Thanks for EVERYTHING

Yet another thank you card sent this week to a stamping friend, one who is more like a sister (you know who you are, Becky)! This one used the bonus free stamp set we received with this month's Paper Pumpkin kit. It's called All About Everything and it's so cute with lots of ways to combine the greetings. If you aren't a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, you missed out!

Unfortunately, in my haste to get it in the mail, I forgot to take measurements so I can't give you the "How To." Bad Cindy!

Edited to add: AND BECKY'S MOM FOR THE WIN!!! She took the measurements, so here they are:

White Image 4 1/4 x 2 3/4

Matte 4 3/8 x 2 7/8

White Emboss 5 3/8 x 2 1/16

 

Thank you, Jackie!!!

STAMPS: All About Everything
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss*, Perfect Plum
INK: Blackberry Bliss*, Mossy Meadow*, Hello Honey*
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Spring Flowers folder (ret.), Gold Cording Trim (ret.), Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

* Retiring items (available while supplies last)

You're Just the Sweetest!

Another thank you card for another awesome stamping friend. I'm kind of bummed that it took me so long to see the potential of the Apple of My Eye stamp set paired with (see what I did there? LOL) the Farmer's Market DSP. Both of these are retiring next month, boo!

I solemnly swear that I will try to make the most of the new things coming in the new catalog. Holy toledo, are there some spectacular things coming, too! If you've placed an order with me in the past year, you should be receiving your new annual catalog toward the end of next month. Be on the lookout!

Here's the "How To"
Image panel: Whisper White 2" x 3-1/8"
Mat behind image: Basic Black 2-1/8" x 3-1/4"
DSP behind image: Farmer's Market 1-3/4" x 4"
Mat behind DSP: Basic Black 1-7/8" x 4"
DSP on card base: Farmer's Market 4" x 5-1/4"
Mat: Basic Black 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
Card base: Whisper White Thick 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded

1. On Whisper White cardstock, stamp pear using Pear Pizzazz, stem using Soft Suede (stamped off once), and leaf using Old Olive. Ink lower part of pear stamp again with Hello Honey (Rock & Roll technique) and stamp pear again.
2. Stamp greeting over pear and adhere stamped image to Basic Black mat.
3. Adhere DSP (both sizes) to their respective mats. (Note: for smaller DSP the mat shows above and below, and is even with DSP at the side edges.)
4. Fasten smaller DSP/mat to larger DSP/mat, having bottom approx. 1" from bottom edge.
5. Wrap gold cording around larger mat as shown, adhering the ends on the back with Glue Dots, then adhere to card base.
6. Use Stampin' Dimensionals to affix image to card base.
7. Use Fine-Tip Glue Pen or Glue Dots to attach sequins.

STAMPS: Apple of My Eye*
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Basic Black, Farmer's Market DSP*
INK: Basic Black Archival, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Hello Honey*, Soft Suede
ACCESSORIES: Gold Sequins (Love Blossoms Embellishment Kit)*, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, gold cord (ret.)

* These items are retiring. See the retirement list HERE to check availability!

Second Saturday Stampers

This is another of the cards we made in last Saturday's stamp club. It's really SO much prettier in real life. I was looking at the colors in the English Garden DSP pack, and the colors on one sheet just jumped out and popped me in the eye! I knew that it was a lighter shade of Night of Navy, and I wanted to use N.O.N. as the outline of the blossom, but not really a stamped off lighter shade for the petals. Then it hit me (I get hit a lot, lol) - Island Indigo just might work! I tested it on some scratch paper and held it up to the DSP background and voila!

I love the little bit of texture peeking out from behind the greeting. The Kraft and White Corrugated Paper is awesome for stuff like that!

Here's the "How To"
Cardstock for flowers and leaves: Whisper White 2-3/4" X 8-1/2" (or whatever scraps you have)
Greeting panel: Whisper White 3" x 4-1/4"
Mat: Kraft Corrugated Paper 2-3/4" x 4"
DSP: English Garden 4" x 5-1/4"
Mat behind DSP: Soft Suede 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
Card base: Whisper White Thick 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded

1. Stamp greeting in center of Whisper White rectangle and cut with Lots of Labels Framelit (#4 counting from smallest), centering greeting.
2. Cut corrugated paper with next larger Lots of Labels Framelit (#5 from smallest). Adhere greeting to corrugated mat.
3. Stamp three flower outlines in Night of Navy, and the petals in Island Indigo (2-Step stamping). Stamp four sets of leaves (the larger ones) in Tip Top Taupe but don't fill them in. Stamp the centers of the flowers with Tip Top Taupe.
4. Fussy cut out the flowers and leaves. (Note: when cutting the leaves, leave a little "bridge" between the two leaves at the base. This will be hidden behind a petal and can be used to glue the leaves in place.)
5. Fasten DSP to Soft Suede mat and then to card base.
6. Adhere matted greeting panel to center of DSP.
7. Glue leaves behind petals as shown, and adhere flowers to card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
8. Add medium Pearls Basic Jewels as shown.

STAMPS: Garden in Bloom, Picture Perfect (greeting)
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Kraft Corrugated Paper, English Garden DSP
INK: Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Tip Top Taupe
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Dies, Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

Fun at the Stamp Club!

Getting a new stamp club started when you move clear across the country is kind of tricky, because you don't know anyone, so you can't say, "Come on over for some stampy, inky fun!" Luckily for me, I've been discovered by a local lady who had been looking for a demo in her area for a long time. The closest ones she had found were way down in Knoxville, which was really too far for stamp classes and clubs.

So, as of now I have ONE stamp club member, and we are looking to find more locals who love to stamp and make pretty things. Another local lady has ordered from me online, and is inviting some friends to her house next month so I can show them watercoloring techniques. Maybe one of them will join the monthly fun! I hope so; the more the merrier!

This is one of the (three) cards we made. Since Mom is here for a two week visit, she joined us and we had a great time. Mom is a novice stamper, but she caught on quickly and was really pleased with how her cards turned out.

The "How To" for this card
Image panel: Whisper White 4" x 5-1/4" plus copy paper cut same size (for mask)
Mat: Basic Black 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"
Card Base: Whisper White Thick 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" and folded

1. Cut copy paper using Lots of Labels die (second largest size) centered on paper
2. Place mask over image panel and hold in place with painters tape or Washi tape.
3. Sponge So Saffron starting at bottom and working part way up. Sponge Calypso Coral starting at top and working dow into So Saffron, blending as you go. Remove mask
4. Using Basic Black ink, stamp tree image so leftmost branch just touches left side of cardstock. Stamp greeting to the right of the tree. Stamp leaves in Calypso Coral.
5. Emboss image panel using Softly Falling folder so the least concentration of dots is at the bottom of the cardstock. (Note: Archival ink will leave a ghost image on your folder which is easily cleaned with Stampin' Mist.)
6. Wrap ribbon around and adhere ends on back. Fasten image panel to black mat and then to card base. (Note: To avoid flattening your embossing, put the adhesive on the mat and place your embossed piece over it, pressing gently. Take care to not rub over the black ink - it may smudge!)
7. Adhere rhinestones on ribbon below greeting.

Ta-da, it's finished!!!

STAMPS: Sheltering Tree
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Basic Black
INK: Basic Black Archival, So Saffron, Calypso Coral
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Lots of Labels Dies, Softly Falling embossing folder, Blushing Bride 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stamping Sponges, tape to hold mask in place

Final Weekly Deal

This is it - the very last week of Stampin' Up Weekly Deals. After next Monday, they'll be gone forever. There are some holiday Thinlits and Framelits on the deals this week, so be sure to check them out. It's time to start thinking about making a few holiday cards each month so you will be ready to send them (stress free!) when the holidays arrive!

Click HERE to see the deals!

All Good Things Must End, I Guess

But why? WHY must they end??? Stampin' Up! announced that the Weekly Deals are going to end after next week. *sniff*  I guess they are going to do other promotions, and this good thing's time has come. So, stampers, this is the amazing deal for this week, which ends Monday night (Apr. 11), and then Tuesday (the 12th) will begin the very last Weekly Deal, which will end forever on April 18th.

Catching Up

Spring is springing around here. Well, it was until this weekend, anyway. Woke up Saturday to a few snow pellets on the back deck, and this morning it was 28 degrees. Brrr! I'm trying to get some spring cleaning done here on the blog, so at the end of this post will be some details on the cards I made for the last Control Freaks blog hop.

Meanwhile, here is one of the Easter cards I sent this year. Yes, #imbringingEasterbacktoo, LOL! I just can't get enough of this adorable little chick!

The "How To" for this card
Card base: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Whisper White Thick, scored at 4-1/4" and folded
Image panel: Chick stamped on Watercolor Paper with Basic Black Archival ink, cut with 2-5/16" circle Framelit (#5 counting from smallest Framelit), colored with Aqua Painter using Daffodil Delight on chick, Sahara Sand shadow under chick, Pumpkin Pie marker for feet and beak
Mat behind image: Island Indigo punched with 2-1/2" circle punch
Mat behind Island Indigo mat: Pool Party cut with 2-3/4" circle Framelit (#6 counting from smallest Framelit)
Greeting: Scrap of Whisper white, stamped and punched with 1" circle punch
Mat behind greeting: Pool Party cut with 1-1/16" circle Framelit (second from smallest)
Mat behind doily: 4" x 5-1/4" Pool Party, embossed with (retired) Perfect Polka Dots folder

1. Emboss Pool Party rectangle with polka dot folder and adhere doily to right side.
2. Wrap ribbon around and adhere to back side. Fasten mat to card base.
3. Stamp and color bird, then cut out with Framelit. Mount on Island Indigo circle then Pool Party circle.
4. Fasten matted image over ribbon and doily.
5. Stamp greeting and punch with 1" circle punch. Mat on Pool Party circle and attach to card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
6. Tie a bow and attach to card using Glue Dots. Cut two pieces of pearl string embellishment and adhere just under bow using Fine-Tip Glue Pen. Let dry completely.

STAMPS: Honeycomb Happiness (SAB retired), Circle of Spring
CARDSTOCK: Whisper White Thick, Whisper White, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Watercolor Paper
INK: Basic Black Archival, Daffodil Delight, Sahara Sand, plus Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots folder (ret.), Circles Collection Framelits, 1" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Aqua Painters, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, 1/4" Pool Party Cotton Ribbon, Love Blossoms Embellishment Kit, Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Fine-Tip Glue Pen

Basics on Control Freaks blog hop cards

Hello Spring Chick: Mint Macaron card base, Whisper White mat (4-1/8" x 5-3/8"), Four Mint Macaron DSP strips (7/8" x 5-1/8"), chick stamped, colored, and cut as above but mounted on Blushing Bride mat, Blushing Bride 1/4" Cotton Ribbon, Metallic Foil Doily

Hello Spring Bouquet: Card Base Whisper White Thich, mat Whisper White (4" x 5-1/4"), bottom of Washi tape placed 1" from bottom of mat, dry emboss above tape with Softly Falling folder, Whisper White image panel (2-1/2" W x 2-1/4" T) stamped with bouquet from Number of Years (Daffodil Delight and stamped off Mossy Meadow & Rose Red), Mossy Meadow mat (3" W x 2-3/4" T), Basic Black "Hello" from Greetings Thinlits, "Spring" from Crazy About You

Happy Easter Peony: Peony from You've Got This stamped on Shimmery White CS, colored with Blender Pen (Melon Mambo, Mossy Meadow, plus So Saffrom Marker), fussy cut and mounted with dimensionals on Whisper White (3-3/4" x 5") embossed with Brick Wall folder, Mossy Meadow mat (3-13/16" x 5-1/8"), Whisper White thick card base