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!

Monday Montage #163

What day is it??? Are you SURE??? To be fair, we have a family-owned business, and I still go to work (it just was off kilter for a while when the virus first hit and one of our family members tested positive). We have almost NO ONE coming in or out, so it's easy for me to go in on my work days and get things done, even if it's not for a full day sometimes. So that part of my schedule is still kinda intact. The rest of my "weekly benchmarks" are SOOOO lost!! I wake up some mornings and honestly don't even know what day it is (a fact I am SURE you can all relate to). It's CRAZY!!! But I am grateful for the wonderful and beautiful things I have in my life. And oh man ... how I miss HUGGING people!! EVERYONE is getting hugs when it will be safe to do so again. I have been doing a lot of spring cleaning and baking ... and some stamping, too!! I know it is Sunday night because TOMORROW it is Monday Montage Day!! At least some things are still dependable!

I have always loved ANY stamps with a butterfly image. I have probably made MORE cards over the years with butterflies on them than anything else (for those who want to see the cards I made for my son while he served a two-year mission for our church ... of which I sent one every week with a butterfly image on it ... because his nickname is "Butterfly Boy" ... long story), click on the "Follow the Butterflies" link in my sidebar. Here is another one to add to my collection ...

Stamps: Very Versailles, Butterfly Gala
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Pretty Peacock
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Dies, Butterfly Duet Punch, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Scalloped Lace Trim, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim, Linen Thread, Champagne Rhinestones


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
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

I ate WAAAAY too much junk this weekend. Like, a-half-a-chocolate-cake-and-a-bunch-of-chocolate-chip-cookies too much! I'm going to be MUCH better this week because I kind of feel sick with all the fat and sugar in my system. But it was DELICIOUS!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... you will LOVE their creations (something else that is also dependable!)!

Fab Friday #188

Here we are ... again ... and we are STILL in quarantine!! Who would've believed on January 1st that this is where we would be in April?? Holy COW!!! I have found myself counting my blessing and re-evaluating a LOT of things. I am truly blessed and grateful for my family and friends the most!! Oh man ... HUGS ... how I miss HUGS!!!! But I digress ... welcome to Fab Friday, my friends!!

I made this card last night ... with every intention of posting it first thing this morning. You know how THAT goes!! I just realized that I had NOT posted it yet ... YIKES!!! I honestly don't know what day it is most of the time (which I am sure that most of you can relate to!)! The colors for this challenge aren't something that I would have put together myself, but that is why we call this a CHALLENGE, right??? I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!

Stamps: Very Versaille
Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Grapefruit Grove
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Grapefruit Grove
Accessories: Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder, Butterfly Duet Punch, Stitched Shapes Dies, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Whisper White 5/8" Flax Ribbon, Sahara Sand 5/8" Woven Threads Trim

Soft and spring-y ...











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 made my first attempt at sourdough bread yesterday!! It turned out better than I thought it would, but not as good as it COULD be!! I guess I will need to keep trying to perfect this!! Being from the Bay Area, I am a great appreciator of really yummy sourdough ... going to keep trying!! Have a GREAT weekend!!

Monday Montage #162

On TOP of being quarantined, self distancing, recovering from the earthquake last month and everything else ... I had a CRACKED MOLAR and had to go into the dentist this morning!! (Something, I hate to admit, causes me more anxiety than just about anything else on the planet!! YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! In spite of the fact that I was the ONLY patient in the office, I still was a bit nervous about being there in the first place. Luckily, I don't need a root canal ... unluckily, I now have a temporary crown and will have to go back in a couple of weeks to have the permanent one put on. YUCK YUCK YUCK!!! Oh well ... Happy Monday Montage!

I think my favorite "In Color" that came out last spring is Purple Posy. And since they have had some issues with the ink pads, I have limited my use of it. I decided to throw caution to the wind and just use some today anyway!! Actually, I used Highland Heather and a little bit of Rich Razzleberry to make this lovely lilacs. Lilacs make me think of my childhood. We had a HUGE batch of them every year along our back fence. They smelled like HEAVEN!! I think they rank up in my top three favorite flowers for SURE!

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship, Band Together
Paper: Purple Posy, Whisper White
Ink: Highland Heather, Rich Razzleberry, Garden Green
Accessories: Detailed Bands Dies, Frosted Epoxy Droplets


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
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

Now that I can feel my face again (and the tooth inside, which quite honestly, feels like it's covered with lumps of cement!), I may need to see how my tooth likes food. I like food. The rest of my body likes food. Hopefully my tooth is feeling cooperative!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... they both make me happy!

Fab Friday #187

Three more days of QUARANTINE ... YAY!! Not that it means THAT much. As social distancing continues, I don't see that many of us are getting out to go much of ANYwhere! My father in law is doing better every day ... this virus is NOT an easy road, you guys!! So very grateful that he is recovering!! And I am SO very grateful for my side occupation as a CRAFT HOARDER!! I have enough stuff in my craft room to make projects for MONTHS (and that is NO KIDDING!)!! Today I played for Fab Friday!!

The sketch this time around made me think of the Pocket Dies ... which I have not played with in quite some time!! The shape of the bottom edge of the pocket is the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the sketch, so it came together very easily! I LOVE the beautiful spring flowers. I have to say that I think daisies are my favorite flower (just like Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail")! They are just so happy and cheerful ... don't you agree???

Stamps: Daisy Lane
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Brights DSP
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Pocket Dies, Swirls & Curls Embossing Folder, Sahara Sand 5/8" Woven Threads Trim, Whisper White Baker's Twine

See what I mean??











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

So far this week I have baked some bread, made my own granola from scratch and completed a "teddy bear picnic" in my front window (cutout teddy bears dressed up in all sorts of ways)! I am going to tackle my spare room and storage room this weekend ... at least my "spring cleaning" is getting a chance this year!

Monday Montage #161

Happy Quarantine, Dear World!! Things are getting real around here. We are "officially" staying home ... a dear family friend lost his fight against coronavirus on Sunday ... and my father in law actually got tested Sunday afternoon (he has been sick for over a week ... has a nasty fever and such going on). While I do believe that we will all be ok, we are hunkering down because we have all been exposed to my father in law and won't know his test results for 5-7 days (the labs are SWAMPED!)! He will turn 88 next month, and he has quite honestly run circles around ALL of us (I have known him for 35 years and have never seen a more hard-working, dedicated soul). We own a family business, and he works just as hard, if not harder, than everyone else. He has just enough stubborn in him that he won't let this take him down (although we are hopeful that "this" is just your regular old "run of the mill" kinda flu bug.

I got to spend some time this weekend Zoom-Stamping with a fun group of friends, FaceTime Stamping and visiting with a few other friends and spending some time cleaning my stamp room (which was really needing it!)! I actually had this card done a whole dang day EARLY (for a change!)! I plan on spending my quarantined days doing some much-needed spring cleaning!

Stamps: Bonanza Buddies
Paper: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Subtles DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Basket Weave Embossing Folder, Square Punch, Detailed Trio Punch, Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Very Vanilla Scalloped Lace Trim, 5/16" Braided Burlap Trim, Linen Thread



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
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

What are YOU guys doing to pass the time and feel productive??? I have committed myself to actually getting GOOD at doing push ups ... I have NEVER liked them, so I have never spent very much time trying to get proficient at them. This is my goal ... I AM going to conquer this!

Click "Next" to see what Amy O'Neill ... and "Back" to check out Melissa Stout ... you won't want to miss EITHER of their creations!