Tool Time!

Hi there and happy Friday to you!   Another card today using bits and pieces of leftover card parts.  The cog pieces, from the retired Stampin' Up! Cog punch, were leftover from another masculine card made years go.  The Marina Mist background panel was embossed with the Zig Zag embossing folder, also retired.  A little nip out of a circle with the newly retired Word Window punch adhered to a "handle" makes an easy wrench.
Must get busy on my to-do list.   Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for peeking in today!
 

Drapery Fold Technique

Hi there!  Boy, this week sure flew by!  So without further adieu, let's get to the card.  The "drapery" fold technique seems to be all the rage on Pinterest , so I decided to give it a try.  I used some retired Designer Series Paper called, Twitterpated for the "drapery".  Unfortunately, the fold doesn't show up very well in the photo.  The flower was made using the Botanical Builder Framelits, which can be found in the 2016 Stampin' Up! Ocassions Catalog.  The sentiment is from the Wetlands set. One of my favorite sets.

Better get this posted before it's tomorrow.  Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping in today!

Stampin' Up! 2015-16 Annual Catalog Goes Live!

Hi there!  The 2015-16 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog goes live TODAY!  And as an added bonus - you can also order from the retiring 2014-15 Annual Catalog and the Occasions Catalog TODAY ONLY!  So what are you waiting for?  Contact me to place an order (if you don't already have a Demonstrator).  See side bar or header for contact information.  Thanks in advance!

Oh!  Might as well check out the Weekly Deals while you're at it!  Check them out HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today!

In the Bag

Hi there!  Sorry for not posting last week.  There just wasn't enough time to schedule posts before leaving town.  Sure did have a great time with my friends at the girls getaway retreat!  There were a LOT of laughs, delicious meals, and wonderful movies.  (Yep we watch movies there, too.)  Such a  fun and relaxing time!  Now it's time to get back to business so here is a little gift bag and tag that I made using Sam Donal's video instructions.  You can view her video here.  She has some great projects!  The River Rock Designer Series Paper and Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon are retired Stampin' Up! products.  Items used on the tag are current, though.  The tag was made with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch, then stamped with the flourish image from the Everything Eleanor set.  Flower embellishments were made with the Petite Petal Punch, the flower from the new Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, and some Pearls.  Oh, and everything was sponged to give it a vintage feel. 

Must get going to finish unloading the car and get ready for tomorrows Card Buffet.  Thank you so much for coming by today!

A Unique Fold and Closure

Hi there!  Well, another week seems to have flown by!   I've been working on projects that can't be shared just yet, so I'll share a gorgeous card made at Jayne Singleton's Stamp Camp last month.  (Some of the Stampin' Up! products used retired on June 1st.)  The flap, which allows you a peek at the tulip image from Backyard Basics, was cut out with a Square Framelit and secured with a vintage button.  Crisp Cantaloupe Designer Series Paper from the Venetian Romance pack was used for the background.  Here is a view with the flap open.....

The inside Vanilla panel (not pictured) serves a dual purpose.  There is plenty of space to stamp/write a personal message and it also hides where the flap is adhered.  Thank you, Jayne, for another great card!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping in today!

What's in Your Purse?

Hi there!  Today I have another Card Buffet sample that was displayed during May and June.  It is so easy!  Jill Franchett was the inspiration for this CASE'd clean and simple card.  You can view her card here.   The only thing different is the Designer Series Paper.  Jill used Stampin' Up!s Fresh Prints (now retired) where I used Polka Dot Parade (also retired).

Stamps: Bring on the Cake (retired Jun 2014)

Paper: Black, White, Polka Dot Parade DSP Stack (retired Jun 2014)

Ink: Black

Tools:  Cupcake Builder punch, 1/2” Circle punch, 3/4" Circle punch

Other:  Rhinestones

That's it for now.  Thanks for coming by for a visit!  Stop in any time!

Get Well

Hi there and happy Friday the 13th!  Are you superstitious?  If so, hope all goes well today!  OK how about we get to the card now, which is a clean and simple one.  The sentiment came from a retired Stampin' Up! set called Tag It, which is matted onto a Real Red rectangle and popped up on Dimensionals.  A strip of Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (also retired) is matted onto White and Real Red cardstock.  An easy peasy card!

Need to sign off now to get ready for the weekend.  Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.  Hope you all have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by today!

Blended Dahlias & Blowout Sale

Hi there!  Since I'm so late posting today, let's get right to the card.  It is another sample colored with the alcohol based markers from Stampin' Up! called Blendabilities.  I'm having so much fun coloring with these new markers!  There are three markers in each pack - a light, a medium, and a dark.  I used the Daffodil Delight set and the Rich Razzleberry set.  The solid image leaves from the Summer Silhouettes stamp set were stamped with Old Olive ink.  The sentiment is from A Dozen Thoughts.

Before I sign off, be sure to check back tomorrow -  Thursday, May 22nd for a......

Stampin' Up! will be offering a 25%-50% discount on many of the retiring products on May 22.  But you have to act FAST!!  This special offer is only available until June 4, 2014 or whenever supplies are depleted.  If you missed out on a product the first time, this is your last chance to get it before it's gone for good! You may view items on my Stampin' Up! site here.


Thank you for stopping in for a peek today!

Gently Falling Meets Gifts of Kindness

Hi there!  I have another card made with bits and pieces of projects that didn't "make the cut".  Here only one inch squares of a stamped leftover Gently Falling piece was used and matted on the now retired Stampin' Up! color, Bravo Burgundy.  The white panel is scored on the ends (another leftover) and was spritzed with the color spritzer tool (also retired) to coordinate with the stamped squares. The matted squares were adhered to the spritzed white panel.  A few brads and a sentiment from Gifts of Kindness were the finishing touches.  The focal piece was then added to a Bravo Burgundy card base to complete the card.

That's all for now - must tackle a long "to-do" list.  Thank you for stopping in today!

Mixed Bunch

Hi there and happy Monday!  This week will be a busy one so I'll just get right to the card for today.  It is one that I received from Pam D'[Urso, my friend and upline.  There were some retired products used to make this pretty card.  First of all, the color Baha Breeze retired - as well as the square scallop die and the crimper.  Pam lined the envelope with Daffodil Delight Designer Series Paper to coordinate with the ribbon and the flower center.  So pretty.

Sorry but that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by today!

By the Tide

Hi there and happy Wednesday!  Hope you're having an awesome week.  Had a great time with my stamping peeps last night at our monthly meeting!

Today's card is one of my projects showcased on our Card Buffet.  Mary Taylor, Marla Schack, and I each have ten cards displayed.  We rotate them out after two months unless they're really popular, and bring in new cards.  I CASE'd (Copy And Share Everything) my card from the sample boards that were displayed at the Stampin' Up! St Louis Regional back in March.  Sorry I don't know who to credit.  Contact me if it's your card or you know who made it.  The camera doesn't do this card justice.  It sparkles in real life - kind of like rays of sunlight shining down through the depths of the ocean and illuminating the coral.

Must go for now to tackle that to-do list!  Tonight my youngest and I are meeting for a belated Mother's Day dinner.  We both have been so busy and really need some time to catch up on everything, wedding plans included!

Take care and thank you for visiting today!

All Stampin' Up! supplies used unless otherwise noted 

Stamps: By the Tide 

Paper: Bashful Blue (retired), Not Quite Navy (retired), White 

Ink: Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Not Quite Navy marker 

Tools:  Square Lattice embossing folder, Woodgrain embossing folder 

Other:  Dazzling Diamonds glitter, glue pen, Color Spritzer

Best of Flowers

Hi there and happy Monday to you!  Hope all the dads enjoyed their day yesterday - one fit for a king.

Today's card is one that I made last month at Carla Spradling's Card Buffet.  The hydrangea image from the Best of Flowers was stamped in black as a background, then again as the focal piece, which was colored with Baja Breeze and Old Olive markers.  A little Dazzling Diamonds was added for sparkle.  

All Stampin' Up! supplies used except where noted
Stamps: Best of Flowers, Made for You (now retired)
Paper: Black, Baja Breeze (retired), White
Ink: Black, Baja Breeze (retired), Old Olive
Other: Scallop Trim border punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (retired), Dazzling Diamonds

Must sign off now to work on my shoebox swaps for Saturday.  Thank you for coming by today!

Artistic Vintage

Hi there!  Found this card posted on Joan Robertson's blog here while surfing the internet and decided to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) it.  Joan has some informative videos, including a series on how to "step-up" a card.  If you get a chance, take a look.  Some of the products used will soon be retired - in just a little over a week!  So sad.  It's always difficult to say good-bye.  

All Stampin' Up! supplies used unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, French Foliage (both sets retiring)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Vanilla, Wisteria Wonder
Ink: Black StazOn, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder
Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder (retiring), Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (retiring)

Remember - you only have until May 31st to order the retiring products!  Well actually, Stampin' Up! is extending the time period through June 3rd (or while supplies last).

That's it for now.  Thanks for checking out the blog today!  

Upsy Daisy

Hi there!  This is a scheduled post since I'll be with my stamping peeps the rest of the week!  Fortunately,  my husband doesn't mind all my comings and goings. 
The retired (I know - sorry about that) Upsy Daisy set was used on this card made at Sarah Klasing's class a while back.  We stamped the image in Poppy Parade, then moved over slightly and stamped again.  That's what gives you that shadow effect.  Cool, huh?  I was never a fan of Poppy Parade until we made this card.  But it has since retired, too. 

That's it for now.  Have a great day and as always, thank you for stopping in!

Trendy Trees

Hi there and happy Monday to you!  This month is another month full of birthdays.  The above card was pulled from my stash and sent to a friend.  The cute little trees were made using the Trendy Trees set and the sentiment is from Afterthoughts.  Both sets are now retired - sorry. 

All Stampin' Up! supplies used unless noted:
Stamps:  Trendy Trees, Afterthoughts
Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze
Other:  Square punches

The next couple of days I'll be busy getting my neglected house back in order, doing laundry, and packing to leave Wednesday morning for the Girls Getaway Retreat.  Looking forward to that!  Must go now to get busy with those things.  Have a great day and thank you for checking in today!

Another Belated Birthday Card

Hi there! Happy Monday to you.  Gonna make this a quick post since I'm still trying to get caught up.  Here is another belated birthday card that went out today. 

The stamp set used is Watercolor Trio, which is retired.  The embossing folder, yellow card stock,  and patterned paper are non-SU!  Mary Fish's card seen posted here on Jun 21 was the inspiration.

Thanks for taking a peek at my blog and, hopefully, I've inspired you in some way!  OK, gotta scoot on out of here.  Keep cool!

Animal Stories Baby-fied

Hi there!  Hope your week is going well.  Daughter #1 is coming in from Miami for a whirlwind visit this weekend.  Miss M, our granddaughter, doesn't remember her aunt since she was just a toddler the last time of D #1's visit.  Miss M refers to the photo of her aunt as "Aunt ___, who lives far away".  Youngest Daughter is having a dual purpose Open House for family and friends - to show off her new home and to visit with big sis.  The girls and I, plus a couple of cousins will be having a big ol' pajama party afterwards!  There will be no shortage of conversation and laughs - nor much sleep!  So, this week Youngest Daughter and I will be cooking up some good eats for the weekend and her Open House.  Looking forward to all of it!
OK, on to the card.  I wanted to send my friend, Jayne, a card congratulating her on becoming a grandma the fourth time but nary a baby card in my stash!  (Not a great demand for baby cards amongst my circle of friends.  Guess I should make some "grandparent" cards to be ready for the next one, huh?)  The next stumbling block was that I don't own any current baby-type stamps.  Not to be deterred, I used the retired Animal Stories set and CASE'd this card made by Kris McIntosh, with a couple of minor changes.  What is it about wanting to use your stamps sets after they've retired?  Oh well. 

Stampin' Up! supplies used unless otherwise noted.
Stamps - Animal Stories (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes, Swirls & Curls Verses (inside)
Paper - White, Bashful Blue, vellum
Ink - Bashful Blue, Night of Navy (inside)
Tools - Beautiful Wings embosslit, embossing folders - Perfect Polka Dots, Finial Press, and Square Lattice, non-SU! circle & scallop circle dies

Thanks for peeking in today!  I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to post the rest of this week.  Just remember - I'll be back!  Have a great week.

Animal Stories Archeological Dig

Hi friends!  Here is another card "dug up" from my card stash.  The background entails a technique very similar to the Baby Wipe technique (to get the stripes).  Dampen a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol, then a dab or two of re-inker, then swipe it down a piece of glossy card stock.  Do one color at a time (lightest to darkest), using a separate cotton ball for each color.   If you find that the cotton ball becomes too dry, you can moisten it with a spritzer filled with some alcohol.  (No, not tequila!)  You don't want to saturate the cotton ball nor contaminate the remaining contents of the rubbing alcohol in the bottle!  The horse image (looks like a funky swayback but I like him!) was stamped onto White and the edges were sponged with Not Quite Navy.  The stamped piece was then matted to Rich Razzelberry and Crushed Curry.  (See, I told ya it was a dig!  Crushed Curry retired last year. lol)  Set two jumbo eyelets in the corner (make sure you leave enough room between your holes so the eyelets will fit - voice of experience here).  Run some ribbon through the back of the eyelets to the front and tie in a knot.  Adhere the focal piece to your hand made background panel, which is matted to a Crushed Curry card base.  Add a layered oval sentiment popped up on dimensionals.

Supplies used:
Stamps - Animal Stories (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)
Paper - Glossy card stock, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzelberry
Ink - Not Quite Navy, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzelberry, Old Olive
Tools - Crop-a-dile. oval punches (smallest is retired now)
Other - Jumbo eyelets, ribbon (non-SU!), alcohol, cotton balls, sponges, dimensionals

Thank you so much for visiting today!  Hope you're inspired to try a new technique or resurrect an old one!

Happy New Year!

In the Stampin' Up! world, that is.  Today the 2011-2012 IBC (Inspiration Book & Catalog) goes live.  This will be a short post since I know it will be crazy busy today having an Open House.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Oh, and here is the last card the girls made this past Saturday at Stamp Camp. It is a buckle card using the Pick a Petal stamp set - another favorite of mine.  I sound like a broken record, huh?  Gosh, it occurred to me that the younger generation may not even know about records - as in vinyl.  Showing my age here.  lol

Close-up of buckle open

Stampin' Up! supplies used unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Pick a Petal (retired Jun 30)

Paper: White, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, In Color 6 x 6 DSP (retired Jun 30), Old Olive

Ink: Poppy Parade

Tools: Punches - Word Window, Scallop Trim border, Blossom Petal, 1-3/8x5/8 Small oval (retired Jun 30), Crop a Dile corner chomper (non-SU)

Other: Embossing Folders – Square Lattice, Perfect Polka Dot

Another Card - and Post

Hello again!  Just wanted to share with you a sample of the adorable cards my friend (and upline), Pam D'Urso, sends to me.  Here is the Easter card she made from the Easter Blossoms set, which is now retired as of April 30th.  Pam is the "Queen of Clean and Simple" in my book.  I try the CAS look but fail to attain her style - so I copy her cards! lol.  I just love this card.  Who am I kidding?  I love ALL of her cards! 

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The egg colors are Bashful Blue, Daffodil Delight, and Pear Pizzazz