Feeling Productive

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   Even before our quarantine began, I was decluttering and reorganizing parts of my house. I really don't like clutter, but I don't always feel like taking the time to fix a mess--until I get overwhelmed with the mess and then action is called for. Know what I mean? Honestly, sometimes the "crafter-math" in my stampin' room is out of control and I can't create until I put everything back in its place. It's just so calming when everything is put away and prettily organized.

As the Stampin' Up year is coming to and end, I've pulled all my retiring supplies and I'm about ready--but not quite--to pack them up to make way for new stuff. In the process, I also go through my card samples to see which ones will carry over and which ones have stamp sets, designer series paper, and embellishments that have retired. As you can imagine, I have TONS of cards. I usually try to sell them at a local holiday craft fair, but even then, I still have too many to deal with. 

However, I spent time today gathering cards to donate to Operation Gratitude. This non-profit organization supports military, veterans, and first responders. Even with COVID-19 upon us, this organization is taking donations--they'll need  more than just greeting cards--and providing our heroes with the encouragement they so deserve. I hope you'll check out their website and see what YOU can donate to them.

Since I used all my energy (creative or otherwise) on gathering and fixing cards to donate, I decided to pull a couple of previously made cards to feature on my blog today. Both cards use the adorable, and sadly retiring, 
"Witty-cisms" stamp set from the January-to-June Mini Catalog. Aren't these stinkin' cute?!

Both designs are stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Whisper White Card Stock. The baby buggy is colored with Light and Dark Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends and the strawberry is colored with Light Real Red and Light Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends. The baby buggy image is cut with an oval Stitched Shape Die and adhered to a Balmy Blue scalloped oval cut with a Layering Ovals Die. The strawberry is cut with one of the Stitched So Sweetly Dies.

Both cards have a 4" by 5-1/4" Whisper White Card Stock panel that I embossed with the Subtle Embossing Folder. I adhered everything to a matching card base--either Balmy Blue or Mint Macaron.

These cards were so quick and easy to make--and if you'd like the "Witty-cism" stamp set (retiring) in your collection, order before it retires on June 2. FYI: stamp sets are only guaranteed to be available until May 22. When they're gone, they're gone. 

 

tams# 44404

Product List

Witty-Cisms Cling Stamp Set [151686] $22.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75
Real Red Combo Pack Stampin' Blends [147935] $9.00	Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [147283] $9.00	Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [148544] $9.00	Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00
Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690] $32.00	Stitched Shapes Dies [152323] $30.00	Layering Ovals Dies [151771] $35.00	Whisper White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon [151326] $7.50
Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon [146912] $7.50	Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins [146933] $7.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Lookin' Sharp

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #saleabration   #ManicMonday Over the weekend, I attended my Stampin' Up Group's new catalog gathering. We made16 make-and-take cards using new stamp sets and products from the January-to-June Mini and Sale-a-Bration catalogs. I also participated in a swap and received more than a dozen gorgeous cards.  

Since today is Manic Monday, I have a quick and easy card to share that we made at the Proverbial Stampers & Friends gathering. It uses the ever so adorable "Witty-cisms" stamp set on page 37 of the January-to-June Mini catalog. Take a look!

We started by adhering a 1-1/2" by 4" piece of striped Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper to a Cajun Craze Card Stock card base.  Our stampin' helpers had already pre-cut Crushed Curry and Whisper White rectangles using the new Stitched So Sweetly Dies on page 20. I've got to say that I totally missed these the first thousand times I paged through the catalog...but they're awesome!

We stamped the cactus image in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto the Whisper White rectangle and colored it with Light and Dark Old Olive Stampin' Blends--and it only took a few seconds to color! We adhered the layered rectangles to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

For a finishing touch, we tied a knot in the center of a length of Braided Burlap Trim and adhered it to the card with a Mini Glue Dot.

We made this card in a snap--and you can too! It's perfect for a Manic Monday. All the supplies needed to make this card are listed below. Just click on any thumbnail and you'll be taken to my online store where you can shop to your heart's content. And remember: for every $50 you spend during Sale-a-Bration you earn FREE product!

tams# 40319

Product List

Witty-Cisms Cling Stamp Set [151686] $22.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Cajun Craze 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119684] $8.75	Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131199] $8.75
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Bird Ballad Designer Series Paper [149592] $11.50	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $9.00	Stitched So Sweetly Dies [151690] $32.00
5/16" (8 Mm) Braided Burlap Trim [151254] $8.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25