Season of Happy Thoughts

I have been working on some swaps for Jami over at Splitcoaststampers. One of the groups I am in requires me to use the new color Bermuda Bay and any new stamp set from the new catalog. For that round, the stamp sets we were allowed to use any stamp set that had been in a previous mini. My pal Lorien had the set Season of Friendship and she let me borrow it. This card is a bit different from the one that I'll be submitting for Jami's swap, so I can share this one with you (Jami requires that we wait until the swaps have been swapped out before posting our submissions). I'll share the original (the Jami swap) when it is allowed and you can tell me which is your favorite!

I needed a card for a stamping friend so I grabbed one of the swaps I had started and added something to make it more fitting. I hope she likes it!

Open House Project

This is the make and take from my New Catalog Open House (held last Saturday). The ladies used the Big Shot to do some embossing with the Texture Plates (the large Saffron panel) and some die cutting (the Top Note Die that is stamped on). They got to use the lovely Soft Suede paper and matching ribbon as well. The floral image is from Razzle Dazzle. We stamped the image with So Saffron ink then did the rock n roll technique with Soft Suede ink. The sentiment is from the set Three Little Words (from the last catalog).

Enjoy...Camp!

Here is another card I'll be "sending" to my oldest while she is at camp next week. I used her favorite colors - pink and brown. The designer paper is from the retired collection - Berry Bliss. I have had this stamp set for some time and although I haven't used it tons, I don't want to get rid of it either. It sits on my shelf and on occasion I hear it calling me. I was glad to see it was not retired with the last catalog.

The little polka flower is a prima that my down line Nicole shared with me...thanks Nicole!! I'm sure my dd will love this one, if for no other reason than it is done with her favorite colors!

New To Me

During Sale-a-Bration all sales that a demonstrator accumulates can earn us free sets! (Another reason I love SU!) If you have a recruit sign up during SAB we receive a free set for each recruit. This year I was lucky enough to earn several sets for sales and one for a recruit. Most of the sets I chose were bird sets since I love birds. I have been looking at these sets and wanting to stamp with them, but I haven't made stamping a priority lately. Last night I sat down to stamp some love for my oldest daughter, who is 10. On Sunday she'll be leaving for her first time away to camp. She'll be there 5 nights and she is so excited. Of course, I'm a bit sad to think she'll be gone for so many days. Luckily we are able to drop letters or packages off when we drop them off and they will be happy to be sure they get their notes at "mail call" each day. My plan is to create a new card for her each day and a package for one day during the week. This is the first card I made when I sat down last night. The set is made with one of my SAB earnings, Cheep Talk. I love this set! I used some retired paper from Stampin' Up!, my Top Note Die, some ribbon and some rhinestone brads. I don't know if you can tell, but the little birdie is popped up with dimensionals. I adored this paper when Stampin' Up! sold it and it is sad that it is no longer available for purchase...it is perfect for summer.

Retired Goodies for Sale

All Scallops $22 HI & Hello $10 Riveting $15 Wild About You $20 On The Farm $20 Fabulous Flowers $18 Cleaning out!! If you are interested please send me an e-mail. caspen1973@yahoo.com

More Razzle Dazzle

Here is another sample I created using Razzle Dazzle, the new Bermuda Blue card stock and ribbon and Melon Mambo. This card is so simple and I really like the way it turned out...such a simple layout and would be perfect for virtually anything! I used the large polka dot Texture Plate for the Melon panel, stamped the simple flower in Black Staz On. A little bit of faux stitching and a silver brad in the center of one of the flowers and we are done!

New Products!

Ahhh, I found time to stamp last night! I had the house ALL TO MYSELF for about an hour and I REFUSED to clean! I placed a small pre-order of new products a few weeks ago and the arrived and sat on my counter. I just have been to busy to stamp but recently I organized a small swap with some stampin friends so I had to sit down and start creating. I think this will be one of the cards that I do for the swap. I really like how it turned out. I used new stamps, ribbon and colors.

The base of the card is Soft Suede, a wonderful brown really does look like suede. The pinkish layer is the much underused color, Blush Bloosom. I ran this panel through my Big Shot with one of Stampin' Up!'s texture plates (it is hard to see it in the photo). The blue layer is Bordering Blue,which I haven't dragged out in ages! I stamped an image from the new set, Razzle Dazzle, that is a series of lines and swirls, using VersaMark. Finally, I stamped the floral image from Razzle Dazzle in Soft Suede on white card stock and then used the Soft Suede ink to distress the edges of the square. I did the Cracked Glass technique on this panel but stamping VersaMark all over the square and then covered it with Glassy Glaze powder. After I heated the powder I did the same thing 3 times and placed the image in the freezer for about 10 min. I pulled it out and bent the square causing the glaze to crack. This image is adhered with dimensionals. I added the new Soft Suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon and considered this one finished!