Check it out - I found ANOTHER new blog to play at:  Back to Basics & Beyond #5, and this week is all about heat embossing!
Going through my stack of new stamps (it's getting smaller!) I decided to go with the new Sitting Pretty set - I could totally see that gorgeous wrought iron bench heat-embossed in black!  This is another super well-coordinated set - lovely framelits with a texture piece, too, and lots of two-step stamping opportunities in the images in the set - even an extra bench in the framelits!  I'm just dipping my tow in the wrought-iron today, lol...  Quick Tip:  have a little miss on your two-step stamping?  Use your blender pen to fudge the lines a little, as I did to achieve a kind of two-tone effect on my spider plant leaves!  They need NEVER know, lol...
Sitting Pretty Stamp Set; Whisper White, Mossy Meadow & Crumb Cake CS; Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake & Merry Merlot Inks; Black EP; Pretty Park Framelits; #BBB5.

We have one of my fave sketches ever at this week's Fab Friday #135 - a banner, and it's TILTY!  Yeah!  To complete the perfection, Paper Players #388 came up with a green and purple color challenge that has me written all over it!
So, after getting all excited about the titlty banner, I totally went another direction, lol.  I just couldn't turn away from Oh So Eclectic, and the fun shapes in its Eclectic Layers Thinlits set - I think maybe I went too far with the hatch-work pattern thingie, lol.  Still it's funny how all these weird elements just WORK together, though they're really bad for my over-embellish-itis.  Enough is NEVER enough!  See you over at Fab - can't wait to see your creations!
Oh So Eclectic Stamp Set; Wisteria Wonder, Tranquil Tide, Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White CS; Tranquil Tide, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Eclectic Layers Thinlits; Bottles & Bubbles Framelits; Touches of Nature Embellishments; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; Perfect Plum (shh) Taffeta Ribbon; #FabFri135; #PP388.

Man Cards 2018 Class April 14!
It's time once again to stamp our hearts out for those special guys in our lives, and we have a fabulous range of new goodies to do it with!  These five cards will be adaptable to all occasions, with options for Father's Day as needed or desired - so come stand by your man!  Class costs $25, and includes all supplies (bring your own snips and adhesive) snacks and drinks, and a special gift from me.  This class can also be FREE with your purchase of $30 or more!  Class is still on for Saturday, April 14 at 3 pm.  RSVP today to hold your spot!  See you there!

In{k}spire Me #332 has a cute peek-a-boo sketch for us this week - so cute!  I'm combining with this lovely deep color challenge from TGIF #141, too!
I decided to ink up my recently acquired Oh So Eclectic set for this one - which is a set that I got for the fabulous thinlits that go with it.  I could use that patterned background piece for my "peek-a-boo" piece - yes!  I love the color-wash pieces that go with both the flowers and the leaves in this, too, and I haven't even STARTED playing with the gemstone thinlits, lol...  I really love how this came together!
Oh So Eclectic Stamp Set; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Night of Navy, Island Indigo & Fresh Fig Inks; Eclectic Layers Thinlits; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #IM332; #TGIF141.

Birthday Cards 2018 Class Jan 11 & 13!
Time to kick off the year right with five new birthday cards ready to go, all from our gorgeous new 2018 Occasions Catalog!  This is a fun way to get a little taste of lots of new items, and get your card tickler stocked at the same time!  Class costs $25, and includes all your supplies and envelopes (bring your own snips and adhesive), snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me!  This class can also be FREE with your purchase of $30 or more!  Class is announced for Thursday, January 11 at 630 pm and Saturday, January 13 at 3 pm - RSVP today to hold your spot!

Another super-cute sketch from Create With Connie & Mary #429 this week?  And wouldn't you know - it's also Pumpkin Day - every Wednesday I try to create a card using our Paper Pumpkin kits, past and present!  Yay!
I decided to day to make a quick and simple card, for a dear dear friend, who's been absent lately, for bereavement.  I know she's grieving, and I so want her to have the space to be present for that, and for her family, but I also want her to know how much I think of her, every day, and miss her.  I hope this cheerful card is gentle enough...  Peace to you, dear one.
Something Good to Eat & Thought Banners Stamp Sets; Whisper White CS; Old Olive, Daffodil Delight & Chocolate Chip Inks; Daffodil Delight Candy Dots (retired).

Check out this fun checkered sketch from TGIF #55!  I see a DSP showcase ahead!
One DSP I haven't shown off enough is the gorgeous (but muted somehow) Botanical Gardens.  This whole suite ended up being a bit more challenging to work with than I had envisioned, yet, there are a few sheets of the paper pack that really sing to me, like these two prints that get to play today, lol.  I was also excited to get a chance finally to play with my new (pre-ordered, sorry, but coming soon!) Thoughtful Banners bundle - a set of about a zillion little sentiments with a double banner punch!  Yes!  Two shapes to play with, and not hand cutting!  Life is "suite!"  Yuk, yuk.
Thoughtful Banners Stamp Set; Botanical Gardens DSP; Mint Macaron, Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Mint Macaron Inks; Duet Banners Punch; Elegant Dots EF; Basic Jewel Rhinestones.