Blog Archives

Birthday Bears

3/11/2020

Hm, I'm not familiar with the term "lucky dip," but I am fascinated by the "big and small" theme at this week's Less Is More #414!
I went hunting for some good big and small images in my stash - seems like there's a lot of elephants out there - I wanted a different critter, lol. Eventually, I worked my way down to my old Bear Hugs set - I can not BELIEVE this set is from way back in 2010!! Anyway, this papa bear and his cub make for a super cute "big and small," I think. Bear dudes have to stick together, I guess!
Bear Hugs Stamp Set (retired 2010); Whisper White CS; Early Espresso & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Blender Pen; Crumb Cake & Real Red Blends Markers; Bear Hugs Dies (retired); #LIM414.

Sympathy/Sorry Card Class March 12 & 14!
Sometimes we all just need a card for sad times, and I don't know about you, but I never seem to have one when I need it. This class will help us with that, much as we're all sorry to need them! Class will feature six cards with envelopes, all in a sympathy or sorry format, and includes all supplies needed (bring your fave snips and adhesives.) Class also includes snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25. Class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more. Classes are on for Thursday March 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday March 14 at 3 pm. RSVP today to save your spot!

1 Comment

Birthday Poppies

3/10/2020

1 Comment

Ahhh, it's mix-it-up time here again at this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #448!
Such a fun sketch - I wish I had a little potted plant set I could use to more explicitly follow the inspiration pic, too! Guess I'll just have to settle for some poppy blossoms, lol, twist my arm! I started with a pretty stripey DSP from the Peaceful Poppies pack, and did a bunch of poppy blossoms in various reds to emulate the sketch. At the last second, I decided to try some two-tone leaves, too - I assembled a sprig using the Poppy Moments Dies and snipped them apart to spread around a little. Fun!
I can't wait to see YOUR creations for us this week, I hope we have lots to inspire you!
Painted Poppies & Peaceful Moments Stamp Sets; Peaceful Poppies DSP; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Sahara Sand, Lovely Lipstick, Poppy Parade, Real Red & Cherry Cobbler Inks; Poppy Moments & Painted Labels Dies; Gold Glitter Dots; #TSOT448.

1 Comment

Seeing Vases

3/9/2020

4 Comments

Wow, As You See It #220 has an awesome color combo for us this week, that they're calling "fragile flames," so pretty!
Including Grapefruit Grove made me really nervous on this one, for some reason, but of course, the colors are perfect together - very zesty, lol. I decided to go with Varied Vases - I haven't had this one out for a while either, and I have even more rarely used these simple stems. So bright and sunny, I can't believe I haven't used these colors together before now! I even LIKE the Grapefruit Grove, lol.
Varied Vases Stamp Set; Whisper White, Basic Black & Mango Melody CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Poppy Parade, Mango Melody & Grapefruit Grove Inks; Vase Builder Punch; Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Subtle EF; #AYSI220.

4 Comments

Birthday Shells

3/8/2020

0 Comments

OK, very exciting - I got to do the sketch for us this week at Sunday Stamps #226! You better come play, now!
I couldn't help thinking that I haven't stamped with my Seaside Notions in quite some time - and I still love this set, lol, so I decided to do a little collection of pretty shells for today's sketch! I couldn't help but use the gorgeous See a Silhouette DSP for my ocean background, too. such stunning paper! I didn't even mind fussy cutting these sweet shells after playing with my Blends on them - I think I can see the sea, here!
So, what will YOU create for us? I can't wait to see your beauties, over at the challenge!
Seaside Notions Stamp Set; See a Silhouette DSP; Whisper White, Seaside Spray & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Seaside Spray, Crumb Cake, Petal Pink & Purple Posy Blends Markers; Stitched Shapes & Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Braided Linen Trim; Faceted Dots in Seaside Spray; #SSC226.

0 Comments

More of You

3/7/2020

2 Comments

The Sisterhood of Crafters is coming at us with a "patterned paper" challenge today! Fun!
I decided to get started by looking over my DSP for something I haven't used for a bit. I quickly spotted my Bird Ballad pack - LOVE the colors in this one! I actually put the final card together from all kinds of scraps I still have floating around, after I chose the background - the little banner was already in there, and I had all kinds of bird scraps to fussy cut as well - such sweet little chirpers! The bird song around here has been on the rise lately, so I couldn't help but have some fun assembling my own personal chorus, lol. The only stamped element is the sentiment!!
Free As a Bird Stamp Set; Bird Ballad DSP; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Clear Epoxy Droplets; #TSOCPatternedPaper.

2 Comments

Keep Calm, Cupcake

3/6/2020

1 Comment

Nothing makes me go for a long deep dive into the shelves of retirement quite like an "anything goes" challenge, like at this week's Retro Rubber #129 - woo hoo!
My nostalgic browse led me today to the 2012 hostess set, Carry On. I was so psyched about this set! Being such an anglophile, I remember still, this was one of the few hostess sets that I took a demo's opportunity to pay actual money for during the pre-order period, lol. Turned out to be a good thing, because the set was pulled by the Mother Ship shortly after due to some legal caution going on over copyright. So sad, because it's a fabulous set! I used a cupcake combo today for a yummy birthday card - so fun!
Carry On Stamp Set (retired 2012); Cherry on Top DSP (retired); Pool Party, Bermuda Bay & Whisper White CS; Bermuda Bay & Early Espresso Inks; Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Melon Mambo Glimmer Dots; #RRCB129.

1 Comment

Bright Lights

3/5/2020

2 Comments

I always love it when the stars align for me to be able to play at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - this time I can get in on the February technique challenge to use foil!
Usually when I do foil features I go big - full layers or shapes, maybe embossed - big coverage! Today, I wondered how I could do smaller foil accents - what could that look like? I finally hit on a cool way to manage that - how about Christmas lights? I still LOVE our Making Christmas Bright set - one of my all-time fave Christmas sets, I think. When you throw in that Christmas Bulb Builder punch, there's just no contest, lol. I created a nice Christmas bough background in green, then set out to make some silver and red twinkly lights for it - so simple, and pretty!
Making Christmas Bright Stamp Set; Whisper White, Old Olive, Silver Foil & Red Foil CS; Smoky Slate & Real Red Inks; Pine Bough EF; Christmas Bulb Builder Punch; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #52CCT8-20.

2 Comments

Always Make a Splash (& Sympathy/Sorry Cards Mar 12 & 14!)

3/4/2020

1 Comment

Gorgeous - Ink{k}spire Me #415 has another cool combo for us this week, but I think I'll stick to this fun sketch!
To get myself going, I first went looking for a trio of shapes try out - I always like to strike my own trail in the shapes department, lol. So, hm, how about this triple load of goldfish to "keep us swimming?" Just the thing! I set up a nice watery card base, and a wavy background with my High Seas EF, then stamped, colored and fussy cut my little fishies. And don't they look sleek with their silver pearl bubbles? Such a fun time putting this cutie together...
Make a Splash Stamp Set; Pool Party & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Mango Melody Blend Marker; High Seas EF; Silver Pearls; #IM415.

1 Comment

Rest & Relax

3/3/2020

0 Comments

Yay - I always love when we have banners on our sketches at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #447! And how fun to add in our coloring challenge from SU Only #244!
I decided I wanted to pull out my Timeless Tropical set and have some new fun in the sun! And I turned the coloring challenge on its head, by doing some "coloring" directly on the stamp with markers - such a great way to dress up a solid image! It's just a big pineapple festival around here, lol.
I sure hope you can join us at BOTH challenges this week - see you over at the blogs!
Timeless Tropical Stamp Set; Tropical Oasis DSP; Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake & Old Olive CS; Soft Suede Ink; Soft Suede & Old Olive Stamp-n-Write Markers; Round Tab Punch (retired); Tropical Oasis Trinkets; #TSOT447; #SUOC244.

0 Comments

Greatest Guy

3/2/2020

0 Comments

Very nice - Fusion has an intriguing combo for us this week - check out that beautiful sketch!
I started out by going through all my sets that had any chairs - I was a bit surprised by how many that is, lol. But they just weren't talking to me today, sigh. So I scanned for likely shapes, and remembered this tall drink of golfing water in Clubhouse, lol. Just right! I let the suite do all the work - the DSP chose my colors, the dies decided some fun details - it actually went pretty quick, too. And look how cute! I added a birthday sentiment inside, this might be hubby's next card!
Clubhouse Stamp Set; Country Club DSP; Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Garden Green Inks; Crumb Cake, Gray Granite, Nude & Seaside Spray Blends Markers; Stitched Nested Labels & Golf Club Dies; Black Grosgrain Ribbon; #FusionDecor.