A Candlelight Christmas

Hi All,

Happy Saturday!  We are enjoying a wonderfully rainy day here in AZ.  Perfect for hanging our house lights, huh?  Luckily, the hubs got the lights up before it really started to come down this afternoon.  We were lucky to actually be hanging them, as we couldn't find any A4 lights anywhere.  He cleaned out Target as soon as they got back in stock :)

I have a super simple card for you today, but it packs a big punch! I got the idea, once again, from Kimberly Van Diepen over at Stampin' by the Sea.  She created this fabulous DSP circle that I couldn't resist trying.  Here is my version:

For my circle, I chose to use the Candlelight Christmas DSP.  I cut out multiple circles in the size that I wanted.  I then stacked the circles and cut them in half, in half again, and then cut each section in half. This will give you eight sections to piece together.  I decided on a pattern and pieced them together on a scrap piece of paper.  Once glued down, I cut the patterned circle out.  This is much easier than trying to design with eight separate sections.

I found through trial and error that it's better to stack the circles together, as this way, they are pretty unison in size.  I cut them individually the first time and they were all a bit different in size.  In the end, it really doesn't matter.  When you piece them together, focus on getting the outside of the circle uniform.  If the centers don't perfectly match up, you can cover them with the sentiment and it won't be seen anyways.

This is the perfect way to use up those scraps.  Pair it up with some embossing, a cute punch and a button and twine, and you have a perfectly beautiful card that you could easily make over and over with many different print combinations.  I love it!

My must have product from this card: Candlelight Christmas DSP (Item #126901) .  The prints in this pack are gorgeous. If you'd like to add this to your collection, just pop me an email or click on the Shop Online button in the top right hand corner.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Four the Holidays
Paper: Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Real Red & Whisper White Cardstock; Candlelight Christmas DSP
Ink: Early Espresso Classic Ink
Accessories: Stripes Embossing Folder, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Circle Nesties, Designer Buttons-Naturals, Linen Thread, Glue Dots and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

A Merry Little Penguin

Hi All,

Happy Saturday!  We are lucky enough to have another beautiful day in Arizona.  I'll take the 70s in December any year.  We are dropping down into the 60s next week, so maybe winter is finally gonna settle in.

The card I have for you today is a shameless CASE from Kimberly Van Diepen over at Stampin' by the Sea.  I saw this card and Had.To.Have this stamp set!  I fell in love with this adorable little penguin. Is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen???  Well, this set also has an adorable deer (that was on my last card) and a sweet little snowman, both of which are just as cute.  These critters were the star of the show the other night.

My cards are definitely not usually this colorful, frilly or spritzed, but I LOVE what she did with all of these elements.  Your eye is immediately drawn to these fabulous colors: Rich Razzleberry,  Lucky Limeade and a pop of Melon Mambo.  That fun Lucky Limeade print is from the Summer Smooches DSP (Item 125409). Check it out, it is full of other fun colorful prints!

This card also has plenty of heat embossing.  The sentiment, our cute little penguin and the tiny tag are all embossed in black.  I think it really helped them pop against everything else that's going on.  Any time you're embossing, be sure to have the Embossing Buddy (Item 103083) on hand.  If you're wondering whether it's really worth it to have, it is!  Just rub it on your paper prior to stamping and it removes any static that's there.  This keeps the powder from sticking to the places you don't want it to.

I had looked through the catalog dozens of times and had never looked twice at this stamp set.  It's amazing how seeing it used one way, can totally open your eyes.  So glad I got it...as it has easily become one of my favorites!  It would also be great for tags.  So versatile!  If you're like me and can't wait to add this to your collection, it is (Item 126290 in Wood & Item 126292 in Clear).  You can order it by popping me an email or clicking the Order Online button in the top right corner.  Hope you enjoyed this card as much as I did.  TFL!

Stamps: No Peeking, All Holidays & Tiny Tags
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla cardstock; Summer Smooches and First Edition DSP
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Marker, Distressing Tool,  Decorative Label Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Circle and Scallop Circle Nesties, Vintage Trinkets, Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon, Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon, Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Pop Dots/Dimensionals and Glue Dots

MOJO 268: Corduroy Christmas

Hi All,

Happy Sunday!  It has been a great end to a wonderfully long holiday weekend.  I had planned on getting in my craft room yesterday, but we decided to head out and see some fall colors instead.  Unfortunately, with our warmer temps here in AZ, we didn't have a whole lot to see.  But, it was nice to get out of the house and enjoy some 80 degree weather before it's gone for good.

The reason I was so excited to get in to my craft room?  This adorable new stamp set called No Peeking.  I hadn't even given it a second glance in the catalog, but I've seen a couple of super cute cards with it, that I had to get it.  It has three images: a deer, a snowman and a penguin.  They are all equally adorable!  I chose the deer, as it is a little bigger than the others and it fit my focal image.

I joined in with the Mojo Monday girls and borrowed their sketch #268.  I love to play with printed papers and different colors so their sketches actually come together pretty easily for me. 

I wanted a more whimsical color combo and decided on these prints from the Letters to Santa DSP.  They are coordinating prints and are, therefore, on the same double-sided sheet.  So easy!  The prints are used as accents for my focal image, but I decided to do a little paper piecing and added in the pink plaid print for the scarf.  Adorable!  I finished it off with a pink corduroy button, as I thought it was a nice wintery touch.

I love this set and will be making a few more cards to share with you soon!  The stamps , ink and the card stock are all available for purchase.  Just email me or click on the icon in the top right hand corner to get these added to your collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: No Peeking & Teeny TinyWishes
Paper: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Letters to Santa DSP
Ink: Early Espresso Classic Ink
Accessories: Snowflake Embossing Folder, Circle Nestabilities, Petal Cone Die Cut, Pretty in Pink Corduroy Buttons, Linen Thread and Glue Dots

Mojo Monday 263: A Nontraditional Thanksgiving

Hi All!

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving! Finally, our visions of sharing turkey and stuffing with family and friends have come to fruition.  It's my favorite meal of the year, by far.  We usually have family over to our house for the big dinner, but this year we are going non-traditional and heading out. We decided to give it a try.  We'll see how much we miss all of those home-made fixins, but,  I definitely don't miss the 24 hours of preparation :)

Since we're going non-traditional at home, I have a non-traditional Thanksgiving card to share with you today.  The colors were inspired by this card over at Pickled Paper Designs.  She paired up orange and blue and green perfectly. The sketch, I borrowed from a Mojo Monday Challenge. This was the perfect sketch, as it let me play with all of these colors.  Here's what I came up with:

The colors and the DSP are really the stars of the show.  The pop of blue comes from the World Spectacular DSP and the green panel is from the retired Spice Cake DSP.  They really are so unexpected and fabulous together.

Making it a quick post today, so I am off to clean up the house.  Hope you all enjoy a very special Thanksgiving Day! Thanks so much for stopping by.

**The World Spectacular , card stock and most accessories are available to purchase.  Just email me or click on the icon in the top right hand corner to get these added to your collection.

Stamps: Falling Leaves, Always  Thankful
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Island Indigo and Whisper White Cardstock: World Spectacular, Spice Cake & Love Letter DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Accessories: Curly Label Punch, Petal Cone Bigz L Die, Circle Nestabilities, Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Glue Dots and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

So Grateful

Hi All,

Yep, I'm back again.  Can you believe it?  I've got another sweet little Thanksgiving card for you today.  Did you get around to making Thanksgiving cards this year?  I had a couple from a workshop that I did last month, but I still had plenty left from last year.  I am good at making the cards...just not so good at sending them out.  Time just creeps up on me and before I know it, it's too late.  I did get three cards out in the mail this year, so that's an improvement over last year. 

The card I have for you today was inspired by this card by Chiaki Haverstick. I love the design and colors that she chose.  I kept the same design, just switched up the colors.

I looked through my prints and found a simple one that wouldn't overshadow my focal image.  This print is from the Twitterpated DSP.  The color is Pear Pizzazz and I've mixed it with Peach Parfait.  I used markers to color the image.  You could also use them to color the frame around the sentiment, but I actually stamped the image three times and cut the sentiment out twice and layered it.  I love the effect.

I think this card design is great because you could change up the colors and use it throughout the year.  Hope you like it! Thanks so much for stopping by.

**All of these products are available to purchase.  Just email me or click on the icon in the top right hand corner to get these added to your collection.

Stamps: Apothecary Art
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Whisper White Cardstock; Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On
Accessories: Large Scallops Edgelits, Labels Collection Framelits, Peach Parfait & Pumpkin Pie Stampin Write Markers and Pop Dots/Dimensionals  

{GRATEFUL}

Hi All,

Thanksgiving week is finally here and I have a couple of Fall themed cards to share with you.  I've seen the technique I have for you today used quite a bit lately. It uses the Negative image of a die cut.

Using my Little Leaves Die, I cut the leaves and popped out the image.  I opted to put some DSP behind my image, but this would work perfectly with some fabric as well.  It's a nice simple card that goes to show, you shouldn't throw away any of those scraps!

If you'd like to see my inspiration for this card, hop on over to Andrea's Blog: Work in Progress. She has a super sweet version in Kraft/Pink.  Just love it!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Falling Leaves
Paper: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Spice Cake DSP
Ink: Early Espresso Classic Ink
Accessories: Sizzlets Little Leaves Die &  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch

My BMX Birthday Boy

Hi All,

It's November, which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner and my son turns the big 1-2.  He is officially almost a teenager!  His actual birthday is November 7th, but it seems that in our home, birthdays tend to stretch out for a week to a week and a half by time we get to all the celebrations with friends and family and special dinners.  Since I LOVE birthdays, I have no problem with it *smile*.

As he gets older, it's hard to come up with card/cake ideas.  Luckily, a couple of years ago, I bought the Just Riding stamp set as it was retiring, in hopes that one day, Zach would be into bikes.  Well, that day came earlier this year, when all he wanted was a new BMX bike.  I figured it was the perfect time to pull this set out.

I kept the card simple and used the colors that he actually has on his bike: black/white.

 

I have a feeling that this set will get a lot of use, as all of his friends live on their bikes and I'm sure there will be more birthdays coming our way.  As for the 12-year-old, here are a couple of pictures from the party today.  Lots of fun was had by all.

 

We couldn't resist taking a shot of all the bikes.  They are one BMX riding crew!

I actually have some Thanksgiving cards to share with you, so those will be coming this week.  Enjoy your Monday & thanks so much for stopping by.

Stamps: Just Riding
Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Pop Dots

FMS 54: I'm Batty for You

Hi All,

Happy Sunday!  I had a full day of arts and crafts yesterday and I'm glad to say that I have my own project to share with you.  My hubs and I made it out to an arts and crafts show on Saturday..no purchases made (except some fudge), but it did inspire me to create.  It was pretty disappointing. Not a lot of seasonal handmade items to peruse :(  Are you guys finding that with shows that you go to? I guess that means we just need to get crafty and make our own.

I knew when I sat down in the craft room what I wanted to start with.  I had saved these super cute scalloped embellishments on Pinterest.  I love how they incorporated the polka dot paper and the black gingham ribbon.  I pulled out all of my punches and put my embellie together.  I then went in search of a sketch to pair it up with.  I found the perfect one over at Freshly Made Sketches:

Since I already had the 'hard' part done...hee, hee, all I had to do was figure out what pretty paper I wanted to add to the horizontal strip.  This is what I came up with:

I mixed a little bit of old with a little bit of new.  That super cute orange Rik Rak print is from the new DSP: Howlstooth & Scaringbone.  I adore it!  Both the black/white polka dot and the clear polka dot sheet are from the "vintage" DSP: Night & Day.  Oh what a fun combo they make!

I was amazed at how easy this card came together.  I guess when you have such great inspiration to start with, it makes it easy.  If you would like to add the Howlstooth & Scaringbone paper to your collection, send me an email or click on the Order SU Online icon in the top right corner.  This is Item Number: 126906.  It's a great pack and can be used for more than just the holiday season.  I'll be sharing some more ideas soon!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Batty for You
Paper: Crumb Cake & Basic Black Cardstock; Howlstooth &Scaringbone DSP and Night & Day DSP
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink Pad
Accessories: Circle & Scallop Circle Nesties, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Glimmer Basics Brads and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Kindness Matters

Hi All,

I hope you're enjoying your 3-Day weekend!  Although we still have triple digits in AZ, this weekend always feels like the start of fall.  Maybe its the little bit of East Coast that I have in me...or maybe it's because football is right around the corner. Ahhhhhhhh....

For my card today, I wanted to use what has become my favorite new In Color: Raspberry Ripple.  What a rich, beautiful color.  It's the perfect meld of pink and red.

Like most of my creations, this card was inspired by another.  Unfortunately, I can't remember where I saw it :(  When I find it, I will be sure to post it.  One thing I do know, I loved how they paired the Newsprint DSP with the card stock.  It's peeking out in just the right spots.

Crumb Cake and Newsprint are a couple of my favorite things.  I use them quite a bit.  They work with EVERY thing.  I hope you like how I've paired them up here.  To order any of these projects, send me an email or click on the icon in the top right corner.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Kindness Matters
Paper: Raspberry Ripple, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla card stock; Newsprint DSP
Ink: Old Olive Classic Ink
Accessories: Large Scallops Edgelits, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Corner Punch, Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon, Brights Designer Buttons, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Glue Dots and Dimensionals/Pop Dots

Happiness

Hi All,

I'm back again for a second time this week....can you believe it????  This is another one of the cards we made at my last workshop.  I wanted to play with color a bit and go for something non-traditional.  Remember that fabulous pack of DSP called Sweet Pea?  Well, I pulled it out and was immediately grabbed by the oranges and blues.  That's what I went with.

I also got to play with the new Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack.  One of the templates is for piercing circles of all sizes. Because of this, it works with die cuts or punches.  I used it to pierce around the edge of my butterfly.  It's pretty fabulous!

If you're a piercing fan like me, these templates are a must.  You can order them using the icon in the top right corner or by emailing me directly.  The Product Code is: 126187. They're a great addition to your collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Stamps: Bliss & Loving Thoughts
Paper: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade & Whisper White Cardstock; Sweet Pea DSP
Ink: Island Indigo & Chocolate Chip Classic Pads
Accessories: Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Circle Nesties, Petal Cone Die, Orange Buttons, Linen Thread and Glue Dots.

Pretty Poppies

Hi All!

 I've been a very busy artist-at-work this week.  I finally got back into the workshop scene and hosted my first workshop in months.  My how I've missed my time with the girls. Although I procrastinate and stress myself out EVERY time, it is ALWAYS worth it!

My card today is my favorite design from the workshop.  When I got the new 2012-2013 catalog, this was my first MUST have stamp.  I adore poppies and I couldn't wait to play.  There is just something so simple, yet so pretty about them.  Here in Arizona, we get orange poppies.  If we get a rainy spring, they can be seen covering the bases of many mountains in the area.  They are a gorgeous sight to see.

My first thought was to color the poppies with my Blender Pens.  I couldn't get the colors to blend as well as I liked, so I scrapped that idea.  I skimmed through the catalog and found a teeny tiny sample that used the stamp with Crumb Cake.  I loved the look and had to recreate. The design for the card came from this beauty by Julie Lacey over at Stamps & Taxes. I love her layers and colors.

Interested in any of these products?  Just pop me an email or stop by my SU! website by clicking on the icon above to order online. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Pleasant Poppies & Word Play
Paper: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Crumb Cake and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Jet Black StazOn
Accessories: Pink Button, Linen Thread, Glue Dots & Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Enjoy the Journey

Hi All!

I finally decided to spend some time in the craft room last weekend, only to not be able to finish the card I started.  It's hard trying to get back in the saddle...but, I am making a valiant effort.  I left all of the supplies where they were and picked it back up again this weekend.  I finished my card in five minutes.  Isn't it crazy how that happens?

I knew when I sat down, that I wanted to use my favorite new tool: the piercing templates, one of the new In Colors: Primrose Petals and my new Scallop Edgelits Die Cut.  I didn't have any prints that had the Primrose Petals, but, I knew that Twitterpated had some colors that might work. I was correct.  This print works perfectly.  I love the pinks and the blues together.

One of my favorite techniques is paper piercing.  But, I prefer to not freehand my piercing as it's usually not consistent.  One of the new templates coordinates with the Scallop Edgelits die. Love it! This template is awesome because you can pierce the inside or outside (around the edge) of the scallops.  I chose to pierce the inside.  You can see it if you look super close :)  The template I used is below.

The die cut for my focal image is from the Labels Collection Framelits.  I love how it layers with the oval dies.  The ribbon is 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Island Indigo.  I think it all works so well together.

All of these products, except for the stamp set, are available in the 2012-2013 catalog. If you'd like to place an order, just pop me an email or click on the badge in the top right hand corner.  I'd love to get you some great new products to make some fabulously fun cards!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Pedaling Past
Paper: Island Indigo, Primrose Petals, Baja Breeze & Whisper White Cardstock; Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Island Indigo, Tea Die Distress Ink
Accessories: Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Large Scallop Edgelits, Labels Collection Framelits, Oval Nesties, 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Sponge and Pop Dots

Father's Day 2012

Hi All,

I finally got the craft room cleaned up and had to get to work this weekend.  Buying the hubs a store bought card was just not an option.  I pulled out my tried and true set: My Hero, My Dad.  I paired up these images with some of my favorite blues: Island Indigo & Pool Party.

My card was inspired by this gem from Maile Belles.  I love the geometric shapes and the cool design she created.  Perfect for a masculine card!  I paired up the Island Indigo and Pool Party with More Mustard.  It's a combo right off of my Color Coach.  It works every time.  Be sure to get the new In Color cards to add to your old ones.

I hope that all of the Father's in your life had a fabulous day! 

Stamps: My Hero, My Dad
Paper: Island Indigo, Pool Party, More Mustard, Crumb Cake & Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party, More Mustard & Crumb Cake Classic Pads
Accessories: Scissors & Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Birthday Love

Hi All,

If you follow my blog, you know that I had a birthday back in March.  One of the many things I was excited about was getting some handmade cards.  I was pretty impressed that (5) of my girlfriends came through.  I was so very impressed with their work, that I just had to show off a little bit :)

This card was made by Nicole Oldham.  She used the Kindness Matters stamp set, which I love.  The butterflies are just perfect and she couldn't have chosen better colors!  Nicole is not a fan of ribbon or twine, so I was impressed that she got some on this card. 

This card was made by Linda Appel.  She used the Abundant Hope stamp set and paired it with the Sweet Shop DSP.  This is such a sweet summery print.  The organza ribbon was the perfect addition. Linda has her own blog if you'd like to check it out: Linda's Cozy Craft Corner.

This card was made by Anne Martin.  She is relatively new to stamping, so I was very excited to see that she pulled some of her great products together.  I love the colors that she chose. Baja Breeze and Soft Suede are perfect together.  She let the embossing be the star of the show and added a few accessories.  Love the wide grosgrain ribbon!

This card was made by Jenni Brasington.  Lots of fun goodies on this card!. She used the Word Window Punch for the sentiment, Stickles for the candle flames, Diamond Dust for the icing and the Signo Gel Pen for the Scalloped Circle.  Who wouldn't love all this fun bling?

This oversized gem was made by Mary Beth Walker.  She cut a print from the Botanical Gazette DSP and used that as the base of her card.  That fabulous flower and butterfly are both from the
Mixed Bunch Stamp set and the Blossom Punch.  Mary Beth was the one to point out in the Occasions Mini that you could create this butterfly from this set.  What a great idea!

I am so impressed with the work that my friends do.  They are truly an inspiration to me!  Girls thanks so much for making me feel so special on my birthday!  There truly is nothing better than getting a handmade card!

Hope you all enjoy them as much as I do.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Abundant Hope & Kindness Matters
Paper: Botanical Gazette DSP/Not Quite Navy &Marina Mist Cardstock, Sweet Shop DSP/Pool Party Cardstock
Accessories: Blossom Punch, Scalloped Border Punch, Word Window Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Organza Ribbon, Hemp Twine

So Grateful

Hi All,

I sure hope you've had a great weekend!  Ours was pretty good.  We ventured out to a Salsa Challenge and I got to finish up a book I was eagerly anticipating reading.  It was a pretty successful weekend if I say so myself.

I got my inspiration for today's card from the Occassion's Mini.  It focuses on the Labels Collection Framelits and the coordinating Apothecary Art stamp set.

The central panel is a print from the Twitterpated DSP.  I love Basic Gray and knew immediately that I wanted to work this in.  I layered it with Blushing Bride cardstock and pleated satin ribbon. This ribbon is great, as it is pre-ruffled for you. It doesn't get much better than that! The stamp is colored in with markers: Blushing Bride & Regal Rose.

The Framelits Dies and the stamp set are currently available in the Occasions Mini through April 30th.  Be sure to get these ordered up if you'd like to add them to your collection.  Send me an email or click on the Order Stampin' Up icon in the top right corner.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Apothecary Art
Paper: Basic Gray, Blushing Bride & Very Vanilla Cardstock; Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Basic Gray Classic Pad
Accessories: Labels Collection Framelits, 3/8" Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Blushing Bride Marker, Regal Rose Marker and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Hope Everything Looks Up Soon

Hi All,

Happy weekend!  I have a cute summery card to share with you today.  I had seen this card by Debbie Olson on Pinterest and fell in love with the kites.  I knew then and there I had to have the Send Me Soaring stamp set.

This set has all the fixin's of a good kite: 6 different kite designs, a kite tail, kite string and some clouds.  My favorite part...the addition of the Baker's Twine.  It makes the perfect kite tails. I attached it to the back of the kites with adhesive and used Crystal Effects to hold the tails in place.  It dries clear, so you can't even see it.

I chose the 'Hope Everything Looks Up Soon' sentiment for my card.  I made a couple of these for those times when my friends need a little pick me up.  I've already given one away to a co-worker that needed a little cheer brought to her cubicle.  It got me a great big hug in return.

Since summer is on its way, kites are the perfect addition to your stamp collection.  They are so versatile and can be used for so many occasions.  This set is only available through April 30th.  If you are interested in purchasing it, just send me an email or click on the Order Stampin Up icon in the top right hand corner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Send Me Soaring
Paper: Riding Hood Red & Whisper White Cardstock; Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo and Basic Black Classic Pads
Accessories: Baker's Twine, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Crystal Effects and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

A Cup of Thanks

Wow...I take a bit of a hiatus and come back to a Brand Spankin' New Blogger format and 90+ Followers!  New Blogger format...I could take it or leave it, but all my new Followers...I'm so excited.  Thank you for following along.  I'm happy to say that I am back in the saddle and have some new cards to share with you.

The past 6 weeks have been crazy busy.  I celebrated the Big 4-0,  planned a bash, went to Vegas, got a promotion and trained a couple new employees in between.  Needless to say, my craft room was feeling just a bit neglected. It really felt good to get back in there.

I had a workshop last week and, in preparation, I bought my last bit of goodies from the Occasions Mini.  For my first card, I knew I wanted to use the Tea Shoppe Stamp Set.  What better than a great color combo to pair it with?  I found this picture on Pinterest:

Are these colors not Fabulous???  They scream Tea Time to me.  Here's the card I created with them:

The inspiration for the design came from Erica Cerwin.  I thought her cup of tea was pure perfection and I just had to recreate that tea bag.  It's made with an overlay of vellum on card stock.  How fun is that!

If you love tea, or know someone who does, this stamp set is for you.  It's only available till April 30th though, so be sure to order it soon.  You can email me or order through my SU! Website in the top right corner.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Tea Shoppe
Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip Cardstock; Vellum; Sweet Stitches DSP
Ink: Pool Party and Chocolate Chip Classic Pads
Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, 1" Square Punch (Corners), Jewelry Tag Punch, Pool Party Baker's Twine, 3/4" Circle Punch, Basic Pearls, Pop Dots/Dimensionals and a Stapler

Elementary Elegance

Hi All! I hope you had a great weekend. I had my big "40 & Fabulous" Birthday Bash on Saturday night and got a few handmade cards that I'll share with you guys real soon. Until then, I have a gorgeous card for you today. It is inspired by a design Heather Klump created that you can see here. I loved the idea of the different textures under the focal image.


I started my design by choosing a color that I could mix and match ribbons with. One of my favorite colors is Island Indigo. I actually have it in the Baker's Twine and the Ruffled Ribbon, so it worked out perfectly.

Heather had embossed white on white, but that look didn't work with my Crumb Cake base, so I ended up embossing the stamp in white on the Crumb Cake. The pop of color is just fabulous. The Happy Birthday was punched out with the Curly Label punch and popped on the frame.

The card was finished off with a blue button and the Floral Fusion die. The brad in the center of the die is a gold Glimmer Brad from the Basics collection. It's just an elegantly simple card. Hope you all like it! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Elementary Elegance
Paper: Early Espresso, Island Indigo and Crumb Cake cardstock
Ink: Island Indigo Classic Pad and Whisper White Craft Pad
Accessories: Floral Fusion Die, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon, White Rik-Rak, Blue Button, Gold Shimmer Brad, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer, Curly Label punch and Pop Dot/Dimensionals

Congratulations, You Did It!

Hi All,

I hope you're having a great week so far! Mine has been pretty good. My birthday was Monday (shhhh....it was the 19th Anniversary of 21st birthday ;), so I've been doing a bit of celebrating every day. That's the best way to do it, right? The Free birthday meals have been rolling in: The Keg, Grimaldi's, Benihana's and even IHOP. And, yes, I will be using each one. I LOVE eating out!

But, on to bigger and better things. My last workshop focused on items from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. There are so many good things in there. My card was inspired by this cutie from Meg Loven. I love the simple design and those fabulous color choices (yes she chose Steeler colors ;) But, I switched it up a and made it a bit more girly.

I have this super cute pom-pom ribbon that I never get to use. I knew I wanted to incorporate it. And what goes better with black than pink??? Not too much. Getting this ribbon to lay flat was tricky. I actually ended up trimming off the pom-poms on the portion that went behind the mat. Solved the problem.

This stamp set is called Sprinkled Expressions. You can get it Free with a $50 order. Don't miss out if you 'Must' have it for your collection. The images in the set are really cute. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions
Paper: Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Melon Mambo & Basic Black Classic Pads
Accessories: Black Pom-Pom Ribbon, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, 1/16" Circle Punch and Black Brads

Everyday Butterflies

Wow...it seems like so long since I've posted. It's not that I haven't had cards to share, just not a lot of extra time to sit down and focus on them. Anyone else have this issue?

The card I have for you today uses one of my favorite dies: Beautiful Butterflies. In the Sale-A-Bration catalog, they paired this die with the Fresh Vintage Stamp Set and Everyday Enchantment DSP & Brads. They are a match made in heaven.


The design behind the Butterfly was created by coloring directly on the floral stamp with the Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade markers. *Hint* Give it a little puff of breath when you're done coloring to make sure it's moist and ready for stamping.

The layers on the butterfly are just yummy. The flower was stamped in Poppy Parade and trimmed up with some snips. They were adhered together with an Everyday Enchantment brad. I chose one with a hint of blue to add a pop of color.

To finish it off, I trimmed down the banner from the Take it to Heart set. It fit perfectly on the top layer. It Some of these items are only available through Sale-A-Bration purchases. Be sure to get those 'Must Have' items before they're gone. They can be yours for Free with a $50 order.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Fresh Vintage, Take it to Heart & Loving Thoughts
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede and Whisper White Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Poppy Parade & Soft Suede Classic Pads
Accessories: Beautiful Butterflies Die, Lucky Limeade & Poppy Parade Markers, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Everyday Enchantment brads, 1/16" Circle Punch, Sponge and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Forever & Always

Hi All...Happy Weekend! Any big plans for Super Bowl Sunday? For once, I really don't care either way who wins. As a Steeler fan, I would much rather not watch the Patriots get to celebrate, but if that happens, we shall just switch the channel ;)

My cards for you today were inspired by this super cool card that caught my eye on Pinterest. It was designed by Kasia over at The Nature of Crafty Things. These hearts are just too fun!


As I've said before, the Hearts Framelits are just fabulous! I would never have been able to make this card with a punch. Punches are great, don't get me wrong, but you are limited as to where you get to punch. With these dies, the options are endless!


I kept the same design that Kasia created, but I swapped out the papers for the Everyday Enchantment DSP. The sentiment is from the Loving Thoughts stamp set. 'Forever & Always'...it could be used for a Wedding, Anniversary or Valentine's Day card.

Which is your favorite: Blue/Green or Blue/Red? I love them both and I'm not sure that I could pick a favorite. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Loving Thoughts
Paper: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Pad
Accessories: Heart Framelits, Chocolate Chip Marker, Red Buttons, Green Buttons, Linen Thread, Glue Dots and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

To Gnome You is to Love You

Hi All! I have a sweet little card to share with you today. It is inspired by this gem of a scrapbook page designed by Erica Cerwin. She must be very flattered as I've seen this page used as inspiration on a couple of other blogs. What can we say...she's got a great eye!


I was drawn to the sweet, simple design that she chose to use. And, I love that she paired these two little cuties with the Everyday Enchantment DSP. They work so perfectly together.

Since I was scaling the design down to a card, I chose to work with her focal image. The gnomes are colored using my stamp pads and Blender Pens. I layered in some Nesties and added a swirled metal clip from my Hodgepodge Hardware stash. The Lucky Limeade and the Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon are from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. They come with a Brad Pack that coordinates perfectly with the Everyday Enchantment DSP. The heart was cut with my Heart Framelits.

It's Sale-A-Bration time at Stampin' Up, so if you're looking to place an order, now's the time. Through March 31st, every time you spend $50, you get a FREE item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. The Everyday Enchantment DSP and the Ribbon/Brad Pack are two of the great choices that you have. Click on my Order button to see a catalog or to place an order. Email is always an option too.

We've watched The Amazing Race for years and I can't help but think of it when I see these gnomes. I can't wait to make a more traditional colored one! Hope you think they are as cute as I do. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Gnome Sweet Gnome & Gnomenclature
Paper: Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake & Whisper White Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Pool Party, Poppy Parade, So Saffron & Early Espresso Classic Pads and Jet Black Staz-On
Accessories: Heart Framelits, Oval Nesties, Scalloped Oval Nesties, Hodgepodge Hardware, Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon, Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon, Blue Rik-Rak, Blush Blossum Marker, Blender Pens and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Burlap Bliss

Hi All! It's finally time to break out the hearts. I hope you're ready! I have been pinning away on Pinterest and have so many cute projects that I want to create and share. I just had a workshop this week, so I have at least three to share with you over the next week.

This first card, I couldn't help but recreate. It was inspired by this card from Ingrid Danvers. I fell in love with the Burlap heart. Since I had just gotten my new Heart Framelits, I figured it was the perfect time to try them out.


These Framelits are great! Not only do they cut through the Burlap but they cut through the Glimmer Paper as well. The glimmer paper is a bit too thick for my punches, so I haven't really been able to use it. If you want to be playing with different textures, they are a must have.

The background was created using my Music Notes wheel. I've had it a while and I think I've used it once. It's great for creating vintage-y themed cards--which is something I don't usually do. The sentiment is from a new stamp set in the Occasions Mini called Loving Thoughts. It coordinates perfectly with the banner from the new Take it to Heart stamp set. I love the font and it has a lot of great sentiments in it.

My husband joked that this card doesn't really look like my style. It really isn't, but I LOVE everything about it. I hope you do too. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Loving Thoughts, Take it to Heart and Music Notes Wheel
Paper: Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla Cardstock; Silver Glimmer Paper; Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On; Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Accessories: Burlap, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Vanilla Rik-Rak, Eyelet Border Punch, Designer Buttons-Subtles, Linen Thread, Sponge, Crystal Effects and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Happy Birthday to an Amazing Kid!

Hi All,

I hope your week is going well so far. Mine has been crazy busy at work...I think it may have something to do with the full moon! I'm glad it's almost over.

The card I have for you today is my son's birthday card. Once again, it's a CASE of a card designed by Nichole Heady.


I would have never thought to put Basic Gray and Riding Hood Red together, but they are fabulous. There's lots of color...but it's still very subtle. I also love the design. It seems like there's so much going on, but it all works so perfectly together.

On a more girlie note, I ordered up the new Heart Framelits, so I'll be playing this weekend. Be on the look out for some heart-themed projects in the near future. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Boy Basics & My Hero, My Dad
Paper: Basic Gray and Crumb Cake Cardstock; Love Letter DSP
Ink: Basic Gray, Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake and Basic Black Classic Pads
Accessories: Corner Rounder and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Wishing You an Epic Year

Hi All,

Before I move on and start filling blogland with all my gushy, romance-y, heart themed cards, I'm going to share a couple of masculine cards...of the pre-teen variety. The card I have for you today was made for one of my son's best friends. If you have or know any 11-year-old boys, you know they have one thing on the mind....video games. I had bought this stamp set knowing that I'd get plenty of use out of it. I did....I've made @ six cards already. It has paid for itself.

This card was inspired by a Nichole Heady card. I love the simple design and the colors that she used. For boys, that's really all you need: no razzle-dazzle, no glitter, no bling. I did get to use my Stripes Embossing Folder. That kind of fancies it up a bit, right??? I think it adds the perfect bit of dimension. Hope you like it!

Stamps: Boy Basics & Grunge Me
Paper: Tempting Turqouise and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Basic Black Classic Pad & Whisper White Craft Pad
Accessories: Stripes Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder, Fancy Scissors and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

A *Sew Suite* Friend

This card is just the opposite of the last card I posted. That one I couldn't wait to post, this one may have never made it to Blogland had it not been for me and my dear friend Laura standing around chatting in my craft room. This card was finished but set off to the side because I just didn't think it was as good as the original. I guess it doesn't necessarily have to be...because someone sure liked it. Laura got it as her very belated Birthday card.

Last spring, I saw saw this fabulous card by Heather Klump. I loved the design and the colors that she chose. So...I set out one afternoon with my stamp pads and a few Netflix movies ready to play with colors. Of course, I wanted to put my spin on it, so I chose a few of my favorites to work with: Perfect Plum, Rose Red and Baja Breeze.

The spools were stamped with Stazon and colored with Blender Pens and Ink Pads. I love the soft look that it adds. A piece of gorgeous gray ribbon was added to the mannequin...which kicks up the cuteness factor quite a bit.

Have you had that card that 'almost didn't make the cut'? I'd love to hear your story...be sure to share. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Stamps: Sew Suite & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Basic Gray & Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Perfect Plum, Rose Red & Baja Breeze Classic Pads; Black Stazon
Accessories: Blender Pens, Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Pink Button, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack and Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Everyday Enchantment

Happy New Year's Everyone! I had a nice little break over the holidays and finally sat down this week to start creating again. I really couldn't wait to get home today, snap some pictures and get this card uploaded. Have you ever been that excited????

I'm that excited because I get to share a Sneak Peek of one of the upcoming Sale-A-Bration products...the Everyday Enchantment Paper Pack. I know I say this ALL the time, but I think this is my new favorite paper. The colors are gorgeous and it's got the perfect vintage feel.

My card is inspired by a card that Nichole Heady had created. Her card had a simple design that showcased a couple different strips of paper. Perfect for my new papers, right??

I sat down, spread all the papers out and decided on these three prints. There are plenty that I could have used, but I love the contrast that these have together. The designs have a sponged edge already, so I sponged the Crumb Cake base and the focal image with a bit of Crumb Cake ink to blend everything together.

My photo allows you to take a peek inside the card. I never do this, but I even added a bit of the paper to the inside. Did I mention I love this paper???? Yep, having it on the front just wasn't enough ;-)

Keep your eyes open. This DSP and the beautiful Kindness Matters stamp set will be available for Free in the upcoming Sale-A-Bration catalog when you purchase $50 in product. They are both must haves! Hope you all like the card and enjoy your weekend! Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Kindness Matters
Paper: Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Poppy Parade & Early Espresso Classic Pads
Accessories: Oval Nesties, Linen Thread, Clear Rhinestones and Pop Dots/Dimensionals