Like a Spring Day

   I love the sound of that! "Like a Spring Day".  Maybe if I keep repeating it ala Dorothy in Oz, it will come true!

When I saw the color combination for this week's challenge at Colour Q, I wasn't sure if I could pull it off cause I find working with 4 colors to be difficult to do sometimes. Don't know why - just do!

          The colors: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Green Galore, and Neutral. 

They immediately made me think Spring!

  I love how this card just evolved! First I made the card base and added the border punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch. I then used the stamp set, A Kind Word, and stamped the image on watercolor paper with Black Stazon ink and colored it in with markers. So far so good. 

   Next I added the ribbon, but first I used Black Stazon ink again and stamped the saying directly on the ribbon! How cool is that?! I used the Slot punch to punch slots for the ribbon to slide through. 

   Well at this point, it definitely needed something across the top, so I used my Big Shot and the Little Leaves Sizzlit and made a "branch". To make the flowers I used the Trio Flower Punch and punched  Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose and Melon Mambo cardstock. Apricot Appeal Brads were added to the centers.

  Tip: I sponged everything with Melon Mambo to give it extra depth. Dimensionals were used to give the main image extra height.

   

  All supplies are Stampin' Up!

• A Kind Word stamp set
• Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Green Galore cardstock
• Watercolor Paper
• Razzleberry Lemonade designer paper
• Black Stazon ink
• Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Green Galore markers
• Creamy Caramel marker for shadows and Blush Blossom marker for flesh tones
• Blender Pen
• Scallop Trim Border Punch and Trio Flower Punch
• Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon
• Apricot Appeal brads
• Big Shot and Little Leaves Sizzlit
• Sponge and dimensionals

Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Happy First Birthday Stampin Addicts!

  If you read my previous post you know that my favorite stamping website, Stampin Addicts found HERE, is celebrating its First Birthday! Woo Hoo!

   So I just HAD to make a birthday card! And since it is for Stampin Addicts, it was only appropriate that I used their Color Challenge found HERE! This card was a blast to make!

   I got the inspiration from a scrapbook magazine that I was reading while on break at work (in our public library). Yes! some libraries allow you to borrow craft magazines for free! Sorry - just a little library commercial. lol.

   To start out, I rounded the corners on my card base. As you can tell from some of my other cards, I like to do this. It really softens the look of the card. Next, I used the Pinking Hearts Border punch for the Taken With Teal border, then layered on 2 different kinds of designer paper and added my focal point of hearts and circles.

  The focal point is a 1 3/4" circle punched from Taken with Teal cardstock. Notice how I used the paper piercer around the circle and across the top of the border? Cool huh? The hearts were stamped with the new stamp set I (Heart) Hearts. I cut them out, sponged, and popped them up with dimensionals. Then I added a Button Latte tied with Linen Thread.


  The birthday saying is from the stamp set On Your Birthday. After I stamped it I bent it just a little and added the Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button. That's it! I love it!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• On Your Birthday stamp set
• I (Heart) Hearts stamp set - Occasions Mini
• Chocolate Chip, Taken With Teal and Vanilla cardstock
• Cottage Wall designer paper and Welcome Neighbors designer paper 
• Taken With Teal, Dust Durango ink
• Pinking Hearts Border Punch - Occasions Mini
• 1 3/4" Circle Punch
• Linen Thread
• dimensionals and sponge
• Button Latte and Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button
• Paper Piercer

   I love how this card can use a set that one would normally use for Valentine's Day and just by changing the colors, make it into a Birthday Card!

   If you have a chance, check out Stampin Addicts - I don't think you will be disappointed! And if you decide to join this wonderful group of stampers, please add my Stampin Addicts name, genesis, as a referral!

As always, thank you for tuning in. I hope that since it is the weekend you will find time to ...
Add Ink and Stamp!

Cupcake Holder- Sort Of

   Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. I have been very busy with life. That, and last week was school vacation week, which meant the library where I work was CRAZY! And since I work in the children's department, it was even CRAZIER! By the time I got home, I was way too tired to stamp. Not whining, just sayin'.

  You know, when I get the chance, I really enjoy hanging out at Stampin Addicts: a positive, creative stamping website! I encourage you to check them out, especially this week. They are celebrating their 1 year birthday with some contests and more! One of the things I love about Stampin Addicts is the challenges they offer daily! It's fun and easy to participate!

If you decide to join Stampin Addicts because of me, please help me by putting my Stampin Addicts user name, genesis, in the Referrer Field on the registration form. It can't be my real name it has to be genesis. Thanks muchly!

   Mondays at Stampin Addicts always brings a new 3D challenge for anyone to try. This week's 3D challenge is a Cupcake Holder! But the problem was I didn't have any cupcakes or cake mix to make cup cakes, sooo I made a Muffin Holder cause I did have some chocolate chip muffins! We love muffins at our house so I thought it would be a fun to make one of these holders and present it to David at breakfast! He thought it was great!

  I'll let you go to Stampin Addicts for the directions. I changed it a little by adding a scalloped border with faux stitching. I also added some chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon tied to each corner.

  For the muffin pick, I stamped the Smile! from Picnic Parade stamp set, added the bird, and colored them in with markers. This is when the clear mount stamps are at their best cause the clear block allows for near perfect placement of the stamp image! 
  I hope you enjoyed this little Cupcake Holder (sort of) and don't forget to check out Stampin Addicts!
All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Picnic Parade- Hostess in Occasions Mini
• Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip and White cardstock
• Razzleberry Lemonade designer paper
• Basic Brown ink; Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip markers
• Lattice die and Big Shot
• Scallop Border Punch, 1 3/8" Circle and 1 1/4" Circle punches
• XL Fancy Flower punch
• white gel pen
• Chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon - 1/4" and 5/8"
• Button with linen thread

Thank you for taking the time to stopping by my blog. I always appreciate and value the comments I receive so if you have time, drop me a line. Ha ha that rhymes - sort of.

Straw Hat and Just a Thanks

As part of my busy day yesterday, I was determined to stamp so I did. First I went looking for a good sketch to try, and found this one at Stamping 411. 

  Can you believe I hadn't even opened this awesome stamp set, called Garden From The Heart, until yesterday?! This is one of my favorites in the entire Occasions Mini catalog too! I knew that I wanted to use our markers and watercolor paper for these images cause it just makes the color POP!

  It looks like I cut out the hat and gloves separately doesn't it? I didn't though. Instead, for the hat, I stamped it with Black Stazon, masked it, and then using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the vines. The vine stamp by the way, is from the Matchbox Messages stamp set - as is the saying. The trick to make it look like it is cut out separately is all in the shadow. I added a thin line of Creamy Caramel beneath the hat and the gloves. It is just enough to give it some depth. 

  I wanted more depth for the headband of the hat so I stamped it again, colored it, and cut it out. Then I added a brad and adhered it to all to the main image. Just a little trick I like to do sometimes.

   For the gloves and saying: I stamped the gloves with Black Stazon. Then I used a marker and inked up just the sayings portion of a stamp from Matchbox Messages. I stamped the saying and then using scissors I cut around the wrist of the glove and carefully punched everything with the Wide Oval Punch.

   Our 1 1/2" Twill cut to size and frayed was adhered to the card front over a Scallop Trim Border. Linen Thread and some Designer Buttons finished off the card.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Garden From the Heart stamp set - Occasions Mini
• Matchbox Messages stamp set
• Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate chip cardstock
• Water color paper
• Black Stazon ink and Chocolate Chip ink for the vine
• Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, So Saffron, Creamy Caramel, Barely Banana, Taken With Teal, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Dusty Durango markers
• Blender Pen
• 1 1/2" Twill
• Wide Oval Punch
• Corner rounder punch
• Designer Buttons
• Scallop Trim Border Punch - Sale-a-Bration
• Linen thread
• Brad
• Sponge and dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by! 

Black and White

   I love Black and White - always have - probably always will! 

   A story: My husband and I share a large closet with 2 sliding doors and yesterday he made an observation. His half of the closet is a discombobulated mess and mine is neat and color coordinated! That's his words not mine! Yes, all my black stuff hangs together, then my grey stuff, then my white stuff, then reds, etc. I know it's weird but that's the way I like to arrange my closet! Trust me, the rest of my life is not that organized! LOL! Any way I have alot of Black, Grey and White in my closet cause I love Black and White. Wait I already said that! Well it is true, just ask anyone who knows me. 

   So where am I going with this story? This year, in our Holiday Mini, Stampin' Up! sold this gorgeous Night and Day designer paper. Unfortunately for people like me, when the Holiday Mini ended, so did the black and white Night and Day designer paper. Please Stampin' Up! I am pleading with you - bring back some Black and White designer paper! Until they do, I am going to just enjoy what Black and White paper I have left - even if it is retired. Hmph.

  Well this week I wanted to play along with MoJo Monday since I had the time. This is their sketch for the week. Different right?

Here is my card.

   I know the paper is retired but any paper could be substituted and it was so much fun playing with black and white. I just think it is so elegant. Here is how I made this card.

   I notched the card front on both sides with a circle punch. This holds the ribbon in place.

   The piece on the left is the Itty Bitty Envelope cut with the Big Shot. The flaps were punched with the Sale-a-Bration punch - Scallop Trim Border Punch.

   Inside the envelope is tucked a piece of white cardstock with one of the Tags from our Lots of Tags Sizzlit. It is folded in half and a Jumbo Silver Brad is attached. Note the Silver Brad. It has a
1/2" circle of Night and Day dsp adhered to the top for a cute accent!

   The saying is from the Sale-a-Bration set, Vintage Labels, as is the label. Both are embossed in black and mounted on another Tag from the Lots of Tags Sizzlit. This was raised up with dimensionals.

   The border at the bottom is punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch - love this punch!

   And that is my saga of Black and White. Sorry for the long post!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

• Vintage Labels (Sale-a-Bration)
• Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock
• Night and Day designer paper (retired)
• Versamark ink
• Black Embossing Powder
• Lots of Tags Sizzlit
• Itty Bitty Box and Envelop BigZ XL die
• Big Shot
• Jumbo Silver Brad 5/8" and 5/16"
• 1/2" circle punch
• Black Satin Ribbon (Occasions Mini)
• Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-Bration)

I hope you have a wonderful day and find time to stamp.

Bird on Bamboo

   I have been wanting to participate in the weekly inspiration challenge found on Marie's Blog, From Combat Boots to Rubber Stamps,  and also on Stampin Addicts. I just haven't been able to squeeze it in - until now!

   For inspiration Marie sent us to Art.com where I found my inspiration in THIS PAINTING. 

   Now I am the first to admit that Asian Art is not my thing but there was something about this painting that drew me in. Here is my interpretation.

   You can't tell from the photo that I used the Background Texturz Plate with my Big Shot. It is very subtle.

   For the main image I used the stamp set Asian Artistry. For ink I used Ballet Blue and Sage Shadow markers and omitted the bird. I stamped the bamboo twice and added some orange to a few of the leaves to mimic the original. For the bird I stamped him in black and used markers and a blender pen to soften the colors. He was cut out and adhered with Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive. 

   Once the image was stamped I trimmed around some of the leaves with scissors and used the paper cutter to cut the edges. I love to do this sometimes - just draws the eyes off "the page" a little. Once I rounded the corners I popped it up with dimensionals.

   The bottom of the image needed something so I stamped a saying, punched it out and mounted it on another punched circle (black). The ribbon is just a scrap piece of Sage Shadow grosgrain with a Vanilla button.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Asian Artistry stamp set (Hostess) and Whimsical Words (Sale-a-Bration)
• Basic Black and Vanilla cardstock
• Black Stazon ink
• Ballet Blue, Sage Shadow, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Basic Black, Soft Suede markers
• Blender Pen
• 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches
• Sage Shadow Grosgrain ribbon
• Vanilla Button
• Dimensionals
• Big Shot and Backgrounds Texturz Plate

A really fun challenge! Thanks Marie! If you would like more challenges head on over to Stampin Addicts. They always have some great challenges and it is fun to see what everyone makes!

Pawsitively Spring

   Ack! It is snowing again! Will this winter ever end? To get my mind off snow and winter and cold and yuck, I decided to think spring and pulled out springy colors and stamp set to make the card for today's post. I found this great sketch at Pals Paper Art.

I rotated the sketch and this is the card I made!

   I used the hostess set, Picnic Parade from the Occasions Mini. I really like all of the cute little critters that come with it! For this card I just used the bunny and snail. For the layer behind the bunny I used the Big Shot and the Two Tags die. I am always looking for alternate ways to use our products!

   If you haven't used the Pawsitively Prints designer paper yet - I highly recommend it! It was offered first in the Holiday Mini along with the Build a Bear products. Stampin' Up! carried it over into the Occasions Mini so it is still available. I love the 2 patterns I used on the card front! 

  For the bunny and snail I stamped them with Black Stazon on scraps of designer paper and cut out the overalls of the bunny and the snail. These I adhered with Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive - perfect for these kind of things! In addition, I punched a scallop circle from the Pawsitively Prints dsp, cut it in half and used it for the "grass" beneath the bunny's feet.  All of the coloring was done with markers.

  I wanted the bunny to carry something or hold something so I added 2 button balloons with strings hand drawn using markers. I can't help but think Spring when I look at this card!

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

• Picnic Parade - Occasions Mini
• Pawsitively Prints designer paper - still available in Occasions Mini!
• Certainly Celery and White cardstock
• Black Stazon ink
• Certainly Celery, Ballet Blue, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron markers
• Buttons - Sherbet
• Scallop Edge Punch and Ticket Corner punch
• Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches
• Big Shot and Two Tags die
• dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by! 

Robin in a Tree of Circles

   Robins are a sure sign of Spring here in New England and oh boy I sure can't wait till Spring!! 

   A few weeks ago we were having mild temperatures for this time of year (40's) and as I went out to get the mail around 5ish I heard a robin! You know how they chirp at dusk in the spring and summer? Well that is what I heard! This is very unusual in January! Then a few days later I saw a robin in our  crabapple tree eating crabapples. And I have been seeing it every few days ever since. He is very protective of that crabapple tree as well he should be since we still have snow on the ground. I love that little guy cause when I see him I know Spring is on its way!

   So in honor of my robin I made this card.

   I got the idea for this card while looking through a scrapbooking magazine. I just adapted it to a card. It is a great way to use up scraps of designer paper and random buttons and brads.

   All of the paper is from the 6 x 6 Welcome Neighbors designer paper. Once I had the sky and grass done, I added the tree. I stamped the tree from Seasons of Friendship on a separate piece of cardstock but it could be stamped directly to the paper (I tried it and it worked). Then I punched out random sizes of designer paper and added some buttons and brads. 

   The bird is also from Seasons of Friendship. I used markers to make it look like a robin. The saying is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (a must have stamp set) and layered onto cardstock punched with the Modern Label punch. 

   The ribbon is threaded through 2 round holes punched on either side of the saying. And finally all of the corners were rounded in keeping with the "round" circles, buttons and brads. 

Here is a close up of the tree.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Seasons of Friendship and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
• Soft Suede, So Saffron and White cardstock
• Welcome Neighbors designer paper (Sale-a-Bration)
• Soft Suede and Dusty Durango ink and markers
• Buttons
• Flower designer brad
• White Jumbo Brad
• Modern Label punch
• White Taffeta ribbon

If you have the day off - enjoy! Thanks for stopping by!

Silhouette of a Bird

  Happy Valentine's Day!

This post has nothing to do with Valentine's Day - just wanted to get that out there. LOL.

 I really love the new Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch in the Occasions Mini. As a matter of fact I would say it is my favorite thing in the Mini! I have used that little bird and branch on so many cards - but only as punched pieces. Until now that is. I wanted to use it as a stencil too so I tried it and it worked!

   Here's how I made this card. First I marked and stamped the floral vine from the Tiny Tags stamp set and stamped the vine multiple times on the front of my card (edges sponged with Sahara Sand).

   To make the bird stencil, I first punched the bird and its wing out of a scrap piece of cardstock. This was my stencil. I then placed my stencil onto the front of my cardstock and lightly sponged the bird's body and then used the wing stencil and sponged the wing with more ink to make it darker.

   Once that was completed I punched a scalloped square of Mellow Moss cardstock and stamped the filigree from Tiny Tags all around the edge and one in the middle. I then sponged the edges to make it stand out.

   Next I tore a small piece of Sahara Sand cardstock, crumpled it and sprayed it with water. Once dry, I sponged it and layered it under the scallop square. The pink corduroy button tied with linen thread was added last.

   And finally I tied a piece of pink satin ribbon (I sure hope this ribbon makes into the next Idea Book and Catalog!!!) around the card and added a little tag from Tiny Tags.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Tiny Tags stamp set (Occasions Mini)
• Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Sahara Sand cardstock
• Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink, Sahara Sand ink/markers
• Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch (Occasions Mini)
• Medium Jewelry Tag Punch (Occasions Mini)
• Scallop Square Punch
• Pink Satin Ribbon (Occasions Mini)
• Pink Corduroy Button (Occasions Mini)
• Linen Thread
• Sponge

Have a wonderful day. Thanks for looking!

Spring Birthday in Winter

  My husband came to me yesterday and said he needed a birthday card for his mother whose birthday is this month. Oh boy says I - I will make you one! I always love an excuse to stamp! LOL.

   When I look at this card I can't help but think of Spring! On another note did you notice my new Blog Banner?! I made it with My Digital Studio! The colors say Spring to me - as well as flowers and birds of course!

   Moving on. As you can tell, if you follow my blog, I like to use our demonstrator magazine for ideas. I figure they must know what they are doing when designing cards so why not take advantage of it! That is what I did for this card. I just changed it up to suit my style and need.

   First I ran the card base through the Big Shot using the Final Press Embossing Folder. Then I added a strip of yellow gingham from the Pawsitively Prints designer paper and a strip of eyelet punched with our Eyelet Border punch. The saying is a rub on added to a strip of vellum cardstock. I am not sure how my 88 year old mother in law will feel about the saying. Are birthdays the best at that age?! I don't know but she has a great sense of humor so no worries there.

   The flower is just 5 pieces of Pawsitively Prints designer paper punched with the XL Fancy Flower punch, "crunched" and layered.

  For the adorable polka dotted butterfly I used the Kissing Technique! Don't know what that is? Head on over to Stampin Addicts for directions and more samples! For my sample I used the new Butterfly Accent stamp from the Occasions Mini and the polka dot stamp from Itty Bitty Backgrounds. So easy and so fun! The Butterfly Accent stamp was designed specifically for this technique! Pair it up with any background stamp - the new ones in the Occasions Mini are perfect. Hope you will try it for yourself!
  
All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Butterfly Accent stamp (Occasions Mini)
• Itty Bitty Background stamp - free with $50 order during Sale-a-Bration
• Cameo Coral and White cardstock
• Pawsitively Prints designer paper (Occasions Mini)
• Vellum cardstock
• Rub on
• Eyelet Border Punch
• XL Fancy Flower Punch (Occasions Mini)
• Designer Flower brad
• Buttons
• Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon
• Big Shot and Final Press embossing folder

Have a blessed weekend! 

More Vintage

   It's Friday - yea! I get to wear jeans to work. I don't have to work tomorrow. I am going to dinner tonight with hubby and a dear friend of ours. I have some good books to read this weekend. I made a card. Some of the reasons I like today!

   Here is the card I made - another one that I made with our new Vintage Vogue stamp set. I was just playing around with the collage, vintage, shabby look. Not sure how I feel about this card - I will probably end up sending it to one of my daughters. I did pull out my old VERY much loved Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp set and stamped some random speckles across the front. Love that stamp!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Vintage Vogue stamp set (Occasions Mini) 
• Itty Bitty Background (free with $50 order)
• Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral, Bermuda Bay cardstock 
• Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral ink
• Kraft corduroy button
• Vintage Brads
• Hemp Twine

Thanks for stopping by. If you feel so inclined, please leave a comment - I would love to hear from you!

Heart Wreath on a Barn Door

   I had alot of fun making these cards posted here and here. So I decided to keep the theme going with this wreath on a barn door! This will be my husband's Valentine Card so I wanted something a little masculine, if there is such a thing as a masculine Valentine Card! LOL!

   Since the "barn door" designer paper from the 2 previous cards is now retired, I had to improvise. What to do I asked myself. I looked at the current designer paper I have, and thought of a way to get the barn door look. The paper is the striped, So Saffron paper, found in the Welcome Neighbors paper pack, a Sale-a-Bration selection. The ink is Creamy Caramel. I just opened the ink pad and swiped it lightly over and over from top to bottom until I had the look I wanted. At first I was dismayed because my craft table was apparently not clean (imagine that!) and the bumps showed up on the paper but after I was done, I liked the look!

   For the rest of the card I used Tiny Tags and I (Heart) Hearts to make the wreath. I just stamped both of the little viney stamps over and over in a circle. I then stamped the heart from Tiny Tags and the tiny Love Heart from I (Heart) Hearts and punched them out. These were glued to the wreath.  Mellow Moss Taffeta ribbon gave the illusion of the wreath hanging from the door.

   The saying was stamped twice. I cut out the "V" and glued it onto the Hodgepodge Hardware. Gotta have metal on a guy's card so I also added some Jumbo Eyelets. Now I know this has the color pink and ribbon, all of which are girly, but all in all I really like this card. I think it is my favorite "barn door" card so far. Notice I said "So far"! LOL.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Tiny Tags and I (Heart) Hearts stamp sets (Occasion Mini)
• Holiday Best stamp set
• Rose Red, Creamy Caramel and Vanilla cardstock
• Welcome Neighbors designer paper (Sale-a-Bration)
• Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Rose Red ink
• Jumbo Eyelets and Crop-a-dile
• Mellow Moss Taffeta ribbon
• Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware
• Small Heart Punch (Occasions Mini)
• Modern Label punch
• Corner Rounder punch

Have a great day! Hope you find time to stamp.

For my mom

   When I created this card I made it with my mom in mind - the saying, the trees, the houses, even the colors remind me of her! Living far from home will do that to you! The layout of the card is again from our demonstrator magazine. Stampin' Up! provides so many valuable resources for its demonstrators! I love that company.

   The trees and clouds were already imprinted on the Welcome Neighbor designer paper. I just added the houses and the "bushes" by stamping with the Sale-a-bration stamp set, Good Neighbors. The saying is from another Sale-a-bration stamp set, Whimsical Words. The border was punched with the new Pinking Hearts Border Punch. Finally, I added Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon and a Designer Flower Brad to complete the layout.

  This card was cut so it will fit into a letter sized envelope. I can never remember if these envelopes are A10's A15's or if those are the letters/numbers of the planes that fly over my house! LOL! You get the idea.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Good Neighbors  and Whimsical Words stamp sets (one free with each $50 order)
• So Saffron, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip cardstock
• Welcome Neighbor designer paper (Sale-a-bration)
• Soft Suede, So Saffron, and Mellow Moss ink
• 1 3/4" circle punch and 3/4" circle punch
• Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon
• Designer Flower Brad

It's a good day here at my house! I just got the call that the library where I work is closed today due to an incoming snowstorm! Yeah! A day to stamp!

Vintage Friends

   A little shabby, a little vintage, a little vogue. I made this card using the set Vintage Vogue, available only in the Occasions Mini catalog. When I can't come up with a good layout for a card I often turn to my Stampin Success magazine (demonstrators only). That is what I did for this card. I patterned it after a bright, cheerful "hearts" card found in the magazine only I made it shabby and vintage.

   I used the new Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions folder for the background. Then I added some designer paper from Thoroughly Modern, added a punched Scalloped Trim Border, Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon and my stamped elements. The brad in the center of my flower is one of the new Sending Love Epoxy Brads from the Occasions Mini catalog. One final detail that you really can't see in the photo - paper piercing across the top of the designer paper.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Vintage Vogue stamp set (Occasions Mini)
• Kraft and White cardstock
• Thoroughly Modern designer paper
• Soft Suede and Rose Red ink and markers
• Sponge
• Kraft corduroy button
• Soft Suede grosgrain ribbon
• Paper Piercing tool
• Scallop Trim Border Punch (free with $50 order)
• 1/2" circle punch
• Sending Love Chocolate Chip Epoxy Brad (Occasions Mini)
• Perfect Polka Dot Texturized Impressions Folder
• Big Shot

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing in Your Sorrow

   Some of you may remember that I went to Kenya, Africa 4 years ago to spend time with a very dear friend who is a missionary there. It was a life changing experience needless to say. But that is not what this post is about. It is about my friend who had to come home on furlough last year because her mother was ill and then passed away. Then her father became ill and had major surgeries, etc and she finally made it back to Africa in August.

  Last week David got the call that my friend's father was in the hospital with less than 24 hours to live. My friend quickly flew home from Africa just in time to see her dad before he passed away. 

   I made a sympathy card just for her. 

   I wanted something bright and colorful because she would like that. And I made it with purples cause she would like that too. I was going to use the set Fox and Friends because some of the animals are African but decided against it.

   

I used a combination of stamps instead. This is what I came up with and I really like how it came out. I had leftover strips of Shades of Spring designer paper so I just put them on the card front with grosgrain ribbon and rick rack from Ribbon Originals. A punched border of eyelet at the top and some buttons at the bottom framed the designer paper.

 For stamps I used the stamp set With All My Heart and the new XL Fancy Flower punch for the accent. 

   The saying is partially from the set Thoughts and Prayers (love this set!) and from the set With All My Heart. This is such a simple design and can be changed around depending on the designer paper that is chosen.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• With All My Heart (Occasions Mini) and Thoughts and Prayers stamp sets
• Orchid Opulence, Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron and Vanilla cardstock
• Shades of Spring designer paper (Occasions Mini)
• Orchid Opulence and Elegant Eggplant ink
• XL Fancy Flower punch (Occasions Mini)
• Eyelet Border punch, 1' circle punch, Corner Rounder punch, and Trio Flower punch
• Ribbon Originals - Orchard
• Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon
• brad
• Buttons

  My friend goes back to Kenya next week and she will be missed.

  On a lighter note, the three (3) Valentine packages are packed and ready to go to Ohio where my daughters are. I can't wait to hear their responses when they get them. See previous posts for package contents. I enjoyed sharing them with you.

Have a blessed day,

Valentine Treats

  You know those little Valentine candy hearts that say things like Be Mine, Love, etc.? My kids love those things. Me I prefer chocolate! Anyway, I bought some to send to my girls, along with all of the other goodies. But I couldn't just send them in their plain package now could I? Instead I made this little purse using my Big Shot, Top Note die and the yummy Sending Love Specialty paper. See this post for another such purse. I also used the Scallop Circle Die and the Clear Circle die to make the purse's closure. I wish you could see how the paper sparkles - it is just lovely.

   Now if I had been thinking straight I would have photographed the candy too but I don't think of those things until it is too late! So all you get is the purse. But wait. There is more!

   I found these cute little containers of strawberry gum (sugar free of course) and covered them with some Sending Love Specialty paper. The tag was done with the Big Shot, Teeny Tiny Wishes and the Word Window punch.

   And the new Satin Ribbon? Don't get me started on how beautiful it is! If it doesn't make it into the new catalog I will be so disappointed!

   This next photo is of a clear plastic paint can found at the local craft store. I simply covered it with Sending Love Specialty paper - sparkly side up - and added some wide Pretty in Pink Grosgrain (retired) with a nice big bow. But it needed a tag so I stamped one with the Holiday Best Stamp set.

   And the best part? I filled it with chocolate candy! Yum yum yum!

Here they are. All 3 projects photographed together.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order from me.

• Holiday Best and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
• Real Red and Vanilla cardstock
• Sending Love Specialty paper (Occasions Mini)
• Real Red and Pretty in Pink ink
• Full Heart, Scallop Oval, and Word Window punches
• Vanilla Jumbo Brads
• Pink Satin ribbon (Occasions Mini)
• Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon (retired)
• Natural Hemp Twine
• Big Shot
• Top Note die, Clear Circle die, Scallop Circle die

Thanks for checking in. Have a nice weekend!

Be Mine - Valentine

  Today's projects are in keeping with the Valentine theme and are part of the care packages I am sending to my daughters. I am so glad Stampin' Up! created Heart Shaped Treat Cups in addition to the ever popular round treat cups. They coordinate perfectly with our Full Heart punch and the new Sweetheart stamp set!

     For this card I ran the Real Red cardstock through the Big Shot using the Final Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (whew what a mouthful). On top of the card front I layered the Sending Love Specialty paper that was die cut with the Top Note die. You can't really see the sparkle in this photo but ooo la la it is so pretty! The flower and bird are from the Sweetheart stamp set. And because I am loving the Tiny Tag stamp set I just had to pin a little tag to the ribbon.

   These are some lollipops I covered with more of the beautiful Sending Love Specialty paper. The little critters on the front are from Love Bandits stamp set - punched and layered on cardstock punched with the XL Fancy Flower punch.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Sweetheart stamp set and Tiny Tags stamp set (both Occasions Mini)
• Real Red, Close to Cocoa and Vanilla cardstock
• Sending Love Specialty papet (Occasions Mini)
• Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Real Red ink
• Real Red and Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon
• Heart Shaped Treat Cups (Occasions Mini)
• Brads
• Full Heart and Corner Rounder punches
• XL Fancy Flower and 1 3/4" circle punches
• Big Shot
• Final Press Texturized Impressions Embossing Folder
• Top Note die

My final Valentine projects will be posted tomorrow so I hope you will be back. Thanks for stopping by today!

Chocolate is a Good Choice

  Well this is the second Valentine's Day project I made to send to my girls out in Ohio. I am having alot of fun with our new  Milk Carton die! It requires the standard 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of cardsock so there isn't any waste and it can be filled with all sorts of things. I filled this one with chocolate of course!

   To make the container, I assembled the milk carton, then wrapped Sending Love Specialty designer paper around it. The stamp is from the Things I Love stamp set. I have to admit it is my favorite of all the stamps in that set! Once stamped, I punched it with our square punch and layered it to a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock punched with the Scallop Square punch. Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and a litte le red heart finish off the front.

   I can't believe I haven't purchased the Library Clips - until now that is! Hijack here. I work in a library and I have no idea what a library clip is used for in its natural setting. lol.  No library clips in our library that I can see! Anyway I just got some  Stampin' Up! library clips and they work great to close the top of the milk carton die. For mine I tied a piece of pink satin ribbon at the top and it is good to go.

  All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order from me.

• Things I Love stamp set
• Chocolate Chip, Real Red, and Vanilla cardstock
• Sending Love Specialty designer paper (Occasions Mini)
• Chocolate Chip ink
• Scallop Square punch
• 1 1/4" square punch
• Small Heart punch (Occasions Mini)
• Library Clip
• Pink Satin ribbon (Occasions Mini)
• Big Shot 
• Milk Carton Die (Occasions Mini)

Some more projects will be posted tomorrow. Until then Happy Stamping!

It's All In The Presentation!

    My girls (all grown up) love to receive gift cards or money no matter what the amount. Hand them either one and they are happy! But since Valentine's day is coming up and I will be sending them a package, I decided to include some cold, hard cash but couldn't decide what to put it in since I didn't want it to get lost among the other goodies I will be sending them. Lots of good stuff coming up in this week's posts!

So imagine my delight when I cruised on over to Stampin Addicts and found the 3D challenge for this week is a Gift Card/Money holder! I love when that happens!!

   The outside was made with the fantastic, sparkly (hard to see in the photo) oh so beautiful Sending Love Specialty paper! Every sheet of this double sided paper has one side embossed with sparkles! I will be posting more projects this week, all made with this gorgeous paper.

  The flower was stamped with Pretty in Pink CRAFT ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder for even more sparkle. Once I punched out my flower with the XL Fancy Flower Punch, I backed it with another flower punched from Pretty in Pink cardstock and added the corduroy button. 

   Inside was accented with a a double border of Pinking Hearts and more specialty paper. 

   This is such a girly project - I know my 3 girls will be very impressed!

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• With All My Heart stamp set (Occasions mini)
• Pretty in Pink, Vanilla cardstock
• Sending Love Specialty designer paper (Occasions Mini)
• Pinking Hearts Border Punch (Occasions Mini)
• Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch (Occasions Mini)
• Pink Corduroy buttons (Occasions Mini)
• Pink Taffeta ribbon and Vanilla Taffeta ribbon
• Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and Heat Tool

Thanks for stopping by! 

Medallion and Vintage Labels

   My mom, who lives 400 miles away in my home state of Pennsylvania, just turned 83. She is not a fancy schmantzy kind of gal so I made her a simple birthday card this year. Green is her favorite color so my color choice was easy. I wish I could have been there to give it to her in person. Instead I heard about the birthday party my brother and sister in law had for my mom and my nephew and nieces (see previous posts for their cards). I know it sounds like I am whining and I guess I am! Sometimes it is soooo hard living so far away from my family!! Ok I feel better now - sorry about that!

   I love how the Sale-a-Bration stamp set, Vintage Labels, coordinates with Medallion stamp set! This card design came directly from our demonstrator magazine, Stampin' Success. I changed the colors, brads, and the saying to make it work for a birthday card or a general, all purpose card.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here to order.

• Medallion stamp set and Vintage Labels (Sale-a-Bration)
• Sage Shadow and Pale Plum Textured cardstock
• White, Perfect Plum and Handsome Hunter cardstock
• Perfect Plum, Handsome Hunter, Pale Plum, Sage Shadow ink
• Circle punches, Scallop circle punch
• silver brads and rhinestone brads
• dimensionals

Enjoy the day!