Just in Time for a Colorful Hop!

Welcome! It's so nice to see you again!! It has been a long time since I've been able to hop along with the Let's Get Hopping ladies and oh how I've missed them! I haven't been doing much stamping lately, which is why I haven't blogged. It's a long story - one for another blog post. Just know I'll be back more often than I have been over the past eight months.

You've likely just arrived from the ever-talented Eva Potts. Don't you love what she did with this month's theme Favorite Coloring Technique? She is so inspiring!! If you're just starting the hop here, then follow the link at the end of my post and make your way around. You won't want to miss one blog!

Recently, hubby and I had a date night and spent some time walking around the Disneyland Resort, including the Disneyland Hotel. There I found the most beautiful Hibiscus and it reminded me of my favorite bundle from the Occasions catalog - Humming Along! My stamping supplies have been in storage (remember, I'm saving that story for another blog post) but I had to get some of them out after seeing this flower... and I had to start creating!

What I love most about this stamp set is that its images are large and line art. Stampin' Blends are the perfect coloring tool for this type of image since the ink flows seamlessly over the paper... no lines when overlapping what I've already colored. Alternating between light and dark Blends allows more depth of color.

If you don't recognize the striped background paper on this card, it's because it's actually a sneak peek of a new Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. Fun, isn't it?

I hope you like my card and it inspires you to try the Stampin' Blends - if you haven't already. And I hope you find inspiration while you're out and about, then go home and create something beautiful!

Now hop on over to the amazing Mikaela Titheridge to see which coloring technique is her favorite.

Want to re-create my card? Here's what you'll need:

Humming Along Cling Bundle [150621] $42.25	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Pick A Pattern Washi Tape [144166] $8.00	Old Olive Linen Thread [148811] $5.00
Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144585] $4.50	Daffodil Delight Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144586] $4.50	Calypso Coral Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144042] $4.50	Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144044] $4.50	Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144573] $4.50	Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144574] $4.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $7.50	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00

A First for Paper Pumpkin!

I travel at least once a month for my Scottish import business and having a kit that I can tuck into my laptop bag just in case I have time to craft is amazing!

I've been a Paper Pumpkin subscriber since the beginning - five years! - and although I do have a few kits that I still haven't completed, I so look forward to seeing what the next month will bring! Yes... it's hard for me not to know what's coming, so I appreciate when Stampin' Up! gives us little sneak peeks - especially THIS sneak peek!

OMGosh I am SO flippin' excited June's kit coordinates with a product suite from the upcoming 2018-2019 annual catalog! While I can't tell you which one (yes, I know it stinks... but if you were a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you would know, too), I can tell you... if this Paper Pumpkin kit deserves an award, it would be a... ummm... nope, can't tell you - that would give it away! I'm so mean! Tee hee!

If you're not already a subscriber, be sure to sign up by June 10 to get this fun kit that will have you doing high kicks!

Keeping it Simple for Let's Get Hopping Blog Hop

Welcome to the Let's Get Hopping Round 3 Hop! You've just arrived  from Tanya Rees's Blog. Yep... another project I need to CASE!

The theme of this hop is Back to Basics, which means stamps, ink, and paper... no fancy tools. That's right! No Big Shot, no Framelits or embossing folders. Just the most basic cardmaking elements. Simple cards are difficult for me... perhaps it's because I always think cards need lots of elements to be beautiful. But that's just not true. I can do this!

This is another sneak peek from the upcoming Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog called Lovely Wishes. The adorable Billie Moan from Rambling Rose Studio presented this set at OnStage (our convention for demonstrators) earlier this month. Please check out her blog to see more creations with this set - she is so talented!

One of the things I like about this whimsical set is that it's photopolymer... which means I can line up stamps on one clear block easily (I used the large block F for two stamps), then line up the solid image stamps over the line images that were already stamped.

Using Markers lets you use multiple colors on one image. I used Garden Green and Lemon Lime Twist for the leaves. And the spots that weren't covered by the stamp? I used the marker to color that in, too. Easy-peasy!

 And how cool that the Stampin' Blends actually color our Basic Jewel Pearls??? I used the light and dark Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry Blends to emulate the colors of the flowers and petals on my card. Pretty close, huh?

I almost left the card as is - without the colored pearls, but felt that it needed a little something. Still simple, but the pearls just added another bit of texture. What did I say at the beginning of the is blog post? Yep... I guess I still struggle with less is more. LOL!

If you've read my previous blog posts, I do believe I said I need to put ribbon on just about every card. Still simple, but ribbon adds that finishing touch. What do you think? Which card do you prefer?

I appreciate you stopping by! If you started in the middle of the hop, then click the next button below to see what Verity Biddlecombe has created!

Wishing you... a very lovely day!

Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock	Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad
2017-2019 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Regals Stampin' Write Markers	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad	Pearl Basic Jewels	Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack
Fresh Fig 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon	Clear Block F	Stampin' Trimmer	Paper Snips Scissors	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive	Stampin' Dimensionals