Tag Archives: joanne mulligan

Here it is….my first video tutorial!

Posted in Big Shot, Card Ideas, Techniques, Tutorial, Video Tutorial by

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Yes after a very long wait I have finally made my first video tutorial!  I’m so excited but really nervous at the same time.

Of course with anything I do it was not without it’s moments!  My daughter really helped me and I am so grateful for what she was able to accomplish.  It took 16 takes, a lot of oopsie moments and for some reason I had issues talking.  Yes, I know how hard that is to believe but I really stumbled and bumbled along. This was so out of my realm but I have one under my belt now and I can only get better!   Thank goodness Sarah was able to get enough footage to use.  With all the editing she had to do I needed to record a voice over, wow was that hard!  I had the little headphones on and a microphone trying to recreate what I said on the original video, I felt so Hollywood!  But it is done and I hope you enjoy it, if not for the idea at least for the comedic value.  And no video would be complete without a few bloopers at the end.  Enjoy!

Today’s share is using the Limited Edition Thoughtful Branches set and coordinating Beautiful Branches Thinlits. It is only available until August 31, 2016 or while supplies last. If you would like this set, make sure to place your order before they are all gone  The technique I am showcasing uses the Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder stamped with ink to create a realistic brick background.

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Cardstock & Ribbon Measurements:

  • Thick Whisper White cardstock – 4 1/4″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
  • Wisteria Wonder cardstock – 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″
  • Wisteria Wonder cardstock – approx 4 1/4″ x 3″ (this can be a scrap piece big enough for the leaves/flower stamp)
  • Old Olive cardstock – approx 4 1/4″ x 3″ (this can also be a scrap piece, big enough to cut the stem and leaves with the thinlit)
  • Whisper White cardstock – 4″ x 5 1/4″
  • Solid Baker’s Twine – Elegant Eggplant – approx. 10″

Supplies Used:

Thank you so much for stopping by!  If you enjoyed the video, please like, share and subscribe to both my YouTube channel and my blog !  That way you won’t miss out on any new posts or project ideas, you never know what will happen!
Happy Stamping!
~Jo

Quick Stamping Share! Sweet Cupcake

Posted in Big Shot, Birthday, Card Ideas, Card Share by

I have had so much fun creating with this set, the cupcakes are so realistic and the three-step stamping creates so much depth.. I am really in love with these images!!  And in true Stampin’ Up! fashion, the set has coordinating framelits, so getting exact cuts are a breeze!

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I am working out a new schedule for posts so you can get several new ideas each week. This Thursday I will be taking a look at my favorite tool the Big Shot.  And next Sunday I will have a more in-depth look at this set with directions for creating these fun cards!

And coming soon ..video tutorials!!  My wonderful daughter just graduated from college with an art degree so she will be helping me get started.  I can’t wait to share these with you!!

As always thank you for visiting!  Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!!

Happy Stamping!!

~Jo

Featured Set – Love You Lots

Posted in Big Shot, Card Ideas, Host Sets, Stamp Set Spotlight, Watercolor by
Love You Lots Host Set Stampin’ Up!
Love You Lots Host Set Stampin’ Up!

I am so excited about the NEW 2016-2017 Annual Catalog!  The 2016-2018 In Colors are just yummy and they have debuted so many new sets that will appeal to all stampers no matter what your favorite style is!

Today’s featured set is one of the exclusive host sets this year, Love You Lots.  The cute images are perfect for watercolor and will be sure to put a smile on the face of any recipient.  I am a HUGE fan of watercolor it is by far my favorite way to add color to images so this set was right up my alley!

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For this card I used the adorable hedgehogs (LOVE them!!) again stamping the image and saying in Basic Black on Shimmery White cardstock. Using Aqua Painters and stamp pads I colored the images with Soft Suede, Sweet Sugarplum and a teeny tiny dot of Emerald Envy for the leaf. After the image dried I used the new Layering Squares Framelits to cut a  2 3/4″ x 2 3/4″ straight edge square and a 3″ x 3″ square from Sweet Sugarplum with the scallop edged framelit. Then mounted that to a panel of Shimmery White cardstock with Stampin’ Dimensionals Before adhering to the  Sweet Sugarplum  card base I tied a pretty bow using the new ruched ribbon in Sweet Sugarplum.

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I decided to use Real Red and Basic Black, the traditional colors of a Lady Bug for this card and I added the new Thoughtful Banners set and matching Duet Banner Punch. First I stamped the image using Basic Black on Whisper White Thick cardstock, then colored it with Real Red and Basic Black Stampin’ Write Markers. Next I stamped the outline of the banner in Basic Black and colored the stripes with Real Red marker.  The Thank You was stamped using Real Red ink.  TIP:  With photopolymer stamps you can bend them any way you want, when I attached it to my acrylic block I made a slight curve to match the curve in the banner. Then I punched out the image with the Duet Banner punch and adhered to the image with dimensionals.  Below this I stamped “Friend” in Real Red.  The side panel is from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack mounted on Basic Black cardstock.

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DSCN0055Last but not least while using the Confetti Hearts Border punch knew I wanted to make a shaker card.  I punched quite a few little hearts using scrap Dapper Denim, Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzleberry cardstock and set those aside.  I stamped the hedgehogs with Basic Black ink on a small card using Whisper White Thick cardstock and colored them with Soft Suede and Sweet Sugarplum ink and Aqua Painters, the saying is stamped in Sweet Sugarplum. The frame is a piece of 3 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ Dapper Denim cardstock and the center is cut out using the Layered Squares framelits measuring  2 1 /2″ x  2 1 /2″.  A piece of window sheet was cut to the same size as the frame.  This is attached to the frame using Fast Fuse adhesive.  Then Stampin’ Up!’s new Foam Adhesive Strips were attached to outer edges of the card.  TIP:  Make sure there are no gaps so the confetti stays put!  Add the confetti to the center, peel the adhesive backing off and place the Dapper Denim frame on top.  Add a little bow in Sweet Sugarplum ruched ribbon and viola a cute little shaker card!

Products used for these projects:

If you have any questions about today’s cards, please let me know!

Happy Stamping!!

~Jo

Stamping in the great outdoors!!

Posted in Paper Pumpkin by

100_0790I’m back from our family adventure in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York!  We had a really great time with lots of laughs. I was able to spend some time stamping while my husband, kids and the dog went swimming.  Of course my children that were with us are 30, 21 and 18, but in my mind they are forever little!  As you can see, the picnic table made a great spot for my stamping afternoon and using a Paper Pumpkin kit was a great idea!

100_0789I always start out by unpacking my kit so I can look over the exclusive stamps, pre-cut cardstock, all the accessories and read through the instructions.  I decided to use my May 2015 Paper Pumpkin, since everyone has a birthday!  This kit has everything you need to make six cards with matching envelopes and four adorable gift bags. You do need a pair of Paper Snips and adhesive like Fast Fuse.  I did bring my full size ink pads with me, but the kits come with cute little Stampin’ Spots, this one comes with Island Indigo.

100_0795This is the card, envelope and gift bag. They are so cute, perfect for any birthday celebration!  The stripes in the card are Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White and the back of the card is solid Island Indigo. The colors are so vibrant you can use it for any age or gender. The gift bag is a nice sturdy cardstock and comes with the yellow tissue paper for wrapping your gift.  The balloon cutouts let the bright yellow peek through! The instructions are easy to follow, perfect for any level stamper!

While I love everything that comes in the kits, I really get inspired once I start stamping and like to add a few extras to change things up a bit and see what I can come up with.  I used the card base, Calypso Coral balloon, white banner, coral and white trim, dimensionals and printed Bermuda Bay decorative strip included with the kit.  I added the following:

100_0796I started with a Calypso Coral card base, then I cut the card included with the kit in half, trimming the striped side down to 5 1/4″ x 4″ and the Island Indigo side to 4 3/4″ x  3 1/2″.  I mounted them to the card base as shown. I used the balloon cut-out and mounted it to the Island Indigo panel with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  Using the Calypso Coral and White trim I glued it down using Multipurpose glue.  Using Calypso Coral Ink I stamped “Celebrate” on the pre-cut banner and mounted it on a piece of the decorative strip that I cut down and notched, framing the greeting. Then attached it to the balloon with dimensionals.

Now my creative juices are really flowing!!  Next up I used the card base, pre-cut white banner, Island Indigo Ink, the coral & white trim, dimensionals and one of the gift bags from the kit. To this I added:

100_0799I cut a piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock 2″ x 4 1/2″, cutting the top with the Scalloped Tag Topper punch.  Then I trimmed 1 1/2″ from the top of a gift bag, making sure the entire flap was included.  Cut a small piece 1 3/4″ x 3 1/4″ from the flap. Mount to the tag as shown.  If the pre-punched holes from this section fall out you can do some clever covering up with the balloons and greeting!  Still using the trimmings from the top of the bag, I turned it over to the white side and stamped three balloons using Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight and Calypso Coral, cutting each one out.  Attach these to the tag and stamp the balloon strings using Island Indigo ink.  Cut a 9″ piece of the Calypso Coral and white trim and thread it through the top of the tag as shown, then mount the completed tag to the card base with dimensionals.  Stamp the greeting on the white banner using Island Indigo ink, attach to the tag using dimensionals.

Waste not..want not..make sure you keep the bottom portion of the gift bag!  Add four holes at the top using the 1/8″ circle handheld punch then add two handles using the Calypso Coral and white trim to make a little open bag, don’t forget to add the yellow tissue paper!

Here are the final projects!  It really was soooo relaxing to have a stamping afternoon surrounded by the quiet of the woods. When my family pulled up my husband commented on what a huge smile I had on my face!  Like I always say, stamping is one of the best ways to reduce stress, a little creativity a day keeps the doctor away!!

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’til next time!

~Jo

Have stamps…will travel!

Posted in About me, Paper Pumpkin by
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Cedar River, Moose River Recreation Area, Adirondacks, NY

I am all ready for our annual family camping trip! Since sleeping in a tent, no shower and dare I say no restrooms for a week is not my thing, I am not a happy camper. But since my husband and my children love to camp I will go along but I do need some of the comforts of home, like a few bottles of wine and of course my stamps!

When we are camping my husband tries so hard to make it enjoyable for me, he does everything including all the cooking so I can just relax. And I can’t think of a better way to relax than by stamping away!! I have packed my bag full of stamping supplies, including several of my Paper Pumpkin card kits that I have saved for just this occasion!!  These kits are awesome for traveling, everything I need is wrapped up in one perfect little bundle; instructions, pre-cut cardstock, stamps, ink and embellishments!  All I need from my stash are my paper snips and adhesive. Right now, if you are a new subscriber and order Paper Pumpkin before September 10, 2015, you will get your first two months at half price! For more information visit my Stampin’Up! website.

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When I get back next week I’ll share some of the projects I created while roughing it in the Adirondacks!

’til next time!

~Jo

Watercolor Four Panel Birthday Card

Posted in Birthday, Tutorial, Watercolor by

Happy Wednesday!

100_0702For my first card idea I picked this one, which has been really popular on Pinterest. Since I posted it about a month ago it has been repinned almost 500 times!  Watercoloring is one of my favorite things to do, I think of it as grown-up coloring. It brings me back to my box of crayons and my coloring books as a little girl, so relaxing! It’s also a pretty easy technique for any level of stamper, there really is no right or wrong way to do it. You can just stamp and color or if you are feeling adventurous you can add some depth and shadows. I also love the layout of this card, the way the corners are rounded on two sides of each square, it really makes a beautiful focal point to the card. Have fun creating!

’til next time!!

~Jo

Supplies Used:

Sizes of cardstock:

Elegant Eggplant  – 1 piece (5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″)

1 piece (3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″, cut into 4 squares 1 3/4″ x 1 3/4″)

Tip Top Taupe – 1 piece (4″ x 5 1/4″)

Shimmery White – 1 piece (3 1/4″ x 3 1/4″

Directions:

Attach Tip Top Taupe panel to the Elegant Eggplant card base and set aside.

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Stamp your flower and butterfly from the Best Thoughts stamp set onto the Shimmery White cardstock using the StazOn pad. This stamp set is an exclusive hostess set, with any qualifying workshop or individual order of $150 or more you can purchase this set for $10.00! The StazOn pad is perfect for watercolor as it is a permanent ink and will not bleed.

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With your ink pad closed, squeeze the pad to create a nice pool of ink in the cover. Use your Aqua Painter to pick up the ink and color your image. It makes it so easy to watercolor, no need to keep dipping your brush in water, it’s right in the pen!  If you want to have some sections of the image appear darker, apply the watercolor in layers, this way the cardstock won’t get too wet. I apply a base layer, then after it has dried a little I go back in and apply more color to create some depth.

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After the panel is dry, cut into four equal squares of 1 5/8″ x 1 5/8″.

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Sponge the edges using Tip Top Taupe ink. I also like to add a little to the white area so it creates a nice antique look.

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Use the corner rounder on each small square, as shown in the sample, this creates that interesting four panel effect.  Then mount each on the Elegant Eggplant squares using Fast Fuse adhesive. I found that it was easier to round the corners of the Elegant Eggplant squares after I attached the stamped image. Attach each section to the card using the Stampin’ Dimensionals, this gives it a nice raised look.

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Last step, stamp your greeting in Elegant Eggplant using the Happy Birthday image from the Butterfly Basics stamp set and now you have a lovely work of heart!

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