Happy Birthday Pearl!

On Sunday my baby turns two!! It's hard to believe she's getting so old, while at the same time it seems like she's been with us forever. Today we are bringing treats to day care, so I wanted to make a little sign honoring her! Here's a picture of her playing courtesy of The Crate Escape. She's apparently queen of the slide and likes to scooch up the slide backwards. I don't know what goes on in that little dog's head.


The card is 5.5" x 8.5" (a full sheet folded in half). I chose the colors based on the picture and Pearl herself. Obviously she is black (that little stamp from Man's Best Friend is just perfect as her!), and her collar and leash are red. I love the contrast. Then I got the Sahara Sand from the sweater she is wearing in the picture. That was from her first Christmas, and you can tell she'd had enough at that point! I just love how the colors of the card work with the colors in the pic. I think I'm ready for scrap-booking now! :D

This adorable treat bag and hand-dipped peanut butter bone treats are from Two Bostons, a pet boutique in downtown Naperville. If you live in the Naperville area I highly recommend this store, as well as The Crate Escape.

Supplies: Happy Everything, Man's Best Friend, and Short Order Alphabet Stamp Sets; Real Red, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, and Whisper White cardstock; Real Red and Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pads; Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 1" Circle, and 3/4" Circle Punches; Stampin' Dimensionals

Bright Birthday Challenges

I was able to kill two challenges with one stone again today! I used the Fall-to-Layout #43 and kwerner's Color Inspiration #53.



I like the cupcake one a lot. On the yellow one I didn't really do the right layout for the paper strips so it looks kinda weird. Oopsies!





I used two different packs of Designer Series Paper and Textured Cardstock for these cards, which are still on special until Sunday! For every 3 packs you buy, you get one free! I am a real DSP fanatic (my pile of retired papers is kind of ridiculous) so I was all over this sale. Most of these packs will be retiring at the end of June so get them while you can!

Almost forgot - these little guys are 4.25" x 4.25".

Take the Cake Supplies: Party Hearty Stamp Set; Pacific Point, Real Red, Summer Sun, Basic Black, and Whisper White cardstock; Jackpot Designer Series Paper; Summer Sun and Real Red Stampin' Write markers; Black StazOn Ink Pad; 1-3/8" Circle and 1-3/4" Circle Punches; Stampin' Dimensionals

Celebrate You Supplies: Party Hearty Stamp Set; Real Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White cardstock; Summer Sun and Pacific Point Textured cardstock; Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper; Pacific Point Classic Ink Pad; Summer Sun and Real Red Stampin' Write markers; Scallop Circle and 3/4" Circle Punches; Circle Scissor Plus; Glass Cutting Mat; Stampin' Dimensionals

Jewelry Color Inspiration #37

Ugh. So, I didn't really know where to start with this color combo, or even what kind of card I wanted to make. Then I found my Printed Window Sheets and checked the Occasions Mini for ideas. So I cased the Happiness card on page 10. I also took some creative liberty with the colors. I just couldn't do the Bashful Blue and Baja Breeze together... So looking at the jewelry again, I went with Baja and Taken with Teal instead.

Ok, so window sheets... not my favorite! How the heck are you supposed to glue these down to anything??? (Seriously, I welcome tips!) I ended up using SNAIL in the section under the ribbon, and then used the 2-Way Glue Pen to dab little dots of glue behind some of the petals/leaves. Which at first showed through, but then it dried. What a pain. Also, not loving the fact that there will inevitably be fingerprints on this forever. I just got an iPhone (YAY!) and am having the same problem with the screen on that! I hate fingerprints!

Also, I'm not in love with the color combo (sorry Stacey!). If I kicked out the Creamy Caramel it may have potential... Oh well, off to bed. In about a week I'll be posting some cards I'm making for a swap which I am much more proud of!

Supplies: Thank You Kindly Stamp Set; Creamy Caramel, Taken with Teal, and Chocolate Chip cardstock; Clearly Thanks Printed Window Sheets; Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad; Eyelet Border Punch; Baja Breeze 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon; Buttons Latte; Flower Fusion Too; Mini Glue Dots; Stampin' Dimensionals

Pop-Up Wedding

We went to a wedding last night and I wanted to use the 3-D cake again. The die cuts little candles for a birthday cake as well as a little man and woman for a wedding cake (and it would even work for a gay wedding!). Their wedding colors were green and navy blue, so I wanted to incorporate that. It's kinda hard to keep the front of a card so simple, since the inside is really the highlight.

I really need some wedding stamps, sympathy stamps, religious stamps... With all the stamps I have, there are still so many types I need! (My husband doesn't understand this!) I had to buy a Hallmark for a baptism we're going to today (we had a busy weekend!) because I need some religious ones. Once I sell those retired sets it's my excuse to buy more! :)

Supplies: Love You Much Stamp Set, Warmest Regards Stamp Set*; Brilliant Blue, Old Olive, and Naturals Ivory cardstock; Brilliant Blue Prints Designer Series Paper* and Old Olive Prints Designer Series Paper*; Old Olive Classic Ink Pad; Brilliant Blue and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers; Big Shot; Three Tier Cake Pop-up Bigz XL die; Extended Cutting Pads; Extended Premium Crease Pad; Scallop Edge Punch; Old Olive 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon; Mini Glue Dots; Sticky Strip; Stampin' Dimensionals

Pop-Up Birthday!

Last night we went to a surprise birthday party for my best friend - and she was super surprised! I wanted to make her an extra special card, so I finally tried out my 3-D birthday cake die for the Big Shot. I did double duty again by using Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration #36. Check it out!






Supplies: Party Hearty Stamp Set; Tempting Turquoise, Lavender Lace, So Saffron, and Whisper White cardstock; Tempting Turquoise Prints Designer Series Paper*; Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink Pad; Tempting Turquoise, Lavender Lace, and So Saffron Stampin' Write markers; Big Shot; Three Tier Cake Pop-up Bigz XL die; Extended Cutting Pads; Extended Premium Crease Pad; 1/16" Circle and Ticket Corner Punches; Rich Regals Brads; Tempting Turquoise 1/4” Grosgrain Ribbon; Mini Glue Dots; Sticky Strip; Stampin' Dimensionals

My Mommy's Card

Now that my mom has received her Mother's Day card, here it is! I am absolutely in LOVE with this card. I made another one just to keep because I think it is so pretty. (If I do say so myself, lol!) I think I came up with the color combo on my own, but I used the Weekend Sketch Challenge #79 once again! It's also the first time I used the Texturz plates with the Big Shot, and I am hooked! :)



I made this last picture kinda dark so you can see the embossing from the Big Shot.


On a side note, I finally just figured out how to make my pictures bigger! Duh.

Supplies: Eight Great Greetings Stamp Set; Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Almost Amethyst, and Whisper White cardstock; Basic Gray Classic Ink Pad; Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst Stampin' Write markers; Blender Pens; Pink Pirouette Classic Ink Refill; Pink Pirouette 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon; Pretties Kit; Flower Fusion Too; Big Shot; Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plates; Mini Glue Dots; Stampin' Dimensionals

Lots of Color Inspiration! :)

I was very inspired this week apparently! I got so many more cards done for stuff I needed! I think I'm gonna keep up this power-stamping with all one color scheme cuz it takes so much less time dragging out different supplies and stuff. :) Anyway though, I'm heading to the graduation today so this post is kinda haphazard. When I get home I'll pretty it up but I wanted to do kwerner's Color Inspiration #51 in time!


Wild About You Supplies: Wild About You Stamp Set; Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock; More Mustard Textured cardstock; More Mustard, Rose Red, and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pads; Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write marker; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Stampin' Dimensionals


Happy Anniversary Supplies: Hugs & Wishes Stamp Set; Fresh-Cut Notes; More Mustard cardstock; More Mustard Classic Ink Pad; Flower Fusion; Flower Fusion Too; Rhinestone Brads Circles Fire; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Stampin' Dimensionals


Wishes Supplies: Darling Dots Stamp Set, Heard from the Heart Stamp Set; More Mustard, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock; More Mustard, Rose Red, and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pads; More Mustard and Rose Red Stampin' Write markers; 1-3/8” Square, 1-3/8" Circle, and 1-1/4" Circle Punches; Crafter’s Tool Kit; Stampin' Dimensionals


Bark Bark Bark Supplies: Man’s Best Friend Stamp Set; Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock; More Mustard Textured cardstock; More Mustard, Rose Red, and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pads; Blender Pens

For this last card (which I actually made first), I used the Fall-to-Layout #41 from the clean&simple blog.


You Take the Cake Supplies: Darling Dots Stamp Set, Party Hearty Stamp Set; More Mustard, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock; Chocolate Chip Classic Ink Pad; More Mustard, Rose Red, and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write markers; 1-3/8" Circle and 1-1/4" Circle Punches; Chocolate Chip ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon; Mini Glue Dots; Stampin' Dimensionals

Congrats Grad Part 2

Here is the other spawn of my ugly graduation card! Haha! My brother-in-law is graduating from med school next month, so I needed another grad card anyway. I liked the Ballet Blue and Kiwi Kiss combo, but I needed to "guy" it up a bit. I have no idea when or how I found this site, but it is awesome for coming up with Stampin' Up! color combinations! You can find pre-designed ones, or mix up colors yourself to see what looks good! That's what I did to come up with this more manly palette.




Still loving the layout from Weekend Sketch Challenge #79. I think I might use it for an upcoming swap I'm doing!

Supplies: Eight Great Greetings Stamp Set, Year After Year Stamp Set*; Ballet Blue, Really Rust, and Very Vanilla cardstock; Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper; Really Rust and Ballet Blue Classic Ink Pads; Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, and 1/16” Circle Punches; Rhinestone Brads Ice Circles; Kiwi Kiss 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon; Stampin' Dimensionals
*retired SU! product

Happy New Baby

As I mentioned yesterday, my first graduation card attempt was not so hot. I used Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration #35 colors which are lovely together, but made this card look like it's for a little girl's kindergarten graduation or something. Since I don't know any kindergarten girls, I needed to change it up.


Speaking of Stacey's Jewelry Color Inspiration, check out this week's challenge for yourself! She's giving away blog candy in celebration of 50,000 hits!


Luckily because I used Stampin' Dimensionals, I was able to dissect the card and create two separate cards instead! Since the color palette is so feminine, it worked perfectly for a former coworker who just had a baby girl. I made another graduation card from the remnants, which I’ll post tomorrow. Once again, I used the layout from Weekend Sketch Challenge #79. I wish I would have put ribbon across the Cameo Coral strip, but now I'm just driving myself nuts. I'm gonna mail it off before I try to change anything else!




Supplies: Eight Great Greetings Stamp Set, Just Celebrate Stamp Set*; Kiwi Kiss, Ballet Blue, Cameo Coral, and Very Vanilla cardstock; Walk in the Park Designer Series Paper; Kiwi Kiss and Ballet Blue Classic Ink Pads; Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, and 1/16” Circle Punches; Rhinestone Brads Circles Fire; Stampin' Dimensionals
*retired SU! product

Congrats Grad!

My sister is graduating from college this weekend (WOO!) and of course I had to make a special card for her. I made this card in a totally different color scheme first, but it definitely did not look right for a graduation card. So I decided to simplify once again, and just use my sister's school colors! (Ironically enough, red & white were also our grade school AND high school colors!)

I used Weekend Sketch Challenge #79 for my layout. This is another one that is going into my repertoire of favorites!

Supplies: Eight Great Greetings Stamp Set, Year After Year Stamp Set*; Riding Hood Red and Whisper White cardstock; Candy Lane Designer Series Paper; Riding Hood Red Classic Ink Pad; Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, and 1/16” Circle Punches; Riding Hood Red 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon; Rhinestone Brads Circle Fire; Stampin' Dimensionals

*retired SU! product

WOO HOO!

WOW! What a great couple of days I've had! First of all, I just found out I was one of the winners in the Color Inspiration Challenge #50! Haha and I said I wasn't prize-worthy. ;) (Thanks Julie for the heads up!)

Also, yesterday the Cubs DID win, and I had a ton of fun despite sitting in rain for about an hour! It's funny how a little beer will make you not care about being soaked...

Finally, I found out last night that I PASSED THE NAPLEX!!! Just need to find out about law and I will officially be a registered pharmacist! :D

And tomorrow I plan on spending a lazy Sunday with my hubby and my puppy, sleeping in then readin the paper, opening the windows cuz it's finally spring-y, and maybe doing a little stamping. :)

Bark Bark Bark

Some people think it's silly that I take my dog to day care. But without all that playtime, she would constantly be a hyper bundle of energy! Oh and I'm going to the Cubs game today, so maybe this will bring them luck.


As a dog lover, I was so disappointed that the last Idea Book & Catalog didn't have a new dog stamp set! But SU! made up for it with this ADORABLE set, Man's Best Friend.

Man's Best Friend #113236 $19.95

I recently made a bunch of cards with this set to give to the ladies at day care. Hopefully they will want to start stamping as well! ;) I cased this card at Splitcoaststampers and tried to make it more platonic. I love the color combo I came up with!


The small dog stamp totally reminds me of my little Pearl!



Supplies: Man's Best Friend Stamp Set; Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Creamy Caramel, and Whisper White cardstock; Bella Rose Designer Series Paper; Chocolate Chip and Creamy Caramel Classic Ink Pads; Heart to Heart and Scallop Edge Punches; Stampin' Dimensionals
(I also used Sahara Sand Classic Ink and Blender Pens to create the shadows under the dogs)

National Scrapbooking Month

Stampin' Up! Scrapbooking Promotion
May 1-31, 2009

• Buy three packs of Designer Series paper (including our Specialty Designer Series paper) or 12" x 12" textured card stock, and get one FREE! (Mix & Match!)


• Buy a sneak peek stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog - Jumble Alphabet (set of 52; double-mounted) - at a 20 percent discount.


• Sign up to be a demonstrator for as little as $75!

Learn more about these exciting offers at Specials & Promotions.

Jumble Alphabet #115199 Sale Price: $35.16

Contact me for more details or if you'd like to hold a scrapbooking workshop or class this month!