Playing with Some In Colors

** If you are here for the Flag Day Giveaway, you can find my giveaway post here. **

I got my preorder last week, and I was instantly in love with the new In Colors. Right away, I thought of making a Caribbean-feeling kind of card. The In Color chart is courtesy of Dawn Olchefske. You can click on the photo for all sorts of color comparisons on her blog.

I pulled out Summer Splash for some play time.

Most of it is sponging, with a little bit of embellishment so it didn't look so flat. This was the scene I had in mind for a while for Splitcoast VSN challenge to hide something on a card... my octopus. Seems like such a happy little guy that's gonna snatch and eat you, Little Fishy!

Stamps: Summer Splash; Paper: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White; Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede; Accessories: MDS for sentiment, Sponges, Post-it notes, Aquapainter, White Baker's twine, 3/4" Circle punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Tasteful Trim die, non-SU cloud die, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flag Day Giveaway

Welcome, Flag Day fans to the Flag Day Giveaway!



This event gathers a collection of crafters together to give away crafty and/or handmade items to randomly selected blog commenters. Why Flag Day? Flag Day represents the spirit of America and the American dream as a people. And in that spirit, having the freedom to do what we love to do, we would like to share our craft with you!

For a previous Stampin' Addicts blog hop, I created a mini suitcase box project.

This suitcase box would be perfect for Father's Day, any masculine birthday, or even as a travel gift. The final size of this box is 3-3/8 x 5-1/2 x 1-3/8", large enough to hold a sweet treat or two...

Since then, I have created a full-color PDF tutorial for the suitcase box. It is easy to take the box and embellish it with any stamps or products you may own. Would you like your own copy of the tutorial? Please leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm on Friday, June 17 (EST).

I will randomly select two winners (using random.org) and post the winners by Saturday morning, June 18. Please remember to check back here to see if you have won! I will send the tutorial by June 21 (or as soon as I get your contact email address). Any valid email address is eligible (any country), so please feel free to participate!

Please click on this link to see a list (and visit!) of all the participating blogs. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pay forward some kindness today!

SUOC21 June Weddings

Today's card for the Stampin' Up Only Challenge, any wedding projects, served double duty. We also made this card at stamp club this month.

I've been wanting to make a wedding cake card for a while, and I used the amazing 3-D cake created by one of last year's Artisian Award winners Jodie Olver as inspiration.

Of course, I couldn't put my club ladies through the stress of that many flowers!

The background is stamped with En Francais in Versamark and clear embossed. Then sponged with Blushing Bride ink.

Stamps: All Holidays (retiring!), En Francais BG; Paper: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Brushed Silver, Whisper White, Sending Love Specialty DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Scallop Trim border punch, Small oval punch (retiring!), Large Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, Trio Flower punch, Itty Bitty punch pack, Corner Rounder punch, Crop-o-dile, Sponge, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, White Baker's twine, Little Leaves die, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Celebration Challenge

I was over on UStamp with Dawn and Friends this weekend, checking it out for the first time. There's a blog hop and birthday celebration going on this weekend, so I gave Saturday's inspiration challenge a go. The inspirational photo is similar to this one:



And here is what I came up with.

I used the new Petite Pennant punch for the pennants and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch for the trim. The birthday hat pom-pom was created with several punch-outs from the Boho Blossom punch, and I love how the party wand do-hickie came out! :)

Stamps: Upsy Daisy; Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Love Impressions DSP, Good Morning Sunshine DSP, In Color DSP, Ice Cream Parlor DSP; Ink: Pacific Point; Accessories: Boho Blossom punch, Petite Pennant punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Brad, White Baker's twine.

ETA: I got a chance to play with Sunday's challenge this morning. The inspiration project was Jenn Picard's wonderful scrapbook layout, including orange and pinwheels. Here's my take on it.

I love the whimsical feel!

Stamps: Hello Again; Paper: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP, Brights DSP, In Color DSP, Wild Wasabi DSP, Certainly Celery DSP; Ink: Bashful Blue, Wild Wabasi, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Sponges, Brads, Scallop Circle punch, Petal Cone die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

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.

Thanks for stopping by!

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.

Thanks for stopping by!

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!

Thanks for stopping by!