Understandblue

VIDEO: Highlighting Collage Style Backgrounds + Patreon Update!

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0200

I have such a fun two part video for you today! The first section is where I create the colored/stamped portion of the background for both paper piecing and for this background, and the second portion is for creating the ghostly sea images on top of that with this stunning 3D embossing folder, a new-to-me foam tool and some white paint.

I was CRACKING UP putting that little sign in the octopus' tentacle haha.

The die cuts are all colored with OLO markers - the octopus and jellyfish have three layers so you can do whatever colors you want.

I think this would make a phenomenal art journal page. Hmm. that gives me an idea.

Sea Themed Dies [ SPL ]	3D Embossing Folder - Sea Theme [ SPL ]	Mixed Textures [ HA ]
INK - Concord & 9th [ C&9 ]	Triangle Background Dies - Concord & 9th [ C&9 ]	Amsterdam - Titanium White, 120 ml... [ BLIC ]

I also have a Patreon update for you! I have added a membership level for my curated and tested recipes. I spend a ton of time selecting, adapting and creating recipes, and I thought I'd create a way for you to be able to collect PDFs of recipes with my notes and substitutions, photos of the food as well as my modifications to make them dairy free if you need that. So that is a new tier on Patreon. The normal crafty Patreon level remains as is - and if you sign up for the recipe level, you'll still get the crafty level benefits. When I've published enough, I'll assemble the individual recipe PDF's into a cookbook with an index that you can print or download. I've already uploaded my insanely delicious vegan lasagna recipe and will be adding more in the next week. I have them all categorized and the format is all the same.

I appreciate any support!

The video for today's card is below.

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OLO MARKER

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10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5

Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Here's the video!

Loveyameanitbye.

Happy Birthday Erica! Owl Video Part II + Giveaway

Wed, 31 May 2023 18:00:00 +0200

Hi friends! I'm back with part two of the owl card video - the trees and this amazing moon! And this video celebrates my friend Erica's birthday!!

If you want to click through to the video over on YouTube, there's a giveaway in the description too!

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.

10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5

Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Here's the video:

Tune in tomorrow too for an exciting update and a SUPER fun card, as well as an exciting Patreon update!

Loveyameanitbye.

VIDEO: The Owl Did It & New Journal Class!

Sat, 27 May 2023 16:00:00 +0200

It's here! Part one of my video of the beautiful white owl! But first - a story!

I referred to this in another post, but one time, on the way to New Mexico (an 11 hour drive from here), a turkey buzzard came through my winshield, covering me, and one of the cats in glass.

We were in a rental vehicle and also in the middle of nowhere, and this set off a completely nuclear chain of disasters. It took hours for them to get to us with a replacement, and when they showed up - they didn't have it - they just had a tow truck. Well we had two cats, two people and an SUV full of luggage so what were they thinking?? So they went back and got us a vehicle - more hours of just sitting. It's hard enough to travel with the cats - this was brutal.

6 hours later, they bring us a vehicle. We transfer everything and us and the cats and head out for the remaining NINE HOURS of our drive. When I got up to about 60 miles per hour, a piece of weather stripping on the windshield that was loose starts thumping really loudly in the wind, which it did for the next nine hours.

By the time we approached the outskirts of Santa Fe, it was 3 AM and I was beyond exhausted and stressed and the cats were beyond beyond. It's VERY dark outside Santa Fe - they are really good about not adding light pollution, but it makes driving in the middle of the night scary.

Around one little curve just outside of town, a ginormous barn owl appears out of nowhere headed right for the windshield! He got so close I saw his eyes, his claws, his pretty little pin feathers on his chest. We both screamed hahah. He glided over the roof, just barely, and I managed not to roll the SUV.

It was too much, the birds on that trip! But we made it, and now I know what it's like to be buzzarded! Zero stars!

Also, I rage returned the stupid Ford to the airport the next day and got the third SUV of the trip, but not before recording the thumping sound as I was driving. Somewhere on an old phone that video waits!

So speaking of videos - today I have a new video - part one of this amazing owl card - part two for the background is coming soon. And I have a new $5 journal class on an adorable travel bujo.

Here are the supplies:

Lovely Layers: Owl - Honey Cuts –... [ HNB ]	Lovely Layers: Trees - Honey Cuts –... [ HNB ]	Adventure Awaits Paper Pad 6x8.5 - 24... [ HNB ]
Summer Cabins - Honey Cuts – Honey... [ HNB ]	Olo Chisel-Tip Half Marker - Y2.3... [ BLIC ]	Olo Chisel-Tip Half Marker - BK Blue... [ BLIC ]
Bee Creative Easy Squeeze Precision... [ HNB ]	Honey Bee Detail Blender Brushes -... [ HNB ]	Premium Dye ink Pad : Metropolis –... [ PNK ]
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Label Stickers... [ RNG ]

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.

10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5

Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Here's the video - there's a giveaway on YouTube!

And here is the little mini journal you can make in this class!

Loveyameanitdontgetbuzzardedbye.

One Stamp Set, Four Ways - Let's Talk About Birds! (Giveaway)

Mon, 22 May 2023 19:00:00 +0200

I love a good quirky bird. Who can resist the urge to PUT A BIRD ON IT? Not I.

So today I'll show you four super cute ways to use this adorable quirky bird set.

First, I created a black and yellow background with this fun city map texture in yellow. I used the zigzaggy sentiment from this set and added some adorable planner-style elements from this journaling set. I did die cut the bird, but it's essentially a one layer clean and simple card!

Mixed Textures [ HA ]	Textured Compliments [ HA ]	Essential Journaling [ HA ]
Be You [ HA ]

These little birds just seem so positive! So I thought I'd drop some encouraging messages into my stenciled background THROUGH the dots stencil that I ink blended through. I created my own simple greeting with these alpha dies. This is the script stamp with the affirmation messages.

Be You [ HA ]	Sprinkled Dots [ HA ]	Alpha Dies [ HA ]
Positive Script [ HA ]

The alpha dies - if you leave them tabbed together before running them through your die cutter make an ADORABLE background for two of the birds from the set. The little heart is from the alpha dies.

Be You

[ HA ]

Alpha Dies

[ HA ]

I saw a post last night that was so very sweet, and also so very sad. It's from my favorite allergist on TikTok - a sweet, kind man that does a TON of education on important allergy issues - for example, recently, debunking the "hypoallergenic dog" myth, and talking about the importance of food allergy awareness.

He approaches everything with humor and love and curiousity, so I could tell that this post came from a place of a kind of pain that never goes away - and that's the pain of being bullied as a child. No matter how successful you are, you're always still that hurt little kid inside when you remember those days and you can really feel it in this really sweet post, despite the joyfulness and spirit of overcoming. He also has a followup video on this as well.

Anyway, that's the spirit of this last card today. Just be you. Try hard to shut out anything that makes that difficult. 💜 I used this grungy background stamp, this fun little wheel die, a polaroid frame die (there are little textured washi tape dies in there!) and the adorable bird.

Be You [ HA ]	Rough Dots [ HA ]	Fancy Circle [ HA ]
Frame Dies [ HA ]

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Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

If you leave me a comment today, you'll be entered in a drawing for one of TWO $50 gift cards to celebrate the new summer catalog, which you can see here. The winner will be announced HERE.

Loveyameanitbye.

Nighttime Scene with Only Dies

Sat, 20 May 2023 01:58:35 +0200

I've been waiting so long to show you these cards! I have had SO much fun with this amazing owl die - because you KNOW I'm on the true crime #teamowl after attending CrimeCon. If you aren't familiar with the case I'm talking about - I highly recommend the series that the Southern Fried True Crime Podcast did on the case - the series is called The Never Ending Staircase.

BEHOLD the detailed owl and trees on this scenic card! I will have TWO videos coming up next week - one on the owl and one on the background, so don't worry - but you can grab them both while you wait HERE! The owl dies were cut from this paper.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.

10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

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Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

The whole release is so fun and outdoorsy, but even if you are INDOORSY, you will have fun with them. I'll have a video on these as well, but you have to see these adorable layering lures!

I used this stamp set for the net, and this one for the sentiment.

The little tiny hooks are SO cute! Each lure is so realistic. I made this one sort of nautical.

For this one, I used this label set that goes with the little box die and the lures - more on that later! I colored just the sun on it. All of these use this beautiful new paper pack that my new mini bujo journal class that is coming up. Preview below! Registration will start soon.

I love the way the lure dies look lacquered. So realistic! I shaped them from the bag with my large stylus and a foam pad so they are super dimensional on the card.

Here's a sneak peek of the journal class!! It uses the trees and the cabins and will make a travel friendly bujo you can pop in a pocket or purse. Stay tuned!

Owl [ HNB ]	Trees [ HNB ]	Lure Dies [ HNB ]
Lucky Lures [ HNB ]	Cabins [ HNB ]	Adventure Paper [ HNB ]
Fishing Legend [ HNB ]	Hooked on You [ HNB ]	What’s New – Honey Bee Stamps [ HNB ]

I had a REALLY hard time narrowing down what I wanted to show you tonight because it's all beautiful. But if you buy any of this, you will be treated to some new videos from me very soon using a lot of different things. As always, I appreciate you shopping using my links.

Loveyameanitbye.

MIX538 Thoroughly Modern Art!

Fri, 19 May 2023 05:53:34 +0200

I'm the host of this week's MIX-Ability mixed media challenge at Splitcoast and I'd love it if you joined me because it's an inspiration challenge from one of my favorite sources - modern art!

I studied a lot of art history in college, and it informs so much of my own art practice now that I love to tie it into challenges I host.

My squirrel godmother sent me some Distress Crayons this week, which I had never tried before, and I used them with this ultra modern bird stencil and sentiment strip. I did some doodling after the technique to add some whimsy.

The stencil that inspired the challenge though is this woman one. I love this so much. After doing the same technique as on the bird, I added a little texture around the image, shaded with colored pencils and added another sentiment strip.

If you play along with the challenge, be sure and tag Splitcoast and use hashtag #MIX538.

Here's a quick take on the technique!

I'll be back tomorrow with a SUPER fun and easy die cut card.

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

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10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

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Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

VIDEO: Birthday Clubbing + Giveaway!

Thu, 18 May 2023 17:00:00 +0200

Okay I PROMISE I'll shift away from birthday cards soon, but I'm just on a roll! I've cleared out a TON of old cards and am refilling my rack with a purpose, because I really need to get better at mailing birthday cards.

I did something I RARELY do with this month's 3D Embossing Folder Club - I mass produced! I really did! Because these oversized embossing folders let you do two slimline card fronts at a time. I'm all for that.

All I did was simple spot ink blending with brushes on it.

However, my photo of this is one of those visible illusions. If I stare at it long enough, the dimension FLIPS and it looks indented instead of raised. And of course now that I've said that, you will be unable to see it the right way. It's like the blue black / gold white dress all over again! You're welcome! :)

The sentiment is these dies.

We are having a blog hop & giveaway today to celebrate ALL the clubs. I'm very, very selective what recurring subscriptions I have, because I'm a budget person, and I love these. My favorites are the Embossing Club, the 3D Embossing Club, Small Die, Large die and Stamp & Die. I think I told you that I destashed my embossing folders hard on a recent decluttering, so this is a good way to slowly build them back up with new themes, but honestly, the size of these make them so very versatile. For example, they are ready made journal covers.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.

10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

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5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5

Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

These are so fun and a perfect size for your purse or car.

Anyway, enough about my embossing obsession.

Here are the supplies, and come back for a giveaway and more inspiration from my friends! They will be showing all sorts of things from the other clubs.

Clubs \| Spellbinders Paper Arts [ SPL ]	Fluorescent Vinyl Paint [ BLIC ]	Journal Stapler [ AMZUS ]
Script Words (Layering) [ SPL ]	Rotatrim [ BLIC ]	Cheddar paint [ JGG ]
Paint soft spatula [ AMZUS ]	Sepia Ink [ BLIC ]	Gold Wax [ ELH \| HA ]

Spellbinders Blog

Sandi MacIver
Sara Lihz Staroska
Kristie Marcotte
Daniel West
Bibi Cameron
Annie Williams
Jean Manis
Deepa Robbins
Joy Wilson
Jennifer Kotas
Heejung Hunsberger
Michelle Woerner
Lydia Fiedler

Giveaway:
To celebrate this release, we are giving away a $25 gift certificate to 3 lucky blog readers – selected from the comments on these blogs. Giveaway closes on Sunday, May 21st, 11:59 pm MST. The winner will be announced in this blog hop post the following Wednesday. The winner is responsible for shipping costs, duties, and taxes.

Please note, store credit (gift certificate) cannot be applied to Club Subscriptions. Store credit can be applied to shop past Club products, Club extras and regular releases.

Loveyameanitbye.

A Lil' Squeeze for a Good Cause!

Fri, 12 May 2023 18:51:12 +0200

We hacked Chipotle's rice last week. This shouldn't come as a surprise, since it's cilantro lime rice, but we added lime juice and cilantro to rice. It was perfect! It's amazing how much that changes the rice.

Lime juice - actually all citrus - is kind of miraculous in the kitchen, honestly. I marinate beef fajitas in orange juice, use preserved lemons in my chicken soup, and I use lime juice in all the things. This week, I got these HUGE blackberries from Farmhouse, and because I'm very suspicious of how clean you can get a berry, (ever since a wedding with chocolate covered strawberries as the culprit required LITERALLY every ambulance in Austin as the guests started to fall like Agatha Christie wrote the script) I always cook them. Let me tell you - a little bit of sugar & lime cooked with blackberries is straight magic in yogurt.

Anyway, because of those blackberries I cooked, I was in a limey mood! So I went all in with this pretty background stamp. AND, this is one of the Products With Purpose, so a portion of the sales - a hefty portion - goes to charity, and a Texas one at that!

A portion of the sales (15%) of the Hot & Cold Drinks stamp set and the Citrus Squeeze Background stamp will be donated to the Write With Light Project for retail sales placed at Ink Blot Shop through May 31, 2023. The Write With Light Project is a nonprofit organization that raises money to improve the lives of those struggling with rare conditions. In 2023, in honor of a spunky heart warrior named Sunley, profits will go toward the Fontan Go Clinic at Texas Children’s Hospital. This will provide specialty care for anyone who has had a Fontan procedure.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER

15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.

10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5

Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Hope you have a great weekend. It looks like we will be listening to rain!

Loveyameanitbye.

VIDEO: On Stamp Blending Part 2

Thu, 11 May 2023 13:00:00 +0200

Hope you're not tired of birthday cards yet, because I'm still making them! I'm also still re-visiting one of my fave MISTI tricks for the second time in two weeks - on stamp ink blending like I did with this rose with cosmetic sponges. I caught Gina's live the other day and she was doing it too, so we are all on the same wavelength right now.

If you haven't watched her lives, you should. She does more fun stuff with the MISTI than just about everybody, and her techniques are all so fun. Plus Tom often plays his guitar while she is demonstrating - it's so relaxing.

But I digress.

I'm also happy to tell you that now there are only173 days till Halloween, so I'm using this adorable Halloween cat for this non-Halloween card. Warming you up slowly for the best holiday everrrr.

All the inks I used are below, and because I made a mistake, you're going to see a completely different type of on-stamp ink blending 😂😂😂.

CURRENT COUPON CODES

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15% off anything at Marker Universe or any of their other sites - Understandblue15.

10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off the whole store at A Colorful Life Designs - LydiaFan10

5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5

Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Here's the video:

Here are the supplies:

What would you guys think if I offered recipes to download either individually or as a cookbook? My recipes, and any recipes that I've modified to be dairy free? So many people ask me for my recipes. And I spend a ton of time testing them after modifying them.

Just a thought. Not like I have time to do anything extra LOL.

Anyway - I hope you have a good week. I have two more fun videos coming soon. Loveyameanitbye.

Moody Blue Farm Scene + Embossed Transfer

Wed, 10 May 2023 12:30:00 +0200

I know it's only May, but I got some dies that are giving me serious Halloween vibes, so I went all in on that mood.

First, I wanted to make a nighttime scene with these beautiful rustic dies. They remind me of the ranch, and there's nothing spookier than being out in the country at night, when everything is the same color, and all you have is light from the moon.

I mixed Distress Reinkers and my Twinkling H20s from the late 1900s and did some good old fashioned ink smooshing on this paper - it always gives me these billowy clouds you see here.

I just dipped all the die cut pieces into the same ink. When it was dry, I used this classic tool and white ink with one touch to create that perfect moon. Then I brushed a tiny amount of white ink in the top of the birdhouse and pump for moonlight.

I was going to add a sentiment - but I loved it too much as it was - all moody and blue.

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Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Now wait until you hear what I did here!!

Okay - this same artist also has this set of dies out - and I almost did a Halloween theme with the pumpkins too! But I could not resist this classic Texas star!

To make the background - both of those pieces are from the same process. I used white cardstock, and this magical paper inside the embossing folder together! So in one trip through the machine, I got the white piece, and the grey piece, which is the negative! SO FUN. I just lined them up and glued them together and added this thanks die cut. The colors are the new C9 color release. PS - the embossing folder was from the 3D Embossing Club, so it's not available anymore, but I love this club so much - I didn't have many embossing folders after a big cleanout, so this is a fun, economical way to build my collection back up.

Rustic Dies [ SPL ]	Seasonal Dies [ SPL ]	C9 Colored Cardstock 2023 [ C&9 ]
Distress reinkers [ BLIC ]	Ink friendly paper [ BLIC ]	White pigment ink [ BLIC ]
Round Blender [ JGG ]	3D Embossing Club [ SPL ]	Charcoal Xfer Paper [ BLIC ]
Layering Script Dies [ SPL ]

I have a YouTube Short and a TikTok with the process for the first card if you follow me on either!

Loveyameanitbye

VIDEO: Stenciled Die Cuts Two Ways & Ephemera Colored by Friends!

Wed, 03 May 2023 16:55:00 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I have such a fun video for you today with some adorable new gardening themed ephemera (colored by friends!) that has matching dies. There's also a matching stamp set and a ton of other new fun things you'll see me use like a few of the stencils. Such a cute idea.

I started with an older leaf die I love - there are two leaves in this set and I used the larger of the two for both techniques. I also added a sentiment from one of my fave older sets - the scripty font is so pretty.

On the left I used the botanical stencil, and on the right the geometric stencil. Inks are listed below.

I'm going to cut out a bunch of these and take them on road trips for easy postcards.

Like this post? Never miss a post by following me!

Here's the video!

Here are all the supplies.

Gardening Stamp Set [ CRF ]	Gardening Dies [ CRF ]	Gardening Ephemera [ CRF ]
Anniversary Release [ CRF ]	Leaf Dies [ CRF ]	Sentiment Stamp [ CRF ]
Foliage Stencil [ CRF ]	Geometric Stencil [ CRF ]	Jelly Bean [ GNK ]
Blue Raspberry [ GNK ]	Wild Dandelion [ GNK ]	Passionate Pink [ GNK ]

I got more live plants from American Meadows yesterday - I can't wait to get my hands dirty today!

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

OLO MARKER
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10% off at Sweet Sentiment with code UNDERSTANDBLUE
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5% off at LBC here with code LYDIA5
Arkon Mounts - - 20% off sitewide with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Roses from Friends!

Wed, 03 May 2023 02:00:38 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I was so shocked this week to see TWO friends post pics of their roses and they looked nearly identical! It turns out they weren't the same variety but holy cow did they look similar.

Austin isn't *great* rose country - the town I grew up in definitely was. So I'm always loving seeing pics of friends' roses. These two friends were in Florida and Missouri.

Anyway, it inspired me to try their rose color on a card.

I inked up this gorgeous rose stamp in yellow, and then used one of these cheap sponges while the stamp was still on my MISTI to add pink in a few places. The small pore silicone makes the ink so smooth.

I did the same on the leaf - green, and then a dark teal. It's so easy and fun.

Like this post? Never miss a post by following me!

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

I got some live plants tonight I need to go take care of!!!

Loveyameanitbye.

Let the Good Times Roll + A Kitchen Tip

Mon, 01 May 2023 18:58:00 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

Happy Monday! I survived another weekend of intense gardening! We had two flowerbeds that these huge border rocks lined - and over the last 20 years they sank, and sank and sank. They were a foot down when we started to dig them up over the last two weeks.

Luckily it was really cool this weekend so when I started digging Saturday morning, I didn't even break a sweat. But it's hard work! Some were so deep I had planted on top of them, including my recent addition of white irises from my sister. So unearthing them was tricky. We ended up moving the border back a bit to get them away from those roots.

But, aside from my armadillo problem, things are starting to take hold and fill out, so I'm excited to see how it all looks later in the year. My arugula and lettuce are also going crazy, so I'm hoping to have a salad today.

PS - thank you for your feedback on the links! I've made them all so they open in a new window now so that you don't use your place reading my blog. Thank you especially to Geri!

It's time for the May Kit though and I'm SO excited. It has a childhood/nostalgia theme that takes me right back to skating on Friday nights at Pooh's Park and riding my bike around all summer.

Speaking of skates, I'm starting with this awesome skate bundle before I show you the rest.

When I was skating I had a bright blue satin jacket that I LOVED, with white and pink stripes down the arms, and though my skates were white, I got these matching pom poms for the laces, and so I manifested all that into this card, featuring the skate stamps and dies and this groovy stencil, just using the holy trinity of inks - Ultra Pink, Dandelion, and Summer Sky. I used this silver paint pen on the metal of the skates - it's very sparkly. Then a white gel pen for highlights on the skate. Love that the sentiments have dies!

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Here's what the kit looks like - the premium kit has the tri-fold dies and the rubons and the holographic paper.

Here are the adorable add-ons

I used the dies and the kit stencil for this card - first blending Ultra Pink and then Dandelion over that.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

The stencil is so cute and has such a retro feel. The bike has a sort of offset printing style.

I could not resist adding the tiny kitty.

Skate Bundle [ HA ]	May Kit [ HA ]	May Add-Ons [ HA ]
Starlight Stencil [ HA ]	Silver Paint Pen [ BLIC ]	Bag Closers [ AMZUS ]
Sakura Gelly Roll Moonlight Pens -... [ BLIC ]	Hero Inspiration Hop [ HA ]	Shaker/Grinder [ AMZUS ]

Want more inspiration? Head over to the Hero Blog for more cards and a chance to win a $50 gift card!

Leave me a comment for your entry for the gift card giveaway!

Finally - I think this might be the single most useful kitchen tool I've ever used - this bag seal. I love Soogia on TikTok - she's how I found my sesame seed grinder from Japan, and when she posted about these, she had already earned my trust, so I tried them and ended up going back and buying more - they are amazing - even on the thick bags my coffee comes in. They have such a tight seal.

Hope you have a great week! Loveyameanitbye.

Blitzing my Birthday Card Stash + New Felting Club

Mon, 01 May 2023 17:44:00 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

It was well past time for me to blitz my birthday card stash! I worked hard at the beginning of the year to actually mail a bunch of cards, so I'm down to about two bins of handmade cards now - my goal being to have everything fit in my spinning rack and reclaim my bins for stamp and die storage. But I am pretty much out of thank you and birthday cards so I did a blitz this weekend and I'll show you some of what I made.

As you know, I'm a potholder maniac and I'm a member of the Keep on Looping Club at Acorn & Twigs. That's on pause temporarily, but I was SUPER excited to get an email about their new needle felting club - SQUEE! The signup is open today. I have a coupon code for them - not sure if it works on subscriptions, but everything on their site is so cute, so check my coupon section below.

Anyway, I bring them up because each looping box has GORGEOUS paper lining the box that matches each month's theme and of course I save it all for cards. It's not tissue paper - it's high quality paper like scrapbooking paper.

The background of my first card is made with this gorgeous watercolor style paper - I just ink blended the edges with a darker blue ink to focus you on my awesome focal point - this fun airplane die and banner. This was a blast to put together and there are several banners! Please note this is a club die, so it's while supplies last only - this is a subscription I love. I colored all the plane parts with OLO Markers.

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The Stitching Die Club is LIT this month. The die is a balloon cover plate - I stitched the two pierced balloons differently - one classic and one a modified peace sign. I splattered the background with acrylic sprays and used the birthday word die. I used two strands on the top balloon since all threads go into that center hole. This is a great mass production die.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Have you worked on your stash lately? I'd love to hear! Looks like a beautiful week ahead - enjoy it!

Loveyameanitbye.

Mail Call!

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 14:46:25 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

If anything communicates the joy of getting mail, it's tomorrow's Hero Arts Kit! I played with the premium kit, and this die is actually a tri-fold from the premium kit, but I loved this silhouette - it looks like the golden retriever I had when I was a kid. So sweet.

You'll see some VERY fun 70s style images, speaking of my childhood. Just wait! You can see more inspiration here, and I'll see you tomorrow!

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Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

VIDEO: No Line Watercolor Otters & A Quick Question

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I'm here today with some otterly ADORABLE no-line watercolor and some fun otter facts. I used this otter stamp set, Daniel Smith Watercolor, grey Versafine Clair and my trusty Post-It tape.

I found some fun otter facts that I included in the video. Otters are really amazing creatures.

Aren't they cute?

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Here's the video - but before I go - a quick question. Do you miss my visual product links? I've switched to just text links and wondered which you prefer? Let me know in a comment!

CURRENT COUPON CODES

20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

I'm making fajitas this weekend with a pretty simple spice mix and OJ for the marinade. Lots of chicken and beef so there's some to freeze, but also just for ingredients for the week.

If you are a subscriber to the NYTCooking site, check out their sheet pan kimchi fried rice - it's AMAZING. I can't share it because it's a paid service, but if you're not a paid subscriber, the Food Network has a sheet pan fried rice recipe as well.

It's rained a lot here, so my arugula is going crazy - I'm going to make the copycat Chipotle vinaigrette and dig into that this weekend.

Speaking of Chipotle - if you haven't had their new Al Pastor, it's absolutely the best thing on their menu - it's great. Get you some!

PS did you see this new storage?

Have a great weekend. Loveyameanitbye.

Bright Lilies + A Fabulous Egg Cooker

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:47:19 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I realized when I was coloring these gorgeous lilies - that lilies are the one flower I've never tried to grow! I love bulbs - I have amaryllis, iris, paperwhites, Lucifer crocosmia, oxalis - but never a lily or a daffodil. I'll have to get right on that!

These beautiful lilies were drawn by my friend Kelly! Since she's the coloring expert, you know they're drawn perfectly for big, bold color, so that's what I went for with my OLO Markers. I have the matching die, but at the very last second, I decided for an abstract sky instead, but I still left lots of white.

I added some white paint pen dots - I feel like those make the black lily dots stand out even more. Such a pretty image.

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There's this grouping, and then there are individual stems in the set as well. There's also this OTTERLY ADORABLE set I'll be using on my live today.

What did you get up to this weekend?

You won't believe this, but we had these limestone rocks bordering our flowerbed when we moved in, that over the years just sank under the grass, mulch in the beds etc. So this weekend we dug them all up, they were like a foot deep - poured sand in the trench and re-seated them. It looks so nice. The bad news is that was just one. We have one more to go. It's hard work - they are heavy and awkward.

In cooking news, my friend Latisha showed me this gorgeous blue pottery on Etsy and I became intrigued by the egg cooker. So I bought that and one of her beautiful soup mugs.

The egg cooker is a MIRACLE. It cooks fluffy, round eggs in the microwave in about a minute.

I forgot to put butter in it and it still slid right out! I'm SUPER picky about the texture of my eggs, and this is absolutely perfect. Because of the shape of it, it also comes out perfectly round for breakfast sandwiches. I love it so much, and I say that as a person who never uses the microwave. But I read her reviews and had to try it, and man am I glad I did. Here are some of the colors - I got turquoise to match my soup mugs and they are just stunning. Five stars to this lady and her invention!

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

Hope you have a great week ahead! Loveyameanitbye.

Ephemerally Speaking & New Coupon Code

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 17:14:32 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

If you've been around long enough to see trends come back around - yes, I'm old - like the ephemera trend. In the late 1900s, when we were doing a LOT of ATC swaps, ephemera was heavily used, but in those days, was harder to find. There were some Ebay sellers back then, but it was rarer and more expensive, so I'm happy to see it making a comeback in a more affordable way.

I have some ephemera-only cards for you today. Well not ONLY because I am using this gorgeous paper as well. But I love these little packages of die cut ephemera with foil, etc. that I used with the paper. All the colors coordinate! I picked a sentiment that had little matching teal flowers in it and used the essentials dies to cut circles from another paper in that same stack.

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The plummy paper is so pretty with the watercolor-looking springy green. The little birdie is from this package of ephemera. I punched out some gold glitter paper circles to match the foiled parts.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

10% off everything at Acorns & Twigs with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

I have a new coupon code for you today at one of my FAVORITE crafty sites - Acorns & Twigs! If you follow me on Instagram, you know I've been making potholders for a few years while I watch TV in the evenings - it's so fun & relaxing and takes me back to a beloved childhood craft.

I re-started this after we found a loom in a relative's house who had passed away from Covid in 2020. I had forgotten about this craft completely and was overjoyed to rediscover it. It's simple, repetitive, and patterns have come a LONG way.

But I wasn't the only one who had the idea for this pandemic craft - and I quickly found that the quality of loops available was mostly terrible. Until I found Acorn & Twigs. A small, family owned business that has really high quality crafty goodies - and the color range on the loops was amazing.

So I bought a TON of them and started working on my own patterns. I found that the PRO loom gives you more design freedom, but I enjoy both.

I joined their Keep on Looping club too (temporarily sold out) and love it.

Anyway - sweet family, sweet crafty supplies.

And they gave me a coupon code you can use for 10% off on their site - UNDERSTANDBLUE. Enjoy! Loveyameanitbye.

VIDEO - A Buy Nothing Watercolor Card

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 18:13:19 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I've talked a lot about my local Buy Nothing group, which is a phenomenal group. This weekend, I was going through some things to give away, and I thought I'd share a card made with something I got from a neighbor on the group.

Someone was giving away music books recently and you know I cannot resist an old music book or old books, so I put my name in the hat.

One of the books was wonderful in a LOT of ways as you will see in the video.

I used a page as a backdrop of song for these beautiful bird dies. I cut them from watercolor paper and painted them with Daniel Smith watercolor. I used these shaker dies to cut two circles in the center - I modified one as you'll see in the video - how you treat old paper makes a huge difference so I'll give you some tips. The sentiment and die are from this set.

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Here's the video - please note, the first part is sped up watercolor with music,

and the second part is where I start talking:

I made the coconut cake again - SO good. Other than that, I really didn't cook this weekend. I had made tortillas and refried beans last week so I just had a combo of tacos and nachos all weekend during the Hero Arts Spring Stamp-Along. PS - the Credo spicy queso is a phenomenal dairy free queso.

I thought this event was PHENOMENAL - I learned so very much, and I agree with what one of the participants said - how MUCH info you got for the price was just staggering. If you have regrets, you can still purchase this event here.

Hope you have a great week ahead!

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE

VIDEO: Faux Chine Collé Technique - Splitcoaststampers MIX-Ability Challenge

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 19:21:03 +0200

*Compensated affiliate links used where possible at zero cost to you. No posts are ever sponsored or paid.*

I was so excited to see last week's Mix-Ability challenge at Splitcoast, for two reasons: 1) It was based on a classical art technique, which is a fave of mine - adapting art techniques to stamping and 2) I had to figure out how to adapt it my own way. Janelle came up with the idea and I deliberately didn't look at anyone's process so I could see if I could figure it out my own way. So after I publish this, I'm going to go watch everyone else's!

Chine collé is a combo printing and collage technique that gives you both spot color AND texture from a thing layer of tissue. So when you are done with the card, it's a fun card to pet and feel all the texture on - much more than just color, which you could just get with a marker.

I chose to "paint" with tissue paper in a process you'll see in the video. Here are the things I used:

• Floral Background Stamp • Collage medium • Alphabet Dies • Colored Tissue Paper Assortment

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I've been gardening like a FOOL this week, so this stamp was the perfect one to use to reflect what's going on in my yard (and in my joints LOL). After I get my taxes done, I'm going to sketch out what I planted where, because those little plant markers never stick around for long. This will help me learn what will survive our hot summers, drought or floods etc. I ONLY use perennial natives that can survive extremes, so I try different things in different years. I'll post a pic of my sketch when I'm done.

Anyway - here's the video - enjoy! If you play along with the challenge, upload your cards to Splitcoast or tag us on Instagram, and use keyword MIX532.

Loveyameanitbye.

CURRENT COUPON CODES
20% off anything at Glassboard Studio - UNDERSTANDBLUE.

Bujo/journaling supplies - 10% off with code UNDERSTANDBLUE