We have another fun sketch this week from In{k}spire Me #384 - check out that bold center column!
Lucky for me, I have a little stack of new stamps to play with, and one of them is the suite for Needle & Thread!  There's paper, stamps, framelits, embellies, whew - I love it when there's lots of toys, lol...  I kept this one pretty calm color-wise, there are some bright patterns in the papers, but I did try out the piercing piece that came in the framelits - doesn't that make a pretty detail??  I love the realistic effect of the stamps, too - time to start a stitching project, maybe, lol.
Needle & Thread Stamp Set; Needlepoint Nook DSP; Whisper White & Pear Pizzazz CS; Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Highland Heather & Berry Burst Inks; Needlepoint Elements Framelits; #IM384.

We have a lovely bold sketch for you this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #380!
I've been wanting to pull out my Dandelion Wishes set for a couple weeks now, and this sketch finally ticked the right boxes, lol.  One look at that nice big circle, and I knew this was my chance!  I love all the images in this set, but the one I gravitate towards seems to be the "blowing" dandelion - brings back so many memories of wishing, lol!  I added some pretty organic backgrounds with my Tranquil Textures DSP, too - a perfect fit.
I hope you'll join us - I can't wait to see your creations at the challenge!
Dandelion Wishes Stamp Set; Tranquil Textures DSP; Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Layering Circles Framelits; Banner Triple Punch; Clear Epoxy Droplets; #TSOT380.

What a fun sketch Case This Sketch #284 has for us this week - so glad for a chance to play!
I decided I wanted some pretty background DSP for this one, to really make the main panel pop, and you can't get much prettier than teh Share What You Love DSP, sigh.  I haven't used the flower side of this sheet much - the other side are those awesome Razzleberry stripes I adore, lol.  So I pulled in some Razzleberry on this side to atone, lol.  I did some stamped-off background with my Spooky Sweets set, and used Dandelion Wishes for my theme - still love this set and all the versatility with the images!  I finished with some twine and glimmer dots - a Razzleberry dream, lol.
Dandelion Wishes & Spooky Sweets Stamp Sets; Share What You Love DSP; Whisper White & Rich Razzleberry CS; Rich Razzleberry & Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; White Baker's Twine; Rich Razzleberry Glitter Enamel Dots; #CTS284.

All About the Stamparatus Make-up Class Aug 18!
This class will include SIX (I just got so excited!) mixed occasion cards that all feature how to get the most out of our amazing new tool, the Stamparatus!  You will never go back, lol.  Every card will use a fun new stamp set from our still new 2018-19 Idea Book & Catalog, so you can play with as many fun sets as possible!  All supplies provided and prepped, as usual (bring your own snips and fave basic adhesive) plus snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me!  Class is $25, or can be FREE with your order of $30 or more!  EXTRA:  There is a make-up session already scheduled for this class on Saturday, August 18 at 1pm, make sure to RSVP if you plan to attend!

There's a fun "frame" challenge at this weeks AAA #118 - cool!
I felt totally inspired by the feature card by Shery - sort of a play on "spot-lighting" - I HAD to try it!  I started by going digging for a stamp-able frame, and found it in my retired Sophisticated Serifs set.  Nest up, I wanted some pretty lie-art that I could overlap and color in approriately, and since I was already over at the retired shelves, I grabbed my beloved Growing Green.  I finished with a cute get well sentiment from Itty Bitty Greetings - love this font.  I did my coloring with an aqua-painter, and decided to pop up my little flower on dimensionals - it was ALMOST a one-layer card, lol!
Itty Bitty Greetings, Growing Green (retired-2011 & Sophisticated Serifs (retired-2015) Stamp Sets; Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pear Pizzazz & Mango Melody Inks; Glittered Enamel Dots in Old Olive; #AAA118.

Christmas in July 2018!
It's once again the most wonderful time of year - for Christmas in July!  This is your chance to get started early on your Christmas planning, and check out the beautiful new holiday suites available in our new 2018-19 Idea Book and Catalog, and a look at some favorite returning sets as well!  As always, I'll be ready with the sleigh bells!  Class will feature 5 holiday cards, and will include all your supplies (bring your own snips and fave 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, for either Thursday, July 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday, July 14 at 3 pm, or contact me for make-up dates!  You don't want to miss it!

Living in the desert, I LOVE Retro Rubber #84's rainy inspiration pic - wish we had more of it, lol!  I'm using this lovely sketch from Paper Craft Crew #287 to help me along, and I think I'll toss in Color Throwdown #488's colors, too!
I decided to start with my retro stamp set for this one, and I went straight to 2016's My Hero, a great little collection of mixed shapes and sentiments.  The umbrella came with a second sentiment, too - I'm loving seeing more of that trend!  From there I did a quick search of papers in the right colors, and finished off with a few rainy details - so fun!  I even resurrected my Itty Bitty Flower punch, and gave it a black Sharpie colored pearl center to go with the DSP!  I'm so matchy-matchy today, lol...
My Hero (retired) & Weather Together Stamp Sets; Whole Lot of Lovely DSP (retired); Whisper White, Pool Party & So Saffron CS; Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Pool Party & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Itty Bitty Flower Punch (retired); Layering Circles & Bunch of Banners Framelits; Basic Jewel Pearls; #RR84; #PCC287; #CTD488.

We have a super cute sketch from Paper Craft Crew #277 this week!  I'm combining with this color combing from Just Add Ink #393!
How to show off these colors, and deal with all the layers?  This one was a toughie for me.  I finally hit on Flourishing Phrases - I'm finding that the pretty winding vines and buds are perfect vehicles for adding just touches of colors, when you want to keep things from going too far.  Of course, it also lends itself pretty heavily to OEI (over-embellish-itis), so I have to be firm with myself, too, lol.  I added a few stamped background elements and fussy cut a few leaves, in the end, I'm stoked with how this came out!  Even the sequins work out great!
Flourishing Phrases & Hardwood Stamp Sets; Whisper White, Crumb Cake & Lemon Lime Twist CS; Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist & Crumb Cake Inks; Lots of Labels & Stitched Shapes Framelits; Linen Thread; Lemon Lime Twist Sequins; #PCC277; #JAI393.

You know what I need today?  Another Fabulous day!  Thanks goodness it's Fab Friday #129 time!
So, I know it's bitter cold most everywhere else, but here in Arizona, it has been unseasonably warm even for us.  I've worn long pants twice so far this winter, and my poor garden doesn't know what to do:  I have dying plants with tomatoes on them, hope they can make it to harvest!  Just yesterday, I saw a beautiful and bright butterfly snacking on the chili flowers.  I suspect he was an escapee from Butterfly Wonderland (we get far more varied butterflies around here since they opened, lol) and I was inspired to feature this stamp, in bold butterfly colors that I don't usually focus on.  This will be a great get well card!  And hope my winged visitor brings buddies next time!
Beautiful Day Stamp Set; Whisper White, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight & Pumpkin Pie CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Pumpkin Pie & Daffodil Delight Blends; Decorative Dots EF (retired); #FabFri129.

Woo!  There is a LOT going in in this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #337's sketch!  I think I'll try to squeeze in TGIF #123's sweet color combo, too!
Once I looked over these colors a bit, I realized they could be a good palette for our still awesome Coffee Cafe suite - there's even some DSP sheets that fit right in!  I picked a couple sheets to stand in for my larger blocks of color from the sketch, and then set about creating the right combo for a tasty little short cup of brew.  When I considered what extra shapes I wanted to include, I hit on including the little "Perk Up" piece from Merry Cafe, making this into a kind of caffeinated get well card, lol.  Maybe cough medicine tastes even better from a mini coffee cup!
Coffee Cafe & Merry Cafe Stamp Sets; Coffee Break DSP; Whisper White & Soft Sky CS; Early Espresso, Peekaboo Peach & Soft Sky Inks; Banners (retired) & Coffee Cups Framelits; Peekaboo Peach Ruched Ribbon; #TSOT337; #TGIF123.

Let's Get Messy 2 on Sep 14 & 16!
I've had quite a few requests for another edition of our "Messy Class," and I can hold out no longer, lol.  Let's do it again!  This class will feature fun new techniques and products that might be just a little bit "messy" to play with - and we'll all get messy together while we learn how to tame them!  We'll make 5 all-occasion cards that you will love creating!  No apron required! (But maybe don't wear white!)
Class will be held on Thursday, September 14 at 630 pm or Saturday, September 16 at 3 pm, and will include all supplies needed (bring your own snips and adhesive!), plus drinks and snacks, and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more!   RSVP today!

OK, I am intrigued by the line-art effect of this week's Case This Sketch #235!  I'm adding in these rustic and bright fall-ish colors from In{k}spire Me #313, too!
After I thought about it a bit, I decided I wanted some brayer action today, to make a lovely sunset-y background to show off my new Sorry for Everything set.  I had to turn the card sideways to fit in the giant "sorry" that comes with this set, but I so love the final result!  A few black sequins to go with and I'm done!
Sorry for Everything Stamp Set; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango,  Elegant Eggplant & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Black Baker's Twine; Black Sequins; Stripes EF (retired); #CTS235; #IM313.

Love the slant to this week's Case This Sketch #232!  It's also a good one to showcase how I "get my mojo back" for As You See It #155!  I'm throwing in Retro Rubber #68's inspiration pic and colors, too - let's go for it!
So, my number one way that I boost my mojo is with coloring and fussy cutting.  I know, I know - my mojo must be pretty messed up, right?  Lol.  Seriously though.  When I'm really stuck, I look for something to color, and once I start coloring I start thing about how cool it would look cut out all pretty, and before I know it, I have a card idea in my head and on the desk in front of me.    Today's little example counts as coloring too, because I inked up my Take Care branch with markers!  Then I had myself a time coloring in the nest and eggs, and snipping the whole shebang out - simple and beautiful!
Take Care (retired, 2012) Stamp Set; Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay & Whisper White CS; Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz & Bermuda Bay Inks; Crumb Cake Candy Dots; #CTS232; #AYSI155; #RR68.

Coffee Cafe Class Aug 10 & 12!
I'm so excited we finally get to play with our beautiful new Coffee Cafe bundle!  This class has been so much fun to design - almost too much - I think I can get caffeine from DSP now, lol.  This class will feature 5 cards and a gift item all made from this "perky" suite, and even includes a card using the sneaky-peeky Merry Cafe set in our soon-to-released Holiday Catalog!  I sure hope I see you all there!
Class is offered Thursday, August 10 at 630 pm, and Saturday August 12 at 3 pm, and includes all supplies needed (bring your own snips and adhesive!) plus snacks, drinks and a special treat from me, all for $25!  This class can also be free when you place an order for $30 or more!  RSVP today to save your spot!