AN APPLE FOR THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD!!!

This apple-shaped card was made for my sweet sister who had to take a 4-hour test in Charlotte today, and I thought (knew) she needed a little extra encouragement.  There's no stamping on this card--it's another Cricut/Gypsy project.  My son thought this was a perfect card for her since she's his "aunt" who happens to be a teacher.

IT'S A GARDEN HAT MOTHER'S DAY CARD

Yesterday, I spent some time with the Cricut and created a couple of cards, and this is one of them.  In addition to my passion for square cards, I also (very much) enjoy shaped cards.  Something else that I enjoy is Stampin' Up!'s "Tiny Tags" stamp set and its coordinating Jewelry Tag punch.  These two products, along with the linen thread, worked perfectly on this card, don't you think?  The little tag reminded me of Minnie Pearl's hats and how they always had the price tag on them.  What's that?  You've never heard of Minnie Pearl?  Ha!

FREESTYLE FRIDAYS ALL SQUARED AND SCALLOPED

It's time for Freestyle Fridays, and Julie has shared this pretty and textured square card, complete with frilly scallops and jewels!  I wonder if my obsession with square cards has become contagious for her.  It wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen, now would it?  To learn more about this card, we'll have to visit Julie's blog.  I love the big flowers with their curved petals and the soft colors that she has used and, of course, the Scallop Trim Border punch and jewels!  Let's be sure to visit her blog and leave a little love.  Have a stampin' good Friday, my friends!

"JUST BELIEVE" SYMPATHY

I needed to mail a sympathy card today and, as I've mentioned before, it seems that I always want to make one instead of using one that I've already made.  For this card, I used the folowing Stampin' Up! products:  Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, and Whisper White card stock, "Just Believe" and "Because I Care" stamp sets, Soft Suede and Baja Breeze ink, Color Spritzer tool, and oval punches.

THE OPEN SEA "SUSPENDED SENTIMENT" GATEFOLD

Check this out . . . another project featuring Stampin' Up!'s "The Open Sea" stamp set and "Nautical Expedition" designer paper. Anyone who has visited my stamp room knows that I have a fondness for anything nautical, so I had to have these new products. I even purchased the digital downloads of the stamp set and designer paper to use with My Digital Studio!  Ironically, I'm afraid of water and wouldn't willingly put myself on a ship on the ocean.  I've often thought that a cruise would be wonderful, but I'm afraid a rogue wave would find me.  While I keep myself on land, I'll just have to enjoy nautical stamps and paper!  This card is a square gatefold that features a suspended sentiment inside.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Night of Navy, Whisper White, and River Rock card stock, Scallop Oval, Wide Oval, 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Edge Border, and Word Window punches, and linen thread.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY" SNEAK PEEK

This week's MISM project is a nautical sneak peek of some brand new Stampin' Up! products which will become available with next month's Summer mini catalog . . . Nautical Expedition designer paper, "The Open Sea" stamp set, and Baker's Twine!  These products are just in time for Father's Day or masculine projects that are needed for any occasion.  Also pictured in this post is a card featuring additional images from "The Open Sea" stamp set, but I used My Digital Studio to create the card.  I can't take full credit for the idea of the night-time ship and full moon's glow . . . fellow demonstrator, Kirsteen Gill, first designed a similar card and shared the how-to instructions.  I liked it so much that I had to make one, giving it some of my own design touches, of course.  If you like nautical designs, go ahead and add this new stamp set and designer paper to your must have list.  Add My Digital Studio to that list, too, because it is an AWESOME design program!!

INLAID EMBOSSED LATTICE CROSS

Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. 

Stampin' Up! products used to create today's special card, which features the Inlaid Embossing technique, include "Easter Blossoms" stamp set, Sizzix Lattice die to create the cross, Two-Step Bird XL punch, stampin' sponges, assorted circle punches, Square Lattice embossing folder, and pearl jewel. 

I wish you all a very blessed Easter!

EASTER GIFT BAGS

At Kohl's the other day, I walked past some Easter/Spring dish towels that screamed "BUY ME!"  So I did.  As a matter of fact, I bought one for each of the ladies in my family.  We don't necessarily exchange gifts for every holiday, but I like to have a little treat for them now and then because . . . well . . . they mean the world to me!  Yesterday I was wondering what kind of packaging I wanted for the towels, and it occurred to me to make my own gift bags.  For each bag, I used a 12x12 piece of card stock scored at 2-3/4" on two sides, rotated, and scored at 5" along two sides.  I then cut 1" off of each side that was scored at 2-3/4".  This wasn't necessary, but I wanted a wider flap on the sides of the bags, plus the 1" strips were used for the handles which were attached with brads.  For the tags, I used Stampin' Up!'s "Easter Blossoms" stamp set.

"BLUEBERRY CRISP" BARGELLO

Until recently, "Bargello" was a technique that I had never tried, but I think Stampin' Up!'s "Blueberry Crisp" designer paper is a perfect choice because it has vivid designs and colors that run the gamut from barely there to strikingly bold.  This card also features a really neat "chain" border which was created with the Scallop Trim Border punch.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include "Garden Whimsy" stamp set, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point, and Sahara Sand card stock, taffeta ribbon, oval and scallop circle punches, and the Top Note die.

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" FANCY FLOWER

In her Freestyle Fridays post last week, Julie issued a mission for me to use a flower punch to create the focal point on a project, and my project couldn't be a square card.  What?!?!  No square card?!?!  Because of that little twist to the mission, I decided to not make a card.  For this project, I used Stampin' Up!'s Fancy Flower XL punch to create a rose, but don't look too closely because I didn't do a top-notch job.  I promise to do better in the future!  The leaves on my rose are actually from the largest flower on the Sizzix "Fun Flowers" die.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this project include the Box #2 die, "Sunny Garden" designer paper, Decorative Label and Designer Label punches, "Well Scripted" stamp set, Pear Pizzazz seam binding, and pearl jewels.  Thanks, Julie, for yet another fun mission!  There would probably be a square card pictured in this post if you hadn't added that little twist to my instructions.  ;-)

EASY EASTER WISHES

Last week, the $15 grab bag that I ordered from Stampin' Up! arrived.  After a few days, I decided to lay out all of the items on a table and challenge myself to create something with them.  I knew that I needed to make a few simple Easter cards, and I managed to pick a few pieces to create these cards.  The Elegant Eggplant and Very Vanilla card stock was already cut and ready to use, I had five strips of 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and, of course, those awesome felt flowers!  I added the Pumpkin Pie card stock to the inside of the cards, and I also added the dotted designer paper, which is from my huge stash of retired paper.  These cards were a snap to make, and I was quite pleased with how they turned out.  I should put together my own grab bags of retired Stampin' Up! product and, on occasion, choose a bag and challenge myself to create something with the contents. 

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Just in time for Easter, this week's MISM project is a quick-to-make basket, and the tutorial was found on SCS.  The Pink Pirouette card stock is 4.75" x 7.75", scored at 1.5" on all four sides.  The handle was supposed to be 1" x 11", but I made mine a bit narrower.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this basket include Springtime Vintage designer paper, "Forest Friends" stamp set, Early Espresso ink, 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Circle, and Fancy Flower punches. 

"PAISLEY PETALS" HEXAGON BOX

This cute little box was one of the projects planned for my Inkerbelles' class last night, and it's made from two Mini Milk Carton cuts.  It's an easy box to make, but it's one of those projects that you probably want to get several ready to go during one sitting.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this box include Peach Parfait and Marina Mist card stock, pearl jewels, Two-Step Bird XL punch, "Paisley Petals" designer paper, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, "Clearly for You" stamp set, and Scallop Trim Border punch.

FLOWERS & PEARLS FOR "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS"

It's Friday, and that means it's time for a "Freestyle Fridays" project.  This is Julie Beaulieu's week to inspire us, and she has a floral and pearl creation that looks quite pretty!  It looks like she has punched a lot of flowers!  To see a picture of the whole project and learn more about it, we'll have to visit Julie's blog.  Don't forget to leave her some love while you're there.  ;-) 

NEW BLOG BANNER!!!!!

Today I downloaded some new digital stamps and papers to use with Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio software, and I decided to use the "Sunset Serenade Kit" to design a new banner for this blog!  In the past, I've been carefully reserved about keeping my banner in a rectangular box, but this time I decided to be shabbily messy with it.  I'm liking it and hope you do, too.  Have I mentioned lately that I {heart} My Digital Studio?  It is an AWESOME, easy-to-use program and, if you don't own it, you are not being very nice to yourself!

AN OLD-FASHIONED "COUNTRYSIDE" BIRTHDAY



Sunday was my daddy's birthday, and this is the card that I made for him.  I used an assortment of dies to mat the stamped images, and the Stampin' Up! products I used include Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, and Early Espresso card stock, Wide Oval, Large Oval, Scallop Oval, and Scallop Edge Border punches, and "Countryside" stamp set.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Today's MISM project is a quick and easy invitation, and I used a technique that allowed me to get five cards from the one stamped image.  I used the row of cupcakes image from Stampin' Up!'s "The More the Merrier" stamp set and stamped the image near the bottom of a piece of card stock.  I used an aqua painter and ink to color the images, added a dash of Dazzling Diamonds, and then cut the images apart (in strips) which left enough space to stamp "you're invited" above each of the stamped and colored cupcakes.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White card stock, "Introducing" stamp set, and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.

"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" & THREE-COLOR EMBOSSING

In her Freestyle Fridays post last week, Julie showed her Gilded Paper technique which she applied a two-color embossing technique to complete.  If you didn't see her project, be sure to hop over to her blog for a peek.  Her mission for me this week was to use two colors of embossing on light-colored card stock.  I used three, and I wish the photo showed how sparkly the silver embossing powder really is.  To begin my project, I rubbed Stampin' Up!'s Embossing Buddy over the card stock, stamped the floral image with VersaMark, applied an eggplant-colored embossing powder, and heat set it.  I then stamped the butterfly image with VersaMark, applied a red embossing powder, and heat set it.  For the third color of embossing, I stamped the flourish motif image with VersaMark, sprinkled it with a glittery silver embossing powder, and heat set it.  Prior to stamping the different images with VersaMark, I rubbed the Embossing Buddy over the card stock to avoid unwanted specks of embossing.  Stampin' Up! products used to complete this project include Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, and Real Red card stock, ribbon, rhinestone jewels, Decorative Label, Wide Oval, Scallop Trim Border, and Scallop Oval punches, and the "Bliss" stamp set.  This was a really easy project--the hardest part was deciding where I wanted to stamp the images.  Thank you, Julie, for this week's mission!  I enjoyed it!

SPINNING, SUSPENDED BUTTERFLY EASEL CARD

This may not be my first spinning/suspension image card, but it's the first one I've made that's also an easel card.  It was Sharon White who shared instructions for this easel card, but I made mine to be 4.25" square.  Sharon used fishing line on her card, but all I had on hand was clear stretchy jewelry cord, which worked okay.  It's fun to twist the layered butterflies and then watch them spin.  Stampin' Up! products used to create my card include:  3" Circle die, Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, rhinestone jewels, Eyelet Border punch, and "All Holidays" stamp set for the sentiment.  My card stock colors are Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, and Rose Red.  See Sharon's tutorial here.

A "LONG FELLOWS" BIRTHDAY CARD

What do you do when you need a birthday card . . . one that should have been in the mail the day before?  You reach for two new products that you've never used before . . . in my case, fringe scissors and the "Long Fellows" stamp set.  For quite some time (more than a year), I have wanted some fringe scissors, but I had trouble finding them and wasn't going to pay a ridiculous price for them because, let's face it . . . how often do I really need to create perfectly-cut grass for a project?  Since my scissors were brand new, I decided that the birthday card would have to include grass. From the stamp set, I chose the cat for my card.  After stamping and coloring it with crayons and then pencils and then ink, I finally decided to stamp the little guy on Pumpkin Pie card stock and cut him out.  Bingo!  That's what I needed for my card.  If I need a quick birthday card in the future, this should be a "go to" design, but I already know that I will want to make something that I haven't made before and, most likely, will be itching to use something new.  It's no fun to create if it only takes 5 minutes, even if the end result is a relatively simple and easy design!  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Whisper White, Always Artichoke, and Pumpkin Pie card stock, retired designer paper, 1/4" Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon, and "Long Fellows" Level 2 hostess stamp set. 

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

I make a lot of cards with a "thinking of you" sentiment but, every now and then, "i'm so sorry" is more fitting.  Today's MISM has a very simple design without a lot of fuss and, yes, it's a square card.  Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include Whisper White, Bravo Burgundy, and Pear Pizzazz card stock, Framed Tulips and Vintage Wallpaper embossing folders, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, and Decorative Label punches, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Squares Duo die (can't recall the exact name), "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set, and rhinestone jewels.  I also spritzed the Pear Pizzazz card stock with a shimmer mist created from a mix of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and water.  Have a stampin' good week!

JULIE'S "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS" TECHNIQUE

It's time for "Freestyle Fridays" and, from what Julie has posted on her blog about this week's project, she had quite a mess with embossing powder.  This makes me feel quite sorry for her because she has been working her little butt off (day job), and stamping is supposed to be our therapy--not an aggravation.  I'm sure this is a typical case of job getting in the way of hobby!  It looks to me like she managed to pull it all together, though.  I'll bet her card really has shine and sparkle in real life!  She describes the "Gilded" technique in detail on her blog, so please drop by there.  Don't forget to leave a little love (comment).  If you decide to try a Gilded project, be sure to let us know!  Before you turn on the heat tool, always know where your container of embossing powder is . . . and that the lid is on!