Happy Watercoloring

I've been playing around with the Happy Watercolor set from the Occasions catalog.  It is such a great set.  There is also Designer Series Paper that is gorgeous.  I have not used any of it yet - just drooled over the papers!  You can create a beautiful card with this set that looks like you have watercolored it.  This is such an easy, yet elegant card that you can put together in 5-10 minutes.

Products used:
Card Stock:  Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding
Ink:  Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding, Crushed Curry, Momento Black Ink
Stamp:  Happy Watercolor

Following along the same layout, I created another watercolor card.  Using the watercolor "blob" stamp makes it easy to look like you have brushed paint on watercolor paper.  For this card I used different colors but the kept the card the same (Pistachio Pudding).  I also used a couple of floral stamp sets - Secret Garden stamp and framelits and Petal Parade stamp and punch.  I embossed the flowers in white and popped them up with dimensionals.

Supplies:

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, Pool Party, Cantelope

Ink:  Pool Party, Cantelope, Pistachio Pudding, Versanark

Stamp:  Happy Watercolor, Secret Garden, Petal parade

A winter storm watch is in effect for my area this week.  It is supposed to start snowing tomorrow with not much accumulation but another front will be coming in tomorrow night and Charlotte is predicted to have about 3" by Wednesday.  I know, I know - 3" doesn't sound like much but believe me, it can cripple this area!  I am supposed to take my sister and my mom to the doctor tomorrow.  We are just going to "wait and see"!!  Wednesday I am supposed to go to the dentist and Thursday is my cataract surgery so not a good time for this winter storm!!

See Ya Later Alligator - Paper Craft Challenge #78

I tried to post last night but our internet was soooo slow!  Don't know if it's the weather causing it or not.  I just reset our internet connection and hope that will solve the problem.

So, it started snowing yesterday around 1:00 pm and didn't stop until after dinner time.  It was a fine light snow and only got about 1-2" accumulation.  I had an eye dr. appointment this morning at 9:30 and was a little worried about driving.  As it turned out, all Sonny's buddies "wimped" out this morning on going shooting so he was able to take me, plus I called and got the appointment moved to later in the morning.  Actually after driving to town, I believe I could have done it.  (I do NOT drive in snow or ice!!  I've had about 3 car accidents in my life and 2 were on iced over bridges!)  My eye doctor finally agreed with me that I needed cataract surgery!!  This has been an on-going issue with him and me for about 6 months.  I am scheduled for the surgery on Feb. 13 and I can't wait!  I hate having trouble seeing.  I can only imagine how bad it is for my mom who is legally blind with Retinosa Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease.  After the eye doctor, Sonny and I went to Corrine's for breakfast and ran into two of our Pittsburgh buddies who had just gotten there so we all had lunch together.  It was fun and such a coincidence as I was next going to one of the gals' house to drop off the calendar I had made for her to give to her sister when she goes to Florida in a couple of weeks.  (I'll be posting pictures of the calendar tomorrow.)

I have not participated in the Paper Craft Crew Challenge since early December so it was fun to design my card in MDS last night and post it for the challenge.  I used items from the new Occasions Catalog (DSP) and a stamp set from Sale-a-Bration.

The Paper Craft Crew design team has come up with some fun card samples using this week's card sketch.  Go HERE to check out the rest of the cards.  You may click any of the photos to see a larger image, and you may also click the name under the photo to go to the designers blog for more information on their creation.

• POSTING END TIME:  If you'd like to be considered as one of our Featured Artisans, please be sure to link your project by February 4, 2014 at 11:55 PM EST
• VOTING:  Voting on submissions starts on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 11:55 PM EST.  Voting ends on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 11:55 PM EST.

SOCIAL NETWORKING and UPDATES…  Look for the Paper Craft Crew on Facebook!  You can like us by clicking HERE!  You can also find the Paper Craft Crew on Pinterest.   Don't forget to sign up for email updates if you haven't done so!  

GUEST DESIGNER OPPORTUNITY…  Each time you participate "adds up" and may earn you an invitation to be a guest designer for a future challenge!  How cool is that…  Also, the more participation by our readers increases the exposure for everyone from participants to the design team to Stampin' Up!  To be eligible as a guest designer, you MUST participate in no less than 5 consecutive sketches AND be able to create a card that is created using 100% Stampin' Up! products. 

BLOG CANDY…  The Paper Craft Crew periodically offers BLOG CANDY!  You will never know when the Blog Candy will show up.   We have to keep you on your toes and coming back for more!  NOTE: shipping of blog candy within the United States is free, unfortunately, we must ask our international winners to pay for shipping on any blog candy they may win.

Sale-A-Bration Time!

Woooo Hoooo!  Sale-a-Bration is finally here.  

For those of you who are not familiar with Sale-a-Bration, it’s Stampin’ Up!’s annual event when customers are able to earn really great, exclusive products for every $50 you spend.  That’s not all, though!  You can earn additional hostess rewards for large purchases or hostess parties.  
About the Sale-a-Bration brochure:  Stampin’ Up! mixed things up a bit with this brochure.  The Free Products start on page 12 in this book.  On the pages before the Free Products, Stampin’ Up! has gathered some super-great bundles with different themes that allow you to buy a whole collection of great products with just one product number – and each bundle is just over $50, so you earn a free product with each.  You don’t have to buy from these bundles, but they sure are a helpful suggestion, right?

Let’s all sale-a-brate!  Woooo hoooo!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

On Line Basic Stamping Class

Stampin' Up has an on-line stamping class!


This Online Stamping Class is Basic Stamping for 14.95.  You can download it HERE.

There will be a variety of topics that will include videos, Step Out's and supply lists for 30+ projects!

WOW! This sounds like a fun Stampin' Party!

PERFECT FOR THE BUSY STAMPER! Learn innovative ways to get the most out of your Stampin' Up! supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and all the techniques you need to start creating with success. Divided into six sections focused on a variety of topics, Stampin' Up! on-line classes include videos, pdfs, and supply lists for 30+ projects.

This class offers innovative ways to get the most out of your supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and all the techniques you need to start creating with success. Divided into six PDF documents this class includes written instructions, step out photos, a few videos, and supply lists for 30+ projects.

The following topics are covered in the class:

* Basic Stamping
* Embossing
* Masking
* Stamp-a-ma-jig
* Watercoloring and Markers
* Big Shot Basics
THESE ARE DOWNLOADABLE ZIP FILES. YOU DO NOT NEED MY DIGITAL STUDIO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CLASS! After purchasing and downloading the class, open "Stampin' Class--The Basics" folder and there will be 6 individual "sessions" folders inside. Click on each and enjoy!

PC Instructions
The files will be downloaded as archive files that you can then extract and save on your computer. When you click on the download link, an extraction program will automatically launch. Choose the location where you would like to save the files (be sure to note where you save them). Follow the prompts on the extraction program, then navigate to the location where you saved the files. Click on the file and open.

Mac Instructions
When you click on the download link, the file will be mounted as a drive. Once it is mounted, open the drive and drag and drop the files to the location of your choice on your hard drive. The files can then be opened.

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Better late than never!  These are a couple of cards I made using a couple of the Sale-a-bration stamps.  Even though you can't get these stamps any longer, these cards will give you ideas if you got them during Sale-a-bration.


Madison Avenue

I embossed the Summer Starfruit panel with various embossing folders (some were SU, the middle circles was not) to create a different look.  I stamped the images on white cardstock and used the Postage Punch to punch them out.  Then I layered them onto colored cardstock squares (punched with 1 1/4" Square Punch).   These were then layered onto a strip of whie cardstock.  The "happy birthday" is from the That's the Ticket stamp set and punched out with the Ticket Punch.  It makes it so easy to use punches!! 


Madison Avenue

Another Madison Avenue stamped card.  I didn't use this set much until the end of the promotion!  But don't you love these ribbon flowers?  I made them using the ribbon that also came with Sale-a-bration.  I punched out a circle of Sticky Strip and wrapped the ribbon in a tight circle.  The sentiment is also from the Vintage Verses set.

Last Chance for Sale-a-Bration AND to get a great deal!

Oh no!!

Sale a Bration ends this Friday, March 22nd!

If you have a long wish list you should do one of two things:

•Place an order before Friday to get FREE STUFF!   Each $50 gets you one free choice from the Sale-A-Bration catalog

•Sign up to be demonstrator! Why?

It's the best deal!

For just $99 you get $156 in SU product! I think it's just crazy not to become a SU Demo right now!

Not sold yet? Here are a few more reasons:

1.Pick your product - that's right - anything you want under $156. That means you could get a Big Shot, any dies or embossing folders and have everything you need to get going!

2.You do not have to order anything else ever - just get the kit at a great deal. It's up to you if you stay in as a demonstrator or not. No pressure from me or Stampin' Up!

3.Get 20% off any more product - forever, as long as you order $300 a quarter! But you don't have to order anything more to stay in until the end of June! Your very first order is 30% off though!

4.Get a brand new big catalog in May - one month before everyone else! And pre-order from it on May 1st too!

I could go on and on, but these are some of my favorite reasons to join right now.   I can assure you, you will NOT regret it!

Go HERE to sign up and join my team.

Feeling Sentimental

Sale-a-bration will be over before we know it.  If you want to get a free stamp set, punch, DSP or digital download, you need to place your $50 order by next Friday, March 22.  I love the Feeling Sentimental stamp set.   I made this card of the telephone booth (don't think that is what is called in England though - telephone box???  not sure).  I used my daubers to ink up the edges of the card.  I used French Foilage to stamp the "dots" and script. The bottom of the card is torn with a piece of Early Espresso torn and adhered to the bottom.  I used daubers to color the trill ribbon (retired) and frayed the ends.

We had a nice evening.  We had free tickets for the Charlotte Checkers hocket game (thanks to the Golden Boys) and invited some friends to come along with us.  We drove downtown Charlotte right at 5:00 p.m. and surprisingly, there was no traffic back-up on I-77 which shocked all of us.  We had dinner at a nice Irish bar / restaurant (yummy fish & chips!) and then walked over to the game.  The Checkers lost by one but it was a good game anyway.

Stamp Club

These are the cards we made this week in Stamp Club.

Oh Whale

I just love this little guy!  I used the DSP from Sale-a-bration (Sycamore Street) to make the waves.  I die cut them using the Tasteful Trim Die and the Big Shot.  The white square was embossed with the Cloudy Day folder.  Stamp the whale with Midnight Muse ink and cut him out with the Embosslit and the Big Shot.  We added a little bit of Dazzling Details glitter to the wave on the main card.

Swallowtail Butterfly

The butterfly is stamped in Crumb Cake lightly (stamp off once).  Use Early Espresso and Primrose Petals markers to color the sentiment from Feels Good.  The small vanilla strip on the side of the card is stamped with the Papillion Potpourri stamp set using Primrose and Garden Green ink.  The small Primrose Petals card stock is embossed with the Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder from the mini catalog.


SAB - Feeling Sentimental

This card was embossed (Crumb Cake) with the Fancy Fan embossing folder and then sponged with Espresso ink.   Stamp the images from Feeling Sentimental onto vanilla card stock and punch out with the 1 1/2" Square Punch.  Mat the images with 1 3/8" squares of Early Espresso.  I cut the "Celebrate" piece by hand and put Neutrals brads on the ends.


Oh Hello

This was a great technique that I taught the girls on this card.  Use the Delicate Details Lace Tape on the card and sponge it with Marina Mist ink.  Remove the Lace Tape and you have "faux lace tape."  It just looks like there is a piece of lace tape there! 

Paper Craft Crew

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge .... #30!!  This week I decided to go with a stamp set from the Sale-a-bration catalog, Bloomin' Marvelous.  I don't have this set BUT I have MDS and the free CD with ALL the sets in the Sale-a-bration catalog so I can create the card on my computer.  Love it!!

Great sketch this week too!



Bloomin' Marvelous MDS2 style

Go HERE and check out what the rest of the crew has posted.

Feeling Sentimental!

When I first saw this set in the Sale-a-bration catalog, I wasn't sold on it.  But as time as gone on, I have seen so many great cards using it.  So, since it was free ..... I decided to give it a try.  Most of these cards are CASE'd and I've added my own little touches.

This first one with the bicycle is made with the Naturals Ivory and Early Espresso card stock.  I used the retired Weathered background stamp for the background and stamped it in Soft Suede - stamping it off first.  The stamped tickets are from the set, That's the Ticket held in place with a Glimmer Brad and Baker's Twine. 

The next image is of the English postal box.  I remember seeing those on our trip across the ocean.   I tried to make this card real vintage'y.  I stamped all the images in Early Espresso and sponged all the edges.  The bottom of the card stock is torn with a piece of Espresso card stock torn and sandwiched in.  I stamped some images from French Foilage (the script and the droplets)  all over the card stock.  The twill tape is frayed on one end and sponged with brown ink and anchored with a Designer Brad.

The final card uses all the stamps in the set!  I stamped them on panels of Naturals card stock and adhered the panels to Early Espresso card stock and then to the Crumb Cake card.  Easy!!

Yesterday was Download Digital Tuesday!!  And SU gave us another FREEBIE!!  So make sure you hurry over and download your free Label This template.
There is also a Planner Template for sale also that looks pretty neat.  Check out all the downloads for this week.

Happy Birthday Cupcake

How about another Patterned Occasions card? These little images are great and there is so much you can do with them.  For this card I used the Clouds embossing folder (love it!) for the background on this card.  I also used the Hearts A Flutter die for the pennants.  I tied them to the card with the Bakers Twine - at least that is the way it looks!  Looks can be deceiving though.  I actually adhered the pennants to the card on top of the twine that is wrapped around the card on the sides.  I just used scraps of DSP that I found - a good way to use up bits and pieces.

I played bridge today and was really got some great cards for a change!  Did you watch the Grammy's Sunday night?  Well, I watched most of it and got a few of the songs stuck in my head.  So, this morning I was singing "This Girl Is On Fire" after hearing it sung by Alicia Keyes with Maroon 5 while I was getting dressed.  So it was only fitting that while I was playing bridge, "this girl was on fire!!"  haha!!

I have to tell you how sweet my dear hubbie is!  Wednesday I forgot to close the sunroof on my Durango and it rained all day and night on Thursday.  I didn't realize I had left it open until I got in the car Friday morning!  Oh, it was wet!!  I sat on 3 folded up beach towels in order to drive to play mahjong and they got wet through too.  So all weekend, Sonny worked on drying out my car!  What a guy!

Well, gotta cut this short and hit the hay!  Early day tomorrow at the Soup Kitchen!

Sammie's New Spot!

I have had a very productive weekend!  I made several cards, a Card Storage Tote and spent a lot of time pinning favorite things to Pinterest!   That site is great but is very addicting!!

It's a good thing Sammie does not weigh much because this afternoon she found a new spot.  We would hate for her to get too far from me, you know? 

Guess she will be helping me make cards next!  I do a lot of my card making standing up at that messy desk above.  Sammie will come in the room and jump from the floor onto my back if I am bending over!   She scares me to death sometimes if I am not expecting it.

So do you want to see some of the cards I made?  I am trying out my Saleabration sets and trying to use them in different ways. 

This set is Patterned Occasions and I made a card using each of the images!!  (I've even mailed a couple of them!!)

This cute little elephant card is made with Crumb Cake and Island Indigo.  I embossed it with the Vine Street folder that you can get FREE with Sale-a-bration!  I used the de-bossed side of the folder for this card.  The banners were made using strips of scraps that I had in my scrap box.

This card is my favorite!  It was sent to Ashley last week so I can post it now.  I stamped the jeans in various colors and even tried to make the blue ones look worn by rubbing a little white ink at the knee area.  Then I inserted a brad in each one and tied a piece of twine around the card for the clothesline.   The sun is a 1 1/4" circle with glitter.  But can you guess how I made the "rays" coming out of the sun?  I used the Itty Bitty Banner punch (also FREE during Sale-a-bration).  Genius, huh?  I hand drew the squiggly frame around the card.

I have a friend who had back surgery last week and this card was sent to her.  The DSP is non SU.  I punched out three circles from the paper and stuck them sticking out the side.  The ribbon is also retired SU - Bermuda Bay I think.

I made this into a birthday card.  The card is made from Crumb Cake and sprayed with the Color Spritzer Tool.  I love the bright colors in this DSP (banners).  It is Sycamore Street ..... again FREE during Sale-a-bration.

I sometimes have trouble mixing and matching Designer Series Paper.  But I decided to go for it with this card.  The DSP is again the Sycamore Street (FREE ..... you know the drill!)  The card base is Island Indigo.  All of the DSP pieces are sponges in Island Indigo.  The Tangerine Tango large circle mats the cupcake circle.  I used my markers to color the cupcake.  The shapes in this card were made using some templates I bought at CKC last year by Kiwi Lane Designs.

So, there, what do you think?  Was I productive or what?!!  I challenge you to pick one of your stamp sets and make several cards using ALL the images in the set!!

Get Well

Whoo Hoo!  The Ravens won the Super Bowl tonight.  I was pulling for them rather selfishly.  I didn't want San Francisco 49ers to win because they would have had as many Super Bowl Rings as the Steelers did.  It was a really good game and at the end, I was on pins and needles pulling the Ravens through.  In the last 20 seconds, the Ravens scored a safety which I didn't like.  See, I was playing in one of those football squares games and I had the winning score UNTIL they scored that safety.  I would have won $250!!!  Grrrrrr .... I was P.O'd!  But Sonny and I did win the football pool we have been playing all year.  Sonny came in first and I came in tied with 2nd place.  We had to guess what the total points were going to be at the end of the game and I came closer than the gal I was tied with so I got second and she got third.  I think I get $40 but beggers won't be choosy!  Sonny gets $200 for first place!!  Quite a difference in pay out for 1st and 2nd, huh?  At least we are keeping it in the family.

I spent today working on a couple of projects.  I am going to NC Demos Quarterly in March and am participating in a 3D Swap.  So, I tried out a couple of things today.  I just love this Get Well Box that I made but I think it is too involved for a swap.  It will depend on the number I would have to make.  We'll see.  Right now, I'm just auditioning projects!

I found the tutorial for this cute box here -  http://kingsonpaddington.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/get-well-kit.html

I used a sheet of DSP from Sale-a-Bration, Madison Avenue and paired it with Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, and Sahara Sand cardstock.  The band-aide stamp on the front is also from Sale-a-Bration - Patterned Occasions.

Here is the inside:

There is supposed to be a throat lozenge holder next to the kleenex holder but I didn't have any to measure so I could make the holder for it.  I will have to buy some and add them later.  This might be something cute to make in Stamp Club.  I'll keep that in mind.

Have a great week!

Bootiful Thanks

Punxsutawney's famous groundhog predicts spring will come early this year.  Yay!!  With thousands watching on Gobbler's Knob in west-central Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair Saturday but didn't see his shadow.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-predicts-early-spring-article-1.1253756#ixzz2JmPSXeNy

I've been working on my thank you cards and have even gotten them mailed!  Yay for me.  This one uses the Bootiful Occasions and some retired DSP.  The DSP is Well Worn and is on the Clearance rack so if you want it, scurry over there and put it in your cart.  The "thank you" is stamped with the Itty Bitty Banners set which is available FREE for Sale-a-bration.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!  Who do you predict will win the Super Bowl tomorrow?  From everything I am hearing, it is a hard one to predict.  I will be pulling for the Ravens for a couple of reasons.  This is the final game for Ray Lewis, a veteran player for Baltimore, and I would like to see a win for him.  Also, if San Francisco wins, they would have the same number of Super Bowl rings as the Steelers and I don't want that to happen!!  Whatever happens, I hope it is a good close game.

Swallowtail Beauties

I guess I've complained about the cold enough!  We are starting to warm up.  Sunday, noon and it is 30 degrees with the sun shining.  By Tuesday or Wednesday, it is supposed to be in the 60s!!  Whoooo Whooo!!  Sonny is obsessed since our trip to Alaska with their weather this time of year.  Every day he tells me what the temps are going to be in Fairbanks.  Today I think he told me the high was supposed to be something like minus 40 degrees. I can't even imagine what that feels like.  Guess I won't complain about NC's highs and lows!

Despite the cold outside, I have been warm inside and working away with my new toys!  One of the stamp sets I didn't think I would get was the huge Swallowtail Butterfly single stamp.  I kept seeing some really pretty samples using it so I caved.  I am so glad I did.  I just love the cards I made with it this weekend.  What do you think?  Which one is your favorite? 

This one I stamped the butterfly on Whisper White card stock with Versamark and then sprinkled Melon Mambo embossing folder all over and heated it up.  Just gorgeous!  The little "thank you" uses the stamp, Pretty Petites and the small Label Punch (both items FREE in the Sale-a-bration catalog!

This butterfly was stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock with Versamark.  I sprinkled Classy Copper (retired) embossing powder over the little guy and heated him up.  Then I used my daubers to daub Baja Breeze and More Mustard on the wings.  Just daub the ink on lightly - you can always go back and add more.  Very lightly, in the background, I stamped the swirl stamp from Everything Eleanor.  (I'm not sure if "daub" is a word but you know what I mean!)

My final beauty is this black and white Swallowtail.  Make sure you remember to wipe the cardstock with the Embossing Buddy before stamping!!  I stamped the butterfly with Whisper White Craft ink (which is now retired BUT you can use Versamark and get the same effect.)  Next I sprinkled White embossing powder all over and heat set it.  I don't know if you can see it, but I used the Needlepoint Border embossing folder from the Spring Mini (pg. 5) on the Pool Party card stock.  The sentiment comes from one of my favorite sets, Word Play.

Last night Sonny and I went to the movies.  You've probably figured out by now that going to the movies is one of our favorite things to do.  Sonny had not seen Lincoln and I have been wanting to see Silver Lining Playbook and knew that was not his kind of movie.  So my movie stated at 7:05 and his at 7:15 so it worked out completely - except we couldn't share popcorn, which we don't do anyway!!  Truth be told, I usually pop my popcorn at home and take it in with me in my purse - much less calories!!  I really enjoyed my movie.  I wasn't too sure at first - it started rather slow and was kind of bizarre at first, but by the end I had a big smile on my face and was rooting for Bradley Cooper.  I don't think it will win the Academy Award but it was entertaining. 

January Stamp Club Cards

Brrrr - it's sure turned cold here today!  I was hoping to wake up to a yard full of snow, but no such luck.  There is a dusting on our back deck and schools were delayed 3 hours this morning but that's about it.  We went over to Horsefeathers last night to grab a burger and beer and coming home, a "wintry mix" was really coming down.  It has been raining non stop since Monday and our yard looks like a swamp!  But today the sun is out finally and the temperatures are supposed to reach the mid 40s!!  Good day for making cards and drinking hot chocolate by the fire!

I had Stamp Club this week - and am actually having it again next Wednesday since 4 of the girls could not make it for one reason or another.  These are a few of the cards we made this week along with the cards from THIS POST.  They picked one of the Valentines to make and chose either the pink or turquoise birthday card.

 This card used the new Hearts A Flutter bundle - stamp and framelits.  Also the ribbon is the new Two-Tone Ribbon.  I like the ribbon although it is not what I had pictured in my mind.  I thought it was going to be 2 different colors but what it is is a blend of the two colors - Rose Red and Pink Pirouette.  I had to go back to the catalog and read the description to figure it out.  It is nice and silky and makes a very pretty bow.  The "I Love You" is from the Bitty Banners stamp and framelit.  The large heart was cut using the Hearts Framelits.

This is just a fun card!  I recently bought this Patterned Party birthday set during one of SU's sales.  It is such a great birthday set!  It also has gifts and cake in the set but I just couldn't fit any more stamps on the card.  On this card, I stamped the balloons separately, cut them out, and popped each one up.  If you notice on the blue card below, I stamped all the balloons separately on the card using markers to color them - much easier!!

This card uses Papillion Potpourri (butterflies) and the Elegant Butterfly Punch - makes it super easy to cut out those butterflies!!  I made a mask using the Labels Framelits and stamped the French background stamp on the Vanilla card stock.  Next I stamped the "thanks" from the Vintage Verses Sale-a-bration set in Rich Razzleberry.  After the stamping, I ran the piece through the Big Shot using the Houndstooth embossing folder.  The butterfly was stamped onto Pretty in Pink and punched out.  Super easy card!!

Loving the Honeycomb!

I got to play with my new stuff and let me tell you, I'm loving the Honeycomb embossing folder!  I can see myself using it a lot!!
I wish now I'd gotten more stuff with my mini catalog preorder.  At first glance, I wasn't totally in love with many of the products in the catalog.  But as usual, as I've seen what others have done with the products, I'm wanting them!!  But for now, I'll just make do with what I have!

This card uses the Polka Dot Parade DSP  (pg. 164, #126902) in Rich Razzleberry along with Pink Pirouette card stock that is embossed with the Honeycomb folder.  The banner is made using the Hearts A Flutter Framelits Dies.  I also used a (SNEAK PEEK) item from the Sale-a-Bration catalog - can you spot it?  It is the Petite Curly Label Punch.  It works great with the stamps from Tiny Tags.  Other punches used are the Itty Bitty Punches (flower) and the tiny heart in the center flag from the Owl Punch.

And another card using the Honeycomb folder. It would be nice to have a punch that matched the Honeycomb though. But until we do here is what I did for my card - embossed the DSP with the Honeycomb folder and just cut the individual hexagons out  (I used Twitterpated DSP - pg 165).  Then I just glued them to a few of the embossed hexagons.  The stamp in the middle is another SNEAK PEEK from Sale-a-Bration called Vintage Verses.  It fits nicely in the Labels Framelit Die.  I really like the simplicity of this card.

Travels and Monday Mailer

We are having a wonderful time in San Antonio and it is hard to believe we have to get on the plane tomorrow to head back home.  We have been shopping, eating (a lot!!), visiting friends and family and just plain having fun!!  Ashley took off from work while we were here so that made it even better.  We started out having Mexican food the night we arrived and followed it up on Thursday at the River Walk and having Mexican for lunch.  We also took the water taxi tour down the river - something I have not done in years.  Thursday night, Ashley had tickets for us to go hear Jeb Bush speak at Trinity University (her college).  He was very interesting and spoke mostly about educating our children.  Friday we went to San Marcos outlet shopping .... spending 1 1/2 hour in the Vera Bradley store!!  Later we went to Austin to meet a friend for drinks, although when she arrived and ordered water, we knew something was up!  Yep - she is pregnant and we are excited for her and her hubby.  Next my nephew, his wife and new baby joined us and I got to see Jack Frost IV!!  What a cutie!!  Saturday we visited a couple of the Missions in San Antonio and got a Nat'l Park Service tour of one of them where we all learned some things.  Sunday after church, some of Ashley's friends came over and we cooked out and visited.  The little ones went swimming but the water was too cold for the adults!!  Last night we went to see The Hunger Games.  It was really good!!  Today we drove over to Gruene, about a 45 minute drive and wandered around in and out of the cute little shops as well as doing a bit of wine tasting.  We have eaten a little of everything - Mexican (of course) 3 times, Rudy's BBQ, Italian, Thai, Texas Chicken Fried Steak .....!!  Diet starts Wednesday!!

Before I left I made my Monday Mailer cards.  Here is one of them.

This is a white on white card.  I stamped the flower from Fresh Vintage first and then used the Designer Frames Embossing Folder to emboss around the flower.  I stamped the little border from Fresh Vintage in Concord Crush as I did the flowers in the stamp set.  This was a fun card to make.  All items came from Saleabration!  This is the FINAL WEEK to take advantage of the great Saleabration items.

Stamp Club Projects

It's time to share the cards we will be making in Stamp Club this month.  My Thursday class met last week and my Tuesday class meets later today.

This card uses the Lattice die.  The layers are embossed together and then adhered to the card.  "Celebrate" is from the stamp set, Outline Occasions, available for the next 2 weeks ONLY in the SaleABration catalog!  We colored it in with SU markers.

This card uses a stamp that is not mine - Up Up and Away!  It is Ashley's and I had to use it before I go to Texas and give it to her (hope I remember to pack it!!)  I love how this turned out!  I punched out the white squares with the 1 1/4" Square Punch and stamped the flag tails with Soft Suede.  The kites are stamped in Real Red and cut out.  They are popped up on the squares with dimensionals.  The turquoise DSP comes from the Pattern Stack (love these).

Since we won't be together until after Easter, I had to include an Easter card using a punch art bunny!!  He's so cute! We are going to making the green and orange card using the wonderful DSP from SaleABration.  I case'd this card but don't remember where I saw it! 

This is the card opened with the bunny coming through.  The punches I used for this card are:

1 3/4" Circle - 2 for body
Ornament - 1 for head
Med. Oval - 4 for feet
Small (retired) oval - 2 DSP, 2 pink for feet
BoHo Blossom - 4 for tail
3/4" Circle - 2 for cheeks
Cupcake Punch - 2 black for eyes

I used my daubers and Pretty in Pink ink on all the edges.

The final card we will make is THIS card using the Starburst technique.

Go Green for Spring!

I have to make this one quick - I need to get ready to go to the "Y" for a swim aerobics class.  I'm trying hard to be good about working out a little.  This will be two days in a row!!  Sonny doesn't believe it - he thinks I am sick.  I'll show him!

This is the Monday Mailer that I mailed yesterday.  Our theme this month is "Go Green for Spring."  I don't seem to use green much in cards so I am trying to challenge myself.  This card uses a lot of the Sale-a-Bration supplies that were FREE!!

Supplies used:

• Soft Suede card base, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, SAB Enchantment DSP
• Fresh Vintage stamp set (Free - SAB), Tiny Tags stamp
• Ribbon from SAB Brad & Ribbon Pack
• Postage Stamp Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch
• Dimensionals to pop up the postage stamps

This is the last February Monday Mailer that I received from Karen.  The butterfly is covered in glitter - hard to see in this picture.

It was great to talk to Ashley yesterday.  She had a great time on her Rock Boat Cruise but didn't have much of a voice left!  Don't know if you are watching the tv show, The Voice (I love it!) but the first contestant last night on Adam's team was Tony Luca.  He was just on Ashley's cruise.  She called me and said it was so funny watching the show since she was just hanging out with him last week!  He made it through last night on the first cut.  He is really good and I predict he will go pretty far.

Totally Addicting .... Pinterest!

Have you discovered Pinterest?  Oh, so addictive!  I find myself "pinning" so many things.  Who knows if I'll ever go back and do anything with them - especially the recipes I've been pinning but it's a good creative outlet to look at what others like.  Here's a link to my fav's.

I saw a card on Pinterest which inspired this card I have made.  .I did  two versions of the card .  After I made the first one, I decided it would be cool to paper-piece the butterfly to match the DSP so that's what I did in the second card.  What do you think?

 I used a FREE stamp set from Sale-a-bration - Outlined Occasions and colored it in with my Pacific Point, Daffodil and Lucky Limeade markers.  I stamped the butterfly from Flight of the Butterfly with Pacific Point ink.   I used the Adorning Accents die and embossing folder for the various layers along with the DSP from Beyond the Garden.

This is the second version of the card with the butterfly paper-pieced with the Beyond the Garden DSP.

Here is the inside of the card - you can see a peek of the DSP when the card is closed - you just can't tell from above.

I have a great tip for you using the Framelits Dies from the mini catalog - specifically the Labels  but you could also do this with the Hearts.  You can emboss with them as well as cut the frames.  Here is what it looks like:

Here's how to do it:
Set your Big Shot Multipurpose platform so Tab 1 is on the bottom and add the following:
-Plastic Cutting Pad
-Rubber Flexible Crease Pad
-The card stock you are embossing
-Framelit with cutting edge facing upward (make sure it's facing UPWARD! if you place the cutting edge down it will cut through your card stock and maybe your crease pad)  Ask me how I know this??
-scrap cardstock or lightweight chipboard
-Standard cutting pad
-Shim or extra piece of copy paper

And here is another great idea -

What I did on this one was first emboss the cardstock with the Lattice Embossing Folder.  Then I took the two Labels Dies and inked them with Versamark.  Then I made the sandwich as outline above.  Isn't it cool?