Monthly Archives: February 2015

Birthday Bash Blog Hop!

Posted on February 26, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Happy Stampers Blog Hop Banner

Today is the February Happy Stampers Blog Hop!  The theme this month is Birthday projects – which is timely, since a bunch of us signed up to be part of the Birthday Bomb.  That’s where the people who sign up all send a B-day card to everyone else on the list on their birthday (was that the Department of Redundancy Department?!?!).  So everyone gets a bunch of wonderful, handmade SU-product birthday cards.  Fun, huh?  This hop theme gives us all a chance to pump up our stash of b-day cards to use for the bomb and all our friends and relatives through the year.  Several of us threw our hats in the ring this month to take part in the hop, so be sure to check out the other ladies’ projects after you browse thru mine! AND – the part I know you’re waiting for! – we’re all giving out a little sumpin-sumpin for Blog Candy (best kind of candy there is!), so be sure to see them all!

Getcha a cuppa something yummy and stretch out a little bit.  We’re each sharing two projects today so this is gonna be a long one!

My first card for you was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch 386:

mojo386This is a tall and skinny design and so I did some mental math to be sure that what I ended up with would fit in a Stampin’ Up Medium Envelope (it does, with plenty of room for the embellishments). See what you think:

Birthday Card 1 Outside 4 watermarked

I used the Best Year Ever DSP (Sale-A-Bration) as a color-jumping-off-point, starting with a Sahara Sand tall-and-skinny card base.  I built the front of the card by starting with a Whisper White Card Stock panel that I stamped with the Something Lacy background stamp in Crumb Cake.  The horizontal piece is from the Best Year Ever DSP and is SNAIL’d right to the stamped mat.

Birthday Card 1 Outside 2 watermarked

I built the next layer by embossing a piece of Whisper White CS with the Lovely Lace Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and adhering it to another Sahara Sand Card Stock mat with SNAIL.  I wrapped some Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine around the layered piece, securing it on the back with some plain tape.  Then I stamped another piece of Whisper White CS with the flower image in the Crazy About You stamp set and cut it out with the Flower Medallion punch. (Attention.  This is a funds-efficiency public service announcement:  this punch can be bundled with the Petal Potpourri Stamp set in the Occasions catalog.  AND – it also punches this flower in Crazy About You.  That’s what we call getting more bang for your buck! We now return you to your regularly scheduled Blog Hop).

Birthday Card 1 Outside closeup watermarked

I ran another little piece of Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine through one of the little metal buttons in the Occasions Catalog Artisan Embellishment Kit and made a little bow.  Uhh – it’s all just kinda….”little”, I guess! ;0  Then I glued it to the center of the flower with Multipurpose Liquid Glue, and Dimensional’d the whole thing to the front of the mat.  The sentiment comes from the Itty Bitty Banner Bundle and is stamped in Crushed Curry and cut with the matching die in the Big Shot.  Then I SNAIL’d it to a piece of the Best Year Ever DSP and fussy cut a little mat out.  I SNAIL’d it to the mat, aligning it below the wrapped baker’s twine and under the flower.

Birthday Card 1 Outside 1watermarked

Adhering the whole layered front mat to the card base with Dimensionals finished up the front of the card.  I treated the inside to a Whisper White liner, with a couple of leftover pieces of Sahara Sand CS and some more Best Year Ever DSP.

Birthday Card 1 Inside watermarked

Just to finish everything off, I used a final scrap piece of the DSP to line the inside of a Crumb Cake Medium Envelope flap.  And here’s how the whole thing turned out!

Birthday Card 1 with envelope 2 watermarked

I think it turned out kind of pretty and I like the kind of tone-on-tone thing goin’ on with the pops of complementary colors.

Y’all still with me?  Good.  I’ll wait a few minutes if you need to take a break…..10….9….8….7….6….5 4 3 2 1! And, we’re back.

Card two was inspired by my little ole brain.  I kind of stayed with a similar color theme, but with a different twist.  And, for some reason, I wanted it to be a small note card, so I used the measurements of the SU Note Cards and Envelopes.

Ever since reading about coloring on vellum with the Blendabilities, I’d been wanting to give it a try, and I really wanted to color that gorgeous flower branch in the Indescribable Gift set (it’s not just for Easter!).  Here’s what I came up with – take a look-see!

Birthday Card 2 Outside 1 watermarked

First I stamped the flower image onto a piece of vellum with Versamark Ink and sprinkled it with SU Early Espresso Embossing Powder.  I carefully heat embossed it, keeping my heat tool moving.  It did curl the vellum a little bit, but I lightly heated the back side while speaking steely to it and it straightened out and flew right.  Then, I got down to the fun stuff!  I pulled out my Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Calypso Coral and the Skin Tone Assortment Blendabilities.  I colored with the Pink Pirouette first, flooding with the light color and then blending in the medium and darker colors.  Trick here is to do small sections at a time, so that the colors blend all by themselves.  Then, I used the lightest Calypso Coral to just touch on some of the darker “shaded” areas.  The leaves got a similar treatment (okay, no Calypso Coral on those), with the Wild Wasabi blendies.  I used the two darkest pens in the Skin Tone Assortment for the branches.  Then I patiently let it all dry.  No, not really so patiently!

Birthday Card 2 Outside 4 watermarked

But dry it finally was, so I used a little liquid glue to adhere it to a Sahara Sand CS mat (staying as close to the edges as possible), and then SNAIL’d all THAT to a Pink Pirouette mat. Using some scraps of Sahara Sand, I cut the “frame” pieces out with the Edgelits die (foreshadowing here….blog candy……) and adhered them over the edge of the vellum with tiny dabs of Liquid Multipurpose Glue.  I made sure the corners were as straight and lined up as possible and then sort of finished them off with 4 of the smallest pearls in the Artisan Embellishment Kit.  Then,  I stamped the sentiment from the Petite Pairs set in Crumb Cake and wrapped some Blushing Bride Baker’s Twine around and finished it with a nice little bow.

Birthday Card 2 Outside 1 watermarked

Adhering the mat art to the Sahara Sand card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals finished off the front of the card!

On the inside, I stamped part of the same flower image in the bottom corner of a piece of Whisper White CS and colored it in the manner as the front image.  I completed the sentiment from Petite Pairs in Crumb Cake and called it a day!

Birthday Card 2 Inside 3 watermarked

Hope that you enjoyed these two shares – they were fun to make.  The flower from Indescribable Gift is just beautiful and colors very nicely!

It’s almost time that you can order the new Sale-A-Bration products.  Here’s a reminder of what they are:

New SAB 1

New SAB 2

New SAB 3 New SAB 4

Click HERE to see a flyer on the new products, including some great ideas of how to use them!

And – if you’re craving a Big Shot or any of the items used in these cards, remember that Sale-A-Bration is a GREAT time to do a workshop – even if it’s a home-based one, where everyone just orders from the catalog. The potential for lots of free Hostess Dollars is truly at its highest right now!  Here’s the full scoop.

BLOG CANDY BLOG CANDY BLOG CANDY!!!!!!!

Remember the Edgelits?  Well, you COULD score those and some bling for your card-making fun.  There’s a package of the Edgelits Dies, Rhinestone Basic Jewels and a package of Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine.

Blog Candy 1 watermarked

Leave a comment below and tell me which of the new SAB products you’re most anxious to get your hands (and what you’re thinking of doing with it!) before 7 AM ET on Tuesday, 3 Mar 15 and you’ll be entered to win.  I’ll have the random number generator pick a comment on Tuesday morning and then I’ll announce the winner on my blog that day! Please note, anyone is welcome to leave me a comment but I am only able to ship the blog candy items to addresses within the United States. Thanks for your understanding.

With that, scroll down right quick-like and leave your Blog-Candy-entering-comment and then come back up here and check out the other stops on the Blog Hop.  Folks, this is one seriously talented group of ladies – and you NEED to see what they have to offer you today!

Okay, on with the hop! To hop back to Sandi MacIver’s Blog, click the Back arrow button. To move forward to Kristi Gray’s Blog, click the Forward arrow button.

Happy Stampers Blog Hop Back Button Happy Stampers Blog Hop Forward Button

In case you get lost along the way, here is a list of the Happy Stampers Team Members who are joining in this blog hop:

Amy Koenders – www.stampwithAmyK.com

Sandi MacIver – www.stampingwithSandi.com

Mary Deatherage – http://www.stampsnlingers.com <<<<You are here!

Kristi Gray – www.stampingwithkristi.com

Heather Van Looy – www.handcraftingwithheather.com

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s projects:

Birthday Card #1:

Sahara Sand Cardstock: 3 3/4″ x 10 1/2″ (card base – score and fold at 5 1/2″); 3 1/8″ x 4 3/8″ (mat for embossed panel); 1″ x 3 1/2″ (inside embellishment mat)

Whisper White Card Stock: 3 1/2″ x 5″ (Something Lacy stamped panel); 4 1/4″ x 3″ (embossed panel); Sentiment banner; Flower Medallion; 3 1/2″ x 5″ (inner liner)

Best Year Ever DSP: 3 1/2″ x 3″ (Calypso Coral mat); fussy cut sentiment mat;  7/8″ x 4″ (inner liner strip); envelope flap

Whisper White Card Stock: Bitty Butterfly punches;  5 1/4″ x 4″ (Inside liner)

Birthday Card #2:

Sahara Sand Card Stock: 5″ x 7″ (card base – score and fold at 3 1/2″); 3 1/4″ x 4 3/4″ (art piece mat); Frame pieces cut with Edgelits

Pink Pirouette Card Stock: 3 3/8″ x 4 7/8″ (front mat)

Vellum: 3 1/4″ x 3 3/4″ (art piece)

STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Price: $99.95

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

 WEEKLY DEALS 24 Feb – 2 Mar 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 2 Mar.
If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

Backorder Report – as of 25 Feb 15

Currently, the following items are on BACKORDER; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

140594: Lovely Amazing You Photopolymer Stamp Set–March 2
101731: Whisper White Craft Stampin’ Pad–March 3
126956: Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin’ Pad–March 3
112983: Customer Order Form (50)–March 5
131527: Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes–March 6

Currently the following items are NOT ORDERABLE:

130995: Cherry Cobbler Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
130998: Daffodil Delight Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
130999: Old Olive Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
130997: Pumpkin Pie Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
137951: So You Simply Created Kit
137950: The Perpetual Birthday Calendar Project Kit
131262: Regals Stampin’ Write Markers
126199: Stampin’ Pierce Mat
126189: Paper Piercing Tool

Currently, the following items have LOW INVENTORY and will move to the “Not Orderable” list (above) once our current inventory is depleted:

137866: Sahara Sand 7/8″ Lace Trim
131003: Rich Razzleberry Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers

Categories: Happy Birthday | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Spring is in the Cards!

Posted on February 24, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Monday morning dawned bright and beautiful in California.  Not!  It was rainy and drizzly and – actually – kind of nice.  IMHO, the high desert is at its most beautiful when the rain is just starting to clear and the sun is shining down thru the clouds, illuminating the oddly-green-for-this-time-of-year desert floor.  And the smell of the desert after a rain is something you have to experience to understand – just wonderful!

But, it WAS chilly (still is!).  And breezy – that’s not so very unusual!  So, when it came time to create a card to share with you today, I was kind of thinking about Spring.  It’s just around the corner – and I know Wayne is R-E-A-D-Y!  And I know there’s a lot of folks in the east and on the plains that are ready as well.

ONE of my two boxes came today.  Mailed same day.  Same address….Ruh-roh….. hope that second box isn’t AWOL. Perhaps it will arrive tomorrow.  I sure hope so, because my paper trimmer is in that box, and the one I bought as a “stand-in” ain’t really cuttin’ it!  Oh – ha, pun not intended!

So, here we go.  This is a very simple, very clean card today.  It took me longer to organize (sort of) my tools and whatnot from my box, figure out the trimmer, and assemble my “photo studio” than it did to build it.  Makes it a nice, quick card for when you need a pretty Thank You.  Or almost any other sentiment!

Spring Butterflies Thank You Outside 3 watermarked

I started with a piece of the Painted Blooms DPS – making sure I did my cuts to get some painted blooms framed as I wanted them on the card.  This piece is mounted with SNAIL onto a Wild Wasabi mat.  I stamped the sentiment from the Painted Petals Stamp Set in Strawberry Slush, and then mounted the layered piece onto a Strawberry Slush card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Spring Butterflies Thank You Outside 2 watermarked

I stamped some of the smallest butterflies from the Butterfly Basics set onto some Whisper White Card Stock – 2 in Pink Pirouette and one in Crushed Curry (stamped off once on scrap paper and then stamped without re-inking) and punched them out with the Bitty Butterfly punch.  I stuck them on with some Glue Dots, and gave each of them a single teensy Pearl Basic Jewel to round things out.  And – did I mention this was quick?!?! – the outside was done! 🙂

The inside got a VERY simple treatment – a piece of Whisper White CS, with a strip of left over Strawberry Slush CS layered with a scrap of Painted Blooms DSP (actually the back – decided to give it a little pop).

Spring Butterflies Thank You inside 1watermarked

And there you go!  One quick, simple SPRING-Y Thank You card!

Spring Butterflies Thank You Outside 1 watermarked

That was a quick share – it’s late here.  Fortunately, I’m a night person.  She says – never!  So, I’m ready for bed!

Before I go, though, we got some big news from Stampin’ Up! today.  To celebrate the last month of Sale-A-Bration Stampin’ Up! is offering FOUR NEW Sale-A-Bration products that you can earn for free starting March 1! There are two new stamp sets, a new accessory pack and a new vellum pack…these items are in addition to the great Sale-A-Bration items that are already available!  Take a look here for my previous post about the great opportunity to earn even MORE Hostess Dollars in March.  Take a gander at the new products:

New SAB 1 New SAB 2

New SAB 3 New SAB 4

Click HERE to see a flyer on the new products, including some great ideas of how to use them!  That vellum has my name on it, I can already tell!  Imagine coloring those designs in with your Blendabilities (that you got for FREE in Sale-A-Bration?!?!)

Check out the new Weekly Deals – some great prices on all those embellishments we all like to add to our projects!

Don’t forget the Blog Hop this Thursday!  Blog candy is on the menu….See you then.

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s project:

Strawberry Slush Card Stock: 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ (card base, scored and folded at 4 1/4″); 1″ x 4″ (inner liner strip)

Wild Wasabi Card Stock: 5 1/4″ x 4″ (Bottom Mat)

Painted Blooms DSP: 5″ x 3 3/4″ Main Art piece; 7/8″ x 4″ (inner liner strip)

Whisper White Card Stock: Bitty Butterfly punches;  5 1/4″ x 4″ (Inside liner)

STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

 WEEKLY DEALS 24 Feb – 2 Mar 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 2 Mar.
If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

Backorder Report – as of 23 Feb 15, the following items are on backorder or unavailable to order; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.  The continuing labor disputes at the docks have caused some items to be harder than ever to get in stock.  SU has taken the step of simply making some items “Not Orderable”, rather than have our customers simply waiting and waiting.  We all hope this situation will resolve soon!  Please check out the following list of Backordered, Not Orderable, and  Low Inventory items.

Currently, the following items are on BACKORDER; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

137360: Butterflies Thinlits Dies–February 25
137364: Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder–February 27
131166: Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill–March 3

Currently the following items are NOT ORDERABLE:

130995: Cherry Cobbler Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
130998: Daffodil Delight Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
130999: Old Olive Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
130997: Pumpkin Pie Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers
138634: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack (Sale-A-Bration)
137951: So You Simply Created Kit
137950: The Perpetual Birthday Calendar Project Kit
131262: Regals Stampin’ Write Markers
126199: Stampin’ Pierce Mat

Currently, the following items have LOW INVENTORY and will move to the “Not Orderable” list (above) once our current inventory is depleted:

102193: VersaMark Ink Refill
126189: Paper Piercing Tool
131003: Rich Razzleberry Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers

Categories: Thank You Cards | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sale-A-Bration Book-a-Thon!

Posted on February 21, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Good morning from sunny (again) and warm (yes, again!) California!  I think I could get used to this weather – it was chilly when I left Atlanta last week and is now downright ridiculous there.  Hello?!?!  If we’d wanted that kind of weather, we’d have moved to Boston.  Or Minnesota!  That’s not how it’s supposed to be in Georgia.  Y’all take just a moment to pity my hubby – who hates hates HATES cold weather! 🙁  My 4-footed yaks (not really, but the horses get so hairy in the winter they could BE yaks!) are not bothered a bit.  In fact, the girls are happy campers in that kind of weather!  Pretty sure she took a little dip right after I snapped this picture when we had this weather LAST year.  Hey!  Wassup with this!?!?

IMG_0411

I’d love to share a card with you today, but….my stash is still wending its way to me!  It should arrive day-after-tomorrow.  So, hopefully on Tuesday, I’ll be able to share a card when I bring you the new weekly deals!  What I wanted to bring you today is news about the Stampin’ Up! Sale-A-Bration Book-a-Thon.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about holding a workshop, now just might be the time to climb down! Sale-A-Bration ends on 31 Mar, and SU is holding Book-A-Thon. Sign up to be a workshop hostess (sign up between Feb 20 and Feb 28, and hold the workshop in March 2015) and you’ll get a FREE additional gift from me (that’s over-and-above the usual free gift I give my customers AND all the FREE items you can receive as a hostess!). You can hold your workshop from the comfort of your home – and you don’t even have to clean house – always a decision-making factor for me! Contact me me right away (stamps-n-lingers@comcast.net) if you’re interested in this easy-peasy way to score all the Stampin’ Up Hostess benefits – AND take advantage of the final month of Sale-A-Bration!

Interested – but not entirely sure what all the Hostess Benefits really are? Take a look at the possibilities:

HostLP_SAB_cust_US_01

Please take note of that far right column.  Sale-A-Bration goodness! (Note:  the computer-word-editor does not recognize “Bration” as a word, so it keeps changing it to “Oration”.  I’ve been trying to catch it every time, but if I miss one – please read what I MEANT, not what it WRITES!)

So – what could that all mean to you? Well, let’s look at a couple of examples:
Let’s say that you invite just 4 people to join your catalog workshop. Each of you buys $50 in product – from any source (Annual Catalog , online only items, Occasions Catalog and even the Clearance Rack). That makes your workshop total $250. You and each of your friends get one Sale-A-Bration item FREE! And YOU, as the hostess, also get $40 in hostess dollars, PLUS, since it’s during Sale-A-Bration, you’ll get an EXTRA $25 more in hostess dollars. That’s $65 of merchandise from anywhere in the SU product lines (any active catalog, Clearance Rack, Paper Pumpkin subscriptions – ANYthing!) free. Zero. Zilch. Nada! Plus the additional free gift from me for holding your workshop in March. 

Add 3 more folks to your invite list (7 plus you as the hostess), and you could easily reach $400 in workshop orders. That bumps your total hostess dollars to $90 AND adds the chance to purchase a product for 1/2 price. And it just keeps going up from there. If you had just 9 friends, family or co-workers join you in your catalog workshop and y’all spend the same amount as in the first examples, this time reaching a workshop total of $500….you’d be looking at your one free SAB, TWO 1/2-price items and a whopping $105 of shopping spree mad money to spend on whatever you want! Yikes! 🙂

Guess what?  You can do all of this with folks you know who don’t even live where you do!  Or where I do!  Or where I AM right now!  Ah – the power and joy of internet and UPS!

Free SU product.  No house cleaning.  What’s not to like?

Speaking of weekly deals – I just realized that I never updated the site for the current deals. 🙁  See them below – and sorry for not giving you a lot of time to make up your mind.  The deal on the 2014-2016 In-Color Backgrounds DSP is awesome!

Reminder – Blog Hop this Thursday!  Birthday projects for your enjoyment and a little sugar-free blog candy. Hope you’ll join us!

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

WEEKLY DEALS 17 Feb – 23 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 23 Feb.

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

Backorder Report – as of 19 Feb 15, the following items are on backorder; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

Currently, the following items are on backorder; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

131162: Brights Collection Classic Stampin’ Ink Refills–February 23
138634: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack (Sale-A-Bration)–February 27
130999: Old Olive Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
130997: Pumpkin Pie Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
130998: Daffodil Delight Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
130995: Cherry Cobbler Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
131262: Regals Stampin’ Write Markers–March 2
137950: The Perpetual Birthday Calendar Project Kit–March 13
137951: So You Simply Created Kit–March 13
126199: Stampin’ Pierce Mat–March 20

Categories: General | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday, Sweet Scarlett!

Posted on February 17, 2015 by stampsnlingers

A year ago this week, I was on a business trip in Florida.  My good friend and his wife were expecting their second child.  On the 21st, lovely Scarlett Melody made her grand entrance.  For that occasion, I made my very first card that I gave to someone who wasn’t my mom!  I was so proud of that card.  So proud that I didn’t even take a picture of it!  What?!?!  Well, at that time, I hadn’t heard of Stampin’ Up nor ever considered having a blog.  Foresight maybe isn’t my strong suit…

But, it’s time for Scarlett’s first birthday.  I got an adorable little 3-piece outfit and made her a birthday card.  I’m sure that, at the ripe old age of one, she’ll be ever-so-excited and appreciative of the cleaver creativity of the card and the heartfelt words that I wrote in it.  Or…she’ll just grin and blow a spit-bubble.  Who knows!?!  But, it was fun to make.  So there!

For this one, I did a riff on a card I made a few weeks ago – based on the Mojo Monday Sketch 381:

502ae-mojo381

I used the Baby, We’ve Grown and Sassy Salutations stamp sets, with some Painted Blooms DSP (Occasions Catalog) and Irresistibly Yours DSP (Sale-A-Bration Catalog).  Take a look-see:

Scarlett's B-day front 1 watermarked

I started by SNAILing a piece of the Painted Blooms DSP to a mat of Pink Pirouette.  Then, I cut the circle from the top portion of the polka-dot Irresistibly Yours DSP with a Circles Framelit and my Big Shot.  I sponged that with Pink Pirouette Ink and then SNAIL’d that onto the mat, ensuring that the Painted Blooms DSP was completely within the circle.  I wrapped a strand of Blushing Bride Baker’s Twine twice around the mat, and made a little bow.  I left the twine/bow unsecured so I could adjust it once I got my tag in place.

For the tag, I cut a piece of Whisper White CS with my Note Tag Punch and stamped the Sweet Girl from the Baby, We’ve Grown set in Blackberry Bliss.  I colored that in with my Pink Pirouette and Daffodil Delight Blendies.  To make the mat, I cut another tag from Pink Pirouette CS and then cut it in half on a diagonal (could it be cut straight across!?  In a serpentine?!  Probably.  I liked diagonally), spread it apart, and SNAIL’d it to the back of the white tag.  As you can see below:

Tag closeup back watermarkedTag closeup front watermarked

Then I put a teeny Pearl Basic Jewel in the center of each of the bows.  That stamp is just Too.  Freakin’.  Cute.  And the pearl puts it over the top for me!

With the tag ready to go, I put some Stampin’ Dimensionals on it – being sure to keep them away from where the Baker’s Twine was going to run, and then I popped it onto the card front. Once I had the bow where I wanted it, I gave it a little dab of Liquid Glue to persuade it to stay put.  I cut a couple of pieces from a doily in my Artisan Embellishment Kit and used tiny dots of Liquid Glue to adhere them in a little fan at the end of the tag.  They remind me of the lace around the top of little girly socks (or, as I’d have called them a gazillion years ago – gonks.  I don’t know why.)

Scarlett's b-day front close up watermarked

Then I adhered the card front to a Perfect Plum card base, with Stampin’ Dimensionals, and the outside was complete.  Moving inside, I started with a Whisper White liner, that I stamped in Blackberry Bliss with the sentiment from the Sassy Salutations set.  I added the little bunny guy (again from Baby, We’ve Grown) in Blackberry Bliss and colored him with Pink Pirouette Blendies and my Blackberry Bliss Stampin’ Right Marker.

carlett's B-day inside 1 watermarked

And couldn’t resist using a few more tiny pearls – one on his bow tie and one to “dot the i” in Birthday. I added a row of the hearts from Chalk Lines, stamped in Pink Pirouette, across the bottom.    I thought it finished the interior quite nicely.  I’m sure Scarlett will, too – you know how discerning those one-year-olds are! 😉

Scarlett's b-day inside closeup 2 watermarked

I also added the hearts to the front of the envelope – just to finish everything off and make it a complete ensemble.

Scarlett's b-day card and envelope 2 watermarked
I very much like this particular layout and can see myself going back to it many more times.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this card – my friends should be getting it and the outfit-that-surely-will-fit any day now.  I hope they’ll like it as well.

Brand new Weekly Deals, hot off the press, today.  Check them out below and see if a favorite you’ve been waiting for has made it in!  If something strikes your fancy, let me know and I can get it ordered for you – or you can go directly online (don’t forget to use the Hostess Code!).  Just a thought – the 2014-2016 In Color Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack is a super way to try some of the current colors – Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow and Tangelo Twist!

And finally, a gentle reminder – if you’ve got a hankering to make some projects with the Irresistibly Yours DSP – don’t let the Sale-A-Bration pass you by.  That paper is only available during Sale-A-Braton, which ends 31 Mar (right around the corner!).  It’s also a great time to fill out your stash of Blendabilities!  Remember – every $50 purchase, from ANY catalog, rewards you with a free item from the exclusive Sale-a-Bration catalog.  There’s a link down below for you to go directly to the catalog.

Enjoy the rest of your week.  I’ll post again next Tuesday for sure – even if I don’t have a card share ready by then.

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s project:

Perfect Plum Card Stock: 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ (card base, scored and folded at 4 1/4″)

Pink Pirouette Card Stock: 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″ (Bottom Mat); Note Tag Punch Mat

Irresistibly Yours DSP: 5 1/4″ x 4″ (Card front with 2 3/4″ circle cutout)

Whisper White Card Stock: Note Tag Punch (sentiment); 5 1/4″ x 4″ (Inside liner)

Painted Blooms DSP: scrap piece large enough to fit under the circle cut-out

 STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Price: $99.95

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

 WEEKLY DEALS 17 Feb – 23 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 23 Feb.>
If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

Backorder Report – as of 12 Feb 15, the following items are on backorder; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

137364: Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder–February 20
138634: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack (Sale-A-Bration)–February 27
130998: Daffodil Delight Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
130999: Old Olive Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28

Categories: Baby Girl's Birthday, Congratulations, Happy Birthday | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Just a quick note on the way to California!

Posted on February 16, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Well, here I am – sitting at the gate in the Atlanta Airport.  Waiting to leave for CA for four months.  120 some odd days.  A gazillion hours.  Might I just say….yuk.  And, I’m not going to the beach.  Or Yosemite.  Or Lake Tahoe.  Nope – I’ll be in the Inland Empire.  Code for….the desert part way to Death Valley, a stone’s throw from Barstow, hit the middle of nowhere and turn right.  If I’m being honest, which is a little hard, cause I’m not all that excited about going so, like a spoiled toddler, I’m simply not going to admit that there could POSSIBLY be ANYthing good about the place….but….it has a unique beauty that occasionally catches you unaware.  Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful – and you can see forever.  And, when it’s rained in the high desert – well. the scent is simply wonderful.  And there’s both a Costco AND a Sam’s!  I don’t hate it when I get there.  I don’t hate it when I’m there.  I hate the “getting there” part.  Leaving my husband, the horses, the dog, the kitties.  So, allow me just a moment to wallow in my self pity…..

Okay.  Done.  I promise.  No more dwelling. It is what it is.

So, I’ll use my time before the boarding call to send this post out – and draft the one that will come out tomorrow morning (yes, I AM the Queen of Time Management.  She says….again….never!).  That one will have a card project to share, and the weekly deals that start tomorrow.

My next post after tomorrow will likely not be until next week.  My stamping stash is on it’s way to CA via UPS as we speak.  But, they’re going to take it on a donkey train, or perhaps a slow boat around the Cape of Good Hope – cause it’s not getting there until a week from today!  And, although my Big Shot and my paper is in my suitcase….all the ink and stamps and embellishments – aren’t.

In the meantime – check out the deals below.  Today’s the last day to snag those up.

Here’s a final picture for you – not a card.  Just a “something pretty” to brighten your Monday – I snapped it on Saturday, before the Arctic Blast started to sneak it’s way into GA.  Apparently, my Christmas Cactus is a little calendar-challenged!  It just went crazy over the weekend and is just gorgeous.  Enjoy!

IMG_0039_2 IMG_0040_2

 

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

WEEKLY DEALS 10 Feb – 16 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 16 Feb.

If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

Backorder Report – as of 12 Feb 15, the following items are on backorder; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

137364: Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder–February 20
138634: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack (Sale-A-Bration)–February 27
130998: Daffodil Delight Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
130999: Old Olive Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28

Categories: Congratulations | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

College Colors Congratulations!

Posted on February 14, 2015 by stampsnlingers

A few posts back, I told you about birthday cards I made for our friends twin boys 22nd birthday.  Well, today is another card for one of them.  Chris has long had the goal of becoming a veterinarian.  He pursued that by attending Berry College and graduating with a pre-veterinary degree.  But, getting into vet school isn’t a guarantee, even for kids who’ve done well and done all they could.  So, he worked even harder – he took another course in Bio-Chemistry over the summer after he graduated.  He worked as an unpaid tech for a large animal vet, upping his “cred”.  And, a week or so ago – all that hard work paid off.  He was accepted at his school of choice, University of Georgia, up in Athens!!  We were all SO excited for him – and Wayne and I are as proud as if he were our very own son and we’d had ANYthing to do with his success!

So, I started working on a card for him.  I started with sketch #94 from Sunday Stamps.

ssc94F

And here’s what I came up with:

Blue congrats outside 2 watermarked

And, I liked it!  I love Blue and Silvery/White together, and I liked the pop of yellow from the Daffodil Delight.  And…..wait!  Cue the sound of mental brakes just a-screeching!  This kid is going to UGA – not the Air Force Academy!  UGA colors aren’t Blue and Silvery/White.  They’re RED.  And BLACK.  Duh!  What was I thinking?  Can you hear the little voice saying….she wasn’t THINKING at all!?!  She was just merrily coloring and stamping and cutting and….

So, I perused my stash and, quick-like-a-bunny, submitted an order for some inks and card stock in Real Red…..and then I waited.

And, once it arrived, it turned into this!

Red Congrats Outside 4 watermarked

It’s Red and it’s Black and I like it a lot!  Especially my oh-so-clever typed circle….but, more about that later!

I used a piece of polka-dot Irresistibly Yours DSP (Sale-a-Bration), that I sponged with Real Red.  I just kept adding ink until I decided it was UGA-red enough.  The side strips started with a piece of Whisper White CS, that I embellished a little with my brand spanking new SU Finishing Touches Edgelit die – run thru the Big Shot.  Note to readers:  these Edgelits are quite cool – but, you REALLY need the Magnetic Platform when you’re using them – or it’s awfully hard to keep them right where you want them to be!  I lightly sponged the cut edge – I left one edge straight.  I don’t know why.  But straight just seemed right….  A strip of Real Red CS, SNAIL’d onto the white added the additional stripe of the sketch.  I finished that part with a piece of Basic Black Baker’s Twine and a little bow.  Then I SNAIL’d the Card Front onto a piece of Basic Black CS, and put that on a Real Red card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Red Congrats outside 3 watermarked

 

For the circle sentiment, I first pulled out my Typeset DSP.  But, it just didn’t strike me as the right thing.  Then, I thought – hey, this needs to be veterinary terms!  So, I looked thru my books and decided I wasn’t willing to cut any circles out of them (and no, I couldn’t like….COPY a page and THEN cut out the circle – no, way too KISS – Must. Do It. The. Hard. Way!).  Then, a lightning bolt struck me.  I went onto the UGA vet school website and copied/pasted the names of some of the courses Chris will be taking in the next four years (and if there was no other reason on the planet that I’m NOT a vet – some of those course names would certainly have given me pause).  I hemmed and hawed over font and size and color and spacing and and and…. yes, I spent a LONG time on this piece!  I finally printed it out and cut it with a Circle Framelit die.  Then I sponged it in Real Red.  And layered it on a Real Red mat, that I “stitched” with my white gel pen.  Here’s a close-up.

Red Congrats close up of vet circle watermarked

Admit it – it’s pretty durned personalized!  I love it.  And, find myself amazed that I came up with the idea!

The sentiment is from the Sassy Salutations stamp set.  I flat love this set – the font is fun and cool and….wait for it….SASSY! 😉

I stamped it in Black on Real Red and then fussy cut it out, SNAIL’d it to a piece of Back CS and fussy cut a mat.  It’s popped onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  To finish it off, I cut a few Real Red stars out with the Itty Bitty Punch Pack and attached them to the front with glue dots and then finished them off with some large rhinestones.

Red Congrats Outside 1 watermarked

For the inside, I cut out a bunch of stars from a scrap piece of black CS and then used some Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue to attach that to a scrap strip of Real Red (oh, I’m so thrifty!).  And then that went onto my Whisper White CS for the liner of the card.  I finished it off with a sentiment from the Crazy for You set – first I stamped “So Proud of” and then I stamped the “You” – all in Real Red (definitely sticking to the color theme, huh?).

Red Congrats Inside 2 watermarked
And that’s that.  One each UGA-themed congrats-on-getting-into-vet-school card.  Here’s where I point out that, of course, this could be personalized with any school colors and any degree-goal-specific text.  I also helped the envelope a little – here’s the complete ensemble.

Red Congrats with envelope 1 watermarked

 

 

That’s some more of the Irresistibly Yours DSP, colored with Real Red ink.  That’s such a great stack of paper – lots of different patterns that can be any color you like!  I SNAIL’d it to the envelope flap and then trimmed it to fit.

I’m off to put this in the mail for Chris.  It’s past time to get this to him.  I’m pretty sure Miss Manners would say that the time period has expired!

Still a few more days left in this week’s weekly deals.  Don’t miss out!

For those of you following me on this blog (thank you!), there’s likely to be a bit of a gap in posts.  I’m headed to CA for several months on business, and it’s going to take me a minute to get my Stampin’ stuff mailed out there and set up to make cards (I’m NOT the only person who carries stamping gear around with her on business trips, right!?!?).  Please be patient and don’t give up on me! 🙂  I’ll get back in gear just as quickly as I can.

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s project:

Real Red Card Stock: 5 ” x 7″ folded at 3 1/2″ (card base); 1/2″ x 3 1/8″ (strip on left side); 2 3/4″ circle; 7/8″ x 3 3/8″ (mat under star strip on inner liner); sentiment and Bitty Stars

Basic Black Card Stock: 3 3/8″ x 4 7/8″ (card front mat); 5/8″ x 3 3/8″ (stars strip on inner liner); mat under sentiment

Whisper White CS: 1″ x 3 1/8″ (white strip on left side); 3 3/8″ x 4 7/8″ (inner liner)

Irrestistibly Yours DSP: 3 1/8″ x 4 5/8″ (card front); irregular piece for inner flap of envelope

 STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Price: $99.95

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

WEEKLY DEALS 10 Feb – 16 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 16 Feb.

If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

Backorder Report – as of 12 Feb 15, the following items are on backorder; backordered items will be available on or before the date indicated.

137364: Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder–February 20
138634: Best Year Ever Accessory Pack (Sale-A-Bration)–February 27
130998: Daffodil Delight Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28
130999: Old Olive Assortment Stampin’ Blendabilities Markers–February 28

Categories: Congratulations | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sending Wishes for a Happy New Home!

Posted on February 10, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Our friend and Stampin’ Up Demonstrator Senior Manager Awesome Goddess of Cards, stamping, journaling, art…well, you get the picture! is moving to the frozen country north of our border.  She and her husband are moving back to Canada for his business and to be closer to family.  Fortunately, she’s going to be able to keep all of her USA stamping family – but she’s also going to have a Canadian group  – so she’s going to be one busy lady!  To wish her luck, a bunch of us in her downline surprised her with Stampin’ Up! cards – all timed to arrive in the last week or so before their big exodus.

My card used the Butterfly Basics Stamp set, as well as a sentiment from the Holiday Home set.  The overall design was inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches #171:

FMS171

I’d been waiting for just the right design to dive into my Artisan Embellishment Kit (Occasions catalog) and this was perfect.  I also used Painted Blooms and Irresistibly Your DSP.  And some Blendabilities and some Textured Embossing Folders and ….well, take a look-see for yourself:

Sending Wishes Outside 3 Watermarked

I like pinks and greens together – I just think they look very spring-y.  Not boing-y springy, but….oh, you know.  Springy spring-y!  Got it?  Good.

I started the card front with Pink Pirouette Card Stock, that I ran through my Big Shot in the On Point TIEF.  So, here’s a little lesson in patience (of which I showed none in this instance!).  I had, just a few days before, ordered the Spring Flowers TIEF.  If I’d waited for it to arrive, then that’s the one I thought I’d have preferred to use on this card.  But – I didn’t wait!  So, I used the On Point.  And, in truth, I think it was probably the better choice – cause, as I think about it, I kind of think the Spring Flowers would have been too busy for the card – so perhaps it was a blessing! 😉  I attached it to a Wild Wasabi card base with SNAIL.

I cut three strips in ever-increasing lengths and cut the banner ends with the hexagon punch.  The longest banner is from the Irresistibly Yours DSP (Sale-A-Bration), that I colored with my lightest Pink Pirouette Blendability.  It’s matted with Wild Wasabi CS.  The middle banner is a piece of Wild Wasabi CS that I embossed with the Happy Hearts TIEF, and matted on Pink Pirouette CS.  The final, and shortest banner, is some of the Painted Blooms DSP, matted on Wild Wasabi.  All three banners are SNAIL’d to the card front.

Sending Wishes Outside 2 watermarked

I built the sentiment circle using the circle framelits to cut a Whisper White circle (2 3/8″ diameter) and a Pink Pirouette (2 3/4″) circle.  I SNAIL’d them all onto one of the pretty doilies from the Artisan Embellishments Kit (Occasions).  The sentiment comes from the Butterfly Basics Stamp Set, and I stamped it in Mossy Meadow Classic Ink.  I also edged that white circle with some Pink Pirouette Blendability Marker and then with the Mossy Meadow.  The Pink circle, I “stitched” using the Pistachio Pudding Stampin’ Write Marker. Then, I attached the layered circle to the card front.  The left side is SNAIL and the right side is little bits of Stampin’ Dimensionals, placed on the most-solid parts of the doily.  The Dimensionals compensated for the added thickness of the banners under the left side of the circle.

Sending Wishes Outside 1 watermarked

I made a little bow with the green Painted Blooms Thick Twine (have I mentioned how much I love twine – especially when it comes to making bows?!?!) and glued it to the front with a little dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  Three Pearl Basic Jewels finished it off.

The inside of the card was treated to a Whisper White liner, with some more of the Pink Pirouette and Wild Wasabi across the bottom.  I ran the Wild Wasabi through the Big Shot in the Happy Heart TIEF and SNAIL’d it to the Pink Pirouette mat (which I also stitched with Pistachi Puddding).  Repeating elements from the front of the card – whether it’s colors or textures or patterns or some combination thereof – ties the entire card together, and helps it to be “finished”. IMHO, of course!

Sending Wishes Inside 2 watermarked

The sentiment comes from the Holiday Home stamp set, and is stamped in Mossy Meadow Ink, that I stamped off once on scrap paper before stamping it on the card.  So – I used a “happy new home” sentiment, cause this card was headed to Sandi to celebrate her…well, new home.  But, if you wanted to make this card for almost any other kind of occasion – sympathy, just-because, feel better, whatever – you could easily use a different inside sentiment – or even just leave it blank.  “Sending Wishes Your Way” is a pretty versatile sentiment – and just another reason that having the Butterfly Basics set in your stamping arsenal is a really good plan! 🙂

I wanted the envelope to be a little special, too, so I SNAIL’d some more Painted Blooms DSP onto the inside of the flap, and then trimmed the excess with my snips.  I really think it completed the whole ensemble.

Sending Wishes with envelope watermarked

So – what think you?  I hope that you like it – I enjoyed making it for Sandi to wish her the best on her next adventure!

Tuesday heralds the arrival of new Weekly Deal specials – take a look and see if there’s a special something (or somthingS!) that you’ve been waiting for a good deal on!  There’s even a deal on one of the brand new Occasions bundles (From the Garden)!

Stampin’ Up! just announced a brand new stamp set, called Lovely Amazing You.  And it’s really cool!  Some super sentiments and a cute “envelope” stamp.  And – it’s in Photopolymer – my fave!  Click here to see the set and a couple of ideas for using it!  And check it out in the store when you decide you NEED to have it in your stash…..

And – here’s a teensy sneaky-peek…..26 Feb is the date for the next Happy Stampers Blog Hop.  Be sure to check back for more details, and mark your calendars.  We’ll all be sharing some new cards or….?  and will share a little blog candy, too!

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s project:

Wild Wasabi Card Stock: 5 1/2″ x 8 12/” folded at 4 1/4″ (card base); 7/8″ x 5 1/4″ (largest banner mat)); 3/4″ x 4 12/” (middle banner, embossed with Happy Hearts); 7/8″ x 4″ (smallest Banner); 5/8″ x 4″ (inner liner embellishment, embossed with Happy Hearts)

Pink Pirouette Card Stock: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ (card front embossed with On Point TIEF); 7/8″ x 4 5/8″ (middle banner mat); 5/8″ x 4″ (inner liner embellishment mat); 2 3/8″ circle (sentiment mat)

Whisper White CS: 2 3/8″ circle (sentiment)

Irrestistibly Yours DSP: 1/2″ x 5 1/8″ (longest banner)

Painted Blooms DSP: 3/4″ x 3 7/8″ (shortest banner); 4″ x 5 1/8″ (inner liner); inner flap of envelope

 STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Price: $99.95

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

WEEKLY DEALS 10 Feb – 16 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 16 Feb.

If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

Online Shopping Icon 3

It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

 

Categories: Any Occasion, Everyday, General | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lotus Blossom Thinking of You

Posted on February 6, 2015 by stampsnlingers

So, in a week where I ought to be building wonderful, creative, gender-specific, gender-neutral, romantic and yet funny Valentine’s Cards, I find myself working on other kinds of cards entirely.  A friend of mine has family in the hospital, who isn’t doing well.  I want to send a card letting her know that I’m thinking about and praying for her.  So, I delved into my more somber creativity and mined the beautiful Lotus Blossom SU Set (Sale-a-Bration item – still FREE with a $50 purchase thru 31 Mar) and the equally lovely Irresistibly Yours DSP (Occasions catalog) to build today’s card.  I also used the Annual Catalog stamp set called Thoughts and Prayers for the sentiment.

About the same time that I knew I needed such a card, the weekly Mojo Monday sketch arrived in my e-mail.

Mojo Monday 383

I gotta tell y’all – for some reason, this one just confounded me!  I have no idea why – but it took me two days working off and on to finally build something that I liked well enough to call it good.  I struggled with colors and patterns and…well, I just struggled.  Maybe because it’s February.  Or perhaps the moon is setting in the House of the Rising sun and Mercury is playing with Mars.  Or something.  But, I finally decided to quit overthinking it and just put it all together.  And – really ended up liking it quite a lot!  See what you think:

Thinking of You Outside 1 Watermarked

I started with one of our ever-so-handy Crumb Cake Cut and Ready Card Bases and cut a piece of Very Vanilla Card stock for the main card front.  Then, I matted a piece of the Sale-a-Bration Irresistibly Yours DSP onto a piece of Crumb Cake CS.  The DSP, I’d colored with an almost dry SU Sponge Dauber – my “brown” one.  It had been used for Crumb Cake  and Soft Suede ink at various times in the past few days.  The exact ink color is less important than the fact that it was ALMOST DRY, so the DSP is only very lightly colored.

My art piece is from the Typeset DSP that I edge sponged with some Old Olive and then stamped with the Lotus Blossom.  Remember, this is a multi-step stamp that comes in photopolymer – so, as I mentioned in an earlier post, you’ll want to use a squishy mat under your paper when you use the stamps (this is true for ANY photopolymer stamp!).  Use your piercing mat or one of your old squishy mouse pads.  Any-who….the first two stamps are done in Pumpkin Pie and the third layer is with Crushed Curry.  I experimented on scrap paper a couple of times to come up with the best way to lay down the colors before putting it on my DSP – and I ended up with this one, which I loved!  Now, take note: this is the way that I liked best – you can definitely be your own boss with this stamp.  Whatever YOU like best IS the best!  Play with it and have fun with it – there’s no telling what you’ll be able to come up with!

The stem is also two -step and I used Old Olive on the first stamp and Mossy Meadow for the second layer.

Thinking of You Outside 2 Watermarked

The banners are the polka dots from the Irresistibly Yours DSP.  I colored them with Soft Suede – and just used the same dauber on both, but colored the bottom piece more – making it darker. I like the tone-on-tone result.  Made these into banners by cutting the ends with the Hexagon Punch.

The Sassy Salutations set provided my sentiment, which is stamped in Soft Suede on a Vanilla circle die-cut that I edge-sponged with more Old Olive.

As I adhered all the layers to my Vanilla card front, I used SNAIL for all the pieces, except for the right-side edge of the art piece.  That area has SU Dimensionals on it to compensate for the raised layers of the vertical DSP.

I finished the card front with a tiny Linen Thread bow glued to the sentiment, and three rhinestone jewels that I colored with the darkest Pumpkin Pie Blendability.

Thinking of You Outside 3 Watermarked
I wanted the inside to have a sentiment for this card, and I chose the Thoughts and Prayers set to accomplish my goal.  It’s stamped in Soft Suede on vanilla card stock that I lightly edged with Old Olive ink.  And, just cause I could and I liked it so much, I added another Lotus Blossom in the bottom corner.  I think it finished it off nicely.  What’s so fun about this particular stamp is that even using the same colors and stamping the same way each time, each flower you build looks just a little different than the last one – just like real flowers.  I love it more every time I use it!

Thinking of You Inside 2 Watermarked

Obviously, if you left the sentiment out, this would make a very pretty every-day-just-because-I-was-thinking-about-you-today card!

This really wasn’t as hard a card to make as I made it out to be – at least in the end!  And I really love how the whole card is in soft, neutral tones, with just the Lotus Blossom popping off the card.  Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry – beautimous!  Try it today – you’ll like it!

There’s still time to get in on the weekly deals – check out the Hearts border punch!  Mine is already on it’s way to me – along with some Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.  Can’t wait to play with them! 🙂

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s project – starting with a Crumb Cake Cut and Ready Card Base

Very Vanilla Card Stock: 4″ x 5 1/4″ (large card front); 4 1/8″ x 2 7/8″ (art piece mat); 1 7/8″ Circle (Sentiment); 4″ x 5 1/4″ (inner liner)

Irrestistibly Yours DSP: 5 1/8″ x 2 7/8″ (vertical band); 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ (lighter banner); 1/2″ x 3 1/8″ (darker banner)

Typeset DSP: 4″ x 2 3/4″ (art piece)

Crumb Cake CS: 5 1/4″ x 3″ (Vertical band mat)

 STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Price: $99.95

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WEEKLY DEALS 3 Feb – 9 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 9 Feb.

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If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

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It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

 

Categories: Any Occasion, General, Sympathy, Thinking Of You | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Seeing Double Happy Birthday Cards!

Posted on February 3, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Tuesday happens.  Usually right after Monday!  Says Captain Obvious.  And what does that have to do with today’s post?  Not much OTHER than the fact that Tuesday heralds the arrival of BRAND NEW WEEKLY DEALS!  See what’s on offer this week at the bottom of this post.  Hint:  there’s a lot of good Valentine’s Day card tools for you!

So – last week, I faced a conundrum brought on by my very severe case of procrastination.  Last Saturday was our friends twin boys 22nd birthday (I’m sure an apostrophe is needed somewhere here, but….?).  Now, I totally knew that.  My phone obediently told me – on THURSDAY! – that their birthday was Saturday.  Did I respond then?  Of course! – I ran out and got a couple of presents and then I sat down and toiled over two wonderful cards for them.  They were unique.  They were the same and yet different (as things for twins often are).  I spent hours on both of them.  She said – never.  For certain I did nothing of the kind.  I TOLD myself to do all those things and then….I didn’t.

Saturday rolls around and it’s getting time to head over for birthday dinner.  I cleverly and creatively determine that the very best gift for young men is something that always fits.  Is always the right size.  Is versatile in the extreme.  Cash!  And then I sit down at my craft table and think…..now what?

Below is what I came up with.  I think, considering I didn’t use any Blog sketches or ideas from anywhere other than my very own noggin, that they turned out pretty good.  And, considering how quickly I made them both – they certainly qualify as Quick and Easy!

Both Birthday 1 Watermarked

Both cards started with Crumb Cake Cut and Ready card bases.  These are so beyond handy to have!  Both cards are matted with card stock – Night of Navy and Cajun Craze (I’ll trust your deductive reasoning to determine which went where!).  For the blue card, the front started with a piece of Typeset DSP, that I sponged with Night of Navy ink.  After I SNAIL’d the DSP to the CS, I “stitched” the edge of the CS with my white gel pen.

Blue Birthday 2 Watermarked

I cut the tag from a piece of Night of Navy CS, using the Chalk Talk Framelits, and then stamped it with a background wood-grain stamp in white.  Mine is a generic one that I’ve had in my stash for a while, but the stamp that comes with the Build a Bouquet stamp set would work swimmingly well (probably better!).  And then “stitched” it up – by now, I was apparently going for a “denim-y” theme.

The sentiment is from Sassy Salutations in white on Night of Navy CS, also cut with one of the dies in the Chalk Talk set.  Also stitched.  I SNAIL’d them to the card front and then glued a bow made from a little piece of Painted Blooms Cotton Twine (Occasions catalog) to the top of the tag.  The front is popped out with Dimensionals onto the card base.

The other card again started with a mat, and this time I used a piece of the Motley Monsters DSP (OBTW – I just checked this morning, and this cute DSP is still available in the Clearance Rack for only $4.39!).  I sponged the edges with some Crumb Cake ink and SNAIL’d it to it’s Cajun Craze mat.

Wood Birthday 1 Watermarked

Then I cut a couple of “happy” die cuts with the Hello You Thinlits (Occasions).  One is Cajun Craze and the other is black.  I used some multipurpose liquid glue to adhere them together – just to give it a little depth.  I used a little more to glue the happy layers to the card front.  Note: SU Multipurpose Liquid Glue is excellently strong and a little goes a long way!  The second part of the sentiment is cut using the Note Tag Punch (Occasions) from more of the woody Motley Monsters DSP, edges sponged and the sentiment (from the Crazy About You bundle that I bought with the Hello You Thinlits!) inked with Crumb Cake ink.  I layered that piece on another Note Tag punched from Cajun Craze CS – a little offset to create a “shadow” – and then stuck it under the Happy with some SNAIL and glued a tiny Linen Thread bow on.  I popped it with Dimensionals on to the card base, and called both cards complete.

At this point, I would usually show you the inside of my cards.  But, I forgot to take any pictures, so….that would be hard to do.  Or, even, impossible!  But, they each had a piece of Very Vanilla CS put into them to give me a place to write, and I stamped the liners with “Celebrate”, from the Good Greetings set, in Night of Navy and Crumb Cake respectively (and amazingly I even got the right color into the right card!).  Wayne and I wrote a little note, added the show-me-the-money-honey, and off we went to dinner! And – unless they happen to read this blog, they’ll never know that I didn’t do all this on Thursday when my phone Notification went off – thereby preserving my reputation as an organizational wizard (she says again – never!).

Both Birthday 2 Watermarked

So – a couple of ideas for quick birthday cards.  Hope that you like them, and can/do add them to your cards-on-hand-for-those-“sudden”-emergencies! ;0

One other little piece of “fun” stuff.  I spent some time last Saturday with Amy Koenders and Sue Prather at the Heritage Rubber Stamp show up in Lawrenceville (Heather Van Looy was there for a little bit, but had to leave soon after I arrived).  Finally got to meet Amy in person, after having e-mailed with her and joined the company because of her (my husband says “Thank you very much, Amy!).  We had a great time – and met a lot of fun folks who stopped by to make our completely cute make-and-takes (designed by the very talented Sue).  They featured the new Bow Builder Punch – which is really great and easy to use (I’d never used it before Saturday and was able to pick it up by watching a couple be made – so, yea, it’s pretty easy!).  It’s definitely on my wish-list now.  Anyway – here’s a couple of pics of the festivities! That’s me on the left-left!

IMG_0020 IMG_0018

Be sure to check out the new Valentine’s-ready Weekly Deals!

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s projects – both start with Crumb Cake Cut and Ready Card Bases

Night of Navy Card Stock: 4″ x 5 1/4″ (mat); Thinlits Tags;

Cajun Craze Card Stock: 4″ x 5 1/4″ (mat); Hello Die cut

Basic Black Card Stock: Hello Die cut

Very Vanilla CS: 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ (inner liner)

Typeset DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″ (card front)

Motley Monsters DSP: 3 3/4″ x 5″ (card front); Note tag for sentiment

 STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THESE PROJECTS:

Price: $99.95

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Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

 WEEKLY DEALS 3 Feb – 9 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 9 Feb.

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Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

If you need any stamping supplies, I’d be very happy to be your Demonstrator. Just click on the Order Stampin’ Up! Online Now button on the right side of the screen to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions. Happy Stamping!

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It’s Sale-A-Bration Time!! Earn a free item for every $50 that you purchase. Click here to read all about it.

Shop the Clearance Rack here.

Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

 

Categories: General, Happy Birthday | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Tall and Skinny Wishes

Posted on February 2, 2015 by stampsnlingers

Happy Monday, y’all (or is that an oxymoron!?!).  I bet today finds you 1) excited and happy that the Patriots won or 2) recovering from the devastating, last-possible-second loss of the Seahawks or 3) wondering….”huh?  There was a big game yesterday?  All I saw were some funny commercials interspersed with some guys running around on grass.”  However you spent your Sunday evening, I hope you’re well and recovered, cause it’s Monday now, so…. 😉

Speaking of Monday, this is the day I announce the winner of last week’s Blog Candy!  Drum roll….and yea, you have to read all the way through to the end to see who won! See how I did that?

This week I made a card to share using some Irresistibly Yours DSP and the Butterfly Basics stamp set (from the Occasions Catalog).  I based it – pretty loosely, as you’ll soon see! – on the Mojo Monday Sketch #382.

mojo382

This card fits into an A2 envelope, with plenty of room to spare to accommodate the embellishments.  I think the entire ensemble turned out really pretty!

Tall and Skinny with envelope watermarked

To build my card, I cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock to 3 1/2″ x 11″ and then scored and folded it at 5 1/2″ on the long side.  That yielded the Tall and Skinny look driven by the MM sketch.  And, that’s the dimensions they gave me on their website, so the math was pretty easy! ;0

I sponged a piece of the Irresistibly Yours DSP with Soft Suede ink, and then wiped the excess off of the resist areas with a paper towel.  Then I SNAIL’d a length of SU Natural Cotton Ribbon onto a piece of Crumb Cake CS (which I’d lightly sponged with Crumb Cake ink) and then SNAIL’d that layer onto the DSP.  I actually attached the ribbon to the CS, leaving a little excess on both ends, before I attached everything to the DSP – and then I wrapped the ribbon around and secured it to the back with tape.  That way I had a nice, smooth edge, and won’t have to worry about the ribbon fraying on the edges.

Tall and Skinny Outside 3 Watermarked

Over that, I ran some Daffodil Delight Stitched 1/4″ Grosgrain ribbon.  Like the wide ribbon, I wrapped the ends around the back and secured them with tape.

Then I cut out my art square and rounded the corners (note to self: get oval collection framelits in next order…!!).  I stamped the flowers from the Butterfly Basics onto the square in Soft Suede and colored it in with my Pink Pirouette and Old Olive Blendabilities (that I got for Sale-a-Bration!).  My Butterfly Basic sentiment  is stamped in Strawberry Slush onto another square of Very Vanilla.  Both these pieces were matted onto Crumb Cake CS and then layered onto the card front.  The sentiment is SNAILd and the flower is popped up with Dimensionals.

Tall and Skinny Outside 1 Watermarked

I punched out a few Bitty Butterflies from some scrap Irresistibly Yours DSP that I’d lightly colored with my lightest Pink Pirouette Blendie, and very artfully (she says modestly) arranged them onto the card, using glue dots.  I embellished them with some Pearl Basic Jewels and added one more pearl to the center of the largest flower, and called it good.  The card front was SNAILd onto the card base – there’s plenty of “popping” already!

Tall and Skinny inside 2 Watermarked

On the inside, I went ahead and added a liner, still in Very Vanilla, just to keep the card feeling solid.  I edged the piece with Pink Pirouette ink by simply running all the edges across the ink pad itself.  Using the smallest butterfly stamp in the Butterfly Basics, I stamped a little swarm of them (what IS a group of butterflies called?  Swarm?  Herd? Flock?  Must Google that) across the bottom in Pink Pirouette.  I left this card blank on the inside, so it can be used for almost any occasion, I’d think.

I used a Crumb Cake Envelope, and stamped the flower in Crumb Cake on the front, in the bottom right corner, just to finish things off.

Tall and Skinny with envelope watermarked 2

Hope you enjoy this one – and give Tall and Skinny a try soon!  Card cuts are below,

Today’s the last day for this week’s Weekly Deals, so act quickly if you’re wanting to stock up on embossing folders or add a Texture Boutique machine to your tool set!

TTFN

Mary

FEBRUARY 1 – 28 HOSTESS CODE:  RKBPBNYM Use this hostess code when you order and receive a free gift from me!  But, if your order is over $150, please do not use this code (you’ll miss out on your own Stampin’ Rewards/Hostess $$ if you use it) but you’ll still get the free gift.  The free gift for February is your choice of any item valued up to $4.95 in either the 2014-15 Annual Catalog or the 2015 Occasions Catalog!

Here are the card cuts for today’s project

Very Vanilla Card Stock: 3 1/2″ x 11″ (card base – folded at 5 1/2″); 2 3/8″ x 2″ (flower); 2 1/4″ x 2 3/8″ (sentiment); 3 3/8″ x 5 3/8″ (inner liner)

Crumb Cake Card Stock: 1 1/8″ x 3 3/8″ (ribbon mat); 2 1/8″ x 2 1/2″ (flower mat); 2 3/8″ x 2 1/2″ (sentiment mat)

Irresistibly Yours DSP: 3 3/8 x 5 3/8″ (card front); Bitty Butterflies

 STAMPIN’ UP! ITEMS USED IN THIS PROJECT:

Price: $4.95

Supply List

Built for Free Using:  My Stampin Blog

 WEEKLY DEALS 27 Jan – 3 Feb 15 Click here to see the Weekly Deals from Stampin’ Up! in my online store.  The Weekly Deals are only while supplies last and only available at these great prices through 3 Feb.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 BLOG CANDY WINNER!
Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by my blog to leave me a comment – I really appreciate that you all took the time – there were some really nice things said!
Screen Shot 2015-02-02 at 12.08.27 PM
The Random Number Generator chose comment #11. Comment #11 was left by Kristi Gray.  Kristi said: “Congrats on your first blog hop, they are so much fun. Your cards are so pretty. I love that stamp set and am amazed at all the different looks you get from these cards. Thanks for sharing.”Congratulations Kristi!! I’ll get your embellishments packed up – please send me your snail mail address (stamps-n-lingers@comcast.net) so that I can ship them to you!

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Earn FREE Stampin’ Up! Products – Join my Punkin Head Peppermint Rewards – My online customer thank you program!

 

Categories: Any Occasion, General, Sympathy | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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