As usual, Stampin' Up! has created an amazing Paper Pumpkin kit with the Safari Celebration box. Below you'll see a number of alternatives I created with the various pieces included in the kit. There is SO much included allowing you to make a lot of cards with one box. 

The two tips I offer nearly every month are to 1) cut your envelpes up and 2) cut your bases up, especially when they are printed on both the front and the back.  This allows you to stretch your materials even further. 

Both of these cards include pieces of envelopes.  

I have to admit a mistake about the bottom card...I originally put it together backwards so that the card opened on the left! Major fail.  So I cut it apart, trimmed it down a tiny bit and layered it on a new base! Have you ever stamped or glued pieces upside down or on the wrong side??

Cutting your velum pieces in half also allows you to stretch them further. 

I will admit that the animals in the kit were not my favorite.  The other two are a little strange looking to me but I think the elephant is SO cute! I think this will make a great kid birthday card!

I created the backdrop on this one by using my leftover negative piece after punching out the leaves.  By setting it over the printed piece and using a Blending Brush to turn it into a stencil I was able to create a cool backdrop. 

One last fun card to share! 

If you've been thinking about getting Paper Pumpkin delivered to your door now is a perfect time! Not only does the March kit look amazing (this is sneak peek!) but each kit will also include a bonus, full size, stamp set for FREE. Don't miss out.  You need to be signed up by March 10th! Click here. 

It's finally feeling like spring here and I am loving it! It's got me thinking in bright cheery colors and lots of flowers. 

Friday night I had a class and one of the techniques that had been requested was using the Soft Pastels.  It was a good chance for me to learn ways to use them! I decided to try watercoloring with them.

For this card I shaved some of the Granny Apple Green and Poppy Parade onto a block using my paper snips.  I then used the smallest Water Painter to lift color from the block.  The image was stamped in Memento Black ink on Watercolor paper.  

The Quiet Meadow stamp set I used also happens to be on sale this month as part of the Savings Are in Bloom promotion. 

I did a lot of distressing on this card which is not my usual style but I had fun branching out.  

​I stamped the word stamp on the Daffodil Delight card stock piece first and then ran it through the Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machine with the Timeworn Type emobossing folder.  To get the distressed edges and torn corners I ran my Paper Snips along the edges and pulled at the corner to split it in two. 

The thread was created by pulling apart the strands of the black twine and then loosly winding them under the sentiment strip.

The final step was using the splatter stamp which I stamped in Memento Black but after stampin off on scratch paper first to lighten the look. 

Be sure to click next to check out the talented Wendy or back to see what the creative Elizabeth has done this week! 

There is so much happening in March with Stampin' Up! Sales, early releases, new kits...

First here is a PDF with instructions to create two adorable cards using the Ladybug Bundle! 

Next up--the Mini Machine is on sale this month only! PLUS there are 10 bundles being offered at 20% off too.  Be sure to order ASAP because there is always a chance of selling out.

Current host code is 7ENSNXEK and you can click here to order. 

Don't miss this early release from the Annual Catalog. The Designer Series paper is beyone amazing--it was created from hand poured paint art. Click here to see the full flyer or here to shop the suite. 

Sale a Bration ends in only a few days! Even if you don't love rainbows you do not want to miss out on the Sunshine & Rainbows Designer Series Paper pack.  It's loaded with wonderful colors and patterns. 

I set out to not only showcase this paper but also to offer some easy designs that you can create quickly by using a cutting map.  Odds are you also have plenty of scraps laying around that could be used for these designs as well.  The cutting map is featured below and I have provided measurements for the card designs. 

All of these cards were created by first cutting six pieces of 6 x 6 paper. Here are the ways I cut it. From there I played around with how to mix and match pieces for various layouts. 

This one is 1 1/8 x 4 3/4 strips layered on a 3 3/4 x 5 piece of cardstock. 

This card uses all of the 3/4 in pieces from the cuts I made in the diagram.  They are layered on a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of Basic White card stock. 

These pieces are 4 x 5 1/4 and 2 and 3 3/4. 

These strips are both 1 in and 3/4 in by 4 3/4.  

These scraps fit perfectly on a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4. 

These are the cards that I originally envisioned when I began cutting the 6 x 6 paper down.  You can mix and match in so many ways using the 4 x 5 1/4 pieces you cut.  Choose to cut them in half at the 2 in mark and then you can continue to cut at the 2 in mark again.  The possibilities are endless! 

How else can you mix and match the pieces you get?  Don't miss out on getting your package of this fun and cheery paper! Order by the end of the day Monday, February 28th.  

It's time for another Monday Montage and I'm excited to share a series of cards with you. 

When prepping for my last class I cut extra pieces so I could make up additional cards. I had fun playing with the same basic elements but changing up the layout and looks.  

Each card uses Mango Melody base, a 3 x 4 piece of the Artfully Composed Designer Series Paper, three die cut leaves and most have a piece of Evening Evergreen Windowpane Check ribbon. 

I did break out my retired stitched circles.  I can't help it--I love them and miss them! 

The background on this one was done using a blending brush and the new Butterflies and Flowers Layering Decorative Masks (they are currently out of stock).  And yes, I did leave some of the pieces of the leaves still intact on purpose.  I like the look! 

There are some really great sentiments in some of the stamp sets in the January to June Mini! 

Click next to hop along to Julie or back to check out Elizabeth's post! 

The Daffodil Daydreams did not call to me at first.  I have to admit I have a LOT of flower sets already...but once I started seeing others use it I knew I needed to have it.  It is so much fun for coloring!  

This was water coloring on Shimmer White using an aqua painter (now we have Water Painters) and ink.  You can either "smoosh" your ink pad lid into the ink pad or you can add drops of ink to the inside of the lid and then use the painter to "pick up" the ink to paint with.  Our Shimmer White paper does very well with water coloring. 

After I painted I trimmed the piece down and layered with some Designer Series Paper and Basic Black card stock on a Granny Apple Green base. 

I go long periods of time forgetting to use my colored pencils.  I especially like the look of using them on card stock other than Basic White. 

This one is also colored pencils on Pool Party card stock. 

Just in time for Valentine's Day I have some fun cards to share. The Nuts & Bolts stamp set is super cute AND has puns! My favorites.  I had enjoyed making a few different types of cards using these cute robots.  

This one allowed me to use up some more of the paper scraps.  Use those 1 1/2 x 4 strips and vary them on your base.  I love coloring with my Blends and these guys are the perfect designs to use for coloring. 

Sneaking a little Designer Series Paper behind the red panel adds just enough to the card.  I loved that I had a paper with little hearts on it! It is from the new All Together collection. 

This one allowed me another chance to do some coloring with my Blends.  I fussy cut him out when I was done and popped him up with dimensionals. 

I created the hash mark background using one of the stamps from the Sweet Conversations stamp set. 

This card was a very easy "simple stamping" card using the shape from the Hello Beautiful stamp set. 

Happy Monday! Is anyone else coming off of a very snowy week?  We had ice and snow Wednesday and Thursday and then very cold temperatures on Friday and Saturday.  My kids had snow days Wednesday through Friday and we didn't leave our house! This much snow is unusual for us but it did look pretty. 

During my snow days I finally had a chance to use the Daffodil Daydream bundle and I'm in love. I did a lot of coloring on these projects because the images are perfect for it. 

For this card I used Flirty Flamingo, Pale Papaya and Mint Macaron Blends to color the daffodils.  The ​same colors are in the Daffodil Afternoon Designer Series Paper peeking out on the edges. I die cut the smaller daffodil and used dimensionals to pop it up. 

Remember that you can earn the Daffodil Afternoon Designer Series paper for free during the month of February with any order of $50 or more. 

Here's a closer look at the finished card. 

This card is completely different from the rest!  Bright pink pairs so well with black and white and makes for a very classy looking card.   

Next is a a simple card! Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, black and white makes for a clean and classic look. I liked the Playful Pets black and white twine as a way to step up the card just a little bit. 

Do you have random items sitting on your desk from projects you started but didn't finish? Or is it just me? 

​I had both the punched pieces and the die cut daffodil sitting on my desk and inspiration struck. I decided it fit best on a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square card. 

Be sure to check out the rest of the great projects.  Click next for Julie and Creating on the Run or back for Elizabeth at Seeing Ink Spots. 

A new collection has been released and I love it so much! The new All Together Collection includes stamp set, dies, full collection of 10 new Skin Tone Blends and exclusive paper pack. The Blends will carry over into the new catalog but the other items are while supplies last and you do not want to miss out. 
 
I have a few special offers just from me! Order the full bundle ($105-- item number 160941) and you'll receive not only two Sale a Bration items but a packet of materials and PDF, for free from me, to create three projects!  Order $50 worth of any of the products in the collection and I'll send you the PDF for free. Plus you'll get a Sale a Bration item.
 
Be sure to use Host Code 66KAHN7B when ordering.  Click here to shop or here to get another look at all that is offered. This offer from me is good all of February (or while supplies last) AND you can still earn reward points! 

I shared some similar card designs recently as my goal has been to use up scraps! This design is a favorite.  Both of the Sale a Bration papers stand out when used in these layouts. 

Remember you can earn the Daffodil Afternoon Designer Series Paper for free through the end of February with any $50 purchase.  

The card on the left used pieces of DSP that measured 1.5 x 4 and the one on the right 1.5 x 3.5. 

The Friendly Hello Designer Series Paper is part of a Level 2 Sale a Bration item that also includes the Friendly Hello stamp set featured on the top card.