Die of the Month Club

I recently joined a fabulous group of local stamp artists in a Die of the Month Club. Yesterday I saw firsthand some of their amazing projects (next time I'm bringing my camera!)and I'm excited about upcoming meetings! I felt inspired, so I decided to share them with you just in case you might be feeling inspired. I'm about to show a little bit of Contraband here, so if you're only in it for the Stampin' Up! it's your fair warning to look away! On the other hand, this is my Mostly Stampin' Up! blog, and these are mostly Stampin' Up! ATC's. This first sample features a teeny-tiny ice cream cone. Can't see it? Look closer at that little banner - it's the cone! I used SU's scallop border punch, then lobbed off the little ruffles from the ice cream scoops and tucked them under the punched border. Colors used on this project were: Early Espresso, Pretty In Pink, Regal Rose, and Very Vanilla:

On this second card I used Mambo Melon (and tried the ric-rac technique for a little border at the bottom, combined with Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine and a Daffodil Delight Designer Button, Lucky Limeade, Mambo Melon and Daffodil Delight ink, and an image from the Just Believe Stamp Set.

My final card was a case of another I found online but forgot where - if it's yours my apologies! I used a little Bright Red Acrylic Craft Paint for the background. I've been seeing a lot of paint included on people's projects and thought I'd give it a try here. Also used on this card is: Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Billboard Die, Dazzling Details, Early Espresso Ink, Just Add Cake DSP, Glimmer Brad, Boho Blossom punch and Log Cabin Smooch. The image is from the soon to be retired Best Friends Forever stamp set and the card stock is Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake:
Thanks for stopping by. Come back tomorrow because I am going to show you the most adorable Ice Cream Cone card I made last weekend using ALL Stampin' Up! Products.

Farewell My Little Pony Friend!

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Retiring Set Blog Hop! I hope you enjoyed visiting Heidi's Running with Scissors Stamper and looking at the great ideas she had for the Nursery Times Stamp Set. I can't wait to make that amazing carousel!
I have created a Pony Party at my house! This set has been a very loved and much used favorite with the 8 and 4 year olds who often visit - next week I might just have to blog about the set and show you a picture of what a well loved stamp set looks like after two or three years of frequent use! But you're probably wanting to see the pictures of the most amazing party happening here, so without going on and on here is the whole ensemble:
I got this party started by making these fabulous treat boxes, they took about a day to complete the whole set, but aren't they darling?Then I moved on to a coordinating card:For now, the inside is empty, but they could be invitations or thank you cards. The plan is to donate this party set to an upcoming fundraiser, so maybe I'll include both and the lucky recipient can choose! And no birthday party is complete without a little cake right? These little buntings are so much fun to make - and I just had to sneak in another favorite retiree - the Broadsheet Alphabet - to spell out Happy, because let's face it, who wouldn't be happy with a Pony Party like this? And my final project included in this little party is my table runner, which could also double as a banner or backdrop to this party! These are all the pictures I'm allowed to share with you today. I hope you enjoyed my party. Now - on to your next stop on this blog hop which is Carmen's Stamping Addiction. This weekend Carmen is doing a little camping Under The Stars, and who doesn't like S'Mores?!

Steampunk Stepped Up!

I thought the Steampunk card I posted yesterday was missing something, so I stepped it up a bit! Enjoy!

Stamping in Steampunk Class Today

Awhile back I posted a couple of pictures for an upcoming Steampunk Class. Those are the cards we'll be making today - along with this final card:

It needs a little more in the background I think, so I'll probably play with it a bit more in class. I have enough supplies for a couple more to join in! There is room for two more attendees - call Tanya @ 413-283-4448 and tell her I sent you if you want to join today's class! We are starting at 1:00 - Life's Memories and More - School House Commons - 1085 Park St, Palmer, MA Class Fee: $12

Blossom Builders Designer Kit

Here's one of the two pages we'll be making at Carmen's party on Sunday:

I absolutely adore the teeny pink gems that come with this kit - along with a splash of color, they add just the right touch! I paired these up with some Flirtatious DSP and a splash from my Melon Mambo Reinker and my Aqua Painter. I am really trying to get as much use from two of my long time favorites - Smarty Pants and Full of Life - which have recently been announced on Stampin' Up's Last Chance List. Though I know I'll probably share some last creations with other sets that will be soon retiring, these are the one's I'll miss the most. If you love these as much as I do, you only have until May 31st to get yours before they are gone for good!

Step It Up Swap

Recently, my friends at Stampin Addicts swapped cards in a Step It Up Swap. We each created two cards from one design. One was to be a basic, easy to recreate card and the second was a Stepped Up version of the same design. You can see here that I made a fairly basic and easily made card using Nature Walk, my Framelit Labels dies, some ink and card stock:

For my Stepped Up version I added a little extra ribbon, some Illuminate Smooch Ink (inside the eggs),raised frames with the Framelits, and of course a few little butterflies.

So there you have it. One card that can be completed with a few basic supplies - for that stamper who is just starting her collection (and I would highly recommend this amazing stamp set to anyone!) and a Stepped Up version for the girl who has everything :D Thanks for stopping by today ~ have an amazing day!

A Few Retirees

Stampin' Up! announced the retiring stamp sets today, you can see them here. I decided that I needed to break out two of my best friends: Full of Life and Smarty Pants. For the past three years these stamp sets together have been my "go to" sets when I needed a lighthearted or whimsical card. For this card I used the 2010-2012 In Colors, all of which are expected to retire on May 31st. I think when they first came out Concord Crush was my favorite color, and Poppy Parade was my personal least favorite. Well a lot of time has passed since then, and the Poppy Parade has really grown on me! For this card I used blossoms from the Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit in Poppy Parade. The banners are Poppy Parade, Concord Crush and Peach Parfait. I stamped the sentiments in Pear Pizzazz.

While the saying on this card front is from Smarty Pants, the coordinating verse on the inside comes from Full of Life. While I am a tad sad to see these leave, don't look for them on my For Sale lists soon - they're a "keeper"!

Last Chance List!

Stampin' Up! released this year's retiring stamp list today. Don't forget to go through your catalog and make sure you don't miss out on the chance to get that special stamp set you have been holding out for!

Happy Easter!

This is one of the two cards we made at Meghan's recent workshop. It was a case of a card by Sandi MacIver. If you have never visited Sandi's blog - you could spend hours there just looking at her beautiful projects! You can visit her at www.stamingwithsandi.com I tried to tie in the link to her blog, but Blogger is not cooperating with this today! While you are there, don't forget to look at the gorgeous 3-D items she is sharing on her blog this weekend - how I wish I had time to make all those before the festivities begin today!

While my Black Magic card isn't necessarily an Easter Card, I thought it might be bright and springy enough to share with you today. My ladies enjoyed making them last weekend. Some of them even taught me some new techniques, and showed me how to use my Watercolor Pencils in ways I've never tried before!

I would love to get together and stamp with you too - I have lots of dates open for May Scrapbooking. In case you weren't aware, May is National Scrapbooking Month. So there you have it, a perfect excuse to work away on those scrapbooks a few afternoons!

...for now enjoy your day with family and friends!

Happy Easter!

Shower Invite

Molly created this invite for an upcoming bridal shower - so cute I thought I should share it!

TFL!

Feeling Inspired?

Hi Bloggy Friends! I apologize for neglecting my blog these past few weeks - things have been kind of crazy for me at work - well, when isn't it though? - I've been getting ready for a visit from the state to renew our preschool license so lots of time getting all the ducks in a row so to speak and updating permits, record checks, etc. whew! All this smack dab in the middle of Sale-A-Bration! WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS???

Anyway last night I was blog hopping and came across a whole slew of Shabby Chic styled cards and really felt inspired to make one myself - just in time for Laura's birthday this afternoon! I neglected to use any stamps on this card and I think it could have used just one or two...but anyway here is the finished piece and I hope you like it!

Products used:

Big Shot Stripes Embossing Folder and Beautiful Wings Sizzlit Die
Beau Chateau DSP
Paper Snips (for all those "fussy cuts"
Crumb Cake Card Stock
Very Vanilla Card Stock
1 3/8" Circle Punch
Stampin Dimensionals
Basic Jewels

Thanks for stopping by - and Happy Birthday Laura!!

Dabbling With Steampunk

I have been working on some Steampunk Cards for an upcoming class. I have been having a blast putting these cards together from a variety of stamp sets including Artistic Etchings, Many Mustaches, and Precious Butterflies! I hope all you stampers out there see the mustaches as the flying keys they are. Neither of my girls saw it, I had to explain...

This second card was cased from one on Stampin' Connection (a website for Demonstrators) by Sara Levin. I'm sorry I can't link it for you - she doesn't have a blog.

You'll have to sign up as a Demonstrator if you want to see her post - let me know if I can help you with that and we'll get it started! Otherwise come back soon to see the other cards that will be part of this class.

Happy Monday!

Birthday Butterfly

Hello Bloggy Friends! Today I have a card to share with you that can be used for a variety of occasions from Birthday to Thank You, or Just Because. For this card I combined some SAB Designer Paper with On Board Merry Medley (IBC) and the Hearts Collection Framelits Dies. I added a punch, some Shimmer Paint, an embossed accent and FREE Ribbon - and came up with this baby! I hope you like it as much as the person who will be receiving it sometime soon. Thanks for stopping by today!

Apothecary Birthday

Don't you just love coordinating stamps and dies? This is just what we have going on here with the Apothecary Art and the Framelits Labels Collection Dies. This is not my original creation but a case of an original Stampin' Up! card from January's Leadership Conference. I changed it up a bit by using Calypso Coral, and used the layered marker technique before spritzing the image to give it a water coloring effect. I think I mentioned before that we have many birthdays to celebrate in March around here and I'm really trying to make everyone's card a little different!

Thanks for stopping by today - enjoy your weekend!

I Love This Spring Bird!

I have been finding so many things I can do with the Elegant Bird Die. I think he makes the best card front. I need a ton of Birthday Cards during March so this is a good one to put together when you need fabulous multiples!

There are only a few weeks left to Sale-A-Bration if you like this paper! You can get it for FREE in a package of 12 coordinating sheets with a $50 order, or in a digital format - also FREE with your $50 order. Email me or visit my online store today to order your Elegant Bird and accessories to start creating your own great projects!

Snow Day Fun!

My husband came home from working at Paint The Town and brought me this sign. I think I might have gotten a little over excited because right away I grabbed a sponge and an ink pad - as much as I loved the colors, it just looked really bright with that distressed image on it - and I toned down the edges with some soft suede ink. It still was not distressed enough for my mind's eye, so I added a few spritzes of Log Cabin Smooch. (One thing I'll share about the Log Cabin is that I almost threw it away when I first tried it, but was determined to master this stuff! Now it is one of my favorite accessories!)
If you are a Stampin' Up! fanatic you might have noticed that the color on this sign is a perfect match with Calypso Coral. I pulled out my Everyday Enchantment DSP (which had the perfect paper for some sweet little wings) and cut out a set using my Elegant Bird Die. F I wrapped up the whole design by using the Blossom Punch to make a flower, and paired it up with a Vintage Brad and Basic Pearl. I sure hope Bill lets me keep this sign - I don't think he has any idea how the words completely describe my life!
So if you should happen to see an embellished sign such as this one in your local gift shop, you might have an idea where it all started...