Eastern Palace Suite

So I have seen the 2017-2018 Annual Catalog from Stampin' Up!  And I can't wait to be able to order everything in it.  Being a demo has the perks of being able to see the new stuff first and we will get to pre-order a select few items next week.  Stampin' Up! is giving us all a first look at one of the amazing new suites called Eastern Palace.  Demonstrators got to pre-order items from this suite during the month of April and customers can start ordering it in May in two different bundles.  Of course I got the bigger bundle which includes some amazing thinlits.  I have a few cards to share with you:

Ok so we first need to talk about these colors...there are three new in colors in this suite; Fresh fig, Tranquil Teal and Lemon Lime Twist.  We combine that with some Dapper Denim, Very Vanilla and gold foil to get this fabulous Designer Series Paper.  The stamp set has all sorts of possibilities with the swirlies and diamonds and the mermaid tails.  And the font for the sentiments is so pretty!  This suite also has some gold vinyl stickers and some tassels, which I didn't get to use.  The thinlits have so many interesting dies that I really need an evening to just sit and play with them.  Some of them cut out a complete shape, other just part of one.  If you are going to order this suite, I would recommend all the gold accessories to go with as I listed below.  Also five exciting words for you; Very Vanilla Thick Card Stock!  

For more looks at this fabulous new suite, head over to SSI.

April Technique Challenge

It is the fourth Monday of the month, so that means we have our Technique Challenge over at Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration.  Let's see what Tobe have chosen for us this time:

Ok, so here is a technique I have never done.  What cracks me up the most about this was using Margarita Salt for it!  Made me almost want to have a margarita as well!  Here is my creation:

I decided to use some of the new in-colors that I was able to pre-order from the 2017-2018 Annual Catalog; Fresh Fig, Tranquil Tide, Lemon Lime Twist along with a returning in-color Dapper Denim.  I also used the Eastern Beauty stamp set along with the coordinating thinlit dies.  I created my own background after painting and salting my card by stamping the circle images randomly.  I added a few touches of gold with the ribbon and the gold foil circle layered under my sentiment.  This was a neat technique to try.  I think we might be getting some glossy paper in the new catalog, so I will definitely be trying it again!  

I am looking forward to seeing what you can create with this technique.  For more samples, head over to SSI and then upload your creation!    

Hang In There!

Tomorrow is Earth Day, so over at SSI we are featuring nature inspired cards.  Thankfully Stampin' Up! has just about every flower in stamp form as well as several other trees and landscapes.  This worked out well for me because I wanted to make a card for someone I work with who I think could use a little something to make her smile: 

I knew I wanted to use the You've Got This stamp set...I just love this flower!  I started off wanting to do a watercolor emboss resist, but then I realized that I didn't have any watercolor paper.  How did that happen?  So instead I just used some Shimmery White, stamped the outline in Basic Black and then painted with the Aqua Painters.  I filled the center of the flower with some Wink of Stella Gold Glitter.  I knew I wanted to use Watermelon Wonder but decided to pair it with Wild Wasabi.  I just love the Petal Burst embossing folder, I am so glad it will be around next year.  I sponged some Wild Wasabi on a lace doily .  I will confess that the sentiment is positioned to cover up a mistake...I had a little watercolor mishap.  I think it works though.  I really do love this Watermelon Wonder!  It is bright but you can tame it by pairing with other colors.  

For more nature inspired cards, head back over to SSI.   

Rockabye Baby

Today I have a sweet little baby boy card for you using the Little Cuties stamp set along with the Cupcakes and Carousels DSP.  

I am still trying to master watercoloring, but for how quickly this card was created, I am pretty happy with it.  I thought the fun patterns in this DSP would be a perfect match to the rocking horse on this cute stamp set.  It won't be around forever, it is retiring, so you better get it soon!  The DSP is also retiring and it's on sale and it is perfect for carnival crafting this summer.  After watercoloring the horse I added some clear Wink of Stella Glitter.  I finished the card off with some ribbon and enamel shapes.  For a complete supply list, check out below.  For more cute baby cards, head over to SSI.

   

April Inkspiration Challenge

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday weekend with your family and friends.  The next few weeks are going to be quite busy in our house so crafting time will be rare but much needed for an escape.  Today I am sharing with you a card featured over at SSI for the Inkspiration Challenge.  Check out this month's image:

When I selected this image I had a very distinct stamp set in mind.  Here is my card:

I combined the Sheltering Tree stamp set with the Beautiful You set along with some rain drops from Weather Together.  With these bold images and bright colors. I just needed some ink and some card stock for my card.  I did use some Stampin' Write Markers for the sentiment and to color my little lady in.  

Head over to SSI for more cards inspired by this rainy day image.  And then take some time to create and upload yours!

SSI April Blog Hop - Spring Has Sprung!

Hello and welcome to the April installment of the Stylin' Stampin' Inkspiration Blog Hop.  This month's theme is Spring Fever.  I am so thankful for spring.  We didn't get too much snow through the course of winter here in the Lehigh Valley, but we got a pretty big storm way too late in the season for my taste.  I am ready for warmer weather; seeing the leaves on the trees and the flowers starting to bloom.  As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 5 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Tobe B. @ The Craft Sea. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.  

So for my spring projects I decided to use my favorite Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Catalog; Succulent Garden.  Now I know nothing about flowers or succulents, and they might be more of a summer time thing, but flowers = spring so that is my story and I am sticking to it.  I created three cards using this paper and various different stamp sets.  

You might recognize this basic sketch, it was our card sketch back in October.  I punched three 2 1/2" circles out of the DSP.  Before adhering them down I stamped some splatters from Gorgeous Grunge in Tip Top Taupe.  I stamped and punched an bitty butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri.  The sentiment is from the Flower Patch stamp set.  

Up next is another card using this fabulous paper.

I love this sheet of the Succulent Garden DSP.  I used it in each on of my cards.  I love this style of card when you get to show off both sides of our fun paper.  I tucked some of the Gingham Tip Top Taupe underneath to show that off as well.  I love the pop of Calypso Coral, I used it for my sentiment as well, from Greatest Greetings which is layered on the Mint Macaron striped ribbon.  I did not buy the Succulent Garden stamp set and framelits, so I used my Botanical Builders to make a flower and leaf.  I finished my card off with a silver foil dragonfly and a metal rimmed pearl.  

Here is my last creation:

See, I told you I loved that sheet of DSP.  This time I paired it up with the monochromatic version of itself in Mint Macaron on the bottom part of the card.  I added some Calypso Coral butterflies as well as some twine in the same color.  The sentiment is from Kinda Eclectic.  I added some pearls on the butterflies as well.  

So a majority of the goodies I used to make these projects are retiring, including Kinda Eclectic, my go to stamp set when I have a creative block.  The butterfly punches are retiring which is so very sad!  And we are also saying goodbye to Gorgeous Grunge as well.  Some of these items are on sale too, like the Succulent Garden DSP, the Greatest Greetings stamp set, Mint Macaron Striped ribbon, and the Botanical Builder Framelits.  But all tools and accessories are while supplies last, so you better hurry!    

Up next is Jen G. @ Faith.Grace.Stamp.  She has such a great style to her projects, I can't wait to see what she has for us!  

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Cathy A. @ Maine Mountain Stamper
2. Diana E. @ Stampin' Fun with Diana
3. Cheryl H. @ Create with Cheryl
4. Nichole L. @ Scrappy Stamps & Ink
5. Tobe B. @ The Craft Sea
6. Jennifer G. @ Jenny G Paper Crafts
7. Jen G. @ Faith.Grace.Stamp
8. Kim R. @ Stampin' with Kim
9. Bree R. @ Craft-somnia Momma

10. Darla R. @ Stampin' with Darla

April Sketch Challenge

Well this weekend was a lot busier than I thought it was going to be.  Unfortunately I didn't have too much time to head down in my studio and craft.  I was able to whip something up given our fabulous sketch challenge for the month over at SSI.  Check it out:

So I knew right away I wanted to use the Succulent Garden DSP.  I have been obsessed with it since I got it!  In fact I finally had to put it away and use something else, well for now at least!  Here is my card:

You don't get much more quick and easy then this!  I started with a Mint Macaron card base and added the Sweet Sugarplum gingham check paper.  I added a strip of the colorful succulent flowers and a stitched circle from the white speckled sheet.  For a sentiment I chose the Enjoy Your Day from Badges and Banners and used the badge punch,  I added a little bow of the Calypso Coral thick twine to finish the card off.  

This really is a great sketch, I am definitely going to come back to it and take another crack at it.  I can't wait to see what you can make now!  Head over to SSI and upload your card using this sketch.   

A Fabulous Flower and Friend!

Today's card started off completely different than how it ended up.  I was going to do a sketch challenge but wound up doing my own thing with a few of my favorite new goodies.  Somehow I am late to the party with the whole Succulent Garden DSP.  It is beautiful and it uses some of my favorite (and retiring) in-colors.  Here is my card:

This is a square card, not something I usually make.  The base is Tip Top Taupe with a sheet of the Succulent Garden DSP layered on top then a piece of Mint Macaron embossed on top of that.  Can we take a second to talk about this embossing folder, Petal Burst.  How perfect is this with all of Stampin' Up's flowers?  Speaking of flowers I decided to die cut the flower from the Sunshine Wishes Thinlets, the top part in Sweet Sugarplum, the bottom also in Mint Macaron.  I stamped and die cut the banner from the Banners For You Bundle.  During Sale-A-Bration I really stocked up on those bundles that had been on my radar and I am so excited to have so many brand new toys!  I finished the card off with a Sweet Sugarplum bow on my flower stem.  I also made a coordinating envelope with the 2015-2017 In Color Envelope Paper:

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Head over to SSI to how some of the other Designers are using our embossing folders and which ones are their favorites!  

     

A Yummy Cupcake with Sprinkles!

Happy Hump Day!  I don't know about you, but this week is flying by for me.  I was thinking to myself that I can't wait until life slows down, but I am starting to realize that with two kids, a part time job and a husband and house to keep up with; this just might be life from here on out.  But at least I can steal away a few moments to my studio to create.  It really is my happy place.  Check out today's project inspired by the Cupcake theme over at SSI:

I decided that I should be focusing on the amazing and retiring 2015-2017 In Colors and today I am using Watermelon Wonder and a little bit of Tip Top Taupe.  I made the cupcake first with the Sweet Cupcake bundle.  I used So Saffron for the bottom part of the cupcake with some tone on tone stamping along with stamping off to get all the different shades of yellow.  For the frosting, I started off with some stamped off Flirty Flamingo for the bottom layer, followed by full strength Flirty Flamingo and then topped off with Watermelon Wonder.  I dotted some Fine Tip Glue and sprinkled some of the Sprinkles from the Frozen Treats Suite.  I layered my cupcake on some of the Stitched Shapes framelits and Layering Ovals Framelits.  I embossed my background with Confetti embossing folder, since I realized I hadn't used that in awhile.  I added a few more enamel shapes and a strip of striped ribbon to finish off my card.  

Well now I really want a yummy strawberry cupcake!  For more sweet inkspiration, head over too SSI.

  

April Color Challenge

I love creating handmade cards, but I have to admit, I am not always great about sending them.  This month, I am making a pledge to send/give a card a day.  I have so many stockpiled from creating for my blog, so it really shouldn't be hard.  Plus I think a hand-stamped card would brighten anyone's day!  The first card I sent out was the one I made for today's color challenge over at SSI.  Check it out:

  

I treated myself to some high ticket goodies over Sale-A-Bration and so I am just getting to using some of them.  I grabbed the new Flourishing Phrases stamp set for this card:

I did a gate fold card.  I grabbed some of the Daffodil Delight floral paper from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack for one side and a piece of Cucumber Crush embossed with the Petal Burst folder for the other.  I stamped the big flower in Daffodil Delight and fussy cut it.   Then I layered it over some stamped leaves and then matted that on some Chocolate Chip.  Of course the flower needed a rhinestone.  I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip as well.  Here is a peek at the inside:  

I took the large flourish and stamped it off twice to give a very light appearance.  I added some of the floral washi tape in Cucumber Crush from the Affectionately Yours Designer Washi Tape.  Of course I made a custom made envelope as well:    

This card came together super quick and it was so easy.  I love the bright colors.  I am looking forward to hearing what the recipient thought of it!  I am also looking forward to seeing what you can create with these three colors.  Head over to SSI and upload your project today!