Ideas floating in my head !

Here are some ideas that have been floating around in my head for a while..... the first is a color combination and layout inspired by a tissue box. You can get inspired from anything!

I loved the soft yellow tones with the blue-green swirls.

I got out my Very Vintage wheel and the Elements of Style stamp set. Look what I created.

Do you like? Here is what I used in addition to the stamp wheel and stamp set.
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron
Embellishments: Vintage Flower Adornments, Pear Pizzazz seam binding, Fleurette (dyed with Pear Pizzazz re-inker)

Here is another idea that I saw on someone's blog. I did not order the cupcake punch and have seen so many cute cards using it I was regretting that I did not have it yet until I saw this punch art cupcake on this site, Created by You. I tried a smaller version and love it!
Card Stock: Basic Gray, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Pretty in Pink DSP
Stamp Set: A Word for You
Embellishments: Real Red taffeta, Pretty in Pink taffeta, Pretty in Pink brads (not available)
Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Tools: Crimper, Scallop Circle Punch, Small Heart Punch

And these baskets I made for some workshops but haven't had time to put a tutorial together. I did so tonight. You can see my Basket Tutorial here

Occasions Mini and Sale-a-bration shipment is here!

Stampin Up warehouse did an excellent job of preparing for Sale-a-bration orders. I placed two big orders - one workshop and one demonstrator - on Tuesday morning and it arrived today! So I had to take some time to play with the beautiful new products I received. I love the vintage selections.

Card stock: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz
Stamp Set : Punch Bunch (You can get this set free when you order $50 during Sale-a-bration)
Embellishment: Big Designer Buttons Springtime Vintage
DSP: Springtime Vintage
Tools: Scallop Square punch, Big Shot and Framed Tulip embossing folder
Ink: Rose Red
Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla
Stamp Set: Fast and Fabulous
Tools: Scallop Border punch, Big Shot and Framed Tulips embossing folder
Embellishment: Rose Red Seam Binding
Ink: Rose Red, Crumb Cake
Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Stamp Set: So Happy For You (One of the stamp sets you can get free during Sale-a-bration)
Tools: Scallop Border punch, Big Shot and Framed Tulip embossing folder
Embellishment: Big Designer Buttons Springtime Vintage
Ink: Rose Red, Crumb Cake

Beat those mid-winter blahs

Are you tired of winter already? We have 2 more months before the first day of spring. Just imagine how anxious you will be for spring by mid-February.

Why not join me in a card party on Friday, February 18th? Below is one of the cards we will be making. Doesn't it just scream - "SPRING"!!!! For the $10.00 fee you will make 8 cards (2 each of 4 designs)plus the instructions so you can duplicate them at home. I will show you some great new products and techniques in the process. I will have envelopes available for an additional $1.25. Check out all the cards below and sign up today! First come, first serve - space is limited to 12 people. That's Friday, February 18 - 6:30 p.m.

Bright Hello
Card Stock : Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Stamp Set: Hello Again
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi
Embellishments: Daffodil Delight 3/8 inch taffeta ribbon, Bitty buttons
Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Ticket Corner punch



The Red Glitter paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog looks so bright and cheery with the black and vanilla color theme. This could be used for many occasions (birthday, anniversary, wedding - or just thinking of you). A variety of sentiments are available.

Glitter Love
Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Newsprint DSP, Glitter Paper
Stamp Set: Heard from the Heart
Ink: Real Red
Tools: Full Heart punch

'Round the Block

The third card will be based on this layout from my Half Sheet Wonder class/kits. There will be a variety of designer papers and coordinating card stock as well as stamp sets so you can truly customize it to your taste.

Vintage Crumb Cake

A favorite - vintage wallpaper with an aged look. I haven't picked the actual design yet but am thinking Elegant Eggplant would look especially nice with the Crumb Cake. There will be a varitey of sentiments to choose from for these - think ahead to Easter or Mother's Day???

So - once again - the details -

Friday February 18 - 6:30 P.M. to ?? (usually completed by 9 or 9:30) $10.00 with additional $1.25 if you want envelopes

Email Mary to reserve your spot today!

January Club - and kits available

Today was the first club workshop of the year - what fun! This club runs from January through November and we have 5 ladies returning with one new member (Welcome Cheryl - and so good to see Doris, Sharon, Theresa and Brenda again. Janis was skiing :-) we missed you! We had one guest, Judy - hope she had fun!)
These are the cards they made:

Valentine Cutie:
Card Stock: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand
Ink: Melon Mambo, Whisper White (craft)
Stamp Set: Greeting Card Kids
Ribbon: 1/4 inch grosgrain Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke seam binding
Punch: 2 3/8 inch scallop circle

Hanging Hearts:
Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, various pink and red scraps
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Stamp Sets: Punch Potpourri, Filled with Love
DSP: Pretty in Pink
Bitty Buttons
Punches: Heart to Heart, Heart Small, Full Heart,

Glitter Vase:
Card Stock: Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Red Glitter Paper
Ink: Basic Black
Punches: Ornament, Scallop Oval, Small Oval, Pinking Hearts Border

And we made a small basket for a little valentine treat.
Card Stock: Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
Stamp set: Punch Potpourri
Ink: Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink
Punch: Boho Blossoms

Friday night was the first of my DSP - Half Sheet Wonder class. I am having a second on Monday and have room if anyone is interested. Of course, we are expecting another 3-6 inches of snow tomorrow - but DH should have the driveway cleared before Monday evening. :-)

I also have these available as kits. Each kit includes the pre-cut card stock, DSP, instructions and the template.

You also receive a sheet of grid paper marked for each piece of DSP to help with assembly. These were a great help when doing the cards.
Here are the kits available and the colors in each. Kits are $15.00 each (9 complete cards - all you add is the image or sentiment). Shipping would be an additional $5.00 if needed.
The pieces to each card are inside that card base which is labeled with a sticky note so you know exactly what is used for each card.

Jersy Shore (retired) - Card stock colors are Brilliant Blue (retired), Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi (THIS ONE IS GONE)

Kaleidoscope (retired) - Card stock colors are Tempting Turquoise, Passion Pink, Green Galore, Only Orange

Haiku #1 (retired) - Card stock colors are More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Old Olive

Haiku #2 (retired) - Card stock colors are Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard and So Saffron (THIS ONE IS GONE)

Greenhouse Gala - Card Stock colors are Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze and Daffodil Delight

Georgia Peach #1 (retired) - Card stock colors are So Saffron, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose

Georgia Peach #2 (retired) - Card stock colors are So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Regal Rose (THIS ONE IS GONE)

Green Tea (retired) - Card stock colors are Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Old Olive and Baja Breeze.

These really are great fun and a quick way to make up a bunch of cards. I have done 7 sets and each one is more fun than the one before :-) To purchase Email Mary

One more Half Sheet Wonder set

Last night I played some more with my Half Sheet Wonder for the workshops on Friday 1/21 and Monday 1/24. I just can't get enough of these :-) It makes it so easy when you work with the same 4 or 5 colors and already have the basic layouts in mind.

These cards all use the Haiku DSP (retired) that I got from the clerance items.

The colors are Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard and So Saffron.

I like these so much I think I will add them to my Color Coach.
Stamp Set : Birthday Bakery

Tools: Tag punches, Big Shot and Lattice embossing folder

Stamp Set: Birthday Bakery
Punches: Modern Label, Ribbon

Stamp Set: Birthday Bakery


When I put this one together, I goofed.
I wound up having to do something different
so I trimmed one edge with the Scallop Edge punch and
put some DSP behind that to make a little border.
Stamp set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Tools:Scallop Oval, Medium Oval and Scallop Edge punches

This is the open card showing the DSP trim inside.

Stamp Set: A Word for You

Tools: Boho Blossoms punch

Stamp Set: Herb Expressions

Stamp Set: Afterthoughts
Tools: Curly Label Punch


Stamp Set: Herb Expressions
Tools: Oval Scallop, Large Oval and Ribbon punches

Stamp Set: After Thoughts

Tools: Decorative Label

We also got hit with snow last night. When I went to bed about midnight we had about 2-3 inches. When we got up at 6 am there was almost 12 inches on the patio furniture.

This is a small evergreen near our front door.
More snow than we have had for a long time - DH is happy!

DSP Workshop

I am hosting a DSP (Designer Series Paper) Workshop on 1/21 and 1/24. It's called "Half Sheet Wonder".(Check out my Calendar for details - Mary's Stampin Up Calendar ) Each participant receives a half-sheet of DSP (their choice of what I have available) and the coodinating card stock and embellishments to make 9 cards. Cost is $15.00 which also includes the template for cutting the DSP and general instructions for all 9 cards.
Last night and this afternoon I played with a couple different sheets of DSP to make some samples. What fun! I cut all the DSP and sorted it by card design. Some of the DSP required alterations to the original design but that is part of the fun :-)


This is the original set of 9 cards I made with a sheet of retired Georgia Peach. I tried to use a variety of stamp sets, tools and techniques.

This is another sheet of the retired Georgia Peach. I altered a couple just to give the participants some options.

Here I used a sheet of retired Tall Tales DSP. It coordinates with Chocolate Chip, So Saffron and Old Olive. I did do one Regal Rose card just to show how you can switch things up a little.

I am also trying to use up a package of Bermuda Bay retired card stock and pulled out a sheet of the retired Throughly Modern DSP. I love the colors in this - Bermuda Bay, Rose Red, Sahara Sand and Soft Suede.

And to really shake things up I grabbed a sheet of First Edition. This paper and the Tall Tales were a challenge because the design has a definite top and bottom. This is the only set I made with current paper. First Edition is available through the Mini Occassions catalog and looks like pages from an encyclopedia or other reference book. I teamed it up with Basic Black, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler.

Stamp Sets: Herb Expression, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Tools: Scalloped Edge, Scallop Oval and Small Oval

Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes and a non-SU set

but you could use the new Create A Cupcake stamp set and punch

or the Birthday Bakery stamp set with this idea.

Stamp set: I {Heart} Hearts

Tools: Scallop Edge Punch and Heart to Heart Punch

Stamp Set: Fast and Fabulous

Stamp Set: Birthday Bakery

Tools: Tag punches, both sizes, Corner punch (retired)

Stamp Set: Silhouette Sentiments

Tools: 3/4 inch circle punch

Stamp Set: After Thoughts

Tools: Curly Label punch

Stamp Set: Look Who's Turning

Stamp Set: Hello Again

When I finally came out of my craft room, guess who I found sitting in my chair?

He totally ignored me hoping I would leave him in peace.

Now - better get busy and get the instructions written up for the DSP workshop and the club cards for January. Busy days ahead!