So, What is YOUR Favorite in the Mini?

That's the theme of this week's challenge at SUO Challenges! Create something using your favorite stamp set or item from the new Occasions Mini. Well, as much as I love nearly EVERYTHING in that catalog (except the gnomes....I just don't get the appeal), I was head-over-heels ecstatic when I saw the Framelits and Edgelits. I've been longing for thin metal dies, made by our very own company, for like, EVAH!

And, apparently, so has much of the rest of our Design Team, because most of us used them, one way or another, in our cards this week, tee-hee! Hey, we know a good thing when we see it.  I was really tempted to use the Bordering on Romance stamp set, too.....so glad I didn't, now that I see what my peeps designed! Long-time followers know that I have to gear up for all the February birthdays coming up, so I went with Crazy for Cupcakes instead.

Thanks for stopping by, and I can't wait to see what YOU choose as a fave from the mini. Maybe one of you can convince me that gnomes are awesome.

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes, Bring on the Cake
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, White Cardstock Vellum
Ink: Cotton White Staz-On, Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede, and Basic Black Classic Pads, plus Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Little Leaves Sizzlits die, Perfect Polka-Dots embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Boho Blossoms Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon, Circle Rhinestone Brads, Blender Pens

Excitement!

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it! This weekend is the first gathering of Moovers & Shakers, from Splitcoast Stampers! Six wonderful ladies (of whom I have grown very fond over the last few years) are coming to my house for a weekend of stamptacular fun!

So, instead of cleaning house, what am I doing? Posting a card so you all don't forget about me, lol!  This was made with scraps laying on my desk (a desk that really needs to be cleaned before the weekend). Even the cupcake had already been colored and cut out....I just never got around to using it until now.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I'll be posting pictures of the craziness here this weekend, and some of the cards we are making.... most of which will be sent to Operation Write Home. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy, Happy Birthday, My BFF Barb!

In celebration of my bestest buddy in the whole wide world's birthday, I made this little card for her and tucked it in a box with a few Stampin' Up! goodies for her to play with.  If you recall, Barb is the person responsible for my financial woes  addiction  journey into paper creativity! She made this phenomenal card for my birthday earlier this year.  I can't compete; ain't even gonna try.  But I hope she likes this card, as simple as it may be.  Under the awning of the sweet shop is a message that says "Fat-free, Sugar-free, Guilt-free!" We are both battling the bulge.  I'm losing.

This is the card I CASEd, but I added my own twist to it.  There's an acetate sheet window, to look like glass.  I used DSP instead of plain cardstock (adhered to textured CS).  There's some embossing along the bottom window sill, inspired by Sandi McIver.  And I was going to put shutters on the sides of the window but ran out of time, so I added the little punched hearts instead.

The window frame was cut using the Paper Cutter.  I penciled the cutting lines on the back side of the cardstock, then used the slide cutter to carefully cut out each window pane.


Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes (111618), Yummy (retired)
Cardstock: Whisper White Textured (108589), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
DP: Razzleberry Lemonade (115675)
Inks: Melon Mambo Classic (115656), Soft Suede Classic (115657), Real Red Stampin' Write Marker (100052), White Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (105021)
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Finial Press Textured Impressions die (115963), Paper Cutter (104152), Scallope Edge Punch (112091), handheld heart punch (Fiskars)

Razzle Mambo-ade Cupcakes

Mmmmmm, cupcakes.  Cupcakes with lots of frosting.  Cupcakes with lots of frosting and a cherry on top.  Fat-free, calorie-free, guilt-free cupcakes!  

We made this card at a friend's workshop a couple days ago (hi, Dani!).  The hostess had requested something using the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set, so this is what I came up with.  The Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper is just a riot of fun In Colors, and I have such a hard time deciding which side of the papers I want to use!  There are 12 designs to choose from, and I managed to work three of 'em into this card, so it satisfied my sweet tooth desire for lots of color. :-D

We spotlighted water coloring with the Classic ink pads and blender pens on this card.  This is really a fun technique that even novice stampers can do with great results.  Tomorrow I'll show you the other card we made. ;-)


Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes (111618)
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry (115316), Watercolor Paper (105019)
DP: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (115675)

Inks: Staz-On Black (), Rich Razzleberry Classic (115658), Melon Mambo Classic (115656), Crushed Curry Classic (115659), Soft Suede Classic (115657), Real Red Stampin' Write Marker (100052), White Gel Pen (105021)
Accessories/Tools: Rich Razzleberry Polka-dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613), Blender Pens (102845), Ticket Corner Punch (107214), Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889)