great friend-occasions sneek peek

I received a box of goodies last week! It was full of stamp sets from the Occasions mini that will be available April 1st. I also got more SAB stamp sets. I didn't have Yummy or Congratulations so I was excited to get those and play with them. (I'll be posting samples later).

This card uses the new stamp set Great Friend. I had a lot of fun playing with it. The color combo came from splitcoast stampers color challenges. I went back to some of the early challenges that don't include the in colors. I realized I've been neglecting some colors. This is so saffron, mellow moss and bravo burgundy. the ribbon is from the SAB ribbon bundle.

Don't forget you only have a few more days to earn FREE SAB stuff!!

Hit the road with the bike

This card uses the Hit the Road set also but it features the bicycle. One of the great things about the 4 x 4 card is that you are able to create a focal point with a smaller image.

To add a bit of texture the creamy carmel square has been distressed on the edges and the pacific point cardstock was embossed using the Big Shot Texturz plates. These are really easy to use and make a huge difference. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you'll be able to see the texture a bit better.

Here's another card using the bicycle and the texturz plates.

My version of Hit the Road

I've been needing to make some swaps using a new stamp set in the catalog, or a Sale-a-bration set. I decide to use Hit the Road. Of course I had to use my new favorite toy, my Big Shot. The top note die makes such a nice easy focal point! I colored the jeep using markers. The sentiment is from the sock monkey stamp set. I realized in making these swaps that I didn't have a lot of simple, fun sentiments. I don't have many sentiment sets at all, so that will have to be on my next order. I punched the sentiment out with the small oval, and used the the large oval to create a border for it. I decided it need to pop a little so I adhered it with dimensionals.

Sale-a-Bration Paper

I love that Stampin' UP! is now giving choices besides stamp sets for Sale-a-Bration. This card uses the Designer Series Paper and the Celery Ribbon from the ribbon bundle. I used the Upsy Daisy stamp set, stamped with versa mark and colored with pastels. I love that you can get multiple colors on the images. You can do a lot with pastels, this technique is called poppin pastels. If you don't have them, now is a great time to get them. If you were to purchase the upsy daisy stamp set, Pastels and a versa mark pad you would qualify for a free sale-a-bration item like the paper or the ribbon on this card.

To learn more techniques using pastels or any others, schedule your own class. Make it a girls night out! 3 projects for $5, just let me know what techniques you are interested in. Contact me for available dates!

two different songs in my head

The first is a Billy Joel song "so you think you are a big shot, don't cha . . " I've been singing it ever since my Big Shot arrived on Thursday. And yes, I do feel like a big shot!! Thursday was a snow day for the kids so Emma was home when the UPS guy dropped it off. Both of us ran to the door, and my daughter screamed when we opened it. (I think she may be my first recruit). We immediately started cutting paper it was FABULOUS (oh that just added a third song in my head "fabulous that is my simple request all things fabulous", from High School Musical 2).

Okay the other song that I've been singing is "Celebrate good times, come on!" Are you all singing with me? Because yesterday was the first day of Stampin' UP!s biggest promotion of the year Sale-a-bration!!! Check out the brochure link on the right side of my blog. There are four beautiful stamp sets, one ribbon bundle, and a pack of designer series paper. It's simple spend $50 get any one of the six FREE!!!!!!!! Who doesn't love free.


Stamp set: Botanical Blooms (Sale-a-bration)

Colors: Regal rose, brocade blue, chocolate chip, garden green

accessories: Big shot, top note die, chocolate chip poly ribbon (I think it's retired)

Sweet Stems in Oval

I love that the sweet stems images fit in so many of the punches. I used the large oval to punch out the images and the wide oval to punch the red. I love the look. My darling husband said they looked like zeros. I hadn't notice that before, I'm thinking that might be cute in a scrapbook page!

I colored the flowers with markers, the sentiment is from Best Yet, a level one hostess set from the last catalog, as is the designer print paper. The ribbon is satin kraft.

Eye Pleasing Sweet Stems

Eye Pleasing, that's how my husband Steve described this card. I made several cards with this set and had them all laid out. Steve didn't like most of the, but he did say that this one was eye pleasing. The paper I used is a level one hostess set from the last catalog. There is a new paper pack for level one in the current catalog but the colors are more spring like! I also used the level one hostess set called Best Yet from the last catalog. In the current catalog there is a new sentiment set that I like. I can't wait to get it!!

Stamp Sets: Sweet Stems, Best Yet

Colors: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Bordering Blue, confetti white, basic black

Accessories: Markers, Square scalloped punch, designer prints paper, kraft satin ribbon