Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all who have made this day possible! So proud to be an American! It will be a very different Memorial Day in Southern California, with all the social distancing. Since the beaches and parks are open I think that there will be a lot of people keeping there distance from family members. CAS(E) this sketch has the following fun sketch



Bonanza buddies was the stamp set that I used for this fun and bright card. I think it would be great for a child's birthday.  The dsp is from the bird ballad paper. These stripes are so cute and with the lion reminds me of the circus. The scallop punch will also be retiring and it is one of my go to's so I am not sure what it will be that will take it's place.

Have a great day and stay healthy on this holiday, wash your hands and keep distance.  I know that we will all get through this. Everyday is a blessing and we are all so lucky to have stamping to keep us busy. Send a few cards out to people this week to let them know that you care. 

                                                                         

Freshly Made Sketches #436

Hello! Thank you for stopping by today. Freshly made sketches has a great sketch for this week that I just had to give a try. I wanted to make the frame a little different and so I made the frame with a piece of vellum that I cut with the rectangle stitched dies. I was not sure how I was going to adhere the vellum since it would show through but I lightly sponged multi mono purpose glue all over and attached it to the bird ballad paper that I had cut card size. I was happily surprised that the glue did not show through.

The sentiment is from the stitched all around stamp set and I used the coordinating dies to cut it out. I felt like the card needed a little bit more dimension and so I fussy cut out a few of the birds and attached them with stampin dimensionals.

Pearls were then added to add a little more dimension. I am going to really miss the bird ballad dsp, it is so pretty and I have had fun fussy cutting out some of the images. I am excited to see which of the designer papers I will love in the next catalog. Which of the dsp will you miss when they are gone? Have a great day and stay safe on the holiday tomorrow. Blessings to all of you!

The spot card challenge

Hi! A quick post for a card challenge that I made today.  It is a square card challenge which is part of the reason that I was drawn to it and the design layout looked fun. You can visit the the spot here and see the designers cards. They are so beautiful! If you follow my blog you know that I have been trying to use my retiring sets so I used the bonanza buddies for this card.

I am so sad that this set will be gone soon. I really like the images and the little animals just make me happy. I also used a few strips of neutral designer series paper and finished off the koala's party hat with a sequin. Thanks so much for stopping by and seeing the cute little card. If you are interested in the bonanza buddies get it now because it will be retired at the end of May. Have a great day and stay healthy and safe. Blessings!

Out with the old in with the new!

Hi! Why I am sad to always see many of my favorite stamp sets retiring I am always very excited to play with the new items! I have just placed my preorder for the new catalog items. One of the benefits of being a demonstrator is that I can order early and play with the new items. If you are interested or ever wondered about being a demonstrator let me know. I would love to let you know what my last 21 + years have been like. 

Today's card is again more scraps I had on my desk. (I have a lot of scraps, haha) I love how bold the razzleberry is with the old olive color! Just a beautiful combination. 

I am so glad that the  stitched nested  label dies will not be retiring. They are a great die for sentiments as well as stamped items. I can't wait to share the new catalog with all of you. So many wonderful new products! Only a little over a week till the new catalog is live. If you have ordered anything from me in the last year I will be sending you a catalog. Let me know if you know of anyone who else would like a catalog.  Thank you for stopping by and have a great weekend! Blessings and stay and pray in place!

More cards made from scraps!

Hi and welcome! Today's card I feel is really a complete combination of hodge podge from my desk. After I put it all together I really liked the way that it turned out. All the items were created but not used for other cards. I must have stamped and colored a lot of walrus' but I think this is finally the last one on my desk. The polka dots were made with the stencil and a sponge, the background was watercolored and then I sprinkled water and wiped it off to give more texture as well as spatters of white ink.

The punch I used was the pretty label and that will also be retiring. So bummed because I really like this punch. The white stripe was embossed with the high seas embossing folder, another retiring item.

Make sure if there is something you have had your eye on that is retiring to get it now.  Have a great day! I am so grateful for you visiting my blog! It really means a lot to me that you have taken time out of your day to see what I have made. Blessings!

Lilypad lake

Hi my stamping friends! Hope you are all doing well! Sorry I have not blogged lately, my daughter had her virtual college graduation and I was so busy trying to make it special for her! Such weird times we are all living in right now.  I really wonder what will be the new normal when the bans in California are lifted and we do not have to stay in our homes any longer.

One thing I am grateful is for the opportunity to stamp more. I am trying to use up all the pieces on my desk that I have stamped and not used that will be retiring soon. So that is how this card was created. I had the crane colored and cut out. The background I made with the lines stamp in the set, stamped repeatedly in coastal cabana and then flipped the paper and stamped with smokey slate. I think this is a fun take on making a plaid look. 

The rest of the card was also created with scraps that I had on my desk. I am going to miss the lilypad lake stamp set, I love the sentiments and all the dies that match the set. Thank you so much for stopping by. I will be back with more cards from my desk of scraps. So many more things that need love before they retire. Blessings for a beautiful day and stay healthy!

Another walrus?

Hi! Are you tired of seeing yet another walrus card? I think this will be the last one for a while. I have so many other sets that need love! Plus, I just received my new stamp order from the brand new Stampin' Up! annual catalog! So excited to share what was in my order!  It was a tough decision on what to order and not break the bank. I love flowers and so many beautiful one in the new catalog! One of the benefits of being a demonstrator is that I can order a month before the catalog goes live. Would you like that opportunity? Let me know.

This card has a different sentiment from the last two cards, so that is good. I paired it with the country club dsp and I think this would make a great masculine card.

After running the high seas embossing folder through the die machine I sponged on a little ink to give it more texture. I tried to make it a little darker on the bottom and lighter on the top. What do you think? Have a great day! I am off to create with some fun new product! Can't wait to share. Also, if you placed an order with me in the past year I will be sending you a beautiful new catalog! Thank you to all who have been so supportive of me this past year!  I really do appreciate it and I do not take it for granted!  Blessings and stay healthy!

Blessings!

Welcome! So glad that you are here! How is everyone? I have heard that some people are beginning to have some of their restrictions removed. I think that it is a little scary to think about that. I know that the rate of the virus will start to increase, yet so many are being affected with no jobs and income. I pray that you and your families are staying healthy, safe and secure. Trust in God is all we have at this time. And I thank God everyday that I know that He has it all under control!

On to the card, since that is why you are here. This card is similar to the one I shared yesterday. I stamped the little fish in the background and then a main focal point on one walrus.

I even used the same sentiment. I have been making a lot of thank you cards lately to send and give to people who are making the world a better place. The sunburst punch and the designer series paper will also be retiring. I am so bummed because I love this punch! Thank you for joining me today! Take care of yourself! Blessings!

Walrus love

Hi! I am so sad that this set will be retiring. I have had so much fun making cards with the set.  I love the cute little guys and I will be sharing a few more cards in the next couple days with this set. I also love to color, as most of you know, and so it give me the opportunity to have fun coloring.

The high seas embossing folder is also retiring so grab that one, it is really fun even if you do not use for waves. I sponged it a  little with balmy blue after I had cut it with my stitched shape dies. I hope you are all doing well! Stay healthy and let me know what are you most sad about that will be retiring? Blessings!

Sunshine on a cloudy day!

Well I originally made this card for the challenge, however time got away from me and I missed entering it. But I thought that I would still share this fun card. This was a  color challenge which is always a struggle for me. Check TGIF out here!

                                      

I had fun using a few retiring products on this card.  Have a great day and I will be back soon with another fun card! Stay healthy! Blessings!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Hi Friends!  Thank you for stopping by!  Happy Cinco de Mayo and have a taco for Tuesday!! (I would eat tacos everyday if I could!) My card today is another quick and simple card.  I love all the stencils that Stampin' Up offers and so I had to play with one for a fun card. The ink I used was granny apple green and balmy blue. The key I have found when ink blending is to go slow and very soft! No pressure!  Let the ink do the work for you. 

The sentiment and die are from the stitched all around and stitched labels (so sad these are retiring!) I used a little piece of the white polka dot ribbon and a few glitter enamel drops. I really like the look that blending on the white card stock gives such a clean and crisp look. Give this a try and let me know what color combos you like for blending! Have a blessed and safe week.  Keep healthy and stamp! Thank you for coming by!

Thank you to all the videos and blogs!

Hi! Today's card was inspired by a video I saw a while back from Kelly Latevola at You and Your Big Dreams. If you have not seen her videos and card you are missing out!  She is amazing and her storytime during her videos is something I look forward to!  Love her! I watched her do a card like this one a while back and I just had to recreate it with the stamps that I had. (sorry I do not know when it was but all her cards and videos are amazing- you will be hooked!)

Granted her card is so much better, but I do like this card and the way that it turned out. The best part was the fun I had while creating it! And isn't that what it is all about? 

After stamping with staz on ink and a quick wash of water color with ink refills I used my stampin blends to add a little more detail.

The colors on this card make me so happy! They are so bright. The greeting is white heat embossed from the So Sentimental stamp set and I fussy cut out just the thank you part.  Thank you to all of those bloggers out there who have made my life so nice with amazing videos and classes! I really appreciate all your time and effort into making our lives creative and fun.  Nothing like sitting with a big cup of coffee a little (or a lot) of chocolate and watching videos. They make me so happy! I feel like I know so many of you out there. You are in my prayers and bring me joy. Thank you!

Ornate Style 3 Ways!

Hi and welcome! Happy Friday!  I have been busy playing with the ornate style stamp. If you follow me regularly you know how much I love to color and how much peace it brings me. However, I know many people out there do not have the same love. Or sometimes you just need a quick card or are mass producing cards. So I have taken the ornate flower bunch and shown a few cards you can make with quick or no coloring at all.  

The first card is white heat embossed on vellum. To hide the adhesive I wrapped the vellum around a piece of bird ballad paper (I am going to really miss this paper). The greeting is from the free as a bird stamp set also embossed with white and die cut with stitched so sweetly.

I added a few pearls and mounted it on whisper white thick card stock.

The next card is also white heat embossed on white card stock and then colored with ink and sponge daubers. The background is basket weave ( also retiring) then greeting and die are from lilypad lake

 (retiring)  and the bow is inspired by Tammy Wilson (https://stampspaperscissors.com/) Her bow creations are amazing. 

The last card is white heat embossed on blackberry bliss card stock. I love how bright and bold this is! You can't tell from the picture but I added wink of stella to the flowers. In person such beautiful shimmer! The sentiment is from the winter woods stamp set.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I had so much fun making these cards. I love how each card makes the stamp look so different.  I hope you are all staying healthy and getting a few minutes to yourself to stamp.