Grateful Goodness

Howdy, folks!  I was hoping to avoid this, but this will be my last week of doing a blog post every weekday...at least until we get all of our stuff unpacked in our new house in a few weeks.  I have enough draft blog posts to do three posts a week, but not five :)  But I'll bump it back up as soon as I can.

Today's card was one I did for a swap.

Still having fun with the new In Colors, how do you like Mossy Meadow with Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey?  I used Smoky Slate for the card base just because it seemed like too much yellow to do the card base in Hello Honey.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Too Kind, Something to Say
Ink:  Smoky Slate, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Blackberry Bliss
Paper:  Smoky Slate, Mossy Meadow, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Moonlight DSP
Accessories:  Woodgrain EF

Friday Flashback: Take Three

Hello, peeps!  Today is the weekly Friday Flashback, where I choose the name of a retired stamp set out of a hat (actually a giant Tupperware container, none of my hats are big enough), dust it off, and make something new with it.  This week's featured stamp set is Take Three, so let's get started!

Here's a classic card layout, it's hard to go wrong with a triptych.

Also features Butterfly of Happiness and Wild Hearts

And another butterfly card.  As is often the case, I wonder why my retired stamp sets didn't get more use back in the day, but I'm here to give 'em some love now!  So here's my new card, and I used a different stamp from the set!

I chose the sunflower-lookin' flowers and then rummaged in my scraps until I came up with some Orchard Harvest DSP (my favorite fall paper pack ever, I think) and this card was done in nothing flat.  I'd kinda like to do five more cards with this layout, one with every stamp in the set.  Might make a nice little gift to someone, ya think?

Thanks for stopping by today.  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, last card only:
Stamps:  Take Three
Ink:  More Mustard, Early Espresso
Paper:  Raspberry Ripple, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest DSP
Accessories:  Decorative Label punch, Neutrals Candy Dots, Dimensionals

Salzburg, Part 2

I'm not quite as happy with today's layout as I was the one I posted yesterday, but not every page can be your favorite, right?

Again, you can see the original pics here and here.  I kind of like how I placed the photos on here, at least.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  None
Ink:  Basic Gray
Paper:  Pistachio Pudding, Venetian Romance DSP
Accessories:  None

Salzburg

So maybe it's the middle of summer, but my scrapbook layout here is quite wintry.

This is from a couple years ago when we went to Salzburg (duh) with a bunch of friends; see the original pics here and here.

I stamped the title first and then figured out how I wanted to cut it out, I used lots of Framelits on this page.  And I'm loving Mossy Meadow, the green color I used for the page base :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Spencerian Alphabet, Rough Edges Alphabet, Best of Christmas
Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Paper:  Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler, Hello Honey, Whisper White, Letters to Santa DSP
Accessories:  Apothecary Accents, Circles, & Deco Labels Framelits

Nachos: Retro Ride

Hello, Nacho fans!  It's time again for another Nacho Average Sketch Challenge, and here it is:

 I had a couple ideas swirling around for this sketch, but here's the one that ended up on paper:

Obviously I moved the banners up to the top since that's where they worked best with my image.  The bicycle is from Timeless Talk, which I've had for months and this is the first time it's seen ink.  Looking forward to making more fun cards with it!  Also, of the DSP paper stacks I think this chevron pattern is my favorite.  I'm exploring a few color combinations with the new In Colors; this time I paired a bit of Blackberry Bliss with Coastal Cabana (that goes with everything, right?) and Melon Mambo.  I was going to do Strawberry Slush, but went with Melon Mambo to have the matching Candy Dots :)

So now it's your turn.  Check out the Nacho DT creations and link up your own on the Nacho blog!  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Timeless Talk, Perfect Pennants
Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Melon Mambo
Paper:  Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana DSP
Accessories:  Circle, Starburst, & Banner Framelits; Circle punch, Brights Candy Dots, Dimensionals

Stratford-Upon-Avon

Happy Monday!  I'm back with a quick and simple (well, simple for me anyway!) scrapbook layout from when we visited Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The statues on the right hand page are all characters from Shakespeare's plays; see the original photos here.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  None!
Ink:  Basic Gray marker
Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Basic Gray, Watercolor Wonder & Afternoon Picnic DSP
Accessories:  None

Friday Flashback: Broadsheet Alphabet

Woohoo, it's Friday!  And time again for another Friday Flashback.  Today's featured stamp set is Broadsheet Alphabet so you know there will be some scrapbook pages.  Oh look!

Best of Shelli

Scrapbook pages.  I so miss Baja Breeze!  But I'm loving that we have Lost Lagoon now.

Nursery Times

Here's a name frame I did for a baby gift basket.

Flower Fancy

And another one, I really like how the flowers turned out on this one.

Baroque Motifs, Strength & Hope

Two more name frames.  At this point I think I know too many pregos!

Array of Sunshine, Sweet Shoppe Alphabet

And here's the sign for last year's Mad Hatter tea party.  So, nary a card in the whole bunch from the archives, and today's all-new project is another scrapbook layout:

Wish it wasn't dark there on the left side but I kinda can't help where the window is in my craft room, the right side is always lighter than the left.  Hubs and I took these pics at Leeds Castle in August 2011; you can see the photos here and here on my other blog.

Anyway, click on the picture to see it larger.  I was surprised (and happy!) with how fast this layout came together--as soon as I saw the peacock photo, I knew I had to use that patterned paper from the Country Club Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired).  There were so many bright colors in the photos that I decided to go with a neutral for the page base, and I used the bright Glorious Green for my title (sadly retired).  Whee for more scrapbook pages done!

That's it for me today.  Cheers, peeps, and have a great weekend!

Supplies, last photo only:
Stamps:  Broadsheet Alphabet
Ink:  Glorious Green, Midnight Muse
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Country Club SSK
Accessories:  None

Tintagel, Part 2

I'm back with Part 2 of the Tintagel pictures from Cornwall.

Again, you can see the pics on my other blog here and here.

Thanks for stopping by today, have a lovely day!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Vintage Vogue
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Lap of Luxury DSP
Accessories:  none

Tintagel

Well, all our household goods are packed up now and we're almost ready to go back to the States!  First we're going to Wales for a week tomorrow, might as well squeeze in one more trip right?

So today and tomorrow I've got some scrapbook pages from our first trip to Cornwall.

Tintagel has long been associated with King Arthur; see the pics better on my other blog here and here. I had lots of favorite photos from this day.

Closeup of the title and accent...

And another accent, with paper piercing around it for funsies.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Spencerian Alphabet, Vintage Vogue, Artistic Etchings
Ink:  Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, retired Certainly Celery & Bashful Blue DSP
Accessories:  Labels Collection Framelits, Festive Paper Piercing Template

Nachos: Will Travel

Bonjour, Nacho fans!  I hope you're having a lovely Tuesday :)  Nacho Average Challenges has a lovely color combo for you today, take a look:

I looooooooooooooooove this color combination!  Like, a lot.  So here's my travel-inspired card:

That's definitely been me and my hubs for the last several years!  Since we moved to England, we've visited seventeen countries if I've counted correctly (18 if Scotland votes to become independent of Great Britain again).  Pretty cool!  Our travels will shortly come to an end; our house is getting packed up this week...but we're still going to Wales in a couple days  :D

Anyway, I knew what I wanted my World Map panel to look like, but it took me three tries to get it right.  I took a piece of watercolor paper, spritzed it pretty heavily with water, and painted on some Pool Party and Pistachio Pudding ink refills (I diluted them a little bit first in a cheapo plastic paint palette).  Once I had the whole piece colored, I let it dry while I worked on other stuff, and then when it was dry I stamped the World Map background on it in Island Indigo.  On one of my previous tries, I put the stamp face-up on my desk and then put the paper on top and burnished it with my fingers, but part of it ended up blurry because I accidentally moved the paper a bit.  So I had to start all over!  The next time, I put the colored watercolor paper on my scratch paper, inked up the stamp really well and put it down on the paper and LEANED on it with all my weight for a good solid minute.  Worked great!  I got a clear, crisp image even though watercolor paper has a bit more texture than Whisper White (the Whisper White doesn't work so great with the spritz-and-paint technique, I tried that too).  The rest of the card came together in a snap with an old SCS sketch, a few punches and some Candy Dots.

So!  Go check out the Nacho Average Design Team creations and then link up your own beautiful artwork on the Nacho blog!  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Wanderlust (photopolymer), World Map, The Open Sea
Ink:  Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Island Indigo
Paper:  Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Pistachio Pudding DSP
Accessories:  Circle & Scallop circle punches, Regals Candy Dots, Dimensionals

Happy Birthday Vader

Our packers arrive today so for the next little bit I'm sharing a whole lotta scrapbook pages I've made over the last few months :)  And today I've got some doggy birthday pages!

I am in love with that picture of my little Vader wanting to chomp on that brownie, candle and all.  You can see the original pics here.

I didn't have any good dog-themed scrapbook paper so I made my own with stamps.  Hope this gave you a giggle today and have a wonderful day!

Supplies, mostly SU!
Stamps:  Something to Say, Bow Wow, Curly Cute
Ink:  Basic Black, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red
Paper:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine DSP
Accessories:  non-SU Sizzlits alphabet, Scrap Pagerz Letter Template

Friday Flashback: Million-Dollar Moments

It's Friday Flashback time!  Today's featured stamp set is Million-Dollar Moments, a hostess set from spring 2013.  And it's a short flashback.

I don't know why that's the only card I ever made with this stamp set, it's so cute!  But there's just not enough time I suppose to give every stamp set the love and ink it deserves (why no hubs, that *doesn't* mean I have too many stamps, why would you think that?).  So here's the new creation:

I kind of wonder if I should have left the "rain" as just the one bit above her hand and not stamped it all over the panel, but oh well.  This was one of those kinda-gonzo SCS sketches but suddenly it clicked in my brain when I went to make a card with this stamp set.  I know lots of prego girls so I'm sure this will get used sooner than later :)  The Basic Black layer is embossed with a houndstooth pattern, kind of hard to see in the pic.

That's it for me today, thanks for stopping by!

Supplies, last card only:
Stamps:  Million-Dollar Moments, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Daydream Medallions
Ink:  StazOn black, Pool Party
Paper:  Pool Party, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:  Word Window & Modern Label punches, Houndstooth EF, Dimensionals

Old Wardour, Part 2

Yep, I liked this castle so much (and the pictures that we took there) that I had to do two layouts for it :)  So here's the second one.

Again, if you want to see the original pictures, check them out here and here.  I'm off to do more work around the house, bleargh.

Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Etruscan
Ink:  Garden Green, Ballet Blue, Early Espresso marker
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Afternoon Daydream SSK
Accessories:  square punches

Old Wardour

So giving up sleep is turning out to be more difficult than I expected ;)  I still have so much to do!  So today's post is a scrapbook layout I did a while back.

Oooh, that picture turned out dark.  If you want to see the original photos, check out my other blog here and here.  Old Wardour Castle was my favorite castle that we visited in England; maybe not the biggest or most impressive, but surrounded by peaceful countryside and just a lovely ruin.

Cheers, peeps!  I'm off to run errands (again).

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Morning Post Alphabet, Timeworn Trim
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Primrose Petals, Soft Suede, and Primrose Petals & Soft Suede DSP, Parisian Summer DSP
Accessories:  None

Nachos: Mosaic Greeting

Mornin', Nacho fans!  This week, Nacho Average Challenges brings you an awesome sketch:

So great for those stamp sets with coordinating punches!  Which is exactly what I did:

And I do believe I spy some new In Colors happening here!  Say hello to Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon, and Blackberry Bliss.  It looks a bit extra-dark in the picture, IRL it's a scrumptious purple.  Hello Honey is close enough to Crushed Curry that I used CC Candy Dots on here.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could get Candy Dots in all the In Colors too?

Anyway, you know the drill!  Check out the DT work on the Nacho blog and then link up your own creation :)  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Mosaic Madness, Four You
Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon
Paper:  Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Moonlight DSP Stack
Accessories:  Mosaic punch, Regals Candy Dots, Dimensionals, Lost Lagoon stitched satin ribbon

Tangelo Twist

Hellooooo in blogland!  Hubs and I just got back from a 10-day trip...a Baltic cruise with an extra day in Copenhagen...so this is the first time I've stamped in about two weeks.  It's kinda slow getting back into it at first, ya know?  But here's what I've got.

I realized that the *only* new In Color I hadn't really done anything with yet was Tangelo Twist, so here ya go.  I paired it with Daffodil Delight and Blackberry Bliss; I think this color combo could be fun for fall cards, but now Gently Falling is retired....so I wonder what kind of fall stamps we'll have this year?  Guess we'll find out in a couple of months.  But hey, we've got a brand new catty to play with in the meantime!

Anyway, I used the latest sketch from Freshly Made:

I keep forgetting that no matter which way I turn that one stamp from Gorgeous Grunge, the stripes still point the same direction.  Oh well.  I've got to get back to cleaning up the house and getting ready for the packers to arrive next week : p

Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Flower Shop, Lots of Thanks, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:  Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Blackberry Bliss
Paper:  Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White
Accessories:  Chalk Talk & Banner Framelits, Pansy punch, Delicate Dots EF, retired Daffodil Delight button, Whisper White baker's twine, Dimensionals

Friday Flashback: Baby Talk

Welcome to this week's Friday Flashback!  I tell ya, if there's one thing I need a lot of lately it's baby cards.  Lucky for me, today's featured stamp set is the baby-licious Baby Talk.  Let's flash back!

Also features Linen and Petite Patterns

I still miss Gable Green and Green Galore, they were great limey greens.  Fun for little boy cards :)

Also features Wild Hearts and Print Pattern

And here's a baby girl card.  You untie the ribbon at the top and use it to pull out the insert from inside the sleeve:

I also miss Orchid Opulence and Cool Caribbean, though Coastal Cabana is totally wonderful :)  What can I say, I just love colors.

Also features Bundle of Joy

You know that the baby books would make an appearance!  That's it for the Flashback, here's today's brand-new card:

I raided my scrap box for a couple of complementary patterns and I love these colors together:  Lavender Lace (retired), Regal Rose (retired), and Pumpkin Pie (not retired).  Just for funsies, I dusted off my Watercolor Wonder Crayons and went to town on that stamped image.  I have a friend who just found out she's having a girl (she has a 2-year-old boy and was hoping for a girl this time) so she'll be getting this card and a pair of baby booties before we move, which is fast approaching.

Thanks for joining me for this week's Friday Flashback, cheers peeps!

Supplies, last card only:
Stamps:  Baby Talk
Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Lavender Lace, Whisper White, DSP scraps from Flowers for You, Love Sparkles SSK, and Pumpkin Pie DSP
Accessories:  Black EP, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Labels Collection & Banner Framelits, Dimensionals, Rhinestones

Trevi Fountain

I cranked out a lot of scrapbook pages in April and May, and I think today is a good day to share a layout from our first trip to Italy.

Legend has it that if you throw a penny over your shoulder into Trevi Fountain, you're destined to return to Rome (see the original pics here).  So there's the hubs pretending to throw his coin...he claims I almost beaned someone in the head with mine, but that's hardly my fault because a.) there were too many people crowded around there and b.) you throw the coin behind you so how was I to know and c.) apparently I throw like a girl.  Anyway, here's a detail shot for you:

Love me some alphabet stamps!  That one is Jayne's Type, and those dots under it are from Garden Greetings.  I tell you this because it took me over a half an hour to figure out what stamp set that line o' dots was in.  The shell is from the long-retired Stippled Shells...and this is why I don't get rid of my retired stamps, I used three retired sets on this one layout : )

Thanks for stopping by today.  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Stippled Blossoms, Garden Greetings, Jayne's Type Alphabet
Ink:  Pacific Point, Cajun Craze, Peach Parfait, Soft Sky, Basic Gray
Paper:  Peach Parfait, Pacific Point, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, High Tide DSP
Accessories:  1" and 1 1/4" circle punches

Strawberry Slush Love

'Member I said last week that I'd made two cards for the Color Throwdown?  You remember this beautiful color combo:

Here's my second card.

I got Countless Sayings I and II (both photopolymer sets) sometime close to Valentine's Day but never used them...until now.  I stamped the giant Love with Versamark, embossed with black EP, and then thought I'd do a bit of shading on the letters.  Took a while, but it was kinda fun to play around with shading for the first time in a long time.

That's it for me today, thanks for stopping by!  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Countless Sayings I (photopolymer)
Ink:  Versamark, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana DSP, Quatrefancy DSP
Accessories:  Basic Black EP

Nachos: Sunshine & Butterflies

Hellooooo Nacho fans!  Are ya ready for a brand-new Nacho Average Color Challenge?  Because here it is!

Three Regals colors, love it!  Have I ever mentioned how happy I am that Crushed Curry came back to the regular SU! color lineup?  Mah favorite yaller ever.  (You're supposed to read that with a fake cowboy accent.)

Anywha!  Here's my creation:

I used my paper piercing tool and a couple of piercing templates to do the butterfly toots.  I mean, why do we always draw flight paths behind butterflies and airplanes?  For the airplanes, it's exhaust or condensation, right?  So this must be butterfly toots.

I think I've already spent too much time thinking about this.

Go see what the other Nachos have made and then give it a whirl yourself!  Link up on the Nacho Average Challenges blog so we can ooh and ahh over your creation :)

Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Feel Goods, Mixed Bunch, Papillon Potpourri
Ink:  Island Indigo, Perfect Plum, Crushed Curry
Paper:  Island Indigo, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Accessories:  Essentials & Occasions Paper Piercing Packs, Scallop Edge, Blossom & Elegant Butterfly punches, Dimensionals, Rhinestones

Seize the Cake

Happy new catalog day!  Ready to see some new goodies?

That is a greeting I can get behind 100%.  ("Seize the chocolate" would work too.)  I made this for a new catty swap and used the new sentiment stamp set Something to Say and the new Moonlight DSP stack, featuring new In Colors Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon (those two are tied for my favorite) and Hello Honey (which is also nice).  The swaps were card fronts but I did make one full card and decorated the inside:

Yep, I think I'll have some fun with these new colors and new stamps and new papers :D  Cheers, peeps!

Supplies, all SU!
Stamps:  Something to Say
Ink:  Lost Lagoon
Paper:  Blackberry Bliss, Hello Honey, Whisper White, Moonlight DSP Stack
Accessories:  Banner & Label Framelits, Cupcake punch, Lost Lagoon ribbon, Dimensionals