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!

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.