Mini Memories Baby Album

Hi there!  I recently created this mini album as a baby gift for a wonderful, crafty friend.  This was so fun to put together with the great pieces in the Mini Memories Simply Created Album Kit.  I still couldn't resist adding a few other embellishments, though.  Here's how the album turned out:

If you like this kit, you'd better hurry . . . it's from the Occasions Mini, and only available until May 31st!  

Supplies used:  Mini Memories Kit, Petite Petals Stamp Set, Petite Petals Punch, Flower Shop Stamp set, Pansy Punch, Papillon Potpourri, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, White Craft Ink (sponging covers)

Thanks for stopping by!

- Michelle

Thanks a Latte!

This week I had a fun opportunity to prepare a little thank you treat for some special people who helped me immensely with the boys' school's yearbook this year.  I saw this adorable "Thanks a Latte" idea on Pinterest, and decided to create my own version!  For the tags, I wanted something photo/yearbook-themed, so decided to use the On Film Framelits Dies.  Here's how they turned out:

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Many Thanks (photopolymer), Patterned Occasions (2013 Sale-a-Bration set, retired)

Ink:  Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar Stampin' Write Markers and Project Life Journaling Pens

Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Smoky Slate and Primrose Petals Card Stock; Gold Foil Paper

Accessories:  On Film Framelits, Owl Punch (heart), Coastal Cabana Ruffle Stretch Trim (retiring), and Merry Minis Punch Pack (gold star)

I am happy with how these turned out and happy to report that everyone seemed to enjoy the little surprise!

Thanks a latte for stopping by!  :)

- Michelle

More Work of Art Sneak Peeks

Happy Friday!  It's been a busy week here -- lots of baseball, plus the printed copies of the boys' school yearbooks arrived and needed to be sorted out!  Really proud of how the yearbooks turned out -- can't wait for the kids to see them -- though we still have a couple weeks to go on that!!!  The big reveal won't be until June 6th for the 5th graders!

Anyway, I have two more cards to share with you that I made using the Work of Art stamp set, which will be available when the new Stampin' Up! catalog goes live on June 2nd (not too much longer now!!!)  These cards incorporate pieces I showed you in my previous post here, and I used a similar layout for each of these cards as well as partial embossing with the Chevron Embossing Folder: 

Each of these cards combines a mix of retiring, current, and new products.  Specifically, each card features a retiring In Color -- Gumball Green card stock and ink on the flower card, and Midnight Muse card stock and stitched ribbon on the card adorned with the heart and sequins.  (By the way, don't miss out on the Retiring List Blow Out -- 25 to 50% off select retiring items from now until June 4th (or while supplies last)!!!)

Here's a close up of the focal piece (cut using one of the Chalk Talk Framelits) from each of these cards:

In this one, the flowers were stamped using another sneak peek stamp set, called Something to Say.  I used the coordinating flower punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (another sneak peek item) to cut the little Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie flower on the tag (that was also my first use of Blendabilities, which I just adore!!!  You'll be seeing more projects colored with those soon . . . ).  The finishing touch for this card is a bit of the Gold Baker's Twine.   

For the other card, I used the heart punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Pack to add a bright pop of pink (I think this is Primrose Petals, another retiring In Color).

Hoping to find some time to make more cards this weekend -- and hoping you do, too!

Thanks for visiting!

- Michelle

P.S.  Today is the last day for a special deal for new Paper Pumpkin subscribers to sign up and get 50% off your June kit.  See Shelli's video about the deal here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4_LkbuepiA
 To sign up, visit https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/signup/

Sneak Peek: Work of Art

One of the perks of attending the Catalog Premiere a few weeks back was receiving a sneak peek stamp set from the new Catalog -- Work of Art.  I've been testing out the images from it a bit, and here's a look at some pieces I've created with it so far:  

These banners are created using the Banner Framelits and either Canvas Creations or Very Vanilla Card Stock.  Here are a few more pieces I created, some with Banner Framelits and others using shapes from the Chalk Talk Framelits:

While these would make fun tags just by themselves, I'm also planning to use them to create cards.

Here's a finished one:

For this card, I used Midnight Muse Card Stock for the base and for the layer that is embossed with the Modern Mosaic embossing folder.  I added a bit of the stitched Midnight Muse ribbon for a finishing touch. (Midnight Muse is one of the retiring In Colors -- I believe the card stock is already sold out, and the ribbon, inks, and other items are only available while supplies last or until June 4th . . . if you haven't already, be sure to check out the Retired List so you don't miss out on any of your favorites!)

Thanks for visiting!

- Michelle

Wheely Sweet Friend's Birthday Card in a Box

You may have noticed that the card in a box technique has become one of my favorites lately!  Well, today, I have another of this style of card to share with you:

Isn't this a fun way to help celebrate a dear friend's birthday?!  

Supplies used:  

Stamps:  Cycle Celebration

Ink:  2012-14 and 2013-15 In Color Stampin' Write Markers; Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker; Coastal Cabana Classic Ink Pad

Paper:  Coastal Cabana, Very Vanilla, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, Gumball Green, and Strawberry Slush Card Stock; Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper (also available as a digital download here).

Accessories:  Window Sheets; Calypso Coral Baker's Twine; Owl Builder Punch (owl foot = tied off area of balloon), Small Oval Punch (balloons); Decorative Label Punch; Strawberry Slush Ruffled Ribbon (oh no, it's already retired . . . looks like only Baked Brown Sugar is left!); White Gel Pen (highlights on balloons)

Thanks for visiting!

- Michelle

Mother's Day Flowers

Last night, a friend and I hosted a special "Moms Night In" jewelry and crafting party, which was a fun and relaxing way to spend the evening!  I wanted to create a special thank you for each of the wonderful women who attended, and decided on handcrafted roses.  I arranged them in a jar that I had antiqued using the same technique as for the arrangements I made for my hostess tea this year (you can see those here, but basically I upcycled a glass jar by spraying it with Krylon's Looking Glass Spray).  Here's how my rose bouquet turned out:

Hope the ladies who received the flowers felt super-special and appreciated!

Supplies:

Paper:  Real Red, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, So Saffron, and Gumball Green Card Stock; Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Spiral Flower Originals Die (I cut two pieces for each rose); Five Petal Punch (retired); Very Vanilla Seam Binding (dyed with Rich Razzleberry ink; I used a Color Spritzer filled with several drops of reinker and water, and spritzed that onto the seam binding)
Other:  Glass Jar, Looking Glass Spray and Floral Wire Stems

Hope you've had a beautiful day!  Thanks for stopping by!

- Michelle

SUper Friends Celebration Add-On Challenge Cards

When my SUper Friends group gathered at the end of April, I challenged them to create a project with limited supplies during our meeting.  Everyone could choose from pieces in the Calypso Coral Celebration Add-On Kit (only available a short while longer!), plus pieces of Whisper White, Smoky Slate and Calypso Coral and a selection of ribbons, stamps, and dies.  Here are the cards my friends and I created:

 

While the kit is designed to dress up the Celebration banner beautifully, I love how fun and easy it was to make some beautiful cards with it, too.  Don't you?  

Thanks for visiting!

- MIchelle

Hip Hip Hooray, It's Friday!

Happy Friday!  I'm still so excited and happy about the new Stampin' Up! Catalog . . . have pre-ordered some new supplies and anxious for those to arrive on Monday, so I get started creating with them (and, of course, sharing what I create here!)  Anyway, thought it'd be a great time to share some "Hip Hip Hooray" cards today:

Supplies used:  Hip Hip Hooray kit, Happy Watercolor stamp set, cork pieces from Sale-a-Bration Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack, Stars and Hearts punched from Silver Glimmer Paper, Large Rhinestone Pearl, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine

Thanks for stopping by!

- Michelle