In Color Thank You

I had a workshop over a week ago, and just now I made the Thank Yous (of course, I mean, it would be unlike me to have some ready to go! I am always running behind!!) Anyway, the workshop was with some really loyal customers, so I wanted to send them a Thank You card using new catalog items. I don't have much yet, but I do have Teeny Tiny Wishes and the cardstock. (I ordered Circle Circus, but it is STILL on backorder!) Here are two I came up with!

In Color #1
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper WHite
DSP: None
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, polka dot Rich Razzleberry ribbon

In Color #2
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Kraft, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Whisper WHite
DSP: None
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, polka dot Crushed Curry ribbon

Obviously, these are very similar cards, but I like how just swapping one color makes a total difference in how they look! I also made one that is Razzleberry, Curry, and Dusty Durango - very fall-like and earthy! (sorry, no photo of that one).

I am also going to use these cards as Make-N-Takes at my upcoming catalog kick off. I think it's a great way to get guests to use and see all the In Color cardstocks and play around with matching them up!

Summer Birthdays

I was always jealous of summer birthdays as a kid. I mean, they get to have outdoor parties - the pool! - and the weather isn't cold and during school they get a special day even though it ISN'T their birthday. Much nicer than fall birthdays. Half the time it's snowing on my Nov. 7 birthday. Yuck!!

Anyway, end-of-June sent 2 birthdays my way: Mother-in-Law and friend Andrea. Here are the cards I made for them.

Mother-in-Law
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Kraft, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red, Pink Pirouette
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon

I love Upsy Daisy and I tried some "rock and roll" technique on it this time. I'm not 100% crazy about how it turned out... I think generally it looks better when the colors are closer together in shade. Maybe if I did Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette, then it'd look more blended...? Anyway, I love how the sentiment in Upsy Daisy fits right in there above the flowers. :)

Friend Andrea
Stamp Set: The More The Merrier, On Your Birthay
Cardstock: Kraft, Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
DSP: None! Can you believe it?
Stamp Pads (Classic): None, but I did use a Stazon and the new In-Color markers
Accessories/Tools: In-Color markers, Large Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Finally! I got to use my Sneak Peek items. I ordered them a while ago, and rush-shipped them for some reason, but only just got to use them now. I am still considering the new In-Colors. I like them, don't love them. IMO, nothing will be as good as Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, and Pink Pirouette! I'm sure I'll use those colors even in their retirement. Anyway, Andrea loves cupcakes, so I thought it only fitting to use this stamp for her birthday card. And who doesn't love the fact that there are now In-Color markers? Sure made coloring in these babies easier!

I'm off to Kansas this weekend... hope I don't melt!

Happy Father's Day!

I have 3 dads in my life: my dad, my stepdad, and my father-in-law. I sat down to make their cards yesterday.... now I'm realizing they will probably be late (I have to mail to SoDak and Kansas). Hope they don't mind!

For Dad
Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Cardstock: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
DSP: Good Morning Sunshine
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun, Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pen, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Horizontal Slot, Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon, Chatter rub-ons

My dad likes beer. A lot. So this is so fitting. I wrote Happy Father's Day inside the card with a little note. I'm SO dissappointed the Rub-On doesn't show up too well (not even in person!) Guess I should have done it inside on the Kraft or on a different color and mounted it on there.

For StepDad
Stamp Set: Cheers to You
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Whisper White
DSP: Walk in the Park
Stamp Pads (Classic): Summer Sun, Stazon
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pen, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon

Notice a theme? My stepdad also likes beer! I put 2 on his card to joke about our recent trip to Chicago.... BOGO beers at happy hour!

For Father-in-Law
Stamp Set: All Holidays
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Whisper White
DSP: Urban Garden
Stamp Pads (Classic): Basic Gray
Accessories/Tools: Paper Piercer, Kiwi Kiss ribbon

Yes, this design is a total ripoff of my monogram cards I made, but I like how it looks with this bold sentiment. I couldn't figure out what else to do with it! And this paper is so masculine and dad-ish.

Now I best be off to the post office to get these in the mail! More tomorrow (or the next day!)

Top Note Photo Card

I have a workshop this Saturday for Stephanie, and she specifically asked me to come up with a photo card we could make. I thought and thought and thought about it for hours. I kept thinking about photo cards at like Target or Snapfish that you get for Christmas where the photo slides in and out of a pocket. I couldn't figure out how to make that pocket. Then, da-da-da-dun!, Big Shot to the rescue. Here's what I came up with:

Photo Card
Stamp Set: Great Friend
Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White
DSP: Walk in the Park
Stamp Pads (Classic): So Saffron, Regal Rose
Accessories/Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die, 5/8" Rose Red ribbon

All I did was cut the DSP to 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 (same as one "face" of the card) then run it through the Big Shot using Top Note. Then I basically assembled it like a scrapbook. The photo *can* come out of the card (I only affixed tape on the very edges of the DSP), but I taped a butterfly on it, so now it won't! I also decorated the inside with the leaf branch from Great Friend and added the XOXOXO sentiment from Fundamental Phrases.

I hope Steph likes it! I also hope it's easy enough for new stampers to make, yet fun and different enough for experienced (it's a mixed group). Anyway, thanks for looking! Oh, and for those curious, the photo is my husband and me at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum last summer.

School's Out!

I feel sheepish! It's been almost a month since my last post again. ACK! Maybe now that school is out I can focus on stamping (which needs to happen or I'll lose all my customers!) and getting my creations up on my blog (which needs to happen or I'll lose all my readers!)

Anyway, yesterday was the last day of school and I made all the teachers (5 of them) I work with a monogram gift set. I'm so mad, though! I forgot to take pictures of them. Drat! I have to say, they turned out pretty. I used different DSP for each one, and I couldn't decide which one was the prettiest! (which is fitting, I guess, if you think of your cards like kids.... you love them all equally but differently!)

So aside from that stamp-a-thon, I have only made a few thank you cards here and there. This one is my favorite! I will miss, miss, miss my Baja Breeze! It's by far the most used ink EVER in my collection. I hope I love the new In-Colors as much. (I have them already, thanks to the preorder, and I'm still on the fence. I need to USE them to love them, I think).

Trendy Trees Thanks
Stamp Set: Trendy Trees
Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White, Baja Breze
DSP: Sweet Slumber Specialty
Stamp Pads (Classic): So Saffron, Ruby Red, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, 5/8" So Saffron ribbon (from SAB)

This weekend DH and I are off to Chicago to see the Twins play the Cubs at Wrigley Field. My first trip to Wrigley! I'm so excited. I'll post some creations next week. Summer vacation is the best!! :)