TGIF #529 - Sketch Challenge

Happy Friday! TGIF!!

Sketches are the BEST kind of inspiration … I sometimes struggle to NOT use the same-old/same-old when it comes to layouts, so having a sketch to get me started is great! This week the TGIF Crew are using this sketch challenge to create!

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

The Storybook Moments Suite is PHE-NOM-E-NAL!! I have NO idea what took me soooo long to get on board with it. Sigh … it is now on “last chance” on Stampin’ Up’s website, so get on over there and get ALL of it!

I happened to have the white oval shape (from Impressions Abloom) still sitting on my table, so I decided to incorporate it. That girlie bunny and butterflies??? Tooo-too cute! They are all from the Storybook Moments DSP. They are on a sheet of cutouts … so no fussy cutting or stamping, just instant cuteness!! (And that little picket fence is to DIE for!!)

Up close you can see what I did with the background behind the bunny. I used an image from Elements of Text stamped in Pecan Pie ink. Prior to stamping the image I used a Blending Brush to add a little bit of Basic Beige to “age” the paper just a little!

And the gingham paper from the Timeless Plaid 6x6 DSP??? Perfection!! I distressed the edges with my snips to age that as well.

Stamps: Elements of Text

Paper: Basic White, Pecan Pie, Storybook Moments DSP, Timeless Plaid DSP

Ink: Pecan Pie, Basic Beige

Accessories: Impressions Abloom Dies, Muted Palette Dots, Crumb Cake Baker’s Twine

Family Reunion is happening for me tomorrow! It’s going to be a good time!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

All Because of Stampin’ Up!

Hey friends! I have been having soooo many technical difficulties with my lil’ ol’ blog here, but I think I have finally fixed what was broken so I can finally share again! YAY!

I made this scrapbook page to express my gratitude for what my life is like because of Stampin’ Up.

A good friend of mine, Shellee Kariuki, kept working on me to get me to join her “card club”. This was about 23 years ago (which is weird, since I am only 27!). I didn’t really want to, but she finally wore me down! Up to this point I had done some scrapbooking, but hadn’t really done any stamping or card making.

After having been in the “club” for about 3 years she convinced me that I should just sign up to be a demo. She said I could make my own minimums based on what I was ordering just from her. The discount sounded nice, and there was a promo for new demos at the time that included an entire color family of ink pads. How could I resist?? (Apparently, I couldn’t!). I was about a year behind signing up from my BFF, Cheryl Curtis. I met her at Shellee’s card club.

I was only going to be a demo for a year or two “just to get the discount.” I am now just about to reach my 20-year anniversary with Stampin’ Up - hard to believe!!

I met Kathy via Splitcoaststampers. There were a bunch of us who used to have a thread on there, mostly active in the early mornings, where we would “chat” as we waited for the daily challenge to be posted. (It was soooo inefficient as you had to continually refresh the page to see any new messages!) Kathy and I soon realized we had a lot in common! We talk almost every day (she lives in Minnesota), and she and I have made many trips to one another’s homes over the years. She even took me to Mt. Rushmore once on a drive to Utah from Minnesota (I flew out to drive back with her so she wouldn’t have to come alone!). Coolest experience EVER!

I met Bree Renwick’swhen she and I were both Artisan Design Team Finalists WAY back in 2012. We have also done a lot of traveling back and forth to our respective homes (she lives in Walla Walla), in addition to a great beach girl’s trip to the Oregon Coast during the Pandemic and at least TWO trips to Disneyland for RunDisney events. Not to mention Stampin’ Up events in Los Angeles, Houston, Raleigh and Las Vegas!

These ladies are my “ride-or-die” besties. We talk ALL the time - laughing, crying, or just shooting the breeze. I love them with my whole heart - hence the use of the “Friends for Life” dies (which, sadly, recently retired). I also used some old DSP I had … it wasn’t in its original packaging, but I know it is from Stampin’ Up. USE THOSE OLD SUPPLIES, FRIENDS!

Stamps: None!

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, Misc Retired DSP

Ink: None! (Except for a white gel pen)

Accessories: Friends for Life Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Spotlight On Nature Dies, Adhesive Backed Sparkle Gems

I cannot even BEGIN to imagine what my life would be like had I not gone to Shellee’s card club all those years ago. I have made friendships and had experiences that you canNOT put a price tag on. What a blessing it has been - blessed, grateful and happy!

Monday Montage - Cutest Onesie!

It’s MONDAY! Which means we are doing another Monday Montage Hop! Hooray! I am forever inspired and enabled by my fellow Monday Montagers. They are all soooo talented … and lovely humans as well!

I have not made a “baby” card in what feels like forever! Since Bree also had this Cutest Onesie Bundle at her house, I got to play with it! (We stamped a LOT while I was there!)

I had visions of multi colors of these cute little onesies. I stole the Daffodil Delight gingham paper from the Floral Delight DSP (cute, cute!). The Pool Party gingham is from Everyday Happiness DSP. Since I wanted to lighten the tone on it a bit, I stamped the onesie outline with Black Memento Ink on some vellum (which, sadly, SU doesn’t carry any more!) and then layered it on top of the Everyday Happiness onesie I had cut with the Cutest Onesie Dies.

And that frame!! Gotta love it! I snatched that die out of the Storybook Friends Dies … it looks adorable with the onesie framed in it!

You can see up close that I used the 3D Eyelet Embossing Folder in the background … another new favorite in my personal collection.

I used my Stampin’ Blends to color the bands around the arms and legs and also the little snaps. Too-too fun!

Stamps: Cutest Onesie

Paper: Basic White, Everyday Happiness DSP, Floral Delight DSP

Ink: Black Memento, Pool Party

Accessories: Cutest Onesie Dies, Storybook Friends Dies, 3D Eyelet Embossing Folder, 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls

I shall be heading back into my craft room to make another attempt to dig myself out! Sheesh! It’s an ongoing battle! You know what they say … you only need about a 6”x6” square of blank surface to make a card, right???

Our Monday Montage Hop has gone exclusively to Instagram! You can check it out by finding me @tinkermom85. From there you will be able to find all of my Monday Montage Friends, too!

TGIF Challenge #526 - Inspiration Challenge

TGIF! It’s Friday, Peeps! And what’s not to be happy about for that??!!??

This week we are inspired to make some sort of birthday card … and I’m sharing yet one more card I made up in Walla Walla at Bree’s with her stampin’ goodies!

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

The more of these Terrific Toadstools I stamped and punched, the more I wanted to stamp and punch!

I started with the beautiful gingham paper from the Floral Delight DSP. I’m a sucker for gingham!

I stamped the toadstools in Real Red, Poppy Parade and Cherry Cobbler, and the stamps in Basic Gray and Smoky Slate. SUPER DUPER CUTE!!!

I used my Stampin’ Blends to color the images. I colored a little bit of “shadow” around each of the images with a Pool Party Blend. I didn’t bring the dies with me, so I did the fussy cutting thing. 

I used a couple of the Textured Notes Dies to create a black frame to set the toadstools on. I then back the frame with a strip of White Basic cardstock that I had embossed with the Soft Waves 3D Embossing Folder.

Lastly, I accented the little fungi garden with some flowers I cut from the Country Florals Dies. I added some of the new 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls for the centers. Then I cheated and added a retired loop of Black & White Checkered Gingham Ribbon because it was just toooo perfect not to!

The sentiment was stamped with Versamark on Basic Black cardstock and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder. I then did a little fussy cutting to cut out the sentiment I had just created.

I think this will make a fun birthday card for just about anyone!

Stamps: Terrific Toadstools

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, Floral Delight DSP

Ink: Versamark, Black Memento, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate

Accessories: Terrific Toadstools Builder Punch, Textured Notes Dies, Country Florals Dies, Soft Waves 3D Embossing Folder, White Embossing Powder, Muted Palette Dots, Black & White Checked Gingham Ribbon (retired), 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls

For this Memorial Day Weekend I am spending some time up with family on the Utah/Idaho border at Bear Lake … it truly is my peaceful spot. I come home rejuvenated and refreshed every time!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

Monday Montage - Scenic Adventure

Ok … I blinked and another weekend just WHOOSHED by! But the great news is that it’s Monday Montage time again! Yay!

And once again I’m sharing another creation I put together while I was up in Walla Walla visiting Bree (@craftsomnia).

I have a love/hate relationship with “mountainous” images. I LOVE looking at the sets and they are always beautiful … but I seem to always HATE what I end up creating with them! In an effort to try NOT to do something that looks like what everyone else has already done, I usually end up making something that no one would really want to do anyway!

This card, however, turned out pretty and I like it!

I was trying to evoke a “sunrise” sort of vibe. I actually think it looks more like a sunset, but who can really tell??

After using the Scenic Adventure Dies to cut out several “mountains” (I used Peach Pie, Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather, Mossy Meadow, Basic Gray, and Basic Black - from back to front), I sponged the edges of each of the mountains and trees with their coordinating ink.

I used the pretty oval shapes from the Impressions Abloom Dies to create the frame for the scene. Since the dies are slightly different in size and the larger one only cuts the “outline” it was kinda tricky getting all the colors to cut and line up, but I think it turned out pretty cool.

For the sun I used a small circle of Daffodil Delight cardstock (which I also sponged, as well as the white cardstock behind the sun). I used the Stylish Shapes Dies to cut the circle … but you could use a punch or any other circle shape to achieve the same look.

Then … what’s not to love about a corrugated texture?? The new Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder?? Perfection!

The hexagon with the sentiment is from the “Meant to Bee” dies. They were handy at Bree’s so I just used one of them!

And I actually created something with NO ribbon/twine/thread and NO embellishments! That’s something I haven’t done for a while!

Stamps: Scenic Adventure

Paper: Highland Heather, Basic White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Flirty Flamingo, Peach Pie, Mossy Meadow, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Black Memento, Versamark

Accessories: Scenic Adventure Dies, Impressions Abloom Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Meant to Bee Dies, Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder, White Embossing Powder

After having done the Ragnar Zion Trail Run (a week ago) and the Ogden Half Marathon (this past Saturday), I am happy to be able to take a rest from racing for a little while! Proud of myself, though!

Our Monday Montage Hop has gone exclusively to Instagram! You can check it out by finding me @tinkermom85. From there you will be able to find all of my Monday Montage Friends, too!

TGIF Challenge #525 - Paper Flowers!

Happy Friday!! It’s TGIF Challenge time and this week we are using paper flowers as our inspiration.

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along!

Aren’t ALL flowers we put on our cards PAPER flowers??? (well … I am sure there are SOME exceptions, but if we are going to be literal I choose to believe that these fit the bill!)

I borrowed Bree’s Mixed Florals stamp set while I was at her house a couple of weeks ago, I stamped the images but didn’t even try to color them until last week … and then I didn’t cut them out and make a card out of them until a few days ago.

I am IN LOVE with the Everyday Happiness Patterned Paper. The colors are soft and beautiful and look GORGEOUS together!!

I used my Stampin’ Blends to color the images. I colored a little bit of “shadow” around each of the images with a Pool Party Blend. I didn’t bring the dies with me, so I did the fussy cutting thing. 

I used a white gel pen to add little dots and accent lines to the leaves and flowers. Cute, right?? 

Using the Everyday Arches Dies (my new FAVORITE set of dies!) and the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder to complete the background. I used a white gel pen to add little dots and accent lines to the leaves and flowers. Cute, right?? 

Using the Everyday Arches Dies (my new FAVORITE set of dies!) and the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder to complete the background. After using the Plaster Painting 3D Embossing folder I just HAD to “flick” the background with my Stampin’ Blends.

Stamps: Mixed Florals, More Messages

Paper: Basic White, Lemon Lolly, Basic Black, Everyday Happiness DSP

Ink: Versamark, Black Memento; Stampin’ Blends - Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lolly, Lost Lagoon, Real Red, Mossy Meadow, White Gel Pen

Accessories: Everyday Arches Dies, More Messages Dies, Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder, White Baker’s Twine, White Embossing Powder, Muted Palette Dots

I’m doing ANOTHER race tomorrow as part of the Huntsman Heroes team ..  the Ogden Half Marathon. I think I’m ready!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

Stampin’ Fancy Friday - Friends Forever

This month for the Stampin’ Fancy Friday Challenge we are going back to scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is where my papercrafting journey began oh-so-many moons ago! This page was so much fun as it features so many of my fellow Fancy Friday Friends when we were at a recent Stampin’ Up OnStage event in Raleigh, North Carolina.

This page was alllll about dies!

I used flowers from Impressions Abloom to accent each of the photos. I used the Perennial Postage Dies to create a stacked “border” of sorts to the right of the photos using the Turtle-y Cute DSP and a combo of Flirty Flamingo and Basic Black.

For the lettering I used the Alphabet AlaMode Dies. They work so well with everything!

I also used a couple of dies from the Sentimental Frames Dies to highlight the letters and the little journaling panel.

Stamps: None!

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, Flirty Flamingo, Strawberry Slush, Darling Duckling, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lolly, Turtle-y Cute DSP

Ink: None!

Accessories: Impressions Abloom Dies, Alphabet Ala Mode Dies, Sentimental Frames Dies, Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems

Check out all the fun things created by the Stampin’ Fancy Friday Challenge Team on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stampinfancyfriday/!!!

TGIF #524 - Sketch Challenge

As you are reading this I am running a Ragnar Trail Race in Zion National Park! But I did get a chance to play for this week’s TGIF Challenge! This week we are doing this lovely sketch challenge. Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along!

While I was in Walla Walla visiting my bestie, Bree, I got to play with some of her goodies! I am LOVING his new Weekend Adventures stamp set! The little tin camping cup?!? Shut the front door!

The layers and textures on this card are EVERYTHING!

I didn’t exactly follow the sketch to the letter, but I couldn’t get past the arches!

After using the Plaster Painting 3D Embossing folder I just HAD to “flick” the background with my Stampin’ Blends.

I also layered the gingham vellum on top of a layer of Basic White cardstock to make it pop!

Stamps: Weekend Adventures

Paper: Basic White, Azure Afternoon, Floral and Hingham DSP

Ink: Versamark, Black Memento, Azure Afternoon; Stampin’ Blends - Daffodil Delight, Azure Afternoon, Smoky Slate

Accessories: Everyday Arches Dies, Plaster Painting 3D Embossing Folder, Flat Antique Pearls, White Embossing Powder

I had to order this stamp set for myself while I was still at Bree’s … it is so fun and versatile!

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

Monday Montage - Tiled Techniques

How can it be Monday again already??!!?? At least I stamped ahead and had a card all ready to go! Welcome back for another round of Monday Montage!

Since the 2025-2026 Stampin’ Up Catalog will be going LIVE tomorrow (05/06/25), I am sharing a few of my favorite retiring items … specifically, the Tiled Technqiues stamp set and some very pretty Moody Mauve cardstock.

I cut the front panel of this card in half, so it is only 2.75” from the top fold to the bottom edge of the front panel. That way I was able to take advance of the “medallion” I made from the Spotlight On Nature Dies and the images I stamped using Tiled Techniques.

Here’s what it looks like inside when you lift the front flap with the medallion up. Just the right amount of space for a little greeting!

I’m sooo happy that the Eyelet 3D Embossing folder is sticking around for another year. It has fast become a favorite of mine!

I shall really miss the Moody Mauve cardstock … it’s such a beautiful and rich color.

Stamps: Tiled Techniques

Paper: Basic White, Moody Mauve, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray

Ink: Basic Gray, Moody Mauve, Pretty in Pink, Versamark

Accessories: Spotlight On Nature Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder, White Embossing Powder, Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems

My friend, Cheryl Curtis, and I have been visiting our other bestie - Bree Renwick - up in Walla Walla since last Thursday. It has been the BEST time! (Both of these ladies are also part of the Monday Montage Crew!) We ate, laughed, shopped, stamped and enjoyed our time together soooo much! Can’t wait to get together and do it again (hopefully sooner rather than later!)

Our Monday Montage Hop has gone exclusively to Instagram! You can check it out by finding me @tinkermom85. From there you will be able to find all of my Monday Montage Friends, too!

All Zipped Up!

I was not gonna get this “All Zipped Up” bundle. Nope. Not even. It was a big ol’ “meh” from me.

Untiiiiiillllll I started seeing sample from the many amazing Stampin’ Up demos who HAD caved to the purchase and started to play with it (which is something that happens way more often than I would like to admit)! OF COURSE I had to add it to my cart and complete the purchase (which is something that happens way more often than I would like to admit!)!

Funny story … in the same box of goodies in which the “All Zipped Up” bundle arrived I got some very lovely packages of DSP. One of them is called “Everyday Happiness”, which I decided to use on this card. I checked the back of the package to see exactly which colors are used in it so that I could choose the colors for my card. I decided to use Lost Lagoon, Pretty Peacock and a dash of Darling Duckling (which was NOT on the list of colors used, but I figured it worked good enough as a substitute for the Very Vanilla that WAS used). 

I went to my stash (drawers of file folders that have individual files for each color) and plucked out a piece of Pretty Peacock to use for the zipper and the sentiment. I returned to the drawer because I wanted to use some more Pretty Peacock for the base. Hmmm … brand new package of Pretty Peacock, unopened no less, and it did NOT match the scrap I had removed from this same said file 15 minutes earlier. It took me a bit of sleuthing to deduce that the color I had used was Just Jade (an In Color from a few years back) … at least I’m pretty sure that was what color I used as I had no other pieces with which to compare it! It was a pretty good match so I decided to just roll with it1

I decided at the last moment to add some little string pulls for the “hood” of this jacket. Just some Basic White Baker’s Twine that I crocheted into a little cording. Cute, eh?

So here is my All Zipped Up card using JUST JADE and NOT Pretty Peacock! I did not want to rip the whole thing apart and start over with the correct color … plain and simple!

Stamps: All Zipped Up

Paper: Basic White, Darling Duckling, Just Jade, Lost Lagoon, Everyday Happiness DSP

Ink: Lost Lagoon, Versamark

Accessories: All Zipped Up Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Basic White Baker’s Twine, 2025-2027 In Color Flat Pearls

I am currently up in Walla Walla hanging out with my two crafty besties, Bree and Cheryl! We are eating, shopping, crafting and laughing … that’s what I call a perfect match!