Two Types of Ink - The Rules of Magic

Close your eyes and think about the last book you read that completely transported you - to a time and place you have never been but where it felt so familiar that you swore you had been there.  Where the characters seemed like old friends by the time you were finished even if they were people you'd never meet in your real life.  That is what reading The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman felt like for me.

The Rules of Magic is a prequel to Practical Magic, another of my favorite novels.  I was given the opportunity to read this novel early by Simon & Schuster.  As I said on Goodreads, I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. There is no author that pulls you into the shadows of her characters like Alice Hoffman and still shows you their light just as well. This story is exquisite - even more so if you have read Practical Magic and see all the tie ins. Hoffman does a brilliant job filling in the story of Franny and Jet and how the love curse is one of the many threads that holds their family tree together. The book covers a lot of ground which really helps you to know and grow with the characters. You cannot go wrong picking up this book when it comes out.

I think that Alice Hoffman is the queen of storytelling and the perfect selection for reading during the Halloween season.  Pick up her novel when it releases on October 10th via Amazon or other book sellers near you.  You will not regret it.

As usual, I wanted to include a project that I was inspired to make based on my reading experience.  This is a bit literal but definitely born out of this novel.   First, I focused on Halloween since I read Hoffman most during this magical season.  I could say I made a treat holder since reading her is a treat but that's not really true.  I just wanted to use words on the project since it was inspired by the book and this was the size I had to work with!  I included the witch's hat since with the association to witches in the book. Finally, I chose to do the "Eat at your own risk" because the Owens family spends much of their time making concoctions for people and since the novel centers around Caution vs Courage, it seemed like the perfect sentiment.

As for how I made the box, it was inspired by Erica Cerwin's creation during Holiday Convention Online.  The box is a 6 x 6 piece of Pumpkin Pie that is scored at 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 4 1/2, and 5 1/2.  You cut up the tabs on the bottom and fold the box together, sealing with Tear and Tape.  Layer on a 4 3/4 x 1 1/2 piece of Spooky Night Designer Paper and a 1/2 strip of stripes.  Then stamp the saying in Black ink on Pumpkin Pie and punch out with the 1" Circle Punch.  Layer on the card with dimensionals and include a hat cut from the paper and a Black Rhinestone.  Tie off with a bow after you stuff it with treats!

Supplies:

• Cardstock/DSP: Pumpkin Pie, Spooky Night DSP
• Ink: Archival Black
• Stamp Set: Spooky Cat
• Accessories: Tear and Tape, Black Rhinestones, 1/8 Handheld Hole Punch, Vanilla Twine, 1" Circle Punch, Scissors, Adhesive, Dimensionals

I hope you enjoy this project and enjoy the novel even more!

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code 7NCUYJZ4 when checking out through October 31st.

The best Paper Pumpkin kits of the year come during the holidays, in my opinion!  This year, Stampin' Up! is trying something new and giving us TWO months of holiday kits and they will coordinate.  So if you want the first kit, you need to subscribe by October 10th.  These kits will help you get your card and gift making started off right!  

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Plus I try to send one of the alternative ideas out to everyone in the mail so you get two fun surprises in the mail each month!  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit! 

There are two ways to sign up.  

• Receive it monthly
• Purchase pre-paid subscriptions to use during this holiday kit period.

Subscribers can also have access to all my past project sheets!

JOIN MY TEAM

Joining Stampin' Up! was one of the best decisions I've made in life.  I have met some wonderful people who offer incredible inspiration and I believe in the quality of the product. Plus there is always something special about making and receiving homemade cards or décor from people.

If you are interested in joining my team, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog and Holiday Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

Being a demonstrator doesn’t mean you have to have parties – it means you can buy from yourself at a discount!  And if you don’t hit your minimums, there is no penalty!  Contact me today if you are interested in trying this out or sign up directly at https://ida.stampinup.com/en/?demoid=80380.

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Two Types of Ink - The Life She Was Given

Welcome to this week's installment of Two Types of Ink.  Today I'll be talking about the amazing new novel by Ellen Marie Wiseman called THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN.  I have to admit that I've had What She Left Behind in my To Be Read (TBR) stack for a year so I was really excited to get the opportunity to read this one early.  Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. I've always been a sucker for circus stories, proven by my read of The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff earlier this year.  I like the complex characters that come to life in this environment. 

THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN was a very good use of my reading time. This is the story of a girl sold to the circus by her mother and another girl who runs away from her mother.  Told from both perspectives in alternating chapters, Wiseman captures the complexity of girls coming of age who must look to themselves for guidance as they can't get it from their parents.  The plot of this story is so engaging and the visuals are sharp and concise.  You can smell the peanuts and taste the tears.  I loved every word and every plot twist.  I really thought I knew how the novel would end and was completely wrong.  Wiseman delivers characters you raise in your heart and a story your mind will never forget.

Pick this one up at Amazon or another book store near you!  It's book birthday is Tuesday, July 25th!

As for the inspiration, I originally intended on going literal and using circus papers and sentiments but everything I had was retired.  So I decided to focus on the elephant that is one of the central characters in the story and capture the red and white big top in the color choices. 

I used Tabs for Everything because I wanted to use the Amazing You saying that fit perfectly into the story.  The glitter paper is because of the glitz of the circus as they try to dazzle you. 

Finally, I wanted a background but didn't have any papers to use and I wanted more texture on the card.  I also wanted to play a little so I finally broke out my decorative masks and embossing paste.  As I have heard others say, it's important to get the mask into water and wash it off quickly after you pull it off the project so that it can be cleaned.  This meant putting a dish of water on my crafting table - thank goodness Michael was napping so it didn't get spilled since you know that is a HUGE no no for me!  I did two pieces of cardstock with this pattern.  By the time I finished the second one, the first one was already dry.  You have to try this product out!

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
• Ink: Smoky Slate
• Stamps: Tabs for Everything
• Big Shot: Cutting Mats, Magnetic Platform, Stitched Shapes Framelits
• Accessories: Embossing Paste, Embossing Knives, Pattern Party Decorative Masks, 3/4 Circle Punch, Starburst Punch, Triple Banner Punch, Metallic Enamel Shapes, Dimensionals, Adhesive

Hope you enjoyed this project the way I enjoyed this amazing story.  Until next week!

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code 4R3DF9YC when checking out.

BONUS DAYS ARE HERE

For the month of July, you can earn $5 in bonus dollars each time you spend $50.  Then in August, you can redeem them for more fun product.  Bonus dollars are sent via email so don't delete them!

Sign up for PAPER PUMPKIN!

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit! 

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Subscribers can also have access to all my past project sheets!

JOIN MY TEAM

Joining Stampin' Up! was one of the best decisions I've made in life.  I have met some wonderful people who offer incredible inspiration and I believe in the quality of the product. Plus there is always something special about making and receiving homemade cards or décor from people.

If you are interested in joining my team, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

But for the month of July, the deal gets even better.  You also get an Essentials Gift Pack for FREE.  This kit includes 2 clear D blocks, Grid Paper, Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, and a Bone Folder for FREE.  That’s a $52 value.  And, though I’m already jealous of this deal, you will also get the clear mount Carols of Christmas set ($20 value) for free.  That deal is too sweet to pass up especially when it’s so easy to find $99 worth of stuff you would buy anyhow from the new catalog! 

Being a demonstrator doesn’t mean you have to have parties – it means you can buy from yourself at a discount!  And if you don’t hit your minimums, there is no penalty!  Contact me today if you are interested in trying this out or sign up directly at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Two Types of Ink - Mrs. Saint and the Defectives

Welcome to another Monday Mention!  Today I'm going to discuss one of the books I just read last week that is currently being offered as part of Kindle First.

First things first (aren't I witty) - do you know what Kindle First is?  If you are currently an Amazon Prime member and have an electronic device to read on, you can sign up for Kindle First. This means that on the first of the month, Amazon emails you with a set of titles that you can choose one to read for free.  These are books that are not yet available to the general public.

You can check out Kindle First by clicking here.

MRS. SAINT AND THE DEFECTIVES by Julie Lawson Timmer is one of the July Kindle First offerings, though I received my copy from NetGalley and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. As always, all opinions are my own. This novel is a funny and heartwarming story full of well developed and unforgettable misfits.  As Markie struggles with her divorce and fall from social standing with her teenage son Jesse, the last thing she wanted in her life was a noisy neighbor.  But as the story carries on, you see that Mrs. Saint has a knack for knowing what people need in their lives to give them purpose and meaning.  It reminds you that you should be charitable and you should reach out to others instead of closing yourself off.  The relationship between Markie and the other defectives is special and the last fourth of this book is some of the best storytelling I've read and the reveal doesn't feel over worked like endings sometimes do.  In a year full of stellar novels, this one is worth adding to your stack.  You'll make at least one new literary friend and recognize the defectives in all of us. 

Check out this book on Amazon!
Check out Great Thoughts' Great Readers on Facebook!

As for the project inspired by this novel, let me count the ways.

1. Mrs. Saint is the nosy neighbor always looking over the fence so the card had to have a woodgrain white picket fence.
2. She has a polka dot hat on the cover so that lead me to the big red circle.
3. She's French and tells Markie that her son needs a dog.  While not this kind of dog, the French Poodle seemed to capture both ideas.
4. The dog is wearing a pearl collar because when I told my daughter that Mrs. Saint always had her pearls, she thought the dog should have them too.  Great idea babydoll!  She also put the pearl on the exclamation point.
5. The card says "surprise" because everytime Markie turns around, there is Mrs. Saint with a piece of advice or something else, like a dog...

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Real Red, Birthday Memories DSP
• Ink: Soft Suede
• Stamp Set: Birthday Delivery
• Big Shot: Pinewood Planks Dynamic TIEF, Birthday Friends Framelits, Magnetic Platform, Cutting Mats, Multi-purpose Platform
• Accessories: Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Triple Banner Punch, Dimensionals, White Chalk Marker, Adhesive

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code 4R3DF9YC when checking out.

BONUS DAYS ARE HERE

For the month of July, you can earn $5 in bonus dollars each time you spend $50.  Then in August, you can redeem them for more fun product.  Bonus dollars are sent via email so don't delete them!

Sign up for PAPER PUMPKIN!

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit! 

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Subscribers can also have access to all my past project sheets!

JOIN MY TEAM

Joining Stampin' Up! was one of the best decisions I've made in life.  I have met some wonderful people who offer incredible inspiration and I believe in the quality of the product. Plus there is always something special about making and receiving homemade cards or décor from people.

If you are interested in joining my team, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

But for the month of July, the deal gets even better.  You also get an Essentials Gift Pack for FREE.  This kit includes 2 clear D blocks, Grid Paper, Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, and a Bone Folder for FREE.  That’s a $52 value.  And, though I’m already jealous of this deal, you will also get the clear mount Carols of Christmas set ($20 value) for free.  That deal is too sweet to pass up especially when it’s so easy to find $99 worth of stuff you would buy anyhow from the new catalog! 

Being a demonstrator doesn’t mean you have to have parties – it means you can buy from yourself at a discount!  And if you don’t hit your minimums, there is no penalty!  Contact me today if you are interested in trying this out or sign up directly at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Two Types of Ink - Everything We Left Behind

It's Mention Monday and I'm back with my weekly installment of Two Types of Ink where I combine my two favorite hobbies together: reading and crafting.  I'm so excited to share my review and recommendation today for Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale along with the project I made inspired by the book.

A little backstory - I fell in love with Kerry's first book, Everything We Keep.  The writing was beautiful, the characters very dynamic, and the plotline was gripping. 

Link to Amazon:  http://a.co/5bppk4y

She followed it up with All the Breaking Waves, a story about a completely different family, that had me holding my breath.  I've never felt so much for a character as I did for the little girl in that book.  All the moms in my world would feel the same way. 

         

Link to Amazon: http://a.co/hRgx9Zl

So, when the opportunity to read Everything We Left Behind early, I was all over that.  It's a great sequel for Everything We Keep.   I was so happy that Kerry sent me a thank you note and charm to go with the book too.  Authors are real people, kind people, funny people, and people who put everything they have into their books whether you like them or not.  But trust me on this - you'll like this one.  All three of them in fact. 

Link to Amazon: http://a.co/bk4YJ5A

Here is my review of this fabulous book that comes out on July 4th, 2017!

I love that moment when you know you have an author in your life that will constantly deliver stories that you will read, sight unseen.  I felt this way when I read EVERYTHING WE KEEP by Kerry Lonsdale last year.  Then I read and fell in love with her characters in ALL THE BREAKING WAVES.  Now, having finished an early copy of EVERTHING WE LEFT BEHIND, the deal is even more solidified.  Where Everything We Keep was about finding a way to deal with the past from Aimee's point of view, Everything We Left Behind is about James' s story.  The novel picks up where the first one ended and rotates each chapter being told from Carlos and James's point of view.  To me, the theme of this book was about family.  Not just discovering the secrets of the Donato's and that fateful night in Mexico, but also the relationships with James and Nat and his sons.  I cannot imagine as a parent having lost the memory of my children's childhoods but love that one thing he knows in his heart is that he is a dad and he loves those boys.  And Lonsdale captures that sentiment beautifully. I really enjoyed how the author captured the  male perspective in this novel, focusing so much on James as a son, father, lover, and brother.  This book has it all and I'm stoked to see what happens next in this story.  I sure hope it's told from the Claire's point of view....

As for the project inspired by this book, it's very literal.  Carlos/James is a painter and I bought the products on this card because of this book.  I stamped the brushes in Archival Black and then watercolored the brushes with Soft Suede ink.  Then colored them again with watercolor pencils to represent the paint on the tips, specifically colors you would find when painting a sunset.  Then I cut them out and layered them on a watercolor wash of Dapper Denim.  The blue background is for the tropical time in Hawaii and the blue color I imagined Aimee's eyes to be that haunted Carlos in his dreams.  I also splattered some Wink of Stella on it for a paint splatter look. I thought the sentiment was applicable because art is so important in this book and when I think of my kids, I think of them being the best work of art that a parent can create, especially when they show they are artist's themselves. 

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Watercolor Paper
• Ink: Soft Suede, Dapper Denim, Archival Black
• Stamp Set: Crafting Forever, Work of Art
• Big Shot: Cutting Mat, Magnetic Platform, Stitched Shapes Framelits
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Aquapainter, Watercolor Pencils, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Clear Wink of Stella Pen, Glue Dots, Scissors, and Adhesive

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code 4R3DF9YC when checking out.

BONUS DAYS ARE HERE

For the month of July, you can earn $5 in bonus dollars each time you spend $50.  Then in August, you can redeem them for more fun product.  Bonus dollars are sent via email so don't delete them!

Sign up for PAPER PUMPKIN!

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit! 

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Subscribers can also have access to all my past project sheets!

JOIN MY TEAM

Joining Stampin' Up! was one of the best decisions I've made in life.  I have met some wonderful people who offer incredible inspiration and I believe in the quality of the product. Plus there is always something special about making and receiving homemade cards or décor from people.

If you are interested in joining my team, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

But for the month of July, the deal gets even better.  You also get an Essentials Gift Pack for FREE.  This kit includes 2 clear D blocks, Grid Paper, Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, and a Bone Folder for FREE.  That’s a $52 value.  And, though I’m already jealous of this deal, you will also get the clear mount Carols of Christmas set ($20 value) for free.  That deal is too sweet to pass up especially when it’s so easy to find $99 worth of stuff you would buy anyhow from the new catalog! 

Being a demonstrator doesn’t mean you have to have parties – it means you can buy from yourself at a discount!  And if you don’t hit your minimums, there is no penalty!  Contact me today if you are interested in trying this out or sign up directly at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun!

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Two Types of Ink - Rejected Writers Take the Stage

Welcome to my weekly installment of Two Types of Ink, where I explore the books I'm reading and the crafting they inspire.

Today's book is called Rejected Writers Take the Stage by Suzanne Kelman.  Before I review this book, I have to tell you that if you really like eccentric women and think a roadtrip with your craziest friends at an older age would be entertaining, you must read the first installment of this series, The Rejected Writers Book Club.  It's funny and heartwarming and good.

Then, once you have fallen in love with these quirky characters, you will be overjoyed to have Doris and company back in your life.  Because as crazy as these women are, they are even more loyal.  This time, when their friend Annie faces losing her family farm, only Doris could come up with a plan crazy enough to save the day.  I have one word for you: musical.

These women act with as much enthusiasm and skill as they write so there is a lot of opportunities for laughter in this novel.  I also love how this group epitomizes the modern village that women rely on.  They hold each other up, they hold each other accountable, they support, they laugh, they cry, they explain.  And they do it with gusto at all hours of the day and night.  The women and men in this novel are well developed, memorable, and witty.  A very enjoyable read to kick off the summer season!

As for the card inspired by this crew, some of the inspiration is direct.  I used the Pinewood Planks embossing folder (a must have for all us Big Shot owners) as it reminded me of the stage.  I focused on the Delightful Daisy designer paper and punch since Flora works in a flower shop and she's a central figure in this book.  And, honestly, this card was designed with my crafting village of animated and amazing women in mind.  I wanted to do something for them -- that's why this one is For You, just as the women in Southlea Bay are all pitching in for Annie.

Supplies:

• Cardstock/DSP:  Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Delightful Daisy DSP
• Ink: Tranquil Tide
• Stamps: Tabs for Everything
• Big Shot: Cutting Mats, Magnetic Platform, Stitched Shapes Framelits
• Accessories: Daisy Punch, Whisper White Ribbon, White Baker's Twine, 1/2 Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Adhesive, and Scissors

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code CTYK499S when checking out.

Sign up for PAPER PUMPKIN!

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit!

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Subscribers can also have access to all my past project sheets!

JOIN MY TEAM

If you are interested in joining out team and participating in monthly meetings with free make-n-take projects and outstanding company, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

Contact me today for more information or sign up here: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun

  

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Two Types of Ink - The Lost Letter

It's Monday again and I'm racing against the storm to see if I can get my blog post out before the power goes back out. 

Today's I'll be featuring a beautiful book called The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor.  This book comes out on 6/13/2017 and is a true reading pleasure.  I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and  also received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. As always, all opinions are my own.

THE LOST LETTER is a WWII historical fiction novel told from the perspective of a stamp maker in Austria in 1938 and the daughter of a stamp collector in 1989.   It centers around an unopened letter with a unique stamp but turns into so much more!  Well written characters and a flowing narrative told between both time periods lend to a great reading experience.  Cantor also captures the  heartbreak of the time beautifully in a place that hasn't starred in too many WWII novels (at least that I've read!)  This book kept me up until 2am to finish just so I could exhale.  While the stamp collector is always looking for a "gem", the readers get their own by reading this novel.  A good read for any historical fiction buffs out there or those that just want to engross themselves in a book for a while. 

Because the book centers around a stamp with an edelweiss in it, I wanted to focus my creativity energy there.  However, I don't have any stamps of that flower.  The more I looked at it, the most random the petals and the centers seemed.  So I decided to make my own.  This is the photo I used for inspiration.

My card was harder than I expected.  Deliberately random is not my forte but it made me appreciate the secret message from the book and the skill it took to engrave it.  I punched two daisies and cut some petals off and others just cut down.  I chose to watercolor the background and the grass because this book made me cry - both with the story it told and the overall tragedy of that time.  But I hid the word "hope" in the sky because that seemed like a central theme of this book - even if it would seem the hardest feeling to have in that world.  Whether you like the way the card turned out or not (I'm still on the fence), you will love this book!

Supplies:

• Cardstock/DSP: Watercolor Paper, Garden Green cardstock, Soft Sky cardstock, Whisper White cardstock
• Ink: Soft Sky, Garden Green
• Stamps: Tranquil Tulips, Watercolor Words
• Accessories: Gold Faceted Gems, Silver Faceted Gems, Garden Green Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Scissors, Adhesive, and Aquapainter

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code XWR3T6SJ when checking out.

Sign up for PAPER PUMPKIN!

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit!

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

JUNE HOSTESS SPECIAL

During the month of June, you can get $35 extra in free merchandise with a $350 party or order.  Contact me today if you are interested in being a host during June!

JOIN MY TEAM

If you are interested in joining out team and participating in monthly meetings with free make-n-take projects and outstanding company, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

Contact me today for more information or sign up here: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun

  

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy

Two Types of Ink - The Good Widow

Welcome to "Two Types of Ink" - a weekly feature that pairs up my two favorite hobbies: reading and crafting.  In this feature, I will post a book review for an upcoming or recently released novel with a project I made inspired by it.  Many of these books were provided to me by either Great Thoughts Great Readers (on Facebook), Netgalley, Penguin's First to Read program, or by the authors themselves.  The opinions in these reviews are all my own.  I believe we need as much art and creativity out in the world as possible and the written word is an art form that we should not neglect.  I hope you enjoy these weekly posts and welcome any feedback you have in the comments!

Today's project was inspired by the novel, A Good Widow, by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.  I was lucky enough to read this book early as a member of an online review group.  This book is one that will keep you up at night just to finish it.  I love the way these two best friends write because there is always a little magic and a lot of "what if" that plays out in their novels.  While there is no direct magic in the plotline of this story, there is magic in how it's told.  The suspense in this novel slowly builds to where you are racing through the last pages to figure out exactly what happened and why.  I like the twist at the end.  While I believe I'd read anything these two write, I have to say I was happily surprised at how good they did with this genre and hope they explore it again.

This book was released on June 1st, 2017.  Take a look on Amazon and see if it's for you!  And check out their other amazing books, The Status of All Things and The Year We Turned Forty.

How did this suspense novel inspire this pretty card?  Oh, let me count the ways! 

First, the setting for this book is Hawaii and that reminds me of flowers and waves.  Second, the waves are black because this is a suspense novel (and they used them on the cover too!) I water-colored it because there are a lot of tears and water in this novel.  Finally, I used this specific saying because it's something all the characters would say to each other and once you read the novel, you'll know exactly why I chose it!

Supplies:

• Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Watercolor Paper
• Ink: Basic Black
• Stamps: Just Add Text (new)
• Big Shot: Big Shot, Cutting Mats, Magnetic Platform, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Seaside TIEF, Rose Garden Thinlits
• Accessories: Glitter Enamel Dots (new), Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, 1/2 Circle Punch, Glue Dots, Scissors, and Adhesive

ONLINE HOSTESS CODE

To purchase these products, please visit my Online Store and use hostess code XWR3T6SJ when checking out.

PAPER PUMPKIN SPECIAL

Paper Pumpkin is creativity in a box.  It costs $19.95 plus tax and ships to your mailbox once a month.  It contains everything you need for your own creative escape.  Besides the instructions and pieces for the cards or project, it also contains ink and photopolymer stamps and usually the adhesive you need as well.  My subscribers will also get a project sheet with tips and additional ideas and instructions that they can make with the supplies in the kits and sometimes some supplemental supplies.  Sign up by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit!

You can sign up here: https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380

Sign up by June 10th as a new subscriber and get the June, July, and August kits for 25% off!  Just enter promo code STARTHERE when you sign up!

JUNE HOSTESS SPECIAL

During the month of June, you can get $35 extra in free merchandise with a $350 party or order.  Contact me today if you are interested in being a host during June!

JOIN MY TEAM

If you are interested in joining out team and participating in monthly meetings with free make-n-take projects and outstanding company, contact me today or go here to sign up!  You can get $125 in free merchandise that you choose yourself for only $99 plus tax.  With the new 2017-2018 Annual Catalog, it's not hard at all to find stamps and accessories that you will want to play with. 

Contact me today for more information or sign up here: http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stacymccain/jointhefun

  

Have a craftastic day,

Stacy