Hi Stampers,

Hope you enjoyed my last post which was a technique video demonstrating the faux silk technique in stamping.

I am back this month to share my Splitcoast creations for last August that I made for their Dirty Dozen Design Team.  The theme for August 2024 was Vacations.  Who doesn’t like to go on a vacation, right?  We were tasked to create cards reflecting places we like to visit , would like to visit in  the future, and places we have already visited.  The catch phrase was “the mileage may vary.”

I had fun with this theme because I LOVE to travel and have been blessed with the opportunity to visit many places both while I was on active duty in the military and since my retirement from teaching in 2014.  As I always say to anyone who may ask, “My suitcase is always packed!” I hope you enjoy looking at these cards as much as I enjoyed creating them.

DISCLAIMER:  All of the products I used in the creation of the following cards are Stampin’ Up!; however, there is one card that contains some non-Stampin’ Up! Product. Also, some Stampin’ Up! products used are retired and will be indicated.

Road Trip!

I am always ready for a road trip!  I’ve been on many in my lifetime.  there have been numerous trips from Southern Colorado to Northeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania to visit family, trips to California, around Colorado, Wyoming, the Black Hills in Western S. Dakota, cross country to Virginia Beach and too many other places to mention.  But, no matter how much the mileage for each trip may vary, it’s always fun to visit a new place by car, especially since you can bring as many pairs of shoes as you want!  🙂

These are the items I used in this card:

STAMPS:  Coming Home and Travel Log (both retired)

PAPER:  Crumb Cake, Basic White

INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red Stampin’ Blends, Azure Afternoon, Crumbcake

TECHNIQUE:  Sponging

Purple Mountains Watercolor

The mountains always seem like the ideal vacation spot to me! Fresh mountain air, sunshine, trees, and water…what more could you ask for?

These are the items I used in this card:

STAMPS:  Mountain Air (retired), Encircled in Nature

PAPER:  Watercolor Paper, Fresh Freesia, Balmy Blue

ACCESSORIES: Aqua Painter, Stampin’ Spritzer

TECHNIQUES:  Watercolor Spritz

“We’ll always have Paris”

I had to go back a few years in my stamp stash for this stamp set too.  Europe is an awesome place to visit while on vacation.  This card reminds me of the time I visited the City of Light back in the 80’s when I was stationed in Germany.  Even thought I like Paris, my favorite city is Florence, Italy.  Oh, the quotes is by Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca.

These are the items I used in this card:

STAMPS: Parisian Beauty (retired)

PAPER:  Basic Grey, Basic White, Vellum, Petal Pink, Flight & Airy DSP (retired)

INK:  Basic Gray

ACCESSORIES:  Parisian Dies, Deckled Circle Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Scripty 3D Embossing Folder.

Camper Camping Only!

Camping in Rocky Mountain National Park was always a fun way to spend a few days when my children were young. But, then we did it in a tent.  My tent days are over and I always imagine it would be wonderful to camp again…IN A CAMPER!

These are the items I used in this card:

STAMPS:  Simply Said, Forest Friends (retired)

PAPER:  Crumb Cake, Soft Seafoam, Lemon Lolly, Mossy Meadow, Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Silver Foil

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pecan Pie, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Azure Afternoon

ACCESSORIES:  Tree Lot and Majestic Mountain Dies (both retired)

Northern Lights

I used the Northern Lights technique on this card for this month because earlier tin 2024 they were visible here in Colorado!  I was fortunate in that I had the opportunity to visit Iceland in 2023 but didn’t go at the right time of year to see the lights.  Imagine what a treat it was to see them right here in my own backyard.  It was a great example of how the right astrological conditions can make the mileage vary!

These are the items I used in this card:

STAMPS:  Greatest Journey (retired)

PAPER:  Basic Black and White

INK:  Basic Gray, Black, Gorgeous Grape, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Azure Afternoon, Berry Burst, Night of Navy, Versa Mark

ACCESSORIES:  Black & White Gingham Ribbon, White Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, White Chalk Marker, Greatest Journey Dies (retired)

TECHNIQUES:  Northern Lights & Heat Embossing

The Beach is My Happy Place

From the mountains to the beach! Depending on the directions of your travel (East Coast, West Coast, Southern Coast) your mileage will vary.  But, once you are there..there is nothing like the smell of ocean air and the feel of an ocean breeze on your skin.  The beach is definitely my happy place.  Come to think of it, I am going to be getting really happy very soon as I have a beach vacation coming up!

These are the items I used in this card:

STAMPS:  Paradise Palms (retired)

PAPER:  Coastal Cabana, Basic White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Granny Apple Green

INK:  Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Mossy Meadow

ACCESSORIES: Sponge Dauber, Lawn Fawn Beach Sunset Stencils, Seasonal Layers Thinlits (retired), Palms Dies (retired), Basic Borders Dies (retired)

That’s all for today!  Hope you enjoyed your time here…

Until next time…

Happy Stamping!