Stamps, Paper, and Ink

isn't it wonderful?

Isn't summer wonderful?

Don't you love this time of year when gardens are in their beautiful prime and we get to enjoy the bounty? My favorite pick are ripe and juicy cherries, yummm!

It's also a special time of year at Splitcoaststampers when the Dirty Dozen Alumni gather to present our Dare to Get Dirty challenges to you! Here's my first sample for the challenges that go live this morning. Won't you think about joining in?  If you're a Fan Club Member, the fun and prizes start HERE. If your'e not a Fan Club member, now is a great time to find out what it's all about.

 I made this card using the Cherish Friendship stamp set and my favorite technique of watercoloring with blender pens and inks. Again, I pulled out my Domestic Goddess DSP, these colors shout summer to me.

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Cherish Friendship, Friendly Phrases

Paper:  Pool Party, Whisper White , Domestic Goddess DSP

Ink:  Jetblack StazOn, Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Sahara Sand

Accessories:   Basic Pearls, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Blender pens, markers, Perfect Pennant Die

Easy and sweet!

 The Easy Events set has everything you need to make cards for any occasion. I inked up the cute cupcake image for today's easy and sweet birthday card.

The colors are Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait and Pool Party. I had fun layering my buttons with a jewel, but think I got just a wee bit carried away with the Baker's Twine!  To add texture, the Daffodil card stock was embossed with the Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and I decorated the cupcake with a bit of glitter. If you have any questions about the card after you check the supply list, just let me know.

The time is running short to sign up on this month's Starter Kit special. You could receive all this PLUS a 20% discount on all your stamping orders! It is possible to substitute for inks and card stock that you may already have.

Whether you want to consider Stampin' Up! as a business opportunity or just add to your stash with these discounted supplies, don't let yourself miss out on this limited offer that ends Sunday! I would so love to have you on my team.

There's more -

Join in July and receive this FREE Christmas Keepsake Project Kit plus a chance to earn an additional free stamp set from my upline. I look forward to having you contact me to discuss your questions and show you how easy becoming a demonstrator can be. Call or e-mail me today!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Easy Events

Paper:  Whisper White, Pool Party, Melon Mambo, Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, Daffodil Delight

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait, Pool Party, Jetblack StazOn

Accessories:  Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle and 2-1/2" Circle punches, Baker's Twine, Designer Original Buttons, Basic Rhinestones, taffeta ribbon, Tasteful Trim Die

Love life, Live life

Good morning! How's your day going?

I love to watercolor, and I was so pleased at the variety of images in the Zoo Review set that I've been itching to use it! I'm really glad I'm getting a chance to pull out some of my new sets. This one is sure to be a favorite!

I need a card for a special guy birthday coming up, and found this giraffe would be just right.

 

I used watercolor paper, inks, markers and blender pens to color in the giraffe. Lots of layers of color, actually more than I ever would have thought of using because I shifted the color scheme midway in order to match the Well Worn Designer Paper.  The strip along the bottom is denim ribbon - love it!

What do you think of today's card and the new set? I'd love to hear from you!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Zoo Review, You're a Gem

Paper:  So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Well Worn DSP, Watercolor paper

Ink:  Early Ezpresso, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Wild Wasabi

Accessories:  Designer Button, Linen Thread, Denim Ribbon, markers, Blender pens

 

Hello, my friends!

If you've been wondering where I've been, I am here to tell you all about it today! I've been in a whirlwind of traveling, and I just got in late last night from my second trip this month. Except for 3 days to regroup, I've been gone since July 12th!

This time my husband and I went together to attend the beautiful wedding of my nephew and his sweet bride. He is such a great guy - I wish we didn't live so far away. The celebration was lovely and I'm so glad I was able to be there to spend wonderful times visiting with my family. We were in such a gorgeous setting, surrounded by the beauties of nature on every side. Here are a few pics and I'm sure by the end you will guess the location!

Rocks, hills, and woodlands...

water on every side,

rocky beaches, boats everywhere! We sailed on a schooner almost out to the open sea!

Mount Desert Island, Maine is one of the prettiest places I've ever been!  Now you know what I've been up to. If you can take one more non-card related photo, can I say how happy my family was to have us back?  And look who's not wanted to leave my side....

JOSIE!

As promised, I do have a card for you in keeping with a natural beauty theme.

This card was inspired by the GROW theme at Convention, and the beautiful stage set up. It changed colors and when I saw this calming combo, I got the idea for this card using the My Friend set. The silhouette was stamped and embossed in white. I preferred keeping the layers simple so that this card could be made in minutes! Hope you'll give it a try.

Hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse of my summer. Thanks so much for spending a few minutes here today, I love being able to share with you!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  My Friend

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Versamark

Accessories:  White EP, Jumbo brad, Decorative Label and Corner Rounder punches

 

Still inspired from Convention

You know how it is after a trip, with the unpacking, laundry, grocery shopping, picking up the dog. (Yes, Josie was SO GLAD to get home even though she has a cold!) Doesn't leave much time for stamping but I am studying all the photos of ideas that I brought home and making my plans.

Even though the photos leave a lot to be desired in terms of clarity - they were shot from way back where I sit which is even pretty far from the screens - I thought you'd like to see two projects that I can't wait to try!

The first is a box using the Mini Milk Box die and the Timeless Portrait collection.

Aren't they beautiful and so unique? I can't wait to make a variation of these and teach this to my club ladies.

The next project is a woven basket which begins as a die cut of the Fancy Favor box.

Filled with beautiful paper flowers. There were variations of paper flowers everywhere at convention!

I'll close with these big beauties to cheer your day.

Tomorrow I'll have a card for you and coming soon will be blog candy so I know you'll want to check back.

 

Happiest Thoughts

Convention was wonderful but it's always good to come back home!

I'm not quite back in stamping mode, although I look forward to finishing some projects started at convention (and make some new ones too) there's a ton of stuff to do. I do have a card I made before I left to share with you today, have a look!

The Field of Flowers stamp set is one of my very favorites. I know you've been hearing that a lot lately! The flowers are so detailed and can be made even more so with two step stamping. I stamped the stem image on Very Vanilla card stock and using the same, stamped the flower petals and flower centers each twice, then cut them out.

The detailed images don't need much embellishment, so I chose simple accents. There are two strips of the Mocha Morning Specialty paper on the card top, the black one has a flockeded flourish that I wish showed up better for you! The sentiment is stamped in a window. I embossed the card front with the new Designer Frames Embossing folder and then used the large oval punch to cut out the space inside for the window.I loved using this elegant EF to make a window and it's so easy!

Here's a tip: when you need to make a window, cut a panel smaller than your card front. This enables you to better position the punch and place the card stock with the sentiment behind the window.

Thanks to so many of you who greeted me at convention! I had a blast meeting you! Stampers are the greatest kinds of people, ya know?!

 

  All supplies by Stampin' Up!

Stamps:  Field Flowers

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Morning Mocha Specialty, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Basic Black, can't remember which pink, but I satmped it off!, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories:  Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Large Oval Punch, Victoria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls

Christmas in July, continued....

I got a few better photos and want to share them with you. I know July is a little early to be thinking of the Holiday Mini and Christmas, but I hope these projects make you want to stamp and create something beautiful! I know you'll be ready to receive your own Holiday Mini soon and be thrilled and inspired!

 Get ready to unwrap some beautiful gifts, bedecked with felt die cuts and glitter paper. It will be available in red and dazzling silver!

 A stocking using the new Bigz die and the Christmas Lodge DP. Don't you love the little jingle bell wreath? They are a fun new accessory.

 There will be a new stamp set and matching punch featuring these cute images.

 See the mica flakes scattered - a new bling just perfect for snow or shaker cards! It will be so easy to make pleated medallions using our new Simply Scored tool!

I'd like to wrap up this post with a special offer. If you've been reading my blog thinking, "That is so exciting! I'd love to part of a company that makes such fabulous products" then I'd really like for you to think about joining my team. When you receive your Starter Kit you'll be so excited at the opportunities that await you! Not only that, but if you join THIS month, you'll receive a kit to make this gorgeous Christmas Keepsake box!

You'll find information HERE about all the details, or e-mail me and I'd love to chat with you.

This is the last of my posts this week, thanks so much for coming along to enjoy the sights with me. Next week I'll be back to sharing my original projects with you.

I'm dreaming of the Holiday Mini........

It's the last day of convention, I'm not getting much sleep, but when I do, I'm dreaming of the Holiday Mini! Its a a WOW through and through!! 

You'll have to dream of the wonderful new Christmas Lodge collection, my favorite! But here are a few pics to whet your appetite. It includes a wonderful stamp set, papers with homespun patterns and plaids, felt die cuts as seen here...

 

AND (drum roll please) a new Bigz Die shaped like a stocking!

Here's a
peek at a project made with the Holiday Mini Hostess set! EEk!

I'm off for a full and fun day, thank you for stopping by!

 

 

Good Ol' Summertime

Remember the scene in the movie "Pollyanna" where they have the bicylce parade complete with flags and lanterns? Here are some bicycles at Convention that are all decked out for the good ol' summertime.

Popcorn - too pretty to eat!

Sweet treats and happy days!

 

a couple odd birds

Did you see these couple of odd birds I found at convention?

Isn't it amazing what you can make with paper?

Speaking of things in pairs, here are two very very good buddies at the Memento Mall, my friend Sue and me.

How could you resist those rainy suny day smiles? We couldn't resist the Lucky Limeade umbrellas either, we'll each go home with one!