Serene Silhouettes

I created this card last week and I believe it is my favorite of all the cards I have made!

I cut the strip of Whisper White about 2" x 5" and using Post-It Notes for masking, sponged Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive.  I started at the top and just moved my Post-It Note down but trying to blend the colors together as I sponged.    Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig, I stamped the wild flowers from Serene Silhouettes in black ink.  Then I adhered the sponged piece and stamped the wild flowers again.  Next I stamped the sentiment from God Is Love and tied the Denim Ribbon (just retired) around the card before adhering it to the Night of Navy card.  I am sending this card to a friend in my Stamp Club whose son only has a few weeks to live.  He lost his eye last year to cancer and it has now spread to his liver and the outcome is grim.  I can't imagine losing either of my children, even if most of the time I feel like I have lost my son.  But I have to remember that I know where he is and that he is happy so that is a blessing.

On happy news .... my friend, Margaret, (that I have mentioned in my blog many times) - her daughter who lives in Charlotte had a little boy last night.  He was delivered via C Section at 8:30 and weighed 8 lb. 6 oz. Both Mom, Dad and baby, Logan Darcy, are doing well!  I can't wait to see him.

What's on your list?

The wait is over!  The new catalog is available.  You can click on the catalog picture in the column to the left to view the catalog on-line.  If you find a card or project in the catalog that you can't figure out, click on the "What Did They Use?" box just below the catalog and it will take you to a listing of all products used to make the samples in the catalog.  It won't tell you how to make them but it will give you a list of supplies and you can usually figure it out from there.  You can also find samples from Stampin' Up on their Pinterest site HERE.  While you are over in Pinterest, you can also check out my "pins" HERE and follow me.  Some days I spend entirely too much time "pinning" items!

So I didn't get a chance to put my order in until midnight last night!  Yesterday was a busy day.  I left early in the a.m. to play bridge; then to the post office to mail a couple of packages; and then to get a mani-pedi while waiting for Marianne to get off work.  When she met me, we went to Ikea; then out to dinner; and finally to Allison's house for a meeting.  It was after 10 p.m. when I finally got back home!  I was tired .... but not too tired to go through the catalog one last time before inputting my order!

Can you say "ka-ching"??  That's the cash register going off in my house!  Have you had time to pore over the catalog and you have sticky notes sticking out all over it?  Have you made your wish list?  Well, I have a dog eared piece of paper that I had listed all my top "need to get" stamp sets   Surprisingly, my first list was 16 "must haves."  Of course, that always grows as I see what others do with the new sets.  And, believe it or not, I only ordered one set last night and it was a hostess stamp set, Bloom With Hope.  I needed too many accessories this time so I am going to try and use some of my neglected stamps that are lonely on the shelf.  I ordered all the In Color ribbon, card stock and DSP stack.  Also the Stars framelits, So Taffy DSP, Large Dots embossing folder, and a few other items that I need for my convention swaps.  So, what do you have on your list?  Here are a few items that are on my list:

SOMETHING TO SAY

I seem to always be looking for sentiments and this one seems to have quite a few good ones.

SOMETHING TO SAY

AGE AWARENESS

I love these cute birthday sentiments and the fonts in happy birthday!

FLOWER PATCH BUNDLE

This is a photopolymer stamp so it will be super sticky for your clear blocks.  With the matching framelits (Bundle it), this will be a great replacement for the Secret Garden set that retired.  Plus I seem to be looking for simple leaves to stamp a lot of  times and this set has them.

If you are ready to order your items, I have the Hostess Code set up already.  If you would use the Hostess Code below when placing your on-line order, I would really appreciate it!

H69TSUFH 

Flower Garden Window Box

Make a lovely flower garden window box to brighten up yur space with fun patterned flowers that will last!  No watering needed - the best kind!!  These bright and fun blossoms will never wilt.  You could also gift this bunch of flowers to someone special with the matching card.  Don't need a window box?  The flowers would still make a lovely bouquet in a vase for the perfect gift!

This is the final project for May's Craft Project Central and it was designed by Amanda.  To get the instructions, just subscribe to May and meet one of the bonus project requirements of subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or referring a friend and when they subscribe, letting us know.  And if you have a minute, please leave Amanda a comment on her project.

Blendabilities Blended Bloom

Have I mentioned yet how much I am enjoying using the Blendabilities markers?   You will see me using them a lot this year.  I know you want to order yours and I hope they will be available to you soon.  Here is the latest update from SU:   They are telling us that certain colors (the same ones currently available to demonstrators for pre-order) should be available to customers to order in late June or early July!  That is a lot better than August.  I believe the main reason for this delay is they want to make sure they have enough in stock to meet the demand that they anticipate.  These are the colors that should be available:

• Cherry Cobbler
• Coastal Cabana
• Daffodil Delight
• Old Olive
• Pumpkin Pie
• Rich Razzleberry
• Skin Tone Assortment
• Color Lifter

This card was made using the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities along with some of the Skin Tone Assortment and Pumpkin Pie Blendabilities for the centers.  The flower stamp is a new single stamp called Blended Bloom.  It is so fun to color!!  I used Stippled Blossoms for the leaves in Garden Green.  The watercolor marks were made using Pumpkin Pie and Smoky Sate ins and they are from the fabulous Work of Art stamp as is the sentiments.

All of these items will be available starting Monday, June 2 at noon MDT (2 pm EDT).  If you need a catalog, please let me know.

The last day for ordering Retiring Products is June 4 so if there is something on those lists you have your eye on, now is the time to order them!!

Sea Street and Circle Thinlits

I purchased this cute stamp set during the new catalog pre-order called Sea Street.  I really like it except for one thing .... I don't want to cut the octopus out by hand!  I don't mind "fussy-cutting" most of the time, but this little guy got the best of me!  But luckily, he fits real well into our 2 1/2" punch.

This is the card I made using some of the new In Colors - Hello Honey (card stock) and Mossy Meadow (octopus and arrows) and Sea Street.  It also uses the Circle Thinlits but just a bit differently.

Here is the front view of the card:

And look at the inside:

I have the step-by-step "how to" pictures for you:

The card stock goes over the framelit edge instead of under.

Roll through just past the circle; then roll backwards, avoiding going over the straight edge

Fold on the fold lines around the circle - first one back; last one in.  

Place in upper left hand corner of Simply Scored and score at 5 1/2"  Fold on 5 1/2" score line.

inside of card

Paper Craft Crew Challenge 95- using MDS

Here is my card for the Paper Craft Crew Challenge this week.

 This is the sketch we were to follow:

Make sure you stop by the blog and check out the other cards.  And why not create one following the sketch?

Venetian Romance Card Reminder Project

NOTE:  This is my 2nd post today.



Do you need the perfect gift for that very special person?  Well, I have the answer for you!  A Card Reminder Box!  This Card Reminder Box will help you keep track of all those important dates so you won't forget.  Just fill in the calendar pages with the dates and drop the cards for the event behind.  When it's time to send a card, it is ready for you to sign and send!  Easy peasy!!

Finally .... this is MY project for Craft Project Central this month!!

To get the instructions, just subscribe to May's Craft Project Central HERE.  It's just $10 and you get instructions for ten projects.  What a deal!!

MDS Challenge - Embellishments

Hope your extended weekend was a super one!  We were pretty lazy all weekend.  We spent Saturday and Sunday on the lake, playing cards, reading and napping!  Yesterday was lazy but at home.  Thunderstorms were predicted so we didn't want to risk taking the boat out.  As it turned out, we would have been fine.  The storms didn't roll in until late in the afternoon / early evening.  We met Marianne and Greg in Cornelius last evening for Italian food.  They went camping this weekend in Mt. Airy and had a great time - except for the beginning and the end!  Friday they had a tire blow out not long after they started their trip and yesterday the radiator went out on the car on the way home - about one exit from home!!  A fun but expensive trip for them!

Last night I decided to do a My Digital Studio challenge on Facebook.  Here was Kimberley's challenge:

Today's challenge is all about embellishing. Embellish, Embellish, Embellish. You should have a TON of embellishments in your software. This week we want to see you really use them.

Remember, you can crop them, color them, slice and dice..

I pulled out some of the pictures from Jeff's West Point graduation in 2001 and made a page that had me reminiscing about that special day.  How proud we were!  How do you like it?  (click on page to make it larger)

Check out this week's deals:

Happy Memorial Day

Today is an important day to honor our brave men and women who have fought and died in uniform to defend this great country of ours against all enemies.  We grieve with those families who lost loved ones too soon.  For them Memorial Day will always be a time of solemn remembrance.   From our War of Independence to Operation Enduring Freedom and wars inbetween, we are blessed to have millions of men and women to step forward and serve to preserve our freedom.  Today we stop to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice at home and on distant battlefields in our defense.

Today at 3:00 pm there will be a National Day of Rememberance.  During this time, Americans pause for the duration of one minute, regardless of where they are.  This time was chosen because it is the time when many Americans are enjoying their freedoms on this national holiday.  This "Moment" is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died in service to our great country.

God bless the U S A.

"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens can not cure." - Dwight David Eisenhower.

This card took me about 5 minutes to make this morning.  That is thanks to a new stamp set that you will be able to order soon - Work of Art.  It is a keeper!  I will be sending this card to a friend of Ashley's who is serving our country in Afganistan.  Come home soon Courtney!

Happy Memorial Day

How do you like my new blog look?  I made the header with My Digital Studio.  I used a new download (at least new to me!) called Beautiful Today.  It is a great kit and even comes with two "how to" videos.  For those still trying to learn to use MDS, these kits with videos are perfect!

Well, just a short hi tonight (or rather this morning as it is 12:15 a.m.)  Having a lazy weekend.  We went out on the boat for a while Saturday and that's our plans for Sunday too.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Click here for a few inspiring videos.