"orange" you sweet!

I had the opportunity to make a couple of fun gifts this past weekend. My MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group was meeting for the last time on Monday and I since I am a small group leader, I wanted to give each of the moms a little treat! I had such a blast putting together this "orange you sweet" tin of goodies using the Tart & Tangy stamp set.

{3x3 gift card...do you see the Dazzling Diamonds glitter?}

{gum wrapper}
Cut: 3 1/4 x 5 1/2
Score: 1 10/16, 2 1/16, 4 2/16, 4 9/16
*gum wrapper should slide on and off*

{Tic Tacs cover}

{I also included some orange slices and
orange-flavored Crystal Light packets}

They were a hit with my group...I'm glad I could make them smile!
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Over the weekend I also put together some treat bags to give to the childcare workers that watch our children during our monthly MOPS meetings. I was happy to help out and to give a little thank you! Inside of the bag were bite size Snickers (Easter clearance...shh! Don't tell! *wink*) I used Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, and Perfect Plum for colors. I also used the Apple Blossoms Hostess Level 2 Stamp Set with the "thank you" from Teeny Tiny Wishes. If you'd like to make your own 2-5-7-10 box HERE is the link for the directions at Splitcoast Stampers. I made 15 of them, so I'm glad they were easy!

{I am kind of bummed about the photo quality...believe it or not I took this picture in the bathroom hoping to have a little brighter light to bring out the colors. Guess that didn't work so well.}

Flowers + Sketch Challenge (A La Card Monkey #55)

Time for another sketch challenge! I found A La Card Monkey last week and was super excited to play along again this week, too. The sketch challenge this week is Flowers + Sketch (Challenge #55). I love that they not only have a sketch, but choose a theme, as well. It helps narrow down the stamp set choices and I'm not so overwhelmed!

Here's the sketch for this week...


And, here's my take on the sketch...

What? You can't see how they match up?

Does this help?

I had started out with it horizontal and as I continued to play, I realized that it was going to work better going vertical.

I just love these flowers from Punched Posies (a retired Hostess Set) and after using them in my Mother's Day card for my last stamp club, I wanted to pull them out and use them again!


Stamp Set: Punched Posies (retired), Tiny Tags (hanging tag), Easter Blossoms (sentiment from 2011 Occasion Mini Catalog)

Paper: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist

Accessories: Dimensionals, Basic Pearls, 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon

Tools: Eyelet Border punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Butterfly punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Top Note Die (used with Big Shot)

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And I have some exciting news! I was one of three chosen last week at A La Card Monkey's Sketch Challenge #54 (Animal + Sketch). The card that was chosen I posted HERE. This means I get to be a guest designer for next week's challenge (#56)...how fun!! The new weekly challenge will start this Friday, so come on back to play!

Stamp Club - May

Last Friday was our last stamp club for "this round'. I had such a great time with these ladies meeting once a month for the last eight months. It's always great to get together with a group of women who love doing the same thing you do!

The monthly financial commitment was $18.75 per month (8 in the group) and each woman was "hostess" for a month, earning at least Level 1 Hostess Benefits, which means FREE STAMPING GOODIES!! If you are interested in joining us, my next group will start up in October!

For our last get together, we made "punch templates" (come back tomorrow for Tuesday's Tip and you can learn more).

We also made one project together and because it was Mother's Day just two days after, I decided to make a card that would be perfect for a card for their mom! I have seen many "flower pot cards" around and when I found this tutorial by Stephanie Luman, I just had to make one!

The card slides right out of the top!
*each of the flowers is adhered using a Dimensional*

Stamp Set: Punched Posies (retired), Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment), Dot, Dot, Dot (dots for flower pot)

Paper: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi

Ink: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Daffodil Delight

Accessories: Dimensionals, Basic Pearls, 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon

Tools: Scallop Edge Border punch, 5-Petal Flower punch

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{The Hostess Gift}

I gave the hostess (my sister) a cute little box with a pocket hand sanitizer inside.
I used the tutorial by Erica Cerwin (that girl has talent!).

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We also decided to have a card swap for our last meeting!
What fun!!

Here is my card...one that I CASEd from Stampin' Connection.
Thanks goes to Janine Tinklenberg!

Stamp Set: Beary Best Friends, So Happy For You (2011 SAB set)

Paper: Almost Amethyst (retired), Regal Rose, Whisper White, Pawsitively Prints DSP (2009-2010 catalog)

Ink: Early Espresso, markers: Regal Rose, Soft Suede, So Saffron

Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/4" Certainly Celery taffeta ribbon, Regal Rose brads

Tools: paper piercing tool (for brads)

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{card by Vicki Johnson...my mom!}

{card by Ruth Boos...my mother-in-law!}
{card by Kimberly Wirfs...my sister!}
{card by Kim Caldwell}
{card by Sarah Sommerville}
{card by Terri Takashige}
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Want to see the rest of my Stamp Club projects?

November
December
January
February
March
April

and the winner is...

...KAREN!!

Thanks to all of you who took the time to enter my giveaway! I hope you continue to come back to visit...I would love to hear from you!

Have a blessed weekend!

Happy Mother's Day!

With Mother's Day this weekend, I wanted to post a Happy Mother's Day card I made to celebrate mothers! God gave us a big, big job that only we can do! Celebrate your mother on this special day (love you, mom!) and if you are a mother yourself, I hope you are celebrated, too! I know my life is much more complete and beautiful with my two children in it!

{a view from the inside}

Stamp Set: Bold Blossom, sentiment: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Pear Pizazz, Blushing Bride, Blushing Bride DSP (from Hostess Level 1 6x6 DSP pack)

Ink: markers - Pear Pizazz, Blushing Bride, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black (butterfly "trail")

Accessories: Dimensionals, Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents, 1/2" Blushing Bride Poly-Stitched ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter w/2-way glue pen (on butterfly wings)

Tools: 3/4" Circle punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch

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And, don't forget this is your LAST DAY (giveaway ends at Midnight on Friday, May 6th) to enter into my "Hello Blossoms" giveaway! One lucky winner will be getting this new stamp from the Summer Mini Catalog!

Go HERE to enter to win...you will have 3 ways to enter!

Tuesday Tip - 2 stamps make 1 (and a sketch challenge!)

I've taken off a few weeks from my weekly Tuesday Tips (anyone notice? *wink*)

This week's Tuesday Tip is a simple little trick that brings together two separate "sentiment" stamps to make your own greeting. My daughter just celebrated her 5th birthday with a princess party and I have been needing to get out her thank you notes! I have this cute little stamp set called "Princess Time" which I used for her party invitations. One of the stamps in the set I really liked and said...


But I really needed something that said thank you and then I thought why not combine two stamps into one? So, I found just the right "thank you" from the stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes.


Using a marker, I colored in the part that said princess using Melon Mambo and then used Elegant Eggplant for the thank you.

And, the final product...

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Yesterday, I was working on a card for a new sketch challenge blog I just found called A La Card Monkey. I needed a stamp that would fit just right in a small circle, as well as coordinate with the other stamp I was using.

I took this stamp and colored in the "hello" part only with Rich Razzleberry marker...


And combined it with this stamp (minus the s) using a Pear Pizzazz marker...


The finished product...


Hello friend was the perfect sentiment I was looking for! Wondering how I was able to get these two sentiments to come together just right? I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (LOVE!). It is a fun little tool and if you're interested in watching a video on how to use this tool, view a great one HERE.

This week's sketch for the A La Card Monkey...


And, my take on the sketch...


This is my first time joining in, and I had a good time piecing together this and that to complete the sketch. If you want to join in, you have until Thursday at midnight...so head on over to join!

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And, don't forget to enter to win in my giveaway that will continue through until Friday! Click HERE to enter! You'll have the chance to win this new stamp...

new Summer Mini Catalog...and a GIVEAWAY!

The *new* 2011 Summer Mini Catalog is here (products available until August 31st). How fun! I love when a new catalog comes out to see all of the new stamping goodies I get to drool over and add to my wish list. Click on the picture above to go view the catalog online. If you're interested in getting your hands on a hard copy for FREE, leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I can send one your way!

Here are some of my favorites...

"Best Dad Ever" Stamp Set
Wood Mount - $18.95
Clear Mount - $14.95

"Summer Splash" Stamp Set
Wood Mount - $22.95
Clear Mount - $16.95
"Bold Blossom" Stamp Set
Wood Mount - $12.95
Clear Mount - $9.95

"Sunny Fun" Stamp Set
Wood Mount - $19.95
Clear Mount - $14.95
Colored Embossing Powder!!
Available in:
Melon Mambo
Tangerine Tango
Wild Wasabi
$4.75 each

Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch
$23.95

Postage Stamp Punch
$16.95
Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' Kit
$21.95

And, lastly, I just LOVE this single wood mount stamp called "Hello Blossoms". We had a beautiful Spring, sunny day yesterday in the Pacific Northwest and to celebrate the new mini catalog coming out, as well as my 2-year anniversary as being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator (I joined in March 2009...but officially began my business the first weekend in May 2009!), I am having a GIVEAWAY! One lucky winner will win this new stamp!


You have THREE chances to win!

1 - Leave a comment telling me what your favorite thing out of the new Summer Mini Catalog is (anything I have listed above or check out the online FULL catalog)

2 - Leave a comment letting me know you have become a follower of my stamping blog by adding your name to the follower list on the left hand side of my blog. If you are already a follower, leave me a comment to let me know. Or if you are new, leave me a comment to introduce yourself!

3 - Look back through my archives (found on the left hand side of my blog) and find something that stands out to you, inspires you, teaches you, or something you like, and leave a comment on that post.

**FYI: If you leave a comment as "anonymous", please be sure to leave your name and e-mail address so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!

This giveaway will end on Friday, May 6th at midnight and I will announce the winner on Saturday morning.

Good luck and Happy Spring!