Happy Groundhog Day!

A whole month of 2016 is gone already! Where did it go? 

I am ahead of schedule in preparation for the Stamp Along though! 

I already have some samples to show you. 

I have also posted a few more times this month than usual. 

Another thing that I am doing that I haven't done in the past is going to the Y! 

Yes, that isn't a typo! I really am going to the Y and not just once a week! A good friend is hauling my butt there several times a week and we are enjoying it! Mostly we are doing water fun workouts. You may have noticed that I am not calling it the E word. It is fun. The water is warm and I am loving it.
What have you done with your January?

Here are a few of the cards that I have ready already for you on the 8th. 

There are so many fun sets to work with right now!

The Sky is the Limit set used on the top card is a limited edition. It is free with a $50 order but is only available until the 15th of February.  The beautiful artistic paper is also going to be gone on the 15th. 

If you want either of those, come to the Stamp Along and get free shipping on your order. 

Or you can order on line and get it sooner. Please use the hostess code 

TMSBTR4Z
There will be several Valentine cards available for your choices also. 

More swaps from SU! 2016 Occasions catalog

Day three of swaps. 

Carla Bosselaar used the spotlight technique on the flowers of this beautiful Thank you card. 

The one on the right uses the new Blossom Bunch punch. The stamps are lined up with the punch so you can stamp all three at the same time and only have to punch once! This one did not have a name on it. 

 

Another one without a name. It uses that beautiful Botanical DSP. When SAB is over I plan to do a class using this awesome pack of DSP!

The one on the right is done by Penny Ginnery. What a cheerful card! 

Jill Hilliard did the Awesome flower card and she used the Wink of Stellar on it. I am anxious to try it and hope to have at least one card with it on for you to do at the next Stamp Along. 

Christina did the one on the right and used the softly falling folder and the triple banner punch. 

I still have a few more to show you and then it will be time to show you some of the choices for the February Stamp Along. There will be one or two more Valentines for sure since Valentine's Day is the following Sunday. Plenty of time for you to get them in the mail. 

Do you send a lot of Valentines? 

The hostess code for this month is

TMSBTR4Z

if you place an order on line with me.

Thank you!

More Swaps from SU! 2016 Occasions catalog

Here are a few more of the swap cards I received.

I really like the way Carolyn Susi used this sweet little lamb for a baby card. 

The one on the right by Laurie Krauss uses the wonderful DSP and the Wink of Stellar on all of the ice cream cones.

The rose on the left was done by Marg Gromann. She used the free DSP from SAB for the pink on the rose and the swirled background piece. 

The one on the right was done by Cathy Miller. I love the way she used the confetti frame by cutting it in the oval shape. 

Just a reminder to please use the hostess code 

TMSBTR4Z

if you NEED to place an order for any of these wonderful products before the February Stamp Along.

Thank you! 

Swap cards

I recently joined two swaps to get samples and ideas to share with you from the new catalog. 

I mentioned that there were many that used the Bloomin' Heart set and thinlets. Here are the ones I received back for the ones that I sent. The black one on the red background is one that I sent. These were from both swaps. 

The one in the left lower corner with the glimmer butterflies was done by Brenda Spierowski.

Top right is by Carla Bosselaar and the lower right is by Liz Lefeber.

The top left one didn't have a name on it or I lost it. Sorry.

All three of these did not have names attached either.

Do you like seeing the cards from my swaps? If you do and want to see more of them please leave a comment and let me know that. If I here from enough of you, I will take the time to put some more on here for you. Do you want them in groups so you can see different ideas with the same set or do you want them mixed? Is a grouping ok or do you want the individually? 

Let me know your wishes. 

Thanks.

Birthdays and Thinking of You cards

There will be some of the regular birthday and thinking of you cards also. 

We always need those! 

Here are two of the birthday cards. 

Either of them could be good for the masculine friends.

I can't believe that I almost forgot to show you this cute little guy!

I think this is the most popular of the free sets that are available for SAB this year. 

So darn cute!

I didn't take the time to color with the aqua painter and wish I would have because I can see the marker lines. The aqua painters just do a much nicer job. 

The set and the DSP are both selections for free in the SAB catalog. 

Thank you to all who have left comments the last few days! I really appreciate it. The comments help me to feel like I am a part of a conversation rather than writing a letter to myself! :-)

I have another card or two to do and pack yet so I do hope that many of you will brave the cold tomorrow and come to the Library and Stamp Along with me. 

I appreciate you so much for giving me a purpose to design and prepare cards for you to make. 

Do Valentines have to be red and white?

Valentine's Day is the next big card sending day!

The swap that I just got back in the mail had lots of hearts! This set was the focal point.

I will show you some of the ones I got in the swap after the Stamp Along. 

These are ones that I did with the Bloomin' Love and Bloomin' Hearts thinlits. 

The Happy Heart folder is used on the top and bottom one. That means you will have to share at the Stamp Along. I will try to get them both on the same table. 

Neither of those use the thinlits but do use the stamp set. The bottom one also used the Flowering Flourishes. That one is quite plain and simple but can you see the glimmer paper peeking out? 

The one in the middle uses the free DSP from SAB. I think that pack of paper is awesome!

You will get to try that Bloomin' Heart thinlit if you come on Monday. It is much easier to use than I expected it would be but the Precision plate is a big help. 

The DSP on the top one was from my stash, I don't think it is in the current catalog but it called out for this card. 

Here is a little closer view.

This one is Melon Mambo but doesn't look like it in the photo! 

The on line hostess code is 

4TWTGDVZ

if you wish to place an order on my site. 

Thank you! 

Hope you plan to come and get a start on your Valentines on Monday!

January Stamp Along

I've been having fun with the new sets in the Occasions Catalog. 

I am excited to see which of them you will like the best. 

Please let me know. 

Here are a few that will be at the Stamp Along next Monday. 

This is a beautiful set. Rose Wonder. Along with the Rose Garden Thinlets (I didn't use them on this card) you can make some really elegant cards. This one is quite easy. It is embossed and colored. The one on the left is colored with markers and the one on the right was done with the aqua painter. 

Which one do you like the best? 

I used a narrow ribbon on the one with the marker as the wider one looked too heavy. 

I will have both of them at the Stamp Along so you can choose how you want to do yours. 

There are some really beautiful sayings with this set. 

This card uses another one of the sayings from the Rose Wonder set.

In the Meadow is an awesome set. I did the card on the left first because I wanted to use the scrap of the free watercolor paper that was a free SAB choice. The deer are on that card also. Then I had some narrow strips and did the one on the right. I tried to keep them plain and simple with just a little watercoloring. Then I just needed to put them all together with the trees, mountains, and deer all on the same card so I made some masks and skipped the scrap of pretty paper and came up with the one in the middle. You can choose any one of them or make a combo. Please show me what you come up with so I can try your idea also.

I will try to get some more cards on tomorrow. 

The hostess code for on line orders until the Stamp Along is

4TWTGDVZ

Thank you to all that help me to make my goals and keep stamping so much fun for me. 

New Catalog

The new catalog is ready to go! 

I am having fun with the new sets and beautiful papers! 

I joined three swaps to get more ideas to share with you. 

These are the cards that I did to join the swaps. 

This one is from the Occasions Catalog.

It uses the bundle on page 16. 

That is the Bloomin' Heart Thinlet and the Bloomin' Love stamp set. 

Hard to tell on the picture but the flowers are cut from dazzling diamonds glimmer paper. 

This one was for the Sale A Bration swap.
I used the designer series paper on page 12 that you can get free with a $50 order.
I colored on the block with markers then spritzed it with water and stamped it on the Whisper White card stock. I then stamped the flowers from the Flowering Fields stamp set on that same page. That is another choice you have for your free item for a $50 order.
I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes set for the greeting.
This one is packed for the Stamp Along on January 12.



The first set that caught my eye when I saw the catalog was the Bear Hugs on page 40. They are just so darn cute! I combined it with a few other new products. The Confetti Textured Impressions embossing folder on page 5 was used on the front and then lightly sponged. Then I used the Party Pop-Up thinlits dies on page 7 for the inside. I think this would make an good retirement card or birthday or for any accomplishment.
What would you use it for?



Here is the inside.

This one won't be at the Stamp Along unless I get more than a few requests for it. It would be difficult to write directions for it and there are a few tricky spots on it. I would gladly do a class and present it that way. Interested?
Next time I will show you some of the other cards that will be available at the Stamp Along.
I will also show you some of the swaps that I get in return for these when they arrive.

The Hostess code for the Stamp Along order is
4TWTGDVZ
if you are going to order on line before Monday.
Thank you!