PPA 252

This is such a cute sketch by Kerry Willard Bray, but I had such a hard time with it!  It looked easy until I set out to make my card.  I have to confess, this is my THIRD card.  I was trying to show off some of my new products and maybe I was trying too hard, or maybe my mojo took a vacation.

Here is what I came up with in the final hour.  I used the cute new Cherry on Top paper stack for this and my other two.  I love that the papers are so versatile.  There are some cute patterns like cherries, cupcakes, donuts, etc.  and then there are some awesome background papers like this stripe.  I will post the second card I made as well, even though it didn't thrill me. At least you can see two of the patterns.

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Weekly Deals - May 19 - 25

PPA 251

This is another of my favorite color combos!  I'm such a bright(s) girl.  LOL  I love summery colors.

I had two stamp sets to ink up before I could put them away.  Cheerful Critters was one of them so I used it. It's such a cute set!  You can use it in so many different ways because the sentiments are separate.  I used Happy Day so that it could be a birthday, congrats, etc.  If you want to get this, you better get it fast.  It's in the Occasions catalog which is over June.  Just click here to order:  Cheerful Critters

Thanks for looking and commenting. Please head over to Pals Paper Arts to see the other submissions, or join in the challenge!

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Cocktails

I had to make three masculine birthday cards in a row so I chose this adorable cocktail set called Making Spirits Bright.  This set is retiring so you should not wait if you want this.  I love it.  It's very versatile.  Click here to order:  Making Spirits Bright

I ended up using the same paper stack, Moonlight.  This is retiring also.  Go here fast to order!  It's super cheap:  Moonlight

Thanks for looking!  Let me know which one is your favorite.

p.s.  check out the weekly deals!

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PPA 250

I love this color combination for the Pals Paper Arts challenge!  It reminds me of the beach.  I wanted to ink up a new stamp set.  I make it a point of keeping them in a pile until I use at least one out of the set, and then I am allowed to put them away.  I still have two sets to go.

Just a funny -- my granddaughter was at my house the other day and she sat down at my desk.  I quickly took my challenge card away so she didn't color on it, and asked her if she liked it.  She said, "Nanny, you need a flower here, here, and one here."  She proceeded to place pink, orange, red flowers on my card.  I wondered if my card was boring to her.  Hopefully she wasn't right!  She is pretty amazing for 4 1/2.  Below is a page she colored. The only part I colored is most of the light pink on the dress, tights, arms and shoes.  She did the flowers all by herself.  She even thought to color in the faces on her own!

Thanks for looking and commenting!

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Something fishy

Just a quick post.... made this for my brother-in-law who spends most of his time near the ocean.  I pulled this dsp out to make a tote bag but never got to it.  I hope to do that soon and will post when I can.

This paper is retiring so act fast if you're interested in it!  Shop here for retiring products.  Maritime designer series paper is on page 5.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

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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