Birthday Balloons

Still snowed in?  If you are, I hope you're finding time to craft.  I'm having too much fun playing with things.  Here's a Birthday Card that uses the Celebrate Today stamp set (and coordinating Framelits!) from the Occasions Catalog (p. 11). The patterned paper is from the Birthday Bash Specialty Designer Series Paper collection (OC p. 12).  The set of papers is really great for festive projects.

Stamps: Celebrate Today
Ink: Mossy Meadow, Bermuda Bay
Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Mossy Meadow, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Birthday Bash Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Balloon Framelits Dies (it bundles with the stamp set for 15% savings!  Gotta love it!), Large Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (AC, p. 227), Crushed Curry Baker's Twine (AC, p. 206)

Monday, Monday

It's a snowy Monday around here.  Hope those of you bracing for the winter blast are fully stocked with food, chocolate and lots of supplies to keep you stamping.  Here's another Butterfly card to help keep the calm during the storm.  I really love the Butterfly Basics stamp set from the Occasions Catalog.  (p. 26, if you're looking for it).  Not only does it have a matching Thinlits Die set (also on p. 26), but the little butterfly stamp has a matching punch in the Annual Catalog (Bitty Butterfly, p. 219).  That's what I used here.  Along with some of the current In-Colors with a slightly contemporary design.  The great thing about the photopolymer version of this stamp set is that the Large Butterflies line up in a snap!
Stay warm, safe and stamping.

Stamps: Butterfly Basics
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist
Paper: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss
Accessories: Bitty Butterfly Punch (AC p. 219),  3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Hello Honey (AC p.207), Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Mini Glue Dots

Valentine Friday

Here's a Valentine for your Friday.  These cute little hearts are made with the punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack.  What a useful trio of punches! See them in the Annual Catalog on p. 222. The stamped heart comes from the Something to Say stamp set that coordinates with the Punch Pack.  This card has lots of textures on it.  We have Gold Foil paper, Designer Series Paper (from the Stacked with Love Paper Stack, again!), Washi Tape (from the Stacked with Love Designer Washi Tape on p.5 of the OC) and some dry-embossed hearts made with the Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (OC p. 9).  The Happy Valentines Day is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (AC p. 18), Something to Say (AC p.104)

Ink: Real Red, Momento Pad Tuxedo Black

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack, Gold Foil Sheets (AC p. 193)

Accessories: Big Shot, Happy Heart TIEF, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (AC p.222), Stacked With Love Designer Washi Tape, 1/8-inch Ribbon Gold (AC p. 206)

Valentine 3: Using up Pieces

Here's Valentine number 3.  Hope you're enjoying them.  I'm really having fun making them (not that you can tell!)  As promised, I used the cut-out from yesterdays window on this card.  The beauty of the Designer Series Paper stacks is that you have a reverse side that gives you a totally different look.  Here, I've paired the Black and White with Red and Blushing Bride.  I've also used products from the Occasions Catalog.  The Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies (OC p 9) not only makes a cute treat bag it has these great embellishments (the row of hearts and the pink heart).  Naturally, you can also use those little punched hearts on a card.  I've used all 7 of them on other projects (including one up above on this card).  Be on the lookout!

Stamps: Hello Life (OC p. 6)
Ink: Momento Pad Tuxedo Black, Blushing Bride Classic Pad
Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Real Red, Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack (OC p. 5)
Accessories: Big Shot, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies (OC p. 9), Sweetheart Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Valentines Day 2

Here's a fun heart-filled Valentine.  This one features some of the new products in the Occasions Catalog (OC for short) and some fun tools.  The Happy Heart Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (p. 9 in the OC) is really great for making backgrounds.  Adds a bit of dimension.  The Designer Series Paper is from the Stacked With Love Paper Stack (OC p. 5).  The arrow is from the What's Up punch (p. 222 in the Annual Catalog (AC)).  The XOXO is from the Circle Card Thinlits dies (AC p. 228) and the Hearts are cut out from the Framelits Hearts Collection (AC p. 231).  The fun thing about cutting out a window is that you have a piece left over...Tune in tomorrow for a card that uses the reverse of that cut out heart!

Stamps:  Something To Say (AC p.104)
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Paper: Whisper White,  Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Real Red, Basic Black, Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories:  Big Shot, Happy Heart TIEF, Circle Card Thinlits Dies, Hearts Collection Framelits, What's Up Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

A week of Valentine Ideas

Before you know it, it will be Valentine's Day.  Perfect reason to send a card or two.  The next week of posts will be Valentine ideas. The first one features Polka Dots, Hearts and the wonderful Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper  This paper is available for Free with a qualifying order during Sale-a-bration (going on now!)  You can view it on-line or on p. 15 of the Sale-a-bration Brochure.  This paper pack of 12 sheets features 6 different embossed designs.  Just add color for an instant resist (see the top-most heart on the card!)   Here's how this card comes together:

Stamps: Groovy Love (Annual Catalog p. 110)
Ink:  Strawberry Slush, Rose Red
Paper: Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Rose Red, Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Sweetheart Punch, 1/2-inch Circle Punch, Big Shot, Large Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bitty Banners Framelits Dies, Sponge Dauber (for adding color to the Irresitibly Yours paper)

More Birthdays, More Butterflies!

Yes, January is the month I like to make a bunch of Birthday Cards for going into the new year.  Need to replenish my stock.  Here's another one using the Butterfly Basics stamps and the matching Thinlits.

Colors are Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzaz, Strawberry Slush and Mossy Meadow.

Stamps: Butterfly Basics
Ink:  Pear Pizzaz and Strawberry Slush markers, Crushed Curry, Mossy Meadow
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzaz, Crushed Curry
Accessories:  Big Shot, Butterflies Thinlits, 3/4" Circle Punch, Bakers Twine in Crushed Curry

Good Curling! You Rock!

If you've visited the Blog before, you know that one of my "things" is the crazy-addictive sport of Curling.  Ever since I got the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits, I've been wanting to make it into a Curling Stone.  Well, I finally did it!  The box is perfectly sized for two yummy chocolates.

The stamps are from, you guessed it, the wonderful new Occasions Catalog (p. 31).  The Crazy about You set is going to be a versatile group of stamps.  And keep a look out for some upcoming samples with the coordinating Hello You Thinlits Dies (yes, the Bundle!).

Stamps: Crazy about You
Ink: Pacific Point
Paper: Basic Grey, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits (it's still available!  see page 49 of the Occasions Catalog)

Happy 2015!

Time to ring in the New Year (a bit late) and start posting some of the fun new things I've been working on.  Butterflies and Birthdays are first up.  This is the first set from the new Occasions Catalog that I started playing with.  Not only are the stamp images beautiful, they coordinate (and are bundled!) with the wonderful Butterflies Thinlits Dies.  This card showcases the 2013-2015 In-Colors which we only have a few more months to enjoy.   Pistachio pudding, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush and Coastal Cabana are some of my favorites.

A quick tip about those Butterfly Thinlits:  Waxed paper and a stylus or piercing tool really help release the die-cut!

Stamps:  Butterfly Basics (Occasions Catalog p. 26)
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana
Paper: Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: Big Shot, Butterflies Thinlits Dies (Occasions Catalog p. 26), Pearls Basic Jewels