So Grateful

Even though we are experiencing unusual times and we can't be together in person, it doesn't mean we can't still share ideas! Now is the time to keep our creative community strong. I'll be sharing projects and inspiration by email and social media. I look forward to "seeing" you and sharing it with you online.

April showers are bringing flowers, but you don't have to wait until May or June! The Ornate Garden Early Release is the perfect way to get your hands on something fresh and new.

Visit me online to see what's happening this month. If you don't already follow me on social media, now is the time to start!

Card Layout and Retiring Colours

available until the 2nd June 2020 or until Sold Out   CARD LAYOUT CHALLENGE   Are you ready for some creative inspiration? Here is the April card layout! Pick a card template, stamp set, coordinating Designer Series Paper or cardstock layers, and some embellishments and you'll have what you need to start creating something wonderful. From clean and simple to "wow" - it can all get started with a card template! This card features three of the retiring 2018-2020 In Colors; Lovely Lipstick, Blueberry Bushel, and Call Me Clover. it also features the Timeless Tulips stamp set (#151534) and coordinating Tulip Builder Punch (#151295) that come in a bundle (#153793) at a 10% savings! This card also uses the popular Buffalo Check background stamp (#147797 wood, #151372 cling), Stitched Shapes dies (#145372), and Lovely Lipstick 1/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (#146952).

April Card Layout ~ Watercolour Card

Watercolor Card   INSTRUCTIONS: Cut Rich Razzleberry cardstock to 5-1/2" x 8-1/2". Score at 4-1/4" along the 8-1/2" side. Die cut scrap Rich Razzleberry cardstock with the small triple-flower die from the In the Tropics Die. Repeat die cutting about 17 times. Arrange the flowers around the edge in a single row, varying the sizes randomly. Use Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Glue Dots to adhere the die cut flowers to the Rich Razzleberry card. Die cut 5 small leaves using the three small leaf dies from the In the Topics dies. Cut one of the spiky embossed leaf from Pretty Peacock cardstock. Cut one each each of the solid embossed leaf and the open leaf pattern from both Pretty Peacock and Old Olive cardstock. Stamp one large and one small flower image from the Timeless Tropical stamp set on scrap Shimmery White cardstock with Jet Black StazOn ink. Allow ink to dry completely. Use an Aqua Painter to watercolor the large flower with Terracotta Tile and Rich Razzleberry inks. Use Pretty Peacock and Crushed Curry inks to watercolor the flower center. Watercolor the small flower with the Aqua Painter and Blueberry Bushel and Blackberry Bliss ink. Allow ink to dry completely. Die cut flowers with coordinating In the Tropics dies. Cut Whisper White cardstock to 4-1/2" x 3-1/2". Squeeze Pretty Peacock and Razzleberry ink pads to create a puddle of ink in the lid or add ink to the lid with an ink refill. Use an Aqua Painter to lightly splatter ink on the Whisper White cardstock. One good way to splatter ink is to place the cardstock on a protected surface, ink the Aqua Painter, place the tip of the Aqua Painter part way into it's cap, and flick the tip out of the cap down towards the cardstock. Repeat this with both the Pretty Peacock and Rich Razzleberry inks. Allow ink splatters to dry completely. Stamp leaf image from the Timeless Tropical stamp set several times each with Old Olive and Pretty Peacock ink on the splattered Whisper White cardstock. Space the leaves so that the flowers can fit between them. Stamp some go off the bottom left corner and some are near the top and bottom center. Adhere large die cut flower over the stamped leaves and partly off the left edge of the Whisper White cardstock with Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere the smaller flower off the right bottom edge of the large flower with Glue Dots or Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere die cut leaves to the right, and slightly overlapping, the flowers using Glue Dots. Add a 2-1/2" strip of Sahara Sand Woven Threads Trim across the leaves with Glue Dots. Tie a bow with Whisper White Baker's Twine and adhere to right edge of large flower with Glue Dots. Stamp greeting on 2-1/2" x 3/4" Pool Party cardstock with Pretty Peacock ink. Adhere to card overlapping the trim with Stampin' Dimensionals. Place several Champagne Rhinestone Jewels around the flowers. Add a 5-1/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White cardstock inside the card for a writing area. SUPPLIES: STAMPS: Timeless Tropical (#151497) CARDSTOCK: Whisper White (#100730), Old Olive (#100702), Rich Razzleberry (#115316), Pool Party (#122924), Pretty Peacock (#150880) PAPER: Cardstock 8-1/2" X 11" Shimmery White (#101910) INK: Jet Black StazOn (#101406), Old Olive (#147090), Blackberry Bliss (#147092), Blueberry Bushel (#147138), Pretty Peacock (#150083), Terracotta Tile (#150086), Crushed Curry (#147087) ACCESSORIES: Whisper White Baker's Twine Solid (#124262), Sahara Sand 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Woven Threads Trim (#149499), Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#151193) ADHESIVES: SNAIL (#104331), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430), Mini Glue Dots (#103683) TOOLS: Aqua Painters (#103954), In The Tropics Dies (#151495) TIPS: When using an Aqua Painter to splatter paint with ink, place your project on Grid Paper to protect your work surface. Mix a bit of water into the ink so it is fluid. Tap off the end of the brush so it is wet but not dripping to avoid large blobs of splatter.     TROPICAL OASIS VIDEO   DOWNLOAD THE CATALOGUE

Last Chance Products

Stampin' Up! has just released the list of retiring products! Now is the time to get those last items off your wish list ordered before they are gone.

Here's my Top 3 things to know about the Retirement List:

1. In Colors: All 2018-2020 In Color inks, paper, and embellishments are retiring. These items usually sell out quickly so don't forget to add ink refills and extra cardstock for your craft stash. Check out the In Color samples below for color inspiration. You don't want to miss having these bright, happy colors in your collection!

2. Stamps vs. Accessories: Retiring stamps are available through June 2nd. All other retiring items, such as paper, embellishments, and dies are only available while supplies last, so you don't want to wait and miss out.

3. Bundles: Bundles, with their 10% savings, all retire! Even if the bundle items carryover to the next catalog the discount does not so save on bundles while you can.

Country Club Spotlight

Hello,

This year celebrate Dad like the champion he is. The Country Club Suite is a classic blend of argyle, plaid, and iconic golf images. It's perfect for Father's Day, masculine birthday cards, and sporty themed projects, too. 

The Absolutely Argyle 3D Embossing Folder is sure to be a hit for everything from Father's Day to baby showers, so you'll definitely want it on your shopping list! 

This card is rich in colour, texture, and details. It features heat embossing, dry embossing, and distressing techniques. This card will score you are a hole-in-one this Father's Day!

Colour Inspiration

Hello,

I hope everyone Safe and Healthy while going through this time. 

While planning this Colour inspiration I was sitting and looking at the Early Release Ornate Garden Suite to me, these colour inspired me and calm me to create a few things. Something about these colours made me think of calming places I like to go and enjoy. 

Early Release of Ornate Garden Mega Suite from Upcoming Annual Catalogue

Early Release of Ornate Garden Mega Suite from Upcoming Annual Catalogue ORNATE GARDEN SUITE PROJECT SAMPLES Download Flyer TWO BUNDLES The Ornate Garden Suite is a mega-suite, meaning it has two stamp set and die bundles, plus all the other coordinating goodies you'd expect, like Designer Series Paper, embellishments, and even an embossing folder. Whether your style is clean and simple or "Wowza!" your creativity will bloom and grow with all the possibilities this suite brings to your inky fingertips. So order today and get your garden of creativity blooming! Ornate Thanks Bundle The Ornate Thanks Bundle includes the Ornate Thanks Stamp Set and the Ornate Borders Dies. 19 photopolymer stamps | 9 dies Ornate Style Bundle The Ornate Style Bundle includes the Ornate Style Stamp Set and the Ornate Layers Dies. 6 cling stamps | 8 dies Coordinating Products ACCESSORIES DESIGNER SERIES PAPER EMBOSSING FOLDER SHOP ONLINE

Ornate Garden Suite

If you are like me and love getting a sneak-peek at new products, then today is your lucky day! Stampin' Up! is offering an early release of one suite from the upcoming Annual catalogue.

The Ornate Garden Suite is perfect for spring and summer. It's ideal for creating Mother's Day projects that will wow, so you'll be glad you don't have to wait, you can get it now!

Monthly Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us for our 
Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator Monthly Team Blog Hop! 

We are so happy that you could join us today for this blog hop for ideas and creative inspiration. We are a group of Stampin' Up!® Demonstrators from around the world that are taking part in training that is helping us to build a successful Stampin' Up!® business and reach some goals we have set. We really appreciate your support.

You may be starting here or have come from another blog - either way you can find the link list at the bottom of this post so that you can see every blog post and idea today.

I was sitting in my craft space trying to make something new for Kylie's Demonstrator Training Program Blog Hop.  I sat for a long time and could not be inspired to create so I went and look up colour challenges and I found one,  the colours that inspired me are below:

Soft Sea Foam

Seaside Spray

Purple Posy

Blushing Bride

Whisper White

CREATE

CARDS WE LOVE

We have three cards to share today, and each one features a unique tip that you can add to your paper crafting repertoire.

If you’d like a card with simple lines and a subtle touch of colour, try the markering technique featured on the Happy Easter card. Simply use Stampin’ Write Markers to colour directly on the rubber. This gives you perfect control over the depth of colour in your stamped image; it also lets you easily incorporate more than one colour for a clean, sophisticated look.

Go bold with Melon Mambo and Pool Party, as we did with our Sweet Friend card. Pro tip: Birthday Bonanza Designer Series Paper isn’t just for birthdays! We love how it makes the Melon Mambo Cardstock pop.

The adorable You Brighten My Day card features the Distinktive Full of Happiness Stamp Set. The varying rubber densities give your image depth and complexity, making it super fun to stamp with.

Happy Easter

Mini Spring Tulip Basket

Add a little brightness to any day with this cheerful mini basket featuring the Timeless Tulips stamp and punch bundle. It's perfect for a sharing a little Easter treat, a sweet May Day surprise for your neighbours, or a little gift for Mom on Mother's day. 

This basket design is simple to make and can be changed out for lots of different occasions or holidays by changing colours and stamps, so let's go create something lovely today!

Hello

Hello 

This Autumn we are experiencing a historic time. I'm not even sure how to express all the thoughts that I'd like to share with you. So, I'll keep it simple and just say that I'm thinking of you and I hope that you and your loved ones are all doing well. 

With the changes, I'm spending more time crafting and thinking about how I can share joy through creativity. As a crafter, you know that creating things with your own hands is wonderful stress relief, and sharing handmade cards and gifts is a source of joy.