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Blooming with Kindness

I've had this card for Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Challenge TSSC266 done since Tuesday, but just getting the opportunity to photograph and upload it here on my blog!  I didn't want to miss the deadline!  Some weeks, where does the time go?

And here is my card using Stampin' Up!'s Blooming with Kindness and one of the new In Colors…Strawberry Slush!  I love it paired with Pink Pirouette!

Here are the details:

1. The base card is 4 1/4 x 11 Strawberry Slush, folded in half.
2. I added a layer of 4 x 5 1/4 Whisper White.
3. I cut a strip of 2 x 4 3/4 Quatrefancy Designer Paper and placed along the left side.
4. On a piece of 2 1/2 x 3 3/4 Whisper White, I stamped the image by inking up the flower with Pink Pirouette first, then used markers to add Strawberry Slush and Always Artichoke accents.  I stamped Thank You in Always Artichoke.
5. This was layered in 2 3/4 x 4 Always Artichoke cardstock.
6. I punched a strip of Pink Pirouette cardstock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and tucked half of it under the left side.
7. I added a 1/2 x 1 strip of the Quatrefancy DSP in the corner, cut with a flag end, then a large Rhinestone jewel on top!

I love the soft colors on this beautiful flower image!

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Relax this summer and let Create with Connie and Mary design your classes for you!

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TSSC259 Swallowtail

Today's Technostamper Lunchtime Sketch Challenge is just too fun not to try!  Now, I did take a little creative license with the sketch…and you'll see what I mean.  I let the Swallowtail stamp be the focus.  I held classes this past weekend with this Swallowtail stamp…they got the stamp FREE when they signed up!  So, here is one more idea for them to use with their stamp!

So, instead of the little element on the front, I cut out a portion of the Swallowtail and had that be the element.  And, I knew right away I wanted to use Summer Starfruit, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede for my color scheme.  When we were at Niagara Falls, we went to the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory…I have never seen such gorgeous butterflies!  Did you know it is considered good luck when they land on you?  We had several land on our hair, shoulders…it was funny!

OK…here are the details:

1. The base is 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 of Crumb Cake cardstock, folded in half.
2. I cut a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of Very Vanilla, then stamped on it with the Swallowtail.  I inked up the butterfly with Summer Starfruit Ink, then added Soft Suede around the edges and center just by touching the pad onto the rubber.
3. I carefully cut out the left side of the butterfly, if you look closely you can see where I stopped.  I left that piece of Very Vanilla attached, but added the 2 x 4 piece of Comfort Cafe Designer Paper along the left side.
4. I punched a piece of Soft Suede cardstock with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch and placed along the edge of the Designer Paper.
5. I used a couple Stampin' Dimensionals to lift up the left side of the wing on top of the DSP.
6. I added a couple pearls in the upper right corner.
7. Then I stamped Thank You with Soft Suede ink on Soft Suede cardstock with the Bitty Banners stamp and cut with the Bitty Banners Framelits.

This is a really easy card, but love the pop of yellow and how the wing pops off the card!  But it is still flat enough to mail (the Pearls will add extra postage…substitute a couple 1/4" circles instead!)

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Swallowtail is one of the stamps we are featuring in Week 3 over on Create with Connie and Mary for the NEW Card "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition.  We are using occasions, nature and celebration stamp sets from the Main and Spring Mini catalogs!  We have THREE FREE Preview Projects over there for you to see what we are all about and to download the Project Sheets! 

* Over 72 EXCLUSIVE card ideas with 18 stamp sets featured!
* Runs daily March 31 – April 20
* Printable supply lists, measurements and DIRECTIONS!
* 24/7 access up to a year
* Perfect for classes or personal cards!
* Designers Elizabeth Price, Melissa Davies, Debbie Henderson and Deb Currier are joining Mary Brown and Connie Babbert!

For the Birds

Wow!  I'm sure you've all heard the NEWS by now!  New COLOR REFRESH and FREE SHIPPING on ANYTHING in the main and Spring catalogs from April 6-8, 2013!  Make sure you order the RETIRING colors before they go away…cardstock, ink refills, and any accessories are while supplies last!  You can email me (I'll have orders going in each day), or order online yourself! 

But, I am excited that some of our "older" In Colors are coming back into the regular line!  AND…we are finally getting a new light shade of gray to replace Going Grey that went away several years ago!  Seeing these fresh new colors makes me anxious to see the NEW In colors!  Only a couple more weeks!

Today I'm sharing a card I actually did a while ago for one of the Create with Connie and Mary Sketch Challenges…but I switched it out to another card with a holiday theme and never used this one!  For the Birds is one of the stamp sets that I featured in the new Card "Create"tions for All Occasions!  So, this is like a BONUS card for you if you've joined already!  If not…why not???  See all the details of what you'll get below!

I think this is PERFECT for spring…the birds are certainly chirping around here…and those mama robins are SOOOO fat!  lol!  Today's CASology Card Challenge is the keyword UP!  I think the message here is uplifting support, don't you?

Here are the details:

1. The base is 4 1/4 x 11 Lucky Limeade cardstock, folded in half (and I'm sad they didn't keep this fun color…sniff, sniff)
2. I added a 4 x 5 1/4 Daffodil Delight cardstock, run thru the Big Shot with the Houndstooth folder.
3. I cut a 1 1/2 x 5 piece of Floral District Designer Paper and layered it on a 1 3/4 x 5 piece of Lucky Limeade cardstock.  I slanted it across the front of the Daffodil Delight layer and trimmed off the excess on the sides.
4. I wrapped the White Taffeta Ribbon around on the front and tied a bow, then adhered that element to the front of the card base.
5. I stamped the For the Birds image with Black Stazon on Whisper White, then cut with the Labels Framelits.  I watercolored with my AquaPainter and Stampin' Write Markers in Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, and Lucky Limeade.
6. I layered this Label on another Label Framelit of Tangerine Tango cardstock and placed on the front with Stampin' Dimensionals.
7. Finally, I punched the Boho Blossom Punch with Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White, layered the sizes together and added a Lucky Limeade Polka Dot Brad to the center and attached to the front of the card.

I love it…so cheerful and uplifting!  Would definitely cheer someone UP to receive this in the mail, right?

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And, don't forget!  We are JUST getting started over on Create with Connie and Mary for the NEW Card "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition using occasions, nature and celebration stamp sets from the Main and Spring Mini catalogs!  We have TWO FREE Preview Projects over there for you to see what we are all about and to download the Project Sheets!

* Over 72 EXCLUSIVE cards with 18 stamp sets featured!
* Runs daily March 31 – April 20
* Printable supply lists, measurements and DIRECTIONS!
* 24/7 access up to a year
* Perfect for classes or personal cards!
* Designers Elizabeth Price, Melissa Davies, Debbie Henderson and Deb Currier are joining Mary Brown and Connie Babbert!

Get more details and join the fun over on Create with Connie and Mary!

CAS211 Ears to You

Splitcoaststampers has a fun CAS (Clean & Simple) CAS211 sketch challenge today so I thought I'd play along.  I was able to use up some of the "starts" on my desk…you know…those little pieces of projects that you started, but didn't end up making the cut on the card you were making earlier!  The little bunny is one of them.  My Easter cards (you'll see later this week), used only 2 of the bunnies, so I had a few of these left over.  You will see another card using one tomorrow!  lol!  I also had the two scraps of Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP and the Pink Pirouette already cut to size!  Made this card come together REALLY quickly!  So…here is the sketch.

And here is my take on it:

And here are the details:

1. 4 1/4 x 11 of Pink Pirouette folded in half to make base card.
2. 4 x 5 1/4 Very Vanilla layered on top.
3. Two pieces of 1 1/8 x 3 1/2 Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Paper, cut with flag ends and adhered on top.
4. 1 1/8 x 4 piece of Pink Pirouette c/s, cut with a flag end, stamped with Everybunny greeting in Basic Gray and adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.
5. Punched Decorative Label from S&S DSP and placed on top of Pink Pirouette c/s.
6. Cut out Pink Pirouette bunny from Ears to You placed with Stampin' Dimensional on top.
7. I added two Itty Bitty flowers punched from Daffodil Delight cardstock.
8. I placed Pearls in the centers of the flowers and on the bunny's eye!

So…what do you think?  CAS?  Fits the sketch?  I was pretty happy with it and used up some of my "starts", too!  Thanks for stopping by!

TSSC252 Everybunny

I haven't had the opportunity to play along with Mary Jo's Monday Technostamper's Lunchtime Challenge for a LONG time!  I loved her sketch this week, so I grabbed another Easter set, Everybunny, and played along!

Here's my take on her sketch.  I used the same Designer Paper and colors as my card on Monday!

Here are the details:

1. The base card is 4 1/4 x 11 of Primrose Petals, folded in half.
2. The Birds of a Feather pattern is 3 x 5 1/2 and adhered towards the left side.
3. The balloon bunny from Everybunny was stamped with Black Stazon on Whisper White and watercolored with Summer Starfruit, Island Indigo, Primrose Petals, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip Markers.  The bunny is Crumb Cake and the basket is Chocolate Chip.
4. I used the Oval Framelits to cut the Whisper White and Summer Starfruit ovals, then pierced around the larger one.
5. Happy Easter is stamped with Island Indigo on Whisper White and punched with the Modern Label punch, then layered on a 1 1/4" Circle of Island Indigo and the Crumb Cake Decorative Label punch.  I tucked it up partially under the Ovals and added two Itty Bitty flower punches with Pearls on the bottom right side.
6. I added more Itty Bitty flower punches with Pearls from the bunnies hand floating thru the air…lol!

Again a really fun Easter card!  Hope you enjoy it!

Check out my new list of RETIRED STAMPS and ACCESSORIES for sale HERE!

Ears to You

Over on The Paper Players, they have a fun sketch this week that I wanted to use for one of my Easter cards.  I am just LOVING this little single stamp, Ears to You…only available until the end of March!  My Easter cards will be done using this set.  My Stamp Club made a version of this card for their club card earlier this month!  I switched things up so it followed the sketch.

The bright colors on this card gives me hope that spring will eventually get here.  Not this week as we are expected to get more ice and snow…boo!  I took my colors from the Birds of a Feather Designer Paper…who knew that the eggs would be perfect for Easter.  AND…there are some cute chicks on one of the patterns, too!

Here are the details:

1. The base is 4 1/4 x 11 Primrose Petals cardstock, folded in half.  I embossed the front with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.
2. I added a 2 x 5" strip of the egg pattern from Birds of a Feather DSP and then a 1" strip of the yellow polka dot pattern in the same package.  Plus, I used the SAB Island Indigo Ribbon as a little extra shimmer!
3. I inked up the bunnies in Ears to You in Summer Starfruit, Island Indigo and Primrose Petals with my Stampin' Write Markers and stamped on Whisper White.
4. I cut both the Whisper White and Crumb Cake with the Oval Framelits and pierced around the Crumb Cake one.
5. I added a pearl to the center bunny's tail!
6. Happy Easter was stamped with Island Indigo on Summer Starfruit and punched with the Modern Label Punch, then added across the bottom of the ovals.

Yep…I love it!  Such a cheerful card!  Perfect for Easter, don't you think?

Remember…I just listed more RETIRED STAMPS AND ACCESSORIES for sale!  Check them out HERE!

By the Tide 2

I promised yesterday that I would show you the original card I made for Create with Connie and Mary's Thursday Challenge.  I switched it out to the Bloomin' Marvelous flower one you saw HERE.  Now…tell me…which do you like better?  If you are with me, I liked the flower one.  But, this one also has some appeal, so thought I'd share!

Here are the details!

1. The base card is 4 1/4 x 11 of Midnight Muse cardstock, folded in half.
2. A layer of 4 x 5 1/4 Very Vanilla was stamped along the bottom with the Fan Coral from By the Tide stamp set in Crumb Cake Ink.  I also sponged a little Crumb Cake along the bottom for the floor of the sea.
3. Along the right is a 1 1/2 x 5 1/4 strip of Comfort Cafe Designer Paper. 
4. I hid the seam with some Midnight Muse Stitched Ribbon.
5. The Pool Party Core'dinations Paper was embossed with the Fancy Fan folder and sanded.  (I had a bunch of these 2 1/2" circles left over from another project!)
6. I stamped the fish with Soft Suede Ink on Very Vanilla, then sponged some Cajun Craze, Summer Starfruit and Soft Suede inks on him.  The eye is highlighted with a White Gel Pen.  He is cut out and popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals and placed on the Pool Party circle.
7. I used an assortment of Pearl sizes for the bubbles.
8. Thinking of You from A Little Greeting stamp set was stamped with Midnight Muse on a 1/2" strip of Sahara Sand.
9. The Midnight Muse Stitched Ribbon bow was tied and then a Neutral Glimmer Brad added to the center.

Enjoy!  The weekend countdown has begun.  I'm having some stampers over tomorrow for my Pop-up Posies Class!  Should be fun!

Seasonal Sayings Valentine

I love this greeting in Seasonal Sayings from the Holiday Mini (yes!  It is still available as a carryover in the Spring Mini!)  My card today fits two challenges over on Splitcoaststampers, the Clean & Simple Love is in the Air Challenge (CAS207) and Technique Lovers Challenge (TLC416) for Dry Embossing & Sanding Designer Paper. 

And, this really is simple!

1. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 Whisper White, folded in half to make base card.
2. Cut the red Polka Dot pattern from Summer Smooches Designer Paper to 4 3/4 x 3 1/2, run thru the Big Shot with the Honeycomb folder to emboss.
3. Sand the raised portion of the Honeycomb embossing, add to the front of the base card.
4. I stamped the Love You twice, once in Real Red and once in Basic Black.  I used the 3/8" Circle Punch (Itty Bitty Punches) to punch out the heart in the O on the Basic Black one.
5. I cut the Love You with the Apothecary Accents Framelit and then another one from Basic Black.
6. The Basic Black accent is adhered to the center of the front, then I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop up the Whisper White Love You one over top and added the Black Heart Circle on top of the greeting with Stampin' Dimensionals.
7. Finally, I added the trio of small Pearls above and below the greeting on the Basic Black accent.

Clean & Simple…and a wow technique for your class!  I love it!

We've started Nature Week this week for the Create with Connie and Mary Spring Edition!  It's not too late to join!  We are just starting Week 4, but you can see all the projects we've posted so far.  AND, they will stay available for up to a year after the session closes so you can refer back to them 24/7!  For a price of $34.95 US for over 30 step-by-step photo tutorials…you can't go wrong!  Join us today!

Secret Garden

I love today's sketch over on SCS (SC422), so I grabbed my stamps and played along!  I was pretty set on what I was going to do, although the straight lines in the background of the sketch became "skewed" on my card…more like this week's Create with Connie and Mary sketch!  I took creative license!  lol!

Here is my card using the Spring Mini set, Secret Garden, and the matching framelits!  I think this one flower looks like a daffodil!  I am certainly anxious to see the real ones around here…soon, I hope!

Here are the details:

1. 4 1/4 x 11 Whisper White, folded in half to make base card.
2. 3 x 4 1/4 piece of Lucky Limeade cardstock and 2 3/4 x 4 chevron striped paper from Summer Smooches Designer Paper and layered crossways in the background.
3. I stamped the large flower in Secret Garden twice with Early Espresso Ink on Daffodil Delight and the center portion only twice on Pumpkin Pie.  I also stamped the leaves with Always Artichoke Ink on Whisper White.
4. I cut out the two Daffodil Delight flowers with the Secret Garden Framelit, then handcut the centers out of the Pumpkin Pie ones and also cut out the leaves with the matching framelit.
5. I layered the two Pumpkin Pie centers together and adhered to the center of one of the Daffodil Delight flowers.  With the other Daffodil Delight flower, I cut up the petals separately and adhered them over top of the first Daffodil delight flower, tucking the edge under the Pumpkin Pie centers.
6. I used a Pumpkin Pie Mini Brad to hold all the layers together and adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals on the front of the base card, along with tucking the leaves behind the flower.
7. The Sweet Essentials greeting is stamped with Early Espresso on a 1/2" strip of Whisper White, cut with a flag end and tucked under the Daffodil flower.

Here's a closeup of the flower:

Hope you like it!

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We're showing off the FANTASTIC Kits in the Spring Mini this week!  Some great class ideas!  It's not too late to sign up for the Create with Connie and Mary Spring Edition 2013!   We are just starting Week 3, and you can access all the tutorials we've done so far!  $34.95 US for more than 30 step-by-step PHOTO tutorials, you can't go wrong!  We're featuring the products in the Spring and Sale-a-Bration minis.  You won't see these projects ANYWHERE else…not even previews!  Join us today!

Patterned Occasions Teacup

Today is my Mother-in-law's birthday!  I decided to play along with SCS's Color Challenge today…Crumb Cake, Basic Black and Very Vanilla, with a dessert of Clean & Classy (CC412).  Do you think I succeeded in the Clean & Classy?  It also fits the Less is More challenge, Kraft & Kreme!

Many different ways I could have gone with this, but I pulled out the new Sale-A-Bration set, Patterned Occasions, to stamp.  My Mother-in-law loves coffee and tea, so it is pretty appropriate!  Of course, I had to use my FAVORITE embossed background right now…Honeycomb!  Then I needed to find some designer paper with Crumb Cake or Black.  Not many black, but I did find this pattern in Print Poetry Designer Paper Stack…perfect!  I like the way the circles mimic the background embossing.

Here are the details:

1. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 Very Vanilla, folded in half to make base card, then the front embossed with the Honeycomb Folder.
2. I layered a 2 x 4 1/4 piece of Print Poetry DSP on top of 2 1/4 x 4 1/4 of Basic Black cardstock and adhered to the front.
3. I cut the second from smallest Window Frame Framelit from Basic Black, then paper pierced with the template around it.
4. I used Basic Black and Crumb Cake Markers to ink up the teacup, then stamped on Very Vanilla and punched with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch.
5. I stamped Mom from Family Reunion with Basic Black on a 1/2" strip of Crumb Cake cardstock, then cut a flag end and tucked it under the DSP.
6. Finally, I made a bow from Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon and added a Black Glimmer Brad to the center of it, then placed with a Mini Glue Dot on front.
7. I added a Rhinestone Jewel to the center of the heart "steam".

I hope she likes it!  I think she will!

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We're showing off the FANTASTIC Kits in the Spring Mini this week!  Some great class ideas!  It's not too late to sign up for the Create with Connie and Mary Spring Edition 2013!   We are just starting Week 3, and you can access all the tutorials we've done so far!  $34.95 US for more than 30 step-by-step PHOTO tutorials, you can't go wrong!  We're featuring the products in the Spring and Sale-a-Bration minis.  You won't see these projects ANYWHERE else…not even previews!  Join us today