#16 Merry Layers

Today's sketch comes from July 2016:

Here's what I originally did:

I love all the great patterns in the Be Merry DSP pack, so this was the perfect sketch to choose a ton of patterns and layer them. I added a simple sentiment with great stitching. For embellishments, I added the very versatile White Enamel Shapes and a piece of retired ribbon. The Gumball Green ribbon is a different color, but I love how it plays off the Garden Green in the paper. 

• Stamps: Better Together
• Inks: Garden Green
• Cardstock: Be Merry DSP; Cherry Cobbler; Whisper White
• Accessories: White Enamel Shapes; Gumball Green Ribbon (retired)
• Tools: Stitched Shapes Framelits

Sharing the Love

Today's card is one of the featured projects for August's stamp club. Did you know that every year Stampin' Up! features a stamp set who's proceeds support the Ronald McDonald House? The stamp sets are always adorable and this year's set is no different. May I introduce you to Sharing Sweet Thoughts!

I knew I had to feature this great stamp set at stamp club.  I decided to go simple in my design and construction. I filled a jar with some cute butterflies and a branch to create my focal point. From there I pulled some great pieces from the Wood Texture DSP Stack and a cool blue piece from Coffee Break DSP. The card was missing a few embellishments. Thank goodness for doilies, glitter enamel shapes, and white enamel shapes. Perfect additions!

• Stamps: Sharing Sweet Thoughts
• Inks: Dapper Denim; Early Espresso; Always Artichoke; Pear Pizzazz; Crumb Cake; Baja Breeze (retired); Crushed Curry; Pale Plum (retired); Flirty Flamingo; Rich Razzleberry
• Cardstock: Coffee Break DSP; Wood Textures DSP; Soft Suede; Whisper White
• Accessories: Glitter Enamel Shapes; White Accent Shapes; White Doilies
• Tools: Everyday Jars Framelits

TGIFC119: Riding My Bike

Today's card is playing along with TGIF's Color Challenge. These three colors together just scream summer! I love the combo.

I had so much fun making this simple little card that it's going to be one of the featured cards for August's stamp club meeting. I started with stamping this cute little green and blue bike. I love how the stamp set is designed to be able to layer on different colors. And it comes with a ton of different items to put onto the back of the bike. So versatile! I filled a little basket with a dog and some pretty sunflowers. As a last touch, I added some glitter enamel dots to the centers of the wheels.

• Stamps: Bike Ride; Thoughtful Banners
• Inks: Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake
• Cardstock: Eastern Palace DSP, Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Whisper White
• Accessories: Enamel Glitter Dots
• Tools: Duet Banner Punch, Build a Bike Framelits

Ice Cream Birthday

Another great Endless Birthday Wishes card before it retires. I love the pattern play on this card. After piecing together some great patterns, I created a fun stamped focal point. As a finishing touch, I added a few enamel shapes.

• Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes
• Inks: Pacific Point; Chocolate Chip; Tip Top Taupe; Pool Party; Peekaboo Peach
• Cardstock: Tasty Treats DSP; Peekaboo Peach; Pool Party; Whisper White
• Accessories:  Tasty Treats Washi Tape; In Color Enamel Shapes
• Tools: Layering Circles Framelits

Places You'll Go

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a masculine card. Somehow I bought the Places You'll Go Stamp Set and never used it! Que horror! Thankfully I grabbed it to make a fun around the world adventure card. I was going to just stamp the globe, but then I decided to make a simple watercolor background. From there I found a great simple pattern paper to layer. The card was still missing a bit of something, so I added a great embossed piece of Island Indigo cardstock and some fun gold metallic shapes. 

• Stamps: Places You'll Go
• Inks: Basic Black; Pear Pizzazz; Pool Party
• Cardstock: Urban Underground DSP; Island Indigo; Watercolor Paper
• Accessories: Metallic Enamel Shapes
• Tools: Lucky Stars Embossing Folder

Top Ten Retiring Products

There are still so many great items are the retiring list. But these could sell out at any time. Make sure to snap them up before they're gone!  Here are my Top 10:

1. Build a Birthday Stamp Set $16.00  (138646)

2. Elegant Butterfly Punch $16.00 (127526)

3. Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper $3.00 (140550)

4. Birdcage Builder Stamp Set $13.60  (142891)

5. Stars Framelits $21.60 (133723)

6. Pop of Pink DSP $7.80 (141648) and Washi Tape $8.00 (141649)

7. Endless Birthday Wishes Stamp Set $16.00 (140273)

8. 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes $4.50 (141410)

9. Hello Lovely Project Life Card Collection $16.00 (141668)

10. Lucky Stars Embossing Folder $7.50 (135817)

Square Birthday

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card using retiring DSP. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Party Animal DSP at first, but it really did grow on me. After classes, paper shares, and previous cards, I was left this week with a few strips and squares. How to utilize these scraps to make a great card? Rely on geometry of course! I simply left the squares as is and started layering them on a piece of white cardstock. I trimmed off the excess and was left with an awesome base for a simple stamped birthday cake and sentiment. To add the finishing element, I placed some star enamel shapes in place of the starbursts on the cake. Perfect birthday card for a little boy turning 4 this weekend!

• Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes
• Inks: Pacific Point; Crushed Curry; Tempting Turquoise; Emerald Envy
• Cardstock: Party Animal DSP; Pacific Point; Whisper White
• Accessories: 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes
• Tools: Stitched Shapes Framelits

Spring Stampin' Up! Bingo

Last Saturday, I hosted my first every Stampin' Up! Bingo Party! And it was awesome! I had seven ladies join me for a fun afternoon of games, crafting, snacks, and socializing. I created prize packs for eight rounds of bingo. Each round's prize was valued at between $10 and $20 dollars. For example, Round one's prize was a pack of 2016-2018 In Color Cardstock and the coordinating Markers. Another round included the Summer Sorbet Stamp Set and Rich Razzlberry Ombre Ink Pad. Almost all of the ladies won a round. And those that didn't got to pick from my extra prize stash (mostly retired items, but still great products). Along with Bingo, I created two different make n take cards. Everyone followed my basic design for the dragonfly card, but they went all different directions with the Scenic Sayings card. I love the variety of cards that were made. The event was so much fun, I think I'll schedule another Bingo party for August or so. Just in time for the Holiday Catalog!

Serious Bingo-ing

So much concentration!

Make n take #1: Dragonfly Dreams

• Stamps: Dragonfly Dreams
• Inks: Sweet Sugarplum
• Cardstock: 2016-2018 In Color DSP; Copper Foil; Sweet Sugarplum; Whisper White
• Accessories: 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes
• Tools: Detailed Dragonfly Framelits

Make n Take #2: Scenic Sayings

• Stamps: Scenic Sayings
• Inks: Island Indigo
• Cardstock: Serene Scenery DSP; Bermuda Bay; Island Indigo; Gold Foil; Whisper White
• Accessories: Mini Paperclips; Organza Ribbon
• Tools: 

Sara and Cindy's variations

Jan, Melissa, and Molly's variations

Yoli and Dorothy's variations

Baby Quilt

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to make a baby card. My sister is due in May with her first baby, a boy, so of course I had to make a great card for her. I loved making quilt card during Christmastime, but they do take so long. Even so, I decided to try it again. Instead of paper paper, I decorated each square with an image from the Bookcase Builder stamp set. I love how these cards turned out. So cute!

A variation using my favorite two colors: Sweet Sugarplum and Rich Razzleberry

• Stamps: Bookcase Builder
• Inks: Soft Sky; Dapper Denim; Sweet Sugarplum; Rich Razzleberry; Daggodil Delight
• Cardstock: Soft Sky; Dapper Denim; Sweet Sugarplum; Rich Razzleberry; Whisper White
• Accessories: Metallic Enamel Shapes; Sweet Sugarplum Ruched Ribbon; Dapper Denim Ruched Ribbon
• Tools: Stitched Shapes Framelits

Pretty Pretty Flamingo

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to CASE a card from a fellow Design Team member. I picked this fun card from Jennifer Gregorsky!

For my version I changed the colors and accessories but kept the wonderful design and ideas. I love the color combination of Emerald Envy and Melon Mambo! So much fun and tropical looking. Reminds me of Florida. I added some visual interest to my piece of Melon Mambo cardstock by stamping on a background from the Playful Backgrounds stamp set. Those pattern stamp sets are great at adding something extra to cards. I also embossed the piece of white with the Blooms Embossing Folder. Instead of the little "hello" sentiment, I stamped the big "thinking of you" heart and leaves and hand cut them out to add to the card. As a finally element, I added some Emerald Envy Enamel hearts. Love this CASE!

• Stamps: Pop of Paradise; Playful Backgrounds
• Inks: Melon Mambo; Emerald Envy
• Cardstock: Emerald Envy; Melon Mambo; Whisper White
• Accessories: 2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes
• Tools: Blooms Embossing Folder