Rubber Stamping & Card Making with Yapha

A good friend of mine in Florida asked if I would make her baby shower invitations. I was really honored! I’ve been following her pregnancy blog, so even though I’m not there, I feel closer than 3000 miles away. It was tricky finding a good mat for the Wide Oval Punch (though I was thrilled to see how perfectly it fit that adorable hippo!) I asked my good friends over at Stampin’ Addicts, and the best suggestion I got was to use two of the Scalloped Ovals from the Movers & Shapers Punch Windows set. It looks great, and it’s hard to tell that it is two ovals!

Stamps: Look Who’s Turning
Ink: Bashful Blue
Paper: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Other: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folders, Movers & Shapers Punch Windows (scalloped oval), Bashful Blue 5/8″ Satin Ribbon

I do take custom card orders, just let me know if you are looking for something special.

Do you remember last summer when I blinged up Eve’s sandals? (is that even a word?) Here’s the picture of how they looked last summer. I added Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to them to make them more sparkly.

Well, she finally out grew them, and wore them to pieces in the process. As I got ready to throw them away, I looked at the spots were I had added the Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds, and was amazed to see just how much was still on there! (You can click on the pictures for a better look.) It really lasted! She wore these sandals all last summer, and quite a bit this year as well.

Pretty good holding up, huh? It looks a little grungy, but wow, it’s still there! I’m impressed. That’s quality products for you, and that’s one of the reasons I love Stampin’ Up!

This is the second card I made for the retiring colors swap. It was based on a Sesame Street card I made last November for Sesame Street’s 40th birthday. I love these muppets! The retiring colors from the Bold Brights family are just perfect for them.(Don’t worry though, I have plans to remake this card using the new colors sometime after July 1st.)

Stamps: Family Phrases
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Only Orange, Basic Black, Glorious Green, Brilliant Blue, Real Red, YoYo Yellow, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Other: Scallop Circle Punch, 1/2″ Circle Punch, 1″ Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch, Slot Punch, Crop-a-dile, Black Gingham Ribbon

Yep, I’m serious! I can’t believe it myself. Stampin’ Up just released THREE MORE digital downloads! Two alphabets, and a super cute graduation set. (And yes, all of these are available as actual stamps if that is how you prefer to use them.)

You can purchase these or any other digital downloads through my online store. They great news is that they are available for immediate use, with no shipping or tax! Just click on Digital Crafting, then Digital Downloads, then Newest Downloads to see all of the recent additions!

I finally did it. I bought the Clear Circle Bigz Die. I put it off for a while, figuring I could always use my circle cutter. Except that I really don’t. I have a love/hate relationship with my circle cutter, and while we are trying to work the issues out, I haven’t been cutting circles. So I finally took the plunge and bought the Clear Circle Bigz Die. And you know what the best thing about it is? (Other than the fact that it is super easy to use because you just run it through the Big Shot and it cuts fabric, felt, cork, and more…) It is the perfect size to layer inside the Scalloped Circle Bigz Die! Look!

Stamps: Pony Party
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Taken with Teal
Paper: Taken with Teal, Whisper White
Other: Scallop Circle Bigz Die, Clear Circle Bigz Die, Big Shot, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Two Way Glue Pen

How cute is that? And it was easy peasy to make this card for Eve’s friend Kayden’s 6th birthday this weekend! I’m so glad I finally got the Clear Circle Bigz Die!

A very good family friend had one of his kidneys removed a few weeks ago and his having a pretty rough recovery. Not that there is really ever an easy recovery from something like that. I’d been meaning to make him a Get Well card, and this week’s Pals Paper Arts Challenge inspired me to get on it! Here are this week’s colors:

He’s the kind of guy who would much more appreciate a funny card than a serious one, so I turned to the Pun Fun sent. (If I had wanted a more serious one, I would have pulled out Thoughts & Prayers.) The red was a little tricky to work in, but it does liven up the card.

Stamps: Pun Fun
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive
Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Real Red, Island Oasis Designer Series Paper, Whisper White
Other: Tempting Turquoise 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Aqua Painter

Feel better soon, Jim! We’re all pulling for you over here!

My brother and his wife are expecting their first baby in about seven weeks. They were really excited about the decorating possibilities when I showed them the Decor Elements catalog. They picked out a few they wanted to put up to decorate the baby’s room. I went over today to show them how the Decor Elements work, and to help put up the first one. Together we put up this adorable Chocolate colored Robot, right over the changing table.

They also have some monkeys and the animals from Wild About You to put up as well. I’ll be sure to post pictures of their finished nursery.

My friend Krystal just started a new stamping challenge blog, Stampin’ Celebration. It’s a weekly party themed inspiration challenge. This week’s challenge features super cute robots. Check it out if you are looking for new ways to stretch your creativity!

After all of the color renovation information came out, I decided to host a retiring colors swap over at Stampin’ Addicts. Swaps are a great way for demonstrators to get new ideas, and super fun as well! Here is the first card that I made for this swap, featuring three of the retiring colors. I have to tell you, the retiring colors are ALREADY selling out! If you had wanted to get some before they are gone, you really need to act on that quickly!

Stamps: Wow Flowers
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Pixie Pink, Green Galore
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Whisper White
Other: Bold Brights Brads (Green Galore), Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch

The Last Chance Lists for stamp sets and accessories will be posted on June 1st. Based on past experience I can tell you that the accessories will sell out quickly. Really, if there is anything you want, your best bet is to order today.

How exciting! Just a few days ago Stampin’ Up released three new sports-themed digital stamp brush sets. Yesterday they released three more downloads, which are absolutely gorgeous! These can be used with My Digital Studio or any other digital scrapbooking program that allows you to import JPG or PNG images.

You can purchase these or any other digital downloads through my online store. They great news is that they are available for immediate use, with no shipping or tax! Just click on Digital Crafting, then Digital Downloads, then Newest Downloads to see all of the recent additions!

Here is another one of the Thank You notes I made for Laura over at Hackley School. Their mascot is the hornet, so I took a little artistic liberty and made a card with the super cute bees from Just Buzzin’ By. (They’re kind of like hornets, right?) I used this layout before, but chose different colors this time. Of course, I had to bling up their wings with some Dazzling Diamonds glitter!

Stamps: Just Buzzin’ By, Kind Thanks
Ink: StazOn Black, Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper
Other: Dazzling Diamonds, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch, Scallop Border Punch

Just a reminder that both the Crushed Curry card stock and the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper are only available while supplies last and will not be available after June 30th.