Be Mine Valentine ~ A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop

I don't know about you, but January has been the LONGEST month ever!  I can honestly say that I am so happy to see the end of the month.  Not only are we getting closer to spring, but the end of the month also means an all new A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop!

We're back at it sharing our alternative creations using the January Be Mine, Valentine kit. I look forward to Paper Pumpkin every January because I know it will cover school Valentine's for my youngest!  While I'll be using the kit as intended for his class treats, I had a few pillow boxes left over, which I cut in half to create some mini treat holders for his friends at church too.

The 2x8 cello bags fit perfectly inside the pillow boxes once I cut them in half.  After filling them with some tasty treats, I trimmed off the excess and tied the tag around the top to secure treats.

Stampin' Up! was brilliant to coordinate another kit with a catalog suite!  Animal Expedition is one of my favorite suites!  I used a bit of the Animal Expedition DSP along with some extra tags to create a couple of cute Valentine cards.  These went together so quickly thanks to the punch out pieces!

I hope to see more Paper Pumpkin kits coordinating with our catalog suites.  This helps in creating so many more fun projects!

1.	Sara Levin
2.	Debbie Henderson
3.	Ashley Fifer
4.	Dawn Olchefske
5.	Candy Ford
6.	Melissa Davies
7.	Charlet Mallett
8.	Bree Renwick
9.	Rachel Tessman
10.	Lori Mueller
11.	Kimberley Morris
12.	Audra Monk
13.	Rick Adkins
14.	Pam Staples
15.	Monika Davis
16.	Tiffany Almeida
17.	Melissa Thomas
18.	Dena Rekow
19.	Andrea Tracy-Tucker

(Linkup closed)

I'm so happy you hopped on by today!  Be sure to hop along to all the other participants and see their amazing alternative projects!

Happy Stamping!

Sprinkled With Love

Can you believe it's almost the end of January?!?!  Valentine's Day is quickly sneaking up on us...are you ready?  Hand Stamped Sentiments has a fun inspiration challenge for you this week to get the creativity going and your Valentine's in the mail.

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays to decorate for.  Filling a space with nothing but love just makes my heart happy.  Know what else makes my heart happy?  CUPCAKES!  The cupcakes in our inspiration photo had me turning to the cute Hello Cupcake stamp set that you can earn for
FREE during Sale-A-Bration.  The sprinkles and cupcake toppers are just too cute!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Lovely Lipstick, Whisper White, All My Love DSP

Ink ~ Lovely Lipstick, Flirty Flamingo, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Versa Mark

Stamp Set ~ Hello Cupcake

Other Supplies ~ Layering Circles Framelits, Iridescent Sequins, White Embossing Powder

I piled on the frosting and topped it off with a tiny little heart, then paired the cupcake up with the All My Love DSP.   This creation has me craving cupcakes now!  

The HSS Design Team can't wait to see what you are inspired to create this week!

Happy Stamping!

#tgifc196 Star of the Show - Product Spotlight

Happy Friday stampers!
I'm here with the Star of the Show over at TGIF Challenges!  Designer Series Paper is in the spotlight today.  I don't know about you, but I LOVE all of the amazing DSP Stampin' Up! has to offer...there's a pattern for everyone!

One of my current favorites is the Wood Textures DSP.  I'm love anything with a warm, rustic, farmhouse feel and this DSP has it all!  And speaking of being the Star of the Show, this card is for our amazing TGIF leader Jeanna, who will be celebrating her birthday tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Jeanna!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Soft Sea Foam, Wood Textures DSP

Ink ~ Soft Sea Foam, Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake

Stamp Sets ~ Country Livin', Piece of Cake, Crackle Background 

Other Supplies ~ Layering Circles Framelits, Well Written Framelits, Metallic Pearls, Lace Trim

I first stamped the Crackle Paint background stamp in Soft Sea Foam on the whitewashed Wood Texture pattern and absolutely love how it turned out!  The rest of the card kind of fell in to place after that...love it when that happens.  Of course I had to add some lace and cowboy boots for sweet Jeanna...love ya girl!

Here's to a fabulous Friday and weekend!  I have a day full of basketball on Saturday, but I'm hoping to sneak in a little bit of craft-therapy at some point this weekend.

Happy Stamping!

Sweet Celebration

Hello stampers!  I can't believe it is already Thursday!  Usually the short weeks drag by, but this week has flown by! I've been creating almost every day, but taking the time to sit down and blog just doesn't always happen.  After looking at the pile of finished cards on my desk this morning, I decided it was time to share this sweet and simple card using items from the How Sweet It Is suite.

I LOVE all of the bright and cheerful colors in the DSP...they are guaranteed to make anyone happy!  And did you know the Jar of Sweets Framlits coordinate with some of the DSP images?!?!  SWEET!

I stamped the cute little candy jar and created a fun shaker, similar to the one in the catalog.  The candy dies have some great texture that make them even more awesome!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Whisper White, How Sweet It Is DSP

Ink ~ Gorgeous Grape, Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Smoky Slate

Stamp Set ~ Sweetest Thing

Other Supplies ~ Jar of Sweets Framelits, Metallic Sequins

After stamping the sentiment, I discovered it was a bit too long, so I cut it up and stacked each piece.  Fun, right?!?

Did you notice my card is square?  I have the hardest time straying away from the standard size cards, but always love the end result when I make different size card!  Do you ever make cards in different sizes or shapes?

I hope you all have a great and creative day!

Happy Stamping!

Eat the Cake ~ Monday Montage

Welcome back to Monday Montage!!!  We are back once again another fabulous hop for you to enjoy!  Make sure you click on the links below so you don't miss any of the creations...we promise you will love them all!

I'm STILL creating birthday cards!  The good news is that I'm actually sending them out to family and friends.  And the even better news is that I still have so many more to create, which means a lot more stamping time for me!

Today I have some simple, yet colorful cards to share with you using the fantastic new Amazing Life stamp set, which can be found in the Occasions Catalog.  This set bundles up with the AMAZING Rectangle Stitched Framelits...so COOL!

 I'm normally not a pink and purple kind of gal, but I Flirty Flamingo and Highland Heather got me!  I love these colors paired together and blending them together for a fun ombre cake was so much fun!

And since I NEVER have enough guy friendly cards on hand, after a quick change of colors, I had a card suitable for a great guy!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather, Pool Party, Granny Apple Green, Whisper White

Ink ~ Memento, Stampin' Blends: Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green, Pool Party

Stamp Set ~ Amazing Life

Other Supplies ~ Scattered Sequins Embossing Folder, Iridescent Sequins, Whisper White Bakers Twine

Sometimes adding some color to a simple stamped image is all you need!  But I can't leave it THAT simple...I always have to add a little bling and texture.  One of these days I might get the hang of simple stamping...maybe!

Next stop on the hop is my friend Cathy...I always love all of her awesome creations! Or if you want to hop backwards, you can hop on backwards to the amazingly talented Amy...her stamping style is amazing!  I can't wait to see all of my Monday Montage friends at OnStage in just a little over a week!

Thanks you for stopping by today!

Happy Stamping!

We've added links to all of our home pages as well so you can hop along in any order you'd like!

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma * You are HERE

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots 

Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog

Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn (taking today off)

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

Sunny Days

We made it to Friday!  After what seems like one of the longest weeks EVER, I am so ready for the weekend.  And it just so happens to be a long holiday weekend for me...HOORAY!  I see some good stamping time in my future :-)

Our valley has been blanketed in fog and clouds for the past week, but we finally had a break this morning and actually got to see some blue skies and sunshine.  I don't know how long we'll be blessed with this sunshine, so I thought I'd make a little sunshine that I can set on my desk to help keep me happy.

Being the beach lover that I am, Beach Happy was a must have set for me!  I love the stripy beach chair and umbrella!  

Supplies:

Paper ~ Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Crushed Curry

Ink ~ Smoky Slate, Poppy Parade, Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Stamp Set ~ Beach Happy

Other Supplies ~ Tropical Elements, Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread, Iridescent Sequins

What big plans do you have for the weekend?  I hope that whatever you may be doing that it involves some creativity!

Happy Stamping!

Hey Love, Happy Birthday

January has been a busy birthday month for our family and February is full of birthday's too!  I've been trying to work ahead on my birthday cards this year s I actually get them out on time to our family members.  So far so good...on the 17th day of the year. 

Our nephew is turning ONE in a few weeks and the adorable little crocodile {or is it an alligator?} from Hey Love was just right for his birthday card. I love, love, LOVE all of the images from this stamp set!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Balmy Blue, Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink ~ Balmy Blue, Old Olive, Real Red

Stamp Sets ~ Hey You, Amazing Life

Other Supplies ~ Old Olive Linen Thread, Oh My Starts EF, Polka Dot Basics EF, Simple Stripes EF

It was fun to cut out different pieces of embossing card stock to create the fun patchwork background for this card.  It reminded me of one of my boys' baby books they used to love.  It was a touch and feel book with different textures, much like what I created with the embossing folders!  

I'm hoping to get in some more stamping this weekend since I have a 3 day weekend.  My busy boys like to keep me busy running them all over the place, but I'm determine to set aside some time to stamp!

Desert Colors ~ HSSCC#306

The Hand Stamped Sentiments design team is back with an all new color challenge for all of you to play along with.  I absolutely love these colors together and can't wait to see what everyone creates with it!

Stampin' Up! has a big win in my book for the amazing new Flowering Desert stamp set. Cacti seem to be popping up all over in the world of home decor and I LOVE them!  This color challenge had me reaching for this beautiful new stamp set as well as First Frost.  I am so excited this stamp set will carry over to the Annual Catalog!  Sometimes the least unexpected stamp sets pair up so well together.

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Mossy Meadow, Fresh Fig, Whisper White

Ink ~ Mossy Meadow, Fresh Fig, Petal Pink

Stamp Sets ~ First Frost, Flowering Desert, *

Other Supplies ~ Stitched Rectangle Framelits, Frosted Bouquet Framelits

*I can't remember which stamp set I pulled this birthday sentiment from!  I need to go through my sets and look, but maybe you can all help me out!  Which set is this sentiment from?!?!

Do you ever pair up stamp sets that may not seem like they will work together?  Give it a try sometime!  It's a fun way to push your creativity and you'll be surprised at what you can create.

I hope your week is off to a great start!

Happy Stamping!

All Geared Up for #tgifc194 Sketch Challenge

Woohoo...it's Friday!  This has felt like the longest week ever!  Coming back after two weeks off and trying to get back in the swing of things has proven to be tough, but I made it!
We're kicking off the weekend with a great new TGIF Challenges sketch.  I can't wait to see all of the fabulous creations made with this!

My dad celebrated his 65th birthday last week and the all new Classic Garage suite would be perfect for his card.  My dad loves going to our annual car show with my boys and loves the old Chevy Bel Airs.  I was so excited to find this car in the amazing Classic Garage DSP.  Fussy cutting is my jam, so I cut out every single car from one of the sheets of DSP.  Watch for more fun creations to come!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Basic Black, Basic Gray, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Classic Garage DSP

Ink ~ Basic Gray, Real Red

Stamp Set ~ Geared Up Garage

Other Supplies ~ Garage Gears Thinlits, Classic Garage Metal Elements, Layering Circles Framelits, Basic Black Bakers Twine

I love the grungy background stamp in this set.  And the Thinlits in this set are so cool, especially the gears!  I always love a good masculine set and I'm really hoping this one sticks around!

I did give this card to my dad last weekend and he loved it!  He's a pretty classic guy!

Have a fantastic weekend! 

Happy Stamping!

Just Fur You

Hello stampin' friends!  I have managed to survive my first few days back at work after being off for two weeks.  It's never easy coming back, but it is nice to get back in to a routine.  But I don't lie...I'm counting the days until Spring Break!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE my doggies!  So you can imagine just how happy I was to see the adorable new doggie stamp set and coordinating punch!  The sweet pup reminds me of our lab that we lost a couple months ago, which is one of the main reasons I love this bundle so much.  I am working on a little scrapbook page for my boys in memory of our sweet boy, Koda.  

This cute card is going out to a sweet boy who lost his pup over Winter Break.  I am hopeful that it will bring a little smile to his sweet face!

Supplie Used: 

Paper ~ Basic Black, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Whisper White

Ink ~ Memento, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray

Stamp Set ~ Happy Tails

Other Supplies ~ Dog Builder Punch, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Pinewood Planks EF, Polka Dot Basics EF

Aren't the little paw prints and bones the cutest?!?  And I love the dog house.  This cute little doggie reminds me of my BFF's dog, Juniper.  The scruffy hair and little spots are just about in the exact same spots...too cute!  Now if we can just get some more dog stamps that look like my other pups!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I still have lots more to share from my creating over break, so be sure to check back again soon!

Happy Stamping!

Birthday Statements ~ Monday Montage 130

Welcome back to Monday Montage!!!  We are back once again another fabulous hop for you to enjoy!  Make sure you click on the links below so you don't miss any of the creations...we promise you will love them all!

After taking some time off to enjoy the holiday's with family and friends, we are excited to be back to share some of our latest creations with all of you!  With the 2019 Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogs just released this week, you are in for a great hop today!

I'm at the end of my two week Winter Break and I was able to enjoy a lot of stamping time!  I sat down with our list of family birthday's and tried to get as many of those cards made so I had a good head start on things for the year.  I have a couple of those cards to share with you today, using the beautiful Birthday Statements stamp set. If you love to color, this set is for you!

I love, love, love my Stampin' Blends, so they were my go-to coloring tools for these cards.  

The Sale-A-Bration Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack and black and white side of the Botanical Butterfly DSP paired up perfectly with these images.

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Basic Black, Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink ~ Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Balmy Blue, Highland Heather, Calypso Coral Pineapple Punch, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Old Olive

Stamp Set ~ Birthday Statements

Other Supplies ~ Organdy Ribbon Combo Pack

I was going to add the additional little sentiments that go along with these bigger stamped images, but decided I liked them just as they were!  I hope you do too!

Next stop on the hop is my friend Cathy...I always love all of her awesome creations! Or if you want to hop backwards, you can hop on backwards to the amazingly talented Amy...her stamping style is amazing!  I can't wait to see all of my Monday Montage friends at OnStage in just a little over a week!

Thanks you for stopping by today!

Happy Stamping!

We've added links to all of our home pages as well so you can hop along in any order you'd like!

Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma * You are HERE

Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots 

Julie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! Blog

Kaitlyn Zumbach - Create with Kaitlyn (taking today off)

Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations

You're Not Old...

Hello friends!  I don't have new products to share with you today, but I do have a RAD birthday card to share!  When your brother-in-law turns 40 a few weeks before you do, you have to rub it in a bit :D  Happy Birthday Neal!

I don't know why I waited so long to purchase this stamp set!  I am loving it versatility...it's perfect for all age groups!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Lemon Lime Twist, Smoky Slate, Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White, Velum

Ink ~ Lemon Lime Twist, Smoky Slate, Blueberry Bushel

Stamp Set ~ Free Cake

Other Supplies ~ Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Sunburst Punch, Embossing Paste, Pattern Party Decorative Masks

When I cleaned my craft room out a few days ago, I unearthed my Embossing Paste.  I forgot how much fun this stuff is!  It was the perfect addition to this card.

I'm off to get in a bit more stamping before I get ready for my stamp class tonight.  I can't wait to share all of the new Occasions and Sale-A-Bration items with my favorite stamping friends!

Happy Stamping!

Freshly Made Butterfly Gala

Today is the day!!!  The 2019 Occasions Catalog is here and it's time for Sale-A-Bration too!   If you haven't received your catalog yet, be sure to let me know so I can get one to you!

This weeks Freshly Made Sketches challenge was not one I could pass up!  I had a hard time deciding which stamp set to use for this sketch...it brought so many ideas to mind! You can guarantee that I'll be using this sketch for a few more creations.

I did finally decide on Butterfly Gala and the beautiful Botanical Butterfly DSP. I love that Stampin' Up! has paired Occasions Catalog items with Sale-A-Bration items.  And this DSP...it makes me swoon!  I love the colorful images on one side with the bold black and white images on the other.

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Grapefruit Grove, Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist, Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink ~ Memento

Stamp Set ~ Butterfly Gala

Other Supplies ~ Butterfly Duet Punch, Gingham Gala Adhesive-Backed Sequins, Layering Circles Framelits, Tufted Embossing Folder

Did you know you can take this beautiful DSP...

...and use the Butterfly Duet Punch to punch out the beautiful butterflies?

Don't be afraid to cut up or punch out your DSP!!!  The creative possibilities are endless!

I couldn't let these pretty little things go to waste, so I made a second card!

I'm enjoying the last couple days of my winter break and getting in as much stamping time as I possibly can! Keep on checking back as I have lots of new, and old, things to share with you!

Happy Stamping!

Thinking of You

Only one more day until the 2019 Occasions Catalog is released!!!  Are you all as excited as I am?!?!  This catalog is AMAZING and you are going to love EVERYTHING in it!  And guess what?!?!  There's a bonus to wanting everything in the Occasions Catalog!  When you spend $50, you will earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration item between January 3 - March 31, 2019.  How awesome is that?  Be sure to check back here frequently over the next few days to see some fun creations with new items from both the Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogs.

Today I'm sharing a card made with the Just Because hostess stamp set.  This one caught my eye during OnStage and it was one that I knew I had to add to my collection. I love the simplicity of it!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Night of Navy, Whisper White

Ink ~ Night of Navy, Memento, Stampin' Blends:  Cajun Craze, Old Olive

Stamp Set ~ Just Because

Other Supplies ~ Layered Leaves Embossing Folder, Night of Navy 1/2" Gingham Ribbon

One of my former co-workers lost her sweet dad right before Christmas.  I was so sad to hear this as I often made cards for his birthday and other special occasions, as well as cards for him to give to his friends.  It is never easy to lose a parent, no matter how old they might be.  I hope this card brings a little happiness into my friends day and lets her know that I'm thinking about her.

I'll be back tomorrow to share more new items, so don't forget to stop by again!

Happy Stamping!

New Year Wedding Wishes ~ HSSSC#305

Happy New Year!!!  

Welcome to 2019 and an all new Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge!  We're starting the year off with a great new sketch for you to play along with!

What better way to start the New Year off than with a brand new marriage?!?!  A very special couple was married on Sunday and today's card was created just for them.

In going through my DSP collection, I was so happy to find that this pattern from Share What You Love DSP paired up so well with the new Piece of Cake stamp set, which will be available in the Occasions Catalog on January 3rd.

Who doesn't love a stamp set that comes with a coordinating punch?!?!  This bundle was too cute to pass up!  There are so many fun and delicious looking cakes in this stamp set, along with some fun cake toppers and sentiments.  This will be a must have for everyone!

Supplies Used:

Paper ~ Whisper White, Petal Pink, Soft Sea Foam, Velum

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

Stamp Set ~ Piece of Cake

Other Supplies ~ Cake Builder Punch, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Sunburst Punch, Frosted Bouquet Framelits, Leaf Punch, White Embossing Powder

I hope the New Year brings many new blessings into your life and lots of stamping fun times as well!

Happy New Year and Happy Stamping!