Peonies and Paper Chains

Playing Favorites...

When it comes to kids, we are not supposed to pick favorites.

When it comes to paper, completely fine...at least in my book.

I'm absolutely adoring the new Maritime Designer Series Paper and I've found my favorite pattern in the set.

You get to see my favorite on today's card...

I'm not sure if it is the fishes, the mix of colors, the subtle wave background...perhaps it is the combination of all of these. Hands down (for today at least), this is my favorite pattern in the pack!

For my card, the Maritime paper was paired up with the Sea Street and Just Sayin' stamp sets, along with the Word Bubble Framelits and Decorative Dots Embossing Folder. The color palette comes straight from the Designer Series Paper and it includes Night of Navy and Coastal Cabana.

This card would not be complete without the use of my Paper Snips...I'm not always one to do a whole lot of paper snipping, but I think it was just what the string of nautical flags needed!

While I know it has only been live since yesterday, do you have a favorite stamp set or paper or accessory already? Please share what it is by leaving a comment today!

Is your new catalog wish list lengthy? Would you love to get your Stampin' Up! products at a discount? Select up to $125 in Stampin' Up! products and purchase it all for just $99 plus local tax when you buy a starter kit. OR, until June 30th, select up to $55 in products for $50 plus local tax. Both options are perfect for the hobby crafter! Get the details here!

Wishing you a creative day!

 

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A Sweet Little Butterfly

The sweet card you see today was created by Lori Martin, a fellow Stampin' Pretty Pal. Lori brought this card to swap at the Stampion' Up! Catalog Premiere. The card features the Papillon Potourri and Lots of Thanks stamp sets. I love the frame that Lori crated and also the beautifully rounded corners.

I use lots of mason jars for storage and the ones you see today hold some of my Baker's Twine and my ribbon scraps.

Have you been seeing my Paper Pumpkin Pretties [ April | March ] and thinking you'd like to get in on the Paper Pumpkin fun? Take advantage of the new pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscription offer and save! Sign-up by May 10 to receive your first kit this month!

 Wishing you a creative day!

 

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Shop on-line 24/7 for paper crafting supplies

 

Dress Up Day!

Do you have a product that you simply love but find it has been collecting a little dust? That is precisely what has happened with my Dress Up Framelits. These Framelits are a favorite of mine! However, between the holidays, launch of the Occassions mini catalog, and the excitement of Sale-a-bration, these Framelits have taken a back seat in my crafting space.

When cleaning up and re-organizing this past week, I came across a stencil I created out of the dress form and promptly decided to put it to use along with my Silver Encore ink pad! Here's my finished card:

The choice of Early Espresso for the card front was very deliberate -- when sponging on the dress form in the silver, I needed a nice dark background to make it pop!

Hope you can find some time the next few days to use a product that has been gathering dust.  What will that be?

 

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Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

 

Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

$99.95

Dress Up Framelits Dies

$24.95

Naturals White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$7.50

Early Espresso 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Silver Metallic Encore Pad

$9.95

Sponge Daubers

$10.95

Sassy Salutations

$23.95

Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$17.95

Stampin' Dimensionals

$3.95

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

Four Cards from the Stampin' Up! Heartfelt Banner Kit

 

Hello there friends. I'm delivering on that promise to share some cards made from elements of the Heartfelt Banner kit. Hopefully you saw the St. Patrick's Day banner that I made with the rest of the kit! The four cards that I am sharing were made in about 30 minutes time...quick and easy!

 

 

Now I should tell you that part of what made this so quick and easy is the fact that I used the 3-1/2" x 5" note cards...the ones that come pre-scored with matching Whisper White envelopes. These definitely speed the creative process.

 

The card backgrounds were created by using a brayer to apply Calypso Coral ink...again, quick to do to! And I personally love the variation in color.

 

All of the stamps come from the Lots of Thanks stamp set and the ink is Early Espresso.

 

The other card elements -- the printed papers and doilies are pieces from the Heartfelt Banner Kit. That kit is one of the Sale-a-bration exclusive items! See the Stampin' Up! suggested banner here. 

 

Would you believe it if I told you I still have mnore pieces of the kit? It is true! I have a few doilies left and the 7 mini wooden clothespins. Time to figure out what to do with those!

 

How would you approach the Heartfelt Banner kit? Assemble the kit as shown by Stampin' Up! or create a set of cards and a banner as I have done? Maybe you have other ideas altogether! Whatever direction you choose, there's no wrong answer! 

 

I'm so glad you took the time to stop by today...thanks for visiting! Come back soon!

 

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Let the Sale-a-Bration Begin!

It's time to get the party started! Sale-a-bration, Stampin' Up!'s biggest sales event of the year starts today! Ever since I started using Stampin' Up! products back in 2005 I have loved Sale-a-bration because it is the time when you can receive exclusive limited time products, hosts can receive more for parties, and the starter kit contains more product making it an even sweeter option for hobbyists and business builders alike!

Before I give you all the details, let me share a little card I created for you using Sale-a-bration exclusive products! 

Truth be told, I used 3 Sale-a-bration products for this card -- the Good as Gold Card Kit, the Banner Punch, and the Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. The kit contains everything you need to make 8 sweet cards in minutes! Some of my local stamping friends has a chance to make the cards the other week and loved them! 

When it comes to handmade products, the beauty often lies in the details so here's a closer look at the card:

Love bows? Simply tie one for the card front rather than the series of knots that I did -- the pre-cut gold cord and Baker's Twine are generously cut for bows! Fancy up the envelopes by embossing the flap just as I did...the gorgeous gold liners are pre-cut to slip right in! But before you add the liner, punch out a little banner to emboss and add to the card front! Unless you tell them, no one will even notice that a little pit of the gold foil is missing!

So what's the scoop with Sale-a-bration?

 

With each $50 purchase from today until March 31, you get to choose an exclusive Sale-a-bration product! And the choices are incredible this year!

 

As a party host (live or virtual), when you host a party with $300 or more in sales, you receive $30 more is host dollars! Makes it even more fun to party!

 

And, when you purchase a zero-obligation starter kit, you select up to $150 in products for just $99! And did you know kits ship free saving you another $15! Talk about savings! Shhh...let me share a very big secret with you -- nearly every demonstrator I know bought the starter kit for the amazing deal that it is, not to start a business. 

 

These are all reasons that I love Sale-a-bration...how about you?! See all the Sale-a-bration exclusive products here! 

Wishing you a fabulous day! Thanks for stopping and come back again soon for more project inspiration!

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PPA 188: Thank You!

 Hello friends! It is time for a new Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge (PPA 188) and I'm excited to share this brand new project with you:

Because I love make projects beyond cards, I was excited when I realized that I could easily use this sketch for a gift tag.  Remember that a sketch is a starting point...you can always change things up!

The embossing folder, Designer Series Paper, and flower stamp are all Sale-a-bration exclusives (the countdown is on...less than 2 weeks to go) and the bag is from the Bermuda Bay Celebration Add-On Kit.

If you have yet to see this add-on kit, I would describe the bag as being closer in weight to a paper grocery store bag than it is to the Tag a Bag bags which are very thin. 

Here's a detailed picture for you:

With the Thanks So Much sentiment from the Loads of Thanks stamp set, this projects is versatile enought to work as a party/shower favor or to be used to give a standalone thank you gift to a friend or colleague.

And, of course, I have to share the sketch that inspired this whole project:

Be sure to visit the Pals Paper Arts site to see the projects created by the other members of the design team! And, even better, play along with us by creating a project from the sketch and sharing it with us!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Come back again soon!

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Soft Sky adds such a beautiful touch to the traditional autumn color palette! Today's card was created based on the most recent Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO316):

Clearly it was sunny when I snapped that first image of the card -- here's a detailed look without so much sun streaming onto this "truly grateful" creation:

This card does coordinate seamlessly with the "grateful" banner tutorial that I have put together. For just $1.95 you receive a PDF with the banner file that you can print at home,  ideas on incorporating a gratitude jar into your Thanksgiving traditions, AND instructions for making the large rosettes without a die or Big Shot machine. Full details here.

TAKE A TEST DRIVE! Give MDS a try -- free for 30 days!  MDS is a "go to" tool in my house for a variety of projects from thank you cards to home decor. Don;t know what I would do without it! Every week it is such fun to see the latest downloads from Stampin' Up! See those new downloads here. 

Again, thanks for stopping by!

Good wishes,

Kerry

Sign-up for the Stampgoodness newsletter - exclusive color combos and project ideas in every issue!

Click here to place your Stampin' Up! order now!

 

 

 

 

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Thank You...Soho Subway + Hello Lovely!

Grab your scraps and get crafting! Today's card was made using pieces of Soho Subway paper that were left over from a recent card making class. Now before I reveal the full card, I have to say that I definitely feel this card is "out of the box" for me...definitely not a look or style you see from me often. You'll have to be sure to tell me what you think of this card -- honestly, I am loving it, but I'm a little concerned about whether or not you'll like it.

Holy crooked pearls! I did not realize just how crooked they were until after I took the photo above (typically I encourage you to click to enlarge images...today is not one of those days). I did fix up the pearls as you'll see below, but I decided to share this original image with you. It doesn't matter how long you've been crafting, sometimes things are just not "right" the first time!

The look of this card is very, very grungy and yet, I did not pull out the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set. The grunged up look was created by inking up a clear mount stamping block and then stamping that onto some of the cardstock and Designer Series Paper used for the project. 

And that thank you sentiment is a portion of a stamp from the Hello Lovely set. I simply snipped out the part that I wanted to place on this card (and, yes, I added the sentiment using Stampin' Dimensionals).

Want to recreate this card? You will need Crumb Cake cardstock, Soho Subway Designer Series Paper, the Hello Lovely stamp set, Pearls, and Early Espresso ink. My card is a 3-1/2" x 5 note card that will fit beautifully in a a little Crumb Cake envelope.

Today's card was of course inspired by the latest Pals Paper Arts challenge -- PPA176:

Do be sure to visit the Pals Paper Arts site to see what the rest of the design team has created and please do play along with us!

Again, would love to know what you think of today's card!

FINAL DAYS! Seize the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for just $25! There's no obligation to hold a single workshop, to start a blog, or even to purchase another thing! Get all the info here.

Many thanks for stopping by today! See you tomorrow for the latest Five on Friday post!!

Good wishes,

Kerry

Sign-up for the Stampgoodness newsletter - exclusive color combos and project ideas in every issue!

Click here to place your Stampin' Up! order now!

 

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Getting My Mojo on with Soho Subway

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Halloween Grunge, plus the latest from Stampin' Up!

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So Grateful!

 

click any image to enlarge

Hello Friends,

After focusing on Halloween projects last week, today we turn our attention towards Thanksgiving.  Special Thanksgiving greetings to those reading this in Canada – I know you will be celebrating this week! And, welcome to those visiting Stampgoodness for the first time today, especially those who have hopped over from Mary Fish’s Stampin’ Pretty blog!

When the Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog was released, I immediately loved the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit. With such a beautiful spread for the table, some matching home decor was needed! The “grateful banner” flanked by the large rosettes is my solution! The color palette was selected to coordinate perfectly and includes the Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper, along with Very Vanilla, Soft Sky, and Tangerine Tango cardstock.

What do you think of those large rosettes? Colorful, substantial, and easy to make! These were made entirely by hand with the help of my Simply Scored Scoring Tool and some Sticky Strip!

If you love this banner, you can create it with ease! I’ve put together a “Make the Goods – a Stampgoodness Guide” (PDF) for this project. It includes the instructions for the banner, along with the small and large rosettes. There are even ideas for creating gratitude jar and incorporating it into your Thanksgiving tradition. And the very best part, is that the last several pages of the PDF are the printable banner! Print, cut, and embellish!

If you are concerned about how you’ll cut those flag ends, not to worry! I’ve got you covered with a special cutting template just for that!

The guide is available for just $1.95 and you’ll be able to download the PDF as soon as payment is received. Step by step instructions, plus full color photos.  Due to the nature of this product no refund is available.

As always, the guide is free to my Stampgoodness Paper Pals! Click here for details on how to join my circle of stampers today!

 

What are you grateful for today? I'm grateful for a wonderful, supportive family and circle of friends and so thankful for all the stampers I’ve gotten to know during my journey as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator -- customers, blog readers, and fellow demonstrators. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of Mary Fish’s Stampin’ Pretty Pals community. Thank you, Mary, for your support, your kindness, and your generosity! And, thank you to the Pals – you are the best!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Good wishes,

Kerry 

Sign-up for the Stampgoodness newsletter - exclusive color combos and project ideas in every issue!

Click here to place your Stampin' Up! order now!

 

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PPA 174 - All Tied Up in Fall Colors!

Hello friends! Have I asked you before which you adore more -- color or sketch challenges? If you've been reading along for awhile, you know that color challeges are my favorite. I love it when I get to share a color challenge project with everyone over at Pals Paper Arts! And I will say that I am absolutely loving the palette that is featured this week for PPA174:

What a fabulous fall color palette! I absolutely love it...and I feel like I can say this because I am not in charge of coming up with the combos! Hats off to those Design Team members who did! Ready to see the full project in these beautiful hues? Here you go...

Earlier in the week I shared this project with the Stampin' Pretty Pals -- we were having a little fun sharing projects in our private Facebook gallery. The idea was to create a project that featured a product beginning with the same letter as our first name. I went with a Kraft bag from the Tag a Bag kit. If you don't believe that I am spelling the bag name correctly, you can check it on page 158 of the catalog.

I'm curious...how many of you know what current Stampin' Up! used to be called Kraft? Be sure to share that color name in the comments today!

When I shared this project, I heard about a little bow envy...let me say that I've long been envious of beautiful bows.  Take a look at my projects -- bows are few and far between on my older projects since I have always lacked confidence in tying bows. Not anymore! This bow was made by me using a bow maker given to me by a stamping friend who relocated to New Hampshire last spring. She's been coming to my monthly card making classes for the last several months. She designed the bow maker and her husband made it...it is a fabulous little tool! Thank you again, Sherri!

Want to create this same project? Here's what you need: Truly Grateful stamp set; one or more Kraft bags; Baked Brown Sugar Ink; Baked Brown Sugar, Pear Pizzazz, & Pumpkin Pie card stock; Chevron ribbon in Pumpkin Pie; Oval Collection Framelits; Big Shot; Decorative Label punch; Glue Dots; Sponge Dauber

GOOD TO KNOW STAMPGOODNESS TIPS:

• When daubing the ink onto the Pear Pizzazz, be sure to daub onto a piece of scrap paper first to avoid any areas with really deep coverage (unless of course that's the look you want).
• Off-set your ovals when mounting together to add interest and to make the project a little less formal.
• Make your ovals "pop" by rolling the edges over your Baked Brown Sugar ink pad.

FIND OUT HOW TO GET MORE FREE STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCTS!

Click on the image below for details! 

Many thanks for stopping by today! See you tomorrow for Five on Friday!

Good wishes,

Kerry

Sign-up for the Stampgoodness newsletter - exclusive color combos and project ideas in every issue!

Click here to place your Stampin' Up! order now!

 

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