Sweet & Simple

Simple can also be stunning, which was my reaction to this birthday card when I finished making it.  I just love this big burst of a flower from Betsy's Blossoms; it's a definite pop of fun.

I used some of the new In-Colors here: Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse, and Gumball Green.  And I still love the banners for just about anything--thank you, Framelits, for making it easy!  I may have to mass produce this card, so that I'll have some on hand for a change...

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Primrose Petals, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse
Paper: Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Pool Party
Extras: Bitty Banners framelits, Big Shot, Scallop Trim Border punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch

International Bazaar Goodness!

I got this package of goodies from Melanie in the mail the other day and WOW, am I in love!  Some of the markers and a clear mount stamp set are retired and were gifted to me but the International Bazaar DSP and the in-colors of card stock were the real reason for the package.  Seeing is truly believing and Melanie was right, these colors and patterns are inspiring.  I can't wait to place my order as well and am eager to get crafting.  Mel really does know me...that peacock is a beauty!  With all the fun pieces Mel sent me, I have no excuse not to use the new DSP and some of the punched elements to easily create a few cards to mail out to friends...especially now that I've moved.  What a great (& super-duper easy) way to stay in touch and send something personal.  =)

Check out the card below, from Mel's earlier post...  The photo doesn't do it justice as the heat embossed melon mambo is really a great accent.

I hope this post gets your creative juices flowing and inspires you to make some easy cards with fun punched elements and the beautiful new International Bazaar DSP.  Seriously, some FANTASTIC color combinations and unique patterns/prints!  Why not send a package like this with pre-measured/pre-cut & punched elements to your friends and fellow crafters so they can easily create a few cards of their own to mail out?

Happy Card-Making!
~Kiran

Floral Fun

This fun and bright card is just right for summer, and I got my inspiration from Stampin' Success, a magazine full of great ideas for stamping and for your business that all demonstrators receive.  It's another great perk!

This card features Bright Blossoms front and center, with a few embellishments from the Designer Buttons, Hemp Twine, Adorning Accents dies, and Adorning Accents embossing folders.  The sentiment, which is from Fabulous Florets, perfectly tied things together for this happy anytime card.

Don't forget!  You have until this Friday, June 29 to enter our blog candy contest by leaving a post on last Friday's post.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Fabulous Florets
Ink: Gumball Green, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise
Extras: Big Shot, Brights Designer Buttons, Hemp Twine, Adorning Accents die, Adorning Accents embossing folders

Bazaar Birthday

Happy Friday!  I hope you're excited for the weekend, and that maybe you'll fit in a little stamping fun. I hope to!

The inspiration for this card came from a sample on Stampin' Connection, a site for demonstrators to share ideas, questions, tips and--of course--their creations.  This constant font of inspiration is one of many perks of being a demonstrator, even if you're only in it for a discount on your hobby--let me know if you're interested.  The original was made by Maree Streeter of Inky Moose using Betsy's Blossoms and the Floral District DSP.  Of course, since I'm on an International Bazaar kick, I altered the stamps, colors and paper to fit my project.

The medallion in the back is from Daydream Medallions, and I think I could even have used the larger medallion to give it that happy, sunshine feel.  My paper strips, which are the PERFECT way to use up scraps, are .75x1.5 inches, and I just played around with where to lay them.  I think this is a great, fun and cheery birthday card and I think I'll return to this layout often.

And finally, some BLOG CANDY to celebrate 10,000 visitors and thank you for sticking around, even through our long hiatus.  Leave a comment on this post with your favorite card from our blog, and we'll enter your name in a drawing for all 3 of this week's cards, plus a few extra fun things.  We'll accept entries through next Friday, June 29, and announce the winner on July 2. Good luck!

Happy, happy Friday!
~Melanie

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Curly Cute
Ink: Daffodil Delight
Paper: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, International Bazaar DSP

Golden Peacock

This one's for Kiran!  She loves all things peacock, so I knew the instant that I saw the World Treasures stamp set, that it would be on the top of Kiran's list.  Guess what?  I was right.  :)  And this peacock is ever so lovely, with so many options...but, given my ongoing love of all things embossing, my first choice was to emboss in gold.  Look at that shine!

I chose my color palette--Pacific Point and Rich Razzleberry--from the colors in the International Bazaar DSP.  And then I used the DSP as background for this lovely bird.  Do you recognize that layout?  It's exactly the same as Monday's treasured friend card, minus the sentiment, and its one that I can use again and again.

I hope you love the peacock as much as we do, and that you'll check in for more uses of International Bazaar on Friday.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: World Treasures
Ink: VersaMark
Paper: Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, International Bazaar DSP
Extras: Gold embossing powder, Postage Stamp punch

Treasured Friend

I am IN LOVE with this designer series paper!  The bright colors and groovy patterns are nothing short of fantastic, so be sure that you check out International Bazaar DSP and get some for your own use.

When I was creating this card, which also features the flowers and sentiment from World Treasures stamp set, I though for sure that the colors were Pool Party and Calypso Coral.  Turns out I was right about Pool Party, but the "coral" turns out to be Tangerine Tango, which is a really bright and rich orange.  I was shocked!!  This just goes to show that you should play around with color pairings, because putting two colors together can make them look different than usual.

Wowzers!  Over the weekend, we passed 10,000 blog visitors.  Thanks for checking us out, and stay tuned for more colors and more patterns from International Bazaar this week.  I won't be able to hold back, and I might even have something extra fun to add into the mix.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: World Treasures
Ink: Pool Party, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point
Paper: Whisper White, International Bazaar DSP
Extras: Postage Stamp punch, Big Shot, Apothecary Accents framelits, Corner Rounder punch

Medallion Fun

Ah, with my new box of goodies from the 2012-13 Stampin' Up! catalog, the biggest question is what to play with next...because I want to play with everything, of course.  This card marries many new items, and I'm really happy both with how it turned out and all the ideas I have for my next projects.  But most of all, I love all that embossing--heat embossing with color, and textured embossing courtesy of the Big Shot.

I'm also a fan of the many shapes at my disposal--no scissors required.  The bird and branch popped out easily with a punch, and the large flower and banner were oh-so-easy with SU's ever growing collection of Framelits.  Who am I kidding, it's my ever-growing collection of Framelits now!

I'm about to put this card in the mail to Kiran, which brings me to the next part of our BIG NEWS--we're on the move!  Kiran has already relocated to the DC-Metro area, and I'll be packing up my creative corner very soon to head to the New River Valley of VA.  Will you be our new neighbors?  Leave a comment to let us know; we'd love to stamp with you.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Language of Friendship, Daydream Medallions, Betsy's Blossoms, Itty Bitty Banners, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Versamark, Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Gumball Green
Paper: Pool Party, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Gumball Green
Extras: Big Shot, Floral Framelits, Chevron embossing folder, Two-Step Bird punch, Bitty Banner Framelits, Circle Scissors Plus, Melon Mambo embossing powder, Many Marvelous Markers

Bright Beautiful Birthday!

My first order from the new catalog is here, and isn't it fun?  Here's a great birthday homage to Kiran's and my favorite colors--green and purple in shades of Lucky Limeade and Rich Razzleberry.  For this card, I used some of my favorite things from the new catalog--the Summer Smooches DSP and the Fancy Fan embossing folder.  Before I got a closer look at them both, I had no idea that the pattern in the Summer Smooches paper is the fancy fan shape.

This card features the Blossom Punch, which I've had but not used enough, and the finishing touch was cutting out the sentiment using my Paper Snips.  It takes a few minutes, but packs the perfect punch with Perfectly Penned.

Stay tuned--I have big plans for this box of goodies!
~Melanie

Stamps: Perfectly Penned
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Summer Smooches DSP
Extras: Blossom Punch, Wide Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Brights Designer Buttons, Big Shot, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Paper Snips, Little Leaves sizzlit

Plump Little Piggy

Here's another quick and easy card made with Button Buddies and perfect for any occasion.  Wouldn't it be great with a piggy bank for a new baby?  I say yes!

Have a great Monday!
~Melanie

Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso
Paper: Whisper White
Extras: Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

These snails are just adorable.  Normally I'm not a fan of slimy things (you should have seen me with the tree frog that followed us in the house the other night!), but these little guys are just too cute to be gross--even without the buttons!

As promised, here's a piece of our BIG NEWS:  Kiran is now a certified wedding planner, and working with two friends in the planning company Pretty Little Details.  I'm thrilled for Kiran, and we're both excited that we have an extra excuse to work on more wedding stationary...stay tuned for more on that front.  

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Marina Mist

Paper: Whisper White

Extras: Brights Designer Buttons, Linen Thread

Button Birthday

Here's a bright and sunny birthday card for your Wednesday.  It's another CASE from the 11-12 Idea Book and Catalog (the catalogs are full of great ideas that will always be current, even when the stamps retire).  I'm behind on a few birthdays, so I have more than a few of these to get in the mail.

Surprise!  Looking at the samples in the catalog, I thought these cards were 3x3--but they're 4x4, which means there is plenty of room to write something special inside.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Whisper White
Extras: Brights & Subtles Designer Buttons, Linen Thread

What's on Your List?

Now that you've had the weekend to check out the new 2012-13 Stampin' Up! Catalog, what are your favorites?  I'm going to share my Top Ten Gotta-Have-'Em--which means you'll have an idea of what I'm using on my next great projects.  I'm looking forward to seeing your favorites as well, so let me know by leaving a comment!

1.  For the Holidays--or all winter long--my pick is Stylin' Snowfolk on page 16.  Adorable!  And the best part is I can make endless snow-people for any occasion, all winter long.  It's like a Potato Head but in stamps!  Bonus: this stamp will be great fun to share with kids....

2.  For anytime--Betsy's Blossoms on page 72.  You may have seen lots of this set already, since it was available for demonstrator preorder, and you're bound to see many many more samples.  This set is great, and offers endless possibilities.  Plus I love it's bright and cheery only slightly retro vibe!

3.  For fun flowers--it's a tie!  I love both Bright Blossoms and Summer Silhouettes on page 82.  Bright Blossoms is fun and funky with a modern vibe, and I'm loving the two-step-ness of the dandelion in Summer Silhouettes.

4.  Coordination!  If you also love Bright Blossoms, be sure to check out the coordinating Summer Smooches DSP on page 165.  Give me bold colors any day!

5.  This one is for Kiran...World Treasures on page 98.  Wowzers!  That peacock is fabulous, the triple flower is great, and I couldn't agree with that sentiment more.  This beautiful stamp set is bound to make stunning cards...and I just can't wait to emboss that peacock.

6.  Simply stunning--check out Daydream Medallions on page 117, and be sure to catch the matching Floral Frames Framelits on page 191.  Wow!!  And wouldn't photographs look great inside those medallions?  I think yes.

7.  Feeling sentimental?  Then you must get From My Heart on page 139.  These sentiments with their beautiful embellishment are enough for a card on their own, and will be delightful in multiple shades provided by Many Marvelous Markers.

8.  For delicious detail, the new Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack is fantastic, and be sure to get the new Stampin' Pierce Mat and new Paper-Piercing Tool (all on page 181).  These will be a great step up for all kinds of projects, and my favorite new pick for the Big Shot...

9.  ....Apothecary Accents Framelits on page 191.  Oh my, aren't the new framelits offerings fantastic?  They will make delightful embellishments and accents for every project.

10.  Finally, how can I choose among the new embossing folders (page 189)?!  They are outstanding.  In keeping with recent trends though, the Chevron Folder is my #1 choice for everything, especially when paired with my choice of the hostess sets.

If you host a party (or place an order) that totals $150, you're eligible for hostess dollars that you can use for Carry On (page 203), which is headed my way as you read.

So, what did I miss?  What are you itching to play with and see samples from?  Leave a comment to let me know, and give some inspiration for both me and Kiran.

~Melanie

Get Your Wish Lists Ready!

The new catalog is here!!!!  There are so many great things for you to check out, so don't delay.  Leave a comment to let us know what's at the top of your wish list, and I'll share my Top Ten Can't Miss 'Em (aka--first things I'm ordering) in just a few days.

By clicking on the cover above, you'll open the catalog in Flash.  For dedicated browsing, you can download the catalog PDF from the sidebar.

Happy browsing!
~Melanie

And We're Back!!!

Hello everyone!

So, it's been quite a while since we've been here, and as a result we have LOTS of news to share--its been a busy five months!  We don't want to overwhelm you, so we'll be sharing all of our news in bits and pieces over the next week or so...along with these great cards made with the Button Buddies stamp set.  Entirely inspired by the Idea Book & Catalog--last year's Idea Book & Catalog, because today is the big day when the new catalog for 2012-13 goes live.

Keep checking the sidebar for the new catalog, which I'll link as soon as it's available, And keep coming back for more news and more creativity from us.  After our LONG absence, we're excited to share again.

Cheers!
~Melanie & Kiran

Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Marina Mist, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Paper: Whisper White
Extras: Bright Buttons