Dear sweet blogging friends and followers, I am sorry for not posting regularly. I have just begun a teaching assignment which goes for the rest of the school year...7th grade Reading...stamping is now on the backburner and lesson plans have taken precedent! I will be back from time to time! Blessings and Joy!

My Flower Pins!

Here are a few of the fun flower pins I have been making (instead of blogging!) with the wonderful Flower Folds Die....they are so easy and now I will be selling them on my Etsy shop...Posiepins, for $10 plus shipping. Thought you would enjoy seeing my latest obsession! They look really cute worn on a jeans jacket or attached to a fabric purse. I will create one with your favorite colors if you would like to order one! Just email me! The very special detail of these little sweeties are the vintage buttons in the middle!

Think Spring!

Finally, time to think tulips, and birdies returning, and soft spring colors! Thank you Pals Paper Arts for a fun spring challenge. I used Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana as my base colors. A Flower for All Seasons is my focal point stamp, watercolored with my stamp pads. The Eggcellent Eggs kit provided my beautiful little die cut flowers and Bella's Bloom became my sentiment because it really is "Time to Bloom!" My new Scallop Trim Border punch gives a fancy touch, and some other non SU products finish off the texture of this fun spring card.

More Bird Punch!

I guess I just can't get enough of this fun new punch and so, another card using it, this one for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge and The Color Throwdown Challenge. I love Pocket Silouettes right now too! It provides the background. I used Old Olive and Pretty in Pink and Basic Brown as my color scheme. The DSP is the oh so beautiful Sending Love Specialty paper in the spring mini. I colored the Pocket Silouette with my Pretty in Pink and Old Olive Marker and then used the Color Spritzer with my Old Olive marker for more depth. I also distressed my birdies with my sponge dabbers and a bit of Pretty in Pink. I am also in love with the satin ribbon from the mini...so many fun accessories from that little caddy! Have a joyful day!

Love the Bird Punch!

I needed to make an anniversary card and thought the Extra Large Two Step Bird punch from the occasions mini would be fun. The sketch challenge is for My Creative Corner and the colors are for Scrapmaster's Paradise, my first time entering this one. The Razzleberry Lemonade DSP became my background and the Pocket Silhouettes became my little box design to add a subtle image. Green Galore, Only Orange and Summer Sun ( I substituted Crushed Curry) are my color palette. A strip of Crushed Curry grograin ribbon adds a dash of fun and this little creation is ready to send. ( I try to send all the cards I make, do you?)

K.I.S.S for Pals Paper Arts

Keep it Simple...that is the challenge! So I'm thinking Irish right now. Garden Green is the cardstock. Serif alphabet provides the sentiment. Embossing folder creates some interest on the white background. And the heart punch created my clover. A little sliver of Garden Green finished off the clover stem and there you go...simple but festive for Saint Paddy Day coming up.

Razzleberry Mojo!

It's time to bring out the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. I need some color in my life after snow after snow here! For this Mojo I incorporated a new Verve stamp with my wonderful "Pocket Silhouettes" stamp set. I colored the flower buds with the In Color markers which match the DSP. My new scallop punch goes well with the round scallop punch and a little distressing with Soft Suede around the sentiment and flowers, and some Melon Mambo ribbon complete the look. But, I couldn't resist that little rhinestone brad in the corner of the rectangle. I'm a sparkly girl at heart!

Stampin Royalty Challenge

I got in at the end of the wire for this challenge. Even though Valentine's Day is over...I had fun making this card, though it will have to wait until next Valentine's Day to get sent!

"Sweet Pea"

Isn't this little pea pod the cutest? I couldn't wait to get the "Little Angel" stamp set to use for this idea. I traded a similar card at our SU regionals in the fall, but there was no name on the card to give credit to her creativity. My card used "Baroque Motifs" for the vine background. I used the oval punch to create the pea pod and the 1/2 inch circle punch for the peas. Lavender Lace and Old Olive are my focal colors and the wonderful white Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen brings the pod and peas to life! (this is the best white pen out there by the way...I have tried lots of others and this one never fails!) You could also make the pod and peas bigger using the Wide Oval punch and the 3/4 inch circle punch.

Punches Rule!

After a brief hiatus from blogging and a wonderful visit with my daughter in Florida last week, I am back to trying some challenges and excited to use some new Stampin Up products. This Pals Paper Arts Simple Sketch Challenge also incorporates the color combo from the Color Throwdown Challenge: Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom and Riding Hood Red. I used some retired DSP as my background and this qualifies for another challenge to use something "old" from my stash of supplies. My buttons and ribbon have been wanting to be used! But the sweetest thing about this card is the new Extra Large Two Step Bird punch. I love this little birdie and her wing and leaf.

Have a good week and a great day off if you don't have to work on President's Day. I am just staying put today because we are getting MORE SNOW!

There is a reason for my blogging absense!!

My daughter Laurie and my grandson Isaac headed to Orlando Saturday to visit my daughter Lindsey! We spent Monday at Disney World and had the best time! Isaac loves Mickey and of course they met face to face..no tears, just smiles. We got back last night. I will be back to blogging soon! Blessings and Joy!

Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge: Tic Tack Love Valentine

For this Pals challenge I brought out the Happy Heart stamp set, one of my Valentine favorites. I stamped in Basic Black and just colored in a few images and put the new epoxy pink brad in the middle. Textured Melon Mambo is my background color and a little layer of Pretty in Pink plus ribbon creates a simple Valentine!

Mojo Simplicity

For this Mojo sketch I wanted to incorporate my new Two Step Bird Punch that lends it self to lovely dimention! The wonderful new Sale A Bration Scallop Punch is so subtle but sweet. Pretty In Pink cardstock and Sahara Sand combine with Whisper White to make a clean and simple statement. The "Love Always" sentiment is a rub on. Three pink brads balance the print rectangle I think. No stamping needed for this card, which I might add a few hearts to if I need a Valentine card! Blessings and Joy!

Valentine Sweet Treats

These little Valentines were made from the Sweet Centers Stamp Set, and the Treat Cups that hold the candy. I stamped the images on Whisper White and punched out the middles with the 11/4 inch round punch. The little taps at the top pull up the magic door that enables you to get to the candy without tearing up the card! They are only 31/4 by 31/4 square. Very easy little Valentine to put together! I used Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion and Green Galore (to go with the Sweethearts!)

A Blizzard of Snowflakes for PPA27

Sometimes a camera just doesn't do justice to a little card! I tried to create a "blizzard" with the Swirls embossing folder on Bashful Blue, then I brayered over it in White Craft. I also sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds, but, alas, it doesn't show the lovely sparkle this card has in person! The cute little snowflakes are sizzlet Snowflake Die #2, and the brads are Filigree with a clear rhinestone brad in the middle. The Warm Words stamp set creates the "sparkle" sentiment. A little layer of silver cardstock sets off my little "blizzard" which I hope we won't have any more of this winter! I am headed to Florida on Saturday with my daughter and grandson for a visit with my oldest daughter. Thoughts of snowflakes will be left behind in Ohio for sure!

Bigz Die Table Setting: PPA26 Artist Pick!

Wow, thank you Pals Paper Arts, for picking me as one of your featured Artists this week! You make stamping so fun!!!

For this Pals Paper Arts Challenge: Anything but a Card, I knew right away I wanted to showcase the Table Setting Bigz Die. I have had such fun using my Big Shot with fabric, and this napkin ring holder is made with felt and fleece! The rosettes are made from fleece and the actual napkin ring is made from felt which is textured with a scroll pattern. The leaves and flower centers are made from the Sweet Pea Felt Flowers in the Spring Mini. The nameplate is cut out of Pixie Pink and is also part of this Bigz Die. I discovered this idea on Christie Daugherty's blog: http://www.stampshacklady.blogspot.com/ where she has a video tutorial. It is put together with the glue gun! How easy is that?!! I bought 1/8th yard of 2 colors of fleece for about 67 cents each piece! And the felt is usually only about 25 cents a square. The tiny little rosette on the place card is my invention. I just used a small part of the rosette piece and cut out some felt leaves and a felt center. The dot in the center is with a brown marker!

This die is still available even though it was in the Holiday Mini. It is 116819 and you can order it from me when you go to the Order Online button!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Centers and M and M's!

I have just been waiting to show this sample of how to use the Sweet Treats heart stamp! So simple to just stamp on cardstock, punch out the center with the 1 3/4 " punch. I cut out a square of Pretty in Pink cardstock to mount the heart on. Just before mounting, I filled the plastic cup with M and M's and took the sticky off the back, then secured onto the pink cardstock. The envelopes can be purchased as well and make for a fun Valentine's Day surprize for someone special!