Have you tried the Big Shot Embossing Mats yet?  They are new as of June, and a fun way to get more milage out of your dies!  Check out the video below to see the dies in action!

​We used them at the VIP Club this month where we made three cards.  The first card used the Springtime Impressions Thinlits dies.  The second card used the new Blizzard Thinlit die from the Holiday Catalog.  And the third card used the Puzzle Pieces Thinlits.  ​

When you purchase them, they come with three components: a hard white plate, a ticker rubber grey mat, and a thinner rubber blue mat.  I cut up the directions from the packaging and slipped them into a clear mount stamp case, then labeled it along the spine to store in a tub with my other Big Shot accessories.  ​Such a fun addition to add to crafting!  Happy embossing!

This month, our VIP group made cards using embossing tricks.  All three cards were CASEd (Copy And Share Everything) from youtube videos.  Below are the three cards we made, with the corresponding video.  

1. Cathy (the host of the month) found a cute card on Facebook using double embossing (dry and heat embossing).  No embossing buddy needed!  Just ink the embossing folder up with Versamark before running through the Big Shot.  Then sprinkle with gold embossing powder.  It spread a little, but the finished look was perfect.  Lastly, we used Blends (Stampin' Up!s alcohol markers, currently unorderable due to high demand, but will be back with several new colors on June 1st!).  Also, the Metallic Edge Ribbon with gold trim (which is caring over next year) was colored with a Calypso Coral Blend marker!  
2. The Black Ice technique is all the rage right now...and so easy to do!  You just need StazOn ink (returning next catalog!), Versamark, and clear embossing powder!  I used the Beautiful You stamp set, which is not only carrying over, but a new stamp set with similar images is being added.  Think wedding and baby shower!   Make sure to heat set after stamping AND after embossing.  
3. And the Cracked Glass technique was worth a try, but I can't say I'll be doing it again anytime soon.  I love the card, but 6 layers of clear embossing powder makes for an expensive card :)  After you crack your glass, Melinda used Basic Gray ink and a dauber to fill in the cracks to really make them stand out.  Beautiful!

This was the last VIP Club for 2017-2018.  
We'll be resuming again in September, and I am thinking about adding another Club session each month.  
It's a great way to try new techniques in a smaller setting.  
We make 3 cards, in exchange for a $25 order, with your turn to be the host one month to earn free product!  
​Let me know if you are interested in joining the fun!  

The VIP Card Club has taken the summer off, but we resume in August with fresh techniques!  First up is practice with the new Embossing Paste, Palette Knives, and Pattern Party Decorative Masks!  Check out this video to see it in action!

Interested in learning new techniques?  There is still space for 1-2 more members!  Here are all the details!

This month in our VIP Card Club, we are making gel cards!  I originally saw these on Dawn Griffith''s youtube video, and knew I had to try!  

I have been saving little baggies that my SU supplies come in, but when I went to make these cards, I realized most of them had tiny air holes in them!  So I went to Michaels and found some in the jewelry section.

I then needed some gel, and found both a white and blue kind at the Dollar Store for $1 each.

From there, I looked through my stamps to see which had water images and decided to use Bear Hugs, Seaside Shore, and Jar of Love.

These cards are a bit heavy and you wouldn't want them to pop in the mail, so you might want to hand deliver them.  I know whoever receives them will love them, especially if they love anything nautical!  

Magic cards have been on my "To-Make List" for a long time, so I am excited to try them in our next VIP Club!  Who wouldn't want a card that looks plain and simple and transforms before their eyes with color and surprise!  We'll be making three cards using the Jar of Love, Sheltering Tree, and Botanical Blooms stamp sets.  A couple other must haves for this technique:  Window Sheets, Archival Ink, and the Project Life Dies.  

Last weekend, I was able to make the trip with my friend Heather to Illinois for a card making weekend!  We arrived Friday night, just in time for my upline, Chris', techniques club.  We made these awesome cards:

Technique #1:  Clay Flowers
I miss making vintage inspired cards at Chris' classes!  She used the Simply Pressed Clay and Molds to make these flowers.  They are colored with markers, and the one on the bottom right was heat embossed with gold embossing powder. The leaves are from the Bird Punch. The vase was made with a framelit trimmed down, heat embossed with gold embossing powder and then clear embossed all over to give it a shiny look.  I have never used clear embossing powder, so I love trying new things!  

Technique #2:  Solid Image Tracing Technique
This adorable card was stamped using a solid image stamp from the Hello Darling set in a light color.  Then we used a fine tip black marker like the Project Life Journaling Pen to trace the image.  Then, the image was colored in using Blendabilities to create this unique look!  The greeting is from the Hostess set Hello There stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  The embellishments use the Fringe Scissors, Vintage Buttons, Linen Thread, and Gold Sequins.

After staying with Chris, the next day we all headed to our upline, Gelnda Travelstead's Sneak Peek Holiday Catalog Stamping Event where we made 20 different cards using 5 new stamp sets from the forthcoming Holiday Catalog (which starts August 28, 2014)!

Stamp Set #1:  For All Things
I definitely think I could get a lot of mileage out of this set!  I love the watercolor look and the versatility.  Notice how you can use ink to get the whole text "Grateful for You" (bottom right) or color with your marker to get just one word "Grateful" (top right).

Stamp Set #2:  Endless Wishes
This stamp set has been a popular photopolymer which has returned to the Holiday Catalog.  I love the look of white snowflakes on Crumb Cake cardstock, as seen on the bottom right.  The new Tree Punch makes this a cute, easy card to mass produce.

Stamp Set #3:  Letterpress Winter
This set makes a sort of snowflake image.  I love the fact that it is photopolymer which means you can arrange the stamps on your clear blocks how you want.  So in one card the season's greetings is stacked and on the other it is on one line.  

Stamp Set #4:  Mingle All the Way
This set is one that I was left wishing I had bought.  The card on the top left can be punched out with a punch and the other three used framelits.  The bottom right was my first attempt at a shaker card.  There is a clear bag in the window there with confetti stars that move when you shake it!  A little difficult, but awesome!  

Stamp Set #5:  Ornamental Pine
Of the stamps sets we used, this is the only one I had purchased, so you might see some of these cards at my Christmas card class in December.  I love the wreath on the door card!   

The final 6 colors of Blendabilites are now available!  Check out my website to order:

• Night of Navy  (Item 131001 - $11.95 )
• Wisteria Wonder (Item 131002 - $11.95 )
• Calypso Coral   (Item 130996 - $11.95 )
• Melon Mambo   (Item 130994 - $11.95 )
• Crumb Cake  (Item 131004 - $11.95 )
• Smokey Slate  (Item 131005 - $11.95 )

Interested in trying out these markers?  Join us for a Blendabilities techniques class on Sunday, September 21 from 2-4 p.m., my first card class of the year.  We will be making 3 cards for $6, one of which is below.  You can see pictures of the other cards we will be making on the Classes tab.  RSVP here!

Check out these videos to see how these markers work (there is no one right way to use them!):

I'm not a huge butterfly fan, but it only took a brief look on Pinterest to see all the beautiful projects made with the Swallowtail stamp to know I wanted to get it for myself.  Check out these three cards I made using three different techniques for three totally different looks:

Stained Glass Technique:  
First, stamp on vellum with Versamark and emboss with your choice color of embossing powder.  Here I used Pool Party. Then, turn the vellum over and color with Stampin' Write markers.  I used Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Garden Green, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight.   

Bleaching Technique:
First, I filled an empty stamp case with paper towel and saturated with bleach.  Then, I stamped the Swallowtail in the bleach directly on Basic Gray cardstock (Melon Mambo cardstock also looks great, but note, this does not work on Basic Black cardstock!).  Then, I spritzed with black ink, added accents using the Chalk Marker, and finished off adding some rhinestones.  

Stylus Embossing Technique:
This card I CASE-d (copy and share everything) from Dawn Griffith.  She stamped the Swallowtail on vellum using Black Stazon ink.  Then, turn the vellum over and use a stylus to dry emboss the details.  Then, two squares of Basic Gray cardstock were added behind to add a contrasting look.  The vellum was adhered to Whisper White cardstock using silver mini brads.