PPA 249

As I was sat down to make this, I watched the sun set outside my window.  It has been beautiful lately!

I am so late for this challenge!  I like to be ahead of the game, but last week I thought I was all set.  Then I discovered that I made the wrong one!  It's been a busy week so I just finished my card. I decided to make a sympathy card to add to my stash.  They seem to come all at once and then I scramble to make one after the other.

Thanks for looking and taking a second to leave a comment.  I love reading them!  

p.s.  This pretty paper is on the retirement list along with the sentiment from Bloom with Hope.  Hurry up and order if you like it.  The products are while supplies last!!  Click here to see what else is on the retired list:

Retiring

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Butterflies and SSC27

I used an old but fabulous sketch from Random Acts of Creativity/Ipalamountain on Pinterest.  These butterflies were back ordered for so long.  Stampin' Up! is offering them at a discount until April 30. Also, if you buy the bundle, you can get one of three SAB items free, even though SAB has ended. It's a great deal!  Click on the flower to the right to shop!

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PPA 248

I never put off my challenges until the last day as I really like having the option of a re-do.  This was not the case this week.  Time got away from me so I ended up doing it at the last minute.  I sat down and my mind went blank!  I started to make a card with Sheltering Tree, then I messed up the bike.  I tossed that aside and tried not to panic.  Then I saw this cute hostess set sitting there.  I know I just used it, but decided to use another image from it.

I drove myself crazy over which color to use for the stars and ended up with the Night of Navy because I couldn't make up my mind.  I do love this Birthday Bash dsp!  It's only available through the end of May in the Occasions catalog, along with the cute hostess stamp set.  I may just have to buy another pack!

I hope you will join us at the Pals Paper Arts Challenge!

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Weekly Deals - April 14-20

Here are the weekly deals.  I've been told this stapler is fantastic and I plan on grabbing one while it's on special!  I also want to try the washi sheets.  They're great for die cuts!  And while I'm at it, the striped scallop die is do die for  (I crack myself up)!  I've seen lots of pretty cards made with it.  Just click to shop.

The retired list is coming out soon.  Can't wait to see what is on that!

Balloons

When I saw this hostess set hiding at the back of the Occasions Catalog, I decided I had to have it!  I love hot air balloons.

I got a box of goodies from Mr. Brown the other day and thought I should try out my new stamp pad and stamps.  I decided to ink up the balloon first.  Then I colored in with Blendies.  I'm so sad they aren't available any more.  You can use Stampin' Write markers or blender pens too.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

PPA247

This pretty color combination for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge is a tough one for me.  I never use purples except Blackberry Bliss. For some reason, this is burgundy-ish in my brain, so I don't think of it as a purple.  

I searched through my scraps and found a small piece of Perfect Plum and then I found the marker.  I had an Elegant Eggplant stamp pad and everything in Blackberry Bliss.  I decided to stamp on the Irresistibly yours paper which is no longer available.  

I inked up two new stamp sets, one is a hostess set from Occasions called Because You Care, and the other Petal Potpourri.  I love the variations of sentiments in the frame of Because You Care!  The Occasions catalog only lasts through the end of May so don't wait if there's something you want from it!

Thanks for looking and taking the time to comment.  I love reading them!

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Mark your calendars....

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

Stampin' Up! is offering FREE shipping from April 6 - 10 for any size order!  Just click on the flower to the right to order Stampin' Up! products 24/7, or feel free tocontact me with any questions.

Also coming up:  

April 21 - The retired list of products is coming out.  Be sure to place your order fast so you don't lose out!

June 3 - The new Stampin' Up! catalog will be released.  I can't wait to see what the new In Colors will be and new goodies they will have!

PPA 246

Love these yummy colors for the Pals Paper Arts Color challenge this week!  I will truly miss the In Colors which are going away in May.  Stock up now if you like them!  These are must haves for me (cardstock, ink pad & reinkers, markers, dsp).  Kraft isn't part of the In Colors, by the way.  I am anxious to see the next set of In Colors though!  Stampin' Up! always seems to come up with colors you can't live without.

I always seem to be in short supply of get well/thinking of you type cards so that's what I made.  I stamped the sentiment from Butterfly Basics in Early Espresso because black seemed too stark with these pretty colors.  Let me know what you think! 

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Butterflies

I truly love the Butterfly thinlits!  I didn't immediately get the bundle when it came out, but then started seeing all of the pretty cards made with it.  I finally caved.  Since then, I've used it a lot!  I love the sentiments in the stamp set so I've used that a lot too.  Anyway, I saw this on pinterest (sorry, I can't remember the source!).  The butterfly set is not currently available, but should be fairly soon. When it comes out again, run and grab it if you can!

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PPA 245

I made this for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge 245.  This awesome sketch is from Nicole Watt.  I thought it would be a breeze, but I couldn't come up with anything for a while.  I had masculine on the brain but that wasn't working.  

Anyway, I kept it simple.  Ok, not really.  I wasn't thrilled with the first so I made another because that's how I roll.  Put your sunglasses on and let me know which one you like better.

You should play along with us!  Let me know if you do.

I used a couple of retired products (melon mambo polka dot ribbon and daffodil delight polka dot paper).  The Petite Petals punch is on the Weekly deals this week!  Just click to check them out.

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PPA 244

I love this fabulous sketch from Kerry Willard Bray at Peonies and Paper Chains!  I don't use my Stars Framelits enough so I stuck with the shape.  I noticed that one particular card of mine gets pinned a lot and it's in red and black so I thought I would do another to see if it gets the same attention. 

I used Real Red with Back to Black dsp.  I think it's a sharp combination.  I recently watched a video and saw someone using the Eclectic Paper Piercing pack.  I suddenly realized I had that in my stash and I thought should use it.  It's been sitting on a shelf getting dusty!  I like how the piercing packs give another detail to your card.  I will be using these more often.

Thanks for looking and commenting!  Your feedback means a lot to me.

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Two more weeks for Sale-a-Bration

Sadly, Sale-a-Bration is quickly coming to an end.  March 31st is the final day to place an order of $50 or more and choose a FREE item from the catalog.  If you order $100, you get two free items, and so on.   Blendabilities are no longer an option as they've been discontinued.  In place of them, Stampin' Up! has added all of these terrific products to choose from.  Just click on the flower to the right to place an order with me!

Irresistibly Fun Technique

I saw this fun technique on Patty Bennett's blog.  You start with Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration freebie, Irresistibly Yours dsp.  It is gorgeous!  It's a white on white embossed paper in four patterns. I've used it previously and loved it, but this technique is awesome!  Check out Patty's video here: Patty Stamps.  Hers is gorgeous!

I stamped with the Flower Patch stamp set on top of the Irresistibly Yours paper, then took sponges and rubbed it to take off the ink from the embossed part and push it out past the flower.  I used Blackberry Bliss, Bermuda Bay and Old Olive.  I wish you could see how pretty this paper is!  I kept my card simple because I wanted the paper to show more, and because of what it's being used for.

Sale-a-bration only lasts until March 31, so don't hesitate if you want something for FREE!! Stampin' Up! added more items since Blendabilities are no longer offered.  Everything is "while supplies last" so don't wait!  Click here to view all Sale-a-bration items:  SAB

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PPA 243

Even though I love this soft and pretty combination for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge, I had a hard time with it.   The first card I made didn't work because I sponged it with what I thought was my Pink Pirouette sponge, when in fact it was a yellow sponge.  My color ended up being a peachy pink. I finally ended up making an Easter card.  I truly love the Irresistibly Yours dsp.  All I did was sponge it with Pistachio Pudding.  I will be ordering another pack before Sale-a-Bration is over on March 31st.  Hope you like my card!

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Weekly Deals - March 10-16

New Photopolymer stamp set!

I'm so excited about this new photopolymer stamp from Stampin' Up!  I love sentiments, especially humorous ones!  If you like this, I wouldn't wait to order.  These sets go fast!  Click here to order:  Just Kidding

First Bokeh card

I've been seeing all of these beautiful bokeh cards on Pinterest and blogs and I decided to give the technique a try.  Bokeh is a photography term.  It is the look achieved when everything is blurred and soft dots appear. Anyway, here is my card.  I used Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry.  I have one more to make.

The technique is pretty simple but messy.  You sponge the inks in a random pattern on Whisper White cardstock and then sponge Craft Whisper White.  I used a template made from a transparency with cut outs from circle dies in several sizes.  On the top, I used a dauber with the craft white.  Let me know if you have any questions on how this is done!

Thanks for looking and commenting.  Your comments mean the world to me!

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First Easter card

The weekend is almost here!  I'm wishing spring would hurry up as well.  I was thinking spring when I made this.

I used the Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series paper from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  I truly love this paper.  There are so many things you can do with it!  It is a white paper with white embossed patterns.  I used the flowers and sponged inks over them.  Then I wiped with a tissue to clear off the ink from the embossed part.  I intended the peachy colors to be light pink, but I had issues.  I picked up what I thought was a clean sponge, dabbed into Pink Pirouette, and started to rub on the paper.  It came out peachy so I am assuming there was a light yellow on the sponge which I couldn't see.  I usually take a piece of cardstock and glue to the sponge so that I don't mix colors.  Oh well!  I ended up matching it with a retired color, Blush Blossom.  

I decided to do the sentiment with a curved banner.  All you need to do is take a photopolymer stamp and position it in the shape you want on the acrylic block.  I used Basic Gray ink because I thought black was too stark for the pretty colors.

You can get this paper if you hurry!  It's in the Sale-a-Bration catalog and it's free with a $50 purchase.  Click here to view Sale-a-Bration.   Irresistibly Yours is on Page 15.  This catalog ends on March 31st!!

Please let me know what you think.  I love reading your comments!

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PPA 242

This is my first card as a design team member on Pals Paper Arts.  I've played along with the challenges for a long time now and I'm excited to be a part of the team!

When I saw these colors, I automatically thought St. Paddy's Day!  I usually make one or two of those, but didn't really have any stamps that worked.  I decided to do a birthday card and ended up making two.

Am I the only one who stamps & cuts two of everything, just in case?!  I definitely do, and then I end up with a pile of extras.  I'm trying not to do that so I made a second right away to keep in my stash. Let me know if you do this too, and which one you like best!

I may end up using one for my oldest son's birthday in April.  He is definitely the Irish man in our family.  He has red hair and has always told me he doesn't need to wear green on St. Paddy's Day because people know he is Irish.  My youngest says he is 100% Italian.  They both have the same father and mother so it's pretty funny!

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Weekly Deals - March 3-9