Blog Archives

The Adventure Begins

9/19/2020

Oo, what a great idea! Time Out Challenge #170 is to be adventurous! Just what I need!
I knew as soon as I saw this challenge that I wanted to pull out my beloved (and retired!) Adventure Awaits set - I love all the bold sentiments in this one, and they're all playfully and variously fonted, too. An adventure in itself, lol. I matched it up with this lovely DSP sheet from World of Good - I've made it into an ocean for my Sailing Home yachts, but really, I think it's a sky, there's all kinds of antique constellations hiding in there. Shhh! Anyway, THIS would be quite the adventure, sailing away on stormy seas (or skies!) One day...
Adventure Awaits (retired 2015) & Sailing Home Stamp Sets; World of Good DSP; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Versamark & Misty Moonlight Inks; Blender Pen; White EP; Smooth Sailing Dies; #TOC170.

Pumpkin Club September 26!
Did you get your September Pumpkin kit yet? Spooky treats ahead! Check out the video HERE!
I hope you can join us for our next Pumpkin Club, Saturday, September 26, at 3 PM - RSVP to let me know you are attending, we will be all safely socially distanced at our big table downstairs! For those that prefer, I will also have this kit TO GO after our live class - just let me know if you'd like that option!
Club is free for my subscribers, and includes any extra supplies you might need, plus drinks and snacks! I will also have a few extra spots available for club for $10, even if you are not a subscriber - come see what we're up to - full kit not needed, I'll supply everything you need for the projects! Just bring your own snips and basic adhesive!
Remember to subscribe here if you haven't already - sign up by October 10 and you can join us in time for next month!

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Beautiful Autumn (& Pumpkin Club Sep 26!)

9/18/2020

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I am LOVING this week's Sisterhood of Crafters "Autumn" challenge, especially since we're on our 3rd day in a row of below 100 degrees here in AZ! It might be a sign!
And what better stamp set to use than one called Beautiful Autumn?? I knew I had to use this one, and it's awesome little Autumn Punch Pack, too. I've been seeing a lot of "inchie" cards out there lately, so I decided to have a go myself, and show off these little punches in the simplest way - float them over a pretty DSP! This all came together quickly and easily, which I think says something good about just how perfect this suite is!
Beautiful Autumn Stamp Set; Gilded Autumn DSP; Very Vanilla & Early Espresso CS; Early Espresso Ink; Stitched Shapes Dies; Banners Pick a Punch & Autumn Punch Pack; Copper Sequins; #TSOCAutumn.

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CAS Christmas Trees

9/17/2020

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I LOVE this month's CAS Christmas Challenge of "Christmas Tree," getting our own tree and getting it set up for the holiday is one of my favorite Christmas activities!
I'm super psyched that my new Coming Home set has a couple trees in it so I can break this cutie in! I love the DSP pack that goes with, and the Banner Year bundle is perfect to go with since there are no sentiments. Cute houses, cute VW Bug - who needs words anyway?? Lol. I fancied up my simple trees in two shades of Old Olive, and a tiny strip of matching DSP - just enough!
Coming Home & Banner Year Stamp Sets; Trimming The Town DSP; Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Early Espresso Ink; Old Olive & Mocha Blends; Home Together & Stitched Shapes Dies; Gently Falling EF (retired); Banners Pick a Punch; Gold Sequins; #CASChristmasTree.

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Beautiful Journey

9/16/2020

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LOVE the travel theme at this month's The Male Room #142 - but how to narrow down all the places I want to go these days??
The short answer is, I can't, lol. Camping? Maui? Banff Springs? Nova Scotia? London? I have a different dream pretty much every night of all the places I'm missing, lol, so I decided to just go with the gorgeous globe in Beautiful World - I think I can even see Hawaii on here! I added some beautiful map paper from the World of Good DSP pack, and kept it simple and quick - just right for a guy, lol. One day, we'll be back to all our fave places, and it'll be great, I know!
Beautiful World Stamp Set; World of Good DSP; Whisper White, Basic Black, Misty Moonlight & Mossy Meadow CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Rectangle Stitched & World Map Dies; Early Espresso Grosgrain; #TMR142.

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Sea Turtles

9/15/2020

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How much do you love our throwback sketch this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #475?? It'll be fun to pair it up with our SU Only #258's seaside or nautical challenge, too!
So, did someone say "nautical?" You know what that means, lol, time for my beloved Whale of Time DSP to come out to play again! This time I featured this gorgeous shot of the East Australia Current, with its jeweled sea turtles having a cruise - heaven! I fussy cut a couple larger ones to highlight the journey!
I hope you can get in on the challenge action this week - I can't wait to see your creations!
Whale Done Stamp Set; Whale of a Time DSP; Whisper White, Pretty Peacock & Tranquil Tide (retired) CS; Champagne Foil; Versamark Ink; White EP; Rectangle Stitched & Smooth Sailing Dies; #TSOT475; #SUOC258.

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40 Whacks

9/14/2020

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Yikes! Lol, I think I'm going to need to lighten up The Library Challenge #67's Forty Whacks cover, but I do see some great sketch possibilities here!
With these colors, and that title, I have to admit, a Halloween card seems apropos, lol. And this little fanger seems pretty harmless - looks how he rocks that pretty cape! He's giving it all he's got on the "be scary" instruction! I loved the torn edge detail of the cover so I used it on my card, and did some pops of color opposites in each corner. I need to use these Ornate Frames dies SO much more!
Spooktacular Bash (retired 2019); Whisper White, Basic Black & Real Red CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Versamark Inks; White EP; Real Red Blends Marker; Ornate Frames Dies; Black Rhinestones; Wonderful Gems; #TLC67.

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Magic & Wonder

9/13/2020

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Wow, check out this lovely sketch waiting for us at this week's Hand Stamped Sentiments #347!
I decided that the lovely little flower cluster needed a poinsettia today, lol, so I could have another chance to play with this fun suite and all the amazing dies! I added a little DSP interest, and a couple of the "extras" behind my main "flower." So many new gorgeous versions of poinsettia we can do here! I chose this sentiment from the set to go with, because I have to admit, it's kind of how I think of poinsettias - my grandmother used to force her poinsettias with a very mysterious schedule of watering, feeding and extended visits to her walk-in closet - she always saved them every year, and resurrected them for the next season, and she had all different colors! It was definitely like magic to me!
Poinsettia Petals Stamp Set; Poinsettia Place DSP; Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Real Red Inks; Real Red, Mango Melody, Soft Suede & Wild Wasabi (retired) Blends Markers; Poinsettia & Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Wonderful Gems; #HSS347.

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Coffee Kind of Day

9/12/2020

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Oo, I'm super psyched that Inspire Create Challenge #77's colors include my fave combo of purple and green! Woo!
I finally decided to go a little sparse on the - just a few pops on these retro-looking coffee cups in Nothing's Better Than. I love the look of them, especially in these colors! I built the sentiment around my pretty cups, added a touch more Razzleberry by floating my stitched layer over it, and added this simple tie in Poppy that I found in the twine drawer. Somehow, this still looks pretty clean and simple to me, but it'll be great for a quick note to a friend!
Nothing's Better Than Stamp Set; Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Rich Razzleberry CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Razzleberry, Poppy Parade & Mossy Meadow Inks; Love You More Than & Stitched So Sweetly Dies; Poppy Parade Heavy Baker's Twine; #ICC077.

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Yuletide Pasture

9/11/2020

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I'm pretty psyched about our fun landscape sketch this week at Fab Friday #197 - hope you can get in on it!
For myself, the arrival of new stamp sets is pretty much a battle cry, so I had to ink up my newly arrived Yuletide Pasture today! Yes, I totally got this set for the "hielan' cou," so I made myself try out the festive sheep this round instead - isn't she dressed for a bowl of punch?? These quiet domestic scenes really reminded me of our pastoral Toile Tidings DSP, too, so I had to pull in a little of that to help set the scene - Merry, indeed!
I can't wait to see YOUR creations for our sketch - see you at the challenge!
Yuletide Pasture Stamp Set; Toile Tidings DSP; Very Vanilla & Garden Green CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Garden Green Ink; Wild Wasabi (retired_ Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate & Nude Blends Markers; Stitched Shapes & Poinsettia Dies; Banners Pick a Punch; #FabFri197.

Fall Cards Class Sep 12, 3 PM
Ahhh, Finally the weather might be breaking! This class will feature 6 Fall cards and envelopes, focusing on the lovely seasonal suites in our Holiday catty! Bring on the acorns! Class includes all supplies needed (bring your own fave snips and adhesive!) snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me, all for $25! This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more! RSVP today to save your spot, on Saturday, September 12, at 3 PM! You can also schedule a one-on-one, or class-in-a-box if you prefer - just let me know!

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See the Chalk

9/10/2020

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Now here's a welcome blast from the past - Less Is More #427 wants us to pull off a chalkboard technique card!
So, it has been YEARS since I've done a chalkboard card - I definitely went out and checked out the refresher videos LIM posted for us, lol. Then I went hinting and unearthed some ancient chalkboard paper that Stampin' Up! used to make probably even more than those years ago! And I found some! Let's hear it for the paper hoarder! I know that Basic Black CS would work, too, but I love the tooth and texture of this old paper. I decided to heat emboss my sentiment first, to make it stand out a little more, then stamp my chalk items after, and give them a bit of a scrub with a sponge. I think it came out pretty cool, and I indulged in a few tiny Elegant Faceted Gems as well. Now it's time to go clean the erasers!
See the Good Stamp Set; Whisper White & Chalkboard (retired) CS; Whisper White Craft Ink; White EP; Elegant Faceted Gems; #LIM427.