Cuttlebug with Genius Ultimate Platform

Made this video to quickly show that the Genius Ultimate Platform indeed fits through the original Cuttlebug that I have.  Yes, I have taken over the laundry room counter for crafting since I don't have a separate office/craftroom where we currently reside.  Hoping, praying and planning to move to new digs by end of the year!

Cuttlebug w Genius Ultimate Platform (magnetic)

Peacock Card

In my book, you can't just go wrong with a card made with a beautiful peacock.  

This one came together so easily.   The background paper came in a pack of 20 with envelopes for $0.50 in a Staples clearance bin.  The feather background was created with stamps from Fun Stampers Journey and the embellished feathers and the layered peacock were purchased from either JoAnn's or Michael's in a pack for $1.50.  The jewels in the top corners were also included in the Jolee's sticker pack.  I think the dark blue background paper was a package insert.  I rounded 2 corners and swiped some paint across one corner to dull down the design.  I believe what the feathers are stamped on might be a coaster - from Red Robin or Outback Steakhouse or ?, not a heavy duty one but the lightweight paper ones they use at a restaurant.  Hey, I can't remember everything - just most things.  I did this one about 2 years ago but it's still one of my favorites.  I randomly stamped feathers in dark ink, let them dry, covered those with a pale shade of blue paint so that the feathers would barely show through and then stamped the feathers in a random patterni in 2 shades of ink again before adhering the stickered ones.  This one is still in my stash as I haven't been able to part with it.

Play Time

I discontinued being a Fun Stampers Journey coach after the 1st quarter of 2016.  I wish success to the coaches who remain and have left the links to their blogs here.  For me, I ran out of room to amass products and didn't have any customers besides myself.  However, with the starter kit this month now including the Platinum machine and FSJ carrying Pan Pastels, I may return as a coach.  I have 10 days to decide.  It's been nice to just sit and play with my craft supplies without the pressure of needing to blog and share.  Recently went on vacation and took 1 small bag of clothes, 2 huge totes with crafts, my Cuttlebug and all its plates and a box full of Dylusions paints.

We are setting aside stuff for a garage sale to downsize our belongings.  Mine will mostly be craft things.  Rachel and Sara have clothes, knickknacks and toys that they no longer want/use.  We have an extra desk or 2 also.  Maybe I can get Carl to sell his extra lawn equipment.

We are presently on the cusp of a change.   Trying to buy a place with some land to raise animals  - rescue dogs, German Shepherds, goats, couple longhorns, llama and a horse.  Probably chickens and pigs once we build them fencing/housing.  That decision will come at the end of September, shortly before the lease we are in will expire.  We've just been looking and praying!  The one we're leaning to has a lot of land but the home is too small for all 4 of us so would need some work or addl housing added.   We have been renting for over 20 years!

Craft Challenge

On Facebook, I was challenged to post crafty things 5 days in a row!  That means burning the midnight oil around here but I'm fine with that.  I did the 1st day's challenge but decided that the 2nd day was good reason to update my blog as well.

So here is step-by-step of my creating my 2nd day's challenge.  First, I dug out some of the gelli print paper I had:

Gelli printed copy paper

I decided to just use what I already had out - since this was something I started without any type of design in mind.  So I dug thru stencil pile to see what spoke to me.  I ended up using an adhesive one (which is intended for non-porous things or terra cotta planters).  I like to color outside the lines so using something for its intended purpose goes against the grain for me.  My friend, Sharon Graff, gifted me with a whole set of the new Dylusions paints that I hadn't opened up yet.  Time to break into new supplies!  I used the paint with the round foam pads from Ranger Ink.  TIP:  If you already have the rectangle handles for the other foam/felt pads, you do NOT have to buy the round handle.  I used one on this but then took it to kitchen to clean out the foam.  The next day I also used Dylusions paints and didn't feel like the trek to go get it from the kitchen (Day 3's project).  I put the round one on the rectangular handle - and it worked great.  That was a wonderful discovery since I have 2 rectangular handles and only 1 round one so now I can get 3 going at once.  I also used the paint with baby wipes as Dyan Reavley recommends - but I like the feeling of control that the foam pad has although you will probably use MORE paint than if you use a baby wipe.  I also used the baby wipe to remove a bit of the paint as the paint around the stencil seemed too dark to me because I wanted more of the gelli print to show.

Stenciling Dylusions paint

The adhesive stencil easily released from the Gelli Print - probably the layers of paint help but I also put it on my pant leg a few times so that the lint would cut down its tackiness.  I shifted the stencil slightly to the right and added some shading with a marker.

Then I just had to cut it down to card size.  I mounted it on some deli wrap paper that had been misted with colored and metallic spray inks.  Then added a few embellishments and it was done.

Finished Day 2 Challenge

Stickers, cork sticker with the hand -- is that cool or what?  It's actually a word balloon that I trimmed to look like that.  Then the "YOU ARE THE BEST" was a rub-on and I thought it needed a little something more so I added the rub-on border on both sides.  A little tricky as the wheel sticker was already in place but I gently pried it up, did the rub-on and added a bit of adhesive glue to help hold it back in place, just in case.

Saved the scraps to use in something else - eventually!

Leftover scraps

Journey Glaze

Journey Glaze is my new adhesive addiction.  Very similar to the Ranger Ink Glossy Accents, Stampin Up Crystal Glaze, Judikins Diamond Glaze - you get the idea.  I have found that it's just a tad thinner so my bottle hasn't clogged as much as my Glossy Accents.  I want to try it in a precision tip bottle from Crystal Ninjas and see how it does in that.

Below is a link to a video that shows a really cool technique for making icicles using the Journey Glaze.  Hope you enjoy watching it!

As always, you can order any Fun Stampers Journey products through my site.  Anyone interested in a catalog, please contact me or leave a comment to request one.

2015 Online New Year's Party

Holding another online party for anyone interested in Fun Stampers Journey products.  I have FREE STUFF to add to every order!!  I have 3 stamp sets to give away, 1 person will be seleected for hostess gifts ($20 in products plus an ATS stamp set) and 1 person can have the mystery box.  

The Kit of the Month has been a big hit with Journey Blooms customers.  For the first 3 months, the stamps are only available exclusively to club members.  It began in May 2014 with a floral set:

Then June 2014 was a great set of hot air balloons:

July 2014's release was a set of owls:

That was followed by a multi-purpose set that had a birthday greeting, balloons, clouds, fence and bicycle:

The last one I will show you was from September 2014 and just became available on 1/1/15:

However, I can tell you that October 2014 was a cute set of birthday girls, the November 2014 set was a canning jar set, then December 2014 was fancy feathers and January 2015 was stars.  We got a sneak peak of February 2015 which you can see here:  Richard Garay Facebook sneak peek

Starter Kit Video

Click the link to see video that Richard Garay made showing  you what comes in the Fun Stampers Journey Starter Kit

Anyone interested in joining up can ask me about it!  You won't regret it - we only have about 170 spaces left for Founding Coaches.