Christmas Card using SSS Card Kit

Ok.... I have been really busy since I posted the preorder.  I never would have imagined that MISTI would take off this fast.  I knew it was a useful tool but I never imagined the excitement that it produced.  So first, I want to thank you for all the prayers and support that you all have given to me.
I put the video for this tag on YouTube last month but never got around to posting on my blog.  It needed to be paired with the card video since the tag explains how to make the trees for the card.  I really loved the pigment inks from Avery Elle.  They were so creamy.  It feels velvety to the touch once dry.  hope that you enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed making these two projects.  If there is anything else you want demonstrated please leave a comment.  Please be sure to give it a thumbs up.  God Bless and have fun stamping!
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Happy Thangsgiving and How MISTI was Created

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope everyone is having a great day.  As for me, I am spending it with my wonderful in laws.  I will be back home tomorrow.  So for all of you that have just ordered grid pads, cleaner, and magnets, I will start mailing those out as soon as I get home.

I have Thanksgiving day everyday by making it a point to give thanks and praise to God everyday for all the blessings He has given me.  I am so grateful for the seed God planted in my thoughts to come up with MISTI.  Last year when it came time to do the church Christmas cards for the pastor, I was dreading the whole process.  I was trying to come up with a good excuse and ask the pastor if this year we could purchase them.  My thoughts were that my hard work would just be thrown away.  I prayed asking to find  a card design that would be easy to replicate.  I found one and ordered my supplies.

Sitting down to start making 100 cards, I cringed and wondered why I committed to this.  I thought to myself that this was a way to serve God doing something I love.  I said a prayer, thanking God for blessing me with an awesome craft room and making it a point to check my attitude so that I would serve with a joyful heart.  The process of making cards began and my joyful heart soon started to lose the joy.  Mis-stamping was happening too often and my neck was starting to hurt from craning over.  Frustration set in and I took a break and prayed.  I prayed for an easier way to get this task done.

I looked at my desk and the stack of wasted cardstock.  My first thought was, “How  can I solve this problem?”  Then God stepped in.  My thought was to create a fixed point to be able to re-stamp.  What did I do?  I used washi to tape my Fiskar’s stamp press to a mouse pad.   The next day, I went to the hardware store and started to build my prototype.  It took three trips to the store.  When I finally got it to work, I actually cried.  I completed my cards error free and in record time.

I went to an attorney and had a patent search done.  He recommended that I not seek a patent.  Needless to say,  I was disappointed.  Feeling that some big company would steal my idea, I researched about supplies and manufacturers as discreetly as I could.  That is how this journey started.

Recently, several readers kept telling me to get a patent.  I prayed once again for wisdom and discernment.   I kept getting this nagging feeling that I should seek a second opinion on a patent.  The first attorney that did the patent search did not specialize in patents.  I sought one out and found a patent attorney in Chicago.  My new attorney studied the patent search results and advised me that my invention was novel enough to seek a patent.  So last week, I started the patent process.  In about four weeks, I can label my product patent pending.

Thank you so much for all of your encouragement and support.  Your kind words are precious to me.  I would like to also thank those of you that have spread the word about my product.  Thank you Linda C. for being my advocate on the forums.  Thank you Karen B. for your encouraging words.  Thank you Jennifer McGuire  and Kristina Werner for your willingness to promote my product.  Word cannot express the joy that is overflowing from my heart.  THANK YOU!

Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit #3

Hello everyone!  I am definitely getting in the Christmas spirit. I love how this card turned out.  I know the string looks slightly askew in the picture but I went back and straightened it.  Call me a perfectionist. I will probably go back and make multiples of this card once I run out of ideas.  I did buy the 6 x 6 paper pad so I have extra patterned paper.  I hope this inspires you to pull out that old Stampin' Up punch.  Enjoy the video.  Be sure to subscribe to get updates.   Have an awesome day today because God is good!.....All the time.

Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit #2

Here is a simple card.  Sorry the end of the video was cut off.  The part you will miss is the sentiment stamping.  I stamped it in black ink and then I went back a re-stamped in Versamark so that I could add sparkle embossing powder. I also used my wink of stella clear pen to add sparkle to the trees.  I tried adding some bling to the trees and ended up taking them off.  Have a great day!

Simon Says Stamp November Card Kit #1

Last night was daylight saving time change.  I was up at 5 am.  The whole house was quiet so I went down to my craft room.  This is what I came up with.  I made a shaker card using this months card kit.  I tried to make it look like a snow globe.  I think I did an excellent job. Have a blessed day.

Simon Says Stamp October Card Kit #2

Here is a quick card with very little stamping.  I know the Simon Says Stamp  November Card Kit is already out, but I am a normal person with limited time and I am just now getting around to the October Card Kit.  I do not feel bad because it is still October.  Now when I get around to doing the third card it will be November, and then I will feel bad.  But not today.  I hope you enjoy this video.  Thank you and God bless!

Simon Says Stamp October Card Kit #1

Hello my sweet petunias!  I hope all is well this beautiful morning.  I thought I would share this card before my day begins.  I like this kit but found it difficult to use.  I stamped a background using the same sentiment over and over.  I used a transparency to line my card up.  My Facebook friend Karen B. suggested taping a transparency to the edge of MISTI.  Thanks for stopping in and checking out my card.  Be sure to give the video a thumbs up.

Simon Says Stamp September Card Kit #3

Sorry this is so late.  I know it is mid-October but I really wanted to share this card.  I like the curved shelf.  There is nothing new in this card.  It is the same as before, recreating a card.  The video is packed with tons of mistakes.  I hope you enjoy this video.  I will post soon on an update with MISTI and pre-orders.  Thanks everyone.

Simon Says Stamp September Card Kit #2

Here is another card I designed while in Texas.  I love the way it tuned out.  I didn't add any embellishments since it is such a busy card.  I ended up making a set of nine cards.  Once I got the first row of books done, the rest went by fast.  I hope you enjoy the video.  I had to edit it twice and did the voice over like three times.  Please be sure to give the video a thumbs up and leave any questions for me.  Have a great day!

Simon Says Stamp September Card Kit #1

Hi!  I know that it has been a long time since I have posted a card and video.  I appreciate your patience.  I have been busy making MISTIs.  I know it is hard to get one.  I am hesitant to take pre-orders until the manufacturer is ready.  I am still waiting for the final numbers.  As soon as that is taken care of, I will do pre-orders.  I hope you will continue to be graceful with me.  It is a bit hard to juggle everything.  I work PRN for an orthopaedic doctors' office and I had committed myself to cover for someone's vacation last week.  Hopefully, I can get back to my schedule with homeschooling and MISTIs.  So please enjoy this video.  It was a quick one for me.  Normally, I don't rush this much to get a video done.

Let Your Light Shine Through

I thought I would post one last card before I am chained to my workstation to whip out some more MISTIs for those of you that are dying to get one.  I dropped off the plexi to my laser guy who will cut some tomorrow.  I plan to spend Friday making them.  Hopefully, done  by Saturday or Sunday.  My goal is to have orders mailed by Monday.
I made this card using Allison Kreft's Starburst Stamp.  I stamped several times in various shades of yellow and oranges.  I cleaned off my stamp and then stamped in Versamark.  Next, I stamped the sentiment from the Close to My Heart Illuminate stamp set. I also restamped that with the Versamark.  Finally, I coated it all with sparkle embossing powder and heat set it with my heat gun.  Please enjoy the video below.  Happy stamping everyone!

Sending Love Your Way

 Sorry it has been awhile since my last post for a card.  You guys have kept me busy.  I can't believe all the love I have gotten from you.  Your enthusiasm for your desire to own a MISTI is overwhelming.  So I thought this card was appropriate.  Supplies are coming this week and as soon as I have parts I will make MISTIs.  I will post here and at My Sweet Petunia Facebook page.  Please be sure to hit the LIKE button on the video and subscribe to My Sweet Petunia Channel.

Consecutive Stamping

I know that using clear stamps is easy.  You say that you can see where you are stamping, and yet you still are off and your eyes notice it.  Why?  Because, we are perfectionists.  Check out the diamonds on this card.  I can't do that with a clear block.  Can you?  I only have about 15 MISTIs left.  It will be about 3 weeks before I have more made.    Enjoy the video below.

Birthday Card

This card has several techniques.  I like to use MISTI for stamping solid stamps.  It helps to get solid coverage.  I also show you how to center a stamp on a die cut.   When stamping the background with Versamark, sometimes it is hard to see the image through a stamp press (that shall remain nameless).  With MISTI it is not an issue.  Feel free to share.  Have a great Sunday!!

You're So Tweet

Okay, have you noticed a pattern.  I keep my blog posts nice and short.  So I will be quick.  I think this technique is awesome.  I stamped in the same spot I don't know how many times.  Look at those leaves!  Be careful not to add moisture to your stamp as you dab off the ink or it might feather.  I would have liked to try this with spring colors but I did not have pigment inks.  I have included a close up of the leaves.  If you click on the image you could see close up as to how much detail there is.  Scroll below the YouTube link to take a peek.  The possibilities are endless.   I really hope that you enjoy this video and please share it if you will.  Have a great stamping day.

Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit - Card #4

Another card!  I am surprised with myself.  I generally lift most of my cards.  I scour the internet  for card ideas and then just make what I see.   But, when you are trying to get noticed to sell a product things change.  I wanted to use my new Frames die set from Simon Says Stamp and I have seen so many divas layer vellum on their cards so I thought I would jump on the band wagon.  Adhering the thin frame was torture but worth it in the end.  I learned from it and next time I know what not to do.  Hope you like this card and the video that comes with it.  Have a great day!

You Will Do Amazing Things

Apparently, this card is my most viewed card tutorial on my YouTube channel.  I thought I would make a post about it so I can share it on the Simon Says Stamp Gallery.  I love the elegance of this stamp.  I was hoping to use the base as a wedding card, but I had difficulty making my design work.  In the end,  I like what I came up with.   I think this can pass as a graduation card.  It can be a card for someone starting a new job.   By changing the second phrase of the sentiment, the card can be versatile.  Lowering the 'you' and adding 'Happy Birthday to' above it, is another option.  I hope you enjoy the video and give me a thumbs up and subscribe.   Have an amazing day.

Simon Says Stamp August Card kit - Card #3

Hello everyone!  After making the first two cards I had some left over colored pieces. I did not want them to go to waste.  I wanted to stamp the long sentiment around the edge of the card.  I tried it on a scratch piece of paper and soon discovered the card would be very small.  So looked at my square green piece and decided to mount it on a card front.  Please watch the video to learn another technique with MISTI.  I hope you like enough to subscribe!!

Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit - Card #2

An easy card for today.  However, it did involve Copic coloring.  I don't have very many colors.  Every time I color an image, I think I need more colors.  When I stand in front of the display and stare at the beautiful colors and total the price in my head, I change my mind.  So today I say I need more colors.  I made due with what I had and I think I did fairly well.  The pattern paper is very busy, so I kept the embellishments to a minimum.  I die cut a circle to stamp my sentiment and stamped the ice cream with Momento Tuxedo Black Ink.  After coloring, I fussy cut around it.  Both pieces are grounded  with a strip of pattern paper.  I sprinkled a few sequins to form a triangle around the sentiment, and  coated the ice cream with Glossy Accents.   I hope you enjoy the video below.  Be sure to hit the thumbs up and subscribe to both the You Tube Channel and the Blog.  Have a beautiful day.

Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit - Card #1

Each month I look forward to my Simon Says Card Kit.  I like the marketing strategy they have and as a consumer I benefit from it.  They post a reveal of the card kit and I say to myself, "  How would I use that?"   Then I see all the wonderful cards their design team make and I decide I have to have it.  It is a great deal for the supplies I receive and my purchase is optional each month.   For this card I took inspiration from Jennifer McGuire and Shari Carroll.

Ombre Card Technique

I have wasted more cardstock trying to put the stamp down and then placing the cardstock on top.  I can't tell you enough how my stamping has changed since I started using MISTI.  Using the large background stamps does not make me nervous anymore.  Especially the stamps with a lot of solid space.  I hope you find this technique interesting enough to make you want to try MISTI.  Please check out the shop tab at the top of the menu on where to order.  Have a great day!

Background Stamping

Background stamping can be easy with practice.  What I really dislike is messing up at the end.  I get overconfident that I am getting great placement and then I don't press down enough and get a clean image.  Building great backgrounds is easy for me now.  Moving the paper instead of the stamp has saved me time and cardstock.  I hope you enjoy the ease of this technique.  Please leave me any question you may have.

Border Stamping

I made this card using the July Card Kit  from Simon Says Stamp.  I love getting a kit each  month.  It gets me out of my box of the usual cards I make.  In this video I demonstrate how I made the border around the card front. I also used You've Got Mail from Lawn Fawn to add more detail.    Be sure to stop by the store to take a peek at MISTI.  Have a great day!

Selective Stamping

Have you ever tried to do selective stamping only to find out that you are crooked on some of the stamping? Or your image is not clean?  I don't know about you but I have never been able to restamp a clear stamp and line it up the second time around.   Here is an easy technique that you can be confident in.  Not only can you can you do selective stamping, but you can go back and emboss it to add a little more detail.  If you are interested in purchasing MISTI please click on the shop in the menu above.

Mass Production or Duplicate Cards

When I make cards I always want to keep a reference card in case I ever want to make another card.  Not to mention, I like to keep an inventory of cards that I can draw from for special occasions.  Thank You cards are a prime example.  I am more prone to give a card if it is already prepared as opposed to having to make one.  However, there are those occasions that I really love a card I make and want to give it to some one right away.  Changing the sentiment would offer a variety of options for the same card design.  I could have easily changed this card into a birthday or thinking of you card.  Gift sets would also be a good use for duplicate cards.   This year I actually look forward to making Christmas cards.  I hope you enjoy the videos that accompany this card.  Be sure to leave a comment and give a thumbs up on YouTube.

Meet MISTI

MISTI is the Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented!  I don't know where to start explaining how MISTI will change how you stamp.  It works with cling mount and clear stamps. The stamps remain constant while the paper can be moved.  The techniques are endless with some imagination and creativity.  Here is an introduction video, but other technique videos are available at My Sweet Petunia Channel on you tube.

My Sweet Petunia, Inc. and MISTI are Born

Well it has finally happened!  After many months of trying to figure out how I was going to pursue this project,  it has finally happened.

Many months ago,  I was making one hundred Christmas cards for the pastor at my church to give out.  I kept making mistakes in stamping and my neck was starting to hurt from craning over my cardstock.  I thought that there must be an easier way to mass produce cards.  I had the genius idea of using washi to tape my stamp press to a mouse pad.  Let's say that was not very precise.  The next day I headed to Lowe's and perused the aisles until I had supplies to make my idea.  A few more trips back to Lowe's and I had a working prototype.  The first time I used MISTI was to complete those Christmas cards.  I cried after the first two stamps.  I used it some more and realized that I need some thing to hold my paper in place.  I thought about it and made it magnetic.  So that is how MISTI was born.  I also refer to it as my stamper.  I hope you enjoy what I have to share.