Flowers are Blooming

Hello Stamping Friends,

Flowers are blooming everywhere. Even my lilac tree (that rooted itself from a thrown away branch form picked flowers over 10 years ago. Good thing the garbage can got knocked over that week) is finally blooming. I had 1 lilac on it two years ago and I was so excited. I wouldn't even cut it off to bring in the house. I just went outside to see and smell that one little bloom. Then last year, nothing, nada, zip, so imagine my joy this year when there are over a dozen blooms on it. I just can't wait for them to open up. Any day it will happen and I'm ready for it.

Today I'm always sharing with you another beautiful set of flowers that will last much longer than any bloom you will find outside. Well, maybe not as long, depending on who's around and having a sweet tooth. I made this cute little centerpiece to welcome Spring awhile ago and have been enjoying it. I made flowers using the spiral flower die (in the Occasions catalog) and put a lollipop in the center of them to make this arrangement.

 

It will certainly brighten up any desk or table. These would be a great centerpiece for a party you may be having or a unique gift. Jonah gave one to his teacher for teacher appreciation week.

 

There are ten flowers in this pot. The nice thing is that you can take the lollipop out and if you want you can keep the paper flower part and replenish as needed. Your pot can always be full of blooms.

 

Notice here, I even embossed the flowers to give them some added texture. Some of them when rolling them into flower have the dots embossed on the outside and some are on the inside,  (strawberry slush is on the outside and the crisp cantaloupe) which just adds to the fun and overall look of the finished pot of flowers.

 

Stamping Supplies Used:
Stamps: None

Ink: None

Paper: Summer Starfruit, Wisteria Wonder, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush,  Pool Party

Accessories: Big Shot, Spiral Flower Die, Lots of Dots Embossing Folder, Daffodil Delight Chevron ribbon, 1/8 circle punch. Non- Stampin' Up! items: Clay pot, green shredded paper filler, Styrofoam disc, hot glue, glue gun

 

A Little Last Minute Easter Treat

Hello Stamping Friends,

Today with the Sisters in Stamping we are sharing some sweet little last minute Easter treat ideas with you just in case you may need a little something in the next few days. I'm sharing with you something that I made for Jonah's class for Easter. These little treats came together rather quickly and I must admit that I absolutely love the way they turned out. Read on to see what's inside of them and how I created the sleeve.

 

It's a little treat holder using the scalloped tag topper punch to create a "sleeve" to wrap around the treat. I didn't send in a traditional Easter candy type treat. I used an 11" x 2" piece of cardstock to make my sleeve. I scored on each side of the cardstock at 5" to create 1" base to stand on. After I scored, I punched each side of the cardstock using the scalloped tag topper punch.

 

Here's the big reveal of what is inside. I know you may be scratching your head and asking what in the world is it? It's a personal little hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works. Yes, it seems like a little expensive for an Easter treat but it really wasn't that bad after they were on sale and a couple coupons to help the cause. They were just over $1 a piece. I don't think that's too bad for a little gift. Besides, this mom was sick of her kid being sick. After missing 6 days of school in one quarter, I came up with the idea of the hand sanitizer. I figured maybe the kids would be excited and use their hand sanitizer and stop spreading their "sick" little germs to each other. Who knows if it will work but Jonah passed them out yesterday and they loved them. Even the teacher thought it was a great idea.

I used the Eggstra Spectacular set in the 2014 Occasions Catalog. Isn't the little lamb so cute?  Honestly, these came together pretty quickly. I was surprised at how sweet they turned out with how easy they were. A large background stamp, some punches, a few stamps and some great designer series paper completes the project. The hand sanitizer and holder are placed in a small cello bag and then I used sticky strip to attach it to the tag sleeve.

 

Here's the lot of them for Jonah's class. I used the retired distressed dots background stamp on his tag sleeve (the first one above uses the chevron background stamp) just because I love dots.

Here's a close-up of one of them. So sweet.

 

Happy Easter!

Don't forget to head over to Sisters in Stamping for more small treat Easter ideas.

 

Stamping Supplies Used:

Stamps: Eggstra Spectacular, Positively Chevron & Distressed Dots (retired) Background Stamps

Ink: Coastal Cabana, & Black Staz-on & Stampin' Write Markers (Mellon Mambo, Blushing Bride, & Tempting Turquoise)

Paper: Coastal Cabana & Whisper White Cardstock, and Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack

Other Accessories: 1 3/4" circle punch, 2" scallop circle punch, paper snips, snail adhesive, sticky strip, scallop tag topper punch, spare piece of ribbon to tie both sides of the sleeve together

Card or Box? Maybe both....

Hello Stamping Friends,

Today at Sisters in Stamping we are sharing with you projects made using the great Designer Series Paper Stampin' Up! offers. You won't be at a creative loss for long when you select one of the great packages of paper from the Annual Catalog or the Occasions Catalog. They make creating so easy. I love picking a designer paper when I'm stuck with color combos because I know they work together and my finished project will look just as great because the colors "go together."

 

I decided to share with you this card in a box. These are the hottest little projects right now. It folds flat so you can easily slip it into an envelope and send it on its way. What a treat for the recipient when they open the envelope and the box "pops up" by itself. Think baby, birthday, or any special occasion. This card will delight anyone.

 

 

This particular one uses the watercolor wonder designer series paper from the Occasions Catalog. And that's exactly where I got my color combo from for all of the butterflies. Great time of year to see colorful butterflies, isn't it?  You may be wondering how the butterflies are "flying" mid-air because it isn't very easy to see, so I will tell you. I used small strips of window sheets to attach to the card and the butterflies are attached to the other end of the window sheet. Even in person, it isn't easy to see this.

 

I think you may be able to see the window sheet here just a little bit. Still not easy, so this makes it the perfect solution to "suspend" things in air on all your projects.  Don't forget to head over to Sisters in Stamping to see more great ideas using the best designer series paper around.

 

Stamping Supplies Used:
Stamps: Papillon Potpourri & Perfect Pennants

Ink: Gumall Green, Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Whisper White & Island Indigo Cardstock and Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Simply Scored, Butterfly embosslit, starburst framelits, Big Shot, Large Butterfly Punch, Small Butterfly Punch, Dimensionals, Window Sheets, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive

 

Have a wonderful Friday.

Only 3 Days Left for Sale-a-bration

Hello Stamping Friends,

Over the next few days I'm going to share with you some cards and projects that use Sale-a-bration products. Don't forget there is only three days left to get your order in for your FREE Sale-a-bration items, don't let the sale of the year pass you by.  Also, I'm at the YMCA in Dunmore today from 10 am - 3pm for the Moms Club's Annual Craft Show so stop by and see me. No fee to come in.

I love the look of this card. It uses the Petal Parade stamp set (which, btw, you can get it in wood mount or clear mount, the choice is yours) and several of this year's in-colors.  It's just basic all over stamping, so it's super quick and easy and definitely duplicable. I also used the Peachy Keen stamp set for the greeting on this card. You can easily substitute any other greeting you may already have on hand as well.

The fun part of this card is tat the center of each of the Strawberry slush flowers is stamped on a separate piece of cardstock and punched out using the 7/8" scallop circle punch and attached to the center using a dimensional.

Stamping Supplies Used:
Stamps: Petal Parade & Peachy Keen

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar

Paper: Whisper White and Baked Brown Sugar Cardstock

Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals, 7/8" Scallop Circle punch

 

Don't forget only three days left to get the Petal Parade stamp set before it's gone. You can select it as your FREE item with any $50 order (before shipping and tax).

 

Contact me today or visit my online store to place your order. If you place an order I will be sending you a thank you card stamped by me.

You Mean the World

Hello Stamping Friends,

How are you all doing on this fine Monday? I love how this card turned out. What better background for a globe image than the world map? I used the Retro fresh paper to pick my colors. I love how using the designer series papers makes creating so simplified, especially when you are struggling coming up with colors that look good together when you are in a creative block mode. Have you ever been there? I think most crafters find themselves in a block at one time or another. I know I have.

 

I like that this card doesn't use the traditional Valentine's colors so it could be used at any time of year, not just in February for Valentine's Day. Plus, it makes a great masculine card. We, women, may love all that pink and red but the guys probably don't agree.

 

Stamping Supplies Used:

Stamps: Love you More, World Map

Ink: Soft Suede

Paper: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White Cardstock & Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Snail Adhesive, & Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

 

Love is Hanging Around

Hello Stamping Friends,

 

Today at Sisters in Stamping we are doing a color challenge. Sometimes the biggest challenge is coming up with colors to put together, so a color challenge can certainly help make your decisions a whole lot easier.  This color challenge was to use the following colors: crumb cake, whisper white, primrose petals, pink pirouette and blushing bride. I was pretty excited to use these colors because I wanted to try make this card and it fit perfectly.

 

 

I saw a similar card at Leadership earlier this month and have been wanting to make it since. Imagine, you can hang so many things from the tree branches; eggs, snowflakes, and ornaments to name a few. Isn't it just adorable?  I want to make more, more and then some more because it's so cute.

 

Don't forget to head over to Sisters in Stamping for more ideas using this color challenge.

Stamping Supplies Used:
Stamps: Take Care, Language of Love, & Hardwood

Ink: Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Pink Pirouette, & Primrose Petals

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Primrose Petals, Blushing Bride, & Pink Pirouette

Accessories: Stitched Primrose Petals Ribbon, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Paper Snips, Small Heart Punch, Chalk Marker

Great New Tool for Embossing

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine    item # 132657               $29.95

It's embossing made easy. Texture Boutique is the perfect, portable tool to create embossed cards, tags, embellishments, and more. Use it with our Stampin' Up! exclusive Textured Impressions Embossing Folders.

If you purchase the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine and the following folders:

Ampersand Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132970) 

Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132187) 

Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132971)

You will qualify to get a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift. The Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 133520) would be the perfect choice! (You must order before March 31, 2014, to qualify for the free gift.)

 

Here's a sample using the chevron embossing folder that you can also use with the new tool. You are going to love adding texture to all of your cards and paper crafts.

 

This card uses a few things from the Occasion catalog, new paper, stamps and framelits.

Bundle, Bundle, Hear All About It

Hello Stamping Friends,

Greetings from Houston. Finishing up our Leadership Conference. Great things are coming and that's all I'm going to say for now. How's that for a tease? I will share more once I get home, I promise. But for now let's concentrate on Fabulous Friday with the Sisters in Stamping.

You know there's this awesome Occasions Catalog that was recently released, so we are going to share even more great products with you today from that catalog. Today's focus: the bundles. I love the bundles because you get to get a few new toys that coordinate together at a discounted price. Gotta love a savings.

 

I used the Just Sayin' Bundle. The set is so fun. It has a bunch of phrases in word bubbles and the framelits are perfect to cut them out. You know how I love to cut things out but I'm loving the framelits because they make my life a little easier on that front. This is a rather simple card or so I thought (lol). The embossed layer of alphabets adds so much punch to this card.

 

I also used some other new products on the card. Do you know what they are? Look below in the supply list to see what they are.

 

Stamping Supplies Used:

Stamps: Just Sayin' and Petite Petals

Ink: Whisper White

Paper: Crumb Cake & Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories: Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon, Just Sayin' Framelits, Alphabet Press embossing folder, Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Petite Petals Punch, Snail Adhesive

 

Don't forget to head over to the Sisters in Stamping blog for more bundle projects.