But It's Still Summer!

Today I'm supposed to be working on coming up with some Christmas cards and projects for my next stamping class.  I just have such a hard time making holiday things months before the holidays are here!  I'm still wanting to enjoy the last bits of summer and early fall. 

While looking for ideas on Pinterest, I came across this little guy who caught my eye!  I just got back from a weekend at the lake and wanted to still make something "summery."  He came out so cute, that I made a whole batch of the little guys.  What a fun set - You're Sublime; it has cute single images in it.  I think the "googly eyes" made him come alive!  I used the Everyday Chic designer paper for the bottom portion - got the idea from Connie Babbert. 

Do you ever have a hard time making projects out of season?  Let me know what your secrets are for getting in the holiday "spirit" during August and September.

The Power of a 2" Square!

This week's stamping challenge for class was to make 2" squares using Blooms & Bliss designer paper.  To start out, I cut 2" squares from some cardstock colors to match those in the designer paper.  Then I cut out 1 3/4" squares of the designer paper to insert into the 2" squares, cutting some out in just plain white to give contrast.

Here is what I came up with first.  The colors in this match my new bedroom colors perfectly.  I used the thinlits that match the Botanical Blooms stamp set.  They have such dimension to them that it makes any project look awesome. 

Next I wanted to make a little gift for one of my friends who likes to go geocaching with me.  I thought that I had a hiking boot stamp, but after searching around for a while, I remembered that I didn't have one after all!  So I put a compass from the Open Sea stamp set in the corner.  I used some assorted punches for accents and flowers from the Grateful Bunch stamp set.

We are always looking for "adventures" together!

Next up I made a frame for my daughter.  She has burgundy and teal colors in her bedroom and I thought this would match well.  I haven't given it to her yet; it's going to be a surprise for when she gets home! 

And who doesn't want to be reminded that they are loved every day?

Last up, I made this card using some of the squares.  I didn't really decorate each square, just arranged them on the card.  I like how it turned out. 

Why not take out some designer paper today and make some 2" square projects?  They're lots of fun!  Once you get started, you just can't stop, sort of like eating potato chips!  Let me know what you come up with. 

Botanical Blooms and Candy Box Favor (with Tutorial Link)

This week in my stamping class we made this card using the stamp set thinlits from Botanical Blooms.  The colors are Mint Macaron, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride and Wild Wasabi for the leaves.  The flowers are embellished with rhinestones to give the card a sparkle.

The only stamping is the imprint on the leaf and the saying from the set, Bunch of Blossoms.  I just love how the colors work together!

Then we made a little box favor filled with Hershey's chocolates to coordinate with the card.  The flower is mounted on a little belly band that slips off to open the box.  For instructions on how to make the box, click here. 

It fits 4 little candies just perfectly! Great to give as a gift or to keep on your desk.  :)

They're so pretty, I'm off to make some more!  Let me know how your candy box turned out. 

Going to the Ocean from My Stamping Room

Last weekend I took a trip to the Connecticut/Rhode Island border with a couple friends to visit the ocean.  It was so lovely there.  Sitting on the beach just watching the waves and soaking up the sun was just what I needed.  :)

Coming back into my stamping room this week, I made an ocean-themed card with the little sandpipers from the Wetland set.  I especially love this set now because I recently moved to Sandpiper Lane!

Honestly, it took me a while to find the watercolor paper (some of my supplies are still in boxes), but once I did I was quite happy with this card.  I used Gorgeous Grunge to make the sand appear and then I highlighted it with Wink of Stella to give it a little glisten.

I think you can see the hint of glitter that the Stella brush gives this card.

 I made several versions of this card, trying out different inks to see which one that I liked the best.  This one is made using black Memento pad and the others are made with Early Espresso brown ink.  I like the espresso ink the best.  I found the idea for this card on Pinterest  by Debbie Lamb.

This next card is an easy-to-make card using washi tape as an embellishment.  I used the Flower Shop stamp set that comes with a coordinating punch that makes the stamping so quick and easy.

On this alternative version of the card, I stamped on vellum using Rose Red ink and clear embossing powder.  It's hard to tell from the photo, but the bottom half of the card is embossed with a pretty scallop.  During my class, I let the students choose if they wanted to emboss on the vellum or just stamp on the pink paper.  It was pretty much 50-50.  The idea for this card came from Rachel Tessman.

After we accented the card with pearls, we used a little Wink of Stella to give the flowers a silvery glow.  Have you not heard about Wink of Stella?  You can order it here for only $8.00.  Click on Shop Now and enter Stella into the look-up box.  (If you want to look at the catalog, it's on page 181.)  What a great new product it is!

 The third and final card for this week's class is this pretty card made using the Number of Years stamp set.  I saw this idea by Elizabeth Miller on Pinterest. 

While I did like the card made in the mint macaron green, the other side of the paper has this pretty floral pattern on it.  The stampers could use either side of the paper.

I thought the colors were very pretty for this card.  We used Mint Macaron, Flirty Flamingo, Baja Breeze (an older color) and Old Olive for the leaves.

After adding mini pearls and a ruched ribbon in Flirty Flamingo, we colored in the flowers with Wink of Stella.  Everyone loved using this new product.

When the evening was over, I had everyone vote for which card they liked the best.  How about you?  Which one would you pick?  Unanimously, the Sandpipers won for the day.  :)

Making Cards

This week I was working on making some cards and I took out this new set, Floral Boutique.  It comes with this intricate thinlit die.  So beautiful, right?  I made both a thankful card and a wedding card. 

I want to try making this same design in some different colors.  Although I do love it in the navy blue.  I got the idea for this card from Jeannie Hall, one of my fellow demonstrators. 

Another card that I was working on uses the stamp set, Touches of Texture.  I saw the idea for this design from Cindee Wilkinson posted on Pinterest.  I love the little bee image even though I don't particularly like bees in general. 

It was a fun and easy set to work with.  On this card I added the dragonfly, too. 

I am still working on getting my stamping room all set up, but I am loving being able to sit in my room and work on my cards and projects.  :)

What projects are you working on today?  Do you have a special room that you use to work on your crafts?

Coloring with Flowering Fields

Have you tried out one of the new fads lately - coloring in adult coloring books?  I think this is a fun way to encourage my non-crafty friends (and my crafty ones) to be creative.  I even set out a basket with coloring books and colored pencils on my family room table so that anyone who comes over can take out a book and color!

Another way to color is to take out some of your stamp sets that have images in them that you can color.   I chose Flowering Fields to make a couple of cards with.  It was a set that came out during Sale-a-bration time.  It's a fun set in which to color in some flowers and then send out a note to encourage someone.

I added some pin pricks to the edge of my cards for some added interest.  Then I added a 3-D butterfly. My card ideas came from Sue Vine and Laura Milligan.

Coloring can even reduce stress in your life.  How about taking out some coloring for a few minutes today?  It's surprising how relaxing it can be. 

Check out Life as Mama's blog for 5 reasons to get your coloring on!  lifeasmama.com/5-reasons-to-get-an-adult-coloring-book/.

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.