Stampin' Addicts Summer Blog Hop!!

Hi Stamping Friends!

The Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini blog hop is here!  I'm so excited to be a part of this awesome hop.  I know you will be treated to lots of fabulous stamping goodness from all these talented stampers.  If you've been hopping, then you just came from Trina's cute blog, Stamps and Whiskers.  If you're just joining us, that's O.K.  Just start here and hop on through 'til the end.  If you somehow get lost along the way, just click HERE and there is a list of the blog hop sites, in order.







The new Summer Mini set that I chose is Go, Graduate!  I don't have any graduation sets, and I fell in love with the adorable little owl.

Isn't he just too cute?! 

I found this great sketch at Carrie Gaskin's amazing blog, The Artistic Avenger.   The color inspiration came from the Embellish magazine blog.  It's an old challenge that I never got around to, but I really liked the colors of Real Red, Basic Black, Kraft and Whisper White.

And every graduate needs a little gift.

The Matchbox is the perfect little box to stash a little graduation cash into.  That and maybe some chocolate!  Those are the first two things that are always my wish list.  I'm so glad that Stampin' Up! has so many exclusive dies.  It's always impressive when you can match your card and your gift.

Here's another super cute image from the Go, Graduate! set.

I just think this image is hilarious!  And so true.  Since no one can see your new outift under that gown, then you better find the cutest shoes to wear with it!

The sketch idea came from 2Sketches4You.  This is Kazan's sketch 51.  I flipped the sketch on it's side.  The colors were inspired by the challenge over at Pals Paper Arts, which was to create a monochromatic card using blues.  I had to throw in the little bit of Chocolate Chip on the cowboy boots, just for fun.  I colored this image with my Watercolor Crayons and Blender Pens.  Funny thing, these are the school colors of our local Christian high school, Central Valley Christian.  So this will be perfect for one of the many graduation parties we will be attending.  The joy of being a youth pastor's wife!

And here is one more little gift basket, that would perfect filled with lots of yummy after-graduation candy.

The colors I used are Night of Navy, Brocade Blue and Bashful Blue.  I cut this basket out with the Baskets and Blooms die.  Then I embossed it with the new Square Lattice Impressions Folder, (from the Summer Mini) before I assembled it.  The tag is also cut using the same die.

Well that's it from me!  Next blog in the hop is Dr. Heather at CANDLE WITH TWO ENDS.  She will be treating us to some great projects using the First Day stamp set.

--GO TO NEXT BLOG--

If you love Stampin' Up! products as much as I do, remember to visit STAMPIN' ADDICTS.  It's a Stampin' Up! only online community for customers and demonstrators.  It has a fabulous alphabetized gallery and lots of wonderful stampers that hang out and answer questions and just have fun!  And best of all it's FREE to join!  So stop by and say hi!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

The Sweetest Sketch

Hi Stamping Friends!

I'm going to make this quick this morning.

This card combines the sketch challenge from Karen Giron's blog, the sweetest thing.  She always has fun, simple sketches.  The color challenge comes from one of me favorite color challenge blogs, The Color Throwdown.  Why don't you stop by and play along!  If it wasn't for challenge blogs, I wouldn't know what to stamp!  There is hardle a creative bone in my body.

Don't forget to stop by the STAMPIN' CELEBRATION blog and see who are fabulous Design Team members are.  We made sure to pick some of the best stampers out there!

Also, tomorrow I will be in a Stampin' Addicts Summer Mini catalog blog hop.  Stop by, join the hop and see lots of awesome stamping ideas using all the fabulous new products from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini catalog.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Cupcake SFYTT

Hi Stamping Friends!

Sorry I'm posting a little late today.  I just didn't have any stamping mojo in me yesterday, while it was daylight, so I had to wait to take a picture of my card this morning.  'Course being on the West Coast puts me really behind most of you!

Isn't that bow just obnoxious?!  I think I'll take it off before I try and sell it.  I just stuck it on with a Dimensional.  You can barely see the sketch under there!

This card combines two challenges.  The first is one of my new favorite challenges, the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge over at the Hope Stamps Eternal blog.  This is CIC56.  The second challenge is the Sketch For You To Try over at Jen Del Muro's blog, i{heart}2stamp. 

The colors I used are Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Pretty In Pink, and Very Vanilla.  The cupcake image comes from the Crazy For Cupcakes set.  The sentiment comes from Wow Flowers. 

Be sure to check out my new inspiration challenge blog tomorrow, STAMPIN' CELEBRATION.  We will be announcing our Design Team.  And I'm so excited to share these awesome stampers with you!

Also, on Friday, you'll want to come back here again for the most fabulous STAMPIN' ADDICTS blog hop ever!  We will be showcasing all the amazing items out of the new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini catalog.

CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES   #111618   $23.95

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

One ColourQ

Hi Stamping Friends!

It's Tuesday!  Must be time for another COLOURQ color challenge!  Can you believe that I only have one card for you today?!  I know!  Shame on me.  It's not that I didn't have fun playing with these colors, I really did.  And it has nothing to do with the fact that I don't own the Bravo Burgandy OR the Sage Shadow ink pads.  It's just that I had such a crazy, busy weekend.  If you have kids that are involved in "stuff", you know what I mean!  I didn't have time to stamp any extra cards for this week's challenge.  So I hope one is enough!

Here's my card:

I thought the colors had a fun, vintage look to them.  One of my favorite vintage style stamp sets is Friends 24-7.  I use this set all the time!  The card base is Always Artichoke (so glad this color is staying!).  The panels are Bravo Burgandy stamped with the damask stamp from Friends 24-7, using Versamark.  Then a Very Vanilla panel that is embossed with the Damask Texturz Plate.  Then a Cameo Coral panel (so sad to see this color go!) that is stamped with the En Francais BG stamp in Always Artichoke.  The bird is stamped in Cameo Coral and the Little Leaves are punched out of Sage Shadow.  The taffeta ribbon is tied with a Chocolate Chip Button Latte.  Doesn't it look just like Bravo Burgandy when you set it by that color?!  This layout comes from the weekly sketch challenge at my favorite online SU! community, STAMPIN' ADDICTS.

I hope you have a chance to play along with us at the COLOURQ this week.  You only have to make ONE card!  Be sure to stop by the other members of the cQc Royal Court and see what stampin' goodnes they have come up with.  You can click on the links on my sidebar.

Be sure to stop by on Thursday when I reveal the Design Team members of my new inspiration challenge blog: STAMPIN' CELEBRATION.  Candance Lawlor and I have teamed up to start another (YES... ANOTHER!) challenge blog.  Then check back on Thursday, May 6th when we will post our first ever Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge!

And then be sure to come back on Friday, when I will be participating in the STAMPIN' ADDICTS Summer Mini Blog Hop.  You'll get to see lots of great projects using the stamp sets from the upcoming Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalog.  You won't want to miss it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Easy Breezy Monday

Hi Stamping Friends!

Can I say that I'm actually happy it's Monday?!  I had a super busy weekend and I'm glad to be back into the routine of the week.  My two oldest had their music recitals this weekend, so no more driving to music lessons for a while!  Yay for me!

I know it's a little late for a Valentine card, but this one just sort of happened!

Today's card combines the sketch challenge from TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS and the color challenge from the EASY BREEZY KEWL COLOR CHALLENGE blog.  I suppose it could be an anniversary card too, since it doesn't say anything about Valentine's Day on it. 

Hope your weekend was more restful than mine.  Remember to stop by tomorrow and see what fabulous colors Arielle chose for the COLOURQ challenge this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stamp Club Sunday

Hi Stamping Friends!

Instead of doing my Sunday Blog Picks, I thought I'd show you what my stamp club ladies (a.k.a. The Card Ladies, as my family refers to them!) will be making this afternoon.  All of these projects were CASEd from other fabulous stampers.

You can learn how to do The Watercolor Rose technique at PATTY'S STAMPING SPOT.  This is a super fun technique and I can't wait for my gals to try it.  I need to play with my colors a little more.  I didn't have a Cameo Coral reinker, so I used Pumpkin Pie, but now I'm thinking I should have used Regal Rose.  The other colors I used were Pretty In Pink and Melon Mambo.

Super cute Milk Carton birdhouse that I've seen EVERYWHERE!  DO STAMPING WITH DAWN has a video tutorial.  I love the Two-Step Bird Punch.  It's just too cute!

I'm so behind the times with this one, but I've never done it with my stampers, so I think they will enjoy it.  There's a tutorial on STEPHANIE LUMAN'S blog.  Which I messed up, because I cut my flower pot wrong.  Oh well!  It will still hold flowers.  :)  The colors on this card were inspired by a card that was done by Lynn Put at THE QUEEN'S SCENE.  I have no idea where the direct link is to the card that Lynn made, but you can just drool at all the other gorgeous stamping on her blog.  She is amazing!

Remember!  Only a few more days to take advantage of the fabulous 2-Step promotion Stampin' Up! is offering.  Click on the SHOP NOW button to order yours today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Happy Stamping!

Sock Monkey Saturday

Hi Stamping Friends!

A quick post because I just HAD to make a card today!

I haven't used Mr. Sock Monkey in forever!  I pulled him out because of a color challenge I saw on the web this week. I need to get my club projects finished and get a card done for the ColourQ on Tuesday, so I better keep this short!

The sketch comes from Mercy Kerin's blog: LORD HAVE MERCY.  The color challenge comes from the blog: JUST ADD INK challenge #13.  Bummer I missed the deadline on this one, but I just couldn't pass these colors up!

Hope you are having a fabulous Saturday!

Happy Stamping!

Donation Card

Hi Stamping Friends!

Every April I get asked to donate a basket of cards to our local Christian school's silent auction fundraiser.  My kids don't attend the school, but alot of the families from our church send their children there.  Last year, my box of cards sold for well over $100!  I just put a bunch of the cards I've made for my blog in there.  This year, when they contacted me about donating, the lady who has purchased my cards in the past, had made a special request for me to include some sympathy cards in the basket.  So that's why today's card is a sympathy card.

This is the first time I've inked up my my Greenhouse Garden set.  I bought it because right now, through the end of April, it's 20% off.  Gotta love a great sale!  I really like how this turned out.  And I didn't even bother getting out my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and the flower lined up fairly easily.  Of course if you are into perfection, you'll want to use your SAMJ with this set.

The two challenges come from THE COLOR DARE blog and the STAMPING ROYALTY blog.  I really love these colors together.  Such a fresh, spring look.  Probably also has something to do with the fact that my favorite color is GREEN and this challenge doesn't have just one, but TWO greens in it!  Must be my lucky day!

Don't forget to take advantage of the great Two-Step Stampin' Up! deals going on right now!  Click my SHOP NOW button and look for the Promotions page to find out more.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Go, Graduate Act

Hi Stamping Friends!

Today's card features a sneak peek at a new stamp set that is in the Summer Mini catalog, which begins on May 1st.  I was thinking that the STAMPIN' ADDICTS blog hop was this weekend, and I was going to feature this card.  But the hop doesn't start until April 30th and I can't wait that long to show it to you! 

Here's today's card:

Isn't that owl just the cutest?!  All the images are from the Go, Graduate set, except for the stars.  They are from Extreme Elements.  I really love how this turned out.  The Impressions Folder is also a sneak peek from the upcoming SUmmer Mini. It's called Square Lattice.  Make sure you stop by next week Friday for the Stampin' Addicts blog hop and see all kinds of great ideas featuring new stuff from the Summer Mini Catalog.

This card combines two challenges... of course!  The colors are from STACEY'S STAMPING STAGE.  This is Act 26.  The sketch comes from TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS blog.  This is sketch 109.  I altered the sketch slightly as I did not make a long card.  I loved this layout so much, I used it for my swap card.  I did alter the colors slightly, as I only has a scrap of Going Gray and do not plan on buying any more, since it will be retired in July.

I've chatted previously about wanting to start a stamping challenge of my own, and I am!  Candace Lawlor and I have teamed up to start the Stampin' Celebration blog.  It will be a weekly inspiration challenge.  Our debut challenge will be on Thursday, May 6th.  Just in time for Mother's Day.  I haven't provided a link yet, as we are still working on a few things.  But we are both VERY excited about it and hope that you will play along with us!  So stay tuned!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

Stamping 411 Cupcakes

Hi Stamping Friends!

I didn't have time to finish a card yesterday.  Poor me!  My two oldest kids have been super busy with sports and music practices.  This is what my day looked like yesterday:

8 am workout
10 am coffee with friends
12 pm grocery shop Target
2 pm grocery shop Costco
4 pm DS & DD music practice
5:30 pm DS swim practice
6 pm DD 2nd music practice
7 pm DD swim practice
8:30 pm pick up DS & DD from practice

Oh yeah!  And I almost forgot, I'm supposed to be homeschooling somewhere in there!  :)  Needles to say, I felt like I was in the car ALL day yesterday.  Especially because a few times we waited for practices to start or end, instead of going all the way back home.  My poor 4yo DS was so tired by the end of it all.  When we finally got home at 9pm, he said he didn't want to go in the car again!  I totally agreed.  I finally got to do some stamping at about 10 pm last night.  I finished the card this morning and had to take a picture.

This card is for two challenges.  The sketch is from the STAMPING 411 blog.  This is sketch SSC147.  It's also for the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge over at the HOPE STAMPS ETERNAL blog.  This is inspiration CIC55.

The card base is Chocolate Chip layered with Whipser White that was embossed with the Swirls Texturz Plate.  The next layer is Cameo Coral with some Pink Flamingo DSP.  The stamp set is a Level 3 Hostess Set called The More The Merrier.  I was so fortunate to find a fellow SU! demo who was willing to part with an extra.  I think this set is adorable, but I really needed that cupcake stamp!  I know the whole cupcake craze coming to an end, but cupcake cards sell like wild fire over at The Frosted Muffin, where I have my cards for sale.  So even if I'm a has-been, behind the times sorta stamper, if I can make a little extra moola, so be it!  The little flower was made using the Boho Blossom punch.  I just cut the petals so it would bend a little more.

At least I did get tomorrows card finished already.  Now I just need to stamp 25 sailboats from the Nursery Necessities set and finish up my mission cards.  Plus do the laundry and get ready to teach my Bible lesson to the 5th and 6th graders at church tonight.  The fun never ends!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

ColourQ #29

Hi Stamping Friends!

Arielle really decided to challenge me this week!  I think this challenge pic is so bright and cheerful, but when I got out these colors to play with... oh my!  I didn't quite know where to begin.  It didn't help that I don't even own a Bravo Burgandy stamp pad!  I've been a demo for four years and have never bought it.  That's how often I use that color... never!  I do have a Bravo Burgandy marker, so that's what I used.  So I guess what I'm saying is, I really struggled with these colors.  I guess that's why it's called a challenge!

Here's the card I ultimately sent to Arielle:

Can you see the Bravo Burgandy?  I didn't think so!  The sentiment is the only thing on this card that is BB.  This card uses the Cheep Talk stamp set.  This sketch comes from Amy Rysavy's blog: PRARIE, PAPER, & INK.

Of course I wanted to create a couple more samples for you.  Too bad I didn't remember to take pictures of them when the sun was still shining.  Bad cards + bad lighting = awful blog post.  I almost don't want to post these, but I guess everyone deserves a bad stamping day every now and then!

Here's my second card:

I love this layout!  The block panels are very fun.  This sketch comes from my favorite Stampin' Up! online community hangout, STAMPIN' ADDICTS.  They have different challenges everyday.  Come hang out with us!  This is Sketch Challenge 50.  I flipped it on it's side.  This card uses Upsy Daisy, Dot, Dot, Dot, and Oval All stamp sets.

And my third card:

This sketch comes from the SKETCH GIRL blog.  This is sketch #16.  Another fabulous sketch.  This card uses the Petal Pizzazz and Stem Sayings stamp set.  It also has more Flower Fusion Sizzlet flowers on it.  I just can't get enough of those cute blooms!

Be sure to check out the rest of the creations from the CoulourQ Royal Court.  You can click on the links to their blogs in my sidebar.  And be sure to play along with us at the COLOURQ this week.  You can't do any worse than I did!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!