oh boy... get ready for a long post :)

Where, oh where, did April go??? I can not believe today is the last day of April!! The month just flew by. I know this is going to be a long post, but I have so much to share... It will be worth it, I promise ;)

Okay... so today is the last day you can get your hands on the Summer Smooches product suite until the new catalog is available June 1st (and the very last day ever that you can get this awesome coordinating stencil). Here are some projects I had fun making with these goodies...

The stenciled Whisper White card stock on the right page was inspired by a card sample in the April Newsletter I sent out. (If you would like to receive the May Newsletter, head on over to my Stampin' Up! website and click on "request my newsletter".)

I used a sponge dauber and Lucky Limeade ink to create the stenciled strip. Then I stamped the dotted image from Bright Blossoms randomly in Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry. Using the Boho Blossoms punch, I added Rich Razzleberry and Daffodil Delight flowers (with Basic Pearl centers) for more detail.

The stencil makes another appearance on the left page, but this time using Island Indigo ink - so pretty!

The 1-1/2" wide strips of Summer Smooches DSP add a playful touch at the top of the page. Even though the Summer Smooches brads are sold out, you could easily copy this look with buttons.

The stencil works great on cards, too! For this 5" square card, I used Lucky Limeade card stock and ink. I also used Island Indigo ink for the stamped background images and the sentiment.

A strip of Summer Smooches DSP behind the sentiment adds another pop of color. Oh, and it's always fun to stamp your envelope!

Okie dokie - so now that your creative juices are flowing, here's another reminder...TODAY is the LAST day to order from the Occasions Mini Catalog!! And I have to bid it farewell with a project using my favorite stamp set from this Mini:

I really hope the Mixed Bunch stamp set and the Blossom punch carry over into the new catalog... I guess we'll find out June 1st. If you haven't ordered it yet, you just have to! It's so easy to use!!

Don't you just LOVE these colors together??!! Tangerine Tango, Blushing Bride, and Pear Pizzazz - FABULOUS!!  *** Technique Tip: You can create fun backgrounds by dry embossing a piece of Designer Series Paper with an Embossing Folder and your Big Shot. For more detail, lightly use a Sanding Block to expose the white core of the paper.

Okay,  this post has probably gotten long enough  :}  I could add more, but I'll give you a break so you can get back to your stamping - or at least wishing you were stamping. Have a wonderful evening!

big and bright

Even though it doesn't feel like summer outside (not even close!), it sure does in my stamp room  :}  I am having the best time playing with my Summer Smooches goodies!!
Today's project uses a super fun card sketch from Connie & Mary:

It's a great sketch, so I had a ton of ideas. As I was clearing a spot to create my masterpiece (I am such a messy stamper), I came upon an envelope left over from a My Digital Studio 5x7 card project that I had printed from the SU print service. I would never waste a perfectly good envelope, so I decided to create a 5x7 card. I LOVE how it turned out!
To the Daffodil Delight card base, I added two patterns from the Summer Smooches DSP. To hide the seam, I added a strip of Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon.
After die cutting an oval with my Big Shot, I used the Bright Blossoms stamp set to stamp my focal point. I wanted a very simple "mat" around the oval, so I adhered more Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon to the back of the oval.
**Technique Tip** I find it a little tricky to use a marker to color tiny little leaves and stems, so I inked the whole image using a Lucky Limeade stamp pad. Then I used a Blender Pen like an "eraser" to remove the ink from the flower-dots. It's much easier to use the markers on just the dots  :}
I used Circle punches to create the flowers and leaves. Then I added Basic Rhinestones (one of each size) to my flowers for a fun little touch.
**Bonus Technique Tip** Here's a short video to show you how I rounded the corners on the bottom layer of DSP-

Thanks so much for dropping by today... I think I'll go clean up from this project and start another one  :}

Summer Smooches

Even though it's cold and windy outside, the sun is shining and my hands are gravitating toward the bright colors in the Summer Smooches product suite. The lovely colors playing together nicely in this collection are: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise.

www.stamp_pad.stampinup.net

These are "sneak peek" products from the upcoming catalog, which is available June 1st. You have until April 30th to get your hands on these goodies early. The fabric-covered brads and the stencil will NOT be in the upcoming catalog, so if you need them, get them now!

I used my new goodies to make this bright and cheery card:

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight

Card stock: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White

DSP: Summer Smooches

Ribbon: Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding

Tools: Big Shot, Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Extra Large Oval punch, Paper Snips

I stuck a length of Sticky Strip along the DSP seam, and then pleated my Seam Binding as I pressed it down. Then I wrapped the ends under the DSP (before I adhered it to my card base). The oval focal point is adhered using Dimensionals, and I used mini Glue Dots to adhere the snipped flower and vase.

I hope it's bright and sunny wherever you are, and if it's not, I hope this project added a little sunshine to your day  :}  Thanks for stopping by!!

happy birthday to me

Is it just me, or did birthdays cease to be so exciting after turning 21?  ;)  Oh, well... another year older and a new driver's license picture - yuck. I was so sad to have to get a new picture. My just-expired license had a great photo; this license photo is just icky. Grrrr! Alrighty, enough grumbling   :}

This morning I opened these cards from my two boys. I LOVE that they like to make cards, too! A big thanks to my Mom who helped them make these cards.

And how convenient that Ben's card gives me a transition to my next bit of info  ;P 

The sentiment on Ben's card is from the Sincere Salutations stamp set, which is one of the many stamp sets retiring at the end of May. You can view all of the retiring stamp sets right from my website.

So, wondering what I spent some of my birthday money on??? I just had to get the Petite Purse Bigz L Die!! It's a new die that will be in the upcoming catalog in June. But you can order it in April as part of the "sneak peek" Summer Smooches promotion!

So adorable!! You can slip a few small chocolates or candies inside for a fun, girlie little gift  :}  Or, some lipbalm, buttons and brads, cash... I'll accept it all! On this one, I used a mini Glue Dot to add a Rich Razzleberry button to the flap. I made a little "purse tag" using the Tiny Tags stamp set, the Jewelry Tag punch, and some white Baker's Twine.

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a wonderful weekend  :}

more fun with a card sketch

  

Remember this card sketch?

I brought it out of hiding the other day, and I love how easy it is to use  :}  It worked well on a card for one of my technique classes.

One of my favorite things about Stampin' Up! is how everything coordinates. For this card, I was even able to coordinate the Houndstooth Embossing Folder with a houndstooth patterned stamp from the Posy Punch Hostess stamp set. Cute, cute, cute! 

Here's a closeup and a list of supplies:

Stamp Sets: Posy Punch, Perfectly Penned

Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Card stock: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Whisper White

DSP: Pear Pizzazz (In Color Paper Stack)

Accessories: Pear Pizzazz 3/8" Pleated Satin Ribbon, Peach Parfait Glimmer Brad

Tools: Fancy Flower punch, 3/4" Circle punch, Big Shot, Houndstooth Embossing Folder

A few members of my downline even had some fun with my card sketch...

So go ahead and give this sketch a try - it's super easy and fun to work with  :}  Thanks for stopping by today!

birthday fun

Good morning! The project I'm sharing today is my brother's birthday card - Happy Birthday to my little brother! The card is in the mail, but it will be late- shocker ;)

I chose the colors - Poppy Parade, Basic Gray, and So Saffron - from this color challenge. I finally got a chance to put some ink to the You're My Type stamp set... yay! Since this is a "guy" card, I kept the layers pretty simple, using some First Edition and Twitterpated DSP.

I distressed the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock pieces for some no-fuss details. I also sponged some So Saffron ink on the edges of the sentiment banner. For a simple embellishment, I punched two Poppy Parade pieces (using the scallop shaped punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack) and added a So Saffron brad to the center.

Well, I'm off to squeeze in a bit of exercise before my little one gets home... no pain - no gain, right???  Have a fabulous day  :}

I'm back!

So, did you miss me? Don't answer that  ;)
I can not believe a whole month has gone by since my last post! As usual, it has been crazy busy here at home. Now that my computer seems to be co-operating, Aaron's asthma is somewhat under control, Sale-A-Bration is done, Ben's birthday and party are over, and spring break is on the horizon, I'm hoping for a little breathing room in April. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

April is the last month for the Occasions Mini Catalog, so be sure to order your favorites while you can. One of my favorites is a Hostess selection- the Simple Snapshots Digital Content CD. I wasn't sure about the colors at first (Tangerine Tango, River Rock, Lucky Limeade, Pink Pirouette, and Basic Gray), but once I started playing around with the content, I really liked it!

Soooo, I used Simple Snapshots to create the new look for my blog today  :)  Woohoo!! Cute, right??!

And I was having so much fun, I went ahead and made a scrapbook page of my beautiful niece. I LOVE how it turned out!

Seriously, have you ever seen a prettier baby??? She's so photogenic  :)

Well, here's to a better April than March. I can't wait to show you some adorable projects using the "sneak peek" products from the Summer Smooches Collection. Click here to order yours... the Summer Smooches promotion ends April 30th! Happy stamping  :)