Delighted with Aviary

As I said many times, I delight in birds. Of course as soon as I saw the Aviary set in the catalog it made it to my list. My buddy Lorien brought the set to the mingle so I was able to play with it a bit. I like it even more now! The various bird cages are lovely and the different sizes of birds are fun to experiment with. I also used the new background stamp Pretty Pattern, Crumb Cake cardstock, Marina Mist taffeta ribbon and Early Espresso cardstock and ink. The Crumb Cake panel has the Pretty Pattern design heat embossed with clear embossing powder on it.

Whoo, whooo.

ACK! Don't you love the new owl punch?? I love birds and my middle daughter loves owls so this is one punch I'll need to order. Again, one of the make and takes at the demo mingle this past weekend used the owl punch so I borrowed it to make a birthday card that I needed for the daughter of a friend. We are giving her a Night Owl purse from Vera Bradley so I knew I had to make this card to match! The colors are Black, Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake and Pink Pirouette. Do you like the birthday hat? I just cut that out of cardstock myself and added the rhinestone to the top. TIP: The pupils on the owl are so tiny that I didn't use the punch outs for them, I just used a marker and drew them in.

Sweet Scoops Again

Here is another project using Sweet Scoops. I really like this stamp set and am anxious to see if it makes it on the "carryover list" that sometimes gets published by Stampin' Up! This list allows a set to be sold even though the mini catalog is no longer active. If it makes it there, maybe it will make it into the main catalog next year. Don't you love the script on the sentiment? The sentiment is from the set Curly Cute. The colors on this card are Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Poppy Parade.

Always Elegant - On My Next Order

This is made with the new set Always Elegant and it will be going on my next order. The main image caught my eye in the catalog but it didn't make it's way on my list. At the stampin get together I was at one of our make and takes used this set and I'm glad it did. I'm also glad the Debra doesn't mind sharing her stamp sets so I could use it to make a wedding card for a wedding we will be attending this weekend. This card uses Early Espresso cardstock and the new 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Cherry Cobbler cardtsock and ink, Pink Pirroutte cardstock, Crumb Cake ink and carstock, the new flat back adhesive pearls and oval punches.

Stampin Get Away - New Goodies

This past weekend I was lucky enough to get away for the weekend to stamp. I haven't done that in exactly a year when I made a trip to hang out with some fellow demos at the same place. What a good time! I stamped several different designs and goodies - my hope is to post them all for you to enjoy. When I saw the set "For Everything" in the new catalog, I knew it was going on my first order. I enjoy most sets that you need to color the images in. I know it isn't very conducive to making alot of the same cards, but the areas are narrow enough that you can easily use your markers. I have also thoroughly enjoyed the new flat backed rhinestones that Stampin' Up! is carrying. I hope you get to stamp today!

Sweet Scoops Birthday

Yes, I do still stamp...once in awhile. Has it really been since February since I have posted to my blog? I have stamped a bit since then and must have forgotten to add my projects here. So, I'll post a few for your viewing pleasure. My oldest has a birthday party to go to today and she requested the Sweet Scoops Stamp set for the card. I got the color combination from the wrapping paper of the gift. I've used Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Certainly Celery. Everything is from Stampin' Up! except the "cherry" gem on top of the ice cream cone. The ribbon is the Pumpkin Pie striped ribbon that just retired. I'm glad I had a bit left because it worked perfectly for this card. The sentiment comes from the "go-to" set, Teeny Tiny Wishes. Enjoy your day!

More Valentines, You and Moi

I have been making a few Valentines lately and I thought I would share them with you. This one should have arrived by now so I figured it was safe to post. I used the set You and Moi along with several other little items like Prints Designer Paper, a retired heart eyelet, new Celery Satin Ribbon, punches and even a non-SU piece of bling.

This project uses the new Pinking Hearts Border (which is just so sweet and delicate!) and the new Small Heart punch. Did you know that the set You and Moi is one that you can earn for FREE with your Sale-a-bration purchases?!?

"Love"ing the Pennant Die

Stampin' Up's Pennant Die isn't new, it has been around for over a year, but it is new to me and I am really loving it!

I made this project to decorate for Valentine's Day and currently it is hanging over our fireplace. You should have seen me trying to figure out how to cut out a full pennant! Once I did some searching on Splitcoaststampers and found out that you need to fold the card stock in half and place the fold along the one end and THEN you would have a full pennant, I was feeling very silly.

Here is a close up of the letter "O" which has uses the new 2 step bird punch from Stampin' Up! I LOVE this punch. It works for so many thing, when you love birds as I do. I have to admit that this is not Stampin' Up! designer paper. Isn't it lovely though?!?! I used Ruby Red card stock, Close to Cocoa card stock and Blush Blossom. The letters are not actually chipboard but they were traced from a retired chipboard alphabet that Stampin' Up! used to sell. I'm so cheap that I don't actually use chipboard, I just use it as a pattern. So, I traced the letters on Ruby Red card stock, cut them out and then covered it with Versa Mark and some clear embossing powder. The ribbon that this is hanging from is the Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon from last year. I snatched up an extra roll of that last year knowing I'd be using it with my Ruby Red projects. So glad I did!

Another Mini Project

I really love the Sale-a-bration set Good Neighbors. My favorite house has to be the house with the heart on the door. It works really well for Valentines cards (I'll have to share with you a photo of a Valentine's card that I made with it a couple weeks ago.) I made this for a friend of mine recently (I'm hoping she has received it by now). I paired it with bright colors because I am sick of the cold here in Michigan. Cold and barely any snow! We did get snow earlier this week but not very much. I used Bermuda Bay, Certainly Celery and Melon Mambo. The roofs to the houses are stamped with Close to Cocoa, cut out and then popped up. The sentiment is an oldie...I believe it came from one of the All Year Cheer sets that retired several years ago. I hope you have a great day today!

New Occasions Mini Is Here!

Here is my first project with a new set that I just had to have from the new Occasions Mini. This is the new set Fox and Friends. Did you know that with this new mini, we can now choose our stamp sets to be the traditional wood mounted or unmounted? I did order this set as unmounted but I have to say, I still prefer my wood mounted sets. I'm glad I did get a set that is unmounted, at least I can show it to my customers, but I'll be choosing wood mounted for my personal use. The tree was made by using the snowflake punch (just cut the majority of the snowflake off to make the tree trunk) and the scallop circle punch. I wish I could take credit for that adorable design, but I can't. I saw it on splitcoaststampers.com. Adorable don't you think?

Gift Card or an Ornament?

Yes, I'm around...Yes, I've done SOME stamping, but not nearly as much as I would like to be doing. This year I have tried my hand at sewing and am working on making a few gifts for my girls. It is taking ALOT more time than stamping does! I held a gift card stamp camp recently and here is one of the projects the ladies made. I really love the simplicity of this, but yet also how you can really turn it into anything!

This was made with Stampin' Up's Scallop Square Die Cut. The base of the ornament is a piece of chipboard covered with a cut out of Certainly Celery card stock. I then ran a piece of Real Red through the die and cut it in half diagonally to create a pocket. (The piece of pink card stock you see is a stand in for a gift card). I love that you could hang this on your Christmas Tree or a door handle, or just about anywhere. Imagine all the holidays you could do this one for!

Winter Post

Here is yet another sample from my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack. I used the Winter Post stamp set on this one. I really like this stamp set. I paired it with Soft Suede, Real Red, and Sahara Sand. I also pulled out my Photo Corner Punch since that has not seen the light in ages! After this class my Sleigh Bells ribbon in nearly gone, I suppose I should order some more since it is in the mini catalog and who knows if it will make it into the Idea Book and Catalog come summer.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow...Not Yet!

As the last of the leaves are trying to fall in our yard and the temperatures drop, I am reminded that snow will be on its way before we know it. I really do love the snow...I just wish it only stuck around till mid January!

This is a simple card that we did for my Christmas Card Stamp A Stack. I used the Serene Snowflakes set from the current mini catalog as well the greeting from Christmas Greetings. We stamped the snowflakes with White Craft ink and then heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. The snowflake is from the Merry Embosslit in the mini catalog. We got ALOT of use out of that product at the stamp camp! We finished it off with some faux stitching and the adorable Real Red Polka Dot grosgrain...adorable and easy!

A Bit of Spring

This is a sample that I have been meaning to share from Jami's New Catty Swap. The swap was over weeks ago (golly, it could have been a month ago now!) but I am just getting around to start posting my samples. This is made using the set Herb Expressions. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE lavender so when I saw this set I had to grab it! I paired it with the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper. I kept thinking I had to add something to the left side of the card but all the gals I was stamping with said to just leave it alone. When I look at it I still think it is missing something, but if I had put anything on it, I am sure that Lorien would have ripped it off!

Still Stampin...

Yes, I'm still stamping (sometimes), certainly not as often as I would like! As a home schooling parent it seems that once school starts, I am so busy and preoccupied that I really have to try to find time to stamp. If it weren't for my stamp clubs and the stamp camps I have been trying to schedule, I might never find that time for me! Here is a sample of a card that one of my stamp clubs recently made. I LOVED the way it turned out. We were doing the faux tin sheet technique (which I am not even certain if that is the name of it or not, but that is what I have called it). We started with our card base (Real Red regular sized card) and ran it through the Big Shot with the Square Scallop Die. We cut a piece of Certainly Celery slightly smaller than the card base and then yet another piece of card stock a bit smaller than the Celery piece (it does not matter which color since it will be covered anyway). Cover this piece with Tin Foil, just bend it around the edges of your card stock, and run it through your Finial Press Embossing Folder. When it comes out it looks just like those tin sheets that are found on old ceilings. It is just the neatest effect! The Old Olive panel uses the Winter Post set and Many Merry Messages. All of the images are stamped in Old Olive (some stamped off before stamping, to give dimension). The deer is stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Add a cute ribbon to the top and a brad and I might have my Christmas card design for this year!

Congrats and Missing You...

This card has been sitting in my computer for awhile now, just waiting to be shared with you. Some very dear friends recently moved to Oklahoma. Although I really wanted to send a card that said, "HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US!!???!!! We need you here!", I knew it would not help the situation (and I also know that my girlfriend didn't really want to leave anyway). I decided I should be a good sport and congratulate them on their new house. This card was made with the Neighborhood Jumbo Wheel. I just wheeled the images and cut out the house that I wanted, colored it in with Stampin Write markers and popped it up on the card with a dimensional. I used some of my favorite colors together...Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Real Red and So Saffron. I was giddy to be able to use the new Real Red Polka Dot ribbon! I LOVE this ribbon! It is also hard to see in the photo, but I also used the larger polka dot Texture Plate on the background. This was a fun card to make, even though I was missing my friend while making it.

More Christmas....

I can't get enough of the new single stamp, Dasher. How adorable is this? I love the image!! Dasher is stamped in Chocolate Chip Craft ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder, as is the sentiment which comes from Fundamental Phrases. You can never go wrong with the wide grosgrain ribbon, so I had to use some of it. The Final Press embossing folder is one of my favorites and goes quite well with the image of the deer don't you think?

Christmas Card Stamp Camp Coming Up...

This Saturday I am holding a Christmas Card Stamp a Stack at my home. If you are in the Flint, Michigan area and wanted to join us, please let me know. This is not a card we will be doing at the class, but it is fitting with the Christmas theme for the stamp camp. This card was one that I recently submitted for a swap and I was unable to share with you until the cards were swapped out. This one uses the new Serene Snowflakes set in the Holiday Mini catalog. I was not planning on using brown and red for a snowflake card, but I did want to use the new designer paper in the mini so it just took off from there. Do you like the Build-a-Brad used in the center? I just don't pull those out often enough! In addition to using Serene Snowflakes this card uses the new Teeny Tiny Wishes - a MUST have set! I have 3 other cards to share over the next few days so be sure to check back!

A Bit More Fall for Ya...

I LOVED the way this card turned out. Simple as can be but just as cute as can be (what till you see the Christmas one I did just like it.) I want the ladies at my stamp camp to get to use the Square Scallop die to make a card base and this was just as fun as can be to make. I used the Final Press embossing folder as well - this embossing folder is by far my favorite. It adds so much elegance to a card. I also broke out my jumbo eyelets since I haven't used those in awhile. I love setting those things with the Crop-a-dile! I've got an idea swirling around in my head for this little card and hopefully I'll work it out soon and share with you!

Stamp Camp Coming Up!

I have a stamp camp scheduled for this Saturday from 10-2 and anyone who is in the Flint, Michigan area is welcome to attend. (Just let me know soon so I can check on space availability and be sure to have enough projects cut.)

This is one of the cards we will be making. The burning bushes in my front yard are starting to change color and that always gets me excited for my favorite season - fall! When I saw the set Falling Leaves in the new catalog, it really didn't scream at me, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Now that I own it, I can't stop using it! I love the circle image and used it on this card to make a cut out in the bottom corner. The inside of the card looks like this:

After I finished it I thought I should have added some leaves down the left hand side. I really love the Razzleberry and Suede card stock together and thought it still looked "fall-ish" but with are non-traditional fall colors.

I'll share another project we'll be making at my stamp camp tomorrow. Stay tuned!