Blog Archives

Cactus Heart

4/20/2022

This is a sweet touch - The Flower Challenge #67 would like us to add a heart to our design this month!
A set I thought of right away for this one is our Flowering Cactus set from last year - it was perfect for here in Arizona! There's this little barrel cactus in it that looks a lot like a heart, especially when you balance the pretty flowers on the one side - and they look just like te ones in my yard right now, lol. To emphasize the shape, I floated it all over a pretty stitched heart from the retired Stitched Be Mine dies - it has every heart you never knew you really needed in it, lol. I even still have some of the beautiful succulent DSP I've been hoarding left, so I added that to the background. So let's hear it for the cactus flowers - beauty in the desert!
Flowering Cactus Stamp Set (retired 2021); Flowering Cactus DSP (retired); Basic White, Calypso Coral & Mint Macaron CS; Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow & Calypso Coral Inks; Flowering Cactus & Stitched Be Mine Dies (both retired); Iridescent Sequins; #TFC67.

New Horizons Suite Focus Class April 23!
Today's class is a showcase of the stunning New Horizons suite - beautiful images, papers and perfect sentiments to go with - I can't wait for you to see it! Class will include all supplies needed for 5 cards and envelopes, (bring your own fave snips and adhesive!) snacks and drinks, plus a special gift from me, all for $25! We even have a bonus project! This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more! Class is on for Saturday, April 23 at 3 PM! RSVP now to save your spot!

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Birthday Blues

4/19/2022

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Aw, we're bringing the ocean vibes this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments #387! I think our fun layers at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #552 is just right for them, too!
I couldn't resist a little farewell card for my beloved Handsomely Suited bundle today - this one is a keeper for sure! I took some liberties with our tag shape at TSOT and added this handsome tie, heat-embossed in white on Pacific Point! A very power tie, lol. At the last second, I had to put some collar tips at the top - it so makes the card, lol.
I can't wait to see YOUR projects for our challenges this round - meet you there!
Handsomely Suited Stamp Set; Sunshine & Rainbows DSP; Basic White, Coastal Cabana & Pacific Point CS; Versamark & Pacific Point Inks; White EP; Suit & Tie and Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Pacific Point Twine; Peacock Rhinestones (retired); #HSS387; #TSOT552.

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Many Hats

4/18/2022

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Excellent - for this month's challenge at The Male Room #161, they'd like us to use dry embossing!
I knew I wanted to pull in our retiring Hats Off set today, I just needed to find a good manly embossing folder to go with it for the background. After some dithering over retired folders (naturally, lol) I finally decided to actually use a CURRENT folder for a change, and went with Brick & Mortar, which I am delighted is carrying over to the new catty - yay! I did a simple blue cap with all the stitching and used this nice general guy sentiment - now I can use this card for a few different occasions as they arise!
Hats Off Stamp Set; Basic White, Misty Moonlight, Balmy Blue & Sahara Sand CS; Misty Moonlight & Cherry Cobbler Inks; Hat Builder & Rectangle Stitched Dies; Brick & Mortar EF; Linen Thread; Classic Matte Dots; #TMR161.

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Sunday Harvest

4/17/2022

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Oh gosh, now I'm getting hungry! I hope you like our soft and sweet colors this week at Sunday Stamps #281!
I tried hard to steer away from the food sets for this one, lol. I finally settled on the lovely Nature's Harvest set, which also coordinates with this beautiful Heart & Home DSP (I love ALL the woodgrain sides!) and has the stunning Harvest dies as well. I don't think I can ever have too many of these perfectly detailed stems! They look sweet and supportive in our Sunday colors, along with this elegant "healing thoughts" sentiment. So soothing...
I can't wait to see YOUR projects for our sweet colors - meet you there!
Nature's Harvest Stamp Set; Heart & Home DSP; Basic White, Soft Sea Foam, So Saffron, Blushing Bride & Fresh Freesia CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Harvest Dies; Silver Epoxy Essentials; #SSC281.

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Otter Hello

4/16/2022

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Very cool - Cardz 4 Guyz #293 has an "add texture" challenge for us this week!
I knew right away I wanted to use my Stripes & Spatters embossing folders - they've been sitting on my desk waiting for their chance for a few weeks now, lol. The spatters made me think water, and water made me think this little otter from our Sale-a-Bration Awesome Otters set - how could I not? I opted to use this simple hello from our retiring Best Year set as well - I can just see this guy popping up for a quick greeting!
Awesome Otters (retired 2022) & Best Year Stamp Sets; Basic White, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake & Coastal Cabana CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, SU300 , SU500 Blends Markers; Layering Ovals Dies (retired); Stripes & Spatters EFs; Brushed Metallic Dots; #C4G293.

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You're Egg-stra Special (& New Horizons Class April 23!)

4/15/2022

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Oh, yum - check out this sweet tray of Easter cookies at this month's If You Give Crafter a Cookie #167! So pretty!
I knew right away I had to go back to 2017's Basket Bunch for this one - this row of fun Easter eggs can't be beat! I made up a festive panel and went to town with my Blends Markers coloring - so fun! I found this pretty checked sheet for my background in the Pansy Petals DSP, which had Soft Sea Foam as one of the coordinating colors, so that's how I picked my green, lol. I even slipped in some "grass" along one edge from the Basket Builder dies! I need a snack, now...
Basket Bunch Stamp Set (retired 2017); Pansy Petals DSP; Basic White & Soft Sea Foam CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam, Polished Pink, Fresh Freesia & So Saffron Blends Markers; Basket Builder Dies; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #Cookie167.

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Bunny Buddies

4/14/2022

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I had to laugh when I saw this week's theme at Cupcake Inspirations #541 - yay! Bunnies!
I went for a deep dive looking for bunnies to come play today - I've been hitting my retired Easter sets pretty hard lately, so what do I have? When I spotted my Menagerie Mix-Up set, I couldn't remember the last time I had it out - winner winner! I decided to build two different bunnies, in different bunny colors, and each holding different bunny things, lol. This sweet sentiment from Special Moments Sale-A-Bration set seemed the perfect match, too. I love it when good bunnies come together, lol!
Menagerie Mix Up (retired 2020) & Special Moments (retired 2022) Stamp Sets; Pattern Party DSP; Basic White & Granny Apple Green CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Smoky Slate, Crumb Cake & Flirty Flamingo Blends; Menagerie & Stitched Shapes Dies (both retired); #CIC541.

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Really Cares

4/13/2022

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One of my favorite themes is happening at this week's Addicted to CAS #217 - animals!
The timing was perfect for me to trot out my new-to-me Grassy Grove bundle - this sweet deer is the perfect CAS element! An old pack of Naturals White CS seemed like the perfect neutral base for this set, and I started with a tiny grassy background in Pear Pizzazz. I floated my deer over that and added a couple Pear sprigs from the same dies for some extra color. And isn't this the sweetest sentiment? I added the second to the inside - "that someone is me."
Grassy Grove Stamp Set; Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz & Naturals White CS; Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake & Early Espresso Inks; Grove Dies; Gold Glitter Enamel Dots; #ATC217.

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Another Duo Day

4/12/2022

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So fun - we're going all slanty this week at Retro Rubber #180!
Looking the sketch over, I finally decided this was a grand opportunity to show off some serious DSP - enter the stunning Expressions in Ink DSP! I have neglected this gorgeous paper so badly - and I blush to admit that I haven't wanted to cut up any of the beautiful sheets, lol. So I made myself take chunks from each of the ones I've been hoarding - quite the array! To finish, I wanted to feature this quote from 2010's Favorite Thoughts set - love these quotes! And every woman KNOWS this one is true, lol.
Favorite Thoughts Stamp Set (retired 2010); Expressions in Ink DSP; Basic White & Magenta Madness CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Rectangle Stitched Dies; Gilded Gems; #RRCB180.

And I get to do a second card today for SU Only #299, of our fave CURRENT bundle! Excellent!
If we're talking CURRENT bundle, I'm going to have to go all Arizona on you and go with Cactus Cuties, along with its adorable Cactus Builder punch. Love it so much! Ironically, for today's card, I actually didn't use the punch as much as usual - I wanted to try stamping various composed arrangements and fussy cutting instead - so satisfying, lol. I did a nice earthy trio of pots, with an "on point" sentiment, and finished with some Early Evergreen Jewels. I have to give a nod of thanks to the awesome Libby Fens for the arrangements ideas, too - woo hoo!
I can't wait to see YOUR creations for our challenges this week - meet you there!
Cactus Cuties Stamp Set; Pattern Party DSP; Basic White & Early Evergreen CS; Cinnamon Cider, Bumblebee, Cajun Craze, Early Evergreen, Old Olive, Garden Green, Pear Pizzazz & Calypso Coral Inks; Cactus Builder Punch; Early Evergreen Jewels; #SUOC299.

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Fusion Bunny

4/11/2022

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Wow, a darling combo at this week's Fusion "cloth bunnies" challenge!
So glad I get to bring out my fave bunny of all time this year - 2010's Chocolate Bunny single, lol. He was so annoyed that the other ones were horning in on his turf last week! I managed to float him over a version of the sketch, too, AND, will wonders never cease, I actually used a DOILY! The pack just happened to be unburied form my desk debris at just the right time! I kept everything else fairly simple, but couldn't resist finishing with my Brushed Metallic Dots - love these embellies!
Chocolate Bunny (retired 2010) & Basket Bunch (retired 2017) Stamp Sets; Basic White, Crumb Cake, Misty Moonlight & Pool Party CS; Heart & Home Doilies; Early Espresso Ink; Brushed Metallic Dots; #FusionClothBunnies.