I happened by Less Is More #372 and noticed that they have a one-layer "thinking of you" challenge going - I'm going for it!  I need to get better at the whole process, lol.
So, it turned out this process went WAY easier than I thought it would, lol, once I realized that my fave "thinking of you" was part of the amazing Sheltering Tree set.  Now that's a set that makes one-layers a cinch!  All I needed to do was settle on my colors, and with my new faves Granny Apple Green and Mango Melody to help out, that didn't take long either, sigh.  I think this is what challenges me about one-layers - it's over too soon, lol.  Yay for me quitting while I was ahead, lol.
Sheltering Tree Stamp Set; Whisper White CS; Early Espresso, Granny Apple Green & Mango Melody Inks; #LIM372.

2018 New Catty Intro Class June 14 & 16!
Woo hoo!  It's new catalog time!  Come on out for an introduction to fun new products and colors, and new toys to boot!  This class will focus on 5 new suites of products from our just released 2018-19 Idea Book and Catalog, with all-occasion cards you will love!  Class includes all your supplies (bring your own snips and fave adhesive), plus snacks, drinks, and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class can also be FREE with your purchase of $30 or more!  RSVP today to save your spot! Class is on for Thursday, June 14 at 630 pm, or Saturday, June 16 at 3 pm - let me know if you can make it, or need to make it up now that summer's here!

SO excited that this week's What Will You Stamp #168 challenge is Climbing Orchid - I have not been using it enough!
Today for the first time I decided to try the more "assembled" version of the orchids - we have all those awesome framelits for a reason, right??  Sometimes I make myself wonder, lol.  Anyway, I broke into my last full sheet of DSP from the Delightful Daisy pack for my background, and with all this green wash, I knew I had to add a purple, lol.  I did the two sizes of orchids you see in Berry Burst, with some Early Espresso details, and tossed on a few Glittered Enamel Dots, too.  I'm so pleased with it - my grandmother would have loved it!
Climbing Orchid Stamp Set; Delightful Daisy DSP; Whisper White, Early Espresso & Old Olive CS; Early Espresso, Berry Burst & Old Olive Inks; Orchid Builder Framelits; Glittered Enamel Dots in Berry Burst; #WWYS168.

Such a fun sketch for the big 150 at TGIF!  But, oh, that size, hmm...
Well, the best I can do is adapt to a standard landscape size, lol.  I need the room to finally take my Blossoming Basket out for a spin - I think they'll understand!  I decided to go all Stampin' Blends on this one, so quick and easy!  I have to admit, my new marker storage tower really keeps them right under my fingertips, too - you guys might be seeing more marker use out of me these days than you're used to, lol.  I kept the color scheme fairly simple, then couldn't resist tossing in a little butterfly at the end!  Sa-WEET!
Blossoming Basket Stamp Set; Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White & Crumb Cake CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight & Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends; Basket Weave DEF; Yellow Adhesive Sequins; #TGIF150.

Woo hoo!  It's Sunday Stamps Challenge #172 time!  Check out our awesome sketch!
This one was the perfect chance for me to debut my new-to-me Artistically Asian set - so pretty!  Turns out, though it also has beautiful botanicals in it, that it goes perfectly with our Petal Passion DSP, too.  I had some fun trying to incorporate the set's chrysanthemum, but decided that simplicity was the theme of the day in the end, lol.  A few splashes of red and I was set - I think this will make a sweet, more personal, sympathy card...
Can't wait to see your ideas over at the challenge - see you there!
Artistically Asian Stamp Set; Petal Passion DSP; Whisper White, Real Red & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Layering Circles Framelits; 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon; #SSC172.

Oo, lots of details to play with in this week's Paper Craft Crew #275!  In{k}spire Me #333 has a lovely black-gray-plus one color challenge for us, too, that I'm adding in!
For this one, I started by checking out what my "big sentiment" possibilities were, lol.  Sorry for Everything leapt right at me, and with the color scheme, I decided to go in a sympathy direction.  I tried adding a pop of color - Rose Red today, one I very rarely use, but that looks AMAZING in a black and gray setting!  I have a feeling it might come out to play again soon, now!  I was also able to use a few of my now-ancient Rose Red Candy Dots - I think I 4 or 5 sheets of just this color - remember what I said about never using it??  I love how this came out, and how well the stamp coordinates with the Petal Passion DSP...
Sorry for Everything & Remarkable You Stamp Sets; Petal Passion DSP; Whisper White & Smoky Slate CS; Memento Tuxedo Black & Rose Red Inks; Rose Red Candy Dots (retired); #PCC275; #IM333.

OK, I have set myself a BIG challenge - to match up this sunny sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday #317, and add in SUO #172's Sympathy & Caring Challenge.  What am I thinking??
This was a tough one for me, but luckily, a new box arrived from my Mother Ship, and I finally got to play with Weather Together.  That's been on my wish list for so long!  I had some fun playing with framelits, too, but I ultimately switched to this sweet sentiment from our retiring Sending Thoughts set.  I love when our sayings come in pairs so I can put a little something on the inside, too.  In the end, I'm so happy with how this came out, and I'll be glad to have it ready to send off when needed...
Weather Together & Sending Thoughts Stamp Sets; A Little Foxy DSP; Whisper White, Smoky Slate & So Saffron CS; Memento Tuxedo Black, Pool Party, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip & Watermelon Wonder Inks; Umbrella Weather & Layering Circle Framelits; Softly Falling EF; So Saffron Candy Dots (retired); #TSOT317; #SUO172.

What a pretty sketch this week at Case This Sketch #214!   I think week's colors at In{k}spire Me #293 will go great, too!
Look at those lovely botanical swirls behind the sentiment in the sketch, I played against type and ran straight for my Flourishing Phrases set, lol.  This whole card sprang straight to mind, papers and all, I have to admit!  I've noticed, too, that this set is becoming my go-to sympathy set, which I need to be careful of, since there are SO many other lovely sentiment pairings in it - I hope this set sticks around for a long, long time!
Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set; Perfectly Artistic DSP (retired); Whisper White, Chocolate Chip & Mint Macaron CS; Chocolate Chip & Mint Macaron Inks; Layering Ovals Framelits; Flourish Thinlits; Chocolate Chip Candy Dots (retired); #CTS214; #IM293.

Easter Bonus Class April 1!
No, that's not an April Fools' joke - it really is a quick and fun Easter class, just to get a few extra treats your way!  This class will be your ticket to a trio of all different Mini Egg Cartons, each with a tag and accompanying card - all you need to add is your favorite goodies when you're ready to give them away!  Here's your chance to play with Basket Bunch!
Class is announced for Saturday, April 1, at 3 pm, and will include all your supplies (bring your own snips and adhesive!), snacks, drinks and a special gift from me, all for $25!  This class is also FREE with your order of $30 or more!  RSVP today to save your spot!

What a fun layout at this week's Case This Sketch #208!  I'm going to try for these colors at In{k}spire Me #287, too - I'm a little nervous!
I think the hardest part of today's challenge is finding something interesting in Blushing Bride, lol.  Fortunately, I still have some of LAST year's Sale-A-Bration DSP, Perfectly Artistic - perfect!  I decided I like the images in Flourishing Phrases to go with, and presto, I ended up with a sympathy card.  I'm so happy with it - elegant but simple - a great one to have on hand, which I almost NEVER do...
Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set; Perfectly Artistic DSP (retired); Whisper White & Basic Black CS; Memento Tuxedo Black and Versamark Inks; Copper Embossing Powder; Blushing Bride Candy Dots (retired); #CTS208; #IM287.

Stampin' Up! Customer Survey!
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OK, super fun layout at this week's In{k}spire Me #259!    And have I ever met a fussy cut challenge I didn't like??  No, siree!  Thank you, TGIF #65!!
I thought at first I might actually do a square card for this one, but alas, I chickened out once again, lol.  Any way, here I am AGAIN with Thoughtful Branches!  so versatile!  I think this could be a sympathy or encouragement card - and now I want to make a seasonal not set with this specific image - so easy to change out the leaf colors...  I hope we keep this set around - I can't live without it anymore!
Thoughtful Branches Stamp Set; Serene Scenery DSP; Whisper White, Early Espresso & Old Olive CS; Early Espresso, Old Olive & Real Red Inks; Ovals Collection Framelits (retired); Occasions Piercing Template (retired); Beautiful Branches Thinlets; Copper Thread; Old Olive Candy Dots (retired.)

Another lovely sketch from Match the Sketch #130!  This time I'm matching it with the sweet colors from Just Add Ink #317!
OK, I think this might be chance to finally bring out Flourishing Phrases to play!  Yay!  Besides the gorgeous stamp set, this set also has a set of truly beautiful thinlets to go with.  I can't quite make up my mind which I like more, lol.  A little squinting, and I can see the sketch just fine in my card, don't you think?
Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set; Perfectly Artistic & Some Random Ancient scrap of Rose Red DSP (both retired); Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo & Pear Pizzazz CS; Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz & Crushed Curry Inks; Flourish Thinlets; Wide Oval (retired) & Banner Triple Punches; Rose Red Candy Dots (retired.)