New Catalog Favorites

1. Garden Impressions 6x6 DSP 146289 $11.00 -- How gorgeous is this paper? It's even more gorgeous in person! I have already made multiple cards using this paper and an't wait to make even more!

2. Faceted Dots 146910 $6.00 -- Every card needs a bit of bling and these adhesive backed dots are perfect! The pack includes dots in Basic Black, Blackberry Bliss, Grapefruit Grove, and Mint Macaron.

3. Abstract Impressions Bundle 148348 $49.50 -- My favorite bundle includes the Abstract Impressions Stamp Set and Springtime Impressions Thinlits. I love the detail in this set!

4. Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon 146912 $7.50 -- You always need pretty ribbon to dress up cards. This polka dot tulle is just too cute! It also comes in Very Vanilla.

5. Twinkle Twinkle DSP 146284 $11.00 -- My second favorite paper is this adorable set. When I first saw it in the catalog, I was very impressed. But in person, I love the subtle patterns and color combinations.

6. P.S. You're the Best Stamp Set (clear) 146516 $20.00 -- I love bundles, but don't forget about all the great stamps sets included in the catalog. This cute typewrite will be perfect for fun cards this summer!

7. Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins 146933 $7.00 -- I love the Tutti-Frutti Sequins featured in the last Occasions Catalog and hoped they would carry-over. That set didn't carry-over, but thankfully we have a new set to play with. This set included Mint Macaron, Pearl White, Petal Pink, Sahara Sand, and Soft Sea Foam sequins.

8. Pop of Petals Bundle (clear) 148385 $36.00 -- The other bundle that I'm super excited about is the Pop of Petals bundle including the Pop of Petals stamp set and Four-Petal Flower Punch. I was sad to lose the Pansy Punch and Flower Shop stamp set, but thankfully SU has me covered with this new set.

9. Shaded Spruce (Ink 147088 $7.50, Cardstock 146981 $8.50)-- Hands down my favorite new color is this gorgeous green! It is such a rich color! I can't wait to pair it with Rich Razzleberry and Soft Sea Foam and Crushed Curry, and so many other colors.

10. Rich Razzleberry Velvet Ribbon 147016 $8.00 -- How can you say no to velvet ribbon? It's just not done. Must add this to my next order. It's just too luxurious to pass up!

May 2018 Memory Planner

May's pages are more of what's been working for me. I think I've fallen into a very comfortable routine. Love these pages.

Birthday Balloon Rainbow

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using the new In Colors. I pulled out a great carrying over stamp set and the new colors and pondered my options. I finally decided on a rainbow effect to highlight all of the new In Colors. Such a fun little card to make.

Stamps: Birthday Wishes for You
Inks: Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, Blueberry Bushel
Cardstock: Blueberry Bushel, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:
Tools: Balloon Bouquet Punch

Sunday Haul #10

I bought a sticker grab bag from Peachy Cheap a few weeks back. And it finally came! I love having random stickers for my Project Life spreads and Memory Planner pages.

Annual Catalog Swaps 2018

Every new catalog, my demo group does a card swap featuring lots of new products. This year's crop of cards is just great!

Christine Szekeres @ Artful Musings

Monica Van Tassel

Jennifer Stone

Carla Branton @ Copper Pony Stamper

Nicole Flournoy @ Inky Fingers Stamping

Tanya Cabral

Kathy Thisted

Sandra Vargas

Jennifer Blomquist @ Northwest Stamper

Susan Schultz

Tailored Garden

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card from in the garden. What better starting point than the Garden Impressions DSP? Seriously, this is some gorgeous paper. I love all the color combinations and patterns. For my card, I CASEd a design using the Tailored Tag Punch to create an interesting DSP background. I chose a few different paper patterns, punch out pieces, and glued them onto a piece of cardstock. I decided to keep the rest of the card simple with a punched sentiment and some coordinating ribbon.

Stamps: Accented Blooms
Inks: Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral, Shaded Spruce
Cardstock: Garden Impressions DSP, Petal Pink
Accessories: Metallic Ribbon Combo
Tools: Tailored Tag Punch

Peekaboo Coffee Cups

Today’s card is my attempt at an unusual technique. I've often seen cards with color that comes peeking through. They remind me of those childhood activity pads where you scratch off of the black to find the picture below. And so I set out trying to recreate the idea in card form. For this specific technique, you start by adding ink to a piece of white cardstock covering the entire piece. From there, stamp am image using Versamark and cover with white embossing powder. After heating the powder, add black ink all over the top of the piece of cardstock. To reveal the color underneath, all you have to do is take a tissue to the Versamarked areas. I tried this using other colors and it turned out all muddled. It turns out that bright or pastel colors are the best to see. After creating my base piece, I added a stamp and cut coffee cup, some ribbon, and a pop of Lemon Lime Twist.

Stamps: Merry Cafe (retired)
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist, Melon Mambo
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist, Whisper White
Accessories: Bermuda Bay Ribbon (retired),
Tools: Clear Embossing Powder; Stitched Shapes Framelits

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

Two weeks ago, I got a little carried away playing with a few of my retiring stamp sets. I wanted to make a few butterflies using the Watercolor Wings stamp set and ended up making over 20... Yeah, didn't see that coming. I took my butterflies and dug through my scrap paper box for coordinating papers. From there, I paired each card with a few embellishments (ribbon, enamel shapes, candy dots, doilies, sequins, etc).

Stamps: Watercolor Wings
Inks: Too many to list
Cardstock: Ditto
Accessories: Ditto
Tools:

Currently

Reading: I finally started The Selection by Kiera Cass. A fluffy romance was just what I needed this week.

Watching: Along with my fluffy romance, I needed some feel-good television. Call the Midwife S2 is perfect for this. It's serious, but always makes me feel good at the end.

Listening: After marathoning Black Veil Brides for Arthur, I randomly pulled up a much loved older album: Anberlin's Cities. I sang along to every song.

Making: Working on some floral cards for this month. I'm thinking that may be my theme for the next class I plan.

Feeling: The twins arrive tonight and I am so anxious. I will be super anxious until I get the text that they have landed.

Planning: Working on our plans for next week - activities and meals.

Loving: This past weekend was really hot (over 90 degrees both days). The temps are back in the 70s with sunshine and a nice cool breeze. Loving it!

Crafting Forever Sketch

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using the sketch below.

I'm a huge fan of sketch challenges, and this one is no exception. For my card, I decided on a simple color palette of Lemon Lime Twist and Call Me Clover. From there, I picked a background stamp set to add some interest to the cardstock and then started building the rest of the card. I love the mix of patterns that resulted. As the last touch, I added some fun Lemon Lime Twist Ombre Ribbon.

Stamps: Crafting Forever
Inks: Call Me Clover; Lemon Lime Twist
Cardstock: 2018-2020 In Color DSP; Call Me Clover; Lemon Lime Twist
Accessories: Lemon Lime Twist Ombre Ribbon
Tools: Stitched Shapes Framelits