July 3, 2026

Painted Stripes

It is no secret that I love the 4th of July!!  And the red, white, and blue color combination.  So of course I had to make some cards to celebrate!!  This is one of the cards I made last year and I had to share it again today!!  These are retired stamp sets and I kind of wish I would have kept them!!

I love the way this card turned out. The Painted Stripes stamp set really makes the perfect flag.  The stripes look like the flag blowing in the wind to me.  I did use a retired star punch as I didn't want to get my die cut machine out.  It was much easier!!  I used Secret Sea as my base but it is really dark.  Maybe Night of Navy or Blueberry Bushel would have been a better choice.  What do you think?

What are you doing to celebrate the 4th tomorrow?  I am hoping the weather cooperates so that we can have the parade and all of the 4th of July festivities.  The parade goes right by the front of my house and it has been an annual tradition to have a yard full of people to watch it!

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

Happy Stamping!!

July 1, 2026

New July On Line Exclusives

We have BRAND NEW Stampin' Up! On Line Exclusive's!!! They are stunning!! You want some Fall? Football? Christmas in July? How about this beautiful floral set above with all the pretty purples & pinks? We have so many new products to  choose from!!!! CHECK THEM OUT!!!!

Let me know what you want and I will get it ordered for you.  There are a lot of cool things in there for the fall and Christmas holidays.   

This afternoon is a baseball watching stitching kind of afternoon.  After my excursions the last couple o f days today is a sitting kind of day!

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

Happy Stamping!!

June 28, 2026

Words and Wishes

Today's card is one I made a while back at a demo event in Illinois.  This birthday set has some awesome sentiments and and images for celebrating birthdays.

This striped designer series paper is the perfect celebratory paper for a birthday.  I fussy cut the presents and the cake, although there is a die to die cut the cake if you wish.  Otherwise this is a pretty simple card to mass produce if you would want to.

Tomorrow my friend, Joan, and I are going on a road trip to a huge quilt and fabric store in Missouri.  We were going to go to a stitchng shop on the way home but it is closed until after the 4th of July for family vacations.  I guess that just means we will need to go on another road trip later this summer.

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

Happy Stamping!!

June 27, 2026

Wild Bunch

I have not fallen on the face of the earth but I certainly have not been a member of the Wild Bunch.  This card was one of the cards everyone made at Make-It-Monday this week.  It uses the product of the Month for June.

I useed one of my favorite layouts when making this card.  It also uses the 2026-2028 In Color Designer Paper as well as 2026-2028 In Color Dots.  The snail is colored with the Crisp Cantaloupe Shimmer Pen.  I love the way it turned out.

Needless to say I have not been posting much or for that matter doing much at all.  My tooth extraction took way more out of me that I thought it would.  Resting is about all I have been doing.  I am hoping it gets better soon!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

June 16, 2026

Last Chance List Updated

Check out the updated Last Chance List!!  There are some great bargains.  Be sure to get what you want now because once they are gone, they are gone forever!!

Chances are there will not be blog posts for a few days.  I need to have a tooth pulled tomorrow and another appointment on Thursday.  I am anticipating needing Friday to reciperate from both of these appointments, so I plan on trying to post on Saturday!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

June 11, 2026

Today thru June 13, 2026- FREE SHIPPING from Stampin' Up!

Free shipping is for three days only.  Place your orders between June 11 and 13, 2026 to qualify.

Free shipping automatically applies to the shopper’s cart after the qualifying amount has been met, which is $75 (before tax).

All orders must meet the qualifying amount to be eligible for free shipping. Coupon codes and Stampin’ Rewards will lower the total amount of an order.

The additional cost for expedited shipping is NOT covered by this promotion.

Prepaid 3-, 6-, and 12-month Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and month-to-month subscriptions do NOT qualify for free shipping. 

Refills, past kits, and add-ons do qualify toward free shipping, but you must be a subscriber to purchase. 

Happy Shopping!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

June 5, 2026

Phrases and Frames

Todays' card is made with an awesome sentiment stamp set . . . Phrases and Frames.  The stamp set is all sentiments and then there is a coordinating die set that is all frames that fit around the sentiments.  It is a must have set!!

I started with a card base of Secret Sea and added a layer of Hydrangea Hue.  That was then layered with a piece of Basic White Cardstock.  I cut three pieces of Delicate Dreams Specialty Designer Paper that were the same size and added them to the top of the white.  The flowered designer paper in the bottom of the white is from the same pack of designer series paper.  A strip of Secret Sea with thesentiment attached and a Hydrangea Hue bow completed my card.  It is a great card that could be used for any occasion with a change of sentiment.

I am hoping to get some stitching done this afternoon while watching the Cubs game.  I got a lot done last night during the game until the bottom of the ninth inning.  What an exciting end to the game.  I hope today goes as well!

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

Happy Stamping!!

June 3, 2026

Fern and Flora

In case you might not have noticed, my posts have been sporadic or none at all.  I seem to have lost my mojo for stamping or anything else for that matter.  I am hoping the sunshine and nice weather bring back some of it.  Today's card is one I got in a swap somewhere, but I could not tell you where!

This card uses one of the new designer series papers , , , Everyday Essentials.  There is really not a theme to this paper pack, it is just a pack of random flowered and geometric designs.  It definitely comes in handy when you are looking for an extra design for a card.  This particular layout would be good for any occasion and by switching out the designer series paper you would never know it is the same layout.

Since the Last Chance List was updated yesterday, I am making myself go through all of my designer series paper and the stamps on my shelves and and pulling everything that is no longer current.  It will go into my garage sale stash.  Speaking of my garage sale it is scheduled for July 10th and 11 . . . the weekend after the 4th.  Even though I recently had an impromptu garagse sale I still have a TON of stuff I would like to sell!!!  Mark your calendars!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

May 30, 2026

Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper

It has been a long time since I have posted.  I have been sleeping later in the morning and then forget about posting.  I need to change my routine up so I can get back into the habit of posting daily.  This card is made strictly with designer series paper . . . no sentiment.  You can put what ever you want on the inside.

This is one of the cards that we made at Demp Day in Wisconsin a while back.  It is a super simple card that uyou could add any sentiment to.  I am petty sure this had a sentiment but when I got home it was issing somewhere so I decided to leave it as is and let you decide what and where to put your sentiment.

As soon as I am done posting this I am meeting my friend Joan in Kalona for lunch.  She is on her way home from Mount Pleasant and it is the perfect stop for lunch.  I hope to get either some stamping or some stitchng done this afternoon....but no napping!

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

Happy Stamping!!

May 19, 2026

All Aflutter

Today's card is one I took to a Demo Day this last weekend.  It uses the All Aflutter stamp set and coordinating punch.  I love butterflies and have used this bundle on several cards lately.

I started with a card base of Thick Basic White and folded it in half and then folded the front of the card back in half again to make a z fold card.  I added a layer of Hydrangea Hue to the folded back flap to make my card front.  I used a Stampin' Brush to brush some color onto a piece of white cardstock and then added it to the front.  The sentiment and butterflies came next. Some embellishments and I was done.

Today is the day to get all of my stamping stuff off of the dining room table as they are delivering a new one tomorrow along with a new recliner.  I am hoping to keep the table clean of junk once it gets here!  LOL

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

Happy Stamping!!

May 11, 2026

All Aflutter

Today's card is another butterfly card made with the All Aflutter stamp set and punch.  The soft colors definitely remind me of spring.

I started with a card base of Thick White Cardstock and added a layer of Barely Blush.  I took another piece of Basic White cardstock and stamped the vines and sentiment with Gray Granite ink.  I added three Barely Blush butterflies and my card was done.

Today was Make-It-Monday and I think everyone liked the cards that they made.  We were done early so It has been a relaxing late afternoon and evening.  No baseball tonight so it will be an early to bed night!

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

Happy Stamping!!

May 10, 2026

Scalloped Blooms

Happy Mother's Day!!  Late post again today as we spent the day with the kids.  I thought this was the perfect card for today because you could send it to anyone who has always been there for you, even if she is not your mother.

I started with a card base of Thick Basic White and Layered it with another piece of Regular Basic White that had been embossed with the Lazy Daisy 3D Embossing Folder.  Taking a piece of designer series paper, I layered it on a piece of gold foil and then a piece of Golden Glow cardstock.    I added a sentiment and some ribbon and my carrd was done.

We spent the day with the kids at Rock Creek State Park by Grinnell.  The kids ran around and fished and had a great time.  The rest of us are pretty tired!!

It was a great day!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

May 8, 2026

All Aflutter

Just when I think things are going to settle down and I will be able to consistently post to my blog, something rears its ugly head.  So I am sorry for the delay in posting ideas but it has been crazy around here. Today's card uses a stamp and punch set from the new catalog...the All Aflutter bundle.

I used one of the new 2026-2028 In Colors, Hydrangea Hue for my card.  The one thing I would do different is use a darker ink, like Pecan Pie, for the sentiment and the flourishes in the corners.  Otherwise I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out.

 

Today is the first day in a week that I haven't had some type of appointment that took up a lot of the day.  the only thing on the agenda was to go to the pharmacy and pick up the prescriptions from all of the appointments.  Luckily all six of them were ready at the same time and I did not have to make six different trips!!

I would like to work on some swaps for the demo meeting I am going to next weekend . . . I only hope I can stay awake!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

April 30, 2026

Scalloped Wishes

Today's card features a new product that will be available starting next Tuesday, Velvet Meadow Specialty Designer Series Paper.  This is another one of the beautiful papers that is in the new catalog.  You are going to want  to be sure and order some.

I started with a Berry Burst card base and layered it with a piece of Basic White that has been embossed with the Paradise Garden Hybrid Embossing Folder.   I took two pieces of the designer paper and added them to more Berry Burst cardstock.  I cut two circles with the Stylish Shapes Dies . . . one in Basic White and the other in Berry Burst.  I added some Moody Palette Glass Dots for embellishment and I was done.

Today was another early morning appointment in Iowa City, only this time for the car.  By the time I was done I could have probably bought

30 stamps sets, but at least I will be safe on the road!!

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

Happy Stamping!!

April 29, 2026

Lovely Blossoms Designer Series Paper

Today's card is one of the Cards in the Mail cards from last week.  It features the beautiful Lovely Blossoms Designer Series Paper.

This is a fun fold card with only part of the front of the card opening.  There is a strip of the designer series paper on the inside of the card which also shows from the outside.  I used the retired stamp Fabulous Phrases, but you could use any sentiment on the front of the card that you like.

Today started with an appointment in Iowa City and then a trip to the grocery store.  Everything is now put away and I am ready to watch some baseball.  Let's hope we have a repeat of last night's game.

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

Happy Stamping!!