Look at what Rita has for us this week!!  The gallery last week at Freshly Made Sketches proved that everyone likes tags so she gave us a cool way to use them!!  And thank goodness it is an easy sketch to use because I was completely zapped when I started making my card.

I told you all that I was working on projects as a Display Stamper for this year’s annual Stampin’ Up Convention.  Well, I finished the last of the 24 projects on Sunday!  Yay!!  And then I needed to make this.  Well, I can tell you that I had this new stamp set, High Five, sitting on the table from yet another project (that you get to see later this month) and I took the course of least resistance.  The fun textured stamp was perfect for the banner elements.  I stamped in Versamark and embossed with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Then I stamped the sentiment and some dots from the same stamp and embossed again (on Vellum Card Stock).  The gold paper underneath is from Gold Soiree.  I used an Apothecary Accents framelit to cut the tags and then trimmed off the end to create this shape.  Some sequins to finish and done in record time.  Like 15 minutes record time.

Oh….did I mention the base paper of this card?  Yeah, it is the new Kraft Card Stock.  Can’t even tell you how much I love this paper.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!  You need it.  Nope, not want…NEED!  I used it for many of my display projects and am completely addicted to it.  So add a pack onto your order now!

With that…I hope your day is fabulous.  Make sure you check out the always outstanding work form the design team and I hope you’ll join us this week.  I’m on a trip right now but with any luck I’ll get some free stamping time later this week and have more to share with you next week.  Thanks so much for stopping in!

Click HERE to purchase these fantastic Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  High Five; Paper:  Kraft, Gold Foil, Gold Soiree, Vellum; Ink:  Versamark; Accessories:  Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Heat Tool, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Gold Sequins

It is my turn!!!  Yay!!!!  Yes, yes, I am the sketch hostess this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I always feel a little nervous when I create a sketch but after the team creates their magic, I feel better.  This week is just that.  You have to see what they have made!  WOW!

As for me, I have yet another card made with Project Life Everyday Adventure.  I just can’t stop making cards with it.  I know, I’m supposed to be scrapbooking but just look at how fun this is.  How can I resist?!  This little panel practically made the card for me.  First I snipped off the corners with the new PLxSU Corner Punch.  Then I put a small Bermuda Bay panel behind the top words.  The whole card is popped up on a Basic Black panel with Dimensionals.  The ribbons is the new Hello Honey In Color Ribbon (it is SOOOOOOO pretty….in all the colors!).  The button and some Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine (new to the catty too) to finish.  This card is for my nephew who has just graduated from high school.  I think it is the perfect sentiment, don’t you?

So glad you could stop in today.  If you missed it, I have a great card using the new Blendabilities in last night’s Artisan post.  I am getting so excited for the new catty launch (June 2nd!)!!  I hope you will be able to join us this week in the gallery.  I am always so inspired by what everyone makes.

Until tomorrow, I hope your day is great!!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful products from Stampin’ Up!

Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay; Accessories:  Everyday Adventure PLxSU, Corner Rounder Punch, Hello Honey Ribbon, Neutrals Buttons, Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine

I know you are as happy to see this sketch at Freshly Made Sketches as I was!  Because it is awesome….just like Jen Mitchell who designed it!  It lends itself to so many interpretations either super clean or with a bit of embellishment.

I opted for super clean and pulled out some brand new stuff from the upcoming Stampin’ Up catalog (launching Jun 2nd).  First of all I used the cool dots from the stamp set called Dotty Angles.  Yep….you will want this one right away!!  I combined it with one of the cards from the Project Life by Stampin’ Up (PLxSU) set Everyday Adventure.  These are just as cute on cards as they are on scrapbook pages.  I tied on the new Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine with a Crushed Curry button to finish.  Super fast, super fun and really cute (at least I hope you think so).

I was off on this wonderful field trip yesterday with my oldest son’s class.  We went to downtown DC and visited both the National Gallery of Art and the Vietnam Memorial.  I’m back to the stamp room today but it sure was great getting to see the kids’ impressions of those amazing places.  The docent at the gallery really showed the children how to find a story in pieces of art.  I could not believe how insightful they proved to be.  And “the Wall” is such a powerful memorial.  The magnitude of sacrifice was not lost on the kids.  I teared up when my son spontaneously went up to some veterans there to thank them for their service.  The gentlemen shook his hand and even took pictures with him.  The group we saw had traveled from Wisconsin and I hope my son’s voice helped to provide closure for the times when they were not given due respect.  It was a proud mom moment, I must say.

Ok…back to stamping!  I hope to be able to see YOUR story in the art you create with stamping this week.  I know the DT has lots to show you!  Thanks so much for dropping in today.  I’ll see you again soon!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Dotty Angles; Ink:  Bermuda Bay; Paper:  Whisper White; Accessories:  Everyday Adventure PLxSU, Regals Buttons, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine

So I’m apparently hitting that crazy time of the school year where there is too much to do and no time to do it.  Do you have that happen??  Please tell me it isn’t only me!!  Thank goodness Freshly Made Sketches and  the amazing Narelle Farrugia had the solution for one item on my list.  I needed a card for a family First Communion.  And fast!

I pulled out a few retired/retiring items and threw in a few current to create this card.  Crosses of Hope is my go-to set for these events and it didn’t let me down here.  I used my Large Oval Punch and embossed an oval (cut with a retired die).  I thought the polka dots from Watercolor Wonder DSP set the right tone for a 2nd grade boy and tried to keep the card not too serious.  I Embosses the Smoky Slate panel with Decorative Dots (it carries over into the new catalog) and then added on some Chevron Ribbon.   I hope he liked the card!!

Next up, my own youngest son’s First Communion is this weekend so it is going to be busy, busy, busy around here.  I need to get a special card made for him too!  Hmmmm, I need more hours!!  Well, I hope your week is fantastic and full of fun things.  Make sure you hop right over and see what the design team has created for you this week.  As always….fabulous!!  Until I can get back to some more posting, have a great rest of your week!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Oh my, it is a rainy day here in Virginia!!!  You know what that means, right??  The perfect day for stamping!!  And we have the perfect sketch to get you going over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Karren Johnson is the sketch hostess this week and she has created a great one!

My card might be subtitled “An Ode to Midnight Muse”.  This may, in fact, be the perfect blue.  Good thing I got to see a peek of the new In Colors on Monday.  That helped to ease the pain a bit.  *smile*  Ok.  This is a really quick and simple card.  If you want to see ‘not quick and simple’ make sure you check out the rest of the DT’s samples.  Because they are awesome.  But I was pressed for time on Monday when I made this because I had visions of a new catty dancing in my head and could not concentrate.  Surely you have had this happen!

So,  I pulled out the first circle stamp I saw and layered the Daydream Medallions images to make it look more like one image.  I added on a sentiment from Four You and flagged the ends of that panel using my Hexagon Punch.  It was a little too plain so I added on a few Basic Rhinestones.  Those add a bit more in person, I must say.  And that was that.  Off to the premier I went.  If you want to see a peek of a new stamp make sure you check out my last post. Because the stamp we got is super fun!

I hope your week is going well!  I’m heading off to stamp some projects for next month and maybe, just maybe, get a little more time to take in all the great stuff in the new catalog!  Thanks so much for stopping in!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Stamp: Daydream Medallions; Paper: Very Vanilla, Midnight Muse; Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Another busy week is flying by!  I hope you have been enjoying yours.  We have another great sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  This one is courtesy of Cindy Lovell.   She is a fabulous stamper and I just love her work.

I think this card should have the theme “old meets new”.  I added a few retiring items on here but also brought out a brand new product.  The stamp set Backyard Basics is on the cut list and I suspect it will sell out fast.  Get it while you can!  I just love this flower and wanted to color it.  So guess what I used??  The BRAND NEW Blendabilities.  These are alcohol based markers and are so fabulous!!  I got the upcoming color sets in my latest Artisan box and this is my first attempt at using them.  I have a lot to learn about this style of coloring but I’m already addicted!!  This uses the Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive Assortments.  Each color assortment comes with a light, medium and dark marker.  These will be available really soon….all in the new catalog!  To complete the sketch I used the Ovals Framelits to cut the largest scalloped oval and used the Square Lattice EF on it (also on the retiring list).  The ribbon is from last year’s Occasions Catalog and I had some hoarded away.

I hope you will join us for this fun challenge this week.  The team has some beautiful creations and I know you will love them all!

If you missed it, please make sure you go back to my post from last night because I have a BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY!!!  All the details are there so go take a look.

So glad you stopped in today.  My boys are on spring break and I’m supposed to work some more this week.  Hoping to fit in some stamping too.  If so, I’ll be sure to share!  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Stamp: Backyard Basics; Paper: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White; Accessories: Big Shot, Ovals Framelits, Square Lattice TIEF, Two-Tone Ribbon, Blendabilities in Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive, Vintage Faceted Button, Baker’s Twine

Another Wednesday is here so fast!  Where does the time go??  The amazing Jennifer Brum is bringing us the sketch this week and I think it is so fun!  There are so many ways to take this one.  The sure sign of a great sketch!

I went back to another favorite from the main catalog for this one.  Hello, Lovely is such a great set.  Love those chevrons.  They seemed to be perfect for the sketch so I inked them up with some of the older In Colors plus Calypso Coral using markers.  Then I inked the oval in Calypso Coral again and cut it out with an Ovals Framelit.  Remember the old flower trim from last spring?  Well, I hoarded some of it.  It is so pretty that it just had to be used!  I colored it Gumball Green and put a doily behind everything.  The sentiment is from Happy Watercolor.  The base of the card and the oval are created using Naturals Ivory Card Stock.

I definitely went for a cleaner version of the sketch but the team has shown all kinds of ideas with it.  I hope you’ll be able to join us this week.

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Stamp:  Happy Watercolor, Hello Lovely; Paper:  Naturals Ivory; Ink:  Calypso Coral, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit; Accessories:  Flower Trim, Doily, Big Shot, Ovals Framelits

Cindy Hall is such a lovely person so it is no surprise that she has created a lovely sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!  This is one of those that has a bunch of interpretations and the team has created exactly that.  I love these ladies!

I thought I’d flip this one on its side to allow room for this pretty flower.  As we approach new catalog time, I’m starting to pull out some of my favorites from the current catalog.  Modern Medley DSP and Regarding Dahlias rank right at the top!!  Together they are so fun!  I usually seem to make this flower in some variation of red so I tried a change up today.  The Daffodil Delight looks great with the Black and Vanilla, don’t you think?  I stamped the flower three times and cut out the layers.  After they were cut, I took a marker around the edges for a little extra definition (make sure you come from the back and not the front to avoid stray marks).  Other than that, the card is pretty straight-forward.  The prints do all the work.  Love that!!

Busy week for me this week.  I hope you have enjoyed my Merry Monday card and my Artisan card…if you haven’t seen them, just roll down to take a look.  Take special note of a surprise coming in next week’s Artisan post.  I have a check ride for the remainder of the week (a flying test with United) so no more stamping for me.  But I’ll be back on Monday with another fun Christmas card!  Until then, so glad you dropped by and I’ll see you again soon.

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Stamp:  Regarding Dahlias; Paper:  Very Vanilla, Modern Medley DSP, Daffodil Delight; Ink:  Daffodil Delight; Accessories:  Dimensionals