Fab Friday 83

Hi stampers and happy Friday!  This has been the longest week as my BFF's little boy is turning one and we can't wait to go to his party and see our friends!!!!  I can't wait to see the three little ones play together...nicely I hope, hehe!  It's also time for a new challenge at Fab Friday!

I fudged a little on the main panels but that's only because my computer wasn't cooperating and I couldn't remember the details of the main part, lol!  Whoops!  But I think it turned out to be a cute and quick birthday card...I need lots of those these days!

Make sure to check out all the samples from the design team!  And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

MYOB

Hi stampers!  You're probably wondering what the title of this post means.  How about "make your own bunny" :-)

There isn't an abundance of Easter stamps available at the moment or at least ones that I actually own, so I was struggling to make a few Easter cards.  It's not that I send many (ok, any maybe) but I'm totally into spring now and just needed to make some Easter cards in hopes of ushering in more spring weather, ha!

This week, a couple of the Artisan Design Team members had some absolutely fabulous and GENIUS ideas (that can be found on Stampin Up's home page) so I've been busy borrowing them! :-)

Thursday night, I happened upon Jessica's idea.  I saw her banner with a cut out bunny and was all, WAHHHHHHH?  How did she do that, did they get a special die we don't have???  Nope, she created it all on her own with circle framelits (which I literally just got with my recent order, holla) and the flower flair dies!!!!!!  How people are so clever I will never understand!  I'd never put those together in a million years!

Anyway, I scrapped my plans for making some birthday cards and went to work on some bunnehs!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  And many more
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, pool party, shine on specialty DSP
Ink:  Pool party
Accessories:  Honeycomb embellishments, whisper white stitched ribbon, circles collection and flower flair framelits

How cute is that?  I literally could make these in like every color and pattern!!!   IF I was more organized I could should have done a video for you.  Maybe I'll get it together one of these days but in the meantime,  I encourage you to make a few!  You can find the tutorial at www.stampinup.com  And the sentiment says "hippity hoppity" and I can't get it to photograph for the life of me!  Sorry about that!

Happy stamping!

Easter Egg?

Hi stampers!  I have an Easter card for you that may be made from an unexpected stamp set!  The other day, I saw that my friend and artisan Cindy was featured on the Stampin Up home page.  No wonder she got picked for the design team since she came up with a genius idea!

I don't have much Easter stuff right now (and there isn't a whole lot devoted specifically to it) but she came up with the idea to use the balloon from balloon celebrations as an egg!  Super sneaky, clever and cute!!!!  The fact that she added some splatter to them really got my attention too!  I just bought a bunch of eggs at target that are pretty pastels and splattered with gold.  They really look Easter-ey to me and I love them...both the fake eggs and these stamped ones :-)

So, that night I went to work right away making some balloons...I mean eggs!  Cindy used her balloon punch but since I skipped that I just cut mine out.  The one thing I should have done different was use yellow candy dots for a bit more color and contrast, oh well!  And I just love that specialty DSP.  It's very springy!  I was just dying to use that circle stamp from you're so lovely too!  I may have *ahem* may have gotten it recently just for that....

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Balloon celebration, you're so lovely, lots of thoughts, gorgeous grunge
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, pool party, shine on specialty DSP
Ink:  Early espresso, crumb cake, blushing bride, pool party
Accessories:  Subtles candy dots, circle punch, number of years framelits, gold thread, everyday chic washi tape, gold wink of stella

Speaking of Easter, I have always loved Easter (and Easter candy....robin's eggs for the win) but it's extra fun now with Ian.  I loved coloring eggs and getting an Easter basket when I was little so I'm excited to do those things with him.  Although he's little for egg coloring, I still think we will try it and I've been having a blast putting together a basket for him and picking up things here and there.  And instead of a basket, I saw a cute idea on pinterest to use a little toy wagon or dump truck as the basket and I found a cute one at Target.  I'll try to post a picture of it after Easter.  They also have an ADORABLE toy wheel barrow now....it may end up at our house the next time I go to Target....  I also can't wait to teach him about the true meaning of Easter!  I just got a cute little outfit for him too and I'm kind of sad since it's the last one he'll have with the little bunny butt :(  He's so big!!!!

Ok, enough rambling I suppose.  We are off to buy a new car today since mine is acting up and we were getting a new one soon anyway.  I'd SO rather be stamping.....

Happy stamping!

Friday Favorites

Hi stampers!  I meant to blog more this week but the weather has been kind of amazing for this time of year!  It was 70 a couple of days so Ian and I took advantage and played outside!  He LOVES being outside, so much so that he throws huge fits when we have to come inside :-)  Outside is is favorite!  I know I don't update you on him much but he keeps me busy!  He is the busiest kid I've ever seen!  He's 19 months now and it just hit me that he's closer to two than one, crazy!  We are both looking forward to so many fun things in the coming months such as Easter and the pool/splash pad which is also his favorite!

Speaking of favorites, I have a couple of my favorites to show you today!  I made this card quite some time ago when I started in on the #imbringingbirthdaysback campaign.  I believe it was inspired by an Inkspired sketch.  It's one of my favorite cards I've made to date, in fact, I can't bring myself to send it to anyone just yet, lol!  I have it displayed in my studio...I do that with my favorite cards.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Number of years
Paper:  Whisper white, sahara sand, mint macaron, it's my party DSP stack
Ink:  Melon mambo
Accessories:  Doilies, stapler

I love that it's super simple but it's just so cute!  The only thing I don't like about this paper pack is that I waited so long to get it, ha!  It's really great and has so many uses beyond just birthday cards!

And now for a few other Friday favorites!  I finally got my hashtag stamp for the back of my envelopes!  This is the one that Shannon, who started the whole thing, carved herself!  You can get your very own in my store as well!  Post your cards to social media with this hashtag!!!

And speaking of Shannon....this darling card with a sweet note showed up in my mailbox last month without me even asking for a card!  She's a sneaky little thing...in the best way of course!  Isn't it fabulous, just like her!

Don't forget to get your stamp and start sending some birthday cheer!

Happy stamping!

Mailable Monday...

a day late....Hi stampers!  Monday got the best of me and I'l posting a mailable card slightly late.  It happens.  BUT, I'm getting caught up on my #imbringingbirthdaysback cards and getting some belated ones in the mail plus the first part of March's!  And my hashtag stamp comes today!  I'll share that with you later this week but basically it's for the back of the envelope and SU made it special and quick and anyone can order it!  If you want in on the movement head over to my store and get yours! Shannon carved it herself and there was so much demand they mass produced it!  So cool!

Here's a quick birthday card that I've already sent off...see, I told you this moment was awesome!  I actually SENT a card ;-)  You may have seen this one already as I think the recipient shared it with her readers.  I always love when friends share my cards...I should share the ones I got (and am still getting...the late people are my spirit animals or stampers ;-)).

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Party wishes
Paper:  Whisper white
Ink:  Crushed curry, melon mambo, mint macaron
Accessories:  It's my party washi tape, deco labels frailest

Washi tape is just so fun and easy to use.  It's a great way to make visually appealing, mailable, and quick and easy cards!  You better add some to your next order!  I also hope all these birthday sets carry over to the next annual catalog!  They are just so great for this movement!

Speaking of the next catalog...I get to see it in a little over a month!  I finally signed up for the new "convention" which is in mid-April!  Look out SLC, here I come again!  That's just one of the many benefits to being a demo! You get to travel to a fabulous place and see the catalog early!  If you're interested in hearing more benefits let me know ;-)  You know I could go on and on and....

Happy stamping!

Fab Friday 82

Hi stampers!  Happy Friday and happy first Friday of March or spring as I like to think of it, even though it's really not.  Hopefully you don't have any snow left.  Boy did March come in like a lion here with a mini blizzard!  In hopes to usher in spring as quickly as possible, we have a fresh and springy color challenge for you at Fab Friday!

My card is super simple but I kind of really love it!  These colors are so pretty and soft together!  I love the MPP stamps from February and they worked great here!  It's a fun and springy card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Number of years, MPP February 2016
Paper:  Whisper white, blushing bride, mint macaron
Ink:  Pool party, blushing bride, mint macaron
Accessories:  Pearls, large numbers framelits

It's hard to see the tiny pearls but you can click on the picture and enlarge it.

Make sure to check out every one else's projects and play along with us!  Bring on some spring!!!!!

Happy stamping!

Display Stamper Try-Out

Hi stampers!  Well, I'm going to do it, I'm going to try out to be a display stamper at the event in SLC in April.  EEEEEK, that's not very far away at all!!!!  So, this won't be a wordy post, but one filled with pretty pictures :-)  We have to make three cards, two 3-D items, and a scrapbook page so here is what I came up with!

It's hard to see in the photo but I did some stenciling on the DSP and the string on the balloon is our linen thread.  There is sparkle on the clouds with wink of stella as well.  And the sequins are from the February MPP pack, I LOVE those!

I hope two birthday cards isn't a faux pas to make two birthday cards but with the whole #imbringingbirthdaysback movement I don't think it is :-)  And there is so much good stuff to make them with right now!!!!  I've been meaning to use this stencil for a birthday card for a while now so here ya go!

Hey look, it's not a birthday card :-)  It's snowing buckets as I write this post (on March 1st no less, boo) so I needed some sunshine!

 I needed a little something to put the "chirping chick" in that I got Ian for Easter (he's going to love it).  Does this basket look a bit familiar?  It's actually one of our tag a bag boxes.  I made a couple of cuts on either side of the middle and stapled it together in the middle and voila, instant Easter basket.  The picture doesn't show it well but the handle is our burlap ribbon.

This little candy bar holder was made from the smallest envelope liner framelit .  I just adhered the flaps together and then stapled the top underneath the decorations.  I made my flower from our filter paper.    I probably should have gotten a twix or other gold wrapped candy to match the gold embossing but I'd be more likely to eat it then and I don't need it ;-)

And for my scrapbook page I used Project Life because I love it!  I sponged watermelon wonder all over the little white card from the SAB pack and and then used the gold overlay.  My cake was pink and the page matches it so well :-)  I also heat embossed the numbers (eek, don't look at the actual numbers, hehe) to go with the gold overlay.  And then a couple of gold sequins to tie it all in around my journaling (don't critique my awful handwriting either, ok?).  It came together so fast which I LOVE!

Ok, there ya go!  Wish me luck!

Happy stamping!

Casing and goals

Hi stampers!  So I've mentioned I have set a few stamping goals for myself in order to try to get back to the "old" me.  I'm not a huge fan of casing work, I like coming up with my own designs and ideas but when I struggle with my creativity, it can help me get my own ideas flowing.  So, when I'm stuck I'm going to try to find something.  My card today is cased although I used different items and put my own spin on it, but the idea is the same.

Another goal and one which I've mentioned, is to use more black.  I tend to shy away from black other than sentiments and outlines of images but it really can make a big impact!  Amy O'Neill recently shared a card that I just LOVED!  I need to set a goal to do more watercoloring type things and splattering!  I really wish they hadn't retired the color spritzer!  But, an aqua painter does a pretty good job and with bigger drops!  I really like how this one came out!  Thanks for the idea, Amy!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Party wishes, sunburst sayings
Paper:  Watercolor, basic black, pool party
Ink:  Craft whisper white, pool party, blushing bride
Accessories:  It's my party washi tape, circle punch, white embossing powder, gold metallic thread, subtles candy dots

Amy's card was also what made me think about adding more black into my projects.  Thanks for the inspiration Amy!  I made a second version of this card that I'll share soon!

Happy stamping!