Missing in Action

I apologize for the lack of recent posts, but due to the lovely ash cloud raining over Europe, my Cyprus vacation has been extended. While I have internet access (obviously) most of my attention has been directed at finding a way home. I am happy to report we have obtained plane tickets, unfortunately they are for the 29th. So, that being said, I hope you can bear with the delay until I return to Germany. Thanks for your understanding.

Retiring Purple Thank You

Yes, I admit it, this is probably one of the only times I've ever used Lavender Lace or Lovely Lilac. I don't know why I have to have all the colors, and then find some I hardly ever use!! Oh well, I'm glad SU! has taken the time to give us a brand new updated color renovation!! But, while I'm waiting for the new colors to arrive, I thought I would give some of my less favorite ones a chance to be featured. I had to make several thank you's to go with my surprise gifts I showed you a little while ago (No I can't tell you yet, but I will soon!). I figured this was as good a time as any to let the light purples take center stage. This uses Upsy Daisy and Baroque Motives. I hope they like the cards as much as the gifts.

Thank You Teacher

For those of you who read my birthday post to my mom, I've decided I'm going to do better and I'm going to make (and send!!!) some thank you cards for people we deal with every day. This first one is for my son's teacher. Jay is a very active Kindergartener, and he wears me out all by himself. I have no idea how Mrs. Click manages an entire classroom full of 5 and 6 year olds. This is my Thank you card to her. This image comes from the Teacher's Pet stamp set and I have just left the words off when I inked it. I then randomly stamped it all over a piece of whisper white cardstock and colored it in with Summer Sun, Glorious Green and Regal Rose Stamp N Write Markers. I hope she enjoys it. Because I really do appreciate her!

Lee Conrey is a Genius!!!

Have you all been over to check out Lee Conrey's blog, StampingLee Yours yet? This is one super talented lady and a regular on the Blog Finds of the Day. Well a few weeks ago Lee posted a gorgeous card made using Green House Garden. I absolutely fell in love with it and asked her permission to case it. This card may look familiar to you, It's where I got my idea for the Awash with Flowers Card I showed you on Tuesday! I would love to show you Lee's original card, but I can't find it on her blog. I have a feeling she may have only sent it to the LNS group. See, yet another reason why you need to click on my little owl in the sidebar and join. Not only are you missing Lee's card, but you are missing so much more!! Come check us out.
Ok, here is an update....I found Lee's Card. To check out the original that inspired it all click HERE.

Funky Friday Chocolate Challenge

This week was my turn to choose an Inspiration Challenge for the Funky Friday design team. I think I chose one that we could really sink our teeth into.....Chocolate! I sent the team this picture and asked them to create a card that was inspired by it. This is what I came up with. I do have to admit that I am math challenged, so the spaces may not be totally even. But, just squint a little and it looks perfect! :) Don't forget, you can play along with us this week. Just add your card to our challenge blog using Mr. Linky here. Now, go get creating (and eating a little chocolate will help to inspire you as well!).

Simply Charming

I know you all must have seen the amazing Jewelry line Stampin' Up! has come out with recently. The simply Charming line allows you to place an insert into a beveled edged charm so you can change the look based on your outfit or even your mood. This is my first attempt at putting together an insert for the largest charm they sell. Unfortunately, I don't have one yet, but I will soon! So, tell me what you think. Is it too busy?

Another German Flag Card

Like I told you on Monday, the challenge this week is to create a card using colors from your flag. I chose to do the German one, since that is where I am currently living. I really like how this card turned out. I used Basic Black, Real Red and Crushed Curry (I was going to Yo Yo Yellow, but it was just way too bright. ) I will have to admit, while I'm going to miss a lot of the retiring colors I don't think Yo Yo Yellow will be on my most missed list! That color gives me a headache :)

LNS ED Card

Our Wednesday Easy and Demonstratable card challenge for LNS this past week was to use up some of the retiring colors from Stampin Up! Unfortunately I had this one (and 23 exactly like it) ready to go. You see, I thought that this year I would get ahead for convention by making my swaps early. I thought I was good to go since they have already announced that the Awash with Flowers stamp set would be in the new catalog that comes out in July. Unfortunately, I didn't foresee the huge color renovation that is going on. Oh well.....that's what I get for planning ahead. Anyone interested in one of these cards? Leave me your mailing address and I'd be happy to pop one in the mail. Also, for those of you who are interested, the Awash with Flowers Stamp set is available this month as a sneak peek of the upcoming catalog. Not only can you get it early, but you can get it for FREE!!!! Want to know more? drop me a line!

New LNS Challenge

Did you know that Late Night Stampers has become international? We have demos participating in our group from all over the world including places like the Netherlands, Australia, the UK and even Germany. In order to celebrate our diversity, this weeks challenge is to use the colors of your flag to make a card. I realize that I am American :) but since I figured there would be plenty of Red White and Blue cards I went with the German flag. According to my German neighbors after living here for 3 years I'm part German now anyway :)

Another LNS Sketch Challenge Card

Here is another card I did for the LNS sketch challenge this week. I love these punch pansies. They are super easy to make. All you need is some cardstock, a spray bottle of water and the butterfly punch. I am always so amazed at what people are able to do with our great punches, and in the upcoming summer mini there are even more!!!! Make sure you check it out when it goes live on May 1st!

LNS Sketch Challenge

This week was a sketch challenge issued by Mary Jo Price Williams. I decided that since I hadn't done any masculine cards recently, I would put one together for my Dad. This will probably be his Father's Day Card, but I can think of lots of times as a teenager, I could have used a card that said "I still love you". Especially after I had done something totally stupid!

Funky Friday

This weeks challenge was a color challenge. Why in the world do I have such a hard time with these? This weeks colors were Taken with Teal, So Saffron, Real Red and a Neutral. I always seem to cheat on these types of challenges, and this week is no different. I ended up using two neutrals, but you have to admit the card is cute! A ladybug just wouldn't be a ladybug without black!!! Hope you enjoy it, and take a moment and play along! Just go here to grab Mr. Linky. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

The Secret is out!! SU will have new colors!

Well, I told you I would let you know as soon as I found out what was ok, so here it is!

Stampin' Up! is releasing 5 BRAND NEW COLORS and bringing BACK 10 of the retired In Colors!! Can you tell I am super excited?!!!!!

As of July, (with the new catalog), here is what our color collection will be:

These wonderful new color collections will be available to everyone with the new Stampin' Up! catalog in July .... AND if you are a DEMONSTRATOR you get to order them early!!!!! (not a demonstrator yet? FIND OUT MORE info about joining by contacting me.)

For me, stamping is ALL ABOUT COLOR... so I am just beyond excited about having NEW COLORS to play with !!!

We will also get 5 new In Colors in the new catalog, too !!!!

5 NEW COLORS (see chart above):

Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso

10 RETURNING IN COLORS (see chart above):

Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Rich Razzleberry, Riding Hood Red, River Rock, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango and Wild Wasabi

Remember I asked you what SU! colors you couldn't live without? Well, If you need to stock up on any of the current colors that will be retiring soon, drop me a line or ORDER ONLINE ANYTIME <<>

Current Colors that will Retire in June:

glorious green
green galore
gable green
yoyo yellow
only orange
pink passion
pixie pink
orchid opulence
lovely lilac
brilliant blue
close to cocoa
creamy caramel
really rust
ruby red
cameo coral
summer sun
bordering blue
brocade blue
ballet blue
taken with teal
handsome hunter
pale plum
blush blossom
apricot appeal
barely banana
mellow moss
sage shadow
almost amethyst
lavender lace
basic brown
going gray

Whoohooooooo!! New Colors... New Colors... I am soooo excited! Way to go Stampin' Up!

Ooops! I forgot to post

Yesterday was a huge day in the world of Stampin' Up! I guess I got so excited I forgot to post. Stampin' UP! has announced some major changes coming out in the new catalog in July and they are WONDERFUL!!! I want to tell you all about it, I really really do, but I'm not sure how much I can share. SU! has some pretty strict guidlines about what and when we can share new products and changes. As soon as I get a little more information I will let you know. For now, I want you to take a really really close look at all those wonderful Stampin' Up! colors and decide which ones you absolutely can't live without. I'll be back soon with more information and to explain why.

Keep Stampin! :)

LNS ED cards

We've started a new challenge over the Late Night Stampers Yahoo group. It's called the ED challenge, and it stands for Easy and Demonstratable Cards. This week we were asked to create a card that had only a little bit of color. I finally got to play around with the spotlight technique. Hopefully this card still counts and craft and vanilla and chocolate chip don't count as a color. After last weeks Black and White cards, I'm a bit burned out. By the Way, I love the sentiment on the card. I haven't used the set "Hard to Say" before, but I'm amazed at all the great sentiments it includes. Want a set for yourself? Just drop me a line and I'll be happy to help you order it.

Hoppy Easter!

As most of you know, every day I compile a list for the Late Night Stampers called Blog Finds of the Day. Usually I find so many great ideas, that I can't find the time to make them all. Luckily, the other night, I had a few minutes I could stamp, so I got to recreate this amazing treat bag by Sabrina Satchwell. I have a couple of cute neighbor kids who just needed something special for Easter and these little guys fit the bill. I can't decide if I like the bigger one or the littler one better. Either way, they are awesome. I couldn't see the back of Sabrina's project, but I put little tails on them. Bunnies have such cute little fluffy butts I couldn't resist!

Have you ever......

Made something that you were super proud of, but you couldn't show it off because it was a surprise? I'm in that same boat. I have been working hard on a great project, but because its a surprise I can't show anyone.....What's a girl to do? Oh well, I guess if I have to wait, so do you...but I'll give you a little hint. The project I made is contained in each of these boxes. Give me a week or two, and I'll be able to show you what is in them!

Are you feeling Funky?

That's right, it's time for another Funky Friday challenge. This week was a workout for me. The sketch included nine perfect squares, but absolutely no measurements. Ewwww! That means I had to do my own math. For those of you who don't know me well, you may not realize that I am math challenged. I barely scraped by in High School and College. I love addition and substraction, and can usually do it in my head, but anything involving solving for x or some such nonsense I avoid like the plague! Anyway, thanks to some help from my 11 yr. old daughter, I think this turned out ok. I'm just praying that next week is much easier :)Don't forget we would love to have you play along with us. Just make a card using the sketch below and add your name to Mr. Linky here. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

How about some non-black and white cards?

APRIL FOOLS!!! Ok, I promise this is absolutely it. I won't make any more of the black and white cards for a while. Even I am starting to get burned out. Since I had made 4 cards with the black cardstock background, I had to make 4 with a white base. I did add some of the Bride DSP to the cards though. I think it makes them a little more interesting....what do you think? Once again, I have to thank Andrea Walford for all the inspiration. She was the driving force behind all my black and white cards.