May Ladybug ink. Night

This month our card swap theme was "Use a Stamp Set You Haven't Used Before!"

I have plenty of those stacked on my shelves.  I decided to use Tea Party.  

When it first came out, it went on my must have list because I am a tea party fanatic!

This beautiful set has been patiently waiting on my shelf.

I love these stamps and I love this card!

Keeping a monochromatic theme helped keep this card quick and simple.

Ruth's M&T

Karen's Card

Carmelita's Card

Ruth's Card

Ruth's Demo 

My demo using the new

Project Life.

Carmelita also showed us how quick and easy it is

to scrapbook with Project Life, but I forgot to take a picture!

Simple Gifts

Stampin' Up! makes it easy to come up with cute and inexpensive gifts.

I made these little gifts for each of my coworkers.  They graciously took turns

caring for my youngest daughter while my husband and I were out of town recently.

Packaging doesn't get any easier when you use SU cello bags.  

I attached a simple tag using dimensionals 

and tied it with a coordinating bow.

Inside is lip balm and hand cream I found at the Santa Fe farmers market 

while we were out of town.

I needed a fast gift for my daughter's teachers and my Bible study teachers.

I decided to make a set of simple cards.  

I love the Blooming With Kindness stamp set!  

With just one stamp set, one marker, one ink pad and our Notecards & Envelopes,

I was able to make pretty, fast, and simple cards.

I made several cards, put them in a cello bag with a small box of chocolates,

and attached a tag with Baker's Twine.

This gift looked impressive, but it took very little time or money.

What can you put in a cello bag today??

April Technique Club

In April we learned the Versamarker Shadow Technique.

You simply stamp a bold image and outline it with a marker.

Since Stampin' Up no longer carries the Versamarker, 

we used the white marker and the silver marker.

You can either fully outline the image...

or outline it to one side.

I learned this simple box from Nicole at our monthly downline meeting.  Thanks, Nicole!

It just uses and 12x12 sheet of DSP and the Simply Scored.

Truly the easiest box I've ever made.  No cutting!

Using the Simply Scored, you score and punch each side at 3".  

Then flip the DSP to the back side and score and punch each side at 3".

Then you fold on lines and adhere flaps inside.

This is the same box with the flaps left open.

Love this box!

Saying Goodbye With Free Shipping

It's that bittersweet time of year when we

say goodbye to retired stamps and accessories.

All stamps and accessories are only

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

See retiring products here.

To ease the pain of saying good-bye, Stampin' Up is offering

FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING!

Offer ends Friday, so Shop now!

March Technique Club

Our technique this month for club was Spotlighting.

I used a line image for this card.

I colored directly on the stamp with markers.

For the Spotlight, I stamped it on watercolor paper and 

used an Aqua Painter to blend the color: absolutely the easiest way to watercolor.

For this card I used a bold image.

This technique makes for a striking card without any fuss.

Club is the 2nd Tuesday of the month.  Email me for details.  I'd love to see you there!

Paper Pumpkin

This month's kit came with everything needed to make 8 cards with lined envelopes.  

My 17 year old needed a Thank You card, so naturally, I encouraged (ie. prodded)

her to make her own.

This is her version of the Thank You.  Super quick and easy. 

Here is my version of the Thank You card.  

Here is one of the Congrats cards along with the foil lined envelope.  

Eight cards came together quickly and easily.  

If you haven't joined Paper Pumpkin yet, you're missing out!!

Circle Monogram Stamp

I had no idea I'd love the new Circle Monogram Stamps so much!

They are completely customizable so the possibilities are endless!

I created one to stamp onto the back of my cards.

You can create an address stamp or a greeting for the front of your card.

You can plug in different combinations by logging on here.

I can't wait to see what you create: a wedding keepsake, baby shower invitation, 

your own trademark saying???

I can't wait to start on my next customized stamp!