Aw, Hand Stamped Sentiments #326 has a wonderful trio of layered shapes for us this week!
I've been doing quite a bit of Christmas lately, how about a color break?  These rainbow balloons ought to do just the trick, lol, especially since we've had a tiny cold snap here in Arizona this week.  We actually had to turn on the heat the other day!! {GASP!}  Lol, we all have thin skin here these days!  Anyway, these balloons take me back to warmer summer days, and will be the perfect congrats for someone I know - good times!
Above the Clouds Stamp Set; Smoky Slate DSP; Pool Party & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Poppy Parade, Pumpkin PIi, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Balmy Blue & Blackberry Bliss Blends Markers; Layered Ovals Dies; Hot Air Balloon Punch; #HSS326.

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!

 Yum - check out our cool sketch at this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #429!  We have an optional purple-green-orange color challenge, too - hmmm...
I don't know why, but I decided to go for a pastel version of our colors, today - I thionk I thought I'd go in a baby card direction, but then wound up with some coloring time on Above the Clouds - I haven't used it in a bit, so I figured it needed to come play!  I did our basic layout, though I've just noticed I'm missong the "circle" at the inside corner - sigh.  Oh well - this is how it goes today!  I'm still pleased with my pastels!
So, what will YOU create?  I can't wait to see, over at the challenge!
Above the Clouds Stamp Set; Purple Posy, Soft Sea Foam, Grapefruit Grove & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Purple Posy & Soft Sea Foam Blends Markers; Grapefruit Grove Stamp-n-Write Marker; Polka Dot Basics EF; Rectangle Stitched Dies; Hot Air Balloon Punch; Green Faceted Dots; #TSOT429.

Check out the lovely landscape sketch we have for you this week over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #421!  We have an additional theme, too - flying things!
I usually don't even catch the suggested theme, but when I saw this one, I immediately went to my sweet This Little Piggy set, because, of course, there's a pig with wings in there, lol!  Perfect!  I stayed pretty much right on the sketch, kept the colors fresh and light, and just had some fun fussy cutting my little flying pig - so much less coloring when I stamp them on the color I want, lol.  Love her!
So, what will YOU create?  I can't wait to get a look, over at the challenge!
This Little Piggy Stamp Set; Gingham Gala & Wood Textures DSP (both retired); Whisper White & Petal Pink CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Petal Pink Blend; Stitched Shapes Dies; Iridescent Sequins; #TSOT421.

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!

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!

Well, wouldn't you know it, SU Only #224 is having a masculine challenge!  The timing is perfect to pair up with The Male Room #112's computers or gaming challenge, too!
So, my idea for this one might be a little tenuous, lol - I have NO computer or gaming stamps!  I finally hit on our fun Tabs For Everything set - I actually bought this bundle for the punch, and I can't say for sure I've even USED the stamp set before - go figure!  I spotted this little thumb's up symbol, and hey, that's from computers, right??  So I made a quick and simple man congrats card, in one of my fave color combos - it's all about the keyboarding here, lol...
Tabs For Everything (retired 2019); Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Lemon Lime Twist (retired); & Pool Party CS; Pacific Point, Lemon Lime Twist & Pool Party Inks; Stitched Shapes Dies; Maps Etc EF; Pacific Point Sequins; #SUO224; #TMR112.

2019 New Catty Preview Class June 13 & 15!
OK, shout it with me now:  who's ready for a NEW CATALOG!!!  How about a sneak peak with 6 fun projects, all from our brand new book??  Get a look at all the new goods, and of course, our new In Colors, and get inky with some hands-on stampin' time!  Class will feature 6 all-occasion cards, all from our 2019 Idea Book & Catalog, envelopes, drinks, snacks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  Class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP to save your spot!  Class is on for Thursday, June 13 at 630 pm, or Saturday, June 15 at 3 pm.  See you there!

We have tons of creative space for you this week at Sunday Stamps #206 - hope you can join us!
I have one last preview set I haven't inked up yet - from the gorgeous Sailing Home suite - another complete package - stamp set, dies, DSP, trinkets. twine - there's even Memories & More cards!  I pulled out the DSP to dip my toes in, and dabbled in a couple stamps and dies - check out this beautiful sea frond die to go along with all our sailing gear!  I see many nautical hours ahead, lol.
So, what are YOU doing with all that space?  I can't wait to see, over at the challenge!
Sailing Home Stamp Set; Come Sail Away DSP; Whisper White, Night of Navy, Mossy Meadow, Balmy Blue & Crumb Cake CS; Night of Navy & Soft Suede Inks; Layering Circles & Smooth Sailing Dies; Blender Pen; Silver Pearls; #SSC206.

OooOOOooo - check out this cool Agatha Christie cover for The Library Challenge #33 - Death on the Nile!
This cover was a stumper for me - I didn't seem to have any stamps that went with it, except for some Christmas camels, lol.  Then I remembered my retired Custom Tee set - there's a tuxedo shirt front in that!  Perfect!  I pieced together a snazzy top, and then pieced together a punny sentiment for it using my Labeler Alphabet set.  I love doing this - I'm so sad that this one is retiring!  It was so versatile - not a girlie font at all!  Anyway, there's no pistol stamp in my collection either, so we're leaving the spy games on the Nile, lol...
Custom Tee (retired 2017) & Labeler Alphabet Stamp Sets; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; T-Shirt Builder Dies; Basic Black Blends Marker; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #TLC33.

Eek!  I am loving the sketch and fish combo at this week's Fusion Tropical Fish!
So, even though they might not quite qualify as "tropical," I couldn't resist pulling out my beloved (and retiring, SOB!) Jar of Love set and doing a few bettas for this card.   I really wanted to do the jars, too, so I had to turn the sketch sideways so they could all fit.  It turned out to be a pretty simple and understated little card, lol.  Watch out, these guys are giving us the fishy eyeball!
Jar of Love Stamp Set; Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party, Night of Navy & Merry Merlot Inks; Everyday Jars Framelits; Night of Navy Enamel Dots; #FusionTropicalFish.

Back to Basics #20 is pulling out another oldie but goodie - salt technique!
It's so funny, my main experience with salt techniques is actually with silk painting - such cool effects come from the distortion of color you get when you add it to a wet area - and it works just as well on paper, too!  I decided to go for a bright sunshine-y card today - I see so much snow in the news elsewhere in the country, maybe we could all use a bit of Arizona out there!  I started with a panel of watercolor paper, so I could get it nice and water-saturated.  I sprinkled on some Yellow Brusho Crystals, along with a few touches of Orange, and then quick hit it with some coarse salt.  I went and had a snack while I waited for it to dry, lol.  I'm happy with the result!  I finished with a "dazzling" sentiment and some cool Mango shades - bring on the rays!
Pocketful of Sunshine Stamp Set; Watercolor, Whisper White, Basic Black & Mango Melody CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Yellow & Orange Brusho Crystals; Salt; Layering Ovals & Pocket Framelits; Black Faceted Dots; #BBB020.

Thank You Cards Class Feb 7 & 9!
I don't know about you, but I ALWAYS need Thank You cards!  It's so handy to have a little stash on hand - and we have some gorgeous new sets for them right now, too!  Class will include all supplies needed for 6 cards and envelopes (bring your own snips and fave adhesive!), drinks, snacks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  Class could also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  Class is on for Thursday, Feb 7, at 630 pm, or, Saturday, Feb 9 at 3 pm!  RSVP now to save your spot today! 

So excited by this super cute sketch at Freshly Made Sketch #369 - such fun layers!
I couldn't resist pulling out our froggie SAB set again today - So Hoppy Together.  For this one, I added a crown for this prince, and put a lovely big congrats on the inside from yesterday's Well Said set - a lovely combo if I do say so myself, lol...  With all the green, I couldn't help adding a splash of Gorgeous Grape - we all know I'm a big purple-green freak!  A quick and simple card, finished with a few glitter enamel dots for an extra bit of shine - fit for a prince, lol...
So Hoppy Together & Well Said Stamp Sets; Granny Apple Green DSP; Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist & Gorgeous Grape CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Lemon Lime Twist Stampin' Write Marker; Granny Apple Green Blend; Granny Apple Green Glitter Enamel Dots; #FMS369.

Birthdays Galore 2019!
I'm so excited to kick off our new Spring Occasions catalog with our annual Birthday Cards class!  We have so many fun new sets to play with!  This class will feature SIX cards and envelopes, all using stamps from our new Spring Mini and Sale-A-Bration catties!  There were just too many to choose from!  Come get a good start on having your birthday cards ready for the year!  All supplies provided, just bring your own snips and fave adhesive!  Class will be $25, and includes, drinks, snacks and a special gift from me!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  Class is announced for Thursday, January 10 at 630 pm, or Saturday January 12 at 3 PM.  RSVP today to make sure I have your supplies ready and waiting for you!