100 Days Project: Days 1-10

I mentioned that I was participating in the Scrap Gals 100 Days Project and I have days 1-10 to show you now. I love how flexible this project is, and that I can spend a lot of time when I'm able to, and do quick things when I'm short on time. I'm posting most (maybe all) things on my Instagram and tagging them #EmilyConquersStampsAndInks

Day 1: I used these cute cactus stamps with Memento Dew Drops ink pads.

Day 2: I used some Ali Edwards stamps to make these simple embellishments for Project Life and other layouts. I used Stazon black ink and then cut them out. I didn't have enough ink on the top 2 stamps the first time, so I reinked and did them a second time. 

Day 3: This was Day 1 of Refresh, part of my Simple Scrapper membership. We were challenged to make a card for a loved one in 20 minutes with just the stuff on our desk. I had this colorful background leftover from a class Mom and I took at the Scrapbook Expo... so I grabbed some twin, a tag I've been saving for a long time, a polka dot embellishment a stamp, and 3 enamel dots. Quick and easy and under 20 minutes! 

Day 4: I stamped on a layout (I'll show it to you soon)

Day 5: I followed a Jennifer McGuire video to create a two color stamped background.

Day 6: I used distress oxide inks to create these two cards. They're actually watercolor cards from Michael's Recollection brand, but I figured distress inks would work too. They did!

This one got a little muddy - I'll keep practicing the rainbow color blending.

Day 7: I put distress inks on a craft mat, sprayed them with water, heat set it with my embossing gun, and then put a light coat of a distress ink on top. I spritzed that with water and blotted it with a paper towel.

 Day 8: I worked on creating a background from a stamp set.

Day 9: I got this "three way roses" stamp at the Scrapbook Expo as part of a class. I tried out a few combinations and hope to use these soon (probably with distress inks?)

Day 10: I don't use rubber stamps very often, so I guess I pressed too hard... someone suggested fussy cutting them out and using them as embellishments though. So smart!

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2017 Crafty Goals

So I kind of lost interest in Project Life last summer... and I haven't finished anything past May. The problem is, I absolutely LOVE the finished product of Project Life. I love looking back through all the fun little things we do. I feel like those little moments are lost when I don't do Project Life.

So what's a girl to do?

Right now I think I'm going to use the Project Life app to finish monthly layouts for 2016. I'll have them printed as 12x12's (maybe from Persnickety Prints? I'm open to suggestions!) and then add them to my scrapbook album. I may embellish them when I get the prints... since I haven't tried this before, I don't know how that will look and if it's possible. I'm really liking this idea because I could also do some 12x12's and have more freedom to place them anywhere in the album.

If I like the app, I may do a page for each week in 2017 (1 page usually, but possibly a double page layout if needed). Again, the freedom to be able to add in 12x12's wherever I want is very appealing.

I want to keep the daily aspect of my scrapbooking pretty simple and have more time to work on some project albums. I want to get going on some Disney pages, camping mini album, and more 12x12s. I want to do some monthly challenges at Paper Issues and use more sketches from Simple Scrapper.

I'd like to make more cards next year and use my stamps and inks more. I recently channeled my inner Jennifer McGuire and organized my stamps (LOVE!!!)

I'd also like to knit or crochet something (maybe I'll finish that blanket that's been sitting beside the couch for 5 years - oops!)

What are your crafty goals for 2017?

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Mom's birthday card

I used a new stamp set to make Mom's birthday card. It's the first time I really spent some time playing with my Studio Calico Color Theory stamps. I like them a lot!! I picked 3 stamps and made color swatches in my Repurposed Rolodex. Now when I want to stamp something, I can look at these swatches and know exactly what the colors look like.

Mom's card turned out pretty cute, but definitely not how I planned it. I got a little lost along the way and looked up projects using the stamp set on Studio Calico. I was definitely inspired by one of the example cards and made it work!

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Sympathy card

I've really been in a card making mood here lately. I got the "Sympathy" stamp set from Studio Calico a month or two ago. I love the sayings and flowers in this set. I have a friend who's been going through a rough patch and also had a death in the family. I made a little card to let her know I was thinking of and supporting her.

I stamped the flowers and stems with distress inks and painted water on top of them to give it that water color look. That gold crackled washi tape has been sitting on my table for a while - time to put it to good use!

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Dad's birthday card

Dad turned 59 last week.  I didn't see him on his actual birthday, but we had dinner at Red Lobster last night. Joe and I gave him an Amazon gift card so he could treat himself to a couple of albums. I also gave him a tape adapter so he can plug his iPhone into the car. It was cheap, but hopefully the audio quality is decent enough!

I made him a card using the same stamp set I used for my friend's birthday cards. I love that brush script look from Kal Barteski. I picked a few star shapes (chipboard and wood veneer) from my stash and used them to decorate the card. The candles are also part of that "Happy Something" stamp set.

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Happy Something birthday cards

I got the "Happy Something" stamp set by Kal Barteski when Studio Calico had it up for a sale recently. I love Kal's script font. I have friends celebrating birthdays in the next month or two, so I'm ready! I've never actually made cards in advance (although I've been meaning to forever).

The gold embossing powder is my favorite.

I used Project Life cards to make this project quick and simple.

Have a great Monday!

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New Home card

My brother recently moved so I made a card to send to him. I combined several Studio Calico stamps to make this sentiment. I love how it turned out!

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Stamp Storage

When I used my stamps the other night, I realized I hadn't shown you how I'm storing them now. I used to have my stamps thrown in a box. Not in sight = not used. I reused a little SN@P binder I had and love how easy it is to flip through my stamps now. Hopefully I'll get some more use out of them!I used a variety of page protectors to accommodate the different stamp sizes.

I put a piece of SN@P card stock in between each divider so I could see the stamps more easily.

A little piece of washi tape helps keep these stamps in place.

How do you store your stamps?

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Repurposed Rolodex

I bought a spinner Rolodex at a thrift store for $2 a while back. I've been thinking of different things to use it for. I even made a Pinterest board and have found some fun uses for Rolodexes.

I've finally decided I want to use it to create a collection (compendium? encyclopedia?) of scrapbooking tools and techniques that I try. I think the small size of the Rolodex cards is perfect for art journaling, playing with mixed media, learning to stamp, etc. I made just a few cards the other night and they turned out pretty fun.

I'm in love with the pattern I created using the 3 V's on that Studio Calico stamp.

I had a little bit of trouble with the marker ink pooling on my new Heidi Swapp "documented" stamp. I had some better luck when I used an ink pad. Do any of you stampers have some tips for me??

Are Distress Inks not good for clear stamps? Again, I need some tips!

I may get a Rolodex punch (is there such a thing??) or make a cut file for my Cameo so I can cut more cards in different colors.

Has anyone ever used a Rolodex for a craft project??

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