Wish a Happy New Year With Die Cut Stars

 It's almost the NEW YEAR, my friends! I hope you had a merry Christmas and you're looking forward to a new year of possibilities and hope. Today's blog post features a festive Happy New Year card but I'll show you how to use the same products for a sweet miss-you or love-you card.

This blog post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through my links, I receive compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

The starting point for both of today's cards is die cut stars. Die cut stars are so versatile and with a good set of star dies, you'll use them all year long. Cut from bright colors, stars are perfect for birthdays, or from red, white and blue they're patriotic for 4th of July and cards for heroes. 

Today we're cutting stars from metallic and glittered cardstocks which makes stars festive and fun for a Happy New Year card. In addition, I've taken some of those same stars and put together a sweet card to be shared any time of year just to say I LOVE YOU! 

There's really not much to these two cards once the die cutting is finished. Die cut a bunch of stars to mix and match and you're halfway done! For the love card, I embossed the sentiment onto black cardstock, added my stars, and then gave a little spatter of Silk. The Ring In the New Year card is a slimline card, which allowed me to really stretch out the star design along with a stamped sentiment. Then I finished off the card with a few enamel dots. 

These cards can be a simple place to start from on your cards - imagine one of these cards with brightly colored stars for a friend's birthday card, or a patriotic thank you card for a veteran or soldier. This same card layout would be perfect for either of these ideas, with different sentiments and colors. 

Today is Old is New Day on the Impression Obsession blog. I hope you'll stop by and see all of the designers participating. Thanks so much for coming by today. I'm looking forward to a new year of crafty goodness with you!! xoxo

Supplies on Today's Card:

Stars Dies

All The Stars Stamp

Ring in the New Year stamp

Sparkle Silk from FSJ + Spellbinders

Sparkle Trio Cardstock

Lauralooloo's Top 5 Crafty Favorites of 2017

Hello friends!!! I hope you had a most fabulous Christmas! I love this time of year, between Christmas and New Years, to look back and reflect on the passing year, as well as gear up and refocus for the coming year! I'm excited to see what 2018 will hold in store - but for today, would you like to take a look back with me? Today I have 5 of my most popular blog posts to share with you - a little crafty trip down memory lane. Check them all out with me, and let me know which one was YOUR favorite!

Alright, here we go! Click on the blog post title to visit that post. In no particular order....

Simple Birthday Card Set {5 Helpful Tips for Mass-producing Cards!}

I loved sharing these tips, because I LOVE mass-producing cards. I seem to always have a stack of paper strips and die cut shapes just waiting to get attached to a card base. During Hurricane Irma, I created about 70 cards, sitting in front of The Weather Channel! Those cards went to good use as Christmas gifts this year!

FSJ Concept Designers Gel Press Print Swap 

This was such a fun swap! Half of the FSJ designers made a print on the Gel Press, and then sent half the print to a partner and we each created a project with the print! So much fun to see how each person used their print! 

Decoupage Houses - Get Brave with Mixed Media and Stamping {Journey Gel Press}

Oh my goodness, this was some slightly messy FUN. I kept this project on display in my craft area, because I loved the way it turned out! 

Beginning Photography Tips for Papercrafters {Plus a POP ART card!}

A little photography tutorial on this post, plus a funky card. This was the month that FSJ's Bloom Box was the Pop Art stamp set - so much fun! I love that stamp set! And I offered up some suggestions specifically for papercrafters who are photographing their work, especially for beginners. No fancy photography techniques here - just simple ways that you can step up your game to let your projects shine a little brighter! 

Mystic Romance cards from Fun Stampers Journey {two Liquid Color techniques}

This was an exciting time of year because I was able to share FSJ's new Mystic Romance collection, plus some techniques using our Liquid Colors. It's exciting to help create the new catalogs, and it feels like FOREVER before we can finally share the new goodies with you, after we've been using them for months! 

So there you have it! Top 5 of 2017! Had you missed any of these projects? Which one was your favorite? What are you hoping to see in 2018? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let's keep crafting together in 2018! HAPPY NEW YEAR! xoxo

POP clink CHEERS {FSJ New Years card}

Hello friends!!!! Christmas is coming...but New Years Eve is too! For today's project, I used the Cheers and Fizz Steel Rule Dies, as well as the Countdown Stamp Set. I went for a bright and bold black & white look, with a big pop of SILVER! 

I've never hosted a New Years Eve party - but wouldn't these be so much fun to decorate with!? The words are small enough for a card, but big enough that they would be awesome on decorations and party favors for a big or small shindig! 

Today is a great day to score some deals on these fun dies, at Fun Stampers Journey.

Purchase either the Cheers or Fizz Steel Rule Dies today, and get the Countdown Stamp Set for free!

Check out all the details on the 12 Days of Deals promotion on the FSJ blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! CHEERS!!! xoxo

Looking for more inspiration? 

Check out this post featuring the Countdown Stamp Set

And this Pinterest pin featuring both the dies and the stamp set!

Plus stop by the Fun Stampers Journey blog for more inspiration, 

like this adorable scrapbooking layout!!

Party Time! {New Years Watercoloring}

Hello dear friends! Are you recovered from the Christmas chaos!? I hope your holiday was merry and bright and full of love! But now...onward to New Years, yes?!

I had fun playing on this card. More watercoloring, I KNOW. I can't stop - I've been telling you this for MONTHS now. On this card, I created some watercolor puddles to paint from, and I added a little silver and gold Silk into the colors, for a little touch of metallic. Then after I colored everything, I added some extra splatters of Silk on top.

If you aren't familiar with the FSJ Silks, picture a nail polish bottle, with a nail polish brush inside. Like THIS, in fact:

But imagine the contents being less thick than nail polish. Thin enough to take that brush and go FLICK onto your project.  FLICK! FLICK! Yessss, it can get messy, but it is SOO worth the risk! I was terrified at first, of ruining my projects. "What if it doesn't go where I want it to?" Well - you do your best. And the more you use them, the better you get at directing it, and going with the flow. Plus it has metallic goodness that gets all stirred up when you give that bottle a shake. You can mix it with watercolor, for a metallic glint. You can brush the Silk onto a stamp and stamp with it. You can paint it right onto a card or project for a brushed background. Lots of cool possibilities and play.

ANYYYYYwhooooo, Silk. New Years. Sparkle. Stamping. All the good stuff. After I stamped and painted this card, I created a die cut frame, added a sentiment, and BAM.

FLICK. BAM. DONE.
Happy New Year! :)
Check out the whole array of beautiful FSJ Silk colors, over on the website. 
I'll be doing a bit of traveling during the first part of January, but I'll be BACK later in the month to party with you all, 2017 style. Find me on Instagram or on Facebook and Pinterest, in the meantime!

Happy New Year! {Fun Stampers Journey}

(If you're looking for the Richard Garay CHA sneak peek blog hop, click here, or scroll down!)

YOU GUYS. Seriously, way to make a girl feel good. I had so many very sweet comments on the Seasons Giving blog hop. Thank you for the time you spent hopping along, and thank you to all of my new followers! So many people following my little old blog, as well as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Hooray for new friends!!! 

So is any one else playing CATCH UP and CLEAN UP this week!? I love Christmas, but I was READY to pack it up and clean it up this week. I am off to the CHA Mega Conference and Trade Show on Thursday to help support Richard Garay and the four new collections being released in his RG line. I am super excited to catch up with crafty friends, and to share these four fantastic collections of crafty goodness! It's a pretty sweet way to start off the year! If you aren't familiar with CHA, the Craft & Hobby Association hosts a HUGE yearly trade show for the craft and hobby industry. Companies share their new collections for the year - maybe its like the Fashion Week of the craft industry. It's huge, and overwhelming, and I'm just tickled pink to be able to go this year!

Before I go, I want to share the winner of the Seasons Givings blog hop. And while I'm at it, another New Years card! 

The card I created for today features Fun Stampers Journey products (also by Richard Garay.) I embossed the sentiment and champagne glasses, and layered some vellum behind the glasses. The sequins (from Hazel and Ruby) remind me of little champagne bubbles! Yum!

And now, the winner of my giveaway. . . . .SUE ROLFE

Sue Rolfe said...

I am a new follower on pinterest and I subscribed by email. I do like your style and look forward to your inspiration in 2016.

Sue

January 2, 2016 at 11:26 AM 

CONGRATULATIONS SUE! I sent you an email, but if you don't get it, shoot me your address at TomatoL at aol dot com.
And thank you again to everyone who participated!  You guys are the BEST! And if you aren't already, follow me on Instagram, where I'll be posting photos from CHA this week! xoxo

Happy New Year! {Seasons Givings Blog Hop}

Welcome to the Seasons Givings Blog Hop! I am so happy to participate in this fun event again this year! I'm so glad you're hopping through our GIANT list of participants. Remember, there's a giveaway at each and every stop! 

Participating in this hop is one way I want to say THANK YOU . . .thank you to those who have visited my blog for many years, and thank you to my new friends and followers. I truly appreciate YOU. Your comments. Your kindness. Your creative energy! 

For today's hop, I created this festive Happy New Year card using products from  FSJ/Spellbinders. The Designer Vellum Prints is my favorite product on this card - it's so fun to layer the patterned vellum!

But I know, I know. . .what's the GIVEAWAY you ask? (It's okay - I know why you're really here!) 

The giveaway I'll be sending out to one lucky commenter is a whole priority mail padded envelope jam packed with goodies. It's filled with embellishments, stamps, dies, adhesives and all sorts of treasures to craft to your heart's content. Some are brand new, some are slightly loved or used, but all are ready to help you craft your face off in 2016! (Wheeeeee!) And even better news? After I took this photo, I realized I could fit a lot more stuff in there, so I crammed it full with more stamps and dies! 

 For your chance to win, please leave a comment (and be sure you let me know how to reach you if you win!) I'll draw a winner on Tuesday morning, January 5th. This giveaway is only open to addresses in the US. (I'm so sorry international friends!)

If you like what you've seen, feel free to follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, or Facebook! 

Next on your list, head over to the sweet and talented Debbie Seyer! 

And if you're just starting here, or you've gotten lost along the way, here's the whole entire GIGANTIC blog hop list. . . .remember, there's a giveaway at every stop!

Lawn Fawn

Lawnfawn.blogspot.com

Scrapbook Cards & Today Magazine

http://www.scrapbookandcardstodaymag.typepad.com

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

http://www.scrapbook-adhesives.com/blog

Reverse Confetti

https://reverseconfetti.com/blog/

Technique Tuesday

http://techniquetuesday.typepad.com

CAS-ual Friday Stamps

http://cas-ualfridaysstamps.blogspot.com

Verve Stamps

http://www.vervestamps.blogspot.com

Donna Salazar

http://donnasalazardesigns.blogspot.com

Richard Garay

http://www.richardgaray.com/blog/

AdTech

https://makesomethingreat.wordpress.com

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Inchie Arts

http://www.inchiearts.typepad.com

Avocado Arts

http://www.avocadoarts.blogspot.com

OHscrap (Bossy Joscie)

http://www.cutchens.com

Rubermoon Stamps

http://www.rubbermoonarts.blogspot.com

Latina Crafter

http://latinacrafter.blogspot.com

A Jillian Vance Design

http://blog.ajillianvancedesign.com

JustNick

http://justnick.myshopify.com/blogs/justnick

Your Everyday Stamps

http://youreverydaystamps.blogspot.com

Latisha Yoast

http://www.crafteebee.blogspot.com

AJ Otto

http://thewillowgarden.blogspot.com

Kimberly Crawford

http://kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com

Julia Stainton

http://juliastainton.com/blog/

Laurie Willison

http://www.soapboxcreations.blogspot.com

Teri Anderson

https://terisplace.wordpress.com

Jennifer Gallacher

http://jengallacher.blogspot.com

Vera Yates

http://www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com

Wanda Guess

http://www.ablogcalledwanda.com

Nichol Magouirk

http://www.nicholmagouirk.typepad.com

Kelly Klapstein

http://www.kellycreates.ca

Anabelle O’Malley

http://www.anabelleom.blogspot.com

Kim Watson

http://kj-starre.blogspot.com

Chari Moss

http://www.mossymade.com

Laura Bassen

https://laurafadora.wordpress.com

Lydia Fiedler

http://understandblue.blogspot.com

Lisa Adametz

http://www.papergrace.com

Alice Wertz

http://aliceslittlewonderland.blogspot.com

Daniela Dobson

http://danieladobson.blogspot.com

Jenn Shurkus

Shurkus.com

Lori Craig

http://loricraig.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Amy Tsuruta

http://tsurutadesigns.blogspot.com

Lisa Henke

http://www.mylittlecreativeescape.blogspot.com

Margie Higuchi

http://margieh.blogspot.com

Lee Murphy

http://luvleestamper.blogspot.com

Lori Tecler

http://inkingaloud.blogspot.com

Dina Kowal

http://mamadinis.blogspot.com

Loretta Lock

http://lovetocreate.blogspot.ca

Darsie Bruno

http://craftingwithdarsie.blogspot.com

Marcie Sharp

http://www.cardmakinchaos.blogspot.com

Veronica Zalis

http://lk2thestarz.blogspot.com/?m=1

Barbara Anders

http://barspaperpursuits.blogspot.com

Maria Levine

http://riacreations.blogspot.com

Dana Joy

http://www.gotjoycreations.blogspot.com

Melody Rupple

http://apapermelody.blogspot.com

Keri Sereika

http://www.pinklemonade.typepad.com

Asia King

http://underacreativespell.blogspot.com

Jennifer Ingle

http://justjingle.blogspot.com

Yvonne Van de Grijp

http://phoebeez.blogspot.nl

Beth Pingry

http://bethpingry.com

Erica Houghton

http://ericahoughton.blogspot.com

Mary-Ann Maldonado

http://lumpbumpandclump.blogspot.com

Piali Biswas

http://touchofcreation.blogspot.com

Ashley Newell

http://www.hearthugsdesigns.com

Nicole Maki

http://madebynicole.blogspot.com

Julee Tilman

http://www.poeticartistry.blogspot.com

Leigh Penner

http://www.leighpenner.blogspot.com

Christina Griffiths

http://flowersribbonsandpearls.blogspot.co.uk

Lindsay Amrhein

http://lindsayamrhein.blogspot.com

Laura Williams <<<<>>>>>>>>

http://www.lauralooloo.blogspot.com

Debbie Seyer

http://www.debbieseyer.com/my_weblog/

Christine Emberson

http://creativity-continues.blogspot.co.uk

Kerry Urbatch

http://www.thestampingbugsjourney.blogspot.com

Linda Lucas

http://lovelylindascraftcentral.blogspot.com.au

Tosha Leyendekker

http://www.stamptalkwithtosh.blogspot.com

Giovana Smith

http://giovana-believe.blogspot.com

Bunny Vance

http://www.bunnyrunswithscissors.com

Stacey Schafer

http://stampinwithstacey.blogspot.com

Lee Ann Barrett

http://greytpapercrafts.blogspot.com

Ruby Naz

http://www.arareruby.com

Julie Dinn

http://www.kreativejewels2.com

Jill Hawkins

https://fastestturtle.wordpress.com

Christiana Reulling

http://christygetscrafty.blogspot.com

Jodi Collins

http://stampingalatte.blogspot.com

Gracie Chavez

http://gracielliedesign.blogspot.com

Michelle Woerner

http://stopandstamptheroses.blogspot.com

Tania Willis

http://www.throughtrialsiambeingpurified.blogspot.com

Karisse Schilling

http://karissejoy.com

Lori McAree

http://smilingwhilestamping.blogspot.com

Ashley Harris

http://www.ashleyharris.typepad.com

Emily Leiphart

http://www.leiphartonart.blogspot.ca

Heidi Blankenship

http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com

Coralynn Murray

http://sunrisestamper1.blogspot.ca

Tenia Nelson

http://jazzypaper.blogspot.com

Pretty Philosophie

http://www.prettyphilosophie.org

Jillian Vance

http://www.princessandthepaper.com

Misti Oblander

http://misti-acardaday.blogspot.com

Shop my most used card making supplies:

Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock

at Simon Says Stamp 

at Scrapbook.com

Platinum 6 die cutting machine

at Simon Says Stamp

at scrapbook.com

Spellbinders Large Blending Brushes

at Simon Says Stamp

at scrapbook.com

Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue

at Simon Says Stamp

at Scrapbook.com

Spellbinders 4-inch detail scissors

at Simon Says Stamp

at Scrapbook.com

Thank You For Being Fantastic {Technique Tuesday and Seasons Givings hop winner}

Oh my gosh you guys, how FUN was the Seasons Givings blog hop?! Seriously, it was such fun to see all the visitors that came by. Thank you, and WELCOME, if you're a new follower to my blog, Instagram, or Facebook page - I definitely found some new friends this week, and I'm so happy you're here!

Also, congratulations to Becca Cruger; she's the random winner of my giveaway! Woohooo!

Today I have a card to share with you - I did this quite a while ago, and it's been sitting in my folder of projects to share! And you all ARE fantastic, and I DO thank you - so it's pretty perfect for today.

Here's how I created this: First, I embossed the sentiment and stars with white embossing powder, on a white card base. Then I scribbled Gelatos on a sheet of acetate. (Anything slick and non-porous will do - even some leftover plastic packaging or a Ziplock bag) I tried to color an area roughly the size of my card base (you'll understand why, in a minute!) Then, I spritzed the acetate with water, causing the Gelatos to blend and become more like watercolor and less like crayon. Then I just laid the card facedown on top of the Gelato goodness, and pressed it down. After lifting it up, it's easy to set it back down again if it needs more color. This is a fun project, because you can do it 100 times, and it will never be exactly the same!

For more Gelato goodness, check out another post and tutorial that I created using Gelatos! (On this project, I stamped with them!) I hope you'll check it out!

I'm looking forward to the fresh start of January, and finding a routine again. Some of us that worked with Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine are still trying to find our way towards a new normal. Now that the holiday hustle and bustle is over, I'm going to start finding that new normal in my crafty life - I hope you'll stick around with me, and see what's next! The year is fresh with possibilities! Thanks so much for coming by! xoxo

Supplies I used: (affiliate links)
Faber-Castell Tropical Color Gelatos
Faber-Castell 50's Diner Gelatos
stamps - Technique Tuesday (I think this set may have been discontinued!)

Favorite Posts of 2014: {Sweet Stamp Shop and Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine}

Hello friends! Welcome to Day 4 of my favorite posts from 2014. It's a fun way to usher in the new year, isn't it? Today's post is celebrating some of my favorite projects and posts that I've shared places other than here on my personal blog. 

So now, onward to some projects and posts. Click the links to visit the blog posts I've shared!

Creating With Colors and Lines at Sweet Stamp Shop

Think Once Create Twice (or More) at Sweet Stamp Shop

Stenciled Christmas Decor at Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine

My Funny Colored Valentines at Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking magazine

I'd love to know which were some of YOUR favorites. And hey, if you link me up to one of your own favorite posts of the year, I'd love to come and check it out!  Be sure to come back on New Years Day, because at midnight, on New Year's Eve, I'll be participating in a GIGANTIC Seasons Givings blog hop with over one hundred designers and companies. And we'll ALL have giveaways to share! (Plus, I will be sharing quite possibly THE coolest card I've ever made! I can't wait!) Thanks so much for hanging out with me this week, through my Favorites week. I hope your week has been full of family, food, fun (and maybe a little crafting!) 

Hugs!
xoxo