Welcome to our Pals Blog Hop, May 2018. This month we’ll be “Stepping Up with Textures or Techniques.” What’s that? Projects that are “stepped up” by using textures or fun techniques. Who knows, maybe both! Join us in the fun while we inspire you to step up your creations.

You may be starting the hop here or coming from a previous Pal’s blog. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find the full line-up below to help you move, or “hop” along from Pal to Pal.

Living in Northern Minnesota, and especially after our recent looooong winter and late spring, you can imagine our delight when the beautiful lilac bushes start to bloom.  Their fragrance literally fills the air!  My card today is in tribute to the lilacs.

I’m using two techniques to create ‘extra’ texture today:  a watercolor technique I used on both the bouquet and the white background that combines layers of color to create depth, and an embossed background on which to build the bouquet.

I started with a card base of Whisper White thick cardstock cut at 4 1/4″ x 11″, folded at 5 1/2″.  I cut a 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ panel of basic black cardstock and mounted it on the white card base.  I then took a 5 1/4″ x 4″ panel of Sweet Sugarplum cardstock and embossed it using the Garden Trellis Textured Impressions embossing folder.

On a panel of watercolor paper, I stamped the stems of the bouquet using the single stem from the Beautiful Bouquet Photopolymer bundle using watercolor paper.  This versatile bundle allows you to create all kinds of bouquets, whether it be a monochromatic bunch of lilacs, like me, or a profusion of different colors in a mixed bouquet.

I then stamped some small bunches of flowers in Wisteria Wonder and a couple in Sweet Sugarplum.  I spritzed the bouquet with water to soften the images and let it dry.

The ‘stepped up’ bouquet was created by cutting out bunches of tiny flowers with two dies from the Beautiful Bouquet bundle.  Once the little bunches were cut out using the Big Shot, I used an aqua painter and first ‘colored’ the tiny flowers with Sweet Sugarplum ink.  Then I came back and created little stripes using the Wisteria Wonder ink.  I went back and forth between the colors, adding depth and color until I got the effect I wanted.

I used SNAIL adhesive and then Stampin’ Dimensionals to start ‘building’ up the bouquet to create lots of dimension and texture.   I finished off the card with a sentiment from Beautiful Bouquet and a Garden Green 3/8″ grosgrain ribbon bow, along with some tiny seed pearls.

Thanks to Canadian Stamper Sandi MacIver for her inspirational video to help with this watercolor technique. 

Now it’s time to see how the rest of the Pals are Stepping up with Textures or Techniques. Please use the Blog Hop Line-Up below to move from blog to blog. Don’t forget to show us some love by commenting on our creations.

Mark your calendars for June 13, 2018, when we feature projects for Babies, Birthdays and Brides. You’ll probably even see products from Stampin’ Up!s new 2018-2019 Annual Catalog. Don’t miss it!

Blog Hop  Line-up:

1. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
2. Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
3. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
4. Su Mohr at Aromas and Art
5. Linda Suarez at All Night Stamping
6. Debbie Mageed at Secrets to Stamping
7. Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
8. Leah O’Brien at Stamp by the Bay
9. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
10. Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
11. Pamela Sadler at Stampin’ Pink Rose
12. Mary Hanson at Up North Stampin’
13. Nina King at Ink Paper Sequins
14. Karen Hallam at Karen’s Stamping Habit
15. Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
16. Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity

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I’m still discovering more beautiful ways to use the “Share What You Love” products available this month!

To create this gorgeous card, I started with a card base of Whisper White cardstock at 11″ x 8 1/2″, folded in half.  I cut a panel of Rich Razzleberry cardstock to 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″.  I spritzed the paper every so lightly, and then ran that panel through the Big Shot using the brand new Lovely Floral Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I then affixed it to the Whisper White card base.

I cut a strip of the “Share What You Love” Designer Series Paper to 2 1/2″ x 4 1/8″.  I cut a strip of Old Olive cardstock to 2 5/8″ x 4 1/8″ and adhered the DSP to the Old Olive, and then both to the Rich Razzleberry embossed piece.

The sentiment comes from the “Share What You Love” stamp set.  Don’t you love the font?  The little laser-cut tag is one of the little ‘treats’ in the Share What You Love Embellishment kit. It is FREE with two of the bundles you can now order.  So fun!

I seriously can’t say enough about these beautiful papers!  Their beautiful patterns and colors are only surpassed by the gorgeous pearlized accents.  You really have to see them to believe them!  You could take the same-sized panel of any of these lovely papers and create this card in any number of color combinations.

Here is the lovely stamp set:

Go HERE to see my post with all the details about each level of “Share What You Love” Bundle.  Below are some more sample projects I have made.

Click HERE to start shopping with me!  Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed by this beautiful line of products!

Product List

This bundle introduces one of the beautiful new In Colors, Grapefruit Grove. Here is a project made using this bundle.

Use the May Host Code for an additional free gift from the new catalog from me!  FZ2DPNTR

Thanks so much, and please let me know if you need anything from me!

Mary

I love it when the thought process is taken right out of stamping, and all I have to do is have fun!  With this layout, all you have to do is grab your favorite Designer Series Paper and a stamp set or two, and you can get all your occasions covered!  Take a look at what I did with the Tutti Frutti DSP:

Thanks to Susan Itell, fellow stamper, for this great layout idea!  These cards all start with a 5 1/2  x 8 1/2″ card base, scored at 4 1/4″.  Then take a piece of DSP, your choice, and cut it to 5 1/2 x 4 1/8″.  Cut out a white panel (to stamp on) measuring 5 1/2 ” x 2 1/4″.  Then cut a cardstock panel that you will mount the white panel onto, measuring 5 1/2 x 2 3/8″.   That’s the hardest part, and it isn’t even hard!

Your next step is to have fun stamping a sentiment or other objects onto the white cardstock. The first card is a wine glass from Half Full with a sentiment from Colorful Seasons.  The “Happy Birthday” sentiment is from the Perennial Birthday stamp set.   The “Thank You” stamp is from the Color Me Happy stamp set, and the “Celebrate” sentiment is from the Picture Perfect stamp set.  The lanterns are also from the Color Me Happy stamp set, with one lantern punch-out from the Color Me Happy kit.

There’s no doubt that a fool-proof layout will save you time, and a lot of deliberating about WHAT TO MAKE. I hope this layout comes in handy for you as well!

Product List

Colorful Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set [143726] $27.00	Color Me Happy Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144069] $19.00	Half Full Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144999] $22.00	Perennial Birthday Clear-Mount Stamp Set [145760] $22.00	Love What You Do Photopolymer Stamp Set [148042] $21.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad [126975] $6.50	So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad [126957] $6.50	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin’ Pad [144086] $6.50	Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144599] $9.00
Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144605] $9.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144603] $9.00	Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [131197] $8.00	So Saffron 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [105118] $8.00
Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [144245] $8.00	Lemon Lime Twist 1/2″ Finely Woven Ribbon [144135] $7.00	Tutti-Frutti Adhesive-Backed Sequins [145609] $7.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00	Linen Thread [104199] $4.50
SNAIL Permanent Adhesive Refill [104331] $4.50	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Welcome to the Pals April  2018 Blog Hop. Join us while we put “Families First” in our hop this month. The Stampin’ Pretty Pals will inspire you with family-related projects like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Graduation or Family Vacations. You may be just starting or hopped over from another Pal. In either case, you’ll find the line-up toward the end of my post to help you move along.

I have a special graduation card to share with you today! My daughter Abby is graduating from a North Dakota State University this early May, with a major in Biology with an emphasis in Pre-Health.  She’s thinking about becoming a Physician’s Assistant.  We’re so excited to see what her next adventure might be!  This card was designed for her graduation.

The school colors (Go, Bison!) are Green and Gold, so I used the Stampin’ Blends in Old Olive and Daffodil Delight to color a floral background on a beautiful panel of black and white Petal Passion Designer Series Paper.  The large flower reminds me of a college ‘mum!’  Yes??  I mounted this 3 7/8″ by 5 1/8″ floral panel to a piece of Basic Black cardstock measuring 4″ by 5 1/4″.  Finally, I adhered these to an Old Olive card base measuring 8 1/2″ by 5 1/2,” scored at 4 1/4.”

I created the sentiment using the Layering Ovals Framelits Dies with Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock.  Then I made a party noisemaker by embossing gold stripes on Basic Black cardstock using the Picture Perfect stamp and fussing cutting it.  The ‘head’ part of the noisemaker was made with gold embossing powder on white.  I tied a small gold Mini Tinsel Trim around it and shredded the ends to add a little dimension.  Finally, I added some Gold Glitter Flakes across the card, because my girl likes her sparkles, just like her mama!  It looks beautiful when the sun catches it!

The Picture Perfect Birthday stamp set is so great for many of life’s celebrations.  Just look at all those beautiful sentiments in those awesome fonts!  You can get yours now by clicking on the supply photos below, or clicking on the Link above to Go Shopping!

Thank you so much for hopping with the Stampin’ Pretty Pals today. Please take a minute to mark your calendar for our next hop on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, when we all “Step It Up with Textures or Techniques.”  Now hop along using the Blog Hop Line-up below. Don’t forget to leave us a comment. We really like that.

Blog Hop  Line-up:  

1. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
2. Wendy Klein at Doggone Delightful Stampin’
3. Jennifer Michalski at Stamping Serenity
4. Pamela Sadler at Stampin Pink Rose
5. Sara Hicks Stuart at Sentiments by Sara
6. Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
7. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
8. Karen Hallam at Karen’s Stampin’ Habit!
9. Nina King at Ink Paper Sequins
10. Denise Hoepfner at The Mountain Magpie
11. Su Mohr at Aromas And Art
12. Mary Hanson at Up North Stampin’
13. Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
14. Rachael Shedeed at Bluebonnet Stampin
15. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
16. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
17. Linda Suarez at All Night Stamping

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As the Stampin’ Pals attend OnStage without me, (yes, I’m pouting just a little, even though I did get to attend last year), I took part in the “Green with Envy” Pals Card Swap recently.  Card Swaps are such a fun way to get wonderful creations from other crafters while sharing your won creation with them!  I chose to create a card using the Sweet Soiree Designer Series Papers.

Honestly, what is NOT to love about these beautiful papers teeming with silver foil accents?

They’re GORGEOUS in person, really.  I used two of the paper designs and mounted on a card base of Old Olive card stock.  Before adhering, I wrapped a length of the Berry Burst 3/8′ Metallic Edge Ribbon around the middle of the card.  I stamped a sentiment from the Petal Palette Stamp Set onto Whisper White cardstock and punched it out with the Tailored Tag Punch.  I popped that onto the card with Dimensionals, and decorated with some Basic Rhinestones — you can’t have enough bling!  I adhered a silver foil butterfly I cut out using the Butterflies Thinlits Dies, and that was it!

So even though I was “Green with Envy,” I DID get the opportunity to swap cards with many talented papercrafters!  Thanks, Pals!
Product List

Petal Palette Clear-Mount Stamp Set [145788] $35.00	Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Old Olive 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [100702] $8.00	Tailored Tag Punch [145667] $18.00	Berry Burst Classic Stampin’ Pad [144083] $6.50
Butterflies Thinlits Dies [137360] $27.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Berry Burst 3/8″ (1 Cm) Metallic-Edge Ribbon [145489] $7.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive Refill [104331] $4.50
Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $4.00

Looking for a quick and festive card idea?  Look no further than our new Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit from the Occasions Catalog.  Check out these cards made using this kit!

The cards are made from the Sweet Soiree Designer Series Papers — beautiful spring colors with silver foil accents:

Once I built my card base, I made a bouquet on an oval die cut with the Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit.  All the paper embellishments punch out — easy peasy!  Look at all the fun accents you get with this kit:

Click on the products below to start shopping, or just click on the link at the top of the page, and let the Sweet Soiree Embellishments do the work for you!

Check out my video on the Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit!

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I carried over my color scheme and basic layout from yesterday’s card to create a happy and whimsical card from the stamp set “Happiest of Days.”

Don’t you love the bright colors?  The card base is made from Bermuda Bay card stock covered with a 5 1/2″ by 4 1/4″ panel of “Bubbles and Fizz” Designer Series Paper.  The yellow layer is a panel from the Tutti-Frutti Cards and Envelopes, a free offering from the Sale-A-Bration brochure when you spend over $50 in SU! product.

I stamped the presents and sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and proceeded to have some fun coloring with my new Stampin’ Blends markers.  I added some Wink of Stella to put a sparkling touch on the fun little gifts!  Which one do you like the best?

The 3/8″ chevron ribbon in Bermuda Bay and a couple of Tutti Frutti Adhesive Backed Sequins finished off my card.  So fun, and these colors — yummy!  Shop with me by clicking on the products below or by selecting the “Let’s Shop” button above!

Product List

Happiest Of Days Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143796] $18.00	Bubbles & Fizz Designer Series Paper [147244] $0.00	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [131197] $8.00	Tutti-Frutti Cards & Envelopes [147242] $0.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00
Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin’ Pad [131171] $6.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Tutti-Frutti Adhesive-Backed Sequins [145609] $7.00	Bermuda Bay 3/8″ Mini Chevron Ribbon [144198] $7.00
Calypso Coral Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144045] $9.00	Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144603] $9.00	Pool Party Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144605] $9.00	Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack [144599] $9.00	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00
Glue Dots [103683] $5.25

I had fun with a CASE’d card by Amy Koenders that features the fun ‘sherbet’ colors!  This is a feel-good card that brings me right out of this dreary winter weather to the beach.  Which little cabana are YOU in?  I think I’m in the Peek-A-Boo Peach one!

Hard to believe that this card is created from the very same stamp set that created this one:

Both the beautiful watercolored mountain scenes and the beach scenes are made from the Water Front stamp set, found in the 2018 Occasions catalog:

The stamping was so fun — I built the beach scene using the stamps above on a piece of scalloped Whisper White card stock, actually ‘contraband’ left over from the January Paper Pumpkins.  Any white panel will do, or a circle shape works great, too!  I mounted the scene on a panel of card stock from the Sale-A-Bration Tutti Frutti cards and envelopes, and then onto the card base made from the Bubbles and Fizz Designer Series Papers.  Cute!

I embellished the card with some Pool Party baker’s twins and a couple of the Tutti Frutti Adhesive-Backed Sequins — boy, do I love those!  So bright and sparkly, and they STICK on their own!

And there you have it —  a fun beachy scene on a cold and snowy winter night!  I hope you had a great holiday weekend!

Mary

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