A Friendly Mermaid

I adore this little friendship card. I knew Message in a Bottle would be one of my favorite stamps and this card really highlights the fun you can create. I stamped a piece of background paper using the tone-on-tone technique. From there I stamped the bottle and mermaid separately, colored her, and cut it out. A piece of DSP and a cute framed sentiment just about finished the card. The scattered rhinestones were the perfect last bit.

• Stamps: Just Add Text; Message in a Bottle
• Inks: Soft Sky; Berry Burst; Pool Party; Basic Black; Tranquil Tide; Fresh Fig; Summer Sun (retired); Blush Blossom (retired)
• Cardstock: Naturally Eclectic DSP; Berry Burst; Lemon Lime Twist; Soft Sky; Whisper White
• Accessories: Rhinestones
• Tools: Lots of Labels Framelits

Pirate Party Crafts

Today's post is another installment of my coverage of our big joint birthday party. Of course, I had to make a ton of crafts. For Arthur's first birthday, I had made a photo board so I had to do one for Q. Instead of a board, I went with cute banner for the fireplace. Very cute!

Next up, I made the goody bags. Each bag had a foam sword, eye patch, pirate hat, bag of Pirate's Booty, pirate tattoos, a compass, and a ring pop. The baby bags had a pirate rubber duck, graham cracker goldfish, and a beach ball. I made these cute little name tags featuring images from Message in a Bottle Stamp Set.

I covered the dining room table with some kraft paper, stamped on some anchors, and put of two pirate ships in the middle. I later added some chocolate gold coins, bags of goldfish and pirate's booty, and ring pops to the table.

Time to decorate the kitchen aka main party area.

I bought this huge pirate flag to hang on our back door. (The flag will find a permament place somewhere in our house).

I grabbed these awesome pirate signs, fish net, skeleton, and great white shark for decor.

I also couldn't pass up this fun Happy Birthday banner.

This table was used for eating during the party. I added the other pirate ship for decoration. The baker's rack served as our present holder during the party. I featured my cute crafted letters, a pirate book I bought Q, and a fun stuffed parrot. Pirates have to have a parrot!

I conquered my fear of piping to frost some vanilla cupcakes. I added some gold rocks and homemade pirate flags. These cupcakes were so yummy! You can just make out some skull plates in the background. Very cute!

The cake came from Costco, because nothing can beat $18.99 for half sheet of actually good cake. I did buy and add these cute pirate decorations. 

For the food, I made fun pirate themed placards and tags. We featured:

• Rum Punch -- for the adults
• Caribbean Sea Water -- punch for the kiddos
• Seashell Pasta with crab
• Seaweed Dip -- spinach artichoke dip
• Fish and Chips -- goldfish and potato chips
• Pirate's Jewels -- fruit tray
• Walk the Plank -- blue jello with a graham cracker
• Polly's Crackers and Pirate's Gold -- crackers and cheese
• Pirate's Booty 
• Doubloons -- Oreos spray painted gold
• Just Fish -- goldfish bags
• Fish of the Swedish Persuasion -- Swedish Fish
• Life Preservers -- peach rings
• Driftwood -- pretzels
• Hot dogs and Brats

Pirate Letters

Another cute piece of Arthur and Quentin's birthday party. I took two chipboard letters and start covering them with paper and fun bits and bobs. I pulled all these pieces from my random bits drawer. I love using up embellishments I've had laying around for years. These were great decorations for the party.

Pirate Thank Yous

Today's post is the first of my series celebrating Arthur and Quentin's Pirate Birthday party. Being the crafter, I had to make a ton of decorations and bits and bobs with the pirate theme. I needed to make some thank you cards, settled on a design, and then couldn't decide which image to use. Instead of deciding, I made multiple of each. I stamped a bottle with different fillings (whale, octopus, or pirate ship) and fussy cut the bottles out. From there I stamped a fun background on my kraft paper with repeating images. Time consuming, but I do love the effect. The addition of the gold glitter washi tape was the perfect finishing touch. Loved these cards!

• Stamps: Message in a Bottle; Labeler Alphabet
• Inks: Island Indigo; Crumb Cake; Real Red; Basic Black
• Cardstock: Real Red; Kraft; Whisper White
• Accessories: Gold Washi Tape (retired)
• Tools: Stitched Shapes Framelits; Washi Label Punch (retired)

On the High Seas

Today's post features a card we made at September's stamp club. I bought the Message in a Bottle stamp set for Arthur and Quentin's pirate themed birthday party (not until October 7th), but of course I was going to make more cards using it. I love the little bottle that can filled with a variety of ocean themed objects. For this card, I decided on a ship in a bottle. I stamped the water onto my paper and onto a piece of scrap paper. To them cut the water out of my scrap paper to create a mask for when I stamped my ship. I wanted the ship to be floating in the water.  From there I added some white chalk marker to my sails and a bit to the water. I stamped my sentiment and stamped a little gray heart that I them glittered up with some Wink of Stella. From there I die cut my image, added my background pieces, and finally added a few sequins.

• Stamps: Message in a Bottle
• Inks: Island Indigo; Smoky Slate; Basic Black
• Cardstock: Bundle of Love DSP; Island Indigo; Very Vanilla
• Accessories: Bermuda Bay Sequins (retired); White Chalk Marker; Clear Wink of Stella
• Tools: Stitched Shaped Framelits; Seaside Embossing Folder

Top 10 New Catalog Products!

With the launch of each new catalog, I sit down with a cup of tea and a highlighter and go to town marking everything I want. Of course, I don't have the money to buy everything I mark, but I love making that big wishlist. To help myself out, I usually make a short list of things I really really really want. These are the products I'm most likely to buy in June, July, and August. To help you out, I'm sharing my top 10 favorite new products!

1. Coffee Cafe Bundle (145331 $45.75) -- This entire suite of products is so me! I will definitely be buying the bundle with stamp set and die cuts very very soon! Of course, I will be adding on the DSP and probably some coordinating ribbon to complete my purchase.

2. Message in a Bottle Stamp Set (143707 $17.00) -- How cute is this stamp set? I'm working on convincing my 3 1/2 year old son to have a pirate theme party in September. This stamp set will be perfect for decorations, favors, and thank you cards. 

3. 1/4" Copper Trim (144179 $6.00) -- I'm in love with all things copper and this ribbon is just gorgeous!

4. Just Add Text Stamp Set (Wood 143931 $25.00  Clear 143934 $18.00) -- I'm a sucker for good sentiments and these are just perfect!

5. Just Add Color DSP (144180 $13.00) -- I love the current coloring trend and this paper would be perfect with the SU Markers and a great sentiment. One from the Just Add Text Stamp Set perhaps?

6. Soft Sayings Card Kit (145466 $35.00) -- Card kits are the way to go for gifts or for an easy night crafting. And SU offers a few all-inclusive kits meaning the stamp set is included! I'm really digging the colors and designs of this particular kit.

7. Sharing Sweet Thoughts Stamp Set (Wood 144048 $29.00  Clear 144051 $21.00) -- Each year SU offers a stamp set in which a portion of the sales go to Ronald McDonald House Charity. It's a great cause to support and the sets are always great. But this year's stamp set is just my style! Plus it coordinates with the Everyday Jars Die Cuts.

8. Pick a Pattern DSP (144163 $11.00) -- Full disclosure, I already bought this paper! But I love it so much, I'll be buying another pack. I love the mix of patterns and colors. So cute!

9. 2017-2019 In Color Bitty Bows (144217 $8.50) -- I always love seeing what new accessories SU designs and these bows are just way too cute! I'll be featuring these in one of the June Stamp Club projects.

10. 3/8" Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon (Night of Navy 144189  Peekaboo Peach  144192  Berry Burst 144191  Emerald Envy 144190  $8.00) -- I'm not one to buy a ton of ribbon, but this particular kind is too pretty to pass up. As I've already bought a spool of different Berry Burst ribbon, I'll probably get this in Night of Navy.

Now that you've seen all the great new products in the catalog, what is on your Top 10 list?