Stampin' Up!: Celebrate

Happy Saturday! 

I'm popping in with a birthday card I made for a special friend last week!

I actually put it in the mail, a miracle!!

I used the CAS(E) this Sketch #137, which has long since expired! lol!

I got out one of retired Stampin' Up! sets, Growing Green, which hasn't been played with much, ahem, if at all! The card base is Lost Lagoon, one of last year's new In Colors. I'm always a sucker for a blue shade! Then I jazzed it up with some sequins (2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment, now on clearance for $1.99!) and one of the new wood veneer sentiments color washed in pink.

Have you seen the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog?!

Holy moly, I'm in trouble! hahaha!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Growing Green (retired)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Lost Lagoon, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive, some pink shade

Accessories: Stampin' Up! Aquapainter, Expressions Natural Elements, In Color 2013-2015 Sequin Assortment on clearance for $1.99!!!

SU: Small Wonder

Happy Sunday!

How has your weekend been? It's hot here! Says 102 at 8:04 pm!

I head back to school Wednesday, can't believe summer has gone by so fast! 

I'm ready (I think!), but we move into a new building, so that means unloading my storage unit and moving everything into the new classroom. Ack! Bright side, surely I'll sweat off a few pounds!

I needed a baby card to mail out with a gift tomorrow, so I whipped this little thing up using the cute CAS(E) this sketch #135! I pulled out all Stampin' Up! for this one, except for the teeny tiny pennants the little bunny is holding, just grabbed some nearby scraps for that.

I got the Zig markers (thanks mostly to my wonderful in-laws for a birthday gift card!), and this is my first attempt at watercoloring with them. Argh! Why is it so hard? I think it has something to do with my patience. I'm a quick and simple stamper! lol! I need to watch some more videos probably. I also used my new Ranger blending tool, with which I'm obsessed.

That's it for now! Let the mad dash begin to finish up everything I was supposed to get done on summer vacation! haha!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Furry Folk, Whimsical Words

Cardstock: Michael's white, watercolor paper, SU silver glitter

Ink: SU Soft Sky & Pearl Pizazz, Memento Black

Accessories: Zig markers, Aquapainter, Big Shot, heart die cut from SU Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Die, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, SU Strawberry Slush ruffled ribbon.

SUO: Happy Birthday

Happy Thursday! 

It's my 2nd official day of summer vacation! Whoo! Hoo!

So, I started stamping, of course! :)

I don't know about you, but I have a lot of Paper Pumpkin kits hanging around begging to be opened and used! So I whipped up this little card from the May kit. It has a great birthday stamp set! 

I used all kit materials, except I added some wash tape (discontinued SU), some gold sequin trim, and I used my fringe scissors on the patterned paper strip and put the white side "out". Oh, and I guess I used the Starburst framelits die. I don't see that in the new catalog, am I missing it? I can't believe they wouldn't keep it!

I also went to my demo Lori's stamp club last night and made these two super cute projects:

Cute, huh?! Both projects use that super fine metallic thread, which led me to suggest using human hair on our projects! hahaha! We figured between all of us at the table, we had all colors covered. Would you be grossed out to get a card with human hair on it used as thread/twine? It seems very economical! 

Hope I didn't scare you away for good! hehe!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe #1

Stamps, Cardstock, & Twine: May Paper Pumpkin Kit

Cardstock: Coral Calypso from my stash

Ink: Island Indigo

Accessories: Fringe Scisscors, Big Shot, Starburst Framelits die, washi tape, gold sequin trim.

Recipe #2

Stamps: You've Got This, Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock: Whisper White, Delightful Dijon

Ink: Delightful Dijon (stamped off), Tip Top Taupe (sentiment and stamped off for small dot splatters), and I forget the other color! Sorry! 

Accessories: Gold Metallic Thread, Fun flower & 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch.

Recipe #3

Stamps: Lovely, Amazing You

Cardstock: Smoky Slate, White, Silver Metallic Neutrals Color Collection

Ink: Smoky Slate

Accessories: Silver Metallic Thread, Circle, Scallop Circle, & Sweetheart Punch.

Happy Birthday, Cool Kid!

Happy Tuesday!

I got in a disagreement with dh earlier when I swore it was Wednesday. 

I'm still mad at him for not letting me continue with the delusion...

I went to the stamp room earlier to work on a card for a deadline, and I got sidetracked with this cool little cat. The photo didn't turn out great, but he's embossed and I wish you could see how slick and shiny he really looks! lol!

I used the great sketch above from the Create with Connie & Mary Challenge #351. 

I used some of my hoarded washi tape...instead of my hoarded patterned paper, ha...for the side pieces. The ones I used are from Christmas sets, but you can't even tell, right?

Does Cool Kid make you think of the "Cool Kids" song? Were you a cool kid?! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe
Stamps: Cool Kid, Big Wish
Cardstock: SU Whisper White
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Black and Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Santa & Co and All Is Calm Washi Tape. 

Happy Birthday Dotty Bow Dots

Happy Tuesday night! 

And it was a happy Monday night when I made this Stampin' Up! only card before bedtime, for no reason but fun! Yay! Im trying to sneak in some casual stamp time to keep me SANE! It's not easy this year! ;)

I've always loved Connie and Mary, so I played along with their sketch Challenge #349. And I just noticed how perfectly color coordinated my card is with the challenge graphic! hehe!

Do you have the new bow punch yet? Mine was back ordered and arrived the other day, yay! I have the big bow die, but this punch makes the cutest little bows! So many possibilities! The sentiment is from a Paper Pumpkin kit. I used the Decorative Dots embossing folder, and I'm not sure why the bottom of it didn't emboss, but I liked it anyway. :)

That's it for tonight! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: SU Paper Pumpkin sentiment

Ink: Memento Black

Cardstock: SU In Color (I forget...guesses? Maybe Tangelo Twist? Why is there a Tangelo Twist and a Tangerine Tango? That's just wrong.), some retired SU DSP (Maybe SAB 2014?)

Accessories: SU Bow Builder Punch, black lace ribbon, Decorative Dots embossing folder, Big Shot.

SU: Cool Kid

Happy Monday!

Here's a simple little card for my sweet nephew, Logan, who happens to be a VERY cool kid! :)

I used the  Stampin' Up! set Cool Kid and Kaleidoscope DSP from the Occasions Mini catalog that's out right now. For the layout, I did a SU catalog case (p. 57), where you pick a card from a page and just copy the layout with your own stamps and colors. I love how it turned out...it's bright and fun, but would still mail "flat" in an envelope. It has no embellishments! Miracle! lol! 

That's it for tonight. Today was our first day back from spring break and I don't know who was more tired...me or the students. They were like little, glassy-eyed zombies. Poor babies! I bet they'll be back to normal tomorrow though! haha!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Cool Kids

Cardstock: Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Kaleidoscope DSP

Ink: SU Bermuda Bay, Staz-On black

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin

Happy Wednesday and Happy Paper Pumpkin Day! 

I actually left work on time Monday at 4:00, so after walking with dh and dog, then eating dinner, I sat down at 6:00 and decided to play with my March Paper Pumpkin kit from Stampin' Up! I actually used EVERY single item in the kit, which is definitely a first for me! 

Below is my first card, the most simple one. I shortened one of the flag pieces and added some of my twine to the button. I guess I'm old school, but a naked button really bothers me!

The 2nd card I made is the same, I just used a different SU sentiment stamp 

(from Really Good Greetings). It kind of felt like cheating, but I got it done quickly! :)

The 3rd card, below, I got a little more creative and added a doily and used 

the green circle sticker from the kit. I was out of flags at this point, ha!

The sentiment was also mine from SU Teeny Tiny Wishes.

This last card, below, I started Tuesday night and finished tonight. 

See, as the week goes on, my energy and ability wanes! 

I had three circle stickers left and decided they WERE going on this card! lol! 

The sentiment stamp came with the kit, and I embossed it in white.

 I used some shimmer spray stuff from SU too, but I think it's retired now. 

I also added two of my own buttons and twine. 

All in all, I'm pleased that I was able to use an entire kit for the first time, but I wasn't overly wowed with the kit's contents. I'll give it another month or two and see how it goes. I am really bad about giving up kits, because I worry I'll regret not getting something super cute!

I hope you enjoyed my March Paper Pumpkin kit cards!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Love You

Happy Sunday! Hope you're staying warm and safe. Looks like winter is not over yet.

Here's a super quick clean and simple card I made using the Stampin' Up! photopolymer set Countless Sayings 1. I love the big "love" sentiments! I embossed it with Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, kind of hard to see in the photo, but it does make the red pop. 

I'm linking up with this awesome Fusion challenge and City Crafter Love Story challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

All products from Stampin' Up! (some retired)

Stamps: SU Countless Sayings 1.

Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, red glitter paper.

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: SU Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder, 3 Heart Punch, circle tag, crop-a-dile, heat tool.

Stampin' Up!: Halloween Projects

 

Happy Sunday! Here's a quick share of some Halloween projects I made recently at Stamp Club with my demo Lori Souter. She's awesome and her blog is Found My Happy!

Don't you love the shimmer on the broomstick?!

The broomstick is made with Chocolate Twizzlers! Did you know that existed?! I didn't! 

Lori found them at Walgreens, and they are delicious! I had to test them, you know!

This is the inside of the treat box. Yes, she gives us treats to put inside, 

although some of us choose to eat them before we get home! hee! hee!

Don't you love these adorable chevron bags that are available in the Stampin' Up! catalog?!

That's it for now, it's Hitchcock day on TCM! :)

SUO: CAS(E) This Sketch #44

Happy Sunday! Hope you're enjoying your weekend! Mine is going by too quickly! Wouldn't it be great to have a 3-day weekend every week?! 

I played along this afternoon with CAS(E) this Sketch #44 and made a friend's birthday card. Hmmm, I just noticed and remembered this was supposed to be clean and simple, oops! I kept adding a little more goodies to my card! I'm so glad Stampin' Up! has doilies and chevron ribbon! I even got a little *cray-cray* with the inside of my card for a change, too! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Sketched Birthday, Yippee-Skippee!, Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Soft Sky.

Ink: Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Summer Starfruit.

Accessories: Doily, Cherry Cobbler Button, Baker's Twine, & Chevron Ribbon, sewing machine and thread.

SUO: Seize the Sketch

Happy Wednesday! Don't you love a short week after a Monday holiday?

I played along with Seize the Sketch #3 last night and finally inked up a new Stampin' Up! set called Sketched Birthday! I love this set, the little hats stamped so cute with the sketchy look! I always need birthday cards so I'm very proud of myself for making a card I can use! heehee!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Sketched Birthday

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, retired circus DSP.

Ink: SU Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Staz-on Brown.

Accessories: Epic Day This & That Washi Tape, Candy Dots, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals.

One Door Closes...

Happy Wednesday! I guess I should make that Happy Halloween...although with a Thanksgiving card!

I whipped this card up quickly tonight using the FTL 213 from one of my favorite challenge blogs from way back, Clean & Simple. I used the Stampin' Up! set Perfectly Preserved, the one with the long-awaited mason jar! *smile*

I had to mark this day with a Stampin' Up! card because this is my last day as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, sigh. What a hard decision! I've been a demo for over 10 years now, and I don't make changes easily. Since I started teaching, I pretty much gave up the business end of it and only ordered for me and a few real and virtual friends (thank you!) occasionally. I've turned down creative opportunities in the past because of a conflict of interest with Stampin' Up, but after much soul searching, I decided it was time to let go and stamp freely. (My husband will seriously laugh at "stamp freely"...that's an oxymoron, right?! haha!) Anyway, I emailed my resignation a few weeks ago, went through a brief mourning period, and now have made peace with my decision. I'll always be a Stampin' Up! customer; in fact, I've already joined one of my downline's stamp clubs, so you'll still see lots of cards made with Stampin' Up! here. *smile*

If you're still reading...and coming here...thanks for sticking with me! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Perfectly Preserved
Ink: Early Espresso, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit.
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Orchard Harvest DSP.
Accessories: Decorative Label and Modern Label Punch, Linen Thread, Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine, Vintage Trinkets, foam dimensionals.

Get Well Wishes

Hey, hey, hey! I did a quick play last weekend with this fabulous sketch from Pals Paper Arts and these yummy colors from CR84FN63! If you know me, you know blue is my favorite color, so no way could I resist denim, tan, and brown! *smile*

When I went to save the photo of this card, I found no Nature Walk stamp set folder on my computer. Wow. Apparently I've never, ahem, used this stamp set. How could it be?! lol! The samples made with it in this year's catalog are gorgeous, so it has crossed my mind a few times. I hope my dear friend likes this card, even though I think I should have stamped the bird up higher on the paper, sigh. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Nature Walk, Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Ink: Midnight Muse, Early Espresso.

Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Comfort Cafe & First Edition designer series paper.

Accessories: Vintage Faceted Designer Button, Linen Thread, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (retired).

Friend

Happy Saturday night! How are things in your world?! I spent a great evening celebrating (belatedly) my friend Lori's birthday. What would we do without our girlfriends?! Thanks, Lori and Nicole, for a great night! *wink*

This is the card I made for Lori using the colors from The Play Date Color Cafe Challenge #150. Totally yummy, right?! I didn't have that "flamingo" shade so I just did the best I could! I attached it to a gift bag below. Nothing like using your card for a gift bag embellishment at the last minute, right?! haha!

Okay, better call it a night. Off to finish reading more about Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and what they're up to after the wedding! *wink*

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Perfectly Penned: Thank You

Happy Wednesday! My 3rd day back to work, preparing training for In Service, but I'm kind of enjoying it. Shhhhh, don't tell anyone! 

I've been in need of some thank you cards so I whipped this up for a couple dear to me. I used the Unscripted Sketch #168. A few more layers and details than my normal, hmmm. I was staring at my plain cotton twill ribbon and was struck with the idea that it needed chevrons, so through the Big Shot it went. Very cool. Definitely need to try with more embossing folders and maybe inked up embossing folders? I've always been afraid of (too lazy for) the mess, but it may be worth it.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Owl Occasions: Party

More cute owls! I spent yesterday crafting with some friends at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie and this is one of the cards I whipped up. Well, mostly whipped up. I had to wait until I got home to add the black ribbon and complete the final assembly! You know how it's hard to pack EVERYTHING you own and might need when you stamp away from home, right?!


The other day I posted this card that I had thought I was making for the Colour Q #146 challenge, but I had forgotten the Kraft. So, I tried again! hehe!


Enjoy your Friday and hold your loved ones close. I think we're all reeling from the shooting in Colorado, so hard to understand. Thoughts and prayers with those families.


Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!




Recipe
Stamps: Owl Occasions (Holiday Mini Catalog).
Ink: Memento Black, Real Red.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Summer Smooches & Orchard Harvest (Holiday Mini Catalog) DSP.
Accessories: 5/8" Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon.

Owl Occasions: Thank You

Cute little guy, right?! 

I'm pretty sure I didn't need another owl set, but here he is anyway! 

He'll be available in the new Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini catalog available August 1. 

He comes with a cute Christmas cap and stockings too! :)

I used the Freshly Made Sketches #44 for this one, fell together pretty quickly, 

although I just noticed I didn't put the sentiment in the right place! Doh! Am I disqualified?! *wink*

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Owl Occasions, Itty Bitty Banners.

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals, Early Espresso, Orchard Harvest DSP (Holiday Mini catalog).

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Staz-On Timber Brown.

Accessories: Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Holiday Mini catalog), Itty Bitty Banners Framelits, Delicate Doilies Sizzlits, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals.