Saturday, May 30, 2015

Amazingly Blessed


I am blessed beyond measure with the most awesome friends! My hubby has to work so much overtime, he hasn't had much time for working on the "honey-do" list. And I hate to ask him to do things on his precious one or two days off per month. So my sweet friend Selena's husband is here this weekend, installing the flooring in the dining room and kitchen. I am paying, of course, but for Brent to give up his weekend just for us is beyond words for me. I just can't thank them enough!

So, I fed him a big breakfast, stocked the fridge with his favorite beer, and plan on feeding him lunch and supper, too.

This is the card I'll be giving him with the payment inside. I used the Adventure Bound DSP stack for the rocks and the background. If you want it, there's only three days left to order it!

Things are moving along on our Tennessee house. I think the last major hurdle (getting insurance) has been cleared; at least I hope that's the last one! It's been an adventure, with some unpleasant surprises, but we are in the home stretch. Wednesday is the final walk-through, and with any luck, there won't be any more problems revealed then. Say a prayer and wish us luck!

STAMP: Crazy About You
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black
CARDSTOCK: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red, Silver Glimmer, Adventure Bound DSP Stack
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Hello You Thinlits Dies, Banner Punch, Handheld Stapler, Stampin' Dimensionals

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Retiring Poppies and an SCS Tutorial


We are less than two weeks away from the items on the retiring list being gone forever, so I decided to show some love to some stamps that will be going bye-bye. *Sniff*

Of the four stamps sets used on this card, two are retiring.....Pleasant Poppies on the front, and the sentiment from Yippee-Skippee inside. I was inspired to watercolor the poppies by the Wednesday Tutorial over at Splitcoast Stampers, called Distress Stain Watercolor. Since I don't have any distress stains, I substituted Stampin' Write Markers and it worked out just fine!


This card is going to someone very, very near and dear to my heart. I hope this special person likes it!

Recipe:
5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Naturals White, scored at 4-1/4" for card base
4" x 5-1/4" Basic Black for mat behind image
3-7/8" x 5-1/8" Watercolor Paper
Use Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers, coloring direct to stamp, then spritz with water and stamp on Watercolor Paper. Don't clean stamp yet.
Follow tutorial linked above for coloring the image. I added highlights with Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry, then added black dots with Project Life Journaling Pen.
Stamp greeting in Jet Black StazOn, then add dots with white gel pen. Use scrap of Cherry on Top DSP to stamp butterfly, then punch with butterfly punch and adhere with half of a Stampin' Dimensional.
Adhere image to Basic Black mat and then to card front.
Stamp sentiment inside and huff on poppy stamp to add shadow image to side of sentiment.

STAMPS: Pleasant Poppies, Hello Life, Yippee-Skippee, Papillon Potpourri
INK: Jet Black StazOn, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, plus Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
CARDSTOCK: Naturals White, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper, Cherry on Top DSP Stack
ACCESSORIES: Aqua Painter, Project Life Journaling Pen, White Gel Pen, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Monday, May 18, 2015

Ronald MacDonald House Charities


In 2003, Stampin' Up! partnered with Ronald MacDonald House Charities, and each year since then they have designed a new stamp set that is dedicated to RMHC. Three dollars is donated from the sale of each set, and over the years this has added up to hundreds of thousands of dollars going to this worthy cause! I love being a part of this company!!!

I always thought the sets were cute in the past, but mostly weren't something I could really use. This year is a wonderful exception! I am so in love with this very versatile set - so many ways to use it, for so many different occasions!

This is a cute little love note-sized (3 x 3) card that would be perfect tucked into the top of a gift bag, or under the ribbon on a small gift. (It was the other project we made at the stamping team meeting last week.) The inside says:
MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS....
BUT IT CAN BUY CUPCAKES,
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING.

Smiley from Millan.Net

We used the 2015-2017 In Color Envelope Paper for the little envelopes and leftover scraps on the cards. You can get four envelopes out of one 12 x 12 sheet, with enough left over to trim the cards. The envelopes started as a 5-1/4" square, and were punched and scored at 2-5/8" on the Envelope Punch Board.

Recipe:
3" x 6" Whisper White (1/8 of a 12 x 12 sheet), scored at 3" for card base.
5-1/4" x 5-1/4" Envelope Paper, punched and scored at 2-5/8" on all sides for envelope.
1-1/2" x 3" Envelope Paper adhered to bottom of card front.
2-3/8" x 2-3/8" Whisper White, stamped with greeting and cupcake bottom, then adhered to
2-1/2" x 2-1/2" Soft Suede mat, centered and adhered to card base.
Scrap Mint Macaron to stamp cupcake top in Mint Macaron ink, then punch out.
Scrap Whisper White to stamp candle in Soft Suede, then cut out.
Scrap So Saffron to stamp candle flame, then punch out and glue over white flame.
Trim 1/8" off bottom of candle and glue to cupcake top. Adhere cupcake top to card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

* All items with an asterisk below will be available starting June 2nd.

STAMPS: Sprinkles of Life*
INK: Mint Macaron*, Soft Suede
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White 12" X 12", Mint Macaron*, Soft Suede, So Saffron, 2015-17 In Color Envelope Paper*
ACCESSORIES: Envelope Punch Board, Tree Builder Punch*, Stampin' Dimensionals

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Build A Birthday


This is one of the cards we made at the stamping team meeting last Wednesday, using the Build a Birthday stamp set that will be available June 2nd. Since it's photopolymer (completely clear) it's easy to see exactly where you're stamping, making lining things up a breeze!

I used the cheerful colors in the Cherry on Top DSP Stack as inspiration for the card. And that's a good tip for anyone who has trouble choosing colors for their card - just start with some Designer Series Paper and pull a color combination from it. Stampin' Up! colors coordinate beautifully, so you can hardly go wrong!

To illustrate how easily this card came together, I designed and made it in less than fifteen minutes. And now that it's designed, I can duplicate it in about five. Woohoo!

Here's the recipe:
5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Whisper White, scored at 4-1/4" for card base
2" x 5-1/4" Cherry on Top DSP, adhered to left side of card front
3-1/4" x 4-1/4" Crushed Curry for mat behind image
3" x 4-1/4" Whisper White, stamped and adhered to Crushed Curry mat
Fasten matted image panel to card front with Stampin' Dimensionals

STAMPS: Build a Birthday
INK: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush, Pool Party, Watermelon Wonder
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Cherry on Top DSP Stack
ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Dimensionals

Friday, May 15, 2015

You've Got This Birthday


In between my list of "have to do" things (laundry, doctor app't., sorting/packing, searching for necessary documents), I've managed to squeeze in some creative time. This is the swap card I made for my stamping team meeting on Wednesday. It uses the You've Got This stamp set, and the Happy Birthday, Everyone hostess set from the new catalog.

I love how easy it is to make a WOW card with these new stamps! The only semi-diffucult thing was fussy-cutting the blossom, which wasn't even hard unless you hate fussy-cutting, which I don't. unless I have to do a gazillion of them for a convention swap, in which case I'd re-think the design. (Been there, done that, have the callouses to prove it!)
Smiley from Millan.Net
We also made a couple of cute projects at our get-together, which I will share in the next few days.

STAMPS: You've Got This, Happy Birthday, Everyone (hostess)
INK: Early Espresso, Mint Macaron (stamped off once), Watermelon Wonder, Smoky Slate, Cucumber Crush
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder, Tip Top Taupe
ACCESSORIES: Tip Top Taupe Dotted Lace Trim, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Dimensionals

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

2015-2014 In Colors


Now that my box of preoder goodies has arrived, I've been busy prepping the new catalogs and playing with new products. (In between sorting and packing, of course.) Every time we have a new set of In Colors, I like to send my stamping friends samples, both stamped and punched. It's really the best way to really see the true colors, and I'm happy to make a little something to show them off.

This year, I'll be tucking these cute little bookmarks into the catalogs I send out. They're fairly quick to put together, and the sample of the lace trim is a fun touch which gives them a cahnce to feel how soft and supple it is. My downline will be receiving these, as well, at our stamping team meeting tomight!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Stampin' Addicts Retiring Set Blog Hop


Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Retiring Set Blog Hop! This weekend we have 9 stampers who have created fabulous projects using products from the recently released Stampin' Up! retiring list. There are so many favorites that are going away, but I know they are making room for new soon-to-be favorites! The retiring stamps will be available to order until June 2nd, but everything else is "while supplies last."

I'm the first stop on the hop, but you may have just landed here from the link on Krystal's blog. She sure makes me wish Stippled Blossom wasn't retiring! Love that 2-step stampin'!

I chose Apothecary Art and the matching Labels Collection Framelits. I just love the way you can die-cut the stamped image and build layers so easily!


My first card is just in time for Mother's Day! The largest image from Apothecary Art was stamped, colored with Stampin' Write Markers, and fussy-cut so the mat would just peek out. I kind of fudged a bit on the greeting by using Sweet Laughter from the Occasions catalog. It's retiring on June 2nd, too, so at least I kept up the retiring theme!

My next card is so soft and feminine-looking. It also has a bit o' bling, so of course, it's my fave! It was stamped on Watercolor Paper and colored with markers, then matted on Champagne Glimmer (also retiring) and popped up on Blushing Bride DSP (from the retiring Subtles DSP Stack). The card base is Naturals White cardstock, which is on the list to go, as well. I think it really coordinates with the Watercolor Paper, so I'm sorry to see it go.


That's all I have today, so thanks for stopping by! Rhonda is next in line, featuring Gifts of Kindness over at The Stampin' Bunny.

This hop was brought to you by the good folks at Stampin' Addicts. We're addicted to all things Stampin' Up, and welcome visitors and new members!

SUPPLIES (Items in red are retiring)
Mother's Day
STAMPS: Apothecary Art, Sweet Laughter  INK: StazOn Jet Black, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF, Labels Collection Framelits, Tea Lace Doilies, Pearl Basic Jewels, Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Birthday
STAMPS: Apothecary Art  INKS: VersaMark, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers  CARDSTOCK: Naturals White, Watercolor Paper, Champagne Glimmer, Blushing Bride DSP  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Blushing Bride 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Artisan Embellishment Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals

http://thestampinbunny.blogspot.com/2015/05/stampin-addicts-2015-retiring-stamp-set.htmlhttp://krystalscardsandmore.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Retired and Retiring


Mother's Day is fast approaching, and since my mom is about 1,900 miles away, I won't get to spend the day with her. *sniff* So I decided to make a little gift to send with her card this year. It was easy to make the gift box, which holds six cards with envelopes, with the envelope punch board. (**See measurements below.)

I used some now-retired Irresistably Yours DSP because it's a nice sturdy weight for a box. And guess what?! The new annual catalog will have an all new version called Color Me Irresistable! It includes some colors, as well as all white! Cannot wait until I can get my hands on it!
Smiley from Millan.Net

The Peony closure was a breeze with a couple of punches and Filter Paper! Using four layers of the rectangle paper, I punched twice with the Blossom Punch, which is retiring the end of this month, and three times with the Pansy Punch. I stacked them all together, poked a hole in the middle with the Paper Piercing Tool, and held them together with a Mini Brad. They were then scrunched and fluffed, the edges dipped on the retiring Strawberry Slush Stampin' Pad, and spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (also retiring).


The flower was adhered to a punched 2-3/8" scalloped circle of Strawberry Slush, then adhered to the box with Stampin' Dimensionals, leaving the top free to tuck the flap under. So, how did I mail it without crushing the flower? I made a little circle from Kraft Cardstock to protect the blossom and mailed it in a small flat rate Priority box!


** BOX (1" x 5" x 6") easily holds six embellished cards with envelopes.
Start with a 10" square of cardstock and punch/score at 4-5/8" and 6-1/8". Then use score lines to continue around the other three sides. There's a handy calculator HERE for other sizes!

STAMPS: Better Than E-Mail
CARDSTOCK: Irresistably Yours, White Filter Paper, Kraft Cardstock, Strawberry Slush
INK: Strawberry Slush, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi
ACCESSORIES: Envelope Punch Board, Blossom Punch, Pansy Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Handheld Stapler, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Mini Brads, Stampin' Dimnesionals

Friday, May 1, 2015

Postponed Hop and Sneak Peek

The Stampin' Addicts had to move their retiring products hop to next Friday, May 8th. Sorry about that! I think the extra time will mean more fabulous projects to see, so be sure to check back then!

Meanwhile, to get you excited for the new annual Stampin' Up! catalog that starts June 2nd, I have the names of the new In Colors, and some samples to show you! These were revealed at the South Pacific Stampin' Up! Convention and if you look verrry closely, you'll see new stamps, dies and embellishments! WOOHOOO! Click on the picture for a closer look.


Yes, there are new butterfly stamps, butterfly Framelits dies, In Color Sheer Lace Trim, and sweet little In Color Blossom Accents! And if you were really, really observant, you probably noticed the reformulated DSP background paper under the lace trim. I LOVE it, because I know I will use all four designs....no more chevrons! Wahoootie!