Another Thank You for {12 Weeks of Christmas} & a Mojo Challenge (Did Someone Say 'Online Extravaganza?')

I run through Thank You notes pretty quickly at my house.  I created this one for a past Mojo Monday Challenge (MOJO370).  I'm loving the luscious Lost Lagoon in this year's In Color rollout.  

I also love the fun (and *EASY!*) sparkle that Silver Glimmer Paper brings.  You can punch it, use it as a stand-alone layer, dye it different colors, and run it through your Big Shot (I give it an extra go to be sure it's cut, as it's thicker than normal card stock). Future {12 Weeks of Christmas} posts will highlight this fun Stampin' Supply.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Another Thank You Photopolymer

Papers: Very Vanilla card stock and Silver Glimmer Paper

Inks:  Lost Lagoon Classic Ink

Artist's Flair:  Boho Blossoms Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon


Stay tuned as next week brings the annual Stampin' Up! Online Extravaganza! There are going to be great deals on all sorts of Stampin' Up! products, so please click back here for more information!

Father's Day {Paper Pumpkin} Delivery Stepped up for a Birthday Card!

Today’s project comes to us courtesy of the May delivery of my Paper Pumpkin subscription.  This fun kit came with supplies to make four full-sized cards and two smaller notecards (envelopes included for all!).  The stamps include a “Happy birthday” sentiment as well as “Happy Father’s Day.”  There are also smaller stamps with “Bro,” “Dad,” and “Son.”

Here’s a {stepped up} version of the cards, made with the materials from the kit as well as “happy” from the newest photopolymer set, Endless Birthday Wishes.  I also used my 1 3/4-inch Circle Punch upon which to base the sentiment stamping (sponged with Wild Wasabi ink to make it stand out).  The Soft Suede Baker’s Twine came in the kit, but I added a scrap of Linen Thread (it actually came from my April Mother’s Day Paper Pumpkin delivery).

Paper Pumpkin kits provide a quick and successful creative escape and then once the projects are complete, you’ve got yourself a fun little set of versatile stamps!  I have really enjoyed both creating the projects as directed as well as altering and {stepping up} the project to my own design.

Need another reason to try Paper Pumpkin?  You can prepay for Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and if your entire pre-shipping/tax order totals $150+, you can also earn Hostess Benefits (these prepaid subscriptions can be combined with merchandise orders)!

Artist's Flair:

• I sponged Wild Wasabi Classic Ink on the 1 3/4-inch Circle piece to make it stand out against the larger Very Vanilla flagged piece.

• My Paper Snips came in handy when it came to making the flagged ends on the Wild Wasabi "Happy" piece.

• Tiny knots at the ends of the Linen Thread and Soft Suede Baker's Twine tidy up the ends of the bows.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Hey, Man (May, 2014 Paper Pumpkin), Endless Birthday Wishes (137553)

Papers:  Contents from Hey, Man kit, Very Vanilla (101650) and Wild Wasabi Card Stock (108641)

Inks:  Wild Wasabi (126959) and Marina Mist Classic Ink (a Stampin' Spot is included in the May kit) (full-sized pad = 126962)

Accessories & Tools:  1 3/4-inch Punch (119850), Linen Thread (104199), Paper Snips (103579) and Stampin' Sponges (101650)

Sketch-Inspired Christmas Card

I know fall is just barely in the air, but there have been a lot of Christmas-themed challenges out there and I couldn't resist!

This card was inspired by the great sketch provided by Pam and the gals at 365 Cards for the Super Sketchy Sunday challenge.  

The fun challenge blog, Cute Card Thursday, challenged us to make this week's project Christmas-themed, so here we are!

I used my Scallop Trim Border punch to mimic the scalloped sides in the sketch.

**STUDIO SUGGESTION**:  I added a quarter-sheet of Very Vanilla Card stock to the inside of this card to make the scalloped border of the front half stand out more.  With darker card stocks (or recipients who might have trouble reading), it's often a good idea to use a lighter card stock inside on which to write your message.

Ribbon scraps are kept in a glass candy jar at my work station and I was thrilled to find this combination (I especially love the texture).

The pretty medallion in the upper right corner was created using the Hostess Set found in the 2012 Holiday Catalog, Mixed Medley. I stamped tone-on-tone with Cherry Cobbler for the big circle and again on Very Vanilla.

Paper Snips make cutting the flagged edges on my ribbon scraps super-easy.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Mixed Medley (W128054, C128057)

Papers:  Soft Suede (115318), Very Vanilla (101650), and Cherry Cobbler (119685)

Inks:  Cherry Cobbler Classic (126966)

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border (118402), Crochet Trim (118481), So Saffron 3/8-inch Taffeta (122982), and Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992), 1-1/4 (119861) and 3/4-inch (119873) Circle Punches, and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

A Little Mojo and Some Birdsong

Today's project was an entry for the Mojo Monday MOJO246, 365 Cards "Word of the Week:  Music" (think birdsong), and Dynamic Duos (Always Artichoke and River Rock) Challenges.

I used my Language of Friendship set, because I love the little songbird (punched out with the Bird Builder punch) and I thought the three elements in the Mojo sketch would be fun with the blooms from that set, as well.  Notice that I stamped one of the flowers and punched it, using the Boho Blossoms punch, popping it up with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The Dynamic Duo challenge allows us to use a neutral in our project, so I chose Crumb Cake (aka "Kraft").  I also ran my piece of Always Artichoke through my Big Shot for some added texture. 

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Language of Friendship (W122750, C122752)

Papers:  Always Artichoke (105119), River Rock (108640), Crumb Cake (120953) and Bashful Blue (105120) card stocks (*as I went to link this entry to the Dynamic Duos blog, I see that I was to only use the two colors highlighted -- I'll follow the directions better in the next challenge!)

Inks:  Always Artichoke (126972) and River Rock (126977) Classics


Accessories:  Boho Blossoms punch (119858), Bird Builder punch (117191), Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335), Very Vanilla 1/8-inch Taffeta Ribbon (119960), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Simple {Summer Afternoon} Card for Challenges

This card was created for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #38 and the 365 Cards ABCs & 123s Challenge.  Summer Afternoon is a fun new Hostess Set.  I inked it in Early Espresso Classic Ink and then used my Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum and Cherry Cobbler inks and my Blender Pen to color in the design.

Tiny Tags provides quick and easy sentiments to personalize your projects.  I *LOVE* this set...  I punched the tag with the Jewelry Tag punch and sponged it with Cherry Cobbler Classic ink.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Summer Afternoon (W126425, C126427), Tiny Tags (W118901, C118592)

Papers:  Crumb Cake (120953), Cherry Cobbler (119685), and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Crumb Cake (126975), Cherry Cobbler (126966), Perfect Plum (126963) and Early Espresso (126974) Classic Inks

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Jewelry Tag (117190) and 1/16-inch Handheld (101227) punches, Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon (122987), Linen Thread (104199), Blender Pen (102845), Stamping Sponges (101610) and Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

A {Peek} at My Weekend's Projects...

Our weekend was a busy one, but here's what I was able to create during the wee early morning hours (insomnia has its bennies!):

A flower for a fabric-inspired project, using the soon-to-be retired 5-Petal Flower.  I paired Very Vanilla (I love the cleanliness of muslin slipcovers, etc) with Baja Breeze.

Charming, another set that retires on May 31, includes a lovely stamp of script, including the words "inspire," "create," and "share."  I'll be sad to retire that set...

This sentiment, stamped on Tangerine Tango card stock, is from Crazy for Cupcakes, which retires on May 31. 

Of all the projects I completed this weekend, this is among my favorites.  It's a versatile design, which you'll see later this week.  It was for a Color Scheme challenge, for which I used Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose and Crumb Cake.

Our niece celebrates her first birthday on Saturday, so I used the set, Look Who's Turning, to create a first birthday card for her.  This set and the Big Shot Texturz Plates Backgrounds 1, (which gave me the embossing on the card body) retire this month, too!

The "hello" from Tiny Teacup (another retiree) was used for the sentiment of this card...

This card was created for a challenge in which I was to use multiple sentiments...  The large one in the background is from the retiring set (one of my go-to sets), Sincere Salutations.  One can never have too many notes to say "Thank you!"

My Color Coach was my constant companion this weekend, as I tried out new color combinations.  Admittedly, some are different and some are ones I'll only use once.  I did find a few new favorites, though, and I am grateful to have it to lean on.

I appreciate your visit and I invite you back this week as I write about each of these in turn...

On the Grow!

Boy, this title says it all... It's been a summer "on the grow" for sure. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've been busy finishing my teaching coursework and now we're knee-deep in summer camps and travel. In the midst of all of this personal fun, the new Idea Book and Catalog came out and I've gotten to see the Holiday Mini Catalog, which goes into effect on September 1. So many fun things! I can't wait to show you what I've made!



I made this card for a paper piecing challenge. I *LOVE* hydrangea blooms and I'm lucky to have a garden full of them (lace leaf and PGs), which mean a lot of pruning. :)


This layout is a versatile one that can be easily changed up for various occasions and themes.

Studio Suggestions: I used my distressing tool to rough up the edges of my punched circle and my paper snips to get the super-close cuts for the hydrangea blooms.


Stampin' Up! Supplies:




Stamps: On the Grow (Summer Mini Catalog, available until August 31)



Papers: Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette and Early Espresso smooth card stocks



Inks: Early Espresso Classic



Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, paper snips, distressing tool, Modern Label Punch, Very Vanilla 1/4-inch grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals



Thanks for your visit! I look forward to sharing my next project with you! Please drop me a line or leave me a comment if you've got a question...

{Stamp Set Spotlight} A Cardinal Christmas: Day 2

This card includes another image which was embossed in clear embossing powder for a subtle, yet clear image. The berries were likewise embossed in clear embossing powder (on Cherry Cobbler card stock), snipped out and adhered to the cardinal image.

The cardinal image was fed through the Big Shot, using the Top Note die, which gives it that shape. Quick and easy!

Our sentiment also comes from A Cardinal Christmas and was inked in Cherry Cobbler and then the Crumb Cake piece was punched using the Modern Label punch. Cherry Cobbler was used to sponge some ink along the Very Vanilla tag. Some time soon, I'll post a video showing how I achieved that extra-long tag (using my normal tag punch!). Simple and easy and a great way to sssttttrrrreeeettttttcccchhhh your supplies... I love the homey look of the Victoria Crochet Trim, which I used here with my stand-by, Linen Thread (I must order miles of that every year!). Finally, used my Color Coach to guide me in my color choice. Rose Red is a companion color for Cherry Cobbler. Phew!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Rose Red and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Cherry Cobbler Classic, VersaMark

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz die, Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Victoria Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Stampin' Sponge, Modern Label, 1/16-inch circle and Tag punches.

Hope you're able to enjoy some of the magic of this season!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} A Cardinal Christmas: Day 1

This card was made for a vintage-themed challenge a while back in which I was to include a stick pin. Unless I was sending it in a bubble envelope, I'd hand-deliver this baby...

The large image is the background stamp from A Cardinal Christmas, embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. It's layered on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock, as it helps the piece stand out from the stripes of the Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.

A simple knot is tied through the loop in the top of the stick pin and then beads are added. I used Mini Glue Dots to adhere the whole thing in place (I didn't want the knot to spin).

The sentiment is one of my favorite punch treatments. I've layered the Modern Label over the Designer Label. They're both popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: A Cardinal Christmas

Papers: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla card stocks, Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper

Inks: VersaMark, Cherry Cobbler Classic

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Modern Label and Designer Label punches, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Hope you are able to enjoy this fun, anticipation-filled time before Christmas! Thanks for your visit!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 1

This is a simple gift box that was made from one sheet of card stock. It's called a 2-5-7-10 Box and it's super-easy to make! Here are the instructions. The first thing to do is stamp all over your card stock (I used the snowflakes from Snow Swirled in Old Olive for some tone-on-tone detail). Once you're done stamping, just follow the instructions for cutting and folding and you're set! If you're new to the 2-5-7-10 Box, may I suggest that you try it first with a piece of scratch paper, so that you don't wreck something precious...

Some details that I added to this box to give it extra interest include:

• Basic Rhinestones (119246, page 188, $4.95 for 150!)
• Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (117159, page 174, $9.95 for 12 double-sided sheets)
• Distressed Edge (on the Cherry Cobbler piece), using the Cutter Kit, 106958, page 199, $16.95)
• Scallop Edge Border Punch along top (119882, page 200, $15.95)

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled (111690), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Papers: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler Classics

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Cutter Kit, Basic Rhinestones, Paper Trimmer (with Scoring Blade), Modern Label Punch, Designer Label Punch, Stampin' Sponge, Stampin' Dimensionals, Narrow Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for visiting!

Wake Up and SMELL the Coffee!

Good mornin'! This card was created for a challenge that was to be inspired by something we enjoyed smelling. As I type this, coffee's brewing...

I've used this stamp so much that the rubber is just about worn off! This cute cup comes from the Pun Fun set, which is a versatile set of images and sentiments. The sentiments are on the bottom of each image, but using the masked inking technique that I demonstrated in this video, you can choose whether to include them or not.

I thought I'd "turn up the volume a little" (to borrow a phrase from one of my faves, the Barefoot Contessa) and use some funky colors suggested by my new Color Coach. I'm having more fun with that tool! The Wild Wasabi paper (from the Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper) is beautifully offset by the Perfect Plum and So Saffron card stocks. I added polka dots using my Big Shot to coordinate with the dots on the DSP. Finally, I wanted to coordinate the ribbon with the project, but there's no Perfect Plum grosgrain. In a flash, I used my Classic Ink Pad to dye the Very Vanilla ribbon to match. Be on the look-out for a quickie video demonstrating this simple solution...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Pun Fun

Papers: Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper (DSP), Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum and So Saffron card stocks

Inks: Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi Classics

Accessories: Very Vanilla narrow grosgrain ribbon, Blender pen, Scallop Edge Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for your visit! Hope your day gets off to a great start!

{Catalog Countdown: Day Five} All Sara

Welcome to another day of our Catalog Countdown! This card was created for a recent challenge in which we were to make a card that truly represented who we were as stampers. So here's what would be "All Sara":

• I *LOVE*, *LOVE*, *LOVE* blue,


• I am a big fan of sweet little song birds,


• I'm not a fussy person,


• Sometimes I'm pretty rumpled, and


• My style is pretty casual. If I could decorate in any manner (other than Fischer-Price), it would be English country (with a little French flair thrown in).

This is another card for which I wanted to use my retiring items: Spring Song stamp set and Bordering Blue (sniff!) card stock and Classic ink. The Kraft card stock that makes up the base of this card will be doing a bit of "The Artist Formerly Known As...", as its new name will be Crumb Cake. The exciting tidbit associated with the name change is that Crumb Cake now comes with coordinating ink and accessories! Happy dance! The Twill Tape will also be repackaged and will only be offered in a 3/8-inch width.

The songbird pops up from the card, as it's been heat-embossed, giving it a simple, sharp emphasis...

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Spring Song, Tiny Tags

Paper: Kraft, Night of Navy, Bordering Blue and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Night of Navy and Bordering Blue Classics and VersaMark

Accessories: Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Twill Tape, Linen Thread, Jewelry Tag Medium and 1/16-inch Circle Punches
Retirees: Spring Song, Bordering Blue card stock and inks

Thanks for your visit to the Studio today! Stay with me all week for more Retirees! June 30 is the last day on which to order (and it's a busy day for my family). Get your last order to me as soon as possible so that we can assure inventory of your items!

Contact me to preorder your new catty, too! I'm lovin' my advance copy!

{Challenge! Card Recipe}: Easter Bunny

Happy April!


April is one of my favorite months (my mom and eldest daughter are April Babies). Add to it that Easter's in April this year, and I'm egg-specially enjoying the fact that it's April today! Tulips are ready to bloom (daffies are already blooming around here) and the trees are leafing out...


For a card recipe challenge last week over at 365 Cards, I created this simple one... I chose the Easter Bunny image from Eight Great Greetings. The stamp comes with "Happy Easter" on the bottom, but I cut the image apart from the sentiment and mounted them on separate sides of the wood block. This is a simple adaptation you can make as you mount your stamps to make them that much more versatile. I did this with my Fun and Fast Notes set, too.


The image was colored with watercolor pencils and a Blender Pen and the bunny's circle was sponged with So Saffron Classic Ink to make it stand out.


Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps: Eight Great Greetings and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Papers: Brocade Blue, So Saffron and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue and So Saffron Classics

Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pen, 1 3/4-inch Circle Punch, Brocade Blue and Very Vanilla wide grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Sponge

Happy Easter, Stampers! Thanks for your visit!

{Tuesday: Technique Video (Distressing)}

Today's topic is distressing. I mean to say that the technique we'll be discussing is the practice of distressing, not that the very discussion of it will be distressing...

I've got another video for you! No jammies, promise! Below the link you'll find pictures of each of the projects I discussed in the video. Unfortunately, the video camera's resolution isn't that great, so the best way to see them is here, in still-life...

Here are some of the cards I shared...

Herb Expressions with Torn Edges:

Fruit and Nut Catalog Inspiration Challenge with Sueded and Crumpled Card Stock:

Dreams Du Jour with Sueded Paper and Distressed Edges:

Sense of Time with Crumpled Paper (or the smooth side of a Sueded piece):

and up close:

Wanted with Mellow Moss Sueded piece:

Wings of Friendship with a flower stamped on the smooth side of Sueded Paper:

Baroque Motifs with a Sueded piece of Barely Banana:

Deets on the first card (created in the video):

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Garden from the Heart and Thank You Kindly sets

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel and Very Vanilla card stocks

Inks: Basic Brown Classic, Whisper White Craft and VersaMark (Not Quite Navy and Ruby Red Classic Inks for watercoloring)

Accessories: Distressing tool from Cutters Kit, Wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, linen thread, Clear Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Modern Label Punch, Blender Pen

Thanks again for your visit! The teacher in me thrills at the idea of making these tutorials. Please let me know if there's something specific you'd like me to cover! Have a great day!