Thanks for the Best Catch ~ HSSSC#338

I have lost track of what day of quarantine we are on, but I do know that today is Tuesday because we have an all new Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge for you!  This week we have a great sketch for you to play along with and I can't wait to see what you all create!

I'm stamping my way through some of my favorite retiring items. Best Catch is one of my all time favorite masculine stamp sets and I am VERY sad that it is retiring!  This is one that I just can't part with!

My son, Hunter, is an avid fisherman and is currently going crazy not being able to fish.  We are hopeful that our stay home orders will be lifted on May 5th and that fishing will reopen.  In the meantime, Hunter has been organizing and reorganizing all of his fishing gear while he waits.  A few weeks ago, one of his teachers called and told him that he had some fishing gear that he was getting rid of and asked him to come take a look.  My kid came home with a HUGE duffle bag FULL of fishing gear.  His day was made, as was his teachers!  I love the fishing/hunting bond that they share and am sad that this will be his last year getting to see this teacher.  But I know that they will stay in touch to share their fishing and hunting stories!

Hunter asked me to make a thank you card for him to take to his teacher, along with his favorite Dairy Queen treat.  Today's sketch was perfect for his request!

Using my Stampin' Blends, I did my best to create a Salmon...my son said I nailed it.  I'll take that as a mom WIN!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Soft Sea Foam, Cajun Craze, Whisper White

Ink ~ VersaMark, Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Pool Party, Soft Sea Foam, Petal Pink, Cajun Craze, Smoky Slate

Stamp Sets ~ Best Catch, Free As A Bird, Crackle Paint

Other Supplies ~ Catch of the Day Dies, Silver Metallic Thread, Frosted & Clear Epoxy Droplets, Subtle Embossing Folder

I'm not sure what I'm going to do without my Silver Metallic Thread either...I use this on EVERYTHING!  But I know that there are several new things coming our way that will help me find the "silver" lining!  

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Happy Stamping!

Hello Little Elephants ~ Monday Montage

Welcome to an all new Monday Montage Blog Hop!  You won't want to miss a single creation from this amazing group of stampers!

The retirement list is out and I am once again in my annual mourning period.  Saying goodbye to some of my favorite stamps and supplies never gets easier...

I am inking up some of my favorite sets before I have to say good-bye.  Little Elephant and the coordinating Elephant Builder Punch is one of my favorites that just had to be used a couple more times.

In addition to the stamp set and punch retiring, the Tufted 3D Embossing folder is too...why or why is it so hard to part with some of these items?!?

And my favorite Whisper White Bakers Twine is going away too?!?!  Say it isn't so!

 These cute little elephants are just right for a new little boy or girl!  I created some cute little balloons using the circle from the Lakeside dies...they were the perfect addition!

Supplies Used:
Paper ~ Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Petal Pink
Ink ~ Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Petal Pink
Stamp Set ~ Little Elephant
Other Supplies ~ Elephant Builder Punch, Tufted 3D Embossing Folder, Lakeside Dies, Stitched Shapes Dies, Whisper White Bakers Twine

I'll be sharing a few more of my retiring favorites this week...be sure to check back soon!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Now, on to the next stop on the hop!

Happy Stamping!

We've added a list of everyone's home pages so you can hop along in any order you wish!  Just make sure you don't miss any!

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma <-- You are HERE

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Charlet Mallett - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Celebrate Our Graduating Seniors

Graduation is looking a whole lot different for so many seniors this year...my heart hurts for them.  We have yet to hear what will take place in lieu of our typical graduation ceremony here locally, but they have placed signs in the yards of all of our seniors.  It's so cool to drive around town and see all of the signs!

A friend of mine had a great idea to stick a graduation card in the mailboxes of seniors throughout her neighborhood...such a great idea!  I made her a couple cards to get started and will be making more for the seniors in our neighborhood.

I had to pull out and borrow a couple of retired items for these cards, but they were so much fun to make!

I used a couple different stamp sets for this card....Rise & Shine (2020 Sale-A-Bration) and Perennial Birthday to be exact!

I used the same stamp sets here, but pulled out my favorite Large Number Dies and {borrowed} Celebrate You Thinlits.  They may be retired, but they are still some of my favorites that I just can't let go of!

I used the soon-to-be-retired Blueberry Bushel ink and paper, along with my trusty Whisper White.  I added a bit of {retired} bling and some fun graduation caps and tassels to each card.  I've made so many of these over the years I no longer have to look up YouTube tutorials!

I hope you are finding fun ways to celebrate the graduating seniors this year! We have to do our part to make the best of the situation we are in!

Happy Stamping!

Quarantine Crafting

I hold a stamping class every month, which has been cancelled due to our Stay  Home orders.  I am missing all of my stamping friends and I know they are missing out on classes as well.  So, I decided to come up with a fun Facebook group to keep us all stamping!  I've called it Quarantine Crafting and am posting weekly challenges for everyone to play along with.  It has been a fun way to stay connected and to make sure my sure my customers keep stamping!

This weeks challenge was a sketch.  There may be flowers in the sketch, but I encouraged my stampers to use ANY shape!

I like to play along as well!  I used the same sketch for two different cards.  Enjoy!

I LOVE the Mountain Air bundle and I am REALLY hoping it carries over!  This set is great, especially for anyone who loves the outdoors.  I cased this card from the Mini Catalog.  I loved this color combination!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Whisper White, Basic Gray, Gray Granite, Grapefruit Grove 

Ink ~ Mint Macaron, Gray Granite, Basic Gray, Grapefruit Grove, VersaMark

Stamp Set ~ Mountain Air, Itty Bitty Greetings

Other Supplies ~ Majestic Mountain Dies, White Embossing Powder

My second card was made using some scraps I had on my desk.  I went a little fussy-cut-crazy with the Timeless Tropical Memories & More Card pack a couple weeks ago and still had a few pieces left over.  This pretty flower was perfect for the sketch!

 

Supplies Used:a

Paper ~ Soft Sea Foam, Tropical Oasis DSP, Timeless Tropical Memories & More Card Pack

Ink ~ Shaded Spruce

Stamp Set ~ Piece of Cake

Other Supplies ~ Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder, Rose Metallic Thread, Champagne Rhinestone Jewels

I've said it several times before, but I am so very thankful for my stamping community and all that we can do together, even when we are apart!  Keep on creating friends!

Happy Stamping!

#TGIFC260 Technique Time

We made it through another week of quarantine...all I can say is thank goodness for stamping!  It's keeping me sane through all of the craziness!

TGIF Challenges has a fun challenge to help give you a creative distraction this weekend!  Join in the fun with this weeks technique challenge...Belly Bands!

With some extra time on my hand, I decided to make a tropical treat box using some of my favorite Tropical Oasis Suite products.  I stamped and colored three of the the beautiful hibiscus flowers, which I then fussy cut.  Yep...I know there is a die, but a little fussy cutting helps calm my mind and anxiety some days.  

I created the belly band with some coordinating DSP and added a few strips of Braided Burlap Trim.  I finished off the flower with some Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots, a cute little Tropical Oasis Trinket and a sweet Hello sentiment.  

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Tropical Oasis DSP, Whisper White

Ink ~ VersaMark, Memento, Stampin' Blends: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral

Stamp Set ~ Timeless Tropical

Other Supplies ~ Tropical Oasis Trinkets, Braided Burlap Trim, Linen Thread, Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots

I am planning on filling this box with a little treat and leaving it on the porch for a friend who needs a little pick-me-up this weekend.  

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and find time to play along with us.

Happy Stamping!

Bonanza Ballon Birthday Wishes ~ HSSIC337

Happy Tuesday friends!  It's time for an all newHand Stamped Sentiments Challenge and we have some fun inspiration for you! We can't wait to see all of your creations!

I love that the balloons from Broadway Birthday matches the super cute balloon pattern from Birthday Bonanza DSP!  

I stamped the balloons in Terracotta Tile, Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay, then used the Broadway Lights dies to cut them out.  I heat embossed "Make A" and cut out "Wish", again using Broadway Lights dies.  These were all layered on top of a Stitched Nested Labels die cut and finished off with a few Coastal Cabana Glitter Enamel Dots.

I love it when the DSP can make the card!  With all of those colorful balloons, I didn't have to add much more to complete the card!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Whisper White, Grapefruit Grove, Coastal Cabana, Birthday Bonanza DSP

Ink ~ Terracotta Tile, Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, VersaMark, Memento

Stamp Set ~ Broadway Birthday 

Other Supplies ~ Broadway Lights Dies, Stitched Nested Dies, Glitter Enamel Dots

While I miss some of the things that we are normally doing this time of year, I am LOVING the extra time I have to stamp!  I'm so thankful for this little hobby of mine in times like this.

Happy Stamping!

Friends Forever ~ Monday Montage

Welcome to an all new Monday Montage Blog Hop!  You won't want to miss a single creation from this amazing group of stampers!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend and a beautiful Easter!  Between quarantine life and my hubby's work schedule, we celebrate Easter AND our anniversary on Friday.  It was pretty great!  We had nice weather all last week, but Saturday ended up being a little cooler and windy, which were perfect stamping conditions!  I spent some time in my craft room and finally inked up the adorable Under My Umbrella stamp set and had some fun coloring the images.

I punched out the umbrella with the Umbrella Builder Punch then fussy cut the rest of the images. THIS is why it takes me so long to make one simple card...I feel the need to fussy cut everything!  

Some of my former Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration friends and I still keep in contact and have been having some fun distance creating the past few weeks.  In addition to sending out some fun supplies to create some cards, we also each selected a sketch for each of us to create with.  This card was created based off of a sketch provided by my dear friend Cynthia.  It has been so much fun chatting and creating with them almost daily!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Seaside Spray, Petal Pink, Whisper White

Ink ~ Seaside Spray, Memento, Stampin' Blends: Granny Apple Green, Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, So Saffron

Stamp Set ~ Under My Umbrela

Other Supplies ~ Circle Punch, Layering Circles, Umbrella Builder Punch, Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by today!  Now, on to the next stop on the hop!

Happy Stamping!

We've added a list of everyone's home pages so you can hop along in any order you wish!  Just make sure you don't miss any!

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma <-- You are HERE

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Charlet Mallett - Painted Orange

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc

Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Mountain Air Anniversary

Happy Good Friday stampers!  I hope you have had a fabulous week!  It was our spring break this week, which was full of sunshine and fun at home.  As we wrap up the week, my hubby and I are celebrating our 16th anniversary.  I am not sure where 16 years have gone because it seems like our wedding was just a couple of years ago.  I guess that's what happens when you are having fun!

As soon as I saw the Mountain Air bundle in the Occasions Catalog, I knew it was a must have!  We are a family who loves the outdoors...take us to the beach or the mountains and we are happy campers!  

I used some pretty colors to try to match our Blue Mountains...I think these are pretty close.  The only thing missing is the little bit of snow left up at the top, but that will soon be gone with all of the warm weather we have been having.

The layout for this card came from a fun sketch that my dear friend Cynthia sent me as part of a little "quarantine crafting challenge".  I love the stripes!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Crumb Cake, Balmy Blue, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White

Ink ~ Highland Heather, Mango Melody, Night of Navy, Mossy Meadow

Stamp Sets ~ Mountain Air, Itty Bitty Greetings

Other Supplies ~ Pinewood Planks 3D Embossing Folder, Majestic Mountain Dies

We didn't have any big anniversary plans as we are usually in the midst of baseball this time of year.  We will likely spend the day working in the yard, which we both actually love!  And hopefully on Saturday we can find our way to the mountains for a little hiking...as long as we can find an area that isn't closed.

Have a fantastic Friday!

Happy Stamping!

Easter Wishes

Happy Palm Sunday!  I hope today finds you rested, happy and well!

I finally made my way in to my craft room today and happily stamped a few hours away.  This weeks Freshly Made Sketches  was just the inspirit I needed to get started on an Easter card.

I love these pretty little Crocus flowers!  They are popping up all over town and brightening my daily walks with their cheerful colors!

I added some pretty texture with the Layered Leaves and Subtle 3D embossing folders...just the right amount of texture for these delicate little flowers!  If you have followed me for a while, you know just how much I love to fussy cut...so of course I fussy cut the flowers and sentiment!

I finished the card off with the Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon, which just seems like Easter to me.

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Purple Posey, Whisper White, So Saffron, 2019-2021 In Color DSP

Ink ~ Highland Heather, Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Highland Heather, Daffodil Delight, Purple Posey, Granny Apple Green

Stamp Set ~ Easter Promise

Other Supplies ~ Layering Circle Dies, Layered Leaves 3D Embossing Folder, Subtle Embossing Folder, Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

I hope you are all finding some time to create with your extra time at home!  

Happy Stamping!

#TGIFC258 Color Challenge

Happy Friday stampers!  The crew over at TGIF Challenges has a cheerful Color Challenge for you to play along with this week that you are going to LOVE!
I don't know about you, but I could certainly use some bright and cheerful colors, especially after a week of clouds, wind, rain, hail and snow.  I'm beginning to wonder if Mother Nature has been hit by COVID 19 too!

I absolutely love the March Paper Pumpkin kit!  I paired up No Matter the Weather and FREE Spring Splash stamp sets to make a cheerful card to send out to a dear friend during these dreary times.

I always love some fun stripes, so I created a striped background using Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pool Party and Purple Posey.  The adorable Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder was a pretty close match to the floral pattern in the rainboots...how fun is that?!?!  I stamped the boots in Memento and colored the flowers using the same rainbow of colors that I did for the background.  These colors are bound to cheer anyone up!

Supplies Used:
Paper ~ Whisper White, Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pool Party, Purple Posey

Ink ~ Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, VersaMark, Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pool Party, Purple Posey

Stamp Sets ~ No Matter the Weather, Spring Splash

Other Supplies ~ Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder, Stitch Shapes Dies, Whisper White Bakers Twine

While we have been keeping busy with school and work from home, we are all missing our friends and family and routines so much!  But I am enjoying my afternoon craft time and not feeling so rushed to get things done.  Even in all the chaos, we are doing our best to find joy in everything we do every day.

I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy!

Happy Stamping!