Super Bowl Musings

One of my downline had a birthday this past week, and she is a HUGE Denver Broncos fan. (Go 'Hawks!)  So, I made her birthday card in her favorite team's colors, as much as I could, and much as it pained me, lol.

Why am I cheering for the Seahawks? Well, several reasons....

1. My BFF Barb is rooting for them. Don't really need more reason than that, but...
2. My dear departed daddy was a Seahawks fan, and I know he would have been tickled to see them make it to the Super Bowl for their second time. (I miss you Daddy!)
3. The Mannings. I have a distinct dislike for Archie and Eli, after the unprofessional crap they pulled when the Chargers drafted Eli ten years ago. So, Peyton is tainted just by being a Manning. Yes, I will admit that he is one of the best quarterbacks of all time, but he's still a Manning. (Said like Seinfeld says Newman, lol.)
4. I have to keep the friendly rivalry going between me and my downline!

 So, what is on the menu at your house for the big game?

Stamps: Peaceful Petals, Gifts of Kindness (greeting)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor Paper, Sweet Sorbet DSP, Midnight Muse DSP (2013-2105 In Color DSP Stack)
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Calypso Coral, Tangering Tango, Old Olive
Accessories: Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Aqua Painter, Pearls Basic Jewels

Swappin' With the Freaks

One of the perks of being a Control Freak is getting to swap several times per year with the other Freaks. We try to choose a wide variety of stamp sets, card styles, and/or techniques so we can inspire our stamping friends and show them sets that we may not necessarily have in our own collection. It's a wonderful thing!

This is the swap card that I just sent off.  The theme this time is, of course, the new Occasions Catalog.  My stamp set of choice was Peaceful Petals again. Can't help it - I just love that set!  Plus I'm holding off on buying too many new sets until after January 1st.  (But it's so haaarrrrrd!)

So, more bright, Spring-y colors with the Watercolor Wonder DSP, plus I used four of the stamps in that set!  And as I was coloring all the large leaves (and fussy cutting them), and coloring all the flowers, and all the smaller leaves, and adding the glue and glitter to the centers, I was kicking myself for not thinking it through enough.....I had to do that 28 times!

Oh well, I hope they like it!

Stamps: Peaceful Petals
Cardstock: Watercolor Paper, Whisper White, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Goil Foil Paper, Watercolor Wonder DSP
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots folder, 2-Way Glue Pen, Gold Stampin' Glitter, Blender Pens

Occasion-ally Freaky

Ha, bet that got your attention, didn't it? It's time for the Tour de Freaks blog tour and the theme this month is the new, soon-to-be-released Occasions Catalog. It's a short tour this month....only eight of us were insane dedicated motivated enough to sit down and be creative less than a week before Christmas! (What was I thinking?!) If you joined the hop at the beginning, you just landed here from the uber-talented Julie Davison's blog.  But if you started 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 projects for you today, using the Peaceful Petals and Perfect Pennants stamp sets. They all use the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper, yet they all look completely different. Variety is the spice of life, right? And Stampin' Up! makes it so easy with these great products!

My first project is very, um, timely. (Haha, I crack myself up sometimes!) The end of the year is hurtling toward us at break-neck speed, and a new calendar will soon be starting. I thought it would be nice to keep a mini calendar and sticky notes beside the phone, so I made this cute easel stand to hold them both.  And hidden behind the calendar panel is a pencil for jotting down phone numbers or appointment times!

STAMP: Peaceful Petals  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Wild Wasabi, Watercolor Wonder DSP  INK: StazOn Jet Black, Island Indigo, Wild Wasabi, Crushed Curry  ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Trimmer, Blender Pens, Sticky Strip

My next two projects are cards. The first one was made for my honey, who has been having to work a ton of overtime. He had to go in to work two hours early yesterday (we got up at 2:45 am, ugh) so I tucked this in his lunch to give him a hug at work. Without co-workers to witness it and razz him, because I'm thoughtful like that.

STAMPS: Perfect Pennants  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor Wonder DSP  INK: VersaMark, Tangerine Tango, Smoky Slate  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Banners Framelits, Heat Tool, Heat & Stick Powder, Gold Stampin' Glitter, Gold Baker's Twine, Gold Sequin Trim, Stampin' Dimensionals, Multipurpose Glue

And here is the second card.  As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I'm soooo happy to be playing with Spring colors.  I was just about ready for something new, and the colors in the Watercolor Wonder DSP are just the ticket!

STAMPS: Peaceful Petals  CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Watercolor Paper, Watercolor Wonder DSP  INK: StazOn Jet Black, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Crushed Curry  ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, 2-1/2" Circle punch, Blender Pens, Gold Baker's Twine, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

That's it for me today. Thanks so much for stopping by! Now head on over to LeeAnn Greff's blog and check out her projects - I'm sure she's going to wow you!!!

Make it Mailable 13-13 (and a Sneak Peek!)

There is so much beautimus schtuff in the new Occasions Catalog, that I can't settle on any one product! I feel like a butterfly, flitting from one pretty flower to the next, not landing on any one blossom for more than a split second.

Case in point - this card. I tried to use everything from the pre-order on just this one card, lol.  Well, four products, anyway. Not that I exaggerate or anything.

The Peaceful Petals stem was stamped on Watercolor Paper in Jet Black StazOn and colored with an Aqua Painter in Pacific Point ink.  The stems/leaves are Pear Pizzazz and the flower centers are Crushed Curry. (Since it was going to be covered with the Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, it needed a vibrant blue to overcome the muting effect of the vellum.)  The Gold Baker's Twine complements the gold foil hearts embossed on the vellum.

That Watercolor Wonder Designer Series paper is one of those rarities for me.......I love BOTH sides of ALL the sheets. That's going to make for some tough choices in the future, I'm sure!  But with 12 designs to love, I think I'll cope somehow, haha.  And, believe it or not, I love the chevrons, as well! (I know, right? What's up with that?!) Maybe because they aren't as overpowering as some previous designs?

I can't link to any of the new products yet, because they won't be available until January 3rd, but if you would like a copy of the new Occasions Catalog when it is released, let me know and I'll have one sent to you. Trust me, you don't want to miss any of the awesomeness! I know I say that every time.  Have I ever steered you wrong???

I Love the Man in Brown!

Yesterday he brought my box of stamping goodness from Stampin' Up!  My pre-order from the Occasions Catalog arrived, and I can't wait to show you some of the lovelies.  Well, I can't show you the products (yet) but I CAN show you what I make with them!

I don't know about you, but after dozens and dozens of Christmas cards these past few weeks, I'm about over Christmas, and Christmas colors. So when I tore into the pack of Watercolor Wonder DSP, I got positively giddy at the beautiful Spring-y colors!  And here is the card that resulted from the giddiness:

There are new Framelits used here; the banners and the starburst circle are all new. And the blossom is from the gorgeous Peaceful Petals stamp set.  I heat embossed it in gold on watercolor paper, then used an Aqua Painter to add Blushing Bride to it.

So, ya know how I love me some bling, right? Well there's bling aplenty in the new catalog!  The Gold Sequin Trim and Gold Baker's Twine are just two of the fabulous new shiny items.

Note: Items in Red are in the new catalog available January 3rd.

Stamps: Peaceful Petals, Perfect Pennants
Cardstock: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Watercolor Paper, Watercolor Wonder DSP
Ink: VersaMark, Wild Wasabi, Blushing Bride, Crushed Curry marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, Banners Framelits, Decorative Dots embossing folder (Sale-A-Bration FREE item!), Heat Tool, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Aqua Painter, Gold Sequin Trim, Gold Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots, 1/8” sticky tape (non-SU)