Verve Stamps June Release Challenges!

Julee aka Vervegirl is having another release party over on Splitcoast on Friday.  She has 5 sketch challenges up this week and I not only managed to get them all done, but I pulled it off before the Friday deadline! (GASP!)

Here is the link to the info on the Release Party.

And here is a link to the Challenge thread.

As I am horribly behind on birthday cards (I owe friends with birthdays in APRIL cards still!), I decided to do all 5 cards with Verve Stamps “Birthday Surprise” set.  All 5 cards are also done in the Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Paper  and use Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip card stock (all from Stampin’ Up!).  If you like that DSP, there may still be some left, but it is on the “Last Chance” list and will retire on June 30th.  The Baja Breeze card stock is already sold out.  Normally, I would split these up so I would have blog entries over several days, but I wanted Julee to find these all in one place….

VSJUN01 (and Mojo Monday #92):

This card also uses the 1/4” Chocolate Chip Poly Twill ribbon (retired), Silver Hodgepodge Hardware and Dazzling Diamonds glitter (accenting the present).  The greeting was punched with the Wide Oval Punch and the present is layered onto a Scallop Square Punch piece.  The scallop square and the oval greeting are popped up with Dimensionals.

VSJUN02:

I am *so* not a bird fan, but this little guy is kinda cute!  His hat is colored in So Saffron and is accented with Dazzling Diamonds, as are his wing and tail.  The image panel is sponged with Creamy Caramel ink and the edges are distressed.  The sentiment is punched with the Scallop Circle punch and I used my paper piercer to add some detail around the edge of the card.  The scallop circle is popped up with Dimensionals.

VSJUN03:

This card uses a bit of non-SU stuff…..  The Chocolate Chip satin ribbon is Stampin’ Up!, but retired.  The sticky back pearls came from Michael’s and the glitter around the Wide Oval punched greeting is Stickles.  The greeting oval is sponged with Baja Breeze ink.  The DSP mat was cut by hand and layered onto the big oval (Marvy) punch out.  The base layer of the card was stamped with the big swirly stamp from Baroque Motifs (©Stampin’ Up!) and I used the paper piercer between the scallops on the oval.  The scallop oval is popped up with Dimensionals.

VSJUN04:

I like this layout.  A lot.  I will be using this sketch again!  My only disappointment with this card was that I didn’t have any tiny clear rhinestones handy so I used pink ones.  Not exactly what I wanted, but it works.  The scallop circle is an EK Success punch and the greeting circle is 1-7/8” and cut out with the Circle Scissor.  It is lightly sponged with Baja Breeze and edged in Stickles.  I used the White Gel Pen around the scallops, added the pearls and rhinestones (from Michael’s and the local scrapbook store) and the Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon and layered it onto Whisper White.  The scallop circle is popped up with Dimensionals.

And, finally, VSJUN05:

The Scallop Circle is sponged with Baja Breeze, as is the white panel with the balloons.  The Scallop Circle is popped up with Dimensionals.  The ribbon is the 5/8” Chocolate Chip Grosgrain and I used the paper piercer and the craft mat to add the corner detail on the balloon panel.  I don’t do square cards often, but I really like this layout and I can see using it again.

Thanks to Julee for the AWESOME sketches!

A birthday card…..

Megan’s birthday party was today.  (Remember the invites from my May 22nd post?)  There were about ten sixteen year old girls there, most of whom had spent the night (where there was very little “slumber” going on).  Plus family and family friends.  There was a BBQ and then cake and presents.  So of course, there had to be a birthday card….  In keeping with the Baja and Chocolate theme from the invitations, this is what I made:

It uses Baja Breeze Textured Cardstock and Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP.  Add on the greeting from Sincere Salutations stamped in Chocolate Chip and punched with the large oval  and then layered on a scalloped oval punch out of one of the DSP patterns, 4 rhinestone brads and a flower from the Pretties kit and a corduroy button and voila!  Birthday card! 

Russ is home this weekend and he gets up a LOT earlier than I do in the mornings.  So this morning when HE was up early, Coco felt *I* should be up early as well.  Unfortunately, this followed a late night last night, so I am BEAT.  I need to get cracking on my swaps this week.  Convention is just 45 days away and I only have ONE swap done and have nothing else even STARTED.  EEK!  Wish me luck…..

Michael’s Graduation Card

My graduation anniversary is today.  A LONG, long time ago.  Saturday was Michael’s Graduation party.  There was good food, good friends and a lot of fun!  Wanting to do a special card for Michael, I decided to try one of the “Shutter” or “Peaks & Valleys” cards.  They are very popular on the “blogosphere” right now, but I hadn’t tried one yet.  I used the instructions from my friend Rhonda’s blog, The Stampin’ Bunny.  She got the idea from another blogger who got the idea from someone else, but Rhonda changed the measurements to fit a standard A2 envelope.  YAY! 

Since Michael’s school colors were dark green and white, I used Handsome Hunter Textured card stock (From the Rich Regals assortment 108696) and the Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel (111254) on Whisper White with a Handsome Hunter ink cartridge (105205).  I also used the Large and Small Star punches (110710 & 109045) and some Brushed Gold Card Stock (102935).  Oh, and Dimensionals (104430)!  The sentiment stamps are from the new Verve Set “Dare To Be You”.

Here is the result:

Here is what it looks like closed (color looks better on this one too):

It was a fun card to make and surprisingly easy.  I’ll be making more of these!

Thanks for looking!

The Retired Lists….

This post is lengthy due to the retired lists…. sorry!

The retired stamp list is here……

ABC Alphabet Lower
ABC Alphabet Upper
ABC Images
Absolutely Fabulous
Acuarelas maravillosas
All Scallops
Always In My Thoughts
Baroque
Beautiful Baby
Beautiful Borders
Bella Blossoms
Best Bee Four-Line
Best Bee Three-Line
Best Kind Of Friend
Big Birthday Candle
Big Bold Birthday
Big Deal Alphabet
Big Deal Numbers
Big Flowers
Birthday Wish
Blooming with Love
Boatloads of Love
Celebrations
Central Park
Classic Four-Line
Classic One-Line
Classic Stripes
Classic Three-Line
Classic Two-Line
Contemporary Four-Line
Contemporary One-Line
Contemporary Three-Line
Contemporary Two-Line
Decorative Design
Doodle This
Elegant Cheer
Elegant Flower Four-Line
Elegant Flower Three-Line
Felices fiestas
Flowers in Silhouette
Forever
Frames with a Flourish
Free & The Brave, The
Fun Flowers
Glad Friends
God Is Love
Great Grads
Happiness Is a Journey
Happy Heart Day
Heartfelt Thanks
Heritage Holiday
Holiday Trinkets
Holidays & Wishes
Hugs & Wishes
If the Halo Fits
Illuminations
In Everything Give Thanks
In Good Form
Independence Day
It’s a Sign
Just B
Kindred Spirits
Large Text-Only Simple
Serif One-Line
Large Text-Only Simple
Serif Two-Line
Life’s a Breeze
Little Birdie Told Me, A
Lovely Labels
Many Happy Returns
Morning Soft
One Smart Cookie
Organic Outlines
Outlined for Fun
Perfect Princess
Pinch Proof
Prehistoric Pals
Pretty Amazing
Say It with Scallops
Seaside
Seeing Spots
Short Order Alphabet
Short Order Numbers
Simple Serif Mini
Alphabet & Numbers
Snow Burst
Something New to Love
Stitched Exotics
Sweet Celebrations
Sweet Sampler
Sweet Serendipity
Tableau of Terror
Tag It
Thoughts of Father
Ticker Tape Alphabet
Time to Party
To Have and to Hold
To You & Yours
Wild about You
Wonderful Watercolors
Wonderful You
Zoofari

Hostess Sets:
Comfort Food
Darling Dots
Dear Friend
Dream a Little
Echoes of Kindness
God’s Beauty
Goody-Goody Gumdrops
Itty Bitty Buds
Little Somethin’, A
Rustic Rooster
Sweet Little Sentiments

From the Spanish Catalog, Celebrando Creatividad:
Puntos primorosos
Querida amiga
Sueña un poco
Ecos de bondad
La belleza de Dios
Dulce expresiones
Un regalito
Sentimientos de dulzura

I only have 8 sets that are retiring.  Not too bad.  Here’s what I have that is on the list:

• Boatloads of Love (sad about this- it’s so CUTE!)
• Heartfelt Thanks (but I like what replaced it!)
• Frames With A Flourish
• Big Flowers (sigh- gonna miss this one)
• Lovely Labels (I’ll miss that “Enjoy” stamp)
• Tag It (my “Stamped by” stamp – I will keep using this)
• Birthdays Count (actually this has been moved to the dormant list which we will get on July 1st)
• Dear Friend (hostess set- knew this was going)

The retired accessories list is available as well.  These items are “while supplies last” and several things are already sold out.  The items sold out as of yesterday afternoon are in bold italics:

Item #	Product Description
113979	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS CANVAS CUTS
114019	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLEURETTES
112006	ACCENTS & ELEMENTS FLOWER FUSION II
116210	Birthdays Count
112092	BUTTON BOUQUET
111352	CARD STOCK BAJA BREEZE 8-12 X 11
111346	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 12 X 12
111347	CARD STOCK IN COLOR 8-1/2 X 11
111353	CARD STOCK KIWI KISS 8-1/2 X 11
108590	CARD STOCK NATURALS ASST 12X12
111350	CARD STOCK PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2 X 11
111351	CARD STOCK PINK PIROUETTE 8-1/2 X 11
111348	CARD STOCK RIDING HOOD RED 8-1/2 X 11
111349	CARD STOCK TANGERINE TANGO 8-1/2 X 11
111345	CARD STOCK TEXTURED IN COLOR 12 X 12
111844	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL BAJA BREEZE
111842	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL KIWI KISS
111840	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PACIFIC POINT
111843	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL PINK PIROUETTE
111839	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL RIDING HOOD RED
111841	CLASSIC STAMPIN INK REFILL TANGEIRNE TANGO
111833	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD BAJA BREEZE
111835	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD KIWI KISS
111837	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PACIFIC POINT
111838	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD PINK PIROUETTE
111836	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD RIDINGHOOD RED
111834	CLASSIC STAMPIN PAD TANGERINE TANGO
102264	COLUZZLE STARTER KIT
114338	COURDUROY BUTTONS KIWI KISS
114341	COURDUROY BUTTONS PACIFIC POINT
104310	CRAFTERS TOOL KIT
112966	Curly Label Bundle* just the stamp set, not the punch!
105143	DAYS TO REMEMBER 6X6 FR
114351	DESIGNER HARDWARE HOORAY
114350	DESIGNER HARDWARE SOHO
113981	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA BIRDS
112041	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER BELLA ROSE
113980	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER CANDY LANE
113966	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE
112464	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER MANCHESTER
112157	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS BAJA BREEZE
112161	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS KIWI KISS
112150	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PACIFIC POINT
112156	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS PINK PIROUETTE
112155	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS RIDING HOOD RED
112153	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER PATTERNS TANGERINE TANGO
112471	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RAINBOW SHERBET
113975	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER RASPBERRY TART
113993	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY PARISIAN BREEZE
114039	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY ROCKABILLY
114037	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SPECIALTY SWEET SLUMBER
112468	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SWEET ALWAYS
112042	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN GARDEN
113978	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER URBAN OASIS
112461	DESIGNER SERIES PAPER WASHINGTON APPLE
112010	DIE CUTS BLOOMS AGAIN
113950	DIE CUTS BUILD-A-FAIRYTALE
110730	DIE CUTS POCKETS & PIECES
114528	Embosslit Flower
107288	ENVELOPE WHISPER WHITE EXTRA LARGE
100900	GIFT SACKS WHITE
115535	Hand Drawn Bundle
101259	HEMP TWINE BLACK
102875	HEMP TWINE RED
112970	LO MEJOR DE TODO
116209	Note of Thanks
112139	NOTES CAROUSEL II
111337	NOTES GIFT ASSORTMENT II
111336	NOTES SCALLOP II
111338	NOTES TEXTURED LOVE ASSORTMENT II
107272	PUNCH KEY TAG
109044	PUNCH SNOW BLOSSOM
111847	RIBBON DOUBLE STITICHED BAJA BREEZE 1"
111363	RIBBON GROSGRAIN PINK PIROUETTE 1 1/4"
111375	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED BAJA BREEZE 5/8"
111370	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PACIFIC POINT 5/8"
111373	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED PINK PIROUETTE 5/8"
111374	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED RIDING HOOD RED 5/8"
111371	RIBBON GROSGRAIN STRIPED TANGERINE TANGO 5/8"
111372	RIBBON GROSGRIAN STRIPED KIWI KISS 5/8"
114317	RIBBON ORIGINALS DRESS UP
114316	RIBBON ORIGINALS PIG TAILS
114318	RIBBON ORIGINALS VALET
111364	RIBBON POLY TWILL SO SAFFRON 7/8"
111879	RIBBON SATIN KIWI KISS VERY VANILLA
111365	RIBBON TAFFETA RIDING HOOD RED
111277	RUB ONS A PERFECT DAY
113887	RUB ONS BRIGHT DELIGHTS
111416	RUB ONS CHATEAU BELLA
113884	RUB ONS FASHION DISTRICT
111415	RUB ONS GREATEST MOMENTS
111414	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN
112735	RUB ONS HIDDEN GARDEN BLOSSOMS
113888	RUB ONS MANY OCCASIONS
113943	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN 2 SWEET
112054	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN BEST EVER
113936	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN HOPPY MEMORIES
112179	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN LOVE STORIES
112172	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE BOY
112165	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN ROCK A BYE GIRL
113911	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SUNSHINE GARDEN
113925	SIMPLY SCRAPPIN SWEET NOTHINGS
114605	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT MORE THOUGHTS
109231	SIMPLY SENT CARD KIT SENDING HAPPY THOUGHTS
109123	STAMPIN WRITE JOURNALER BASIC BROWN
106961	STAZON REFILL WHITE
101399	STIPPLE BRUSHES
113991	TASTE OF TEXTILES
105668	TATTOO KIT I
105669	TATTOO KIT II
Wheels:
111253	Blooms & Bulbs
109684	Doodle
111257	Happy, Happy Birthday
109692	Love
109568	My ABCs
109682	Perfectly Pretty
109687	See You Around
109683	So Swirly
111260	Something Fishy
111262	Stems & Silhouettes
105516	Watercolor Joy

What surprised me more was the stuff that DIDN’T retire in the accessories.  One look thru the list and you will see that we kept a LOT of DSP over from this catalog into the next.  Pretty much all that retired was “In Color” stuff.  Speaking of which…..  I placed my preview order on June 1st.  Yes, I expedited.  Why?  Because MY DEMO COPY OF THE NEW CATALOG came with it!  To quote my friend, Ellie, “SQUEEEEEEEAL!!!!!!”.  It has been well loved since I got it last Wednesday.  LOL!  Unfortunately, they have a gag order on us that the only stuff we can even share descriptions of on the web is the stuff from the preview, so MY LIPS ARE SEALED!  I also got my sampler pack of the new In Color Cardstock, a couple of the new ink pads and reinkers and the new Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (LOVE IT!).  This year’s in colors will take a while to grow on me.  I only have one color I LOVE off the bat and that is Rich Razzleberry.  Yeah, it’s PURPLE. 

I am knee deep in starting my Convention Swaps.  I have one project (the biggest and most daunting) done.  It was a 8.5” single scrap page layout about me.  I had to do 31 of them.  They are done.  I will post all the convention stuff in August.  I did get a graduation card done for Michael which I will post tomorrow.  Formatting the retired lists took longer than I wanted!  Thanks for looking!

It’s that time again…..

The (now) annual Stampin’ Up!® Retirement list will be available tomorrow.  This time they are publishing not just the list of retiring STAMPS, but ACCESSORIES as well.  In the past we have had to wait until 2 weeks before the new catalog to know what accessories were retiring.  Before I joined SU, I’m told they didn’t get a retired accessory list AT ALL.  Which can be pretty brutal for those trying to plan Convention swaps.  LOL!

The amazing JanTInk has, for some time now, been publishing her prediction of what stamps will be on the retired list.  Here is a link to her blog from today with her predictions, and here is the list of what I have on that list and my comments on their possible retirement:

• Boatloads of Love (I like this set, but I won’t be too upset if it retires)
• Dreams du Jour (Like this set a lot, but used it for Convention swaps last year.  It can go.)
• Heartfelt Thanks  (Noooooo!!!!)
• True Friend  (another set I used for swaps- it can go)
• Boho Backgrounds (a very versatile set.  Hope they replace it with something similar)
• One of a Kind (I use the “for you” stamp in this set a LOT)
• Big Flowers (This and little flowers are so versatile.  I will miss them both)
• Little Flowers
• Sincere Salutations (Nooooo!  I *JUST* bought this set!)
  

From the Dormant List :

• Season of Joy  (A good holiday set.  Hoping for a better one in the new catalog)

We’ll see what retires tomorrow!

Right on schedule!

My goal was to get both the circle journals I received at the beginning of the month out by May 16th.  Didn’t happen.  I did get the first one out.  Gave myself a more realistic goal of having the second one out by the end of the month.  It will go out tomorrow.

Spammy Amy, if you’re reading this and want to be surprised, don’t look any further…..

I mean it!

OK – so Amy’s theme was “Spamily Pets”.  We had to do a tag in the front in our favorite color (purple!) answering some specific questions about ourselves and including a photo of our family on the back and a funny photo of ourselves.  I only have 2 “funny photos” of myself, so that was pretty easy.

Then we had a 2 page layout in 6x6 size to tell all about our pets.  Well, since we’ve only had Coco for 5 months, it didn’t seem right to do a two page layout all about her when we had Taz for over 15 years and Aspen for over 10.  Then that brought my other cat, Sandi into the equation….  So I ended up doing a full “pet resume”.  EIGHT pets.  Yeah.  EIGHT photos on two 6x6 pages.  I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, but I’m actually kinda pleased with it.  (and if you are wondering, I was about nine when the photo in the layout was taken)

The base is from a DCWV pad called “Luxury Stack” and it’s shimmery.  Really pretty.  With that many photos, I really needed something subtle for a background!  To create a pocket for the journaling panels I mounted the background paper onto a 6x6 Whisper White piece, leaving the center of the top side open for the panel to slide in and out.  The gold brad keeps it from dropping in too far.  The photos are all matted on Chocolate Chip cardstock, as are the journaling panels, which are printed on Very Vanilla.  The name tags are printed on vellum paper and then adhered using Krylon spray adhesive to the same DCWV paper and then punched with the Small Oval punch.  To make them stand out, I ran the edges across my Bravo Burgundy Craft Ink spot and then popped them up with Dimensionals.  The mouse, heart and collar embellishments are Jolee’s.  Sorry about the flash reflections.  Between the glossy photo paper and the shimmery cardstock, this was the best I could do!

The layout:

The left page, with journaling panel:

And the right page:

Cherie – this will be on its way to you today…. Look for it Wednesday or Thursday!

Thanks so much for looking!       =^..^=

A quick little card….

Our 16th wedding anniversary was this month.  Here is the card I did for Russ:

Supplies used were all Stampin’ Up!:  Stamp set is Dreams du Jour; Whisper White, Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip cardstock; Chocolate Chip ink pad, Aqua Painter with Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red ink pads; Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, gold brads and the Stampin’ Up! Exclusive Texturz Plate set for the Big Shot.  I’m really going to miss using Pink Pirouette.  It’s an awesome color.  Practically a neutral for me now.  This Riding Hood Red Taffeta is going to be missed as well.  I hope they replace it with another red taffeta.  It’s been nice to have a bold color in the taffeta.

Thanks for looking!

They’re DONE!

My friend’s daughter is turning 16 next month.  She asked back in late April if I would help her do invitations again for her party this year.  Last year, we did about 15 of these:

Cute cross-over pocket card, mostly using up some CTMH supplies I (still) have. 

So, I gladly agreed to do invites again this year and sent over 4 samples.  She said she wanted “blue and brown”.  Mmmmmm… Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip!  And what a great way to use up the soon-to-retire Baja Breeze I had left!  Well, when I agreed to do this, we figured that Russ would be relocated by Mid May, leaving me PLENTY of time free to get the parts all cut and schedule a day to go over and put them together with Megan.  Yeah.  Didn’t work that way.  And I have jury duty next week, so I just did them myself.  Did I mention that this year there were 33 invitations to be made in two designs?  She is inviting 14 girls to the slumber party and then an additional 19 people to the BBQ party the next day.  So, here are the invites:

The Slumber Party Invite:

And the BBQ party invite:

Supplies used were almost all Stampin’ Up! with the exception of the cuttlebug texture folder for the dots (she REALLY liked the little bumpy dots better than the subtle ones that the Sizzix plates make), the stick on rhinestone and the Krylon spray adhesive I used on the vellum.  I love how spray adhesive works on vellum…. totally invisible!  The cardstock used was Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Vellum and whisper white inside to print the party details on (those were all cut out with the Top Note die).  Chocolate chip ink was used to stamp “You’re Invited” from Sincere Salutations and the flower from Big Flowers.  Punches used were the 1 3/8” circle and the Scallop Circle punches.  Silver brads and Organza ribbon round out the supplies.  I’ll be delivering these tomorrow.  Then begins CONVENTION SWAP MAKING SEASON.  Yep, I’ll be creating like a mad woman from now until August 3rd, but I won’t be able to share much until after Convention.  I do have a few events in between, birthdays and such, and a couple cards I haven’t posted yet that I will try and upload and share.

Thanks for reading, and happy creating!

Drop dead GORGEOUS!

I have LOTS of talented stamping friends.  There are a few however whose stuff just makes my jaw drop.  Like EVERY TIME THEY MAKE SOMETHING.  You know who you are.

Cherie is one of them.  Check out the cards I got from her last week…..

I’m willing to bet this is one she did for one of her classes.  It’s the very popular Flower Pot (pocket) card.  The flowers have a vanilla note area matted on Chocolate chip that pulls out of the pot.  The centers of the flowers are coated with Crystal Effects. 

This card just takes my breath away.  The details are incredible from the paper piercing around the edges of the 3 main focal layers to the dyed ribbon, the little pearls and the FIVE LAYER ROSE! 

Here’s a side view of the rose so you can see the layering involved.  ALL the layers are coated with Crystal Effects.

Pretty incredible stuff…..  And even though the paper and the color (baja breeze) are about to retire, I think I need to order a package of this paper.  I had managed to resist up till recently when SO MUCH GORGEOUS STUFF has been done with it.  *sigh*  So much for holding out till June 1 to place another order.  If I’m ordering DSP, I’m going to get in on the buy three get one free deal that Stampin’ Up! is running until the end of the month!

THANKS, CHERIE!  YOU ROCK!

Birthday Cards

Our adorable niece and nephew turned two on Friday.  Their party was Saturday.  It was over 90 degrees.

Here are their cards – Gregory’s:

and Abigail’s:

Mostly Stampin’ Up! stuff was used.  The bases are Confetti White with either Bashful Blue or Pink Pirouette that was stamped with the balloon from Crazy For Cupcakes.  The cupcakes were stamped on whisper white and the cups were colored with markers (Bashful Blue and CTMH’s Baby Pink) and the tops were frosted with Stickles Frosted Lace and the sprinkles are assorted colors of Stickles (yes, I have a LOT of colors).  The candles were colored with SU markers and then accented with Crystal Effects.  They were cut out and layered on Barely Banana and then matted with Chocolate Chip and punched on the corners with the Ticket Corner Punch.  Not that the birthday kids cared.  Or even SAW them.  Once they opened See N Say Elmo, they paid no attention to anything else.  LOL!

A very rare occurrence

Yes, boys and girls, I SCRAPPED SOMETHING.  I truly am NOT a scrapbooker.  Not even a little bit.  Well, maybe a LITTLE bit, but when I do, it’s usually digital or very minimalist.  Well, I lost my mind a while back and joined a group of my friends in a “Circle Journal” project.  For those who don’t know what that is; each member of the group has a scrapbook.  They do the welcome and instruction page and the page(s) for the members’ tags and then they do the first layout and mail it on to the next gal.  Our group left the themes of the books open to the individual who owned it.  When it’s all done, you get your own book back with a layout in it from each member. 

My theme was about our “stamping”.  I have another circle journal here that is due out by the end of this month.  Her theme is about our pets.  I have several hundred pictures to choose from for that one!  LOL!  The ones I’ve already done include a dream vacation, another one about pets, one about dreams/goals and one about a family recipe.

Julie’s theme is “Collecting Joy”.  Our pages were supposed to be about things that bring us joy.  So here is what I did:

The base pages are Almost Amethyst and the mats are Basic Black.  The brads and ribbon slides are from the Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.  The ribbon is White Taffeta and the rest of the embellishments are whatever was in my drawer.  The wine bottle and glass are from a Hanna Stamps set called “Kiss the Cook”.  The little pull tab was made with the SU Scallop Circle punch (Shimmery White) and layered onto Almost Amethyst that was punched with the 2” Scallop Circle punch by EK Success.  It’s a PERFECT mat for our punch!  The text is printed on Shimmery White.

Thanks for looking!

Welcome to Parade of Papers!

As detailed in my post on Wednesday, the Parade of Papers Blog Hop is now on!  Check it out!  Here is a link to the first blog in the Hop, Stamping Addiction, by Carmen in Arizona.  The papers featured in the hop will go in the order they appear in the catalog, starting with Rockabilly and ending with Juntos and Walk in the Park from the supplemental catalogs.  And don’t forget to check out Stampin Addicts too!  (shameless plug for my new internet hangout!)

Parade of Papers Blog Hop!

Coming this weekend to a computer near you!

Beginning Friday morning (May 8th) and running thru Sunday night (May 10th), a group of talented stampers from Stampin Addicts will be hosting a “Blog Hop”.  The link to the first blog in the Hop, can be found here at Stampin Addicts.  I will have another post on Friday with a link directly to the first blog in the Hop as well.

The blog hop will be featuring  Stampin’ Up!'s May special; Buy 3 Designer Papers or Textured card stock & get 1 free!   There is nothing you need to buy during the blog hop.  There are 24 Stampin' Up! Demos participating in the blog hop that will run Friday May 8th-Sunday May 10th. Starting at 8am EST Friday and ending at midnight PST Sunday.  The official hours that the link “hop” will be live is 8AM EDT Friday morning to 11:59:59PM EDT Sunday night.  Some links may be live a little before and after these times, but some may not. 

Each blog will feature a different designer paper, including Walk in the Park from the Occasions Mini and Juntos from our Spanish language catalog, Celebrando Creatividad.  Two of the artists will be showing some of the 19 colors of Patterns Designer Series Paper that are available as well (14 colors can be ordered individually, the other 5 are available only as a Level 1 Hostess reward).  Some stops will also be offering blog candy. Each blog links to the next, taking you in a circle to see all the projects, but the links will only be active for this one weekend!  Don’t miss the fun!

A Blast From the Past…..

In (soon to be) 16 years of marriage, Russ has made a card for me ONCE.  It was near the beginning of our marriage, I’m guessing 1995 – 1997.  He stamped a birthday card for me.  I don’t remember whose stamps the background, fireworks or the Happy Birthday sentiment were, but the tiger on the inside was from a circus set by DOTS (now CTMH).  Note the use of scallop edge scissors (two different pair!) and the specturm style ink pad.  Just a wee bit dated, huh?  Purple being my favorite color explains the color of the tiger, but I still wonder about his/her grey tail….

Here is the front of the card:

 

And here is the inside:

And now that I have published this, he will either consider it a challenge to do another card or he will certainly never stamp a card for me again…..  Love you, Sweetie!

ROFL.... Nothing more to say.....

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

A combo Challenge!

I've been meaning to do Julee's Mojo Monday Challenge all week.  I really liked this week's sketch.  Then one of my Swappers Anonymous friends, Sharon, was looking at the preview of the Occasions Mini Catalog and was wondering aloud about the colors they used in the DSP that is coming out April 1st called "Walk In The Park".  She challenged us to use the colors together.  Well, the colors used in the whole pack are Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze and So Saffron, but the two multi colored papers only use Gray, Baja and Saffron or Saffron, Coral and Baja.  So I decided to make a card using BOTH challenges, PLUS my own to not add ANY embellishments other than the brads where were on the sketch.  No ribbon.  No glitter.  IT WAS TOUGH!  I used the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set and the Saffron DSP is from the Tea Party pack.  The flower is stamped in StazOn on Watercolor paper and colored with my aqua painter and Cameo Coral ink.  The stamens are colored with a So Saffron marker and washed over with the aqua painter to soften the color a bit.  The brads are on watercolor paper as well.  I used my white gel pen to add a little line of white along the edge of the Baja Breeze strip on the Cameo Coral scalloped layer.

Thanks for looking!

Three more cards from the "archives"....

Here are a few more cards I've done in the past month or so.  The first is a swap card I did in a swap where the theme was to use Kraft cardstock.

The base is Kraft cardstock that is stamped about 2/3 with the Bella Toile background in Versamark and clear embossed.  The sentiment is from "Heard From The Heart" and the image (stamped on Blush Blossom and matted on Riding Hood Red) is one of my favorite sets ever, "Heartfelt Thanks".  LOVE. THAT. FLOWER.  The Ticket Corner Punch, 4 gold brads, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain and Riding Hood Red Taffeta round out the supplies.

This card/gift card holder was for my friend, Leslie, for her birthday.  There have been so many cute folded over Top Note cards out in cyberland lately that I thought I would do one.

The card itself is Pink Pirouette (I think this may be my favorite SU color EVER).  Next is a layer of Creamy Caramel.  The Top Note Die was used on a piece of Chocolate Chip and a piece of patterned paper from the Two Scoops collection by Basic Grey.  When I folded it over, I thought it looked like a little purse, so I sponged the edges to accent that look and added the Kraft Taffeta with the antique copper buckle from the retired Hodgepodge Hardware.  Toss on a glitzy Prima flower and put a rhinestone in the center for a little extra BLING!

The cake and the sentiment are from the "Fun and Fast Notes" set that we got at convention a couple years ago.  The cake is punched out with the Stampin Up scallop circle punch and is layered onto a scallop circle punched with the EK Success 2" scallop circle which is a PERFECT mat.  It is attached to a spiral clip, also from the antique copper Hodgepodge, which is clipped to the gift card.  Cute, huh?

Last one for today is a card I cranked out REALLY FAST yesterday for my brother-in-law, Keith whose birthday is tomorrow.  I wanted something cheery, but not girly.

Since I had some of the cupcakes from "Crazy About Cupcakes" already stamped up from a card I did over the weekend, I started with that.  Pulled the DSP from the Washington Apple pack and mounted it on a Bashful Blue card.  The cupcake was colored with a mix of markers, mostly Stampin Up, but the frosting is Close To My Heart's "brown bag" marker.  The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate chip directly onto the So Saffron mat and then layered on a piece of Pumpkin Pie.  If the post office wasn't so snarky lately about cards with brads and ribbon, I would have added some Riding Hood Red taffeta to this to tie in the last color from the DSP, but OH WELL.

Tomorrow I will post the one card I did during last weekend's VSN over on Splitcoast.  NO STAMPING on it AT ALL, but it came out nicely.  I should be able to post my Swappers Anon swap cards pretty soon too.  I'm hoping my return cards will be in my mailbox tomorrow!

So many swaps....

So little time!  The fact that I belong to a group called "Swappers Anonymous" should be your first clue that I am a Swap addict.  I admit it.  I have a swap problem.  The biggest issue I have with it is that I will go for a while without joining ANY and then all of a sudden I do something INSANE, like join six card swaps, a Secret Sister group and a Secret Cupid thing ALL AT ONCE.  Of course, most of the swapping is because we have a new catalog out.  That accounts for 5 of the 6 swaps.  Add one for Sale-A-Bration and you have six.  I can't post my card that I sent for Lyssa's New Catalog swap as I have submitted it in a contest.  I will show you a piece of it though:

The image is from the Playful Petals set.  It is stamped in Stazon and then colored using Watercolor Wonder Crayons and an Aqua Painter.  The DSP used behind the flower is from the Pink Pirouette Patterns DSP.

Here is the card I did for the SAB swap:

Sorry it's crooked.  My scanner hates me.  If I put cards in against the edge of the glass they come out straight, but the scanning software then crops them and I lose part of the card.  Sigh.  The supplies used for this card are the Botanical Blooms set and the Delicate Dots DSP, both available as free product choices during Sale-A-Bration which is running thru the end of March.  The ribbon is the So Saffron Poly Twill from the current catalog and of COURSE there are brads on there.  I also used the Scallop Edge, Word Window, Key Tag and Wide Oval punches.  Yes, I am a punch junkie.  The flower outline was stamped in Regal Rose and Old Olive and the fill images were done in Pink Pirouette and Certainly Celery.  The center of the flower was colored So Saffron and has little dots of Dazzling Diamonds on it.  The layout was inspired by one of my fellow Swapper Anonymous friends, Kathy.  I made it after seeing this card on her blog.

I will post the cards I did for my three Swappers Anonymous swaps later in the week.  The hostess mailed them back out to us today.  The last swap I did was just mailed to the hostess this week and she won't be mailing them back until Saturday or Monday, so I won't be posting that one until next week sometime.

So what swaps do I have on the horizon?  Well, I still have my Secret Sister swap going thru March.  I sent my pal a package yesterday that I will upload at a later date.  We also have the Occasions Mini starting up April 1st.  I am already signed up for a swap for that.  Then I joined another secret pal swap for Easter. 

The discussions of Convention swaps have already started.  Convention is August 5-8 this year and I already have the cabin booked for my swap-making in July.  The new catalog comes out July 1st so there will be lots of swaps using new sets this Convention instead of TONS of swaps using the few sets that we get to pre-order.  That will be NICE.  In 2006, I attended my first SU Convention and only took 50 swaps (can you IMAGINE?!) with me and over 30 of the cards I brought home had used Blossoms Abound (now retired).  While I *LOVED* that set, after getting SO MANY cards with it, I don't think I used it again after Convention.  2007's over-used pre-order set was Baroque Motifs.  2008 was Dreams Du Jour.  There will still be an over-used set this year if we get a preview list to order from just because it will help folks get going on their swaps a month sooner.  It's also when we get our hands on the new "In Colors" for the first time.  Mmmmmmm.... new colors.....  Every year there is at least one "in color" that I don't know how I will live without.  Cool Caribbean, Soft Sky....  This year's is Pink Pirouette.  I think I will cry having to go back to Pretty in Pink for my "light pink" needs.  It just looks so DARK to me now!  I'll also be missing the Bella Rose DSP.  I'm into my 3rd package of it.  I don't think I've ever USED UP a whole pack of DSP before, let alone TWO whole packs!

Enough dreaming of new product!  Back to the stamp table!  I have 2 birthday cards to mail today.... are they done yet?  Noooooooo.....  Toodles!

So far behind, I don't know where to start!

So my next several posts will have no order to them, I'm just going to jump in and upload what springs to mind!

I'll start with the goodies I sent to my SA (Swappers Anon) Cupid, Pamela.  Being the dork that I am, I did not take pictures of any of the goodies I sent to Pamela before they were packaged up and sent off.  I have a bad habit of doing that.  Pamela did take a couple photos of my goodies and was kind enough to e-mail them to me:

This is what was in the box.  One package for each day, except for Day 3 since I couldn't wrap them together!

This package contained (L to R) a little Ghriardelli Squares box from the tutorial over on Splitcoast, a Fresh-Cut Notes (111882) card, A Genie Bag made with the Top Note Sizzix Die (113463), an acetate box filled with Kraft Caramels, A Card with a Starbucks gift card in it and in front, a roll of Sticky Strip.

This package contained an altered tin filled with chocolates, a wrapped package of microwave popcorn and another gift card.

The last day's packages held another gift card, my reveal card which was done using the "Crimped Envelope" tutorial on Splitcoast, and a milk carton holder (a la Becky Roberts).  I'm sad to say that I no longer remember what was inside the milk cartons.... LOL

Just the milk carton holder. 

Most everything was made using Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red cardstock and I used mostly Bella Rose Designer Paper, but also some Raspberry Tart paper.  The popcorn was wrapped in some LONG retired CTMH paper I had from a wedding themed set of papers.

So that's what I sent to Pamela.  This was my first Secret Swapper exchange with this group of INCREDIBLY talented ladies and I had a SEVERE case of "swappers anxiety" which I have been assured by the group was unfounded.  Next, I will upload some of the card swaps I've been working on.....

Cupid - Day Three - THE REVEAL!

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all!

This morning I got up and opened my third and final bag from my Cupid.  Stop reading now if you are waiting to see who I had....  Seriously..... 

This is how much I love my SA friends and my Cupid.....  It's Saturday morning.  DH is gone (off to take an exam).  I got up, went to the kitchen, got my present, opened it, took photos, edited them and here I am blogging.  I have not even had my tea yet!  ROFL!

Today's Cupid note (sorry, I forgot to take a picture of it) reads, "For someone who is always thinking of others online and in her family - here is something to help you keep all those important to you close at hand".  It is then signed, "I'm grateful for our friendship!  Happy V-Day!"

So, without further delay, I reveal my Cupid, (insert drum roll here).....  STACY!!!!!!

Stacy, you've been a MOST AWESOME Cupid!  And today's present reveals the level of talent you have!  CHECK. THIS. OUT!!!!!! 

I love Love LOVE this Tea Party DSP!  I can't wait till mine gets here!  So, take off the belly band, and THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE....

It's a WAY CUTE little scrapbook made with chipboard coasters! 

SQUEEEEEEEEALLLL!!!!!! 

Isn't it FABULOUS????!!!  I forgot to take a picture of it all laid out like this from the back (oops), but here are the pages, closer up, left to right, front to back....

Pages 1 & 2

  Page 3, with tag!

Page 4 and the back cover

Pages 5 & 6 - LOVE those BIG BRADS!!!!!

  Page 7 with tag

Page 8 and the Front Cover.

All I can say is WOW.  Really.  You all know that I DO. NOT. SCRAP.  I've done some digital scrapping and seem to do OK with that, but as for putting paper and embellishments down and then adding photos?  Just doesn't happen for me.  Not for a lack of supplies either, let me assure you.  I'm OK with that.  LOL.

I am just wowed by all the details in this little book!  All the sponging, the brads, the cut and punched out flowers...

Stacy, Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a TOTALLY ROCKIN' CUPID!!!!!!!