A New Year Brings…

A new year brings promises to all of us.  This year brings new products to inspire us, it mixes in new friends to learn from and it challenges us to think outside the box.  Last year is over and it is no longer the time to reminisce about the past, but to move on and discover what new wonders are there for us to touch, feel and create with.  

My mission this year is to challenge you to think outside what you know and experience the difference that Stampin’ UP! can make in your love of card making, scrapbooking and handmade gifts. 

The new Spring Catalog made my heart sing as I turned the pages.  The beautiful Vintage style is still with us and allows us to be imperfect in our creations.  Raw edges, spots of uneven ink and distressing make us feel uninhibited in our creations.  No thoughts of perfection only the results of the creative process  takes us over.  The look and feel of the beautiful Tea for Two and More Amore Designer Series Papers are irresistible.  The newest two-tone ribbons are beyond gorgeous…soft to the touch and stunning when frayed.  Don’t you just want to reach out and touch those wisps of simple sweetness? Are you excited yet? 

Here you’ll see a few sneaks of my up and coming More Amore class.  This class offers you the opportunity to create using some of Stampin’ Up!’s newest products in your own home or join me at my home and indulge in some creative play with others looking for the same challenge. The Artisan Embellishment Kit (129328) takes center stage in the More Amore class, but several of the newest products in the Spring Catalog are included for hands on experimentation.  Details for this class can be found here.

Join me this year as I share my passion for creating with Stampin’ UP! products and supplies.  Remember all products seen here can be purchased directly through my Stampin’ UP! website any time of day or night for your creative enjoyment. 

Thank you for stopping by to enjoy my creations and to begin your journey with me.

Enjoy!

 

Like what you see? What are waiting for? Contact me to get started.

Whiter Shade of Pale–Christmas in July

I always enjoy making Christmas Cards in July because it makes me think that I am ahead of the game.  Do you feel like that too?  Today, I was playing a challenge over at Splitcoaststampers here and finally making a card for So Shelli’s card challenge here. Luckily the sun was on my side today and I was able to take a couple of photos for you to look at. 

This card is all in white so my hope is that you’ll be able to see all the embossed details and capture the softness of this holiday card!  It uses some of my newest favorite stamp sets and tools from the new Stampin’ UP! Holiday Mini Catalog*.  Ooh so many items to love! Contact me to order your favorites!

Without further ado…

Stamps: Watercolor Winter*, Greetings of the Season*, Ornament Keepsakes* 
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Rhinestone
Tools: Big Shot, Framelits - Holiday Ornaments*, Scallop Circle Bigz, Circle Die Bigz (Retired), Dimensionals, Heat tool, Clear embossing powder
Technique(s):  heat embossing

This card is about 4-3/8” x 4-3/8”.  This photo shows that the back is made from the circle die as well!  I love that it stands due to the scalloped circle! It fits almost perfectly in a standard A2 envelope, and that is how I will be sending it out. This card is one of the cards that I’ll be featuring at my upcoming Christmas card class next week! 

Enjoy!

 

 

*All these items appear in the newest Stampin’ UP! Holiday Catalog.  All other items can be found in the US June 2012-July 2013 Stampin’ UP! Yearly Catalog and purchased directly through me or my online website.

Hooray for Smooches

I feel accomplished!  I did it….5 days of Summer Smooches!  If you missed any of the days just come for a visit to view all the Summer Smooch designs! This card incorporates the Summer Smooches Designer Paper, Fabric Brads and the Bright Blossoms stamp set!  A nice way to wrap up the week, right?! 

This unique 5.25” x 5.25” card size is perfect to showcase all the Summer Smooch wonders!

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Sprinkled Expressions* 
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Black Stazon, Lucky Limeade, Black Stampin’ Write Journaler (For doodles)
Accessories: Summer Smooches Fabric Brads, Gold Brads, Whisper White Baker’s Twine
Tools: Crop-a-dile, Big Shot, Tasteful Trim XL Bigz Die, Tombow Mulitpurpose Adhesive
Technique(s): Two-Step Stamping, Doodling

Thanks for spending time with me this week!  Enjoy!

 

 

*Sprinkled Expressions was a 2012 Sale-a-bration set.  It is no longer available.

Bright Blossoms Friend

Here we are mid-week with another Summer Smooches project!  I hope you’ve been enjoying the bright colors of summer in these projects this week!  Today I’m sharing with you the Summer Smooches Designer Fabric!  The Designer Fabric takes on the wonderful colors of the Summer Smooches Designer Paper PLUS adds some wonderful texture to our creations!  By adding the Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets to any piece of fabric you can do just about anything with fabric that you would do with paper!  Not tried it yet? Try mixing up your creations by adding Summer Smooches fabric.

This cute little box can contain anything from candies to 3 x 3 cards!  A perfect summer party favor! Spice up the envelope with a touch of Summer Smooches for the perfect touch!

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, With All My Heart* 
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Real Red, Versamark
Accessories: Brights Glimmer Brads, Stampin’ Up! Wire Works(Retired), Summer Smooches Designer Fabric
Tools: Crop-a-dile, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Fancy Favor Bigz XL Die, Big Shot Multipurpose Sheets, Bone Folder
Technique(s): watermark stamping

Thanks for visiting today!  Remember two more days of Summer Smooches coming your way! Enjoy!

 

 

*The With All My Heart stamp set is currently on the Last Chance List.  It will only be available through the end of May.

Blackberries are in Season

Welcome back!  This is my second day sharing a project I created using the Bright Blossom stamp set along with the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper.

This Summer Smooches Designer Paper just screams summer!  It is bright and inviting and ready for a party!  How lucky am I that it contains two prints in green too!  I love all the Stampin’ UP! greens!

This simple project uses what I call the blackberry stamp from the Bright Blossom stamp set!  I know it will be cute in any color, but since I’ve been thinking about summer I started thinking about some of my summer favorites and blackberries are definitely on my list of favorites!

I think this would be a great gift for a friend filled with some ripe handpicked summer blackberries!  I know that I would love a gift of these as a little summer surprise! Can you just taste them bursting with flavor in your mouth? Are you ready for summer yet?

Stamps: Bright Blossoms
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Concord Crush, Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade marker
Accessories: In Color Glimmer Brads, Concord Crush 1/2” Stitched Poly Ribbon
Tools: 1-3/8 Circle Punch, 1-3/4” Circle Punch, Big Shot, Fancy Favor Box
Technique(s): Two-Step Stamping, Doodling

Thank you for visiting!  See you tomorrow for more fun with the Bright Blossoms stamp set and more Summer Smooches!  Enjoy!

Summer Smooches

Summer is just around the corner and Stampin’ Up! is offering a sampling of some of the newest products available in the upcoming catalog!  If you are like me, you’ll want to get your hands on this fun and quick two-step stamp set called Bright Blossoms now.  It will be available through the end of this month or you’ll have to wait until June!

Over the next five days, I’ll show you some quick and easy cards that you can create using this adorable set and some of the coordinating products available during this month!  I just love the little circle…it so reminds me of lifesavers! The tangerine and limeade are perfect summer colors and I hope they get you ready for thinking about creating sweet summer projects!

The layout for this card was taken from the Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple Challenge 166.  The card was so simple I created two in minutes! Create a bunch and give some summer smooches to a friend!

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Lucky Limeade 
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade, Jet Black Stazon
Accessories: n/a
Tools: 1-3/8 Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Big Shot, Embossing folder – Elegant Lines
Technique(s): Two-Step Stamping

How did I do that? 

To create the scalloped circle ring, first punch the 1-3/8” circle punch.  Next punch the scalloped circle over the 1-3/8” circle hole that was created.  You get just the scallop ring!  Attach ring over the stamped image and the strip!

Thank you for visiting!  Enjoy!

Botanical Inspired

I had some time with my family this past week to visit Dallas Blooms at our arboretum.  So beautiful to look at and enjoy with the other million people that were there during spring break!  *smile*  The flowers were all in bloom, but all the herbs were looking pretty sad.  Not sure when their blooming time is…but this card depicts the beautiful herbs at their peak. 

My card was inspired by this Pin at Pinterest as well as the Technique “crop your stamped image” at Splitcoaststampers. I figured I better start using what I’ve saved at Pinterest.  I don’t want to be just a collector.  *smile*

Of special interest, I added some concord crush ruler-lined frames around each of the cropped images.  I like it!

Stamps: Herb Expressions, You’re a Gem
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Stampin’ UP! Markers (Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush)
Accessories: Gemstones, Sponge
Tools: Ruler
Technique(s): sponging

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Everything is bigger in Texas

  If you know or follow me at all you have to know that I am not a gardener at all.  Over the past two years I have watched as the weeds that “we’ve put out a contract on” have not been killed.  I’ve been forced to take drastic action and go out and pull up the biggest weeds I’ve ever seen!  Over the last few days I’ve dug these weeds up by the roots…I think I’ve become an expert, but that remains to be seen at this point.  I hope not to see these lawn disgraces again after all the time I put into uprooting them!

This brings me to the inspiration for my card today – masking.  My card actually has a double meaning for masking today.  I masked the fact that this beautiful stamp reminds me of the weeds I’ve been desecrating in my lawn by adding a touch of dazzling details to all the tops.  Wouldn’t it be nice to see these beautiful “flowers” in your lawn?

The beautiful rolling hills have been created by masking the top portion of the layer with a piece of scratch paper and sponging.

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Dazzling Details
Tools: n/a
Technique(s): Masking

I’m linking up to the Simply Less is More Masking challenge today. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Thank you all for your comments!  They make my day! Enjoy!

 

 

I had to share some other big things I’ve discovered here…

Now realize that we’ve been for what makes our third Spring in Texas and I have never seen these things before the last 4 weeks.  I had to actually get a picture of it with a ruler so you would know I wasn’t lying about how big they are.  They look like giant mosquitos. These are Crane flies or Skeeter Eaters.  How lucky am I to be pulling weeds when these things pop up out of the grass at me? LOL!

Embossing Frames

It seems that I get on tangents when I start creating with something that I haven’t used in awhile.  Today, I created cards for two different challenges and I used the Designer Frames Embossing folder.  This card was inspired by the Script challenge over at Less Is More.  This is only a one layer card, but it had to include script in addition to any other sentiments. 

This frame is wonderful to use because the center oval matches the Extra Large Oval punch.  I created a mask with the punch and stamped my script background and floral image before embossing the frame.  I so LOVE the dimension created by the embossing folder for a one-layer card!

Stamps: You’re a Gem, Flores Suaves(Spanish Catalog - script), The Art of Life(Retired) 
Paper: Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Markers (Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive)
Accessories: n/a
Tools: Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Sponge, Extra Wide Oval Punch
Technique(s): Sponging, Marker to Stamp

 My second card, although not a one-layer card uses the same embossing folder.  I really like how the image extends past the frame just as it does in the first card.  You can barely make out the glimmer of the Dazzling details in this photo.  This challenge was the clean and simple (CAS161) over at Splitcoaststampers to use white and shades of blue. 

Stamps: Fresh Vintage (Sale-a-bration), Day of Gratitude. 
Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
Ink: Markers - (Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy,Basic Gray)
Accessories: Dazzling Details,  Whisper White Taffeta ribbon. 
Tools: Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Big Shot
Technique(s): Marker to stamp

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The Designer embossing frames or the Fresh Vintage stamp set are available for FREE during Sale-a-bration with a $50 product order! 

Virtual Stamp Night

I remember when I first started stamping, I discovered Splitcoaststampers.  The site offers a wonderful group of talented stampers and some great stamping challenges that I always loved to take part in.  I have not been able to play along with many of the challenges anymore, but I do when I have a chance. 

I was thrilled to have time this past Friday evening to play in the Virtual Stamp Night challenges that were planned for this past weekend!  These are a couple of the cards that I was able to create based on the challenges outlined.

This card’s inspiration was to have an image using something that you see “up in the air”  I quickly thought of flags and the use of the hat pins!  I love how easy it was to create flags with the hat pins and Designer Series Paper!  So fun!

Stamps: Sprinkled Expression Stamp Set (Sale-a-bration) 
Paper: Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Hat Pins(Occassions Mini), Everyday Enchantment Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon (Sale-a-bration), Dimensionals
Tools: n/a
Technique(s): n/a

The inspiration for this next card was to create a project using something that you haven’t used in 6 months or more.  As I filtered through my stash, I came across the Concord Crush ribbon and knew I had to use it on a card. The card a bit flat so I added a some daisy diecuts to a few of the flowers for dimension as well as twisted the ribbon before adhering it to the front!  I really enjoy the card more with that bit of pop off the card!

  Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Sprinkled Expressions Stamp Set (Sale-a-bration)  
Paper: Very Vanilla, Concord Crush
Ink: Concord Crush
Accessories: Concord Crush Ribbon, Flower Daisies #2
Tools: Big Shot
Technique(s): Shadowing, Stamping off

I hope you enjoy my weekend creations!  Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Sale-a-bration Happiness

Have you looked through the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog yet?  If you haven’t, your missing out on some fun ideas and projects and FREE yummy goodies for your stamping and crafting projects! 

I have probably looked a zillion times already    through that catalog.  The last time I looked through the Sale-a-bration Mini catalog I saw something that hadn’t originally caught my eye…the Everyday Elegance Simply Sent card kit.  It sells for $11.95 in the Idea Book and Catalog, but during the Sale-a-bration event, you can get it for FREE with a $50 product purchase.  Now it might be more fun for you to create your own cards from scratch, but did you ever think about using the card and adhesive die cuts as elements on a project?  The polka dot cards are so beautifully die cut and embossed that it makes it a wonderful piece to cut up and use on your projects! I just love them!

The project utilizes the one envelope, card and an accompanying adhesive die cut plus some extras to create this wonderful quick gift card holder and card set! With banners being all the rage, I used the self-adhesive die cut to create a quick banner using the cherry cobbler baker’s twine and the adorable mini clothespins! The clothespins are the perfect way to keep the gift card safe inside!

Thank you for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

The envelopes included in this set are extra sturdy and require a good scoring tool when creating the super quick gift card holder.  Consider using the Simply Scored Tool when making your selection for scoring tools!

This wonderful project will be created at my  Hostess Club in April.  If you are in or near the Allen, TX area and are interested in seeing what my Hostess Clubs are all about please contact me for more information.

Language of Thankfulness

Happy New Year!  Since it is still January, I figured I can still spew out those words of joy and excitement that comes with a new year!  Also, today is the first day of Stampin’ UP! Sale-a-bration promotion!  Remember to get your $50 orders together so that you can earn one of the lovely sale-a-bration items for FREE!

I wanted to let you know that my mother-in-law loved her box of cards!  She was so happy and looked through them all right away.  My sister-in-law looked at them next and ooh and ahhed too!  That gave me a wonderful reason to start on cards earlier in the year!  Don’t you just love resolutions?

To help me stay on track, I’ll be holding a monthly themed class for anyone that is interested in giving cards as gifts this year!  That will ensure that I will have 5 cards done each month for my Christmas gifts.

The month of February’s theme will be “Thank You”. So to get me working on these cards, I’ve created this lovely “Thank You”!  I really love this image of the corset and I’m really grateful that we women don’t have to wear these anymore!  *smile*

Stamps: Rue Des Fleurs (French Version – Occasions Mini Catalog)
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Jet Black Stazon
Accessories: Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade Stampin’ UP! Markers, Label Framelits, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Lucky Limeade Ribbon(Free Sale-a-bration item)
Tools: Bone Folder, Paper Snips
Technique(s): Coloring with Markers

Enjoy!

Winter Grass

I have to admit that I am okay that our lawn is dry and brown right now…it is way better than having green grass underneath snow.  I think the birds do fly south for the winter because I still do see birds and I hear them every morning.  The ducks have been happy swimming in the pond near our home.  This card was is another card that will go into my MIL’s box of cards.  It was inspired not only by what I see out my front window (Dried Grasses), but my overall card was inspired by a card over at Splitcoaststampers that I really like.

I’m really enjoying how the bird’s tail is extended by the use of the stencil.  I know it is hard to tell in the photo, but the bird and the tail are sparkly with shimmer mist.  So fun when the light captures it!

Stamps: Established Elegance, Happy Harmony(Retired) 
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Ink: Marina Mist, Early Esspresso
Accessories: Hemp Twine, Seam Binding – Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso 1/8” Taffeta, Vicotria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls
Tools: Paper Piercer, Mat, Vintage Ornaments Decor Stencil, Sponge, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive, 1” Circle Punch, 1-1/4” Circle Punch, Crimper, Shimmer Mist, Spritzing Tool, Distressing Tool, Bird Builder Punch, Corner Rounder
Technique(s): Direct to Paper, Sponging, Seam Binding Rosette, Shimmer Mist

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!