Retiring Products Blog Hop

Hello Stamping Friends,

This next month will be full of sharing some awesome projects made with retiring products since we only have about a month left before they are gone forever. Some of my favorite sets are on that list. Sharing sweet thoughts is one of those many sets. I love the jar and the different types of "lids" you can stamp for it. And all the little pieces that go with it are just awesome. Reminds me of my childhood. We would catch fireflies at my Gram's house, put them in a canning jar with a lid that we poked holes into using a screwdriver. High tech stuff we had going on in the 80's, but we had such great memories of growing up.

I've joined a blog hop today to share retiring products. Be sure to continue on hopping so you can see all the inspiration that's waiting for you. You won't be disappointed. Follow the links below.

For this card, I chose not to use the jar from the set to show that you could easily do so many other things with the card without it.  This is a simple card to let a friend or loved on know that you are always there for them no matter what.

I used the Delightful Daisy designer series paper on the bottom half of the card. Then I stamped the butterflies on the white cardstock and an additional set of butterflies on a scrap piece of cardstock. Colored them in with the Stampin' Write markers, cut out the ones on the scrap and attached those to the card using (my favorite things) dimensionals. Definitely a cheerful card that will lift anyone's spirits if they were feeling down.

This layout allows you to make multiples of this card without too much fuss which is another nice thing. So get out your stamps, ink and paper and get crafty. Remember there's only about a month left to get all of your favorite retiring products. But don't wait, there's a limited quantity so once an item is gone you will no longer be able to order it.

Here's the LAST CHANCE LIST For the Annual Catalog.

Here's the LAST CHANCE LIST for the Occasions Catalog.

Thanks for stopping by. Keep hopping.

Sisters in Stamping are Flying Home with Retiring Stamps

Hello Stamping Friends,

It's Friday and that means another week with the Sisters in Stamping. Be sure to head over there to see all the inspiration this week. We've got five projects to share with you. You're going to love them.

This week our theme was to use something retiring from the Occasions mini catalog. There are so many great things in there that I will be using over the next few weeks before they are gone forever. But for today, I chose to use the Flying Home stamp set. I love the images in this set. I love the nest with the babies and mama. I also love the image that I used on this card because it screams scream time to me. (Something we are lacking here in NE Pennsylvania)

So for the background of this card, I started with always artichoke cardstock (it's retiring, get it quick) and then I inked up petal burst embossing folder with island indigo ink (also retiring) and ran it through the big shot. Then I used Stampin' Blends (I know, you are excitedly waiting for these to be able to be ordered again, hang on, soon). For the edges of the white cardstock, I just slightly brushed it along the edge of the island indigo ink to soften the look slightly.

Don't forget to check out the other projects the Sisters in Stamping have to share with you this week. If you want to order anything used on these projects, contact your demonstrator. If you don't have one, contact me, I'd be happy to help you out.

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon.

A Little Preview of This Month's Stamp of the Month

Hello Stamping Friends,

Just dropping in quick to share with you a short video using the Fruit Basket Bundle from the Occasions Catalog.  This set just happens to be the stamp set for this month's Stamp of the month class. See all class details below. You can still sign up for this class. Be sure to watch the video for some inspiration as well.

March 2018  Classes

As always, if you can’t make a class in person, you can always have the TO GO option. To Go option is $5.00 (plus shipping, if needed) extra. Just let me know.

Sunday, March 18, 2017 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Stamp of the Month Class – $25.00 per person and it includes the stamp set for you to keep

Already have the set and want to attend the class, contact me. Or if you would like the bundle for this month’s set the cost would be $45 per person

This is a monthly class that features one stamp set that you will receive as part of the class fee. We will stamp 3 different cards and one 3-D project using the stamp of the month during the class.  All you need to bring with you is your own snail adhesive and some clear blocks, all other supplies are included in the cost of the class.

Stamp set this month: Fruit Basket (page 29 of the Occasions catalog)

RSVP Deadline: Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Get Crafty During National Craft Month

Hello Stamping Friends,

Did you know that March is National Craft Month? So it's time to get your craft on and start making some of those pretty things that have been on your to do list. I'm sure there are plenty of things that have been waiting for you to make.

I am part of a blog hop today to share with you some crafty paper inspired projects. So be sure to scroll to the end of the post to continue on to the rest of the hop and get even more inspiration. You won't be sorry. The hop is full of talented stampers/crafters and you won't want to miss one blog.

I made these adorable little treat holders using designer series paper, Naturally Eclectic to cover the base of the round tins and the rim of the lid. I used two different papers to add more to the finished look. Then I stamped the daisy from Delightful Daisy in rich razzleberry onto Rich Razzleberry cardstock and whisper white cardstock. Punch them out and layer them together with dimensionals in between each layer. There's three flowers punched out to make the one flower. Then just add one of the Gold Faceted Gems to the center of the flower to complete it.

I found these beauties at the local dollar store. There are even two in a pack and to make them even sweeter  they have a magnet bottom so they will stick to any magnetic surface. You can use them for some office supplies, a gift box for some jewelry, or like I did with some candy. They make great party favors or I'm just thinking about you gifts, too.

Wouldn't you be delighted to receive this little gift for no reason? They are quick and easy to make with minimal supplies as well. Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to keep hopping. See you soon.

Spreading Valentine's Love to Strangers

Hello Stamping Friends,

My son is doing a personal challenge every week. This week was to hand out Valentine treats. Of course mom helped him out by making some cute little treats. After you watch the video, you can scroll down and see the treats. 

We all need to do something like this more often. We need more love and kindness and less selfishness around us. Noah defintely shared some love with those people, young and old, male and female. No discrimination, just kindness. Be sure to watch his video below and like it, he'll appreciate that.

I am a very proud mama. He's doing this while he is a third year nursing student who had an extremely stressful week at school with tests, papers and clinicals, yet he still took time for others. You can see how he really made some of them happy with the small gesture. It's great to see young men so kind and thoughtful. I'm so proud of him, stepping out of a comfort zone and approaching complete strangers just to make them smile and feel loved.

 If more children were like this we would be a more peaceful nation. I've been blessed to have three kind, loving children that often think of others first.

I challenge you to make a few treats and give them to strangers to make them smile. Who knows it could brighten their day in a way you had no idea.

Stamper's Dozen Sweet Soiree Blog Hop

Hello Stamping Friends,

It's a big day. Not only is it Valentine's Day but it is a blog hop with the Stamper's Dozen. We know that's always an exciting day of the month.  This month the theme we were following was to use the Sweet Soiree Suite from the Occasions Catalog. This suite is packed full of great products, stamps, coordinating thinlits, designer series paper, embellishments and so much more.

I chose to make a card using just the designer series paper from the suite. It's amazing how many other products from the Annual Catalog also work great with the designer series paper. The Rose Wonder stamp set was perfect to add some stamping to the inside and the greetings for both the inside piece and the outside of the card completed this card.

I decided to make a fun fold card. The card is 12" x 5 1/2" and it's scored at 2", 4", and 6" on the 12" side. and then it is cut from the 2" to 6" parts at 1 1/2" from top and bottom. When you are folding the card the middle part that is cut is popped out the opposite way.

Isn't it great that the paper comes with a beautiful foil sheet that is full of wedding cakes that can easily be cut out and used as a focal point on the card like I did here? Plus you get two sheets of them so you can make well over 30 cards with cakes. What a "sweet" deal.

Don't forget to keep on hopping. Next up we have Bonnie O'Neill. Just click the next button below

And if you missed Judy Garza's blog click the previous button below.

It's all Going to the Birds

Hello Stamping Friends,

Welcome to another Fabulous Friday with the Sisters in Stamping. This week is all going to the birds. We are sharing with you cards made using a bird theme. There are a few great sets in the 2018 Occasions catalog focused on birds and there's also several great sets in the Annual catalog as well.

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For my card, I used the Bird Banter set from the Occasions catalog. Such a fun set that is great for parties and celebrations but I chose to make my card into a thank you card. We really should send out more thank you cards and let those around us know how grateful we are for all that they do for us.

I embossed the background using the Layered Leaves dynamic embossing folder because I thought it was a great way to have the birds "in a tree" surrounded by leaves. I punched out 3 different size circles (2 1/2", 2" and 1 3/4") before stamping the different bird images on them. Yes, some details of each bird is "cut off" but that is exactly how I wanted it.  I then used the awesome Stampin' Blends to color each of the birds. I drew the branch under each bird using the Bronze stampin' blend.

I decided to stamp the thank you greeting right onto the same circle as one of the birds to not take away from the overall look of the card.

I'm so happy with how this turned out. Imagine the possibilities when you switch up the colors. Every card you make can loo so different. Be creative and have fun.

Don't forget to head over to Sisters in Stamping for more bird ideas.

Also, Sale-a-bration is going on now. Book your personal class for you and your friends soon. You don't want to miss out on this great once a year sale.

Stamper's Dozen Sale-a-bration Blog Hop

Hello Stamping Friends,

It's time for another Stamper's Dozen blog hop. There's always so many great ideas shared and this month's hop is just as good. We are sharing with you some awesome ideas using Sale-a-bration products that you can earn for FREE. So let get started and begin to Sale-a-brate.

Remember for every $50 you order in product (prior to shipping and tax) you will get to select one Sale-a-bration item of your choice for FREE. New this year is a few products that are at the $100 level for FREE.

The Epic Celebrations stamp set is a perfect set for those adolescent boy cards that always see so difficult to come up with.  The set includes two sayings, head phones, sneakers and the guitar, along with a little dot stamp that is great for backgrounds or just that extra little something a card might need.

I used the new Stampin' blends to color the guitar after I stamped it with Momento Black Ink. I used the Petal Passion designer series paper from the Occasions catalog for the background. Yep, who would have thought something that says petal and passion together would work for a masculine card. Well, this paper sure does the trick thanks to the back side being not so "girly."

I finished it off with some light bermuda bay dots around the edges of the guitar and the greeting. Seriously, it was the perfect touch.  The guitar image is just attached with snail adhesive but the greeting is attached with dimensionals. Don't worry, they are there. I know you would have thought something was wrong if I didn't use my favorite tool.

The inside was stamped with the other greeting, "You're Awesome"  on whisper white cardstock. I love this card because it can be used for a variety of celebrations. It's not just a birthday greeting.

Keep hopping. Make sure to go all the way through to see each of the projects. You won't want to miss any.

Click the link below to head over to Bonnie's blog.

Click the link below to head to Judy's blog.

Make sure to visit everyone's blog and feel free to leave comments.

Thanks for stopping by. See you soon.

Bring on the New

Hello Stamping Friends,

Happy Friday to you. It's a chilling, windy day here in Northeast PA. Wind chill is almost 20 below zero. Now that's cold. My poor dog needs to go outside but she just can't handle the cold. It took her about 6 door openings before she actually got up the courage to go out and do her thing. The first three times, I just opened the door and she turned around. Then she went out but came right back in. I feel so bad for her. God bless all the people that work outside this weekend as well as the homeless. I pray they find shelter.

Here we are another Friday with the Sisters in Stamping. This week we are sharing cards made using product from the brand new Occasions catalog that went live just 2 days ago. Do you have your copy? If not, let me know and I'll get one out to you. I have to say I love this catalog. There are so many fun stamps and accessories.

Despite the cold temps, I decided to use the Flying Home stamp set. I know there aren't any little birds outside chirping right now but it is a cheerful card. I love the saying too. I used the Stampin' Blends to color this image after I stamped it with Momento Black ink.

The two embossing folders I used I thought were a perfect compliment to the card. The top leaves go with the leaves on the branches and the bottom wood grain mimics the nest. Don't you think?

Anyway, don't forget to head over to the Sisters in Stamping blog to see what the other sisters are sharing today.

Thanks for stopping by. Please stay warm this weekend. (I think it's a perfect time to stamp. 😉😜😉)