FRIDAY

Today's card is a fun, manly card for any occasion with a few tips on how to make it with some paper saving techniques.

When you cut out the green grass, cut it out of the middle of your Old Olive layer.  Your Old Olive layer gets covered up so you wont see the hole it creates, but you won't have to use another piece of Old Olive scrap.

When you cut your Stitched Rectangle Framelits lay the small one inside the larger one and cut both out at the same time.  This will give you the "frame" you need for the card.

Then when you cut out the small rectangle to be used for the message, cut it out of the inside piece you got when cutting the frame.  Once again this saves you using other scraps.

Supplies:

Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, /soft Suede cardstock

Stamps: Best Catch (with thinlits), Crackle Paint Background, small stamp of your choice for message

Ink:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso for message

Dimensionals

Stampin' Blends, Wink of Stella

I used a a long retired punch to make the top of the cattails.

I love how the fish fins pop up in this set!

WEDNESDAY

I missed a couple of days again so I will share two cards today that we made at stamp camp.

The first card is very simple.

Supplies:

Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Smokey Slate Ink

Night of Navy, Whisper White cardstock

High Tide, Bokeh Dots Stamp Sets

First stamp your Bokeh Dot image in the center.  I actually inked my stamp with an old roller that we sold because I think it gives this stamp a better inked image.  I LIGHTLY inked the roller then ran the roller off on scratch paper one time before I inked the stamp.

The lighthouse is two step stamping.  Stamp the more solid lighthouse first, then ink and stamp off the second lighthouse image before lining it up and stamping on top of the first image.

Stamp your birds and the message you want.  This thinking of you message is from Sincere Salutations, a very old favorite of mine, long retired.

The second card can also be used for any occasion and is another Simple Stamping idea.

Supplies:

White, Balmy Blue Cardstock

Bird Ballad DSP

Momento Ink

Circle Framelits

Braided Linen Trim

Free as a Bird Stamp Set and Good Morning Magnolia set for the message

Stampin' Blends

TUESDAY

I know I skipped yesterday, but I want to get this project posted so you can RSVP if you would like to get on my mailing list.  The project can be mailed to you, minus the frame, for the same $25.  That should cover postage.

We will be making this Summer Sampler and I am planning on having a class for a frame for each of the four seasons.  Here is the summer one we will be creating.  the frame is 9 x 9 and can either hang on the wall or is free standing in a holder.

For those of you who are local and would like to attend, the class is scheduled for Friday, July 19th at either 9:30 am or 6:30 pm.  Cost is $25 including the frame.  RSVPs are needed by July 10th.

RSVP for class or for mailing.  

MONDAY

I would like to think I am back to posting.  We will see how it goes.  I have had some health concerns I am dealing with, but, hopefully, things are moving in a positive direction.

Today's card is one I worked on using the Beauty Abounds Stamp Set for a birthday card.

I also used the Butterfly Duet Punch and a circle from the Stitched Shapes Dies.  The DSP is from Sale-a-bration.  I have a lot of that beautiful DSP to use up.  The message is from the retired set Golden Afternoon.

Sorry to use some retired items but don't we all have those products and need to use them?

Of course, new catalogs are here and you can see all the wonderful new products by clicking on the icon on the right or contact me so I can see that you get the real deal in your hands.  There's nothing like turning the pages of a new catalog!

For the first time ever Stampin' Up has added stamp sets to the Clearance Rack while supplies last.  Check it out by clicking on the Clearance Rack icon on the right.  Don't miss out.  There are some great deals.

When you come back it will already be July.  Where is the time going?  

MONDAY

Today's post is a little different, but something I have been working on.  These are some favors for Sweet Grace Ministries' get together before Mother's Day.  I made 30 of them.  It was a great way for me to use my DSP.  Their symbol is a butterfly and I try to design some kind of a favor each year for this event, featuring a butterfly in some way.

I cut out the butterflies with the Butterfly Beauty Thinlit Die using some retired DSP.  The DSP was white with glossy designs.  When you ink the paper it takes on a resist look.  So I colored each butterfly using a sponge dauber inked from the ink pad.  Then I took a tissue and wiped each butterfly off so that I could remove any ink from the glossy resist area.  I attached each one to the stick by adding a little Multipurpose Tombow to two areas on the butterflies.  I love how these turned out.

The colors I used were Pool Party, Gorgeous Grape (I thought I had Highland Heather), Crushed Curry, Flirty Flamingo, and Pear Pizazz.

They can be used in a potted plant (indoors).

I have focused on Sweet Grace Ministries before, but it is always good to have a reminder about what this great organization is.  It was started by a local friend who lost her first child at birth.  The organization supports families who are grieving the loss of an infant.  They provide a basket filled with remembrance items, photography of the newborn, and continued support for the family through their support groups. It is such a worthy cause.  If you would like to learn more about this organization visit here.

FRIDAY

Today I am showcasing a few more retiring products.  Here is the card and then I will tell you what will be gone forever.

The two panels at the top of the card show the 2 retiring Embossing Folders - Dot to Dot and Oh My Stars.

The "celebrate" in the middle is from the Celebrate You Thinlits and they are retiring also.  This was made by using Brusho Crystals on Watercolor Paper and then cutting the thinlit out.

This is an easy card to make and can be used with many color combinations and/or combinations of embossing folders.  There is also Wink of Stella on certain areas of the folders but it is hard to see here.

Don't forget to order your retiring products.  Some are already gone.

WEDNESDAY

Our featured retiring set today is Golden Afternoon.

Other retiring product: Petal Pair Embossing Folder

Other supplies:

Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Whisper White cardstock

Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Momento Ink

Stitched Rectangle Framelits

Stampin' Blends

Braided Linen Trim

This card would be good for any occasion. Just change the message.