Birthday Bonanza, Part 2!

As I mentioned yesterday, my Mom's birthday is two days after my Dad's.  I was lucky enough to have time to spend with both of them on their special days.  Mom turned 86 this year and she always enjoys a card.  For this card, I used the Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits dies and the Butterfly Basics Stamp Set.  Colors are Pear Pizzaz, Tip Top Taupe, and Delightful Dijon.  The ribbon on the card is the retired Tip Top Taupe Lace Ribbon.  I'm still trying to "use what I have" as often as possible.  I think this card would work with many different sentiments.  I think that's why I like these sets so much.  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Stamps: Butterfly Basics
Ink: Pear Pizzaz, Tip Top Taupe
Paper: Whisper White, Tip Top Taupe, Delightful Dijon
Accessories: Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies, Big Shot, Metallic Enamel Shapes, Mini Glue Dots, Tip Top Taupe Lace Trim (retired)

Birthday Bonanza!

This past week, my Dad turned 90!  What a milestone.  It was great to be able to share it with him.  He's amazing.  Likes walking, researching our family history and baking.  Since my Mom's birthday is two days after his, he made her a cake, too.  I hope I'm still baking things for people when I'm 90.

Anyway, a special day deserves a special card, so here's the card I made.  It's a large one, measuring 5-1/2" x 8-1/2".  I used the wonderful new Cake Crazy stamp set from the Occasions Catalog (p. 7) plus the cake stand image from Build a Birthday (p. 25 in the Annual Catalog).  The "90" is die cut from a retired Sizzlit Alphabet set from a long time ago.  Any larger size numbers would do.  Color scheme was mostly the Brights, plus Cucumber Crush and Crushed Curry.  I even stamped on the inside of the card which looked like this:  I used the Stylized Birthday (p. 16 in the AC) and the Letters for You stamp set (p. 137 in the AC).

Again, I stayed with a brighter color scheme.  Because the card is so large, I needed an envelope to match.  Luckily, the Envelope Punch Board (AC p. 184) came to my rescue as did the Star Blast Edgelits Dies (OC, p. 11)  and the Large Letters Framelits Dies (AC p. 193).  The stars are the cut-outs from the Star Blast Edgelits.  Just used them up as decorations on the Envelope.  The Oval is from the retired Ovals Collection Framelits, but any shape behind the letters would work.  Many thanks for visiting today.  Enjoy!

Stamps: Cake Crazy, Build a Birthday, Stylized Birthday, Letters for You
Ink: Versamark, Tempting Turquoise, Crushed Curry, Cucumber Crush, Real Red, Bermuda Bay, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Cucumber Crush, Pacific Point, Real Red, Envelope Paper 2015-2017 (retired, but you could use this year's paper from p. 176 AC), Daffodil Delight,

Accessories:  Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot, Large Letters Framelits Dies, Star Blast Edgelits Dies, Ovals Collection Framelits (retired), SNAIL Adhesive

A message we all have in common...

What a weekend!  I had the honor of spending time with people from many different places with many wonderful ideas the past few days.  I saw old friends and made some new ones.  (Thanks Marlene, Tonya, Shari, Alex, and Ann!)  I hope that those of you visiting this blog today and the rest of the week had as wonderful a weekend.  Whether you spent time making your voice heard, taking action or celebrating, I hope you all had experiences to treasure.  I know I did. The one thing I think we all value from this weekend is the need for Kindness in the world today.  I shared these pins with my friends and now share a photo and the recipe with the blog-o-sphere, as well.  Let's all find some ways to "Be Kind" this week!  Thanks for visiting.  Enjoy.

Stamps: Layered Letters Alphabet, Crazy About You, Project Life by Stampin' Up! Point & Click (retired)
Ink: Pacific Point, Real Red, Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, Cardboard (or Chip Board)
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts Framelits Dies (retired), Heat Tool, Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder (retired), hot glue gun, pin backing

Elegance for a Birthday Card

Here's an elegant take on the Coloring Book craze.  Best thing about this one is that you can get it for FREE!!!  As I mentioned earlier in the week, there is a Sale to Celebrate or should I say Sale-a-brate?  Yes, it's Sale-a-bration time at Stampin' Up! and that means a select collection of products are FREE with a qualifying order.  That's where I got the floral paper on this card.  It's a piece of the Inside the Lines Designer Series Paper.  This beautiful paper is perfect for using the new Watercolor Pencils.  It's thick enough to withstand a bit of water (either from a Blender Pen or an Aqua Painter) and also works with the plain pencils and markers.  They also get a little shimmery blend using the Clear Wink of Stella (p. 181 AC)  The best thing is, when I purchased the Dragonfly Dreams bundle (stamp set and dies, see Tuesday's post) and the Watercolor pencils together on an order, the paper was Free! Here's what I used on this card.  Hope you have a great weekend!


Stamps: Dragonfly Dreams (p. 26 OC)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Inside the Lines Designer Series Paper (p. 11 Sale-a-bration Brochure)
Accessories: Big Shot, Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies, Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Wink of Stella Clear, Pearls Basic Jewels

Hugs all around!

Nothing says Happy Birthday like a big Hug!  And this one is so cute!  I love the monster.  He's from the Yummy in My Tummy stamp set on page 16 of the Occasions Catalog.  I stamped him in Early Espresso Ink on a piece of Kraft cardstock (see page 175 of the Annual Catalog).  Then I used the new Watercolor Pencils (p.24 of the Occasions Catalog) to give that fuzzy look.  I layered some circles from the Layering Circles Framelits Dies to fill his Tummy.  And I added a heart from the In Color Enamel Shapes.  Birthday! is stamped in Emerald Envy ink.  It's from the Window Shopping stamp set on p. 43 (OC).  Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Yummy In My Tummy (OC), Window Shopping (OC)
Ink: Early Espresso, Emerald Envy
Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Emerald Envy, Kraft Cardstock (AC)
Accessories: Big Shot, Layering Circles Framelits Dies, Watercolor Pencils,  2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes, Stampin' Dimensionals

When software causes delays...

What a week!  I've been trying to get this blog post written for over a week now.  However, my laptop had other ideas.  Here it is almost 2 weeks into the month and there's a new catalog and a BIG sale to celebrate and what happens?  Technology...ah we love it and we love to complain about it.  Well, I think my particular issue is fixed now, so here are some fun projects using the New products from the Occasions Catalog.

 Let's start with my favorite Bundle of the Occasions Catalog.  Found on page 26, it's the amazing Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set and Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies.  They really are as beautiful as all of the samples you see on Pinterest and elsewhere.  In this card, I've paired one of the detailed Thinlits with the Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack (p. 174 in the Annual Catalog.)  The background stamping is from Timeless Textures and the sentiment comes from a carry-over favorite from the Holiday Catalog: Basket of Wishes.  A few of the Metallic Enamel Shapes ad a bit of bling to to card.

Stamps: Timeless Textures, Basket of Wishes
Ink: Old Olive, Delightful Dijon
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Delightful Dijon, Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories: Big Shot, Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies, Metallic Enamel Shapes

Another look and the Chicks...

Oh they really like to jump in and make themselves seen!  These chicks in the Hey Chick Sale-a-bration Stamp Set are absolutely the most fun.  Who wouldn't like to get a congrats card with a silly hen on it?  The set is fantastic.  Here I've paired it with the Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack (p. 103 AC), The Moroccan Designer Washi Tape (p 179 AC), and the wonderful Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies which bundle with the Sunshine Sayings stamp set on p. 97 of the Annual Catalog.  And, guess what, if you order the Paper Stack and the Sunshine Sayings Bundle you can choose the Hey Chick stamp set for FREE (!!) starting tomorrow, January 4, and continuing until March 31.  Be sure to check out the entire collection on my Stampin' Up! website when it posts live tomorrow.  In the meantime, enjoy the whimsy of the Chicks!

Stamps: Hey Chick (Sale-a-bration brochure, p. 17)
Ink: Basic Gray, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake
Paper: Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies, Blender Pens, Morrocan Designer Washi Tape, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy 2017!! Celebrating New, Retiring and Current

Happy New Year to all of you who have visited, are visiting and will visit my Blog this year.  I know there are millions of places to find inspiration on the Internet and I'm so happy you chose to spend a little time reading my ramblings.  Hopefully, you are leaving with a touch of inspiration to brighten your day.  Many thanks for stopping in today.

Well, the weekend got away from me, so here's the New Years Card (a day late).  I'm so excited for 2017.  Not only are there lots of exciting new products to celebrate, but there's a whole lot of living to do, as well.

This card is a quick and easy New Years card that showcases retiring products (you have until Tomorrow to get them!), current goodies (available until the end of May) and, of course, an exciting new product from the 2017 Occasions Catalog which goes live on January 4th along with the Sale-a-bration collection of products.  I love New Years!

Here's some of the details.  The Retiring: It's a Celebration stamp set from p. 38 of the Holiday Catalog.  I'm sorry to see this one go.  It could really come in handy around July 4th for sparklers and fireworks, too.  However, we still have the fabulous Number of Years (p. 136 in the Annual Catalog) photopolymer set and the Moroccan Designer Series Paper (p. 173, AC) celebrating the current products.  Also add, of course, the Metallic Enamel Shapes (p. 177), Dapper Denim 3/8" Ruched Ribbon, and Stampin' Up!'s fantastic coordinating inks and papers (Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy, and Mint Macaron) and you already have a wonderful card.  But, we also have to spotlight the NEW. By now, you've guessed that the new is the really fun Star Blast Edgelits Die from p. 11 of the Occasions Catalog!  It pairs with the Birthday Blast Stamp set in a Bundle, so be sure to check it out on January 4th.  I love the fact that there are extra stars to use as embellishments.  They pair so nicely with the Metallic Enamel Shapes, too.  Ok, long winded I know, but I'm really excited about this new year and hope you will enjoy these products as much as I do.  Cheers to 2017!

Stamps: It's a Celebration, Number of Years
Ink: Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy, Mint Macaron
Paper: Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Moroccan Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Star Blast Edgelits Dies, Dapper Denim 3/8" Ruched Ribbon, Metallic Enamel Shapes, Triple Banner Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive