SSINK Baby Shower Blog Hop

Today we're throwing a baby shower! One of our very own Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration design team members just had her sweet baby boy on April 10th, which just happens to be perfect timing for our SURPRISE SHOWER for this month's blog hop! Congratulations Kim Ryden on the birth of your sweet baby boy Micah Hunter. We are so happy for you!! Enjoy "opening" each of your gifts as you hop along! :)

As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers! You should have just left stop number 6 on the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Blog Hop - Jennifer at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life. If so, you are in the right spot. If a link doesn't work or you get off track, you will find the full blog hop lineup below.

My gift for Kim and baby Micah is something that all new mamas want ~ a gift card to Target to buy whatever she needs! :) Kim, enjoy buying some cute new baby boy clothes, diapers (if you must!), or all of those fun new style baby accessories you swoon over! Of course a gift card requires a cute gift card holder. 

M for Micah!

Pull on the ribbon and you will pull out the gift card holder.

We love you, Kim! 

Be looking in your mailbox soon for lots of goodies to come. ;)

Next up on the hop is Donna at Geek Squad Crafting. Keep hopping along with us to join in the fun of our virtual baby shower.






Participant List:

1. Diana at Stampin' Fun with Diana
2. Bree at Craft-Somnia Momma
3. Jenny at Jenny G Paper Crafts
4. Kathy at Kathy's Stamping World
5. Melissa at The Stamp Doc
6. Jenn at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life
7. Heidi at Stuck on Stampin'
8. Donna at Geek Squad Crafting

Botanical Blooms Bundle

Today at the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog we are sharing some of the great bundles available for purchase from the 2016 Occasions Catalog. Any bundle you purchase always saves you 15%!

The bundle I have really enjoyed playing with is the Botanical Blooms Bundle. With this bundle you get the Botanical Blooms Photopolymer Stamp Set, Botanical Builder Framelits, and Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper. Purchasing them all together saves you 15% off the price if you were to buy them individually! The products coordinate so well together...why wouldn't you want them all?! ;)

The first card I am sharing with you today may look familiar to some of you as this was one of the make n takes we created at November's On Stage Local (top right).

I changed the dimensions, but kept the design concept the same and simply attached it to a Hello Honey card base. I added a sentiment and a candy dot for the center of the yellow flower. To get that "perfect" top and bottom image on the white, I used my faithful Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. Without it, there is no way I would be able to get it that straight as the stamp itself isn't as long as the paper. Have you tried this awesome tool yet? This particular DSP is unique as it is meant for you to stamp directly onto the Botanical Garden Designer Series Paper using the coordinating stamp set. How fun!

Stamp Sets	Botanical Blooms, Suite Sayings (sentiment)
Ink	Hello Honey, Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow
Paper	Whisper White, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Botanical Gardens DSP
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Old Olive Candy Dots,
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Botanical Builder Framelits, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

My second card is a CASE from Angela Lorenz. We made this card at February's card night. I am just getting around to posting! I thought this would be fitting to share another example of how to use the three coordinating products. The vine on the right of the card...isn't that beautiful?! I used the same concept of stamping onto the DSP. The center of the yellow flower is sponged with Cajun Craze so there is some ink peeking through behind the center of the floor. I finished it off with a Cajun Craze candy dot.

Stamp Sets	Botanical Blooms, Suite Sayings (sentiment)
Ink	Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow
Paper	Whisper White, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Botanical Gardens DSP
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Cajun Craze Candy Dots, Sponge Daubers
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Botanical Builder Framelits

Check out the other project I created using this bundle!

Shimmery Birthday Balloon

Good morning! I have a fun card for you today that shows off a little shimmer! The first picture of this card may be a little hard to tell, but the polka dots on the balloon have a little shine and shimmer to them (take a peek at the second picture posted for a better look).

I created this card for February's card night (the theme was birthdays!). I used the Perfect Pairings Sale-A-Bration stamp set (only available through TODAY!!) and the Celebrate Today stamp set and coordinating Balloon Framelits. I love the boldness of the Happy Birthday sentiment (you can see the Sale-A-Bration freebies HERE).

Here is an up close of the shimmer on the balloons. To get this effect I used Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. It gives it that subtle shine to add a fun touch to a card.

Stamp Sets	Celebrate Today, Perfect Pairings (2016 SAB)
Ink	Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaron, Basic Black, Pool Party, Versamark
Paper	Whisper White, Watermelon Wonder, Birthday Bouquet DSP
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Pool Party Twine, Iridescent Embossing Powder
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Balloon Framelits, Heat Tool

Head on over to the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog to see some other cards with shimmer and shine.

And, don't forget it's the last day of Sale-A-Bration, so if you need to place one more order to get one more freebie, head over to my website at heidiboos.stampinup.net and click on SHOP NOW!

Paper Pumpkin Fun!

Are you a Paper Pumpkin subscriber yet? If not...you should be!! I have really been loving my Paper Pumpkin kits lately. Each month it's a surprise, but it's always something fun! I took March's kit to the beach with me this last weekend over Spring Break. These Paper Pumpkin kits are so great for when you want a little bit of creativity because all you have to do is grab the box and go...it comes with everything! (Your first kit comes with a block, but after that ~ you're all set!)

Normally the Paper Pumpkin box is orangish-red, but to celebrate THREE YEARS they created a special box for March! I love this Bermuda Bay color and wish they would change it to this color from here on out. :)

Before I show you just how cute the March kit is, I have to tell you about the special incentive for April's Paper Pumpkin. If you are a current subscriber or subscribe before April 10th, in celebration of Paper Pumpkin's 3rd birthday, Stampin' Up! will send each subscriber an additional stamp set in your kit!! What are you waiting for?! Head ----------------> HERE to sign up! Or better yet save $5 and purchase a 3 month subscription ($55, regularly $60)...and earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration product, too! I'll be placing an order on Thursday, March 31st at 10:00 AM if you want me to add the subscription to my order. You'll be emailed a code and then you will use that to sign up for your kit!

Here are all of the goodies that came in the March kit. Have I mentioned how much I love Bermuda Bay?! (Not pictured is the Bermuda Bay Stampin' Spot. Each kit comes with the ink that you need to create the project!)

While we were at the Oregon Coast for Spring Break it rained (surprise, surprise) so we had a little bit of down time INSIDE...time to pull out the Paper Pumpkin kit! This is a fun activity that my daughter and I like to do together.

Each kit comes with a stamp set you can use for so many other projects, as well. It also comes with an instruction booklet with easy step-by-step instructions.

One thing I love about Paper Pumpkin is that a lot of times it will have special embellishments you can't get anywhere else in the catalogs. Like these pre-colored Mint Macaron pearls!

 

Often times subscribers will think outside the box and create many different things using the kit contents (check out Stampin' Up's Paper Pumpkin Pinterest board), but I pretty much stick to how it was intended. I like to think "inside the box" every now and then and not have to come up with my own creations like I do with most of my other cards. That's the great thing about Paper Pumpkin. You can get as creative with it as you want to or just follow the instructions.

The March kit included 4 full-size cards and a special envelope (pre-scored), which includes a pocket to slip in a gift card. SO CUTE!!

Wrap it all up in the envelope and then it comes with self-adhesive stickers to close up the envelope with the cutest little touch! I stamped the heart in the middle of the circle (which comes in the stamp set!)

This kit also included 4 gift card pockets and coordinating smaller cards that you can slip in the pocket with the gift card.

Wrap it all up nice and cute and it's ready to give to someone special!

Fun times stamping with my girl!

 

**Check out a few more samples using Paper Pumpkin kits from a couple of our SSINK designers.

2016 Sale-A-Bration...only 3 days left!

2016 Sale-A-Bration is just a few days away from being over! With any $50 purchase, you will get to choose a FREEBIE from a select set of products, so don't miss out!

The stamp set I used in the card below is one of the newer Sale-A-Bration offerings called Party Pants. I created this card for my March Card Making Night.

I paired it with some of the Sale-A-Bration metallic tape.

Colors: Mint Macaron & Melon Mambo

See more Sale-A-Bration cards at the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog!

Friday Favorites ~ It's My Party

I am really loving the It's My Party suite these days. The bright colors are so fun and although I usually steer away from black...I am digging the accent of this color in some of the paper and products. I love that this paper stack comes with 4 of each design as I can really make it stretch! The coordinating washi tape is fabulous and those sweet little enamel dots are perfect for the right accent (if Stampin' Up! could only keep them in stock...haha!)

This particular card design I created for my February card night.

Here is one of the cards using one side of the DSP (stripes)...

And another card using the confetti background (the other side of the DSP)...

I added a little bit of Wink of Stella to the birthday cake to give it some pizzazz and shine, as well as some silver metallic thread peeking out of the back of the circle.

Come visit the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration for more Friday Favorites!

Stamp Sets	Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink	Basic Black, Blender Pens with Mint Macaron, Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry
Paper	Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Melon Mambo, Basic Black, It's My Party DSP
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, It's My Party Washi Tape, It's My Party Enamel Dots, Silver Metallic Thread, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter
Tools	1-3/4" Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch

4th Annual Sale-A-Brate Our Downline!

This is about a month and a half overdue (along with many other blog posts I have been "meaning to write"), but it's better late than never to play a little catch up. February & March have been so busy, but I hope for things to be slowing down a little. As I type this I am at the beach house enjoying a little "downtime" with my family for Spring Break. No laundry to do or things to clean. Now I can put my time towards other things...like blogging while the kiddos are asleep!

Each year my upline (Andrea) and I put together a little "Sale-A-Bration" of our own and we come together to sale-a-brate our downline in a fun way. This is our fourth year, so if you want to see some of the other things we have done in the past you can click HERE and HERE (apparently I didn't blog about it last year - oops!) We have a small group, but we still try to make it special!

We always like to start with a meal that both Andrea and I plan and put together. This year we went on the lighter side and had sandwiches, chopped salad, and chips. Wrapping a band around a water bottle creates decorative touch.

We also had ice cream sundaes for dessert...yum!

 

Each year we share two different make n takes for our downline to then re-create. This year Andrea and I both had water coloring on the brain, so our samples showed different ways with this technique.

She shared with us how to create a bokeh background using watercoloring and white ink. 

We're busy at work creating our masterpieces! 

Here is the final card. This was the first time I tried the bokeh background. I really liked it!

I have already shared the second make n take I created HERE. This particular card showed the watercolor wash technique using one of the (now retired) Sale-A-Bration sets.

I made each of the gals a fun little gift using the Baker's Box Thinlits Die (I have already posted more details HERE).

Andrea gave everyone these cute little bags filled with bath beads. She used the Polka Dot Cone Cellophane Bags new from the Occasions Catalog.

At our get togethers we also swap cards at the end!

We may be a small group (not all were able to make it), but it is always so fun to get together to share ideas, inspire each other, laugh, create, and just have FUN!

Masculine Thank You

We're sharing some masculine cards today over at the Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration blog. This card was inspired by a card I had found while browsing Pinterest when looking for a quick and easy thank you for my daughter's basketball coaches. I love how the little bit of washi tape goes a long way with this design and the gold glimmer paper, foil, and thread tie together nicely. And, bonus that the Star Framelits I used on this card are on the Weekly Deals this week (ends today, February 29th!)

Stamp Sets	One Big Meaning, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink	Early Espresso
Paper	Crumb Cake, Gold Foil Sheets, Gold Glimmer Paper
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, 2014-2016 In Color Washi Tape, Gold Thread
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Stars Framelits

It's My Party

It was my 38th birthday on Sunday! Not sure how that number came so quickly, but it is here nonetheless and I plan to embrace this year!! It was a day full of so many sweet blessings from friends and family and I truly felt loved.

So...

let's party on!

We're sharing our favorite DSP today at the SSINK blog and my favorite right now fits perfectly with my birthday week (I can still celebrate all this week, right?!). I am loving the It's My Party DSP Stack. Even with it's dark colors, I just love the Melon Mambo pairing with it and Mint Macaron is quickly becoming another favorite! And, that twine? L-O-V-E.

Stamp Sets	Sunburst Sayings
Ink	Basic Black Archival
Paper	Whisper White Thick Cardstock, Basic Black, Mint Macaron, Melon Mambo, It's My Party DSP Stack
Accessories	SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals, It's My Party Enamel Dots, Melon Mambo/Black Two-Tone Trim
Tools	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Star Punch

Watercolor Wash Hello

Sale-A-Bration is well under way...there is still over a month left! This year Stampin' Up! is retiring a couple of Sale-A-Bration freebies early and they will only be available through TODAY (February 15th), but this means they're also bringing in some new stuff! Starting February 16th there will be a few more options for you to choose from!

I thought I would sneak in one more card using the Sale-A-Bration set called Hello. This is one of the products that will be retiring early, so if you can't live without this set be sure to put your $50 order in TODAY to get it as your freebie! (HERE are some other cards I made with this set.)

This card was inspired by the talented Dena Rekow. We had our annual Sale-A-Bration team meeting last Wednesday and I wanted to bring a watercoloring technique to share. The size of this card is a note card size, but it works perfectly with the "hello" sentiment. I used emboss resist with some watercoloring and specifically used watercolor paper, which makes for such a beautiful look when paired with ink and aquapainters. Just a simple card, but a fun one for a friend to get in the mail! The flower comes from the Botanical Builder Framelits, which I popped up on a Dimensional and added a rhinestone to the center.

Colors used: Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Pool Party

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