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

Occasions Catalog Swaps

Our demo group does a card swap for each new catalog. I always look forward to the amazing designs I receive in the mail. 

Carla Branton

Susan Schultz

Jennifer Blomquist @ Northwest Stamper

Christine Szekeres @ Artful Musings

Merit Brown @ MB Squared Designs

Pamela Wu @ Stinky Tofu

Shirley Griffith

Stacey Lane @ A Work of Carte

Brusho Bloom

As part of my preorder for the Occasions Catalog, I bought the Brusho Crystal Colour. I've been having fun playing around with them ever since! Today's card was the swap card for my demo group. I stamped the large flower image in black and then applied red and orange Brusho Crystal Colour. I then cut out the blooms. I don't have a decent picture, but I loved how each bloom looked different. From there, I added some DSP and embellishments to create this beautiful card. 

• Stamps: Beautiful Day
• Inks: Basic Black; Brusho Crystals
• Cardstock: Petal Passion DSP; Birthday Memories DSP; Tangerine Tango; Watercolor Paper
• Accessories: Love Mini Tinsel Trim; Doilies
• Tools: 

Currently

Reading: Nefertiti by Michelle Moran -- one of those books that's been on my shelves for a few years

Watching: Arthur has really gotten into Buster Keaton movies, so we've been watching a few here and there

Listening: Catching up on the Reading Glasses podcast

Making: Jumped right back into card making once I got back home. Only 8 more designs to do before this weekend...

Feeling: After being sick over the weekend with a stomach bug, I'm feeling much better.

Planning: The numbers for the moms' retreat have been finalized. The house has been booked. Now to get to the rest of the planning.

Loving: Being sick meant no real food as we couldn't keep anything down. So excited to eat food again.

Brusho Butterfly

Hand's down, my favorite item from the Occasions Catalog is the Brusho Crystal Colour! I have had so much fun playing with them this past month. For today's card, I used Versamark and white embossing powder to create my butterfly image. I then layered on green and blue Brusho Crystals until I was happy with the coverage. From there, I layered on some paper. 

Detail of the embossing and color:

I liked the card, but something was missing a bit... Turns out I was missing sequins to really make this card pop!

• Stamps: Beautiful Day
• Inks: Dapper Denim; Versamark; Brusho Crystals
• Cardstock: Sweet Soiree DSP; Dapper Denim; Watercolor paper
• Accessories: random sequins
• Tools: 

Celebrate You!

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a card full of sparkle and shine.

Who has completely fan-girled over the new Occasions Catalog? I totally have! The Picture Perfect Suite immediately caught my eye! Today's card is just full of fun and color! In addition to the stamp set and paper from the Picture Perfect Suite, I added some Lemon Lime Twist Glimmer Paper and the Celebrate You Thinlits (SAB catalog). I can't wait to make more cards using this great paper stack.

• Stamps: Picture Perfect Birthday Stamp
• Inks: Berry Burst; Daffodil Delight; Peekaboo Peach; Lemon Lime Twist; Bermuda Bay; Pool Party
• Cardstock: Picture Perfect Party DSP; Myths and Magic Glimmer Paper; Bermuda Bay; Lemon Lime Twist; Berry Burst
• Accessories: 
• Tools: Celebrate You Thinlits; Stitched Shapes Framelits

Week in the Life Album 2017

So a little late, but I finally finished my Week in the Life album for 2017. I ended up not documenting a week until pretty late in the year, November 6th - 12th to be precise. But I think this album is a good representation of a typical week for us. I do love the bright colors used throughout. Lots of color! Most of the supplies I pulled from the stash. I did buy the album and the days of the week wood pieces. 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

A Little Fox for Baby

I made this card way back in November, but I thought it was weird to post during the height of Christmas cards. So I kept it in reserve until now. How cute is this little fox? This is one of those stamp sets that I keep forgetting that I own. Why do I do that? I love this little stamp set. For this card, I stamped, punched, and assembled this cute little fox. From there, I picked a trio of paper patterns and added some texture with the snowflakes and embossing folder. I finished off the card with a sentiment and some pretty metallic washi tape.

• Stamps: Foxy Friends Stamp; Better Together Stamp
• Inks: Baked Brown Sugar (retired)
• Cardstock: Bundle of Love DSP; Blushing Bride; Whisper White
• Accessories: Metallic Foil Snowflakes; Year of Cheer Washi Tape
• Tools: Stitched Shapes Framelits; Petal Burst Embossing Folder; Fox Punch

Top Ten 2017 Crafts

In no particular order, here are my 10 favorite craft projects of 2017!

1. I always have to include a butterfly card in my Top 10. This year's card is so shiny!

2. Love the Mint and Navy color combo on this floral card.

3. I love coffee so of course I had to get this stamp set and paper. Love these cute cups!

4. As soon as I saw the new catalog, I knew I needed the Pieces and Pattern Stamp Set and Pick a Pattern DSP. The dinosaurs are too adorable!

5. I made each of the boys a decorated letter for their birthday party. 

6. I took my quilted card idea from last year and made baby cards this year. 

7. Birthday Blooms continues to be one of my favorite stamp sets. For this card, I went super simple but it works!

8. My favorite technique from this past year: salted background. 

9. My favorite Christmas card from this season. The gold snowflake really makes this card!

10. This card is so incredibly simple, but I love it. The falling hearts are so much fun!

January Crafting Goals

A recap of last month’s goals:

• Finish sending out Christmas cards -- Success! All my cards have been sent.
• Create my December Daily pages -- Fail. Why did I put this as a December goal? I know I can't do this until January.
• Finish my 2017 Memory Planner -- Fail. I still have October and November to finish.
• Finish out a few random leftover projects -- Fail. I left a few projects on my counter.
• Complete my Occasions Catalog swap cards -- Success! Completed and sent before Christmas.

January Goals: 

• December Daily Pages -- I'm putting these into my PL album.
• Finish (and send out) Holiday albums -- I've got them planned out, now I need to finish before we leave Indiana.
• Finish 2017 Memory Planner -- I need to finish October and November. No December pages as I'm just doing December Daily in my PL album.
• Layout 2018 Memory Planner -- I already have the planner, just need to get started.
• Reevaluate my ongoing and leftover projects -- I know I need to decide what to do with 2017's PL albums (they are stalled in April I think). I'm sure I'm forgetting some other projects leftover from 2017.
• Restart Stamp Club for January through June -- I've already got a few ladies signed up. I need to do a follow-up email and lock down the participants.
• Rejoin the SSINK Design Team -- I'm officially in, but I need to complete my January projects and layout my ongoing plan.
• Schedule January, February, and March events and classes -- I've got most of January scheduled, but I want to get everything else set in advance.