I'm seeing layers this week at our beautiful new sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #409!  We're also teaming up with Double Trouble #29 this week and celebrating National Brown Bag It Day!  Awesome - bring on the brown bag!
I went with a Crumb Cake base to Double Trouble, and the brown made me think "nature," so I pulled out Peaceful Place.  I just got this set, once I realized it would be carrying over - I thought it would be fun to color!  I tried today with Blends markers, but I'm thinking aqua-painting or watercolor pencils would be even better!  I added this lovely sympathy sentiment, and a couple matching Faceted Dots.  I think this could definitely be my peaceful place!
So, what will YOU come up with?  I can't wait to see, over at the challenge!
Peaceful Place Stamp Set; Nature's Poem DSP; Crumb Cake, Whisper White & Petal Pink CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Granny Apple Green, Soft Sky (retired), Pool Party Soft Suede & Crumb Cake Blends; Stitched Shapes Dies; Faceted Dots in Petal Pink; #TSOT409; #DTPC029.

Such pretty layers in this week's As You See It #198 "wings" sketch!
It's so funny, I just wrapped up my "Butterflies Galore" class, so I wasn't feeling like pulling in any more wings, lol.  Then the retiring lists hit, and I realized I was gonna need a LOT of room on my retired shelves for all the new items about to migrate over, lol.  While I started my "purge" (have I used this in the last year?  two??) I came across this old lovely, Watercolor Wings.  And I realized I maybe have one more butterfly in me this month, lol.  I kept it fairly simple, and featured one of the large wings arrangement front and center - good times!  I added a few details for a bit of shine, but that's it.  I forgot how much I miss this beauty!
Watercolor Wings Stamp Set (retired 2018); Whisper White & So Saffron CS; Early Espresso DSP; Early Espresso & Crushed Curry Inks; Stitched Shapes & Bold Butterfly Framelits; Gold Cording Trim; Crushed Curry Glimmer Dots; #AYSI198.

Another cool new book cover for me from the Library Challenge #28:  The Party!  Pretty building...
So, I don't know this book, but I knew I had the perfect set to make a card version of the cover!  At Home With You has everything you need for the well-dress front door, lol, and I went with a birthday theme to go with the title.  Now, looking more closely at the picture, I have realized that this actually must be some kind of scary book - woops!  Too bad!  I see "party" and I'm all over it in the best way, lol!
At Home With You Stamp Set; Adventure Bound DSP; Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana & Gray Granite CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Mango Melody & Bermuda Bay Blends Markers; At Home & Stitched Shapes Framelits; #TLC028.

We have a lovely slant to this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #396!
As soon as I saw our optional theme of "flower fun," I knew I wanted to try out our brand new Country Floral Dynamic Embossing Folder.  This beauty is in the second wave of Sale-A-Bration releases, and I snapped it up right away!  The dynamic folders give such a deep emboss - so much detail!  The flyer showed a piece of the emboss colored, and I immediately knew I would be trying that - here it is!  I wanted it to be bright and bold, but really, I think the softer colors are better for this technique.  I went to town with my blends, as usual, and I think it was fairly successful - I'm thinking I might need more practice - but it was FUN - and that was the idea!
So, what will you have for us this week?  I can't wait to see your creations over at the challenge!
Itty Bitty Greetings Stamp Set; Granny Apple Green & Whisper White CS; Country Floral DEF; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Mango Melody, Poppy Parade, Petal Pink, Pool Party, Highland Heather, Soft Sea Foam & Granny Apple Green Blends; Basic Jewel Pearls; #TSOT396.

We have a great banded sketch for you this week at Fab Friday #155!
That nice horizontal got me thinking about our awesome long bench in the Sitting Pretty bundle, and I knew I needed to pull that one out and get some bulldog time!  I'm not sure why I always gravitate to the more muted colors for this one - I think I've used Soft Sea Foam every time for it, lol.  Anyway, I really wanted my dog, plant and birdie for the bench, and then I decided to use Well Said for my sentiment.  I figured the "here for you" thought went great with my little loyal pup, and I matched it with a "surrounded by love" phrase for the inside.  Such a great sentiment set!
I can't wait to see YOUR creations - see you at the challenge!
Sitting Pretty & Well Said Stamp Sets; Gray Granite, Soft Sea Foam, Crumb Cake & Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz & Crumb Cake Inks; Balmy Blue Blends Marker; Subtle DEF; Pretty Park Framelits; Faceted Dots; #FabFri155.

Awww, The Library Challenge #22 is all about the super sweet book The Snowman!  Perfect timing!
I decided to pick my other snowman set, 2015's Snow Place, and just dress my boy up all in green!  Not quite the right hat, but I like a dapper snowman, lol.  I love the sketched snow flakes that come in this set, too - don't they look cute in Pool Party?  I even added some sparkly ribbon - doin' the glitz!  Another fun walk down memory lane with TLC - so glad I found this challenge!
Snow Place Stamp Set (retired 2015); Whisper White & Pool Party CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party & Old Olive Inks; Melon Mambo Blends Marker; Snow Friends Framelits; Pool Party Glitter Ribbon; TLC22.

Oh yes, Fusion's Wine O'Clock challenge is right up my alley, lol - gotta get ready for the holidays!
So, I of course went straight for my retired Mixed Drinks set - love all the choices in this one!  It totally had the perfect sentiment, too - and my thoughts exactly!  I decided to go with a red and a white - Merry Merlot (of course!) and So Saffron.  I think it came out a bit collegiate looking, but hey, the wines look GREAT, lol.  I finished with a few iridescent sequins for just a touch of sparkle!
Mixed Drinks (retired-2018) Stamp Set; Whisper White, Merry Merlot & So Saffron CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Merry Merlot & So Saffron Inks; Iridescent Sequins; #FusionWineOClock.

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!