Friday, March 30, 2012

Pop Tones! {my new love!}

Discount Cardstock has some NEW fabulous card stock, called Pop Tones, that I simply MUST share with you today! The colors are absolutely DELISH, and they have super fun (and delicious names) like Berrylicious, Limeade, and Banana Split.  (And right now, the Pink Lemonade is on sale!!! YUM!)

On this first card, I used Limeade card stock, and stamps from Lawn Fawn (Chevron Backdrops) and a sentiment stamp from Paper Smooches. I stamped a piece of card stock and stuck it inside the envelope too, to create a liner. I LOVE the way it came out, and it is such a quick and easy finishing touch!
 
 I used Berrylicious card stock on the next card . .. along with a chocolate envelope (also for sale at Discount Cardstock.) I paired some My Little Shoebox papers and sticker, along with another Paper Smooches sentiment.


I hope you like this bright summery FUN! I've had fun playing with these great new cardstock choices, and I can't wait to stock up on some MORE! If you need to grab some cardstock, I highly recommend Discount Cardstock.  They have a great selection of the companies you normally buy (like Bazzill, Neenah, and DoubleMate) plus they have some of their own FANTASTIC colors and patterns, like the Posh Paper Collection, with lots of beautiful textures and colors. They also carry envelopes, and pre-scored cards!  

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

it's a cherry on top!!!


I am excited to share some news today! I have started sharing articles and tutorials at a fabulous online retailer, A Cherry On Top. 

     "A Cherry on Top, founded in 1997, is among the leaders in the online scrapbooking community. ACOT has it all - a busy Community with a friendly Message Board and inspirational Gallery, Articles, Contests, Chats - and so much more! The online Shoppe at ACOT boasts a large selection of the latest scrapbooking, stamping and general craft products as well as a complete Digital Shoppe section."

     I've done some shopping at ACOT lately, (which I really and truly hardly EVER do) and they have TONS of product. I spent a few DAYS deciding what the heck to order! You can search by brand, color, theme, category - and be sure to check the promo code area for some great specials! :)

My first tutorial is up today, and I'd love it if you stop by and check it out!!! (Do some shopping while you're there too!)  I created a cute little composition book, and some fun coordinating bookmark clips.   I've started linking tutorials at the top of my blog too, so be sure to check there as time goes by, if you want to find something quickly!


Have a terrific day!
Thanks for stopping by!!!!
xoxo

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Spring Breaking! :)

Hey there! We are Spring Breaking around here, so I am hanging out with my little guys this week.  I have a project to share with you though! Once a week, I create and blog over on my mom's Close To My Heart blog.  This is the project I shared over there today.  Head on over to her website if you need to grab any of CTMH's great papers, clear stamps, fabulous ink pads, and embellies!!! :)

Typeset is a super cool graphic collection that lends itself especially to masculine projects, as well as school projects (but if you look at some of the samples online and in the catalog, you'll know it can be used for much more too!) The coordinating canvas Typeset Complements are a lot of fun to use.
I covered a plain old marble composition book and made a couple of coordinating cards using the Typeset collection.



I think these projects pretty much speak for themselves! If you are creating a covered composition book, here's some advice: lay your paper on the front cover, and stick it on with some removable tape. Then OPEN the book and trace along the outline of the cover on the inside (which will trace it onto the back of your paper.) Then take it off and trim it. I have found that marble composition books RARELY have exact measurements, and they are rarely on completely straight. You won't be able to tell . . . .unless you just say "This cover is 6x9, so I'll trim a 6x9 piece of paper on my trimmer and stick it on." (Because it probably won't be exact!) ;)

And now, I am back to Spring Breaking. . . .my biggest little man learned to ride his bike this week - and it's ALL he is interested in doing! :)
xoxo

Sunday, March 11, 2012

moremums2love (The {Stamps} of Life)

One of the special release sets from The {Stamps} of Life this month, coordinates with mums2stamp. . . .and it's called moremums2love.  (And i LOVE it!)

I used stamps from both of these sets on the cards I'd like to share today.  On this first card, I used a sponge dauber and applied Tangerine and Banana ink (both from Stephanie Barnards's Colorbox inks by Clearsnap.) I love the way the colors blended together so beautifully! This fabulous orange ribbon is from The Ribbon Retreat, in their vintage rayon ribbon, which is really similar to seam-binding. Easy to use, and looks great on cards!
On this card I created a happy little heart flower, just a little too late for Valentine's Day! 
 And on this last card, I used second-generation stamping (basically you stamp on scratch paper before stamping onto the card to create the lighter color) and added a FUN POP of color with the green ribbon and leafy stem.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to stop by the TSOL gallery to see LOTS of samples using these stamp sets, plus so much more!

Have a beautiful day!
xoxo

Saturday, March 10, 2012

freshening up!

I decided it was time for a spring freshening up around here! It's been AGES since I updated my blog banner, and I have our GORGEOUS new family photos, taken by Steph Owens, (my new BFF for working her magic!) So - new profile photo, and a new blog banner to go with it!



I promise, I'll be back with some CUTE CUTE new cards tomorrow. . .with the special releases from The {Stamps} of Life, but for now I'll leave you with my smiling face, and new blog banner!

(Blog banner credits: Persnickety Prints freebies. . .they print BEAUTIFUL photos, in all kinds of sizes - and they specialize in 12x12 digital scrapbooking pages! I PUFFY HEART Persnickety Prints!) 

Saturday, March 3, 2012

flowers two ways! (new TSOL release!)

Hello, hello! Happy MARCH! Spring has sprung and Florida is covered in pollen. I'm still waiting for our grass to get green again, but this weekend we are going to plant some flowers, some bell peppers, and maybe some oregano, to go along with the basil and rosemary plants we already have. 

March first brought the release of Mums2Stamp, from The {Stamps} of Life! This is seriously, one of my favorite stamp sets. (Hush, I know I say that pretty often!) And there might just be a coordinating stamp set coming soon! (Shhhh!)

I have two cards to share today, which use the same two-step stamps, but each has a VERY different look. 
I LOVE this first card.  When I offered it to Stephanie, as she was collecting samples, I struggled with whether or not to give it to her - because I LOVE it. The colors make me seriously happy!  The stamp set has  large and small solid flower stamps, and plus the outline for each to go on top.  So I stamped my flowers in pink and yellow, and then stamped the black outlines over, and added the little green leaves.
 And on this second card, I went for a WAY different look.  I paired the large flower and outline with some leaves and sentiment from the branches4flowers stamp set.  I stamped the solid flower once on scrap paper, and then onto the card stock, (some people call this second-generation stamping).  Then I used the SAME ink color and stamped the outline.  I masked the leaves, using a post-it note, to tuck them behind the flower.
All card stock shown is of course from Discount Cardstock.  Did you know they have sales EVERY week!? This week there is some GORGEOUS metallic purple cardstock on sale (which I don't have in my stash! GASP! And you know I'm not a fan of purple, but I must admit - this stuff looks beautiful!!!) Plus Lucious Lime Doublemates is on sale for 25-50% off!

Have a FABULOUS weekend!

(Thank You card goodies: cardstock - Discount Cardstock (Cyclamen Cascata Felt, Brilliant White, ) stamps - The {Stamps} of Life, ribbon - Close To My Heart, ink - Clearsnap, Close To My Heart, jewels - Want2Scrap)


(With Sympathy goodies: cardstock - Discount Cardstock (Kraft,  Berry Red DoubleMates, stamps - The {Stamps} of Life, ink - Close To My Heart) twine - May Arts)