I'm Back

Hello Friends.  Bet you where wondering where I went.   I had a case of technology incompetence.... I downloaded windows 10 at the beginning of last week and needless to say, I am having difficulty using it.  I am still working on it loading pictures into blogger, but in the meantime, I have upgraded phones and am able to blog from my phone!!!!  So until next time,

Stay Creative!

~Cindy~

Boo! Friday Make and Take

It's almost Friday!... and I am all geared up for Friday Make and Take.  This week's project is a double page layout.  For all my local peeps- my house, 10-1 cost is 5.00.  Please let me know if you are coming so I have plenty of kits prepared.  For all you out of towners, let me know if you are interested and I can set up a listing in my Etsy shop for you.

 

How stinking cute is this?  I used Black Licorice cardstock as my base page along with some retired Black & White patterned paper.  The picture mats are Tangerine Fusion cardstock. 

 

 

Aren't these bats the cutest?!!!  They are part of the Snapshot Frame Die set.  I am loving this die-I used the main die cut on the other side of the layout- scroll up and check it out- it makes the perfect setting for selfies. 

 

Oh, and it also has this Boo die cut also!  Looove it.  There are also Fall and Christmas die cuts included.... I have a feeling you are going to be seeing this set a lot.

 

Have a Creative Day

~Cindy~

 

Are you Kitten Me?

Whooo Hooo, Two post in a day!!!! I am sliding in under the wire to get my card in for the Color Throw Down challenge #358.  This weeks colors are Navy, Yellow and White.

 

It seemed pretty easy, but I have stewed on it all week. So today I made it one of my "to do" things (along with laundry-yuk!!!!)

I pulled out my brand new Feed me ATS stamp that I got with Bloom Benefits( for every 50.00 you spend on Fun Stampers Journey products, you get to choose one Bloom Benefit!).  How cool is that?!!! Getting rewarded for shopping!

 

 

This cat is so stinking cute and I have plenty of more cards I can make with him.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Cindy~

 

Better with Wine

I am enjoying the long holiday weekend with the family... and a little time in my craft room.  Yesterday was spent staining the backyard fence ( I am almost finished with the back section!!!!) and surfing the blog-o-sphere for challenges,
which brought me to Stamp Ink Paper and this challenge.

So, after a long day of pretending to be the Karate Kid- paint the fence .... I sat on my back deck and enjoyed a glass of wine... (ok, it was a cold beer, but the wine goes better with the post), and thought about what to create.

 

I used Black Licorice cardstock and ink, Whip Cream cardstock, and for my pop of color I used Cranberry Bliss ink.  I really like my  Cheveron Trail background stamp.  I will let you in a little secret- I cut it up!!!! Yes , I know that is a scary thought, but that way I get more use out of it.  I cut it up in sections- one stripe,  two stripes, and three stripes.  That way I can use it for different patterns or put it all back together for a whole background.

 

 

My focal point is done with 2 of Fun Stampers Journey ATC stamps. Love this stamps- they are a great price point  and there are plenty of options!  The background is Ink Splat stamped in Cranberry Bliss, and the wine stamp is Wine a Bit .  I love how versatile the Ink Splat stamp is- you can use it to create a background or to color an image with.  In my opinion, it is one of those must have stamps.

 

 

I finished of my creation with some loops of May Art burlap twine ( you can get some over in my Etsy store) and then I added some Journey glaze to the wine bottle and glasses.

 

Thanks for stopping by

~Cindy~

 

 

Green and Gold

Today I am sharing a card I made for Dragonfly Journeys challenge No.21, Any thing Goes with Green and Gold.

 

The first thing I thought about with these colors was fall.  I love how the leaves are just starting to get small hints of gold here in Maryland.  I pulled out my one of my new stamps I got at Yummy and Delicious down in Virginia Beach called Autumn Time.  I chose 2 of the images and stamped them in Dark Roast ink.

 

  After I stamped them I colored them with the following Copic markers:  Y15, Y19, Y38, YG23, YG67, and YR27.  I just love how they turned out!

 

 

The background was a bit stark so I grabbed another of the leaf images from the set, inked it up with Pineapple Smoothie ink and kissed it with a little Lemon Grass ink.  The final touch was to add some Journey Glaze to the large leaves, tie on some journey twine and top with one of the Heart of Gold Bloom Benefits.

Thanks for stopping in!

~Cindy~

 

 

 

Friday Make and Take

Hello Friends.  Things have been a little crazy here.... so I am just a tad late on posting my Friday Make and Take.  Friday Make and Takes are just a mini project I host at my house on most Fridays.  This weeks project is Halloween inspired.

 

How Stinking Cute is the Cupcake card?????  I just knew when I went to Yummy and Delicious a few weeks back that I would be using that cupcake from the  Yummy and Delicious set, (SS-0156) for all kinds of cards!  This week I mixed it with the spider from the Creep Crawly set, (SS-218).  The stripes are from my favorite background stamp, Striped Love, (SS-0181)  I die cut the cupcake with the Yummy Cupcake die (DI-0053) out of a patterned paper in the Treat Time paper pack, (PP-0016).

 

 

The second project is using the new Chubby Witch Boot die, (DI-0131).  I love that it comes with the embossing plate also.  I cut 2 of the boots and made a little box to glue between them so I could put some Lavender Fusion cardstock I cut with Fringe Scissors.

 

 

If you are local, check out my FB page by the same name as my blog for information on classes.  If you are not local, I have listed some of the kits in my etsy store:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/CCustomCreations

and If you would like to purchase any of the items to create this project and many more, visit my Fun Stampers Journey page:

www.funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a Creative Day!

~Cindy~

 

 

Hello Friend

Good Morning Friends.  Today I am sharing a card I made a few weeks back.  Fun Stampers Journey has introduced a new coloring system using their reinkers and a new product call Fusion Blender Solution.  I am still playing with this technique and getting comfortable with it.

 

The main image is the "For You" ATS-0138.  I colored it by dropping a few drops of the Blending solution and reinker on a spare acrylic block and picking up the color with my small blending brush. 

 

 

These are the reinker colors I used:  Sweet Berry RI-0010, Pool Play RI-0050, Sweet Pear RI-0053, Pineapple Smoothie RI-0035, River Stone RI-0052, and Rock Candy RI-0011. 

 

I finished the card off by layering it onto a Sweet Berry banner I had stamped with "Striped Love"  SS-0181 and then onto my Whip Cream card front I had stamped with "Linked Dots"  SS-0051.

 

All products available at:

www.funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

Have a Creative day

~Cindy~

 

Nature Lover's Trail Mix

Hi everyone!  I've been working on a special order for a friend.  Her son is a cub scout and she wanted to bring a snack to the meeting for all the boys.   Since Monday was National Trail mix day, that is what she decided to make up.
 

 

We went with the cello bags thinking it would be the easiest way to hand out the goodies, so I thought... why not try out my new Bread Tag Die, "DI-0133".  I am in Loooove with this die!  It is going to be a staple in my gift giving this year.  It works perfect on cello bags, and we all know how easy it is to fill them up!!!

 

 

I cut the tag out of Hazelnut Blend CS, cut a second Bread Tag out of patterned paper that you can find in the Journey Basics Neutral pack "PP-0015".  I trimmed about a 1/8" of the patterned paper and glued it down.  Then I pulled out my new Autumn Time stamp set, "SS-147" and the matching die "Di-00121", inked the oak leaf cluster with the Oatmeal Cookie IP and Kiwi Slice IP and ran them thru my Journey Grand machine.  They were layered between a square of Hazelnut Blend CS and a square of Butter Cream CS that I had stamped with a stamp from the Scenic View set, "SS-0195".

I finished it off with some Journey Twine, a Star Frame element, and Cocoa Powder gingham ribbon.

 

 

I made a few extras so I am listing them in my Etsy store if you wanted to buy the already made. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CCustomCreations

 

If you would like to purchase everything to make them yourself, you can contact me or purchase them here online:

www.funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

 

 

 

 

Life is Beautiful

Hello Friends,  I have been trying to slow down and notice the little things in life that make me smile. 

 

One of those things is sitting on my back deck and watching the birds. My husband and I have been sitting out there most evenings and have even named one of the birds "Fred".  Fred is a plain sparrow, but he has personality!!!!  He is always the first to arrive, and actually comes to within  a foot or two of us looking for his meal.  He lives in our multi-unit bird house... he use to have the confirmed bachelor pad up top, but about a month ago we noticed he had moved down to apartment 1A and had started a family.  I guess Fred has slowed down to enjoy life also.

 

 This inspired me to create this ATC for a swap I am participating in.

 

 

I used my "Yummy Dots" embossing folder (EF-0010) to give my Pool Play cardstock some background texture.  Then I pulled out the "Sweet Home" stamp set (SS-0188).  I love the birdhouses in this set, they are super Cute!!!  I used my Copic markers to color the birdhouse.  After I fancy cut around the house, I stamped part of the flowers from the "Branch Out" stamp set (SS-0140).  All of the elements are popped up- love how things look popped up!  The sentiment is from the "Text Happy" set (SS-0188).

 

If you are interested in any of the products I used, you can find them here:

www.funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

Hope everyone has a creative Day

~Cindy~

 

Color Throwdown Challenge

Happy Sunday Everyone!  Today I am sharing my entry into the  Color Throwdown Challenge Blog, http://colorthrowdown.blogspot.com/2015/08/color-throwdown-357-countdown.html

 

Love this color choice!!! 

 

 

The base of my card is Bubble Gum CS.  I layered a Black Licorice CS die cut with Journey Squares, " DI-0038" on top of it.My background was stamped with River Stone ink with the Chevron Trail stamp, "SS-0022" onto Whip Cream CS.  Then I pulled out the Yummy Party stamp set, "SS-0152", and stamped the giant layer cake.... I want to dive right into that cake!!!!  Oh, and you can purchase the matching die, Party Cake, "DI-0054"!!! Love it!!!  My party cake is colored with Copic markers.

 

 

To finish off my entry, I stamped the Eat Cake stamp from the Little Big Greetings set, "SS-0052" onto a Banner Parade die cut, "DI-0031.  Then I added a paper clip element, candy minis, black twine, and journey glaze.

 

If you would like to purchase any of the above products, please visit:

funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

Have a Creative day!

~Cindy~

 

 

Dahlia Burst

Being a Navy wife, I have had the pleasure of living all over the world.  Our last duty station was at Whidbey Island, Washington.  For those of you that have had the pleasure of living or visiting Whidbey Island, you know it is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  It is green and lush, and even if you have a brown thumb, you can grow most anything there.  There are two flowers I associate with my time on Whidbey, Lavender and Dahlias.  I had tons of Lavender in my yard, but no Dahlias because I could stop at local farmers markets and pick up a bunch. I miss that, so I pulled out my Fun Stampers Journey "Dahlia Burst SS-203" set and created this card.

 

Did you know that yesterday was National Just Because Day?  That's why I chose the Just Because sentiment from FSJ's "Branch Out SS-0140" set.

 

 

If you would like to purchase any of the supplies I used today, please visit: 

www. Funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

I hope you enjoyed my walk down memory lane and have a Creative day.

~Cindy~

 

 

 

Humming Bird Feeder

You guys know how much I love my Copics and House Mouse stamps, so today I am sharing an up coming class I am teaching at my house.

How stinking cute is Monica and this little humming bird?  I just recently started feeding humming birds on my deck, so I have been paying close attention to their coloring.  I just love how their colors shimmer and change in the light.

I always have problems finding a patterned paper that doesn't distract from my House Mouse images, so I pulled out my Fun Stampers Journey "Linked Dots, SS-0051) background stamp and inked it up with my FSJ "Whip Cream" ink.  I think it worked perfect for this card.

To finish my card off, I added some purple May Arts ribbon and a FSJ "Sparkle Drop".  I love the Sparkle Drops- all of the facets give off just enough bling to so look at me!, but don't give it that over the top look.

 

You can purchase all of the FSJ products listed at:

www.Funstampersjourney.com/cindybristow

 

If you would like to purchase a pre stamped card kit, they are listed in my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CCustomCreations

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a Creative Day!

 

~Cindy~

 

End of Summer

I don't know about you, but up here in Maryland it is beginning to feel like summer is almost over.  There is a crisp feeling in the air and the humidity isn't as high.  Saturday I spent a little time down in my craft room before I did my chores.  I created this card as a ode to the last days of summer.

 

I knew I wanted to use the Sea Side Treasures ( SS-0071) set, but wasn't sure about the background.  I decided I wanted a ombre effect, so I pulled out a new set that is quickly becoming one of my go to favorites,  the Brush Strokes, (SS-0205) set.

 

 

I chose Banana Cream, Oatmeal Cookie, Blue Lagoon, and Pool Play ink pads to stamp the back ground with.  After looking at it for a while, I thought it needed something else.

 

 

 

So I pulled out my Hazelnut Blend Re-inker and the new Fusion Blender, dropped a few drops on a block and flicked some dots on my background.  I think it was just what the card needed to make it pop.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and if you are interested in purchasing any of the products I used,  you can find them at  www.funstampersjourney/cindybristow.

 

Have a Creative Day!

~Cindy~

 

 

 

 

Introducing Journey Media Bundles

 

We are so excited to be releasing our first-ever online classes, featuring the Journey Media collection. Watch, learn, and become inspired as Richard Garay leads you through 3 mixed media classes. Get ready to stamp outside the lines and bring your crafts to a whole new level! You may begin to pre-order the bundles on August 19th. Product bundles and free class kits will be shipped on September 3rd. It will include a special link to each online class and Richard’s Journey Media video tutorial will go live on the class date.

Contact me to place your order!

Class #1: Intro to Journey Media Make, Live, Inspire Card Set

Bundle Includes: SS-0232 Media Artist, SS-0228 Wise Owl, SS-0231 Media Pattern, SS-0229 Simply Me, SS-0233 House to Home, JM-0003 Bloom Wall Stencil, M-0012 Linked Lines Stenci, DI-0063 Hexagon Background PLUS, Free Class Kit which includes: All cardstock, die cuts, embellishments (twine, buttons, clips, etc) and finishing touches (sparkle dust, etc.)

This class goes beyond typical card making and way beyond your usual card making techniques. Perfect for the multimedia novice, you’ll be experimenting with color, 3-D embellishments, layering and adding textures. Play with our new Color Splashes, learn new layering techniques using stamps and stencils, and create with one of our most popular items, Journey Glaze, in totally new ways! You’ll be creating more than just four cards; you’ll be creating works of art.

Class #2: Intermediate Journey Media House to Home Décor Trio

 

 

Bundle Includes: JM-0013 House to Home, JM-0008 Stained Glass Stencil, JM-0007 Starburst Lines Stencil, JM-0004 Bubble Bubble Stencil, SS-0230 Bird Sketch PLUS, Free Class Kit which includes: All cardstock, die cuts, embellishments (twine, buttons, clips, etc) and finishing touches (sparkle dust, etc.)

 

Step up your mixed media game. Our House to Home Trio is the perfect décor piece to accent your home and Richard Garay will show you how to bring this blank canvas to life! Use our new modeling paste, acrylic paints, and stencils to create gorgeous textures and dimension. Add sparkle and shine with our Sparkle Cuts and watch the light dance off your piece with the new Glass Glitter. Learn dozens of mixed media techniques to create these little masterpieces!

 

Class #3: Advanced Journey Media Media Artist Journal

 

 

Bundle Includes: JM-0074 Canvas sheets, PP-0011 Media Prints Paper Pack, JM-0006 Ring Stacks Stencil,  JM-0001 Falling Petals Stencil, JM-0011 Chevron, JM-0002 Vintage Screen Stencil, JM-0005 Ball Chain Stencil, AC-0128 White Journey Thread PLUS, Free Card Kit which includes: All cardstock, die cuts, embellishments (twine, buttons, clips, etc) and finishing touches (sparkle dust, etc.)

 

This class is for the bold, the brave, the creative adventure seeker. Design your own artist journal from scratch by stitching your bound signature and create seven different spreads, each highlighting a different mixed media technique. This class allows you to play with most of the elements in our Journey Media collection from the Media Prints Paper Pack, gel medium, modeling paste, gesso, acrylic paints, stencils, and a variety of tools. This is journaling and memory keeping on a new level, this is your creative enterprise.

 

It's time to get a little messy.  Hope you will join us for this Journey Media adventure! Make sure to contact Me  if you are interested in discovering your inner artist!

 

Stay Creative,

~Cindy~ 

Full Bloom Copic Class

Most Wednesdays I host a mini class at my home here in Maryland.  This week's class features the FSJ stamp set "Full Bloom" SS-0162.

We will be using Copic Markers to color these beautiful Lilies.  The card base for the first card is River Stone and the pattered paper is from the Paris Vintage collection, "Vintage Paris Paper Pack" PP-0010.  I am falling in love with the "Bubble Gum Silk"  IP-0092,  as Richard would say, "it's so Yummy and Delicious!"

The second card has a Pretty Amethyst cardstock base and uses a patterned paper from the "Journey Basics Pastels Pack"  PP-0013. 

 

Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing a pre-stamped kit that incudes everything to create the card except for inks, copics, and adhesives.  The Copic colors I used will be listed along with instructions for completing each card.  The cost per Kit would be 5.00 plus shipping.

Have a Creative Day!

~Cindy~

Winter Bird

Hello Friends.  I know it is only mid August, but....remember the Winter Fred post I did a few days back?  Well, since I had the Winter Fresh pattern paper pack out, and I had cut into a piece for my Fred tag.... I decided it use the scraps up.  I guess my neat freak of a husband is rubbing off on me after 19 years of marriage?!!!!

I had bought the Christmas Melody SS because I liked LOVED the bird image included in the set.  Isn't he the cutest little guy?

I pulled up a picture of a chickadee on Pinterest (love that site) so that I could pull out my Copics and color the little dude!  Next I used my Journey Oval Die Cut and layered him onto Denim days CS.  I stamped my new favorite stamp, Striped Love SS onto Oatmeal Cookie CS using Pool Play ink, and then layered it with the scraps from my Winter Fresh PP.

Check out my embellishment- I layered a few of the Holiday Elements sequins with some Candy Apple Red confetti for a classy little sparkle.  The twine is by May Arts Ribbon.

Until next time,

Stay Creative my friends!

~Cindy~

 

Nature Trees

Hey everyone- Today I am sharing a card that was inspired by Fun Stampers Journey President and Founder Richard Garay!  Last week he posted this card on his page.

Which made me want to pull out the Nature Trees SS and play with it.  I loved the color scheme so I used almost the same colors:  Lemongrass CS, Dark Roast CS, Cool Pool CS, and Whip Cream CS, then I threw in a sliver of the Going Places PP to add just a little pop!

 I stamped the ink splat that is included with the stamp set (how cool is that??!) with Cool Pool ink, and then stamped one of the trees with Dark Roast ink.  I took a step back and said, hmmmmm, this needs something.  So I went digging in my embellishments and pulled out my jar of Lemongrass confetti.

I like how the confetti changes color with the light and gives it an early fall look.  I finished the card off with a floppy bow tied with Lemongrass Thread. 

Hope you enjoyed todays post, and

Have a Creative Day!

~Cindy~

Winter Fred

Remember yesterday when I said I was trying to participate in more challenges?  Well, today I am sharing a tag I created for Rose's Challenge over on One Journey Coach's Challenge Facebook page.  Rose post a challenge once a week and then at the end of the month, she draws a name from everyone that participates! The page is by invitation only, but if you would like me to add you, leave a comment and I will respond. Ok, enough talk...here is my tag,

This little guy's Name is "Winter Fred" and he is available in the Fun Stampers Journey Holiday Catalog.  I paper pieced his hat and scarf from the Winter Fresh Prints 6x6 pad that is also in the Holiday Catalog.  Fred has a girlfriend named "Ethel Winter", I don't have her, but I'm thinking I might have to put her on my next order because Fred is looking a little lonely!

Have a Creative Day!

~Cindy~

From All of Us

Do you ever feel like you're in a creative rut?  I find myself using the same colors and the same layouts for all of my projects, so recently I have started doing creative challenges to help me break out of my comfort zone.  A couple of my fellow Fun Stampers Journey coaches have started a challenge blog that gives a once a month color and layout challenge
http://www.creativebloomsjourney.blogspot.com/
The great thing is that you can enter as many times a month as you would like! I would love to see all of you out there stop in and take the challenge.

This is my first card for the August challenge.

I decided that I would try both the sketch and the color challenge with one card.  I broke out some virgin rubber- the  "From All of Us" ATC.  These little people where fun to color- just enough detail that they are not boring.... but small enough that you don't loose interest. 

I have a feeling that I will be participating a few more time this month's challenge over at Creative Blooms because I love the layout and colors. 

Have a Creative Day

~Cindy~

 

 

I

Hello Friend

I needed a few cards to congratulate some friends who's husbands are in the Navy and made Chief.  If you aren't familiar with the military, making it to that rank is kind of a big deal... oh who am I kidding, it is a really BIG DEAL!!!! so Congratulations to all of those military members who are going thru the process of putting on your anchors, and for all of you spouses who stand behind them and support them!

I decided to do CAS cards because I had a few to make.  I stamped the "For You" image on Whip Cream CS and cut it out.

Then I pulled out my trusty Copics and went to town coloring, I love to color!  I popped the image on a A2 card, did a little bit  of background coloring, added some Journey Glaze ,Sparkle Dots, and the sentiment from the "Birthday Girls" set.

Thanks for stopping by,

~Cindy~