April 30, 2025

Paper Tags

First of all . . . can I just say I am glad I only needed two Shingles Vaccines and they are done.  For some reason they really affected me this time, but I think I am over that . . . at least I hope I am.

Today's card is one I made back in March when we got home from On Stage to take as a Make & Take to take to Susie's demo meeting the end of March.  There are two different versions.

I wanted to give them the option of embossing the new colors or leaving them plain.

I used all five new In Colors on a Strawberry Slush card base with a Secret Sea second layer.

I used the new embossing folder, Turtle Textures, to emboss the four colors on the second card. 

Which do you like best?

The sentiment comes from another new stamp set called Paper Tags.  I have several samples to share with that set as well in the coming days!!

No appointments and nothing on the schedule today!  I was going to go pull some more weeds, but after moving furniture the last couple of days, I think those can wait a while.  They have been there over a year, a couple of days won't make that much difference!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 27, 2025

Impressions Abloom

This is a card we made for one of our Make & Takes at On Stage back in March.  It was one of the stamp sets that they gave us as part of our registration.  This was their design as I copied it directly.  I can't say as it is one of my favorite cards but I did want to share it with you.

The card base and the strips are Timid Tiger.  It is a really nice subtle orange color.  I imagine I will use it a lot.  The flower blooms are Strawberry Slush, Darling Duckling, Timid Tiger, and another Strawberry Slush bloom.  The centers are Secret Sea and the stems and leaves are Granny Apple Green.  I am looking forward to working with this stamp set more in the days to come.

 

I had a great time stamping yesterday at Susie's spring event. I made it all day without anything hurting, only got tired.  However when I got home I spiked a fever and spent the rest of the day, evening, and night sleeping.  I am sure it is due to the Shingles Vaccine I got on Friday.  I plan to take it easy for the next couple of days and not do much!!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 24, 2025

Saying Hey

Today I am sharing the last of this week's Cards in the Mail.  I love black and white cards and this one certainly fits the bill.  It uses the Saying Hey stamp set which will be retiring on May 6th.  I am not sure why I didn't use this stamp more, because I really kind of like it.

I started with a Basic Black card base and built from there alternating black and white until I got to the designer series paper layer.  I debated using white Baker's Twine, but decided that the contrast was too stark so went with the black.  What do you think?

When I am done posting this I am out the door for a hair appointment.  When I get home I hope to work more in my stamp room and maybe go for a walk this afternoon if it doesn't rain.  I still have weeds to pull as well but I think they will wait for another day.  So many things to do and so little time!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 23, 2025

Pattern of Friendship

And today we have the last of this week's birthday cards made with the Pattern of Friendship stamp set.  I have one more of this weeks cards but it uses a different stamp set.

This is one of my favorite layouts with my favorite pattern of the Lovely Garden Designer Series Paper.  It seem that each time I use this layout the card looks totally different.  If you haven't got the Textured Notes Dies, you really need to.  They make such a difference with the pattern around the outside of the rectangle.

I started my morning with a walk around the neighborhood and my path ended up being almost a mile.  I stopped along the way to enjoy the beautiful flowers and take some pictures.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon pulling weeds in my hosta bed so I think this afternoon I will rest!  Unless I decide to clean in my stamping room a little bit.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 22, 2025

Pattern of Friendship

Continuing on with our birthday card week we have another card made with the Pattern of Friendship stamp.  This one is a masculine card and also a Cards in the Mail card.

I am loving the masculine cards made with Early Espresso and Basic Beige and adding in the Woven Textures.  Designer Series paper.  Just think of how many combinations you could make of this card and they would all be a little bit different.  What a great way to make a stack of masculine cards and you could change them up by the sentiment that you add to the card.  There is no die-cutting on this card so it is super quick to make.

When I am done here I am going outside to pull the weeds from my hosta and flower beds.  I think the rain will hold off until I get quite a bit done . . . at least I hope it will.  It looks like a delightful day to be outside.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 21, 2025

Pattern of Friendship

The card I’m sharing with you today was made using the Pattern of Friendship stamp set, Wildflower Birthday Specialty Paper, Textured Notes Dies, Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder and the retiring Tinsel Gems Four Pack.  It is also one of this weeks Cards in the Mail.

 

If you haven't tried any of the die cuts in the Wildflower Birthday Specialty Paper, you really should get a pack and give it a try.  They make awesome cards very easily.  I started with a piece of Blueberry Bushel cardstock for the base of my card. I embossed Pretty in Pink cardstock using the Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder and my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. Then, I adhered the embossed cardstock to the front of my card.  Next, I used the Textured Notes Dies to cut a rectangle out of Basic White cardstock. Then, I stamped “Happy Birthday” in Blueberry Bushel ink onto the rectangle using the Pattern of Friendship stamp set. I selected the cake (it’s a die cut) in the Wildflower Birthday Specialty Designer Series Paper and then adhered it to the left of the sentiment. I added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back and adhered it to the front of the card.  To complete my card, I added three Blueberry Bushel Tinsel Gems below the sentiment and added two more to the rectangle.

As soon as I am done posting this I am out the door to pick up a prescription and to get some groceries.  Not sure what else will get done this afternoon.  Yesterday I did manage to go through all of the dies on my shself and sorted out the retiring one so everything on my shelves  . . . paper, dies and stamps are current.  That is a great feeling!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 20, 2025

Playing in the Rain

Today's card is one everyone got to make last Monday.  The title of the stamp set is perfectly appropriate for today "Playing in the Rain".

I used the same basic layout idea as a card I made a while ago.  You can see that one here.  I just changed it up a bit and ended up with this one.  The bunny was left from the Easter cards I posted last week.  I colored one of them and then decided that they should be white.  Since I had him left over, onto this card he went!  I guess the Easter Bunny doesn't always have to be white.

Today looks to be a very dreary day.  Planning and cutting for tomorrow's Cards in the Mail will be the perfect activity for today.  Maybe if I can get everything cut this morning I can stuff envelopes during the Cubs game this afternoon if they don't get rained out.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 19, 2025

Sneak Peek---Paper Tags

Today's card is a sneak peek of a new stamp set that will be in the May On Line Exclusives.  It is one that we saw at On Stage and then came home and made it at Susie's when we got together.  I think this might be one of my favorite sets that we saw at On Stage.

We stamped the sentiment with Versamark and then embossed it with black embossing powder.  I then took my Darling Duckling (a new In Color) Stampin' Write marker and went over the word sunshine so that it would stand out more.   I am thinking this would be a great stamp and layout for some Hawkeye tailgate and football game pictures.  I will have to go back through all of the pictures I have and see if some of them will work.

As soon as I am done posting this I am off to Iowa City to get some stuff so I can make hamballs and rice for dinner tomorrow.  I meant to get the supplies when I was at the doctor on Thursday but was too tired and just wanted to come home.  This afternoon I am planning on finishing sorting my dies and listening to the Cubs game.  Once I am done sorting things I can start to actually work on cleaning up my room!! 

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 18, 2025

With You In Mind

Today's card is one of the shoebox swaps we made at the end of March and was brought by Luetta.  I am so glad that this stamp set is carrying over to the new catalog.

The stars on the blue pieces of paper were stamped with Versamark Ink so that we didn't have to worry about cleaning the stamp between ink colors.  The cupcakes were colored ith Stampin' Write Markers directly onto the stamp to get the two toned cupcakes. I can't wait for the new Banner Dies to be available in the catalog so there will be no more trying to get my banner cut evenly.  LOL

Today is going to be a total day of rest.  My Oncology appointment went great but I got five of my childhood vaccines all at once yesterday and they kind of wiped me out.  I think I will be taking a nap this afternoon.  Since it is kind of a dreary day, that seems like a great thing to do!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 17, 2025

The Right Words

I have another sneak peek of several new products for you today . . . stamp set, two new colors, and new designer series paper.  The scenery in this new designer series paper, Beautiful Gallery, is absolutely gorgeous.  This is one of the cards we made when we were at the demo meeting a couple of weeks ago.

We used the two of the new In colors, Secret Sea and Cloud Cover for this card.  The words are also from a new stamp set called The Right Words.  We used the Textured Notes Dies to cut a rectangle out of the center of the designer series paper and then added it back in with dimensionals once we had our card built.  We also used the new embossing folder, Pressed Flowers, on the Cloud Cover layer.  This layout would work for many of the designs in this paper package.  Just wait till you see it!!

I am sitting in the oncology waiting room writing this post.  I had a nail appointment earlier this morning, stopped to eat lunch, and still had a lot of time before my appointment.  I decided to come on in and sit here rather than go shopping and spend money on things I probably don't need.  I am hoping to get home in enough time to do more sorting of stamp sets and get started on the dies!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 16, 2025

Saying Hey

Let me introduce you to the five new In Colors for 2025-2027. . . Cloud Cover, Darling Duckling,  Secret Sea, Strawberry Slush (a returning In Color), and Timid Tiger.

We made this card with Susie when we went to a demo meeting patterened after a card we saw at On Stage.  The On Stage card uses a new set of dies that will be available on May 6th, but Susie figured out how to make the pennants using the Hexagon Punch.  I love the way the card turned out and it certainly showcases the new In Colors.  Which color is your favorite?

As soon as I am done posting this , . . even though it is afternoon . . . I am out the door for what I hope will be my last dental appointment for a while.  At least this time it is just for a cleaning and their will be no drills involved.  When I get home I am hoping to make more progress on getting my stamp sets switched around.  I got quite a bit done yesterday but ran out of energy before I was through.  Hopefully I can get that done today.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 15, 2025

Thankful Garden

Today's card is a fun fold card that everyone stamping yesterday got to make.  I think it was a hit and is really much easier to make than it first appears.

I had never really used the masks to color anything other than backgrounds of cards.  There was a bit of a learning curve for me to get the masks placed properly and I am still not sure I did it correctly but I am pleased with the way my flowers turned out.

This card is a fun fold as you can see.

The really fun fold part comes where you place the fun fold on a whole card which I had never seen before seeing it on a blog I follow.  It just gives it a little extra something special.  What do you think?

Today I am going to finish up the last packet of cards from yesterday and then start sorting stamp sets and pulling those that have retired and are not going into the new catalog or on line.  That will be a job but I hope to get it done yet today.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 14, 2025

You Are Remarkable

Today's card is one everyone will be making this afternoon and this evening.  It is a good thing I looked at what stamps I already had before I ordered this one because I had already ordered it and it was sitting in the stack waiting to be put together.  Actually, it would not be the first time that has happened.

I decided that I was going to use up some of the designer paper that is soon to be retired so not everybody will have exactly th ame color but it will be a close match and they all look good with the granny Apple Green rectangle.  This is not exactly where I had planned to put the Happy Birthday sentiment but somehow I had a black smudge there after I had put the card together.  Since there are no mistakes in stamping, only chances for embellishment or improvement, I covered it up with the sentiment piece.  I guess it looks okay there, but had planned to put it higher so the gems could go beneath it.  It is definitely better than starting over with the whole thing!!

Almost everything is ready for this afternoon except me and cleaning off the dining room table so there is room for them to stamp.  Luckily the Cubs play late this evening so I can listen to the game after everyone goes home.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 13, 2025

Textured Notes

Today's card is one I got in a swap in North Carolina, I think.  It is one of the cards everyone stamping with me this week is going to make.

I love the texture added to the card with the corrugated strip down the left hand side of the card.  The leaves have been stamped in Mossy Meadow onto a piece of the Woven Texture Designer Series Paper.  I stamped the round image in the stamp set onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and fussy cut it with my paper snips.  The sentiment is stamped onto a .5 strip of very Vanilla and flagged on one end, and then layered onto another piece of the Woven Texture Designer Series Paper.  As with many cards you could change it up by changing the sentiment.

I have been sitting here for quite a while trying to decide what I want to do today.  Other than cutting cardstock for tomorrow evening, which won't take long, I have nothing that needs to be done.  That does not happen very often.  I could continue sorting in my stamping room, but I am taking a break from that for a couple of days.  I was thinking it was going to be warmer today but the air coming in through the living room windows is still a little bit chilly so that means there will be no weed pulling either.  Maybe this is my sign that I should just rest today.

  

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 12, 2025

Storybook Life

My card today uses a soon to retire stamp set, Playing in the Rain, and a scrapbook set, Storybook Life.  It also uses a embossing folder that was available during Sale-a-Bration.

I started out with the Easter Bunny and then added him to the strip with the sentiment on it. I layered it onto a piece of Basic White cardstock and then onto the Daffodil Delight card base. I decided that was too plain so embosssed the white piece and then got the wild hare idea to color each of the starbursts to make it more colorful.  Since I made a dozen of these for an order it took a while to get them all done but I do like the way it turned out.

As soon as I am done posting this I am out the door to meet a friend for some shopping and lunch. I made great headway in my room yesterday sorting retired paper from current paper and scsrapbook kits.  I need some storage so that I can keep the scrapbook kit pages organized so I am going to go to Michaels and get some of the square flat storage boxes.  I decided if I was going to organize I was going to do it right instead of piling it all together and then having to do it later.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 11, 2025

Beautiful Butterflies

Today I am sharing the last of the four card set that we made in Illinois at the Sisters' Weekend.  I did not purposefully save this card for last, but it is very appropriate for today.

It uses the same supplies as the other cards I made in this set.  You can see those here, and here, and here.  You might be wondering how I cut the center rectangle out since Stylish Shapes does not have a die that big.  I die cut the square at the top first and the positioned it so that there was the ame amount of space at the bottom of the rectangle as at the top and ran it through the die-cutting machine again.  No worries if it doesn't line up exactly perfectly because the center strip will cover that up.  It appears as if the butterflies have been stamped with an orange or darker yellow but that is just the way Daffodil Delight shows up when stamped on Lemon Lolly cardstock.

You might wonder what I am celebrating . . . this is the perfect card for today!  My MRI yesterday afternoon came back clear with no evidence of disease or reoccurence.  Believe it or not I finished up with the MRI and was walking back to my vehicle and my results posted before I ever got there.  It was a happy night in the Wilson household last night!

Yesterday before I went for my MRI I went through all of my embellishments and ribbons and pulled out those that are retiring or no longer available.  My goal today is to get through all of the designer series paper and pull retiring paper and get the new paper on the shelves.  I figure if I do one thing a day I will have it done before you know it.  Stamps and dies will take the longest so I am leaving them until last!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 10, 2025

Thankful Garden

Today's card is another super simple card that is one of this week's Cards in the Mail.  

Once again, as with a lot of Cards in the Mail, the designer series paper does all of the work.  The Lovely Garden paper pack has some particularly beautiful flower designs.  Other than a sentiment and a little embellishment your card does not need much else.  I did put a small strip of the paper on the bottom of the inside white piece of cardstock since it was laying on my table and I was just going to throw it away.

Today is MRI day . . . although it is not until late afternoon.  I am actually all caught up on anything stamping related so not sure what I will do till then.  Maybe work on Monday night's Make-It-Monday.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 9, 2025

With You In Mind

Back again with another masculine card from Stampin' Peace which is also one of this week's Cards in the Mail.

For this masculine card I cut three different shades of green and ran them through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss with the Fern 3D Embossing Folder.  I popped the sentiment up on Stampin' Dimensionals and added a few Adhesive-Backed Textured Dots for an embellishment.  I am going to be sorry to see the Fern 3D Embossing Folder retire at the end of the month.  Get yours today!!

This morning was another appointment morning, hence the late blog post.  I have one more appointment tomorrow but it is late in the day.  Watching the Cubs and working on Easter cards are on the agenda for the rest of the afternoon.  If I feel like taking a nap I am going to go for a walk to see if that will help me stay awake!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 8, 2025

Textured Notes

Our slimline card today is from the same site as yesterday, Stampin' Peace.  It is another great masculine card.

I still had a few slim line envelopes left from when Stampin' Up! sold them and that is what I am using for this Cards in the Mail.  The Woven Texture Designer Series Paper is full of designs that work perfectly for masculine cards!!  And they all coordinate together so no worries about mixing and matching.  The white ribbon that is in that suite looks like it would be stiff and hard to manipulate, but actually the opposite it true. It is so soft and easy to tie in a bow or to drape as I have done here.

Today started out with one of my least favorite things to do . . . go to the dentist to have three more cavaties filled. I am not sure why I dread it so much because I have a great dentist and other than the little twinge when she first injects the novacaine, it is relatively painless.  I got home a little after lunch time and when I am done here and I am planning on spending the rest of the afternoon working of Easter cards!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 7, 2025

With You in Mind

Today's card is one that I saw the other day as I was scrolling through card ideas. It was on a site called "Stampin' Peace".  The minute I saw it I knew it was perfect for a Cards in the Mail for two reasons . . . it just has a sentiment and it is a masculine card.

The Copper Textured Designer Series Paper has been run through the Stamp, Cut, & Emboss machine using the Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder.  This is one of the folders that will be retiring at the end of this catalog period so if you like it you should get it now.  I love the look of it with the Copper Foil paper.  The "With You In Mind" stamp set is perfect for a card like this because the sentiment is big enough that you don't need much else.  We did add a little Basic Beige Bordered Ribbon and an Adhesive-Backed Metallic Gem as just a little embellishment, but not enough to make it look "girly".

The cardstock is all cut just waiting to be put into envelopes today for this week's Cards in the Mail.  It's a great feeling to be caught up on everything finally . . . I think because my back does not hurt it makes it so much easier to stay on top of things.  This week and next are weeks of appointments, so there are no guarantees that I will stay caught up!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

April 6, 2025

Mixed Labels

Today's card is one I received from my friend, Susie, for my birthday a while back.

I love how she folded the corner back on the piece of designer paper.  When you cut the DSP some of the flowers will be upside down or sideways so when you fold the corner down it covers that up and gives you a space for your sentiment.  Pretty cool, right??  It is embellished with some of the Daffodil 1/8" Ribbon and some Gold Textured Adhesive Dots.  A simple card but yet very striking!

Yesterday was a reading and basketball day.  I did get my book done so now can start on the book club book today as well as stamping and watching the Women's NCAA Championship game.  It won't be near as exciting as the last two years but still worth watching!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!