Birthday Donkeys!

Last year I made 163 cards, and mailed out 136 of them. Oh, and 82 Christmas cards, haha.... 
and this year I'd like to do even better, and send out a birthday card to more family members and friends. I'm not always very good at that, but I've already written out a list for each month, so it should be a little easier...

I had a little time so I made this cute donkey birthday card for a cute little boy I know. I used the Color Throwdown combination and this qualifies for The Paper Players challenge to use something new! I've never used this set and it only became available to you two days ago so that's pretty new! Also it *almost qualifies for #simplestamping but I did use Blender Pens to pull the stamped color into the image, which is a super easy thing to do! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Darling Donkeys
Ink: Terracotta Tile, Early Espresso
Paper: Terracotta Tile, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Blender Pens

What do you think of my happy, celebratory donkeys? haha....

Fast & pretty!

I have gotten a little scrapbooking done the last couple days but I really needed a thank you card, so I paused to make this, and get it in the mail. It's super simple, but perfect for what I need.

Supplies:
Stamps: Very Versailles
Ink: Old Olive, Crumb Cake & Blackberry Bliss
Paper: Soft Seafoam card stock
Accessories: gold rhinestones from the Dec 2019 Paper Pumpkin kit

We Create Blog Hop: Have a Heart

Good afternoon! It's a new month and that means a fun new blog hop! With Valentine's Day right around the corner, today's hop is all about love!

My card is pretty simple, but I'm really happy with it. In fact, if you took off the little droplets, it totally qualifies for #simplestamping! But I like the droplets so I kept them, haha!

Supplies:
Stamps: Forever Lovely
Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Real Red & Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White & Basic Black card stocks
Accessories: Frosted Epoxy Droplets

My card fits three current challenges, which was a big help trying to get back in to stamping after being sick. I used the color challenge from Global Design Project, the SC784 sketch from Splitcoaststampers.com and since I used flowers, I'm putting it with the SUO Floral Challenge! AND! This card is definitely going to be part of my upcoming class!

Now, hop on over to Libby's blog and then hop on thru the whole group to see what we've created for you today! Leave us your thoughts- we all enjoy feedback!

February 2020 We Create Blog Roll:

Kimberley Morris

Sharon Dalton

Tanya Harvey

Libby Fens

Cheryl Curtis

Julie Davidse

Jeanna Kay

Anastasia Radloff

Tricia Butts

Tropical Birthday

Winter has definitely arrived, just in time for holiday travel. It is snowy, windy and very cold! Later today I need to stop by the home of someone who happens to have a birthday today so of course I need to take a birthday card with me! This is what I whipped up last night, to counter the very cold weather. I used the now passed Freshly Made Sketch and it fits the November #simplestamping challenge, which is totally random, haha! But I really like how it turned out and I might make a few more to have on hand!

Supplies:
Stamps: Friend Like You
Ink: Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Granny Apple Green
Paper: Whisper White & Granny Apple Green card stock
Accessories: Copper Trim, Glue Dots

I started by sponging the "sand", then I stamped the waves in Bermuda Bay and sponged more Bermuda Bay over them. Then I did the tree trunks in the sand, and the palm leaves over that. Super simple, super cute- and it could be for anyone!

Relax!

I needed some birthday cards for a man, so I'll share those over the next few days haha.
This first one is monochromatic and pretty simple too. I used a sketch from Sketch Saturday for the layout, and then I also thought it fit the Just Us Girls challenge to frame it!

Supplies:
Stamps: A Good Man
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Very Vanilla & Soft Suede card stock, Come Sail Away DP

What are you creating this week? Hopefully something fun!!

Mental Health Day

Apparently today is National Mental Health Day. In the Holiday Mini, Stampin' Up! has a new fundraiser set, and for every set sold, $3 will go to mental health organizations! I know of several family members and friends who have turned to mental health organizations, so that is important to me.

This time I used this sweet deer, and some soft autumnal colors for a calm card. This is the final card for my October class, and I kept it "simple" with just stamps, ink and paper so it can easily go for a guy or a girl. It's not technically simple because it uses three stamp sets, but I needed a word, haha.

Supplies:
Stamps: Nature's Beauty, Buffalo Check, Very Versailles
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Seaside Spray, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla card stocks

Anyway, I recommend you get this set because it's quick and cute, versatile, AND goes towards a worthy cause. Also, if you or someone close to you needs help, there is help available. Speak up. Support each other. (((HUGS))) to you, whatever is going on in your world today!

Halloween Cards 1

Happy Monday!
Saturday was World Card Making Day. I have other things going on the first Saturday of October, so I did not participate. However, Stampin' Up! has declared this week World Card Sending Week. They have set a goal that 50,000 cards will be sent this week. I try to send out cards fairly regularly, do you? I have many people in my life that I can't help out in the ways they probably need the most, due to distance, but I can send them something happy in the mail to find among the bills and tediousness of day to day life. And I try to make an effort to do that. Plus- I can't store all the cards I make! May as well put them to good use! You could send out some too! And if you do, let me know and I'll add your sent cards to the count!

Do you send Halloween cards? I really don't. However, I grew up receiving them in the mail! My grandmother was a big fan of Halloween. She dressed up every year, and for us that lived at state away she would call us to cackle like a witch. There were lots of decorations and she sent out Halloween cards to her grandkids every year. Her sister sends them too. My mom sends Halloween cards out to her grandkids, and when her mother passed away, my mom started sending them to her siblings and nieces and nephews too. Now I have a little one who loves Halloween just as much as her grandmother and great-grandmother!

Personally, I like the dressing up. I like trick or treating. I'm a big fan of candy, haha. I love to watch The Great Pumpkin. And that's plenty for me, haha. (I like other fall things like pumpkin patches and apple cider and hay rides and leaves...) But there's a little one in the house so this year we've decorated anyway. And we don't know which costume we're going to wear this year, haha! When you get hand-me-downs from several older kids that all fit at the same time, the choices are just too much!

My mom has been sick rather a lot this summer, so for a fun day we decided to stamp a bunch of Halloween cards. She had some in her stash already, but we made more. And maybe some of these will carry over to next year too! Get comfy because we made a lot! However, you should probably know that almost all the supplies we used are retired!
In fact, I just decided to make this the first of three installments... Just in case you're looking for ideas too! So here are some of the quickest cards to make...

Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits

Stamps: Tee-Hee-Hee

Stamps: Spooky Bingo Bits

Stamps: Bitty Boos, Spooky Bingo Bits, really old Paper Pumpkin

Simple Sailing

Look! I used the Sailing Home stamp set again!

Today's card is so quick and easy, the only long thing was waiting for the card stock to dry. I used the latest CAS(E) This Sketch and I'm happy with it! It's also perfect for a guy and I know a lot of people struggle with masculine cards.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sailing Home
Ink: Stazon, Seaside Spray, Night of Navy (on the edges)
Paper: Seaside Spray, Whisper White cardstock
Accessories: Aquapainter

Catch-up Scrapbooking!

I actually got all these pages done last week, I just haven't had time to blog it!
This was the best scrapping day in a long time, haha. All of these pages were done yeeears ago. All I had to do was find pictures to go on the pages, glue them down and a bit of journaling! That means I got all four pages done in half an hour! So exciting, haha!

This page came from a Stampin' Up! Regional conference in 2007. It was one of our make & takes, and it has literally been in a scrapbook pile since then. YIKES! I glued down these two pics of my youngest and bam- she's got another page done! I dont' remember the names of these stamp sets, tho I did own (maybe still do?) the doodly one on the circles.

This page was one I put together for a class I held I believe in 2010. We used two punches and the glimmer paper, which was a new thing then. I did an 8x11 and a 12x12 version to accommodate my customers. I used the 8x11 at my class, but never glued pics down on this one. I just found out today that my son got both pages, hahaha...but they're like a decade apart in his books so it's just fine. Right? hahaha....

And finally, I had made this fun layout for a class I held in 2011. This Bingo board and Halloween bits were so fun! Well, I had printed pictures of last Halloween for my youngest, and she is a big fan of Halloween so that was a perfect match! She got two more pages, lucky girl! haha!

So see? Make sure you look thru your stash and double check that things are used the way you intended! You never know what's hiding, waiting for your attention. haha......!

We Create Brights Collection Blog Hop

And just like that, it is now August and our summer is practically over! Crazy!! A new month always means a new blog hop and today we are featuring our Brights color collection!

I own all but one of the Brights inks and I like the colors a lot, I just get a little overwhelmed trying to make them work... I tend to stick more to the other color families for my projects. As I was looking over the colors, I remembered THIS card I made a few months ago, and used that as my inspiration. I didn't want exactly the same card, so I did a few variations.

This first one definitely qualifies as #simplestamping. It is literally just stamps, ink and paper! It is quick and cute and happy and easily brightens someone's day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Colorful Seasons
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green
Paper: Granny Apple Green & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Dimensionals

The second one is a monochromatic style card, and I added some twine. That's it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Colorful Seasons
Ink: Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade
Paper: Flirty Flamingo & Whisper White card stock
Accessories: White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

And this third one is a different {almost} monochromatic flavor, and I used die cuts for the greeting. So, not simple, but not difficult either!

Supplies:
Stamps: Colorful Seasons
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape
Paper: Coastal Cabana & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: White Baker's Twine, Big Shot, Circle Dies, Dimensionals

And there you have it- all but one shade from our Brights, and three cute, happy cards to stick in the mail! I am sending out a lot of cards, which is great. You should send out some too! But before you do, click the Next button, below, and hop on over to see what Cheryl has created to inspire you, and hop on through to everyone's. It's a short hop, but full of bright, summery colors! And leave us your thoughts- everyone loves comments!

Simple Stamping

I realized all of the cards for my upcoming class have a lot of layers and a lot of things. That can be overwhelming for new crafters and that is exactly why Stampin' Up! has a focus right now on #simplestamping. Funny that I learned to use lots of supplies on a project right about the time they come up with this emphasis, haha....

For this card, I let the DP do the talking, haha. It is stunning so it's easy to let it shine. Plus, this couple is so fabulous. I put them on Shimmery card stock to give it a little bit of something. Anyway, I picked this particular pattern because it looked like a stormy sky, which is why they need an umbrella.

Supplies:
Stamps: Silhouette Scenes
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Mossy Meadow & Shimmery White card stocks, Perennial Essence DP

You could easily add some ribbon or some kind of drops or other embellishment, but it's pretty without it too!

We Create In Color 2018-2020 Blog Hop

It doesn't make sense how quickly the years have started flying by, but here we are at May of 2019 already, and while that is crazy to me, that means a fun and inspiring blog hop for you!

This month our Blog Hop is focusing on the 2018-2020 In Colors that are sticking around! I wanted to play with a set that is retiring at the end of the month (well, June 3) that I loved as soon as I saw it, and haven't got to play with yet! 

It has been a while since I bought a hostess-only stamp set, but this was one of those that I really had to have. Are you familiar with the idea of the "shoemaker's children having to go barefoot"? That totally applies at my house. I used to be great about sticking little notes in my kids' lunch boxes for the holidays or just when they needed an extra hug, but it has been quite some time since I did that... like years. And this set was PERFECT for the kinds of notes my kids need now. 

My projects today definitely qualify as #simplestamping. I only got out the one stamp set, the 2018-2020 In Color markers, 2018-2020 In Color card stock pack, Whisper White card stock and Memento black ink. That's it! But, with these shades, these cards are still happy and cute and get the motivational thought across, haha! 

The sunshine stamp...

the growing stamp...

and the believe stamp! 

And all of them lined up together! Do you have a favorite? 

I think these will be a nice surprise over these last few weeks of school, don't you? These cards are 4x4 size, with a 3x3 panel of Whisper White, which are great for lunch boxes, by the way. 

Now hop on over to Cheryl's blog to see what she's created for you! Then keep hopping around til you get back to me- it isn't a long hop, but it will be full of these same happy colors and a lot of great inspiration! And let us know what you think of our work! 

Spring Trees Take Two...

Today's card is very similar to the last thing I posted, but this time I used a sketch (Freshly Made Sketches) and color challenge (Just Add Ink -I picked the pink and green and the gray sign) ...and it happens to fit two other challenges too! (SUO Challenges of anything made with Stampin' Up! products, and Global Design Project's "day at the park". Trees are definitely in our parks.)

I needed a sympathy card and I wanted it to brighten the day of the recipient instead of keep them feeling down... I really wanted to use these trees in the main panel of the sketch, and I wanted to use the gorgeous leafy print from the Occasions Mini. I also really love this sentiment that 'today a friend is thinking of you'...

Supplies:
Stamps: Winter Woods, Part of My Story (now retired)
Ink: Gray Granite, Pear Pizazz, Powder Pink
Paper: Pear Pizazz, Whisper White card stock, Floral Romance DP
Accessories: Stamping Sponge

And almost as soon as I photographed it, I sent it on its way to brighten someone's day!

Sale-A-Bration!!

is ending! Tomorrow (Sunday) is THE last day of Sale-A-Bration 2019! I definitely did not get to play with my Sale-A-Bration freebies enough! I really didn't- its been a busy, crazy few months a my house, haha! So yesterday I took some time and put together some new cards- which need mailed out SOON!

This one has been in my head for quite a while. I love this sentiment from the Part of My Story stamp set. It was the first thing I loved from this year's selection -this exact sentiment. Then they released this paper with the second round in February, and this sheet of paper looks straight out of a story book- they were meant to go together! I found a sketch that fit, at Global Design Project, annnd then I cut the DP the wrong direction... but I made it work anyway, ha!
What do you think? This one even qualifies for #simplestamping

Supplies:
Stamps: Part of My Story (SAB), Painted Seasons (SAB)
Ink: Early Espresso, Lemon Lime Twist, Call Me Clover marker (on the leaves on the sentiment panel)
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Painted Seasons DP (SAB)
Accessories: Dimensionals


Since I still had a little time, I really wanted to focus on the Painted Seasons stamp set. I tried a few inks on these pretty flowers. This stamp set is our new "DistINKtive" style, which means that it is cut in such a way to add depth and shadow to the image, which is really cool. But some inks don't show up very boldly, and for this, I wanted something bold. I loooved the way this Gorgeous Grape turned out and stopped there! Then I was trying to decide how to make the latest Inky Friends sketch work best...should I fussy cut the flowers..? But as I was looking over my DP choices, I remembered one of my favorite cards ever, from probably 10 years ago, back when our DP was one sided, haha. I had stamped some blue flowers on to some white washed, worn wood looking paper. Well look what I found in the Wood Textures DP pack?! YEAY! I like the purple flowers at least as much as those old blue ones!
Next I thought it would be cool to die cut the white greeting panel and let the Grape card stock show thru. Well it IS a good idea, but maybe not with a complicated, detailed word like this one, ha. And I didn't realize that til the bits were in the trash...and I work in the kitchen so there was no way I was even going to try to look for them. rats. Again, I made it work anyway. I stamped the rest of the greeting and decided I really love this card, even with its "birthday" flaw, haha.

Supplies:
Stamps: Painted Seasons (SAB), Well Said
Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green
Paper: Gorgeous Grape & Whisper White card stock, Wood Textures DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Well Written Framelits

*I stand corrected...the blue flowers on distressed wood was 12 years ago. yikes! haha!

March 2007

One more cactus!

A week ago I posted that I bought my mom this Flowering Desert stamp set and I was trying to make her a birthday card with it. Well it took three tries but this is the card I finally gave her!

Supplies:
Stamps: Flowering Desert
Ink: Tranquil Tide, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst, Fresh Fig, So Saffron
Paper: Berry Burst, Whisper White

And using only one stamp set, a few inks and even just a little card stock definitely makes this a #simplestamping card, haha, but it doesn't look too simple!

So here's something to note... four of these colors are only around another couple of months! When the catalog ends, we'll say goodbye to Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst and Fresh Fig! (also Powder Pink, but that didn't fit on this card, haha) Sale-A-Bration is a great time to stock up on these before they're gone for good! Let me know if you need help placing an order, and earning FREE Sale-A-Bration items!
You can see all of the FREE Sale-A-Bration items HERE. Don't miss it- Sale-A-Bration ends March 31!

We Create Subtles Collection Blog Hop

It's already March?! I mean, that's okay, its my birthday month, haha, but wow, another year is flying by! But a new month means a new blog hop, so here we go!

Today our hop is featuring Stampin' Up!'s Subtles color collection. I picked four shades: Mint Macaron, Pear Pizazz, Calypso Coral, and So Saffron! I think the card counts as simple stamping again, because I only used paper, ink and one kind of ribbon.

Yesterday I shared a card with this new set from the Occasions Mini, and here's another one I tried out. I'm really happy with how this one came together. I like the shading on the stamps and I like how easy it was to create a little desert scene! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Flowering Desert

Ink: Calypso Coral, Pear Pizazz, Mint Macaron & So Saffron

Paper: So Saffron & Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: Calypso Coral Ombre Ribbon

Hopefully you know it's still Sale-A-Bration time, through the end of March! If you wanted, you could order the supplies needed to make this card, and you'd qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item! I'll be playing with a few more of those sets in the coming weeks too! You can see all of our great Sale-A-Bration products by clicking HERE. You can place an order while you're there and play with your new supplies in just a few days! 

And now you can hop on over to Cheryl's blog and see what she's made to inspire you today! 

Then continue on thru the hop and leave us your thoughts! We all love comments! I hope you get some time to create too! And maybe it will be spring at your house soon!

A cool cactus

My mom is from Arizona. We left in 1985, but if you ask her where she's from, she'll tell you she's from Arizona, and then tell you where she currently lives, haha. As soon as I saw this set, I knew she was going to have to get it. And then I realized I could do one thing better- and I bought it for her birthday! But then! I needed to make her a birthday card with it, right? haha....

For this card, I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, and the color scheme from Inky Friends. It also qualifies for the SUO Challenge this week to feature the Occasions (or Sale-A-Bration) Mini! So that's fun! haha.... And this, cute, simple card is what I made first:

Supplies:
Stamps: Flowering Desert
Ink: Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Memento Black
Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White

However, it didn't say "mom's birthday" to me. So I had to keep playing. And now you'll just have to come back some other days,and see what else I did!

Hey Love!

Today's card uses a technique I learned at the very first Stampin' Up! workshop I ever attended, waaay back in 2003. Yep. For the Make & Take, we used a stamp set that was all images, and a stamp set that was all words and repeated the word of our choice in Versamark, as subtle "patterned paper". We used one image to go along with it, and we used silver cord, haha! I didn't even realize the metallic thread connection til I typed that sentence! Anyway, back then everything I did was very much considered #simplestamping. I was trying to save money on supplies by not buying them, haha, and saving {hoarding?} what I did buy. I even know who I mailed that first card to.

For this card, I used the latest sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, and built the card around the stamp set I wanted to play with. This is easily the most Valentine-y card I have in my upcoming class. The colors, the jar of hearts, and the repeated sentiment make it very festive, haha! With all the pink, it is likely going to go to my daughter. But I really like how it turned out and I hope my class attendees do too!

Supplies:
Stamps: Jar Of Love
Ink: Memento Black, Berry Burst, Powder Pink
Paper: Powder Pink, Whisper White & Berry Burst card stock
Accessories: Gold Thread, Dimensionals

annnd a less washed-out view, that is too dark, ha...

Tips-
- I mounted both the "HEY," and the "Love" on the block at the same time and stamped that way.
- I inked the Powder Pink hearts before the Berry Burst. Maybe that's obvious, but maybe it isn't, but it can be important with the clear, photopolymer stamp sets.
- I don't really know how to make thread look good, haha, I just stick Dimensionals all over the back and twist the thread around. Then it's stuck! haha!

Bright Little Note

I got to stamp yesterday, and I also planned out a few more cards to make, haha, so hopefully I'll get a little more stamping time soon! Do you ever do that? I couldn't decide which set I wanted to play with, so I came up with a few ideas, then I picked one! 

For this one, I used the latest Fab Friday sketch, and made a cute, happy card for my upcoming class! It also definitely qualifies for the #simplestamping challenge, since I really only used stamps, ink and paper! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Wishing You Well, Buffalo Check

Ink: Melon Mambo, Lemon Lime Twist

Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: Dimensionals 

I left the actual banner off from the sketch, but I put the greeting in the same spot, so it should work. I liked the bright colors to off set the huge storm we had yesterday. I'm really happy with how it turned out, which is always a good thing! Let me know if you want to attend my class!  

#simplestamping

This fall, with the 30th Anniversary of Stampin' Up! they issued a challenge to demonstrators, to encourage more "simple" stamping. Showing off the fact that we can still make something pretty without owning everything in the catalog (as fun as that would absolutely be, haha!). Well, my style has always been closer to simple stamping than it has to the more complicated, layered projects. I love them, I just struggle to make it work together well. I've had to learn to incorporate all the accessories and embellishments and beautiful papers on my cards, haha. Also, if you've been a long-time reader, you'll know that our monthly blog hop used to focus on a simple card and a stepped up version, so simple is usually pretty easy for me.

I haven't stamped much in the last several weeks, like early December, so I thought starting off very simple would be a good jumping-back-in point. Also, I need to mail out at least four cards...so I picked an easy stamp set, a variety of colors to vary the card (the In Colors that retire THIS summer!!) and went for a super mailable, easy design! What do you think? I did use multiple stamp sets for the greetings so that these cards fit who I needed to send them to, but it really is just stamps, ink and paper!

Powder Pink is tricky to see in a picture, haha,

so here's a close up.

Supplies:
Stamps: Love What You Do, Part of My Story
Ink: Powder Pink, Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White

Supplies:
Stamps: Love What You Do
Ink: Berry Burst , Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White

Supplies:
Stamps: Love What You Do
Ink: Fresh Fig, Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White

Supplies:
Stamps: Love What You Do, PS You're The Best
Ink: Tranquil Tide, Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White

Supplies:
Stamps: Love What You Do, Wishing You Well
Ink: Lemon Lime Twist, Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White

These are really very simple cards. Do you like simple stamping or do you prefer to add a little bit of everything? Or maybe somewhere in the middle, like I usually do? haha....
Anyway, the best part of this story is that two of these cards went out yesterday and I should get two more out tomorrow too!