Starting simple....

Hi stampers!  I haven't stamped too much lately.  I just cant seem to come up with any ideas....my mojo must be hiding somewhere.  I haven't even been inspired by many challenges lately either:-(  It's been a stressful couple of weeks and busy too around here so hopefully things will come around soon! 

I did sit down the other night and MADE myself come up with something!  I kept it pretty simple for obvious reasons and I think it worked somewhat!  I was able to stamp last night too!  So, I need to remember the next time I'm stuck to just do something simple!

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Friendly phrases
Paper:  Whisper white, calypso coral, pool party, domestic goddess DSP
Ink:  Calypso coral
Accessories:  Decorative label punch, itty bitty punch pack, calypso coral ruffled ribbon, basic pearls

I just LOVE this print in the domestic goddess DSP!  It's so cute and fun!  I bought the paper to do a project and most of it just sits there!  So, I keep reminding myself I like it and need to pull it out more often!  The next print I want to use out of it is the cute gray sheet with little yellow flowers...anyway....

The punched flowers are fun too!  The way to get them to fold up like that is SUPER easy!  I simply punched them out and then laid them on top of my mat pack.  Then, I took my stylus from the simply scored and used one end to press down in the middle of the flower....and viola!  They fold up with perfect little petals!!!!

I'll be back tomorrow with a challenge card I managed to make! 

Happy stamping!

HSS 113

Hi stampers!  Happy Tuesday!  Time for another fun challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  This week is all about mom!  It's never too early to start thinking about Mother's Day!  I already have a present for my mom and an idea for my mother-in-law:-)  I'm ahead of the game...for once!  And I have to say I love my momma!  We used to fight like cats and dogs when I was a teenager but I really do love her!  She's my mom AND one of my best friends...even though we DO drive each other nuts!  (Could that be because we are so ALIKE????  Haha)

So, for my project I took the theme quite literally and made a card that I thought my momma would like.  She LOVES bright colors and is especially fond of purples and blues like island indigo!  I tend to wear a lot of gray and neutrals in my wardrobe and it used to drive her nuts when she bought my clothes...she'd say "you need COLOR", lol!  So, when I bought a pair of bright turquoise pants last week I had to text her right away!  Haha!  She was so proud:-)  Now, don't ask what my husband thought of them...but what does he know about fashion, right? :-)  I knew the summer smooches suite would be right up her alley with all the fun and bright colors!

Anyway, I need to get this one in the mail because now that she moved away I like to send her cards and I haven't sent her one in a while! 

Stampin' Supplies:

Stamps:  Bright blossoms, family reunion

Paper:  Whisper white, daffodil delight, rich razzleberry, island indigo, summer smooches DSP

Ink:  Island indigo, lucky limeade

Accessories:  Decorative label and circle punches, summer smooches fabric brads

Now, don't look at my little stamped leaf too close.  I think I have a faulty stamp and the image doesn't stamp real well.  I should probably call SU about that.  I have to say they are great about fixing any problems! 

My mom is a pretty simple person so I kept this card simple...but bright!  I know she'll like it!

How head on over and see what else the design team has come up with and meet our NEW members!  I'm so excited to have each and every one on board and see what they come up with each week!

And don't forget to play along!

Happy stamping!

Shabby thanks

Hi stampers!  I hope you had a happy and blessed Easter!  We did...aside from too much food:-)  But what's new I guess, right?  At least we got in a run early this morning even though I was sore from step class yesterday and slow!  It might not have been the best idea to add a second set of risers to my step when I haven't done that in a while, lol!  Ouch!!!  It was so pretty out all day long though...even when it was chilly on our run!

I haven't done much stamping...just can't seem to come up with many good ideas lately!  Add in the holiday weekend and I didn't have much time either.  I did manage to get one cute card done though.  I'm trying to use more of my DSP from the occasions mini since this is it's last month.  Anyway, here's the card:

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Apothecary art, creative elements, fabulous phrases
Paper:  Very vanilla, pool party, poppy parade (textured), attic boutique DSP
Ink:  Staz-on, crumb cake, poppy parade, pool party, daffodil delight
Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, basic pearls

I stamped off all of the elements on the label first and I'm thinking I could have done it twice with the poppy parade!   I also did a lot of sponging to make it a bit softer.

I also wanted to say a quick thanks to all my blog followers and those who leave comments:-)  I read each one and they really brighten my day!

Happy stamping!

Popping in

Hi stampers!  I've hoped to have more to share with you but it's just not happened:-)  While some of my time has gone missing (hehe, funny how that happens,no), my mojo has taken a hike as well.  I sit down at my desk but just can't get much to come about...even with sketches and challenges and what not!  So frustrating.  I HATE when what is supposed be my fun hobby and a stress RELIEF becomes a source of stress and frustration, ha!  Good thing I was able to channel my frustration with stamping and some other things into a hard 4 mile run Wednesday night and a tough turbokick class yesterday (oh my poor students, lol)!  I've been slacking in my workouts for the past few months too so it felt good to hit it hard two days in a row...now can I keep it up?:-) 

I did find a new challenge website the other day called Try Stampin On Tuesday and I really liked the sketch but I couldn't really get anything going with it.  But, even though the challenge was well over, I came back to it the other night and inspiration struck!  It totally sneaks up on me now and then:-)  I've also been having a lot of guilt over not using the majority of my DSP so I was determined to pull out my twitterpatted DSP!  We have less than a month left with all the fabulous papers from the occasions mini....I need to get my stamps in gear!!!!!  In fact, I've started a LIST of DSP that I must use, haha!  So, here's the card I came up with:

Stamps:  Raining flowers, loving thoughts
Paper:  Whisper white, crumb cake, blushing bride, pool party, island indigo, 2011-2013 in color DSP stack
Ink:  Crumb cake, blushing bride, pool party, island indigo
Accessories:  Blossom punch, itty bitty punch pack, triple blossom punch, edgelits and embossing folders, basic pearls, large pearls, in color printed brads
I'm really happy about how it turned out...which was surprising because I really didn't think I liked it all that much in the process!  I think it's a fun sketch and a happy little card!

Now, lets talk about the future a little.  Remember that the new catalog is coming out a month early this year!  So, for customers that's June 1.  For demos it's May 1 which means I'll have my hot little hands on new goodies on May 2:-D  I'm sad that one of my very favorite colors which I've used on this card is retiring.  Blushing bride will be no more after May:-(  However, I'm excited to see the five new colors!  I'm also hoping for more printed brads like the one used above!  I hope that blossom punch shows up too!  I bought it late in the season because I thought it would look cute with the summer smooches stuff!  Don't forget you can get that suite EARLY in the month of April!  The promo button is up and to the right!

I hope the large pearls come back as well.  Lots of things to be excited about!  What do YOU want to see or are scared of loosing?  Let me know in the comments!  It's fun to see people's thoughts and predictions!  I'm getting excited!!!!!

Happy stamping!

HSS 112

Hi stampers and happy Tuesday!  This week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments we have a pretty color challenge for you!  I think color challenges are my favorite of  all the things we do!  I really like when I have to pair colors together that I normally wouldn't or when I find one that I really like!!!!

Take this challenge for example, I would probably never have paired up these color if left to my own devices but they are so pretty together!!!!

I kind of wanted to do another baby card with these (I know...I have baby fever) but thought I should probably give that a rest until we have news, lol!  We'll see how long THAT lasts:-)  I wasn't sure what kind of card this would end up being until I was done but I decided that field flowers would go good with the colors.  I HAD to have this set when the new catalog came out but I've only used it hand full of times if that.

Stampin' Supplies:
Stamps:  Field flowers, petite pairs, parlor prints background
Paper:  Crumb cake, very vanilla, rich razzleberry, early espresso
Ink:  Crumb cake, early espresso, rich razzleberry, pretty in pink
Accessories:  Labels collection framelits, linen embossing folder, pretty in pink taffeta ribbon

I think I should have stamped off the pink flower first as it seemed a bit bright but the purple toned it down a bit.  Lots of sponging here too and I'm kind of on a roll with parlor prints.  That's another one I got and then didn't use much!

Now head on over to HSS and check out the rest of the teams creations!

Happy stamping!

April fools......

.....a day late, ha!  Hi stampers!  I found something I had made with the summer smooches suite!  I totally forgot I had made this cute little purse using the petite purse die.  And I forgot to mention yesterday that this die is also part of the pre-order!  It's SOOOO cute!  I think this will make a cute little Easter favor this weekend!

Stampin' Supplies:
Paper:  Lucky limeade, daffodil delight, summer smooches DSP
Accessories:  Petite purse die, triple blossom punch, basic rhinestones, white gel pen, daffodil delight seam binding

I used a bit of the ribbon because scarves are all the rage on purses now, aren't they?  :-)  The seam binding is also part of the pre-order and it's SOOOO PRETTY!  And I have to say that my favorite thing to do with the little purse is faux stitching with the gel pen.  That tiny little detail adds so much pizazz to the purse!!!

Now I really do have to go come up with more ideas because this is the only one I had laying around:-)

Happy stamping!

Summer Smooches

Hi stampers!  It felt like summer today!  It was in the upper 80's here today!  And the warm weather was a great way to kick off the latest Stampin' Up! promotion.....SUMMER SMOOCHES.

You've seen a few projects here with the products and I'm sad to say I don't have anything to share today.  I was at my mom's for a baby shower so I didn't have any stampy time:-)  But I wanted to let you know that you can get these special pre-order products NOW!  All month long, you can get your hands on this suite which will be in the upcoming catalog!!!!! 

Now, the brads and the stencil are a limited time thing, available ONLY for the pre-order.  And the brads are fantastic!  Like a brocade type fabric!  And remember, this promo is only for the month of April.  If you miss out you'll have to wait until June to get your hands on the summer smooches stuff again (when the new catalog comes out...remember it's a month early this year....June)  You can see everything by clicking on the little button over there to the right and I'll leave you with a pretty picture of some of the goodies!  And I'll try to get some more projects done to post:-)

Happy stamping!