Pedaling Past to Thank You

Pedaling Past is a stamp set that was in last year's Summer Mini.  I thought I'd pull it out at least one more time before the new Catalog items were available to customers!  I combined the use of the corner punch scallops, hodgepodge hardware, the dotted embossing folder combined with the latest in colors of Concord Crush and Pear Pizazz.  The paper is designer series paper, along with coordinating twill tape ribbon.  I also just love our new pearls!  I keep having to get more of them because I use them on everything these days!  This is an easy sketch to re-create using 3 printed papers, 2 colors, and 1 solid paper.  Easy!  Have fun!

Penguin Birthday, compliments of Merry Socha

My card for today is a direct case from Merry Socha on stampinconnection.com. I thought the owl punch would work for a cute little penguin, and Merry had the same 'vision.'  :)  She made it easy for me! 

I think they are so darn cute!  lol  I used all Stampin' Up! products except for the scrap of blue background, the rubon sentiment, and the party hat which was made with my cricut.  The ribbon has been available on the clearance rack at Stampin' Up - just click the Shop 24/7 button to the right to check out the sales!  Tomorrow I'll post a card made from products in the new Holiday Mini catalog that was mailed to many of you!  Make it a great day!

Owl-y Flowers - love it!

Well, I'm excited to say that I have a card to post every day this week!  I was busy this weekend, as card making never feels like 'laboring' for me.  It was a perfect time to enjoy myself by making cards for my sweet daughter and to get started on Christmas Cards.  I know... Christmas, in September?  I make ALOT of Christmas cards, as you will see in the coming months!

First, I had so much fun making these large flowers out of the owl punch a few weeks ago.  The flowers have been sitting on my desk, just waiting to be glued to a card:

Each 'petal' is created by cutting a 'v' between the owl ears.  Then cut off the feet (sorry, that sounds so cruel - lol).  Fold the owl lengthwise and pinch the bottom.  This gives you a point from which to fold, and also brings the petals tips up a bit.  From your bottom crease, fold each edge in until they touch.  I then glued these to the large scallop punch of pear pizzaz cardstock.  The center is a 1/2" punch of Garden Gala dp adhered to a build-a-brad.  I had fun mixing the Garden Gala and Razzleberry Lemonade (retired) design papers, too!  My daughter described this card as "cheerful."  I'd have to agree!

I have another example of owl flowers tomorrow using the Noveau Chic paper and one of the new stamp sets.  Hope you'll stop by!  Until then, make it a Stampin' Day!

I'm holding an open house!

I've been invited to present Stampin' Up! Products at the Trendy Tulip Boutique this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  I'm very excited to share many of Stampin' Up!s new products and to demonstrate our My Digital Studio software.  I can hardly wait!  Hope you can join me!  More information is available here:

Trendy Tulip Boutique!

Below is just one example of the Notecard Sets I will have on display:

Each set has 3 Birthday Cards and 3 Thank You cards contained in this cute little box!  I have several of these made using all different design paper.  This one uses the new Garden Gala DSP, Pumpkin Pie cardstock and ink, daffodil delight cardstock and the new pear pizzaz poly ribbon.  I heat embossed the sentiment with versamark and clear embossing powder, punched it with our large oval punch and popped it upon dimensionals.  Super easy, demonstrable and very cheery, don't you think?   I will also be displaying the wonderful card swaps I received at Convention.  It's wonderful to receive card swaps that use stamps that I don't have so I can display a wider variety of products.  I love that!  I'm off to prepare for this event.  Hope to see you there, and let me know if you saw this post and I will give away a free card!

From the new catalog.... so fun!

Aren't new toys FUN!?  New colors, stamps, punches and always lots of fresh ideas await you in the new Stampin' Up! catalog!  Remember that many of the new stamps and colors are available for My Digital Studio as well!  Want more information on digital crafts?  Email me!

Below is a rather quick card I made for one of my clients.  Hydrangeas grew in my backyard when I was a child and they bring back many fond memories of good times in that backyard!  My mother showed me how to add colored water to the base of the bush to change the color of the hydrangea, so in her honor, I went with a red hydrangea, just like we used to 'make at home!'  Details are below.  Enjoy, create, and have a fabulous 4th of July weekend!

and for the inside:

Almost all NEW products were used for this card:  My base card is Early Espresso cardstock, layered with Pear Pizzaz that has been dry embossed with the new Vintage Wallpaper folder.  The Cherry Cobbler strip was border punched with the scallop punch.  Early Espresso was used for the main image mat.  Watercolor paper makes the main image mat because it works so well with the blender pens.  I used Cherry Cobbler to stamp the flower and was careful to load ink on only the flower portion of the stamp.  The stem was colored with my Pear Pizzaz marker.  I used a blender pen and just a little extra ink to color the image for more depth.  Cajun Craze marker was used to color the centers of the flowers.  I used my Cherry Cobbler marker to color only two images of the line design and stamp them in opposite corners.  The sentiment and hydrangea are from the new "Because I Care" set.  The sentiment was heat embossed with versamark and clear powder.  The inside used Very Vanilla mats, and the same components as the outside of the card.  I just might make a few more of these! 

Congrats to my Sis!

Can I just say, I'm loving the new colors and this Garden Gala design paper!  Can't wait for it to be available to everyone July 1st!  My sister got the job she wanted teaching 2nd grade and I couldn't be happier for her!  As a gift, I'm giving her the Teacher's Pet stamp set and some classic ink pads and stampin' spots, along with this card:

and here's the inside:

I really like the way it turned out!  Here we go on the details:  I used Daffodil delight as my base card, and the Garden Gala design paper for all printed paper.  Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist and Pear Pizazz were also used as card stock and ink.  I realized later that actually, I think this paper may use Real Red and not Cherry Cobbler, but it still looks ok to me!  Four stamp sets were used:  The new Friends Never Fade was used for the flower.  I colored it with markers first, stamped it, then colored again with a versamark pen and heat embossed it.  Wonderful Favorites was used for the outside greeting, and 'the best is yet to be' is from the Best Yet set.  I didn't have any Pear Pizzaz ribbon - yet... but I will!  I used some miscellaneous ribbon that came close enough until I get the real thing!  There really isn't alot of embellishments on this card - It's pretty simple with lots of layers and color.  Funny, that's how I could describe my sister, colorful with lots of layers! 

News Stamps for Preview of the New Catalog!

New catalogs are always so much fun!  The new Color Renovation at Stampin' Up has also been very exciting.  I'm having a blast playing with new paper, stamps and markers. 

I used all of the new In Colors for this cute little card that could be used for a birthday, congratulations or encouragement.  "Best Wishes"is such a versatile sentiment, don't you think?

I used the slit punch, daisy flower punch, and the Itty Bitty Buttons that go perfectly with the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set.  It's so nice to work with materials that coordinate so well together.

I'll be posting another creation made with some of the new colors from the color renovation, and another new stamp set!  Off to the 'day job' for now.  Happy Stamping and thanks for lookin'!