I Teach Stamping

The Friday Finish feels more like the Friday Start!

The past two days I have been only Mom.  My sweet Emily got sick and only wanted her Mommy.  As she gets older, there are only select occasions that she wants "Mommy" instead of "Mom" and few times that she wants to be held and rocked.  I cling to those moments like they won't happen again.  There has been no stamping for the past day and 1/2 and now that she is feeling great and back at school (for the last day of the year) I get to stamp!!! 

As usual, my stamp room looks like a tornado went through it.  I have been using Victoria's method of containing the chaos - and I love it!  Recently I asked on Facebook what others do to contain everything and this concept stood out to me.  It falls inline with Rachel Ray's trash bowl.  I have a basket that my tools go in when I have used them but do not feel like putting them away.  I chunk it all in the basket, and then later I empty the basket.

Could I put them away as I finish using them, yes, but that is way too logical!  And I am also one to tweak my projects over and over again.  So just because I am done with them for that second does not mean that they stay done with.  Wow, that makes no sense even to me.  Let me try again...  I might not be entirely done with it.  I might walk away and then come back to it and want to use the thingy again.

Ok, off to grab more coffee, off to create and I hope to share it all with you later today!

Frightful Sight? Really?

While cleaning up/out my office, I came across this super cute DSP sheet, and all these ideas came to mind, but what package of DSP was it from - it was Stampin' Up!'s Frightful Sight!!!  Really?  This is not Halloween paper, is it?  Then I turned into a genius and flipped the DSP over, and there are spiders printed on the back, yep, it is Halloween paper.

But it's polka dots, so you know I love it!  I thought this would make a great color combination for masculine cards too, even with it being polka dots.  I then struggled a bit with what color ribbon to use, I tried black, but that made it look like a precursor to death birthday card - that doesn't work.  So I tried again with Old Olive, not so much, then I saw my 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon and I remembered that the polka dots are only printed on one side - TOUCHDOWN!

Supplies Used to Create this Card:

Stampin' Up! Stamps:  Perfect Punches (wm: 117022  cm: 120516)

Stampin' Up! Ink:  Cherry Cobbler (119669)

Stampin' Up! Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler(119685), Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702), Basic Black (121045), Basic Gray (121044), Cajun Craze (119684)

Stampin' Up! DSP:  Frightful Sight (122351)

Stampin' Up! Accessories:  1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (124138), Brights Buttons (119747), Extra Large Oval Punch(119859), 1" Square Punch (124094), White Bakers Twine (124262)

I grabbed an Old Olive button from my Brights Buttons and made my cute "knot" for the center of the card.  So here is the skinny on this DSP, there is this polka dot pattern and there is another polka dot pattern in that pack with a black background rather than white.  You can make a ton of cards that are not Halloween cards with these polka dot sheets. 

The Frightful Sight DSP was cut down to 4" x 5 1/4", so you can get six pieces for the front of you card from each sheet - so 12 of this print in a package - and get this, it is on sale for only $8.21!  It is too early for me to do the math, but I do know that it adds up to a great deal.  I will be making a stack of these cards today - not to brag (ok, to brag a little) I love this card!

I hope you enjoyed today's card!  If you want to grab Stampin' Up!'s Frightful Sight DSP before it retires so you can make some not-so-Halloweeny cards too, here is the link!

 

Fifth Avenue with For All You Do

Stampin' Up!'s Fifth Avenue stamp set has one of my favorite expressions in it, and For All You Do has some of my favorite flowers, so I figured it would make a good match. 

I am not ready to let go of my current In Colors, it is a good thing that I have been stocking up.  But in a few days I will quit doing projects on my sites using them.  If you have a crush on Concord Crush like I do, you will probably want to stock up too.

The first draft of this card used Pear Pizzazz instead of Blushing Bride, purple and green usually look great together, and it did, it just didn't have the look I wanted.  So out went Pear and in came Blushing Bride.  Then I spilt coffee on it as I instantly regreted that the ringer on the house phone in the living room was on and my hubby had a long night at work and started my mad dash to the living room.

Onto the third draft of the card and I am happy with the way it turned out - third time was the charm!  I wanted it simple, I wanted it pretty and I wanted purple.  I think I got all three!

Supplies Used to Create This Card:

Stampin' Up! Stamps:  ***Fifth Avenue (113734), ***For All You Do (115360)

Stampin' Up! Ink:  ***Pear Pizzazz (119784), ***Blushing Bride (119786), Concord Crush (119785)

Stampin' Up! Cardstock:  ***Blushing Bride (119796), ***Concord Crush (119792), Whisper White (100730)

Stampin' Up! Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), ***Scallop Circles #2 Die (113469), 3" Circle Die (122125), ***Concord Crush Ribbon (119266), Rhinestone Jewels (119246), ***Mini Clothespins (122942)

 

***Indicates that items are retiring.

I hope you enjoy this simple card that matches Fifth Avenue Floral with For All You Do!

Best Friends Forever with Well Worn DSP

I went with the Regals color collection to start my week - they are perfect for Stampin' Up!'s Well Worn DSP, and then I wanted a "sketchy" image for the front to go with the Well Worn DSP, and that is where Best Friends Forever comes into play. 

Maybe it is because my eyes are still only half open this Monday morning, but my Regal colors were screaming to be used.  Not one to argue with my screaming colors (who knows what would happen if I did that) I grabbed my Not Quite Navy, a little Cajun Craze, a sprinkling of Very Vanilla and some accessories to make my card for you today.

To begin with, the soon-to-be-retired-&-on-sale Lace Ribbon punch did it's magic on a small strip of Very Vanilla, just a hint of it shows under a strip of Cajun Craze cardstock.  Very Vanilla satin ribbon was tied around that, it goes perfectly with this card! 

For the stamping, I 'stamped off' my Cajun Craze flower, it was too strong a color without doing that.  (To 'stamp off' begin with inking up your stamp, stamp first on your scratch paper, then do it for real on your cardstock without reinking.  You get the same color in a lighter shade!)  The BFF went on in full strength in Not Quite Navy.  I sprinked a little Not Quite Navy ink by way of the grid stamp in Stampin' Up!'s Best Friends Forever stamp set on the back ground NQN. 

Supplies Used to Create this Card:

Stampin' Up! Stamps:  **Best Friends Forever  (wm:  122805 cm:  122807)

Stampin' Up! Ink:  Cajun Craze (119671), Not Quite Navy (103008)

Stampin' Up! Cardstock:  Cajun Craze (119684), Not Quite Navy (101722), Very Vanilla (101650)

Stampin' Up! DSP:  **Well Worn (122359)

Stampin' Up! Accessories:  **Lace Ribbon Punch (122362), **Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon (117291)

 

** Indicates that this product is about to retire and if you want it, click on the link next to it and grab it before it is gone.

I am sad to see Stampin' Up!'s Best Friends Forever stamp set and Well Worn DSP retire - I hope that you enjoy my last card using them!

The Friday Finish

Whew - what a day!  Today was definitely a day for catching up, I always need a catch up day.  Today I had several goals, one of them I am embarrassed to admit, but here it goes - I learned how to put my CDs onto my iPhone.  Sad, huh?  Normally, I hand my computer and my phone over to Matt and ask him to do it.  But I decided I should learn how to do it myself.  I have got it down pat now!  I also learned how to get my pictures off my phone and onto my computer.

Next, I decided to find my stamp room.  This is the 3rd day this week that I have cleaned it and messed it right back up.  I give it about one project before it is trashed again ;).

Then I grabbed all my page protectors and put all my scrapbook pages in an album and actually in order.

Now I am off to grab a Dr. Pepper and call this day complete!

Fun project coming tomorrow!

New Catalog Sneak Peek! - Memorable Moments

Today's card features a new stamp set that will be available on June 1st - it is Stampin' Up!'s Memorable Moments and it is AWE-some!  (pronounce the "AWE" part in a really high voice, then take it down a bit for the "some" part)

I used Stampin' Up!'s Domestic Goddess DSP which is my favorite from the current catalog, and as of this morning it is still available - so grab it up while you can - oh, and the striped ribbon too.

Ok, onto the card, I can already tell that this will be a day that I do a lot of rambling.

Supplies Used:

Stampin' Up! Stamps:  Memorable Moments, Itty Bitty Bits  (wm: 117056  cm: 120060)

Stampin' Up! Ink:  Pool Party (122938), Daffodil Delight (119667)

Stampin' Up! Cardstock:  Pool Party (122924), Daffodil Delight (119683), Whisper White (100730)

Stampin' Up! DSP:  Domestic Goddess (122355)

Stampin' Up! Accessories:  Daffodil Delight Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (119770), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Big Shot (113439), Striped Embossing Folder (123128), 3/4" Circle Punch (119873), 1" Circle Punch (119868), Bitty Banners (ALSO a Sneaky Peeky)

I hope that you enjoyed today's card, if you did, drop me a comment and let me know! 

Things to remember, retiring stamps are only available until May 31st, and you do not want to wait until the 31st to order, the system will be busy with everyone else that waited.  And retiring accessories are only available while supplies last - gobble them up before someone else does!

I hope that you are excited for the new Stampin' Up! catalog, if nothing else to grab this fun Memorable Moments stamp set!

Getting a Little Flirtacious with Pocket Silhouettes

I am a fan of fabric, whether to wear it (always a plus), decorate my house, make clothes (I rarely do, but think I will), use it on cards, or scrapbook pages, I am always up for fabric.  I started today with a sketch and really left the sketch and took it in my own direction.  And the Flirtacious Fabric from Stampin' Up! was perfect for my card. 

I knew I wanted something with Melon Mambo and Wisteria Wonder and after I struggled with the color combination, then it finally hit me that the Flirtacious Fabric had both (yes, it was a duh moment). Then what stamp set to use became the question. 

Hmmm... how about Stampin' Up!'s Pocket Silhouettes?  I tried the flowers in Melon Mambo first and then changed it to the Wisteria Wonder.  And what did I use before Framelits?  I am so loving those!!!

So here is the card, let me know if you think I pulled it off with my color combination and stamp set selection!

Stampin' Up! Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes

Stampin' Up! Ink:  Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder

Stampin' Up! Cardstock:  Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White

Stampin' Up! Accessories:  Flirtacious Designer Fabric, Labels Collection Framelits, Stripes Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, White Baker's Twine, Bitty Buttons

Here is the sentiment from Pocket Silhouettes up close:

If you do not have Pocket Silhouettes, be sure to grab it by the end of the this month, it is retiring!

I hope that you enjoyed this card today that ties in both the Pocket Silhouettes with the colors found in the Flirtacious Fabric!

 

5 Ways to Use the 5 Petal Punch Video Tutorial

I am thrilled to share my 5 Ways to Use the 5 Petal Punch video tutorial with you!  I have never received so many emails asking where this video was and when it would be shared - that means that a ton of you have the punch and want to get lots of uses out of it! 

I usually get the videos posted on the same day - but with Mother's Day, Advanced Card Class, Ballet Recital and company, let's just say that it didn't happen in the time frame that I planned on.

So without any further ado, here is the video tutorial:

 

Did you learn some new ways to use the 5 Petal Punch?  I hope you did, this punch is one of my favorites!  I will be doing similar videos with punches other than just the 5 Petal Punch, so be sure to stay tuned!

5 Petal Punch Video Coming Today!

I am finishing up all the editing on my Five Ways to Use the Five Petal Punch video - it will be appearing on this site later today, so be sure to check back....  See you then!

Magical Birthday with Stampin' Up!'s Pony Party

Today's card started with tears from Emily all because of Stampin' Up!'s Pony Party.  She has this stamp set, but we keep it in my stamp room.  Before school, she asked me why her Pony Party set was in a box and not in the cabinet.  I told her that I pull all of my retiring sets and put them in a box.  I think she heard, "This set is retiring and will meet it's demise at high noon."  The lower lip started trembling, the tears started welling up.

I told her that I keep a lot of my retiring sets and that I would not dream of getting rid of her stamp set.  That was rewarded with a huge hug and kiss.  She told me that I should make a card for my site so that everyone could see how pretty this set was.

I think that if you have a little girl, that this is a must have set.  I used it for her birthday party invites last year.  I have made about 20 birthday cards with it for kids in her class - it is just fun!

Sticking with two colors, Pretty in Pink and Elegant Eggplant, was the way to go.  I had a green in with it and it was too much. 

Supplies used to create my Pony Party card:

Stampin' Up! Stamps:  Pony Party  (wm: 115217  cm: 120015)

Stampin' Up! Ink:  Elegant Eggplant, Pretty In Pink, Black Staz-On

Stampin' Up! Cardstock:  Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Stampin' Up! DSP:  Subtles Paper Stacks

Stampin' Up! Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots BSEF, Scallop Circle Die #2, 3" Circle Die, 3/4" Circle Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, White Baker's Twine, Dazzling Details, White Gel Pen

For the balloons, I used the 3/4" Circle Punch and then added a highlight with the White Gel Pen.  Add some Dazzling Details to the star (something needed glitter, right?).

I think I will put this card up for her birthday this year, it has her favorite colors and I think that she will love it.  Do you think that you can make a Magical Birthday card using Stampin' Up!'s Pony Party Stamp Set?