RAZZLEBERRY "ELEMENTS OF STYLE"

Okay.  That's it!  I'm in love with this "Elements of Style" stamp set and can't believe I considered not buying it!  Just look at how pretty this pocket envelope turned out!  I used "Elements of Style" on Mamaw C's birthday card and then needed an envelope of some sort for it.  Since I'll be hand-delivering the card (which is oversized), I decided the quickest and easiest envelope would be this pocket.  I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!  The same images are stamped all over the back of the envelope.  I used Rich Razzleberry and Sahara Sand ink to stamp the images.  Look for the stamp set in Stampin' Up!'s "Summer" mini catalog, which should be online HERE on Saturday, May 1.

SMOOCHED GRIDS FOR MAMAW C

I've mentioned before that I love grid designs, and this card kind of demonstrates why!  With grids, you can use several favorite stamp sets, giving each little square its own uniqueness.  This is an oversized card that I made for Mamaw C.  We're celebrating her birthday on Saturday, and I think she'll be 90 y/o.  Wow!  That's deserving of a special card, don't you think?  All products used to create this card are from Stampin' Up! as follows:  Kraft, Whisper White, Pale Plum, and Rich Razzleberry card stock, Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, Modern Label and Word Window punches, and the following stamp sets:  Elements of Style, Friends 24-7, Crazy for Cupcakes, Pocket Silhouettes, and Priceless.

You just have to see the Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (from Stampin' Up!'s "Summer" mini catalog) that I used on this card and, since it didn't show up well in the big picture, here's a close-up for you.  The shimmer is quite gorgeous, but not to the point of screaming for attention.  I sprayed the card stock with the Smooch Spritz, let it dry, and then did all of the stamping.

SCENTSY DEALS

“ABC’s” is Scentsy’s April “Warmer of the Month,” and the time to order it at a 10% discount is drawing to a close. Until the end of April, the price of this mid-size warmer is only $22.50!

“Nature’s Haven” is Scentsy’s Warmer of the Month for May, and isn’t it precious??? Several people have already asked about ordering this full-size warmer, and I will be placing an order for them this weekend! If you would like to purchase this warmer at a 10% discount beginning on May 1, let me know! It’s only $27.00! For an additional $13, you can choose THREE of Scentsy’s wickless, leadless, flameless “candles” to use with the warmer! If you’d like additional information about Scentsy products, click on the Scentsy picture in the top right corner of my blog OR send me an email!  FYI:  If you want to be sure to have this warmer in time for Mother's Day, you can order it (on May 1) directly from my WEB SITE.  Let me know if you need help choosing a few scents to go with it!

"AWASH WITH FLOWERS"

My mojo seems to have taken a holiday, but I managed to quickly complete this very simple card today.  I'm not in love with the card, but I do love the stamp set, "Awash with Flowers."  There are 18 images in this set from Stampin' Up!, and it includes flowers, leaves, and stems.  Very smart, and very easy to use!  "Awash with Flowers" will be in Stampin' Up!'s next "Idea Book & Catalog," but it's available (as a sneak peek) for purchase now.  When I first got this set, I was sure I'd need to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for the two-step stamping, but I haven't had to use it at all--that's how easy it is to work with this set!  Of course, if you wanted to be really accurate, you'd want to use the SAMJ.  ;-)  If you haven't taken a close look at this set, you really should!  It truly is very fun and easy to use, and it has FIVE two-step flowers.  You can see the entire set and purchase it HERE.  If nothing changes, my Inkerbelles will get to make a card using "Awash with Flowers" at the May class!

SCRAPPY SHARE

As you can tell from this layout (no pictures), I'm personally not a scrapbooker; however, I enjoy designing layouts for my club members.  This is the one that I designed for our January workshop, and it's one of my favorites!  I love--and am drawn toward--creating grid pages as I did for page two.  Grids not only allow plenty of photo mats, they also afford the luxury of planned space for journaling and/or embellishments.  My first ever grid layout was THIS ONE, and it just so happens to be my most favorite--EVER!  For my January layout, I used Stampin' Up!'s "My Digital Studio" program to design page one, and it was awesome (and oh so convenient) to get the layout the way that I wanted before actually getting the supplies together to complete the page.  Something else that I loved about this layout was the use of a quote instead of an actual title.  And, of course, the various decorative elements were a lot of fun and reiterated the quote . . . snowflakes to represent the cold, hearts representing love and warmth.

THE SHAPE OF MY LIPSTICK SAYS . . .

I'm a peacemaker, among other things.  Who knows how truly the shape of my lipstick describes me--or whether the descriptions found HERE are even remotely accurate--but it was fun to look into this!  I wonder why lipstick comes in such an odd shape to begin with!  It seems like I spend forever going around and around to get it to my preferred shape, and then it's time for a new tube when I get it just right.  I don't know if my grandmother still does this, but her lipstick used to always form a very pointy tip.  According to the people who came up with this useless info, she's loveable, a "doer," and family-oriented.  That's quite true!  What does your lipstick say about you?

THREE LITTLE WORDS

This little guy has an important delivery . . . a big rose and a big message!  The ribbon and sentiment are from Stampin' Up!

SMOOCHED "WATERCOLOR TRIO"

Just sharing another card created with Stampin' Up!'s new "Watercolor Trio" stamp set.  I used markers to ink the stamp and then pressed the stamp to Naturals Ivory card stock that had been misted with Smooch Spritz--another new Stampin' Up! product that you'll find in the "Summer" mini catalog.  The black card stock was also misted with Smooch Spritz, as was the lattice die-cut.  I used two colors of Smooch Spritz . . . Vanilla Shimmer and Silver Foil.  The lattice die-cut is actually thin card board, so the spritz beaded a bit on the slick surface, creating a metallic look.  Other Stampin' Up! products used on this card include Small and Large Oval punches, Eyelet Border punch, Real Red card stock, Real Red and Old Olive markers, Distressing Tool, and 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon (retired color).

WATERCOLOR TRIO

Check this out . . . one of Stampin' Up!'s brand new stamp sets.  When I first laid eyes on the images in this set, I knew that I must have it.  This is one of those sets that I consider a "keeper" . . . it has images that can stand alone and also be used to create a subtle background on a project, the images are suitable for many occasions . . . birthday, thinking of you, Mother's Day, get well, sympathy, etc. . . . and there are three sentiments in this set.  The images can be colored (direct-to-stamp) with ink, markers, or crayons.  For my card, I used the Watercolor Wonder Crayons to color the image, spritzed the stamp with water, and then pressed the image onto the Very Vanilla card stock.  Look for this stamp set, "Watercolor Trio," in Stampin' Up!'s "Summer" mini catalog. 

A SNEAK PEEK AT SOME NEW PRODUCTS

Whew!  I finally had a chance to make a card--and to use a couple of brand new Stampin' Up! products that you'll find in the "Summer" mini catalog.  One of the new, fun products is "builder wheels."  There are several wheel designs that can be mixed, matched, and used together with a "spindle and spacers" product.  For my card, I used the "Thoughtful Friend" and "Bees & Blossoms" wheels and, as you can tell, I had a spacer between them so I could have a place for my ribbon and sentiment.  Additional Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Pink Passion, Whisper White, and Only Orange card stock, Pink Passion and Only Orange ink and markers, Large and Scallop Oval punches, and the Trio Flower punch to create a faux embossed background.

STAMPIN' UP! IS RENOVATING!

With Stampin' Up!'s next catalog, you're going to see brand new color "Collections," which include several brand new colors and . . . [drum roll] . . . the return of some retired In Color colors.  Most exciting for me is that Soft Suede is here to stay!!!!!!  I hope you'll be as excited as I am with this color renovation!  Hopefully, if things work correctly, you should be able to click on the picture to open a larger view.  ETA:  To subscribers/followers of my blog, I apologize for all of the updates you're receiving . . . I'm trying to get the best possible picture.  Thanks for understanding.  ;-)

RAZZLEBERRY "FAUX CLOISONNE"

Razzleberry.  What's not to love about Rich Razzleberry?  The color is so rich, and I think surely it will spread happiness when slid out of its envelope.  I hope it does!  I made this card, which features the Faux Cloisonne technique, for a sweet lady (a church friend whom I've known all of my life) who broke her hip not too long ago.  At the very least, she'll know that I was thinking of her.  Actually, sending cards is an easy, yet doubly-blessed gesture . . . those who receive a card feel good, and you will feel good, too.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, and Silver card stock; jumbo eyelet, rhinestone brad, dotted ribbon, VersaMark ink, silver embossing powder, Scallop Trim Border punch, and Finial Press embossing folder.

DECORATED "SCENTSY" WARMER

I've mentioned before that my parents, grandmother, and sister went to a quilt show last month and brought a candle warmer to me . . . my first ever Scentsy product and introduction to the company!  I loved the warmer and  scented wax bars so much that I decided to sell Scentsy products.  When they selected this warmer for me, it was plain but they thought I'd enjoy decorating it.  And I did!  My Scentsy rub-ons came today, and doesn't this warmer look great?!?!  I think they'll love what I did with it!  If you'd like to learn more about Scentsy products, visit my WEB SITE.  If you'd like to earn a lot of FREE Scentsy products, it can be as easy as hosting a Basket Party!  The company really does have a rich hostess rewards program!

IT'S ALL ABOUT BLISS

Today, Chad and I met my parents for lunch and then visited my grandmother.  What a fun, leisurely way to spend Easter Sunday!  This is the card I am mailing to my grandmother tomorrow to let her know how much I enjoyed visiting her.  She even baked a delicious cake for us, although I showed up with a cheesecake.  For a couple of weeks, I have been wanting to make Paula Deen's cheesecake with praline sauce, and it is YUM-O!!!!  I'm not a real fan of cheesecake, so I like to have a topping for it.  I highly recommend the praline sauce!

"CHEEP TALK"

When I sat down to create projects for my April Inkerbelles' class, this was the first card that I designed.  I really like several of Stampin' Up!'s Bold Brights colors, but I rarely use them.  For this card, I used Tempting Turquoise, Green Galore, and Whisper White card stock, "Cheep Talk" stamp set (LOVE every image in this set), "Playground" designer button, linen thread, distressing tool, and markers to ink the branch and leaves image.  Once this card was complete and I stood back to look at it, can you guess what my first thought was?  Yep!  It would have been cuter as a square card!  That was your guess, right?  Just so you know, I decided to not use this card for my class, but I have two really cute ones and a precious scallop square scrapbook/photo album for my Inkerbelles to make.  It will be perfect for Mother's Day!

QUICK & VINTAGE FOR MOTHER

Thinking ahead to Mother's Day . . . and sharing a very quick and easy card.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include "Vintage Vogue" and "Well Scripted" stamp sets, Kraft card stock, Chocolate Chip ink, Twill Tape, and Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon.