April showers bring ... a splash of color!!! Actually, there have been SO many lovely colors out my front door the past few weeks (on days when it's not snowing, that is!)!! The Control Freaks are celebrating the season by sharing their own "Splash of Color". If you've been hopping around, you just came from the beautiful colored creations of Kelly Acheson. BEAUTIFUL!! I do believe it is quite difficult to make a bad card with the "Eastern Beauty/Eastern Medallions" coordinating stamps and dies. I honestly can't believe I haven't used it WAY more than I have ... it is chock FULL of beautiful images. Lately I've been really drawn to purples and blues for some reason. Good thing Rich Razzleberry and Bermuda Bay are sticking around for another year!! Stamps: Beautiful Eastern Beauty, Timeless Textures Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Classic Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Rich Razzleberry Velvet Ribbon, Share What You Love Artisan Pearls This little card is one I made while me and some of my Stampin' Up friends were visiting/eating/stamping at the home of my BFF, Jeanna Bohanon. She just brought up a bunch of supplies and gave us to the challenge to create something with what she had supplied. It was so much fun!! Stamps: Banners for You Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo Ink: Peekaboo Peach, Flirty Flamingo Accessories: Bunch of Banners Framelits, Butterflies Thinlits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Basic Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Faceted Gems, Basic Black Ribbon This Saturday I will be running in a race for which I have been training all season ... the Salt Lake City Marathon!! Yes ... I AM crazy!! However, I run with a team of amazing people who raise funds to benefit the Huntsman Cancer Institute and cancer research. It makes me so happy to be a part of this team!! Next up??? The clever and creative Cindy Elam! I can't wait to see what she made myself!! 
So many times it's just easy for me to put a card on my blog here just for the sake of putting something up. But every once in a while I find something that strikes so near and dear to my heart that it makes me reevaluate why I do what I love and share what I do. This week, the members of the Autism Matters Blog Hop have reminded how much joy comes from "giving unto others". We ALL know someone who has been affected by autism... through family, through friends ... it's definitely out there. In trying to keep with the color scheme associated with autism, I made this little happy card. Aren't the banners soon fun??? I'm actually kinda partial to the birdie and the little hearts ... super cute!! Stamps: Pick a Pennant (Sneak Peek from the NEW catalog coming in June!) Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Real Red Ink: Real Red, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight Accessories: 1/2" Circle Punch Interesting fact ... Scientists are unclear as to why about 20% to 30% of autistic children develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood. Knowledge is power!! The more we research and learn about autism, the more we can do to work toward better treatments! This is where YOU come in!!! By clicking on the "donate" graphic here, you can change lives ... every single dollar counts. Even if everyone who reads this donates $1 - $5 ... think of the change we could initiate!!! AWESOME!!! Next up??? Kelly Acheson!!! Not only is she an incredible paper crafter, she has a HUGE heart ... and she is the one who organized this blog hop!!! You GO, Kelly!!
Here we are again!! It's Monday Montage time!! I have spent the better part of the last two weekends driving in the car ... last weekend going to/from Las Vegas for Stampin' Up's OnStage Event ... and from Friday to Sunday this past weekend driving to Phoenix and back (we were making a furniture delivery for our business). I will be glad to be home for a little while!! Waterfront ... this stamp set is DA BOMB!!! It is SOOO good!! And I know I have mentioned before that I struggle with "dude" cards. This set is PERFECTA for them!!! Stamps: Waterfront Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Tranquil Tide, Whole Lot of Lovely DSPInk: Soft Wuede, Old Olive, Wild Wasabi, Tranquil Tide, Soft Sky Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Square Framelits Dies, Seaside Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen ThreadI need a week off ... or maybe two!!! I'd LOVE to be sitting under an umbrella with a good book and a frosty cold fruity drink, wouldn't you??? Maybe one day I'll get there! Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ... Monday Montage Hoppers Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper CraftsBreelin Renwick - Craft-somnia MommaCathy Casey - Sugar Shack DesignsDani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful CornerElizabeth Price - SeeinginkspotsJulie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! BlogKaitlyn Zumbach - Create with KaitlynMelissa Stout - The Stamp DocWendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!! Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... you will be inspired!
I feel creatively reinvigorated!!! I spent last weekend with a bunch of my Stampin' Up friends in Las Vegas at OnStage!!! Oh My GOOOOSH!!! I got a sneak peek into the new catalog that will be coming out in June ... and I'm going to go BANKRUPT!!! I brought a few goodies home and was able to incorporate at least ONE new stamp into this week's Fab Friday Challenge! I feel like I have been in a rut for ... um ... FOREVER!!! I haven't really liked much of ANYthing I have created in quite a while. But this card makes me SOOOO happy!!! I like the colors, I like the layout, AND I LOVE citrus! So there you go! Stamps: Lemon Zest, Detailed with Love Paper: Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Bubbles & Fizz DSPInk: Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits, Lemon Building Punch, Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Basic Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread Nice sketch!! I will definitely use this again! Here's a link to the Fab Friday Challenge Blog so you can play along: Fab Friday Challenge BlogCheck out the Fab blogs of my fellow Fab Friends: Mindy BackesCindy BeachHeather HeroldtBrian KingAmy KoendersJustin KriegerAmanda MertzBrenda MyersJan TinklenbergI will be on the road again this weekend ... with my hubby!!! We are headed down to Phoenix to make a furniture delivery for a client. Good thing I have an awesome son who is willing to come and stay at our house to keep an eye on things AND take care of our doggie!
How can it possibly be Monday again ALREADY??? I could really get into having a 5-day weekend and 2-day work week, couldn't you??? It seems I always need a weekend to get over my weekend! So happy to be hopping around with the Monday Montage Team, though. Hopping??? Hahahaha! We just had Easter, so this made me giggle! I literally have HUNDREDS of stamp sets ... and embossing folders ... and dies ... and punches ... and LOADS of ribbon and embellishments at my disposal. Lucky me!!! So why is it that sometimes I feel like I have NOTHING to create with??? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I placed an order with Stampin' Up on Friday ... and I can't WAIT to get my "new" goodies!! (This card was inspired by one made by fellow-Monday-Montager Amy O'Neill. I had the foreground figured out, but I used her ribbon treatment and leaf accents. Thanks, Amy! Stamps: Colorful Seasons Paper: Whisper White, Powder Pink, Pear Pizzazz Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delights, Melon Mambo Accessories: Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Square Framelits Dies, May Flowers Framelits Dies, Burlap Ribbon, Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing FolderI was so blessed to have all of my kids over for Easter Sunday. How lucky am I that they all live within a reasonable distance (like, no more than an hour!)! We laughed, we ate, we decorated eggs ... we ate some more! Pretty good weekend if you ask me! Here's a blog roll just in case you get "stuck" trying to hop around ... Monday Montage Hoppers Amy O'Neill - Amy's Paper CraftsBreelin Renwick - Craft-somnia MommaCathy Casey - Sugar Shack DesignsDani Dziama - Dani's Thoughtful CornerElizabeth Price - SeeinginkspotsJulie Warnick - Julie Warnick Stampin' Up! BlogKaitlyn Zumbach - Create with KaitlynMelissa Stout - The Stamp DocWendy Weixler - Wickedly Wonderful Creations - YOU'RE ALREADY HERE!! Click "Back" for Melissa Stout and "Next" for Amy O'Neill ... soooooo good!!
More Recent Articles | 
