Sneak Peak -- "You've Got This" stamp set

Here is a brand new stamp set called "You've Got This" that will be in the new catalog coming out June 2nd. It was a must have on my list, as it comes with this cool cross hatch background as well as that beautiful floral image.  I stamped the flower onto watercolor paper in black Stayzon ink, and then used an aqua painter and a new In Color ink, Watermelon Wonder, to color in the flower.  This color is my definite favorite of the New In Colors this year -- a vibrant watermelon color -- very poppy like.  And, for those of you who know me, all things poppies are special to me, as they grew everywhere when I was a little girl, thanks to my mom who planted them in honor of her mom....  I, too, have poppies growing all around my yard....

The card base is also a new In Color, called Tip Top Taupe.  It is a great neutral color that will play well with many other colors in our line up.  I randomly stamped the cross hatch background in the same ink color -- Tip Top Taupe.

The leaves and stems are colored in with another new In Color, Cucumber Crush -- a very vibrant green.  The flower stamens are colored with Delightful Dijon -- also a new In Color.  Of course, I added a little dazzling diamonds glitter to the flower center with my two way glue pen -- it just makes that flower 'pop'!  That little lace trim you see, is the new In Color lace trim -- I only purchased it in the Tip Top Taupe color.  Soft, easy to tie, and a subtle accent to your project.

 Here is a second card I made, featuring this stamp in a "non-colored in" fashion.  I wanted to try different neutrals together with the new Tip Top Taupe to see how they look together.  I rather like how it came out.  I stamped the central image on a Sahara Sand die cut in Memento Black ink.  I then used the white signo gel pen to highlight the petals lightly.  The die cut mat is Tip Top Taupe stamped with the cross hatch stamp again.  LOVE that stamp!  So versatile.  I know I will be reaching for this stamp for dozens of projects.  Will be perfect for scrap book pages as well.

Another new product in the upcoming catalog, is heavy weight Whisper White card stock -- perfect for a card base as it not so flimsy and holds up to adding layers to it much better.

Other product used on this card:  Basic Black card stock, the Tip Top Taupe lace trim, Soft Suede ink,  deco label framelits, and Tuxedo Memento Black ink.

These are easy peasy lemon squeezy cards, but I thought they show cased this new stamp set in an easily re-creatable way. :)

Happy long weekend to each of you, and may we pause and remember those who have given their lives for our freedom!

Indescribable gift and spiral flower die wine tag

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Yesterday my crafty stampers' club made this gorgeous wine tag, perfect for spring and summer!  The hostess had requested a wine tag, and I decided to go with a color combo out of my comfort zone -- Coastal Cabana (a soon to be retired color) and Calypso Coral.  I really like how it turned out, and it is definitely on the trendy side. :)

For the base of the wine tag, I used an embossing folder from the spring catalog, Spring Flowers.  This cute little folder is not carrying over to the new catalog, so get it before June 2nd if you love it!

The flower is made with the spiral flower die -- using two die cut flowers (Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe) layered together.  To achieve this vintage looking flower, spritz your die cuts liberally with water, wad them up in your hand, crumpling them well, then smooth out and roll up into your rose and hot glue it together.  Smoosh and scrunch your rose till you like the look of the petals.  To make the leaves, I scored a pc of Pear Pizzazz card stock, then folded on the score line and punched petals with the large oval punch.  I then put them through the Stylish Stripes embossing folder to make it look like veins on the leaves.  For that background behind the rose, I used a die cut piece from the Artisan Embellishment kit (no longer available to purchase), and turned it into a stencil by coating it well with gel medium to make it waterproof, then sponged Coastal Cabana ink over it with a sponge dauber.  For the second wine tag, I used the Indescribable Gift stamp set from the Occasions catalog -- a set that isn't carrying over, so if you love it, get it!  Just sayin'!  I stamped the brach in Memento Black ink and then colored the flowers in using my Blender pens and Calypso Coral, Espresso, and Pear Pizzazz inks.  I added Crystal Effects to the larger flowers to add some dimension to them.  I rather like how it turned out.

Other products used: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, and Coastal Cabana card stock, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, Costal Cabana, Calypso Coral, and Pear Pizzazz ink, Pear Pizzazz and Calypso Coral chevron ribbon.

Be sure to check out the Paper Pumpkin special by clicking on the button on the upper right -- 50% off your first two months subscription.  SWEET!!!!!  Who doesn't love getting a crafty box delivered right to their door every month? :)

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

It's Teacher Appreciation week!  I am so grateful for the teachers that each of my children have.  It is an often thankless job, I think, and they put SOOO much into our kids and help shape their lives in ways that we, as parents, can't.  So, thank you to all the teachers out there!  We appreciate what you do!

I, once again, headed up the teacher appreciation gifts for my son's school.  Three ladies, including my friend, Leah, whose kids don't even go to our school, came over and helped put these together. We gave out a little lotion in a cello bag with a cute washi tape tag on it, and a packet of four note cards -- stamped with the Perfect Peacock stamp, Bordering Blooms stamp set, Sheltering Tree stamp set, and a retired tractor stamp.  The SU note cards come in a pack of 20 for $5.95 each.  That is a lot of little cards with matching envelopes, making it a very inexpensive, yet awesome, little gift -- we could get 5 gifts out of one pack.  Score!  It was fun to see the looks on the teachers faces when we handed them out.  LOVE that part.

Other products used:  Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, and the following inks:  Bermuda Bay, Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzaz, Early Espresso, Lost Lagoon, Real Red, and Old Olive.  I just love stamping all the little parts that come with the Sheltering Tree stamp, and especially wanted to stamp that little bike.  However, after 65 of them, I was feeling like I had given that stamp set plenty of love!

Today, for Sabina's little pre school, we picked up drinks (of their choice) from Starbucks for each of her teachers, and gave out little card packets, and Sabina made them each a card as well.  She did a great job of giving them their little gifts and saying "Happy Teacher Appreciation Week".  Awwww - it's the little moments that make life grand!

Happy Friday, Everyone! and don't forget to thank your teachers!