Beary Cute

Okay, I couldn't resist but these little bear cookies ARE stinking cute, huh? A friend had some done for her daughter's Build-a-bear party, except when I found out they were $3 EACH I was like, uh - heck no! So, I made my own. And learned that I do NOT like making decorated cookies. :)

It is a pain! But, I did have some fun with the leftover supplies...

Beach-time Bears

Nerdy Bear

Goth Bear

I think that is enough proof that I won't be doing decorated cookies for any further birthday celebrations.

It's here!!

The new catalogs arrived all shiny, heavy, and new on my doorstep last night. The catalog is laid out beautifully and you are going to LOVE all the new products. I can't wait for my Catalog Kick-off Party in July. I'll keep you updated on the details. I have to go snuggle up with my son and catalog now!

Keep crafting!

Sweet new stamps - Not flowers!

The new catalog should be here THIS WEEK!!! Of course, the ETA is either Friday or Saturday - which will be either on the day of my daughter's birthday party or on the day of her actual third birthday. I hope she takes a LONG nap, because Mama's gotta see the new pretties!!

Here is another 3x3 card using one of the new sets, Year after Year. (Yes, I tore myself away from my Pick a Petal to play with a different set!) It's an 8-stamp set that is going to be great for folks who want to make sets of gift cards for people (think Tags and More, only cuter!), for people who like big tags, and for people like me who like one-size-fits-all stamp sets! I love sets that can be used for more than one occasion, and this is definitely one of them.

The new sentiments sets featured in the Fall-Winter preview catalog are wonderful, too. All Year Cheer I, II, and III are retiring so these will be fantastic replacements. (I actually never had any of those - but my sister did, so I always had to borrow them!)

Look at this sweet little guy!





Materials (All SU! unless otherwise mentioned)

Card stock: Soft Sky, Close to Cocoa, Watercolor Paper
Stamps: Year after Year, Holidays & Wishes
Ink: StazOn Black, Soft Sky
Other: Watercolor Wonder Crayons Soft Subtles, Blender Pens, Caramel Gingham Ribbon, Staples (unknown source)

Too much fun

I am having so much fun with the Pick a Petal stamp set! Here's another easy 4x4 card that really pops with the Palette o' Prints designer paper (there will be SO many more colors to choose from in the Fall-Winter catalog, I can't wait to see them!).

Materials (All SU!)

Card stock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip

Designer Paper: So Saffron, Rose Red (both from the Palette o' Prints)
Stamps: Pick a Petal, Looks Like Spring, Three for You
Ink: White Craft, Versamark
Other: White Grosgrain Ribbon (retiring!), Black Detail Embossing Powder (retiring!)

3-inch starter cards

Stampers in Bloggerland are always talking about doing a little 3x3 starter card to get the creativity going. I fail at this. I did my first 3x3 "starter" - loved it and just did more of them. :)

Materials (All SU!)

Card stock: Close to Cocoa, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi
Ink: Purely Pomegranate (really, just one? okay...)
Stamps: Pick a Petal (TOO CUTE!)
Other: Dazzling Diamonds

Glitter, new paper, and scallops, Oh my!

Ever since the incomparable Beate explained how she uses her decorative scissors to make such cute scalloped edges, I've been wanting to try it out. I have a TON of decorative scissors that I never ever use. They are in a sad box in my craft closet - but I could never throw them away. I just liked looking at them (plus my niece adores them!) and wishing I could actually use them for something. Well, now I can - and so can you! Check out the tutorial HERE. This is my first attempt at doing it - so my results are a little wonky, but I think I'll improve with practice. :)

On this card I started off with the idea of making a spinner card, but I just kind of let my hand run away with the blade, so my box was too big. Oopsies. So, I decided that what I REALLY meant to do was make a window box. Yeah, that's it! I'm so clever! ;)

I used more of the new Soft Sky paper from the 07-08 In Colors - I think it looks sophisticated with the black. I definitely have to make something with Chocolate Chip because I know it will be sensational with it. Anyway, the card was too plain so I added a little (ha! I never add just a "little") Dazzling Diamonds and now it's ready to make someone smile.

Materials (All SU! unless otherwise mentioned)

Card stock: Basic Black, Soft Sky
Ink: StazOn Black
Stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley, In the Spotlight
Other: Slit punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Scallop edge scissors by Fiskars

New paper and stamps!

I got my first order from the new Fall-Winter 2007 Catalog on Thursday, but I was working on my daughter's birthday invitations until today so I didn't have a chance to play with anything. (I'll post pictures of the invitations later!) It was VERY tempting, but I resisted - it's like seeing presents under the tree 4 days before Christmas! I made an excuse to open the paper, though, because I had to make a little boy's birthday card. I knew I would love Wild Wasabi and Soft Sky! They look GREAT with Sahara Sand and Taken with Teal (a color I don't use nearly enough). Tonight I cut out a few of the stamp sets, so I'll start experimenting with them this week and hopefully have something to share soon. :)

This is my first time using these colors AND this layout. I've seen it on cards all over the Interweb, and I have been wanting to play with it for a while. (Does anyone have any good measurments for it? I kinda winged it, so it's not as precise as I've often seen!) I wanted to do some paper piercing, but I just didn't have enough time. I'll play with the layout on another card and see if I can give it some more texture. This is such a fun stamp set, and I'm really glad it wasn't retired.



Materials (All SU! unless otherwise mentioned)

Card Stock: Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi, Taken with Teal, Soft Sky
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Taken with Teal
Stamps: Canvas, Bugs & Kisses, Favorite Teddy Bear (Retiring!)
Other: Giga Scallop Punch (Marvy), Paper Snips, Snail Adhesive

06-07 In Colors will soon be gone!

I really do love the new 07-08 In Colors (check them out in my June newsletter), but I am going to miss the 06-07 ones! Especially Cool Caribbean - I bought 4 packages of paper because I know I'm going to want it later when it's not available!! I already have all the ink refills (for the markers I made), so I think I'm set.

As the 06-07 In Colors are retired, the Simply Scrappin' Kits that used them will certainly be retired as well. I made this simple card using designer paper and card stock from the kit, Tickets and Tokens. It's also my first attempt at watermarking...I have a lot more to learn!

The leaves are from the retiring set, Flower Fest - a GREAT 2-step Stampin' and Definitely Decorative stamp set. I'm sad that it's going away! The sentiment and the flower stamps are from sets that were in the 2006 Winter Mini Catalog and I do hope they make it into the new catalog because I just really like them. I'm just a roller coaster of emotions, huh? :)

Materials (all SU!)

Card stock: Buckaroo Blue, True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp
Designer Paper: from Tickets & Tokens Simply Scrappin' Kit
Stamps: Delight in Life (flower), Flower Fest (leaves), Love Matters (sentiment)
Ink: StazOn White
Other: Crafter's Tool Kit (paper piercing), Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

Waterfall Card

This is my first attempt at a waterfall card. Email me if you'd like instructions for making your own! I'd love to see your creations, so send me a picture if you decide to make one.

Waterfall cards are nifty because they start like the photo above, but then when you pull or slide the tab all the pieces flip around like magic...

Materials (all SU!)

Card Stock: Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Rose Red, Only Orange, Chocolate Chip, Apricot Appeal
Stamps: On the Spot, Bugs & Kisses, Polka Dots & Paisley
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Only Orange, Apricot Appeal
Markers: Apricot Appeal, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Only Orange
Other: Pewter Hodge Podge Hardware, Round Tab Punch, Blender Pen (to make Cool Caribbean marker!), Slit Punch (to make the scallops), 1/4" Hole Punch, Crafter's Tool Kit, Snail Adhesive, Sponge
Techniques: Masking, Sponging

June Newsletter

I'm working on a newsletter for my customers (and anyone who is interested!) - the first issue is available now, just click the link below. Let me know what you think!!

Moonlight Stamper