Christmas Family

This fortnight's code word at the Addicted to Clean and Simple challenge is "family." This challenge is hosted by my pal Shana Goff!! She has three sweet kiddos who I had the pleasure of meeting briefly in Salt Lake City a couple of summers ago. I know family is very important to her--and it's important to most of us.

I thought the Nordic Noel DSP with houses would be a good way to say "from our family to yours." I just love this DSP! I also like the way the dots in the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder look like the snowflakes on the DSP. Pretty coolio! I was happy to add a little Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon--I just love that stuff. It's so easy to work with!

(Stamp Set: Project Life Holiday Cheer; Ink: Real Red; Card Stock: Soft Sky, Real Red, Whisper White; DSP: Nordic Noel; Accessories: Oval Punch, Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones)

And with that, I'm going to say Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all. I've met my goal to post every week day this year and now I'm going to take a couple of weeks off to celebrate the holidays with my family. I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday and a very happy new year! See you in January 2015!

Retro Wreath

Today's card is an entry in this week's Retro Sketch challenge. I decided to use the Wondrous Wreath set on this card. (Say that three times, fast: Retro Wondrous Wreath!)



I liked the Smoky Gray, Basic Gray, and Blackberry Bliss color combination I used on another wreath, so I decided to use it again here. I think it turned out really pretty. What do you think?

(Stamp Set: Wondrous Wreath; Inks: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Blackberry Bliss; Card Stock: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Blackberry Bliss: Accessories: Wonderful Wreath and Apothecary Accents Framelits Collections, Elegant Stripes Embossing Folder)

Another Retirement

I guess I must be at that time in life when my co-workers are starting to retire. I shouldn't be too suprised: I've worked the same job for almost 30 years myself!

My co-worker, Gwen, is going to retire at the end of the year. She's been a great inspiration to me and a wonderful friend. Someone said that she was full of grace and she is! I'm going to miss Gwen!

I made this card for her retirement. It's an exciting time and a new adventure. Someday I'll be able to join Gwen in the retiree ranks--but not quite yet!

(Stamp Set: Really Good Greetings; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Whisper White; DSP: Back to Black; Accessories: 2" Circle, 1-3/4" Circle, and 1" Circle Punches, Hexagon Punch to flag banner, Basic Rhinestone)

My card is a CASE of this beautiful card by the fabulous Mary Fish. I changed up the colors because Gwen likes the Baltimore Ravens and their colors are black, white, and purple!!

Nordic Christmas

The sketch over at the Create with Connie & Mary challenge this week is a bit deceptive. It looks straight-forward, but the main image isn't easy to cut or replicate. But when I put everything together, I was pleased with my card.



I started with a Nordic Noel panel--it's so beautiful, so I wanted it to be the focal point of the card. That meant that a smaller greeting would be needed. I used the "be joyful" sentiment from the Project Life Holiday Cheer set. I added a strip from another piece of Nordic Noel--the one that reminds me of candy canes. I was almost finished, but I thought the card needed a little sumthin'-sumthin' so I added a few pearls.

(Stamp Set: Project Life Holiday Cheer: Ink: Real Red; Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White; DSP: Nordic Noel; Accessories: Oval Punch, Basic Pearls)

Fresh and Vintage Christmas Card

I'm posting a little bit early because I'm playing along in this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge and our creations are due by noon on Monday. Last week I made a card and I posted it early enough--but I forgot to link it up to the challenge. Doh! I'm taking care of that this week.



I went with a kind of vintage design (again) this time. I'm still making Christmas cards--even for the challenges. And, why not? It's still a few weeks until Christmas!

I started with a card base in Chocolate Chip--I haven't used Chocolate Chip in such a long time! I added a panel of Crumb Cake, embossed with the On Point Folder. I used a new-to-me tree, stamped in Cherry Cobbler, because I thought the card needed a pop of color.

(Stamp Set: Festival of Trees; Inks: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip; Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla; Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Stylish Stripes, Embossing Folder, On Point Embossing Folder, Scallop Border Punch, Tree Punch)

Cards by PLxSU

The cards in the Seasonal Snapshot Project Life by Stampin' Up set are so adorable. I especially liked the two that said "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." I thought they were totes adorbs and could be the basis of a quick and easy card.

I started with an Old Olive card base and added a Very Vanilla Mat that I embossed with the Filligree Frame Embossing Folder. I made a Real Red mat for the Project Life cards and rounded the corners for both. I mounted the PL card and mat with Stampin' Dimensionals for a beautiful, quick and easy card!! Project Life by Stampin' Up is versatile--not just for memory keeping!

(Accessories: Project Life by Stampin' Up Seasonal Snapshot Card Collection, Filligree Frame Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch)

Fab Letterpress Winter

This week's challenge on the Fab Friday challenge blog is a color challenge.



I usually shy away from color challenges that have more than 3 colors. I'm always afraid that my design will be too much of a good bad thing. But I thought the Letterpress Winter snowflakes in Old Olive, Coastal Cabana, and Bermuda Bay would be kinda cool with Cherry Cobbler accents.

(Stamp Sets: Letterpress Winter, And Many More; Inks: Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories: Modern Label and Word Window Punches, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine)

Simple Holiday Cheer

I'm playing along with a new challenge: Clean&Simple Stamping. Here's the sweet sketch.



I haven't used the Holiday Cheer sentiment from "Mingle All the Way" so I thought it was time to ink it up! I used Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Stampin' Write Markers. I cut it and its mat with the Ovals Framlits Collection. I embossed a mat of Whisper White card stock with the Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder and mounted it onto a Real Red card base. Finally, I added a thin strip of Nordic Noel designer series paper (that reminds me of a candy cane).

(Stamp Set: Mingle All The Way; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Card Stock: Real Red, Whisper White; DSP: Nordic Noel; Accessories: Elegant Stripe Embossing Folder, Ovals Framelits Collection, Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers)

Natural Christmas

Sometimes when I'm creating I have a spark of inspiration and I just go with it. Other times, I'm kinda of throwing things together and hoping for the best. 

The card I made for this week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge took on a life of its own. I stared at the sketch for a long time. I looked at the design team's cards. Everything I came up with looked too much like I was just copying someone else's work. I was kind of stumped for a while...and when I'm stumped, I just start working and see what happens.



I started with a Crumb Cake card base. When I stamped some Early Espresso splotches from the  Gorgeous Grunge set onto the Crumb Cake card base, I was a little nervous. I thought the card would just be too plain...but I kept going. I decided to use the Window Frames Framelits with some paper piercing. I used Early Espresso as the mat and pierced it and Naturals as the focal point. I was really hoping that adding a couple of punched trees from the Festival of Trees set would pull everything together.

When I started putting all the elements together--including a strip of DSP from the Under the Tree pack, I was amazed! I added a sentiment and some punch gold stars and, oh my goodness!! The card turned out beautifully (if I do say so myself, and I do). IMHO it's real WOW! What do you think?

(Stamp Sets: Festival of Trees, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Garden Green, Early Espresso; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Natural Ivory; DSP: Under The Tree; Gold Foil Specialty Paper; Accessories: Window Frames Framelits Collection, Festive Piercing Pack, Tree Punch, Itty Bitty Accent Punches, Banner from Circle Card Framelit)

Fresh and Blissful Star

I'm coming into the home stretch in getting my Christmas cards made. I make 80-90 cards to send and to give at work.  I'm about halfway finished. I have "card parts" left over from my Christmas card-making class that I'll be putting together in the next few days.

In the meantime, my blog goes on and I'm still on track to post something every week day for a year. So as I'm playing along with challenge blogs, I'll be creating Christmas cards to add to my stock of cards to send.

This week's sketch at the Freshly Made Sketches challenge suggested the starts from the Bright & Beautiful set. I thought I could combine Blackberry Bliss and Encore Gold and make a cool holiday card.  Here's the sketch.


 

(Stamp Sets: Bright & Beautiful, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Blackberry Bliss, Encore Gold; Card Stock: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss; Accessories: Stars Framelits Collection, Banner Framelit from the Circle Card Framelit; Basic Pearls)

I think these colors are elegant--and adding a few Basic Pearls is the perfect finishing touch.

Creation Station: PLxSU Christmas Planner

This time at Creation Station we're featuring Project Life by Stampin' Up! the wonderful memory keeping system and accessories. We've been challenged to use PLxSU in a different way that simply a scrapbook page.

I decided that I needed a Christmas planner to keep track of gifts to buy, recipes to try, and, of course cards to send!!

I started with two sheets of Nordic Noel designer series paper and cut them to size. I adhered the DSP to a composition book with a Stampin' Glue Stick. I laid a length of Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon at the seam between the two DSP pieces and adhered piece of Real Red card stock to the spine, with the ribbon underneath. This keeps the ribbon attached to the planner.

The Project Life Snapshot Card Collection had just right the cards I needed to make the labels for my planner. I also used the self-stick letters in the Project Life Snapshot Accessory Pack to spell out "planner" on the front of my journal. I added another self-stick banner along the ribbon, just for fun!

(Stamp Set: Watercolor Winter Too; Ink: Real Red; Card Stock: Real Red; DSP: Nordic Noel: Accessories: Seasonal Snapshot Project Life Card Collection and Accessory Pack; Project Life Corner Rounder Punch; Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon)

(DSP: Nordic Noel: Accessories: Seasonal Snapshot Project Life Card Collection; Project Life Corner Rounder Punch; Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon)

There are only a couple of us playing along this week on Creation Station--the rest of the design team is taking a much deserved break for the holidays. We'll be back in January with some more great creations to share with you. Until then 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR TO ALL!

A Dotty Sumthin' Sumthin'

I haven't used the "Dotty Angles" stamp set in a while, so when I saw this fortnight's Addicted to Clean and Simple challenge codeword is "DOTS," I knew I had to pull it out.



I looked at some samples using this set over on Splitcoaststampers. I needed a bit of inspiration. I saw a few cards that I really liked and then had to try hard not to completely copy them--but use them just for inspiration.

The dots on this stamp remind me of confetti so, I thought I'd make them fall from the top of the card. I used Encore Gold ink for the dotty confetti. I matted a the Whisper White Panel onto Champagne Glimmer Paper and then onto a Basic Black card base. I used my fave stamp from the "Sumthin' Sumthin'" stamp set, the one that says, "Let's Celebrate! I think this is an elegant card that would be great for an anniversary.

(Stamp Sets: Dotty Angles, Sumthin' Sumthin'; Inks: Encore Gold, Tuxedo Black; Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White; Specialty Series Paper: Champagne Glimmer Paper)

Bright & Beautiful St. Agnes Make & Takes

A good friend of mine volunteers at the St. Agnes Breast Cancer Center in Baltimore, Maryland.  Last year she asked a bunch of her craft friends--myself included--to come up with some crafts for the patients to make and take and then give to their families. I had a great time last year--and we were asked to do it again.

This time I'm stealing a fabulous hot chocolate pouch that my Creation Station friend, Jen Arkfeld, made. Take a look at this gorgeous project!!

Here's my take on Jen's great project. I used the "Bright & Beautiful" stamp set because the St. Agnes project needs to be quick and easy. The pouch is the wonderful pre-cut, pre-scored Gift Card Enclosures. These are so inexpensive and make great projects, as you can see!

(Stamp Set: Bright & Beautiful; Ink: Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Garden Green, Whisper White; DSP: Under The Tree; Accessories: Gift Card Enclosure, Cherry Cobbler Linen Ribbon)

Retro Wreath

Wow! I really went "retro" for this week's Retro Sketch Challenge. I used some more Under The Tree Designer Series Paper and let that choose my color scheme. Since I already had the "Wondrous Wreath" stamp set out, I thought I'd use the same colors on the wreath that I used for the card.

Here's the sketch.



Once I put all the pieces together, I realized the card had a real vintage, retro feel to it.

(Stamp Set: Wondrous Wreath, And Many More; Inks: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White; DSP: Under The Tree; Accessories: Wonderful Wreath and Banners Framelits Collections)

Wonderful, Blissful Wreath

I've seen some interesting color combinations used with the "Wondrous Wreath" set. There have been some great fall colors and great Christmas colors. I've also seen some unusual colors that have just been WOW! Believe it or not, I really like Basic Gray and Smoky Slate--especially when paired together with another color that makes them pop. For this card, my POP is Blackberry Bliss.

The sketch for this week's CAS(e) This Sketch is simplicity itself--yeah, it's clean and simple. And that can be hard to imagine--or not to actually steal someone's idea. So, I used a number of ideas that I have seen around the stamping blog-o-sphere to create this card. That's what I love about our stamping community--it's a community and we inspire each other!!

Here's the sketch that I've copied and stolen for my card.



Along with this interesting color combination, I wanted to use one of the word Framelits as the sentiment on the card. I think this makes the card elegant. I added two embossed stripes at the bottom, but they're had to see in the photo--so you'll have to trust me ;-)

(Stamp Set: Wondrous Wreath; Inks: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Blackberry Bliss; Card Stock: Smoky Slate, Blackberry Bliss, Basic Gray, Whisper White; Accessories: Wonderful Wreath Framelits Collection, Simply Scored Score Board)

Sweet Taffy Birthday

The sketch at the Create with Connie & Mary challenge blog reminded me of birthday streamers, so I pulled out some scraps of Sweet Taffy Designer Series Paper and decided to make a cheery birthday card.



I love these colors on the Sweet Daffy DSP. I think they're great all year round for birthdays. I cut 3 1"-inch strips of DSP and flagged them using the Hexagon punch. I adhered the banners to a Whisper White mat and layered it on bright Daffodil Delight and onto a Melon Mambo card base. I stamped a sentiment from the "And Many More" set and finished the card by adding a 1/4" Melon Mambo Cotton Ribbon. Sweet!

(Stamp Set: And Many More; Ink: Tempting Turquoise; Card Stock: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White; DSP: Sweet Taffy; Accessories: 1/4" Melon Mambo Cotton Ribbon, Hexagon Punch)

Very Merry Trees

OOOO! I love the sketch on the Freshly Made Sketches challenge blog this week! I had an idea for a fall card, but it's been so cold the last few day and I had a piece of Trim The Tree DSP laying on my desk, so I was destined to make a Christmas card.



Once I had the DSP in hand, I went digging through my scrap box looking for a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock to use as a mat. While I was searching, I found a piece of Crumb Cake that I used as the card base. These colors together make such a nice vintage card. I embossed the Cherry Cobbler mat with the Stylish Stripes Embossing folder, adhered the piece of DSP, and tied some yummy Cherry Cobbler linen ribbon. 

Next, I grabbed the "Festival of Trees" stamp set and stamped two traditional evergreen trees in Garden Green on Whisper White and punched them with the Tree Punch. I stamped the tree bases in Early Espresso onto Whisper White and fussy cut them. I mounted the trees and bases with Stampin' Dimensionals. For a final touch, I added a banner from the "And Many More" stamp set.

(Stamp Sets: Festival of Trees, And Many More; Inks: Garden Green, Early Espresso; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; DSP: Trim The Tree; Accessories: Elegant Stripes Embossing Folder, Cherry Cobbler Linen Thread, Tree Punch, Circle Card Punch (for Label Banner)

Old Fashioned Christmas

I really try to avoid using red and green on Christmas cards. It's really, er, "traditional." I like vintage cards, blue cards, and I can even go with Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla. But red and green are so "normal." But sometimes the normal, traditional route is the way to go!

This week the Fab Friday challenge is a sketch. It's clean and simple and I had an idea right away...but this time the plan didn't come together. But I worked with the elements and rotated the star and offset it and, voila! I like it. Clean and simple and normal and traditional...and just a tiny bit funky!

(Stamp Sets: Bright & Beautiful, And Many More; Inks: Real Red, Garden Green; Card Stock: Real Red, Garden Green, Whisper White; Accessories: Stars Framelits Collection, Elegant Stripes Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Circle Card Framelits (for Banner), Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones)

A Cheery Octopus

The challenge this week at the Addicted to Clean and Simple blog is a sketch. I decided to use a set that I haven't picked up in quite a while: Sea Street. I've been making Christmas and fall cards for a while, so I wanted a little change of place. This sketch challenge was just the ticket for a change of pace!
 

I really love the colors in the Maritime Designer Series Paper--"classic" Real Red and Night of Navy and an "In Color" Coastal Cabana. I can never quite figure out how to "display" the cute octopus in this set. Fussy cut? Circle Framelit? Square? Ah! I tried the Window Frames Framelit Collection and I like it!!

(Stamp Sets: Sea Street, And Many More; Inks: Coastal Cabana, Real Red; Card Stock: Real Red, Night of Navy, Whisper White; DSP: Maritime; Accessories: Window Frame and Banners Framelits Collection, Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Pool Party Candy Dots)

A Yummy Color Challenge

The colors over at the Create With Connie & Mary Challenge blog are so yummy! Look!



I was inspired to use the Blackberry Bliss honeycomb sheet from the Moonlight Designer Series Pack. I love this DSP!! I embossed a Hello Honey card base with the Honeycomb embossing folder to carry that theme through the card. I mounted the Blackberry Bliss DSP on a Blackberry Bliss card stock mat to give it some heft so that I could wrap some Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon around it. 

Next, I stamped a sentiment from the Perfect Pennants stamp set and cut it using a Chalk Talk framelit. This card came together very quickly--thanks to the yummy color challenge.

(Stamp Set: Perfect Pennants; Ink: Tangelo Twist; Card Stock: Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White; DSP: Moonlight Designer Series Pack; Accessories: Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Chalk Talk Framelits Collection, Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones)

Tap Tap Tap

So, my day started out kinda meh and turned way into ARGH!! Life with teenagers. Um, long (long, long) story short: My son "lost" his backpack. We drove all over town revisiting everywhere he'd been all afternoon, trudged through the woods twice--after dark--and it eventually dawned on him that he really hadn't lost his backpack, but he'd left it at his friend's house--half a block away. ARGH!! That's an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back.

Oh, and then when I got home around 8:30, my darling daughter was waiting for me to help her with her homework. Really? You have TWO parents. ARGH!!!

So, my crafting time didn't start until like 10:00. Fortunately, this week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge blog has an awesome sketch to spur on my creativity.



Next, I grabbed a piece of Confetti Celebration DSP which set my color scheme: Basic Gray, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush. With all the elements on this sketch, I decided it needed a simple, but edgy image and the "Tap Tap Tap" set filled that bill nicely. I think this card turned out pretty well for a "rush job"!!

(Stamp Sets: Tap Tap Tap, Gorgeous Grunge; Inks: Basic Gray, Strawberry Slush; Card Stock: Basic Gray, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White; DSP: Confetti Celebration; Accessories: 2" Circle Punch, Basic Gray Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones)

Stampin' Up's Online Extravaganza Starts Monday November 24!

Wowza! Stampin' Up! is pulling out all the stops for this year's Thanksgiving week deals! There are items for 50% off--including ribbons, punches, and washi tape. The Monday November 24 DOOR BUSTER items are amazing! Most (but not all) embossing folders are only $5. Yes! FIVE DOLLARS. The Gift Box Punch Board is 30% off. And the bundle of the Everyday Occasions AND Hip Hip Hooray Cardmaking kits is only $34.93--that's a 30% savings!!

Shop early--because these items are only available while supplies last. Just click on the "shop here" button over there on the right side of my blog to get started. Or email me by 8:00 Monday evening to take advantage of the Monday only deals!!!

Click this link to view the entire flyer.

Oh, Happy Day! Simply Snowflake Paper Pumpkin

The November 2014 Paper Pumpkin kit is so wonderful!! Everyone should subscribe. These kits are a quick and easy project with beautiful results.

"Simply Snowflake" comes with a 6-piece photopolymer stamp set that is totes adorbs. It comes with a Lost Lagoon Stampin' Spot. And comes with enough supplies to make 8 cards and 24 (TWENTY-FOUR!!) tags...with stuff left over for other projects.

Here is the card and the tag I made with the kit.

(November 2014 Simply Snowflake Paper Pumpkin Kit)

Here's the Stampin' Up video that shows you everything in the kit. I know you're going to want to subscribe so that you don't miss out on any more kits! Just click on the badge on the left-side of my blog to get started today!

 
 

A Little Birdie Christmas

Stampin' Up demo extraordinaire, Ronda Wade, created this cute little card using the "For The Birds" stamp set. This is a versatile set that can be used all year round. I love that it's not a "Christmas set" but it contains a Christmas stamp--and it's soooo cute!!

I used the "On Point" Embossing Folder to add a little dimension in the background--but other than that, this is Ronda's sweet design.

We'll be making this card on Saturday at the last Christmas card-making class! I'm a little late getting this posted because I've been in the "factory" cutting card parts all evening!!

(Stamp Set: For the Birds; Ink: Early Espresso; Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla; DSP: 2013-15 In Color Designer Series Paper Pack; Accessories: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Hello Honey Stampin' Right Markers, Circles Framelits Collection, Hexagon Punch (for flagging banner), Linen Thread)

 

Letterpress Winter

I loved the "Letterpress Winter" stamp set the moment I saw it...and then I had trouble figuring out how to use it. I've been working with it, but I'm still trying to perfect it. 

In the meantime, I found a lovely card made by Julie Davison. It's pretty close to perfection--so I had to CASE it! Julie used the "All Is Calm" embellishments, but since my Christmas card-making stampers will be making 60 of these, I substituted some basic rhinestones to provide a bit of bling.

(Stamp Set: Letterpress Winter; Inks: Pool Party, Lost Lagoon; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Lost Lagoon, Pool Party, Whisper White; Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Whisper White Baker's Twine)

Quilted Christmas

My last Christmas card-making class is this Saturday. I'm kinda sad and kind a glad. It's a LOT of work--but it's a LOT of fun, too. I love being with all my stamping friends and I love seeing them excited about the cards they're creating!!

Sometimes I have great ideas for cards and sometimes I have to "cheat" and CASE someone else's card. I saw this card on Splitcoast Stampers and I had to CASE it because it's totes adorbs!!

(Stamp Set: Project Life Holiday Cheer; Ink: Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; DSP: Trim The Tree DSP Pack; Accessories: Postage Stamp, 1" Square Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punches, Banners Framelits Collection, Simply Scored Score Board)

I added a couple of score lines on the right and bottom of the card to balance it out. I love this simplicity of this card!!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!

My mother-in-law's birthday is later this week. I asked my husband if he'd like me to make a card for her.  He said, "Yes, but please make sure it's a $90 card." What? You ask.

Well, during the #2014InspireCreateShare Stampin' Up convention, one of my absolutely favorite stampers, Lydia Fiedler, gave a presentation in which her premise was "You know you tell your husband that the reason you stamp is because it is so much more economical to make your own cards than to buy them at the store." ;-) Lydia showed three cards at $30, $50, and $90 price points. So, DH wanted the best for his mom!

I was following the Stamp Review Crew's blog hop today where they're featuring the "Amazing Birthday" stamp set. Wendy Wexler made a fabulous card that I had to CASE for Grandma. You should start at Wendy's blog and follow the hop all the way around for some more ways to use this great set!!

Here's my take, a little simpler than Wendy's card.

(Stamp Set: Amazing Birthday; Inks: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake; Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White; DSP: 2013-15 In Color DSP Pack; Accessories: Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, 1" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch)

For the record, if you were starting from scratch--meaning if you didn't have even one Stampin' Up item--this card costs $188 to make (before tax and shipping/handling)! Hey! That's a workshop with some FREE stuff!!

Sugar, Spice & Pumpkin Spice Latte

I needed to make a quick card tonight because I have to get in bed early. We're catching the early bus to New York City and I have to get up way too early in the morning.

I pulled out my "Perfect Blend" stamp set because I haven't used it in a while...and I guess because I'm realizing that I'll need loads of coffee in the morning to get me going! I love this set--it's simply perfect and it's so inexpensive! I also love using this stamp set with Stampin' Up's fall designer series papers. This year's "Color Me Autumn" DSP is no exception. I think these colors and patterns are fabulous together with this set.

What do you think?

(Stamp Set: Perfect Blend; Ink: Cajun Craze; Card Stock: Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla; DSP: Color Me Autumn; Accessories: Oval and Word Bubbles Framelits Collection, Decorative Dots Embossing Folder)

Thank You, Susan

My office administrator is moving on to another job. She's "movin' on up!" And good for her! She's a really sweet person and I'll miss her.

I made this card to tell her just how much I'll miss her. It's all purple because that's her favorite color. Even though I use my stamp-a-ma-jig I can never seem to line up this set--at least it's consistently off-kilter!!

I've been wanting to use the Fun Frames embossing folders for a while. I've seen such cute cards using them. I fussy cut the large frame. I stamped the sentiment again on Whisper White and fussy cut it so that it would fit in the frame.
Finally, I added a corner of bling for balance.

(Stamp Sets: Stippled Blossoms, Really Good Greetings; Inks: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant; Card Stock: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White; Accessories: Fun Frames Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones)

A Thanksgiving Stuffed with Happiness

This week's Nacho Average sketch challenge is clean and simple--my favorite kind of sketch! I thought this would make a nice Thanksgiving card--using the "Mingle All The Way" stamp set.



I like the simplicity of the sketch, but I also like to add textures to add visual interest. This card uses banner and arrows to draw the eye in various directions.

(Stamp Set: Mingle All The Way; Ink: Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock: Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Very Vanilla; Accessories: Arrows Embossing Folder. Banners Framelits Collection; Gold Baker's Twine, Basic Gold Metal Button)