This was the card most people picked as their favorite from the class:

I had fun with the bright colors and I pulled out the Striped Organdy ribbon from the spring catalog to add a little extra in the middle.

And then there was the pumpkin card…  I was a bit stuck on fall and Thanksgiving and so I kept it in theme and made it a thank you card!

We colored in the pumpkin image with markers and then stamped 3 times without reinking.  So:

1. Color your image and stamp the center pumpkin
2. Immediately stamp the pumpkin to the left of your center pumpkin
3. Immediately stamp the pumpkin to the right of your center pumpkin
4. Clean the stamp

That gives you the stamped images but slightly faded for the main image.  Then add a matching button and you get that extra pop!

So if you decide to go for the stamp set…. don’t forget to grab the matching buttons too!  They are even 40% off!

See them online:  Button Buddies stamp set  |  Brights Designer Buttons

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Stampin’ Up! Supples Used
Stamps – Button Buddies, Delightful Dozen
Paper – Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso, River Rock, Crumb Cake
Ink – Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Tangerine Tango marker, Gumball Green marker
Accessories – 1 3/4” Scallop Circle punch, Brights Designer Buttons, Glue Dots, Old Olive Striped organdy ribbon

I also thought I’d share some cute swap cards I received using this stamp set too.  That way you can see some other ideas for this guy too!

card designed by Rose Marie Coleman

card designed by Kim Allen

I guess we all were also inspired by the coordinating Sunshine & Sprinkles designer series paper.  Which, I have to say, is a paper that when I opened the package, I didn’t know whether I liked it or not, but after using it some (like on this sunburst scrapbook layout) I really have been having fun with it!

So, what do you think?  Are you on board with the whale?

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Stampin’ Up! Supples Used
Stamps – Oh, Whale
Paper – Whisper White, Marina Mist, Sunshine & Sprinkles designer paper
Ink – Melon Mambo, Marina Mist
Accessories – Big Shot, Cloud Embossing Folder, Pinwheel sizzlit, Silver mini brads, rhinestones, Stampin’ Dimensionals

But as I started going through pictures and wanting to scrap this picture from Leadership convention with my mom, I saw the quote printed on the paper and thought it would be just right.

The quote is

A loving heart is the truest wisdom – Charles Dickens

Perfect for a picture of my mom who flew out to Orlando, FL with me from Seattle, WA to share the learning and excitement of Leadership and my first time being eligible to attend Manager’s Reception.

So with my base paper chosen, I started adding embellishments and it turned out the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and framelits fit my mood just right.

I grabbed some scrap fabric from the retired Springtime Vintage collection to add textured borders instead of my usual paper layering.  Then I tucked in some banners I cut out using the coordinating framelits.

For the journaling block, I just created an extended photo mat with Very Vanilla paper to give me space for my writing and then added some stamping and a little bit of ribbon to separate the journaling from the picture.

It turned out to be a fairly quick layout but one that I love for the great memories it captures!

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Supples Used
Stamps – Hearts a Flutter
Paper – More Amore designer paper, Very Vanilla
Ink – Real Red, Basic Black marker
Accessories – Big Shot, Hearts a Flutter framelit, Springtime Vintage fabric, Crochet Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals

But, today is another challenge day at Cute Card Thursday, and so I have a fun card to share with you:

The theme for the week is  Dancing Queen and when I saw the theme, I immediately thought of the Quinceanera stamp set.  Sure, the image is for a coming out party technically, but doesn’t that usually entail some kind of dancing at the party?  

The other thing that I thought of was disco balls and so all that Silver Glimmer paper I received during Sale-a-Bration this year got put to good use as a sparkly trim to my card.  Plus, with all that sparkle, I had to add some glitter to her crown too.  I couldn’t quite figure out how to make a disco ball for her to be dancing to… but now I feel the challenge coming on to come up with something!

The one other detail that I just had to do was to add a Vellum overlay to the stamped image.  It gave her dress some dimension and softened the Strawberry Slush color that I used to color in the dress.  I used a dot of the Tombow liquid glue at the waist to help hold it in place and then let the rest of it float freely.

Now, it you were paying attention and looking closely, you may have noticed some new Sneak Peek items in this card. 

• The card base and pink cardstock used in the card are from the new 2013-2015 In Color collection.  I used Baked Brown Sugar (this may be displacing Soft Suede as a go-to medium brown) and Strawberry Slush.  Everyone has been raving about this pink color and just looking at the sheet of paper I didn’t think it was all that special.  But once I started pairing it with other colors, I’m feeling the love.  Definitely not too bright while still being a rosy pink.
• The sentiment is from a fun new stamp set called Really Good Greetings.  I think this will be a stamp set that is great for scrapbooking titles and accents as well as card making.  At least that is why I convinced myself I had to get it now.  hee hee .

So, speaking of new products – I am getting ready to mail out the new 2013-2014 Annual Catalogs (you know, that 200+ page book of products and project ideas) and want to make sure everyone who wants a copy will get one!

*** If you would like a copy of the new catalog mailed to you, shoot me a message at jennifer@nwstamper.com or fill out my catalog request form.

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to visit Cute Card Thursday to enter your take on the Dancing Queen theme for the week.  I promise it is a fun one!

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Supples Used
Stamps – Quinceanera, Really Good Greetings
Paper – Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Silver Glimmer Paper, Strawberry Slush, Tea for Two designer paper**
Ink – Cardstock Vellum, Early Espresso, Strawberry Slush, Blush Blossom marker**, Gumball Green marker
Accessories – Tombow multipurpose liquid glue, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Details glitter, Stampin’ Dimensionals
**Retiring item

So, this year I tried to be good and only get 1 (ok, I got 2!) of the shorter canisters for the holidays.  And they were delicious.  But when I was done with the candies, I had the containers left and it seemed like a shame to just recycle them, so I stuck them in a cupboard for later.

Well, soon I realized that we were collecting soup can labels and box tops for education cut outs on my kitchen counter and it looked like such a mess, I knew I needed to do something …  and so, a cute counter storage idea was born!

I grabbed some of my extra Orchard Harvest designer paper that I had left over from the Holiday Catalog (man I love this paper) and got to work.  I measured the height of the can and then cut a 4 1/4” x 12” piece of the designer paper.  The 12” is a little too short to fit all the way around the can, so I grabbed another piece of paper from that collection and cut a 4 1/4” x 2ish” piece of paper to cover the gap.

I used Sticky Strip to attach the smaller paper (the Rose Red dotted paper) to the top and bottom of the can and a little Snail Tape Runner adhesive to help tack down the 4 1/4” long sides.

Then I put Sticky Strip along the edges of my long 4 1/4” x 12” strip of paper and starting from one edge of the Rose Red paper, I started wrapping it around my can.  When I was done, you had a bit of the pink peeking out from the blue gingham pattern.

It needed something, so I grabbed my Rose Red grosgrain ribbon to run all the way around the base of the canister and overlapping the seams of where my papers didn’t quite meet up.  I used Sticky Strip for all the ribbon too.  Then I tied a bow and used Hot Glue to adhere it to the front of the can.

Finally, it just needed something else and I wasn’t sure what… but then it hit me!  I needed a cute top!

Thankfully the Floral Frames Framelits were just the right size to fit inside the rim of the lid!  I grabbed some Rose Red and Summer Starfruit cardstock and got to cutting.  Then I sponged the edges of my flowers with some Rose Red ink.  Add a Summer Starfruit Dahlia to the center and it looks cute from any side.

So, grab your favorite designer paper and ribbon and get to decorating!

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

This week the theme is:

Something Blue

I mean, there are so many ways to interpret that and believe me, I went through a number of different ideas myself.  But in the end, I ended up coming back to this card.

I just got this new stamp set – Simply Sketched as part of my preorder from the new Stampin’ Up! catalog that comes out at the end of the month.  This is actually a hostess set, but I LOVE the sketched images in the set and the font of the sentiments, that I had to get it early. 

Anyway, the flower from this set is what started it all!  I knew I wanted to watercolor it and make it blue and then I started grabbing other supplies from around my craft room that went with the blue theme.

So, my stamp is a sneaky peek… but the rest of the card is an homage to the retiring items.  I grabbed one of my last few scraps from my Comfort Café designer paper for the patterned papers in the card.  I used the retiring Certainly Celery paper for a mat and then added one more shade of blue with the retiring Marina Mist scallop dotted ribbon (the dots are on the backside ).  Oh, and retiring ink colors for my stamped image too!  Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, and Baja Breeze.

That is a LOT of blues!

The nice thing is that they all went together and, while thankfully I don’t have an occasion that calls for a sympathy card right now, I now have a card that I would feel good sending out to a friend or loved one who needs a personal note of support.

But if you have a different idea (or even something similar) that you have bouncing around in your mind for the challenge this week – Something Blue – hop on over to Cute Card Thursday and join in the challenge fun!

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Supples Used
Stamps – Simply Sketched
Paper – Watercolor Paper, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery**, Comfort Cafe designer paper**
Ink – Stazon, Baja Breeze**, Certainly Celery**, Bashful Blue**
Accessories – Aqua Pen, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Marina Mist Scallop Dotted Ribbon**, Stampin’ Dimensionals
**Item retiring June 3rd or when supplies run out

But when I was working on cards for a recent card class, I came up with this simple design that is quick to make and still totally cute and pulled together (if I do say so myself!)

This stamp image is from the Easy Events stamp set.  Of course they are retiring this stamp set on me!  I love having stamp sets that have images and sentiments for a bunch of different occasions.  Sure there is For the Birds and Embellished Events… but I have a soft spot for Easy Events.

Anyway, I kept the overall design of the card simple and instead focused on little touches here and there

Some piercing around the circle (using the Essentials Piercing Pack) and a Designer Build a Brad for an extra accent.  And if you are curious, I just stamped the flower image again and then colored it in with the Certainly Celery marker and punched out just the flower head to go in the center of the designer brad.

Add some sponging and you are done!

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Supples Used
Stamps – Easy Events
Paper – Whisper White, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Ink – Basic Black, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink marker, Certainly Celery marker
Accessories – Designer Build a Brad, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Bitty Punch Pack, Essentials Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer, 2 1/2” Circle Punch, 1 3/4” Circle Punch

Both of these cards are ones I received as swaps and they are the reason I decided I had to the the Feels Good stamp set.  Both also use the ribbon that I love – Ruffled In Color Ribbon.  Don’t forget – this ribbon is retiring at the end of the month, so if you love it like me, you might want to snag a roll or two before they sell out and are gone for good!

card by Lyssa Zwolanek

Love the ruffled ribbon and the use of the Pop Up Posies kit.  This kit is only available through the end of the month as well as part of the Spring Catalog!

card by Trina Kuriger

I thought this was so clever to cut out the oval from from the front of the card using the Oval Framelits and then add the flowers and leaves from the Secret Garden stamps & framelits.

And again… can we all shed a tear for that super cute ribbon going away?

Ok, I’m dabbing my eyes but I love these cards and am grateful for these talented demonstrators sharing these swaps!

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Both of the samples I’m sharing with you today came from some amazing creators that I had the privilege of swapping with at Leadership this year.  I love how Whisper White, Crumb Cake, and Primrose Petals come together to make such a pretty combo!

card created by Jessica Brigden

card created by Twila Mooneyham

Which one would you pick for your mom?

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Everytime we go to Fred Meyer, Nicholas *has* to ride the Fred Meyer kiddie ride truck.  We walk in the door and as we walk by the area with the truck he notices it and asks if I have a quarter so we can ride it.  Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t, but either way we invariably stop so he can at least sit on the truck and pretend to drive it.

And of course, now that Caitlin is getting older, she has to get in on the action as well and wants her turn!  So, I had to snap a picture a couple months back of each of them in the truck and create a layout just for this ride.

I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I started shuffling through my (I’ll admit) large amounts of misc patterned papers and cardstock and the bold primary colors in the Big Top Birthday caught my eye.  I had a hard time getting myself to use the paper when I was working on cards because it was so bold, but when used as an accent for a scrapbook page – suddenly it was a whole new paper!

But, one of the best things about this layout was creating my embellishments from random supplies around my craft room.  I especially like how this tag turned out:

It’s a simple rectangle of the Natural Composition designer paper that I snipped off two corners to make the tag shape.  Then I used on of my beloved Jumbo Eyelets (why did these have to be retired!?!) to give me a grommet for my Stitched Pacific Point Grosgrain ribbon.  Then I just used a little bit of linen thread to tie the ends of the ribbon together and added some matching cardstock trim to the bottom of the tag.  Add some dots with the White Gel Pen and some journaling and there you go!

I have to admit, I LOVE how this layout turned out and its kind of nice to do a layout that doesn’t involve pinks and flowers.

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See the Latest Availability & PDFs of all the retiring stamps and accessories here

Supples Used
Stamps – Rough Type Alphabet (retired)
Paper – Whisper White, Basic Black, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Going Grey cs (retired), Natural Composition designer paper, Big Top Birthday designer paper (retired)
Ink – Basic Black, Pacific Point, Real Red
Accessories – Large Star punch (retired), Small Star punch (retired), 2-3/8” Scallop circle punch, 1” circle punch, Scallop Trim edge punch, Crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelets (retired), Stitched grosrain ribbon Pacific Point, Linen Thread, White Gel Pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers