Welcome Summer!

Yeah! I think summer if finally here to stay:-) Yesterday I took my kids to the pool and bike riding. Tonight we just got back from a family bike ride, too. Such a beautiful evening!!! I started a card like this one this morning and really liked it.....until......I started messing with it a little too much and MESSED IT UP! So, now I wanted to remake it the way it originally was to share it with you. This is one of my favorite color combos - purple and green! The Lovely Lilac and Certainly Celery go so nice together! And, how perfect, I had some celery designer paper to add a touch of fun:-) This set is a current Level 2 hostess set that will be retiring at the end of June called Both Way Blossoms. I love the long stems and delicate outlines. Hope you enjoy it!! (The silver circle paperclips I got on clearance @ Target a LOOONG time ago.) Now I'm off for an evening walk with my neighber..........

Pretty Pearl Ex

This is a card from my technique class last week. It uses Pearl Ex powder which has lots of fun uses! We simply brushed it on a versamark stamped image - and it has such a nice shimmer to it. It's much prettier in person! I also used two of my favorite retiring stamp sets: French Script background and the set All I Have Seen. If you love them, too - remember, you only have until the end of June to purchase them!

Back on Track!

Yes, I've slacked off over the weekend. Too many parties and plans and not enough stamping. Actually, I did stamp a graduation card - but used a non-su! stamp for the grad hat as I didn't have access to one from Stampin' Up! I felt kinda guilty as I am a VERY faithful and dedicated Stampin' Up! stamp user. But I didn't really have a choice - and it turned out pretty nice anyway.

Chocolate Lattice - Pink Version

This is the same as the lattice card below - only I used Regal Rose instead of Ballet Blue on the ribbon and flower. I also used the flip side of the Au Chocolate paper. Looks like my "Happy Birthday" stamp is a little straighter than the words on the card below. Either that, or I just got lucky! This is a card for one of my downline - Lisa D. Her birthday is in a few days, so hopefully I'll get it in the mail on time!! Lisa, if you are reading this - I didn't forget you!! Your card will get in the mail.....eventually. I think I only have the old postage stamps, though. So, your card might come with 2 cents postage due!! HA!!!!

Chocolate Lattice

This is the 3rd of my five projects for tomorrow night's class. I just love the look of the Au Chocolate paper. There is so much you can do with it!! This was made using the basic lattice card template with a strip of the chocolate paper adhered on the cardstock before cutting it. As you can see, I am not great at getting my word stamps mounted on my wood blocks very straight (as my friend, Jill, always reminds me!). Obviously, something I need to work on!! E-mail me if you'd like a copy of the lattice template!!

Salted Background

Another card for my class tomorrow night. This is a fun technique, but I realized there is a trick - LOTS of water! I did it once and it looked terrible. Forgot to spray my cardstock first with water. Then I read Beate's tutorial again on SCS (not always good about reading directions!!) and did it over. I'm pretty happy with the results. Such a fun technique to play with as it turns out different everytime! Two projects down, three to go!!!! Back to work...........

Pocket Card

I just love the way white ink looks on the darker colored papers. But I always seem to forget about using it with my wheels. So tonight, while I was doing what I do best (surfing SCS!), I came across a card I just loved with this Petals wheel using the white ink. And....since I having been trying to think of ways to dress up a gift card (for Girl Scout leaders and teachers), I thought I would try this technique and make it into a pocket card. So simple and fun!! I am really happy with how it turned out! I also am a huge fan of the black gingham ribbon - so I had to throw some of that on there, too. The tag inside the pocket has a gift card secured on it with the slit punch. Had to make it purple - that's my FAVE color!!!!! Now I need to go make five more:-)

Doodle Alphabet

I have a stamp class coming up on Wednesday so my wheels were turning today thinking about what cards I am going to make. I had already decided which techniques I want to teach my customers, but then I always have trouble nar-rowing down which stamp sets to use and what color of cardstock looks best. Well, this is my card for teaching the class how to use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. With so many people talking about clear stamps and how easy they are to line things up, I thought if they knew how to use this handy tool, it makes lining things up a breeze! I also used the handy dandy slit punch to make my scallop borders. I just love that trick!! The color combo I got from this very useful tool: color combos. OK, one project down - four to go!!!!!

Shane's Card

I've finally gotten around to making a card for Shane. If you are unfamiliar with Shane, please check out his website and see what you can do to help him: Shane. I'm not overly excited by how the card turned out - but I usually have trouble with cards for guys. I don't want them to be too frilly - so that leaves out most of the fun embellishments! I did take the package from the Crab & Co. set and put it on a dimensional to add depth. I also added the googly eyes - I love this froggy with those eyes!! Anyway, I hope Shane likes it and I hope he gets his birthday wish!

I LOOOOOVE CHOCOLATE!!!!

Not only milk, semi sweet, white, and dark (my VERY favorite!), but the Au Chocolate designer papers from Stampin' Up!! They are so versatile! At first, I thought how brown has become such an "in" color - but won't it be a little boring?? Not even close. Because not only can you use these papers alone for cardmaking and scrapbooking, but you can add a little color with a marker and make it "POP!" If you can't see it well in the photo, I colored some of the designer paper in with a Pretty in Pink marker. I think pinks and browns are so classy together:-) Plus, as you can see here on my blog, I am having a hard time getting away from using my Petal Prints stamp set!! Once again, if you don't already know, it is being retired this year (boo! hoo!). HOWEVER, I know that it will be replaced with something brand new and wonderful - I just can't wait to see it!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!

I LOVE this designed paper on this card - great colors and the delicate print is so versatile. My last Mother's Day card - just in the nick of time! It's been tennis, baseball and more baseball in the last few days. My 8-year-old son is loving being the pitcher and he's doing pretty well with it, too! (If I can brag!) It's 1pm on Saturday and he is asleep. Went to his first sleep-over last night. I don't think anyone slept, though. He's pooped and has another game in a couple of hours. So, fortunately, he came home this morning, curled up in a ball on the couch and has been sleeping since. That's a good thing - for ALL of us!! Hope all you moms out there have a very happy Mother's Day and remember to TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELVES:-)

Doodle That

Another Mother's Day card! This one is for my dear SIL. The Doodle That set is so cute and versitle - just like my SIL:-) I won't be able to stamp in the morning so I thought I'd make a card tonight. Another fun way to use the Palette O' Prints!! Enjoy your Thursday! Yeah!! It's Grey's Anatomy night:-)

Happy Dance!!!

Yes, I am doing the happy dance!! I registered for the Stampin' Up! Convention in Denver this morning. It's in July and I'm sooooo excited!!! So, I thought I'd make a bright and cheery card to reflect my mood:-) Now, if I can only keep up this mood as I get ready to go workout on my exercise bike..........(hmmmm, maybe I'll procrastinate a little while longer......)

Another Helping of Palette O' Prints

I wanted to throw a card together before turning in for the night. The problem is, once my wheels start turning, it's hard to shut them off! These designer papers are so fun! I wanted just a little bit to add some color and interest to my card. I will probably send this to one of the Godmothers for Mother's Day. Inside will say "Happy Mother's Day." This was also a stretch of the imagination on the color combo.... but, I think I like it!! It's Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery and Close to Cocoa - with a little Apricot Appeal thrown in the stamped flower. I sure am going to miss this great stamp set - Petal Prints.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

Like usual, I am a day late and a dollar short. I realized LATE last night that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I usually like to give my kids' teachers a little something every day. I guess they'll have to settle for four out of five this year. This is a project similar to one I did at a stamp camp a year or so ago and uses the adorable retiring stamp set Treat Yourself. It's a package of microwave popcorn wrapped in cardstock with a blockbuster gift card slid in the slot on the front (using the word window punch). I have made these over and over again since it's simple and everyone seems to love it. Hope the teachers do, too!!

Wheels are rolling off the shelves!!

If you are a fan of the Stampin' Up! wheels, you may want to order some of your favorites from the retiring list because they are going FAST!! Here is a fairly up-to-date list of what's left:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_retiredWHEEL_STATUS.pdf

Lattice Card

OK, I lied. I didn't get any cards posted last night. My goal is to make it up today. So, I started early (for me, anyway!) and made this Mother's Day card for my MIL. This lattice technique is easy and fun. I went to a Stampin' Up! meeting on Saturday and we did several projects - the lattice card being one of them. So this morning, I threw together this card in a snap! I also played with my watercolor crayons on the flower - and I love the results!! The flower is from Heartfelt Thanks (which isn't retiring - thank goodness!) and then the words are from All Year Cheer - which IS retiring. Hope you like it:-)

Sneak Peek!!!!

Wow - this weekend sure has flown by! With baseball and all the other activities, I am so worn out. I didn't even get to add anything new and fun here:-( So, to make up for it, I am going to post a couple pictures of some new items from the SU! 2007-2008 Idea Book & Catalog now, and work on some cards to upload later!! So, first we have the new punch box kit:

Since the word stamp sets All Year Cheer I, II and III are being retired, it makes sense that they are introducing some new word sets. Here are a couple of them:

More Retired Stuff....

It was about 7:45pm tonight and I had 15 minutes. I challenged myself to throw together a quick card in that time, before I sat down for a two hour Grey's Anatomy episode. I have to admit, the green strip I found in a scrap pile and it was already stamped (using the set Eclectic Backgrounds which is retiring). Plus, I didn't get the card completely assembled until AFTER McDreamy was off the TV. But, otherwise, for a "thrown-together" card, I don't think it came out too bad. I really like the bright colors, too. The "smile" at the bottom is from one of my favorite word sets - Simple Sayings II. I've used that one a LOT over the years. That one, also, is retiring (sad face). Make sure to check out that retiring list and pick up anything that you can't live without - before it's too late! Speaking of late, I think I'll turn in a little early tonight (midnight) as the kids are home from school tomorrow. I need my rest!!

Retired Stamps

Every year at this time, we anxiously await the list of stamps that will be retiring. This year, there are around 240 stamp sets that are retiring. The exciting part is: RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER IS A BUNCH OF BRAND NEW SETS!! I can't wait!! My only disappointment is that two of my VERY favorite stamp sets are retiring. I made this card in honor of them: Petal Prints and the Script background stamp. I really went outside of my comfort zone with the colors..........just call me a Wild Child!!

I got a present from the UPS man today. New stamps, new ribbon and a tablet of the new designer paper!! It was a good day! Thursday is a crazy day, as usual, and I probably won't have a chance to stamp:-( But, I do have a two hour Grey's Anatomy to look forward to!! That's better than Christmas:-)

Gotta LOVE these new papers!!

Well, it's 1:28am and I wouldn't allow myself to go to bed until I finished reading my latest Harlequin romance and throwing together a card with Stampin' Up's fun new designer papers!! I abolutely love the look of color blocking and these papers make it SO easy! A quick, simple card layout that can be used over and over! Try one yourself and send me a picture of it:-) Happy Wednesday....I'm off to bed.