Simple, Easy....but So Lovely!

I have a few friends who have April birthdays......and this was the card I made for most of them. It is also one of the M&T cards from my last workshop.....AND best of all, this set is ON SALE!!! But only for a few more days. Fifth Avenue Floral is 20% off, but only until April 30....so don't miss your chance to purchase this beautiful set and save money!!

If you've looked around the internet, blog hopped, or googled this set, you will have seen so many, many lovely ideas....all made with this wonderful, elegant set. For this card, I simplified things...remember, some of the ladies at my last workshop were "stamping virgins!" So, the flowers were simply stamped on the lower corner of this card. But to "spice things up," and because glitter ALWAYS makes things looks so much better, we outlined the petals of the rose with 2-way glue and added Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. We also glittered the stamen of the lily and the centers of the other 2 flowers.....I have no idea what type they are, but they are pretty, aren't they?!!

As you can see, the greeting uses a set from the soon-to-retire Occasions Mini, Whimsical Sayings....unless, of course, it is included in the upcoming catalog due out in July. Maybe we'll get lucky!! Buy why take the chance...order yours (and anything else you just have to have) from the mini as well!

So, there, you have it....a quick and easy card. Oh!...I should tell you that it was very much inspired by a card in this post here. While you are there, be sure to take a look around. I adore so many of the layouts and cards posted...you are sure to enjoy your visit!

As always, thanks for stopping by and visiting today!!

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Whimsical Sayings

Inks: Bermuda Bay, Regal Rose, Rose Red

CS: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay

Misc: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Scallop Edge Punch
Please note: ALL materials used to create this card are currently available from SU!

Sneak Peak......Pedaling Past

Well, I just received all my swaps back...they arrived in my mailbox about an hour ago. They are ALL awesome! The group of swappers, are just amazingly talented....and I am honored to have been asked to join!

So, this was my swap....what do you think? I really love the colors on this....and that new Lattice Square Embossing Folder, well, I'm definitely in love!! This time, I rubbed the entire embossed surface with the White Craft ink directly. Both the Brilliant Blue and Whisper White layers were cut using 1/2 a circle on the Circle Scissor Plus and layered. The cute little "tag" was created with the Lots of Tags Sizzlet; the bicycle built for two was stamped in Brilliant Blue ink onto Whisper White and then punched with the Wide Oval Punch.

Don't you think this is fun? Bring on summertime!! This great, new set from the Summer Mini just called to me as soon as I saw it....and this card layout was rolling around in my head for days! The set is not my usual style....a bit out of my comfort zone, but I just think it's going to be so much fun to play with!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Stamps: Pedaling Past

Inks: Brilliant Blue, Whisper White Craft

CS: Kraft, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Misc: Blender Pen, Lots of Tags Sizzlet, Bit Shot, Wide Oval Punch, Circle Scissor Plus, White Taffeta Ribbon, Real Red Marker, Lattice Square Embossing Folder

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from SU!

Bloggers' Challenge #148 -- Something Old, Something New

Something old....well, that would be the Apricot Appeal CS and ink as well as the Mellow Moss, Only Orange, and Ballet Blue inks.....they'll soon be gone! They are part of our Fond Farewell colors series. And something new......check out that background. It's the brand-new Square Lattice Embossing Folder, which you can soon buy! It is in the new Summer Mini Catalog; all the new items in that great little catalog will become available on May 1. Another newbie on this card is the fun, new 2-step Awash with Flowers....it's a sneak peak set!! But, you can own this now....check out the promo here.

So, our Challenge this week was a tough one....a color challenge. Usually, these are kinda fun, but this week....well, just let's say it took a LOT of tries to get this color combo to work! We were to use Moss, Orange, and a Blue. Think about that.....NOTHING even sounds at all appealing about that one!

Well, like I said, after quite a few failed attempts, I was able to come up with this sample.....but I added in a little Apricot Appeal (which is kind of orange-ish!) and that seemed to help. The moss is actually Mellow Moss and was used for the stems and leaves. I think this one will work, don't you?!!

Stamps: Awash with Flowers, Tiny Tags, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Inks: Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Only Orange, Apricot Appeal

CS: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal

Misc: Scallop Edge Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Narrow Bashful Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from SU!

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to check out the other Bloggers' ideas....it will be fun to see what they did with this color combo!

Bye-Bye Birdie

This was such a simple card to make....in fact, this was a Make & Take card at a workshop I gave just last week. There were a few ladies that had never stamped before, so this seemed like a fun and easy card for them to reproduce...and they loved it! They each did a fabulous job and were so impressed with their projects (and so was I)! As you can see, it uses just a touch of stamping and more of that fabulous DSP, Cottage Wall.....and, of course, that fabulously, fun punch from the Occasions Mini, the Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch in the new, space-saving design. Sadly, since the Mini is about to expire (April 30 is the very last day to order anything from it!), this will soon be gone as well.

The card also features another Hug Love Note....I'm so going to miss these as well! They add so much to a card or project and are such a bargain! (Just $4.95 for a package of 20.) The focal point is popped up on some Dimensionals for a little more impact.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Thank You Kindly

Inks: Rich Razzleberry

CS: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Misc: Hug Love Note, Cottage Wall DSP, Extra Large 2-Step Bird Punch, Dimensionals, Wide Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon

Please note: ALL materials used to create this card are currently available from SU!

Edited to add: SU! just announced today (April 23, 2010) that the Xtra Large 2-Step Bird Punch WILL be available in the new catalog!! How geat is that?!!....but you don't need to wait, you can order it now! Just ask for Item #117191.

Blog Challenge--Better Late Than Never?

It's been quite a week! Hubby was gone all week....golfing, while I was home slaving away!! LOL On the upside, I was able to get a lot of my stamping projects done and out of the way! So, I'm catching up....but also had a workshop and only a 3-day turn around time to make and complete 30 swaps for a new Mini Catalog swap I'm participating in. (Will share that one soon.) It's been a busy stamping week!

Well, here it is, Monday and I'm only just posting my Blog Challenge from last Friday! This one is so very simple and features one of my very favorite DSPs, Cottage Wall. Although this is not officially from SU, we can probably safely assume that this paper will not return in the new catalog, which is a total shame....it is just so pretty! You see, one of the colors in the pallet is Orchid Opulence, and we KNOW that will soon be disappearing with the new Color Revolution. Which means, I need to use this paper NOW!

This week's challenge was a sketch challenge...not always the easiest theme for me. Guess that would be why it's called a "challenge," huh?!! When you check out what the other bloggers have done, you'll see that I turned the sketch on its side. The patterned background strips are none other than Cottage Wall DSP. Then layered on top (popped up on Dimensionals) is one of those fabulous Sending Love Notes/Hugs from the Occasions Mini....but they'll soon be gone! Remember, all offerings in this mini will disappear after April 30!! More mini catalog items used to create this card are Beautiful Butterflies Sizzlet and the saying from Well Scripted.

This card was super easy, with not much stamping....and oh!, so quick to put together! Thanks for stopping by today, and be sure to check out the others to see what they've all crated!!

Stamps: Well Scripted

Inks: Orchid Opulence

CS: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Misc: Cottage Wall DSP, Hugs Love Note, Dimensionals, Beautiful Butterflies Sizzlet, Big Shot, White Satin Ribbon

More Thank Yous

Another batch of thank you notes were needed, so I came up with this.....simple to make and just one layer!.....AND it uses a favorite color combination: soon-to-retire Lovely Lilac on Almost Amethyst. I really am going to miss these colors!

These stamps are NOT from SU!....the flowers are 2-step stamps from Stampendous and the Thank You is from A Muse. I'm a sucker for word stamps, so this one made it into my collection on my last visit to a local stamp store.

This card is one was inspired by this one, by Heather Pulvirenti, but found on the blog of the the fabulously talented Nicole Heady. This is also loosely similar to Mary Jo's sketch last week, and I was going to post for that, but again, I ran out of time! So, anyway, I'm sharing now.

The center flower base was stamped first and then masked so that each flower to the right and left could be stamped, but look like they are behind the center flower. Then I sponged in some Almost Amethyst ink with an ink duaber into the center of each and stamped the centers. The lines were simply traced around a piece of cardstock and then the Thank You was added. I made 20 of these and they really didn't take very long.....but due to lack of time, it took me a few days as I caught a few minutes here and there!

Stamps: Stampendous, A Muse

Inks: Lovely Lilac

CS: Almost Amethyst

Misc: Lovely Lilac Marker

Thanks for stopping by today!

Alter It! -- A Blog Challenge

Last Friday, we were to post our Challenges. The theme for to week was to "alter it!" That's one of my favorite challenge themes! However, life has been busy, busy, busy.....we're getting ready for my son's wedding, which is now just 5 weeks away. OK, you're probably thinking, what does the Mother of Groom have to do?!! Well, I've made various stamped items for the wedding.....began with the invitations, shower invitations, shower thank yous, and shower favors. I'll have lots to share soon.....I'm going to wait until AFTER the wedding. So, when I seem to have disappeared, I really didn't....I was just stamping away in my studio on things that needed to be made for the wedding! Oh, and I still have the programs, menus, and place cards to do....but can't start on them for another couple of weeks.

Compound all that along with my Mom being in the hospital and rehab for almost 3 weeks, and...well, as I said it's been very hectic! She was rushed to the hospital for heart related problems....she decided to begin 3 new medications all at the same time.....NOT a good idea! YIKES! BUT, she is now doing well and happy to be in her own home!

So, this past weekend was the first bridal shower in Virginia, which explains why this post is soooo late....I was away! I've had these items done for awhile. The tote was fun and was made at a meeting I attended about 3 weeks ago. It's a take off on an idea published in Stampin' Success, which is a demo only publication that is filled with great ideas, business tips and so much more! The first photo is the bag itself and then there is a close up. You can see that I used the Sweet Pea Stitched Felt pieces....aren't they just adorable?!! They are available right now in the current mini, but only for a bit more time since the Occasions Mini expires on April 30. Not sure if they will be included in the new catalog, so be sure to get yours now! And check out the colors of the felt pieces: Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla....all these colors are remaining in the new color line. The stems on the bag are stamped with Old Olive Craft in using Cheep Talk. No sewing involved....all items were adhered using a fabric glue. To decorate the bag, it took only about 45 minutes....and that includes lots of time to yak with my stamping gal pals! So fun! Here's a close up so you can see the detail.

Stamps: Cheep Talk

Inks: Old Olive Craft

Ribbons: Narrow Pretty in Pink Grosgrain, 1" Double Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, 5/8" Wide Regal Rose Grosgrain

Misc: Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Fabric Glue (non-SU)

Please note: ALL materials used to create this tote are from SU!, except for the fabric glue.

Well, since you patiently waited for this post, I've included another idea....again, something that is not my original idea, but made by me. This little chalk board is another fast and easy to make item, and something we all made when attending my up-up-up line's large gathering at the end of February.....and if you are a blog hopper, you may have already seen this little board, because lots of us attended and made them.

The heart shape is actually a chipboard piece from the On Board Heart Book....also from the Occasions Mini. It's covered with Chalk Board Vinyl, which is part of our Definitely Decorative line....it's just in roll form, so we could make...or do...whatever we wanted with it! For this item, I traced around the heart onto the removable backing and cut out, adhered, trimmed, and then lightly sanded all the edges. The chalk holder was created using the Cropadile (to punch the holes for the ribbons), the Beautiful Butterfly Die in the Big Shot and stamped with Fine Flourish, which is a beautiful small background stamp, also found in the Occasions Mini. Fun, isn't it?!!

Stamps: Fine Flourish

Inks: Basic Black

CS: Bermuda Bay

Misc: On Board Heart Book, Cropadile, Chalk Board Vinyl, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Big Shot, Narrow Basic Black Grosgrain, Bermuda Bay 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain

Please note: ALL materials used to create this sample are from Stampin'Up! and are currently available.

Thanks for stopping by today.....and for making your visit a part of your day! Hope you'll take a few minutes and check out the other Bloggers' creations!

SU! Color Renovation

WOW! It's official! Stampin'Up! is re-vamping their entire color line, which will take place this summer with the release of the new catalog. They've added some fabulous new colors....the new line is vibrant and so stylish! Here's what the new line is going to look like:
There will be 40 colors in our new line along with 5 brand-new In Colors.....AND the new In Colors will be here for 2 years!! How fantastic is that?!! Each year Stampin'Up will introduce 5 new In Colors, each staying 2 years. So, although this year we will have 45 colors, next year and thereafter, there will be 50 to choose from. I'm sorry that the list is kinda small (I'll try to find one that you can see better), but I want to share that some of our former In Colors are returning.....Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, and River Rock! So, if you own them already, now you can again buy reinkers, cardstock and more! And check out "Crumb Cake,"....it's our very popular Kraft, renamed! Now, we'll have ink and markers to match!

Here's the list of our of those colors we'll be saying good bye to:
It will be sad to say farewell to some, but truthfully, there are others I used rarely, if at all....and I'm not alone. Do you see any of your favorites on this list? Then be sure to contact me and order your re-inkers, matching markers, ribbons and buttons, and of course, you'll want to add to your supply of cardstock....because soon they will be gone! And don't wait too long, often things like this are while supplies last.

And finally.....if you are a Craft Pad fan, be sure to add them to your order list as well. Soon the craft ink will be available only in spots.....except for Basic Black, Very Vanilla, and Whisper White, which will continue to be available in the full-size pads.

Be sure to check back for updates....I'll keep you posted as more details become available.

Easter is Almost Here!

Can you believe that we are about to celebrate Easter?!! Oh, where has the time gone! Even though time seems to be flying by, I'm very, very happy to say hello to Spring....it was a long, long winter!

So, for this week's Bloggers' Challenge, we were to make an Easter card, and I'm embarrassed to say that this is the very first time I've used this cute little stamp, Chocolate Bunny...he's one of those fabulous single stamps you can purchase from SU for under $10. He is so realistic and truly reminds me of those yummy chocolate bunnies I used to receive in my Easter basket when I was a child. Here, he is simply stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Close to Cocoa CS, cut out and layered against that fun scalloped piece...it's a "Hug" from the Occasions Mini. Check out the impressed border on the Bashful Blue background.....I cut apart a Finial Press Embossing Folder. This idea is from the fabulously talented Sandi MacIver. You can see how it's done here. As you can tell, there isn't a lot of stamping on this card.....and I really utilized the Big Shot.

Stamps: Chocolate Bunny, Whimsical Sayings

Inks: Chocolate Chip (bunny), Close to Cocoa (saying)

CS: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip (oval layer), Close to Cocoa (bunny)

Misc: Big Shot, Large Oval Punch, Ovals Die, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Brown Taffeta Ribbon

Please note: ALL materials used to create this card are currently available from SU!

Thanks for stopping by today. I wish each of you a very blessed Easter. And please don't forget to stop by and see what the other Bloggers' have created...you KNOW it's always worth a peak!