Summertime Splendor MDS

Its so hard to wait for the retiring stamp & accessary list to come out. I will have it on my blog first thing in the morning after Stampin' Up! posts it. As demos we will be able to pre-order select stamp and hostess sets and the new core colors too. Stampin' Up! always sends us one catalog at no charge. Well this year we will receive it with our first order (same as last year). Another perk for being a demo. How cool is that? So many of us will be paying the extra shipping to get ours quickly. I hear that SU is having another demo special. Tune into tomorrow to see what it is.

Now onto a couple of samples of the new Summertime Splendor MDS (My Digital Studio) download. These are from my upline, Patty Bennett. Aren't they just so beautiful? You can print these on your home computer or send them into the SU printer.

Did you notice? Two posts today! I am going to try and post at least 4-5 times a week. It just seems that life keeps getting in the way of my stamping.........

Cup Cake Holders

This is another pattern I purchased from Lynn. These cup cakes were so fun to make. I did emboss mine with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder and cut a slit in the top to add my cherry. And of course I had to sponge them!

Then I purchased these personalized M & M's to go inside my cup cakes. They are a bit expensive, but they did turn out very nice. There is a photo of my husband, Happy Birthday, Dave Turns 55 & Newest Senior Citizen. You can click on the photos to see them better.

Dave's Birthday Cake

Can you believe this cake? My Son took the invitation to his friend that does cakes and he made it look exactly like my invitations. Of course I didn't take a photo (or if I did, couldn't find it)of the invitation. I used the Bride DSP and brayered Bermuda Bay ink. Doesn't it look just like the bride paper? And he got the color perfect. It was really hard to cut into the cake, especially with everyone saying, don't cut there, no, thats going to hurt and on and on.......Inside was chocolate cake with chocolate filling. Can you say YUMMY? You can click on the photo to see it better.

Jeremy Strikes Again!

So my husband and I went out for dinner, and this is what we came back to. Right out side my craft room, upstairs I have a SU box with all my customer's orders ready for pick-up. Now I've been putting them in this box every month for over a year and he has never touched them before. We came home just in time. I think only one stamp set and the itty bitty buttons were damaged, thank goodness. Why is he doing this?

Party Decorations, Part 1

This month my husband celebrated his 55th birthday and I had a surprise birthday party for him. I made several different party favors that I will be sharing with you over the next several days. He knew something was up, but didn't know what. So he really was surprised when he got home and everyone was waiting for him.

I purchased the directions for this cute "calorie free" box of chocolates here. Lynn has some great tutorials on her blog and her directions and photos are great.

This is the inside with the "chocolates". They look almost real.

I love that she even made the Nutrition label for the lid of the chocolates.

This was a really fun project.

Box from the Envelope Scallop Die, Oh My!

This box was made with the Scallop Envelope die (which is an exclusive die from Stampin' Up!). I can't remember who originally posted this box, so if it was you, let me know so I can put a link to your blog. I tweaked it a bit. Here is how I did it. I cut 2 envelopes out using the Presto Patterns paper (summer mini, page 15) & 2 of just the scallop part of the envelope from Lavender Lace card stock. I also cut out a 1" x 3" piece of the Presto Patterns paper and used a brayer in Lavender Lace ink to color it in. I put Sticky Strip on both sides of the envelope flaps and adhered it to the 1" x 3" piece, folded the bottom side piece down and another piece of Sticky Strip for the bottom. Then I added the Lavender Lace card stock to each of the flaps, turned one side down and adhered it as well, and left the back flap up. Super easy box. Then just decorate as you please. Here I used the Elements of Style stamp set and cut it out to decorate the box. Then I added 4, 3 x 3 notes to go inside with envelopes. The notes have a strip of Presto Patterns on the bottom and then stamped the humming bird above with my Thank you (from Teeny Tiny Wishes). This would make a nice hostess gift or teacher gift, don't you think?

Elegant Trio Thank you card

Here is another card I used the Elegant Trio stencil. My card base is Crumb Cake (formerly Kraft) and I stamped Tres Chic (background stamp, page 134) in Chocolate Chip, then I took another layer of Crumb Cake and stenciled the Flourish using Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder and sponged Bashful Blue & Chocolate chip around embossed image. I distressed the sides using the distressing tool found in the Cutter Kit (page 191) and tore into several areas so you can see the layer underneath. Added my sentiment from the Watercolor Trio stamp set (Page 16 of the Summer Mini) & used the Tiny Tags (from the Occasions mini, but still available, #118091 wood mounted or #118592 clear mount) & the Medium Jewelry Tag punch (also still available #117190). Added some Bashful Blue Taffeta ribbon. Also used the medium oval punch & Scallop oval punch. I love to decorate the envelope as well.

Nursery Necessities Baby Shower Card

We had a baby shower to go to this past week-end and this is the card I gave them. I used Nursery Necessities, I love this set. I used So Safron for the card base and then added Bashful Blue and Vanilla that was matted with Chocolate Chip. I cut out the boat after I stamped in Bashful Blue, So Safron & Chocolate Chip, then pieced it together. I also added a tooth pick to one of the sails. The moon was cut out and punched the 2 small stars with the star punch & added a button to the It's a Boy! I think it turned out pretty cute!

Jeremy, What did you do now?

This is what my dog (thank you Jeremy) did to 10 lbs. of potatoes when I didn't put them in the closet like I should have.

Even though we have two Cocker Spaniels, I know it was Jeremy who tore up the bag of potatoes, he put 3 of them on his bed........Funny thing, the bag was out for 2 days and he never touched them. We were gone for 4 hours, still didn't touch them. Then we left to go to dinner, gone maybe an hour and I guess he couldn't control himself any longer....Lesson learned, just put the potatoes in the closet (2 more steps to put them away, you can see the door in the photo) and this won't be a problem any more.

It seems that in his old age (he just turned 11 years old this month) Jeremy has picked up some bad habits. I think he just can't help himself. The gals that come to my classes know, if you drop ANYTHING on the floor he will find it and chew it! I always know what color of c/s he chewed when I clean up the yard.........

Elegant Trio Flower Card

I love these stencils, especially this flower. You can find them on page 11 of the Definitely Decorative Catalog. You get 3 stencils for $9.95. In this card I have combined the stencil with the Presto Patterns dsp (summer mini, page 15). I set my stencil on the dsp and used my Versamark pad to ink up the flower & embossed with clear embossing powder. Then sponged on a bit of Pretty in Pink and Soft Suede, added Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon and used the Jewelry tag & Tiny Tags stamp set (still available, from the Occasions mini catalog) and a piece of Linen Thread. Used the flourish from Elements of Style (page 12) in soft Suede to stamp on the Soft Suede card stock. Added the Itty Bitty Buttons, (page 11) which were first stamped with Itty Bitty Bits and punched out with the matching punch (page 11). TIP: When you adhere your stamped Itty Bitty Bits use a very small dot of Crystal Effects to attach your button on top. I tried used a mini glue dot, but you can see it through the button.

I also love to decorate the envelope, so I stenciled half of the flower.

More To the Nines Cards

Here are the last two cards that go with my purse. This first one was cased from Mary Brown. I started with a Sage base cute at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4". I used the Scallop Trim Border punch along the side and sponged with Chocolate Chip ink. The purse is a Top Note cut from To the Nines designer series paper, scored at 1 5/8", folded down. The handle for the purse is a piece of Kraft Taffeta 3/8" ribbon which I glue down before gluing down the purse. The greeting is from Watercolor Flowers (Summer mini page 16). I also punched out two flowers using the 5-petal punch and secured it with a 5/16" brown brad.

This last card has a base of Sahara Sand cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2". I added a piece of dsp cut at 4" x 3 5/8" and layered on a piece of Chocolate Chip cut at 4 1/8" x 3 3/4", adhered it to the top of the card and added a piece of 5/8" Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon. The sentiment is also from the Watercolor Trio stamp set. The Chocolate Chip flower and leaf are from the Petal Pizzazz stamp set. I used some scraps of the dsp and die cut with the Floral Fusion die (page 196 in BIG catalog). Layered them all together and secured with a silver brad. I sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink and curled the petals. So as you can see, these are very simple cards and easy to duplicate with any of our Designer Series papers. You can click on the photos to see them better.

To the Nines Specialty Cards

Here are two of the cards that go with this purse. I wanted to keep the cards simple since we were also making the purse.

For the first one, I started with a Sahara Sand base cut at 4 1/4" x 11 and scored 5 1/2". I then added the 1" x 3 1/2" strips of the dsp (To the Nines Specialty paper). Added a 5/8" Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon and stamped the sentiment with Chocolate Chip and punched out with the 1 1/4" circle punch and mounted it on a Chocolate Chip 1 3/8" circle punch. This is a five minute card. Would also be great for a "Man" card. Especially since I don't seem to have any "Man" stamps.........

This card starts with a base of Sage Shadow cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2". Added a piece of Vanilla cut at 2" x 4" and stamped the flourish from Vintage Vogue (still available to order #118598)with Chocolate Chip along with the sentiment from Watercolor Trio (Summer mini catalog). That goes on top and a piece of dsp cut at 4" x 3 5/8"for the bottom. I added 17" of Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon and added the flower.

To make the flower:

I used 6 scallop circles, and 2 each of the 2 smaller circles on the Circles #2 die.

2 of one pattern

2 of another pattern

1 Chocolate Chip c/s

1 Sage Shadow c/s

2 one pattern small circle

2 one pattern larger circle

Now you crumble up each one until its in a ball. Flatten out a bit and stack them. Put them all together with a brad and crumple each one up again, then fluff your flower. Done. Contact me if you have any questions.

Sweet Pea Flower Card Made with the Presto Patterns Specialty Papers

Here is another card I've done using the Presto Patterns Specialty Papers (page 15 in the summer mini catalog). This is the one with the flowers. I've sponged entire image with Certainly Celery and cut into strips, 1 1/4" x 4" and mounted them on a base of Kraft (soon to be Crumb Cake). Added a piece of Certainly Celery 5/8" satin ribbon (page 13 in the mini). The Wide Oval Whisper White sentiment is layered on a Certainly Celery Lots of Tags (page 197, BIG catalog) Sizzlit. The sweet pea flowers are made from a tutorial from Judy at Brown Paper Bags. You won't believe how easy these flowers are to make with the Butterfly Punch. I wish my mind worked liked these gals who come up with these great ideas. Who knew a Sweet Pea flower could be made from our Butterfly punch? After I got the card all done I sprayed it with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (page 15 in the Summer mini). You can't tell in the photo, but it does shimmer. The leaves were made from the Two Step Bird Punch.