Happy Birthday Sunshine!

I could not resist posting again today after I found this challenge at The Friday Mashup, it fit my mood too well for this past weekend. Yes, there is still a bunch of snow in my yard, but considerably less than on Friday.  And my driveway is 99% free of snow/ice. So yes, it kind of was like a birthday for the sunshine :)

The challenge was to create something showcasing sunshine. Instant love and inspiration!

I even like the Summer Starfruit on this card. And incidentally, the stamps I used are retiring also. I used sentiment stamps from two sets. The "sunshine" is from Pursuit of Happiness, the stamps that reads "Live in the sunshine-Ralph Waldo Emerson". I just used Scotch tape to mask up the words I didn't need while I inked up the stamp on the inkpad, then peeled the tape off before stamping. Slick trick I learned from one of my stampin' friends. Sorry, I don't remember which friend, but THANKS! It is an awesome trick :)

• Stamps: Best Dad Ever, Pursuit of Happiness
• Ink: Summer Starfruit
• Paper: Naturals White, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party Core'dinations
• Other: Big Shot with Cloudy Day embossing folder and Floral Frames and Labels framelits, Tea Lace Doily, Signo white gel pen, Sanding Block, dimensionals, 1¼" Square punch

How was your sunshine this weekend?

Mom's Flowers

Does this look a little familiar? Sorry, I just had to make another card with this color combo and pattern. Some things bear repeating.

 

 A few die cuts, layers, and some ribbon and this card is all dressed up with somewhere to go! My mother's favorite color used to be yellow. I don't know what it is anymore, and if she is anything like me, it changes fairly frequently! 

• Stamps: Secret Garden, Wonderful Mother
• Ink: Calypso Coral, Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Illuminate, Craft Whisper White
• Paper: Naturals White, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Secret Garden and Apothecary Accents framelits, 1¼" Circle punch, Early Espresso ¼" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Embossing Buddy, Heat GUn, White embossing powder, Aquapainter, dimensionals

I hope I have inspired you all to create your own Mother's Day cards. Handmade is the best :)

Jar of Love

Here is another Mother's Day card! It would work for anyone really, but my intention was Mother's Day. Sadly, all of the stamps I used are retiring! Retiring stamp sets are available through June 3, 2013 though so you can still get these sets for a little while longer.

I stamped the jar, then uses a blender pen and Pool party ink to add some blue shading. The jar was cut out with the coordinating die. The hydrangea-like flower was punched out with the small oval punch and the blue flower has a coordinating die also. Don't ask me why I chose Pumpkin Pie ribbon..... I still don't know!

• Stamps: Perfectly Preserved, Friendly Phrases
• Ink: Basic Gray, Pool Party, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Gumball Green
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Cannery framelits, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, 1/8" Pumpkin Pie Taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, Small Oval, Corner Rounder, and 1¼" Square punches

I have at least 1 more Mother's Day card to show you, and some more Main Catalog Preview stuff in the days to come!

Preorder Madness!

So, one of the huge perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the preorder period for any of the catalogs, and this week we got to get a smattering of things from the main catalog that will debut May 31, 2013. Such excitement, I had to next day air my order so I could get my copy of the new catalog AND play with the new In-Colors and a couple of new sets! I have a few days off before I go back to work again, and have the chance to play :)

This is actually the second of three cards I made on Thursday after my box of goodies arrived. I am over the moon about the new colors and this set! The main panel was so easy to stamp, I just started in the middle and worked my way out eye-balling it the whole time! And the whole card idea just popped into my head after looking at this sketch from Retro Sketches.

• Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Ink: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
• Paper: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Early Espresso
• Other: Big Shot with Modern Mosaic embossing folder, Bitty Shapes punch pack, Signo white gel pen, Pearls Basic Jewels, dimensionals, sponges

 

And one more view because I just could not decide which on I liked better! That will teach me to take more than 2 pictures of a card. So, did you spy the names of some new stuff? Well, I will be posting more new stuff in days to come. I also have more Mother's Day stuff coming as promised!

Wishful Thinking

Here in the frozen tundra (that would be Northern Minnesota right now) we are wishing spring had sprung! I know that it will eventually. But I swear, if there is still snow on the ground in June, I am going to cry. I need some sunshine, and to play in the dirt. So in the meantime, instead of planting flowers, I will have to stamp them. I just finally broke down and ordered the Secret Garden bundle. I really like it. I hadn't seen too many cards I liked with it, but I knew I could do stuff with it that I would like.

This was the first thing I made with this set, and I love it, even though it is a nearly one-layer card. It has enough complexity to make me happy :) I used the Aquapainter and some Whisper White reinker to paint the line art flowers after embossing them in white.

• Stamps: Hey There, Friend and Secret Garden
• Ink: Illuminate, Calypso Coral, Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Whisper White Craft
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit
• Other: Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, White embossing powder, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Signo white gel pen, sticky strip

Paper Pumkin Trial Project

My Paper Pumpkin is a monthly subscription to a complete project in a box from Stampin' Up!. This is the trial package that you can get without subscribing and gives you an idea of what to expect before you commit. I just got mine last week and decides to play with it a bit.

ETA: I found a challenge this fit into perfectly! Check out the My Paper Pumpkin Challenge here.

The project is to little notebooks 3½"x5½" in size that comes with the 2 stamps shown, Daffodil Delight Baker's Twine, and a sheet of 12 cute little cardstock butterfly stickers! I couldn't resist using some of the supplies I had on hand (the doily and the pearls, and a scrap of Naturals White paper) and I stitched the doily down on one side. I love how this turned out, and I still have a bunch of butterflies, twine, and another notebook to decorate!

I hope you give this a try.

Click here to order the Try It kit. 

Click here to subscribe to My Paper Pumpkin.

And don't forget to choose me, Tanya Boser, as your demonstrator if you don't already have one!

Sahara Wisteria Plum

It is the season to make a pile of Mother's Day cards! At my house at least :) I need to take a bunch to sell at work. I needed a little inspiration, so I hopped over to MojoMonday and Friday Mashup! for a little help.

 I started with the color challenge from Friday Mashup, which was Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder, and Perfect Plum. A bit of a challenge, I must admit.

Then I looked at a couple sketch challenges and finally settled on this one. And away I went!

There are a lot of layers on this puppy! I like how it turned out though. I used a technique I learned from a swapping friend of mine, Debra Burgin. She called it Faux Bleach, and what you do is take an Aquapainter and pick up some Whisper White Craft reinker and paint it onto your images on colored paper. I don't think it looks like bleach on this card, but I really like the effect anyway :)

• Stamps: Secret Garden, Wonderful Mother
• Ink: Whisper White Craft, Illuminate (for embossing), Basic Gray, Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum
• Paper: Sahara Sand, Naturals White, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, In-Color DSP pack
• Other: Big Shot with Secret Garden framelit and Honeycomb embossing folder, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Wisteria Wonder Baker's Twine, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, White embossing powder, Aquapainter, dimensionals, 1¾" Circle punch, Signo white gel pen, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, sewing machine and thread

More Mother's Day cards to come, so stay tuned!

Arrows and a Robin Hood!

On my hubby's birthday, we went to Owatanna, MN for a State Archery Competition to watch Dakota compete. He just took up archery this winter and is loving it. Jamie made his own compound bow in high school and has toyed with the thought of bow hunting for deer and I think this was the deciding factor.
Dakota did not place at the competition, but he got a Robin Hood, which impressed the heck out of a lot of people. One fellow commented "Impressive! But expensive..." What is a Robin Hood, you may ask? Check it out!

 A Robin Hood is when you shoot an arrow into the target, then shoot another one so exactly into the end of the previous arrow that it is now stuck in the shaft of the first one! The tip of arrow #2 ended up below the fletching (feathers) of arrow #1! Amazing that it happened, and even more amazing that it happened at the competition. Dakota's grandpa told him he should have bought a lottery ticket that day, lol!

This is what it looked like in the target. 

So, for Jamie's birthday I decided to make a card featuring arrows, and apparently a lot of embossing, lol! The idea for this one just popped into my head, and looks pretty much just as I pictured it would. And my guys thought it was a great card :) I then decided to make a few more for my stash. But my hubby's had his age embossed in the yellow embossing powder randomly with the arrow and the sentiment strip was punched to look more like an arrow too... he has the card stashed so I have not gotten a picture of that one.

• Stamps: Designer Typeset, Best Dad Ever
• Ink: Illuminate, Early Espresso, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Naturals White
• Other: Big Shot with Chevrons embossing folder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Emossing powders- Cherry Cobbler, Tempting Turquoise, Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango, and non-SU bright yellow, 1" Square punch, dimensionals

 I thought I would try this less labor intensive version too. The pattern on this one is made with the banner stamp from Designer Typeset set. Which one do you like better?

Feathered in Blues and Green

Feathers are so versatile! They can be manly or feminine. Natural or glammed up. It took a while for this set to grow on me, so I only got it a few weeks ago. And I was way overdue to make a card with it :)

This is a pretty simple card, which really aims at masculine. You can't really tell in this picture, but the matted panel is actually popped up on dimensions. The sentiment is made with the photopolymer stamp set that SU came out with last month. I love that you can see exactly where you are stamping each and every image.

• Stamps: Fine Feathers, Designer Typeset
• Ink: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Early Espresso
• Paper: Naturals White, Island Indigo
• Other: Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, dimensionals

Bubbly Birthday

I must have been in the mood for a party when I made these cards! The dots on the DSP remind me of a bubbly drink :)

When I was making this card, I really wanted to use Blushing Bride as it matches some of these dots perfectly. But, SU had not announced that Blushing Bride was returning yet when I made it. lol. So this is made with the retiring Pretty in Pink. This card's colors just make me hungry :)

• Stamps: Happy Hour
• Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit
• Paper: Pretty in Pink, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, Print Poetry DSP pack
• Other: Wide Oval Designer Label, and 1" Square punches, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit Stitched Satin ribbons, dimensionals

 I thought I would try it again with a different drink glass. It works too!

Then I thought I would try a more masculine color scheme. Summer Starfruit and Midnight Muse mans this up. Think of the glass as a beer pilsner :)

Colorful Flourishes

Lately, ombre color palettes have been everywhere. They can be quite beautiful. I thought I would give them a try. But mine are not just shades of the same color, more of a shift toward a color.

I started with a 3½"x4¾" piece of Crumb Cake card stock and embossed some flourishes in white. Next I  sponged the inks on starting with the Daffodil Delight in the middle, then the Pumpkin Pie, and last the Melon Mambo. I had to use a damp cloth to wipe off the extra ink on the embossing. After looking at the finished card, I felt like I was missing something. So I added the rhinestones and it really made all the difference. The little details really do make or break a project :)

• Stamps: Flowering Flourishes, Curly Cute
• Ink: Illuminate, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
• Other: Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, White embossing powder, 1" Square punch, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, dimensionals

 The first one turned out so well, I had to make another one. This one is made with Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, and Pool Party, and I had to add the Signo white gel pen :) I can't believe I resisted it on the first one!

Elephants Galore!

When I look at this little elephant from the SAB set Patterned Occasions, all I can think of is baby cards! He is just so cute!!! So, I have this package of notecards and envelope sitting on my desk begging to be used, and a friend who had a baby last month. So I think, maybe she needs some cute little thank you cards to send out. And then I start making some with different patterned papers. I had to restrain myself!

This one is done in River Rock and Gumball Green DSP from Print Poetry DSP pack. I will be so sad to see the River Rock go.... I think I better stock up on some paper! The ribbon is actually from way back when River Rock was an In-Color. Yes, I hoard retired stuff! But I am trying to let go and use some of  it up.  :)

How about some Island Indigo and Cherry Cobbler? The DSP is from Festival of Prints from the Holiday Mini. Some embossed hearts and Island Indigo Baker's Twine to round it out.

Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit came out to play with some more Print Poetry DSP!

Lucky Limeade and Natural Trim ribbon look great with this non-SU stripe/plaid I had in my stash.

Pool Party goes really well with this paper too!

Which one is your favorite?

Roses for Mom

I fell in love with the Stippled Roses set this fall, bought it, then let it sit on the shelf for months thinking "why did I buy that set?" Then, I started playing with it last month while I was dreaming of summer, and gardening, and the flowers I might plant come spring. I found that I really do love this set! You can create beautiful roses and little posies effortlessly with it!

This is actually a card I made for a swap, so I made ten of them, but only kept one. And did you notice that I used more of the Print Poetry DSP pack? I have 24 out of 48 sheets left with 2 months to go before it retires! Do you think I will get it all used up?
The Core'dinations got a little action here too, and well as several other accessories from the Occasions Mini. I didn't realize how much stuff was from the mini until I had finished them all!

• Stamps: Stippled Roses, Wonderful Mother
• Ink: Summer Starfruit, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso
• Paper: Primrose Petals Core'dinations, Sahara Sand, Naturals White, Print Poetry DSP pack
• Other: Big Shot with Lacey Brocade embossing folder and Ovals framelits, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Natural Trim ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, White Tea Lace Doily, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals

I think this could be used for any occasion to your mother, depending on what you write on the inside. 

Special Delivery

One of my Stamp Club ladies (friend, co-worker, husband's boss too) had a baby last month and I wanted something special for the card. The delivery was a dangerous one and we are so happy they are both doing very well now so this was an even more special delivery :) Welcome little Isaac!

Does this layout look familiar? It should. The card I posted 2 days ago is the same layout. When something works well, it bears repeating :)

• Stamps: Sent with Love, Cuddles & Kisses
• Ink: Tangerine Tango, Pool Party
• Paper: Pool Party, Pool Party Core'dinations, Whisper White, Sent with Love DSP
• Other: Big Shot with Chevrons EF, 2½" and 1" Circle punches, Sanding Block, SAB buttons, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, sewing machine and thread, dimensionals

Here is the inside. It looks a little washed out because it is. I accidentally grabbed some cheap white cardstock to line this with and it did not take the ink as well as I would have liked... but you can still read it fine. Live and learn!

Dakota's 21st Birthday

My #3 child, Dakota, turned 21 the middle of March. Right before St. Patrick's day! He has always loved green.... think there is a connection? And just in case you are wondering, he did not get smashed on his birthday or on St. Patrick's day but he did go out on both of those nights :) Dakota is a pretty responsible young man. He wants to be a RN and a youth pastor. Quite the combo! We took him to Brigid's Cross for an Irish Pub dinner and his first drink. We didn't stay out late because it was a work night, and it was supposed to snow that night. Dakota plows for one of the local businesses and was going to have to be out to work at 03:00, poor sod!

Here is my handsome son! This was taken this fall as he was getting ready to take his bike out for the last ride of the season. He earned this bike helping someone move last summer. He loves that thing. Some of it may have to do with the gas mileage. He uses our Suburban right now and it is kind of hard on the wallet, lol!  We still have 2 feet of snow on the ground here (Sunday) and he was out trying to get the shed doors open Saturday when it was 42° out. All of the slush froze solid and snowed again last night of course :)

Ok, now on to the card!

Yup, more of the Print Poetry DSP went into this card. I'm about 1/2 way through the pack now! I pulled out some of the Core'dinations paper from the Holiday Mini. I really love this stuff! I'm kinda hoping they keep adding colors :) The rounded bottoms of the strips are really 1" circle punches. I pulled out the Spritzer too. Love it!

• Stamps: Memorable Moments
• Ink: Gumball Green, Early Espresso
• Paper: Gumball Green, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Print Poetry DSP pack
• Other: Big Shot with Honeycomb EF and Labels framelits, 1" Circle punch, Stampin' Spritzer with reinker and water, dimensionals

Oh, and Happy Birthday Jeff!! Here is a link to his card for this year :)