Holiday Preview

 Hi Friends - Happy Fabulous Friday. 

Above is a preview from the Holiday Mini Catalog using the Case this Sketch #382.  

Warning: a long post; I,m sorry but I missed Tuesday so I'm making it up to you with two cards. I was ill with something- probably a virus, but not COVID as my antigen test from Sunday came back negative. I thought it was probably a head cold because I did not have a fever or chills, but I had terrible muscle and joint aches along with a runny nose and sore throat which made me wonder if I had a mild case of COVID. So, I thought I should check so I could tell the few people I had been around. Thank goodness! I'm much better-about 90-95% but the aches continue. But I can deal with that! 

A close up so you can see the bling and stamped images a little better. 

Oh, how I wish I could show you this stamp set but you'll have to wait until the catalog is released to the public on August 4th. Let me just say- it is a set that can be used not only Christmas, but also Halloween and Valentines Day. It coordinates with the new postage stamp punch. When I'm making a large quantity of cards or 3D items like little gifts, I gravitate to my punches because it is faster for me. (I do love my dies thought.). So I was very excited when the new annual catalog had  a new punch & stamp set; Posted for you Bundle.

But I was even more excited when there was a all holiday stamp set that coordinated with this punch. A real win for me! Maybe you too? 

Below is another preview from this same stamp set the Holiday Mini Catalog using last week's Case this Sketch #381 from Brian King. It is the card I made to post on Tuesday but did not have the energy to post. 

A close up. 

In both my cards, I used papers from the holiday mini catalog. The ribbon and bling are from the Annual catalog. If you don't have a catalog or a demonstrator, I'd love to help you with your creative adventure - a one time thing like invitations or holiday gifts or if you are new to paper crafting. I've been told I am patient and kind... it's just paper! 

Before I retired, I worked in a high stress, life & death environment, so not much gets to me. I really believe this has to be fun & I strive to make it that way for you! 

You can contact me via my Stampin' Up business page (click on image below) or reply to this post & I will answer your request. 

Thanks for looking & thanks you your understanding about Tuesday. 

Supplies for both Cards: All SU

Stamp Set: Festive Post (coming soon)

Paper: Garden Green, Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White; Plaid Tidings & 'Tis the Season DSP (coming soon)

Ink: Real Red, Shaded Spruce blendability, Garden Green marker. 

Accessories: Red Rhinestone basic jewels, Real Red double stitched satin ribbon. 

Triangled Thanks

Happy Fabulous Friday!

As promised, here I am again on Friday...Check here every Tuesday and Friday for a new post. Occasionally I will throw in an extra post, but for sure, I'm here every Tuesday and Friday. 

Triangles and geometric shapes are all the rage in paper crafting, DIY and decorating. I just had to jump on this fun bandwagon. The sketch design is all mine & I’m unabashedly proud of it as I usually do sketch challenges or fall back to the same few sketch designs. I hope you like it too!

Supplies: All SU

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Seaside Spray, Whisper White, In-Color DSP

Stamps: Peaceful Moments

Ink: Misty Moonlight

Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Seaside Spray metalic ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels

Masculine Birthday- SC652 & F4A384

Hi there! I hope my American friends enjoyed their 4th of July holiday. We celebrated with family on Saturday with BBQ- a true American 7/4 tradition. So yesterday was low key for us.

I made this card earlier today~ it took me forever! I'm not used to making original designs since the advent of Pinterest. For the past few years, I had been copying other designers because I was always in such a rush. Well, now that I've retired (woo-hoo!), I have time to make originals again and participate in the card challenges which I thoroughly enjoy.

This card is for my Brother-in-law's birthday. I used the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge (SC652) and the Free for All challenge (F4A384) to use a background stamp. I really like this retired DSP which has that wonderful retired color, River Rock. Great colors & paper for guy cards, don't you think?

My supplies are listed below:

Stamps	Guy Greetings, Weathered (SU); HB sentiment: (Stamping Sensations)
Paper	Cajun Craze, River Rock (retired); DSP:Well Worn (retired)- all SU
Paper Size	A2
Ink	Cajun Craze (SU)
Accessories	Duet Banner punch (SU), chestnut mini glitter brads (Amer.Crafts)

Thanks so much for stopping!
Marilyn

I'm Back & with a Holiday Card

Hi there, Friends!

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. We sure did- both our daughters made it home for a long weekend.  I've been MIA from Blogland for a few weeks - busy with job interviews (nothing yet) & having the interior of our home painted. With a two story entry foyer, the hubby said "call professionals'. Isn't he smart?! So that's where I've been. But I have been making holiday cards...nothing out of the ordinary & some case'd, but I'll post some of my creations over the next few weeks in case any spark your creativity.

My card today is for the Splitcoaststampers color challenge (CC403) to use Gumball Green, Real Read and Basic Gray. Great combination, don't you think? I used my new stamp set from the SU! Holiday catalog called Winter Memories. My background is Basic Gray stamped on white using Stampabilities Wood-grain stamp.I've had that stamp for a long time & it never gets old...just a classic wood grain.

Thanks for stopping! Hugs, Marilyn

Supplies: 
Stamps: WInter Memories (SU); Woodgrain (Stampabilities)
Ink: Basic Gray, Basic Black, markers (SU)
Paper: Real Red, White, Gumball Green, Basic Gray (SU)
Designer paper: Christmas Plaid (Paper Pizzaz) 
Accessories: Holly punch (MS), 1/4" circle punch (SU), green twine (MS), gray white twine (Twinery)

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! And Happy Passover! I hope each of you has a wonderful day with your families and friends. My card today is for two challenges. The Colour Q challenge 131 to use Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz and white. Perfect for an Easter card. 

The other challenge is for the Deconstructed Sketch.

My stamp is from Gina K & the artist Rupa Shevde called Spring has Sprung. It isn't a new release but I only got to play with a few images last year so it is still new to me. My papers are SU! designer from the in color selection except the So Saffron which is from the retired Walk in a Park.

Have a great weekend!
Hugs, Marilyn

Here, there, & nearly everywhere...except in my studio!

Here, there and everywhere...that's is where I have been except in my studio. It has been a whirlwind of personal fun and professional adventures but I have missed my stamps and creating. It all started the week of March 5th with my oldest daughter coming home for her college spring break~ lots of shopping, movies, chit chatting and relaxing with some good meals in between.

The following week, March 12th, my younger daughter gets home for her college spring break. A few days of overlap where we were all together as a family. Exit older daughter- back to college, more shopping, chit chatting, movies and relaxing with some good meals with younger daughter.

Next, I leave for Atlanta for a professional conference~a very special one that occurs only every 10 years & lucky me, I presented a poster of my teams' work. What an honor! I stayed at a wonderfully luxurious hotel in downtown Atlanta from the 18th-22nd of March. {Secretly, I was wishing I did not have to leave my daughter on her last days before she headed back to college and also I was longing for my own bed.}

Fly home from Atlanta, I'm home for a little over a week, where I scramble to get caught up at work & home- answer tons of emails, do taxes, laundry...you know this part of the story. Then Friday 4/2, hubby and I leave for Indianapolis for the NCAA men's final four basketball tournament.

Another hotel, lots of basketball, lots of people talking about basketball, lots of people buying basketball stuff & lots of TV with basketball & people talking about basketball. It was a blast! On Easter Sunday, we went to church at one of the oldest churches in Indy. This is one of my most favorite things to do when I travel- visit the old churches- the architecture, the art and craftmanship is incredible.

We get home late morning Tuesday, I pack another bag & drive two hours to another professional conference. This was a short one & yesterday I got home around 4 p.m. It has never felt so good to sleep in my own bed. But before going to bed, I made this card for one of my best girlfriends who just became a grandmother. I used the SCS sketch challenge, SC275.

Tomorrow is a pure fun day! The Creating Keepsakes Convention is here!! I took tomorrow off work (even though I am still not quite caught up) and I will also attend on Saturday. A girl's gotta have her priorities & I am sure I can count on it still being there on Monday.

So that's where I've been...here, there, and nearly everywhere. There are a few pictures of my adventures. Whew...what fun, and I am glad to be back with a plan to be in my studio for as long as possible!


Card supplies- all SU! products:
Image: Punches Three
Paper: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, White, DP- Pretty in Pink from retired Print Pack
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo
Accessories: 1/4" grosgrain-Pretty in Pink, 3/4" polka dot grosgrain- Melon Mambo, brads- pretty in pink. I did use my bow easy for the tiny corner bows~ gotta' love that bow easy!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Grettings! Here are some fun cards I made for friends and family for St. Patty's day. My maternal grandmother's parents were Irish & she was 1st generation American, so I enjoy celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

The images are from the Stampin' Up set- Pinch Proof. I'm glad I purchased that set even though it has limited use because most every year I make St. Patty's day cards. Except for a few pieces, I used up all of my remaining, retired Wild Wasabi cardstock. (I love that color!). Unfortunately, I don't recall the company who made the Designer Paper. I added green glitter to the leprechan and green jewels to the card on the left. As you can see, both cards are square which is quite different for me.

Enjoy your weekend! Marilyn

Bunny Love

I love the weekends...well, who doesn't right? Seriously, I do relish the weekends as I have not had much time in the evenings after work to stamp or create. I often stay up late on Friday nights & this card was another late night Friday creation. I used some of my remaining Cutie Pie DSP which retired from SU! several years ago. The stamp is a new one in a set from Close to My Heart called Bunny Love. I used the sketch from the SCS challenge this week. (SC270).

Stamps: Bunny Love (CTMH)
Paper: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, White, DSP-Cutie Pie Retired (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento), Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories: Blender Pen, Certainly Celery brads, So Saffron brads, 1/4 circle punch (used to make ticket corners) (all SU!)