BEST OF EVERYTHING CARD:

Hello there! I made this card using Best of Everything, a set, I have to confess, I've hardly ever used. I don't know why, it's really cute. Our catalog is kinda slim-pickens right now with patriotic sets, so I opted to go rogue and come up with something on my own. Not sure that I pulled if off though. I was going for a flag with this design, but neither my hubby or son really got it, so I don't know. At least it's red, white and blue! I used the coordinating wheel Buttons and Blossoms and stamped it and the sentiment in Real Red. I stamped the label again in Midnight Muse and punched it out with the Curly Label Punch. I punched out the sentiment with the Small Oval Punch and popped it up with a Dimensional. I attached the label with Dimensionals also to make it pop a little.

I added a strip of Real Red DSP from the Brights Paper Stack and added a piece of Real Red Stitched Ribbon on top with a bow attached with a Glue Dot. I added a pair of buttons from the Brights and Neutrals Collections, which unfortunately, I'm going to have a ton of after they retire in a week. Make sure to swing by my Retirement Party and pick some up for FREE! I added some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine to the centers and attached them with Glue Dots.

I thought the flower image in the background kinda looked like fireworks when it was turned upside down. What do you think? Do you see a flag and fireworks or have I totally lost my mind? Maybe you better not answer that! Anyway, this was my attempt to kick off the Memorial Day week-end. Make sure to stop back by tomorrow. Thanks so much for visiting!

MORNING CUP CARD:

Hello there! Back again with another retiring set~Morning Cup. This is another set that I'm not sure I can part with quite yet. And check out those adorable coffee beans made with Spring Sampler, another set that will retire at the end of May. They're actually jelly beans, but I drew a line down the center with a marker and Juan Valdez wouldn't be able to tell the difference!

I started with a Crumb Cake base and stamped the beans in Crumb Cake also. I drew the center line with a Crumb Cake Marker. I stamped the coffee pot and mugs in Early Espresso~had to use that color on this card somewhere, and colored inside the lines with a Crumb Cake Marker. I colored the cups with Pear Pizzazz, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo Markers.

I used the brand new Gingham Garden DSP again on this card. Is it not the most darling paper eva? I added a Whisper White border around the tablecloth using the Scallop Trim Border Punch. I added a double scallop frame around the coffee pot using the 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch in Daffodil Delight and the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch in Melon Mambo. I used the 1 3/4" Circle Punch for the coffee pot. I added a Mambo heart punched with the Owl Builder Punch and dotted the Daffodil scallop with a White Gel Pen. I attached it with Dimensionals.

 

I'm not a huge fan of the wheels, but I did use the Take A Sip Wheel for the border along the bottom of the envelope and managed to get it straight and inked evenly! This was such a fun card to make and hope you like how it turned out as much as I did. Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

MY PAPER PUMPKIN GOOD LIFE BRAG BOOK:

Hello there! I'm back with another post for you! Two in one day...how do you like that? I've been really excited to share this month's My Paper Pumpkin with you. I got it on Saturday but I was frantically working on my Artisan projects, so I had to leave it sit there in it's pretty red box. I have to admit I'm not much of a scrapbooker, so I wasn't overly thrilled when I initially saw this month's project. But the more I looked at the fun papers and stickers, it started to grow on me. I was going to lay everything out and then go back and plug in the pictures later. But I thought, who are you kidding, you'll never do it. I figured I had a bunch of pictures out anyway from my Artisan scrapbook pages, so I thought Just Do It! And I tell you, once I started plugging the pictures in, it was really fun! I was a little disappointed that there weren't more sample layouts, but after I copied the cover, I was having so much fun that I totally forgot to use the other 2 samples they provided. I was so mad at myself because they're really cute!

I won't bore you with a lot of commentary about the photos. I just want to show you several different options for your layouts.

I could have obsessed for days over these pages, but true to MPP form, I limited it to a couple of hours. Normally, you can complete the monthly project in about a half hour, but this one is a little more time consuming. But the end product is definitely worth it!

I left a couple of pages out because I used some of the same photos for my Artisan pages, so I didn't want to take a chance and disqualify myself. I'll post them later on. Once I started this project, I didn't want to stop. I added several more pages to the book with the extra DSP that came in the kit.

I have a confession for you. I've been a grandma for 7 years and have never had any pictures of my grandkids on me-gasp, I know...the horror! But now, thanks to My Paper Pumpkin, I do! I'm going to be the most obnoxious grandma out there now:)

I hope you enjoyed a trip through my little brag book, and I hope you'll consider signing up for My Paper Pumpkin to get your very own mini escape every month. Go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com for all the details and to sign up. The best part of it is the surprise you have to look forward to every month. Try it, you'll like it!(And if you don't, you can cancel at any time:) Thanks so much for stopping by!

UP,UP & AWAY CARD:

Hello there! So sorry for the long break. I've been knee-deep in Artisan projects. I finally got them sent off a couple of days ago and they've arrived at the home office! Now the waiting begins...no biggie though; I've got plenty to keep me busy-like a little one year old! I have managed to get a few projects made in the past couple of days, so I better get busy making up for lost time! I'll be focusing on retiring products for the rest of the month, and this is a set I'm sad to say good-bye to. This card was made with Up, Up & Away. I'll probably have to hang onto this set for while-I can't part with it yet:( I started with a Daffodil Delight base and added some of the cheerful Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP, which will be going away too.

I stamped the solid image balloon in Daffodil and used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to add the sentiment and other details. I also used Melon Mambo and Pacific Point ink. I added a Subtles Brad to the center of the flower, and added some Island Indigo Baker's Twine around the bottom.

I added a trio of Brights and Subtles Buttons to the top with a piece of baker's twine through the centers.

Finally, I added some Stitched Ribbon in Daffodil Delight, Basic Grey and Pacific Point. The green in the DSP is Lucky Limeade, but I've got all my Lucky Limeade pulled for my Retirement Party on Tuesday, so I used Old Olive instead-works just as well.

If you're in the neighborhood on Tuesday from 4-7, plan to stop by for some great deals and a sneak peek at the new catalog! We get to double-dip on the 30th by being able to order retiring products AND brand new stuff from the new catalog! Here's how it will work...place an order from any catalog (current, new or spring) and pick the equivalent amount of freebies from my Retired/Retiring Stash! I'll have all of my retired products priced-most at 50% off. Let's say you place a $50 order...then you get to pick out $50 worth of retired products for free! I've got boxes and boxes of stuff I need to get rid of to make room for all the new stuff I'm wanting! I'll have stamp sets in wood and clear, DSP, cardstock, stamp pads & markers, punches, dies, ribbons, buttons and lots more! I hope to see you Tuesday-just email me to let me know you're coming!

I have another project to share with you today since I've been so neglectful! I made this fun little picnic basket for my Hostess gift this month. It was super easy using the Petite Purse Die. I ran it through the Big Shot using Crumb Cake Cardstock and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I also broke out some of the BRAND NEW Gingham Garden DSP from the new catalog-I'm in total LOVE with it!!!

For the top of the picnic basket, I traced around the rounded ends onto a strip of Crumb Cake Cardstock that I cut 1" wide. I scored the ends, folded them, and glued them to the ends using Liquid Tombow Glue. Before I adhered them, I added a pair of Neutrals Brads. I also used them to attach the handles.

Finally, I added a sentiment from Itty Bitty Banners in Island Indigo and cut it out with the Bitty Banners Framelits. I tied it onto the basket with Island Indigo Baker's Twine. This little picnic basket holds 3 fun size Twix bars perfectly!

I hope you enjoyed both of these fun and Springy projects. Make sure to check back every day through the end of the month. I promise to have something for you every day!!! Thanks so much for hanging with me and stopping by today! Have a great day!

BEST DAD EVER CARD:

Hello there! Sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday as I thought I would. Weren't enough hours in the day. It could also be because I got the new catalog yesterday and that kept me busy for awhile. It 'kicks booty' big time! I'm really impressed! Can't wait for you to see it!

I got my inspiration for this card from Linda Aarhus. You can see her card at www.polkadotsand paper.com. You'll have to go back a few posts, but you won't mind-she does beautiful work! She used the Delightful Dozen stamp set on her card, so you may be able to find it that way also. I started with a Very Vanilla base and added a layer of Pool Party Cardstock. You'll notice I used some new products!!! I used the Epic Day This & That DSP and brand new Washi Tape-fun stuff! I also used the Remember This & That Rotary Stamp for the stamped date-so much fun!

I used the set Best Dad Ever one last time before it goes away:( I masked off the ties with scotch tape and stamped each one in a different color. I used Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral and Basic Grey-all colors in the collection. I cut each one out leaving a long tail at the top and tapered it to look like the end of a tie. I folded the tie over and stamped on the inside as well. I hung them over the Hung Up Cute Clip and secured them with Glue Dots. I thought I could pass on the Clips, but when I saw this card, I knew I had to have them.

I put a piece of Very Vanilla on top of the DSP and then stamped the sentiment on the Washi Tape using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. I added the Washi Tape and then stamped the date with the Rotary Stamp. I added the ties with Glue Dots and finished it off with a Naturals Button and Calypso Coral Baker's Twine. A little time consuming cutting out the ties, but a super fun card to make!

I'm also posting the selections for this month's 'Kits/Card To Go'. There are 9 to choose from. See the right hand side of my home page for the prices. Pick any 4 cards and email your choices to me at lmel09@q.com. The number for each card will be ABOVE it:

                                                                                1)

                                                                                  2)

 

 

3)

 

 

4)

 

 

5)

 

 

6)

 

 

7)

 

 

8)

 

 

9)

 

Okay, there's your choices. Please email me with your selections by Sunday, May 5th. Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay warm-brother!

 

HEARTS A FLUTTER FAVOR:

Hello there! Sorry for the little break-we went to Arkansas for a few days. It was a long haul with a 1 year old, but he and mommy got to see daddy, so it was worth it. Time to switch gears back to Amanda's shower which is coming up. I got the 22 invitations made and mailed out before we left and these are the favors I'm making.

I used the Big Shot and Petite Purse Die to make the little bag. I cut the flap off and glued the purse together using Liquid Tombow Glue. I used Crumb Cake Cardstock and Taffeta Ribbon as I did for the invitation. I also used the Flower Trim, White Tea Lace Doilies and Basic Pearls. As with the invitation, I had to use some contraband for the pennnant to get the right shade of blue. I stamped it with Marina Mist and cut it out with the Hearts A Flutter Framelits.

I added a pair of the largest pearls to the handles on the side and added a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes. I stamped it onto Whisper White Cardstock using a Marina Mist Marker and punched it out with the Jewelry Tag Punch-which will be retiring soon, so you'd better act fast if you want to get it before it's gone!

I added a Small Cello Bag filled with chocolate and tied it with Linen Thread. I had to trim the top of the bag a bit so it would fit inside. Well that's about it for this little treat holder. I'm hoping to make a couple of banners too, but not sure how it'll work out timewise. If I get them made, I'll be sure to post them here. Thanks so much for stopping by. Tomorrow I'm hoping to have a Father's Day card for you made with Best Dad Ever and post this month's 'Kits/Cards To Go'. Make sure to swing by!

SERIOUSLY PAPER PUMPKIN:

Hello there! I got my monthly gift and couldn't wait to share it with you-My Paper Pumpkin, that is! This month's kit has been quite controversial! Some hate it, some love it. I think it's fresh and fun and I think anybody young or young at heart would love to get this in the mail.

The Seriously Kit came with 3 sentiments, a Cherry Cobbler Spot, 4 Silver Buttons, Twine, stickers, envelopes and really cool cardstock thats printed on the front and back, but white on the inside. I added a piece of More Mustard (snif...) DSP from the Paper Stack and layered it underneath the bubble. I put the stickers on at an angle to add a little more interest.

I made this card just like the sample provided, and it's super cute as is. What I really love about MPP is that you can easily add an element or change it a bit and get several different designs from one kit. And I REALLY love that everyhting is all cut, prepped and ready to go!

And 'seriously' this is all that's left over. You can easily store several months kits in one of the boxes you receive. I'm also going to save the nice color instructions/sample to have as a guide to make more after I've sent out the cards in the kit. To find out more info, go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com. Or email me with any questions you have. Thanks so much for stopping by today!