I'm Moving On Like Lovely as a Tree

As they say..."all good things must come to an end". The time has come for Stampin' Up! to retire their oldest stamp set, the iconic Lovely As A Tree.

Like Lovely as a Tree, the time has also come for me to say goodbye to Stampin' Up! as well.

I thought it was fitting to share a card made with this stamp set today as I tell you of my decision to leave Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator. The past couple of years I have been finding less and less time to stamp as my passion for portrait photography has grown.

While I love SU! products and sharing stamping time as well as my creations with family and friends, I feel it best to devote my time and energy into fulfilling my dream of launching my photography business. I'm still in the process, but hope to be officially in business later this year.

Over the years I have loved spending time being creative with such an amazing array of products, but the thing I loved most about Stampin' Up! was all the wonderful people I have met along the way. Several women who came into my life as casual acquaintances or even complete strangers, solely because of our common interest in paper crafting, have become dear friends.

Some I met when they came to my classes or invited me into their home for a workshop and others I met through my blog. Many of you have left encouraging comments, some have purchased SU! products or bought my tutorials...to all of you I say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I don't honestly think I would have stayed at this for almost 15 years if it weren't for all of you!

OK...onto the card! :-)

Lovely as a Tree was first introduced in 2001 and it was one of the first stamp sets I purchased after signing up as a SU! Demonstrator in 2004. I have used it a lot! I've also used Hardwood and Thoughtful Banners quite a bit and those are retiring as well.

This set has always been so versatile and timeless. It is great for any season or occasion and perfect for a variety of techniques. I've used one of my favorite techniques...the Watercolor Background Technique to easily create a colorful blended background for the trees.

A photo I recently took in my backyard was the inspiration for my card. I love the beautiful colors of sunset...and on this evening the sky was absolutely spectacular with so many different hues and the clouds had created such an interesting pattern.

I still plan to post my occasional projects here, but if you would like to stay in touch I do have a Facebook page dedicated to my photography. I'd love for you to like my page and follow me on my new journey. You can also find me on Instagram. I have been re-organizing my studio space and plan to have some SU! products to sell...so check back here soon for updates.

Thanks again for being part of my Stampin' Up! journey!

Colorful Seasons Father's Day

I'm late to the party this year...not only in sharing my Father's Day card with you, but getting new products from the newly released SU! Annual Catalog. I didn't do a pre-order this year like I always do because I knew I didn't have the time to actually use it last month, so figured I would wait until I could order anything I wanted. My birthday is at the beginning of June, so I always have a built in excuse for placing a large order! ;-)

This card uses a few new items along with the Colorful Seasons stamp set. The leaves are stamped using one of my favorite new colors...Granny Apple Green with Old Olive. The lighter small leaves are also Granny Apple Green just stamped off once.

This year, some of my favorite new products are the embossing folders. Check closely to see the beautiful texture added to this card using the new Subtle Embossing Folder. It gives the effect of linen cardstock...and I just love this one! Don't overlook this one in the catalog just because the texture is hard to see...trust me, you NEED this one!

The little label is from the Stitched Label Framelits...which is my pick for favorite new dies. It is stamped using Timeless Textures and Thoughtful Banners stamp sets.  I layered it on top of Linen Thread and Copper Trim.

This masculine card could be used for any occasion, not just Father's Day. I hope that yesterday you all had a GREAT day celebrating the fathers in your life!

Pool Party Panda

Here we are on another Maddy Monday! I've got a few more pages to share from her 1st year album. This first page features one of my favorite photos I have taken of her so far. It was right after getting out of the pool and she had on an adorable panda towel...so I'm sure you can guess, without even seeing the page, which stamp set I used...

I used Layering Circle and Stitched Shape Framelits along with the Party Pandas stamp set to create this simple, yet cute page.  The page opposite of this in the album is a Father's Day page. I used Vintage Leaves and Thoughtful Banners stamp sets for that page. Here's a look at those two pages in the album.

The previous two pages feature Mother's Day photos. Here's a look at those pages as well.

I created a tone on tone paper for the background using the Flourishing Phrases stamp set and then die cut the pretty coordinating flourish using the Flourish Thinlits. I just love the pretty lilacs shown in the background...I sure am looking forward to Spring and all those blooms!

Party Panda Ringing in the New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I say it every year, and I'll say it again...WOW, did this year fly by! I started this blog way back on New Year's Day of 2007...so today is my 11 year Blogiversary as well. So lets celebrate the day with the adorable new Sale-A-Bration set Party Pandas!

The panda bears in this set are absolutely darling! Paired with the Picture Perfect Party DSP it really makes for some super cute, festive projects! This DSP will be available in just a few days from the new Occasions Catalog. Both Sale-A-Bration and the Occasions Catalog start on January 3rd.

Wishing you good health, much happiness and lots of creativity in 2018!

Owen's Baby Bear

I went to a baby shower over the weekend and here is the card I made to go with the baby gift.

The adorable Baby Bear stamp set was an obvious choice. The color combo used is Basic Gray, Smokey Slate and Lemon Lime Twist, and it matched the diaper bag I gave for the gift perfectly! I like to buy a diaper bag and then use that as the "gift bag" to hold the rest of the baby gifts I give. I add lots of fluffy tissue tucked in between the gifts and always attach a cute toy and my card or tag to front of diaper bag to "embellish". I meant to take a photo to share with card, but I forgot.

I used the Layering Squares Framelits to cut both the Whisper White square and the scalloped square. I was able to create a personalized banner using the Labeler Alphabet & Thoughtful Banners stamp sets. The mommy-to-be loved that her babies name was on the card.

The Basic Gray & Black Bakers Twine was from last years Halloween combo pack of twine, so it's no longer available. The button was something I had in my stash and the color is a close match to Lemon Lime Twist so I used that as well.

Stepped Up Feathery Friends

Today I have two versions of the same card to share with you. The first version, shown below is a card we made at my recent All Occasions Card Class. It is very cute, but more basic because the attendees were making 8 cards within a short time, so I kept the design more simple.

The background pieces were stamped with images in the Feathery Friends stamp set. The adorable little bird and fussy cut flower were watercolored using an Aqua Painter. A piece of Berry Burst Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon separate the Tranquil Tide layer from the Lemon Lime Twist layer. The adorable little bird just looks like she's singing, "oh, happy day!" So I chose that sentiment from the Thoughtful Banners set.

It's a cute card, right? I know the ladies at my class love it, but I wanted to show you how adding a couple small touches can make a basic card even more special.

I added a couple embellishments die cut using the Flourish Thinlits to pull the Tranquil Tide color down onto the Lemon Lime Twist layer. The center of the fussy cut flower also received a little Glitter Enamel Dot.

I hope you liked seeing the comparison of these two cards. Have a happy day!

Pocketful of Posies

I'm just lovin' creating adorable little pockets using the the Pocketful of Sunshine stamp set with it's coordinating Pocket Framelits. The pocket framelit both cuts and scores so you can create these little pockets in no time! Here is a fun card that uses the Flower Shop stamp set as well. This is one of the cards we made at my All Occasions Card Class last week.

The pocket is sized perfectly to hold a gift card or a tag. In this case the pocket holds a tag with a message.

I just cut the pocket shaped tag along the inner stitching so it was a little smaller than the pocket to easily slide in and out.

The "you make me smile" sentiment is from the Colorful Seasons stamp set. Love the font used in that set! I also love this color combo...Pool Party, Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach, Berry Burst & Lemon Lime Twist...it's so happy & fun! As long as I'm calling out favorite new products...LOVE the Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder!

Have a GREAT weekend!

Colorful Seasons Double Z Fold

Here's a fun Double Z Fold Card using some of my new favorite stamp sets and dies.

Those adorable birds in the Feathery Friends host stamp set make me smile...they are so darn cute! I knew when I first saw them that I wanted to use them with the branch in the Colorful Seasons stamp set. I watercolored the birds using my Aqua Painter and cut them out. The wings are cut out and popped up as well for extra dimension. The new Mini Stampin' Dimensionals are perfect for adhering tiny die cuts such as the wings.

I used several of the new In Colors for this creation...Lemon Lime Twist, Berry Burst & Fresh Fig along with Peekaboo Peach, Pool Party & Old Olive. The flowers on the tree branches are from the Colorful Seasons stamp set. They are stamped using the Rock n Roll Technique along with a sponge dauber to soften/blend the edges where the two colors meet. The branches are die cut using the coordinating Seasonal Layers Thinlits. This bundle really is a must have in my opinion!

The picket fence was created by stamping the Hardwood stamp inked in White Craft Ink onto Crumb Cake cardstock and then cutting apart along the planks. I trimmed the top of each picket and then sponged the edges. The flowers and stems were stamped using the Jar of Love stamp set and die cut with the Everyday Jars Framelits.

I started with a base of Pool Party cardstock measuring 4- 1/4 x 11" scored at 2- 3/4" and again at 5- 1/2" The Whisper White background layer was cut at 10- 3/4 x 4 and sponged with Pool Party ink and masks cut from post-it notes using the cloud dies included in the Up & Away Thinlets.  After sponging my cloudy background I cut 3 panels to fit just inside the scored folds of my card. The photo above shows the card opened flat.

The card folds up, as shown above to fit inside a standard envelope. This card was time consuming, but fun to make. It went to my dear Aunt on her birthday today. She is also a stamper, so I know she will love this card...otherwise I doubt I could part with it! LOL

Hope your day is a happy one!

Dad's Pocket

The Pocketful of Sunshine stamp set with the coordinating Pocket Framelits is super fun and makes creating pocket cards super easy!

I stamped the stitching onto Marina Mist cardstock using Dapper Denim Ink. One pass through the Big Shot cuts and scores the pocket...so easy! Then I used a longtime retired favorite background stamp...Linen, to create the look of denim on both the pocket and the background panel. The cute little "DAD tag" was stamped onto Smokey Slate using the Thoughtful Banners stamp set. "You Rock" across the bottom is from the retired Crazy About You set.

This pocket was to hold concert tickets so I used a non SU! set I have in my stash that features a guitar and other rocker style images.

I think the Pocketful of Sunshine set is going to be a lot of fun for both cards and scrapbook pages.

Hope your weekend ROCKS!

Feathery Friends Thanks

I must say, there are some really great stamp sets Just For Hosts in the new catalog! I just LOVE the adorable images in the Feathery Friends set...especially the sweet bird I used on this thank you card.

I had fun watercoloring these images and I tried a couple of my favorite new In Colors...Lemon Lime Twist & Berry Burst along with a couple of lasts years In Colors...Peekaboo Peach & Flirty Flamingo.

The textured background was created by inking up the new Pinewood Planks Dynamic Embossing Folder with Crumb Cake ink before rolling it through my Big Shot.

Don't you just love this ribbon? It's the new Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon in Berry Burst. Another new embellishment used on this card is the Glitter Enamel Dots. They are really super cute and even much prettier in person because they really do sparkle,

Have you checked out the great Just For Hosts section at the back of the new catalog? Now is the perfect time to earn these wonderful new sets with the WE ♥ HOSTS promo going on through June.

Contact me today to schedule your workshop or place your order. Read all the details here.

Colorful Seasons Father's Day

Such a busy time of year! My first new catalog order came many days ago and I've just been so busy I haven't had time to be creative. I had to make a card for my Dad for Father's Day so I grabbed the very versatile Colorful Seasons Bundle and created this relaxing beach scene.

The watercolor look background was created easily using the Watercolor Background Technique I shared in this free tutorial. Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay & Soft Sky were used to ink my block.

The Thoughtful Banners set was used for the sentiment and Linen Thread added just the right finishing touch.

I've been watching my sweet little grand daughter a few times a week so that is one of the reasons I haven't had much stamping time recently. I am really enjoying every minute of my time with her! I make sure to take lots of photos and hopefully I will have some scrapbook pages to share soon! Here are a couple photos I captured for my son for his first Father's Day.

We enjoyed a beautiful day yesterday...here is my handsome son and his baby girl.

I hope you had a wonderful day celebrating the Fathers in your life yesterday as well.

Botanical Bliss Easel Card

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! I made an easel card for my Mom using a favorite photo from last Mother's Day.

I used some favorite retiring products to create this card...Botanical Builder Framelits for the flowers and Stylish Stems Framelits for the leaves.

The butterflies are from the much used Papillon Potpourri stamp set and coordinating Bitty Butterfly Punch. I stamped in Rich Razzleberry on Whisper White and used Clear Wink of Stella pen to add some shimmer. Blooms & Bliss DSP was embossed with the Hexagons Dynamic Embossing Folder for the base. I'm happy to see that this awesome EF will be available in the upcoming Annual Catalog.

I used the Thoughtful Banners stamp set for the greeting and the Stitched Shapes and Layering Ovals Framelits to cut and layer the greeting. Sweet Sugarplum Ruched Ribbon and lots of Basic Rhinestones were used to embellish.

I shared a 2 page scrapbook layout using some of the same products here. Have a beautiful day!

Flourishing Thank You

I haven't been too good about updating my blog recently...hubby has been on vacation and we've been enjoying our all too short Michigan summer while we can! I have been trying to get into my stampin' studio during the evening and have been working on a few projects. Today I have a thank you card that uses the beautiful Flourish Thinlits.

These are hands down my favorite new dies...maybe even ever!? They are so pretty & elegant.The only stamping I did here was the sentiment which is from the Thoughtful Banners set. I die cut my shapes from Mint Macaron cardstock and ran it throught the Big Shot using the Elegant Dots Embossing Folder.

ENJOY your day! Don't forget....

Shop Now to earn your Bonus Days coupons!

Foxy Father's Day

I hope you all had a wonderful Father's Day weekend honoring those Dads in your life. I shared the card I created for my Dad in my last post, and today I'm sharing the card I created for my husband using the same stamp set, colors and technique.

Wilderness Awaits is a great set to create masculine cards, and this fox image is my favorite! He looks especially foxy with the copper embossing doesn't he!? This image also works well with the new Layering Oval Dies. I used the faux patina technique to create the background and love the look with Copper Embossing Powder.

I also used a couple other retired copper products...the Vintage Brads along the top as well as the Brushed Copper Cardstock I used for the mat on the fox image. I'm hoping for some new copper accessories in the Holiday catalog in time for Fall projects.

The "Happy Father's Day" label was created with the Thoughtful Banners stamp set and the Duet Banner Punch. The new 5/8" Burlap Ribbon works great for masculine cards. I really like it's loose weave as it allows the background to show through.

If you like this card, you may be interested in purchasing my Artistic Wilderness Card Set Tutorial. It  is a step by step 17 page tutorial with detailed instructions and lots of photos using the Wilderness Awaits stamp set along with the faux patina technique, lots of great tips on watercoloring and more.

Have a great day!