Under The Sea Inspiration

We are headed under the sea for today's TGIF Challenges Inspiration Challenge.  What will you be inspired to create?

I'm super sad that Friendly Fins is on the Last Chance list...it's just so much fun!  I figured I better use this bundle for a last chance creation to play along!

I used the blending brushes to create the under water glow.  Doesn't it feel magical?  The fun reef scene is nothing but paper in fun colors!

I stamped the adorable hammerhead shark and colored him with the Gray Granite Stampin' Blends. A simple Happy Birthday sentiment was stamped in Azure Afternoon.  Which of my ocean loving friends will this card go to?

Don't forget to share your projects with us over at TGIF Challenges.  We always love to see what you create!

Happy Stamping!

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My Artisan Journey

 

The 2026 Artisan Design Team application period is open...have you applied yet?!?  Don't second guess yourself...take the leap and apply!

My Artisan journey began back in 2013 when the team consisted of only US and Canadian demonstrators.  Back then, you had to send in physical projects to Stampin' Up! and they selected 20 finalists.  I didn't make the final cut that year, but that is where my journey truly began! I met so many amazing people that year, many who are still a huge part of my life today.

I applied every year there after for TEN years. TEN years, friends!  I wanted to give up so many times, but thanks to the encouragement from past Artisan's, I kept trying.  In 2024, my efforts paid off and I was selected to be on the team.  A dream come true!  To be selected for a second year this year seemed unreal, but here we are!

As an Artisan, you receive so many amazing products and have the opportunity to share your creativity with people all around the world...it's so awesome!  But my favorite part of being a part of the team is the community and friendships that are built.  

Sure we chat about all things stamping, but there are also so many other conversations about life, kids, work...all the things that build those life long friendships!

Once an Artisan, always an Artisan...this statement couldn't be more true.  It has been so much fun the past two years gathering past and present Artisan's at OnStage events.  This will be something I look forward to every single year from this point forward.

So, if you have ever considered apply for Artisan, do it!  Even if it take you 10 years to make the team, take the leap and apply!

Happy Stamping!

Dashing Dachshund Birthday Wishes

I had a box of fresh, new preorder stamping goodies waiting for me when I got home on Friday, and finally found time dig into them and play along with the latest Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.

If you know me, you know I can't resit anything dog related or any stamped image that I can color...Long Time No See was a must have for me!  This adorable stamp set is coming out next the next Online Exclusives release...you're going to love it!

This cute little doggie reminds me of my own Holly doggie...too cute!  I gave this adorable Dachshund a Lemon Lime Twist and Strawberry Slush sweater.  She looks so cozy!

This fun pattern of Florals in Bloom DSP was the perfect way to add some more Strawberry Slush color to the card, along with a few pops of Lemon Lime Twist to complete the sketch.  I added some lines to the Basic White top, using my trusty Simply Scored Scoring Tool.

Wishing you all a fantastic week!

Happy Stamping!

 

Delightful Mixed Floral Wishes

This weeks Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge is FULL of so much beautiful inspiration!  From beautiful colors to gorgeous photos, there are so many possibilities!

I was drawn to the floral images and shades of pinks and purples...take a look!

I opted for a Fresh Freesia card base, with some Petunia Pop and Bubble Bath accent layers.  I embossed the Fresh Freesia card front with the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder. I stamped an Elements of Text image in Petunia Pop on a piece of Basic White, tearing the edge to add a bit more texture.

Delightful Wishes helped to create the perfect sentiment to go along with the Mixed Florals flowers.  With all of the layers and textures, no extra embellishments were needed!

Join in the fun and play along with us this week!

Happy Stamping!

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Thoughtful Mail It Monday

It's Mail It Monday!!  Join us over on Instagram to see what everyone is mailing out today!

I'm mailing out this Textured Notes beauty today and playing along with this month's  #CreativeChallengeSU. Secret Sea has quickly become my favorite new In Color...my apologies in advance for using it all the time!

Also inspired by the latest Freshly Made Sketches challenge...I just went with a standard card rather than a square.

Elements of Text created the perfect background for the bright foliage in shades of Coastal Cabana and Lemon Lime Twist.

I added a pop of pink with a Strawberry Slush sentiment and a few In Color Flat Pearls.  Loving this color combo!

Happy Stamping!

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Colorful Sunshine Vibes

We made it to Friday...woohoo!  That means it's time for an all new TGIF Challenges Color Challenge!

I had some fun with the stamped images from Sunshine Vibes with this color challenge.  I stamped and fussy cut one of the plant images to give the card a little dimension...what a difference it made!  I love how just one little stepped up element can totally change a card.

The Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder added some awesome texture to the Basic Black card stock.  Don't you love how the Melon Mambo and Lemon Lime Twist add a fun burst of color?

Join along in the fun and play along!

Happy Stamping!

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You Are Loved

 

Happy Monday friends!  It's a Monday Montage week...go check out our InstaHop and see all of the amazing projects the team has created!

Today I am sharing a very special graduation card created to honor a beautiful girl who was taken from this earth far too soon.  

When my dear friend asked me to make this card for her family, in honor of her niece, I knew I wanted to use the doves from the soon to be release Peace on Earth bundle.

I paired these beautiful doves up with the Everyday Arches and Cap & Gown stamp sets. A simple card that is filled with so much honor and love...this is my why for card making.

Wishing you all a Happy Monday!

Happy Stamping!

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Turtle-y Sweet Father's Day

It's time for the latest and greatest Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge!

With Father's Day right around the corner, I made this funny card with the Turtle-y Cute DSP.

As soon as I saw this Turtle chef, I knew I wanted to use him for a Father's Day card. He just makes me smile!

I used a variety of patterns of DSP, along with some Turtle-y Sweet Crushed Curry Two-Tone Cardstock  to play along with this sketch.  I love the Turtle Textures embossing folder!

She's and He's The Greatest stamp sets paired up for the Happy Father's Day greeting.  So much fun! 

Happy Stamping!

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Birthday Vibes

Happy Friday and welcome to the latest TGIF Challenges Inspiration Challenge!

The first thing that caught my eye in the inspiration photo was the rainbow, which immediately had me turning to the new Sunshine Vibes Suite Collection!

I cut this portion of rainbow from the Boho Vibes DSP, stamping a bright and cheerful sunshine at the top.

The Simple Birthday stamp was dressed up with bits and pieces of the Sending Good Vibes sentient from the Sunshine Vibes stamp set.  A few of the accent stamped images and some Muted Palette Dots were the perfect final touches!

Happy Stamping!

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Mountain Fresh Air

I could practically smell the fresh mountain air as I created this card for the latest Mail It Monday.  Scenic Adventure is the bundle for you if you love the great and beautiful outdoors!

Inspired by the latest Freshly Made Challenges Sketch and my favorite view of Mount Saint Helens, this card came to life...layer by layer.

Mountains in shades of Secret Sea and Cloud Cover, a row of Mossy Meadow pine trees, a crisp Azure Afternoon lake, some Granny Apple Green plants and some Blackberry Bliss Thoughtful Journey flowers helped to create this majestic mountain scene. 

Our family gets to enjoy a view like this every summer, surround by friends we call family.  It is our chance to truly just breath and take it slow...something I look forward to every year!

Happy Stamping!

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Friends Are The Family...

It's time for a pretty new Hand Stamped Sentiments Color Challenge! 

I had some fun with some new products for this card!

The You are Remarkable flowers are so pretty stamped in Fresh Freesia and Soft Sea Foam. A Summer Splash card base with a fun Glass & Gardens embossed layer adds a big pop of color.  I added a strip of Fresh Freesia Beautiful Bokeh along with a strip of Soft Sea Foam, stamped tone on tone with the floral image to tie the colors all together. 

 An Around It All circle of Botanical Textures was the perfect background for this bouquet of flowers. I colored the leaves in Soft Sea Foam and added a few Fresh Freesia dots as well. 

I love this sentiment from Pattern of Friendship.  Friends are the family you choose for yourself.  I know just who this card is being sent to!  The Shades of Green Hexagons were perfect the perfect way to finish off this card...just the right amount of bling!

Happy Stamping!

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Pretty Patterned Paper

 

It's time for another Use Your Stash InstaHop! This month we are using Pretty Patterned Paper...and I have TONS in my stash!

I pulled out the True Love DSP to create this pretty Mother's Day card for my very own momma.  I love the classy black and white designs in the pack of paper!

I colored one of the floral images in Petal Pink, as well as a few of the tiny flowers in the background.  With a little help from this weeks Freshly Made Sketches Challenge, I pulled in a bit more Petal Pink.

A stamped sentiment from She's The Greatest and a few Low Profile Dots helped to complete the card.

Follow along over on Instagram to see what everyone else has pulled from their stash!

Happy Stamping!

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She's The Greatest

This week's TGIF Challenges Sketch Challenge was just the inspiration I needed to get a card made for Mother's Day!  Join in the fun and play along!

What do you call a card that uses 3 different stamp sets?  A $100 card!  But that's why we have so many stamp sets...so we can create fun cards like this!  

I stared with the Painted Stripes as my background...which is my new favorite, if you haven't already guessed!  Next I stamped and colored these tiny little flowers from She's The Greatest and tucked them around some Around It All die cut circles from  the Floral Delight DSP.

The larger circles needed a bigger sentiment, so I stamped the Happy Birthday from the Simple Birthday stamp set and fussy cut just the Happy.  I stamped Mother's Day, from She's the Greatest, in Daffodil Delight to complete the sentiment.

A little bit of white twine and some Antique Pearls completed the card.

Wishing all of the momma's out there a Happy Mother's Day this weekend!

Happy Stamping!

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Zipping By with Monday Montage

Happy Monday!  Our Monday Montage crew is back with another fabulous InstaHop!  Head on over to Instagram to see what we have in store this week!

Our very own Wendy and Cheryl visited me this past weekend and we stamped our hearts out!  We swapped and shared our stamps and dies and had the BEST time!

I didn't think I needed the All Zipped Up bundle, but after playing with these fun stamps and dies...well, lets just say they have found their way into my cart!

I cased the online sample of this card, switching out a few elements to make it my own. The Cloud Cover stamp pads might not be available yet, but that's not going to stop me from using the paper.  This color is so pretty and I love it paired up with Darling Ducking and Strawberry Slush!

Isn't the zipper the best?  So super cute!

In addition to visiting some of Wendy and Cheryl's favorite Walla Walla attractions and spending time in the kitchen preparing delicious meals, we spend a lot of time in my craft room.  My heart is happy and full!  Love these friends!

Happy Stamping!

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Thoughtful Hydrangeas

Happy Tuesday and welcome to April's Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge!  There are so many fun images to pull inspiration from...it was hard to choose!

I was most inspired by the hydrangeas and stripes on the beach towel...take a look to see what I came up with!

I created my own striped background by cutting strips of Basic White and Blueberry Bushel.  I love the extra pop of color from the Blueberry Bushel stripes!

I used the hexagon dies from the Meant to Bee dies, using both the solid and outline hexagon shapes in various patterns of Lovely Garden DSP. The hydrangeas were fussy cut and arranged amongst the hexagons.  

The Greetings for All Mix & Match Ephemera Pack made finding the right sentiment so super easy...I love this pack!  A simple little Fresh Fresia Faux Velvet Ribbon and a few Two-Tone Sparkle Gems completed the card.

I hope you'll join along in the fun and share what inspired you to create!

Happy Stamping!

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Freshly Made Cheers & Sips

Happy Mail It Monday!  Today is all about making a card AND mailing it...who will be the lucky recipient of today's card?!? 

With some help from the latest Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and my trusty Paper Snips, these refreshing images from Celebratory Sips helped to create a card that's perfect for the taste-of-summer weather we've been having!

All of the images were snipped from the DSP, except for the sweet and simple sentiment.  If you haven't noticed, I LOVE DSP that has cute images to fussy cut!

The Mini Corrugated 3D embossing folder added some fun texture and a few Strawberry Slush & Pretty In Pink Gems added just the right amount of sparkle!

Who will you making a card for and mailing it to today?

Happy Stamping!