Monday Montage #46

After the last two weeks of uninterrupted chaos in my life, I FINALLY got to play with a few of my new stamp-y good things (I've already played with SOME ... but this is my SECOND order ... and the things have been sitting SADLY unused for much too long!)

I am over the MOON happy with this new Brick Textured Impressions Embossing folder!!! It's so BIG!!! You can turn a standard, A2-sized card in EITHER direction and it will fit JUST FINE!!! Hip-hip-hooray!!

Stamps:  Gift from the Garden
Paper: Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Accessories:  Burlap Ribbon, Gold Sequin Trim, Linen Thread, Ovals Framelits, Brick Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Whisper White Embossing Powder

SO excited for the upcoming 4th of July holiday ... planning on spending a WONDERFULLY relaxing weekend with family!! I canNOT wait!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... ALWAYS good things to see from BOTH of this talented ladies!!

Fab Friday #67

It has been SUCH a whirlwind in my corner of the universe for the past several weeks! I have made no fewer than FOUR trips to three different ER's with three different family members in the last three weeks!!! (Everyone is on the mend ... sometimes things just happen ... just not usually so close together!)! I really need a vacation!!! I'm feeling a trip to Disneyland coming on ... maybe ... but I digress ...

It's Fab Friday and we are all creating this week with the new 2015-2017 In Colors. I only used three of them, but I actually am liking ALL FIVE of them!!

I was cleaning my craft room (which seems to be an ongoing thing most of the time!) and I came across the bit of ribbon on this card that I stapled together for another card I was making a couple of weeks ago ... couldn't quite get it to work, so I was determined to not let it go to waste!!

Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon
Ink: Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon
Accessories: Circles Framelites Dies, Bohemian Designer Washi Tape, Expressions Natural Elements, Watermelon Wonder 1" Dotted Lace Trim, Mini Stapler, Gold Sequin Trim, Linen Thread

Just so ya know ... here are the In Colors for 2015-2017 ...







Excited to see what all of our challenge players come up with!!

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
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Have a most happy of weekends!!

Something(s) New with the Freaks!

Guess what time it is???? Time for the Control Freaks to share some FUN and NEW things from the 2015-2016 Stampin' Up Catalog!!! I'm trying to convince myself that I do NOT need it ALL right NOW!! (And I'm sure this blog tour is NOT going to help me in this area!)! Hopping around, you should've just come from the ever-so-talented Margaret Raburn and her Fun Stampin' blog!!

I think I have probably mentioned that I LOVELOVELOVE this new Bohemian Washi Tape. How come I couldn't figure out putting these colors together by myself??? It's not like we HAVEN'T had two of them for a while (and the third one is similar to other things we have/have had!). This little stamp set (Endless Thanks) is SO very versatile, too! It will be seeing a LOT of ink, that's for sure!!

Stamps: Endless Thanks
Paper: Whisper White
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Island Indigo, Delightful Dijon
Accessories: Bohemian Designer Washi Tape, Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch

I kinda have a theme today ... white-on-white with rounded corners at the bottom!! What a GREAT background stamp!! I have been wanting to try this "inverted circle" sort of technique for a LONG time! FINALLY made myself give it a try!

Stamps: World of Thanks
Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Watermelon Wonder, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Red Glimmer DSP, Vellum
Ink: Watermelon Wonder
Accessories: Circles Framelits, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Itty Bitty Punch Pack (small heart), Rhinestone Basics, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch

Next up?? The "Flower Bug" herself LeeAnn Greff! She has been inspiring me for YEARS!!!

Monday Montage #45

And then another weekend happened ... and I blinked at it was OVER!!! The best part is that it is time for Monday Montage!! I already can tell that this stamp set is gonna get used be me A LOT!! (Two posts in a row already!)

I have a very difficult time with "flat" cards. Don't get me wrong ... I am ASTOUNDED and AMAZED at people who can make beautiful "flat" cards ... I just canNOT do it!! I am ALWAYS having to "pop" stuff up ... it just looks WRONG when I leave things "flat" ... sigh ... I really admire people who can do it ... and make it look EASY!

Stamps:  Awesomely Artistic
Paper: Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Typeset DSP
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral, Tip Top Taupe
Accessories:  Burlap Ribbon, Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, Small Oval Punch (retired ... sorry, couldn't help myself!), Pearl Basics, Large Scallop Edgelits Die (also retired ... dang!)

Had a VERY eventful weekend ... but the thing I am MOST proud of was completing my FOURTH half marathon last Saturday (it's actually the same one I did a year ago as my first!)! The BEST thing is that I really feel like a runner (FINALLY!)! Last year, I was HIGHLY underprepared and the thing nearly KILLED me!! This year I felt "in the zone!" I'm not gonna lie ... my muscles be SORE ... but it's a GOOD kinda pain. Know what I mean??

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... so much good to see!!

Fab Friday #66

SQUEEEEEEE!!!! (That's the sound ya make when you have NEW stampy goodness in the house!!) I wish I had MORE time to play (I'm working on some decorations for a friend's wedding that is NEXT week!) ... but I DID squeeze a little time to play with this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge.

I LOVE having a place to "start" when someone gives me a sketch or a color scheme ... this week's sketch is SO much fun!!! I just had a hard time NOT adding more and more stuff!!! Sometimes I don't know where to stop!!!

Stamps: Awesomely Artisitic
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Watermelon Wonder, Tip-Top Taupe, Typeset DSP, Gold Glimmer DSP, Vellum
Ink: Pool Party, Tip-Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder
Accessories: Circles Framelites Dies, Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, Project Life Paper Clips Thinlits Dies, Venetian Crochet Trim

Here's the sketch!!









Excited to see what all of our challenge players come up with!!

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
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Hoping to survive the weekend!! Not the LEAST of which is my FOURTH 1/2 marathon ... this is the SAME one I did last year as my "first" ... the scenery is going to be BEAUTIFUL!!

Just Passin' Through ...

Yep ... I'm here ... I'm still ALIVE!!! I have had the craziest-busiest couple of weeks!! Sheesh!! Run-run-run ... go-here, go-there, go-everywhere!!! Seems like the hurried-er I go, the behind-er I get!!!

This is gonna be the QUICKEST of blog posts, too!!! I've had this card done for about TWO weeks ... and haven't even had the time to post it!!! It's quite similar to one I did last month (same basic layout, similar colors) ... but I changed up the stamp set. And since it is getting VERY hot here, ice cream is DEFINITELY in order!!

Stamps:  Sprinkles of Life, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Tip Top Taupe, Mint Macaroon, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Tip Top Taupe, Mint Macaroon, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Large Polka Dots Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Label Bracket Punch, Project Life Corner Rounder Punch, Chevron Natural Ribbon, Bohemian Washi Tape, Rhinestone Basics

Tune in tomorrow for some Fab Friday FUN!!! (Two posts in two days??? What on EARTH is going ON???

Happy Thursday, friends!!

Monday Montage #44

Oh how I LOVE Monday Montage!!! And oh, how I LOVE the beautiful weather we are having ... after more than three weeks of rain and clouds, the sun has been out for TWO WHOLE DAYS!!! And everything is SOOOO green!!! Which is why this card makes me so happy!

I know I have already said this before, but this new "Floral Wings" hostess set is gonna be SUCH a favorite. I made a card with it on the LAST Monday Montage hop ... it's a keeper!

Stamps: Floral Wings
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Watermelon Wonder, Whisper White
Ink:   Tempting Turquoise, Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush
Accessories: Island Indigo Chevron Ribbon, Bitty Banners Framelits, Pearl Basics, Mini Stapler

I am SO excited today!!! My cousin ... whom I haven't seen for nearly THIRTY years (which is odd, since I'm only 27!) will be passing through town and we are going to do some SERIOUS catching up!!! YAY!

Click "Back" to see Melissa Stout's stellar work, and/or the "Next" button to see Amy O'Neill's originality!

Fab Friday #65

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!! FINALLY!!! And it is ALSO Fab Friday time!! I feel like I live on the upper west coast ... we have had steady rain pretty much EVERY day for almost four weeks!!! It's VERY green here right now!!! But I am ready for a few days of sunshine, to be sure!! Before we know it, it's gonna be summer and hot and more like a dessert here ...

This week we are playing with colors ... I am so grateful for challenges. I feel like I use the same stuff OVER and OVER and OVER ...

Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler, Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Hello Honey
Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Gold Sequin Trim, Bohemian Washi Tape

I love how rich these colors look together ... and that they can be "masculine" or "feminine" ...





Excited to see what all of our challenge players come up with!!

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
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Justin Krieger
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers
Pam Steckman
Jan Tinklenberg

Today is the day for the annual end-of-year carnival that we do at the local elementary school ... my friend and I have been doing these carnivals for about 15 years ... LOTS of work ... but TONS of fun!!!

Control Freaks Preview Sneaky Peeky!!!

I am SO excited that the Control Freaks are sharing their creativity today with some of the NEW items that we were abe to preorder from the new 2015-2015 Stampin' Up Catalog!!! Did you SEE what Judy DiScipio made??? I love new stampy goodness, don't you???

I scream, you scream ... yeah-yeah-yeah ... y'all KNOW how the rhyme goes, right???? Ice cream is ALWAYS fun to create with!!! This set, called "Sprinkles of Life" is just happiness!!! Not only can you build ice cream cones ... but you can ALSO make a tree, a basket of flowers or leaves, or some fluffy clouds!! The BESTEST thing about this set is that the new Tree Builder Punch will coordinate with it so you won't have to do so much fussy cutting!!! HOORAY!!

Stamps: Sprinkles of Life
Paper: Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaroon, Tip Top Taupe, Delightful Dijon, Cucumber Crush, Whisper White
Ink: Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaroon, Tip Top Taupe, Delightful Dijon, Cucumber Crush, Whisper White
Accessories: Tiny Triangles Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Label Bracket Punch, Tree Builder Punch, Tip Top Taupe 1" Dotted Lace Trim, Gold Sequin Trim, Burlap Ribbon

Tie-dye BOKEH, anyone???? I used my sponge daubers and some of the new ink I got (along with a good ol' favorite) to make these colorful butterflies. I sponged the three colors of ink (Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush and Rich Razzleberry) onto some Whisper White cardstock. I then used my Aquapainter brush to "drip" little water spots into the tie-dye pattern I had made. Cut out the butterflies with the thinlits dies and added a little bit of cut up little bits of White 1 1/4" Jute Ribbon for their bodies and VOILA!! I know I am DEFINITELY going to be doing this technique again!!! Quick, easy and FUN!

Stamps: Friendly Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder
Ink: Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Square Framelits Dies, Butterfly Thinlits Dies, Candy Dots, White Jute Ribbon, Aquapainter Brush

Next up??? The oh-so-marvelous Heidi Boos ... she will be SURE to inspire you!

Stamp Review Crew - Four Feathers Edition

The Stamp Review Crew is at it again!!! This time around we are all sharing a little bit of inspiration for the "Four Feathers stamp set (and thinlits dies!)!! I'm stuck in the green/purple universe ... LOVE putting these colors together!

Words cannot even BEGIN to tell you how happy I was when this stamp set/thinlits bundle came out last year!!! I have been making my own feathers with my eCutter for a LONG time ... this set has made it OHSOMUCH easier!!! What's NOT to love about feathers????? (I actually cheated a little ... didn't actually use the STAMPS for this set ... just the thinlits with the gorgeous new Bohemian washi tape.)

Stamps: Project Life Moments Like These
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Bohemian Washi Tape, Bitty Banners Framelits, Sequin Trim, Small Gold Clothespin, Linen Thread

Here's a photo of the stamp set AND the thinlits (you are DEFINITELY going to NEED them ... if you don't have them already!)







Clicking on the "previous" button will take you to see what Martha Inchley has done with this awesome set (LOVE everything she does!), and clicking on the "next" button will take you to Nancy Smith's creation (we were inspired by the same color combo, apparently!)