Sunflowers and Rattlesnakes…Yep, It’s Summertime!

Hello Friends,

I’m back again today with another one of my favorite new bundles from the Stampin’ Up! ’20-’21 Annual Catalog!  Celebrate Sunflowers.  It’s part of the Flowers For Every Season Suite as well, which you’re going to want if you’re like me and gotta have it all!  

Sunflowers just shout Summertime but certainly stretch into Fall making them so versatile.  They’re such a cheery flower.

Celebrate Sunflowers includes a large image of a sunflower with dies to match.  I love BIG rubberstamps that make a statement on their own, and this one certainly fits the bill! Continue reading “Sunflowers and Rattlesnakes…Yep, It’s Summertime!”

Masculine colors and images for fast and easy masculine cards

Do You Struggle With Masculine Cards, Too? World Of Good To The Rescue!

Hello Friends,

As I mentioned in my last post, masculine cards are always more difficult for me to come up with ideas for.  Perhaps because so many of the stamp sets I own are floral or just seem more feminine in nature.  I also like to dress up my cards with embellishments, i.e. ribbons, gems, etc.  Again, making them feel more girly.  However, Stampin’ Up has knocked it out of the park with the new World of Good Suite.   The colors are more “earthy” tones perfectly befitting of a masculine card.

My husband and I love to travel, so this set speaks to me from that aspect as well.  I foresee some scrapbook pages happening in my future also!  I can’t wait to play with these products more!

However, I needed another Father’s Day card, and I needed it FAST!

By now, if you follow my blog, you know my absolute favorite product for FAST cards!  Yep, the Memories & More Card Pack!  The World of Good Card Pack didn’t let me down either.  As with all of the M&M Card Packs, the cards are in two sizes, the smaller cards are double-sided, some with foil accents, some with sentiments pre-printed, and there are four sheets of card-stock stickers also included.  Shall I say… perfect for a fast masculine card!

A quick look through the stack of cards, I found the sentiment I wanted, added a few of the stickers,  the metal Antiqued Corners (also part of the suite), and lickety-split, I had a gorgeous card ready for giving!  Love it!!

Continue reading “Do You Struggle With Masculine Cards, Too? World Of Good To The Rescue!”

Fishing Memories on Father’s Day

Hello Friends,

I’m sorry for the long absence!  After our broken pipe and flooded craft room, it’s been a whirlwind of work around here getting things put back together over the last three weeks.  But, the work is now done and I am happily settled back into my room.  Let’s just say… it’s good to be back!

Today I want to share with you the card I made for my dad for Father’s Day.  I don’t know why I struggle so with masculine cards, but I’ve heard from others that I’m not alone.  Thankfully, Stampin’ Up does have some wonderful products for these occasions which makes it easier! Continue reading “Fishing Memories on Father’s Day”

How To Make A 5-Minute Card

Hello Friends,

I’m back today with another 5-minute card made with the Flowers For Every Season Memories & More Card Pack.  When I need a quick card that looks gorgeous, the Memories & More Card Packs have become my go-to staple item.  I used to basically dismiss these card packs.  I’d get them included with the product suites that I ordered, but they went in a drawer with barely a glance.  However, I was cleaning out that drawer not too long ago and took a better look at what was in them.  That’s when I really discovered the beauty of these fantastic cards.  There are two sizes included with each card pack, 4 x 6″ and 3″ x 4″, all double-sided, some with sentiments pre-printed and others just beautiful designs.  Most have several sheets of matching cardstock stickers included also.  As with all Stampin’ Up products, they coordinate perfectly with Stampin’ Up cardstock, inks, markers, etc.

With the busy schedule we’ve been keeping in recent days, I wanted a quick project to share today, and again reached for Memories & More! Continue reading “How To Make A 5-Minute Card”

Dressed To Impress – Bold As My Lipstick

Hello Friends!

Today’s card inspiration came to me when I was getting dressed for a graduation party yesterday.  I generally don’t wear much in terms of lipstick, a little gloss and I’m good to go.  However, the shirt I was wearing was brightly colored and as I was putting my make-up on, I thought perhaps some lipstick would be in order.  Well, let’s just say it was a little brighter than I’d remembered!  I did the good ol’ toilet paper blot, but nope, it was there to stay.  It was then that the sentiment from “Dressed To Impress” came to mind.  “Be As Bold As Your Lipstick”  With that thought in mind, I boldly went forth!!!

When we got home from the party, that stamp set came out and today’s card was born!  I chose to keep it clean and simple, letting the color and sentiments make the statement! Continue reading “Dressed To Impress – Bold As My Lipstick”

If You Have A Thing For Pretty Paper – This One’s For You!

Hello Friends,

Today’s post is all about PAPER!

I just wanted to give y’all a quick heads-up that I’m offering a “paper share” of the ’20-’21 Stampin’ Up Annual Catalog Designer Series Papers, AND the coordinating colors of cardstock that go with each collection.  This paper share will include a 6″ x 6″ sampling of all the new Designer Series Papers in the new catalog, 168 pieces; AND two 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ card bases in each of the coordinating colors of cardstock for each collection, 136 pieces!

That’s a whopping 304 pieces of quality Stampin’ Up DSP and cardstock!!

Continue reading “If You Have A Thing For Pretty Paper – This One’s For You!”

Birds & Branches – Saving Baby Bird

Hello Friends,

The last few days have been busy, busy, busy as we clean up from our broken pipe and flooding mess.  I’ve barely been able to play with my new toys ordered from Stampin’ Up during the demonstrator preorder period, prior to the new catalog going LIVE yesterday!  Have you had a chance to make your wish list yet?  If you’re anything like me, the list is LONG… so many “gotta have its” between the front and back covers!  I have to remember to slow down… stretch the orders out a little bit…. the catalog and products within are available for a whole year – no need to blow my budget out of the water all at once!  Hmm… that wasn’t meant to be a pun, but with our flooding issues, I suppose it could be taken that way!! 🙂

One of the new bundles I ordered during the preorder period was “Birds & Branches”.  I love birds.  How boring would our skies be if it weren’t for birds?  Their early-morning chirping is generally what awakens me every morning.  A couple days ago, I had the perfect inspiration for today’s card.  As soon as the story unfolded, as told below, I knew my “Birds & Branches” stamp set and dies recently received from the new catalog, would be pulled out and put to use immediately!

As noted in my previous post, we had a little incident with water when a pipe in our wall broke and flooded my craft room.  Yesterday Dean was extremely busy, occupied all day replacing all of the plumbing in our house in order to prevent future similar incidents.   I was helping him as I was able (a plumber I’m not), but as evening approached, I went down to the horse stables to care for my horses.   As I stepped out into Ace’s outside run to clean, I noticed something laying on the ground.  It was a baby bird.  It appeared to have fallen out of it’s nest.  It was still alive, though moving very weakly, and was terribly cold.  I picked it up and held it against my body for warmth.

Continue reading “Birds & Branches – Saving Baby Bird”

Serene Bliss to Oh My!

Hello Friends,

My husband, Dean, and I just returned from a camping trip to Howard Prairie Reservoir where it was absolutely beautiful.  The landscape there in the high mountain forest is so beautiful and serene.  The smells of the warm pine forest are so, so good.  We went a few days after Memorial Day in order to miss the crowd.  We succeeded in that… we were the only ones in the campground!  It was rather idyllic.

We did quite a bit of hiking around, taking pictures of scenery and butterflies.  It became a quest to see how many different species of butterflies/moths we could get good pictures of!  I’ve yet to sort through the butterfly pictures, so I’ll save those for another post.  It’s rather amazing how many pictures one can take with the camera set to “sports” mode.  Click, click, click in rapid succession and BOOM!  Just like that you’ve got 500+ pictures to sort through!  Thank goodness for digital cameras right?!

Continue reading “Serene Bliss to Oh My!”