Stampin’ Fancy Friday - Regals Challenge

This month the Stampin’ Fancy Friday Team is all about Regals … you know those rich and lovely colors??? Yep! That’s where we live this month!

Crisp and crunchy fall leaves … and the colors and smells of fall … are my favorite!!

I stamped and diecut leaves in four colors using the Gathering Moments Bundle. I used four of Stampin’ Up’s Regals - Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry.

After stamping and diecutting the leaves I crunched them all up … literally! I wanted to make them look like they had been plucked right out of a pile of leaves from my back yard!

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I complimented the crunchy leaves with 

some 3/8” Irregular Weave Trim and LOTS of splattering … I used all four colors!

I also added a few Low Profile Sparkle Dots and roughed up the edges of the splattered piece of cardstock to finish it off.

Stamps: Gathering Moments

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, Crushed Curry

Ink: Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze (both ink pads and Stampin’ Blends)

Accessories: Gathering Moments Dies, 3/8” Irregular Weave Trim, Low Profile Sparkle Dots

I went on a beautiful 6-mile hike with a friend this morning … we watched the sun come up over the mountains and it was simply gorgeous!! 

Check out all the fun things created by the Stampin’ Fancy Friday Challenge Team on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/stampinfancyfriday/!!!

TGIF Challenge #539 - Inspiration

This week’s TGIF Challenge is one of inspiration … see the pretty pink skies??? What does it make you think of??

Honestly, I love me a good sunrise or sunset … up in the mountains, down on a beach, I’m IN!

Check out the blog challenge here - TGIF Challenge Blog if you’d like to play along.

I started this background off by masking it with a cutout I made using one of the Everyday Arches Dies. Starting at the bottom I sponged first some Melon Mambo, followed by Pretty in Pink and Bubble Bath (from bottom to top). 

The rest was super simple. I stamped some of the foliage images from Textured Notes and then borrowed a seagull from Sunrise Sailing to balance out the sky.

Lastly, I made a little sentiment tag using one of the sentiments from Textured Notes and a bit of White Embossing Powder. Added a few Low Profile Sparkle Dots and a scrap of ribbon and I was done!

What do you think? The lighting is making the Misty Moonlight lean a little more to black, but I like it anyway!

Stamps: Textured Notes, Sunrise Sailing

Paper: Basic White, Misty Moonlight, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Versamark, Misty Moonlight, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Bubble Bath

Accessories:  Perennial Postage Dies, Everyday Arches Dies, White 3/8” Frayed Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Low Profile Sparkle Dots

Heading on a girl’s trip with my bestie this weekend … where else?? Disneyland!! Woot! Woot!! It’s a birthday tradition (we both have August birthdays!)

We’d love to have you play along!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

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TGIF Challenge #505 - Thank You!

Christmas kicked my trash HARD this week! So I am late for this week’s TGIF Challenge Hop … but I finally had the wherewithal to make something today. YAY ME!!

I am especially feeling grateful for family, friends and all my blessings right now. Spending time with those I love for the holidays just filled my cup to the brim! This week’s challenge is particularly fitting since we are making “thank yous”.

Anyone who has been following me for a while (especially for a loooong while!) knows of my affinity for all things butterfly. When I saw this new Beautiful Butterflies Bundle (with stamps, dies and embossing folder) I nearly lost my mind! So happy I got to play with it!

I think the main diecut is designed to work with a horizontal card primarily, but I flipped it vertically …. then added layers of diecut/embossed butterflies above and below the actual card layer (I put a plain, white, flat piece of cardstock cut in the shape of the butterfly underneath the fancy one on the outside so there was room to write a message!).

See what it looks like opened up?? Everything about this bundle deserves an A+!!

Stamps: Beautiful Butterflies

Paper: Basic White, Basic Black, Peach Pie

Ink: Black Memento

Accessories: Beautiful Butterflies Dies, Beautiful Butterflies 3D Embossing Folder, Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Gems, Black & Very Vanilla 3/8” Large Checked Ribbon

I’m headed to the movie theater with my daughter in law to see Wicked (finally!)! She’s seen it twice already … I am super excited!

We’d love to have you play along … and look forward to the next 500 challenges!! You can check us out our blog HERE and Instagram … lots of great inspiration from the rest of the TGIF Crew!

Monday Montage #202

Why do the weekends seem to be over before they have actually even started?? I'm not quite sure ... but I think I need one more weekend! I am happy that I had some time to play with my crafty things and get some relaxing creative time. We have had the most lovely and long fall (something we did NOT get last year). It's starting to get colder ... I think we will have snow before too long!

I don't often go "muted" with my color schemes, but having started with the understated but beautiful Bloom Where You're Planted DSP, I was really feeling the vibe. Since green is my favorite color, using Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen with some Gray Granite helped me achieve exactly the feel I was going for.

Stamps: Biggest Wish

Paper: Gray Granite, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, Bloom Where You're Planted DSP

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Ornate Frames Dies, Sunflowers Dies, Clear and Frosted Epoxy Droplets, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Whisper White Baker's Twine

I love layers and textures all kind of mashed together ... and I have been using more and more Whisper White Embossing Powder over Versamark this year ... love cutting around the sentiment on colored cardstock to add a little bit of a "pop" to the overall card.

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Cathy Casey - Sugar Shack Designs
Charlet Mallet - Painted Orange
- NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Cheryl Curtis - Pomp and Sustenance
- NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK

Dani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful Corner 

Elizabeth Price - Seeinginkspots

Emily Kimmey - EMK Creations

Julie Warnick - Creating on the Run 
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc 

 Click "Next" to see Bree Renwick... and "Back" to visit Melissa Stout!! Their creations are stellar!!

Freaky & Grateful

'Tis the Season of Gratitude and the Control Freaks are ready to roll!! I feel even more grateful than usual this year ... which is odd because in August I was "freaking" out about how close the holiday were ... and I was NOT on board for it!! Bring it on, now! Did you see what my BFF Bree Renwick posted? We got to hang out last weekend and it was FANTASTIC! She really is one of my favorite people on the planet! 

I borrowed the Gorgeous Leaves Stamps and Dies from my friend Cheryl.  And when I cleaned up my craft space today with EVERY intention of using the stamps and dies I came to the painful realization that I could only find ONE die (which I used recently) and the clear plastic envelope it comes in ... and I have looked EVERYwhere! Dang it!! Hope it shows up soon!

I stamped the leaf images in Versamark and then embossed with some Whisper White embossing powder.  THEN I pulled out my lovely Stampin' Blends and commenced to coloring ...

I started in the center with Daffodil Delight, then added some Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze and then a hint of Soft Suede at the tips.  I love how easily I was able to "swirl" the colors around until I got just the look I wanted! I love fall the most!

Stamps: Gorgeous Leaves, Many Messages
Paper: Whisper White, Bloom Where You're Planted DSP, Vellum

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso; Stampin' Blends - Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede

Accessories: Messages Dies, Fine Art Ribbon, Linen Thread, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Metallic Pearls

This one I did really quick ... I saw what I wanted to do in my head, then I just did it (which almost NEVER happens!

I cut a 1" strip of Expressions in Ink DSP and scored it every 1/2" inch.  I then made an accordion fold with it and stuck it to my card under some more Fine Art Ribbon.

You GUYS!! The Stitched Greenery Die is EVERYTHING!! It makes the purdiest background EVER! LoveLoveLove!

Stamps: Biggest Wish
Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Expressions in Ink DSP

Ink: Cajun Craze, Bumblebee, Cinnamon Cider

Accessories: Scalloped Contours Dies, Stitched Greenery Die, Fine Art Ribbon, Metallic Pearls (I freakin' love these things, too!

I'm still wearing one shoe with the back cut out of it ... my dang body is still rejecting the internal stitches on one part of the incision the doc created when I had my surgery (at least that is the theory now). And of course, because I am a "special snowflake" my doc says he's never seen anyone with only PART of their incision being reactive ... sigh ... but I'm trying!! I'm doing some more Prednisone ... which I do NOT love ... but hoping it continues to improve things!

Next up? Melissa Stout! The Stampin' Doc is IN!!

Gratitude - Freakin' Thankful!

I'm back playing with the Control Freaks again!! I am the one that makes the schedule and gets everyone all lined up ... and last month I totally and COMPLETELY spaced it!! I was a whole day behind myself (at least in my brain I was!)!! Happy to report that I actually remembered this month ... AND had my cards done a day in advance to boot!! YAY ME!! Did you just come from the blog of the cleverly-talented Connie Babbert??? She is gonna cost me money, that woman!! I saw a different card on her FB page earlier today that made me CERTAIN I need a bundle that I didn't even hardly register in my brain until I saw her card ... always SOMEthing incredible coming out the ends of her fingers, that's for sure!

 

I used the "Arrange a Wreath" stamp set and the Wreath Builder dies to NOT make a wreath. I wanted to evoke a "leaf storm" ... I love walking through the canyon by my house and have the leaves come falling down as I walk on by.  I love the sights, smells and colors. My most FAVORITE time of the year for SURE!! I took three little pieces of the Braided Linen Trim and BRAIDED them together to make the little accent rope.

Stamps: Arrange a Wreath
Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Bumblebee, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Cinnamon Cider, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow, 
Accessories: Wreath Builder Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Subtle Embossing Folder, 3/16" Braided Linen Trim

Here is my version of a "fall picnic".  I was really struggling with what to do with the pumpkin border image I had created once I had finished coloring it.  Then I remembered the Buffalo Check background ... PERFECT! It just seems to be the best compliment sometimes. I cut another piece of the Braided Lined Trim for this card ... and kind of pulled it apart to give it a whole different look. I am really drawn to all of the natural fibers when it comes to ribbon and trim!

Stamps: Celebration Tidings, Buffalo Check
Paper: Very Vanilla, Mossy Meadow, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzazz, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: Celebration Labels Dies, 3/16" Braided Trim, Metallic Pearls


We spent the last four days in one of our family's most-loved and favorite places ... Rockville, Utah ... it's about 5 minutes outside the entrance to Zion National Park.  LOTS of hiking and soaking in the beautiful colors. I could have stayed for another week or two and not even have felt the time pass!

Next up??? The other half of my "Connie Sandwich" ... Connie Tumm!! She NEVER disappoints as she ALWAYS comes up with incredibly creative things!

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Fab Friday #182

Considering I felt dirty and stinky and GROSS ... I'm pretty happy with how my creation for this week's Fab Friday Stampin' Challenge turned out. I spent most of the day over at my sweet mama's house doing some cleaning for her (and this was AFTER I had gone and stinked myself all up at the gym). Having spent several HOURS doing cleaning chores from bathrooms to closets to laundry, I was feeling DESPERATELY in need of a shower!! ICK! But I knew that I had cards to create and some other things that needed my attention before I could even THINK about showering (did I mention anywhere that my daughter's very cute doggie who was visiting for the day ate something that didn't agree with him and left me some, uhhhmmm, presents as a result??? NO???? Well suffice it to say that this incident also added to my overall feeling of disgustingness)!!

How HAPPY I was to be able to make this sweet and simple little card using this week's Fab Friday Color Challenge AND the Thoughtful Blooms Stamp Set and Small Bloom Punch (not to mention the very versatile and lovely Stone Embossing Folder). Making it at least made me feel a little bit better about my sad stinky self!!


Stamps: Thoughtful Blooms
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: Merry Merlot, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana
Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Small Bloom Punch, Subtle Embossing Folder, Stone Embossing Folder, Trio Corner Punch, Metallic Pearl Basics

Valentines, Spring ... what will YOU celebrate with the color combo??









Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so that you can play along:

Fab Friday Challenge Blog

Mindy Backes
Heather Heroldt
Brian King
Amy Koenders
Amanda Mertz
Brenda Myers

Wish me luck, my dears!! The next few days are going to be DOOZIES!! In addition to a 6-mile training run and a stair-climb workout, I will be starting prep for a colonoscopy I have scheduled for EARLY next Tuesday morning (nothing wrong, just preventative). Which means I can't eat any of the things my family is making in preparation for our Super Bowl Party (aka EatFreeFrestival). White bread, cheese, pizza, meat, rice ... these things I can eat ... fruits, veggies, GOOD bread, nuts ... these things I canNOT eat!! Pretty sure I'm gonna grab a bag of really horribly bad for me Doritos and drown my sorrows in them whilst drinking a diet coke ... delicious but will probably make e sick ... but I WILL be watching Groundhog Day during the Super Bowl (so shoot me!) ... besides, being a Bay Area born-and-raised girl ... I KNOW the 49's got this one, baby! I don't need a 6-hour game to tell me something I already know! HA!! So pass the Dulcolax and leave me a spot on the sofa!

Wonderful Wisteria Mosaic

I LOVE having days off when I don't have 100 different places to go or errands to run. I also love when it is a mixture of rainy/sunny outside. So I spent some time yesterday (whilst watching some more movies from the Marvel Universe to gear of for Avengers Endgame ... which I saw last night!) stamping and enjoying a little quiet time. It was great!!!

The MOMENT I saw the tree stamp in this Memorable Mosaic stamp set I KNEW it was going to have to end up as a purple-colored wisteria!! Ohhhhh my goodness, you guys!!! It turned out just as pretty as I had hoped it would!!

Stamps: Memorable Mosaic
Paper: Gorgeous Grape, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Glossy White
Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Soft Suede
Accessories: Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Classic Label Punch, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon

And because I couldn't decide what I wanted to do (and because I had a LOT of images floating around inside my head), I made a SECOND card (I was kinda making both of them at the same time ... just deciding what I did and didn't like!)!!

I did a little watercolor work for the backgrounds on both of these cards ... it's fun now that I have figured out what I'm doing (kind of!)!!

Stamps: Memorable Mosaic
Paper: Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Whisper White, Glossy White
Ink: Highland Heather, Soft Suede
Accessories: Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Timeless Label Punch, 5/8" Burlap Ribbon, Stapler

I did my last long training run before I do a half marathon in Ogden, Utah in a few weeks. Twelve miles ... and I felt pretty good when I was done. I think I am totally ready. We will be tapering the next couple of weeks, so I have a couple of 8-mile runs as well as a handful of 3-4 mile runs. BRING IT!!!

Stamp Review Crew - Apron of Love Edition

I cannot BELIEVE that it has been TWO YEARS since I hopped withy friends on the Stamp Review Crew. And not only am I stamping and hopping with them ... I got my days mixed up so now I am LATE with them!! (I thought that this post was to go up TOMORROW night instead of TONIGHT!! Oh what a GOOBER I feel like NOW!!!

In any event, I got to pull out the super FUN Apron of Love Bundle.  Stamp, dies ... every single piece is A-DOR-A-BLE!! And I'm gonna be honest ... I'm not exactly SURE what a "best friend ever" would want to receive a card with an apron on it would signify.  PERHAPS one of all-y'all should make me a PIE or a CAKE or some other such delectable treat ... THEN I could send you this fun little card as a THANK YOU!! It's a WIN-WIN, isn't it???

Stamps: Apron of Love
Paper: Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White, Silver Foil, Tranquil Tides DSP
Ink: Night of Navy, Real Red
Accessories: Apron Builders Framelits Dies, Stitched Rectangles Thinlits Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies









Cute ....

And SUPER CUUUUTE, right???









Next up?? Click on "Next Blog" to check out what Sue Plote has "cooked up" with this cute apron!! Click on the "Previous Blog" button to see what Cindy Elam has whipped up!!

Monday Montage #126

Happy Monday Montage Day!!! The weekend was fun ... and over in a wink! Why do Mondays and Fridays seem SOOOOO long ... whereas Saturdays and Sundays seem to zip by before you know it??? Sheesh!! At least I got a lot done ... AND I got time to get crafty! I guess I don't have much to complain about, right??? Just wish I had another day "off".

I am pretty sure it's hard to make an ugly card using the Buffalo Check background stamp. I have seen SOOOO many cute things made with it. I hope it NEVER retires!!! It goes with just about EVERYthing ... kids cards, girl cards, boy cards, kid cards ... it's simply the BEST, don't you think??

True confessions ... as much as I loved creating this card, it was one of those that everything went wrong with while I was working on it. I have two Painted Harvest sets (the one with the sunflower). One of them doesn't stamp well, and the other one does. I even have them marked (not sure why I"m keeping the not-so-good one). I had some trouble with my Cajun Craze ink pad ... pretty sure I need a new one!! When I finally got it stamped, I realized I was using the funky stamp set. So I had to stamp it again with the better one. THEN, when I finally got it how I liked, I started to fussy cut it out. Then I realized I hadn't cleaned my fingers and I smudged Early Espresso ink all over my lovely sunflower! Stamped it a third time ... was good to go, then!!! (This was, of course, after I had stamped the Buffalo Check background and realized I was having issues with my ink pad ... so I stamped that three times as well!). Moving on to the leaves behind the flower. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do for a sentiment, so I kept messing with the placement of the leaves and berries ... took me three times to get that how I wanted it, too!! Sheesh!!! I was DETERMINED to get this card done! It just took me MUCH longer than I had planned.

I cut the sentiment out using one of the Stitched Shapes oval dies ... then I used the criss-cross border die from the Stitched Labels thinlits to "frame" it in on the top and bottom, which I then trimmed above and below to end up with the shape I used for the sentiment.

Stamps: Painted Harvest, Buffalo Check
Paper: Gray Granite, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Festive Farmhouse DSP
Ink: Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Gray Granite, Basic Gray
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Stitched Labels Framelits Dies, Braided Linen Trim, Linen Thread

Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ...

Monday Montage Hoppers
Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper Crafts - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Breelin Renwick - Craft-somnia Momma
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 - NOT PARTICIPATING THIS WEEK
Melissa Stout - The Stamp Doc
Wendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!!

It's that time of year again ... fall ... Halloween ... you know what I mean!!! So I am heading off to the Happiest Place On Earth for a few days this week with my BFF, Cheryl. I am getting SUPER excited!!! Just hope I can get myself together before it's time to go!

Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Bree Renwick ... I end up spending more money on supplies by looking at what THEY have made!!! They are AMAZING!

Beautiful Bouquets from the Freaks!

Sunshine and blue skies!! What a BEAUTIFUL day it has been today!! If you have been following this blog tour all the way around, you just came from the beautiful bouquets of Melissa Davies. That's our theme this month, so let's get right to it!!

The flower patch in front of my house is SOOO confused right now!! We had a pretty long warm patch in January, and the poor little flowers thought it was time to start peeking up!!! Then, of course, Mother Nature had different plans!! We have been snowing for the past several weeks here, but today was GORGEOUS. I felt inspired to make a little bouquet to reflect how the weather has made me feel!

Stamps: Beautiful Bouquet, Burlap
Paper: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Whole Lot of Lovely DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Powder Pink, Berry Burst, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Linen Thread

One more little spot of colors/flowers!! I am totally IN LOVE with the Whole Lot of Lovely DSP ... oh man!! The COLORS are A-MAZ-ING!! The patterns are equally incredible! I just barely ordered a package of it ... it's been out since SU's catalog came out last year ... why oh WHY did it take me this long to get on board??? Sheesh!

Stamps: Beautiful Bouquet
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango, Powder Pink, Whole Lot of Lovely DSP, Vellum
Ink: Tangerine Tango
Accessories: Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Stitched Shapes Framelits, May Flowers Thinlits, Flourish Thinlits, Butterflies Thinlits, 3/8" Burlap Ribbon

Next up??? The creative Connie Babbert! That woman ROCKS!!