Update

If you are a blog follower of mine, you may noticed a significant drop in my postings.  Like almost all of us, I have many titles--wife, mommy, prek coordinator/teacher, crafter, runner, etc.--and having the job of Stampin' Up! demonstrator was one that I loved.  In my endeavor to find balance in my life, something had to give, and unfortunately, making the minimums to stay active with Stampin' Up! was one of the things that I decided to let go.  This does not mean that I will not continue to make cards and post them, nor does it mean that I may never join SU! again.  But at this point in time, I'm sad to say, I am no longer an active demonstrator.


If you are looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator to buy from, I encourage you to visit the online shop of my upline, Beth Ann Wilson, who has become, and will continue to be, a wonderful friend of mine. 

God bless!

Happy Birthday with Quatrafancy Window Sheet

When CASE'ing (Copy and Share Everything), I usually change certain elements or part of the design.  This time, I copied almost everything exactly...except for the ribbon and the Subtle buttons instead of the Brights!  But then I did the card again in different colors. 
Stamps: Pennant Parade
Inks: Crumb Cake
Paper:  Crumb Cake , Quatrafancy Specialty (retired)
Other:  Natural Trim ribbon (retired), Blossom punch, Pansy punch, Linen Thread, Subtles Designer Buttons, Bitty Banners Framelits, Glue Dots

Thank you to Kay Kalthoff for the inspiration for this card!

Lovely as a Tree

Here is another card we made at our recent team meeting with a tried and true stamp set--Lovely as a Tree.

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Hardwood,Wetlands
Ink:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Other:  Sponge Daubers, Large Oval Punch

Vivid Vases and Blendabilities Markers

At our recent team meeting, I got to use the new Blendability Markers for the first time on this card designed by Beth Ann Wilson!  They are alcohol ink markers made for blending and shading. Each pack comes with a dark, medium, and light shade that coordinate perfectly with Stampin' Up! ink pads and cardstock.   Note:  Use with a Memento Ink Pad to prevent smearing of your stamped image!

Stamps:  Vivid Vases
Ink:  Memento Ink Pad, Blendabilities Markers
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Other:  Fancy Fan Embossing Folder

Watercolor with clear block Thank You

Stamps: Flowering Flourishes, Four You
Ink:  Basic Black
Paper:  Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Cherry Cobbler
Other:  Marvelous Markers in Perfect Plum, Rose Red, and Cherry Cobbler; Jewels, Vanilla Smooch Spritz

Wetlands Watercolor Block Birthday

Another take on yesterday's design, this one for a birthday.  I love this technique of coloring the clear block and using the Vanilla Shimmer to make it appear watercolored when stamped. 

Stamps: Wetlands, Four You
Ink:  Pool Party, Soft Suede
Paper: Pool Party, So Saffron, Whisper White
Other:  Marvelous Markers colored on clear block in So Saffron, Pool Party and Soft Sky, Sponge Daubers, Vanilla Shimmer

Just for You Wetlands with Watercolored Block

Stamps: Wetlands, Label Love
Ink:  Pool Party, Soft Suede
Paper: Pool Party, So Saffron, Whisper White
Other:  Marvelous Markers colored on clear block in So Saffron, Pool Party and Soft Sky, Artisan Label Punch, Dimensional

Watercolor on clear blocks

Stamps:  Four You, By the Seashore
Inks:  Island Indigo
Paper:  Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo
Other:  Marvelous Markers in Garden Green, Crushed Curry and Island Indigo, clear block, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Linen Thread

Happy Birthday Butterfly Wishes

The sentiment is from the Simply Sketched stamp set and the flower is from the Bright Blossoms set.  I wanted to use the flower from the Summer Silhouettes set, but I couldn't find it....may have loaned it to my mom?  Let me know, Mom, if you have it!  :)

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri, Simply Sketched, Bright Blossoms
Inks:  Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green, Primrose Petals
Paper:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Other:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Jewels
Inspiration:  Card found on Pinterest

You Make Me Happy

This title makes me want to start singing the song Happy by Pharrell Williams from the movie Despicable Me 2.  You can listen to it here: 

I love this stamp set!  The watercolor stamp, which I used for the background has a slight texture to it, which makes a fabulous stamped image.

Stamps:  Happy Watercolor (retired)
Inks:  Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green (retired), Tangerine Tango
Paper:  Whisper White, Gumball Green (retired), Watercolor Wonder DSP (retired)
Other:  Jewels, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Dimensionals
Inspiration:  Card from Pinterest

The New Catalog is Here!

It's here!  The new catalog has arrived, and it is full of fun new stamps and products.  What are your favorites?  Once you are finished browsing, click here to shop now. 

Thoughts of You

On this card, I used a clear block stamping technique. It's just what it sounds like; I used one of my clear blocks as a stamp.  I wasn't getting the coverage that I wanted by tapping the block on the ink pad, as I usually do with stamps, so I put the block at the top of the ink pad and dragged it across the surface.  Then stamp, it's that easy!

Stamps:  Polka-Dot Pieces
Ink:  Pistachio Pudding, Night of Navy
Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Pistachio Pudding
Other:  Pearls

Basketball Thank You and Gifts

My darling daughter has been busy these past few months playing basketball.  She had simply wonderful teammates and coaches and they won the championship game!  As a congratulations to the team and as a thank you to the coaches, I made these little cards and magnets. 

Stamps:  Slam Dunk (retired), Lots of Thanks
Ink:  on cards Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black; on magnets Staz-On in Rusty Brown (which looks orange, weird, huh?)
Paper:  Whisper White

You are wonderful!

I used some retired materials on this card, but it would be easy to recreate it using other stamp sets and DSP.  The sunlight was a challenge to photograph in, but I finally got one with which I was happy!

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (retired)
Paper:  Whisper White, Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP (retired)
Ink:  Lucky Limeade
Other:  Pearls, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder (retired), Beautiful Wings embosslit

You Make Me Happy!

Stamps:  See Ya Later Alligator (a Sale-a-bration stamp set)
Ink:  Coastal Cabana
Paper:  Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Eastern Elegance DSP
Other:  Deco Label Framelits, 3/8" Stretch Ruffle Trim in Coastal Cabana

Thanks to Jill Hilliard for the inspiration for this card!

Butterflies' Gingham Garden

I saw a similar card to this created by SU! demonstrator Kay Kalthoff, who was inspired by SU! demonstrator Irene Boesen in making her card.  I knew I wanted to recreate it, but I swapped out the paper colors, embossing folder, designer paper, stamps....but I love the design!  It would be easy to recreate this card with a different look, just by switching around the basics!  You should try it, and share your creation too!

Stamps:  Feel Goods
Ink:  Island Indigo
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Garden Gingham DSP
Other:  Elegant and Bitty Butterfly Punches, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder (SAB '14), Pearls, Dimensionals

Mixed Blossom Sympathy Card

Stamps:  Mixed Bunch, Blessings From Heaven
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry/Baja Breeze
Paper:  Whisper White, Floral District DSP
Other:  3/4 inch circle punch, Blossom punch

Valentine Owl

My daughter actually found some store-bought window cling valentines she wanted to use this year.  But she still insisted that we make some part of it by hand, because, you know, "it's just what I do." :)

Stamps:  Punch Bunch (retired)
Inks:  Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar
Paper:  Red Glimmer, Pool Party
Other:  Heart to Heart Punch

Beautiful Wings Thanks

Stamps:  Lots of Thanks
Ink:  Calypso Coral/Wisteria Wonder
Paper:  Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky, Pistachio Pudding, Blushing Bride
Other:  Beautiful Wings

Thanks to calmag for the inspiration!

Petal Parade and 4 Four You Cards

I have been looking for some clean and simple cards for a group of never-stamped-before people, and I think this might be one of them!  I love how you can change the colors and the sentiments and it was so easy!  I added a bit of shimmer using Dazzling Details.

Stamps:  Four You, Petal Parade
Inks:  Strawberry Slush/Wisteria Wonder/Coastal Cabana/Wild Wasabi
Paper:  Whisper White, Strawberry Slush/Wisteria Wonder/Coastal Cabana/Wild Wasabi
Other:  Dazzling Details

Thanks to Sharon Jaramillo for the inspiration for this card!

Serene Silhouettes Thinking of You

I am looking for some clean and simple cards to make with a group for Operation Write Home.  I don't think I will use this one since some people might not like eyeballing lining up the circles, and I don't want to break out the stamp-a-ma-jig, considering this will be a group of people most of whom are not experienced with stamping.  Still, this was a quick and easy card to make, and not a color combination I would normally have tried.  Thanks to the Color Coach for suggesting it! 

Stamps:  Serene Silhouettes, Four You
Inks:  Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Cajun Craze
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Thanks to Julie Cluff for the inspiration for this card!

Masking Tape Technique

I had fun making this card.  To make the background, I used the masking tape technique, although I used blue painter's tape, instead of masking tape.  I tore off a piece of tape longer than my piece of Whisper White.  Even using the painter's tape, I found it was too sticky, and it worked better if I first pressed it several times onto a clean, smooth surface and lifted it up.  Really, I repeated this numerous times; the less sticky, the better.

Once most of the stickiness was gone, I then dabbed it directly onto the stamp pad to ink it up.  Then I applied it directly to the card stock.  I gently rubbed across the back of the tape to make sure more ink adhered to the paper, and then gently lifted it up.  (This is where it became more important that the tape was LESS sticky!)  I used 3 different pieces of tape, one for each color.  I wanted it to look like water, sky, and sun for the lighthouse. 

You may want to make sure you have re-inkers available for your ink pads if you are going to be making lots of cards this way.  I made several cards using this technique and it seemed to use a good bit of ink. 

Stamps:  Coast to Coast (retired)
Inks:  Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue (retired), Marina Mist
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue (retired), Marina Mist, Whisper White
Other:  Baker's Twine in Cherry Cobbler, painter's tape

Petite Petals and Flower Shop

A look at the Sale-a-bration DSP--Sweet Sorbet!  The Petite Petals and Petite Petals Punch are now available in the Occasions catalog!

Stamps:  Petite Petals, Flower Shop, Another Thank You
Inks:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party
Paper: Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Whisper White, Sweet Sorbet DSP
Other:  Petite Petals Punch, Fancy Flower Punch, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

Petite Petals Thank You

Stamps:  Petite Petals, Another Thank You
Ink:  Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizazz
Paper:  Whisper White
Other:  Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Petite Petals Punch

Follow My Heart Thank You

The Follow My Heart stamp set is part of the Whole Lot of Love promotion.  The clear mount set is now sold out, but it is still available in wood mount.  Let me know if you want to order it; supplies are limited!

I used Dazzling Details on the Pool Party heart on the Eiffel Tower, but it doesn't show up very well in the picture. 
Stamps:  Follow My Heart, Another Thank You

Paper:  Whisper White, Sweet Sorbet DSP
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding
Other:  Dimensionals, Dazzling Details, Triple Heart Punch (retired)

Good as Gold, a Sale-a-bration kit

Here is your first look at one item you can get during Sale-a-bration.  I made these cards  from the Good as Gold kit, which is free with your purchase of $50.  They were so easy to assemble!  The kit comes with all the materials you need to make 8 cards, even the envelopes, which have a beautiful gold lining!  I forgot to take a picture of the envelopes! 

While the samples on the kit showed the gold ribbon and baker's twine wrapped around the top of the card, I tried one that way, and found I preferred a tiny gold ribbon layered with the star that punches out of the gold banner piece.  That's a nice thing about Stampin' Up!'s kits; you can make them exactly like the model, or be creative and add your own ideas! 

Wetlands Thank You

Stamps:  Wetlands
Ink:  Island Indigo, Soft Sky (on some I also used Pool Party or Bashful Blue), Sahara Sand, Early Expresso, Wild Wasabi
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Early Expresso, Sahara Sand
Other:  Sponge Daubers, copy paper

Thank you to Angie Leach for the inspiration for this card!

New Occasions Catalog, Get Ready for Valentine's Day, Best of Stamps

Three news items I want to share with you:

1.  The 2014 Occasions catalog is now available!  As in the holiday catalog, there are many project samples shown in the front, followed by the stamps and other products in the back.

 

Click here to shop the 2014 Occasions Catalog

2.  There are several new Valentine stamps available, as well as some cute Valentine monsters for you sweet, little monster to make for his/her classmates or friends.  Only available through January 27th, so don't delay!

Click here to shop Valentine Products

3.  In case you didn't see the last two "Best of" stamp sets, check out Best of Snow and Best of Sale-A-Bration.  Remember, these, as with all of the "Best of" stamp set are for sale through March 31st.

 

Click here to shop Best of Stamp Sets

Finally, an announcement.....Sale-a-bration is coming soon!  Any $50 purchase between January 28th and March 31st will earn you a free Sale-a-bration product! 

Christmas Card 2013

I like to include a family picture in our Christmas cards, but I also like to hand make them.  This year, I found a way to do both.  I used the Circle Card Thinlits Die to make a flip card, with a snowflake from Festive Flurry on one side, and our family picture on the reverse.  I also usually like to make it a current family picture, but due to time constraints this year (meaning BUSY SCHEDULES!), I had to use one from earlier in the year. 

Stamps:  Festive Flurry, More Merry Messages (2012-13 stamp set)
Paper:  Whisper White
Ink:  Island Indigo
Other:  Jewels, Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Circle Punch, Circle Card Thinlit Die