Green Sky at Night, Witches' Delight + Virtual Retreat Registration Open!

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

This is a real red letter day, y'all. I found out when placing my Instacart order that our local Halloween party store is now on Instacart! I CAN ORDER SO MANY SPOOKY THINGS AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED IN TWO HOURS! Hooray!

So I'm bringing you a spooky sky card to celebrate!

I sort of reversed the order of the layering stamp set for this card since I was stamping it on a liquid watercolor background, so I stamped the first cloud layer in Unicorn, and then stamped the second layer in Key Lime Fizz. It looks so perfect for a little flock of bats. I thought that curve on the bats was calling out for a circle shape so I used my Circle Infinity Dies and sort of lined up the bats along the edge. Then I embossed the sentiment in detail white embossing powder. You can see the video below.

So here is the video. Click HERE if you don't see the video below. Then come back below for a recipe and info on my retreat!

CM479 Color Layering Moonlit Night -... [ HA ] DI199 Nesting Circle Infinity Dies... [ HA ] AF345 Intense Black - Hero Arts [ HA ] AF424 Key Lime Fizz Reactive Ink -... [ HA ] AF249 Unicorn Pigment Ink Pad - Hero... [ HA ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ] Pre-Cut & Scored Cardstock [ CTC ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] Essentials by Ellen Storage... [ ELH ] Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets... [ CHC ] XL Stamp Storage Pockets [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | CST ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ]

Isn't that liquid watercolor rainbow satisfying to watch? Those are so fun to make.

Someone asked me an interesting question on my live yesterday. We were talking about food allergies - I'm allergic to walnuts - and my walnut allergy struck me in my 40s. We always had a bowl of nuts on our table with a nutcracker growing up, so I ate a LOT of all different kinds of nuts my whole life. But a few years ago, I developed an anaphylactic walnut allergy and now carry an epi pen - not that I'm in any danger in 2020 LOL. But anyway, someone asked me if I had started eating more walnuts prior to that and it made me remember one of my favorite recipes that I was eating around that time. I make it with pecans now, but it's best with walnuts. And I know the ingredients sound strange, but trust me - it's delicious and was always a huge hit at my parties. 

So make some this week! I serve it with pita triangles or little toasts.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted.

• 1/2 cup raisins.

• 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt or sour cream - I use dairy free sour cream.

• 1/4 teaspoon salt.

• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes.

• 1 (12-ounce) bottle roasted red bell peppers, drained (not pimientos - I used Mezzetta)

Process in food processor.

Can you believe we are at the halfway point in September? CRAZY. But I have some good news! I'm going to have this fall's retreat online!

Since I can't safely have my retreat in person in October, I am having a virtual retreat instead! So that means a LOT more people can be included, and I hope you'll join us!

The format will be the same as my in person retreats, but it will take place on Zoom and Facebook live.

You will have 8 technique classes done via Facebook live, and the same relaxing, slow paced class style, with 90 minutes for you to practice the technique.

In between classes we will have games, prizes, and while we won't have my chef's delicious food, we will have live cooking demonstrations and a recipe share!

If you've never attended one of my in person retreats, in addition to the prizes, we also have a "take table" where I have gently used stamps and dies that I give away. There's a virtual take table at this retreat as well, and your take table goodies will be mailed to you.

We will still have pillow gifts and our truly magical My Favorite Things swap, as well as open crafting hours over zoom for all times when we don't have a live class happening.

The great news about a virtual retreat is that it's impossible to have a date conflict! All the classes will be available in the private Facebook group forever, so take them whenever you'd like! But the actual event will take place Halloween weekend - we will start Friday afternoon with open crafting time, happy hour and an icebreaker game, and the classes will start Saturday - four classes Saturday and four Sunday.

I'm going to make every effort to use common supplies most people have, but may have kits available of unusual supply items, as well as a supply list for you to shop from prior to the retreat. The great news is since I do not have a facility cost, the price is much lower!

Want to attend? Register below or on my retreats page!

Please note - because the classes are available in perpetuity, no refunds can be given after registration. You must have a Facebook account to attend.

Looking forward to seeing you there! 

October UNWIND Retreat - Virtual Edition - $200

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You Make Everything Better

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

I'm back for my guest design Friday feature for Concord & 9th!

This ADORABLE purse die and matching stamp set bundle is a collaboration with Becky Roberts, and I have seen the CUTEST projects with it - tons of purses and Becky's adorable mini album. She remains on the most creative people I've ever known and I'm thrilled to see her team up for a product design - she has always ruled the 3D world.

I challenged myself with this bundle to make something other than a purse. The stamp set has matching elements that you can stamp each of the little accent pieces on the purse with - like the matching tag. The little heart pattern for the tag was so cute it gave me an idea.

I set the tag stamp in my MISTI so that it was about 1/4" from the right side of my white card panel. I stamped it in Nocturne. Then I just flipped the card panel upside down, leaving the stamp where it was in the MISTI, and stamped it again. That way they are perfectly aligned!

Then I used the little heart image from the same set in Electro-Pop ink in the center, and drew the lines with a multi-liner. I cut the "you" from no-shed glitter paper (graphite), and stamped the sentiment from this set in Electro-Pop to finish it off. A fun get well OR valentine card! FYI - the bundle is sold out, but the separate products are still available, and I've linked them below.

Everyday Purse Builder Dies [ C&9 ] Everyday Purse Stamps [ C&9 ] Hey Girl Dies [ C&9 ] Cuddles & Hugs BUNDLE - Concord & 9th [ C&9 ] Electro Pop Ink Pads- Set of 8 - Gina... [ GNK ] VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Nocturne -... [ ELH | SSS ] Copic Multiliner SP 0.05 BLACK Ink... [ SSS ] Neutrals Glitter Paper Pack - Concord... [ C&9 ] Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White [ GNK ] Crafter's Companion GEMINI... [ SSS ] Scor-Pal MINI SCOR-BUDDY Scoring... [ SSS ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS | ELH | CST | ART ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two... [ SSS ] LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for... [ BRG ] Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473 [ SSS ] Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC [ ELH | SSS ] Essentials by Ellen Storage... [ ELH ] Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets... [ CHC ] XL Stamp Storage Pockets [ ELH ] Mermaid tidy towel case and glue... [ ETS ] Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 [ SSS ] Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies [ ART ]

The waitlist for my Florida Keys retreat is open now! You can sign up HERE and I'll notify people and start booking lodging soon!

Loveyameanitbye.

Oh Hey Oh Hi Hello There + Mini Retreat Signup!

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

Sometimes, it's hard to get songs you know SO well out of your head. Certain combinations of words - wait for it - like BABY SHARK (sorry, I had to) - just set off this unconscious compulsive singing in your head. It can't be helped. I just proved it, and now you're super mad at me.

But like all great art, it needs to make you uncomfortable to truly appreciate the wonders of the maddeningly singable songs like Baby Shark.

Never fear - I'm about to replace it in your lizard brain. That is, if you're a fan of any other crazy kid-themed songs.

When I saw this Hey Girl die, INSTANTLY in my head when I read it, I was singing "Oh Hey Oh Hi Hello" from this fun Ohio-themed kid song - it just cracks me up. It's a very special talent coming up with these songs. The out of tune section of this song is hilarious. So to all my Ohio friends - OH HEY - (OH) HI HELLO. :)

To start this card, I used the new Lovely Lattice Turnabout. I have a tip for you on Turnabouts too.

When I'm first lining my Turnabout up on the clear template, I first get the stamp wet with my Stamp Shammy. Just barely damp. What this does, is de-stickifies the stamp just enough to make it SUPER easy to get it perfectly aligned on the template before picking it up with the lid of the MISTI and starting to stamp. If you've ever struggled with a stamp sticking in just the wrong place right when you think it aligned, you can send me a million dollars now because I've solved that problem! It really works like a charm, I promise.

So I did three turns of the Lovely Lattice stamping it in Loud Lime, and the fourth turn in Nocturne. Human beings are incapable of randomness, but when I stamp the turnabout this way, this extremely regular pattern LOOKS random enough to quiet our orderly brains!

Then I cut a circle of Key Lime Cardstock and black cardstock with my Circle Infinity Dies. I positioned the Hey Girl die on that circle, and cut it out of the lime piece. I glued that to black circle. Then I cut a second greeting from the same color as my card base - Passionate Pink and used that for the heart, just paper piecing it in there.

Fun, right? So bright and happy. I love how cleanly they design their products. I'm guesting with them all month, so I have some fun stuff coming each Friday this month. Stay tuned below for some amazing retreat news!

Okay - ready for some fun news?

I was going to try to have an UNWIND retreat in Florida this year - two actually - but it's too hard to pull off everything I do in Texas in another state, so I have a new idea you're going to love.

I have one on my schedule and I'm working on the second!

My sweet friend Kathy Racoosin helped me secure a beautiful venue in a Florida key (gulf side) for a mixed media background techniques mini retreat.

This event will take place May 15th & 16th. You can purchase one or both days of classes (different classes each day) and each day includes four techniques, lunch and happy hour. My retreats are intentionally slow-paced, with a technique class followed by 90 minutes of experimentation with the technique by all the students. You can expect a relaxing, unplugged retreat from life over these two days, as well as a few familiar beloved faces from the crafting world!

I will provide lunch each day as well as a post class happy hour (I'm quite serious about UNWINDing).

The resort is stunning - just steps from the beach, and features individual 2 and 3 bedroom units with kitchens and a family room you can share with friends. Lodging is not included in the price, but the resort will be offering my attendees a discount before, during and after the event. Lodging details will be sent once the retreat spots are filled for both days, but here are some sneak peeks!

I hope you can join me in beautiful, sunny Florida this spring! If you are interested, please join the waitlist here! I will notify each waitlist attendee when the list fills for payment!

Once paid, retreat fees are non-refundable, but if you are unable to attend after purchasing a ticket, I'll match you with a waitlist signup who would like a spot so that you can sell/transfer your registration to the next person in line!

See you on the beach!

Loveyameanitbye.