Waffle Flower Grip Mats Re-Release!

 Hello everyone!  I popping in today to share my thoughts on the recently re-released Waffle Flower Grip Mats.  Waffle Flower sent me what they call the Stamper Bundle of grip mats to try out.  The Stamper Bundle consists of two grip mats.  One mat fits the Mini MISTI and measures 4.7 x 6 inches.  The other mat fits the original MISTI and measures 6.5 x 8.5 inches.  Just like the original grip mats these mats also come with grid sheets that can be placed on one side of the mat to help with alignment.   Full disclosure I did not use the grid sheets as I did not use my grip mats in the MISTIs that I have, but placed them directly onto my Tim Holtz glass mat.  I most likely will continue to use them this way because I did not have much success in getting the grid sheets to adhere correctly to the old grip mats that I have.  Here is a direct link to the Stamper Bundle.   Let's take a look at what I created using the mats.

Along with the grip mats Waffle Flower generously also sent me a few other products to use with the mats.  Included in my package was the super fun Oversized Daisy Die-n-Stencil set.  I used the products to create this shaped card that I will be sending off to my great niece who is turning 8 at the end of this month!   

In the above photo you can see my grip mat positioned on my glass mat with the die cut pieces placed on to.  I was using the 4.75 x 6 inch grip mat and all the pieces fit nicely with room to spare.   I then used different oxide inks to ink up the flower. 

Here the stencil is placed on the flower and you can see how the stencil is being gripped by the mat below it.  I didn't have to hold anything down with my free hand which was so nice!  I stenciled everything very quickly resulting in the flower that you see in the first photo.  Once I had the stenciling done I created a card base for the flower by using a folded white cardstock base and then using the large daisy die to cut out the base.  I also cut out a second single white flower to add to the back for a clean look.    I finished the card by sandwiching the leaves inbetween the back of the stenciled flower and the front of the card base and then adding the pre-print Waffle Flower sentiment strips.   I'm going to add this to the Time Out challenge to be inspired by a quote.   You can see the quote in the graphic below.

For the second card I used the Postage Collage Blocks stencil that Waffle Flower also sent me.  For this card I made a Christmas card using several different Waffle Flower products that I already have.  I used the Layered Poinsettia die set, the Mistletoe Branch die, Small Ornaments die set and the Merry Christmas stamp set.   I used distress oxide ink in Antique Linen to ink up the openings.  I used a Christmas paper from Echo Park to die cut all the different pieces, adhered them together and then added them to the card front after I stamped the sentiments.  I don't own the Waffle Flower postage collage die so I found a rectangle die to cut the panel to size and adhered it to the kraft cardstock base. 

As you can see even though the stencil is larger than the grip mat, it still adhere nicely to the mat allowing me to stencil the panel fairly quickly.  

I used the new Tim Holtz tiny ink blenders to do precise ink blending of the openings and they worked like a charm!  

Overall, I have to say that I like the new grips mats alot and plan to use them frequently.  In a few weeks I will be sharing how they work with stencil pastes and two cards that I made so stay turned.  I hope that the information I provided was helpful.  Here are graphics showing the grip mats that I used and the full bundle. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

CCC #4.... Take Flight

Hello friends!!  Tuesday is here and that means it is time for a brand new CASology challenge!!  Yay!!  This week's cue word is "bird" and you can find all the details about the challenge here.

This week I decided to look for a sketch to help me get my card completed.  If you ever get stuck for ideas when you are trying to create your CAS style card, don't forget about sketches.   Clean and Simple is a great resource to turn to for inspiration, as well as Retro Sketches.   It is also possible to "CAS-ify" more complex sketches that you might come across.  Simply spend a little bit of time deconstructing the sketch and figuring out ways you can use your stamps or other supplies (like twine) to replaces those layers.    I chose to use the current sketch from Retro Sketches for my card as it is a great example of a CAS sketch.  

The papers I used are from a favorite 6x6 pad from Echo Park called Hello, Summer.  One of the papers has this fun cloud pattern on it and thankfully I still had a sheet of it that I could use for my card.  The little bird was created using my Stampin Up! bird punch.  The body was punched from some pink Bazzill cardstock and the wing from a scrap of yellow gingham paper.  I brought all the colors together by creating my little ribbon piece using some yellow ribbon, a blue button and pink baker's twine.  

Thanks for stopping by.... make sure you check out the cards from the rest of the design team:
Melissa, Tracey, Jen, Ardyth and this week's guest designer, Lindsey!   Can't wait to see what you come up with using this week's cue word!

ODBDSLC116.... I Have Sunshine... on a Cloudy Day!

Hello, friends!!  Its Tuesday and time for another ODBD Shining the Light challenge!  This week the challenge team and our super fabulous guest designer, Sherry, are challenging you to make your project using clouds and/or sunshine.  I must admit when I saw what the challenge was going to be I was a bit worried that I was going to have a hard time coming up with something.  Then I took a look through my huge amount of supplies and came across a pad of papers from Echo Park called Hello, Summer.  And there inside that little pad of paper was exactly what I was looking for... paper with clouds and suns!   Yipeee!!  I was saved!   I just love the super cute and summery papers to be found inside the Hello, Summer 6x6 pad!   The layout for my card comes from this month's Sketch for You To Try and so I will be linking my card up to that challenge, as well.  I used the wonderful Helen Keller quote from the ODBD Quote Collection 1 set for the focal point of the card. 

As always, we will be giving out a prize, a $15.00 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Sunday, July 22nd at 8:00 pm EST.  One random winner will be chosen and announced on Tuesday.   While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Design images and sentiments on your projects, we would definitely love to see them if you have them!!  As a way of recognizing those who do use ODBD stamps we will be choosing three or more of our participants for the Shining the Light Award.  In order to qualify for this award or join the challenge, you must use ODBD stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Sunday, July 22nd at 8:00 pm EST.  If you upload to Splitcoaststampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword:  ODBDSLC116.  When creating your post on your blog, please include a direct link to the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by... please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Kathy, Chris, Sabrina and this month's guest designer, Sherry! To join in the fun, please click here.

And make sure that you check out the CHA special that is running all this week at the ODBD store.  You can find all the details here.

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Bazzill light blue and green; Stamps:  ODBD Quote Col. 1; Dies:  Spellbinders plain circle dies; papers:  Echo Park Hello, Sunshine; Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Embellishments:  Queen & Co. Goosebumps