Monday Montage #27

What an AWESOME weekend!!! Fellow-Monday-Monday-Montage-Team-Member and BFF, Bree Renwick, took a trip with me to DISNEYLAND for my birthday this past week. In fact, we just got home (or will be VERY close to being home by the time this post goes "live"). More importantly, we hooked up so that we could run the Disneyland Half Marathon together. It.Was.Great.Awesome.Amazing.Wonderful. WEDIDIT!! But, I digress ...

This week for Monday Montage I am sharing the last of my Convention Display Board samples ... and they are kind of a "set". The background paper on ALL of my projects is the new Typeset Designer Series Paper. This stuff is FABULOUS. It has a lighter weight to it, so it makes it VERY versatile for a LOT of things!

See what I mean??? I also used our new Hamburger and French Fry Bigz Dies to make these little treat holders. I freakin' LOVE these dies!! SOOOO easy to do, and VERY fun to play with!!!

Stamps:  Remember Your Birthday (card), Itty Bitty Banners (boxes)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Real Red, Soft Suede, Typeset DSP, Silver Glimmer Paper, Brights Patterned Paper Collection
Ink:  Real Red
Accessories:  Star Framelits Dies, Bitty Banners Framelits Dies, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Cupcake Builder Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Baker's Twine, Essentials Hardware Clips, Cello Bag, Chocolate Kisses

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... I'm excited to see what they have each done as well!! They ALWAYS inspire me!!

Fab Friday #49

Hello, everyone!! Welcome to this week's Fab Friday Challenge!!! We are getting back in the swing of things this week with a really fun sketch for all y'all to play with ... SEE??

I have been REALLY wanting this "Yee-haw" photopolymer set since the very SECOND I saw it during Convention in July. Ca-YOOT!! I see a LOT of potential with this baby ... SO happy to have it in my stampy repertoire!

Stamps: Yee-haw
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Basic Gray
Accessories:  Woodgrain Textured Impressions Emobssing Folder, What's Up Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Wooden Elements Embellishments, Linen Thread

See the sketch??? Don't ya just LOVE it??? This one is really actually quite versatile ... the square "panel" can be used to highlight just about ANYthing!!





Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Have a wonderful weekend, Stampy Friends!!

MDS Blog Hop - Playful Polka Dots!

Guess what??? Today's my BIRTHDAY!! Happy Birthday to ME!!! What better way to celebrate than to do a little MDS Blog Hoppin'??? (And, to be honest, I'm spending today in my FAVE way ... hanging with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and the Gang ... AND my Bestie, Bree Renwick, at Disneyland!! HOORAY!)!!

However, all that aside, I wanted to share with y'all what I made for this week's hop with the Playful Polka Dots digital download goodies ...

Isn't my daughter ADORBS?? I have to admit, I was feeling a little sad when I kept seeing all the "first day of school" photos that my friends were all posting on Facebook ... so I asked my daughter if she'd mind posing with her new backpack outside her apartment up at school (just dropped her off back up at Utah State University last week). She happily complied!! She makes me smile!!

MDS Downloads:
Paper - Playful Polka Dots
Stamps: Ink Splatters (Ink Splatter 2), First Day ("first day", "th", "grade")
Embellishments - Playful Polka Dots (Flower Circle 3, Frame 1), Downtown Grunge (square stitching), Burlap Ribbon (triangle), One Great Year ("15")
Punches - Comfort Cafe Banner
Fonts -Cornerstone

Next up??? Cindy Schuster!! SO much talent, that woman!

Make a Wish ...

What a WEEK!!! Between spending TONS of time on the phone with insurance companies (yeah ... more than one!), and working with our business accountant on a tax deadline, I have had NO TIME this past week!!! Good news?? My car has been replaced ... what a miracle!!! So many things clicked into place to make that happen ... I am SO very grateful ...

Also, tax stuff is NEARLY done!! Which is AWESOME because I'm on my way to Disneyland (yes, AGAIN!) with my bestie, Bree Renwick, to run the Disneyland Half Marathon for my birthday!!! I have been looking forward to this since last December ... I cannot WAIT!! We're even dressing up ... and yeah, I WILL be sharing pictures once we are done!!

This is one of the last couple of cards I made for the Convention Display Boards. To be honest, it has kind of grown on me ... I didn't really "love" it when I first finished it. But I DO love all the stamps I used here. Stamps are just HAPPY, aren't they??

Stamps: Perfect Pennants, Boutique Borders
Paper:  Blackberry Bliss, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Whisper White
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey
Accessories: Banner Framelits, Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon, Brights Candy Dots, Sewing Machine

I'll be back!!

Freakin' Simple and Elegant

Simple and elegant ... you would think it would NOT be THAT difficult to achieve, right??? If you have been following this blog tour all the way around, then you just came from Margaret Raburn's fabulous blog ... and SHE makes "simple and elegant" seem EASY!!

I struggle ... I struggle with trying to keep from adding ALL THE THINGS to my creations ... sigh ... it's a weakness. Probably because I have WAY TOO MUCH stuff, right??? (Naaawwww ... not possible!!) This first card wasn't too difficult to come up with. I happened to have a bunch of stuff still out on my table from my Project Life class the other night ... and the corner rounder and stamps were calling my name ... although I DID add the arrow images from the "What's Up?" stamp set.

And I finally gave in and bought the PL corner rounder punch ... which means I now own about FOUR corner rounders (I think!)! You'd think there wouldn't be a lot of different ways to make a rounded corner look, wouldn't ya??? Apparently there are more ways then I even KNEW!!

Stamps: Project Life Remember This, What's Up?
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar
Accessories:  PL Corner Rounder, Oval Punch, What's Up? Punch, Burlap Ribbon, Retro Fresh Washi Tape, Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape, Distressed Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Now THIS card I struggled with ... and I promise it really IS simple to put together!! It just took me FOREVER to decide what to add to it, and how much would be "too much" ... sigh ... I

Stamps: Work of Art
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Gold Soiree DSP
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Garden Green
Accessories: Large Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Gold Sequin Trim

Next up??? Heidi Baks!! She's got this "simple and elegant" thing NAILED!

Monday Montage #26

Who's up for another go-round with the Monday Montage girls???? MEMEMEME!!! So let's get started!!

I am SO excited to be able to share this scrapbook layout with y'all ... I did this as one of my items for the Convention Display Boards ... and I did something with it that I have NEVER done before ... I actually made TWO of them so that I could keep one!! (I swear, Stampin' Up has owned ALL of my best scrapbook layouts for the past several years ... I decided I was just gonna do the work and make a duplicate this time around!)!!

This is a picture of my daughter on her 17th birthday (she just turned 20). I have loved it from the moment I took it ... and knew I needed to do a whole page just for this (something I don't usually do, either ... I'm kinda of the mindset that scrapbook layouts NEED more than one photo ... but I couldn't help myself this time around!)!

Here's a closeup of some of the details ... I cut the "celebrate" out using MDS and my trusty ol' Silhouette ...


Stamps: #hello, Chevron Background
Paper: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Hello Honey, Basic Gray, Moonlight DSP, Brights Color Collection DSP, Vellum
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Crump Cake
Accessories: Circles Collection Framelits, Hearts Collection Framelits, Pansy Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Banner Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Word Window Punch, Chevron Border Punch, Brights Candy Dots, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Sewing Machine, Silhouette eCutter
MDS Downloads: Moments Ago ("celebrate"), Christmas Countdown ("17")

It's been quite the week, I tell ya!! We just got back from a quick trip to Zion National Park ... hiked 13 miles through The Narrows ... I'm wiped out but oh-so-grateful to have been with people I love in such a beautiful place!! Counting my blessings ...

Click "Back" to see Marvelous Melissa Stout, and/or the "Next" button to see Awesome Amy O'Neill!

Stamp Review Crew - Daydream Medallions Edition

Welcome to the Stamp Review Crew's Daydream Medallions Edition!! YAY!!! This set has been LONG neglected in my stamp cupboard ... THRILLED to be able to bring it out and play with it!!

Why-oh-WHY haven't I pulled this set out more often??? It is MUI-MUI fun to use!!! I was trying to keep this creation a bit on the "simple" side ... I didn't even do 27 layers!! How 'bout that???

Stamps: Daydream Medallinos, A Dozen Thoughts
Paper: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon
Ink: Lost Lagoon, Blackberry Bliss
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Pansy Punch, Petite Petals Punch, Ticket Builder Punch, Linen Thread, Pearl Basics

All the images in the set look like this ... now YOU want one, right???









Click on the "Next" button to see what Adriana Benitez has created ... or on the "Previous" button for Beth Beard's version. They are BOTH gonna knock your socks off!

Fab Friday #48 - Welcome Baby Ian!!

Today is a day for CELEBRATING!! This week the friends on the Fab Friday Challenge Team are sending some love to Mindy Backes and her new sweet little baby, Ian!! We are SO happy to be able to send our virtual "love" to Mindy, Jon and Ian!!!

Received my Paper Pumpkin kit in the mail yesterday ... and was SO happy to be able to use a part of it for my creation today (the "congrats" panel was in there, and I just added the polka dots to it to jazz it up a little!)!

Had a pretty harrowing day yesterday ... was in a pretty nasty car accident ... gratefully, I walked away with little more than a bump and a scratch on my chin. SOOOO grateful for the guardian angels who wrapped their arms around me and my car. SOOOO grateful to be able to share some love with Mindy and my other Fab Friday friends. Grateful to all of you for your love and support ... just have a heart full of gratitude.

Stamps: Something for Baby
Paper:  Coastal Cabana, Hello Honey, Whisper White, Lullaby DSP
Ink:  Coastal Cabana
Accessories:  Baby's First Framelits Dies, Hearts Collection Framelits, Sweetheart Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (Heart), August Paper Pumpkin (congrats panel), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine

Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Check out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends:

Mindy Backes
Cindy Beach
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Marla Reed
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Congratulations Backes family!! Love you!!

MDS Blog Hop - Travel Journal

It's MDS Blog Hoppin' Time!! I'm still surprised that it took me soooo long to jump on the "digital" bandwagon!! Every time I get to do some playing with MDS I have fun ... the fact that there is NO mess when I'm done is also a HUGE bonus ... LOVE that!!

This week we are playing with either the Tea Time II Digital Kit or the Travel Journal Digital Kit. I chose the latter ... it's not the first time I have created with it ... so many things to love about it!!

Here we all are having fun at camp ... each year brings its own challenges and fun adventures ... and I love it every single time!!

MDS Downloads:
Paper - Travel Journal
Stamps: A Split Second (splatter 3), Sentimental Journey (compass rose, detour), Happy Camper Memories (trees)
Embellishments - Candid Frames (instant), More Candid Frames (instant 1, film 6), One Great Year (adventure), Burlap Ribbon
Punches - Chevron Border Punch, 1.25 Circle Punch
Fonts -Thirsty Rough

Next up??? Cindy Schuster!! She always has something wonderfully creative to share!

Happy Stripes!

'Tis the season ... fa-la-la-la-laaaaaa ... yeah ... I DON'T mean Christmas!!! It's "tax season" for me!! Actually, it's "tax season" for my accountant! We file our business/corporate taxes every year on September 15 (and "corporate" makes a little family-owned-and-operated thing sound HUGE ... which we are NOT ... but I digress ...) I've been busily crunching numbers and running MILES of calculator tape trying to get things done so I can be ready to file on time ... ugh ... which is why I have neglected being here this week!!

Coastal Cabana ... such a DELICIOUS color!!! It is the color that finally filled in the void for me where "Cool Caribbean" used to be! Oh, how I loved THAT color!!!

I made this card for my Free for All Challenge over on SCS (Splitcoaststampers) last Friday. My challenge was to make something "stripe-y" ... and this is what I came up with. (True confession ... this was also one of my Convention Display Board samples. I still have a few of those up my sleeve!!

Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Color Collections DSP
Ink: Coastal Cabana
Accessories: 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Large Scallop Edgelits Die, Little Letters Framelits Dies, Gold Sequin Trim, Beach House Washi Tape

I guess I need to go chain myself back to a desk with a sharp pencil, eraser and the adding machine again. WorkWorkWork!! But TONIGHT I'm having my first Stampin' Up Project Life Class!! Sooooo very excited about THAT!!! I'll post some pictures for ya real soon to show you what we made!!

Have a fabulous day!

Dare to Get Dirty 2014

This week is "Dare to Get Dirty" week over on Splitcoaststampers! What that means is that current and former members of the Dirty Dozen Design Team take their turn to post a challenge for inspiration and fun! Since this is an event for Fan Club members only, you need to make SURE you get your Fan Club membership all signed up (if you aren't a Fan Club member already!)!

This is the sample I made for my own challenge (and the details are "top secret" ... ya gotta go check it out on Splitcoast, I tell ya!)!

I have seriously struggled with getting the lighting correct with my camera lately ... ugh! I took this photo outside with every possible setting ... and tried adjusting the filters in Photoshop as well ... it STILL came out wonky!! Oh dear ... I really DO need to take a class!

Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Paper: Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Flowerpot DSP
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Banner Punch, Banner Framelits, Bitty Banner Framelits, Delicate Designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (Heart), Tangerine Tango Thick Bakers Twine

This one is a sample I made for my BFF, JanTink's, challenge. I had to think long and hard about this one! And I used colors that were WAY out of my norm ... I think I kinda like it!!

Stamps: High Five
Paper: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Taffy DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Banners Framelits, Hearts Framelits, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, What's Up Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Pumpkin Pie Chevron Ribbon, Stapler, Paper Distressing Tool

Happy Weekend, Peeps!!

Make Today Ridiculously Amazing!

Happy Wednesday! And why NOT??? I wasn't so sure what to think of this stamp set when it came with our bag of goodies at Convention ... but the more and more I see of it, the more and more I like it!! And the sentiment pretty much says it all, don'tcha think?

My stamp club girls also got to make this card last week ... I did the sewing ahead of time for them (yeah, my sewing machine sitting on the table just makes me feel the need to use it!!)! Strawberry Slush and Coastal Cabana look SUPER yummy together!

Stamps: Amazing Birthday
Paper:  Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Whisper White,
Ink:  Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, 2013-2015 In Color Collection DSP Stack, Silver Glimmer
Accessories: 1/1/4" Square Punch, Banner Framelits, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (Star), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Silver Bakers Twine, Sewing Machine

Have I ever mentioned that I registered for the Disneyland Half Marathon on Labor Day Weekend?? (Yeah, registration was clear back in January!) Part of the fun is that my bestie, Bree Renwick, will be joining me!!! She is dressing up as Minnie Mouse, while I am dressing as Tinkerbell. I started working on my "getup" for the race ... I'll share with y'all once I get finished! I am SO excited!!

Stamp Review Crew - Flower Patch Edition

Welcome to The Stamp Review Crew's Flower Patch Edition!! I actually don't even OWN this stamp set ... BIG thanks to my BFF, Cheryl Curtis, for loaning me the stamps and the framelits to play with!!

I'm gonna tell a truth here ... I did NOT care for this stamp set when I first saw it ... not even when I "second" saw it (which is why I ended up having to borrow it). But I'm also gonna tell ANOTHER truth ... it has since wormed its way into my little stampin' heart and now I'm pretty sure I'm gonna hafta buy a set of my own ... and the framelits, too!! I made this card for our Stamp Review Crew Display Board for Convention ... it has reeled me in hook, line and sinker!!

Stamps: Flower Patch, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Garden Green, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Gold Soiree DSP
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Gold
Accessories: Flower Fair Framelits, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Linen Thread, Pearl Basics, Paper Distressing Tool, Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape, Sweet Sadie Washi Tape, Silhouette eCutter
MDS Download:  Photo Corner Punch

Here are all the images that come with this set ... there are a LOT of them!!! Which is why I guess this set is pretty awesome after all!!





Clicking the "previous" button will show you what Kerry Bray has to share, and the "next" button will take you to Tanya Boser!!