Happy Easter!

Birthday Basket

I thought I'd show you a little basket that I made for one of my hostesses.  I missed her birthday and didn't send a card, so she got this instead.  This cute little basket is made with the Mini Milk Carton Bigz Die.  Rather than cutting out one and assembling it as normal, I cut two, then after a bit of trimming, put them together to make this little six-sided basket.  I crimped a few strips of paper to stuff in, then added a little gift and a card.

I seem to be obsessed with tiny square cards lately, and really, with the size of this basket, I didn't have a choice...I had to use a tiny card!  A few squares of bright card stock layered together make this simple and adorable.

And one final look at the basket...since it was for a birthday, I used the little present stamp from the Every Little Bit stamp set.  That's one set that is great for any number of occasions, and yet I don't use it nearly enough. 

Stamps:  Every Little Bit (117096), Itty Bitty Banners (126255)
Ink:  Wild Wasabi (126959), Daffodil Delight (126944), Melon Mambo (126948) Classic Ink, Jet Black Staz-On Ink (101406)
Paper:  Whisper White (100730), Wild Wasabi (108641), Daffodil Delight (119683), Melon Mambo (115320), and Naturals White (102316) card stock
Accessories:  Mini Milk Carton Bigz Die (117310), Big Shot (113439), Aquapainters (103954), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), Melon Mambo ribbon (retired), Chevron Embossing Folder (127749), Bitty Banners Framelits (129267)

Simple Needlepoint Border Card

Wow, I totally meant to post this on Friday, and I'm not really sure what happened.  Oops!  This is the card we made at club this week.  I love that this card can be used for anyone, man, woman, or child.  The three stripes were embossed with the Needlepoint Embossing Folder from the Spring Catalog, and the sentiment comes from Pretty Petites, which is unfortunately no longer available.  But the good news is that the Petite Curly Label Punch is!  I love the layering with the Curly Label punch.  A couple of silver brads finish it off.  This is the perfect card to have on hand, since it can be sent to anyone!

Stamps:  Pretty Petites (SAB)
Ink:  Island Indigo (126986) and Chocolate Chip (126979)
Paper:  Island Indigo (122923), Crumb Cake (120953), More Mustard (100946), Chocolate Chip (102128), and Pool Party (122924) card stock
Accessories:  Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder (129383), Big Shot (113439), and Stamping Sponge (101610), Curly Label Punch (119851), Petite Curly Label Punch (129405)

Pretty Petites {SAB}

I definitely have not used the free Sale-a-Bration set, Pretty Petites, nearly enough.  I finally broke it out and made this tiny card.  The Petite Curly Label Punch is so cute, and I love how it perfectly punches these little images, and how well it layers with the Curly Label Punch.

I made this entire card from scraps I had.  The little banner in the middle was cut with the Bitty Banner Framelits, and it works perfectly with the tiny image in the center.  OK, I keep saying how everything works so perfectly together, but they really do!

Stamps:  Pretty Petites (129639)
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Paper:  Crumb Cake (120954 ),  Rich Razzleberry (115316), Daffodil Delight (119683), b (119686), and Naturals White (102316) card stock, International Bazaar DSP (126920)
Accessories:  Curly Label Punch (119851), Petite Curly Label Punch (129405) Bitty Banners Framelits (129267), Big Shot (113439)

Designer Typeset {NEW Photopolymer Stamp Set!}

I finally had a chance to play with the brand new photopolymer stamp set, Designer Typeset.  It's no secret that I much prefer wood mount stamps, but let me tell you, the clear photopolymer stamps...wow.  I really like the ability to arrange the letters however I want...that means spelling ANYTHING my little heart desires.  In fact, I have a very silly card all planned in my head.  I probably won't post it here, because it will only be funny to my college roommates.  But I can personalize any card I make...in fact, I think I'm going to add a name to this card.  Not sure who the lucky birthday girl (or boy...because this set lends itself to ANY kind of card!) will be, but that's a decision I can make at the last minute, because it takes very little time to pop the letters on a clear block and stamp. 

And if I can do all these things so easily, so can YOU!  Call, email, or visit my online store to order yours today!

Stamps:  Designer Typeset (132956)
Ink:  Island Indigo (126986), Daffodil Delight (126944)
Paper:  Island Indigo (122923), Whisper White (100730), and Summer Smooches DSP (125409)
Accessories:  Clear Block I (118488), Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (126872)

Quint-Essential Flower

This is one of the cards we made at club last night.  I really like this color combination...it's another one I found just by looking though the catalog.  Believe it or not, I think my favorite part of this card is the layering of the Island Indigo.  The card base is made of this color, but there is a second piece that has been sponged around the edges that's layered right on top of that.  The flower is fun, as well, because it can be used with five different punches!  There are so many punch combinations and choices to use with this flower, so there really is no fear of running out of creative ways to use it.  The center of this flower uses the retired Build-a-Brad.  The only reason I used this was because I didn't have enough of the brand new Designer Build-a-Brads for everyone to use if I also used them on the samples.  So, please, please, please...if you make this card, use the Designer Build-a-Brad as the center.  It looks so much better!

Stamps:  Quint-Essential Flower (126790), Friendly Phrases (126149)
Paper:  Island Indigo (122923), Crumb Cake (120953), More Mustard (100946), Chocolate Chip (102128), and Pool Party (122924) card stock
Ink:  Island Indigo (126986), More Mustard (126964), and Chocolate Chip (126979)
Accessories:  2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1-3/8" Circle Punch (119860), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Designer Builder Brads (129329), Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder (129383), Big Shot (113439), and Stamping Sponge (101610)

Stampin' Up! Milk Carton Die Hexagon Box

I love when products have the versatility to be used for more than one thing.  The Mini Milk Carton Bigz L Die is one of those products.  As if the little milk carton isn't cute enough on it's own, the die can also be used to make this hexagon box.  It is so easy to make, and I'm thrilled with the final product!

 The cute little flowers come from the SAB stamp set Madison Avenue.  I love the pearl in the center...it's the perfect touch.


Stamps:  Madison Avenue (129657)
Ink:  Whisper White Craft Ink (101731), Wild Wasabi Classic Ink (126959)
Paper:  Whisper White (100730), Wild Wasabi (108641), So Saffron (105118), Regal Rose (105130), and Marina Mist (119682) card stock
Accessories:  1" Circle Punch (119868), 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch (127811), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Big Shot (113439), Mini Milk Carton Bigz L Die (117310)

Awesome MDS Downloads

Check out today's new downloads for My Digital Studio!  I love the colors in the Seriously Teen Digital Kit.  To take a look, click here.

I'm hoping to be back later today with a cute project I made.  Unfortunately, I have to wait for my camera battery to charge before I can upload.  :)  Also, my new photopolymer stamps are arriving today, so I should have some fun samples to show later this week!

Quint-Essential Flower

When the Annual Catalog came out last June, one of the first stamps that caught my eye was Quint-Essential Flower.  I loved that it coordinated with so many different punches, but I never got around to buying it.  Fast forward to SAB time...lucky me, it's one of the free products just waiting to be earned!  I was so excited and snatched that baby right up.  It hasn't disappointed!  I've been going through my list of color combinations, and this was the perfect stamp to use with a new combination of colors.  I love the layers that all the punches create.

This card also features the Designer Builder Brads from the Spring Catalog.  These were a gift I received at Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Conference in January, and they've just been sitting on my desk ever since (why haven't I been using them?!?)  It is the perfect center for this flower, and I was even able to punch out the center of the flower to use in the brad.  How fun is it to be able to put anything you want inside that brad?  I love being able to customize accessories!



Stamps:  Quint-Essential Flower (126790), Friendly Phrases (126149)
Ink:  Chocolate Chip (126979), More Mustard (126964), Island Indigo (126986)
Paper:  Crumb Cake (120953), Chocolate Chip (102128), More Mustard (100946), Island Indigo (122923), and Pool Party (122924) card stock
Accessories:  2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Designer Builder Brads (129329), Stamping Sponge (101610)

TIme to Re-Ink

 I don't have a card to show you today.  Why, you ask?  Because I spent my stamping time last night doing something far more exciting and fascinating than creating.  Ahem.  Yeah, I re-inked my ink pads.  Thrilling, I know.  But you know, sometimes it just needs to be done.  I noticed a few of my ink pads were getting a little dry, so I figured I might as well re-ink them all at the same time.  I do not recommend this method.  My fingers started to hurt from squeezing so many bottles!

 

While this is a bit of a boring (and painful) job, it is necessary.  For years (YEARS) I just made do with my drying out ink pads.  And honestly, they really did last for a long, long time.  But I waited just a tad too long.  I finally caved and bought all the color families of refill bottles.  What was I waiting for?  The images look SO MUCH better when using a properly inked pad.  So if your stamped images aren't quite a crisp as they used to be, it's probably time for a refill.  I know that bottles of ink definitely aren't nearly as fun to order as new stamps, but they will make all the difference in the world and are worth every cent.  And if you're really wanting to save, buy them as a color collection.  You can save about $5 buying them that way vs. buying each color individually.  And now's the time to do it, because purchasing two color collections of ink refills makes an order big enough to qualify for one FREE Sale-a-Bration item.  Which makes a boring order way more fun.  :)

Pretty Petites

I'm going to have to make this quick today, but I at least wanted to show off a cute little card that I made using the SAB stamp set Pretty Petites.  It's a little bitty card, measuring only 3" x 3", but that just makes it cuter.  I LOVE the parenthesis that come in this stamp set...you can put anything inside of them.  I chose a simple punched heart. 

Stamps:  Pretty Petites (129639)
Ink:  Early Espresso (126974)
Paper:  Raspberry Ripple (126842) and Crumb Cake (120953) card stock
Accessories:  Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon (126845), Small Heart Punch (117193), Petite Curly Label Punch (129405)

Interested in having this set as your very own?  You can't buy it...but you can get it for FREE!  Just call or email me to place your order of $50 or more and this set can be yours!  But don't drag your feet for too long...you only have until March 22!

Beautiful Wings

This weekend I held a class and ended up with lots of scraps.  Most of these were from the retired Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (which is still in the Clearance Rack, if you need to get some!)  I also had lots of Pool Party and Calypso Coral scraps, and when I saw the two colors sitting together with the Very Vanilla, I LOVED the color combination.  I have to admit that I'm really late to the Pool Party party.  I'm just now realizing how much I love this color, along with the other 2011-2013 In Colors.  I'm going to be so sad to see them go when the new Annual Catalog comes out in June.  Hopefully there will be five gorgeous new colors that will make me forget all about the ones we're losing.

Anyway, back to the card...with the exception of the card base, everything else was a scrap of some sort.  I'm pretty thrifty, so I love it when I can pull together a card like that!  I stamped and clear embossed the large piece of Calypso Coral using that same old stamp that looks like En Francais.  A strip of Everyday Enchantment DSP and some of last year's SAB ribbon along the bottom, with a few butterflies at the top make this a beautiful, yet simple card.  I've actually already mailed it to someone...I hope it makes her day a little bit happier when she gets it today. :)

Stamps:  En Francias (109521)
Ink:  VersaMark (102283)
Paper:  Naturals Ivory (101849), Calypso Coral (122925), Pool Party (122924), and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock, Everyday Enchantment DSP (126154)
Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Wings Embosslit (118138), Heat Tool (129053), Clear Embossing Powder (109130)

Pretty Pinwheels

Remember how I said I had gone through the annual catalog looking for color combinations?  I'm working my way through my list, and this card just happens to use one of the combinations I found in the catalog.  The bright colors are perfect for a dark and gray Monday morning, too! 

Those pinwheels...how cute are they?  If you haven't tried the new Pinwheel Sizzlet in the Spring Catalog, you need to!  At only $4.95, you can't beat the price for this cute, cute tool.  The trick to a perfect pinwheel is to soften the fibers of the card stock with a bone folder before assembling.  It makes it much easier to work with.

This probably isn't a card that will do well in the mail without a special padded envelope, but it's good incentive to give a card to someone very close.  In fact, I think this one is going to my husband.  I won't even need an envelope, I'll just sneak it into the bag he takes to work. 

Stamps:  Itty Bitty Banners (126255)
Ink:   Whisper White craft ink (101731)
Paper:   Island Indigo (122923), Raspberry Ripple (126842), Pumpkin Pie (105117), Daffodil Delight (119683), and Whisper White (100730)
Accessories:  Pinwheel Sizzlet (129411), 3/16" Neutrals Brads (119736), Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (122977), Cloudy Day Embossing Folder (127022), Big Shot (113439), Banners Framelits (129267), Whisper White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132), Heat Tool (129053)

NEW! Photopolymer Stamps

I'll admit, I'm a hard core wood mount stamp fan.  I do have some clear mount stamps, though, and I enjoy the lower price as well as the ability to more easily line up images through the clear blocks.  If you love clear mount stamps for those reasons and more, you are going to be thrilled with the news I have to share!  Stampin' Up! is introducing photopolymer stamps...that's just the fancy way of saying CLEAR stamps!  You may wonder what's taken so long, and the answer is that Stampin' Up! is dedicated to producing high quality products, and clear stamps just didn't produce an imagine that could come close to the quality of image traditional rubber stamps do.  I love that about this company...and now they've found a material that will produce great images, and they're sharing them with us!

So what else is so great about these stamps?

• The top-quality photopolymer gives a perfectly stamped image every time.

• They're entirely transparent

• Can you say sticky?  (Don't worry; in a good way!)  These stamps stick amazingly well to our clear blocks.

• They're age tested.  They won't yellow or cloud up over time.

• They're pliable.  This is such a cool feature...that banner you see?  It doesn't have to go straight across!  The arrow?  You can make it point in any direction!!! (can you tell I'm most excited about this?!?)

These stamps will be sold on a trial basis.  Right now, only one set is available (and it's a versatile one!) but more will be introduced in the future, especially if there is a huge interest.   Want to try them out?  Give me a call or email me to place your order today!  Or, as always, you can visit my online store to place your order as well.  

              Designer Type Photopolymer Stamp Set (item #132956)  $13.95      

Includes 57 pieces. (Don’t faint! This is a good overwhelming feeling.)

Recommend clear blocks A, B, G, F, and I. Purchase separately.