I'm loving our manly colors this week at Sunday Stamps #205!  What to stamp now?
It finally occurred to me that these could work pretty well as holiday colors, too - and I really need to bid a fond farewell to my beloved Christmas Pines!  This bundle has had such a nice long run - it really has become my go-to for all pine-y backgrounds, lol, plus I can just never get enough of these pine cones and awesome sentiments!  A little Christmas in May never hurt anyone, lol.
So, what will YOU come up with?  I can't wait to check it out, over at the challenge!
Christmas Pines Stamp Set; Whisper White, Tranquil Tide & Crumb Cake CS; Tranquil Tide, Merry Merlot & Crumb Cake Inks; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Pretty Pine Thinlits; Red Sequins; #SSC205.

They have another fun combo for us to choose from over at In{k}spire Me #392 this week - a sketch AND colors!  Sweet!
This combo really made another one of our new pre-order sets jump out at me - take a look at A Little Lace!  The stamp set is sweet, with a delicate floral focus stamp and lots of great sentiments, but the Stitched Lace die that bundles with it is to die for!  You can cut a big card front-sized sheet of paper into lace, and then chop it up to use in any form you want, as I have done to meet the sketch!  I ran it back and forth a couple times to make sure all the tiny little bits cut through really well, but really, it worked like a charm - can't wait to try adding bits of lace to many projects!
A Little Lace Stamp Set; Whisper White, Granny Apple Green & Crumb Cake CS; Early Espresso Ink; Mango Melody & Granny Apple Green Blends Markers; Stitched Lace Dies; Brown Sequins; #IM392.

So excited - I've found another Christmas card challenge, that posts monthly!  We're back in the jingle here!  CAS Christmas's May challenge is all about clean and simple stockings - game on!
I decided to browse my retired shelves for this one - I would have loved to do another fancy staircase all festooned, but I want to be god for this clean and simple challenge!  I came across 2015's Festive Fireplace, and realized I could be SUPER selective about what elements I used, lol.  So we have this floating mantle only, with three cute little stockings!  Because I was SO clean (for me, anyway, lol) I took a chance and added three little green sequins, too.  I'm so happy with the final result, surprisingly festive!  Yay!
Festive Fireplace (retired 2015); Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red, Old Olive & Mango Melody Blends Markers; Festive Fireside Framelits; Green Sequins; #CASCCCStockings.

ANOTHER flower challenge today with the Sisterhood of Crafters "it's all about flowers challenge" - flowers for everyone, lol...
I decided to pull out the fabulous Wonderful Romance suite for this one, and since I'm having such a flower revival this week, I went with MY fave purples and greens for this one, lol.  I'm a bit sad that this bundle is retiring - it's such a sophisticated and comprehensive suite, and so versatile.  I was surprised it's not carrying over - though I'll hang on to mine for some time, of course!  I kept this layout fairly simple, as a clean background for that exuberant bouquet!  Sweetness abounds...
Wonderful Romance Stamp Set; Floral Romance DSP; Whisper White & Blackberry Bliss CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Mint Macaron, Daffodil Delight & Blackberry Bliss Blends Markers; Wonderful Floral Framelits; Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (retired); #TSOCFlowers.

Spring has sprung for sure, and Retro Rubber #110 is here to help us smell the pretty flowers!  I'm combining this week with Hand Stamped Sentiments #314's appropriately floral sketch!   I hope everyone's garden is growing!
Checking over the retired shelves, I came across 2008's Inspired by Nature set - I could never let this one go because of the amazing blades of grass image that I use most - almost a background stamp!  But it also has this field flowers image on the other side, and I almost never used it, so I decided to give it a go!  I colored it up with markers so for a soft brush-stroke look, and then spent a quiet 10 minutes fussy cutting to my heart's content.  I think it looks SO sweet over this scrap of DSP from the Botanical Butterfly DSP!
Inspired by Nature Stamp Set (retired 2008); Botanical Butterfly DSP; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight & Lemon Lime Twist Stampin' Write Markers; Gingham Gala Sequins; #RR110; #HSS314.

I think my two fave words in the stampin' world (besides "new catty," lol, almost here!) are "any shape!"  Yes!  So I'm super thrilled we have them on our sketch this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #408!
And wouldn't you just know it, I get to combine ALL FOUR of my fave words on this card, because my pre-order arrived just in time to join the fun!  I couldn't resist kicking off the new catty on the blog with the fabulous It Starts With Art suite:  a super cute stamp set of all our crafty faves, generous dies, funky DSP, and even a sweet embossing folder!  Yowza!  The winning combo for sure!  I'm especially loving how this DSP is leading me to try some color combos WAY outside my comfort zone, lol.
So what will YOU create??  Can't wait to see you over at the challenge!
It Starts With Art Stamp Set; Follow Your Art DSP; Blushing Bride, Pacific Point, Coastal Cabana & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral & Bermuda Bay Blends Markers; Button Button EF; Stitched Shapes, Rectangle Stitched & Arts & Crafts Dies; Brights Sequins in Blue; #TSOT408.

Back-to-Basics #27 has a gatefold challenge for us this round - excellent!  I'm super excited to combine it with a new-to-me challenge - The Male Room #110 - add an age!  Woot woot!
So glad to have a boost making guy cards - I tried to stay pretty simple for this one - wood grain and guitars - that can be dude-esque, right?  Lol!  I did a basic gatefold, split in the middle, and pulled out my handy Number of years set for my "age."  I used the super subtle Sahara Sand wood-grain sheet from Floral Romance, and stamped some flying guitars in Sand as well.  Subtle and masculine, I'm hoping...  Good times!
Country Livin' & Number of Years (retired) Stamp Sets; Floral Romance DSP; Whisper White, Sahara Sand & Early Espresso CS; Sahara Sand & Early Espresso Inks; Large Numbers Framelits (retired); #BBB27; #TMR110.

Time to bring on the cuteness - Inspire Create Challenge #042 has a baby theme going for us this week!
I was pretty sure I was going to do my beloved Little Elephant set for this one, which is carrying over to the new catty (yay!), but then I got to looking at Family & Friends,  And then I realized I had NEVER inked any of this set up {GASP!}  I'm a bit sad that this set is retiring so soon, and I still am jazzed to have it in my collection, but I have to admit, I haven't come across as many occasions to use it as I thought I would, sigh.  Fortunately, there's an adorable little baby in it, just right for today's super quick and simple card!  Some speedy stripes, a tiny bit of coloring in, and we are SET!  Baby cuteness galore!
Family & Friends Stamp Set; Twinkle Twinkle DSP; Whisper White & Soft Sea Foam CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Soft Sea Foam, Nude & Cajun Craze Blends Markers; Layering Circles Framelits; Silver Thread; Silver Pearls; #ICC042.

What a great idea - SU Only #222 has a "celebrations" challenge this week - any celebration we can think of!  I think I'll combine with Fusion's Butterfly Wreath combo, too!  Time to party!
I decided to go with Picture Perfect Birthday for my "celebration" theme - I LOVE this sentiment so much!  All the fonts in this set are so fun!  In the end, I stuck with just the sketch from Fusion - I think I might be a bit butterflied out, lol.  I kept my colors bright, sort of like the DSP that we used to have when this set was first released - this is another retiring set, sigh, so it's good to bid a fond farewell, too!
Picture Perfect Birthday Stamp Set; Whisper White, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist & Coastal Cabana CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Coastal Cabana, Lemon Lime Twist & Berry Burst Inks; Stitched Shaped Framelits; Scattered Sequins DEF; Silver Sequins; #SUO222; #FusionButterflyWreath.

It's Fab time!  We have a super cute sketch for you this week at Fab Friday #163 - yay for banners!
For today's card, I really wanted to play with the new-to-me Little Twinkle stamp set.  It's a bit embarrassing, I only just got this bundle (there's a fabulous crescent moon and stars punch, too!) last week, because they're carrying over to our new catty (new catties IN THE HOUSE, peeps!) but they won't be bundled anymore, so I figured I'd better jump on that bundle discount while I still can.  I started with just the awesome DSP for this set - love the colors - and somehow I just never got around to picking up the stamps and punch it was made for, lol.  Don't ask me, I really don't get why this stuff happens this way, lol.  Now that I have the set, I totally love it!
So what do you have for us this week?  I can't wait to see YOUR creations over at the challenge!
Little Twinkle Stamp Set; Twinkle Twinkle DSP; Whisper White & Night of Navy CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Smoky Slate, Soft Sea Foam & Pool Party Blends Markers; Banner Triple Punch; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #FabFri163.

Fancy Folds Card Class May 11!
I'm so excited to bring on the techniques this month with Fancy Folds!  We'll be learning how to make it fancy the easy way, featuring 6 all-occasion cards each using a brand new idea for some extra fun in the folds!  I promise you will love them all!  Class will be $25, and will include all supplies needed, plus drinks, snacks and a special gift from me!  Class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!   Class is still on for Saturday, May 11 at 3 pm.  RSVP today to save your spot!