Ready for a fun sketch challenge?  Well, the Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge definitely qualifies as a fun sketch challenge.  Here is the sketch.

Here's the card I made inspired by the sketch.

Product List

Presents & Pinecones Designer Series Paper [141986] $11.00	Fancy Frost Specialty Designer Series Paper [142014] $13.00	Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119685] $8.00	Emerald Envy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141415] $8.00	Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337] $8.00
Silver Glimmer Paper [135314] $5.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Large Letters Framelits Dies [141712] $99.00	3/8" (1 Cm) Ribbon Silky Taffeta Combo Pack [141989] $9.00

Be sure to check out what the other members of the Try Stampin' on Tuesday design team created for the challenge.  I hope you will participate in the challenge.  I would love to see what you make with the sketch.

I enjoy playing along in stamping challenges.  I found this one on the Stampin' Royalty blog SR#355.

I thought this was a fun, bright  combination especially since it is a little dark and gloomy here. 

I pulled out the Flower Shop stamp set and coordinating Pansy punch and played around with different images and decided on these two.  I did stamp off the ink once when I stamped the Watermelon Wonder  flowers.   

Are you wondering what stamp set I used for the sentiment?  The sentiment is from a new set, Balloon Adventures that will make its debut in the Occasions catalog.   If you are interested in a copy of the Occasions catalog be sure to contact me and i will get one sent out to you when they become available in December.

Product List

Flower Shop Clear Stamp Set [130942] $18.00	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad [138323] $6.50	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975] $6.50	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953] $8.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $9.00
2015-2017 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack [138432] $22.00	Pansy Punch [130698] $16.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Watermelon Wonder 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Mini Striped Ribbon [141433] $8.00

Thanks for stopping by and remember there are just a few days left for the Online Extravaganza  and one more 24 Hour flash sale on Monday the 28th!

I trust you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving.  I am grateful to have my son at home for the weekend!  Anyway back to the easiest gift card ever.  

The front of the easiest gift card holder is pretty simple.  I used the Starlight Thinlights and Silver Glimmer paper to create the beautiful star.  I stamped the sentiment and then embossed the front of the card using the Softly Falling embossing folder.  I scattered a few silver sequins from the Metallic Sequin Assortment.

I used the Real Red 12" x 12" card stock that is available in the Holiday Catalog and cut a piece 4-1/4" x 12 and scored it at 5-1/2" and 11".  The 1"  flap flips up and becomes a pocket for the gift card, cash, whatever will fit.   I told you it was easy.   A good reason to be sure to keep a stash of 12" x 12" card stock.

Product List

Star Of Light Photopolymer Stamp Set [142110] $26.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [131179] $6.50	Real Red 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock [141982] $11.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00
Silver Glimmer Paper [135314] $5.00	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672] $8.50	Starlight Thinlits Dies [141840] $29.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246] $5.00	Metallics Sequin Assortment [138390] $5.00

Remember to shop the Online Extravaganza!  Thank you for stopping by.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope you are spending the day in a way that is perfect for you.  I am thankful that you dropped by.  Today is the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge #434.  

Since this challenge is landing on Thanksgiving, I wanted to be sure that I shared something that expressed my gratitude.  

I embossed this lovely image from the Remarkable You stamp set.  I used Cherry Cobbler and Delightful Dijon ink refills and an Aqua Painter to color the petals.  I heat embossed the image using a special mix of Gold Embossing powder and Gold Glitter to get a sparkly outline.  

You can see the glittery image better in this picture.  I tied a simple double knot using the Cherry Cobbler ribbon that is featured in the Holiday Catalog.  This ribbon ties beautifully and is so easy to work with.   I played around on where to place the strip of Delightful Dijon DSP from the In Color DSP Stack.  I couldn't decide which I liked better so I took pictures of both versions.  

It is not a big difference but I just couldn't decide.  Which do you like better?  The DSP on the side or on the bottom?  

I hope you are having a fabulous day and I hope you know that I am grateful that you stopped by.  If you get some creative time over the next few days i hope you will join in the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team created with this great color combination.   

Yes, the Online Extravaganza is On!  I thought I would go through and highlight some of my favorite things on the Extravaganza!

The Wonder of Christmas is a set that I am using for some of my own Christmas cards.   I shared this card on this post.

Here's to Cheers is another favorite and I just recently shared this card for the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge #433.

Do you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin?  If you do, then you know how fabulous the Many Manly Occasions kit was.  You can get the refill for just $6.40 but supplies are limited.  I loved that kit and wrote about it here.  Here are some of the cards I made with the kit.

There are more for me to share but I will end with one of my favorite punches,  the Blossom Builder punch at 40% off it is a steal!  Here are a few projects I have made with this punch.

I made this home decor item for the Stamper's Dozen Blog Hop in November.

Here's the Blossom Builder punch as a Christmas tree.

Another way to use the Blossom Builder Punch here.

I have used this punch a lot and you can see more ideas here,  here, and here.   To place your order for the Online Extravaganza please go to my online store.  I would appreciate it.  Thank you for stopping by!

I am conflicted if i should be doing a sneak peek of a set that is not available until January 2017(new Occasions catalog!) on the eve of the Online Extravaganza.  I am thinking that you might already know about the Online Extravaganza and the 24 Hour Flash Sale items available  tomorrow (Monday, November 21), as well as the other items available for sale from November 21-28, and that there is also another 24 hour Flash Sale Monday , November 28.  If you don't, here's more information about the Online Extravaganza click HERE.  So, I am going ahead with the Sneak Peek!

I was able to do a pre-order of some of the delightful goodies in the upcoming Occasions catalog.  One of the bundles I ordered was the Lift Me Up Bundle.  Fun images and dies that will work for lots of different occasions.  This bundle coordinates with a Sale-A-Bration choice Carried Away Designer Series Paper(DSP), which I also used.

This is a split card and the 2 parts are connected by the large hot air balloon.   I like seeing the sentiment peeking through the two panels.  Here's a side view to help you better see the split.

You know I enjoy participating in Challenges and one that I look at is Hand Stamped Sentiments. I am submitting this card for their Challenge #251.  I hope you will join in their challenge too!

If you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and you are looking for one, I hope you will consider shopping with me!  I will start sending out the Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogs in December so let me know if you are interested.  

Meeting up with some friends for coffee and I thought it would be fun to bring a quick little project for them to make.  Here's a little back story about this project.  Earlier in the week I found some cute teabags in my things to make bin.  I bought these teabags in October and thinking they would make a cute fall project, well it is definitely fall so I better get to it.  

Since we are making this in a coffee shop I did not want to bring a lot of supplies or do anything that would be too messy.   

Yes, I am still using my Halloween Night Specialty DSP.  I cut the holder using the Project Life Cards and Labels die.  It is just the right size for one teabag .   You can get 2 in there but it is a tight squeeze.  I stamped the acorn in Chocolate Chip ink and cut it and the Pumpkin Pie Glimmer paper with the Acorn Builder punch.   The "thankful" is stamped using Pumpkin Pie ink and yes, you have to cut it by hand.  Remember when we had to cut everything by hand?  Fortunately, this is an easy shape and will take you just a few seconds to get done.   I punched out the little Old Olive leaf using the Festive Flower Builder punch and tied it all up with some Very Vanilla Thick Baker's twine.   I did find some retired wooden embellishments in my stash that I added but they really are not necessary.  I think they were from a year or 2 ago.

Be sure to check out the Online Extravaganza!  Lot of great buys.  There are also special 24 hour Flash Deals on Monday, November 21 and on Monday,November 28th.    Click on the link below for more details!  

When you are ready to shop the Extravaganza please go to my online store.  Thank you!

It is time for the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge!  This week we have a lovely sketch challenge.  

I have been challenging myself to use up my package of the Halloween Night Specialty DSP.  I have used pieces of this patterned paper for non Halloween projects  here, here, and here.  I hope you will agree that the Halloween Night DSP is not just for Halloween!

I used the silver foil dot pattern and the silver foil spider web pattern from the Halloween Night Specialty DSP on this card.  I was a little concerned about using the web piece but I tried to use a section that did not have too much of the spider web design and I think it works.  What do you think?  I also used the Fancy Frost Specialty DSP and like the texture and interest it adds.  The sentiment is from the Here's to Cheers stamp set which was embossed in silver to continue the silver theme.

Be sure to go to Create with Connie and Mary and get all the details about this sketch challenge.  While you are there be sure to check out what the other designers made.  I hope you will be motivated to join in and participate in the challenge.

Sometimes it is fun to take a break from the traditional red and green and use some other colors for Christmas.  Today I am sharing a color combination that I really like Tempting Turquoise and Real Red.  

Isn't is bright and cheery?  Definitely not your usual Christmas colors.

Product List

Merriest Wishes Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142066] $20.00	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad [126952] $6.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $8.50	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $8.00	Irresistibly Floral Designer Series Specialty Paper [141644] $13.00
Brights Designer Series Paper Stack [138434] $22.00	Old Olive 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100702] $8.00	Red Glimmer Paper [121790] $5.00	2" Circle Punch [133782] $18.00	Pretty Pines Thinlits Dies [141851] $26.00
Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine [141983] $6.00	Brights Enamel Shapes [141680] $9.00	Real Red Glitter Stampin' Emboss Powder [142635] $6.00

I want to point out the"Merriest Wishes".  I used the Real Red Glitter Stampin Emboss Powder.  I love this stuff!  It is so glittery and easy to work with, as long as you remember to use your Embossing Buddy.   If you need any supplies visit my SU website.  It is easy to order online. I will also send you a thank you card and a little gift when you shop with me.