A Rainbow of Thanks!

Situation: I needed another thank you card. (I'm needing a lot of these lately)
Dillema: Which stamp set to use.
Solution: Grab a new Thank You background stamp that hasn't seen ink yet!
Result: A Rainbow of Thanks!!

This colorful set was so much fun to create! I just love this new Gratuitous Graffiti background stamp - it really stands alone, as you can see.


On this Old Olive one, you can see how I made the envelopes, too. I used one of my favorite techniques - faux tearing. For a tutorial on this technique, click here.




And what's better than a set of really beautiful cards? A set of really beautiful cards in a really beautiful matching box!


I hope you liked it!


Card Recipe:Stamp Sets: Gratuitous Graffiti, Beautiful BordersInk: Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby RedCardstock: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby RedAccessories: Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain RibbonTools: Designer Label punch, Wide Oval punch, Stamping Sponge

A Catalog CASE

I don't do it very often, but sometimes, just sometimes, I actually CASE a card from the catalog. This is one such time.

I needed a quick Thank You card, and sometimes CASEing is the fastest route! You'll find my inspiration for it on page 106 of the current Idea Book & Catalog. Not much to say about it... but it would be great in several different color combinations!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Fifth Avenue Floral, Elegant Thank You
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain ribbon

Happy Birthday, Stacey!

One of my dearest friends is having a birthday this coming week. Here's the card that will go in the mail on Tuesday:

I used a couple of new things - new to me, at least, in that I haven't used them yet. The tag came from the new Matchbox Bigz XL Die, and the sentiment came from Great Friend - both of which are in the current mini catalog (good through June 30th). The background is from the Bella Toile stamp - beautiful!

Another great thing about this card is that I made it at my new stamping workstation! One thing's for sure... moving in takes a heck of a long time! I've moved this desk 3 times now. But I think we finally got it right. Once I get it completely organized, I'll take pictures and share it with you. But I assure you, it's not as extravagant as what I had in Texas where I had a whole room to myself. I'm reduced to a corner of the downstairs family room... but it's okay - I'm just loving it here!

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Bella Toile background stamp, Great Friend
Ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Linen Thread, Vintage Brad
Tools: Eyelet Border punch, Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Big Shot

A Blast!

One night I sat down to make a special card for a special person. No real occasion - just something to tell her how much fun I have when I'm with her. This is what I came up with:

As you can see, I used my Big Shot on the background... it made for some great polka-dots! I also used the new Eyelet Border punch - it was my first time using it and I really like it! I enjoy watercoloring, and this was no exception. I didn't get too fancy, except to add a little sparkle. Here's a closer look:

One thing I'm doing a lot more of these days is actually giving away the cards I make! Like many other crafters I know, sometimes it's hard for me to part with something I spent so much time and creative energy on. But oh, the joy of actually giving it away!! It's far more rewarding! Give it a try... dig out all those cards you have stashed up... take a picture of them if it helps you... and then GIVE THEM AWAY to the special people in your life!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Set: Pun Fun
Ink: Black StazOn
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Confetti White
Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds
Tools: Eyelet Border punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Glue Pen

For Doris

I made this card for a wonderful friend of our family. She's been having a rough time lately, and I just wanted her to know that she's been on my mind.

The fun part of making this card was using the markers to color the rubber tree before stamping. I just used my Old Olive and Always Artichoke markers and willy-nilly colored the leaves. The trunk was Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip - much like I did on this card. Hmmmmm, I seem to be partial to trees lately?! I wonder why... :) In any case, here's a closer look:

Another fun part was running it through my Big Shot to get the textured background! Sponging the edges makes it stand out even more. The sentiment was punched with the Key Tag punch and then layered on top of two Designer Label punches.

Thanks for looking - I still have more to show you... it's finding time to do these blog posts that's proving difficult right now!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Thoughts & Prayers
Ink: Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Naturals White, More Mustard
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Brads
Tools: Key Tag punch, Designer Label punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plate

From the Boys

For Mother's Day this year, I received two wonderful homemade cards by my two oldest boys. They snuck into my supplies without my knowledge (it's okay - I've taught them how to clean the stamps long ago!) and presented me with these:




I wanted to share these with you for several reasons:

1. I'm proud of them, and what mom doesn't like to show off her kids?

2. For a while there, they were doing more stamping than I was! (but never fear - I've been quite busy these past few days and I have lots to show you!)

3. I wanted to prove that stamping is not just a girls activity! My boys love to do it - one more so than the other (can you tell which?! And for you loyal readers, take notice of what color he used!! Refer to this post for an explanation.)

Stay tuned - I will be publishing some of my own work very soon.

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

Today is my sister's birthday... a perfect excuse to make a new card! I know I'm not making them at the rate I used to, but I promise... I'm showin' you everything I'm makin'! I'm not holding anything back! So special days like this are a great opportunity to squeeze in a little stampin' time.

This was the first time I really got to play around with this adorable Branch Out set. I inked up the tree with Close to Cocoa and then used my Chocolate Chip marker to add a bit of depth to the rubber before stamping. You can see the effect in better in the close-up photo below.

You can see I also wiped off the Cocoa on the grass and colored it with Old Olive. Then I played with a couple colors on the leaves - Kiwi Kiss and Old Olive. I masked off areas as I stamped them so it wouldn't be too full. I just wanted a nice spring look. The bird and birdhouse are both inked up with Ruby Red - which matches the Riding Hood Red ribbon perfectly.

I hope you are all having a great week - enjoy the weekend!

Card Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Branch Out, Warm Words
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa textured, Kiwi Kiss, Confetti White
Accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon
Tools: Large Oval punch

Happy Mother's Day!

I had no idea that Sunday is Mother's Day... really. Not a clue. (I've been a little busy lately). Then my mom mentioned she was going over to my brother's on Sunday. "For what?" I asked. "Mother's Day" was her reply. *GASP*!! But alas, when you're fully stocked with great Stampin' Up! products, creating beautiful cards in a flash is a piece of cake! Here are the three cards I whipped up last night so I could get them in the mail today:

This is one of my favorite techniques because you get to really have fun with some colors. Since I have three moms to send cards to, I thought this was a great time to use it.

I dug into my In Colors for this trio... This first one uses Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss.

This second one uses Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette.

And this last one uses Tangerine Tango and Apricot Appeal.

All of these cards use the Garden Greetings stamp set, which is one of my new favorites, along with the appropriate color of Striped Grosgrain ribbon. Add a sentiment, stick a stamp on it, and you're covered for another important holiday!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you! ...sure wish I could see my mom on Mother's Day. *sigh*

PS: I just noticed I forgot to soften the edges of these photos like I usually do! Oh well... I don't have time to go back and redo them. Also, as you have noticed, I am taking the pictures outside again. Haven't quite found my Ott lamp yet!! The glories of moving...

May is National Scrapbooking Month!

During the month of May, you can take advantage of these three special offers:

1. Buy three packs of Designer Series paper - including specialty Designer Series paper - or 12"x12" textured card stock and get one FREE!

2. Become a demonstrator for only $75 with the limited-time scrapbooking Starter Kit! Contact me for information on what this discounted kit contains.

3. Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set - a sneak peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog - at 20% off! Instead of $43.95, you pay only $35.16! Click here to view the mounting instructions for this set.

Click on the flyer above or contact me for more information!