tea-drinking stamper

With some leftover cutouts from my recent class, I decided I didn't want another of the same card. As I contemplated what stamps to use with the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper, I remembered one of the stamp sets my four-year-old granddaughter wanted me to order. I didn't think I would ever use the Dress Up stamp set for myself, but it just seemed to fit this dsp. A little bling and some corner rounding... Voila! I can think of several friends who would love this card. The dsp and the twine are Sale-a-Bration items and today is the last day to place an order that qualifies for some of this free product. Remember, you qualify for one free product for every $50 you spend. Products Used: Dress Up stamp set (8), W 131981, $24.95; C 127319, $17.95 Six-Sided Sampler stamp set (11), W 130953 $26.95; C 130956, $18.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Basic Black 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $6.95 Sweet Sorbet 12" x 12"

As I said in my previous post, I love tulips and so I just had to have the Blessed Easter stamp! For this card, I really changed things up. I heat-embossed the tulips with Black Stampin' Emboss Powder and then colored them in with Crushed Curry and Daffodil Delight and Gumball Green Stampin' Write Markers before cutting them out. I then inserted them into an envelope made with my Envelope Punch board (the point of the flap was removed with the Small Scallop Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Cutting Blade. I then stamped the word portion of the image again, this time with Island Indigo ink, and punched it out. A totally different effect than the stamp's original design. I think this is my favorite Easter card! But it's a toss-up. Products Used: Blessed Easter stamp (1), W 133212, $11.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Island Indigo 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 122923 Watercolor Wonder 12" x 12" dbl-sided Designer Serie

I love tulips! So when Stampin' Up! came out with the Blessed Easter stamp set, I just had to have it. And it will be very easy to use for any spring card just by not using the greeting portion of the stamp. All three cards below use Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper for the background. Plus I've used Stampin' Write Markers to color the rubber image before stamping on Whisper White card stock. For two of them I used the Ovals Collection of Framlit Dies. Products Used:  Blessed Easter stamp set (1), W 133212, $11.95 Daffodil Delight 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119683, $6.95 Crisp Cantaloupe 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 131298, $6.95 Gumball Green 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 126840, $6.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Watercolor Wonder 12" x 12" dbl-sided Designer Series Paper (12), 132994, $10.95 Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker, 119677, $3.50 Island Indigo Stampin' W

Well, I gave in. There were just too many gorgeous cards out there made with the Happy Watercolor stamp set. So I designed a card using the set from the "Celebrate the Everyday" mini catalog and a piece of Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper from the Sale-a-Bration brochure. I also played with my new Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition and the Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade. So fun! Products Used: Happy Watercolor stamp set (8), W 133188, $29.95; C 133191, $21.95 Pool Party 8½"x 11" card stock (24), 122924, $6.95 Basic Black 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $6.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Sweet Sorbet 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (12), 133521, Free with $50 purchase Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad, 126982, $5.95 Jet Black Staz-on Ink Pad, 101406, $7.95 Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (10 yards), 119261, $5.95 Stampin' Trimmer, 126889, $29.95 Stampin' Trimmer Rotary

I have thought some of the designs in the Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper have appeared childish, but I have come to realize that it all depends on how you use it. Take the sheet of numbers. Definitely for a child's card. Not! Mixed with the Banner Blast stamp set (Sale-a-Bration) and Basic Gray card stock, it is perfect for a man's birthday. I am going to miss the Raspberry Ripple in color when it leaves our color families in June, which is the color I used for the base as well as the color of the ribbon. I worked in all the colors of the dsp for the mini banners. Products Used: Perfectly Penned stamp set (4), W 128703, $16.95; C 122892, $12.95 Banner Blast stamp set (10), W 133551; C 133554, Free with $50 purchase Raspberry Ripple 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 126842, $6.95 Basic Gray 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 121044, $6.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Birthday Basics 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper

This card is fairly plain, but just plain happy, which is why the greeting is so appropriate! I fear, however, I broke a rule and used three different stamp sets to make this card. Everything except the greeting and the neutral card stocks in this card came from the Sale-a-Bration brochure: two stamp sets and the designer series paper. If I hadn't been pre-cutting the card stock for my class, I would have cut the smaller black layer from the larger one, but I was more interested in saving time than scrimping on my card stock. Products Used: Happy Watercolor stamp set (8), W 133188, $29.95; C 133191, $21.95 Petal Parade stamp set (5), W 133599, Free with $50 purchase Banner Blast stamp set (10), W 133551, C 133554, Free with $50 purchase Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Basic Black 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $6.95 Sweet Sorbet 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (12), 133521, Free with $50 purchase Sweet Sorbet Acce

The Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper available for one more week (Sale-A-Bration) is so cheerful, so spring-like. I think it's perfect for Easter—or any special occasion. And Basic Black is a great back drop for most of the prints in the pack. I paired this print with Crisp Cantaloupe and Basic Black. The only stamping is the greeting. The three pieces of twine are from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack, obviously designed to coordinate with the dsp. The pack includes 10 yards each Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party and Summer Starfruit Twine as well as one sheet printed adhesive-backed cork (58 pieces). I punched the greeting with the Modern Label punch and then punched an identical shape from  Basic Black card stock. I then cut the black piece in half and attached them behind the greeting so they extend a little past the Whisper White. The card was made extra easy by using the Banners Framelits Dies. I have gotten to where I utilize my card stock to the utmost. For example, I cut

I found these cute Easter baskets that hold Hershey Kisses on another blog (qbeesquest.blogspot.com) and decided I just had to teach them to the attendees of my March stamp class! I made mine in Primrose Petals, Wild Wasabi and Marina Mist because they seem to be the closest colors to the pastel wrappers of the kisses. They're not really that difficult, either. And as I was putting mine together, I thought how easy it would be to make them into teacups for favors at a tea party. Just extend the tab and curl it around for a cup handle. Anyway, these require no stamping, although you could add an Easter greeting to the top of the basket. I did add a strip of coordinating ribbon to the center of each handle and fastened the ends with brads through the side of the basket. The only tricky part is properly folding the inserts that hold the candy kisses. The basket itself is made from a 2" x 9" strip of card stock folded in half and scored at 5/8", 1-3/4". 3-3/4&

I'm still using up scraps and old designer series paper; this time it's last year's First Edition. However, you could accomplish the same basic effect using the current Modern Medley dsp (126926). For the first one, I used the Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138, $11.95). I've never chosen a plain strip of card stock as a stand-alone design element before, but I love what it added to this card. I had thought about adding words, but I think this is actually more impressive.  This card has one of the little butterflies left over from those cut with the Beautiful Wings Embosslits, but the other two are cut using the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die. I stamped the Very Vanilla butterfly with Basic Black ink and the Beautifully Baroque stamp (130895, $14.95), added a couple buttons for a body and knotted narrow taffeta ribbon for the antennae.

Another scrap of discontinued designer series paper, one that complements Midnight Muse, an in color that will disappear when the new catalog comes out in June. The Timeless Talk stamp set is one of those fun sets that I just love. I paired it with an image from the Chalk Talk set and finished it off with an In Color Dahlia. I'm going to miss that Midnight Muse! Products Used: Timeless Talk stamp set (7), W 126605, $22.95; C 126607, $16.95 Chalk Talk stamp set (6), W 130631, $25.95; C 130634, $18.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Midnight Muse 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 126843, $6.95 Midnight Muse Classic Stampin' Pad, 126860, $5.95 In Color Dahlias (20), 127556, $7.95 Envelope Punch Board (for rounding corners), 133774, $19.95 Chalk Talk Framelits (7), 129983, $24.95

My daughter's been going through some rough times, so I wanted to send her some encouragement. On the inside of this card, I copied Isaiah 40:11—"He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." I love this verse because I can picture myself as one of those lambs being carried close to the heart of God. The lovely Frosted Finishes Embellishment in the center is leftover from the holiday catalog, I know it's supposed to represent a sparkly snowflake, but I don't think it has to. Each 2-inch square piece of designer series paper has two opposite corners rounded with the points meeting in the center.  Products Used: Trust God stamp set (7), W 132094, $19.95; C 126702, $14.95 Everything Eleanor stamp set (8), W 131987, $36.95; C 124164, $26.95 Daffodil Delight 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119683, $6.95 Tangerine Tango 8½" x 11" card stock (24),

I'm picking up scraps of paper and finding ways to use them. I found a Crisp Cantaloupe card base already embossed plus a leftover piece of Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper and put them together with a strip of Crumb Cake. The Butterfly addition is stamped and tied with a piece of Tangerine Tango ribbon leftover from last year's Sale-a-Bration. I might give this to my sister when she reaches her next weight loss goal, since she's really struggling and needs all the encouragement she can get. Products Used: Mosaic Madness stamp set (11), W 130246, $26.95; C 130249, $18.95 Delightful Dozen stamp set (12), W 128547, $32.95; C 122652, $24.95 Crisp Cantaloupe 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 131298, $6.95 Very Vanilla 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 101650, $8.50 Crumb Cake 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 120953, $6.95 Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad, 131176, $5.95 Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder, 129984, $7.95

More retired designer series paper, some retired ribbon and a punched out bird. So easy. So pretty.

This is really old but beautiful designer series paper. I am intent on using up all those odds and ends, scraps and old paper. Thankfully I had some Pale Plum card stock available as well. Mixed with the still current Perfect Plum, I'm thrilled with these cards. I used one of the stamps from the Mixed Bunch stamp set (6 stamps, W 128442, $27.95; C 125537, $21.95) with the coordinating Blossom Punch (125603, $16.95) on the first two cards. All three have a Very Vanilla card base. I had placed the strip of dsp on the left side of the first card and then stamped the flower overlapping the base and the dsp. When doing that, there is always a gap in the ink, which I covered with a very narrow strip of Perfect Plum card stock. Then I decided to add the Pale Plum punched-out flower and cut around all of them, inserting a piece of Perfect Plum beneath them.   The Perfect Plum buttons on both these cards are also retired. Since the light green on the designer paper is Certainly Celery,

I think I'm a flower-loving person. At least the floral sheets of designer paper seem to appeal to me the most. Only the greeting was stamped on this card, yet there's plenty of design to catch the eye. If you look very closely, you will see the gold heart in the center of the vellum flower. I was careful to punch the flower from the Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum with the heart in the center. It also made a convenient place to put the glue dot behind it so my adhesive wouldn't show through. Products Used: Perfectly Penned stamp set (4), W 128703, $16.95; C 122892, $12.95 Daffodil Delight 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 119683, $6.95 Watercolor Wonder 12" x 12" double-sided Designer Series Paper (12), 132994, $10.95 Gold 12" x 12" Fancy Foil Designer Vellum (9), 133363, $10.95 Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad, 126946, $5.95 Rhinestone Basic Jewels (150), 119246, $4.95 Pansy Punch, 130698, $15.95 Petite Petals punch, 133322, $12.

I'm still playing with the Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper in the "Celebrate the Every Day" mini catalog. Just love it! This sheet of paper is so pretty all by itself, but it also coordinates very well with the Stippled Blossoms stamp set. Yes, I carefully cut around my stamped rose, the background of which was stamped off on scrap paper before stamping on my Whisper White card stock. I also colored the Whisper White Organza Ribbon by pressing it into my Tangerine Tango ink pad with a sponge dauber. It needed a little something extra, so I added the three pearls. Products Used: Stippled Blossoms stamp set (10), W 132076, $26.95; C 126747, $18.95 Remembering Your Birthday stamp set (8), W 131347, $23.95; C 131350, $17.95 Tangerine Tango 8½" x 11" card stock (24), 111349, $6.95 Whisper White 8½" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $8.50 Watercolor Wonder 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (12), 132994, $10.95 Tangerine Tango Classic St