Time passes. . .friendships remain!

It was a long time ago when I first arrived on Saipan and met Lecia Eason and Patricia Halsell. They were starting their own law firm and I interviewed with them at Coffee Care when it was down in Garapan (on what is now called the Paseo.) It was a wonderful office, filled with many diverse personalities, and we became family.

Ruth had a way with babies 14 years ago when I had my Amy and she's still "got it!" She settled Susan's new baby Mikaela within mere seconds.

And we finally got to meet Ruth's "Amy"! Definitely doing a lunch together again soon. Hugs to all.

Shakin' It!!

I love shaker cards. Love to hold them and shake them. Just like a kid.

The top card holds small beads. The ghost card has chunky green glitter and micro beads, and the bottom card has only micro beads. Shaker cards are so fun for all ages. . .

Talented friends from across the world

Oh, I totally love the friendships I've made by sharing my passion for stamping. Paige has moved to the states but a part of her heart stays with us. She tried my "To Go" class kit and here's a photo of her metal tin. Isn't it beautiful???!!!

September's Stamp A Stack with Gift Tin!

I found these great tins to embellish! The top one was done in class by Mili, who intends to add a die cut gecko to finish it off. The one below was completed by Jodie, and the third by Daisy. Aren't they too adorable? Use them as gifts or to hold YOUR own stamping embellishments and doo-dads!



The one I made below is for my desk at Delta Management. It certainly brightens up my work hours! And the cards included with this stamp a stack included clear heat embossing, watercoloring, and a new Tri-Shutter Fold.

Enjoy my Stamp-A-Stacks!

The new In Colors are fabulous. This first card uses Soft Suede and Rich Razzelberry with the Always stamp set. A white taffeta ribbon is attached with a glue dot at the top of the stamped heart.

A new watercolor technique! And so easy!! Use Shimmery White cardstock. . .stamp with white craft ink and emboss with white powder. Now spray your cardstock with a fine mist of water, spraying enough to make small puddles on the paper. Use an aquapainter and color with ink refills. Just swish it over the image with no talent at all and let it puddle naturally. You will look like a genious! I love that the new Dusty Durango color has a slight yellow tinge when watercolored this way!

This card also uses the new watercolor technique. . .only using Crushed Curry in the centers and Melon Mambo at the outer edges of the flower. Don't I look talented?!

You will love these new polka dot ribbons that coordinate with the six new In Colors. . .they are so fun and lively!

This last card used markers to color the rubber of the stamped image. Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay. . .new In Colors of course!

I'm still a rebel...

My girlfriend Ruthi showed up with this stamp one Friday. I love this chick! No, it's not Stampin' Up! (gasp!!!) While many of you would never dream of mentioning a non-SU product in my presence, I had a life before SU and I'll have one after. . .although I'm not quitting for a long time yet! I probably have more non-SU products than all of you! Yes, I'm obsessive.

So, I love this card. Love the color. Love that I could use my new flower die cut. Love the coordinating button. Love the chick, and love the saying. THANK YOU, Ruthi, for letting me borrow from you. I love you too. Thank goodness for my friends, and for Friday mornings at Coffee Care.

Retired but Not Forgotten

This is one of my favorite baby sets. It's retired now but I love it so much that I haven't parted with it yet. SU has got to come out with something pretty fabulous to top this! Funny though, I'd never thought about stamping the bear on patterned paper. . .he's adorable that way!


In Certainly Celery, Pink Pirohuette, and Chocolate Chip with a small flower brad...


Two bears are better than one, right?


The Barely Banana background is dry embossed for texture. Difficult to see in the scan but very lovely in real life.


And with a die cut flower. These were so much fun and they used up some patterned paper that I had laying around!

What a BIG SHOT!!

Okay, I finally splurged during Sell-A-Bration and ordered myself a Big Shot die cut machine. Now, mind you, and don't tell my husband, I have TWO die cut machines already (a Cricut and a QuicKutz). Both are gathering dust. The Cricut has only been used once. Too much bother and too many settings to jiggle with. And the QuicKutz needs some serious muscle.

But this Big Shot is FUN to use, and easy, and good for the weak muscled. I love it, and so far my friends do too! The top card uses the Top Note and some flowers; the bottom card uses Top Note with colored cardstock. Don't forget that you can stamp on colors other than white!!

The above card uses a die cut flower with those CUTE floral brads in the new SU catalog. Simple card with big impact. The bottom card uses the Top Note layered! The die cut has a stitched border that can be cut away and then you can layer it on another Top Note. . .isn't that clever??
This last card uses the birdie die cut with the little wing that attaches separately. Totally cute. And the top border is punched with the new Eyelet Border punch. So many things I have to have!!

Coloring on the rubber. . .technique!!

There are two ways to do this technique. One way is to use the fat end of the SU markers to color directly on the rubber of your solid image stamps. Start with the LIGHTEST colors first and lead to the darker colors so that you don't get your markers all messy. Then HUFF on your stamp to re-wet it. Huffing is breathing hot warm breath on your stamp. It is a bit silly but is the most efficient and easy way to do that!

The other option is to use your aquapainter to pick up color (either from your ink refill, your markers scribbled on plastic, or your ink spots dabbed on plastic). Paint the color on the rubber of your stamp. Also with this technique, use the lightest color first and then go to the darker colors. This method is wetter and does not require huffing. Sometimes you can stamp an immediate second image and get two images for the work of one!

Easter is on its way!!

I used the patterned DSP from the free hostess merchandise. Becki was kind enough to lend me her A Good Egg stamp set and it's so much fun. Stamp the chick twice (once on patterned paper to cut out and layer on top for color!) Easy and quick.

Bee happy!

I'll have to say that More Mustard is not one of my favorite colors, but it's perfect for these cards!

I love the Chocolate Chip double stitched ribbons. . .delightful!

Just buzzing by to say. . .have a honey of a day!

I got this stamp set on pre-order. I don't know if I would have purchased it normally but it's really cute and I'm having a great time making these cards. All of these cards use Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and More Mustard and/or Summer Sun.

The bees get glitter on their little wings, and the honey dripping from the pot has Crystal Effects so that it looks REAL.

The flower has Crystal Effects on this one as well!

Okay, this turned out to be one of my favorites. Easy and simple though!!

More Valentines!!!

I think this one is my absolute favorite. I *LOVE* this new Designer Paper. It uses Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirohuette. If I had enough pink brads, I would have included this in this month's Love You Much card class.

Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. With a coordinating button, and a little taffeta bow on the corner to balance it out.

Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango and Black. Love the vibrant colors. I'm *so* not a pastel color gal. . .

Same color scheme. This one has dots made with the white gel pen. If you haven't tried SU's white gel pen, then you have not tried the very best. I have tried bunches of them, and this one far surpasses the rest.

Uh, yeah, same colors. What can I say?!

Happy Valentine's Day to you!!

This card uses Pink Pirohuette and Bravo Burgundy cardstock. The lovebirds are coated in Crystal Effects to add dimension, and the scallop edge punch makes a wonderful bottom edge.

Tangerine Tango and Pink Passion with a touch of black for drama. I love these double striped ribbons in the In Colors!!

These lovebirds are stamped with Craft White ink and layered with Crystal Effects. A button adds dimension. Here's a hint, instead of trying to jam a ribbon through the button holes, use a short strip of cardstock. It easily coordinates, is a cinch to get through the holes and is always handy.

I love this Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon because it has such a very cool white edge. I think it looks terrific and have already used one full spool of ribbon and am near the end of my second! Kiwi Kiss is the fabulous green on the card.