3-D Thursday: Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Here are the teacher appreciation gifts I made for Little Missy's preschool teachers.... last minute... the night before the last day of school. Yawn! I made four little notecards, held in a cute little tote.

Here are the cards inside.

And here you can see the thank you cards Little Missy made herself for her teachers.

For the tote, I used the Totally Totebag tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.

Stamps: Bella Toile BG; Paper: Dusty Durango; Ink: Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry reinker; Accessories: Sponge, Silver brads, Buttons, White Baker's twine, Pretties Kit.

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Dinosaur Train

I don't know why I never had this thought before, but with an upcoming kiddo birthday party, of which we have a big dinosaur fan, I could make a Dinosaur Train card!

My daughter is a big Dinosaur Train fan as well, so she made her own card, side-by-side with me. I added a little birthday banner to the train, using the Petal Cone die.

Stamps: Choo Choo, Warmest Regards (retired), Prehistoric (retired), Right on Track wheel; Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White; Ink: Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Basic Gray; Accessories: Sponges, Scallop Circle template, Petal Cone die, Big Shot.

Choo Choo is another set that is retiring at the end of this month. Paired with Right on Track wheel, this is such a cute set for babies and preschool children. Ok, I don't get to use it every day, but I will definitely miss this set!

Here is a past circus train birthday card.

And this set makes an adorable scrapbook page.

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Technique Tuesday: Masking... and Some Retiring Lamentations

Here is one of the basic techniques we did in March's Technique Class, Masking. This is one of the first techniques beginner stampers learn. Click on the photo to enlarge.

We added a rolled flower to the card for added bling.

The stamp choice and color combo was inspired by Lisa Young.

Stamps: Eastern Blooms; Paper: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Concord Crush, Whisper White, Haiku DSP; Ink: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Concord Crush; Accessories: Photo Corner punch, Circle punch, Rhinestone jewel, Tangerine Tango ribbon, Backgrounds I Texturz Plate, Scallop Square Duo die, Tasteful Trim die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Now for the sniffling... Eastern Blooms is one of the stamp sets that's retiring this month, one of the sets I grab for frequently. When Stampin' Up offered a bunch of nature silhouette stamps, I went for them with both feet, but this set was less of a "have to have". I'm glad I caved and bought it, because it became very versatile for me.

I love to use this set to add some dimensional flower punch-outs and pearls.

And here is another I made a couple year's ago.

No Embrace Life, no Eastern Blooms, no Easter Blossoms... what am I gonna use for cherry blossoms now?? Hope the new catty has something good!

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PCS Sneak Peek: Hey Diddle Diddle

Now is the time to sign up for this month's issue of Paper Crafter's Sample, a beautiful baby-themed issued called Hey Diddle Diddle. Need some fresh ideas? This issue is full of adorable items, including some 3-D WOWs perfect for a baby shower.

And here is the sneak peek of my project.

Please go to Paper Crafter's Sampler to sign up for exclusive access to the online database. Remember to use code PCSHB, so Melanie knows I sent you.

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June's Creative Crew Challenges Cont'd

I have some more Splitcoaststampers' Creative Crew Challenge samples to share.

For the holiday-focus challenge, we used a love bird ensemble inspirational photo to create a project that involved birds, maybe for a wedding, although not necessarily. For my project, I actually made an ATC, which was my swap at the Syracuse shoebox swap a few weeks back. I used the flower punch from the Itty Bitty punch pack, so it also be a sample for the flower challenge this month.

I saw the idea to put the love birds inside the "O" of love from Cindy Elam, which I thought was brilliant!

Stamps: Love You Much, Clearly For You; Paper: Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Bride Specialty DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip marker, Marina Mist marker, Pear Pizzazz marker; Accessories: Sponge, Itty Bitty punch pack, 3/4" Circle punch, Cog punch (for circle), Pearl jewels, Baja Breeze seam binding, Button, Linen thread, Dimensionals.

The scrapbook-focus challenge is to incorporate a poem into your project. Well, my project warped into 3-D framed art.

Lots of sponging and grunging. This is taken from a project I saw in another publication, and I reproduced for a little birdhouse project, but I really wanted to make some framed art. This would make a great house warming gift.

And, all my projects this month incorporate flowers... more of that flower-making illness I was talking about. This time I wanted to use the new Doily triple layer punch. So this one also applies for the catalog-focus challenge.

Stamps: French Foliage; Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP, Newsprint DSP, Le Jardin DSP; Ink; Soft Suede, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Whisper White craft, Soft Suede marker; Accessories: Sponges, Neutrals Collection button, White Baker's Twine, Baja Breeze glass glitter, Doily triple layer punch, Scallop Trim edge punch, Modern Label punch, non-SU chipboard heart.

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June's Creative Crew Challenges

It's time to share some of this month's Splitcoaststampers' Creative Crew Challenge samples with you.

The catalog-focus challenge is to use any flowers except stamped flowers. Button flowers, felt flowers, die-cut flowers, punched flowers, crocheted flowers... you get the drift. Well, I have an illness. Stampin' Up makes it so easy with all the flower options, especially the Vintage Adornment flowers and Ribbon Rosettes from the previous Occasions mini. And although I had a ton of ideas for this challenge, I just couldn't use these pre-made babies. Well, I could, but I didn't. While they sit within reach of me, I have to make the flowers. Hopefully no one will beat me with a wet noodle.

I created some rolled Concord Crush flowers to create a clean and simple (CAS) card, using the Clean & Simple fall to layout #132. It was really fun to use stitching to create the stem and vein in the leaves!

ETA: These flowers are made like this tutorial. I use circle punches to make mine.

Stamps: Sincere Salutations; Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP, In Color DSP; Ink: Concord Crush; Accessories: Various Circle punches, Scallop Trim edge punch, Birds & Blooms die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

The color-focus challenge is based on the Sunny Garden DSP color scheme, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, and Peach Parfait. I also used the flower punch from the Itty Bitty punch pack, so this card can also apply for the flower challenge.

This card uses Mojo Monday sketch #178.

Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers; Paper: Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla, Greenhouse Gala DSP, In Colors DSP; Ink: Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz marker; Accessories: Sponge, Itty Bitty punch pack, Pearl jewels, Poppy Parade ribbon, Coluzzle, Scallop Circle #2 die, 3" Circle die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread.

Make sure you stop in and play with us!

The Retirement Lists Are Here!

It's the time of year again to say good-bye to the retiring stamps and accessories. Selected accessories and Definitely Decorative items are up to 40%, so you'll want to grab them before they are gone! And don't forget that all but stamp sets are while supplies last, so don't delay! Click here to order online now.

Last Chance Stamp Set List (click on photo):

Last Chance Accessories List (up to 40% off):


Last Chance Definitely Decorative List (up to 40% off):


The retiring accessories list will be updated daily, so check back here throughout the month for items that have sold out.

Thanks for stopping by!