Monday Montage #165

Welcome to day number 64,529 of COVID-19 "Stay-at-Home" Isolation. And welcome to Monday Montage! I have made so many cards in the last week that I actually had to CHOOSE one to use for this blog hop!! SERIOUSLY???? The last time that happened was, like ... NEVER ... NEVER ... it has NEVER happened!! The world is so strange and things are so different right now, it was BOUND to happen, right???

We were able to preorder several items from the soon-to-be-release 2020-2021 Catalog ... except new ink pads ... specifically ink pads featuring our new In Colors. BIG FAT BUMMER!! However, on the upside to this is that we have to use our new goodies with the colors we already have (I know, I know ... BIG FAT BOOOO HOOOO!). It seems that so many new sets are always/only being made with the DSP that accompanies them. No can do right now, so we have to think outside the box that we have sometimes put ourselves in. Can I just say that I LOVE THIS FREAKIN' COLOR COMBO??? I came across it in one of the samples in the aforementioned new catalog. I love it so-so-so-so-so-so much!

Stamps: Forever Fern
Paper: Blushing Bride, Night of Navy, Gray Granite, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Ink: Blushing /bride, Night of Navy, Gray Granite, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Forever Flourishing Dies, Tasteful Labels Dies, Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack (white ribbon), 1/4" Bumblebee Gingham Ribbon, Old World Paper 3D Embossing Folder, Flowers for Every Season Gems

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

We spend most of Sunday evening playing "Risk" online with our kids. An oldie but a goodie. I used to be super good at that game! DANG! I was the first one obliterated! I need to study up for next week so I don't get eliminated in the first 20 minutes! It was SUPER embarrassing!! Wish me luck!

Click "Next" to see what Bree Renwick ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... never disappointed even a LITTLE bit with anything either of these ladies create!

Fab Friday #190

I have made more cards in the last 6 days than I have made in the last six weeks!! Sheesh!! I got a box full of preview products and I guess being locked down due to the Coronavirus, I had a head FULL of inspirational ideas. I've been having a great time making each and every piece!

First up in the Fun Fab Friday Challenge is this watercolor bouquet I created using the Many Layered Blossoms Dies. I first cut the more detailed layer of the Blossoms Dies out in watercolor paper. I taped the image down to the mat on my table with another piece of watercolor paper. Then I went to work. Since this challenge is a color challenge, I proceeded to use an Aquapainter to watercolor over the detailed die to bring the bouquet to life. Since the scrap paper under the die I had tried this on the first time around turned out so cool looking, I decided to make a more concerted effort to "paint" over the die to come up with a water colored bouquet. Since I don't actually use the cutout die itself on this card, I decided to save that cut out die image to put on another card front.

Stamps: Lovely You
Paper: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Watercolor
Ink: Black Memento, Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Call Me Clover, Pineapple Punch
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Many Layered Blossoms Dies, Aquapainter, 2020-2022 In Color Enamel Dots

See??? The cutout die image looked so pretty after I used it as a mask to create the stenciled look on the last card, I decided to follow through with the larger die by watercoloring it with the piece that was leftover from watercoloring the first card and put both pieces down on a stark black background. I can't even remember the last time I ever did a one layer card with NO extra layers! Slap on a sentiment and you are DONE!
Stamps: Lovely You
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Watercolor
Ink: Black Memento, Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo, Call Me Clover, Pineapple Punch
Accessories: Stitched Shape Dies, Many Layered Blossoms Dies, Aquapainter

This color combo is so very SPRING like ... and I had NO TROUBLE figuring out what to do with it!



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

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us ... smile, hug, laugh and make happy memories with the ones you love and safe to be "sheltering at hone" with. I am counting my blessing every day ... and I can't wait to go visit my Dad up at the cemetery at the top of my neighborhood. It's a lovely walk and such a beautiful time of year.

Control Freaks - 2020 Preorder Preview!

We are BACK!!! Holy COW!!! The Control Freaks are here to show you what we all got in our DELICIOUS boxes of Stampin' Up's 2020-2021 Idea Book and Catalog!! I. CAN'T. EVEN! This is going to be SUCH a fun year!!! Touring through, you should just have come from the marvelous blog of Melissa Davies ... she is costing me $$$!!! (Because, of course, she used products that I did NOT preorder ... and now think I HAVE to HAVE!)

I have a friend with a daughter who is graduating from high school this year ... 2020 ... sigh ... what a CRAZY year those seniors are having!!! She has asked friends from different states to send grad cards to her daughter (in an attempt to get as MANY cards from as MANY states as possible)! I jumped on the chance to represent the good ol' State of Utah. I used the new Jar of Flowers Bundle to create this little "congrats" bouquet in a jar. I stamped the jar image in Smoky Slate onto some vellum. I continued with the Smoky Slate to make an outline of the bouquet itself ... colored using the Stampin' Blends listed below. And don't get me started with the Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder ... I LOOOOVE IT!

Stamps: Jar of Flowers, Beautiful World (Sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Mango Melody, Old Olive, Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay, Highland Heather, Balmy Blue, Smoky Slate
Accessories: Jar Punch, Lovely Labels Pick a Punch, Tasteful Textile 3D Embossing Folder, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Champagne Rhinestones, 3/16" Braided Linen Trim

This card came about when I was stamping via FaceTime with my bestie, Bree Renwick. She was inspired by a card made by another one of our good friends, Kaitlyn Zumbach (who just so happens to be a Concept Artist with SU). After having Bree show me Kaitlyn's card, I also found inspiration and created something ... Bree and I didn't show our cards to each other until we had both finished! I really enjoy making something from the inspiration I get from so many other talented stampers. We are DEFINITELY going to do this "experiment" again. Three cheers for the "World of Good" Suite for helping me create this fun card!

Stamps: Beautiful World
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Pacific Point
Ink: Real Red, Pacific Point, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Accessories: Trio Corner Punch, Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder, Flowers for Every Season Combo Pack, Lovely Labels Pick a Punch, Whisper White Embossing Powder

I played "Great British Baking Show" with my niece again today. We made Shichttore (which means "layer cake). NINETEEN little bitty layers baked one at a time ... one on top to the other. We need to try it again with WHITE flour (we used wheat flour because of what we could find in the store ... thank you COVID-19). It turned out SOOOOO fun!! Can't wait until we get together to do it again!

Next up??? Truly Terrific ... Tami Hewlett!! I didn't order the bundle she used, either ... and MAN ... I am RUINED!!

Monday Montage #164

Happy Mother's Day!! I know I am a day late and a dollar short ... but sometimes that is just how it goes!! I'm really getting to a point where I really miss people! I talk to people on the phone or FB or whatever every day ... but it's just NOT the same!! I miss seeing my friends and family ... I miss HUGGING ... I miss just the basic human interactions we have all taken for granted! I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. I will be so happy when we can do things a little bit more "normally" ... which may take a while. I am grateful that this whole COVID-19 pandemic has taught me to be so grateful for so many things! And I'm grateful that I have been forced to slow down my life ... something I hope to be able to hold on to! And with all that said ... welcome to Monday Montage!

This is the card I made for our moms for Mother's Day. It seems I always do some sort of "bouquet" on cards for Mother's Day because it just fits, doesn't it??? I added a little bit of Old Olive with my Aquapainter in the background ... it doesn't show up much in the photo, but I'm really loving all the things I've seen with a bit of watercoloring!

Stamps: To a Wild Rose, Abstract Impressions (sentiment)
Paper: Blueberry Bushel, Mango Melody, Balmy Blue, Old Olive, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White
Ink: Blueberry Bushel, Balmy Blue, Mango Melody, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Wild Rose Dies, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Whisper White Ribbon (retired), Rich Razzleberry Velvet Ribbon (retired), Subtle Embossing Folder

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner
Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots
Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

After an 8-mile run this weekend, I am feeling pretty good! I'm still amazed that I am actually a "runner" ... never thought I'd end up calling myself that EVER!! I will never be fast, but I love being outdoors and doing something that I know is good for me! Listening to books, podcasts, music or just NATURE is great!!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... can you say AWESOME???

Fab Friday #189

If any of us would have had the SLIGHTEST inkling of how the year 2020 was going to take a VERY bizarre turn, I think we would not have believed it!! HOWEVER ... I have learned to appreciate so many things I have taken for granted. And if nothing else, this whole "quarantine/stay at home" routine has taught me to slow the heck down. Listen more ... relax more (relax SOME! I wasn't very good at that before!) ... tell people "I love you" every day. To be fair, I have always been pretty good about vocalizing my love for those I love ... but I have made it a point to tell sooooo many people that I love them that I am not sure I would have thought to say it to before. Time is so very precious. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! I NEVER would have believed when I started this blog over 10 years ago that I would still be here doing it ... or that I would have met and made friends with so many people as a result. I feel so very blessed ... and I can't believe I made the card for this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge in less an half an hour (something that RARELY happens!).

I borrowed this "Beautiful Friendship" stamp set from my BFF, Cheryl. I don't think I've seen any cards made with it that I don't LOVE. It's so easy to put the images in it together in virtually any combo or color scheme and NOT have it come out decent!!

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship
Paper: Seaside Spray, Whisper White, Subtles DSP
Ink: Seaside Spray, Rococo Rose, Mint Macaron, Wink of Stella
Accessories: Rococo Rose 1/2" Linen Scalloped Ribbon, Rhinestone Basics

I LOVE this sketch! It's so "me" ... hahaha!












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

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

I plan on spending a good portion of the day today finishing up the 100 face masks I committed to make. It's a community service project ... and they are very easy to make, just time consuming. It makes me super happy to know that they will go to those in hospitals that need them so very much!! Have a lovely weekend!