Leftovers

Hi stampers.  We TRY to get rid of our leftovers here in the Backes household but we don't always do so good.  Jon gets tired of eating the same thing for lunch and the same thing for dinner sometimes and I like a lighter lunch than what we usually have for dinner.  But we try!  And something that I often forget about are my rubbah leftovers!  Huh?  What do I mean?  Well sometimes a stamp set has some leftovers.  Like daydream medallions...it has a little circle that punches out and being the hoarder...I mean....frugal person I am I can't throw that away!!!!  :-)

So, when I started out making this card I knew I wanted to do some kind of fun background and polka dots seemed like they would be good since they make me happy!  BUT since my very favorite polka dot stamp of all time distressed dots is retired I wanted to do something else...not that I'll stop using it or EV-AH get rid of it but I just wanted different.  So, I went on the hunt for a polka dot....I knew I had a few leftovers in my stash and I ran into the one on this card!  Perfect!!!

Stampin' Suppplies:
Stamps:  Yippie-skippie, gorgeous grunge, daydream medallions
Paper:  Crisp cantaloupe, canvas creations
Ink:  Crisp cantaloupe, strawberry slush, Bermuda bay
Accessories:  In color details, itty bitty punch pack, basic rhinestones

Isn't it just super cute!  I also FINALLY broke out my canvas creations sheet (so glad those showed up in the big catalog since I never used them) for my banner.  Gotta use those more as they are really cool. As for the dots, if you don't have any leftovers you could always use sponge dauber!  They make good polka dots too!

I got the sewing machine out too!  I'm NOT good at sewing on my cards but I need to try it more!  I thought it would be cool with the canvas sheet!

It's been a rough week so far so I've got this card hanging up in my stamp space because just looking at it makes me a little happier!  You really can't have too much happy :-)

And speaking of....happy stamping :-)

Oh and happy three year anniversary to me and my wonderful-stamping supportive- hubby!  He comes and visits me and gives me kisses when I'm in my stamp room and always humors me by looking at my creations when I visit him in the man cave!  I love him....I think I'll keep him ;-)  As long as he got me a card today unlike the Valentine's Day card fiasco, LOL!!!!

Starbuck's inspired

Hi stampers.  So I visited SB's more times than I care to mention over vacation....but in my defense it WAS vacation after all and it was hot (obviously I got iced drinks...I just shook my head at the hundreds of people drinking HOT coffee at the 90-100+ degree pool) AND by the time we'd walked 4+ miles in addition to our morning run I needed something to refresh and recharge ;-)  And then of course there was breakfast...and I love me some SB's oatmeal!!!!!

And what's funny is that I used to HATE coffee!  Like gag!  I loved the smell and as much as my momma loves coffee you would have thought it would be a given...but no....it took getting a Keurig (did I spell that right, I never know) for Christmas from the in-laws to get me hooked!  I love the different flavors you can get.  So, I finally got brave and tried some SB's one day...I was totally scared to order there for a long time with all the jargon, lol!!!!

Sooooo of course I had to have perfect blend when the new catalog came out!  After a quick iced skinny mocha run on Saturday (I mean....technically it was STILL vacation, hehe...oh and it was free because the garbage truck penned us in at the one at my mom's for like 10 minutes on Friday so we got a free voucher) I was inspired to make this card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Perfect blend, gorgeous grunge
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, gumball green, baked brown sugar
Ink:  Gumball green, baked brown sugar
Accessories:  Heart punch

I used the brown sugar ink instead of crumb cake because I really wanted it to look like coffee.  And I think that gumball green looks pretty close to Starbuck's green.

And I'm still a little afraid to order anything different than my usual 3-4 kinds of drinks....what's your favorite????

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday - Diet advice

Hi stampers!  Happy Monday....ok does anyone REALLY believe I'm happy about Monday after being on vacation?  No, I didn't think so, lol!!!!  But, at least I've got a cute card to share as well as some diet advice!

I'm pretty excited as well because I'm playing in a new challenge today!  I recently found the CASE study blog while looking for inspiration for display stamping and my convention swap (which I still have no clue what I'm doing).  So, here is my debut using this card/sketch/inspiration:

I wanted to keep it simple and use fun colors so here is what I came up with:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Make a cake, gorgeous grunge, yippie-skippie
Paper:  Whisper white, crisp cantaloupe, coastal cabana, 2013-2015 in color DSP stack
Ink:  Crisp cantaloupe, coastal cabana, strawberry slush
Accessories:  2.5" circle punch, perfect pennants die, strawberry slush ruffled stretch trim

And see...diet advice!  Eat the cake already!!!!  LOL!  Seriously, I LOVE that little stamp and I LOVE me some carbs...so carbs, schmarbs is my new mantra ;-)  And we all know I'm a bit of a health nut/exerciser but I do like...ok LOVE food too so I try not to restrict myself from anything....sometimes I do good and sometimes not, hahaha!

Anyway there ya go!

And now I want some cake!!

Happy stamping!

Retro Sunday

Hi stampers!  Yay for stamping Sundays!  I'm slowly getting back into the groove.  I've made a few things I hate, a few I love, and a few that are just ok :-)  I haven't played along in many challenges lately so I've been trying my hand at a few today.  First up is Retro Sketches.  I always love their sketches and use them often for inspiration.  This one is cute!

I broke out the zoo babies set which is totally cute and made a little baby girl card...which I don't really need....but I'm sure I'll use it soon since everyone but me seems to be popping out babies!!!!

I'm all over bright colors as of late...you should SEE some of the shirts I bought on vacation....they are so bright you really couldn't help but see them;-)  So, I went fun and bright with this card.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Zoo babies, a dozen thoughts
Paper:  Whisper white, strawberry slush, afternoon picnic DSP, 2013-2015 in color core'dinations
Ink:  Wisteria wonder, strawberry slush
Accessories:  doilies, subtles buttons, whisper white baker's twine, alphabet press EF, coastal cabana ruffle trim

The giraffe is supposed to be polka dotted but my slush ink pad is really juicy so I got kind of annoyed trying to get a good image so I gave up, lol!  It's still cute!

And now I'm off to take a walk I think....vacation has made me lazy!!!!

Happy stamping!

Where I've been

Hi stampers!  I know, I know....it's been a while.  Well, I've been on vaca in Vegas baby!!!  :-)   I've got stuff to share but I've been lazy and not editing photos or pre-posting and I didn't really want to announce to the world that we were gone :-)  But we are back to the real world now where we have to make our own beds, make our own food and coffee (although I did just make a Starbuck's run, teehee) and go back to work, blah!  And while I wanted to lay out in the sun today and work on the tiny tan I managed to get (which by tan I mean freckles) which will be gone in less than a week I'm sure....it's storming out...so I'll stamp instead!!!!

So, let's hope I can get back into the routine of work and stamping and blogging...even though I wasn't really in the routine for summer yet, ha!

I put together this month's My Paper Pumpkin kit as a little warm up after being "off" so long and now it's onto other things...maybe I'll work on my swap for convention...or maybe just stamp for fun!

And I made this little ditty a while back based off of a card in our demo magazine.  Enjoy!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Mosaic madness, really good greetings
Paper:  Whisper white, coastal cabana, strawberry slush, crisp cantaloupe
Ink:  Coastal cabana, strawberry slush, crisp cantaloupe, pistachio pudding
Accessories:  Mosaic punch, itty bitty punch pack, basic pearls and rhinestones

And don't get a crick in your neck looking at it....I must have when I too the photo:-)  Sorry!

Happy stamping!  And vacation if you're going anywhere :-)

HSS 162

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  It's time for a new challenge this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  We have a fun sketch this week....super simple but super cute!

And here's my card....using some fun new stuff!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Label love, dictionary
Paper:  Very vanilla, crisp cantaloupe, baked brown sugar, soho subway DSP
Ink:  Island indigo, crisp cantaloupe, baked brown sugar
Accessories:  Artisan label punch, natural ribbon (the official name escapes me), alphabet embossing folder

I LOVE the new embossing folder and the artisan punch is so cute!  Love the new colors of course too!  I was too lazy to use the core'dinations paper this time around so for an easy way to give the panel some depth I just sponged it a little after ran it through the big shot.  The vanilla panel is also stamped with the new dictionary background stamp!  We may have lost the first edition DSP but this is a good substitute!  Now, if I could only stamp it straight....hahaha!

Ok, make sure to check out the other DT samples (and leave them some love while you're at it) and play along!!!

Happy stamping!

Fab Friday 20

Hi stampers....looks like my Fab Friday post got eaten by Blogger :-)  Sorry about that!  I'm glad I checked before I left for work!  So here it is....

It's time for a new challenge over at Fab Friday!  In honor of the new catalog we are featuring the five new in colors which I LOVE!  They are seriously so luscious!!!!!

And since I've been on a clean and simple kick (maybe because of my yet-to-get-used-to-work-schedule) I kept this one simple!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Oh hello, feel goods, mosaic madness
Paper:  Whisper white, coastal cabana, pistachio pudding
Ink:  coastal cabana, crisp cantaloupe, strawberry slush, pistachio pudding, baked brown sugar
Accessories:  Basic pearls, mosaic punch

Now go check out the rest of the design team!  They ROCKED this one even more than they usually do!  And then play along with us!!!!  If you haven't gotten into the new in colors here is your chance!!! You'll LOVE them!

Happy stamping!

Done and done

Hi stampers!  The display samples have left the building!  I got them done Sunday evening and shipped them out yesterday!  Of course it didn't go as planned....I closed up the box with the last of my packing tape which was JUST long enough to work...phew.  Well, of course then I sat down to finally stamp for fun and what was on my desk?  Yep, an errant display card that should have been in the box, lol!  So, I had to grab some more tape at lunch yesterday and get that sucker in there!  Nothing can ever be simple, huh?  :-)

So, now what?  I guess I get to stamp "for fun" if I can, lol!  I do need to work on my one swap I'm doing for convention!  I usually have an idea of what to do but I got nothing this year....yet!  Even with the looming deadline I have managed to sneak a few just because projects in there.  I just recently found the Case Study challenge and I really like the clean and simple sketches!  It's too late for the challenge but I used it to inspire this card.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Mosaic madness
Paper:  Whisper white, coastal cabana
Ink:  Crushed curry, coastal cabana, strawberry slush
Accessories:  Vintage faceted buttons, whisper white baker's twine

Now, if I can just play along with the challenge on time:-)  I've been VERY bad at that lately!  But hopefully now that I've got a whole bunch of new stuff I can get with the program!

Happy stamping!

Old meets new

Hi stampers!  Stick a fork in me!  I'm done!  Done with the display stamper projects, yay!  I just have to get them shipped off...which first I have to go get more packing tape since I had just enough to close up the box...and then found a card I forgot to pack up!  Oops!!!!!

Anyway it was stressful but fun and I can't wait to share my projects!  By the time I got done and worked on the MOUNTAIN of laundry that seems to live in our house I didn't have time to do much else on my one day weekend :-)  Maybe I'll get to do a lot of stamping "for fun" this week!

I did make this card a while back but couldn't show it until the catalog went live because I used some of the DSP that I got for my display projects.  Funny how the birthday basics DSP matches perfectly with bright blossoms...at least this one pattern!  And, really great that it's not JUST for birthdays!  So, I pulled out that set and created this super quick and cute card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Bright blossoms, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, very vanilla, pistachio pudding, coastal cabana, birthday basics DSP
Ink:  Pistachio pudding, coastal cabana, crisp cantaloupe
Accessories:  Apothecary accents framelits, basic pearls

Don't look too hard or you'll see that I layered in very vanilla and my main image is on whisper white!  Oops!  I do that all the time!  Grrrrr!

Anyway, I am super excited the DSP and a non-matching stamp set go together so well!  And who doesn't love the new in colors!  They are so yummy!

Happy stamping!

Weekend...what's that?

Hi stampers!  Anyone know what a weekend is????  Gah!  I had to work all day yesterday and then cover a soccer tournament which got over more than an hour later than we were told...so there was no stamping last night (although all wasn't lost...Magic Mike was on Showtime so I was entertained, lol) and now I have to work it again today and of course it's scheduled to go longer than we originally thought...don't these people know I need to stamp?????  WHAT is wrong with people????  LOL!!!!

I've GOT to get my display samples (I just typed stamples....ha....I suppose that would apply though) done by tomorrow night.  That's the goal anyway so I can have plenty of time to ship them!  So, I will be chained to my craft room tonight (hopefully) and tomorrow!!!!!

So, in the meantime I'll share a card I created a while back after getting the epic day paper.  This card is not quite what you'd expect from the kind of funky and grungy paper...it's kind of vintage and elegant.  I love using supplies for something other than what you first think of them for.  I also used the brushed gold cardstock which I've said is one of my new favorite things and something I totally overlooked for years....so I apologize when it retires next year ;-)  LOL!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  One in a million, curio collage
Paper:  Very vanilla, crumb cake, brushed gold card stock, epic day DSP
Ink:  Crumb cake, pool party
Accessories:  Artisan embellishment kit, honeycomb embossing folder, bottle caps, linen ribbon, tasteful trim die

The sentiment is kind of hard to read in the photo....sorry.  I hope the bottle caps come back in the holiday catalog!  I love them!  And I'm glad that linen ribbon came back.  I was also hoping the collage curios set would carry over.  I love the little elements and didn't use it near enough!

Well my busy day is about to begin...time to teach some turbokick then clean up for lunch with my sweetie (I hope anyway) and then get to work!  I hope YOU have some time to stamp today!

Happy stamping!

Mixing it up

Hi stampers!  I got up "early" today so I could share with you, yay!  :-)  And drink my chocolate donut coffee, lol!

I had a busy night last night after getting off, working out and then driving across town to get my hair done.  I really like having it short but to keep it looking right I have to go every FIVE weeks, yikes!  But for some reason I got out about a half hour earlier than I usually do (maybe because I'm growing it a bit and she didn't have to cut much?) so I was actually able to stamp when I got home!!!!   I don't know about you but conditions have to be "just right" for me to sit down and stamp most of the time.  I like having a good chunk of time to work with and I never seem to be able to get into it if I start late.  Anyone else like that?

I went with something simple because it was late and I didn't want to make a mess and pull a bunch of supplies out.  So, I decided to pull out my May (I think it's May, eek) Paper Pumpkin kit, the one that was a cute little mini album.  I love that you can repurpose some of the supplies to make whatever you want and this one has lots of leftovers!  And while I wouldn't really call this card manly it's not really girly either!  This card is probably going to find it's way down to the man cave this week to apologize for the crazy that was me earlier this week :-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Show & tell 1 and 2 photopolymer, yippie-skippie
Paper:  Whisper white, basic gray, smokey slate, MPP May kit DSP
Ink:  Basic gray
Accessories:  Epic day washi tape, hearts collection framelits

It was really pretty simple!  I absolutely LOVE the yippie-skippie set and couldn't wait to get it!  It has such cute little sayings.  I wanted to add some candy dots but stupidly I didn't think I needed any neutrals so I didn't order them.  WRONG!  I think I need them ALL!  I LOVE those things!

I also used smokey slate which I'm not sure I've shown you on my blog as of yet.  It's a really pretty soft gray color.  And those clear stamps are just cute!  Plain and simple.

Ok, I'll try to share more but it's crunch time for the display stamper samples....so we'll see what happens.  I think I have 7 or 8 left if I counted right...some to just finish and some to completely design then stamp......

Happy stamping!

It's all in the timing

....and mine is not good!  Hi stampers!  So I got my new catalog goodies yesterday but unfortunately I don't have much to share.  For one, I get off later on Tuesdays so I got off on the wrong foot right there although I DID manage to get up EARLY and run...maybe I need a box delivered every day for motivation, lol!  And I swear my hubby has a radar for my next day air boxes and he always seems to get into a disagreement with me when I get them (and not about my stamping hoard, lol)....so I didn't feel much like stamping after all that and some other stuff went down.  I did get a few things finished up with my display projects but I can't show you those, gah!

AND now.....I have a hair appointment tonight which is going to cut into my stamping time since I probably won't be home till around 9pm and then it will be time for bed, lol!  BUT my hair and eyebrows will thank me;-)  AND then.....it just doesn't stop this week does it???  LOL!  I have to teach a spin class on Thursday for the first time ever so I need to prep for that and of course it will make me late and I have to work Friday night and most of the day Saturday.  GAH!  Maybe I should hold a contest and pick someone to come keep my stuff company until Sunday....LOL!!!  Seriously, the timing of this box getting here is really bad this year:-)  And I'm not whining....I'm really laughing about how crazy this week is and how much stuff I have to do.  And I've GOT to get those display projects done this weekend so I can ship them off!  So, please don't get mad at me if I don't have much to share.  I'm going to try really hard to stamp and blog ....maybe I'll get in my summer groove at SOME point, lol!

So, this is really the only thing I made that I can actually show you.  It's super simple but it's cute.  I LOVED this set so I couldn't wait to get it, it's so cute!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Crazy mixed up love
Paper:  Whisper white, coastal cabana
Ink:  Daffodil delight and coastal cabana markers
Accessories:  Paper peircing pack, window frames framelits

I almost forgot to order the new in color markers the other night, GASP!!!  Thank goodness I came to my senses and remembered.  Which is really shocking!  I usually forget something :-)  And I can't believe  I almost forgot THOSE after the 20 lists I made after I got the catalog, lol!

I think I ordered like 20 pounds of paper too, lol!  I got a few stacks and then quite a bit of core'dinations paper.  There are a lot of things I really like so I'm also going to try to put a video together of my new favorite stuff....the in color thingies, the candy dots...magnetic platform...lotsa things!  Now, I just need the TIME to use them, lol!

Have fun with your new stuff!  Happy stamping!

HSS 161

Hi stampers!  I'm still not used to my summer schedule and my stamp and blogging time are taking a major hit!  Add that in with the fact that when I HAVE been stamping it's been for the displays at convention so I can't show you those and the fact that I'm been scrambling to get my BFF's bridal shower and bachelorette party invites done and I've got nothing!  Well....very little to show you anyway :-)

BUT I do have the new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments done!  It's a fun color challenge this time and I really love these colors.

They were from the fun patio party DSP....and I subbed pool party for Baja so feel free to make adjustments if you need to.  I'm not sure I'm ready to let that DSP go just yet though!  :-)

And here's my card!

I used some of the new clear stamps!  I can't remember the names of this set just now and have got to get to bed like 10 minutes ago :-)  There's a few little peeks of new stuff...well one I guess.  That button up there is one of the new ones!  Fun, fun!

I should get my package of new goodies tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to whip something up to share!  Which is why I NEED to get to bed...so I can get up at 6 and go run so it's out of the way when I get home and I can rip into that box;-)

Don't forget to go check out the rest of the samples and to play along with us!

Happy stamping!