February Paper Pumpkin and a Cactus Card

Hello!

It's been awhile since I've talked about Paper Pumpkin. Do you know what Paper Pumpkin is? It's a monthly subscription box that allows you quick and fun crafting right to your mailbox. Included each month is everything you need to create several projects (except scissors for cutting ribbon/twine). You always get a stamp set and ink as well. It costs $19.95 plus tax (shipping is included in the price) so it's a really great value! You can contact me to start your own subscription. You aren't locked in once you start. You can skip a month or two or cancel at any time. I love going to my mailbox each month and seeing something besides bills, don't you?

I'm really looking forward to February's kit because suddenly, succulents have really caught my attention. Here are my friends Sarah and Leana to give you a peek. After the video, scroll down to see the cute cactus card I made. :)

And now for my card:

I am SO happy with how this card turned out! My style at it's finest. Clean and simple with lots of white. I used the Flowering Desert stamp set (#148700) from the 2019 Occasions Catalog. I did CASE the design from Mary Fish but changed it up just a little. First I die cut a panel using one of the new Stitched Rectangle Framelits (#148551) which are also found in the 2019 Occasions Catalog. These are definitely a MUST HAVE. Then, I sponged a little sunrise glow using Petal Pink ink (#147108) and a Stampin' Sponge (#141337). Next, I stamped the saguaro cactus in Old Olive ink (#147090) right over top of the pink. I stamped the greeting in Memento Tuxedo Black ink (#132708) and then comes the fun part. I did a little research on what saguaro blooms look like. They are generally white with creamy yellow centers so I took one of the wood flowers from the Butterfly Elements that you can get free during Sale-A-Bration with a $50 order. I pressed the top of the flower into some White Craft Ink (#147277) then sprinkled White Embossing Powder (#109132) over top. Just heat it till it melts and is glossy. I used my Dark Mango Melody Stampin' Blends marker (#147944) to color one of my Pearls (#144219) so it mimicked the real-life saguaro blooms (NOTE: Stampin' Up! does not recommend using Blends to color embellishments as it may damage the tip of the marker. Use at your own risk). Then, using Mini Glue Dots (#103683), I adhered the colored pearl to the flower center then the flower to the cactus.

Then I adhered the finished panel to the Notecard (#131527) using dimensionals (#104430).

So simple but isn't it so cute! Here's a little closeup of the embossed wood flower.

I live in a desert but not surrounded by cacti so I usually don't go for the cactus sets. For some reason though this one was calling my name and I can't wait to make more cards using it!

Thank you for visiting today. If you want to give Paper Pumpkin a try, you can click HERE to sign up. Remember, you can skip or cancel any time. Also another thing to note is if you don't like a particular kit, you can contact Stampin' Up! directly and they will assist you! It's really a win-win!

See you Friday! Make it a great and inky day!

Rebecca :)

Sunshine Wishes, part 2

Hello!

As I mentioned on Tuesday, I had a few extra die cut words so I decided to put them to good use on another card.

I arranged the words in a ombre-ish fashion then I spattered the card using my Bermuda Bay marker (#147157)

I used the rest of my dyed twine and other bits and pieces to form the embellishment cluster. The "so happy for you" is from the Sunshine Sayings stamp set (#141594) that coordinates with the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits (#141489). I used a leftover piece of one of the Pearlized Doilies (#146936). Did you know you can cut them apart to get different shapes? On the back I sponged some Grapefruit Grove ink (#147142). It's subtle but in real life you can just see that grapefruit-colored glow peeking out from underneath. It's a cool effect. I also added a classic label punch (#141491) accent along with a small scalloped circle from the Layering Circles Framelits (#141705). I also die cut a Vellum Card Stock (#101856) circle with the Stitched Shapes Framelits (#145372).

Here's a close-up of the embellishment cluster:

I love having generic congratulations cards on hand. This one could be used for so many occasions.

Thank you for visiting me today! In all your excitement of new products coming out, don't forget the amazing things in the Annual Catalog!

Make today and great and inky day!

Rebecca :)

Sunshine Wishes Card

Hello!

We got quite the winter storm yesterday! It was also Martin Luther King Day which meant no school, which also meant, no driving in the snow. Thank goodness!

Superman and I did venture out to his dad's house to shovel for him and to the hardware store to get some paint for a DIY project we're working on. So glad he was driving!

Making cards on a stormy day is one of my favorite things. I even made a video which you'll find below. (Disclaimer: I'm a VERY amateur videographer. I will get better with time, but in the meantime please excuse the poor lighting and the fact that my project wasn't directly in the camera's view ha ha ha).

It's easy to get caught up with all the new stuff that is constantly coming out but this time I decided to pull out "older" products from the Annual Catalog. I used the Sunshine Wishes thinlits dies (#141489) to create a repeating sentiment card.

The color combo I used was kind of similar to my last card. Night of Navy, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Soft Seafoam, Petal Pink, Grapefruit Grove. I am LOVING these colors together! On my Night of Navy congrats, I first painted on a coat of Wink of Stella (#141897) then topped that with a layer of Fine Tip Glue (#139389). I colored my Whisper White Baker's Twine (#124262) using my Grapefruit Grove ink (#147142) and a Sponge Dauber (#133773). I kept it imperfect so it would look a little tie dyed. This is a really great technique to customize any of your white twines or ribbons.

I used the Lace Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#148530) to add some fun texture to the card base. This is a new product but I thought it paired so well with the die cut words. I wasn't a fan of that TIEF at first but now I can't stop using it!

Here's a close-up that shows the sparkle, shine and sequin-y goodness! You can also see the twine has a little bit of an ombre feel. So pretty!

Here's the card in action:

I hope you stayed warm today...or cool if you live south of the equator. I had a few die cut words left over from this card so stop by on Friday to see what I did with them!

Thank you for stopping by. Make today a great and inky day!

Rebecca :)

Bits and Pieces

Hello!

I'm back again with a new card to share. I was given a few sheets of DSP from the 2019 Occasions catalog for an assignment awhile back. I loved the Night of Navy spots paper and wanted to use it on a card. First though I had to come up with a fun color combo. I decided on this:

photo courtesy of Stampin' Up!

These colors are from top left - Pool Party, Lemon Lime, Twist, Night of Navy, Grapefruit Grove.

Aren't they just yummy?? Here's the card I made:

I just love how it turned out! I decided to make a bit of a "window" card. Kind of having the Pool Party label floating, if you will. Here's the inside:

I know it's nothing super spectacular ha ha. But It turned out pretty cool. Here's a close up:

I used dies from the Bouquet Bunch Framelits set (#143659); dies from the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits set (#141489) plus a stamp from the coordinating stamp set Sunshine Sayings (#141594); the label die is from the Stitched Labels Framelits set (#146828). I also used a stamp from the Banners for You stamp set (#141710) and the coordinating die from the Bunch of Banners Framelits set (#141488).

I also used silver Metallic Pearls (#146282) and Silver & Whisper White Baker's Twine (#145569).

The cool dotted DSP is from the Happiness Blooms DSP pack (#148795). I also used a piece of Window Sheet (#142314) and Vellum Cardstock (#101856). I know that is a lot of supplies used on one card. But if you've been collecting even a few supplies over time, you can make this card or one very similar! Just goes to show you can mix and match your scraps for a beautiful look!

I hope this card inspired you to pull together your own bit and pieces to create!

Thank you for visiting. Make today a great and inky day!

Rebecca :)

And the Winner is.....

No one!

😂😂😂😂😂

Hello!

Well I guess I can't be too disappointed that no one participated in my birthday contest. I haven't blogged since last July! You've probably all gone away thinking I was done blogging. So sorry!

In case someone is reading this and is wondering what my favorite Stampin' Up! color is.....

COASTAL CABANA (photo courtesy of Stampin' Up!)

It's blue, but it isn't. It's green but it isn't. Kind of like the ocean. Your computer screen doesn't even do this color justice. A few years ago this was an In Color. I was so sad when it went away but then did the biggest happy dance when it was brought back as one of the new core colors! I'll be posting some cards soon that incorporate Coastal Cabana into the color scheme. I promise you won't have to wait for 6 months to see. LOL.

What is your favorite Stampin' Up! color? Leave a comment on this post letting me know!

Thanks for visiting and I'll be back soon. Make it a great and inky day!

Rebecca :)

A Birthday Gift!

Hello and Happy Birthday!

To me any way. :D  Today is my birthday. It's the only reason I ever look forward to January LOL. How old am I, you ask? Let's just say I'm old enough to be a grandma and have no kids living at home but young enough that I still have people telling me I look too young to have 4 grandkids. ;).

Today is also my Stampin' Up! anniversary. Nine years ago today, I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I love the creative outlet and opportunities that Stampin' Up! has provided me over the years. Not to mention the wonderful friends I've made that I wouldn't have met if not for Stampin' Up!

To celebrate my special day, I am offering two gifts! You do have to do something in order to be entered to win but no money is involved on your part. ha ha ha.

Here's all you have to do:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what you think my favorite Stampin' Up! ink color is. If you guess the wrong color but it's in the right color group, I'll send a small gift. If you guess the exact color, I'll send you a bigger gift. If we have more than one right guesser, I'll draw names for the winner. I wish I could give everyone a gift. Maybe when I reach $1,000,000 in sales I'll be able to afford that. ;p.

Contest will close at 11:59 on January 12th. I'll draw the name(s) and I'll publish a post announcing the winner(s) on my blog here on January 14th.

Good luck and in case you need to see all the SU! colors in one place in order to guess, here they are!

Make it a wonderful and inky day!

Rebecca :)