I'm very excited to have a long enough lead time to play at this week's Just Add Ink #482 - such a fun sketch!
Lately I've been a little obsessed with pairing the gorgeous Nature's Beauty set with the stunning Feels Like Frost DSP - it's like a set a backgrounds made for all these sweet winter critters, lol.  Today our shy doe came out for a quick pose against her snowy trees, gorgeous!  I added a quick sentiment with Itty Bitty Christmas - I'm loving this set, too - there's something there for everyone, lol.  Hm, I might need to take a ride up to the rim as soon as it snows up there - it DOES actually snow in some parts of Arizona, lol...
Nature's Beauty & Itty Bitty Christmas Stamp Sets; Feels Like Frost DSP; Whisper White & Seaside Spray CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Crumb Cake Inks; Softly Falling EF; Scalloped Tag Topper & 1 3/8" Circle Punches; Seaside Spray Metallic Ribbon; Linen Thread; Silver Pearls; #JAI482.

Mountainview Presbyterian Holiday Boutique Nov 22 & 23!
Come see the best Scottsdale Craft Show of the year, and get your cinnamon roll orders in early!  I'll be here both days, and would love for you to come visit!  Lots of new vendors and treats!
Swing by Friday, Nov 22 from 9 am - 4 pm, or Saturday Nov 23 from 9 am - 3 pm!  Mountainview Presbyterian Church, 8050 E Mountainview Rd, Scottsdale, AZ.  See you there!

OK, super cute - check out the mermaid cupcake over at this week's Fusion Mermaid Challenge!  Eek!
Lucky for me, I OF COURSE still have my beloved Magical Day set, which has this super cutie mermaid in it.  I did some coloring to go along with the beautiful inspiration pic Fusion shared, but I mixed up the sentiment using one from Silhouette Scenes - I think this mermaid looks like she's dreaming anyway, lol.  I was also able to give her some waves to float over with our wonderful High Seas EF - which works a real treat now with our new blue plate just for our current 3D folders - $10 is completely worth it to take the guesswork out of how much to shim this beauty, sigh...  This came out super simple, but I'm loving the quiet details - so sweet!
Magical Day (retired 2018) & Silhouette Scenes Stamp Sets; Whisper White, Pool Party & Purple Posy CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Pool Party, Purple Posy, Nude & Cajun Craze Blends Markers; Magical Mates (retired) & Stitched Shapes Dies; High Seas EF; Clear Epoxy Droplets; #FusionMermaid.

Holiday Gifts & Packaging 2019 Class Nov 14 & 16!
It's time once again to celebrate all things Christmas-giving with my annual Holiday Gifts and Packaging Class!  You KNOW I love to spoil you, and this class is all about the giving (and anything left in the Holiday catty we haven't played with yet, lol!)  We'll feature all new packaging projects for all your treat and gift giving, along with the awesome cookie buffet (Saturday only!) - make sure you RSVP early!
Class is only $25, and includes all supplies needed (briung your fave snips and adhesive) drinks and snacks, plus an extra gift from me!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  Class is on for Thursday, Nov 14 at 630 pm, or Saturday, Nov 16 at 3 pm - I can't wait to see you!

It's time again for our monthly Sparkles Christmas Challenge #106 - let's see those Santas!
I went browsing through my retired sets for a good Santa for today - I actually didn't get this year's Santa (I don't like his feet, shhh...)  I spotted 2013's Santa's List, and can't remember when I used it last - winner winner!  I matched him up with some pretty sheets from this year's Night Before Christmas DSP - how perfect is that cookies and cocoa sheet??  Fun AND I got to color, a perfect Christmas gift, lol.
So, what will YOU create for us?  I can't wait to see your Santas, over at the challenge!
Santa's List Stamp Set (retired 2014); Night Before Christmas DSP; Very Vanilla & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Real Red, Nude & Smoky Slate Blends Markers; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #SparklesSanta.

Christmas Countdown Kit Bonus Class Nov 9 at 3 pm!
Woo hoo!  There's just enough time for ONE Christmas Bonus Class - and the new Advent Calendar Kit wins it by popular acclaim!  Come to class for a relaxing time for crafting and chatting, plus some yummy drinks and cookies, and we'll put our kits together in record time!  RSVP to make sure I have enough kits on hand, or bring your own and enjoy the company!
Class is $35, all supplies provided (bring your own snips and fave adhesive), or $10 if you are bringing your own kit!
See you soon!

Hm, The Sisterhood of Crafters is having a "wood" theme this week, and there are some seriously cute offerings in the DT samples!  I gotta try this...
I remembered that there is a woodgrain sheet in our gorgeous Come to Gather pack - love these planks!  With that as my starting point, I decided to just keep going with the Gather Together suite.  I also wanted to give this "invisible" coloring style a stab, too.  I tried with both Blends Markers, on the pumpkins, and Watercolor Pencils, on the leaf.  My method wasn't very scientific, lol.  I just stamped my images in stamped off Sahara Sand, and then just tried to make sure I covered up those lines in my coloring.  An interesting idea that I need to look into more!  It made for some fun experimenting today!
Gather Together Stamp Set; Come to Gather DSP; Whisper White & Early Espresso CS; Early Espresso & Sahara Sand Inks; Watercolor Pencils Pack 2; Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede & Color Lifter Blends Markers; Gathered Leaves & Stitched Shapes Dies; Leaves Trinkets; Copper Sequin; #TSOCWoodRelated.

Oh, good times - As You See It #210 has a "get well" recipe for us this week - cool idea!
Looking over my "ingredients," I decided the time was finally NOW to break out Daisy Lane - woot!  This is a lovely companion set to Daisy Delight, complete with its own punch, sized a bit smaller - yay!  I created a simple card using the fern-ish leaf from the set in the background, and then made a tag with a Stitched Oval.  My get well is from the July 2015 Thanks A Latte Paper Pumpkin - loved this one for the cute cups, but the sentiments were awesome, too, lol. 
Daisy Lane & Thanks a Latte Paper Pumpkin Stamp Sets; Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz & Soft Sea Foam CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Mango Melody Blends Marker; Medium Daisy Punch; Stitched Shapes Dies; Stitched White Grosgrain Ribbon; White Baker's Twine; Basic Jewel Pearls; #AYSI210.

VERY nice, Retro Rubber # 119 has a lovely Autumn color challenge for us this week!  I can also JUST sneak in this week's sketch from TGIF Challenges #229 - yay!
I still have just the set for this combo, 2016's gorgeous Thoughtful Branches.  I love all the tree-building options it has, along with some truly wonderful sentiments - images AND words is totally the way to my stampin' heart, lol.  I sponged both Pumpkin Pie and Real Red onto my leaves, and stamped and stamped off a few times to add some fullness over this cool trunk.  I added one leaf for a full-size accent, my lovely big sentiment, and even some words inside: "and always in my heart."
Thoughtful Branches Stamp Set (retired 2016); Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Pumpkin Pie CS; Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie & Real Red Inks; Stitched Shapes & Beautiful Branches (retired) Dies; Corner Rounder Punch; Orange Sequins; #RRC119; #TGIFC229.

I'm so thrilled I can squeeze in this week's technique challenge from 52 Christmas Card Throwdown #32 - Joseph's Coat!
So, I'm not sure I've actually ever done a Joseph's Coat technique before - at least, not on purpose, lol.  I do like emboss resist a lot, and this seems pretty similar, with a multi-color aspect thrown in.  I decided to try something a little different, and play with the little buffalo check stamp in my new Tiny Keepsakes set, that goes with the new Mini Curvy Keepsake dies - so fun!  I brayered some Christmas-y Brights on white, then clear heat-embossed the stamp.  Another brayer layer in Black, a bit of clean up, and here we go - kind of an ombre plaid, lol.  I like it!  Definitely a candidate for our next Let's Get Messy Class!
Tiny Keepsakes Stamp Set; Whisper White CS; Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Versamark & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Sponge Brayer; Mini Curvy Keepsake Dies; Real Red Baker's Twine; Poppy Parade Glimmer Dots; #52CCT32-19.

Fall & Thankgiving Class Sep 12 & 14!
Ah, it's finally starting to cool off around here, so it's time to start thinking about our lovely Fall occasions - better break out the scarf!  This class will feature six cards all about Autumn, and all from our new Holiday Mini Catty - there might even be a little spooky sneaking in there somehow, lol.  Class includes all supplies (bring your favorite 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 to save your spot today!  Class is on for Thursday, September 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday, September 14 at 3 pm.  See you soon!

We're mixing it up again over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #422 this week - there's even cake!
With that pretty stacked cake in our inspiration pic, I totally had to pull out Piece of Cake to play with.  I wanted some fun party colors, so I pulled out my retired Picture Perfect Party DSP and took my colors from there.  I did a couple simple layers, squeezed in some ribbon, and colored a fancy bright cake to go with!  Yummy!  I want to eat every bite!
So, what will YOU create for us this week?  I can't wait to see your creations!
Piece of Cake Stamp Set; Picture Perfect Party DSP (retired); Whisper White, Basic Black & Berry Burst (retired) CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Berry Burst (retired) & Lemon Lime Twist (retired) Markers; White Gel Pen; Cake Builder Punch; Stitched Shapes Dies; Metallic Edge Berry Burst Ribbon (retired); #TSOT422.

Summer is in full swing over at the Sisterhood of Crafters "play ball" challenge!
So, I keep the venerable Have a Ball set around for all my sporting needs - I think this baby is from 2007!  I'd update it if something close to how awesome this set is came along, but I'm still waiting!  I've gone with a baseball theme today, since we just finished All Stars not too far back, and my hubby is faithfully following his beloved Cubbies for the season, lol.  I did a mixed background panel, and then matched it with Praiseworthy Prose - this sentiment seems perfectly sporty to me!  I'll drop it in the kids section of my cards for sale, I think.  So fun to give this oldie and goodie some field time again!
Have a Ball (retired 2007) & Praiseworthy Prose Stamp Sets; Whisper White, Real Red & Soft Suede CS; Soft Suede, Real Red & Crumb Cake Inks; Rectangle Stitched & Hand Lettered Prose Dies; #TSOCPlayBall.

Art & Silhouettes Class Aug 15 & 17!
So excited for our first focus class of the new catty!  This month we'll zero in on two suites:  the gorgeous It Starts With Art AND Silhouette Scenes!  We'll do three cards in each suite, and class will includes snacks, drinks, and a special treat from me!  All you need to bring is your favorite snips and adhesive, I provide everything else!  Class is $25, or can be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot for Thursday, August 15 at 630 pm, or Saturday, August 17 at 3 pm - see you soon!

Time to party - SU Only #226 is hosting a birthday challenge this week - woo hoo!
I have to admit, when I think birthdays, I can't help but think of cake, lol, so out came our adorable Piece of Cake set!  Who wouldn't love to get a fancy birthday cake like this??  I decided to browse my DSP real quick, and came across this bright sheet from the Follow Your Art collection, so I took my cake colors from this a little.  A tiny bit of sparkle and we are set - quick AND tasty!
Piece of Cake Stamp Set; Follow Your Art DSP; Whisper White & Calypso Coral CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Gray Granite, Calypso Coral, So Saffron & Soft Sea Foam Blends; Cake Builder Punch; Stitched Labels Dies; Iridescent Sequins; #SUOC226.

Christmas in July 2019, July 11 & 13!
You know my philosophy:  it's never too early to start thinking Christmas!  Christmas in July is always our "Part 1" class, and features our holiday stamp sets and goodies from the Big Book - look for Part 2 in October!  Class includes all supplies needed (bring your own snips & fave adhesive!) for 6 cards and envelopes, plus drinks, snacks & a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot, for either Thursday, July 11 at 630 pm, or Saturday July 13 at 3 pm!  See you soon!