HSS 120

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday and time for another challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is a little bit different....it's time for anything but a card!  This week is wearable art!

How fun????  So...anything wearable...pins, jewelry, head bands, clothing even!!!! Whatever you can come up with that is wearable!  Show us what you got!!!!  And feel free to model it:-P

I made a pin and it's kind of BIG:-)  It's almost 6 inches across!!!!  I have a few sweaters that are really plain so I thought a big pin might liven them up!  I might also put in on my purse. 

Stampin' Supplies:
Flirtatious designer series fabric, elegant eggplant scalloped dotted ribbon, subtles buttons, baker's twine, fun flowers die, thread, fabric glue, hot glue, pin

It was very easy to make.  First I took a strip of the hot pink fabric and sewed two rows of stitches and then pulled the top two threads to gather it into a circle and stitched the ends together (which is a big deal since I don't really sew much....SO if I can do this...anyone can, ha).  Then I took three of the wisteria flowers and two of the light pink ones and hand stitched them all together.  It might have looked even cooler with more flowers for more dimension!  I used fabric adhesive to glue on the ribbon and to glue the small group of flowers to the big base.  I then hot glued the button on top!  The bottom is just some felt cut in a circle and a pin hot glued on.  I used a magnetic one so it won't harm any fabric!  It took less than an hour to make!

Now, what wearable art can YOU make?????  Go check out what the rest of the team came up with....they are FABULOUS....and link up your creation!

Happy stamping....or sewing...or whatever:-)

Color coached

Hi stampers!  It's a busy weekend around here so I tried to get some stamping in last night since I probably won't get to all weekend!  I've been really busy all this week actually and then was scrambling to finish my AA entries and get them all sent in so I haven't had much time to stamp for fun!  So, I wanted to make sure I made something this weekend.  I've been wanting to do the MoJo Monday sketch all week so that was a perfect place to start!

As for my colors, I've had my new color coach cards out on my desk for a while now and I really like the suggestions!  One of my favorite combos on the cards is summer starfruit, elegant eggplant, and baja breeze.  I don't use much eggplant so I was excited to pull it out!  I think the colors came together very well!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  creative elements, netting
Paper:  Whisper white, baja breeze, elegant eggplant, summer starfruit
Ink:  Baja breeze, elegant eggplant, summer starfruit
Accessories:  Tasteful trim die, basic pearls, vanilla and gold shimmer spray

It's hard to tell in the photo but all I sprayed the whole card with both the vanilla and gold shimmer sprays.  The gold looks SO pretty with the starfruit I think!  I also sponged everything...which I haven't done in a while...I think it wore me out, haha!

Have a happy Memorial Day weekend and thanks to all those who have served our great country!

Happy stamping!

Simply starfruit

Hi stampers!  I've got a super simple card today inspired by the NEW catalog and my new fave in-color summer starfruit!  I know this color may not be everyone's cup of tea (or cup of fruit?) but I love it!  It's very different and very trendy right now!  And don't judge it too harshly on the screen or in print, you really need to see it in real life to make a judgement!  It's going to be a great accent color!  And I do have to say I find the ink slightly prettier than the card stock...and it's take your breath away gor-jus in the new comfort cafe DSP!!!!  Now, if I could quit typing summer starFISH every time I talk about it.....:-)

Now, this card is inspired by some samples in the new catalog on page 111 so I can't take full creative credit for it!  And speaking of the samples in the new catalog....let's have a little chat about that.  SU has changed the catalog up a bit this year...notice I'm not calling it an idea book and catalog?  Well, that's part of the change.  There aren't QUITE as many samples and more white space in order to focus on the STAMPS and make the book less intimidating and overwhelming for newbies (I was totally overwhelmed at my first SU party, ha).  BUT, remain calm!!!  There are still LOTS of samples and ideas to be found!  I mean, heck, I always have a list a mile long of the samples I want to make and do I end up doing half of them?  Not by a long shot...and I'll bet you money the same thing will happen this year, ha!  The pictures of the samples are a bit different too....there are more close up shots of the projects in order to focus in on the details.  I was a tad worried about this when I heard of the change but am happy to report that even though some of the photos are close up you can still get a good idea of what's going on should you want to case the project...AND you can easily see details that you might not have been able to in previous catalogs!   So, I just wanted to explain the change.

I really, REALLY like the new look of the catalog!  It's simple and clean and really shows off our awesome products!  So, onto the first case of the 2012-2013 catalog:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Delicate doilies, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white
Ink:  Summer starfruit
Accessories:  Itty bitty punch pack, basic rhinestones

It's super simple and super pretty just like the ones in the catalog!  These would be really pretty in a set with different colors too!  I may make a set with all the new in-colors!  Pretty pretty!  This poor stamp set hasn't seen much action in a while so it was fun to stamp with it!  I love that a new catalog can breathe new life into old stamps!!!!

I can't believe that the new catalog goes live NEXT WEEK!  Yikes!  Where has May gone????  I've gotta go make yet another must have list for June 1....:-)

Happy stamping!

HSS 119

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday and time for another challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  I really like this one because it's something I need to do more often....cards/projects for the guys!!!

I'm not very good about making masculine stuff...I tend to throw girly colors and frilly embellishments on everything I make:-)  My poor hubby is really good about telling me all my fru-fru stuff looks good and doesn't complain if he ends up on the receiving end of a girly card now and then!  But, I'm making it a goal to make more manly stuff this year!

I made this birthday card a while back for hubby's dad and thought it would work great for this challenge!  I like it because it's masculine and simple....like men...:-)  Totally kidding;-P  And I realized I had to come up with a masculine card because the only one I had around "in stock" is the same one I gave him last year I think, lol!  So I gotta build up my stash!!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps: Bring on the cake, just my type
Paper:  Crumb cake, very vanilla, cajun craze, not quite navy
Ink:  Soft suede, not quite navy
Accessories:  Decorative label punch, circle punch, vintage trinkets

I really NEED to use more of this paper before it retires....think it will happen? :-)  I love the weathered look this card has and the muted and manly colors!  The sentiment is from just my type...that's all I can say about that since it's retired and didn't make the new catalog and I'm distraught over it!

So now you should head over to the HSS challenge site and see all the other manly projects and totally play along with us!  Make something for the men in your life!!!!

Happy (manly) stamping!

Mailable Mondy - In color edition

Hi stampers!  I've been slacking on my mailable Monday feature!  I didn't even realize it until this week!  Yikes and shame on me!  Well, to try to make up for it I've got an extra special treat for you....another sneak peek of the new in colors!  I have been itching to play with my new stuff but it's been on the back burner while I finish my Artisan Award projects.  I really wished I'd decided to enter the contest earlier so I could be done and ready to play with my new things!  I'll know better for next year!

Anyway, how this card came to be is a bit of a funny story.  A friend over on Splitcoast Stampers is having trouble with a few of her new style ink pads (very sad!) and she stamped up a little comparison chart using the stamp featured on my card.  Well, I wanted to see what my pads looked like with that same stamp so I stamped up a storm on some scratch paper.  My pads stamped beautifully even on my plain old grid paper...so I'm hoping that SU can get the wonky pads fixed up quick!  But, I realized I'd never used the little circle stamp and the colors were quite pretty....so I had to make this card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Just believe
Paper:  Whisper white, summer starfruit, raspberry ripple, primrose petals
Ink:  Summer starfruit, raspberry ripple, primrose petals, versamark
Accessories:  White embossing powder, circle punch, square punch

I really like the summer starfruit color!  It's very trendy and seems to be everywhere I look!  As far as the other two colors...I think it's a bit strange to have two pink-ish colors in one group of in-colors but they are pretty!  I just haven't had the time to play with them much yet!  The raspberry color is just that...it's a nice rich raspberry color and the primrose color is a nice dusty dark pink (dare I say mauve-ish???).  I don't usually like "dusty" (aka mauve, lol) colors but this one and blushing bride are A-ok!

I hope you enjoyed the return of mailable Monday...we'll see how long I can keep it up, ha!  At least I'll have more time to stamp for fun after I mail the AA entries in...they have to be at SU before next Wednesday!  I can't wait to share everything I've made with you in July or August!  I better remember to take some pictures!!!

Happy stamping!

I want these sheets!

Hi stampers!  I've got a card for the color challenge this week over at the Colour Q.  I LOVE the color combo this week and I SO want that pillowcase and sheets:-)  They are so fun!  I need new gray sheets since I switched our bedding out to gray....somehow though, I don't think hubs would be too keen on flowered sheets:-)

 

I used the sheets not only for the color inspiration but for the whole idea of the card this time.  I pulled out my new Betsy's blossom set again....and don't worry...no big flower or bird here today:-)  I really love the way this one turned out but I do wish I had incorporated a little more gray in there.  I love me some gray!!!

Stampin' Supplies
Stamps:  Betsy's blossoms, friendly phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, basic gray, wisteria wonder
Ink:  Basic gray, tempting turquoise, lucky limeade, wisteria wonder
Accessories:  In color printed brads, basic pearls, lucky limeade ruffled ribbon

It's a bit out of the box for me but I like it.  I love the bright and fun colors!  Well I'm off to bed...I'm running my second 5k in the morning and  better get some rest!

Happy stamping!

Duo Part Deux

Hi stampers!  I'm STILL hard at work on AA entries but I did manage to play along at Dynamic Duos for the second week in a row!  This week used pool party again which I have to say is one of my most favorite colors!

I also just got a pool party stamp pad in the new firm foam style and it just stamps SO PRETTY!  You can see in my card what a nice solid and well inked image it gave me in my bird! These new pads are really fantastic!  If only my so saffron linen style pad worked so well;-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Betsy's blossoms, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, so saffron
Ink:  Pool party, so saffron
Accessories:  Pool party ruffled ribbon, apothecary accents framelits

I went for a simple card because of the simple color combo.  This would make a great mailable Monday card!  I need to bring that feature back, don't I?

Happy stamping!

HSS 118

Hi stampers!  It's Tuesday....how did that happen?  Wasn't it just Saturday????  Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week it's a fun technique challenge!  Emobss resist!

This is one of my faves because it's super easy and looks super cool!

I'm not sure that my card turned out how I pictured it but here it is none the less:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Forever young, it's your day, parlor prints
Paper:  Whisper white, pool party, wisteria wonder, island indigo, 2011-2013 in color DSP stack
Ink:  Versamark, pool party, wisteria wonder, island indigo, blushing bride, peach parfait, pear pizzazz
Accessories:  Modern label, word window, circle punches, perfect pennants die, white embossing powder, white gel pen, basic pearls

So, I was going for a sunset and that part worked out ok.  I'm just not sure I like the layout.  Oh well...not everything I make turns out looking the way I had it in my head!

Now head on over and see what everyone else came up with and then play along.  You know you can't RESIST:-)  Sorry...I had to...it's late when I'm posting this and I don't feel well...humor me:-)

Happy stamping!

Sunny flower

Hi stampers!  Sorry I've been MIA for a few days....busy busy....you know how it goes:-)  I HAVE actually been stamping/creating BUT since I've been working on my Artisan Award entries I can't show you what I've been up to:-)  Hopefully later on in the year I can share my winning projects....or if I don't win I can share them too, lol!  But I have been hard at work and I've still got more to do!  I had a bit of a breakdown over them Friday night...that's what I get for deciding to enter kind of at the last minute:-)  I have really been enjoying working on them even if it has stressed me out!  It's always fun to challenge yourself and push your boundaries creatively speaking!

I did find something I stamped a while ago and didn't share though!  This card was for a previous Create with Connie & Mary challenge.  I didn't get around to making a card to enter but I really liked the sketch so I used it anyway.  Challenges are great because even if you can't enter they can still give you a lot of inspiration!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Pursuit of happiness
Paper:  Whisper white, daffodil delight, rich razzleberry, island indigo, lucky limeade, summer smooches
Ink:  Daffodil delight, island indigo lucky limeade
Accessories:  Brights buttons, wide oval and blossom punch, scalloped border punch, labels collection framelits, baker's twine

You can't see much of my little punched border back there but it's there:-)  It's a simple card but I loved the sketch and I think the simple layout works great with all the BRIGHT colors.  This card just makes me happy!!!!

Back to work on my projects!

Happy stamping!

Playing with the Paper Pals

Hi stampers!  I've got another card with Betsy's blossoms today.  And I paired it with the floral district DSP again too!  I really liked the color challenge this week over at Paper Pal Arts!

 Isn't it fun!?!?!  It also gave me a chance to use some more new ribbon!  Although SU is retiring all of it's grosgrain it's given us this fun new grosgrain with stitching!  I don't use much of the skinny grosgrain but that might change now!

I'm also trying to do more cards in different sizes and play around with different layouts!  I went with a long skinny card this time!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Betsy's blossoms, friendly phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, baja breeze, calypso coral
Ink:  Calypso coral, daffodil delight
Accessories:  2.5 inch circle punch, apothecary accents framelits, basic pearls, daffodil delight stitched grosgrain ribbon

Like the little accents on the sides of the circle?  Those are from the new apothecary accents framelits!  I just trimmed off the ends and stuck them behind my circle!  Love that!  I also LOVE that print of the DSP!  And I have to say this DSP has brought back my love of baja breeze!  It sort of got pushed to the side with pool party but it's back in my color radar now!

Hope you enjoyed yet another sneak peek!  There will be a lot more variety come June....as I want about every single thing in the NEW catalog, lol!  My list is LARGE!  Off to page through my copy...again...:-)  And please let me know if you need one!  If you're local I'll even let you peek at mine if you let me know;-)

Happy stamping!

HSS 117

Hi stampers! It's Tuesday and I'm EXCITED!  My copy of the new 2012-2013 Stampin' Up Catalog should be here this morning!  I've seen in online but can't wait to page through it in person!  I have a hair appointment today so I'm excited I'll have it to pour over while I wait for my highlights!!! You can get your own copy if you let me know you need one and you can see it online and order from it June 1!!!!

Anyway, since it's Tuesday, it's time for another fun challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!

This week is all about weddings and sophistication!  So pull out your best and show us what you got!  Here's what I came up with:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Love & laughter
Paper:  Whisper white, neutrals DSP stack
Ink:  Basic black, versamark
Accessories:  White embossing powder, neutrals glimmer brads, white taffeta ribbon, blushing bride pleated satin ribbon, basic pearls, itty bitty punch pack

I used my simply scored diagonal plate to make a background....which reminds me of my wedding cake:-)  I had swiss dots alternating this this type of quilted pattern.  Annnnd, now I want some cake...my cake was the best I've ever had and it was orange dreamsicle!!!  Oh wait, we were talking about stamping:-)

For the dress I used emboss resist and then cut it out and added my ribbon to the bottom. I also added a little detail to the waist with the itty bitty punch pack!

Now head on over to the HSS challenge site and see what the rest of the DT came up with and be sophisticated with us!!!

Happy stamping!

Dynamic Duo

Hi stampers!  I don't have any sneak peeks for you today but I do have a fun new challenge!  It's a new site called Dynamic Duos and this week is their first challenge!  How fun!  So the first challenge was pool party and lucky limeade...two of my fave colors!

And I just couldn't help it...I had to do a baby card:-)  They were just the perfect colors for a baby boy card!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Little additions, pennant parade
Paper:  Whisper white, pool party, lucky limeade
Ink:  Pool party, lucky limeade
Accessories:  2.5 inch circle punch, triple heart punch, perfect pennants die, lucky limeade ruffled ribbon, illuminate accent ink

It's a pretty simple card but I think it's super cute and I just love the colors!  It's hard to see but I covered the little heart in the illuminate accent ink so it's kind of shimmery!

That's it for now, happy stamping!

Seeing a pattern?

Hi stampers!  I think a pattern is emerging....that I really like Betsy's blossoms....one of the new sneak peek sets, ha!  I just love the solid and bold images of this set and I can't stop using it!  I'm going to have to stop tomorrow though, I have GOT to work on my AA contest entries!!!  I wish we could use the sneak peek items and new in colors but alas I can't.  Oh well...I have plenty of fabulous other stuff I suppose:-)

The card I have today is based of a Sweet Sunday sketch from a few weeks ago that I never got to play around with.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Betsy's blossoms, loving thoughts
Paper:  Whisper white, pool party, in colors 2011-2013 DSP stack
Ink:  Pool party,  summer starfruit, raspberry ripple
Accessories:  Oval accents clear die, bitty banners and apothecary accents framelits, gumball green satin stitched ribbon, large pearls, dazzling details
I really wanted to use my new sneak peek die on this card!  See the fun shape?  It's called the oval accents bigz clear die and it's wicked cool!  In face, I used THREE new dies here!  I used both of the new framelits and the big die!  The clear die is pretty big!  This card is 5x5 square if that gives you some reference and I cut about 1/4 of it off.  It was actually backordered for one day, haha!  I'm guessing either it didn't come in on time or it just didn't make it to the pick line on time.  So, it gave me something to look forward to the day after my order!  I love that SU ships out backorders in the same manner that you got the rest of your shipment!  My lonely die went next day air!!!!

The new in colors are so bold and go so well with our other colors.  I paired them here with pool party and it was perfection!!!!  That gumball green ribbon is pretty fun too!  And it's hard to see but I dotted the birds wings with dazzling details!

Off to work on my AA entries....wish me luck!!!  And I get to see the catalog tonight I hope too...well tomorrow if they post it at midnight....and I can either stay up or GET up at 1 am my time;-)  Wish me luck on that too, lol!

Happy stamping!

Freshly made DSP

Hi stampers!  Happy Saturday!  I have another sneak peek for you today!  This time I focused on the new floral district DSP.  It's kind of funky and bright and I really like it!  It's got some nice big patterns but also a lot of smaller ones which I find easier to use!  I really have a DSP problem!  I have SO much!  I didn't get the other two DSP's on the pre-order but I have a feeling that one of the two remaining may end up on the order I'm putting in tomorrow night to get my catalog;-)  Hi, my name is Mindy and I'm a DSP addict/hoarder.....

I made this card for the Freshly Made Sketch challenge this week.   Woo-hoo...I managed to do the correct challenge AND get it entered in time, lol!  Been having issue with that lately;-)

And this card only uses ONE stamp...and it's not new:-)  Sorry.  But again, I wanted to focus on the DSP!  And good news, the blossom punch will be in the new catalog!  Yay for fun punches!!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, daffodil delight, calypso coral, lucky limeade, floral district DSP
Ink:  Lucky limeade
Accessories:  Everyday enchantment brad & ribbon back (SAB & retired), blossom punch, circle punches, polka dot embossing folder

There aren't any new colors in it (colors include:  baja breeze, daffodil delight, lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, rose red, and tangerine tango) but I did change my colors up a bit on my card.  I know that it uses tangerine tango but I thought the little flower print looked more like calypso coral.  So, I tried some out next to it and it looked pretty good and I liked my color combo better with the coral than with the tangerine.  Can't tell can you? :-)  That's why I love our products, they intermix so well together!!!

I'll be back tomorrow with more to share!!!

Happy stamping!

Bird is the word

Hi stampers!  So you can probably tell which pre-order set is my favorite:-)  Are you getting tired of the bird yet????  I just love the Betsy's blossoms set! It's so different than anything we have in the current catalog!  I had to laugh at one of the comments on my blog yesterday because the commenter had a "bad connotation" with the name Betsy....it's funny because my DH had a girlfriend with that name, lol!  So I can't say that I'm thrilled with the stamp name...and I won't be mentioning it to him, lol!!! :-)

Anyway, I'm back with another card I made on Wednesday.  And the fifth and final in color is hiding in here too:-)  It's called raspberry ripple and it's in the smaller flowers. Sounds like an ice cream flavor to me!  Stamping might be bad for your diet....just typing this is making me want to go get my new favorite treat out of the freezer....Ben & Jerry's frozen Greek yogurt!  OMG, it's soooo good and one of the flavors is raspberry and chocolate....they have all the flavors at wal-mart!  GO!  Go get some now....Oh wait...we were talking about stamping, right?

Anyway....You saw a peek of this yesterday as I took my ink comparison picture while I was working:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Betsy's blossoms, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, summer starfruit
Ink:  Summer starfruit, gumball green, primrose petal, raspberry ripple
Accessories:  labels collection framelits, bitty banners framelits, gumball green stitched satin ribbon

Do you spy the cute ribbon too?  It's gumball green satin stitched, so cute!  Hopefully I'll get some time to stamp this weekend!  I REALLY need to work on my Artisan Award contest entries!  I have less than a month and I haven't worked on them for a week or two.  I might have to lock up my new stuff, ha!  I do wish I had all new ink pads for them though!  I'm going to be buying the in colors from last year when I put in an order for my catalog on Monday night/early Tuesday morning (tee-hee)!!!

Happy stamping!

Don't freak out!

Hi stampers!  I have to laugh at the title of my post...there was a recent post on Splitcoast by this title and it makes me laugh!  Now what I'm telling you not to freak out about is the colors of this card...there are NOT any new in colors here!  I knew I'd probably get a TON of emails asking about the colors if I didn't make this fact crystal clear, lol!

However, it does showcase a new DSP!  It's called floral district and it's a bit bright and bold and out there but I like it! :-)  I really like the pattern I've used on this card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Betsy's blossom, pennant parade
Ink:  Daffodil delight, rich razzleberry
Paper:  Whisper white, baja breeze, rich razzleberry, daffodil delight, floral district DSP
Accessories:  Triple layer blossom punch, 2.5 inch circle pinch, scallop border punch, perfect pennants die, bitty banners framelits, brights glimmer brads

This is a sketch from a few weeks ago at Try Stampin'  On Tuesday that I never got around to and it fit this set perfectly!  I'm kind of sad about losing this punch, I really like it but it does give me fits when I use it!  And do you see that cute little banner?  I'm happy to say I did NOT have to hand cut it or hand snip the V!  It's a new and cute set of framelits!  Weee-ooohhhh more framelits!!!!

So, lets talk a little bit about the new and improved in pads!  They are truly fabulous!  I kind-of-sort-of-really-really-want-to replace ALL of my pads with the new firm foam pads!!!!  Anyone got some extra $$ laying around?:-)

They stamp a much better image than our current pads. It's much more even and crisp!  Normally, I have a hard time with solid stamps, especially new ones but you can see here, the birds in a few of my projects.  The pool party bird is just not as even and crisp as the primrose bird...AND the primrose was done with virgin rubber...first stamp ever!

Isn't the pink bird a way better image than the blue?  (And I guess you DO get a peek of the fifth in color...it will officially debut on my blog some time) Now, there is a bit of a learning curve to these.  You can't really do the "twist, twist, tap, tap" that I was always taught.  The pad sort of grabs the stamp (kind of like tennis shoes on a gym floor...not like versamark ink, not sticky) so twisting is out of the question BUT you don't need to!  Just a couple of feather light (I'm talking butterfly kiss) taps and it's inked PERFECTLY!!!  If you press too hard you get ink all over the edges so it really does require the lightest touch...which I would totally forget when switching between old and new pads, DOH!!!  So, if you're a twister (me), squisher, or masher you need to break that habit fast!!! :-)

Your stamps almost look over-inked...I was afraid on my first stamp but just LOOK how it turned out!  Perfect!  Speaking of over inked... the new pads are fabulously juicy and not in a bad way like my friend Rita wanted to know:-) !!!

I'll post some videos after June 1 when I'm allowed to show the actual products!

Happy stamping!

KEEP CALM AND....

STAMP ON!  Hi stampers!  It's the happiest day of the year around here!  I got my pre-order goodies from the new catalog this morning!  And I've been playing all day!  I always take this day off to stamp!  It's nice to have one day a year to do nothing but stamp!!!

Anyway, I have a few projects to share and I hope to have more in the coming week!  Make sure you come back tomorrow where I'll be reviwing our new and improved ink pads!  In a nutshell they are the bonb-diggity and I pretty much want to scrap all my old ones as soon as I can...they are THAT fab!  So come back tomorrow ok?

Ok, on to the good stuff!  First up is a new hostess set.  I was wishing and hoping for a set that said "stay calm and...." Well, we've got it and I LOVE it!  It's super cute and has lots of sayings and little pictures to go along.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Carry on (hostess)
Paper:  Whisper white, basic gray, riding hood red, midnight muse
Ink:  Riding hood red, Midnight muse
Accessories:  Circle punch, apothecary accents framelits, basic gray striped ribbon

To start the day out right I went with "stamp on" but fellow shortie Lydia went with the cupcakes.  You can buy a shirt from her that says the same thing!  I have got to get me one of those!!!!  I knew she was going to SQUEEE when she saw this set!  I gotta say I'm not a navy fan but midnight muse, one of the new in colors is so rich and pretty!!!!  I like it 100% more than our current navys!  And I don't know if you can tell but the words are stamped SO crisply with the new ink pads!  The shape is also new but you can't see it very well with the punched circles.  There are little round tabs on each end of the rectangle. 

Okie dokie, onward we go.  Next up is a new set called papaya collage.  It's a lot bigger stamps than I was expecting!  It is housed in two cases!  It's a very nice set with a vintage feel!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Papaya collage, loving thoughts
Paper:  Very vanilla, soft suede, summer starfruit, newsprint DSP
Ink:  Soft suede, summer starfruit, gumball green, primrose petals
Accessories:  Modern label punch, antique brads, dazzling details

It's hard to see but there are some dazzling details on the front rose.  And do you spy the new colors?  I think there is only one I haven't used yet!  Now, before you make judgement on the yellow...summer starfruit...let me explain.  Most demos have been afraid it's a bit....well...baby poopy:-)  I assure you it is not!  I really like it!  It's so different from anything we have had before and it's a very in color!  I have a sweater in the same shade!!!  It's much prettier in person than online.  It's JUST the exact color of a starfruit too!  But I keep wanting to call it summer starfish, lol!  I need a vacation to the beach!!!! :-)

Ok, last up today is the cutest little set called Betsy's blossoms!  I really love this set!  It's very fresh and modern looking and just what our catalog needs!!!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Betsy's blossoms, friendly phrases
Ink:  Pool party, summer starfruit, primrose petals
Accessories:  Pool party ruffled ribbon, basic pearls, apothecary accents framelits

This one makes me go SQUEEEE!  It lends itself so well to clean and simple and I love it! And do you see a second framelit shape??? :-)  I have to say the current 2011-2113 in colors compliment the new colors very well.  I haven't tried out many combos yet but there are going to be a lot of fabulous ones!  I also used my simply scored to do a few lines at the top.

Well, I think I'll stop there so I'm sure I have something to share tomorrow:-)  So....keep calm and stamp on!

Happy stamping!

HSS 116

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  And oh boy am I excited that it's Tuesday!  Not only is it a new challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments but SU demos got a little sneak peek at the new catalog at 1am my time...and I had a little online party and stayed up to see what's coming!  We don't get to see the catalog just yet but I'll settle for a few tid bits!  Tune in tomorrow and the rest of the week as I have a big box of goodies coming next day air....and the day off work Wednesday to create!  Anyway....I may be still in bed or napping as you read this....I'm too old to stay up that late anymore, lol!

So, on to the FUN challenge this week!  It's time for one of my favorites....a color challenge!  I love color challenges and I {heart} this one!  Just lookie:

I really wanted to make a baby card with these colors but I've made quite a few of those lately...maybe because I want one...a baby that is:-)  Anyway, I forced myself to do something more "out of the box" for these colors than the first thing that came to mind.  I also used a couple of retiring things...my BFF stamp set Best Friends Forever (still sad it's going) and the jumbo brads which of COURSE are retiring since I just got into them recently:-)

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Button buddies, best friends forever, petite pairs
Paper:  Whisper white, basic gray, regal rose, subtles DSP stack
Ink:  Basic gray, regal rose, pink pirouette, pool party
Accessories:    Circle punches, perfect pennants die, pool party ruffled ribbon, jumbo brads

I did the rock and roll technique with the flower although it's hard to tell.  I inked it up in pink pirouette and then rolled the edges in regal rose.  Makes a pretty flower!  I also love layering the scalloped shapes on the perfect pennants die...I kind of forget about them but with the loss of scalloped circles 2 I think they will get more use!  The larger circle pairs perfect with the large circle punch!

Now head over to HSS and see what everyone else has come up with and then play along!  And check back this week for sneak peeks!!!!!

Happy stamping!