Sneak Peek of Mocha Monday

 

Dressed up in black.... for Dad's and Grads!

 

This month we're focusing on Dad's (for June) and grads. So, I've come up with three projects for this month's Mocha Monday.

Two cards that are easy but have some fun going on and a great little box that holds a gift card and candy.

 

Ladies, you do not want to miss this Mocha Monday and here's why.

 

First - you'll be ready for Father's Day!
(a month early, how cool is that?)

 

Secondly,

 

As soon as you put the final touches on your projects you will be handed the brand new 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! catalog!

It's gorgeous and packed full of the best products ever.

 

So, if your coffee is still hot, you can move it, yourself and your new catty to a comfy chair and spend another hour browsing, dreaming and starting your wish list. You'll need to wait until May 31st to order, but that gives you lots of time to come up with a huge list.

 

I'm doing something a bit different with this class also.
The cards will have black backgrounds as shown, but you can reserve a color other than Lucky Limeade to match your grads school colors. Just let me know your preferred color ahead of time so I can have your kit pre-cut, with coordinating Designer Series Paper.

 

Note: Tutorial and kits will be available for sale on Monday 
          May 13th here on my blog for those who cannot attend.

 

Class details:

 

Where: Lucky Perks Coffeehouse

                                   Ustick & Eagle Rd
                                   Meridian ID
                      When:  Monday, May 13th

                                   9:30 am - 11:00 am   and

                                   6:30 pm - 8:00 pm





                    

Cost: $5.00 includes a pre-cut kit and catty!

Reservations are required

Contact me at stampsnsmiles@gmail.com

 

And tomorrow.... the winner from my Seriously post!

and very hopefully a sneak peek of this months Online Only Class which mails out on the 15th. 

 

It's been an "I could write a book" kind of week, so thanks for your patience. Now, if I were paid a dollar for every time I've been told I could write a book... well, I'd be retired in Jamaica. But no book, no retiree!

 

Ten Minute Tuesday.... barely!

 

Ten Minute Tuesday

 

Whew! I made it just under the wire.... not just the ten minute part, but the Tuesday part also!

(well, if you live in my time zone, anyway, lol.)

 

The Soho Subway DSP is a brand new product from Stampin' Up! available for ordering on May 31st.

 

The sentiment is also new and is from a fantastic set (which I can't show you yet) called Really Good Greetings.

 

 

So today I decided to share with you my very first attempt at Bokeh. I've been wanting to try it. It's so fun and kind of a cool technique.

 

What is Bokeh?

"Bokeh is the photographing technique of aesthetically blurring the background; to exaggerate the effect of the lights shining in the background/foreground. The word bokeh comes from the Japanese word “boke” (pronounced bo-keh) which literally means fuzziness or dizziness. The bokeh effect transforms the overall look and feel of a fairly simple view to the one categorized as “awesome”. Click here for more details of this technique used in photography.

 

Here's a sweet example of it in photography - straight from Pinterest (are you following me yet? click here!) I've got a zillion ideas on my Pinterest boards.... some of which I've actually used!

 

  

Photo credit: kevinandamanda.com

 

So here's the how to:

 

I created the "bokeh" using Sponge Daubers. They are a very cool little tool that come in quite handy and I'll have a few more quick and easy tutorials using them soon.

 

Very Vanilla card stock, 4-1/4" x 11" - fold in half to create a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card.

Adhere two strips of Soho Subway DSP, 1-1/4" x 4-1/4",  to lower edge of card. The lower strip using Snail Adhesive, the top one using Stampin' Dimensionals. These overlap a little.

Create bokeh using Crisp Cantaloupe, Summer Starfruit, Crumb Cake and Island Indigo ink,  using Sponge Daubers. I stamped off before stamping onto my card as you want rather light blurry dots.

       

 

I decided to group my "bokeh" as this tends to be how it shows up in photography

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to assist with placement, I stamped this wonderful saying in Early Espresso. I then decided I really needed the Crisp Cantaloupe in there also, so went back in and added them.

 A little bling and you're done!

 

And, if you viewed this page on Tuesday, May 7th, bless your little heart for staying up so late..... now go to bed! That's where I'm headed.

Seriously... win a prize!

 

 

 

Seriously....

how many different ways could you, would you, use this saying?

 

Seriously .... you graduated?
Seriously.... I love you!

Seriously.... you're awesome!

Seriously..... I'm stressed!!!!

Seriously.... let's do coffee

Seriously ..... happy for you!

Seriously.... you're the best Dad ever!

 

Okay and then....

how many ways could you break the word serious up and use it for some seriously fun cards.

 

"iou" .... lunch, the world, another chance

 "us" ... love us, just us, us forever

 "serious" .... about you, about us, fun (this one is a little harder)

 

So - what saying would you put with it?

Leave me a comment and I'll choose one comment to win a prize! Seriously .... it'll be something good.
Leave your comment by Wednesday, May 8th to have an opportunity to win.

 

 

This is one of the three stamps that came in My Paper Pumpkin kit this month. The other two are sayings that go with this stamp, along with buttons, twine, paper, envelopes and an ink pad. Everything you need to make some pretty amazing projects. I used mine for a notebook, and some very cool cards.

What is My Paper Pumpkin -

it's a monthly subscription from Stampin' Up! that delivers a wonderful creative get-away right to your doorstep.

 

Each month I create three additional projects and create a step-by-step tutorial for the gals and guys who subscribe through me.

 

 

 

Click here for more info  - subscribe before May 10th to receive June's fabulous kit!

Note: I used the wonderful "splatter" from French Foliage to add a little interest. It happens to be one of my favorite sets and it is not being carried over into the new catalog -
so order it today here.

 

French Foliage

 

All Dolled Up Kit

It's new, it's beautiful and it's, of course, from Stampin' Up!

How much fun to have a kit that arrives completely ready to go!

It's like a party in a box!
Or a perfect Mother's Day present.

Gather a few friends for coffee and make a few cards - all you need is a little adhesive. Or, create them on your own and you have birthday cards (or change up the sentiment) for six occasions.

The Dolled-Up Birthday kit includes the following:

• Dolled-Up Birthday Photopolymer Stamp (1)
• 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Crumb Cake Cardstock (6 pieces)
• 2" x 4-1/4" Very Vanilla Cardstock (6 pieces)
• Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes (6)
• Tea Lace Paper Doilies (6)
• Dress Up die-cuts (6)*
• Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Spot (1)
• Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim (6 pieces)
• Sponge Dauber (1)

Get everything you need to make six cards for only $15.95 #133913

 

Order your All Dolled Up kit here.

You're Invited to Tea!

 

You're Invited!

 

Recently I was invited to be part of Splitcoaststamper's Creative Crew. This month we were asked to choose a party to celebrate and create projects for.

 

I chose a tea party....

 

This set includes all the delightful trappings that will invite, inspire, greet and treat your attendees.

 

An invitation....
it's always special to receive an invite in the mail. I would choose a handcrafted invite over an email, phone call or FB invite any day. Parties are special so let's start them off right!

Hello, I'm so glad you're here!
A sweet flowery welcome to let them know there's a place for them at the table. Hello is cute but how about stamping their name on each place card. Handwritten looks pretty, too!

 

 

Banners lend such a celebratory air to a party and this one would look perfect one the goodie table.
sorry the banner picture would not enlarge on my blog for some reason :(

 

 

 

And a treat...
Always, always, always, have a treat! The perfect memento of your party - a tea bag in a tea bag holder.

 

Enjoy! And if you've not been to Splitcoaststampers yet - you're in for a treat! Scoot on over there now and begin exploring! 

 

One of a Kind Quatrefancy

 

Are you up for another sneak peek?

 

Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper with it's own
coordinating punch - perfect, perfect!

Oh, there's lots more with this delightful line.... but anticipation is half the fun, right? So, I'm going to make you wait.

What could be easier than a simple bit of stamping (one of the sentiments from an amazing Hostess set) along with four punches? One punched from the background card stock and then three popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals. Seriously... a ten minute card and it's not even Tuesday!

 

The new 2013-14 Stampin' Up! catalog is brimming with amazing new product - don't have a demonstrator yet?
I'd love to send you one.... they're ready to go now.

Just email me at stampsnsmiles@gmail.com with your particulars and a beautiful catalog full of creative inspiration will be in your hands in no time at all.

 

Lots of fun projects coming soon.... follow my blog, or follow me on FB or.... I'm always on Pinterest!

Happy Anniversary!

 

 

So, the carpenter's house is always in need of repair....
the bricklayer's house still needs a sidewalk

and

the stamper's family always comes in last it seems!

 

I'm late, I'm late - for a very important date!

Our oldest daughter, Holly, and her husband, Rod, are celebrating their 15th anniversary today.

 

So, although the card won't arrive in time, (it's in the mail!)  they can always peek at the post, right?

Here's their sweet family!  Some of the cutest grandkids in the universe. Love, love them!

 

Check them out a bit more at outofthewoodswellness.blogspot.com

 

 

The background was heat embossed using Sponge Daubers, Versamark ink and Clear Embossing Powder.
A sweet little bag full of sequins, a punched out heart and some stitching.


 Subtle with a tad of shine .... ooh, sounds just like you, Holly!