Amy Tangerine's Blog, page 9

Zinia's Watercolor Cards

Hello everyone! It’s Zinia here and today I’d like to share with you a few fun and easy card ideas using the new Amy Tangerine Stay Sweet Watercolor set.

One of the many things I love about this set is the colors. They are so beautiful and vibrant straight from the pans that you don’t need to worry about mixing beautiful shades.

So for my first card, I used the colors straight from the pans and I created a rainbow stripped pattern design. Every time I run through my brush with a new color, I let it touch the previous strip so that the colors bleed into each other a bit.

For my second card, I wanted to focus more on that bleeding effect so this time, I created circles of color and let them touch with each other so the colors mix on their own. This technique really creates breathtaking results.

To create the next card I used a craft mat. I picked some colors and scribbled them down on the mat, then I added a spritz of water and dipped my card into the color. This is what people call the smooshing technique cause you basically smoosh your card panel into the colors to get a random but beautiful design.

For my last card I created an ombre effect with a twist. Instead of going from one side to the other with my gradient of colors, I used a circle shape and went from the outer edges of my card towards the center. This creates sort of like a tunnel effect and it really makes everyone focus on the center of the card.

Now to turn these watercolor panels into cards I added various stickers as sentiments. Also instead of mounting them on a regular card base, I decided to adhere them on some of the lovely cards that come in the Stay Sweet card set.

PRODUCT LIST:

Stay Sweet Collection: 351973 BOXED CARDS SET, 351199 WATERCOLOR SET, 351208 STICKER BOOK, 351206 THICKERS Be Kind, 351207 THICKERS Roll With It

Abstract Inspiration Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Thanks so much for sharing this adorable layout, Zinia! Other Design Team member posts can be found here . Shop Stay Sweet now! Check your local retailer and online at Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com

PEOPLE Magazine Feature | Infusing Intention Into the Everyday

On the list! If you’re in search of great ways to infuse meaning and little rituals into your kids’ daily lives, look no further than this amazing list from PEOPLE magazine. Yours truly made it onto the list, which was such an exciting moment to experience. Whether it’s singing, setting an intention every morning, or sharing around the dinner table, there are 14 great ideas that are guaranteed to spark some inspiration no matter what your family culture may be. I’ll share mine as well as two others that really spoke to me in this blog post, but you should definitely check out the full article here. 

Amy Tan, @amytangerine: One of the practices I’ve started doing to start my morning off right is with an intention, and my son Jack, 5, enjoys it, too. Sometimes he will just say “everything good,” or other days he says his intention is “to be silly.” It’s been a fun way to have a little, positive and mindful moment before our day gets going.

Andrea Lavinthal, PEOPLE Style & Beauty Director, @andilavs: Every morning while I’m getting my almost 3-year-old son, Saxon, dressed for school, we talk about all of the friends he’s going to see that day and sing silly songs using their names. It gets him excited for the day and adds a little fun to his daily routine.

Kelle Hampton, @etst: We buy matching rubber bracelets at the beginning of the school year for every family member. We all wear them on the first day of school to help remind us all that we are connected and loved (first days can be scary!). These also work great later in the year for test days or particular challenges. It’s so nice to have a secret reminder when you’re away from your family that everyone has your back and is rooting for you.

Be sure to read the entire article for even more inspiration and let me know what you think. Is there a tip you would like to try? Do you have a family bonding tradition that you and your kids love?

The Good Life With Jonathan Fields

Are you doing everything that you can to fill your buckets? One of the keys to a life well-lived is to make sure you’re focusing your energy on doing activities and spending time with people that fill you up. 

Today on the podcast, I am honored to be joined by Jonathan Fields, a national bestselling author and the founder of Good Life Project. Jonathan is the chief architect behind the world’s first “purpose archetypes”, Sparketypes™. I have been following along with Jonathan's journey since the beginning as the Good Life Project was one of the first podcasts I got hooked on. It’s truly a gift to be able to have him on the podcast today.

We discuss how Sparketypes™ came about, what each Sparketype is and what kind of work makes each Sparketype feel most alive. He also shares why you should focus on saying “no” more often and why he doesn’t believe in the notion of balance.

What’s in this episode:

Why Jonathan doesn’t believe in the notion of balance

Being focused on saying “no” more often

Run an experiment to see if something gives you energy

Filling your buckets in life to live a life well lived

The biggest challenges of parenting today

Limiting screen time for children

Hosting the Good Life Camps

The dynamic of working together with his wife 

How his community took off

Deciding he wanted to move away from doing camps

How Sparketypes came about

Feeling like there was something missing from current personality tests

The joy Amy gets from watching people go through creative breakthroughs

Devouring and immersing yourself into a something that fills you up

Understanding that different work fills different people’s buckets

The different Sparketypes and what they do 

How Jonathan infuses creativity and intention into his everyday

About Jonathan:

Jonathan Fields is a national bestselling author and the founder of Good Life Project®, one of the top-ranked podcasts in the world with a giant global, mission-driven community. The Wall Street Journal hailed Good Life Project as one of the top self-development podcasts, and Apple recently featured it on-stage during its legendary annual event.

An innovator in the field of human potential, Fields is also the chief architect behind the world’s first “purpose archetypes”–the Sparketypes™–tapped by tens-of-thousands of individuals, companies and institutions in the quest to amplify purpose, expression, performance and flow.

Jonathan’s latest book, How to Live a Good Life, became an instant national bestseller and #1 audiobook on Audible and his prior book, Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel For Brilliance, was named #1 Personal Development Book by 800-CEO-READ. He is currently at work on a forthcoming book on the Sparketypes. Jonathan and his work have been featured widely in the media, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, FastCompany, Entrepreneur, Forbes and Inc.

When Jonathan takes the stage as a keynote-presenter or program facilitator, he brings a rare ability to not just captivate with ideas and stories drawn from his own experience and years interviewing global visionaries, but also to tap into an expansive, international data-set derived from the Sparketype Assessment that reveals powerful insights about purpose, meaning, performance, expression and what it takes to truly to come alive and step into your fullest potential in work and life.

Connect with Jonathan:
Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook

Links:
How to Live a Good Life: Soulful Stories, Surprising Science, and Practical Wisdom by Jonathan Fields
Sparketypes
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Thank you so much for listening. Scroll to the bottom of this page to download a free printable hand lettered quote. I would also love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven’t already, I’d like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won’t miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by taking a small step toward turning happiness and fulfillment by savoring this season no matter where you are in your life and in the world.

Download Free Printable

Ready...Set...Create! Pre-Event Workshops!

Meet me at the starting line! Sometimes, meeting in person can give your creative practice the jumpstart it needs. This fall is the perfect opportunity to do so because I’m teaching 3 workshop sessions at Ready...Set...Create right here in Los Angeles! Ready...Set…Create is an awesome event run by the lovely folks over at Down to Details. Here is a description of the event if you’re curious:

Ready...Set...Create (RSC) is an amazing event that was put together after much thought, emails and requests from attendees and teachers too!  The event features fabulous teachers, new techniques, and is affordable, and enjoyable for all in attendance!  The third year is officially in the books and was a huge success!

Registration for the event is sold out, but the pre-event (where I will be teaching on Thursday, September 19) is open now!

As I mentioned before, I’m offering two classes (in three workshop sessions) at this incredible event: Brush Lettering and Travelers Notebook. Keep reading to find out what those two courses are all about or check out these links to sign up now:

A Modern Twist on Brush Lettering (09/19/19) 8AM-10AM

Traveler’s Notebook (09/19/19) 10:30AM-12:30PM

A Modern Twist on Brush Lettering (09/19/19) 1-3PM

BRUSH LETTERING - Ever want to try your hand at lettering and modern brush script? Join Amy Tangerine as she takes you through the basics of hand lettering and brush calligraphy using watercolors. In this class, you'll learn how to gain confidence with Amy's favorite water brush (and other supplies) while creating and defining a style that's all your own. We will go over lettering techniques for forming letters with tools that will help you find your lettering style. At the end of class, you'll be able to create your own custom lettered print and a skill set that can be applied to future projects. With a little bit of practice and the tools and kit you'll be given in class to take home, you'll learn that lettering is therapeutic, fun and even a little addictive!

If this sounds like something you need in your life this fall, never fear! I’m offering not one, but two intimate sessions for a lot of one-on-one attention. There’s plenty of space and it’s easy to register. Sign up for the 10 AM Session here or for the 1 PM Session here.

TRAVELER’S NOTEBOOK - Have you been looking for a fun way to document your life without the bulk of a traditional scrapbook? Look no further! Amy Tangerine will be teaching a class on how she uses Traveler's Notebooks to preserve her memories, whether she is traveling abroad or staying home with her family. This class will focus on how to incorporate memorabilia, how to use different pens to create eye-catching journaling, how to create cohesive spreads, and many others! The gorgeous kit is full of goodness that you'll use in fun and fresh ways. You'll learn some fun techniques and create some one-of-a-kind mini-masterpieces by combining your photos with products from Amy's collections with American Crafts and more. She'll demonstrate simple methods that look complex and help you see the supplies in a fresh new light, even for on-the-go. Register for the session here!

Hope to see some of you soon in Los Angeles!

A Modern Twist on Brush Lettering (09/19/19) 8AM-10AM

Traveler’s Notebook (09/19/19) 10:30AM-12:30PM

A Modern Twist on Brush Lettering (09/19/19) 1-3PM

Carving Out Time to Do What Brings You Joy With Paige Taylor Evans

Happiness is about choosing to do the things in your day that create joy and excitement. Even if you can only carve out 10 to 15 minutes, it’s still important to do the things that you love that make you feel fulfilled. 

Today I am joined by a friend, Paige Taylor Evans. Paige is a scrapbooker who has seven signature collections with Pink Paislee, almost a thousand cut files with Silhouette, two design teams and has taught papercrafting classes in 10 countries. What I enjoyed most about my conversation with Paige is how she not only shared the bright happy stuff but she also shared the times where she navigated through the tough moments and how she’s started making healthier choices for life. We discuss how we met each other and did live events together, her experience of teaching scrapbooking in other countries, and her favorite techniques for scrapbooking. She also shares her advice for days when you’re feeling uncreative and where to turn to for inspiration.

What’s in this episode:

How Paige got started in scrapbooking

What made Paige get obsessed with scrapbooking

Her scrapbooking style and how it has evolved over the years 

How working with American Crafts changed her scrapbooking style

Switching gears and taking a break to come back with a fresh outlook

How Paige started working at American Crafts

The influences of digital products and how scrapbooking has changed

Paper crafting becoming more popular again

Finding your niche in scrapbooking

How Paige and Amy met each other 

What it was like doing live scrapbooking at events together

Her experience of teaching scrapbooking in other countries

How grateful people are when you teach them about scrapbooking

What made Paige bring stitching into paper crafts

What Paige does while she is stitching

The environment she does her best work in

Paige’s favorite techniques to use when scrapbooking

How organization plays into her design technique

Her advice for finding more creativity and where to turn for inspiration

Her current wellness routine and what she is looking forward to 

From Paige:

I’m from Seattle. Chris is from Denver. We met at BYU and got married in 2007 in Nauvoo, IL. Chris graduated from the USC School of Dentistry in 2013 through an Army scholarship and then we were stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany for 4 years! We visited 43 countries while living in Europe and miss it every day! We now live in Littleton, CO where Chris works at his dream job as a dentist at Old Town Dental. I’m a stay-at-home-working-mom to our son Fox and daughter Jane. Scrapbooking is my passion and I have my own signature collections with Pink Paislee. I’m a teacher at BIG PICTURE CLASSES, on the SCRAPBOOK & CARDS TODAY design team, I make and release 10 NEW SILHOUETTE CUT FILES every week, and I have an ETSY SHOP on the side. I love teaching in-person scrapbooking and bookbinding workshops whenever and wherever I can!

Connect with Paige:
Website | Instagram | Happy Scrappy Place | YouTube | Pinterest

Links:
Paige’s Pages with Big Picture Classes
Truly Grateful Collection with Pink Paislee
Creativation
Dawson’s Creek
Silhouette Design Store
Silhouette Cut File Layouts
Two By Two by Nicholas Sparks
Scrappy Cruise

I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven’t already, I’d like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won’t miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love and remember that we can all embrace positivity and joy, and go after the things we love.

Guest Episode on Created, a Bluprint Podcast

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Paul Costabile on Created, a Bluprint podcast and it was tons of fun. Created is all about taking a closer look into the lives of designers, hobbyists, and creatives who have successfully centered their lives around their crafts. This is the description of the show:

“Created follows a series of makers on the journey from hobbyist to successful creative pro. Get an up-close look at the struggles and joys of artists, designers, cooks, writers and more who turned part-time passions into full-time careers.“

Sounds amazing, right!? In this episode, I talked about my journey into the world of fashion, my transition into scrapbooking and how motherhood has changed and enhanced my life. You should definitely listen as soon as you get a chance. In the meantime, I wanted to share my 5 main takeaways from the episode to tide you over until you can have a listen:

Bring the Energy. When you do what you love, be committed to it and let yourself be all in. Be so passionate it surprises people. Be unapologetic in your pursuit of the things you love.

Stick with your craft, whatever it may be. That’s the thing that’s feeding your soul, contributing to your own happiness.

Take time to pause and check in with yourself. Apply self care if needed. It’s so easy to feel tired, overwhelmed, and burned out. Those moments happen to all of us. Take some time for yourself. Check in regularly - How are you feeling? Are you in touch with your wildest dreams?

Stay hungry for your goals but live guilt-free. Working towards goals is super important. But if you feel guilty every time you take a step back or turn your focus to other priorities, that isn’t a healthy approach.

Be a dreamer and a doer (instead of just one or the other). Lofty ambitions are great, but if you never follow through, you won’t feel satisfied with your life. Similarly, if you are a doer and focus on merely completing tasks without a sense of direction or vision, you will also feel burnt out and exhausted much of the time. Try to harmonize between those things.

Bonus! I also talked about the 3 F’s on the podcast– Freedom, Fulfillment and Fun. If you haven’t heard me discuss it before, be sure to listen in or check out my post about it from summer last year.

Hopefully, you enjoyed these highlights. I encourage you to check out the episode on Created, a Bluprint Podcast for a deeper dive and more juicy wisdom. The best thing about sharing my story is seeing the ripple effect– putting it out into the world and (ideally) inspiring others.

Sweet Summer Ice Cream Party

What did the fruit say to the ice cream?…

… I’m sweet on you! Cheesy jokes aside, there was plenty of sweetness to go around at our Happy Sundae party, where ice cream and bright sunshine set the scene for the perfect summer fun. What better way to celebrate the season than with an ice cream bar featuring Tillamook’s fantastic classic flavors?! Guests were able to create their own sundaes using a variety of toppings including: raspberry, kiwi, mango and more. I wanted to share pictures from the party and give you some inspiration for your own little ice cream social. Summer is always an excellent time to get together with friends and family. Why not celebrate? Here are my tips for creating a party to remember.

1. Awesome Options - Give people lots of choices. Tillamook ice cream is the perfect summer pick-me-up and you deserve a treat! Enhance the natural, creamy flavors with fresh fruit for a healthy twist on a classic summer dessert. My favorite flavor is Old-Fashioned Vanilla, but there are tons of awesome ones to choose from– Mudslide to Birthday Cake to Mint Chocolate Chip, there’s a flavor out there for everyone. After all, Tillamook is dairy done right. It’s natural, delicious and creamy. And it makes it even more fun when they get to sample all of them if they wish!

2. Find Your Vibe - Are you a balloon person? Or a streamer person? Maybe you’re like me and you love both. We matched the colors of our streamer wall to coordinate with the classic Tillamook cartons. The pastel, nostalgic colors were a perfect match and the results were so cute, I had to bring the streamer wall home so I could use it again. Other cute decorations– including a mini letterboard, pastel tassel banner, and gorgeous flower arrangements - brought the whole look together beautifully. Don’t be scared to put a twist on it - because creativity is key, find ways to incorporate other things you love into the mix. We repurposed a paint palette and used it to arrange the fruit toppings in rainbow order.

3. Invite Your Tribe - Keep it simple. The goal is to enjoy the event with family and friends– not obsess over every little detail. I really wanted a balloon wall but I was short on time so I brought in the experts. I hired a local balloon designer, who came in and created an epic masterpiece. It freed me up to focus on building the balloon cloud of my wildest dreams. If someone you know is an amazing baker or loves decorating a space, bring them in and collaborate to create something beautiful. Ask people to bring one or two of their favorite toppings or dishes to make things easier. If you’re short on freezer space, never fear, pick up the ice cream right before the celebration. Use this to find the closest Tillamook ice cream and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Of course any excuse to celebrate is a good one, and having an ice cream party is no exception. Even though I know the kids would naturally enjoy it, the adults at the party couldn’t help but indulge just a little, too. A few of us even went back for seconds and maybe even thirds. After all, life is short and it’s up to us to make it as sweet as possible. 

Violeta's FUN Layout

Hello! This is Violeta Scrap and I want to show you how to create a new layout using Amy Tangerine’s collection Stay Sweet. It is a very fun and colorful collection so I hope you like this layout.

For this layout, I have used a picture with a white frame and a size of 3x4 inches . To make this layout I have used as a base a 12x12 inches white cardstock. 

Cut some semicircles of different patterned papers and glue them together forming several lines, like some banners. Then I have placed the picture in the middle of the layout.

Next to the picture, I have put the title of the layout and more decorative elements. For the title of the layout, I have used different stickers and the alphabet from collection by Amy Tangerine. Moreover, I have put as decorative elements some enamel dots.

To add more color to the layout I have used the watercolor set from the Stay Sweet collection by Amy Tangerine. I have added some drops of orange watercolor in the entire project. Adding drops of watercolor to scrapbook projects give color to the projects.

I hope you liked the project that it is very easy to make, but if you have, any questions leave them in the comments section. I hope to be back soon with new projects to show.

Lots of love,

Violeta Scrap Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Supplies: Stay Sweet - 12x12 Double Sided Paper -  Prickly hug (351190), Stay Sweet - 12x12 Double Sided Paper -  Picturesque (351176), Stay Sweet - Sticker Book (351208), Stay Sweet - Enamel Stickers (351212) Stay Sweet - Watercolor Set (351199), Shine On - Thickers (345714)

Thanks so much for sharing this adorable layout, Violeta! Other Design Team member posts can be found here . Shop STAY SWEET now! Check your local retailer and online at Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com

Big Dreams Daily Joys with Elise Blaha Cripe

No matter your age, it is never too late to start something new that is on your heart or that you’ve been dreaming about. That is one piece of wisdom that today’s guest, Elise Blaha Cripe and I discuss from her book, 100 Pep Talks. 

I am so excited to have Elise on the show today. Elise has been sharing thoughts and DIY projects online since 2005. She has been running an online shop of handmade goods since 2008 and in the past few years, she has launched GET TO WORK BOOK® and self-published a book, 100 Pep Talks. Her new book, Big Dreams and Daily Joys will be releasing this October. We discuss her favorite part of being a scrapbooker, ignoring the voices in your head that tell you that you can’t do something and dealing with critical people.

What’s in this episode:

How she got started in her career as a full-time maker

How Elise crafts a life that she loves

Setting creative goals and following through on them

Thinking about your “why” when trying to monetize your hobbies

Being honest with herself and her audience

How she ended up creating 100 Pep Talks

Elise’s main priorities for making her planner

Her favorite part about being a scrapbooker

Giving people permission to try a craft

How it’s never too late to start something new

How Amy feels about people being so critical

Ignoring the voices in the back of your head

Elise’s new book, Big Dreams Daily Joys

Being inclusive of everything that's going on behind the scenes

Elise’s advice for people who feel the need to get to the end result

The craft projects that Elise is obsessed with right now

How Elise uses her daily habit tracker

Why Elise only checks her email through her computer

A quote that Elise is loving right now

About Elise:

I'm Elise and I make stuff. That's who I am and that's my job.

I started a blog in 2005 because I wanted to share my thoughts with the Internet. A year later, I began sharing craft projects and tutorials. In 2008, I opened my first online shop and since then, I have made and sold everything from letterpress prints to wooden plant stands.

Over the years, I have learned that while I'll always make stuff, my true passion is in helping people set and work towards their goals. In 2015, I launched the brand GET TO WORK BOOK® which provides tools to help you get your goals organized and do the work to reach them. I believe that big things happen one day at a time and my products are designed to schedule out those days. You can learn more about GET TO WORK BOOK® and shop the line here.

I live in San Diego, California with my husband, Paul, and our two young daughters, Ellerie and Piper. In fall 2017, I launched a self-paced eCourse about creating with your kiddos. You can learn more about that here.

Connect with Elise:

Website | Instagram | Blog

Links:

100 Pep Talks
Get to Work Book
Big Dreams Daily Joys by Elise Blaha Cripe
The Farm by Joanne Ramos
Man In The Window: The Golden State Killer Podcast
To Live and Die in LA

I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven’t already, I’d like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won’t miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by taking a small step toward turning happiness by choosing progress over perfection.

SAVORing the Season

Don’t you remember those incredible summers when you were growing up? Ones that were full of freedom and enjoyment? On today’s solo episode, I am talking about taking the time to savor the most sun and fun of this season. Just because we’re all grown up doesn’t mean our sense of wonder has to end. 

I share why you should lean into fear and learn to embrace yourself for all of your unique quirks. When you allow your unique self to rise to the surface, you will feel more stimulated and alive. Honoring this and loving yourself for it will fuel that little glimmer inside of your soul that allows you to create, design and live your life to its fullest. I also chat about why you should savor the season, set intentions for yourself and the importance of indulging in your adventurous side. 

What’s in this episode:

Amy’s memories of her childhood summer

Indulge in the more adventurous side of yourself

Disconnecting from distractions 

The fear of facing struggles on your own

Amy’s favorite mantra from her book

Choosing to enjoy and savor your life

An acronym for the word savor

Setting your own intentions for the summer

Links:

Craft a Life You Love by Amy Tangerine
Hammer Museum - Hammer Museum - free admission!

I would love to hear from you! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram or on my website. If you enjoyed this podcast and you haven’t already, I’d like to encourage you to subscribe that way you won’t miss a single update. Craft a Life You Love by taking a small step toward turning happiness and fulfillment by savoring this season no matter where you are in your life and in the world.