BRIGHT BLOSSOMS HOSTESS GIFT:

Hello there! Here's a sweet little gift I made for my hostess this month. I was browsing my DBWS and started looking through all the project ideas SU! has posted and came across this little gem. It's made with the Petite Purse Die and Big Shot. I ran a piece of Lucky Limeade Cardstock through and cut the flap of the purse off. I then stamped the leaf image from Bright Blossoms onto the front. I glued the purse together using Liquid Tombow Glue and attached the handle to the sides using the Paper-piercing Tool and Mat and a pair of Brights Brads.

For the fun little flower, I used Summer Smooches DSP and the Boho Blossoms Punch. I stamped the circle image in Daffodil Delight onto Whisper White Cardstock and punched it out with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack. I poked a hole in the center and added another Brights Brad to the center. I attached the flower with Glue Dots.

I tied a bow around one of the handles using Daffodil Delight Stitched Ribbon. I stamped the sentiment with Essentials stamp set and ran it through the Big Shot using the Bitty Banners Framelits. I stamped it in Real Red and tied it on with Whisper White Baker's Twine.

And it wouldn't be a hostess gift unless chocolate was involved, so I put some Nuggets in a Small Cello Bag, trimmed the top off a bit, and tied some more twine around it. And I just finished off the bag of  Nuggets, so I got a treat too! I won't think so when I hit the Y tomorrow, but it's all good right now:)

Make sure to stop back tomorrow. I have some fun projects to share with you over the next few days. Thanks so much for stopping by!

BLAST OFF CARD:

Hello there! I'm back again with a set that has seen very little love from me-Blast Off. I think this set is adorable and I'm hoping it carries over to the next catalog, but in case it doesn't, I wanted to make sure I got it inked up at least once! I started with an Island Indigo base and stamped the background image in it as well. The DSP is from World Spectacular.

For the space ship, I covered the rocket things with scotch tape and stamped the image in Cherry Cobbler ink. I then removed the tape, colored them with an Island Indigo Marker, and stamped the image onto a scrap of Whisper White Cardstock. I used the 1 1/4" Circle Punch to punch out the window and cut the spaceship out. Next, I stamped the bumper image-okay, space ships probably don't have bumpers, but you know what I mean-in Daffodil Delight, cut it out and adhered it over the Cherry Cobbler. I placed the spaceship where I wanted it and lightly traced the inside of the circle with a pencil. I used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to stamp the little astronaut inside the circle. Next, I stamped the flames in Calypso Coral ink and used a Cherry Cobbler Marker to color the dotted lines. Then, I punched a circle out of a Window Sheet using the 1 3/8" Circle Punch and glued it onto the back using Liquid Tombow Glue. I adhered the space ship onto the cardstock with Dimensionals.

I stamped the planet image in Daffodil Delight onto DD Cardstock and punched it out with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch. I stamped the image again, cut out the ring and attached it with Dimensionals. Then adhered the circle to the card using Dimensionals.

I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso onto Cherry Cobbler Cardstock, flagged the ends and attached them with SNAIL. Finally, I added a few stars punched out with the Merry Minis Punch Pack and attached them with Glue Dots. The little alien dude was just too cute not to use, so I stamped him onto the envelope and on the inside. Thanks so much for stopping by today! Come back tomorrow for a cute little treat holder. Stay dry!

HAPPY HOUR CARD:

Hello there! So sorry for the extra long break! My daughter has had a migraine that's been hanging on, so I've had extra 'Grandma Duty' :)/:( We're wrapping up the current catalog, so I decided I'd better get some of these neglected stamp sets some love. Todays card is made with the set Happy Hour. I don't know why it's taken me so long to break it out, but better late than never, huh?

I started with a Pool Party base and added a piece of Crumb Cake that I ran through the Big Shot using the Stripes Embossing Folder. I stamped each image in Pool Party onto Whisper White Cardstock and punched them out with the 1 3/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches. Next, I stamped each image again in each of the following colors: Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Wild Wasabi and So Saffron. I then stamped the cute little garnishes for each drink in the same colors. I cut out each 'beverage' and SNAILED them onto the glasses.

For the sentiment, I colored the image with Markers in the same colors listed above, stamped the image and flagged the end. I attached it to the circle with a Brights and a Subtles Brad. I layered another flag behing the sentiment using Pool Party from the 2011-2013 In Color DSP Stack. I popped the circle up with Dimensionals.

This is a perfect set for the warm weather that is bound to get here SOMETIME! Check back tomorrow for a card made with another neglected set. Thanks so much for stopping by!

DUDE, YOU'RE WELCOME CARD/ODE TO BAJA BREEZE:

Hello there! Let me start by saying it's a sad, sad day around here and I am grieving over the loss of a dear friend! As some of you may know, SU! is doing a small Color Refresh and some of our favorites are going away. I'm extrememly saddened to announce that Baja Breeze is one of them.  As I was going through the list, I was in agreement with most of them until I got to Baja Breeze, and I literally gasped. Follow mw to the end of this post and I'll give you the list of the retiring colors and the ones they're being replaced with.

This card is made with the Dude, You're Welcome Kit. It's designed to be user friendly for a guy to be able to make some simple, yet really nice cards.

It comes in a REALLY nice box~I was kind of surpised, pleasantly, in the quality. He, or you...who are we kidding, could definitely find a good use for the box when you're finished with the cards.

The kit comes with 12 envelopes-I'm thinking they might be the new Smoky Slate that we're going to be seeing in the next catalog???And 12 notecards in heavy duty, manly cardstock. 8 of them have designs exclusive to this kit. Very nice! And they all coordinate very well with Baja Breeze, might I add!

The kit also comes with 4 images-2 blocks which are double-sided. They say: Thank You, Special Occasion, I ----You, and # % & @ ! It also comes with a Basic Grey Stamp Pad, and instruction booklet-that they won't read. Actually it's pretty cute, so they might. And even an Official Man Card Sticker that says Real Men Build Cards.

I added a Baja Breeze base abd added layered a piece of Basic Grey underneath one of the cardstock pieces. I also added some Basic Grey Stitched Ribbon and a Silver Basics Button with Pool Party Baker's Twine. As I said earlier, I'm in mourning over the loss of Baja Breeze. I'm hanging on to the hope that someone from the Home Office will see my post and I will receive a card like this in the mail soon:

Here's hoping that they realize the error of their ways and will make the correction soon! Until then, here's the list of the colors that will be retiring: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, BAJA BREEZE, Riding Hood Red, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, More Mustard and River Rock.

The 10 colors that will be replacing them are: Bermuda Bay, Calpyso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, SOFT SKY, Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo and the new Smoky Slate.

The new colors will be available when the new catalog goes live on May 31st, and
 there will be a New Color Kit containing all the new colors. The retiring colors are on a first come, first serve basis. So if you're wanting to stock up on any of them, you should probably order them soon. And right now is the perfect time as SU! is offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders from April 6-8.

One final reminder, if you're interested in trying My Paper Pumpkin out, you need to order by April 10 to get this month's kit-and please check me as your demonstrator!:) See all the details here: www.mypaperpumpkin.com. You can see more details about the Dude, You're Welcome Kit and all the other new arrivals at www.lauramellinger.stampinup.net. Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy this beautiful day-if you're up to it...I'm not sure that I am yet. Feel free to send me condolences, flowers and chocolate...eh, just chocolate....

OH, HELLO CARD:

Hello there! Today I'm sharing a card made with the set Oh, Hello. I didn't think this was a set that I needed, but I finally caved after seeing so many great cards made with it. This was a card that was featured in our Stampin' Success magazine, but I changed the colors up a bit. I've been on a quest to use colors that I don't normally use, and Regal Rose is one of them. It really is a pretty pink, but it's kind of bright. But I thought it would work well for this card. I started with a Very Vanilla base and used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to align the chevron border up and stamped it in Baja Breeze. Next, I cut a piece of Regal Rose Cardstock and ran it through the Big Shot using the Ovals Collection Framelits. Then, I stamped the design in Regal Rose ink, using the SAMJ again to line everything up. I was afraid the pink was a little too bright, so I toned it down a bit by using a Sponge Dauber and sponging the edges in Crumb Cake ink. This gave it a soft vintage effect. Next, I used the Paper-piercing Mat and Tool and Essentials Paper-piercing Pack to add some faux stitching at the top. I connected the dots with an early Espresso Marker-one if these days I'm going to actually sew it with the new sewing machine I got for Christmas! I'm still not 100% sure how to use it-I guess I just gotta dive in and learn.

Next, I laid the Regal Rose Cardstock where I wanted it and traced the oval lightly with a pencil. I stamped the wavy chevron image in Crumb Cake and erased the pencil line when it was dry. I then stamped the flower image in Baja Breeze onto Baja Breeze Cardstock and used one of the Labels Collection Framelits to cut it out. I put Dimensionals onto the back of the Regal Rose piece an placed it on top of the Crumb Cake oval. Then, I added the Baja piece with Dimensionals also.

I cut a strip of Very Vanilla and stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso, and flagged the end. I used the splatter image from the Paper Pumpkin stamp set Hey There in Crumb Cake, stamped it off and stamped it over the sentiment and card. Oops, I need to back up. I added a piece of Victoria Crochet Trim to the bottom of the Regal Rose piece before I adhered it to the card base. Next, I inked up the flower image with a Baja Breeze and Garden Green Marker and stamped it onto Very Vanilla Cardstock. I did the same thing again with Regal Rose and cut out both flowers. I glued the Baja flower down with Liquid Tombow Glue and used Glue Dots for the Regal flower to give a little more dimension. I added a Linen Thread bow with Liquid Tombow.

Finally I added a short row of Basic Pearls under the sentiment. This is such a fun set to use-I really love it. I hope to make lots more cards with it in the near future. Please see below for the 9 cards that are options for April's 'Kits/Cards To Go'. The # will be ABOVE each option. See my home page on my blog on the right hand side for pricing information. Here they are...

                                                                                #1)

                                                                               #2)

                                                                             #3)

                                                                              #4)

                                                                            #5)

                                                                          #6)

                                                                            #7)

                                                                              #8)

                                                                         #9)

Okay, these are the 9 choices. You can go back over the last several posts to see more details of each card. Remember, you can pick any 4 of the designs, and you can choose from a 'Kit', where you do the stamping and assembling, or pick the 'Card' option, which are completed cards. If you choose #1, please specify the age you need. E-mail me with your selections at: lmel09@q.com by Friday, April 5th. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

MAKE A MONSTER CARD:

Hello there! I figured it's the season for a get well card. I used the sets Make A Monster and Word Play. And I gotta tell ya, when I had the flu last week, I felt like this guy looks. I started with a Crumb Cake base and used Patio Party DSP. I attached a strip of Midnight Muse Stitched Ribbon along the bottom with SNAIL. I used the Big Shot and Tasteful Trim Die for the scalloped edge in Gumball Green Cardstock and attached it to the DSP with SNAIL. I added another piece of ribbon to the top and wrapped it around the scalloped strip. I stamped the monster in Gumball Green onto Whisper White Cardstock and punched it out with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch. I used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to get the little spots where I wanted them and to get the eyeballs in the right places. I used a Blender Pen and Gumball ink to color him in. I popped the circle up with Dimensionals and stamped the sentiment in Midnight Muse.

Finally, I folded a piece of ribbon into a V and stapled it onto the card. I finished it off with a Regals Button with Linen Thread knotted in the center. I attached it with a couple of Glue Dots.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I'll see you back here tomorrow...

ANIMAL TALK CARD:

Hello there! Happy April 1st to you-let's hope spring is on its way to stay! This card is made with Animal Talk-a set I fell in love with when I first saw it in the catty, almost a year ago. I can't believe it's taken me this long to make something with it-bad!

I started with a Whisper White base and added a piece of Neutrals DSP from the Paper Stack. I layered a piece of Primrose Petals Cardstock on top with a piece of More Mustard DSP from the Regals Paper Stack on top of that. Next, I used the Big Shot to cut out the frame with the Apothecary Accents Framelits using the Sent With Love DSP-which is only available until April 30th by the way! The sentiment is stamped with Basic Grey and Primrose Petals. I used the Paper-piercing Mat and Tool along with the Essentials Paper-piercing Pack to add the detail around the frame. I was so happy to see these products when they came out-I've put them to good use!

I added a strip of Primrose Petals Cardstock with a row of Primrose Petals Stitched Ribbon wrapped around it. Next, I added a couple of our Paper Daisies with a Subtles Brad attached to the center of the small flower. I used the Paper-piercing Tool to enlarge one of the holes made from the template, and stuck the brad through it. Finally, I added a Regals Button to the center of the larger flower and ran a piece of Pool Party Baker's Twine through the center. I attached it with Glue Dots.

This was a super quick and easy card to put together, and it just sings SPRING. Thanks so much for stopping by-I'll see you back here tomorrow!