Butterfly Matters

Kindness Matters is a wonderful set that I will always adore, even if it is retiring :) It has a nature/botanist feel at times, soft and feminine sometimes, and then it can turn around and have a vintage feel. It all depends on how you play it up.

Pistachio Pudding and Crisp Cantaloupe make an appearance here, and they are quite lovely stamped on Crumb Cake, I must say! The doilies are wonderful, and I have already gone through one whole package of them and am working on my second. I did not think I would use them this much!

• Stamps: Kindness Matters
• Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Perfect Polka Dots and Lacey Brocade embossing folders, Doily, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Pearls Basic Jewels, dimensionals

Again, my photography skills do not do this card justice, it is much prettier in real life....

OWH Memorial Day Blog Hop: Thank You to the Troops

http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps

Welcome to my stop on the OWH Memorial Day Hop!!! I want to say thank you to all of the service men and women, and their families, and remember all they do for us EVERY day.

My assignment for this hop was to create a Thank You card to send as AnyHero  mail for OWH. I have to admit, I am terrible at this as I always send a pile of cards, but never any AnyHero mail. I will change this, I swear!

OWH #142

This is the sketch I chose to use, and as you can see, I am still not over my banner/dovetail phase :)

I knew the Words of Courage set would come in handy! I used the words in that set to stamp the three banners, and the star in the background of the sentiment. After I decided on a sketch and colors, this came together quickly.

Inside, I continued the theme words. I love how this looks.

I thought you might like a little close up of the details.

• Stamps: Words of Courage, Word Play
• Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate
• Paper: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate
• Other: Big Shot with Honeycomb embossing folder and Ovals framelit, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals

I hope this hop inspires you to do some AnyHero mail and cards for the troops to use. Now, on with your happy hopping!

Leafy Father's Day

Wow, only about 10 days left before the retiring sets are gone for good! This card features a couple of sets that are retiring, including one of my favorite masculine sets, Best Dad Ever. I did not realize how much I would end up using the sentiments from this set. I use them all the time, partly because of their size/scale, and partly because of the fonts. And I bet you can't guess what set those leaves are from :)

I actually made this card before the retiring list came out. The DSP is retiring also. The leaves are from Raining Flowers, which is a 2-step stamp set. As you can see, I was not very careful about getting the green parts exactly into the outlines, and it still looks good. That is part of the charm of this set. Also, since I got the clear mount version of Best Dad Ever, I cut the words of the sentiment apart so I could stamp them in whatever configuration I wanted.

• Stamps: Best Dad Ever, Raining Flowers
• Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive
• Paper: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Brights DSP pack
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Natural Trim ribbon, Wide Oval and Corner Rounder punches, dimensionals

Need to see the retiring sets list? Here it is. Now, you want to order some of those sets, right! Shop here now :) 

Raining Flowers to You

A little old with the new, this card has a retiring set and a sneak peek set from the new Annual Idea Book and Catalog . Raining Flowers was one of the sets I got at Convention in 2011 and it had to grow on me. I actually really like it now and it will probably stay in my keep pile after June 3rd.  I did use a Friday Mashup sketch challenge for this card.

The hardest part of this sketch was figuring out a color scheme and not being influenced by the polka dots, lol!

The sentiment image is from a sneak peek set and is embossed in Pewter on Whisper White, then sponged in the center with Calypso Coral and around the edges with Wisteria Wonder.

• Stamps: Raining Flowers, Label Love
• Ink: Calypso Coral Wisteria Wonder, Illuminate
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder
• Other: Artisan and Decorative Label punches, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Pewter embossing powder, Calypso Coral Ruffled ribbon, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals

Hey, no paper piercing on this one! How did that happen?! LOL!

Click HERE to SHOP NOW

Scrap File Treasures

 While reorganizing my supplies for the Color Refresh that is starting with the New Catty (so excited for new stuff!!!), I was thinning out my scrap files. It is amazing how many scraps a person can accumulate. And I always look in the scrap file first, so it is not like I don't use my scraps. I discovered some treasures in there, by golly :) I set them on my desk determined to make something with them ASAP.

And this is the result! The embossed panel, the diecut, and the fancy cut embossed frame were the treasures I found. This card practically made itself! The sentiment is the combination of two sets, both retiring.

• Stamps: Best Dad Ever, Family Reunion
• Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso
• Paper: Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
• Other: Big Shot with Argyle and Decorative Frames embossing folders and Apothecary Accents framelits, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Natural Trim ribbon, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals, buttons

Need to see the retiring sets list? Here it is. Now, you want to order some of those sets, right! Shop here now :)

Spring is Here!

 Yeah!!!! There is finally no snow in my yard, the grass is starting to turn green, and I can actually walk barefooted out to the outhouse! (That is a whole other story, lol) Now I feel like I am justified in creating something that looks like spring :) Although in my area, that is heralded more with the arrival of the wood ticks than butterflies... Get out the Harts Guard and Frontline! Our pets got their first application for the summer last night after I saw 2 wood ticks crawling around inside the outhouse.

This card has nothing to do with ticks! It is all about the open sky and the butterfly :) The Pool Party panel is actually a leftover from this card that I had glued to a white card base, paper pierced and outlined with a white gel pen, then set aside for the right inspiration to finish it off.
Another fun detail on this card is the butterfly. I stamped the butterfly image in Illuminate ink on Calypso Coral paper, then embossed with Pool Party embossing powder, then punched it out with the Elegant Butterfly punch. This card is much better in real life.

• Stamps: Papillon Potpourri 
• Ink: Illuminate
• Paper: Whisper White, Core'dinations Pool Party, Calypso Coral
• Other: Big Shot with Cloudy Day embossing folder and Labels framelit, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Elegant Butterfly and 1¾" Circle punch, Natural Trim ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, dimensionals, Signo white gel pen

We have just over 2 weeks left before the Occasions Mini and the current Annual Catalog are done, and the retiring sets are gone forever. If you haven't made your retirement order yet, you are welcome to SHOP NOW in my store :)

I Dig You Pocket Cards Follow Up

Project Life has been around for a few years now, but I hadn't really been interested in it until recently. For some reason, it now seems intriguing. I will never stop scrapbooking with full sheets of paper as the base, but this looks like a great addition to my repertoire :) I made a set of four inserts for the hop last weekend and here are the rest of the details.

All of these inserts are 4"x6", but there are a few different sized pockets and several configurations in a 12"x12" page protector.  Stampin' Up! has already sold out of their retiring divided page protectors, but you can still get them online from a variety of sources. I have seen 10 packs for about $7 and 60 packs for $30 on Amazon and they fit in 12"x12" 3 Ring Binders.

This insert is kind of the title card and I know I have some pictures of my kids and my nieces and nephews playing with trucks to pair this with. The button is one I made with the Simply Pressed Molds and Clay that will be coming out with the new annual catalog that starts May 31, 2013. I colored the button with a marker after it was out of the mold and dried.

• Stamps: I Dig You, Designer Typset Photopolymer
• Ink: Midnight Muse, Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango
• Paper: Midnight Muse, Naturals White, Print Poetry DSP pack
• Other: Signo white gel pen,  Simply Pressed Molds and Clay, White Baker's Twine, Paper Piercer, needle, Corner Rounder punch, Paper Snips

I used a ruler and my Grid Paper to draw the journaling lines with a Sahara Sand marker. It only took a couple of minutes.

• Stamps: I Dig You
• Ink: Gumball Green, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand marker
• Paper: Naturals White, Brights and 2012-2014 In-Color DSP pack
• Other: 1¾" Circle, 1¼" Square, and Corner Rounder punch, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, dimensionals, ruler, Grid Paper

 This insert could be a filler or have a picture or another journaling card added to it. I wanted to get some texture on this one.

• Stamps: I Dig You
• Ink: Tangerine Tango
• Paper: Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake, Gumball Green Core'dinations, 2012-2014 In-Color DSP pack
• Other: Big Shot with Chevrons and Honeycomb embossing folders, Signo white gel pen, Corner Rounder punch, Sanding Block

 Is there ever enough room for journaling? Here is another journaling card with some texture and fun. The photopolymer alphabet set made it a snap to make custom titles!

• Stamps: I Dig You, Designer Typeset Photopolymer
• Ink: Sahara Sand inkpad and marker, Tangerine Tango, Midnight Muse Marker (to color button)
• Paper: Gumball Green Core'dinations, Naturals White, Brights Family DSP pack
• Other: Big Shot with Honeycomb embossing folder, Sanding Block, Simply Pressed Mold and Clay, White Baker's Twine, Paper Piercer, ruler, Grid Paper, Corner Rounder and 1" Square punches

Have you tried this method of scrapbooking? Do you love it? Are you interested in seeing more ideas from me on page themes? Leave me a comment, and of course you should SHOP NOW for the all of the retiring stuff before it is gone!

I Dig You Cards Follow Up

Were you wanting a closer look and more details on the cards I featured on the blog hop? Well, here it is! These are such fun cards, and they look more complicated than they are.

I snuck a little Crushed Curry in on this card, I just really wanted a rich and vibrant yellow for this truck! I have to admit, I love this color now. I really did not like it at all the first time around, and was not thrilled to see it come back. But now that I have gotten to play with it again, I really love it!! Maybe I just like the coordinating color selections better this time around.

• Stamps: I Dig You
• Ink: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede
• Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Naturals White, Brights and 2011-13 In-Color Family DSP packs-Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight
• Other: Big Shot with Ovals framelits and Chevrons embossing folder, 1¼" Square punch, Occasions Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals

 This one feels a little Army to me, and lots of little boys are into military stuff. Many of them have moms and dads in active service. This one will be going in the Operation Write Home box for sure!

• Stamps: I Dig You, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Ink: Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede
• Paper: Lucky Limeade cardstock and 2011-2013 In-Color Family DSP pack, Soft Suede, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Houndstooth embossing folder, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, 1" Circle punch, Merry Minis punch pack star, Signo white gel pen, dimensionals

 I am still trying to use up the Print Poetry DSP pack, and this one has a little of that paper going on. I am really trying to add DSP to my papercrafting. No more stashing!  I embossing the Bobcat in Tangerine Tango, and the wheels are a little sneak peek from the new annual catalog-the new Simply Pressed Silicone Molds and Clay. I made the buttons and then colored them Early Espresso with my marker.

• Stamps: I Dig You
• Ink: Illuminate (my current fav for embossing), Early Espresso
• Paper: Print Poetry DSP pack, Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Naturals White. Tangerine Tango Brights Color Family DSP pack
• Other: Simply Pressed Silicone Molds and Clay, Signo white gel pen, White Baker's Twine, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Tangerine Tango embossing powder, dimensionals

I hope this is not too repetitive, and that the supply lists and bigger pictures added to the inspiration for you. Don't forget to grab those retiring items that you need before they are gone. SHOP NOW on my demo site!

I Dig You Gift Bags

I promised more info on my blog hop projects, so here is the info on the gift bags :)
For all of the bags, you will trim off the smallest section on one bottom corner, this is below the side flap.

Blue Bag
DSP 6½"x12"

Scoring:
With 6½" side at top, score at 1½"
Turn 90° to the left, scored line is now closest to the bottom and the 12" side is at the top
Score at 4", 5½", 9½", and 11"

This bag got a little decorative edge too with an edgelit. You have to do it after it is all scored and the side flap is adhered, but before you fold up the bottom flaps. It just fits through the Big Shot :)

Orange Bag
DSP 6"x12"

Scoring:
With 6" side at top, score at 2"
Turn 90° to the left, scored line is now closest to the bottom and the 12" side is at the top
Score at 3½", 5½", 9", and 11"

Green Bag
DSP 7¼"x12"

Scoring:
With 7¼" side at top, score at 2¾"
Turn 90° to the left, scored line is now closest to the bottom and the 12" side is at the top
Score at 2¾", 5½", 8¼", and 11"

The supplies I used for these bags were all pretty similar and they came together really quickly. I didn't even think really hard about the dimensions, I just started scoring, making sure that my total inches needed did not exceed 12".

• Stamps: I Dig You, Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Ink: Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Midnight Muse
• Paper: Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Midnight Muse, Naturals White, and Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Midnight Muse DSP from color family DSP packs.
• Other: Simply Scored, Sticky Strip, Bone Folder, Paper Snips, Big Shot with Window Frame, Ovals, and Labels framelits and Finishing Touches edgelit, 2½" Circle punch, Essentials, Festive, and Occasions Paper Piercing Packs, Paper Piercer and Mat, dimensionals

There are a few retiring products used here, including the DSP and the I Dig You  stamp set. You can visit my demo site to SHOP NOW for these before they are all gone!

Stampin Addicts Retiring Stamps Hop: I Dig You

Another Stampin' Up! catalog is coming to a close, and with that is a list of stamp sets that will be going away forever. (sad) But that is to make room for new stampy goodness! (happy!) But before some of our favorites retire, we thought we would bring them out to play one more time. Here is a link to the master thread, feel free to leave comments there and to get back on track if you get lost :)

If you are following this hop in order, then you arrived from Rhonda's blog were she showed us some fabulous stuff with Greeting Card Kids.

I am using I Dig You on my stop. It was really hard to choose a set to feature, there are so many good ones. But I knew I wanted to do more with this set and this would set a goal for me :)

First off, I have some Pocket Cards to share. I am new to this style of scrapbooking and I find myself intrigued by it. Of course, I had to go all over the top with it, but it is really fun. There are four 4"x6" inserts that are perfect for all kinds of little boy and girl activity pictures.

Next we have some little treat bags I whipped up with the Simply Scored and some of the retiring DSP packs. Come back next week and I will have some measurements for these boxes :)

Last, here is a trio of cards that I had a blast making. It is so fun to bring out the bold colors and play with them :)  I will have more pictures and details on these cards during the week.

Now it is time to head off to Paula's blog where she is going beautiful things with Just Believe!

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Racey Birthday

 THIS is the card that I made for Geoffrey for his birthday this year. And no, he did not get a car for his birthday :) He will get to drive a family vehicle until he can buy his own :) Inside the card, I wrote "Sorry Geoffrey, you are not getting a sports car for your birthday, but I know if you want one, you will get one someday!" There was some other mushy mom and dad stuff in there too that I won't bore you all with. I just figured this would be a good theme for a 17 year old.

There are a couple of new/returning things on this card, along with a retiring set... sad. I just got this set a couple months ago and am just getting around to using it! The yellow paper is Crushed Curry, and I like it much better this time around than I did when it was an In-Color a few years ago. I don't know why I didn't like it back then! And the punch with the sentiment is new, called Artisan Label.

• Stamps: Need For Speed (retiring), Pennant Parade
• Ink: Illuminate, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
• Other: Big Shot with Honeycomb and Chevrons embossing folders, Artisan Label punch, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper PIercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, White Baker's Twine, dimensionals, Blender Pen, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Early Espresso embossing powder (retired), needle, buttons

Are you tempted to get this set? You can Shop Now with me here!

Special News, the Stampin' Addicts gang is having a Retiring Sets Blog Hop May 10-12, 2013! Be sure to come back to check out all the fun!

Strawberry Mosaic

Time for more Mosaic Madness, and more strawberries the only way I can! I am not usually as pleased with the preview stuff as I am this year. I can see me using this set a lot! It does help that geometric patterns are big right now, and that there is a matching embossing folder and punch :)

I used the other half of the panel I made for the first card I posted with this set, and I am telling you, it was so fast and easy to stamp this!  I love the balance of colors on this card too, even if it is a little light on layers for me lately :)

• Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Family Reunion
• Ink: Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana
• Paper: Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Modern Mosaic embossing folder, Mosaic, Itty Bitty Shapes, and 1" Square punches, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Pearls Basic Jewels, dimensionals

I just could not resist adding a little flower to the center of the punched mosaic :) Are YOU feeling the excitement for the new catty yet? And have you gotten everything that you need out of the current catty yet? If not, there is still time for stamps, but retiring accessories are while-supplies-last! You can shop online from my demo website here!

Hello Sugar!

Mmmm, Baked Brown Sugar! Doesn't that just make you want to go bake something? Or eat something baked! Well, that is the name of another of the soon-to-be-released new In-Colors. I got the paper and ink in my box of preorder goodies last week and thought I would make a card showing how this new color fits in with a couple of the old colors.

I made 3 cards the day I got my box of goodies, and this was the first one. I used a new stamp set, embossing folder, and punch on it too. You are all going to love the new catty. I know I do. (I'll tell you a secret. I have been sleeping with mine. Well, it is on the headboard when I am sleeping, but I take it to bed with me and dream of new inspiration!)
This card uses a little of the Ombre technique, starting at the top with Soft Suede, then to Baked Brown Sugar, then into Crumb Cake, all stamped on the Crumb Cake. I just quickly eye-balled the stamp placement inside the mosaic embossing, some a little better placed than others. LOVE clear mount stamps especially for this kind of thing!

• Stamps: Friendship Preserves, Mosaic Madness
• Ink: Soft Suede, Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake
• Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Modern Mosaic embossing folder and Window Frames framelits, Mosaic punch, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Natural Trim ribbon, dimensionals

What do you think? Will you catch the "madness"?

Happy Birthday Geoffrey!

My baby turns 17 today! I cannot believe it!!! I will try to refrain from the usual mom speeches about how it was just yesterday that I was changing his diapers, or watching him run around the house with just a towel around his shoulders yelling "Nakie-boy to the rescue!", or the time when his collar bone got broken on Mother's Day when he was 5 after he and his oldest brother fought over a Bionicles piece.... or just how sweet he is, except to his brother Dakota... and the fact that he has an adorable girlfriend now! OK, I tried, but I am a mother! Geoffrey just makes me smile, or shake my head, sometimes both at the same time :) I love my Geoffrey.
All of my babies have been happy accidents, never good timing but a baby is a good thing! I had my first three by the time I was 20. I stayed home after having #2, and decided it was time for me to go back to school for nursing when they were 6,5, and 3½. I started classes, and 4 days in, found out I was pregnant with #4. I cried, oh, did I cry! But I did not stop school. I remember returning to classes 5 days after he was born, bringing him with me, and a week later taking finals with Geoffrey on my lap. He actually got more one-on-one time with me than any of the other kids as I got an evening shift job when I finished school and he was still only about a year old then.
OK, enough about the boy! If you made it through all of that, I applaud you! I am sure it is a bit boring to anyone but me and mine :)

 Geoffrey's girlfriend, Keely, was over last week and saw my stamping area and some of the cards that I have stashed. She then wanted to make a card for his birthday. Incidentally, her birthday is the day before Geoffrey's :) So I had her pick out a stamp set, and then she showed me a fancy fold she wanted to try. She picked out the colors, and away we went! I loved how it turned out so much, I had to make my own version of it. I was not able to get a picture of hers before she left. She already shows enormous talent :)

• Stamps: Great Sport, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Words of Courage, Grunge Rock
• Ink: Basic Gray, Illuminate
• Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents and Bitty Banner framelits, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Simply Scored, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Black embossing powder

The red panel opens on a hinge to the right of the card, and inside the card there is a white panel to put your message on. I tried stamping the stars in Basic Black on the Basic Black paper, but they did not show up, so I went back with the Illuminate ink and added the stars again.

I would love to hear stories about your "babies"!