Gotta love the hostess sets!

I really love almost all of the hostess sets in this years catalog.  I love how they are all so achievable.  I was always bummed about atleast one of the level 3 stamp sets that I would never be able to earn.  Now I can earn them all!  I really like the images in the hostess set Aint Love Grand.  I have pulled it out a couple of times but have had a hard time using it on a card.  This is the first attempt that I am actually happy about.  I stamped the plane image with stazon ink on some watercolor paper and then colored it with an aquapainter.  I used Lucky Limeade and Pool Party for the water coloring.  The paper is from the Spice Cake DSP in the Holiday Mini, it is my all time most favorite paper yet from Stampin’ Up!  I’ve got a busy weekend ahead but a fun one, have a great weekend!

Pin It Now!

Up, Up and Away

I have had a lot of fun with the Up, Up and Away stamp set.  I have always loved hot air balloons and watching them in the sky.  In fact I remember one time as a child, playing in the backyard with my siblings and seeing one float over our yard, close enough for us to shout “hello” at the people in the balloon and have them shout back at us. This card is super simple but could be used for a variety of different occasions, (I love to have those type of cards around.)  The colors are Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi and Concord Crush, and were inspired by a dress my daughter was wearing. 

Pin It Now!

UStamp With Dawn and Friends!! Paper Parade project #2

Who wouldn’t love a 3 in 1 gift?  This is a fun Nesting/Stacking trio of boxes. Although the live event it over you can still get access to all of the projects from the Paper Parade session of UStamp With Dawn and Friends, which include this tutorial.

I think my favorite part of this project is the card.  I just love the look of the quilling on the strawberries.

 

Pin It Now!

Ustamp With Dawn and Friends!! Paper Parade project one

Well in my blogging absence I had two projects post on UStamp With Dawn and Friends!!.  The live even is now over but you can still join and have access to all of the 50+ projects and ideas.  My first project was centered around the little stamp set Merry Winter.  I just love the little snowmen.  I just love snowmen in general, probably because I grew up in sunny warm San Diego, the land of no snow (except Christmas Eve 1987, I was 8 and it snowed, but of course melted as soon as it hit the ground).  I just cannot get enough snowmen.  I don't know about you, but I always seem to be reaching for a quick card around the holidays, whether it is a quick note to give with a baked good, or a thank you for some kindness from someone else etc, I never seem to have enough cards around or I have to go digging through stuff to go find one that will work at the last second.  I came up with this cute guy to have out and hide my card stash at the same time. 

I can keep my snowman out as a decoration and he is a card holder at the same time.

I will have cards at my fingertips when I need them,  And I will also know when I am out and need to go make more.

    

Pin It Now!

Trick or Treat

Wow, I cannot believe it has been a whole month since I have posted here to the blog.  Each of my 4 kids added one new activity to their schedules this school year.  When they asked about these activities I really only thought how it would affect each of their individual schedules and not the big impact on me.  Boy was I not thinking!  Then my DH and I went out of town on a business trip a week and a half ago and I think I am finally caught up on all of the chores.  I miss all of my time, but it is all worth it.  I guess that I have learned that I am going to have to actually physically try to schedule in a specific time to work on my blog and set some posts up in advance.  Or at least that is my goal to get something here to you on a more regular basis.  The good news is that I do actually have some things to share with you!

Today I have a card featuring the Trick or Treat Letter Press Plate for the Big Shot.  I really like the look of the de-bossed, inked image.  A picture will not do it justice.

I sure had a hard time getting the plates to work right, but after I watched the video on the Stampin’ Up! website and actually followed the instructions, it worked great!

Pin It Now!

Field Flowers

Goodness, I have had the hardest time with this blog and finding stampin time lately.  Well at least for now things have finally slowed down a bit and we have had some of out problems solved an figured out so there is a lot less stress in our lives over here now.  If only it could stay this way a while, please, I might actually get time to stamp and post on here.

During my absence I celebrated my birthday and I like to offer blog candy on my birthday so I will have to go find something to offer up and probably post it here tomorrow!

I love the new Field Flowers stamp set.  You just can’t go wrong with this set.  It creates beautiful cards in a matter of moments.  I made this card a few weeks ago when I had less than 5 spare minutes and took them to stamp.  It took more time to get out the supplies than to make this card.  I’ve got to go run and get caught up on stuff like laundry and mopping the floor.  Have a stamperific day!

Pin It Now!

Christmas Gift Card Holders

My second project for Ustamp With Dawn and Friends!! went live yesterday so I can share it with you.  It seems that each year I give more and more gift cards vs. actual gifts.  I always feel guilty about giving a gift card even if it is what the person really wants and has asked for.  So this is my way to ease some of that gift, fun homemade gift card holders.  All 5 items in this picture are different gift card holders.

.

My favorite one to give is the candy bar.  That way the recipient gets something sweet while they are waiting for the opportunity to go spend their gift card. 

     

Pin It Now!

Diva Coffee Break Design Challenge #236

WooHoo!  A post two days in a row and two nights of stamping in a row!  I am one happy momma!  Oh how I have missed my stamps so far this summer, but it has been totally worth it to enjoy the time with the kiddos. 
This week’s color challenge was out of my comfort zone.  Really when I first saw the colors I thought “ick, maybe I should skip this week”.  Well I could not bring myself to skipping out on my responsibilities when I was around and could actually do them.  Well here are the colors.
I am not a huge fan of Bravo Burgundy or that much of a fan of River Rock either, but I find River Rock more do-able than Burgundy.  I don't know, its just not for me.   After staring at the three ink pads lined up on my desk for a while I finally figured something out.  I knew that it was going to have to be simple or I would not be able to pull it off. 
But I really think that I pulled it off!  I actually am very happy with the card and will actually use it!  This card is a 3” x 6” card, a 6” x 6” piece of cardstock scored at 3”.  I was able to use another new stamp set, Button Buddies as well as my Friendly Phrases stamp set.  Button Buddies is such a cute stamp set, even if you are not using the buttons.  It was one that I was instantly drawn to, so many fun images in it.  Well I hope that I have been able to show you that you can create pretty things even if you do not like the colors.  I hope that you can play along with us at the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog so that I can see what other wonderful things you all can do with these colors and inspire me to use them more! Pin It Now!

School’s Out For the Summer!!

Well the kids got out of school on Friday and we are all at home.  I love being able to spend extra time with the kids.  We always start summer out with trips to the library and bookstores to sign up for reading programs and of course some extra cleaning. 

Last year we gave out Teacher Journal Jars, and they seemed to be a big hit, so I did one again this year.  This is such a great gift idea for teachers to record their history and to share a part of them with their posterity.  (You can check out the one that we did last year here with links to downloads).  I was able to use up some retiring items on this gift!  I will be sad to see Tart and Tangy go, the little images are so great to use for all occasions.  I have also really enjoyed using the Greenhouse Gala DSP over the past year. 

Pin It Now!

Fabulous and Fun

I am having so much fun using the Fabulous Florets stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog.  I keep putting it back away so that it is not out and my “go-to” set but I cannot keep myself from grabbing it.  It is so easy and fun to use.  Here is a simple card that I made using the set. 

The colors I used are Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point and Pear Pizzazz.  I didn't really want to mat the image layer but it felt like it needed a little something so I took my Pacific Point marker and used the brush tip along the edge of the cardstock to give it a little outline, just what it needed.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the UStamp Blog Hop!

Have you heard? In honor of our 2 year anniversary for  the NEXT UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! event will be FREE!! Yep, Zip, Zero Zilch, Nada, completely free, no strings attached!!

* The FABULOUS UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! Design Team will have awesome projects for you to enjoy at their blogs on the Worlds Showcase Blog Hop.

* Every project will include a link for a downloadable PDF tutorial.

* Every Designer will have BLOG Candy at their blogs and YOU could be a winner!!

*We will have FUN Creative Challenges where you can share your projects

* Talent Search...would you like to be considered for a Guest Designer spot for the UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Design Team?? Get your MoJo going because details will be announced June 10th.

Pin It Now!

A Recent Swap

OK so it wasn’t all that recent, but it was the most recent swap that I participated in.  I made this back before my stamping hiatus.  I chose to share it with you because I really like the birds in this little stamp set and it is on the retiring list.  The birds are just too cute. 

This card is pretty simple to replicate so it would be great for a class or workshop.  It is hard to tell in this picture but there is some saffron sponging on the bird focal image.  In person it adds the perfect depth to make the image pop. 

Stamps: Happy Together, Medallion

Ink: So Saffron, Poppy Parade

Paper:So Saffron, Poppy Parade, Pawsitively Prints II DSP, Whisper White

Accessories:  Stampin Dimensionals, Poppy Parade Stitched Poly Ribbon

Tools: 1 3/8” and 1 1/4” Circle Punches

Pin It Now!

Grandmas are the Greatest!

My Grandma is totally awesome, not only is she the sweetest nicest Grandma, she enjoys to paper craft.  She shared a fabulous idea with me that she had for the Elegant Lines embossing folder.  She thought of turning it into seaweed with little air bubble floating in it.  Genius! 
I loved the idea and thought it would look super cute with some punched fish. 

I sponged the embossed lines with Wild Wasabi ink to create the seaweed.  I really think that this card turned out cute and love the idea for the seaweed.  It is always amazing to me to see all of the different ways one product can be used in ways other than its original intended use. 
Ink:  Wild Wasabi
Paper: Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories:  Stampin Dimensionals
Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, 5 Petal Flower Punch, Ornament Punch, Owl Punch (circles for eyes)Pin It Now!

Attentive Man’s Card Arsenal

This is a fun class that makes a great to give to a man or even a class for men!

All of the cards and envelopes fit in a box and in the box is an Important Dates reminder card so that the “Attentive Man” can keep track of the important things (as long as he remembers to look!) All of the instructions for the class as well as a pdf for the Important Dates card and the box lid label can be found at Ustamp with Dawn and Friends!! Classes, Camps and Clubs.

Pin It Now!

Finally

I finally have something I can show you.  I have really been struggling over the last two weeks with my stamping.  The first week, I spent every night at my desk trying to create something, but nothing ever materialized in my head.  It was pretty depressing.  Then I started looking at some blogs for ideas and thought I came up with something, went to my stamping desk and nothing.  But my two little girls went down for a nap early and at the same time, so I had some time this morning and I figured I would try to stamp again, and I created something.  I am so excited to have something to share even though I am not completely, entirely happy with it. 

Above is the sketch for the Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge for this week.   I used my favorite stamp set from the Summer Mini.  It was just one of the ones that as soon as I saw it I knew I had to get it no matter what.  I love the combination of solid and line art images.  I am not 100% sure on the color combo now that it is done.  When I was trying to pull out colors to start with they looked great together, but maybe I used too much of the Daffodil, it just isn't sitting perfect, but I am so happy to have created something decent.  

I am off to go try some more stamping while the girls are still asleep!

Stamps: Fabulous Florets

Ink: Black Craft, Old Olive, Rose Red

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Concord Crush, Old Olive, Rose Red, Whisper White, Brights DSP Stack

Accessories:  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Basic Black Embossing Powder

Tools: 1 1/4” Square Punch, Heat Tool

Pin It Now!

Diva Coffee Break Designs Color Challenge #218

I really like this weeks color challenge.  The colors are fabulous springy colors just perfect to pull one out of the winter blues.  I had so many ideas for these colors the hard part was deciding which one to use.   I decided to go with a fun baby card this time, but you will probably see this color combo popping up again.

This is a fairly simple card, but I just LOVE it.  I stamped the three baby outfits in a row on the whisper white cardstock, then I stamped it again on each color, cut them out and glued them to their hangers.  The ends of the congratulations tag were made by slipping just the ends of the paper into the Modern Label Punch.

Come on over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog to check out what the other designers have come up with.  There is quite a variety with this color combo.  Then take the colors and play along with us so we can see your creations!   Pin It Now!

Headbands and Hexagon Box

While I was struggling with my computer, my second project was posted over on UStamp With Dawn and Friends!! Oh My Word edition.  I used Stampin’ Up!’s beautiful Spring Time Vintage Designer Fabric to create some headbands.  This would make such a great Mother Daughter class since headbands are so popular.  Although they do involve a little sewing they are super easy.  Just a few straight lines.   I just knew I had to have some great box to put the headbands in and came up with this tall Hexagon Box. These are the 3 different headbands that I made for this project.I really like the way that the card turned out for this project.  The blossoms on the branch were colored in with versamark ink and embossed with clear embossing powder before sponging on the Baja Breeze ink.Here is a Mommy and Me shot.  My 8 year old made her headband with just a little supervision on the sewing machine and the 4 year old helped out with hers too.    

Although the live events have been completed it is not too late to subscribe to the Oh My Word Edition on Ustamp With Dawn and Friends!!  You can still access and down load all of the projects at http://ustampwithdawnandfriends.com. 

Pin It Now!

I’m Back!!! (and have a late DCBD sketch)

As I have shared my computer and I have not been getting along nicely as of late.  Well a week ago Sunday night things took a turn for the worse and we got caught in a cycle of error messages and restarts and it was just a mess going no where.  So we took the computer in to the “doctor” to get it fixed and the techs said it would be a day or two tops.  Well that turned into 4 days and then when we get it back home and start it back up, Windows wouldn’t even launch and it went to an MS DOS prompt saying that the system fan has failed and that it needed to be serviced, so right back it went.  We now have it back, running in tip top shape and we are back in business. 
During our week of separation I missed a posting for the Diva Coffee Break Designs.  This week was a sketch challenge.  This sketch actually came together quite quickly for me, something that usually doesn't happen with sketches and me.  This sketch and Stampin’ Up! designer series paper were made for each other.  It was really a no brainer in trying to pick out the patterns for the different layers with the wonderful coordinating paper. 
It is not too late to play along with this weeks challenge!  Give the sketch a try and post your link over on the Diva Coffee Break Designs Blog so that we can check out and comment on your creation.
Stamps:  Party This Way
Ink:  Pacific Point, Peach Parfait, Versamarker
Paper:  Celebrations DSP, Real Red, Whisper White, Bashful Blue, and Pacific Point
Accessories:  Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Stampin Dimensionals
Tools: Big Shot, 2 1/2” circle punch, 2 3/8” Scallop Circle punch, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Heat ToolPin It Now!