Picture Perfect Sneak Peek

I don't know how often I get asked if Stampin' Up! has a hummingbird stamp in the catalogue, but we haven't had one for a few years, so I was very happy when I saw a hummingbird in the Picture Perfect* Stamp Set in the new 2016 Occasions Catalogue. And it's not just any old Humming bird, it is a 4-Step Stamping hummingbird. This photopolymer stamp set has 4 separate stamps to complete the hummingbird, as well as 3 steps to complete the roses, and 2 for the Starfish and 3 for the leaves. It has some amazing sentiments as well. This was my favourite stamp set out of the whole catalogue!

• It's not the easiest set to use either. There is a bit of a learning curve. I practised with several birds and roses before I got the ones I liked and got more adept at the technique.
• Stampin' Up! recommends that you start with the stamp numbered 1 and progress one-by-one to the fourth stamp, but I didn't find that very easy. My best results came when I stamped the fourth image first in dark colours for that the outline is very much easier to see under all the other colours. The roses aren't quite as tricky and I played around with colours and stamping off before positioning and stamping a couple of time. Every stamp has a tap that helps you line them up properly.
• I fussy cut all my images with Paper Snips but they weren't difficult to do, and mounted them with either glue dots, Dimensionals, or Liquid Multipurpose Glue, popping some up to give dimension. There are no dies for this set, unfortunately.
• The background paper comes from the Birthday Bouquet Design Series Paper*, and it makes a great background.
• I embossed the white center panel with the Softly Falling Embossing Folder after stamping the sentiment in the top corner.

*These products are found in the 2016 Occasions Catalogue and will be available to order on Jan. 5, 2016.

Christmas is just two more sleeps! Do you need a last minute gift for a crafter? How about Gift Certificates from me. They're cute, easy to wrap, they can be for any amount and she'll love you for it!! Email me and we can arrange an online certificate that you can print and give.

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [138326]	Hello Honey Classic Stampin' Pad [133643]	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931]	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [131172]
Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad [138323]	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad [126944]	Hello Honey Classic Stampin' Pad [133643]	Delightful Dijon Classic Stampin' Pad [138327]	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [133645]
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [126953]	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [131180]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672]
Big Shot [113439]	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026]	Glue Dots [103683]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Picture Perfect Stamp Set *, Birthday Bouquet Designer Series Paper Stack*

*These products are found in the 2016 Occasions Catalogue and will be available to order on Jan. 5, 2016.

A Little More Black and Blue

No, I didn't slip in the snow and bump my head, or walk into the door frame ( though I have done that many times - I'm the original klutz, remember?)  I just really, really liked the Dynamic Duo's Colour challenge this week and wanted to do more. My first post was on Monday, but it was just a little appetizer.  Now comes the main course.

The colours for the challenge again are Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black.  I used the beautiful stamp set Elements of Style for this card and a sentiment from Bring On the Cake.  This card is very simple to make because you stamp twice, adhere all the layers and you're good to go, after adding some ribbon and pearls.  I wanted a simple, but striking card for my Birthday Stampers' Dozen this week.  The background panel is from the Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack. 

And now for dessert!  The Dessert Option for the challenge this week was to add clouds, and finally, here they are in this fun little birthday card:

The clouds in the background here are made with the Cloudy Day embossing folder from the Spring Catalogue.  And my penguins are created with the help of the Owl Builder Punch (with the ears trimmed off the owl).  Some torn Whisper White card stock sponged with Tempting Turquoise forms the ice and snow of Antarctica, while the birthday cake with ALL the candles and the sentiment are from Bring On the Cake.  See that little penguin on the right is afraid that all those candles are going to melt the ice on which he is standing.  But really, he has nothing to worry about because underneath all the ice and snow, Antarctica is a continent, not an ocean like the Arctic, so there is solid ground!

Did you enjoy your meal?  If so, why not leave a comment?  I love getting to know my readers better!

Hummingbird Card:
Stamps:  Elements of Style (w118611; c120045); Bring On the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock; Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack (117157
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952), StazOn Jet Black (101406)
Accessories:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247); 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon in Marina Mist (122986), 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Black (119261)

Penguin Card:
Stamps:  Bring on the Cake (w121899; c121958)
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Tempting Turquoise (126952), StazOn Jet Black (101406)
Tools:  Stampin' Sponge (101610); Cloudy Day TIEF(textured impressions embossing folder) (127022)
Owl Builder Punch (118074)

Bring on the Cake Stamp set

Owl Builder Punch

Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack

Elements of Style

LIfe is a Matter of Moments

As I was crafting a card tonight, I was thinking about the sentiment, "Life is a matter of moments", and how true it is.  I can't remember every detail of my daughters' childhoods, but each daughter brings a series of precious moments to my heart: a grin, an exchanged look that exchanged so much more; a squeal of delight; a broken heart; a moment of triumph!  How can you express the essence of those moments to another?  There are no words.  How wonderful to have memories!

Here is the card that inspired all this philosophy:

I used a new stamp set, Elements of Style, that was delivered as part of my Starter kit and it fit this design perfectly.  I made the card for the Paper Players Challenge #88.  Here's the sketch I was working from:

I used Not Quite Navy for the card base and the back panel is from the Brights collection Patterns Designer Stack.  The strip is from Marina Mist cardstock, and the scalloped edge was achieved by using Edgelits Adorning Accents.  I added some Very Vanilla Satin ribbon topped with some navy grosgrain ribbon and a small sentiment from the same stamp set snipped and attached with glue dots.

The main panel is stamped on Very Vanilla Cardstock with Not Quite Navy ink and a little Marina Mist added to the flowers using a Stampin Write marker.  The sentiment piece was punched with the decorative label punch and the sentiment is also from Elements of Style.  All the Very Vanilla panels were sponged with Not Quite Navy ink.

With a few basic rhinestones to finish off the look, it was ready to go!  I have a friend who loves hummingbirds and this card would be perfect for her.  This one is for you, Jen!