Beach, Please...

I'm backkkkkk! HAHA, you guys can't get rid of me. I am super excited to announce that my friend Beth is launching her own line of stamps, Beth Duff Designs!  She has asked me to join her as her Creative Team Lead, and I couldn't be more excited about it.  Our first release is going to be mid-April, and will feature eight adorable sets that I cannot wait to play with...

In the meantime, she has shared a few digis with those of us that answered her Creative Team Call, and Jr Design Team Call. The one that called to me? Obviously, the mermaid! I loved coloring the individual scales on her tail, and her hair... OH MAN, it was fun! I colored her using my Copic Markers.  I couldn't decide on a color for her top so I tried paper piercing for the first time, a technique where you use patterned paper for part of image, I hadn't done it before and wanted to start small. The paper I chose is retired DSP from Stampin' Up that had adorable little flowers on it. Her tail, I finished with a clear Wink of Stella.

The brilliant background that Beth included for us was a little too much for my hands to color, especially since I used colored pencils (SO MUCH WORK!)  I wanted a water feel to it and used multiple shades of blue and then cut down a panel to accent the card with. I layered it on top of some retired shimmer white cardstock from Stampin' Up. I used a second strip of the shimmer cs and used a bit of dark blue Firework spray (ok... maybe more than a bit) to change it into a color close to the darkest colored pencil.  I framed the sentiment with the blue strip.  I finished the card off by using a pretty shimmery gold card stock for the background.

The picture doesn't do the shimmer and glitter justice, and I loved trying new things with this card.  I am beyond excited about this new team, and can't wait to share more with all of you!

The Jr Design Team is something I haven't seen before, and I am excited to announce that my little sister, Addison is on it! She loves Beth, and was SO excited to have a "job" that she worked on projects with the digis all weekend. I think my favorite project she completed was using the Dinos that Beth is offering for her Challenge this month! The challenge is about Snarky Sentiments, but Addison likes to write out her own sentiments and what she wrote about always having a friend really touched my heart.

Addison has a stockpile of primary colored card bases (she knows how to make her own, but sometimes measurements are a little difficult for a 10 year old... ok, sometimes they're difficult for a 30 year old! Precut card bases make both of our lives easier.) 

She used Crayola Twistables to color the dinos, she said the big guy looked sad so she added a few tears.  The little guy's words were a bit too big for his speech bubble which made me love it even more.  She knows how to use several types of adhesive, and typically prefers a snail runner, but we were having issues with her's and for this card she used Tombow clear liquid glue.  She makes me so proud and even set up and took her own picture, using her pencil box as a background!

You will see more creations from Addison, and myself using Beth Duff Designs soon.  Thank you all for stopping by.

~R. Winn

Spoonie Squad

So, if you don't know me well, you may not know that I am a "Spoonie". I have Fibromyalgia, simplified this means I suffer from overactive nerves, anxiety, depression, migraines, stomach problems, mid to extreme pain at any given time... the list goes on. Audra at Kindred Stamps, (that's my referral link, you'll get 10% off your first order and I will be rewarded too), was excited to create a stamp set to celebrate and give voice to myself, and those like me, the Spoonie community. "Spoonie" is a term used by those of us with chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and limited energy.

"Spoonie Squad" was released by Kindred Stamps last month, and it features an excellent assortment of sentiments, spoons, and a couple little leaves. I created 4 cards myself for the release.

First, I used silver embossing powder and the four unique spoons to create a border on both the top and bottom of the card, next I chose the sentiment. I felt like this one was a great celebration for my friends who suffer like me, I kept this card in cool colors, silver, white, and a little turquoise.  

My next card, I used the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks and layered the colors light to dark to create a simple, but beautiful background. I felt a bit snarky, so I thought "you can just fork off" was perfect here.  I sandwiched the saying between two silver spoons.

Typically, I find myself doing a lot of layering but I wanted to keep this one simple so I used a corner punch to add a touch of elegance and finished it with dimensional tape to make the featured part pop from the base.

My next card, again, I kept simple but used more layers again. The black background makes the red and touches of green and silver pop. I used a single spoon with this sentiment to make the impact that much more powerful. I wanted to show off the leaves and put it in the corner.

My last card was a little more work. I chose a nice green base and used these beautiful roses from So Suzy Stamps to create a pretty little card. I colored them in using Copic and StyleFile Markers by Brutus Monroe.

I felt like the glitter tape behind the sentiment makes the impact of the sentiment a little better. This sentiment is super powerful for me. My anxiety, energy, and pain levels are always putting a kibosh on my plans. My friends and family always seem to have to move on without me.

It's been a while since I was able to create a blog post just because I wanted to. I am SO happy that I was able to finally get these up for all to see! My disease means a lot of missed events, laying around in pain, trying all sorts of medicines, both homeopathic and prescription, little to no answers, glares from people that think I'm faking, concerned looks from strangers, and so much more. I am beyond grateful to have crafting in my little world. Being able to create something beautiful makes my life qualify infinitely better, the friends that I've made in this community, and the friends I've brought to this community keep me going even on the hardest of days.

I hope you've enjoyed this post and please remember that not all disabilities are visible, you can't the pain some people live with daily.

~R. Winn

Something a Little Different!

Hey all!! This month's Kindred Stamps release is already here!! I'm EXTREMELY excited about this set and decided to try something a little different this month! 

First, I found a very neat Step Card Tutorial on Pinterest and knew it was right for Kindred Stamps new set, "Yo Ho"! I decided to create a dock for the pirate to stand on using a retired Stampin' Up Woodgrain background stamp on kraft paper. I cut small strips of the large block and drew on small back "nails" on the ends to make the wood planks.  I colored the pirate using various Copics and StyleFile Markers from Brutus Monroe.

Next, I used my new favorite, shiny origami paper to create the layers of water, the layer closer to the dock I left smooth. For the back layer to add more of a choppy waves feeling, I crumpled the paper up and added texture, then cut the top into a rolling wave look.  My base was made from retired Stampin' Up chalkboard paper, I am not sure what I'm going to do when I run out of this stuff, I love the thickness and weight of it!  

I wanted to create a kind of stormy sky to contrast with the pretty blue water. To do this, I smudged Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Antique Linen over the black paper. After that dried I used Brilliance white ink and a dauber to create the clouds. I finished it off with a simple "Yo Ho" sentiment!  The back of the card can have a piece of white cardstock added to leave space for writing on.

My next card also features Kindred Stamps' "Yo Ho", I used Lawn Fawn's Shadow Box Card Die to created a light blue base. This die cut was VERY easy to use and created an awesome look!  I chose not to use any sort of sentiment on this one, but colored in the pretty lady and the ship again. 

I wanted the water to be a little different this time, I retrofitted the hills that come in the die kit with Wave CutUps from The Cat's Pajamas, I chose to do layers to add depth and add the ship to it.  I just got this amazing Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Kiss in Sahara Gold and decided it would be excellent to create a beach for pretty lady to stand on!  This brand comes with a built in sponge and so I dabbed it on and left it rough, it created a pretty, glittery, sandy beach.  Lastly, I finished the background off with clouds using a Lawn Fawn die! 

I hope you've all enjoyed my "something a little different" attempts this month.  Our release this month is much smaller than the past but personally I think the sets are fantastic! We've also got new Shaker Packs, and maybe another surprise up our sleeves, I can't wait for you to see!

As always, we have a blog hop going on for this release, to be entered you must comment on each blog. The winner will be chosen at 9:00PM EST on 2/14/18 and will win a $10 credit to the shop!

Kindred Stamps

Fanciful Spaces

R. Winn Creates (You are here!)

Mad Crafters Tea Party

The Frolicking Fairy

Dagg Designs

Thank you all for visiting!

~R. Winn