Let's Get Hopping - My Happy Color

Welcome to another round of Let's Get Hopping! I can't believe we've been hopping for almost three years! You've likely hopped over from the talented Eimear Carvill, but if you didn't and you're starting here, then be sure you keep hopping until you've seen all the gorgeous colors! 

When I think of a happy color, I can't help but think of my two happy places. Yes, I have two... and I can't actually decide which makes me happier. It's odd because one reminds me of the other.

My first happy place is the beach. I don't care which beach... or which body of water, for that matter. There is something so soothing about being by the roar of the crashing waves, or the sloshing of swells against a buoy or anchored boat.

 

Since I have two happy places, I think it's appropriate to have three happy colors! The beach (including these pictures from some of my earlier vacations) reminds me of Stampin' Up!'s Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, and Pool Party. Could it be the names? LOL!

Although the colors look more green on some computers, they are such calm blue colors that remind me of the ocean.

My other happy place is Disneyland... or specifically the Disneyland Hotel. How does this remind me of the ocean? With its tropical and Polynesian theme, it immediately calms me and makes me feel like I’m home - just like the beach. 

It made sense to combine my three happy colors from Stampin' Up! with the Timeless Tropical stamp set and Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper. Oh those Palm Trees!! The Designer Series Paper also reminds me of my hubby, who is very much into vintage cars... so the "woody" station wagons just complete my collection of happy things (Hubby being one of them). 

This was such a fun card to make and it just makes me scream HAPPY! What do you think? Does it bring a smile to your face?

Just a little bit of the details... I distressed the edges of the paper behind the greeting, as well as the greeting itself (I wanted it to feel very "beachy"), and did a curl on the opposite corners of the embossed Bermuda Bay cardstock and Soft Suede piece of Designer Series Paper - something I consider a  signature style that's used by Susan Wong - which I just LOVE!

Thank you for visiting! I hope you enjoyed my little piece of paradise! Now, hop on over to Teresa Brown's blog by clicking the "Next Blog" arrow below.

If you'd like to create my card, or it has inspired you to create your own, these are the supplies I used. Just click the individual picture and it will take you to my online store! 
 

Timeless Tropical Cling Stamp Set (English) [151497] $23.00	Tropical Oasis Designer Series Paper [151252] $11.50	Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [122924] $8.75	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197] $8.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $9.75
Brights Stampin' Write Markers [147157] $30.00	Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [147158] $30.00	Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder [151503] $9.00	5/16" (8 Mm) Braided Burlap Trim [151254] $8.00	Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels [150457] $6.00
Snail Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Online Extravaganza is Coming!

Get out those wish lists and check out what Stampin' Up! has for its annual Online Extravaganza! Find some amazing deals - with a 24 hour exclusive sale on select stamp sets Monday, November 20. Updates will be posted on my Facebook Page throughout the sale. If you find something you MUST have, please order through my online store and use host code FA66USC6.

 

If this list is difficult to read, let me know and I will e-mail you a PDF.

Happy shopping!

My Creative Counterpart

Since I've been posting all of my creations, I thought you'd want to see what my friend Jennifer came up with! She used the Ribbon of Courage stamp set. Check out these beauties!!

The story of the card above is a sweet one... it was created for Jennifer's friend's son who was battling Leukemia and had a love for Lego. This story touched my heart, as my dad died from Multiple Myeloma (a form of Leukemia) when I was 15.

The Ribbon of Courage set is so versatile, but to me, this is the quintessential card for this set... whose life hasn't been touched by breast cancer? I think this card is simple, but meaningful (my favorite element on this card is the white ribbons in the background... I never would have thought to do that... very clever, Jennifer!).

I LOVE this card! It makes me want to reach out to someone I've been thinking of, but haven't been in touch with for a while. I'm going to CASE (copy and share everything) it and send it out this week. Who doesn't need a little bit of love and hugs sent their way?

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the cards Jennifer and I have created with our challenge. Tune in next week for more fun creations using two new sets! Oh, and by the way... we still need a name for our little challenge. Hint, hint...

Third Time's a Charm

The final card from the card challenge with Jennifer (we need a name for our challenge, so if you have a clever one, please let us know!). I have to say, I am in LOVE with this card! It's one that I may hoard, uh, I mean hold on to forever!!

If you didn't know this about me already, I really love fussy-cutting (silhouetting an image). The Eclectic Layers Thinlits set has a couple of embossing pieces, like the gold leaf above, but I honestly wish this particular piece had a framelit... it was really hard to fussy-cut. I'm not sure if it was the gold foil paper (which I love), but it was difficult to get clean lines. Did I use that element on my card? Check this out...

Nope! I honestly don't think it was needed. I think I'll try to fussy-cut that element out of regular cardstock and use it on another card. What do you think?

Round Two...

Yesterday I shared a card that was created for a card challenge my friend Jennifer and I are doing to inspire each other to 1) use stamp sets we have and may not have used, 2) step out of our comfort zone and create something different than we usually would, and 3) stamp more. Believe it or not, number three is quite challenging. Let's face it, not many of us have unlimited time to create.

This card is a definite departure from what I usually do - and I'm still not sure if I like it. I posted this "tease" on my Facebook page last week and was surprised with the number of comments. Hopefully everyone who liked the tease will like the finished card.

Drum roll, please....

So what do you think??? The more I look at it, the more it's growing on me. I ended up sending this to my uncle because honestly... he's a gem and truly is a lovely person - and I wanted him to know it.

A Little Challenging

My friend (and fellow demonstrator) Jennifer and I have challenged each other to create three different cards using one stamp set. Of course this challenge is with a deadline (I don't do well working with deadlines because something always comes up... so this really is a challenge) and each of us will blog our creations (and I just might share hers, too!).

I decided to start with the Oh So Eclectic stamp set from Stampin' Up!'s 2017-2018 catalog. I'm so glad this set was on Jennifer's list of options because I just received it. I love how bright and cheery everything from the Naturally Eclectic Suite is... even though I'm not necessarily a "floral" person. I did, however, have a hard time getting started on this card so I turned to the catalog for inspiration.

I chose a different color scheme, because although I was using the catalog for inspiration, I wanted the card to be my own. I guess you could say I used the catalog as a "sketch" of sorts.

I really feel a sense of accomplishment with this card. My designs are usually quick and easy, and not so embellished, so to create a card with so many elements and textures is huge!

I would love to read what you think about this card. Feel free to leave a message below, or perhaps share a card of your own using this set.

We All Need a Little Time Away

Several years ago some friends and I were discussing the idea of going away and having a crafting weekend. Well, that finally happened! When we first started talking about it, we tossed around the idea of getting a hotel, but after attending Lorri Heiling's Cozy Crafty Retreat last September, I was inspired to find a house similar to the cabin we stayed in. That search took me to The Raggedy Inn in Ramona, CA! Everything was perfect. The place was perfect for a small group of 10, the weather was perfect, and the mix of friends was perfect! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend!

Just a couple of the fun pillow gifts given to each attendee at the retreat (I wish I had thought to take pictures of all of them... they were cute - if I do say so myself. LOL!).

Every retreat needs a swag bag! This one was summer/luau-themed, complete with Bunch of Blossoms stamp set and Blossom Builder punch.

Margo shared her husband Lynn... who kept our bellies full with amazing catered meals.

Of course the only picture I took of the food is the one below... we had a luau lunch with crabwiches, fruity beach balls, sea shell pasta, tropical veggietation with seaweed dip, and sea snail bites. YUM!

We even had a tropical "mocktail" (not pictured, but oh so tasty)!

There was enough time for everyone to work on their make-and-takes, swaps, and any other projects they brought. All make-and-take supplies were kept in sand pails.

Pinterest and other Stampin' Up! demonstrators offered much inspiration for our make and takes. This card was CASEd (copy and share everything) from Lyssa Zwolanek. She is so talented! 

The ladies were having fun and working hard... okay, not so hard. But they were working.

 

  

But there is always time for selfies... especially with your sister.

Yes, we had to take a group picture... and yes, we had to use props.

Of course, no retreat would be complete without swapping. These are just a few...

So many great cards - lots of inspiration! 

And no retreat would be complete without time for some R&R and hanging out with your sister and/or BFF! 

Yes, even Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy were hanging out. There were quite a few... which is why the house is called the Raggedy Inn. 

There were so many great moments from the retreat, but my favorite was actually having time to work on my own cards. Aside from my swaps, I made cards for all of the hubbies whose wives came to the retreat. I know it was a sacrifice for the guys to give them up for a weekend, so this was a way for me to let them know how much I appreciate it.