardstock.

Spritz two or three times onto the block until the ink begins to puddle. Then press the ink side of the block to your Basic White cardstock. Voila! You have a funky background!

I let it dry a little bit before stamping the little trees with Shaded Spruce ink. The bear is stamped with Soft Suede ink. Sweet Sorbet ink and Crumb Cake ink are used for the mushroom.

Mint Macaron delicately frames the stamped Basic White layer. This combo is then wrapped a couple times with Linen Thread that ties in a whimsical little bow.

(Have I told you lately how very much I LOVE Linen Thread?)

The layers are attached to the Mint Macaron cardbase with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finally, the sentiment is stamped on Basic Black cardstock with Versamark ink, then heat embossed with White Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool. This, along with the bear and the top of the mushroom, is attached to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

It’s so freakin’ CUTE!

If you like this card and want to see it being made, go to my Facebook Page and find the live video. Feel free to skip ahead to the best parts!

Sadly, Mint Macaron and Soft Suede are both retiring colours. Make sure you check out my ONLINE STORE for the most up-to-date availability of retiring products and get ’em before they’re gone!

September 10, 2021

Video: How to make this unique fun-fold card

Amy Jasper Fun Fold, Personal, Techniques, tutorial, Video 2021, charity, daisy punch, fun fold, great cycle challenge, playful alphabet dies, technique, technique class, video, window sheets 0 Comments

Hey all! I’m really excited to share this super cool spanner panel fun-fold card design with you today!

I’m not only excited because of it’s fun layers and playful colours, but also because I haven’t shared a technique video with you for over a month!

I missed you!!

Before I give you all the details on this card and the video tutorial, I want to tell you a bit about what I was up to in August. It was an adventure that consumed every ounce of my energy and effort.

The Great Cycle Challenge

This was the 5th year that I’ve participated in the Great Cycle Challenge and it was the toughest year yet! I pledged to ride my bike a total of 1000km through the 31 days of August. By doing so, I hoped to raise $5,000 to help kids fight cancer. I didn’t plan to cancel my life for the month, but soon realized that I had to let a few things drop.

I stopped trying to keep up with my blog and social media, I canceled classes, and my craftroom was lonely and neglected.

62 hours

Approximately 62 hours were spent on my bike. I rode during the heat waves, the wildfire smoke, and the rain. My longest bike ride was 110km! When I took a selfie, I smiled for the camera. When I didn’t take photos, it was because I was too focused or too depleted to put in the effort.

Not only did I reach my $5,000 fundraising goal, but blew by it, for the whopping total of $8,420 in donations!! I am delighted by the amount of support and encouragement I received from family, friends, customers, and even strangers!

31 days of exhaustion. My wrists, legs, butt, and neck were always stiff and sore. My heart was often heavy as I thought of all the kids who are fighting for their lives and all those who lost their fight far too soon. I thought of the parents and siblings. I thought of the aunties, uncles, and grandparents. No child should be stolen by cancer. Ever.

I gave up a month for them. One month. That is absolutely meaningless when you hold it up against what the families have to give up when cancer forces its way into their homes.

Donations are still being accepted toward my fundraising efforts all through September. Perhaps you’d like to show your support and make a difference in the little lives and their families. You can see more details and donate on my Great Cycle Challenge fundraising page. Funds go toward childhood cancer research with the SickKids Foundation.

Now that my cycling adventure is done, the kids are at school, and my husband is back in his office at the university, I am enjoying my quiet productive time at home once again. I can get back to sharing my passion for papercrafting with you!

Back to the card!

This fun-fold design shows off some of the cheerful paper from the Pattern Party Designer Series Paper (only available to hosts!).

The front of the card is split into three panels, with a spanning piece between the two side sections. I used a Window Sheet to span the space between, but I’ve also seen this type of card with paper across the front instead of the acetate.

One thing I really like about this kind of card design, is that you have the opportunity to fit in some little extras in the layers. I chose to have the “hello” on the front of the card cover up another sentiment. That way, when you lift up the front, you have something to surprise you!

Finally, you flip up that middle section to reveal the area where you can write a personal message.

Isn’t it delightful!

Supply List

Watch the video for all the details

You can follow along with me in my video tutorial to see exactly how to make this card. You might not have the same products as I did, but you’re clever. I know you’ll be able to make something beautiful with your favourite supplies.

Of course, if you like any of the items that I used on this card, you can always order them from me here in Canada on my online store.