Be happy

Hi stampers!  I'm SO SAD!  Today is the last day of Sale A Bration and the last day to earn FREE stamps and accessories for every $50 you spend!  It's the best time of the year!  This year I'm especially going to miss the everyday enchantment designer series paper!  It's SO pretty.  I have used all but a few sheets of one pack which is like some kind of record for me....I'm kind of bad about getting DSP and then not cutting into much of it.  We'll just never mind the fact that I have three packs stocked up in reserve;-)  I do wish they would make it a permanent fixture in the catalog, lol!

So in honor of the paper I have a card made with it as a farewell tribute of sorts :-)  (But just because it's going to be retired doesn't mean you won't see it pop back up here often....after all I said I had three more packs right, lol).  The paper is so pretty that I didn't even need an image for this card, just the happy sentiment!

Stampin; Supplies:
Stamps:  Pursuit of happiness, parlor prints background
Paper:  Very vanilla, soft suede, poppy parade, pool party, peach parfait, everyday enchantment DSP (SAB)
Ink:  Soft suede, poppy parade
Accessories:  Butterfly embosslit, dotted scallop border punch, basic pearls

First off, sorry the photo is a bit blurry in parts...not sure what is up with that!  But isn't it pretty!  I love how that background stamp goes so well with the paper.  I haven't used much of that pattern but I love it!  I sponged the edges of my card base to make it a bit warmer and more worn and it blended in very well with that DSP since it's a bit distressed. 

There is still time to earn your FREE items if you click on the shop now button over to the right.  Do it now!!! :-)  You don't want to miss out and it's over at midnight tonight!

Well that's it for me today.  Will you miss this paper as much as I will?  Good news is that the new catalog is right around the corner so at least that's something to look forward to! 

I'm off to visit my mom this afternoon and go to another baby shower tomorrow!  Enjoy your weekend!

Happy stamping!

Missed it again

Hi stampers!  So I finally had some time not only to stamp but to do some other things like edit photos and blog tonight!  Yay!  This is a card I made sometime last week for another challenge that I missed:-)  This one was to use buttons.  I thought it would be the perfect time to ink up the flower vase image from button buddies! I just HAD to have that set and then only used it a few times!  I seem to do that a lot:-/

I had plenty of brights buttons around too from Sale-A-Bration!  Remember to order if you haven't or you want to get one more order in!  It ends in a few days...at the end of the month!   So, I paired up the bright blossoms set with the fun DSP from the summer smooches promotion...since they come together anyway:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Bright blossoms, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, summer smooches DSP
Ink:  Island indigo, real red, pumpkin pie, rich razzleberry, lucky limeade
Accessories:  Daffodil delight seam binding, brights buttons, labels collection framelits, crochet thread

Isn't that ribbon just so yummy????  It's part of the summer smooches promo that you can get on April 1.  It's from the NEW catalog that will start in June!  I want to put it on everything even if it doesn't match, ha!  I love the paper too!  It's so bright and the patterns are so fun!  I'm really liking bright colors right now!  I even bought a really bright yellow/limeish sweater at The Limited today...along with a pair of turquoise pants to go with it....yikes!  Out of my comfort zone for sure but it looked cute...I think anyway:-)  They seem to have a lot of trendy colors so maybe one or both of those will be our new in colors!!!!  Only about another month before demos find out!!!! 

Time to get back to using up some more of my SAB paper and brads;-)

Happy stamping!

Long time no blog

Hi stampers!  Sorry I've been slightly absent!  I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth...I've been hanging out with my momma!  :-)  (And working a lot...but that's not as fun) My hubby and step-dad went hog hunting with my hubby's family so my mom came to stay with me Thursday through Sunday!  And we kept pretty busy so there wasn't much blogging time let alone stamp time! I'm hoping to get some time to stamp tonight because I've got another busy weekend ahead and have been working late every other night this week.  And tomorrow night is out because it's date night!  Dinner and then the Hunger Games movie, I'm so excited!  I speed read all three books this past weekend and loved them!

The most exciting thing we did this weekend was our first 5k on Saturday!  I never was a runner until I started dating my husband (the second time around, hehe).  He likes to run so I started going with him and here we are years later and I actually like (sort of I mean...as in I don't HATE it like I used to, lol) running.  Four miles is about my limit both physically and mentally.  Usually around four miles my right knee starts to act up (I have ITB syndrome that kicks in like clockwork) and mentally I just have no desire to run much more than that, ha!  So, a 5k is perfect!  I signed my mom up too since she was going to be here and she is a workout machine and walks miles and miles everyday!  I didn't give it too much thought but standing at the starting line I thought I needed a goal so I decided I'd try to make under 30 minutes.  That's a pretty good clip for me...I'm NOT fast!  I made the first mile in under 10 minutes so I knew I was on track and it was just so exciting!  There were over 600 people in the race and people were cheering you on!  I made it with a time of 28:13 and I've been paying for it all week, lol!  Very sore as I ran much faster than I usually do!  Sadly, I probably won't run that fast on my normal runs all by myself:-)  I also ran back to find my mom and keep her company while she finished.  It was way better than just standing around waiting.  I was SO proud when I caught sight of her jogging!!!!!  We walked and jogged to the finish and she even sprinted in!  Mom made it with a time of 44 minutes and some change!  Not bad for an "old lady" as she said, ha!  Anyway, we both want to do another one, it was so exciting! Sadly, we forgot to take any pictures!  There are a few on the race's facebook page so I may have to steal them to do a scrap page!!!!

So, I hope you've kept up with me....I'll be onto the stamping now, I promise!  I did this card for the Colour Q challenge this week.  I THINK I still have time to enter!  Well I missed it...meant to post this on Monday but didn't get around to editing my photo in time.  This poor card has been sitting on my desk waiting for me to take a picture and blog it!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Button buddies, friendly phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, wisteria wonder, rich razzleberry
Ink: Tempting turquoise, wisteria wonder, rich razzleberry, pool party
Accessories:  Brights buttons, in color polka dot brads, baker's twine

I think it's a fun little clean and simple card!  Works well with the bold colors I think. I have to work a lot this week but I'm hoping to get some stamp time in there so hopefully I'll see you soon!

Happy stamping!

HSS 111

Hi stampers!  How can it be Tuesday already!  It was just my long weekend with my mom wasn't it???  Of course it went way too fast, we didn't get enough done, and now she's gone back home and I miss her!  Maybe the new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments will make me feel better:-)

This week is an Easter theme.  I also can't believe it's almost Easter! Where DOES the time go?  Anyway, here is the inspiration photo for this week's theme!  Use it anyway you see fit to make and Easter project!

I was going to make something with my petal cone die as I really put my project this week off until the last minute (time with my momma trumped stamping, ha) and it would have been cute and easy.  But, when I came into my studio I started thinking about how I've seen the modern label punch used as a cross.  I don't have many (any) current Easter stamps so I thought this might be perfect.  I think it conveys the real reason for the holiday instead of the cute things like bunnies and chicks and peeps and Easter eggs.  I'll have to come back to the cutesy carrot petal cone this week...I've got a couple of bags of robins eggs just waiting to make their way into treat boxes:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Woodgrain, teeny tiny wishes
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, baja breeze, blushing bride, so saffron, bella chateau
Ink:  Crumb cake, baja breeze, blushing bride, so saffron

I used my cross with the beau chateau DSP since it was nice and soft and floral.  I'm trying REALLY hard to use more of the TONS of DSP I have hoarded...I mean collected:-)  The flowers are sponged and crumpled and that's pretty much it.  I love the simplicity and softness of it.  It's very Easter-y to me.  Like I said, I tend to go with cutesy for Easter so this was a bit out of my comfort zone and turned out really well!

Now I'm off to make some petal cone carrots but you should click that link up there and go see what else the DT has for you and then play along!

Happy stamping!

HSS 110

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday....it's time to see what we have cooked up over at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week!  Before I do that though I just wanted to thank all of our participants last week!  I think it was my favorite challenge ever as far as entries!  We had so many!  I can't tell you how I love hitting refresh at the end of a long work day and seeing lots of new entries!  You guys made some amazing things!!!!  You did make it hard to choose a winner though!  I wanted to pick ALL of you:-)  Seriously!!!!!

But we must move on...so this week the challenge is water coloring!  This is something that I'm not very good at although I do try.  I haven't done much of it lately but I really should because the more I practice the better I'll get....right????

I kind of took this in a different direction than I normally would.  We'd been away Saturday and Sunday so maybe I was just out of my normal routine, haha!  Instead of water coloring my images I decided to watercolor my background!  And it turned out very pretty!!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Up, Up, & Away
Paper:  Whisper white, pool party, lucky limeade, daffodil delight, sweet shop DSP, water color paper
Ink:  Crumb cake, pool party, lucky limeade, daffodil delight, wisteria wonder, calypso coral
Accessories:  Triple blossom punch, circle punch, basic pearls

Now, don't ask my why I've been on a long card kick lately but it seems when I use the hot air balloons the long cards just fit, kwim?  Anyway, to do my background I simply took a piece of water color paper and spritzed it with water (see my little spray bottle back there....very artistic picture, no?  LOL) and then used some reinker in pool party and lucky limeade.  I simply painted it back and forth over my paper.  To get a variegated look I squeezed more water out of my aquapainter in places to make it lighter.  I think I need to try this with more colors to get more of a sun set look, how pretty would that be????

Now it's time to click that link up there and go check out all the other pretties the DT came up with and then play along!

Happy stamping!

Take 2

Hi stampers!  I'm back with take 2, my second card for the Create With Connie & Mary color challenge this week.  Now, I don't normally enter challenges twice but I guess I just loved this combo so much:-)  Inspiration has been lacking in my stamp room the past few days too so when I found something that worked I ran with it:-)

LOVE the DSP from the SAB catalog and will be so sad when it retires at the end of the month!  I love the patterns and colors!  The patterns I used on this card remind me so much of vintage wallpaper!  I've got a LOT of that paper to use:-) Don't forget Sale A Bration ends at the end of the month so if you want some of this paper (or any of the other cool stuff) all you have to do is order $50 worth of stampy goodness from me!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Fresh vintage, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Very vanilla, pool party, lucky limeade, everyday enchantment DSP (SAB)
Ink:  Peach parfait
Accessories:  Everyday enchantment ribbon & brad pack (SAB), basic pearls, edgelit dies

It's a bit busy but I think it works in spite of that!  I love the distressing on the paper...I don't have to sponge the edges of the paper and my fingers stay nice and clean, hehe:-)  I hope they don't mind me entering twice this week.  The colors were just so fab I couldn't help myself!  I really LOVE everyone who hosts great challenges!  It really helps to get my mojo flowing and I wouldn't be the stamper I am today without all of you!!!

Happy stamping!

Take 1

Hi stampers!  I hope you've all had a great weekend!  We took a little impromptu trip to my hubby's college town this weekend!  It was fun but also means there wasn't much stamping around here but I did get a few cards done on Friday and finished up yesterday before we left! 

I really liked (yet again) the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary this week!  I probably like it so much because it's a combo straight out of the everyday enchantment DSP!  Well, I was going to use the DSP but inspiration struck and took me in a different direction!  I thought these colors would make a cute baby card!  I know, I know....I've got baby on the brain.  I blame my new little cousin partly and the fact that I want one of my own, hehe!  I also need a baby boy card for a shower in a couple of weeks for another cousin and this color combo fit the bill! 

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Fox & friends, letter it, pennant parade
Paper:  Whisper white, pool party, lucky limeade, peach parfait
Ink:  Pool party, lucky limeade peach parfait
Accessories:  Circle punch, scalloped circle punch, 5/16th jumbo brads, pool party ruffled ribbon

I took the layout from a card in last years Idea Book & Catalog.  The little baby sentiment is from pennant parade and we all know that one of my favorite things is to stamp over the letters in letter it!  I also FINALLY used up some of the jumbo brads that I just HAD to have and then they sat and sat and sat, lol!  I think it will be a cute card in with the present...which I NEED to go get soon....that was on the list for the weekend until we picked up and ran out of town:-)

And since this wasn't my original idea for this challenge I'll be back with take 2;-)

Happy stamping!

Phooey!

Hi stampers!  So I goofed!  UGH!  I was so mad when I made this card last night and then went and looked at the challenge over at the Paper Players...I used the wrong color!!!!  Grrrr!  I've been working on this challenge

since the other night and I guess that I forgot it was supposed to be pear and not limeade!  Oh well, I think I'll still enter because the colors are close:-)  I really liked these colors and I plan to use them again (and maybe even the pear, lol).  I guess I should really pay more attention to the challenges while I'm doing them!!!!  These colors reminded me of the colors in the Oh Baby MDS template and since I have baby on the brain thanks to my new little cousin, this is what I came up with.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Sweetly said, little additions, distressed dots
Ink:  Basic black, wisteria wonder, crumb cake, pool party (textured), lucky limeade (oops)
Paper:  Whisper white, wisteria wonder, crumb cake, pool party
Accessories:  basic pearls, lucky limeade ruffled ribbon (oops again), printed in color brads

I stamped the onsies on the main image and then stamped them again and cut them out and popped them up on dimensionals.  I think this card would work for a little boy or girl!  I hope the ladies over at PPA can forgive me for my mental slip:-)  I have a few more ideas for this color combo!!!  It's a really great one!

Happy stamping!

Sneak peek - Tulips

Hi stampers!  It's sure been warm here this week!  We are setting record temperatures in the 80's around here!  It's so warm that some of my bulbs are blooming already!  My yellow daffodils are out already and the other colors are well on their way.  I haven't seen any tulips yet though...seems like they always bloom a bit later.  But I've got a tulip for you anyway....from the upcoming bright blossoms set.  This cute set will be in the new 2012-2013 catalog due out in June but as a demo I got to get my hands on it this month!  One of the MANY perks of being a demo is early releases!!!  But, if you don't want to sign up as a demo (why you wouldn't is beyond me though, lol) you can still get yours early next month!   The summer smooches suite will be released for the month of April!  The stamp set and the DSP are just so fun and cute!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Bright blossoms, friendly phrases
Ink:  Real red, island indigo, lucky limeade
Paper:  Whisper white, real red, summer smooches DSP
Accessories:  Scalloped squares duo die, paper piercer, basic pearls, daffodil delight seam binding

It's such a cute yet bold and modern set!  The paper is very striking as well.  I couldn't decide on a layout for my card so I made one of each:-)  I think I prefer the one without the ribbon though.  I wanted to add some daffodil but I'm not sure I liked the way it turned out.  BUT speaking of daffodil....that ribbon is a sneak peek too!  We are getting daffodil delight seam binding!  It's soooo yummy and part of the pre-order as well! 

Happy stamping!

Caseing....myself

Hi stampers!  I really liked my card from last week's Hand Stamped Sentiments challenge.  So, when I was stuck for ideas the other night I figured I'd give that card another go and case myself.  That's a great way to get out of a mojo funk!  Take something you made that you like and go in another direction with it!  You're almost guaranteed to make something you'll like since you already loved the inspiration, hehe!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Apothecary art, loving words, creative elements, elementary elegance (SAB)
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, pool party, calypso coral smooth & textured
Ink:  Staz on, calypso coral, pool party, peach parfait, lucky limeade
Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, crumb cake seam binding, basic pearls

This card is much softer than the inspiration and I love it so much!  It's very springy I think!  For my main image I did a lot of stamping off with the flower from creative elements and the butterfly and bird from elementary elegance.  Now I'm going to tell on myself.  The sentiment was a happy accident....I didn't like what I had stamped/how I had stamped the sentiment on the label....so I covered it up....and decided that it looked really good!  Ha!  Always remember there are no mistakes, only opportunities to embellish, right? ;-)

I have really been neglecting my seam binding lately but I pulled it out for this card and I like the soft look it gives.  I need to remember to use it more often!  I sure say that about a lot of things:-)

So the next time you're stuck just take a look through your most recent projects and re-work one and see what happens!!!

Happy stamping!

HSS 109

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  It's that time already, time for a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  The challenge this week is pretty fitting for spring!  It's all about rainbows!

For my project I decided to do a piece of framed art for my new stamp studio.  I've been wanting to make some display pieces since I have a bigger room now and I can more easily decorate it.  I stocked up on some shadow box type frames the last time I was at Ikea so I used on here with the fashionable hearts embosslit.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Pursuit of happiness
Paper:  Whisper white textured,  concord crush, rich razzleberry, wisteria wonder, island indigo, marina mist, pool party, wild wasabi, lucky limeade, daffodil delight, peach parfait, calypso coral, poppy parade, regal rose, blushing bride
Ink:  Concord crush
Accessories:  Glimmer brads (in color, subtles, brights), in color polka dot printed brads, brights buttons, white baker's twine, fashionable hearts embosslit

Now, this turned out totally cute but was kind of a pain to make:-)  It took a while to cut out all the hearts and then it took some time to line them all up how I wanted them according to color.  I put a brad or button in one of each of the hearts per color and then popped that heart up on dimensionals.  It actually only took a couple of hours at the most (I really didn't pay attention to the time, hehe) but was just kind of tedious with all those small hearts and the brads and everything.  I also stamped one of the sentiments from pursuit of happiness in the corner.  I really love that stamp set!

I love how it turned out and my husband was really impressed, hehe!  Now head on over to HSS and see what everyone came up with over the rainbow:-)  And then play along!

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday - Bright Blossoms

Hi stampers!  Time to start another week!  Looks to be a nice one here with almost summer like temperatures in the 70's!  I'm ready for that, especially with baseball, softball, and soccer starting at work!  Maybe I won't freeze too bad outside this spring:-)  And speaking of summer....today you can get another sneak peek at the summer smooches suite from the new SU catalog due out in June.  You can order this suite early starting on April 1!   If you noticed the title of this post and have the catalog committed to memory (please tell me that's just not me, lol) then you'll probably be saying "I don't recognize that stamp set name."  Well, bright blossoms is the stamp set in the summer smooches suite!  It's totally fun, bright and cheery!  Just look:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Bright blossoms, fabulous phrases
Ink:  Island indigo, lucky limeade, real red markers
Paper:  Whisper white, real red, island indigo
Accessories:  Decorative label punch, circle punch, polka dots embossing folder

The stamp set with this suite is called bright blossoms and it's really bold and fun!  You'll see that my vase is a bit muddled....my island indigo marker is REALLY juicy so I had a hard time getting the dots on the vase defined:-)  Better than a dried up marker I guess, ha!  I'll have to remember to color very lightly with it next time.  I'll try to get more sneak peeks done with this set and all the sneak peek goodies!

Happy stamping!

Summer Smooches - Sneak Peek

Hi stampers!  I have yet another sneak peek for you from the summer smooches suite.  This time I used the DSP and the fabric brads!  They are SO FUN!  I just love love love the bright colors!  The fabric brads are pretty big and really nice.  They are a brocade type fabric which is really nice and don't forget they are ONLY available during the pre-order in April...sadly they won't be in the new catalog come June!  So, you'll want to get yours April 1st!!!!

I was playing around the other night after I got my order (and couldn't get too much done since I had baby on the brain since I'd just gotten to cuddle my brand new hour old cousin, hehe)  and made the flower you see on this card but I didn't do anything with it.  As soon as I saw the sketch challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary, I knew I had the perfect use for it!  The sketch was really clean and simple and I thought it would work GREAT with the busy flower!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Perfect words (hostess)
Paper:  Whisper white, lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, summer smooches DSP
Ink:  Island indigo, rich razzleberry
Accessories:  Blossom punch, circle punch, polka dot embossing folder, summer smooches fabric brads

I think it turned out super cute!  I used a lucky limeade base because I thought it tied in with the fabric brad well.  I really like this sketch!  I'll have to use it again! 

Happy stamping!

K.I.S.S.

Hi stampers!  We all have hear the term KISS, right?  It stands for keep it simple stupid and is something I struggle with often....I like to pile embellishments and details on cards!!  But sometimes, the best cards are the simplest!  Take this simple little gem for example:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Petite pairs
Paper:  Whisper white, island indigo, sweet shop DSP
Ink:  Real red
Accessories:  Hearts collection framelits, bright glimmer brads


Oh, it's so cute isn't it???  And it was so simple!  I used some of the sweet shop DSP and since the print was hearts, I thought I'd make my little cut out with a heart from the framelits.  I simply cut a piece of whisper white cardstock a bit bigger than the heart to make the white background and then added the little glimmer brad for some bling.  Then, I adhered the DSP on dimensionals for some, well, dimension:-)

I also decorated the inside of this card since one, the card base is dark and hard to see writing on and two, I had a heart left over from my cut out:-)  I simply lined the inside with some whisper white and glued the heart on the lower right corner...waste not, want not...and it's great use for some of your scraps!  That's pretty much all there was to it!  So simple and so cute!

Happy stamping!

Petite Purse - Sneak Peek

Hi stampers!  I have something super exciting today!  A sneak peek from the NEW catalog that will come out in June!!!!!  Demos got to order this suite on March 1 and YOU can order it April 1!!!  How fun!  And I have to say it's SUPER cute stuff (as always).  It's called the summer smooches collection and has a stamp set, a DSP and designer series fabric, some new seam binding, brads (fabric covered no less), and a stencil!  Now, the stencil and the brads are limited time only and won't be in the new catalog (so make sure you get yours the month of April, it's your only chance) but everything else will be back June 1.

Now, don't forget the new catalog is coming out a month early this year.  June instead of July!!!

So, the die in this suite is SOOOO cute!  I just knew I HAD to have it after I saw it!  I have a little 3 year old BFF who is going to LOVE getting little treats in it since she has a total purse fetish!  What girl doesn't like purses????  It's called the petite purse die and check out the cuteness:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  It's your day
Paper:  Pool party, calypso coral, very vanilla, everyday enchantment DSP (SAB)
Ink:  calypso coral
Accessories:  Petite purse die, itty bitty punch pack, basic pearls, white gel pen

Isn't it just the ca-yoooo-test thing ev-ah????  And the best news is that it's SUPER easy to assemble and just takes two tiny pieces of sticky strip.  And the handle is part of the die as well!  I used a couple of dots of the tombow liquid glue to attach it.  And then all I did was cut a second flap out of my DSP and glued it on to make it a little more fun.  The flap has a little tab that tucks into the purse and keeps it closed.  I plan on making a LOT more little purses and inviting my little BFF over to make some of her own! 

I just can't get over how stinking cute this thing is!!!!  It would be great for little Easter treats, no?   And don't mind the Jimmy Johns cup in the background:-)  We spent a lot of time with my cousin's new little baby the night my goodies came so we picked up a late dinner:-)  And then I took this pic on my iPhone to send to my little BFF's mommy so I really wasn't concerned about my background....but my phone takes such good pictures I figured I should just use the picture I had:-)

Happy stamping!

Lost love

Hi stampers!  So I ran across a Valentine that I totally forgot to post!  Better late than never though I guess, right?  I didn't get a whole lot of V-day cards done this year for some reason so I probably should have used another sentiment on this card...I'm pretty sure I made it on the 13th so I KNEW I was out of time.  Oh well:-)  I mean it's not like we are supposed actually give out the cards we make, right? :-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet cake
Paper:  Whisper white, concord crush, wisteria wonder, calypso coral, sweet shop DSP
Ink:  Wisteria wonder, calypso coral
Accessories: calypso coral baker's twine, fashionable hearts embosslit, in color glimmer brads, dazzling diamonds

I stamped the cake stamp twice and cut out the cupcake wrapper in calypso coral ink for some dimension and to pull the coral together.  I really like the combo of the two purples as well and I need to remember to use concord crush more often since it will be going away come June 1!  Remember, the catalog is expiring a month early this year which is sad but getting a NEW catalog a month early more than makes up for it:-)

I popped up the main panel (white) AND the image which I cut out.  The little glimmer brad is the perfect finishing touch...but when I was all done I just HAD to cover the frosting in dazzling diamonds.  This stamp just does NOT look right without some sparkly frosting:-)

Maybe I'll remember to send this one to someone next year, ha!

I've been a little MIA from blogging and stamping because my cousin had a little baby so I've been going to see her the past few nights!  While I love stamping I just can resist cuddle time with a brand new little baby!  I got to hold her when she was only an hour or so old!  I can't wait to have one of my own someday...even if it does cut into my stamping time;-)

Happy stamping!

HSS 108

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday...time for a new challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Now, I have to start out with a disclaimer....I goofed!  For some strange reason I totally had it in my head that this week's color challenge used poppy parade when in fact it used real red...oops!  The colors are really fun and bright though!

I don't know if maybe I had seen this color combo with poppy somewhere else or I got confused when I looked at my attic boutique DSP because all of the colors minus the real red are in there.  I absolutely LOVED the card that I came up with though so I'm going to share it anyway....and I didn't have the time to re-do it....and really I'm not sure that you can really tell it's not real red unless you look closely:-)  So, I hope you forgive me! I swear I turned 31 and my brain stopped functioning, lol!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Apothecary art, creative elements, loving thoughts
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, soft suede, daffodil delight, attic boutique DSP
Ink:  Black staz-on, crumb cake, soft suede, poppy parade, daffodil delight
Accessories:  basic pearls, large basic pearls, daffodil delight striped grosgrain ribbon, itty bitty punch pack, labels collection framelits

There's a lot of sponging going on here to make it nice and vintage!  I used the big flower from creative elements to make the label a little less sparse.  I stamped it off once to make it softer.  I chose the word memories because I thought it fit the vintage theme of the card.  And lastly, I pulled apart some of the ribbon to make it a bit more shabby!

I'll have to make sure I check the next challenge a little more carefully before I start stamping, ha!

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday - Kindness Matters and a Bonus!

Hi stampers!  Time to begin a new week with a mailable Monday card....one that can be thrown into an envelope without any thoughts for extra postage or protecting precious embellishments!  Nevermind that I'm a bit late today.....And this week I may actually MAIL these out, lol!  I need to get some thank yous in the mail from my birthday!

I've been meaning to use the kindness matters set since I saw it was an offering in the SAB catalog.  It's such a pretty little set!  So, once I was finished, I came up with this card....

It was pretty simple.  I inked up the butterflies in pool party and then took my island indigo marker and traced around the sides before I stamped.  I also stamped a second big butterfly in the same way and cut it out.  I sponged the edges with soft suede and then bent it in the middle so that it had some dimension after I adhered it with a couple of glue dots.

And it's pretty but I felt it was missing just a little something which brings us to the bonus....I added a few pearls to the middle butterfly and bam!  That was what was missing.  Now, I like the card fine all on it's own but those little jewels just add so much!  I think it would fit through the mail fine too since they are so small!

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Kindness matters (regular catalog AND Sale-A-Bration)

Paper:  Very vanilla, soft suede, pool party, island indigo, in colors (2011-2013) DSP stack

Ink:  Soft suede, pool party, island indigo

Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, linen embossing folder, basic pearls

Hope you are having a great start to your week!  Happy stamping!

Fresh cake!

Hi stampers!  I almost ran out of time to play at Freshly Made Sketches this week but I'm glad I remembered because I loved Rita's sketch!  I haven't gotten around to a FMS challenge for a while!  So in keeping with making more birthday cards you know what I made:-) 

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Sweet cake
Paper:  Whisper white, wisteria wonder, sweet shop DSP
Ink:  Wisteria wonder, calypso coral
Accessories:  Dazzling diamonds, polka dot in color brads, fashionable hearts embosslit

So, I was afraid that the use of both embossed patterns from the DSP would be too busy but I think it turned out well.  A bit busy, yet, but still cute because the white space seems to balance it out.  I wish I had a whole pack of those two embossed prints!  Those are going to be the sheets in the pack that go the fastest!  The cupcake paper was stamped in wisteria wonder and then I cut it out.  I added a brad on top for the cherry and some dazzling diamonds because you can't have naked frosting!  Annnnd now I need to go find some cake:-)

Happy stamping!

A bright new challenge!

Hi stampers!  Happy Saturday!  Hope you're all having a wonderful start to your weekend!  I've got a challenge card to share today!  I really liked the color challenge this week over at Create with Connie and Mary that used the colors daffodil delight, lucky limeade, and island indigo!  It's a perfect spring color combo!  I had lots of ideas for this one but I'm sharing the first one I made today.  When looking through my (many) stamp sets I settled on my friend because I thought the lucky limeade would work GREAT with the flower/leaves image and that's exactly what I did.  I stamped the image with versamark then embossed with clear powder and sponged over it all with lucky limeade ink.  It pops so well!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  My friend, pursuit of happiness
Paper:  Whisper white, daffodil delight, lucky limeade, island indigo, attic boutique DSP
Ink:  Lucky limeade, versamark, white craft ink
Accessories:  Clear and white embossing powder, itty bitty punch pack, basic pearls, everyday enchantment ribbon and brad pack (SAB)

I also really like the use of the white embossing powder on the sentiment on the dark cardstock, it also pops out really well!  I'm on a mission to cut and USE up a lot of my DSP so I cut into some of the attic boutique DSP (and I need to use way more since I accidentally ordered two pack, ugh) to make a little banner.   For my little flowers I bent up the petals and added some leaves with the green organdy ribbon from the SAB freebie pack.  Mini glue dots work perfect for adhering the ribbon and the flowers!  It's my favorite adhesive for small little details.

It turned out to be a very simple little card but with the bright colors it really packs a punch!  I'm off to cut up more DSP:-)

Happy stamping!

PS...I'm editing this to address something I forgot earlier and then my memory was jogged by Jodi's comment:-)  I was lazy and didn't use my embossing buddy on my first card and it was a disaster!  Always use your embossing buddy ESPECIALLY when white embossing on dark cardstock:-)  It really makes for a much cleaner image.  Don't be lazy like me!  I pulled it out for the second one (and that's the one you see in the picture) and it was much better.  Now, as of right now you cannot order the little buddy as SU is having a problem with the manufacturer but if you have one, USE IT!!!  And hopefully SU can get back on track and have it available soon!

Oh baby!

Hi stampers!  Exciting times around here!  My cousin is going to have a baby on (or before) Tuesday!  I'm so excited!  I can't wait to hold her...the baby that is, hehe!  I just found out about the plan today and I'm really glad I whipped up a little girl card the other night because I knew I'd been needing one (or two) soon!  My card was inspired by one of my good demo friends who is also going to have a little girl....her nursery is going to be giraffe themed and she's not big on pink....so my card has a giraffe....and is not OVERLY pink although it does have some:-)

I kind of forget how cute the fox and friends set is, especially for little baby cards!  And I love the soft color combo of wisteria wonder, blushing bride and lucky limeade. 

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Fox and friends, petite pairs
Paper:  Whisper white, blushing bride, lucky limeade textured, in colors 2011-13 DSP stack
Ink:  Blushing bride, wisteria wonder
Accessories:  designer frames embossing folders, adorning accents framelits and embossing folders, wisteria wonder ruffled ribbon, wide oval punch, circle punch

I really like how it turned out although I did add something after I'd taken the picture:-)  I added a perfect plum button just to the left of the sentiment with a little baker's twine bow and that little detail added so much!  I'll try to take a pic and post it later.  Now, I just need to pick up a little something to go with the card so I can deliver it on Tuesday...Target here I come!

Happy stamping!