Fall Creations

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So what exactly have you been creating this past month?  We’ve been quite busy, behind the scenes in our Community here at The Creative Grove!  Here’s just a quick little peek into our little creative world:

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It’s been class mania with both our Brayer 101 and 102 classes being added to the project and resource libraries.  That’s a HUGE savings off the individual cost!  And well worth it.  While the 102 class is still being added this month, it’s been six weeks of creative scenery inspiration fun.  Plus of course lots of clean and simple and watercolor madness also being added.

So if you haven’t checked us out yet, what are you waiting for?  We’re approaching 70 project videos in just a little over three months – crazy, right?  Plus we have lots just waiting to be added.

So come stamp with us in the VIP Community – join in on the conversation in our private members only facebook group and get a craftin’!

See you on the inside.

xoxo –

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To find out more about The Creative Grove Community, click here!

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Mojo inspired Floral Thanks

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I have to admit, I’ve been needing a little Mojo lately, so what better to start off the week than a Mojo Monday inspired card?  We all go through creative slumps.  While I’ve been creating and filming for our Online Community this past month, I haven’t been able to dig deep to find extra projects for the blog, which I’ll be honest – has been frustrating.  Does that ever happen to you?

I look every week at a ton of challenges, hoping for a spark, but alas, the well was dry.  But not this week – yesterday I think I finally broke out of my slump!  I created two cards, one for today’s post – Mojo Monday and another for the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge Blog.  That one you’ll see a bit later.  So here this weeks sketch and my interpretation:

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Creative Tips –

  • For this Clean and Simple card – I created a monochromatic stamped design using the My Favorite Things stamp set Grand Peaceful Wildflowers.
  • You’ll want to stamp several images to give a little variety – I used three in Sahara Sand. 
  • The neutral Sahara Sand color by Stampin’ Up! really stands alone while offering enough of a background sense to allow the greeting to really pop without getting lost.Neutral Floral Thanks 003
  • For a little pop – just like a painted accent wall, use a deep, powerful color to go along with your neutrals – here you see Cherry Cobbler, but a rich purple or deep earthy orange would also look great.
  • The script die cut Thanks is from Simon Says Stamp.
  • Staggering your banner lengths help to give a strong emphasis to that part to let them stand out without getting lost.
  • As seen in the video in the VIP Community (Project and Class online video Resource Library) you really see how the sequins and pearls are a needed accent.
  • Finally, something quirky about the card is that the card front, not the card base opens. Neutral Floral Thanks 002

For measurements and a great video tutorial, see the VIP Community Project Library for tips and insights among many more projects and techniques.

Let me know in the comments if you too get stumped with blocked Mojo.  What do you do?  None of my regular go to remedies were working for me!  Have a great week.

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Join us for new video tutorials on techniques and projects every week, plus monthly online classes! Click image below to see more.

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Filed Under: Cards, Challenges, Clean and Simple, Mojo Monday Tagged: , , , , ,

That was August?

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Did August fly by for you too?  I have no idea where the past 31 days went…lol.  At least we have lots of work to show for it!  Here is just a tiny glimpse into the 20 new video tutorials we added to the VIP Community this past month.

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We learned a ton of new techniques and even added a few new classes!  Here are some of the highlights:

  • How to master using a brayer for creative scenery
  • Freeform watercolored images based off stamps
  • How to use watercolor pencils as a medium and not a pencil
  • Masking perfection – how to create collages
  • A new glimpse into bokeh using distress and pigment inks
  • Plus Clean and Simple and One Layer Cards that wow!

We are committed to adding great content each and every week that will educate and keep you excited about your paper crafting journey.  For less than the price of a class, you get access to our entire video project and resource library, classes and private Facebook community.

So what are you waiting for?  Become a VIP here at the grove and start learning!

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Black, Silver and Gold Christmas

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What do the colors Black, Silver and Gold bring to mind when you think Christmas?  You may be thinking…huh?  At first, I was a bit intrigued, as those weren’t colors I would gravitate towards…but I have to admit – I love the combo!  That was the challenge at the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge this week.  I’ve been wanting to play for a few weeks now, and sadly, didn’t have any stamps that went with the themes the past few weeks! Sad smile  Here’s this weeks:

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But this one…I have.  What do you think?  If you’re on the Creative Tips E-letter list, you’ll get a special tutorial on this and another Black, Gold and Silver Card!  If you’re a VIP Community member – you’ll have videos to go with those!  So watch your inbox this week!

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Not on the E-letter list and want to be?  No problem – it’s free and you’ll get a few project videos sent right to you, Creative Tips list.

Interested in learning more online?  We add 20+ video tutorials every month to the ever growing VIP Community Project and Resource Library.  That’s less than $1 per tutorial!  Get all that and monthly classes right here.

Thanks for stopping by!  Let me know what you think of this card and what these colors mean to you – leave me a comment below!

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Filed Under: Challenges, Christmas Tagged: , , , , ,

Community July Peeks

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Have you heard? We added 32 videos during the month of July to our VIP Community!  Here are just a few peeks into some of the amazing step by step video tutorials we added in the past few weeks.

The Creative Grove VIP Community July Sneek Photos

The summer can be a crazy busy time for everyone – kids are out of school, lots of relaxation and relaxation on vacations, holidays and just general warm weather merriment are taking place! So we wanted to kick off our newest corner of The Creative Grove with a wide variety of technique and project tutorials.  We added several that covered:

  • The Ink Swipe technique – unique backgrounds with the Colorbox Stylus Tool
  • Ombre Sponging
  • Various Masking and Masking Tape techniques
  • Bokeh
  • And more watercolor tutorials and projects than we can possibly list!

What’s unique about the watercolor tutorials is that we loaded our Watercolor Techniques that Wow class right into the community!  Just one of the features of our VIP membership – online classes too!  As a matter of fact, we’ve added over 60% of all our classes already with the much sought after Brayer 101 coming this next month.

We’ve had challenges in the private facebook group, project sharing and community all around.  It’s been fun to get to know each other, see what we’re all working on and get technique and tutorial requests directly!

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So come visit us – we’re still looking for a handful of founding members that will save before the price increases soon.  To become part of the family – click here!

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A Watercolored Poinsettia

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It’s no secret that you’ve seen lots of watercolor projects at The Creative Grove lately.  To say I’ve fallen in with this medium is putting it mildly!  Today I wanted to share with you a project I made a few days ago, because I just needed a little something fun, light and creative in my day.

We all have them – days that are bogged down with work and stuff that isn’t so much fun.  Lately, mine have been filled with the other side of running a creative classroom and blog – the business end: building websites, connecting them, creating digital images and making sure all the SEO is in place.  If you told me a few years ago that I’d be doing that on a regular basis – I probably would have laughed.  Well, I’ve become quite proficient at it!

We just finished up our latest class – Watercolor Techniques that Wow! a few weeks ago.  The feedback was through the roof.  I had so much fun putting the class together for you, that I guess it really showed.  One of the things I love about our classes here at the Grove is that you don’t have to have anything in particular that we use.  Just use what you have.  Colors, mediums, stamps, etc…  The goal is for you to have fun – play with what you have and above all – learn something new.

That’s why I’m SO excited to announce our latest educational venture – our VIP Community!

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This isn’t just any old class – it’s a course.  So what’s the difference?  It’s a monthly course where you learn something new every two weeks.  There are two levels – one that builds as you go, and one that is all access from the get-go.  To learn more about it click here.

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Bet you thought I forgot about the watercolored Poinsettia card! Smile  Like I was telling you, I was smack dab in the middle of building web pages and I couldn’t see straight or think clearly.  I decided I needed to clear my head, so I whipped out some watercolor paper, clear embossing powder, my two aqua painters, a paint palette and some watercolor pencils.  A little while later…I had this:

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To really see exactly how I colored this flower in layer after layer after layer creating depth and dimension, you’ll have to watch my three videos on it in the resource section of our Watercolor Class, or on Project #6 – click here to read about what to expect.

That’s the cool thing about that class, it’s loaded with step by step resource videos explaining techniques before you even get to the project videos!  For example, I show you how to make your own shades of colors – I didn’t have a green pencil this shade – I created my own!  I hope you love this card – I can’t stop looking at it – it’s so much prettier than the photographs even show.

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To learn seven different techniques with watercolors, brushes, inks and so much more, click here.  I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

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Looking to learn something new?  Join us in class – here are just a few:

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Filed Under: Cards, Flowers, Online Class, Techniques, The Creative Grove, Watercolor Tagged: , , , , , ,

Stampin’ Up! Gently Falling

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I hope you had a fabulous weekend  – are ready to get to a great Mojo start!  Today, we have another go to sketch for your arsenal.  This sketch will give you a great card every time.  It’s quick and easy to put together – all the things I love!  I looked at about 20 stamp sets this morning, and remembered the Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper and thought…can I really give them another card with Gently Falling?  But I knew you’d love it in the end, so here it is!

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Creative Tips –

  • I think you will notice that this will work with just about any stamp set, but the plaids in this pack of paper scream fall.
  • You will only want to use the filler images if you are using them as a background as here.  The point was to allow the greeting to pop – that’s why it’s embossed in Early Espresso.Gently Falling 003 009
  • To add a little umph to the card (is that a word?), a little paper piercing goes a long way on the Tangerine Tango circle.
  • All the matting and stabilizing part of the card is in Chocolate Chip, so the accent with the Scallop Trim Border Punch is in the same.  Gently Falling 003 006
  • Rather than use some Chocolate Chip Ribbon, I wanted the stamping to really shine, so I enlarged that portion (4” x 2”), popped it up on Stamping Dimensionals, and just added a card stock strip in place of a bow or knot.
  • To give the card a little finishing touch, some Pearl Basic Jewels were added. Gently Falling 003 002

It’s a classic, Julee Tilman did it again.  I love this sketch.  So, now it’s your turn – what are you going to make?

Are you one of my VIP’s?

If you love this card and creative tips, then be sure to sign up for my Creative Tips list!  You’ll get VIP project videos and projects, special list only sales and discounts, and stay on top of all the cool and great things not only available at Stampin’ Up!, but also here at The Creative Grove. Be in the know, first on the list!  I don’t like excess email or stuff I don’t want, so know that your email address is something sacred to me.  I would never abuse that trust!  Click here if You love creative tips and want to be one of my VIP’s! Smile

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To order 24/7 – Click Here!

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Stamp Sets – Gently Falling, Seasonal Sayings Ink – Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango Paper – Whisper White, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (132184) Tools – Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1 3/4” Circle Punch, Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin’ Pierce Mat, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack Finishing Touch – Stamping Dimensionals, Pearl Basic Jewels

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Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper

Filed Under: Cards, Challenges, Clean and Simple, Mojo Monday Tagged: , , , , , ,

Gently Falling One Layer Card

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Don’t you just love one layer cards sometimes?  I was inspired this morning by a simple photo of some fall leaves.  I thought, I not create that same feeling on a simple and classic one layer card! 

Sometimes you just need a go to quick card for someone without getting all the papers out, you know? Here’s how you can achieve this exact result.

Creative Tips –

  • Bold images are great for cards like this.  Pick something that will really pop.  I chose the largest leaf from the Gently Falling stamp set.  Does anyone know what kind of leaf this is?  Let me know if the comment section below!Gently Falling 2 006
  • To keep with the falling leaves in fall theme, you can choose a trio of classic colors like Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler and Wild Wasabi.  For the outline, the color Early Espresso with tie it all together.
  • The colors are a bit brighter until you put the Early Espresso on it.  Then it mutes it right down.Gently Falling 2 005
  • To tie it all together, stamp your greeting in Early Espresso.
  • That’s it!  You’re done – wasn’t that fast?

And for those of you who think I knock it out of the park on the first turn, I thought I’d show you how many I had to go through before I got it just right!!  Do you appreciate this?  Let me know in the comment section, and I’ll include more of this kind of stuff in the future.  Consider it my photo form of bloopers – I’m just human too, right?

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Do you want to want more one layer cards?  Clean and Simple cards?  Brayer cards?  Let me know – I’m always curious what my readers want to see!  Let me know below.  Have a great day! SmileGently Falling 2 002

Are you one of my VIP’s?

If you love this card and creative tips, then be sure to sign up for my Creative Tips list!  You’ll get VIP project videos and projects, special list only sales and discounts, and stay on top of all the cool and great things not only available at Stampin’ Up!, but also here at The Creative Grove. Be in the know, first on the list!  I don’t like excess email or stuff I don’t want, so know that your email address is something sacred to me.  I would never abuse that trust!  Click here if You love creative tips and want to be one of my VIP’s! Smile

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To shop 24/7 for any of the above project – click here

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Stamp Sets – Gently Falling Ink – Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso Paper – Whisper White

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