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. 

Retired Color Banner Card

Happy Thursday!
I am just getting around to posting my swap card from May. I saw something similar to this card on E-bay (of all places). You know, one of those 'kits' that includes all the ingredients to make 5 or so cards. The buyer just has to put the cards together. If I remember correctly that E-bay card had flowers instead of stars & I don't recall the paper, but the sketch is basically the same although I think I switched up the lengths of the banners.

I used this past year's retiring In Colors Designer Papers. (Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, & Blushing Bride). The banners are 1 inch wide & I cut a layer that was 5 inches wide by 3.75 inches long. It was easy then to lay my five one inch strips down with precision. Then I popped the whole panel up on dimensions. It took quite a while to make 12 cards, but the ladies seemed to really like this one.

Have a great day! Hugs, Marilyn

Stamp Club Swap for July

Happy Sunday, friends! I'm starting on my swap cards for next month's stamp club. My typical process is to design one card, a template. Then I cut the pieces for the 12 cards, stamp for 12 & then assemble. This process works good for me; I can assemble the cards while watching ballgames on TV with DH. That way I don't spend all my time alone in the studio & away from my sweetheart.

I used the sketch from Freshly made Sketches but I flipped it. This is really quite a versatile sketch & I'm sure I use it again and again.

I used the new SU! in-color "Midnight Muse" for the ship image. I double {Heart} love these new ink pads from SU! SO easy to get the stamp inked & it gives such a crisp image. The DP is retired Nautical Expedition that I got on sale in the SU! clearance section. I didn't purchase it the first time around & was thrilled when it was on sale. My red is SU! Cherry Cobbler that is embossed with the Square Lattice folder & the twine is from my local dollar store.  Easy peasy! Hope the stamp club ladies like it!

Have a great day! Hugs, Marilyn

Card Club Swap

Hi Friends!
What a whirlwind of a week- we are super busy at home and at work. Which is why I need my stamping even more...to keep my balance. So today's card is one I made for this month's SU! Stamp Club card swap. These are strictly SU! but it is fine to use retired products. We make 12 cards so I try to make CAS cards, but unless I case a blogland favorite my cards are more CAL - clean and layered & often with DP. I love DP...duh...Paper Dreams!

Onto the card details...the base is retired Yo-Yo Yellow which exhausted that color from my supplies. The other colors are Wild Wasabi & Peach Parfait. The DP is from the 2010-2012 In Color Pattern Stack. I really love these papers & even though they are retiring in a day, I still have lots left so I'll be using them for card swaps & my CB42DD project. (Card box for two dear daughters who requested a card supply of their own since they no longer live at home & can't raid my stash.)

The images are from SU! Aviary set & the sentiment is from a retired Sale-a-bration set called Love you Bunches (circa 2005). This was my first Sale-a-bration set & probably one of my first ten stamp sets. The sentiment fit perfectly so I went with it. The layered sentiment is made with the Modern Label punch. The yellow and green punched out shapes were each cut in half and separated across the back of the white layer to form the layering on the front. Paper piercing in the corners and a little bling are the added details.

This card qualifies for the SU!Only #46 challenge to capture something about bright summer days & my color combination certainly fits. Have a great rest of your week!

Hugs, Marilyn

Perk Up

Here's my take on the Featured Stamper challenge (FS230) on Splitcoaststampers. Today, Beth picked Cjoy, aka Cindy. I chose this card from CIndy's gallery. It is pretty much a straight case. I changed the papers, ribbon and button. Otherwise it is basically the same. Thanks for stopping!
Supplies: All SU!
Stamps: Morning Cup
Paper: Gray, White, Baja Breeze, DP- A Walk in the Park
Ink: Black; markers- Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral, Gray
Accessories: white striped Taffeta ribbon. gray corduroy button

Bright Birthday

Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you had a great weekend. I did but it sure did go fast. I'm voting for another day, how about you?
My card was made using the FTL146 challenge layout seen below.There's still plenty of time to play, so head over!

I need a few new birthday cards & I had received a sample of the bright and fun Stampin' Up designer paper. I like these colors and design for a birthday card. It works for just about anyone- young or old, male or female. At least in my humble opinion. {wink, wink}

Have a great week! Hugs,

Marilyn

Supplies- All Stampin' Up
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Pacific Point, Real Red, White, DP- Celebrations
Ink: Pacific Point
Accessories: Large Star punch, Piercing tool (EK Success)

Swap for Stamp Club

Here's my card for swapping with my SU! Stamp Club members on Friday evening. We have 11 ladies in the club plus our demonstrator, so I made twelve of these cards. I went on the easy side this month because I wanted to have time to make my February cards too. I'm hoping to take a little 'sunshine' vacation in February & so I wanted to get ahead. I'll post those cards another day. Thanks for dropping by.
Have a great Friday!
Supplies: All SU!
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Polka Dot Punches
Paper: Pink Pirouette, White, DSP- Bella Rose
Ink: Regal Rose
Accessories: Oval, scalloped oval, and heart punches

Masculine Blue Thanks

The Featured Stamper today is Michelle (aka Elliotstamps). She has a wonderful gallery. I chose to case this card. I really like this design and I just realized when I went to link Michelle's card that it is one of the Fall to Layout challenges. {This is a no-no for the FS challenge}. Ooops!

My daughter asked me for a thank you card for a friend's parents who have taken her out to dinner with her friend when they visited their daughter at college. I received specific instructions not to make it too 'girly' becasue she wanted her friend's Dad to like it too. So I used some of my favorite designer paper from SU! called Prestwick. It has long since retired, but it is my 'go-to' paper for guy cards. I used a more contempory 'thanks' sentiment in hope my DD would like it.

Have a great evening!

Supplies
Stamps: Make it Count
Paper: Brocade Blue, Basic Gray, White, DSP-Prestwick
Ink: Brocade Blue
Accessories: Circle punches

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!

Easter Daffodils

Daffodils are blooming in St. Louis~ and they are gorgeous! So today for the Inspirational Challenge (IC225), I chose the Wild Ginger from Thymes as it reminded me of the colors of daffodils. Earlier this week, I received my Stampin' Up order with this new Abundant Hope stamp set and the designer paper called Shades of Spring. I colored with SU! markers. I would have liked to have used my copics but since I am still learning, I opted for the sure thing as I needed to get cards done for relatives. I purchased the new clear mount stamps & I really like them.

Have a great Sunday! Marilyn

Supplies: All SU!
Stamps: Abundant Hope, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Black; Markers- So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Summer Sun, Old Olive, More Mustard
Paper: Certainly Celery (textured & cardstock), So Saffron, White, DSP- Shades of Spring
Ribbon: Apricot Appeal (which looks like So Saffron at least to me)

Caseing Vera

Sunday is the Featured Stamper challenge on SCS; another one of my favorite challenges. Today, Vera was choosen. (FS161) She was one of my first friends on SCS. I love her style and when I am in a slump, her gallery is one of the firsts I visit for inspiration. Her ideas are so creative. In addition to being a great artist, she is a wonderfully nice person~ commenting frequently on others' cards.

In addition to the FS challenge, this card was made for the Ways to Use It challenge (WT260) to make a card around the word 'play' and making sure it's game or puzzle orientated.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Have a great Sunday!

Stamps: Game Night (SU!)
Paper: Real Red, Black, White, DSP- Jackpot
Ink: Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Black grosgrain ribbon, Clips, Spritzer tool

FS147 Flaky Friends

Today has been a busy day of making holiday cards, but I took a break to play the SCS Featured Stamper's challenge. CarrollAnn (aka MrsBoz) was the featured stamper. She has a wonderful gallery and I chose to case this card entitled 'Love with hugs and kisses'. As with all the FS challenges, you are to change some things and keep others. I kept: the design, the ribbon, two dsp. I changed: the colors, the stamp, and the corner scallop circle was exchanged for snowflakes. I added a sentiment in place of the corner flourish.

I really love this stamp set from SU!. I think all the lineups are funny. The image of the elves looks like they have already been to the holiday party (IYKWIM-if you know what I mean). I am using quite a bit of my retired Stampin' Up supplies as you can see. I will be 'mass producing' this card or at least making as many as I can with the remaining cardstock and DSP.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

Stamps: Holiday Lineup, Lots of Thoughts
Paper: Baja Breeze, WW, DP- Ski Slope
Ink: Black, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Old Olive, Going Gray, Only Orange
Accessories: Felt Furries, Baja Breeze ribbon, oval punch
All supplies- Stampin' Up

The Holy Family

A quick post...this is a card I made on Sunday for the SCS Featured Stampers challenge. I love how this turned out, but I need to create a more postal friendly card with this fabulous stamp set. The ribbon and the brad make mailing a bit challenging. Come back later this week or weekend to see my new design with this stamp set. Seems like many are using the topnote with this stamp so I may try something new...

I cased this card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...p;ppuser=93708 from Dawn's gallery. Click for more info on the FS challenge. Have a great Wednesday!

All Supplies from SU!:
Stamps: Holy Family
Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, retired DP- Ski Slope {I love this paper & will run out this season :( }
Ink: Basic Brown, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Jumbo white grommets, retired satin choc. chop 15/16 ribbon, top note

CC240, IC201 Thanksgiving

This card is for the SCS color challenge to use Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip and Apricot Appeal and for Inspirational Challenge. The IC201 challenge was to use TzaddiShop site as an inspiration. I chose this http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=28427709.

The colors from the TzaddiShop's necklace & the color challenge reminded me of the new SU! DSP called Autumn Leaves (from the new Holiday mini catty). For the cutout leaves, I used my Bermuda Bay marker (I don't have the ink pad, but you could use that if you wish) and covered the entire stamp with Bermuda Bay marker. Next I took my Chocolate Chip marker and covered the edges and then thumped the center. It is a combination of thumping and rock 'n roll technique with markers. Here's a close up of the leaves.

Have a great evening!

Masculine Games

This card was made for two Splitcoaststampers (SCS) challenges; the Sketch challenge from Wednesday and the Limited Supply Challenge from today. The LSC was posted by a fellow Shabby Chick, Judy. And what a challenge it was...make a masculine card~ no ribbon, no bling, no flowers. Guy cards are always tough for me. I have to concentrate while girly cards just seem to flow.

I really like this Game Night stamp set and the matching Designer Series Paper (DSP) from Stampin' up! I have gotten the impression it hasn't been super popular & so I was super happy when both the set and the dsp made it to the new catalog. The reason I like it so much is because it is bright and cheery. So many masculine cards are earthy or rustic and although I like that, the red and yellow are a nice change.

This card was super easy; and I kept it Stampin' Up Only & did not add a single embellishment. Very unusual for me! Have a great evening.

Stars...

This evening I played the SCS "Ways to Use It' Challenge. The guest host, Melody, challenged us to use corrugated cardboard on our card. I combined this WT225 challenge with this week's Color Challenge (CC225) to use Kraft, Night of Navy and So Saffron.

I chose to pull off the top layer of the cardboard and then use my brayer inked up with night of navy craft ink to brayer the top leaving a striped appearance. I also brayered my chipboard star {it was still drying when the pic was taken so the color off a bit in spots}.

Two large stars were punched out of night of navy cardstock. The sentiment circle is from the SU! stamp set "Starring You" on page 173 of the new Catalog. It has a matching simply sent card elements kit. The sentiment was stamped with Night of Navy on So Saffton and punched out with the 1 3/8" circle punch.

That's it & another masculine card done. Have a great Friday!

Recipe:
Stamps: Starring You
Paper: Kraft, Night of Navy, So Saffron
Ink: Night of Navy- Craft and Classic
Accessories: Corregated box, Chipboard Star, Star punch, 1 3/8 punch, brayer

Ocean's Lamp

Life is good...today was another day that I had the opportunity to spend time in the studio and to play the challenges on SCS. Today was the Featured Stamper's Challenge and Dawn L. was the special stamper this week. I have followed Dawn's work since I became a stamper- she is quite the talented artist. I chose her Never Give Up card to case.

The image was colored a while ago and was never used. It was in that 'to be completed' basket. Don't you have one of those? Anyway it was colored with SU! markers, inks and an aqua painter. Then sponging for the sky and sea. Today a little more Baja Breeze sponging was added so that the image would blend with the papers.

Two retired DSP papers were used- Walk in the Park (technically not retired until 7/1) and Prestwick. The sentiment is from the new SU! stamp set called Teeny Tiny Wishes, which I used yesterday too. Going Gray was used as the neutral.

We have quite a few men in our family with birthdays between now and August so I am busily making cards for the guys.

Don't forget about the Design Team call over at The Digi Shack. {See my sidebar}

Have a great week, friends!

Recipe:
Stamps: Winds of Grace, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, WW, DSP- Prestwick, Walk in the Park
Ink: Going Gray, Baja Breeze, SU! markers
Accessories: SU!Square punches 1 1/4, 1 3/8; Baja Breeze 5/8 striped grosgrain ribbon
Techniques: Aqua Painting, Sponging

Challenge Day

I stayed home from work today because I wasn't feeling well. I slept late and an hour or so ago just started to turn the corner with this stinky 24 hour bug. I think all the travel and busyness finally caught up with me. So I was able to play the Splitcoast challenges during the day today which is a super big treat for me. I combined today's sketch challenge 234 with yesterday's color challenge 224. When I first started cardmaking and scrapbooking, the SCS were the only ones around, so they hold a special place in my heart & although I love all the challenges, the SCS are my favorite. One great place to find more challenges is The Daily Dare blog. {see sidepanel for link}

This card is fairly simple and Stampin' Up only. There is an added layer on top of the Pacific Point Base to give the sketch a little more dimension and color. The summer sun layer has 5/8" Pacific Point striped grossgrain ribbon along the vertical edge. There is quite a bit of Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango as well as the retired Designer Series Paper (DSP) Frosty Days from the holiday mini catalog in my studio. {not tomention all the wild wasabi from last year!} Several sets of personalized cards as presents are in the making. However, it is always hard for me to use up my older things when I have new toys to play with...what about you? What do you do with your retired supplies?

The overstamped leaf image was made by inking up the stamp, stamping it once and holding the bottom of the stamp in place while rotating the top to the right and stamping and then rotating to the left and stamping. This gives the shaddowed image but the stem is not duplicated.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for The Digi Shack Challenge. {another one of my favorite challenges} Mandy, my design team sister, always has the most fun challenges. Oh yea...least I forget...Toni has a new design team call out. Be sure to check it out. I have absolutely loved being part of the fantastic group of talented artists and working with Toni is the best.

See you tomorrow!

Pacific Petals

I hope you enjoyed your day honoring the important men in your life. We sure had a great day- it was a wonderful Father's Day celebration. Nothing fancy or big~ just a nice lunch and conversation. Later in the day I had the opportunity to spend some time in the studio. My space is fairly disorganized as over the last super busy month I have been able to squeeze in here and there some time to make a few things (when not traveling). But when I am crazy busy like that, I don't worry about putting everything away; I am just happy to find a little time for relaxing in the studio to create with paper and ink. So today I had to clear a spot to even make a card although I am lucky to have lots of dedicated space. So you can image the chaos, the piles and

misplaced items...but if you could see my face, you would see a HUGE smile!

This creation was made for the SCS Featured Stamper challenge. Today Christy S. was spotlighted. I chose this card to case: Clean and Simple. I kept quite a bit from Christy's card including the sketch, the ribbon placement, the randomly stamped flowers, the oval with the sentiment, the black and kraft bases. I changed the stamp set, the colors, the width of the colored cardstock layer, the ribbon type, and the placement of the sentiment.

I took the opportunity to stamp a full 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of whisper white with these Petal Pizzaz images in Almost Amethyst, Pacific Point, and Lovely Lilac. I will be creating many cards using the one-sheet-wonder technique, however, I am just going to wing it. It may be old (from 2005) but I still like this OSW ; I have used in the past and Cat, the SCS artist also has examples of cards designs. I have quite a bit of Pacific Point cardstock left that I want to use up. It is pretty amazing that I have any Pacific Point cardstock left at all as royal blue is my very favorite color of all-time. The multiple cards will serve another purpose of beefing up my stock of 'thank you's' and birthday cards.

I have learned how to get a nice strong image with these solid image stamps. There are several tricks that I've picked up along the way. First, make sure the ink pad is relatively juicy. I re-ink my pad if it has been a while and I am going to be using one of these solid type stamps. Second, hold the inked stamp firmly against the paper for at least 10 seconds. This allows time for the paper to soak up the ink. Last, use a good quality paper- I prefer SU! whisper white and I know from others there are several other quality brands out there, but I don't have experience with any others.

I grew up with this saying "An artist is only as good as his brushes". And I have always kept that in mind when purchasing my supplies. Sometimes I will buy cheaper accessories but I don't scrimp on cardstock or ink. This is one of the reasons I love SU!- the quality of paper and ink is the best PLUS everything matches. I know there are other wonderful brands too, but my preference is SU!

I guess since I had such a long time away, I keep chattering away. Have a great week!

Great Friend = Mother

Some Sundays I am really amazed that there is featured Splitcoaststamper (SCS) member that I don't know considering how much time as I spend on SCS. Today was one of those days~ and Wattle's (aka Kathy's) gallery is so lovely~ what a discovery treat.

Here is the card I made for the Featured Stamper Challenge (FS116).

The FS challenge is so fun~ basically you case a card while changing at least two things from that 'Featured Stamper's' gallery. I based my card on Kathy's Gum Blossoms card. I kept Kathy's layout, the three brads and the paper piercing. I changed the stamps, the colors, added ribbon and eliminated the sentiment tag.

This card was realitively easy although there are quite a few layers. The base is Baja Breeze (A2 size), then a layer of Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, and the last layer on the base is the new SU! Designer Series Paper (dsp) called 'Walk in the Park" from the Occasions Mini catalog. There are 3 brads from the Vanilla HodgePodge Hardware collection in the upper right corner. The 4 sides of the DSP are paper pierced. {I just love this DSP because it has nice spring-summer colors in floral and silhouette patterns which are so trendy fun and great for gals plus there are geometric patterns in colors that are great for guys.}

The larger top layer is Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze with a half size piece of 'Walk in the Park' dsp. A single piece of Baha Breeze 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon is wrapped around the top layer and the base layer. The smaller top layer is Baja Breeze, Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla with Cameo Coral sponged edges. The top layer image is two parts and from the new stamp set called "Great Friend" found in the Occasions Mini Catalog. The first part is a frame which is stamped on Vanilla cardstock in Baja Breeze and cutout; the second part is a cutout Cameo Coral butterfly (on Very Vanilla). Two other cutout butterflys flank the central image. And in the bottom right stamped in Baja Breeze is the "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment from the "All Holidays" stamp set.

That's it...pretty easy but it takes a little more time than the average card due to the number of layers. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

Recipe:

Stamps: Great Friend, All Holidays
Paper: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Cameo Coral, DSP- Walk in the Park
Ink: Camel Coral, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Baja Breeze 5/8 striped grosgrain ribbon, Vanilla HPH