Dynamic Duos and Merry Monday: An Aqua and Red Christmas

This is my second post today!

I posted a card earlier today that I had made for Merry Monday and for Dynamic Duos, but after I finished the card, I realized it didn't qualify for either challenge - wrong color for one, no circles for the other.  I spent the afternoon at a friend's house, playing with her extensive collection of Stampin' Up stuff and, since it was still bothering me, I did another card!   I also added in the clean & simple sketch challenge.

Now I feel so much better!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Mixed Medley (snowflake), More Merry Messages (sentiment)
• Paper: White
• Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red, Bermuda Bay
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Scallop Circle Punch, ribbon in Bermuda Bay and Real Red, rhinestones

Dynamic Duos and CAS on Sunday: New SU Stash

I was a little late placing my first order out of the new Stampin' Up Catalog and I just picked it up from my demonstrator.  I can never decide if my first new catalog order is boring or not.  It seems like my entire stamping budget for the month is taken up with new colors - ink, refills, paper, etc.  I only ended up with a few stamps - one stamp/punch combo, one wheel, one single and one hostess set.  Three of the four are represented on these cards (so I could claim NBUS!! - Never Before Used Schtuff!)

The first card uses the colors from Dynamic Duos.  There is a butterfly option but I didn't have butterflies in my Stampin' Up NBUS!

Then I realized that I should have gone with new colors too.  I saw the challenge at CAS on Sunday which is Kraft and Twine and decided not only would it pair well with one of the new colors but it would be a nice look for the gingham wheel.

Now I can happily claim that these sets are "used" and I can put them away!!  (Sadly, with the size of my stash and the amount of new "schtuff" that finds its way into my house, I don't know when these stamps will see ink again!  Can you relate?)
Calypso Birthday:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Flower Shop, Gingham wheel, Banner Greetings
• Paper: white and black
• Ink: Stampin' Up Calypso Coral, black
• Accesories: Stampin' Up Pansy Punch, Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles, Hobby Lobby brand brad, misc twine

Strawberry Birthday:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Flower Shop, Gingham wheel, Banner Greetings
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, white
• Ink: Stampin' Up Strawberry Slush
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Pansy Punch, Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles, Papertrey Ink Kraft button, May Arts twine

Happy Mother's Day: Miss You

I am looking back in two ways today.

I am not generally one to look back - there is so much to look forward to!  But as I sat at my son's lacrosse game yesterday, I saw so many grandparents and I missed my mom.  My mother moved to our town thirteen years ago when I had my second child.  It was wonderful to have her and it was very good for her too.  My father died very young - in his mid-40s.  At the time, he was a well-respected high school principal and the town honored his life by naming the high school gymnasium after him.  My mother lived many years in that town with those memories - and it wasn't always happy.

My mom truly blossomed when she moved here.  She had two young grandchildren to play with.  When she wasn't playing in the park or taking them for ice cream, I introduced her to card-making.  (For those that know both of us - I started her in card-making!!)  She quickly started our church card-making ministry which became a huge part of that church - and the community, as once people knew that there were racks of cards there, the church got regular visitors!  She was also a Close to My Heart consultant.  Creating cards became her life.

When she died unexpectedly almost six years ago - I knew that I would miss her, but I cannot say I mourned her.  She was a strong Christian and I knew that she had missed my father for over half of her life.  

She had become such an important part of the church, that church members could not believe she had only been part of that church for only seven years.  The church memorial service was postponed almost a month because the choir was doing a European tour but they couldn't imagine not singing at her service. The service was followed by a potluck meal with fried chicken because it was well known that she never missed a good Lutheran potluck!!  We also celebrated her life when all of the church card-makers gathered at her home and raided her stash!   Her stamps, papers and supplies got a new life with each of these card-makers and the church card-making ministry continued.

I love you mom...

The inside of that poppy is much nicer in real life.  I used Black and Pitch Black Spica Glitter pens and just started dotting.


I started by saying that I am looking back in two ways.  The second reason is that I had the honor and the thrill of being part of the first Dynamic Duos design team so I had to play along this week as they celebrate their first anniversary!!  The challenge is to pick a favorite from their past color challenges.  I picked Poppy Parade and Lucky Limeade mainly because I was totally distressed that these two colors didn't make it back into the new color line-up at Stampin' Up.

Happy Anniversary Dynamic Duos!!

• Stamps: My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Basic Black
• Ink: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies dies and Fishtail dies, Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder, Divine Twine Black Licorice, Spica Glitter Pens in Black and Pitch Black

TAWS Blog Hop: Delicate Doilies

It's time for a new release blog hop from The Alley Way Stamps!!  If you started with me, head back to the TAWS blog so you can see all the fun previews and possibly win free stamps!  I so love this time of the month - there are three regular size sets and a mini that's free with a $40 purchase and they couldn't be more different from each other

Yesterday I gave you a sneak peek of a set called Bird Brain.  I put two of the wide-eyed, cute little birds on a branch.  So today I decided to go with the more elegant set - delicate doilies!  This card showcases the largest doily in the set.

The colors for this card are from Dynamic Duos.

Then I felt bad because there were so many other cute little doilies that I hadn't shown you - plus I hadn't even used a sentiment.  So I put together this card too.  Isn't it wonderful how just a few pretty doilies makes for a very easy, yet very elegant card?!

For this card, I used the CAS on Sunday sketch.

Next on the hop is Melissa!

There's always great give-aways at release time...here's the official stuff from The Alley Way Stamps:

TAWS Blog Hop!! Win all 3 sets!

One person will win ALL 3 NEW SETS!!  YEP!!

So if you want to be that person....

all you have to do is comment on the hop!

Here are the ways you can win.

You can pick and choose which ones you want to do...

but the more you comment, the more chances you have to win.

1. Comment on The Alley Way Stamps blog

2. Comment on the design team girls blog as you hop along

3. Post about it on Facebook or your blog

4. Like us on Facebook

(leave a separate comment for each that you do)

You have until March 30th at 9:00 PM TAWS time to leave them

This is a fun mini set that is yours FREE when you spent $40.00

or more during the month of MAY!!  Nothing to do but shop and

this little guy will be added to your package.

Our amazing DT lead Arielle really want a piggy bank and some coins,

I am so glad she did.  It inspired this cutie.

What do you think?

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Delicate Doilies
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Blushing Bride
• Ink: Stampin' Up Calypso Coral and Blushing Bride
• Accessories: jillibean Wood Hello Flags, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Stampin' Up twine, May Arts twine, misc gems colored with Copics

I Feel So Blessed

It was SUCH a busy week and weekend.  The kids were off on spring break last week, but my college courses didn't take a break.  And as a church musician there are always extra rehearsals, practice and lots and lots of Easter services!!

My youngest drug me to a movie that I didn't think that I had any interest in seeing.  It's already been in the theaters so we went to a secondary theater that also served food.  I am so glad he took me because it has to be the most amazing movie that I have ever seen.  I know that I am late to this one, but if you haven't seen "Life of Pi" find a way to do it - preferably on a big screen.  We did not see 3D - it gives me a headache - but even in 2D the visuals were stunning!

I am planning on a major cardmaking day tomorrow when my kids are all back to school and I've found a way to kick my husband out during the day!  But I couldn't let this morning pass without getting a little inky.  I wanted to play in the Dynamic Duos challenge because I just haven't used Primrose enough!  And I wanted to make a thank you for a special far-away friend that I almost never see, but she never fails to remember a big event nor even the little day-to-day happenings.  So I'll also submit this to CAS on Sunday.

Just last week, I finally broke down and got the Paper Smooches set Reflections.  I love everything that I have seen with it.  I finally went for it when they came out with coordinating dies.  I almost changed my mind when I realized there were THREE sets of dies which made it quite pricey.  But this card came together so quickly and easily that I'm thrilled to own it!



Just a note on the colors - the Dynamic Duos challenge is Primrose plus one other color - I used True Thyme - a long-retired Stampin' Up color.  The other color is River Rock and I double-checked their rules and River Rock is considered a neutral - it doesn't count!  I've always thought River Rock and True Thyme were a perfect pairing!

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Reflections and Spiritual Sampler
• Paper: Stampin' Up Primrose Petals and True Thyme
• Ink: Stampin' Up Primrose Petals, True Thyme, River Rock
• Accessories: Paper Smooches reflections dies

CAS(E) this Sketch with a Bumble Bee!!

This is my second post today!

It's time for this week's CAS(E) this Sketch!  I went even more literal than usual this week with pretty much an exact use of the sketch.  I've convinced myself that it is actually more of a challenge to use the sketch exactly as is.  It is NOT a lack of creativity!!

My card came about because of that little bumble bee.  I just got this cute die by Elizabeth Craft Designs.  It also comes with wing piece that has the wings back more so you could add a number of them to a card and they would all look different.

My colors came from Dynamic Duos - just PERFECT for my bumble bee!

I hope to see you at CAS(E) this Sketch this week - even though I took the sketch literally - this sketch allows for a whole lot of variety.  Just check out the design team cards to see what I mean!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Simple Sentiments
• Paper: Stampin' Up Garden Green CS and dsp, Daffodil Delight CS and dsp
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampin' Up scallop border punch, Elizabeth Craft Designs bee die

Hold On Pain Ends - HOPE

I am so in LOVE with this sentiment from the February release at The Alley Way Stamps!!  It's so unique and it says something that is so very hard to say...

And it is just one of ten fun sentiments in the new set All About You. Check out the link above to see some more sneak peeks with this same set!!I used the sketch from Less Is More.

And the colors from Dynamic Duos.

NOTE: The darker brown really is Soft Suede.  That's one of the colors that I have the new Stampin' Up ink pads for.  I have been throwing away my old pads as I got the newer ones and I am really regretting that.  There are some blog conversations going around that the ink isn't as good with clear stamps.  I can't say I have had coverage problems with clear stamps, but even IRL this does not look like Soft Suede.  Anybody else having problems?

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps All About You (to be released Feb. 1), Trees Company
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
• Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suede and Crumb Cake
• Accessories: Memory Box Woodland Branch die, MFT scallop die, CTMH Bitty Sparklers, Stampin' Up embossing folder, white crochet thread

Love You with Falling Hearts

I'm still trying to justify the $23 die!!  Here's card #2 so the die is now costing me $11.50/card!! (Card #1 was yesterday.)

Andrew comes back from D.C. tonight!  I've begged him for pictures - and all I got from their experiences at the inauguration yesterday was this...

(Luckily there is a professional photographer on the trip so I am able to view much better pictures on that gentlemen's website!)

This picture was taken during the President's inaugural speech - I'm not sure real sure what we are looking at in this photo except a subset of the million people in attendance!!

To hear Andrew relate the story, it was not the best day for the group.  They walked for over three hours fighting crowds all the way, got there just as the President started speaking and, even though the news is reporting a flawless event, Andrew says the jumbo-tron wasn't working at all and the sound system was cutting in and out.  So he didn't see or hear a thing.  Then they had all afternoon to kill - I think their travel agent let them down because they were planning to visit museums - but they were ALL closed!!  Don't feel too bad for them - they have had the last day and a half to visit - so they have seen the monuments, toured the Capitol, the Spy Museum, the Holocaust Museum, and Arlington (he has a picture of the President's helicopter lifting off when they were there on Sunday).  They also have until mid-afternoon today before they head to the airport but I don't know what they will be visiting.

Typical teenager - do you know what his trip highlights have been?

1. There is a microwave in their room and a grocery store across the street - so they buy big bags of frozen Pizza Rolls to snack on!

2. He was so exhausted yesterday that for the first ever in his whole life - he had a cup of coffee.  Well, actually, a Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce latte which is more dessert than coffee.  And he liked it!!

In fairness, he has spent a lot of time in D.C. since my husband's brother and family, his mother and many cousins are in the area and we visit regularly.  So I'm not overly surprised that his highlights weren't seeing the sites!!

It has just dawned on me that I need to make him a welcome home card with a cup of coffee on it - so I better get working!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Seasonal Sayings
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red
• Ink: Memento Black
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts die, Dress It Up Heart Button, The Twinery Maraschino Twine, Hobby Lobby brand ribbon

Big Bold Flowers with Dynamic Duos

This week's challenge at Dynamic Duos is light green and red which, given it is December, would make most people think Christmas.  But I'm thinking/hoping I'm done with Christmas (I'm actually going to count and assign them all today) - and I had this big bold flower on my desk, so I went a different direction.

These stamps are from this month's brand new release at The Alley Way Stamps.  They look fantastic colored in and shaded, but I stayed very clean and simple - and I think they work this way too!!

• Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps Petal Pushers, Doodle Frames (sentiment)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Real Red
• Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red, Certainly Celery
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Fishtail die, Stampin' Up Certainly Celery button

Monochromatic Week at Dynamic Duos

It's monochromatic week at Dynamic Duos - one of my favorite weeks - because I love the elegance of a card done in monochrome.  This week includes a lovely pair of colors...

I did add one neutral this week to make my music stand out...


I came across this lovely music stamp and set of dies by Impression Obsession while I was visiting South Dakota last week.  They have a charming little store, downtown, right next to an old-fashioned candy/soda shop.  It's a wonderful stop if you ever get to Rapid City!!
I spent way too much time than I should have on this simple card.  I felt like I needed to show you creativity and uniqueness - I tried embossing the birds, I tried adding flowers and ribbons and pearls - all kinds of stuff.  But I finally sat back and realized that a lovely stamp just doesn't need anything else!
Definitely be sure to check out the rest of the Dynamic Duos design team this week.  It is with a very sad face and a heavy heart that I have to say it's this design team's last week with Dynamic Duos.  I know that it's been an amazing experience for me.  The color combos have been fresh and fun and I will continue to be a regular player.  Simply serving with this group of talented ladies - all of whom have a permanent place in my Google Reader - has been an honor!!

• Stamps: Impression Obsession Birds on Music, unknown sentiment
• Paper: Stampin' Up More Mustard, So Saffron
• Ink: Stampin' Up Going Gray
• Accessories: Impression Obsession Bird Die Set

Dynamic Duo: Pumpkin Pie and Die Cuts!!

It's black tie week at Dynamic Duos - that means we give you black and one other color plus a dessert option.  This week the color is Pumpkin Pie and the dessert is die cuts.

I'm having the typical photo problems.  My bright orange flower is really Papertrey Ink's Orange Zest felt and their Orange Zest is almost exactly Stampin' Up's Pumpkin Pie.

Some of my die cuts are the flower - I cut four felt flowers from Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Blooms #1 die, the biggest flower.  Then I folded each into quarters.  I didn't have any glue specific to felt - so I simply took a little stitch in each to hold them together.  This is definitely not an original idea to me, I have seen these folded flowers on many other cards.  I have not seen them in felt and I'm not sure I would recommend it - it is so thick and bulky.  On the other hand, it's a very warm look - like a fuzzy blanket!

Check out the rest of the design team at Dynamic Duos - then I hope you play along, I love looking at what you have created!

• Stamps: Hero Arts Many Birthday Messages
• Paper: black and white
• Ink: black
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Blooms #1 die and Mat Stack 1 and Layerz dies, misc ribbon, Stampin' Up embossing folder

Dynamic Duos: Subtle Snowflakes

It is "subtle week" at Dynamic Duos and we are highlighting two of my favorite colors - especially together!!

I love the soft and gentle look of these colors so I went for a simple snowflake card.

Be sure to check out the other designers over at the Dynamic Duos blog - as usual, there is an amazing variety of cards using these colors!!  Then give it a try yourself and link up!  We love to see your creations!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Snowflake Soiree
• Paper: Stampin' Up Pool Party, Soft Suede
• Ink: Stampin' Up Pool Party, Soft Suede
• Accessories:, misc gems, misc ribbon, Stampin' Up snowflake sizzlits die 

Dynamic Duos: Bold & Sassy

It's bold and sassy week at Dynamic Duos and we are using Tangerine Tango and Old Olive.

I decided that the orange and greens needed to be fall.  Typically in the fall, my cards get less "white" because I love the rich fall colors in the background.  But in an experiment, I kept this very CAS with lots of white space.  Then I realized that one of my favorite parts of fall was the frost on the ground, so I added glitter to the white banner and the pumpkin.  Kind of a strange combo - glittery white and fall colors - but I like how it "feels" - just like fall!!

Be sure to check out all of the other design team cards!
And definitely be sure to check out the details of the search for a new design team - see here.  You have another week to submit your entries.  It's been a wonderful experience - I do hope some of you try for the next team!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Button Buddies, Clear Dollar Stamps words (no longer available)
• Paper: Stampin' Up Old Olive CS and dsp, Tangerine Tango CS
• Ink: Stampin' Up Old Olive and Tangerine Tango
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Tangerine Tango ribbon, Designer Frame Embossing folder, Brights Button Assortment, Crystal Effects (on pumpkin), Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter

Dynamic Duos: Cherry Plus One

This week's Dynamic Duos is a Mix and Match week - we pick one color and you get to pick the second color.  This week's color is Cherry...although by looking at my card, you might think it is Pool Party!!

I love the richness of the cherry against the soft background.  There's lots of sparkle on this card also which is somewhat easier to see in this close-up.  I put a little dab of sparkle on every snowflake and across many of the branches.

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team - there's an amazing variety of cards this week!!  Then create your own using Cherry plus one other color and link it up.  We love to see what you have created!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Through the Trees, the sentiment is actually from a Sweet 'n Sassy set that I have just realized hasn't even been released yet - check back on October 11th for a full preview of the set
• Paper: Stampin' Up Pool Party
• Ink: Stampin' Up Pool Party, Cherry Cobbler
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Glitter Glue, Cherry Cobbler twine and embossing folder (retired), Spellbinders circle and lacy circle

The First Snow

I love this week's monochromatic colors at Dynamic Duos.  The soft colors reminded me of a misty forest when the snow first starts to fall.


Here are the first few snowflakes...

I used this week's Merry Monday sketch.

And I'm going to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp: Emboss It challenge.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Dynamic Duos design team has done with the colors - it's a gorgeous gallery!!  Then try it yourself and head over to link it up...we love to see what you have done!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Trees Three, Labelicious
• Paper: Stampin' Up Always Artichoke
• Ink: Stampin' Up Always Artichoke and Certainly Celery
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Stampin' Up Label Punch and celery ribbon, Martha Stewart Snowflake border punch and Crystal Fine Glitter

A Dynamic Duo Halloween

This week's challenge at Dynamic Duos is Lucky Limeade and Black with the option of Halloween!!  It's cold, gloomy and rainy today while I am making this card - so Halloween was a MUST!

You HAVE to check out the rest of the cards from the design team.  The cards are not all Halloween and there are some stunning uses of these colors.  Then create your own and link it up - we LOVE seeing your creations.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Bootiful Occasions
• Paper: Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade, black and white
• Ink: Versafine black
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents dies*, Michaels brand Glitter Tape, Stampin' Up Limeade ribbon, Martha Stewart web punch, Papertrey Ink Chartruese button, misc twine

*I had envisioned the use of the die on this card and was sad when I realized the actual die was too narrow for the image.  So I cut a strip of paper to the correct width and then used the Apothecary Accents die to cut the top.  You have to roll it into your machine, with the top first, until you just feel resistance or else the die will start cutting the narrower vertical lines also.

Dynamic Duos and French Foliage

There are new colors at Dynamic Duos!!  Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze - starting to move into those wonderful fall tones!!  Love it!

Today is the day that a friend has invited me as a guest to the Stampin' Up Denver Regional Conference.  Yeah!!  So I actually made a dozen of these for swaps.  Other than hand-cutting the leaves, they were quite simple.  I am assuming that as you read this, I am in the middle of getting hundreds of fantastic new ideas and I will definitely be sharing!!
Be sure to check out all of the other cards made by the design team.  Then create your own and link up.  Every single week I am amazed at the variety of ideas for the SAME TWO colors!!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up French Foliage, Just Believe ("thank you")
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and Artichoke CS, Cajun Craze dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Adorning Accents Edgelits and Embossing folders, Linen Thread and Square Lattice Folder

Dynamic Duos: Bold & Sassy

It's Bold & Sassy, bright and happy, week at Dynamic Duos and since the colors are reds and green, there isn't much happier than a Christmas card!!

You will definitely have to check out all of the designers - including three guest designers.  Not everybody went with Christmas - but they are all bold and sassy!!  Then create your own project and link up at Dynamic Duos!  We love to see your work.

The Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog

Allisa Chilton

Allyson Anderson (GD)

Anne Marie Hile

Anika Lerche

Karen Aicken (GD)

Lesley Croghan

Lisa Elton

Michelle Bala (GD)

Melissa Chipperfield

Paige Grabau

Sue Joyce

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Ornament Keepsakes, Merry & Type
• Paper: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade
• Ink:  Stampin' Up Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Fancy Fan Folder, Apothecary Accents die, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, silver cord, misc ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Close To My Heart Bitty Sparklers gems

Dynamic Duos: Monochromatics

It's monochromatic week at Dynamic Duos and we are doing lavenders/purples!!

I don't use purples or lavenders much.  I don't have anything against them but they just don't make it onto my cards.  So I struggled a little this week but finally decided a simple friendship card would be perfect!



To add some interest, I glittered the medallion and it has a clear button with a bow...

The layout came from this week's sketch challenge at Create with Connie and Mary.

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team at Dynamic Duos.  As is usual there is quite a variety of amazing cards.  Then pull out your lavenders, go create and link up!  We love to see your work!

• Stamps: Stampin' Up True Friend
• Paper: Stampin' Up Wisteria Wonder CS, Concord Crush dsp from hostess mini pad
• Ink: Stampin' Up Concord Crush
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents dies, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack