Concord Favourite Thoughts with Style

I used the colour coach to come up with this neat colour combo with perfect plum and

concord crush. That flourish from elements of style is so versatile

colour combos

I was playing around trying to get a feel of the new colours and how they might work together. This card uses the Great Friend Stamp set is using the new colours daffodil delight and cherry cobbler. The leaves are in old olive ink. I think this is a great summery, cheery combo. The cherry cobbler is particularly striking and rich. I think it will be super for Christmas cards.

This card gave me fits from the get go. I wanted to practice my watercolouring. I used the blender pens and regal rose ink for the blooms and wild wasabi ink for the leaves. Wild wasabi is one of the returning in colours which has now found a home in the subtles color family. I love the colour by itself but was unsure how to pair it. Here's my attempt with regal rose and pretty in pink.

Break in a basket

I really should be snoozing now but tonight I really wanted to make something for a friend. I felt she might need a little treat/break. My break in a basket included a candle, card/teabag holder and some home baked brownies. As all of you know, I love creating things with a handmade touch and I especially love giving them away to people as a way to bless and encourage them.

I used the colours rich razzleberry and old olive and the one of a kind stamp set to tie it all together. (I think I forgot about that one of a kind stamp set until I saw it on the retiring list and then remembered how much I loved that big flower) Make sure you click on the image if you want to see the project in more detail.

If you haven't customized a candle before, let me tell you it is so easy. I don't mean kind of easy, I mean really really easy. I might be compelled to make a few more to have on hand for those summer get togethers where I need a small thank you/hostess gift or maybe I"ll give candles to the teachers this year instead of my usual "ko"sters.

If someone has been on your mind lately, take a moment to make something for them. It's worth the time.

Priceless is not retiring!

Correct me if I am wrong but I didn't see PRICELESS on the retiring list which means I can continue to use it and enjoy it and share it with everyone without causing distress.

Here is a cute and easy project which is perfect to make as a teacher gift at the end of the year. I slipped a tea bag in but you could easily put a square of chocolate and a gift card. This was a club project. Yes, if you want to get new ideas and make cute projects, you need to join a club! Talk to me for all the details. Clubs are one of my favourite parts of being a stampin' up demo.

fresh smooch

Here's a super fast card using the fresh cut note cards and the new smooch spritz. I am becoming an expert at using smooch spritz. Now that I am more familiar with the product, I am no longer afraid of the wild spritzing that it does. It always gives such a unique look and the fine misting capabilities gives great interest without being overpowering. Here I used the gold glow and silver foil smooch spritz. I then put some crushed curry cardstock behind the peek a boo window and added a rhinestone brad. The sentiment is the new favourite thought stamp set in the summer mini. Stay tuned because you will see more of this stamp set. I'm finishing up a great card using this set.

I forgot to include it in the picture but I stamped a co-ordinating envelope using the fresh cuts stamp set. (Click on the image to see the card close up)

playing around

So, I found out this week that I have been randomly selected by my professional college to undergo a professional audit. Groan. Whenever something potentially stressful comes up that I can't immediately deal with, I try to push it to the back of my mind until a more appropriate time. With the kids around and daily life, I can't start figuring out all my professional development paperwork etc. I will carve out a chunk of time...LATER. As a escapism strategy, my mind and hands start wanting to craft.

This is just a couple of things I was playing around with this afternoon. I felt the sweet scoops card that I made a while ago needed a co-ordinating envelope. I made it using the builder wheel.

The other card came as a result of some scrapbooking I was doing. I used my big shot to roll out a beautiful flower border 12" long from some melon mambo dsp. (who's with me when I say that the big shot is one of the best crafting tools EVER!) It was so beautiful I couldn't resist rolling out another one. I didn't know what I was going to use it for but it seemed right to cut it in half and mount one on a piece of chocolate chip cardstock. I then used the new Favourite Thoughts set from the summer mini (I LOVE the sentiments in this set...every woman can enjoy them) and then ta dah...a card materialized.

Okay, escapsim commerical over...I've gotta go make dinner now. :-)