Holy smokes - you've GOT to check out this new challenge I just found:  The Library Craft Challenge #14 - a card makers' challenge inspired by BOOK COVERS!!  BRILLIANT!  I can't wait to play, kicking it off with the cover of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou - not a light read, either, lol.
I started by scoping out my bird sets, but I didn't feel quite right about doing something cutesy.  In the end I remembered my silhouette birds from High Tide, and went hunting for a possible scripture to go with.  I think of Angelou as such a strong personality - I think Psalm 34 is a good match for her - and the strong details of her story...  What a start to this challenge for me, lol.
High Tide & ODB Scripture Series 1 Stamp Sets; Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie & Cajun Craze Inks; Faceted Dots in Black; Sponge Brayer; #TLCC14.

Yay!  It's time for Try Stampin' on Tuesday #375 - a super sketch!
For once, I'm sticking with a shape suggested on the sketch - something I NEVER do, lol.  But, you know, I had a little idea - I had our cool new "mini" backgrounds set, Bokeh Dots, still waiting for some ink, and one of the patterns is this kind of "cosmic stardust" thing - wouldn't that look cool in stars?  Had to give it a go - I do like it, though the detail is a bit hard to see - I tried to help it along with a bit of sponging around the edges.  I need to try this one in some BRIGHT colors, too!  And it turns out, I have a sweet little piece of scripture to go with - we're basking in the Son today!
Can't wait to see what YOU come up with - see you at the challenge!
Bokeh Dots & ODB Scripture Collection 6 Stamp Sets; Twinkle Twinkle DSP; Whisper White & Smoky Slate CS; Night of Navy & Crushed Curry Inks; Stars Collection Framelits (retired); #TSOT375.

All About the Stamparatus Class Aug 9 & 11!
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!  Classes are on for Thursday, August 9 at 630 pm, or Saturday August 11 at 3 pm.  RSVP today to save your spot!  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!

Totally adorable inspiration pic at this week's Fusion Easter Bunny challenge!
I was really stumped on this one for a while - I really didn't do much for Easter this year, sigh.  I finally settled on the colors, and the general Spring theme, and of course the funky sketch!  I was all abut the papers for this one - a quick search pulled up Sweet Soiree for the pinks, and after discovering I pretty much have NO Pear Pizzazz DSP scrap of any kind (sigh), I went with my old fave Chocolate Chip dots from the 2010-13 stack - so yummy, lol.  I pulled out my Hold on to Hope set for the sentiment, and added a few more details from that to finish it off.  Here's my cheater tip on two-color stamping:  Pick a light and a dark color scheme, ink up the whole stamp in the lighter color (in my case the Pear Pizzazz) then go over your details of choice in a darker marker (Chocolate Chip for me)- it won't ruin your marker so long as you only go over something lighter with it, and you can always check it on paper scraps after, too.  Easy peasy!
Hold on to Hope Stamp Set; Sweet Soiree & Chocolate Chip 2010-13 Stack Scrap (retired) DSP; Whisper White & Pear Pizzazz CS; Blushing Bride Glimmer; Pear Pizzazz Ink; Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz & Blushing Bride Markers; Cross of Hope Framelits; Pear Pizzazz Enamel Shapes; #FusionEasterBunny.

Man Cards 2018 Class April 12 & 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 on for Thursday, April 12 at 630 pm, or Saturday, April 14 at 3 pm.  RSVP today to hold your spot!  See you there!

It's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #361 time!  Check out our fun sketch this week!  I'm adding in these calm colors from As You See It #172, too...
GOODNESS, it's been a long time since I did a scripture card - and when I saw these colors and that lovely long column on our sketch, I decided today was the day!  I kept this card very sketch-literal, and fairly unfussy, though I'm wondering if that really a good way to look at it with my Perfect Accents and ribbon, lol.  I stewed for a short time about having no neutrals embellies before I remembered:  Perfect White Accents plus Smoky Slate Blend equals Smoky Slate Enamel Shapes, lol.  Whew, save by the Blend!
See you over at TSOT - I love to see your creativity!
ODB Scripture Series 1; Delightful Daisy & Sweet Soiree DSP; Whisper White, Smoky Slate & Powder Pink CS; Tranquil Tide Ink; Perfect White Accents; Smoky Slate Blend; Tranquil Tide Finely Woven Ribbon; #TSOT361; #AYSI172.

Lots of play room in this week's Freshly Made Sketch #319!  It should look awesome in these fun colors from Color Throwdown #475, too!
I couldn't resist the notion of a scripture "throwdown," lol, so we're having a little 11 Timothy 1 today!  The card came out exactly how I pictured, with a large sentiment holding down the floating panel, and a bit of Flourish Thinlit detail at the top, all over a light pink floral background.  I wasn't able to get quite as off-center as I hoped, but it's still just how I imagined!  I even got on a little sparkle, which wasn't in the original plan!
Petal Palette & ODB Scripture Collection 2 Stamp Sets; Tempting Turquoise, Night of Navy & Whisper White CS; Blushing Bride & Night of Navy Inks; Flourish Thinlits; Basic Jewel Rhinestones; #FMS319; #CTD475.

Just Add Ink #391 has an intriguing challenge this week - just choose two, of twine, trees or tags.  Cool!
So, I started out by thinking I'd try NOT to make a Christmas card today, AND, it's been ages since I used our longest-running set Lovely As a Tree.  Today's the day!  I paired it with this lovely Psalm 91 sentiment from Our Daily Bread Scripture Collection 2 - seems perfect to go with our mighty oak!  A touch of twine, and I'm all set!
Lovely As a Tree & ODB Scripture Collection 2 Stamp Sets; Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Very Vanilla & Chocolate Chip CS; Old Olive Baker's Twine; Very Vanilla Candy Dots (retired); #JAI391.

Hm, we're not quite past the big day yet, but Stamp Ink Paper #130 is here to remind us of life after Christmas, lol!  I'm game!
Today's choices were mostly about the paper, I'm afraid, lol.  The upcoming Sweet Soiree suite is quite frou-frou, lol, but the paper is just gorgeous, and I had to have it right away!  Somehow, when I wasn't looking, I think Berry Burst has become my second favorite (after LLT, of course) In Color!  I paired it with the lovely Hold on to Hope set, that has a new little scripture snippet for us -and pairs with a perfect framelit set, that even coordinates with our retired Crosses of Hope set - woo hoo!
Hold on to Hope Stamp Set (2018 Occasions); Sweet Soiree DSP; Berry Burst, Old Olive, Whisper White & Silver Foil CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Berry Burst Inks; Old Olive & Berry Burst Markers; Layering Ovals & Cross of Hope Framelits; Metallic Edge Ribbon in Berry Burst; #SIP130.

Another cute sketch at this week's Try Stampin' on Tuesday #347!
So, a friend recently reminded me I haven't done any scripture cards lately - not sure what that's about, but this sketch is perfect for sneaking in a verse!  While I also chose this Hebrews 13:8 because it was the right size and shape (shh!), it's also just a great reminder for our daily trials - I love the feeling of connection I get to our past, our present and the future with this.  Enjoy!
Acorny Thank You (retired) & ODB Scripture Collection 4 Stamp Sets; Painted Autumn DSP; Very Vanilla & Early Espresso CS; Early Espresso & Crumb Cake Inks; Acorn Punch (retired); Pear Pizzazz Shimmer Ribbon; #TSOT347.

Today we have a lovely sketch from TGIF #124!  I'm adding in these "rainbow" colors from Sunday Stamps #161, too!
It took me a little bit to break down this sketch - lots of layers and shapes to play with, and I needed some doily alternates, lol.  I settled on my gorgeous and beloved Vintage Leaves, always fun to color, and a perfect foil for these Autumnal colors.  My eye caught on this wonderful scripture quote from Rose Wonder, too.  It's been an introspective last couple of weeks, hasn't it?  It's good to be reminded where I can and should lean...
Rose Wonder & Vintage Leaves Stamp Sets; Eastern Palace DSP; Very Vanilla CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Tangerine Tango, Fresh Fig & Tranquil Tide Inks; Leaflets Framelits; Dapper Denim Enamel Shapes; #TGIF124; #SSC161.

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!

I'm excited by the possibilities in this week's fun layout from Case This Sketch #198!  I just had to pair it with this wild color combo from In{k}spire Me #275, too!
So, even with my excitement, this layout really had me stumped this afternoon!  I have a few preview items left to show, but alas, I can't quite make them work for this combo, sigh.  Then I had it - I have a stack of big background stamps that were recently gifted to me from my dear friend Bonnie, in thanks for lunch-sitting their new and totally adorable Ridgeback puppy.  I know, right?  I should have been paying HER, lol!  Anyway, in a tasty wine gift basket, she also snuck in these four Southwest-style petroglyph-looking wood-mounts.  Super cool!  They're from a company called Comotion, in Tucson, and I think they're gone now, but these are VERY cool!  I played with the ink colors on this one, and added this totally apt Banner Blessing.  Love!
Comotion #2454 & Banner Blessings Stamp Sets; Whisper White CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Crushed Curry, Delightful Dijon & Calypso Coral Inks; Crushed Curry Enamel Dots.