Stampaganza Card Swap Challenge w/ Exotic Flower Stamp

Ok, you've seen me use it, you've fallen in love with it, and you've decided you want to purchase this stamp set, right?!? Of course you have! And I don't blame you, the possibilities are ENDLESS! I've had so much fun creating with it, I've decided to give some goodies away, so I thought we could have some fun and one lucky person could win some crafty goodies!

So....

How about a card swap challenge? This way you will get some gorgeous greeting cards to send that are ready to go or you can get some inspiration on different ways to use this stamp!

Take a look at this full-sized beautiful stamp set just for $9.95! This is the stamp we will use for the card swap challenge! During the month of July for Stampaganza, you can purchase 2 stamps and get 1 FREE!  That's right, so now you see why I said invite your friends to participate in the fun swap and challenge?

Just $9.95 for this stamp set...That's right, and when you choose to purchase this stamp and participate in the card swap, you'll get 10 cards from other creatives just like yourself, PLUS, you'll receive the new Close To My Heart Idea Book just for participating and doing what you love most!

There will be TEN slots, so act quickly! For everyone that signs up, I will give a current CTMH catalog (the idea book I mentioned), which will be mailed to you along with your swap cards. I am not sure if you have ever received a CTMH catalog, but it is a book of inspiration. You will LOVE it!! *If we have more than 10, you will go on the waitlist and if we have 10 more, I will open up another group! Tell your crafty friends!

Here are the RULES:

• The card MUST be a full and COMPLETE card w/ envelope (Not just card fronts)
• The card MUST have a minimum of two (2) layers and an embellishment (Card Base does NOT count)
• You MUST use the "Exotic Flower - B1477" CTMH Stamp (purchased from my website)
• The card can be birthday, thank you, thinking of you, or a holiday greeting
• You MUST purchase your stamp by Monday, July 31st
• Swaps MUST be postmarked to me by August 31st
• Make 11 cards (you will receive 10 back including your own; I will keep 1 as your contest entry)
• Place your cards in a large Ziplock bag along with your return mailing address and please Include $6.50 for Priority postage back to you! (Pay via VENMO @ScarletteDesigns or request to be invoiced)
• Please submit your best work, no smudges/smears or incomplete stamping
• Last but not least... There needs to be a WOW factor with your cards (i.e. a technique, a fancy fold, 3D, etc you're talented, I've seen your IG posts and your Pinterest boards! *wink, wink*)

****No Smokers Please****

Sign up by Filling out the form HERE

I am looking for Creative Thinkers! Artists/Crafters that think outside of the box. I am looking to see what each of you can do the with with same stamp. (I'm so excited just thinking about all the possibilities! This is going to be SO MUCH fun!! Can you hear the excitement on my end?)

There is one more twist on this challenge....

YOU will decide who wins, no random generator!  Once I have all the swaps in, I will photograph them and post them and there will be open voting for 3 days. The card with the most votes WINS the Grand Prize!

Wanna know what you're playing for?  

(Yes, I'm a Jeff Probst fan! LOL *wink, wink*)

• GRAND PRIZE (1) - A Digital Cricut Cartridge Bundle (Valued at over $150)
• Runner Up (1) - A CTMH Gift Bundle (Valued at $50) *Includes papers, embellishments, stamps, etc)

I can't WAIT!!! I'm so excited, but hurry and sign up TODAY, and order your stamp to begin creating!!

Don't forget, that we've got this monthly special going on, and when you purchase $50 or more you get the Stamp of the Month for just $5!! (Retail value $17.95 -- yep, for just 5 bucks!)

Let's have fun!! Invite your friends to play along with you, and I'll give you a free surprise referral gift! 

Good luck!

Happy Crafting!

#TBT Party Time Card Kit Revamp!

I love a good challenge, and sometimes it takes an outside eye to see things differently. 

So from time to time I get a chance to play along with the ladies over at the Color My Heart Color Dare blog for the weekly challenge.  This is definitely a fun group, and by participating, it will get you out of your comfort zone! These are colors taken from the Prickly Pear Collection (that's the featured paper for the month of July with Close To My Heart #CTMHPricklyPear if you create something and let us know!) Right from the start I fell in love with this collection because the colors were so bright and cheery! The Color Dare #252 included colors from Prickly Pear and they added Raspberry and Silver to give it a different perspective, and in my opinion, it totally works! Join in on the fun, get your artwork created and linked on their blog by 10pm tonight! Good luck!

Immediately when I saw this color palette, I knew I could use the Workshop Your Way "Party Time" Card Making Kit!  If you remember seeing my Instagram post, I created those cards when it first came out, back in October.  For this project, I used my scraps that were left over!  The kit is only $19.95 until the end of July or while supplies last.

Want to recreate this card?  Or something similar to it?

How-To Instructions/Dimensions:
Cut all pieces according to Supply list below. (*Note, at the time of the blog post, the Raspberry Heart B&T sold out, but can very easily be substituted with plain Raspberry Cardstock)

Next you will stamp and heat emboss the image on the 4" square cardstock.

Once your image is completely heat set, go ahead and sit that to the side.

Next, you can begin your assembly!  I wanted there to be a border and a thin strip, so there's a method to my madness. You'll notice the Black Dot paper (which in the kit is the opposite side of the large Purple Circles), is cut slightly larger than what is visible on the card, so building from the bottom up (see photos below)

And then you can add the dove-tailed Emerald and Sea Glass pieces, Bitty Sparkles and whatever sentiment you have chosen for your card (I diecut "Happy Birthday" out in two colors, once in Raspberry and the second in Black!

Visit my website to see available Thin Cuts (wafer thin metal die cuts you can use in your Big Shot, CuttleBug or other die cutting machine) if you don't already have your own favorite sentiment...

Supply List:

*Raspberry Heart B&T   4" x 5 1/4"
Black Dot B&T               4" x 3/4"  (x2)
Emerald Cardstock          3 3/4" x 1"
Sea Glass Cardstock        3 1/2" x 3/4"
Black Cardstock              4" x 4"
"Exotic Flower Flair" My Acrylix Stamp (B1477)
Thin Cuts - Happy Birthday (Z3304)
Bitty Sparkles
Raspberry Cardstock
Versamark Stamp Pad by Tsukineko
Silver Embossing Powder by Ranger
Craft Heat Tool
Your favorite adhesive
Recommended My Acrylix® block:
4" × 5" (Y1012)
Workshops Your Way Party Time Cardmaking Kit (OPTIONAL; However, it includes all supplies to create 10 cards w/ envelopes and FREE stamp set to create cards for Birthday or Invitations **Does NOT include Exotic Flower Flair stamp set!)

Purchase the Entire Card Kit Here

Party Time Card Kit (G1111)  Click to Purchase

Exotic Flower Flair (B1477) $9.95

I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to read my blog.  I hope you were able to play along, or at least have the instructions for a fun and easy card.  I think the blog post took me longer than it did to make the actual card! LOL

Feel free to leave me a comment if you found it interesting, or if you would like to become VIP with me to receive my newsletter and class schedule, CLICK HERE.


Have a wonderful Thursday!

AKA Sosa's Wife

Thank You So Much!

Sometimes when "Life gives you Lemons, you make Lemonade"

That song is going through my head and was so fun and catchy to hear Alex Boye sing it at our recent Close To My Heart convention.  Such a catchy tune that's for sure!

Up today, I had to share a card I created for dual reasons.  The best part is, that I've been using up my stash!  If you recognize the 2 papers used here, and you can accurately identify them, I'll send you a FREE card set for you to create your own! Just leave a comment and I'll pick a winner next Saturday, July 22.

So not only was this card a Thank You for a gift I received, but recently I was rushed to the ER after ingesting avocado from a local restaurant in a dish that wasn't supposed to have a big chunk of avocado.  (Even after I mentioned to them I was allergic to avocados!  Hmmm...) 

Once the word got out, I was so overwhelmed with the outreach and pouring of support from friends and family and customers and followers of the like! Everyone sending me prayers and virtual hugs and get well wishes, it only seemed appropriate to create a Thank You card during my recovery and post it on social media. Yes, I could have just posted "THANK YOU", but I'm a creator! LOL... why not make a beautiful quick and easy card with fun, bright colors... more eye catchy, right??

So, because I knew I was mailing it and I didn't want to have to pay the extra postage, I used my Close To My Heart Thin Cuts metal die!  I had seen this technique somewhere on Instagram. (Quite often Instagram can be a very cool resource because there are so many talented people, and it's just fun to take about 15 min out of the day just to see what everyone is creating for either inspiration, or to see what the latest and greatest is! Are you following me @ScarletteDesigns)

As you can see above, you cut out the image in 2 different mediums, and in this case, I chose to use the black glitter paper from CTMH, and just regular White Daisy cardstock.  Then the magic of it all? Put it back together like a puzzle, and you've got a "flat" card with "dimension" and texture for the eye and for those that love to "touch" :) 

I added a few Bitty sparkles, a little bit of Ranger Princess Gold Embossing Powder in fine detail, and voila! Instant card, CAS, and mailed out for the regular $0.49 postage!

I love reading your comments, and if you try this technique, or have questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment! Don't forget, if you are the first person that can accurately tell me which 2 paper sets I used to create this card, I'll send you a free card kit to create your very own!

Thanks for stopping by! 

(AKA Sosa's Wife)