Happy Bloomin' Birthday!

It's such a gray & cold week here.  I'll bet lots of crafty friends are trying to find creative time to shut out the shoveling, slipping, & shivering.   It's snowing as I write here in this area of Texas ... but that's better than last weekend's ice!

Today's project was inspired by the Ways to Use It challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.  We were challenged to create in a monotone using any shade(s) of green, with a neutral okay as well.  Since 5 of our In-Colors will be retiring in June, I opted to use Pistachio Pudding from that group.  You might have noticed that I haven't used a lot of Pistachio Pudding in previously shared ideas ... so it was a bit like my own little 'self-challenge'.  And I'm actually glad that I did!

It's just right for times when "subtle" is the best choice!  We all know those special people who would probably love the softly-colored approach.  I started with the Circle Card thinlits, Pistachio Pudding cardstock, and Confetti Celebration designer series 12"x12" paper.  

Once I had chosen the central image idea, I knew I wanted the Flower Patch stamps and coordinating Flower Fair Framelits.  When the card is flipped open, there's the Happy Bloomin' Birthday greeting!  The Decorative Label punch was perfect for adding shape to the Soft Suede inked greeting and it's shadow piece in Crumb Cake.  

Just for some pizzazz, I opted to cut the same floral piece from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper as the backing for my blossom.  Dazzling Diamonds was the natural choice for the center of the subtle bloom.  And those In-Color Sequins on the front?  They are on the Weekly Deals list of specials this week, so it's the perfect time to pick some up while you're shopping this week.  Remember too, that Sale-A-Bration is here through the end of March, so free goodies come with each $50 in purchases. 

Okay m'friends!  Here's to plentiful hot cocoa, hot cider, hot tea, hot coffee ... whatever your pleasure!  May the warmth be with you!

Inky (((huggss))),

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Bokeh Bermuda Thanks!

Whenever I just play around with inks, it seems to give me a sense of "freedom".  Maybe it's the way liquid inks/refills bring an intensity that's beyond the norm.  Or perhaps it's the combination with a little bit of water that allows the color to take on a movement of its own.  In any event, the results are never identical, always unique!

 
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Even before I had brought inks and papers to the stampin' table today, I had already spotted the latest challenge from Freshly Made Sketches, FMS175 and it seemed to be the perfect classic style for featuring today's inky creation, without covering up the results of inky play time.
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I'm already thinking of more versions for a thank you card stash using the Hello You Thinlits ... Oh how I enjoy these word dies and their fabby fonts!  You'll find them in the full-of-fun Occasions catty.

Sale-A-Bration is in full swing now, and every time your merchandise purchases reach $50, another free choice is yours, with no limits!  Free is oh so sweeeeet!

Please feel free to email any questions you might have via the Contact Bev button found over in the top left column of this blog.  I'm happy to be your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and eager to help bring your creative ideas to reality.

Inky (((hugs))),

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Products Used for the project above:

INKS:  Craft Whisper White;  Ink Refills = Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry

PAPERS:  Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, Watercolor paper

ACCESSORIES:  Hello You Thinlits dies, Circles Collection Framelits, Gold Sequins trim, 1/8” Bermuda Bay ribbon, Window Sheets

Sale? Yes, please! Paper Pumpkin Sale!

Paper Pumpkin on Sale for Sale-A-Bration

By now you know all about Sale-A-Bration—the best time of the year at Stampin’ Up! But, have you heard about the easiest way to earn your FREE products? With just one purchase, you’ll receive three months of total papercrafting paradise and a free product!
How might you ask? It’s easy—with a 3-month Paper Pumpkin Prepaid Subscription. It gets even better because right now it’s on sale for just $54.85 USD -- the perfect price to instantly qualify for your free product.
If you haven’t subscribed to Paper Pumpkin yet, here are a few things you’ve missed:

• A monthly kit designed with beginners and advanced crafters in mind.
• A variety of projects from cards to décor, gift packaging, and more!
• Exclusive photopolymer stamps every month.
• An ink spot every month with colors that don’t repeat in a 12-month period.
• Embellishments like twine, ribbon, stickers, die-cuts, boxes, clips, buttons, sequins, burlap bags, frames, pinwheels, brads, banners, journals, and confetti.
• A plethora of ideas on Pinterest from other subscribers to help you make the most of every kit.

It’s never too late to get in on all the fun!
But why limit yourself to just three months? With a 12-month prepaid subscription you’ll save $2 every month (that’s a free month every year), get FOUR free Sale-A-Bration products, host dollars, and 12 whole months of skipping to the fun!

**I'll be happy to help you sign up for the delightful Paper Pumpkin!  If you have any questions at all or simply need a bit of assistance, please just let me know.  I'm always available via the Contact Bev button in the top left column of this blog.  ;)

Inky (((hugs))),

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Love These Weekly Deals!

WooooooooooHooooooooooo!!

New Weekly Deals for me and for you!!

2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment [133631] $4.95 $3.71	Basic Black Baker's Twine [134576] $2.95 $2.21	Celebrate Easter Ensemble - Digital Download [133474] $12.95 $7.77	Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker's Twine [135636] $3.50 $2.63
Night Of Navy 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon [134571] $6.95 $5.21	Simply Created Banner [132699] $9.95 $7.46	Tangerine Tango Baker's Twine [134578] $2.95 $2.21	Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon [134549] $6.95 $5.21

I'd be glad to answer any questions you might have, and welcome you to contact me for assistance or just more information. 

Inky (((hugs))),

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Weekly Deals February 17 - February 23

Did you get a look at the Lemonade Thanks card in my previous post?  
I created the sentiment tag with the Mosaic Punch  ...  and it's on sale as part of the newest Weekly Deals!  And I promise that you'll adore the cotton ribbons found on this week's deals ... so soft and very easy to tie bows that stay in shape!

Take a look to see what else might be on your "wish list". 

Mosaic Punch [131267] $15.95 $11.96	Daffodil Delight 1/4" Cotton Ribbon [134559] $5.95 $4.46	Celebration Basics Kit [133007] $14.95 $11.21	Amped Up Ampersands Kit - Digital Download [134844] $9.95 $5.97
2014-2016 In Color Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack [133705] $21.95 $16.46	Pansy Punch [130698] $15.95 $11.96	What's Up Punch [133781] $16.95 $12.71	Pumpkin Pie 1/4" Cotton Ribbon [134565] $5.95 $4.46

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Inky ((((huggss)))),

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Lemonade Thank You!

I owe some 'thank you's', and fortunately the good Mojo Fairy was on my shoulder, Sunday afternoon.  Luckily I was led to the featured stamper challenge, FS418, over at SCS.  Ta-daaaaaah!  Pauline's gallery (lotsofstamps) is this week's featured stamper.  Congrats, Pauline!   If any of you need a little inspirational nudge, check out the challenge and play along!

This lemon stamp has just been waiting for me to find just the right way to bring it to life ... and I spent a lot less time coloring that I ever dreamed!  There's really only 1 lemon in the "A Happy Thing" stamp set, so some basic masking was just the trick to build a more realistic cluster of lemons. 

Guess what?!   The "A Happy Thing" stamp set cannot be purchased, but you can choose it as a free item during Sale-A-Bration. 

The zesty yellow background paper is from the Best Year Ever designer papers ... another free choice during Sale-A-Bration!   The leafy background paper is from my current favorite designer collection, Painted Blooms.  And, I used just 2 packs of Blendabilities for coloring:  Daffodil Delight Blendabilities and Wild Wasabi Blendabilities.  >>> One more freebie here!  When you're trying to decide which free items to choose during Sale-A-Bration ... the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities are one of the SAB choices!  Die cutting was a snap with my Ovals Collection Framelits and Big Shot.  Just a bitty smear of 2-way Glue followed by a little dusting of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, and these lemons were ready to take their place on the card with just a little "lift" from Stampin' Dimensionals.

Okay stampy friends!  Be sure to check back tomorrow in the right-side column for a brand new set of Weekly Deals!  Remember that if you see something on that list that you "need" right now (Monday)... today is the last day to order!   New temptations show up each Tuesday.   ;)

Inky {{{hugs}}},

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A Tisket, a Tasket!

It's Friday .... Fabulous Friday!!   (Spoken especially for a couple of friends who have been counting down to the weekend.  (Psssssssssssssst, girls .... You made it!)

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Yesterday was a 2-class day here in the studio.  The evening class is always a repeat of the morning class ... so it's really more of a participant rotation rather than a change in projects all in one day.  I'm always happy to hear requests from customers, and today's project was requested by a class attendee last month.  Thanks for the suggestion, Christie!

These little Peeps jumped into my cart the very first day I spotted them in a store last month ... just begging for a basket to be created especially for them.  I had little choice but to oblige!

I wondered how it would look "tuxedo style", so here's the one I demonstrated for the ladies to follow along.  Experimental try on the color scheme, and we all agreed that it's a favorite!  The darling little bows are so easy to make with the Bow Builder punch!

Here's an easy way to pick up a free choice from the Sale-A-Bration catty!  The Berry Basket Bigz die sells for $37.95.  By simply adding on another $12.05 in products to your basket die order, you'll qualify for your choice of one free Sale-A-Bration offerings!  Or if you would like to earn even more, please just let me know and I'll be glad to help you in any way that I can.  

Now, here's a great little video on how to create with the Berry Basket Bigz die!  

Inky {{{{huggss}}},

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Pointed & Twitterpated!

It appears that Cupid really got busy on my card for today ... shooting more arrows than a normal person might carry in their quiver!  

Ahhhhhhh, that Cupid!  Looks like he had a great practice session here, doesn't it?  It was the CAS310 challenge at SCS that spurred this card to be created, encouraging creations with love in mind.  So why did I fall back on traditional colors for this one?  It was those delightful arrows in the Stacked with Love paper pack!  Yep!  When I flipped the pack to that design, red & white came to mind, I looked up at my punches racks and saw the Chevron Border punch just waiting to play, and it all started coming together.  Don't you just love it when it just seems to rush into a workable idea?!

What a fun font on the "twitterpated" stamp!  It's part of the You Plus Me stamp set found in the Occasions catalog.  More arrows are found in this set, along with a just-right sized '&' (ampersand) for any-season all-occasion creations.  The Decorative Label punch is the perfect size for this fun sentiment!  Add a tiny little rhinestone to the bitty heart and it's all blinged up and ready to go!

Have you checked out the new Weekly Deals yet?   You'll always find them in the top right column of this blog, and they change each Tuesday.  Very sweet deals for sure!  But be sure you grab up the ones calling to you before they go "poof" at Monday's end.   ;)

Classes here begin tomorrow morning for my standard trio of Thursday-Thursday-Saturday stampin' fun!  If you'd like to join us, just let me know via comment or the 'Contact' button any time!

Inky {{{{huggss}}}},

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These products were used above:

STAMPS:  You Plus Me clear mount 

INKS:  Real Red

PAPERS:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White;  'Stacked with Love' paper stack

ACCESSORIES:  Chevron Border punch, Decorative Label punch, Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals

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New Weekly Deals are Here! Feb. 3 - Feb. 9

Have you eyed the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper, yet decided on something else?   This week's brand new Weekly Deals include a special savings on this glittery goodness!  Another of my favorites is the just-right-sized Sweetheart Punch! Here's the whole Weekly Deals special for your shopping pleasure!

Boys Will Be Boys Clear-Mount Stamp Set [134138] $17.95 $13.46	Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper [135315] $4.95 $3.71	Fine Print Coupons Swatchbook - Digital Download [132565] $12.95 $7.77	Hamburger Box Bigz Xl Die [133724] $42.95 $32.21
Hearts Border Punch [133784] $15.95 $11.96	Ornate Tag Topper Punch [137416] $22.95 $17.21	Sweetheart Punch [133786] $15.95 $11.96	Tag A Bag Accessory Kit [133629] $7.95 $5.96

If you need any help at all, I'm right here to help.  Please feel welcome to ask any questions.  It's my pleasure to be of help!

Inky {{{huggss}}},

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