Oh, Happy Day!

Are you ready for some more new goodies from the Occasions Mini catalog that just started? I know I am :) I only ordered a few select items during our pre-order time, and with it being the holidays, I didn't even really get to play with them until the last week or so! I've been missing the challenges too lately and was itching to get back to them :)

So, I went hunting for some inspiration, and found this color challenge over at the Colour Q! Poppy Parade and Bravo Burgundy are both retired, so I substituted Real Red and Cherry Cobbler.

 

This sketch from Nacho Average Challenges was a good starting point for the card I ended up making too!

I haven't done anything masculine in a couple of weeks, so I figured I was due :) It was a great color combo for a nice, bright guy card! The new Arrows embossing folder is sure to be one of my new favorites too :) I created my own DSP again with the circle of rays image, then die cut it with the largest of the Starburst framelits. The Summer Starfruit starburst also has some paper piercing to add some interest. And check out the dots in the center of the "HAPPY". I added some white gel pen dots to make them look more like a lit marquee sign!

• Stamps: Starburst Sayings
• Ink: Summer Starfruit, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red, Basic Gray
• Paper: Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Basic Gray Core'dinations
• Other: Big Shot with Starburst framelits and Arrow embossing folder, Sanding Block, Signo white gel pen, Smokey Slate Chevron ribbon, dimensionals

 Here's a little peek inside, because no card is finished until the inside gets a little love :)

I hope everyone is staying warm! It has been mighty cold for the last month or so. I am a Northern Minnesotan.  The coldest spot in the US pretty much every day is in my neighborhood :) We know cold. And yes, we see -20° routinely every winter through January and February. And -40° at least a couple times a winter. That is without the wind chill by the way, lol! So, put on those layers and keep moving! That's what we do :) That, and throw some more wood on the fire!

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Paper Crafters Sampler

I have been asked to be a member of the Design Team for the Paper Crafters Sampler for the next 6 months. I have to tell you, this is quite an honor! There are some very talented stampers on the team now and in the past.  You may be wondering what this sampler is all about. The PCS is a monthly online publication that features 8 cards/projects created with only current Stampin’ Up products with complete tutorials including photos and instructions with cutting measurements. The next issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler goes live on January 10th, and there is an Early Bird Special running right now, don't miss out on the savings!

 

This is what Melanie, the brains behind the magic has to say:

"Ring in the New Year with the 2014 Paper Crafters Sampler earlybird special!

Get all 12 issues of the 2014 year (released during their designated months) for just $89.00.  Full year subscribers receive $5 off each monthly issue; regularly priced $12.99.

 

All those who subscribe to the 2014 Full Year Sampler by January 10th,  receive the "2013 Sampler In Review".  The Sampler review highlights one project from each of the previous 12 months.  

 

Your bonus "2013 year in review" is available as an instant download for all earlybird subscribers."

Stamp Review Crew: Hearts a Flutter Edition

Have we put you into palpitations with all of the fabulous ideas yet? I sure hope so! Well, the happy kind anyway, not the kind that brings you to the ER ;)

You probably just arrived from the Cindy Beach's wonderful blog. Lovin' her style! I am stop #15, so I hope you are not too worn out from all that hopping :) If you ever get lost (or want to see the full blog roll, or check our archive of past hops),  just pop on over to the Stamp Review Crew blog.

My first project is a little treat pocket I made with a lunch sack. First cut off both ends with the pinking edge from Finishing Touches edgelits, then fold it unevenly in half. Add Fresh Prints DSP, ruffled ribbon, doily, cute die-cut hearts, jazz it up with a few rhinestones.

Then stitch the sides up, but make sure there is some slack in the pocket so you have room to tuck goodies inside :)

Next up is a little wall art in a 5x7 frame, so it is small. It can stand in a mix of family photos, or hang on the wall. I stitched the die cut pieces together into a banner with my sewing machine and taped the ends of the thread to the back of the frame. The little XOXO and I ♥ U are from the Label and Circle Card thinlits. Hey, if you have it, use it-right! Lots of Gold Encore ink and cut outs to let banners show through.

Here you can see the embossed scalloped heart image, the heart die-cut doily behind the gold, and the fun foil  I ♥ U.

I have to say, this is my favorite of this bunch. You may have noticed that I love woodgrain. I really, really do. I have all my life :) And this background stamp was so forgiving when I was stamping it repeatedly across both sides of the Sahara Sand cardstock! This flip-flop card is SO my style!Wait till you see the inside :)

Here is flap #1 opened up. How awesome is that Retro Fresh Washi Tape! It serves a couple of purposes here, decorative-and it is holding the ends of the strings.....

.....for this adorable banner! I saw this done at convention and have wanted to do one of these ever since! It is really easy to do. I think I pretty much always make my flip-flop cards with the extended extra flap now so I have somewhere to write a message too.

OK, that's it for me! Time for a little more fun with Dawn Tidd's creations!

Stampin Addicts Occasions Mini Blog Hop: Baby, We've Grown

It's so exciting, a new catalog! We all just love new stuff :) And we at Stampin' Addicts are no different than the rest of stampers. New toys make us giddy! We are sharing our new toys and our ideas with you from the newest Occasions Mini today!

There is a master list of the hop on the official hop thread at Stampin' Addicts. If you are hopping through in order, then you just arrived from Kim's blog where she used Perfect Pennants so perfectly!

I am featuring Baby, We've Grown. I have some ulterior motives choosing this set, as I will be a grandmother for the first time in April!!! Let's get started :)

This is an 8x8 scrapbook page that can be used for a picture of a pregnant belly, or a new family, or the new baby! This owl family image is pretty versatile :)

And how about that adorable little bunny?! I can just see a kiddo hugging him or dragging him around by his ears! The main image is stamped on watercolor paper and colored in with an Aqua-Painter.  Check out some of the other new goodies from the Occasions Mini- Starburst framelits, Natural Chevron ribbon, and the Arrows embossing folder!

 Inside, I used a phrase from Cuddles & Kisses and added the bunny again.

And how about a little box to hold a package of adorable little baby socks!! This box is made in the same way as the K Cup box that I designed last month, but the dimensions and score lines are different.

Base is 8"x11"
With 8" side up, score at 1", 3", 5", 7"
With 11" side up, score at 1", 3", 8", 10"

Cover is 8½"x5"
With 8½" side up, score at 2-1/16", 4-1/8", 6-3/16, 8-1/4"

The ends of the box are watercolored in the colors of the project: Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, and Daffodil Delight.

That's all I have for you, so now on to Mary's blog to see the wonderful projects she made with Pomp & Circumstance!

Snowman Christmas

Like many crafters, when I find a new project I love, I tend to make it a few times before I do other things. Well, the K-Cup gift box I designed has been my current muse :)

I had a card in my stash from a couple of years ago and was inspired to create a box to go with it!

The snowmen in this stamp set remind you of marshmallows. Marshmallows, cocoa... K-Cups of cocoa!

• Stamps: Merry Winter (retired), Greetings of the Season, Borderlines (retired)
• Ink: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Poppy Parade (retired)
• Paper: Naturals White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Poppy Parade (retired)
• Other: 2½" Circle and 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punches, Poppy Parade ribbon (retired), Paper Piercer, dimensionals, Paper Trimmer, Bone Folder, Sticky Strip

I wasn't sure if I would like the polka dots on the box until I finished it, and I love them. It is so satisfying when an idea works out :)

OK, on last shot of the box all the way open. I can't wait to give this to one of my co-workers for Christmas!! We have a Keurig in our department. Some of our doctors are just like kids, always have to have the newest toys, and one of the docs got the Keurig for our department for Christmas last year. At least they share some of their toys with us ;)

Merry Soiree

How about a funny story with this card?! I had gotten up on Wednesday afternoon and started putting together a card design. I planed to knock out a pile of cards and get them out in the mail the next day. So I am busily getting glittery and cutting out components of my card when the phone rings at 5:10PM and caller ID says it is my work. I hesitate to answer because I don't want to pick up a shift as I will be working a long stretch soon. The conversation goes something like this:
"Hey Tanya, whatcha doing?"
"Oh, not much."
"So, did you know you are on the schedule to work today?"  (I work 5P-5A shifts)
"No I'm not. It's Tuesday, right."
 "Nope, it's Wednesday. .....Are you going to be a little while?"
"Oh crap! Um, ya, um, I'll be right in!"

I had not showered yet as I was going to wait until I was done doing glittery things, and then was going to go do some Christmas shopping. Well, I live 12 minutes from work. I showered and dressed, ran back upstairs to grab my glasses and remembered to close all of my ink pads, and raced to work and made it there at 5:43pm. But I forgot my name badge.... sigh. Some days! It all worked out, but dang! I have only done this once before, and that was about 5 years ago!

I did come up with a cute and fairly flat card though :) I think I need to run to the Post Office so I can buy some more of the 64¢ stamps! I use way too many dimensionals to use the standard postage stamp.

• Stamps: Snowflake Soiree, Christmas Messages
• Ink: Coastal Cabana, Illuminate, Silver Encore
• Paper: White, Winter Frost DSP, Silver Glimmer
• Other: Big Shot with Circle framelits and Experssions thinlits, Crystal Effects, sequins, Signo white gel pen

Here is a peek inside. I sure am getting a lot of use out of the Christmas Messages set this year :)

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