OK, SU Only #209 is talking my love language this week - MY fave from the Holiday Catty?  Oh, yeah!
So, I think I have to take a stand for the super cute Making Christmas Bright - I know this is my first time using the set on the blog, but I could NOT wait to get my hands on this one, and play with that brilliant Christmas Bulb Builder punch!  Even this simple card has some serious pop, lol.  I also love that there's already a second set to go with the punch later in the catty - Making Every Day Bright.  Go take a look at that cute little pine cone, or the penguin - adorbs!  Well, off to put little light strings on EVERYTHING, lol...
Making Christmas Bright Stamp Set; Whisper White, Real Red & Old Olive CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red, Old Olive & Crushed Curry Inks; Layering Circles Framelits; Christmas Bulb Builder Punch; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #SUO209.

We have a lovely martial sketch this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #379 - can't wait to try it in my old high school colors from In{k}spire Me #367!
I couldn't shake the "martial" idea once I'd had it, lol, so I ran over and grabbed my retired Badges & Banners set - Why not carry the theme and add a "shield" to go with??  I covered my stripes along the bottom with some DSP strips, added a band of sparkle in the middle and finished with my "shield."  this one was quick and quirky, lol - LOVE these colors together!
So, what will YOU come up with?  Can't wait to see you at the challenge!
Badges & Banners Stamp Set (retired); Brights & Neutrals DSP in Mango Melody & Night of Navy; Whisper White & Night of Navy CS; Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper; Night of Navy Ink; Maps Etc DEF; Best Badge Punch (retired); #TSOT379; #IM367.

What a bright and beautiful color challenge we have lined up for you this week at Fab Friday #144!
I once again went on the prowl for a neglected stamp set to feature - today's is Happy Birthday Gorgeous - such an eclectic collection of fun party elements and sentiments, it seemed just right for our "eclectic" colors, too, lol.  I ran and stacked a few birthday thinlits to be my centerpiece, and then dressed it up with some 2-step flowers and leaves.  I love the finished effect - so cheery!
Can't wait to see what YOU come up with - see you over at the challenge!
Happy Birthday Gorgeous Stamp Set; Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist & Poppy Parade CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Poppy Parade, Lemon Lime Twist, Call Me Clover & Calypso Coral Inks; Happy Birthday Thinlit; Scattered Sequins DEF; Emerald Envy Enamel Dots (oops, lol); #FabFri144.

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!

Uh oh, Back to Basics #7 is going to catch me out with the "simple step card" challenge this week - I've never made one!!  I LOVE that these guys are challenging me to try new things!
Much like explosion cards, I found myself stumped for a stamp set - these fancy folds can sometimes give you what feels like a LOT of real estate to fill, and this one was no exception, lol.  And I really wanted something bright and fun - and no trees - I'm treed out after Christmas class!  I landed on Picture Perfect Birthday mostly because I have some of the DIVINE dsp for this suite still left over - that's a deal!  I hunted around and found some tips for a 3-side-step card, and off I went!  I cobbled together all my panels and add-ons, and here we are.  I added a little white panel to the back for jotting your own note!  Whew!  Made it!
Picture Perfect Birthday Stamp Set; Picture Perfect Party DSP (retired); Berry Burst, Basic Black & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay & Peekaboo Peach (retired) Inks; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Tutti-Frutti Sequins (retired); #BBB7.

Catch Up Classes Available July 21!
Oopsie!  Did you miss something you still want to make up?  Well, this day is for you!  Come any time, all day, on Saturday, July 21, for your chance!  I'd love for you to visit with me at Sarah's 2018 Summer Craft Retreat, at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree!  I'll have FIVE classes available for you to make up - just let me know which ones you're interested in!  This will be your chance to check out the fun at retreat, too - maybe next year you'll join us for the weekend!
Available classes:  March 2018, Bubbles & Raindrops, 2 seats; April 2018, Man Cards 2018, 3 seats; May 2018, Picnic With You & Barn Door Class, 3 seats; June 2018, New Catty Intro, 4 seats; July 2018, Christmas in July 2018, 2 seats.  All classes include all supplies (bring your own snips & fave adhesive) and a special gift from me, all for $25 each!  Classes can also be FREE with your order of $30 or more per class!  RSVP today!

We have an AWESOME sketch for you this week at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #369!
I couldn't resist breaking out another new set today, and also give a test run for my Christmas in July class, lol.  I am fascinated by the lovely images and swirls in our new Stylish Christmas set - so elegant!  I love when the color gradation is built into the stamps, as well - it adds so much depth to the images!  Anyway, I added in some strips of one of the tiled sheets from the Under the Mistletoe DSP, and I think it goes just right, a real play on styles.  I also snuck in a few of our new metallic gold pearls - love these!  Can't wait to see your creations - see you at the challenge!
Stylish Christmas Stamp Set; Under the Mistletoe DSP; Whisper White & Pear Pizzazz CD; Real Red & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Banner Triple Punch; Gold Metallic Pearls; #TSOT369.

SU Only #197 is playing my favorite game - feature your favorite flower set from the annual catty - yes!  I think this wide open sketch from In{k}spire Me #346 will be perfect for it, too!
I had to really think about it, but I finally settled on You've Got This for my fave flower set - I love those little ruffly petals, and snipping them out for the extra drama, lol.  Today I did two, and cut one down to look like an actual different flower, and floated everything over the background piece that's part of that set - another thing I love about it!  No ribbon for me, but I figured some gold metallic thread could fit that bill for me!  So sorry this one is retiring this year - get it while you still can!
You've Got This Stamp Set; Crumb Cake, Powder Pink & Very Vanilla CS; Gold Encore, Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Powder Pink, So Saffron & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Gold EP; Layering Circles Framelits; Banner Triple Punch; Gold Metallic Thread; Subtles Enamel Shapes; #SUO197; #IM346.

Wow, As You See It #171 has quite the challenge for us this week - hope I can work this out, lol!  I'm going to try and shoe-horn in this gorgeous sketch from Match the Sketch #220.
So, holy SMOKES this was a challenge for me, lol.  I'm not sure I paid enough homage to the sketch at the end of the day, but I'll still go for it, since it was definitely my inspiration for the layout I ended up with, anyway!  My main concern was all the features of the AYSI challenge.  I decided "wide" meant landscape for me, lol, and I pulled out a star feature I haven't used in FOREVER, that also covered "one word."  "Confetti" says shaker to me, so in went some rainbow sequins, with a rainbow banner across the top.  Then I had to stop - everything else I tried just didn't work, lol.  This was a serious exercise for me!
You're So Sweet Stamp Set; Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pacific Point & Rich Razzleberry CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Rainbow Sequin Mix cobbled together from Brights, Metallics & an old Paper Pumpkin; Mini Treat Bag Thinlits; Banner Punch (retired); #AYSI171; #MTS220.

What a fun landscape sketch at Just Add Ink #396 - it even has a banner, yay!  I'm also combining with In{k}spire Me #338's colors - so pretty!
I decided to color my own card base for this one, by using a sponge brayer to cover a piece of Irresistibly Yours Specialty DSP.  I know this is our retired resist paper, but I have so much left, lol, I haven't been able to get a newer one yet.  This floral print is one of fave patterns from this pack, too!  A nice long block element to go over it came from Color Me Happy, which of course was made to show off our Blends - there are days, I swear, that cards pretty much make themselves!
Color Me Pretty Stamp Set; Irresistibly Yours DSP (retired); Whisper White & Pink Pirouette CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Pool Party Inks; Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends, Dark & Light; Rich Razzleberry Enamel Shapes; Sponge Brayer; #JAI396; #IM338.

Oo, I love the movement conveyed on this sweet sketch from Match the Sketch #207!
I think this is my chance to debut another 2018 Occasions set, one I couldn't WAIT to get started on - Picnic With You!  I don't even know where to start with this one - I love the details and two-step opportunities it has, and the beautifully detailed and well-planned framelits!  There are duplicate dies for the wine glasses and basket handles, so you can run everything through at once.  And a two-step wedge of cheese??  Get OUT!  This was a fun warm-up card for this set - I even squeezed in some grass!  The only thing missing is the ants, lol...
Picnic With You Stamp Set (2018 Occasions); Soft Sky, Lemon Lime Twist & Whisper White CS; Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry & Memento Tuxedo Black Inks; Picnic Basket Builder & Layering Circles Framelits; Gold Sequins; #MTS207.

OK, the inspiration pic at this week's Merry Monday #265 is SO cute!  Perfect for an "outdoor fun" theme!  I think I'll add in these festive and playful colors from Global Design Project #113, too!
So, I promise I DID look for a current set to play outside with, but in the end I wound up back at my beloved Mountain Adventure.  I love creating snowscapes and mountain scenes with this one - it reminds me so much of fun winter holidays in Banff!  Today I set off my sentiment with my Stitched Shapes framelits, and ran the square through twice to create a perfectly sized rectangle - works like a charm!  I think I need to head north this year, lol...
Mountain Adventure Stamp Set (retired); Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party & Pear Pizzazz Inks; Stitched Shapes Framelits; Silver Sequins; #MM265; #GDP113.