Hi-5! Huge Sale at Power Poppy!

Hello, there!  How about something that's fun and bright and cheerful?  It's just what the doctor ordered, I think.  I played with a Power Poppy clear stamp set that's been around for a while and I love it now as much as ever.  It's called Folk Heart.   It's on sale for 40% off... because it's retiring!  But wait...  Marcella has many stamp sets for 30%, 40%, and even 50% off, and some of those are retiring, too.  Plus there are some digital stamps up to 60% off.  Sale starts at noon CDT today.  Hi-5!

Check out more details on the sale, but for an update with even more info check the Power Poppy blog later:

The Folk Heart set is super adorable and fun to play with because there are several stamps that can be used to accessorize or enhance the 3 main images.  I colored with Copics and cut out all my pieces and arranged as shown on an embossed panel that I thought was a nice match with the stamped flowers.  Cute!  Makes me smile, and we need that, right?

I'll refer you again to the Power Poppy blog where you can see more beautiful creations and get linked up with my teamies.

Back to more coloring, I hope.  My days seem busy, but not much time in my stamp room.  There's something wrong with that picture!  Take care, friends!

Stamps:  Folk Heart  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White, CTMH Dutch Blue, Bazzill yellow  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Copics  Accessories:  SU red candy dot, Sizzix 'Flowers' embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape  Dies:  Tutti Stitched Nesting Hearts, Poppystamps Stitched Mainstreet Tags

Swim at Your Own Pace

Hey, there!  More fun and frivolity today.  Can't help it, a stamp like this gives me grins and giggles as it's coming together and there's a good deal of value in that.  Whatever floats your boat, right?

It's a Stampendous stamp called Turtle Fun.  I bought it last summer (?) when I was on a mission to add to my practically nonexistent collection of nautical or beach-themed stamps.  I wasn't sure I'd use either of the two sentiments with it, but as it turns out I needed a retirement card and the sentiment expresses a favorite aspect of retirement.  Plus, she likes cute cards, so all the better.

I watercolored with Tombow markers on Fabriano Artistico Bright White 140 lb hot press WC paper.  Trimmed the top edge of the image panel with Memory Box Big Splash Border (2013), and adhered to a 4 3/4" square card which I'd covered with some sunshine yellow designer paper.

I'm off to see what kind of trouble I can get into.  You take care and have a very happy day!

Remakes and Use it Ups

Welcome back!

I've had some very industrious mornings in my stamp room.  While organizing my card stash I came across two cards I made quite a while ago, but never mailed because I was put off by their lumpiness.  I like dimension and texture, but I also like to avoid the lumps that can cause a card to get damaged in the mail.  Save that for square cards which are always hand cancelled here in the US.  Anyway... I decided to go ahead and remake them right then and there.

First up is a card with so much sparkle it's almost blinding.  The original had a big, unattractive butterfly with a row of large pearls for the body.  Trust me, a butterfly can be unattractive.  Nature would not make an unattractive butterfly, but I did.  I replaced the lumpy-bodied, unattractive butterfly with flowers and foliage.

(Poppy Stamps Sending Scribbles, Verve Amazing Adjectives, oval lattice die (I think Marianne... it was a friend share), Die-namites Leafy Flourish.  Glitter paper for the leaves and punched flowers.  Diamond Stickles on the stamped flowers.  Iridescent embossing powder on the die cut word.  Stardust Stickles elsewhere.  Small pearls.)

I'll keep my eyes and ears open for an opportunity to mail it.  It's very occasion-specific.  I had a need for it at the time, but I sent a whole different card instead.  See inside sentiment below:

The next card is a thank you.  The original had a length of 3/4" black organdy ribbon wrapped around its middle and tied in a bulky bow at the side.  This was an easy fix; I replaced the bow with glitter hearts.

(Spellbinders Elegant Ovals, Verve Amazing Adjectives, SU punched hearts, old heart stamp which I believe I put in the purge pile after this)

The green ink is SU's retired Glorious Green which I seldom use, but find I like it more now than I did in the past.

None of the above was very time consuming, so I made some "use it ups", too.  I felt it was time to use up the last of my Prima Fairy Flora paper which I bought when it was brand new in 2010.  I've loved it well and still do.  I prepared 11 card fronts for future use with enough scraps left over for decorating the insides or die cutting small things.  I could have gotten more cards out of those scraps, but 11 is enough.

It's been beautiful weather this week and I've been out in the garden a lot, but I'm so far ahead with my stamping I'll probably be back again before you notice I was gone.  Have a happy day!