Totally TURTLES

I can't believe it's been a year already! New details this month about this year's 4th Annual Crop for a Cure can be found at the website: www.daphnecrop.blogspot.com Date: July 28th, 9am - 9pm Cost: $40 early bird registration ($50 after May 31st) Place: Jubilee Baptist Church, Pleasant Road, Daphne, AL Includes lunch and dinner, t-shirt, door prizes, raffle, contests and more. Visit often and tell your friends!

I've been hearing this a lot lately. I don't have time for that. I don't have enough time in the day for everything I need to get done. I get asked a lot about how I have time to do everything that I do. I really only have 24 hours a day just like you. I go to bed around 10:30pm most nights so I'm not burning the midnight oil to create my cards. I get up at 6:30am and can't function properly until 10am. Seriously. So really I don't have a lot of hours to get everything done that I do. But I have to say that without Stampin' Up! I might go crazy(er). Stamping is an outlet for me and something that makes me feel good. I can lose myself in my creation. I get so focused on making my card or scrapbook that I don't remember the laundry piling up or the dishes in the sink. I only feel relaxed and happy. Of course the reality is that the laundry does need put away and the dishes do need to be washes but another reality happens too. I make something that's ...

Got inspired by some cards I saw on Splitcoaststampers. I love how this turned out. It looks like a painting or watercolor. So neat how it's done all with sponging ink and masking off sections. The stamp set Plant Hope has the perfect size pine trees for this. The saying is from the hostess set Perfect Words and these words are perfect for this card since I was inspired by other stampers. Visit Sharon Field and Cheryl  to see the step by step instructions on doing a scene like this. I hope you don't mind me posting two in one day. LOL.

Here's a stamp set that I'm sad is retiring. Plant Hope. It's got two lovely trees that I will miss. Here's a Father's Day Card that I just made using the pine trees. I used Well Worn DSP too. I really like the masculine feel to that paper. But it also has some other natural wood that would work with any occasion. Also used Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Soft Suede cardstock. Antique brads with hemp twine. Punch is the Designer Label Punch and I stamped Happy Father's Day from the stamp set Delightful Dozen (not retiring). I used a blender pen and Always Artichoke Ink to color in the trees. Oh and I also sponged the edges of everything in Soft Suede. You know me. Gotta sponge on all my cards. LOL. Here's my Christmas card that I sent out. I used the palm tree and Winter Post (also retiring). Thanks for looking. Off to do some laundry, make dinner, run the girls to dance rehearsal and then sleep. Maybe. LOL.

Here's the card we are making tonight. Hope you can make it! Used: pool party, crumb cake, early espresso, soft suade. Plus some SAB dsp that I have stocked up on. Plus used a wheel! Fun times! See ya tonight.

Okay, I didn't get a new card made using the D is for Dog stamp but I did make cards using new Stampin' Up! stamp sets coming out next month. So here's a little sneaky peaky. These are three cards I made Friday night at the craft night I went to. Stayed up til 1:30am! Here's the bird card up close: This card uses all the new In Colors and is mostly a one layer card. Making cards like this is so simple and inexpensive. I didn't add a saying yet because it could be a Thank You card or a Birthday Card or a Get Well Soon card. So many possibilities.  What's my new favorite color out of the New In Colors? I think Summer Starfruit. It's a really unique yellow that I don't think will be easy to find anywhere else. It's not like any of the other colors we have currently but does remind me of Kiwi Kiss. It's a color that will change as you put it next to other colors. I love that! For example: It looks more yellow when you put it next to G...

We hate to hear when someone has lost a pet. This stamp set is one that sadly I have used a few times. It's also versatile enough that you can use it for happy times too. I made this card kinda quickly because I need to run out the door in an hour. Hopefully I can do a better one this afternoon and show it off. Here's the stamp set: Steve and I picked apples today. Here's the bounty we got so far. I need to get busy and make some apple pie, apple cake, applesauce, apple butter. LOL. We also have a bunch of tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplant starting to rippen. I should get this stamp set. Homegrown. It would be perfect for labeling the cans of tomato sauce I'm going to be canning. LOL. I hope you have enjoyed today's post. Come back tomorrow and see if I have a better card using the D is for Dog stamp set. Thanks again for looking and feel free to leave a comment.

My troop got together yesterday and made Mother's Day Cards using the retiring stamp set All In The Family. This set is pricey but really worth it. Look at all the fun they had making these cards. We also used the new DSP that is coming out in June. Loving all the fun colors! I had to keep the girls entertained with something while waiting their turn to stamp so I got out the retired tattoo kits that I keep hidden. There was a lot of tattoos all over body parts. One girl even did her whole belly. LOL. So fun! Here's an image of the stamp set so you can see all the stamps you get. The girls had fun picking out the right heads, bodies, hair style, etc. Some girls added pets and brothers too. I have such creative girls in my troop. Thank you Stampin' Up! for making crafting with them easy. Come back tomorrow for more fun retiring stamps and creations!

I was thinking about my downline member Diane today and since she's not feeling well I made this cute card for her. I used the retiring In Colors: Blushing Bride, Peach Parfait, Concord Crush, Pear Pizazz, Poppy Parade. and I used the still available for a year Pool Party. Love this blue! The turtle is from the stamp set Turtle and Co. and is the Ronald McDonald House stamp set. $3 of every stamp set sold goes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Stampin' Up! donates over $200,000 a year to this worthy cause. Just last year a friend of mine had to stay in one while her preemie baby was being treated at the hospital. It's a place that's comfortable like home and close to her baby and makes it possible for families to be together during stressful times. I also used two retiring punches on this card. 5 - petal punch and the Heart to Heart punch. Don't wait! These are while supplies last. In fact I haven't checked in a while so hopefully they are still ...

Today the new catalog went live on the Demonstrator website so I'm able to see all the new stamp sets, dies, embossing folders, punches, etc. before anyone else. Let me just say WOW!!!! Can't wait to get my hands on the new butterfly punch. I've already ordered some sneak peaks and they should be arriving in the next couple of days. Do you wish you were a demo? Are you the type who wants the latest and greatest first? Demos get to order Sneak Peak items this month and if you join this month you can add those same great sneak peaks to your starter kit. Stampin' Up! has made it easier than ever to become a crafter. You pick what you want. There's no set items. You don't have to get ink (but our new ink pads are to die for) or stamps even. You can pick the Big Shot or dies, or buttons or ribbon or or or. It's all up to you. Pick all adhesive if you want. LOL. The best part of getting the kit is FREE SHIPPING. Cost of the starter kit is $99 and you get to pi...

I found out the name of my apple tree. Ein Shemer . Visit the website to learn more about the apple tree.

I really like this set a lot called Vintage Vogue. I've used it a few times and like how you can make so many different cards with it. I was running short on time so I decided to go simple without any techniques (unless you call tearing a technique).  Here's my card: I used Concord Crush, Pear Pizazz and Blushing Bride Ink. This card took less than 5 minutes to make. Just stamp a bunch of flowers randomly, punch out a few flowers, tear some edges, poke some holes and add some vintage brads. I could add ribbon and do some embossing but really wouldn't you like to get this card? Sometimes we over think making cards and then never send one because we don't have time to make the "perfect" card. I say sending a handmade card is better than no card at all. So go create something "not so perfect" to give to a friend today.

I love this stamp set and can't believe that Stampin' Up! is retiring it! Here's a few cards I made yesterday using it. I used Wild Wasabi cardstock and ink, Early Espresso marker, Peach Parfait cardstock and Very Vanilla for the base. Oh and the beautiful butterflies die. Sort of simple but pretty. Here's one I did after seeing this card . Paula used sepia tones on her card and I wanted to use color. I first did the sponging for the clouds using the scallop circle punch and baja breeze. Then I tore some copy paper to make valleys and mountains and sponged it with River Rock. Next I used markers to color in the stamp. Colors I used are Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, and Island Indigo. I then used a water bottle and sprayed water on the ink. Stamped and then hoped it came okay. I think it did. Kinda like a watercolor painting. The saying is from God's Blessings that's also retiring. So many great sets that will be keepers. I h...

My apple tree had lots of apples this past January. So many that we just couldn't eat them all so I made applesauce out of them. Here's my KitchenAid doing the grinding and straining for me: I found a great recipe for applesauce and applebutter. You can find it at Pick Your Own.  I canned over 8 jars of the stuff. Here's the apples on the tree. I always forget the name of my apple tree. I'll have to ask Steve. Here's the finished product and ready to be gifted. I used the Homemade single stamp to make the label. It's easy to punch with our coordinating scallop circle punch and circle punch. I used Wild Wasabi and Cherry Cobbler Ink and added the Dazzling Details glitter glue. Oh and I can't forget to mention the fabric topper. That's Candy Cane Christmas on sale right now for only $2.99 a pack. Well I've got to go do some laundry and make some more fabulous samples for you to see. Come back tomorrow!

It's that time of year when we have to say goodbye to  favorite stamp sets and hello to new ones. I just placed my order for new stamps, ink pads in the New In Colors and ribbon. Plus as a demonstrator I get an extra discount on top of my demo discount because I'm a Senior Supervisor. If I could just promote to Manager I would get the bundle for FREE. Oh well. Maybe next time. LOL. I decided (let's hope I can do it) that I will post everyday a new card made by me using a retiring stamp set. (No laughing). So here's my first creation using Fifth Avenue Floral. I'm making this card for a friend from High School. Actually for her daughter. I hope she likes it. I used a really neat technique with re-inkers, shimmer paper and embossing powder. Love the watercolor affect. I also used Concord Crush and Wisteria Wonder. Concord Crush is retiring this year so stock up on the cardstock. That's it for now. Have a blessed day!