Fall Banner Class

I'm so excited about Stampin' Up!'s new Build-a-Banner kits that are in the Holiday Catalog.  I finished my first one today and I wanted to share it with you.  I will be having three banner classes: fall, winter and Christmas.  The cost for each class is $20 or $50 if you prepay for all three banner classes by this Friday, August 23rd. The fall banner class will be Friday, September 6th and this is the banner we will be creating. You can choose any word that you would like, up to 6 letters.

If you would like to sign up for this or any of my banner classes, email me at brettg12@aol.com. Deadline to sign up for the fall banner class is this Friday, August 23rd.

Spread the Joy

If you haven't seen this new stamp set yet, you MUST check it out!  This stamp set was created by one of Stampin' Up!'s employees, Emily Montoya. In April, Stampin' Up! employees were given the challenge to create a "bucket list" stamp set. Emily "wanted to make a set that could be versatilve and usable for lots of different things." Employees fell in love with her design and voted the set to victory!

I'm so glad they did!  I am in love with this set, as it is totally different from anything that I own.  However, since it IS so different, I have been finding it a bit challenging for myself to create with. Soooo, I have challenged myself to start working with it. I created a card for Friday's stamp camp that I will be sharing later this week using the large oval with all of the sentiments.  Today our challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More is CAS, so I chose to use the little sailboat, along with the challenges at Dynamic Duos and clean&simple.  

I thought these colors would be perfect with the sailboat, and I used the Dessert Option of embossing as well. This ended up being one of those CAS cards that I absolutely love!  I love it when I love my own cards. It doesn't happen all that often but when it does it makes me smile. :)

Since I already had a sentiment on my image, I dry embossed a little strip that I thought looked like waves above my panel.  I added rhinestones within the embossed strip to mimic the sketch.  I really like the way it turned out. I love CAS cards. :)

Stamp Set: Spread the Joy

Cardstock: Basic Black, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black, Pool Party

Tools: Lattice Embossing Folder, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder

Accessories: Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Happy 34th Birthday, Baby!

Yesterday was my sweetheart's 34th birthday and I wanted to share his birthday card, which is also a card we will be making at Card Camp on Friday.  I am happy to report that, after 5 months of waiting, Brett is now just as old as I am. :) He loves to make fun of me and say that I am older than him. Well, Hun, we are now the same age, so you can't make fun of me anymore! :)  At least for another 7 months or so. lol

I found this awesome sketch at retro sketches for his card. I just LOVE their sketches and have to play each week. I get so mad at myself when I miss one of their challenges! :)

I just love that cut-out and will definitely use that idea again!  It works great with Framelits, especially now that I have the amazing Magnetic Platform, which will hopefully be available to order again soon. I chose to use the Circle Framelits.  I think it would also look cool with the Floral Frames Framelits, but that was a bit too feminine for my sweetie's card. :)

I used the Season of Style DSP stack here. I love it because the colors are great for Christmas, but the patterns can be used for any time of year!  I think they are very masculine. I grunged mine up with my favorite...you guessed it, Gorgeous Grunge. :) I stamped the anchor on the back-side of my leftover dsp, which is large white polka dots on a Crumb Cake background, and fussy cut it out. Don't you just love that big sentiment too?! I am not much on tiny sentiments, and this one is just perfect for a masculine card in my opinion!

Stamp Sets: The Open Sea, Sassy Salutations, Gorgeous Grunge

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Tools: Circles Framelits

Accessories: Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Dimensionals 

Dress Up Fun

I just realized yesterday as I was playing in my scrap room that I have never used my Dress Up Framelits!  I found the perfect sketch at Unscripted Sketches.  They are doing a Flashback series, so this is one of their sketches from the past.  I thought it would look great with this beautiful color combination from Create with Connie and Mary. 

I think this might be my first time ever using Pistachio Pudding, which surprises me because I love the color!  I think it's such a soft and feminine shade of green, perfect for a summery dress.

If you are attending Stamp Camp on Friday, this is one of the cards we will be making!  It's not too late to RSVP.  You can choose to do 4 12x12 scrapbook pages or 5 cards.  If you received last month's My Paper Pumpkin, I will have 4 scrapbook pages that you can choose to do with the supplies you received.  If you did not, I have things you can use to alter the pages so they will still be really fun!  Cost is $15. Come any time after 4:00. 

If you are not yet signed up to receive My Paper Pumpkin, you can sign up this month for just $10 for the first two months by visitingwww.mypaperpumpkin.com and entering the promo code PUMPKINDEAL. I've been having a ball getting my surprise kit each month.  The scrapbook pages that I created using last month's banner kit are adorable, if I do say so myself. :)  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! 

Stamp Set: Yippee Skippee

Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding, Smokey Slate, Whisper White

Ink: Blushing Bride, Pistachio Pudding

Tools: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Dress Up Framelits, Decorative Label Punch, Blossom Party Originals Die

Accessories: Pearl

Fall is coming quickly!

I feel like I have had no summer this year. It was hot here ONE week this summer, and we were vacationing in Utah so I didn't even get to enjoy swimming in my pool. :( The one good thing about this fall weather is I feel like I can get out some of my fall stamps and start using them. I know, I know, there is no law that says I can't use them all year long, I just feel  more comfortable using them when it FEELS like fall. I know, I'm a dork. :)

This card is another one of the cards that I made for my dear Brett's birthday, so I am entering in the birthday contest at SUO Challenges as well as the challenges at Freshly Made Sketches and Handstamped Sentiments.

Aren't these just the perfect colors for some leaves? I thought so too. :) lol

It sure was a pain trying to get a good picture of this card today. I don't know why, but my Very Vanilla cardstock is trying to disguise itself as white. :( For my leaves, I inked them up with the main color first and then added the other two colors with my blender pens so I didn't get the tips of my markers dirty.  The back panel is Core'dinations cardstock that is embossed and then sanded. I still don't have the Chalk Talk Framelits but that one was easy enough to hand cut. Much easier than those leaves that I fussy cut! :) 

Stamp Sets: Chalk Talk, Magnificent Maple

Cardstock: Early Espresso Core'dinations, Crushed Curry, Very Vanilla

Ink: Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz

Tools: Decorative Label Punch, Woodgrain and Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folders, Blender Pens, sanding block

Christmas in August

I've already bought a few Christmas presents, so I guess it's not too early to start making some Christmas cards. I know some people work on them all year long but I'm not in the Christmas mood ALL year like some people are. :) But our challenge at Addicted to Clean and Simple this week reminded me of Christmas so I didn't really have a choice but to get started on them. :)

Some people think of vacations when they hear the word holiday, but all I can think of is Christmas. I know, I'm worse than a little kid! :) I had some new stamps from the Holiday Catalog that were begging to be inked, so this was a great excuse to play. :)

I was so excited to see a snowman builder set in the catalog. Isn't she cute?!  There are lots of little pieces to specialize the snowman any way you want.  It's hard to tell in the photo but the embossed snowflakes and the snowman buttons are dotted with some Silver Dazzling Details.  Don't you just love the Merry Expression Thinlit?!  I love big sentiments and this one is da bomb! lol Speaking of big sentiments, have you seen the new Photopolymer set that was just introduced?  It's called Another Thank You and one of the thank you stamps is big enough to cover a whole card!  I ordered mine as soon as I saw the announcement yesterday and I cannot wait for it to get here on Tuesday!  You can check it out and order it by visiting my website at www.shanagaff.stampinup.net.  Here's a little sneak peek of it: 

Stamp Set: Snow Day

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush

Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Soft Sky, Basic Gray, Tangerine Tango

Tools: Northern Flurry Embossing Folder, Expressions Framelits

Accessories: Silver Dazzling Details

Happy birthday to my Hurney...Day One

My wonderful husband's birthday is in a week, so I decided to make him a birthday card for every day leading up to his birthday. I call him my Hurney, hence the title of this post. :) Today's card is for my design team challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More. I also used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch.

I thought this was a perfect masculine color scheme.  I wanted to keep my first card very clean and simple, as well as use a new stamp set, Off the Grid. I just love this stamp, but I haven't had the perfect chance to use it yet!

For my panel, I sponged Daffodil ink on Vellum Cardstock. I then stamped the grid in Basic Gray, and the splotches in Black StazOn. See, I told you I would be using Gorgeous Grunge on every card!  It is a perfect match with the grid!  I love the Yippee-Skippee for the sentiment.  I wanted to save the Happy Birthday for the inside of the card, so this was a perfect choice for an additional outside sentiment.

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid, Yippee-Skippee
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Vellum
Ink: Basic Gray, Black StazOn, Daffodil Delight
Tools: Hole Punch, Sponge
Accessories: Mini Brads

Hexagon Fun

I'm running behind on my Stamps in the Mail class due to Convention, so I thought I would show you what I have been working on today!  Stamps in the Mail is an idea that I first heard of from my 5th Upline, Linda Bauwin.  Basically you pay $50 each month for three months and I send you a stamp set and other things such as punches, framelits, dies, accessories, etc. that you get to keep, as well as pre-cut cardstock and directions to make 3 cards that I have designed. If you are interested in more information, feel free to email me at brettg12@aol.com.  I am starting a new winter round in September if you would like to sign up!

For my first card I found a sketch that I loved at retro sketches and used it as inspiration.

                                                         
I wanted to do a flip card that I learned from Linda as well, so I changed it up just a little bit to make my flip flap. hahaha That made me laugh typing that. :) I easily amuse myself.

Here is a picture of how the card opens.

Linda has a ton of creative fold videos on You tube.  All you have to do is type in Linda Bauwin and you can access all of her videos.

Stamp Set: Six-Sided Sampler
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder
Ink: Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder
Tools: Hexagon Punch, Honeycomb Embossing Folder
Accessories: Wisteria Wonder Chevron Ribbon, Dimensionals

Bright and Cheery

Today is just one of those days that I need to think bright and cheery, so it called for a bright and cheery card. :) This weekend I attended the viewing of some former students' father, who was tragically killed in an accident at work at the young age of 44. It was heartbreaking to see those kids, who are 16, 18, and 23 I believe, and their mother as they are dealing with this loss. Not only that, but it was at the same funeral home that my brother's viewing was held almost 8 years ago, so that brought back a lot of sad memories as well. So I definitely needed some bright colors to cheer me up!

I found my color palette at Color Throwdown and my sketch at Create with Connie and Mary.

 

Since I only use current Stampin' Up! colors, I had to substitute with Pacific Point and Wild Wasabi. I do miss Kiwi Kiss oh so much though!  At first I was thinking I would use Lucky Limeade and then it hit me that that wonderful shade of green is also retired!  Maybe one day they will bring it back like some of the other In Colors that have made their return.  For the sketch, I decided to turn it horizontally.

I am LOVING the new Expressions Thinlits and cannot wait for Stampin' Up! to bring out some more words. Is that too much to ask for? :) This was my first time using the Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and I am in love with it too! It gives such a nice deep impression. I like that it is just scribbles and not really words so it goes with any type of card and your eye is not distracted by what it says. Oh, and did you see the Gorgeous Grunge stamp in there too?  I think it might be the one stamp that gets used on EVERY card I make. :) I just love the layered look you can get with it!

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Flower Shop

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi

Ink: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi

Tools: Pansy Punch, Pretty Print Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Expressions Thinlits

Accessories: Rhinestone

Make Your Mark

It's a busy day for me today because not only did we have a challenge due at Technique Time Tuesday, we also had a Make Your Mark challenge due at Addicted to Stamps and More! I decided to keep my card pretty simple and used the challenges at CAS(E) this Sketch and Hand Stamped Sentiments.

I knew right away that I wanted to use my new Expressions thinlits from the Holiday Catalog for my sentiment.This was my first try at them, and it went surprisingly well. I had read that it is best to put a piece of wax paper between your cardstock and the thinlit, and that worked perfectly for me. I used a toothpick to easily poke the cardstock out of the thinlit. I even saved the wax paper word in case I want to use it on a project. It is very fragile, so I better do that soon. :) 

This is one of those cards that I would probably just hand to someone instead of squishing into an envelope, because the sentiment DOES hang over each side of the card. I could have angled it more to fit it all on the card, but I preferred it like this. After I colored my poppies I added some Dazzling Details for a little bit of glossy effect. I am down to the bottom of the bottle, so it looks more like Crystal Effects than the normal glittery look, which I'm okay with. Might as well use up every little drop!

Stamp Set: Pleasant Poppies

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Black StazOn

Tools: Expressions Thinlits, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack and piercing tool

Accessories: Dazzling Details 

Smackin' Acetate Challenge

It's time for a new challenge at Technique Time Tuesday!  I just love the techniques that Mynnette comes up with for us each month and this one is no exception!  It is the Smackin' Acetate Challenge and it is so easy and fun!  I showed this technique at my Mini Convention this past Friday night and everyone loved it!  Mynnette has a wonderful instructional video up at the TTT website, but I'll give you a run through of how I did my card.

For this technique, you first color on a piece of acetate (window sheets or transparencies work great) with markers. I colored with Pool Party and Tempting Turquoise.  I then stamped one of the little blotchies from Gorgeous Grunge in Bermuda Bay on the window sheet. After the coloring and stamping is when the magic appears! lol Spritz the window sheet with some water and then place piece of Whisper White cardstock on top of the window sheet and rub the color onto the cardstock. I do it this way to prevent the color from running by flipping it over.  I wanted a little more color on my background to coordinate with my silver card base so I stamped some of the smaller splatters in Silver Encore Metallic Ink.  I die cut my sentiment circle out of the same card base because it was going to be hidden by the silver mat, and you can't even tell. That's my tip for the day for saving cardstock, as well as some time by not having to do the technique again for it!

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Oh, Hello
Cardstock: Brushed Silver, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Silver Encore
Tools: Circles Framelits, spritzer with water
Accessories: Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon, Window Sheet

Addicted to Summer

Yes, that's the code word for our challenge at Addicted to CAS the next two weeks. Too bad it hasn't really felt that much like summer yet here in northeastern Indiana. Of course, the one really nice pool weather day that we have had in a while was yesterday while we were spending the day at an arts and crafts festival. I can't seem to win! :) 

I've been playing around with Washi Tape a lot lately and decided to use some of our new Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape on today's card.

I put strips of the Washi Tape on the card underneath the negative of the flower punch. It's a really easy way to add some color to a punched shape!  You can also cover a piece of cardstock in Washi Tape and then punch it out to have positive flower covered in Washi Tape. It's so versatile and I'm quite addicted to it now-a-days!

Stamp Set: Sweet Essentials 

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo

Tools: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Blossom Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, 1/2" Circle Punch

Accessories: Rhinestones, Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Dimensionals 

It is DIFFICULT to get back into the swing of things!

I came back from Convention with all of these cool ideas that I want to do at my Mini Convention this Friday. However, lots of ideas equals lots of time spent NOT creating items for my blog!  I do have Design Team responsibilities though, so I did manage to get a few cards done for those. Silly me was thinking that Technique Time Tuesday was due tomorrow, so I used a technique from there on my card for Addicted to Stamps and More!  But it's not due until NEXT Tuesday, so you get a sneak peek of what the challenge will be.  Don't worry, I made a different card for the real challenge date at Technique Time Tuesday!  Not only did I mess that up, I also thought this week was a marker challenge, which goes perfectly with that challenge. Would you believe that I looked at the wrong date AGAIN?! Oh my word, Shana!  Get a life! lol Lucky for me though, it is Anything Goes, so my card still fits the challenge!

I used the sketch from Fab Friday for this one because it had a lot of blank space to go with the technique I wanted to use:

And now it is time for yet ANOTHER confession...I used the colors from another challenge (of course I can't remember which one now and am too lazy to look it up!) that I THOUGHT was due Wednesday. Of course, it was due yesterday, they just announce the winners on Wednesday. BIG HUGE SIGH!  I am really hoping I can get my act together someday soon! :)

I had a lot of fun with this card!  For the background I used the Smackin' Acetate technique. You just take a piece of acetate (aka transparency) and color on it with markers or even stamp on it. Then spritz it with some water, turn it over and rub it onto a piece of white cardstock. For mine, I colored on the acetate with Crumb Cake and Pear Pizzazz and then stamped one of the blotchies from Gorgeous Grunge with Bermuda Bay. I love the look of the stamp after it was spritzed!  Which brings me to another confession...I used colors from another challenge (of course I can't remember which one now and am too lazy to look it up!) that I THOUGHT was due Wednesday. Of course, it was due yesterday, they just announce the winners on Wednesday. BIG HUGE SIGH!  I am really hoping I can get my act together someday soon! :)

Stamp Sets: Gorgeous Grunge, Oh, Hello, Yippee Skippee
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Candy Dots, Rhinestones, Doily, Transparency

My Paper Pumpkin Special!

I am barely in the door from Convention, but I wanted to quickly share with you a special that Stampin' Up! announced while I was there for My Paper Pumpkin!  New subscribers to My Paper Pumpkin will receive their first 2 months for just $10!  After that, it is just $19.95 each month, and that includes shipping!  It is so fun being surprised with my kit each month!  Signing up is so easy, too!  Just go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com. Enter the number of kits you would like to sign up to receive each month, as well as the promo code PUMPKINDEAL.  Then fill in your information, my name, and it will walk you through the rest!  Here are more details:

PAPER PUMPKIN PROMOTION Offer Dates: July 18, 2013 -August 31, 2013 Offer Details: Use the promotion code PUMPKINDEAL to join Paper Pumpkin before August 31, 2013, and pay only $10 a month* for the first two months. *plus tax, where applicable. Shipping included! The Fine Print: For new subscribers only. Promotion applies only to the first two months of a new subscription. After receiving two month's worth, the price for each month's kit will go to the regular price: $19.95. You and your customers need to visit mypaperpumpkin.com to join. You must click "Add Promo Code" and then enter the promo code PUMPKINDEAL in the "Promo Code" field when you sign up on the mypaperpumpkin.com website to take advantage of this promotion. You must join by Saturday, August 31, 2013; 11:50 PM (MT). If you need help signing up or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!   Happy stamping! Shana Gaff www.shanagaff.stampinup.net www.stressfreestamping.blogspot.com

Addicted to Glitter

I'm sorry I have been out of the blogging world for a few weeks, but I was getting ready for Convention and now I am AT Convention, so things have been CRAZY!  I promise to get things back to normal in the next week or so. :) I have some cool techniques, swaps and pictures of FAMOUS stampers to share with you too!  

Before leaving for Convention, I made this card for our new challenge at Addicted to CAS, which I am hosting myself!  You know I love bling, so that is why I chose this word!

This card was SOOO easy!  All I did was stamp my images on Whisper White cardstock, then pressed it onto an Adhesive Sheet.  I made sure to use my bone folder to get a good coverage of adhesive on the cardstock. I then covered it with Dazzling Diamonds and tapped it off and it was sparkly goodness! :) The little butterfly in the center is also covered in Dazzling Diamonds. LOVE me some bling!  

Stamp Sets: Daydream Medallions, Papillon Potpourri, Six-Sided Sampler
Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Pink Pirouette, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Pink Pirouette, Strawberry Slush
Tools: Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Adhesive Sheets

Window Panes Everywhere!

Ooooh, it's time for one of my favorite challenges at Addicted to Stamps and More!  Addicted to colors!

I had a freak-out moment and thought I had lost my camera. I tried taking a picture of my card with my camera and it didn't look so great, so I tried the webcam on my computer...that didn't look so great either.  After a minor panic attack, my wonderful husband Brett came to my rescue and found my camera underneath the seat in my van.  Crisis averted!

I have been working on my Convention swaps and had to take a break today to get this card done. I must have had my swaps on the brain because I used a similar window pane idea on one of my swaps as I did here with the lattice peeking through. I will share my swaps when I get home from Convention. They are coming together...slowly, but they will be done before I leave!

Stamp Sets: Betsy's Blossom, Flower Shop, Sassy Salutations
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Ink: Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi
Tools: Flower Shop Punch, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Lattice Bigz Die, 1/2" Circle Punch, Window Frames Framelits, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Accessories: Dimensionals

Addicted to CAS Water

It's time for another challenge at Addicted to CAS!  If you have never joined in on one of our challenges, we would love for you to make this week your first!  This is a great site because you don't have to make a super detailed card.  Clean and simple are a great starting point for new stampers, but can be complex for advanced stampers as well. I just love them!  This week's code word has so many possibilities!

I knew right away what stamp I wanted to use when I saw the code word was water.  I have some cute little birdies playing in a bird bath. I had to include some waves and splashes too, of course!

It's hard to see in my picture, but after I was finished coloring my image I put some Crystal Effects on the water splashes and flowers.  I thought this gave an extra "water" feel.  Oh, and I almost forgot...I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week! A cute and simple little sketch!

Stamp Set: For the Birds

Cardstock: Pool Party, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White

Ink: Black StazOn, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Strawberry Slush, Wild Wasabi

Tools: Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Blender Pen, Aqua Painter

Accessories: Crystal Effects

Make Your Mark! Christmas in July

It's time for another Make Your Mark challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More!  I decided to participate in the Anything Goes Christmas challenge at Merry Monday and the sketch challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch! 

I tried something new with my markers this week. I took a big piece of masking tape and colored on the sticky side. I then pressed it down onto glossy cardstock and burnished it with my hand before pulling the masking tape up. I love how it turned out!

I hated to cover up so much of it, but I had to follow the sketch. I will definitely be trying this technique again. It was super easy and has tons of possibilities!  Too bad they had to go and retired my glossy cardstock!  Luckily I had some saved aside in case of an emergency like this. lol I also used my markers to color my ornament before stamping it. 

Stamp Sets: More Merry Messages, Ornament Keepsakes

Cardstock: Glossy White, Melon Mambo, Old Olive

Ink: Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Old Olive

Tools: Holiday Ornaments and Oval Framelits, masking tape

Accessories: Rhinestones, Dimensionals

A New Design Team!

About a month ago I was graciously asked by Mynnette if I would like to be a design team member for her challenge blog, Technique Time Tuesday. I was thrilled and accepted!  The challenge run monthly and today is my first day participating as a design team member!  The challenge this month is Blurred Vision Stamping and you can see Mynnette's wonderful video on the Technique Time Tuesday blog. Here is what I came up with for this month's challenge:

For some reason I am always in the mindset that I can only use leaves in the fall, but we have leaves in the summer too, so why not?!  I decided to use some of our new colors for a soft, summery feel.  I was anxious to try out the new stretchy trim ribbon too. It is just GORGEOUS!  I guess the formal name is Ruffle Stretch Ribbon. lol I will definitely be putting more colors of this on my future orders. It is so fun to work with!

Stamp Sets: Gently Falling, Sassy Salutations
Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White
Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe
Tools: Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Ovals and Circles Framelits, Distress Tool, Aqua Painter, Sponge
Accessories: Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffle Stretch Ribbon

Countdown to Convention!

It's less than two weeks until we leave for Convention and have I finished the 120+ swaps I was planning on doing? Noooooo!  I don't think this is unusual though...I have heard horror stories of people finishing up their swaps on the airplane or in their hotel room the night before. That will NOT be me!  Partly because I am making the 24-hour drive with my family and I KNOW I will have no down time to get them finished, and partly because the stress of waiting until the last minute would probably kill me!

I really needed to do some blog posting though since I have fallen so far behind these past couple of weeks. Summer busyness has really taken a toll on my stamping! Since I have so many swaps to make, I am keeping my other cards very simple. Today I am participating in the challenges at The Paper Players and retrosketches.

As usual, I kept this sketch very literal. One of these days I promise to do some out-of-the-box thinking.  Today is just not the day to waste my time on THINKING! lol

I chose the middle row of Get Well, Bling and Yellow.  Like I said, I kept it VERY simple but I really like all that white space!  The yellow and white just makes me feel so happy!  Now back to work on those swaps I go!

Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Sassy Salutations
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Black StazOn, Daffodil Delight
Accessories: Rhinestone