Bright and Subtle

Today I have a bright color combo which I think I really toned down, haha!
I love this wreath idea, where I stamp something tiny and colorful and then layer the white floral wreath on top. This time I found a couple very small flowers and a leaf in The long-retired, wood mount Botanicals For You set. I added a few tiny Rhinestones and it's done! 
I used the color combo from TGIF Challenges for this one. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Botanicals For You, Well Said

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Timid tiger, Lemon Lime Twist
Paper: Basic White card stock
Accessories: Rhinestones, Encircled in Nature dies, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Cards In The Mail!

I've decided to be satisfied with posting three times a week, haha...something about a time and a season for things, and this is turning out to not be the season for stamping, no matter how much I wish it!

Today I'm sharing the most recent batch of card swaps I have received. I know, some of these cards use now-gone Sale-A-Bration items, but if YOU earned them, YOU can still create these ideas!! *grin! And you can always substitute what you DO have!

Sale-A-Bration Ends.....

Yep, another season has come and gone. Today is THE last day to place an order and earn FREE Sale-A-Bration products. I definitely didn't get to play with mine enough...did you?? So today I have a Sale-A-Bration feature, and an explanation...

First up, you're here for the stamping!
This card shows off the first Sale-A-Bration item I got this year, the Botanicals for You stamp set, but I mixed it up this time. It also shows off a cute print in the Sale-A-Bration exclusive DP, Wildflower Fields!
The card is also based off the latest Mojo Monday sketch, but it isn't exact... I think you can still see all the pieces and parts, even if I kept it with a lot of literal white space.

Supplies:
Stamps: Botanicals For You
Ink: Pear Pizazz marker, Blackberry Bliss marker
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Wildflower Fields DP
Accessories: Hexagon Punch (flagged end)

Second of all....where have I gone? haha...
I was working so hard on my goals to post each week day, and to do calendar pages and to do Christmas cards.... but two major things happened...

We found out that in the fall, I'll be having another baby! We are SO excited about this, and since I'm sure you'll be wondering, I believe my husband's words were that it is a planned surprise. And I am a lot older than I was, and it has worn. me. out. At one point I was taking five hours worth of naps a day, plus sleeping from 10ish-7 every night.
And then... my babysitting job, and my temporary office job both needed me back the same week. So I've been working 2-5 days a week!
And in case this isn't clear, between work and sleep and the rest of my life, that leaves literally no time for stamping anything at all.

The good news is, my office job should only be a few more weeks, and, I am finally getting thru the super duper exhausted phase... That means I think I can get back to some stamping very, very soon! So keep an eye out for lots of inspiration to get you creating too!

Just For Your Birthday!

Today I have my second Birthday Card Class sample for you!

I mostly used the just-too-late Retro Sketch for this card's layout.

This is another weird color combination, but I wanted to use the slicy Garden Green lined DP from the Love Blossoms DP, and I wanted to use all the stamp images from the Botanicals For You stamp set, and! I wanted to use the Washi Tape that has the flowers that match! But- I've come up with a new plan for handling my classes, more "shoebox swap" style, where all the supplies for each sample are in one box (ie: one spot). And I'd already claimed the Cajun Craze ink pad for a different card. Soo... I concluded that at least in my late night dining room light, Cherry Cobbler was a close enough coordinating shade for the Washi Tape and stamps.

Anyway, I think the card turned out both fun and pretty. What do you think?

Supplies:
Stamps: Botanicals For You
Ink: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Hello Honey
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Love Blossoms DP
Accessories: Botanical Gardens Washi Tape, Dimensionals

More Cards In The Mail!

I have had zero crafting time this week! I'm hoping that will change this afternoon but I make no promises...
Fortunately, I did get three new cards in the mail, which I will share with you now to keep YOU inspired while you are creating! ...you are creating, aren't you??
...me either.

But these ladies did! Their names are on their creations for proper credit.
Enjoy!

Just For Your Saturday!

Yeah, it's been a crazy kind of week around here! So far the weekend has been perfectly relaxing! But I got to stamp last night and I wanted to post today to first of all, play along in some challenges, and secondly to remind my customers that I am putting in an order Monday and if you'd like to save on shipping (and get some FREE Sale-A-Bration items!) this is a great time for exactly that! Give me a call, shoot me an email, message me on facebook, whatever you like!

Now for the card... I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch which is to just keep the lines clean and put the greeting in the center. Done and done! This fun Sale-A-Bration stamp set is perfect for such an idea! I didn't keep the card "clean" because I sponged the edges, but the clean lines are still there...
Also, since I used a Sale-A-Bration item, I get to link up with the Nacho Average Challenge blog!

Supplies:
Stamps: Botanicals For You
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Crumb Cake
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride card stocks, Love Blossoms DP
Accessories: Love Blossoms Embellishment Kit, Dimensionals, Stamping Sponges

Inspiration!

We can find it anywhere, can't we? The other day I was perusing blogs to get myself going and something caught my eye. Check out THIS post and tell me what catches your attention.

Well, what I saw was their blog hop header.
I immediately thought it could make a fun, bright card....
like...
this one!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Botanicals For You
Ink: Calypso Coral, Memento Black
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Aquapainter, Love Blossoms Embellishment Kit, Glue Dots

In my head, I totally intended to stamp the flowers from the stamp set and emboss them in gold but evidently I take my anti-gold-ness very seriously, hahaha, and I have no gold embossing powder! I really thought I'd caved one Christmas season but apparently not! So the sequins worked just as nicely.
*wanna hear a secret? some of the sequins are covering up a bit of black "shadow" from the edge of the stamp getting inked! Bam! *grin

And don't forget- this is a Sale-A-Bration exclusive stamp set, so if you love it, you'll want to place a $50+ order before March 31!!

Blog Hop: Step It Up Sale-A-Bration Sneak Peek!

Hello again and welcome to a new blog hop! We scooted the hop from the 1st til now becaaaause the brand new Occasions Mini AND Sale-A-Bration brochure begin today!!

That's right- two new mini catalogs for you to enjoy and fall in love with, and oh my word, I definitely have! My wish list is long...again... But lucky me, I get to preorder (you can too if you want to sign up!) and today I am showing off my first Sale-A-Bration item!

For this card, I used the layout from Freshly Made Sketches, and the colors from the Nacho Average Challenge blog. (Yep, I already played along with that one, but I also made this in time for our typical blog hop on the 1st.)

First, I kept it very clean and simple. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Botanicals For You

Ink: Night of Navy

Paper: Soft Sky, Night of Navy, Whisper White card stocks

Then I stepped it up with a little heat embossing and flowers:

Supplies:

Stamps: Botanicals For You

Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark

Paper: Soft Sky, Night of Navy card stocks, 

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

And then, I put the greeting back on white, and added a few silver brads and a hint of silver ribbon! I also popped the front panel up on Dimensionals! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Botanicals For You

Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark

Paper: Soft Sky, Night of Navy, Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: Silver Mini Brads, Mat Pack, Silver 1/8 Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals

Best of all, I know exactly who to send these to! I love that!! 

Now hop on over to see what Cheryl created! Then hop on thru and leave your thoughts! We all love comments!