Happy Fall !

 Hello and welcome! I'm back!  It seems I say this often, but I do apologize for not posting since June. A lot has happened in the past few months. I retired from my job in Arizona, and my husband sold his store and retired as well.  We sold our home and bought a darling home in Jefferson City, Missouri.  It's been a whirlwind, to say the least, but I'm back on track and ready to share more with you, now that I'm a free agent.  😄  

We moved in here the middle of August, and we met our new neighbors from 4 houses immediately. Everyone here is so friendly! Our families are happy, since they live in Illinois, so now we live much closer and we've had company twice already. We are still settling in and unpacking, but I did manage to make two cards so far. I'm sharing those with you today.

First, Apple Harvest is a delightful stamp set, that now has matching dies. The dies are ONLY available through the end of September, so if you like these, get them now.  The stamp set is item # 159944 and the Apple Blossom Dies is item # 160255. If you do not already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to order, just click the order button at the top of this page, or at the right-side bar. You can see our online catalog as well. If you would like a hard copy, please contact me and I'll mail one out to you.  During this month only, I am giving away a free pack of dimensionals or rhinestones (your preference) with an online order of any amount. All you need to do is email me and tell me your preference, and I'll mail them out to you in October.  My card is called a Hinge Card and I found this idea from Lynn Dunn at Stampastic Designs. She has a great video with measurements, so be sure to check it out.

I used Basic White thick cardstock as my base and a strip of Gingham Cottage DSP for the right side. The hinge has a piece of Poppy Parade and Black cardstock, and on the Poppy Parage piece, I embossed it with our Gingham embossing folder. You can find those in our annual catalog.

See how the hinge slightly opens on the right-hand side?  I thought this was a nice fun fold.

I colored the apples, leaves, branch and flowers with our Stampin' Blends.  I used Dark and Light Poppy Parade, Dark and Light Granny Apple Green, Dark and Light Flirty Flamingo and Light Soft Suede for the branch.  A touch of Wink of Stella on the blossoms and the apples added just the softest glow. They're easy to cut out with the matching dies. I also used Black Matte Dots for some interest. 

My Halloween card was made using the Scary Cute bundle (# 159852). The bundle includes the Scary Cute stamp set (#159850) and the Scary Silhouettes Dies (#159851).  If you order the bundle, you save 10% over the cost of the stamps and dies if purchased alone. Here's my card:

Basic Black cardstock for the base, and a piece of Black & White Designs DSP (#159861) on the front. I cut a strip of Grapefruit Grove Foil (retired) for the middle. The bat punch is also retired, and I used a white gel pen for the eyes. I cut the window with the trees out of black and I cut a piece of white cardstock for the background. There's a die in the set that fits this window piece perfectly, so it's easy to make a background like this.  I used our Blending Brushes (# 153611) to color. Starting from the bottom, Mango Melody, Rich Razzleberry and Starry Sky inks.

I had fun being able to finally create something.  I have missed this. Back in Arizona, I held monthly workshops in my home and 3 ladies from my team are now hosting those.  I'm working on learning videos too, so stay tuned.  If you don't already have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. Feel free to contact me for information. And if you'd like to place an order, please click on my "shop" button at the top of this page.

Happy Stamping, and have a beautiful day.  😍

Let's Go to the Beach...Again

 Hi there!  Today I have a follow up to my post of Sunday. We're going to the beach again, but on a remote island and the sun is setting.  My card was inspired by one I saw that was made by Diane Barnes in Sydney, Australia.   Here's a link to her blog post:   https://dianebarnes.blogspot.com/search?q=paradise+palms

One of the nicest things about this craft, is the term CASE (copy and share everything) and that's exactly what I did. I mean, why change perfection?  I fell in love with Di's card the minute I saw it.  I used most of the same colors she did, and just changed the sentiment a bit. I stamped the sentiment on a separate piece of cardstock and cut it out instead of stamping it directly onto the card.

This bundle is called Paradise Palms and includes a great stamp set and matching dies. Her sun is white; mine is Mango Melody. She die cut the grass and so did I, however, I chose to also stamp a little island shadow in the background to give the appearance of a remote island. In any case, the card is stunning.  Using our Blending Brushes, I started with Daffodil Delight toward the lower portion of the white panel. Then I added Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade and a hint of Gorgeous Grape at the top to give the appearance of the sun setting.  I cut out the palms and grass with the matching dies that come in the bundle.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope your days are sunny and relaxing, where ever you are! Enjoy your day!

Let's Go to the Beach !

 Hello and welcome! It's starting to really warm up here in sunny Arizona. I often think of how nice it would be to live close to the ocean, or a nice, quiet lake. Today's card takes us to the beach. I can just imaging sitting on a colorful blanket in the sand, nursing a nice Mai Tai with those cute little umbrellas sticking out of the top of the glass. Ah......just listen and you can hear the waves slapping on the sand, with an occasional cry of a seagull.  Wait...let me get to the card! 

Oceanfront is a really nice stamp set.  As you can see, all the stamped images work like I've just painted them on with a watercolor brush, don't they? Stampin' Up! does an amazing job creating our stamped images, and when you put the stamps into their colorful ink pads, the rest is easy as can be.  

I used Balmy Blue for the sky, Pool Party for the water and Sahara Sand for the sand and rocks.  A few darker touches using Soft Succulent for the grasses, and Soft Suede for the reeds and the detail of the sanded area.  Our wonderful stone embellishments add the perfect touch. This card came together in less than 15 minutes, and that makes for a nice, easy card!

Thanks for stopping by today. If you currently do not have a demonstrator, I would love to send you a catalog.  Our new Mini catalog starts next month, so be sure to contact me today to reserve your copy. Visit my online store to purchase any of the items you see today.  Enjoy your week!

Ladybug Love

 Day 4 of my favorites from the new January - June 2022 Mini catalog. Who doesn't love a cute little ladybug?  Check out page 20 and fall in love with our adorable Hello Ladybug bundle.  You get a cute stamp set and our Ladybug Builder Punch and nothing could be cuter! Here's my project:

My friend and fellow demonstrator, Ruth Norton made the easiest calendar template. With her permission, I copied her template but designed my calendar with the Hello Ladybug bundle. The mini calendars were purchased from Taylored Expressions. This calendar came together quick as a buzz! I used our Flowering Fields designer series paper (page 15) for the background. I cut the ladybug from black and Poppy Parade cardstock, and stamped her little wings with the dots using Memento Black Ink. Did you know that the daisy flower in the stamp set matches perfectly with out medium daisy punch found in our annual catalog? I love when they do that! I hand cut the leaf after I stamped it with Soft Succulent ink.

Want to own this bundle?  Check out my online store; the link can be found in my "shop online" link above.. Don't forget! You save 10% when you buy the bundle and with a qualifying order in increments of $ 50, you choose something FREE from our Sale-a-bration catalog!  

If you've ever thought about becoming part of my team, check it out today! We have a special signing up bonus for you. All the information can be found on the "join my team" link above as well.

Happy stamping! Enjoy your day!

On the Horizon

 Hello and happy Thursday!

Today I have another favorite suite from our January - June 2022 Mini catalog.  The New Horizons suite can be found on page 42 and let me tell you, the papers are stunning! The suite comes with a really nice stamp set, matching dies, ribbon, pebbles enamel shapes and a package of 6 x 6 designer papers that do all the work for you! Here's my card:

Whoever designed these papers is truly a gifted artist. Did you know that all Stampin' Up! designer series papers are made by a real artist then they are re-produced in mass? This is just one of these beautiful papers and the only stamping I did were the birds and the sentiment. These papers are all double sided with a gorgeous watercolor scene on one side, and a watercolor wash on the other. Here are 4 more cards I made with these gorgeous papers.

These were 2 scraps from opposite ends of the 6 x 6 paper. See how well they lined up? This is a gate fold card and when you flatten it out, the mountains and water line up perfectly.

This is one sheet of paper, and I cut a frame using our Rectangle Dies

This needs no words; just a guy on his fishing boat enjoying a peaceful day. The stamp is not a Stampin' Up stamp, but one from my stash

When I saw this paper, I thought this is the Alaska frontier. Little houses on the banks of a river with a snowy feel to the air. I can almost feel the cold!

See what I mean? The artist has truly captured the beauty of nature in the New Horizons designer series papers. I know I'll be using this suite a lot!

Thanks for stopping by today. If you don't have a demonstrator and would like a catalog, contact me and I'll get you one via email and a hard copy. Enjoy your day!

Otters are Simply Marbleous

 Day two of our 2022 January - June Mini catalog and Sale-a-bration promotion. How can one resist these little otters? The Awesome Otters stamp set has 3 little otters, 2 sentiments and a cute little birthday hat. See the smaller circles with the blue waves of water? That's also a free set of papers called Simply Marbleous. 

I used a Basic White card base and a piece of Pool Party that I ran through the Tasteful Textile embossing folder.  I cut out the circles with the Picture This dies, found on page 67 in the annual catalog. I cut 3 white circles using my retired 2-1/4 circle punch and stamped the otters and the sentiment. I cut 3 - 2 inch squares of the Simply Marbleous paper and adhered to the back with Tombow glue.  I used our Stampin' Blends to color the otters and also attached them to the back of the pool party piece. Then I adhered the layer to my white base with dimensionals.  

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Valentine Greetings

 Hello and welcome to my blog! It has been some time since my last post. In a blink of an eye, 2021 has come and gone and I sometimes don't keep up as well as I used to. Thankfully, we are healthy and even though a lot has happened in the last year, it's time to get back to crafting!

We have another brand new Mini catalog that just started January 4th.  Since Valentine's Day is fast approaching, I thought I would share this adorable card. The Sweet Talk Suite has beautiful designer series papers, a gorgeous Bouquet of Love Hybrid Embossing Folder, the Gingham Embossing Folder, 2 great stamp sets, 2 great die sets, and gorgeous red ribbon and sparkling Irredescent Rhinestones. There's even a set of Sweet Little Boxes that you can decorate and fill with candies or other trinkets. If you love Valentine's Day, then this is the suite for you!  Here's my card:

Just look at the detail in the embossing folder.  The Bouquet of Love Hybrid embossing folder is a dream to work with. You have the ability to emboss and cut at the same time like I did. I cut out the heart as I embossed that gorgeous flower background. I adhered a piece of our Sweet Talk designer series paper behind, and added some cut out flowers and the sentiment using the dies. The stamp set I used is Love & Happiness; a great sentiment set. There's another stamp set too called Sweet Conversation, which includes those cute little conversation heart candies we all had when we were kids; and they match some of the prints on the papers.  How sweet is that? 

During January and February, our Sale-a-bration promotion is here. With every qualifying order, you choose a FREE product from our Sale-a-bration brochure. In my next post, I'll show you some of my favorites in the brochure, and how I combined two of them to make a cute card. In the meantime, have a great day and happy stamping!