No Stamping

I created this beautiful card and there isn't any stamping on it. I can't believe it. I thought about adding a sentiment but then I wasn't sure what I wanted to put on it so I left it alone. Plus I didn't want to ruin the card, I really like the simplicity of it.

The card is Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede. I love these two colors together. I was trying to stay away from the blues because it seems like I have been using them way to much. I guess I should pull out my color coach or try a color combo challenge to get out of the rut I have been in lately.

I really wanted to make a tutorial for the flower but I need a stand to hold the camera. I will try and get one soon. I don't even know what the technique is called for these flowers. Hmmmm.... maybe I should Google them and see if I can come up with some results. Hopefully I will return soon with some instructions.

Medallion Medley

When I saw the Medallion Medley Simply Sent Kit, I fell in love. These printed and embossed cards are gorgeous. The colors are beautiful and the quality is great! The other thing I love about these is that fact that I can order them separately from the suggested stamp set.

When I first started with Stampin' Up almost 4 years ago they had Simply Sent Kits that were in the $40 range. They came with cards, some embellishments, a ink spot, and a small stamp set. The only problem was there was no way of just purchasing more cards to refill your set. When the IB&C came out back in July, SU! had changed the way the Simply Sent Kits are sold. Now you can buy the cards with envelopes and embellishments separately from the stamp set. Which gives you more options.

This Simply Sent kit is only $11.95 and includes 8 Printed and embossed cards, 1 sheet of 16 Vanilla self adhesive die cut ticket corner labels, and 8 Vanilla Envelopes. You can purchase the suggested stamp set Say It Simply for $7.95 or you can choose any set you'd like to to accompany these beautiful cards.

For my sample I added some Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon and I also layered the label on a scrap piece of Soft Suede card stock and popped it up. I love these and they make for a quick card when I am in a rush.

Happy "I Do" Day

The Letterpress plates originally came out in the Holiday Mini Catalog back in September and they also carried over into the Occasions Mini Catalog. I wasn't to sure if I wanted to buy them so I thought I'd wait and see what others would do with them before I decided to make the purchase. Shortly after I began seeing samples with them and thought I would give them a try but since Valentine's was so far off, I kept moving them down the on the list of what to purchase next.

Finally after Christmas had come and gone, I added them to my order. By this time it was the end of January and I didn't have much time to play with them before Valentine's came around. I think I actually only made one card that used the Lots of Love Letterpress plate. I never even used the hearts plate. So it got me thinking, what can I make with the plates that isn't Valentine's related? Then it hit me, I can use them for wedding or anniversary cards. So I grabbed some Marina Mist card stock and went to work on a couple of cards.

I inked up the plate with Versamark ink so that the words would stand out better. I had in my mind to use the Happy I Do Day stamp from the Word Play Stamp set but I wasn't to sure how or where I was going to put it, I also couldn't decide if I wanted to make a portrait or landscape card, so I decided to make both. The other thing I had been wanting to do was try the scrunched ribbon. I tried it first in Marina Mist but then thought, "is that to much blue?" So I redid my ribbon in Whisper White, I ended up using both. I like the whisper white against the Bashful Blue but my husband likes the Marina Mist better. I also added a little bling to the "I Do", it doesn't sparkle in the picture but it does in real life. I kept these cards simple because I wanted letterpress to stand out.

I hope you enjoyed these cards. Now I just need a wedding to go to so I can use one of these.

Pure Bliss

It is pure bliss to know that the sale of 200 Valentine cookies is behind me. Even though I was not here over the weekend working on the last of those cookies, I was stressed we wouldn't sell all the extras we had.

For the past 8 years I have been in charge of this fundraiser, the first year I ended up in tears from the stress of it all. The first year I think we made 128 cookies, several years ago we were making over 400 cookies, so 200 wasn't that bad. The stress came from the factor that I had over guesstimated how many orders we would have. I had already purchased the material to make a little more than 200 cookies and then I added up the orders and we only had 110, you could imagine my state of panic. How were we going to sell 80 something cookies and to who? I did as much as I could before Eric and I left for the marrieds retreat in Costa Mesa and left the rest to my team of wonderful ladies and some supportive sellers. When I got home on Sunday there was still 30 something extra cookies which was better than 80 but what was I going to do? Well thankfully people kept calling because someone else wanted a cookie. By lunch time on Monday all the cookies were gone and people were still calling for more.

Needless to say I am so thankful for all of my friends, sisters, and my grandma for helping me bake, decorate, and sell these cookies. I could never do it without them and I won't bother them for help with cookies again, well until next year. Except for maybe Stacey because I love her peanut butter kiss cookies.

So I guess I should start writing some thank you cards. Maybe this will be the card I send to all of them.

Cupcakes

Here it is, my bright birthday card. I really wanted to use the Melon Mambo Pompom Trim, so I started my color choice with Melon Mambo then I pulled out my color coach and used one of the color combo suggestions. Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, and Tempting Turquoise.

I used my new stamp set, Create a Cupcake along with the Build a Cupcake punch. I love it when a punch fits the stamped image, it saves so much time. I know my customers love it too because they love my cards but they always tease me about having to cut out those crab legs from Crab & Company or those little bees from Just Buzzin' By. So I love when I can tell them this is going to be an easy one because the is a punch for this stamp and you don't have to cut it out.

Today is my sister Selena's birthday so maybe I'll give her this card. (When I get back from my weekend retreat.) I am actually blogging ahead of time so that my blog won't sit untouched all weekend. Eric and I are in Costa Mesa enjoying the beach and our time together. Hopefully we aren't going nuts worrying about Malachi (first time parents, first time away from our little bundle of joy) or hopefully we aren't driving my sister nuts with all our phone calls and text messages checking up on the baby.

I shall return...

Lots of Love

Since I am decorating Valentine Cookies today, I figured I should show another Valentine card. I used the Lots of Love Letterpress plate that is in the mini catalog along with the Valentine Defined stamp set.

These letterpress plates are great for Valentine's cards. Maybe I should have planned to show the ladies at club club tonight how to use them. I guess I could show them later because I think they would be great to use for a wedding card.

In my last post I said that I use shades of blue in a lot of my projects, well I also use Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso all the time too. Maybe as spring approaches I will lean towards other colors more often, maybe. I guess I should work on expanding my color palette. Its not that I don't have other color paper or ink, because believe me I have all the colors in paper and ink. I guess I just favor these colors so I naturally reach for them when creating. Although I do have a birthday card to share with you that is bright and doesn't include Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, or Early Espresso. I guess I stepped out of my little box. So check back soon to see the card.

Bliss

I spent all day baking cookies for our church fundraiser. I will spend all of tomorrow decorating these nine inch sugar cookies with butter cream frosting and special messages. I was so thankful that Barbara came over and helped me with the baking. Rolling out 89 cookies is a lot of work especially with a 1 year old. The baking is what took the longest because I can only cook two cookies at a time. I did learn that you can accomplish quite a bit in 9 minute intervals. I was able to create several cards to share with you, clean the bathroom, and eat my favorite ice cream. Eric was such a sweetheart tonight he brought me home a pint of Love Potion 31 from Baskin Robins. They only carry the ice cream at Valentines time so I am especially glad I got a whole pint.

Anyway I noticed that I like to use blues when creating. Baja Breeze is my all time favorite. Here I am using it again with Craft and the Sale-A-Bration Stamp set Bliss. This stamp set is free with a $50.00 purchase. The set comes with 5 stamps, you can see three of the images on this card, well actually you can't see the flourish all that well because I put the Baja Breeze tag over it but anyway it also comes with a bird and a flower. To see all the images visit my website and click on the Sale-A-Bration catalog.

Oh, and if you want to get this stamp set for free, let me know.

Carrots

I was doing so good with creating and sharing on my blog but this past week was just to busy and this week is only busier. This week I have to prep for the Valentine Cookie fundraiser at my church. I will be helping make approximately 200 9 inch heart shaped sugar cookies that are decorated with butter cream frosting and a special personalized message. Do they sound yummy? Everyone says that they are, I never actually eat one because after two days of baking and decorating I just can't get myself to eat them. By that time I have had enough sugar and just want salty foods.

Although this year I won't be doing as much as I normally do because on Friday Eric and I will be going on a marrieds retreat with our church. We will be heading out to Costa Mesa, with out Malachi. I think I might cry because this will be the first time we are away from the baby. I'm trying to not think about it until Friday so I don't get to worked up.

None of that has to do with the picture of the carrot but it does give me an excuse about not blogging very much this week. So anyway I made the carrot with the Petal Cone die. I wonder if I have convinced anyone to purchase the die yet? I have been posting lots of ideas on how to use it. Obviously I really am enjoying this new die. The carrot is simple, not a whole lot to it. I'm sure anyone would love it even those that don't like to eat their carrots.

I am going to try and be back this week with at least my stamp club projects. We shall see. Have a great week.

Ice Cream

Today I am showing you another Petal Cone creation that I copied from Holly at http://inkpaperstamps.com is the Ice Cream Cone card.

Like I said before, I am loving this die and I am just showing my love by creating and sharing.

This card is so simple to make. You only have to cut out the shape once and cut off the tab. Run it through a Texture Impression plate and sponge the edges for dimension. I did use the Tasteful Trim Die for part of the ice cream and of course I sponged that too. I guess I was in a sponging mood because I sponged the little banner too, after I stamped Happy Birthday.

Simple and cute. Makes me want to get an ice cream. Although its another chilly day in So Cal but Baskin Robbins has my favorite ice cream right now, Love Potion 31. It is a seasonal ice cream so I have to go get it before they run out. Yummy!

Graduation Cap

I know that Graduation is still a few months away but I actually have a graduation party to attend this weekend. So when I was on Holly's website and saw the graduation cap she made with the the Petal Cone I knew I had to recreate it.

Here is my version of the graduation cap. I used Basic Black Card Stock. I used a silver brad to hold the tassel. I know it looks black but that is because I rubbed Black Stazon Ink on it to make it black. Great improvise! I had these tassels laying around because someone gave them to me. I didn't know what I was going to do with them but now I know. This is perfect because my sister Alison is graduation from High School this year.

I will admit that I had a had time figuring out how to cut the petal cone to add the top of the hat but after I finally thought it through, it was easy. I have a couple more projects to share with you this week that use the Petal Cone so I'll be back.