SPRING! (Did I Get Your Attention?)

As I am writing this, the other side of the US just got hammered yet again with snow and ungodly cold temperatures, and now a major portion of Texas is under a winter storm watch.  So yes, it is January, but enough already! (I won't gloat mention the unseasonably warm/dry weather we've been having here. It just wouldn't be right. Besides, we have to deal with wildfires, so there's a balance of some sort.)

To get your mind off frigid weather, frozen pipes, and cars covered in ice/snow that won't start, here's a pretty card bursting with spring blossoms!

All of my favorite harbingers of Spring are there, the daffodil, tulip, and hyacinth! And the very first brave bloom to poke its head through the snow would be the crocus in the center! I'm not so sure about that ratty-looking daisy, though. I think it must have been a weed that crashed the party.

The My Paper Pumpkin monthly papercrafting kit new subscriber special continues! The subscription is 14.95 plus $5 shipping and includes an $8.50 clear acrylic block in your first kit. Sign up now and receive a FREE set of 2012-2014 In Color markers with your Welcome Kit ($14.95 value)! More than double the value with your first kit! You can cancel anytime, so why not try it? AND... if I get two subscribers by Saturday, I will get a $100 grab bag of retired product, which I will happily share with my new subscribers. Sign up at My Paper Pumpkin.

STAMPS: Vivid Vases, Hardwood, Banner Blast (Sale-A-Bration item)

CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black 

INK: StazOn Black, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Soft Suede, Perfect Plum, Crushed Curry, plus Pear Pizzazz marker   ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Fancy Fan folder, Banner Punch (Sale-A-Bration item), Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim, Gold Baker's Twine, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Blender Pens

New Year, New Tour de Freaks!

Welcome to the Tour de Freaks - we're glad you're here! It's a whole new year, and a whole new theme. The theme this month is 'Love' and the soon-to-be-released Sale-A-Bration flyer! If you joined the hop at the beginning, you just landed here from the amazing Justin Krieger's blog. But if you are starting here on my blog, you can take the whole tour by clicking on the "next stop" button at the bottom of each blog.

I have three cards for you today! I was going to try to squeeze in a 3D project, too, but ran out of time.

For the first card, I used the Language of Love stamp set in the Occasions Catalog. It was super easy to make the heart banner, because the little hearts can be perfectly punched with the Small Heart Punch!  And the tiny gold hearts were punched from scraps with the Owl Builder Punch.

STAMPS: Language of Love, Itty Bitty Banners  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Fresh Prints DSP Stack, Gold Foil Paper  INK: Strawberry Slush, Costal Cabana  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Linen Thread, Glue Dots, Owl Builder Punch, Small Heart Punch, Strawberry Slush Ruffled Trim, Decorative Dots folder

Up next is a card made mostly with items from the Sale-A-Bration flyer.  I love the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper - the colors are so, well....SWEET! I colored the blossoms with a Blender Pen and Calypso Coral ink, them added some Gold Stampin' Glitter to the centers to bling it up a bit.  There were leftover hearts from the first card, so I added them to this one!

STAMP: You're Lovely  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Sweet Sorbet DSP  INK: Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Old Olive  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Deco Labels Framelits, Owl Builder Punch, Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffled Trim, 2-Way Glue Pen, Gold Stampin' Glitter, Blender Pens

And last, but not least, is this adorable little birdie bringing some love! This bird is from the Love You More stamp set that is part of the A Whole Lot of Love promotion. If you  like it, don't wait around to get it, because the promotion ends January 27th!

STAMPS: Love You More  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Fresh Prints DSP Stack, Red Glimmer Paper  INK:  Soft Suede, Real Red  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Decorative Dots folder, Starburst Framelits, Circle Framelits, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Coastal Cabana Ruffled Trim

That's all for me, folks! Thanks so much for stopping by! Now head on over to Mindy Backes' blog and check out her projects - she's just the bee's knees with her creativity!!!

Burlap and Blooms

Besides a passion for making cards, I've recently discovered I also love making home decor to match the seasons. Who knew? You may or may not have noticed the Simply Created Wreath Kit called Burlap and Blooms on page 21 of the 2014 Occasions Catalog.  (By the way, if you don't have a catalog, contact me and I'll send one right out to you!)

I must say, Stampin' Up! has made it so easy to make this Spring-theme wreath! The kit contains everything you need to create it, except the hot glue gun.  I timed myself to see how long it would take and, including the time it took to unwind and re-wind the burlap ribbon*, the wreath was done in about 3 1/2 hours.

The only thing I added that wasn't in the kit was a couple of Bermuda Bay rosettes, made with the Spiral Flower Originals Die.  Because of the colors in my living room, I thought the wreath needed a pop of deeper color.  (You can watch a YouTube video of this die in action HERE.)

So, there you have it....an easy way to brighten any room and chase away those winter blahs!

Stamps: None
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay (for rosettes)
Ink: None
Accessories: Burlap and Blooms Simply Created Wreath Kit, Big Shot, Spiral Flower Die, Bone Folder, Silicone Craft Sheet, hot glue gun (non-SU)

*  I overlapped the burlap ribbon too much and ran out of ribbon about 2" before the chipboard wreath form was completely covered. I found it was best to overlap the previous pass about halfway on the inner part of the wreath, and angle the ribbon over to overlap the outer part of the ribbon by about 1/4".

Celebrate the Everyday!

Out with the old; in with the new!!! I love the name of our new Occasions Catalog. It is so full of inspiration for doing just that! Well, while I have had the opportunity to experience all the wonderful products inside for the past month, and it's been killing me I couldn't show any products, now YOU can nsee everything, too!  The catalog goes live today!!!  If you don't have a demonstrator and you want a copy of your very own to drool over, I'd be happy to send you one.....just contact me!

And while I'm sad to see the old Holiday catalog ending, there ARE some carryover items that will still be available to order. You can see the list HERE.

Happy New Year, and happy new catalog!