Flashback Friday--Cool Cat

Welcome to Friday!  Which means Flashback Friday here on my blog.  I reached into one of my bins of stamps and pulled out a set to create with.  Today's set is called Cool Cat.  I recall a lot of fun cat cards with this set.

I am also trying to use up some of these retiring colors.  I seem to have a lot of Peek a Boo Peach.  So be ready to see many projects using it, lol.   Here are the colors that will be retiring soon.  You might want to be sure you are stocked up on all the ones you love before they are gone.

Plus don't forget--today and tomorrow are the last days of Sale-a-bration.  

Here is the rest of the stamp set used today....

Enjoy your day today!  See you soon.

Mary Jo

The struggle is real! Designing does NOT always goes smoothly.....

Some days I can create five cards in less than an hour start to finish--designing one right after the other without much thought at all!  But then there are the days like last night.  Three hours in my studio and only two designs.  Both of them taking more changes that I can even remember!  The really funny thing is the results ended being pretty simple cards.

So I wanted to make one more card with this awesome Lots of Lavender set--Only three more day to get this set!

This card actually started out as a quick note card.  One of the small ones we sell in the catalog.  These are so cute and at a great price--heavy weight card stock in a cute 5" x 3-1/2" size with envelopes.

But I ended up using way too much water on the wash background and it warped even this heavy weight paper. So that was not going to work, hence, this became the focal panel of a full size card.  I also originally stamped the flowers right on the the note card over that wash but it was kind of blended in and got lost in the wash so to say, lol! So I next ended up out-lining the flowers with some sparkle by using the Wink of Stella pen...

I love this brush!  It is so perfect for adding a little sparkle to your projects.  But on this one--it was NOT what I was looking for--another fail.  At this point I was considering trashing the whole thing--but I hate to do that--I am determined to keep working it.  So next I stamped the sentiment (from Blossoming Basket set) repeatedly along the side of flowers to maybe draw the eye from the flower a bit and make it feel like it was supposed to be subtle.  That just made the wash stand out even more....uggggghhhhh.  Finally I stamped the flowers again on a piece of designer paper that was laying on my table from another project--cut it out and added a bit more wash of ink on it but much lighter.  I fussy cut this floral image out and glued it over the original one and it finally was something I might be able to work with!  Now it has to be made into a full size card and I am getting a bit lazy--ha!  So the rest of the card was finished off with whatever was in reach of my seat--the Wild Wasabi piece was sitting in the pile of scrap right next to me from another project and it already had the black line around it with my black pen so I grabbed it and put it behind the image panel.  Now the image panel needs to be black lined to match, right?!  Easy  fix as that black pen is always with in reach as it is something I do on most cards at least once.  Kind of a signature thing, lol.  (along with those rhinestones that seem to find their way onto most of my designs) Finally I decided to go with a Whisper White base as that was the original feel I wanted with the note card.  Phew---that was a lot to go through for one pretty simple card--after that I decided to come upstairs and enjoy a glass a wine and give it a break for the evening.  

Here are the supplies used on this card.   Minus the Wink of Stella and Note cards as they are not really relevant in the final design!

Remember to use the Hostess Code for the month if you order.

The code for this month is......FAW23VUS

Shop my Web Site HERE

Print Recipe

Product List

Lots Of Lavender Photopolymer Stamp Set

[147194]

$0.00

Blossoming Basket Clear-Mount Bundle

[147505]

$0.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

$9.00

Wild Wasabi 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[108641]

$8.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.00

Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[102107]

$3.75

Aqua Painters

[103954]

$17.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$5.00

Petal Garden Designer Series Paper Stack

[144168]

$10.00

Paper Snips Scissors

[103579]

$10.00

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

[100082]

$3.50

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

What inspires me Wednesdays--a look into what inspires me to get crafting.

Again I am sharing a few cards that inspired me this week.  These are the types of card samples that either entice me to purchase something or make me want to hurry down to my studio to create something with one of more of the element seen on them. 

Each sample that I share will have a link under it that will allow you to visit the creator's original blog post and see more details.  While you are there be sure to say hi and tell them I sent you!  I have four samples for you......

The first one uses the beautiful butterfly stamp that is available in our Beautiful Day Set.  This set has such nice bold images that lend themselves to many great techniques.  I am loving the way that colored the image with her blends and left so much white space.  This one is going to sell me on this set--thanks for enabling me Nancy!

You can view Nancy original post  HERE

My next share is a fabulous soft card created by Linda Callahan!  I am so in love with this paper--mostly because daisies are my favorite flower and the colors are just so soothing.  The designer paper pack is called Delightful Daisy and it is just that!  Delightful.  I love the layout of Linda's card which I believe came from a sketch challenge.  She rocked it for sure.  The daisy set she used is called Daisy Delight.  

You can find Linda's original post HERE

Next  sample is back to that great set I highlighted last week--the Sale-a-bration set Epic Celebrations!  Only a few more days to earn this great set for free with a qualifying purchase.  Sadly SAB ends on March 31st.  Get me your order before you miss out.

Allison did a fabulous job with this set.  I love the amazing color combo he chose--just so fun and energetic.  And the sparkly washi tape from the Myths and Magic tape pack.  The white embossed sentiment and the background stamping are other things I love about this card. 

You can find Allison's original post HERE

And of course I had to share this adorable card by Tanya Boser since it uses my favorite little pigs!  As if I have not given you enough reasons to need this set--here is one more.  I love how she has them sticking their heads out behind and around the hugs die cut.  She combined them beautifully!  Just makes me smile.  Here are those dies--might have to add them to my next order too!  Another enabler, lol.  Thanks Tanya!

You can see Tanya's original post HERE.

So there you have it!  Week two of What Inspires me!

There are always so many fun samples on line for any set you have.  

If you have a set you are struggling with ideas for I would love to help you out.  

Send me a message with the stamp set name and I will create some samples with it to inspire YOU! 

Let's get stamping!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Mary Jo

Take Two Tuesday Week 5

So happy that you stopped by again today. We are on week 5 of the Take Two series and I am still playing around with the stamps that can be earned for free during Sale-a-bration.  Only a few more days until it is all over for another year 😔

My old card today uses the old Upsy Daisy stamp set and butterfly rub ons and a small medallion created with the score board.  Do you remember these?  I don't think I ever really liked them--as a matter o fact this may be the only one I ever made--but RUB ONs---I loved them!  I wish we still used them they were so fun and easy to use on darker colors.    

So obviously the old card is on the left and the new one on the right.  I actually love the one.  At first I wasn't so sure about it--but after walking away for a bit and coming back it really grew on me, lol. 

On the new card I actually masked off the lavender so that I could spread it across the strips o paper.  It as stamped three times across.  Since it was not a solid image I colored it in with my blends.  I am actually pretty impressed with how well they worked.  The colors were not altered that much at all.   

 Can we chat about how much I love the font that Stampin Up used for this fun die that cuts out the word amazing!  It is so pretty and it is another of the items you can get for free during Sale-a-bration.  I can't remember the last time I made a card without rhinestones!  They are quite obviously my new favorite embellishment.  Is there an item that you seem to use on all our designs?   

I a off to get my day started--need to get fingrprinted for my pistol permit.  Enjoy your day.  And don't forget to let me know your answer to the question of the week...

So here is the weekly question...

DO YOU LIKE THE OLD OR NEW CARD BETTER???

Here are the supplies used on the new card

Remember to use the Hostess Code for the month if you order.

The code for this month is......FAW23VUS

Shop my Web Site HERE

Print Recipe

Product List

Lots Of Lavender Photopolymer Stamp Set

[147194]

$0.00

Celebrate You Thinlit Dies

[146840]

$0.00

Stampin' Blends Markers Collection

[147475]

$121.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.00

Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

[100082]

$3.50

Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad

[131180]

$6.50

Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131201]

$8.00

So Saffron 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[105118]

$8.00

Peekaboo Peach 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[141417]

$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

$9.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$5.00

Stampin' Trimmer

[126889]

$30.00

Big Shot

[143263]

$110.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Make it and mail it Monday!

Good Monday Morning to you!  I hope you had a fabulous weekend and now you are ready to rock the new week!  Mondays are actually one of my favorite days--back on track with a brand new week to fix what when wrong last week or even better to keep pushing on things that went right!

On Mondays I have been making a card with a specific person in mind and then sending it out right away.   It is really weird how many cards I make and how few I send--embarrassing really.  So this is my new thing so I know that I at the VERY LEAST send one card a week!

Today's card is for a sweet friend who is struggling with a nasty beginning to a divorce.  She has been with the same man her whole life and now it is over and it has been really  hard on her.  I am actually friends with both of them and just feel horrible for how ugly it has gotten.  So I thought I sweet simple pretty card would brighten her day a bit.  So I used the beautiful Blossoming Basket Bundle set that you can still earn for FREE during this final week of Sale-a-bration.

This super easy to use stamp set actually has a matching basket weave embossing folder that is bundled with it but I chose now to use it on this card.  I wanted all the with space to just be plain besides I have the soft circle of sponged Soft Sky ink behind the basket.  I used the largest circle in the Stitch Shapes Framelits set to create a mask for the sponging.

The Stamin Up! supplies used for this project are below and if you click on any of the items it will take you directly to my website for ordering purposes!  Don't forget if you do order anything to use the hostess code and get an extra free gift from me!  Over and above the Sale-a-bration gift from Stampin Up! available until March 31.

Hostess Code: FAW23VUS

Another new series for you! Flashback Fridays.

Welcome to my first week of Flashback Fridays.  I am so excited for this series.  I will be reaching into the depths of the many boxes of retired stamps that I have and creating a card with the set using any supplies I have sitting around.   Some supplies will be current some will not!  Some embellishments may not even be Stampin Up but the goal is to bring new life to old sets and use up some of the many supplies I have hoarded  collected purchased over the years.

So there will not be a supply list for this series.  As most may not even be available anymore.  As the series goes on I may be willing to part with some of the sets I use--maybe as some blog candy??!!   But that will not be happening today as I am really loving this old unicorn!  Great image!

I hope you enjoy this new series.   Here is today's card....

Isn't it fun?!  She is so pretty.  I wish you could see the sparkle on it.  I outlined her with a sparkle pen to add a bit of shine and depth.  I hope you are able to see it in this close up picture....

I seriously think Stampin Up should consider bringing back at least this one image as Unicorns are so popular right now and she is BEAUTIFUL!  

Do you remember the name of this set?  It does not have a name on it for some reason????  Help a girl out if you remember the name.  

See you all soon--Happy Fri-YAH!  

Mary  Jo

Floral Fun

Happy Thursday!  Can you even image how fast this month is going?  I can not believe that it is th 22nd of March already!  I swear we just started writing 2018 on our checks a couple weeks ago.  I used to think it was because I was getting older but my son is saying the same thing and he is only 18 so it can't be that.  Does it feel like time is just flying by to you?

I guess the good news is that I am still finding time to make a card to share with you even with the time going so fast.  Today's card is using a different fold just to switch things up a bit!  You know how I am--got  to change things up so I don't get bored.  This is one of those folds that looks like it might be difficult to cut but in actually it is super easy!  Maybe I will do a quick video on it to show you if anyone is interested.

I was in a floral mood and I love purple roses so I decided to start with that as my inspiration for the day.  So I was thrilled when I remembered that I have this beautiful Petal Garden designer paper with Rich Razzleberry roses!  This paper is a 6x6 paper pack with truly amazing patterns.

Designer paper is a great place to start designing  card--you can just chose your card stock from the colors in the paper which you know will look great together!  Here is my card.....

I usually try not to use too many different sets on a card so that it is easily reproduced by my customers but with this one I used three different sets .  The image and saying on the front of the card is from the set Floral Phrases.  Such a pretty set with awesome sentiments.

The inside uses a sentiment from the set Thankful Thoughts and the small rose image is from the SAB set Lots of Lavender.  

So what do you think? Do you like a regular fold card or the ones that are a little bit different like this one??  

Here are the supplies used on this card.  

Remember to use the Hostess Code for the month if you order.

The code for this month is......FAW23VUS

Shop my Web Site HERE

Print Recipe

Product List

Floral Phrases Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[141767]

$18.00

Lots Of Lavender Photopolymer Stamp Set

[147194]

$0.00

Thankful Thoughts Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[141522]

$19.00

Petal Garden Designer Series Paper Stack

[144168]

$10.00

Rich Razzleberry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[115316]

$8.00

Sweet Sugarplum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[141418]

$8.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

$9.00

Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad

[126950]

$6.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

$30.00

Journaling Pens

[145480]

$5.00

Stampin' Trimmer

[126889]

$30.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com