Blog Hop: March Madness!

Another new month! This time for our Blog Hop we are going with March Madness- and mostly that means: anything that applies to March! You never know what you're going to find!

I chose to go with a Spring theme! ...our winter has been really weird. Hardly any snow, and jacket weather or less...til this week when its been very cold and snowy again! Which is good...we need the snow..... But my birthday is coming up very soon and I'm in the mood for Spring!
I also stuck to one set to show off some versatility! Love dong that!
*Bonus- these projects were part of my workshop yesterday morning!

First up- this card, which was also the Make & Take! We sponged Old Olive ink onto the polka dot patterned DP. The butterflies were punched out, and they have a tiny pearl on them, that was colored with the Blendabilities. The ribbon was frayed...or really, in my case, pulled apart, haha, And the flower image was also colored with Blendabilities.

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly Basics
Ink: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Crumb Cake, Memento Black, Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities, Old Olive Blendabilities
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla card stocks, Irresistibly Yours DP (Sale-a-Bration only)
Accessories: Basic Pearls, White Jute Ribbon, Itty Bitty Butterfly Punch

Here is the scrapbook page I demonstrated, and I think the blue butterflies definitely bring Spring to this page!

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly Basics, Skinny Mini ABC
Ink: Soft Sky, Lost Lagoon, Lost Lagoon Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Night Of Navy, Soft Sky card stocks
Accessories: Epic Day washi tape, Butterfly Thinlits, Big Shot

Now that you've enjoyed my dose of Spring, head on over to Cheryl's blog and see what fun projects she has to share! Then continue thru the rest of the bloggers, and! leave some comments telling us what you think! And enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

A Purple Birthday!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. Her favorite color is purple so I wanted to do something purple...and she loved the butterfly thinlits so I wanted to use that too...
I used last week's Nacho Average Challenge sketch for the layout...This one did not turn out quite like the idea in my head...I don't have any large oval shaped anything, so I freehand drew one and cut it out of card stock so I had the hole to use. Then I used Blendabilities to color in the oval and allow the flowers to be seen. After adding the butterfly and greeting it still needed something, so I sponged some Soft Sky ink around the rest of the DP...

Supplies:
Stamps: Bloom With Hope
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Irresistibly Yours DP
Accessories: Butterfly Thinlits, Pearls, Stamping Sponge, Hexagon Punch

A close up of the butterfly, which I sponged a bit of Wisteria Wonder ink on the center of, for a bit of dimension, and then added the pearl...

Buuut then I thought it ended up looking like an Easter Egg, which was not my intention...haha...I was going for THIS kind of idea, off memory, where the green is a subtle touch, but I think the purple was too dark of a color for it. Oh well, I think she'll be happy anyway!

I stuck it in the mail anyway, and had to laugh...these are the cards my mom got from my house...my daughter used a card I made about a year ago...my son made his own...and we all chose Wisteria Wonder card bases!

My son wrote "have a happy purple birthday" in his card...a few hours later my daughter wrote "Happy purple lurple birthday"...and that's what my mom gets! hahaha...
Too much of a good thing?

A Wedding Card

I realized this past week that we (my husband and I) are officially grown ups. Apparently we're old enough for parents to invite us to their child's wedding when we really don't know the bride at all, haha...
I threw this card together last minute Saturday, before we went to the reception, and managed to get enough light to take the picture, haha. I used the latest sketch from the Viva La Verve blog for the card layout. Mostly I was just happy it turned out as pretty in real life as it was in my head!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love Is Kindness, Simply Wonderful
Ink: Memento Black, Old Olive Blendabilities, Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities, Pear Pizazz marker, Soft Sky
Paper: Whisper White & Wisteria Wonder card stocks
Accessories: White Jute Ribbon, Stamping Sponge

Valentine Week #1

So, Saturday I had a Sale-A-Bration workshop. I invited a bunch of people but the only ones able to come already have a decent stamp stash of their own, haha! I had been disappointed I didn't have time to schedule a Valentine card class, so 15 minutes into the workshop I started prepping other cards and we turned it into a card class instead, haha!! That means I have several cards to showcase this week, in case you're looking for some Valentine's inspiration!

Today I'm starting with the card that was originally the card to demonstrate! This card uses the photopolymer stamp set Snuggles and Smooches, which is not in the catalog, but can be viewed HERE. Yep, Stampin' Up! is still releasing a new photopolymer stamp set each month, and this one is so cute! I used the Banners die for the pennant with the LOVE stamped on it, but I used the Hexagon Punch to make the other strips pennant shaped. We used the Calypso Coral Blendabilities to color the LOVE in an ombre' style (which totally shows up better IRL), and to color one of the pearls. And the strips come from the cute Stacked With Love paper stack!

Supplies:
Stamps: Snuggles & Smooches
Ink: Memento Black, Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral Blendabilities
Paper: Calypso Coral & Whisper White card stocks, Stacked With Love DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Banners Die, Hexagon Punch, Pearls

Other Flowers...

haha...I've used Lotus Blossom so many times lately, I thought I'd mix it up with a different flower! This is a birthday card I made a friend this week. I have a few February birthday's and it strikes me that most of them love purple...I wonder if there's a connection to their amethyst birthstone...? Anyway, here's the first purple birthday card this year, and I used the current Retro Sketch!

Supplies:
Stamps: Bloom with Hope (hostess), Hardwood
Ink: Soft Suede, Memento Black, Wisteria Wonder, Wisteria Blendabilities
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Accessories: Old Olive Baker's Twine, White Organza ribbon, Rhinestones

...and I think I've only done this flower in shades of purple...I'll have to mix that up soon! *grin

Love Is Kindness

Today's is another simple card. This time I used the Mojo Monday sketch but turned it to the side...and I moved the ribbon almost entirely. Hmm...okay, nevermind, this card was inspired by the Mojo Monday sketch, haha! And I have actually already participated in this week's sketch, so that's fine. Just a little funny...
Anyway, this time I colored the tulips with my Crisp Cantaloupe marker and the Calypso Coral Blendabilities! I like the even lighter shade on there!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love Is Kindness
Ink: Memento Black, Calypso Coral Blendabilities, Crisp Cantaloupe marker
Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Early Espresso card stocks, Paper Doilies
Accessories: White Taffeta Ribbon

Blog Hop: Occasions Mini!

Welcome to a new month AND a new year!! I'm excited to share our fun blog hop with you!

Have you received the new Occasions Mini? It doesn't actually begin until January 6th, but we wanted to feature it today, to whet your appetites for the fun new products! I know my wishlist is long...so many pretty things in this Mini! And, you know...Demonstrators can pre-order catalog products...! (yep, that's a perk! Wanna sign up??)

First up, I have this sweet tulip stamp! That's right, we have barely had snow for a whole week and my stamping has moved on to Spring... hahaha! I used the current Retro Sketch for the card layout (which I flipped upside down), and a bit of a crossover...the Holiday Mini stays current thru January 5 so I went ahead and used a button from it on this card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Love Is Kindness
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Sweet Taffy DP
Accessories: Wisteria Blendabilities, Nordic Buttons, Crushed Curry baker's twine, Big Shot, Banners Die

This card was fun to make! I used the latest Mojo Monday sketch, and enjoyed the collage-y-ness of the Butterfly Basic set!

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly Basics
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar & Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Big Shot, Banners Die, Butterflies Die

And finally, I have this card which I didn't love quite so much, but I'm sharing it anyway, haha... I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch, but I changed the focal point to a square instead of circle. This time I colored the tulips with Calypso Coral Blendabilities.

Supplies:
Stamps: Love Is Kindness, Butterfly Basics
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Calypso Coral card stocks, Park Lane DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Hexagon Hive Die, Dimensionals

Now, carry on to Cheryl's blog, and hop on thru! Please leave us comments to let us know what you think! and Happy New Year to you!!!

Workshop Demo & Sneak Peek!

Happy Friday to you! Yeay for weekends!
Last night I had a workshop, with a hostess*! That's always a fun way to spend a couple hours! This is the card I demonstrated, to feature the Blendabilities. I used them to color the flowers and stems, but also the pearl!! How fun is that?!
AND this same card is going to be part of my upcoming September classes! So here's your sneak peek! I also used the current Retro Sketch for the layout, even tho I tipped the card base to fit the large image...
and, ignore the flaws...things happen when you're rushing at the end of a long day, giggle...

Supplies:
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies
Ink: Memento Black, Blendabilities: Old Olive, Calypso Coral
Paper: Old Olive, Calypso Coral, Whisper White card stocks, Park Lane DP
Accessories: Basic Pearls

*That doesn't happen nearly often enough! Want to volunteer? I would love to do a workshop at YOUR house with YOUR friends and you can keep the FREE hostess benefits with $150 or more in sales!

Boy Birthdays!

This weekend my son has a combined birthday party to attend. That means I needed to make two boy birthday cards!
First up, I used the current Clean & Simple sketch, and! I got to play with my Blendabilities again! Check out the parachute!

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: Pacific Point, Memento Black, Pumpkin Pie marker, Old Olive Blendabilities
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Brights Candy Dots

And then I used the current Nacho Average Sketch for this card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Boys Will Be Boys
Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Pacific Point
Paper: Marina Mist & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Dimensionals

So instead of added three things across the side of the card (since I turned the sketch) I punched holes, and stamped on the card base! I started by punching the holes out, then using a pencil to lightly mark the corners of the hexagons. Then I used a 'frame' punched out of a post-it note to make sure I didn't stamp where I didn't want it showing, and erased the pencil marks. Then I put the card stock on Dimensionals!

Pretty handy, huh?

Coral Thank You

Here is a card I started a few weeks ago. I was using the then-current Mojo Monday sketch and I wanted to try the Blendabilities on the buttons! Do you see my pretty green button?? Fun, huh?? I didn't get it put it together til that night at my friend's house tho, and got to use her Floral Frames die, and background stamp, for the flower the button is stuck to. Always fun to play with new things!
And on that note!

• Don't forget that ALL Blendabilities are now available! 
• And don't forget the super awesome Big Shot deal going on this month!!! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Lots of Thanks, Dictionary background
Ink: Calypso Coral, Early Espresso
Paper: Calypso Coral & Whisper White card stocks, Park Lane DP
Accessories: Chevron Ribbon (the back of it), Vintage Faceted buttons, Paper Doily, Big Shot, Floral Frames die, Old Olive Blendabilities

Blog Hop: Featuring the Big Shot!

...and all the things you can do with it!
Happy August to you, and welcome to another fun blog hop!
(also, if you're a regular reader of mine, today I have cards!!!)

This month, Stampin' Up! is offering a really awesome promotion with the Big Shot! If you don't own a Big Shot, this is the best time to buy one! Until August 31, you can buy a Big Shot and get a Framelits and Stamp Set bundle for FREE! Already own a Big Shot? No problem- you can get a 15% discount on the same selected bundles!! YEAY!
(check the list of bundles at the bottom of this post)
And that is why our August Blog Hop features the Big Shot- to show you the fun things you can do once you get one of these in your house too!

My first card uses the very fun On Film framelits. There are lots of cute framelits in that set but my favorite is this polaroid frame! I also used the Calypso Coral Blendabilities which! you should know that ALL Blendabilites are available for you to order today!

Supplies:
Stamps: Swallowtail
Ink: Memento Black Ink, Calypso Coral Blendabilities
Paper: Park Lane DP, Calypso Coral & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Big Shot, On Film Framelits, Linen Thread

The second card fits the NAC100 challenge- and I used the #53 sketch. In case it isn't obvious, my favorite way to use the Big Shot is to emboss chunks of paper. Here I used the Honeycomb embossing folder and then scuffed an ink pad across it! Such a quick, cool look! But I also used another die - the Banners Die, for the greeting tag!

Supplies:
Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, Lots of Thanks
Ink: Island Indigo, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Crumb Cake
Paper: Island Indigo, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Big Shot, Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Banners Framelits Dies

Alright, now go check out the rest of the Blog Hop, see what you could do if you owned the Big Shot and figure out your August order! *grin!

Discounted Bundles during August: 
Sumthin' Sumthin' stamp set & Word Bubbles framelits
Oh My Goodies stamp set & Deco Labels Collection framelits
Day of Celebration stamp set & Chalk Talk framelits
Daydream Medallions & Floral Collection framelits
Bright & Beautiful** stamp set & Stars framelits
(**stamp set available in Holiday Mini- released August 28, let me know if you want one mailed to you!)