Christmas in...August?

I don't know if you have noticed the lack of scrapbooking as much as I have, but I have definitely been missing it...! Yesterday after church my kids pulled out scrapbooks. While listening to my son carry on about how he remembers this and this, I was noticing all the "in-betweens" that weren't scrapped yet...and feeling a little guilty that I'm so far behind... And suddenly, he noticed too! haha! When there's one layout separating two Halloweens...and only a few between birthdays...yeeeeah, I have a lot of work to do!
So! Later in the evening, I pulled out my son's box of printed, un-scrapped photos, and got some pages done! ...with an emphasis on Christmas, apparently...! But hey, he now has all of Christmas 2010 scrapped and THAT is a good thing!

As my starting point, I turned to challenges on Splitcoaststampers.com. These two pages obviously use the same sketch, just flipped. And I used a "stashbusters challenge" too! Which means the supplies used are now retired, altho there IS a new Project Life kit on page 37 of the new Holiday Mini!
I used 3 colors of cardstock, 2 tags, 3 types of accents (punches, sequins and stickers) and I stamped the title!

Supplies:
Stamps: Skinny Mini ABC
Ink: Memento Black 
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Old Olive card stocks
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Glue Dots, Hello December Project Life cards (2014), Hello December Project Life Accessory kit (2014)

These two pages are the same paper layout and I kept it very simple. This time I used the retired All Is Calm DP, and the same PL Accessory kit as before. All the little sticker labels come from it, and I think they're so cute!

Supplies:
Paper: Old Olive & Cherry Cobbler card stocks, All Is Calm DP
Accessories: Hello December Project Life cards (2014), Hello December Project Life Accessory kit (2014)

Next up are eeeeven simpler pages, letting the Christmas Morning photos be the star!

Supplies:
Stamps: Taffy Alphabet (long retired)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Whisper White & Cherry Cobbler card stocks
Accessories: Holly Berry Bouquet buttons (long retired)

The fourth in this series (yes really) kept with another very simple layout, but I used several accessories.

Supplies:
Paper: Cherry Cobbler & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Hello December Project Life cards (2014), Hello December Project Life Accessory kit (2014), Glue Dots

Finally, for this layout, I used THIS sketch, and really played it up I think...Since I knew I was going to need to seriously embellish the layout, I picked another Stashbuster Challenge. This time I used 2 patterned papers, die cut accents, sticker accents, stamped accents...and sequins and washi tape! I pulled out the Nov 2014 Paper Pumpkin kit for the stamps and some of the embellishments, and I really like how it all worked together!

Supplies:
Stamps: 2014 Nov Paper Pumpkin
Ink: Soft Sky & Lost Lagoon
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive & Soft Sky card stocks, All Is Calm DP (retired)
Accessories: Big Shot, Banners Die, Hello December Project Life Accessory kit (2014), Nov 2014 Paper Pumpkin kit, 2013-2015 In Color Sequins (retired), Glue Dots

Ten pages later, it was past time to call it a night, and I think I definitely added to his scrapbook stash, hahaha...too bad it was only one event!
...and I remembered why I avoid scrapping Christmases....I take waaaay too many pictures!!!

Leaves for Saturday...and research!

Ha! How's that for a title?! Well, read on!

First, we'll start at the end, haha, with the finished project- a sort of funky, autumny card, full of brand new Holiday Mini products that just arrived yesterday! (yeay for being a demo and getting to pre-order items!) Which is why I'm posting on a Saturday, I didn't get to play with it til today! I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch and the Nacho Average color Challenge and came up with this:

Supplies:

Stamps: Among the Branches

Ink: Delightful Dijon, Blackberry Bliss, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Hello Honey, Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss card stocks 

Accessories: Woodland Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Burlap Ribbon, Dimensionals

Maybe the Bermuda Bay is a little odd, but I like how it worked out actually! I also kept it an accent color for this card, and maybe that's why I like it... And I DO like this card, despite several, shall we say..."rough drafts"!

I have a new Pinterest Board just for the new Holiday Mini (HERE) and I have seen dozens of ideas using this fantastic new embossing folder. Lots of those ideas show the trees colored, and the background is left white. Um....I have found one post where the person tells exactly how she colored her trees...you can see her post HERE. I wanted fully colored trees...HMM. So here's what I tried:

1. Someone said ink was put on the raised tree images...I figured a stampin' spot would be easier to control so here's that attempt....
I started adding leaves and decided I really didn't like this 'forest' so I tried again!

2. Somewhere else I saw to sponge ink on the raised tree image...Nope, that doesn't work either...but it is less muddy sooo... But nope, I really don't like this one either!

3. This time I used a marker, laid almost parallel to the paper, so it only got to the raised tree image, and wouldn't ink up anywhere else... That worked out the best, but I already know I have customers who will struggle with that method for an entire card front. HMM. So if you know of an easier way, please leave a comment and let me know! hahaha!!!

And there was still a snag on this third attempt, LOL!!! The color challenge called for Hello Honey. I got out my box of In Color markers and apparently had put back the wrong yellowy marker in that box! This card was actually made using the Delightful Dijon marker instead of Hello Honey! No wonder it was "too dark"!
...some days..............hahahahaha...........

August Paper Pumpkin!

Ok, the latest Paper Pumpkin is such a pretty kit!! I am sooo not a gold person and I think this is beautiful! The little gift box is pretty and simple, and the cards don't need a lot of fuss with the pretty DP!

This time, there are three different projects, and supplies to make three of each. For today, I made one of each, exactly as the instructions show.

The pink and gold are so pretty for "any time cards" but I think that with the ribbon addition on the pink card I can't help but think how applicable it is for Breast Cancer Awareness month coming up!

If you are not currently a subscriber, but love this kit, you just have to sign up to order past kits- and I'm sure this one will be available soon- and I also think it will be snatched up and sold out quickly! So you might want to look in to becoming a subscriber, just by clicking the Paper Pumpkin button on my side bar!
*or you can call and place an order for it too...or! host your own event and sign up!

Birthday Candles!

Today I have another birthday card, and this one also went out in the mail! I sent four cards out yesterday!! I'm feeling pretty good about that fact, haha.... And I guess it's birthday season, because there were even more listed on facebook!

Anyway, today's card uses the Mojo Monday sketch, which got slightly modified...that rectangle panel is larger than shown, and I almost didn't use it at all, and just put the cupcake on top of everything but it kind of needed cleaned up, if that makes any sense... I think candles are not my forte but these work. And I used a blender pen after stamping the cup part of the cupcake, and the frosting part. I like how that turned out!

Supplies:
Stamps: Sprinkles of Life
Ink: Watermelon Wonder, Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Tip Top Taupe, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight card stocks, In Color Envelope Paper
Accessories: Paper Doilies, Tree Builder Punch, Dimensionals

Happy Monday!

Quick post for your Monday...
Today's card is intended as a birthday card and! it went out in the mail today! I used the latest sketch from Retro Sketches and kind of an odd color combo that I ended up really liking, haha! It was a simple but pretty card, I think.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hello Life
Ink: Calypso Coral
Paper: Mint Macaron, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Mint Macaron Dotted Lace Trim

Kindness

So apparently I am not yet done with butterfly season, haha! But this card uses more hot-late-August colors I think so it works for today!
I needed to send an overdue thank you, so I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch for the layout. I seriously love this set, and I kept the card really quite simple!

Supplies:
Stamps: Kinda Eclectic
Ink: Delightful Dijon, Blackberry Bliss, Wild Wasabi, Cajun Craze
Paper: Whisper White, Delightful Dijon, Blackberry Bliss card stocks
Accessories: White Bakers Twine

And have a great weekend!!!

A Birthday Train!

In the coming weeks, we have a few family birthdays coming up for some guys so I needed to make some masculine cards. This is hard for a lot of stampers, but if you keep it simple, keep the sparkles and ruffles off, it comes pretty easily for me! The latest Retro Sketch worked perfectly!
I pulled out the Traveler stamp set for this one! I love this set, the images are fantastic and vintage and beautiful but I don't use it very often! I decided that needed to change! I also kept the colors simple and used a nice, vintage color scheme!

Supplies:
Stamps: Traveler, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Memento Black, Tip Top Taupe
Paper: Whisper White & Tip Top Taupe card stocks, In Color Envelope Paper
Accessories: Linen Thread, Neutral Buttons, Dimensionals

More Retired Playtime...

Maybe I should make this a regular installment, haha... Because once again I was at my mom's house, and she asked me to make some more baby and wedding cards for her stash. So that's what I did!

and a few close-ups in case you're looking for baby or wedding ideas...! But seriously, almost every color used here, and definitely every stamp set is long retired.... One of these days I'll get some new/current things at my mom's house!

These all used the same set, so they share a photo,,,

Paper Pumpkin for Friday!

Happy Friday to you!! Two Friday's ago was the start of our vacation and I'm ready for another one, haha! But school starts next week so maybe a few quiet hours a day will just have to do...

Today I'm sharing an alternate Paper Pumpkin idea. I loved the most recent kit, even tho I don't drink coffee nor tea, and when I saw the latest Clean & Simple sketch I knew it would work out perfectly! Also, it's probably a good idea for me to add some 'get well' to my stash of cards...!

Supplies:
Stamps: July 2015 Paper Pumpkin kit,
Ink: Smoky Slate
Paper: July 2015 Paper Pumpkin kit
Accessories:  July 2015 Paper Pumpkin kit, Neutral Buttons, White Baker's Twine

Hope you have a great weekend, and come back for more inspiration next week!

Sponged Butterfly!

Hello again! Yesterday I managed to find some stamp time and I was SO excited, haha! Since it's been so long since I pulled out my things, for the first project I used both a sketch and a color challenge, and kept it very simple. Easy way to get back to stamping!
So this pretty butterfly card uses the latest Freshly Made Sketch and the color combo from the Nacho Average Challenge blog!

Supplies:
Stamps: Swallowtail, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride, Melon Mambo, Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White, Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride
Accessories: Stamping Sponges, Hexagon Punch (pennant end)

I have done a circle-sponging for this particular butterfly, where I stamp it first, then sponge on color. This time I did the colors in stripes, and stamped the butterfly over the stripes. Have you tried smearing your sponging since the ink pads changed a couple years ago? It doesn't give the same smooth color blending that you can see in the Melon Mambo (bottom) stripe. Instead, it works better to just dab the sponge on the paper, so that's what I did for the other two colors.

Anyway, I think it turned out pretty. And I'm excited to keep stamping again!!

July's Paper Pumpkin!

Now that we're well into August, I finally got to play with my July Paper Pumpkin kit!! Its a fun one, incase you haven't already seen it floating around online...or even played with it yourself!

For one thing, I love the card design! So cute and all the elements are ready to go! There are a few options to fill the mug with, and a few word options that fit nicely on the mug- or could be stamped inside!
So here's a cute little planter to brighten someone's day...

 and here's a mug of soup for someone not feeling well!

and the envelopes are cute too!

What do you think?? If you're not already a subscriber, you can sign up just by clicking the button on the side! And from now til September 10, you can get your first two months half off!!! Just use the promo code HALFOFF! Then you can get some super cute kits in your mailbox every month too!

I'm back!

So it's been weeks since I really got to stamp.
On the 14th of July, I said we ended up re-doing "just about everything" in the bathroom...so in case you're curious to know what I've been up to lately...
here's the before:

Here's the after:

by "just about everything", it is listed on the "after" picture, but in case you can't see it, I meant...

• new sub floor
• new base floor
• tiling the floor
• the baseboard is now tile
• tiling around the toilet
• new toilet parts
• sanding and refinishing the cabinets
• adding hardware
• tiling the backsplash
• resurfacing & sealing the counter top
• new door trim
• new faucet
• and a fresh coat of paint!

Yeah...that's just about everything!! But we really, really love how it turned out, even tho it took waaay longer than we expected! 

(doesn't it always? blaaahhh!)

Well, we got it done the night before we went on a family vacation! 

...I haven't even scrapped most of last year's family vacation...

...and then we had lots of company...

...and school starts in just over a week...! 

...and aaaaahhhhhhhh! 

yes. 

that summarizes how I'm feeling. haha... 

But that isn't what you're here for!
Last week my mom asked me to make some kid birthday cards for her stash. If you're a long-time reader you know that all the retired supplies my mom and I own live at her house, so everything I made is long retired, and the pictures are particularly bad, but here's some stamping!!

These three used the latest sketch from the Nacho Average Challenge blog. The first one I colored using the old Watercolor Wonder Markers. It sounded fun to sit and color...thaaat was enough, haha! I thought the first card was fun enough for any kid and then used the stars for a girly card and then a boyish card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sunny Fun, Straight Up Alphabet & Numbers, In The Stars 
Ink: Memento Black, Real Red, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Pale Plum, Yoyo Yellow,Only Orange, Brilliant Blue, Green Galore
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Yoyo Yellow, Whisper White, Pale Plum, Real Red, Brilliant Blue

For these two I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch, and the marker technique.

Supplies:
Stamps: By Land, Loads of Love Accessories
Ink: Dusty Durango, Basic Gray, So Saffron, Yoyo Yellow, More Mustard markers
Paper: Dusty Durango, Basic Gray, Yoyo Yellow, So Saffron card stocks

Come back tomorrow to see more stamping and something newer, hahaha!

Cards In The Mail

I promise to start posting again! But before that, I'm going to share these beautiful cards I've received from other demonstrators, in the mail. All are credited to the creator. Enjoy!

Blog Hop: Step It Up!

Happy new month to you! It's August...?!! Yikes! Summer is almost over!

Well, a new month means a new blog hop!! This time my blogging friends and I are going to try a little something new. We're going to each create a pretty card, and then step it up to show you just how much adding a bit more can do for your creations!

Personally, I used the latest from Freshly Made Sketches as my starting point. I kept it very simple this time, but I still think it's pretty. Also, it took probably less than five minutes to make! Gotta love that!

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly Basics
Ink: Blackberry Bliss
Paper: Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Blackberry Bliss, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Hexagon Punch (pennant end), Big Shot, Butterflies Thinlits

However, if I make the base less plain with some embossing, and a bit of distressing via stamps and ink, then pop the butterfly up, and add a pretty little pearl accent, it can look even better!

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly Basics, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Crumb Cake, Tip Top Taupe, Versamark
Paper: Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Blackberry Bliss, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Hexagon Punch (pennant end), Big Shot, Butterflies Thinlits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Dimensionals

What do you think? Of course the second one requires more time, and more supplies on hand, but it also adds so much to the fun of the card!

Now click the hand on to get to Cheryl's blog, then hop on thru to see what everyone has ready to inspire your crafting!