Sending Smiles

When I got back into stamping there was one thing that was greatly missing: my old stamping friends.  I had held onto a few of my friendships but for some reason when I stopped stamping many of my stamping acquaintances also stopped.  It broke my heart but I think that's just how life goes sometimes.

Imagine my surprise when Kristen, one of my old stamping pals, found me on Instagram and we picked our friendship back up where we left off.

I wanted to send her a little something to show my excitement that we found each other again and found some amazing inspiration on Bruno Bertucci's blog, on THIS post in particular.

I changed up a few of the colors and tried a new color combo that I am now 100% in love with: Night of Navy, Mint Macaroon, Bermuda Bay, and Smoky Slate.

I am SO glad I snagged some of the glimmer paper from Sale-A-Bration before it was all sold out!  The Mint Macaroon glimmer on the card is just incredible.

I pretty much stayed true to Bruno's layout but changed the colors.  I also do not have the Stitched Shape Framelit Dies yet so for the stitching around the sentiment circle I paper pierced it instead.

I am so excited to see what the new In-Colors for 2017-2019 are going to be!  Truth be told, I wasn't too crazy about any of the colors except for Mint Macaroon anyway.  I will be sad to see this color go but out with the old, in with the new!

Product List

Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock
A Little Foxy Designer Series Paper Stack	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad	Up & Away Thinlits Dies	Layering Circle Framelits Dies	Paper-Piercing Tool
Stampin' Pierce Mat

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

*The Mint Macaroon Glimmer Paper was only available during Sale-A-Bration BUT we have some gorgeous glimmer alternatives that you can find HERE

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Strong Coffee Bookmark

Being the bookworm that I am, I am a sucker for a good bookmark.  I also love me some coffee.  We've been out the past few days and my head has not been too happy with me.  One way for me to stay caffeinated is to play along with the 2017 Spring Coffee Lover's Blog Hop!

I saw THIS cute idea on Pinterest and it inspired my bookmark.  The theme for the blog hop is SPRING which is why I went for a sunny color combo of Bermuda Bay and So Saffron.  The bookmark measures 2 x 9 1/2" and I used my Triple Banner Punch for the bottom.

The edges of the patterned paper was lightly sponged with Chocolate Chip ink and I printed my sentiment from Rise and Shine onto vellum.  I actually hand stitched the vellum sentiment to my Cupcakes & Carousels designer paper.  A sewing machine is next on my wish list but until then everything is by hand baby!

I popped the entire panel up on dimensionals and finished off the bookmark with some small So Saffron grossgrain ribbon.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and if you are a coffee lover like yours truly please go check out the Spring Coffee Lover's Blog Hop! There are so many AMAZING sponsors. It's insane!!  I'm hoping to crank out one more caffeinated creation before it ends so stay tuned!

Product List
Stamps: Rise and Shine Digi (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Cupcakes & Carousels DSP (SU), Vellum
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Bermuda Bay and So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers, Dimensionals, Paper Piercer, Sakura Glitter Pen, So Saffron Grossgrain Ribbon, Triple Banner Punch, White Thread

Challenges: 2017 Spring Coffee Lover's Blog Hop (#spring2017clh)

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Rise and Shine

Happy Sunday!!

I am SO excited I finally got a little stamping time in!  I have a quick card for you that combines THREE challenges!!

I barely got this little beauty done in time for the Mojo Monday challenge!  I had five minutes to spare!  I don't think I've ever cut it that close before but I made it and that's all that matters.  This card is also for the Color Throwdown which is the gorgeous orange, turquoise, and yellow and the CAS on Sunday challenge which is to use just a sentiment.  CAS is very hard for me but I'm really trying to get more out of my comfort zone.

This adorable sentiment is from Verve Stamps new digi set, Rise and Shine.  My husband FINALLY bought me a new printer since mine died a few months ago and this digi set was the first set I printed.  I am in LOVE!!  I'm also working on another caffeinated card for the Coffee Lover's Spring Blog Hop so you'll have to come back and check it out!

Product List
Stamps: Rise and Shine Digi (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Whisper White, Bright Stack DSP (SU), Delicate Dots DSP (SU-retired)
Accessories: Beaded Circles Nestabilities, Banner Punch (SU), Paper Piercer, Ribbon (unknown)
Challenges: CAS on Sunday, Color Throwdown #435 (ctd435), (Mojo Monday #489 (mojo489)

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Romans 8:18

Don't you hate it when you make a card for a challenge and then life gets in the way and you can't post until it's too late?  Yea me too. *sniffle*

I made this card for last week's Freshly Made Sketch and didn't get my post up in time.  My Type 1 child was super sick and he took precedence.  It got so serious yesterday that I thought for sure we were going to have to take him to the emergency room.  Thank goodness he is feeling a bit better and we have a doctor's appointment today to find out what is making his blood sugar levels go crazy and making him sick.  Long story short, everything was put on the back burner so I could take care of my little man.

I made this card for a special someone who has a lot going on in her life right now.  Romans 8:18 is a wonderful reminder that our suffering is only for a time.  I pray that this card gives her hope and strength as she continues through this dark time in her life.  I know this verse has helped me these past few days.

The sentiment is from Verve's Scripture Medley 2 and I used one of the dies from the All Aflutter Die Set to cut out this gorgeous butterfly.  The paper is another retired Stampin' Up! favorite of mine called Walk in the Park.  Can you tell I'm digging deep into my stash?  Gotta clear some room for the new Stampin' Up! goodies coming out in a few months!! *wink*

Verve Stamps is having an AMAZING sale right now!  To Welcome Spring all stamps and dies are 30% off until March 31st!!  I see an order in my future. :)

Product List

Stamps: Scripture Medley 2 (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP

Ink: Blushing Bride, Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories: All Aflutter Die Set (Verve Stamps), Big Shot, Circle Die, Pearl Basic Jewels, Sponge Dauber, Whisper White Organza Ribbon

Techniques: Sponging

Challenges: Freshly Made Sketches #279 (fms279)

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Keep Calm And Drink Coffee

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

You know how you have those sets that you order and as soon as they come in the mail you swoon over them but life happens and for one reason or another you can't seem to get them inky?  That's how I've been with my Coffee set from Verve Stamps.

Being on vacation this week I have been able to get a little more stamping time than usual and what's the first set I reached for when I got a chance to play?

Coffee!!!  

I was also able to play in a few challenges!!  The sketch is this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge but I flipped it so I could highlight that gorgeous paper pieced coffee cup!  The color combo is this week's Color Throwdown which is perfect for St. Patrick's Day but sadly I do not have any Irish-inspired stamps.  I wanted to use the free digi set that Verve Stamps is offering right now but I am still a girl without a printer.  My husband tells me we should be getting one soon and trust me it cannot be soon enough!

I have been hoarding this Rockabilly designer paper for years!  It retired from Stampin' Up! forever ago but it's the perfect paper for a masculine card so I've held onto it and it fit perfect with this color combo.  My family is full of coffee lovers like myself so I'm sure I will not have a problem finding a recipient. 

I wanted to dress the card up a bit but with masculine cards that can be tricky so I opted for a few gold sequins and some Crystal Effects in the coffee cup to make it look like there is some yummy coffee in that yummy cup. 

 

It's hard to tell in the picture but both the white sentiment panel and the coffee cup are popped up on dimensionals which gives such a cool effect.  I am usually so critical of my cards but I have to say I am digging this one. :)

Product List

Stamps: Coffee (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss (SU-retired), Whisper White, Rockabilly DSP (SU-retired)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Kiwi Kiss (Su-retired)

Accessories: Corner Rounder, Decorative Scissors, Dimensionals, Gold Sequins, Square Scallop Nestabilities

Techniques: Paper Piecing

Challenges: Color Throwdown #434 (ctd434), Mojo Monday #488 (mojo488)

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Carousel Birthday Card Class

Saturday's class started out a little crazy but ended great.  We had a last minute change of venue which made things hectic but once the class got started it was great.

It was so nice to have my girls back together for an afternoon!!  We had a few of my Sweet & Sassy's missing but we also had two newbies who made the class so much fun!

Truth be told, I planned this class while in a flu-induced haze so two of the creations we made were not Christi originals.  The first card and the gift bag came straight from a Stampin' Up! monthly workshop but I am still in love with how they turned out and I think the class fell in love as well.

First the card:

Then the most adorable gift bag!! (The picture does NOT do it justice)

When I first saw the Occasions magazine I knew my first purchase would be the Lift Me Up bundle (I've already told you about my hot air balloon obsession) and I wanted another set that would compliment it.  Carousel Birthday is the perfect pairing set!  You can easily mix and match both sets and you'd never know they came from different sets!

I also fell in love with the Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit which is where the gorgeous tag on the gift bag came from.

I don't normally purchase the embellishment kits but I am so glad I did!  Out of all the images from each set I thought the cupcake ferris wheel would be my favorite but it's actually the circus tent from Carousel Birthday.  Isn't it adorable?!

Our final card was a Christi-original that was quickly put together a few nights before class.  At first I wasn't loving it but I have to admit it's growing on me.

The sketch is from this week's Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge which I thought worked perfect with my hot air balloon and showcased the designer paper nicely.

Thank you to my Sweet & Sassy Stampers for another amazing class and I hope you've enjoyed my samples today.  Since this week is spring break for my kiddos I am hoping to have a little more stamping time so hopefully I will have more eye candy for you soon!

Product List

Carousel Birthday Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142832] $19.00	Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Bundle [144712] $45.75	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197] $8.00	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $9.00
Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper Stack [142744] $10.00	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171] $6.50	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [126983] $6.50	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [126957] $6.50	Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit [142767] $12.00
Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments [119247] $5.00	Petite Café Gift Bags [135826] $6.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

2

Getting Excited

There are two things you should know about me.  If I am ever away from this blog it's for one of two reasons.

1. I am super sick or something major has happened in my life that is more important
2. I am prepping for a Stampin' Up! class

My reason for this absence is not sickness (thank goodness!) but class prep!  I had a Valentine's card class all planned for February but found out I had the flu the week before my class.  Boo!  So we moved it to March 11th and now it's a birthday class!  A few women that were supposed to be at the first class can't make it which bums me out but I still have eight ladies who will be there so it should be a blast!

When I set out to choose a card for a class I try to go as simple as possible but you see my cards.  Simple is hard for me.  Making a CAS (clean and simple) card can be a real challenge but I try my best.  

When I was planning this class I was in a flu-induced haze and did not think several things through.  When my supplies came in and sat down to make the sample cards I freaked out.  A few of the women coming are brand new to stamping and a few techniques are a little more advanced.  If I allowed the class to do these techniques it would take forever!  So, guess who is doing a lot more prep work than she thought she would? This girl...

It's all my fault but I'm glad it turned out this way.  The cards are going to be so great!  I just took this picture which is the final project all prepped and ready to go.  Now that the prep work is done I can go from my current state of freakout (as in OMG how am I going to FINISH all this by myself!) to excited!  I haven't seen my Sweet & Sassy Stampers in a long time so it's going to be great to have an afternoon with the girls. 

Have a wonderful weekend and go stamp something!!!  :)

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