More Birds

I had so much fun making cards using the Free as a Bird set that I could make them all day, every day!  I just love anything that had little birds in it.  They are so trending right now.

It's hard to pick a favorite card, but I just love this one.  I cased it from the Stampin Up catalog and I just love the colors in it!  The new Pretty Peacock and Terracotta Tile are featured in it.  I colored in the birds using the stamping blends.  And I love the saying, too.

 This card uses the Stitched Nested Labels in both the positive and the negative space.  I added a dimensional to the saying to make it pop in the space.  Isn't the paper with the birdhouses on it so adorable?  I saw the idea on Facebook but can't find the name of the designer.  Let me know if it's you or someone that you know.

Last up is a gray card that uses a branch cut out from last year's Petals and More framelit set.  It looks so great on this card!

I cut out the bird duo from the designer paper and framed them in a scalloped circle.  The larger flowers are stamped and colored in using the blends.  I used the Stitched Nested Label dies for the saying.  The gray birds match the gray cardstock perfectly.  I love the look of this card. 

Which is your favorite bird card? 

New Catalog Kick Off

Every year when the new Stampin' Up catalog comes out, I have a New Catalog Kick-Off Party.  I always try to think of something special to make or do for my stampers.  This year I made desktop mini totes for each of the ladies from canvas and pretty fabrics.  They are sized to hold standard cards or a package of envelopes, etc.  I added the Statement of the Heart to the front of each one.  To love what we do and share what we love- I guess that's why I make crafts.  :)

I designed the little frame and had each of the ladies made this for their desktop as a reminder to love what they do.  Of course, it doesn't have to be stamping or crafts (I can't imagine why not), but just as an encouraging reminder to enjoy the good things in our lives.  

The little bag in this photo has Stampin Up fabric on it- did you recognize that?  And can you guess the color?  It's olive green.  

What sort of things do you love to do?  Make crafts, gather with friends, enjoy time with your family, read, sew or play Word Crac?  Those are some of my favorites.  :)

Loving the New Stampin Up Catalog

I have to say that I am loving the new Stampin Up 2017 catalog.  There are so many new interesting items offered this year. 

The first stamp set that caught my eye was the Daisy Delight bundle.  I got the idea to make this little pot of flowers by Debbie Blake.  I offered this project at my New Catalog Open House.  All of the ladies loved it!

Each daisy flower is made using 3 stamped flower images and then they are punched out with the coordinating punch.  (You know how I love the matching punches!)  I curled them with my bone folder to give them some texture. 

Then I put a dimensional between each flower and added one of the new gem embellishments to the top.  I attached them to a floral wire by bending it into a circle and mounting it with some glue dots.  Then I inserted them into a styrofoam floral base.  I love the idea of putting the dragonfly into the flowers.  It add such a nice touch, don't you think? 

I stamped two of them and attached them to some floral wire also.  Then I adhered the two dragonflies together so that you can see his wings from the top and from the bottom side. 

I used a new saying from the Colorful Season stamp set that says, "Life is a beautiful thing."  Perfect.

Cute New Kitties

 I love making cute, whimsical cards and craft projects.  I just love this new kitty set by Stampin Up called Pretty Kitty.  It has five cute kitty images to stamp with.  This card is for my daughter, who loves kitties of all kinds. 

I made two cards, reversing the designer paper on the second one.  They are both identical cards, but the reversal of the background paper gives them each a different look.  Which card do you like better? The darker background or the lighter one?

I used the designer paper called Blooms and Bliss, which I really like.  I'm excited to try some making more projects using it.

This card idea is from Lynn Weiss.  She must love kitties, too. 

It's Time for the New Catalog!

 Most of you know that one of my obsessions hobbies is rubber stamping.  June is when Stampin' Up puts out their new catalog and it's always so much fun to look at what new products are offered.

This year for my New Catalog Kick-Off party, we made small muslin bags that you can use to put a small gift, treat or a gift card into for easy gift-giving.  You can see from the photo that I made my sample bag similar to the one in the catalog.

All of the ladies loved making the muslin gift bags.  They each used different stamps and colors and all of the bags came out great.

One of the stamp sets that I thought was cute is the new Sprinkles of Life.  With this set, you can make cupcakes, ice cream cones, trees and clouds- all from the same stamps!  And there's even a punch to punch out some of the images - stamps that coordinate with punches are my favorite!

I got the idea for this card from the Stampin' Up blog.  Of course I changed it a bit to make it my own.  I even added some glitter to the "ice cream" to highlight it.  I love the colors on this card. 

When you buy the Sprinkles of Life set, $3 is donated to the Ronald McDonald House charities.  So not only can you be creative, but you are helping people, too!

What are your favorites new products from the new catalog? 

You Make Me Happy!

I took out some new designer paper this week and matched it with the new stamp set, Hello Love.  The set has a couple of cute little birds in it along with a cheery sunshine stamp!  I love the sayings, You Make Me Happy and Oh Happy Day.  After stamping the card, I made a little matchbox from the envelope punch board and a coaster Post-it-note holder to coordinate with it.  

The drawer even opens on the matchbox!  You can put paper clips or other small items in there to keep on your desk.  Or give it as a gift card holder.  The gift cards fit perfectly!

I got the idea for the coaster Post-it note holder from Jen Sannes, the matchbox project from Kimberly Martin and the card idea from AmyK at StampwithAmyK.com. 

Wouldn't you like this bright and cheery set on your desk?

New Catalog Party (and Free Give-Away!)

Everything is in place for the Stampin Up New Catalog Party!  Here is glimpse of the new catalog and some "goodies" for my guests!

Here they are intently looking through the New Catalog!  Oh, the possibilities of all of the projects that we will make this year are endless.  :)

No party is complete without some good food!  And there was a lot to choose from!  Thank you to all of the ladies for the delicious food and drinks that they brought.

We had some games with prizes and stamped the Happy Owl card. 

Melissa's Mom, Lillian stamped her first card today!  Doesn't she look so proud? 

 I love making cards and other crafty projects with my friends.  

What a fun time we had!

Here is photo of one of the prizes that I made for my guests.  They are key fobs (didn't I tell you that I would be making more?) made from Stampin' Up fabric.  Each guest got to pick one to bring home with them.

 

Didn't get to come to the party?  The good news is that you can receive one, too!  Just leave a comment on this blog page before Monday, June 16th (at 9:00 am EST) and I will put you in for a drawing to win one of these key fobs!  You can put keys on them for your purse or hang them up at home with your spare keys on them.  This drawing is now over.  Mary Beth is the winner!

If you are interested in learning to stamp, let me know!  It's a lot of fun and you will meet some great people.  :)

Cute Little Owl Guy (and Free Give-Away!)

When I was looking through the new Stampin' Up catalog, I was immediately drawn to this cute little owl guy in one of the new stamp sets.  He is from a set called So Very Happy.  I made these magnets for my stampers who are coming to the New Catalog Party.  I  love to color and cut out images.  (Just ask my the stampers who come to my house!)  I used some of the new papers and punches, too.  He is going to be the "star" of the Party!

Here is the card that I have ready featuring the Happy little owl.  There's also a sour cream favor with a punch-out window.  He's just SO cute!

As an added bonus, I am having a free Give-away!  If you leave a comment before Monday, June 16th (at 9:00 am EST) on this page, I will randomly draw names and send you one of the magnets featuring the cute little owl!  This drawing is now over.  Eileen O is the winner! 

 Good luck!