Nine Lives

If you are a cat lover like I am, then you will love the new Nine Lives stamp set!

Here I have stamped one of the cat images and watercolored it using my Aqua Painter. I then masked the kitty and stamped some foliage and flowers using images from the Jar of Love set to create a little scene.

The cool thing about this set is that it coordinates with the Cat Punch! Even though I didn't use it here, it will be nice to have a set to go with the punch.

I also used a couple other products from the new Occasions Catalog...the Stitched Rectangle Framelits and the Lace Embossing Folder.

Thanks for visiting today!

Hoppy Birthday

Here's a fun birthday card featuring the adorable Sale-A-Bration set So Hoppy Together. When I was creating the Bella & Friends shaker card that I shared earlier this week I thought this cute froggie would be perfect holding a bunch of balloons, so I used the puppy and balloon image from that set...obviously just inking the balloon.

The Buffalo Check background inked in Bermuda Bay was perfect for this guy card.

I used some Crystal Effects over the balloons for some extra detail. As you can see, I'm already getting a lot of use out of my Stitched Rectangle Framelits...I seem to grab them for every card since I got them! Here's a look at the inside of the card and the coordinating envelope.

This set is so cute! It can be yours for free with any $50 order you place during Sale-A-Bration! Visit this link to see all your choices: 2019 Sale-A-Bration

Bella & Friend Shaker Card

It's hard to believe, but my sweet granddaughter has already turned two! She's at that age where everything she says, her adorable expressions, etc...are all just so darn CUTE! She just loves animals... and puppies are one of her favorites, so of course I had to use Bella & Friends to create her birthday card.

I thought a fun shaker card would be perfect, so I used the new Stitched Rectangle Framelits to easily create a frame. One balloon just wasn't enough, so I masked off the single balloon from the image and stamped a couple more. I watercolored the image using my Aqua Painter and various colored inks. Pool Party cardstock was used for the main, embossed panel and Berry Burst for the die cut frame.

Here's a look at the various confetti sequins and microbeads as they shake around inside the card. Madelyn liked the card because of the movement and the sound created by the shaker element. She wanted to inspect it closer and almost tore off the frame...but luckily her mommy was quicker than she was!

Spirited Half Full Snowmen

The other day as I was cleaning up after a stamping session I wondered if I could get this fun snowman from the Spirited Snowman set to hold a wine glass from the Half Full set. So I had to stop what I was doing and try it out!

As you can see...it worked out just as I had envisioned! I love when that happens! So I had a late night in my studio working on wine drinking snowmen! I went with Merry Merlot, naturally!, as my background layer and stamped it with snowflakes from the Snow is Glistening stamp set. The beautiful snowflake swirl at the bottom was cut from the coordinating Snowfall Thinlits  Dies. 

The snowmen were stamped and then the arm holding the glass was masked to add the wine glass. After I had my fun little scene stamped I watercolored the image using my Aquapainter. 

If you love the look of this snowflake set and coordinating dies as much as I do but don't have yours yet...don't forget that these are only available for a limited time only. I honestly really LOVE these, so I highly recommend adding them to your collection. 

Also, starting on Friday Stampin' Up! is offering many items in the catalog at 10% off! Check the SU! Website for more details. Right now, I know that each day for 6 days there will be a different category of products offered from the Annual Catalog. By the end of the 6 days, almost everything in the catalog will have been on sale! 

Day 1 - November 23–24 will be PAPER & EMBELLISHMENTS. So it will be a good day to stock up on card stock, envelopes and ribbon, etc...

As the sentiment says here, the best wines are ones we drink with friends (and /or family!) Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family/and or friends! I am truly thankful for all of you who stop by to visit me here and leave such nice comments. I am especially grateful for those of you who place orders with me. Thanks so much!

Bloomin' Love Pandas

Happy Valentines Day! The Sale-A-Bration Party Pandas make adorable Valentine cards...especially when paired up with the Bloomin Love set. I used all the same supplies for three different looks.

The Pink Pirouette background panels are stamped using the Blooming Love stamp set. I used my Layering Circles & Stitched Shape Framelits to die cut the circles and layered them onto a Delicate White Doily.  The first card uses the bear holding a letter...for this one I didn't alter the image in any way...just stamped in Black Archival ink and watercolored using my Aquapainter. The "love you" sentiment is included in the Party Pandas set.

The second card features the panda floating away with a big heart balloon. For this card I just replaced the regular shaped balloon with a heart one. The XOXO sentiment is from the Bloomin' Love set (as well as the "friend" sentiment shown above) I sent this adorable balloon version to my granddaughter.

The last card required a little more work to create. I masked the letter in the pandas paws and then stamped it twice...once on Whisper White and again onto a scrap of Pink Pirouette cardstock. I then die cut the heart and stamped using the 'love you" stamp. It's popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals so  he's hugging the big heart.

The scalloped circles, hearts and flagged sentiment strips are all created using Berry Burst cardstock. This In Color is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors!

Do you have your Party Panda set yet? If not, place your $50 order during Sale-A-Bration and select either wood or clear mount for FREE. Also...don't forget to select me as your demo! I will send a free card kit at the end of the moth to all who order with me in February.

Have a SWEET day!

Colorful Season Beach Chairs

With Labor Day Weekend being the last official weekend of the Summer, I thought this fun, beachy card was a good one to share today.

I used the Timeless Textures stamp set to create the sandy beach & water background and then sponged the sky using some die cut clouds as masks. The frame of the beach chairs are stamped over the background using Basic Black ink. Next the colorful part of the three chairs was stamped using the kissing technique.

To do this, ink up your solid image real well in a lighter color, in this case that is the canvas chair image from Colorful Seasons, and set it aside. Next, ink up a textured image in a darker color...I used both the polka dot image from Timeless Textures and the chevron pattern image from Work of Art. Use the inked, textured image to "stamp" or "kiss" your solid image stamp before using it to stamp onto your paper. This creates a fun, patterned chair instead of the plain, solid ones.

Colors of ink used:
Background: Crumb Cake, Pool Party & Bermuda Bay
Chairs: Berry Burst/Fresh Fig, Pumpkin Pie/Berry Burst & Bermuda Bay/Tranquil Tide

I hope you enjoy the last weekend of summer, whether it's squeezing in one last trip to the beach or perhaps a BBQ with family and friends...Autumn will be here before we know it. Yet again...Summer flew by way too quickly!

Papillon Potpourri Serene Spring

HAPPY EASTER! This morning I have an Easter card that I created for my grand daughter's 1st Easter. The adorable baby bunny in a basket image from the retired hostess set Serene Spring has long been a favorite of mine and I thought it was the perfect choice for a baby's first Easter card.

I stamped the image in Basic Black ink, but first masked off the little bird that sits on the basket handle because I wanted to use a butterfly from one of my favorite retiring sets instead. I've used the Papillon Potpourri set so often since it first came out. I just

love it! Especially for accents on cards. I'm sure you already have it...but if not, you need to add it to your collection before it retires!

I watercolored the image using my Aqua Painter and these inks: Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, Soft Sky, Mint Macaron & Tip Top Taupe. The last two inks listed are part of the In Color collection that is retiring this time around. Here's a closer look at the sweet bunny.

The flower and butterfly were both painted with Clear Wink of Stella for some sparkle. The DSP used here is from the Blooms & Bliss pack. The cute Lace Doily under the image and the Ruched Sweet Sugarplum Ribbon are also retiring...so be quick like a bunny and get yours before they're gone! Here are a few of my favorite past creations using the retiring Papillon Potpourri set where the beautiful butterflies were the main focus:

Easy Watercolor Background Papillon Potpourri Card

Hello In Colors Card

Butterfly Bookmark Pocket Card

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Lift Me Up Sugarplum

Here I've combined a favorite Occasions set, Lift Me Up, with a favorite Sale-a-Bration set, Delicate Details and used a favorite In Color...Sweet Sugarplum. The result is a super cute (if I do say so!) thank you card!

Since Delicate Details is a photopolymer set it is super easy to line up the images just where you want them to create a background like the one above which uses 4 of the 5 images in the set. To create the multi colored balloons, I first inked in the lightest color and then used a sponge dauber to add a darker color. I masked the balloons and then stamped the clouds.

Colors used: Sweet Sugarplum, Rich Razzleberry & Blushing Bride.

Thanks for visiting today!

Razzleberry You've Got This

When I get busy coloring I usually like to color several images using different color schemes, so the other day when playing with my new Watercolor Pencils and the You've Got This stamp set I also created this card.

I used my Aqua Painter to blend the colors together. It's fun and relaxing because you can basically just scribble on color and blend it out to look soft and pretty.

I used Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo & Pacific Point on the petals. Old Olive and Pacific Point on the leaves: and Daffodil Delight on the stammen. (I forgot to include that pencil in photo) I also sparingly used the Basic Black pencil for a little shading.

I masked the flower and stamped the crosshatch background inked in Pool Party and Tempting Turquoise. The birthday sentiment is from Avant Garden...one of the sets available as your free selection during Sale-A-Bration.

Spooky Fun Double Z Card

I've been seeing lots of double z fold cards on Pinterest recently and there was one in particular using the Santa's Sleigh stamp set and thinlits that blew me away. I don't have the Santa's Sleigh set, but after seeing that card I was inspired to use my Spooky Fun stamps and Halloween Scenes Edgelits to create a Halloween double z card.

I started off by sponging a spooky sunset skyline onto Whisper White cardstock using Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, and Pumpkin Pie inks. I knew I wanted a full moon as a focal point, so before I began sponging I punched out a 1-1/4 circle from a post it note to use as a mask. After I was done with my background, I removed the circle and replaced it with the square post it note with the circle punched out, carefully lining the circles up. Then I sponged the inside of the circle with Crushed Curry.

It folds up nicely to fit inside a standard sized envelope which is nice.

Here's another look at the card opened up. The trio of ghosts are embossed in White Embossing Power.

All the supplies I used to create this card can be found in the Holiday Catalog, including:

• Spooky Fun stamp set (142236)*
• Halloween Scenes Edgelits (141842)* 
• Halloween Night Baker's Twine (142027)
• Halloween Night Enamel Dots (142025)

*Both the stamp set and edgelits can be purchased as a bundle (144337) to save 10%.

If you would like to see the Santa's Sleigh z fold card that inspired this card, you can see it here. Thank you for the inspiration Chloe!

Thanks for visiting today...have a wicked good weekend!

Flourishing Butterfly

I've been wanting to try this simple mask and sponge technique using the Bold Butterfly Framelits for a while.

First, I cut a butterfly from a piece of copy paper a big enough to cover by background panel and used temp adhesive to hold it in place. Using Sponge Daubers I sponged Marina Mist over the entire butterfly. Then, using Elegant Eggplant I lightly sponged just the edges.

With the mask still in place, I stamped the pretty floral image from Thoughts and Prayers several times to fill in the inside of the butterfly. After removing the mask I stamped the sentiment from the new set Flourishing Phrases.I just love the font used on this set! I die cut the border using the Flourish Thinlits...my favorite new dies from this catalog! I think this adds a nice finishing touch without being too much...I try to keep sympathy cards more clean and simple.

Thanks for visiting today.

Pretty Pink Peony

I've been busy coloring these beautiful flower from the You've Got This set.

I masked the flower portion of this image before stamping the background in Crumb Cake ink. Since the Crumb Cake ink is fairly light, it blended fine with the Wild Wasabi ink I used to watercolor the stem & leaves. Sponging the Typeset Specialty Paper gives this card more of a vintage feel.

Have a great weekend!

Grandma's Elegant Peony

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. I'm sure it's because during my childhood, every year when my Grandma would come to visit for my birthday, she would bring a huge bouquet of beautiful peonies for my Mom. She had many different colors growing in her garden and they bloomed during the beginning of June just in time for my birthday. My favorite color she grew were a deep raspberry red color...which was the inspiration for this card.

I used Rose Red along with a little bit of Blackberry Bliss for shading. I masked the blossom part of the flower (but didn't worry about the leaves) before stamping the crosshatch background inked in Crumb Cake. You can read more about my experimenting with this background and flower in this previous posting (or keep scrolling down).

The background panel uses a pattern from the Typeset DSP along with the Boho Chic Embossing Folder. I added a strip of Gold Satin Ribbon to finish it off..BUT after looking at my finished creation I wondered if it needed an extra little something. So I made a bow...

The center of the bow is gathered up with a strip of Basic Black Card stock secured with Glue Dots. Then I added some Basic Pearls. Which version do you prefer? I'm still undecided. I guess my decision will be made when I give it to the intended birthday person...if I see her in person I'll leave the bow, if I need to mail it, then the flatter version would be better.

Thanks for visiting today! Have a wonderful weekend!

Basic Wisteria Lotus Blossom II

I'm back today to share the second card in my three card set using the Butterfly Basics and Lotus Blossoms stamp sets.

This one is the most masculine of the set because I used more Mossy Meadow instead of Wisteria Wonder & Blackberry Bliss when it came to the card stock. I also eliminated the bow and just went with a strip of Mossy Meadow Stitched Ribbon instead.

Check back to see the full set of cards and more info on how I created them in my next post. Until then, scroll down to see the first card in this set.

Thanks for visiting today!

Vibrant Peaceful Petals for Mom

I hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day! The weather here was absolutely beautiful and I was happy to spend it with my Mom & my sons...perfect day!

Have you seen the NEW batch of In Colors for 2014-16 yet? I think they are just gorgeous, rich & vibrant colors! Here is my first creation using them...along with the Blendabilities.

I stamped the flowers from the Peaceful Petals set in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink while masking the largest flower with an image cut from a post it note. Then I had lots of fun coloring in the flowers with my new Blendies! I really like working with them! It's nice to even be able to color pearls & rhinestones to match! As you can see here, I've colored Basic Pearl Jewels in Razzleberry & Daffodil. Here's a closer look...

The rich colors achieved using the Blendies work really well with the new In Color card stock...I used Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey and Tangelo Twist and threw in some Cherry Cobbler for good measure. So, basically fruit with a bit of honey...and who doesn't like that!?

Isn't the new 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon luscious? It will be available in the five new In Colors...I used Blackberry Bliss.

I used each of the Blendability Color Sets shown above:

• Rich Razzleberry
• Pumpkin Pie
• Cherry Cobbler
• Daffodil Delight
• Old Olive

The label was created using the Creative Elements set along with the Apothecary Accents Framelits. I cut just the edge off...I shared how to do this on this post. 

Enjoy your day! We have a thunderstorm going on here right now...it's pouring down rain. Guess I'll be "forced" to stay indoors and stamp instead of working outside cleaning up the flower bed today.