I have so many tips I’d like to share with you, so I thought I’d try to add one now and again, and call them Bluegrass Bits! Let me know what you think.

Do you ever find that some of your photopolymer stamps, especially those long skinny ones, don’t line up well with your dies when you try to cut them out?

Well, here’s a quick tip on how to keep this from happening.

1. Lay your die with the blade facing down.

2. Position your stamp inside the frame of the die.

3. Attach your block (or Stamparatus plate) to the stamp while it’s still in position.

That’s it! Now ink and stamp your image and it will be lined up to cut perfectly!

If you’d like to see more Bluegrass Bits, please let me know in the comments below!

April 20, 2019

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Shelli’s Paper Pumpkin Kit

This May, you’re in for a treat. Paper Pumpkin has teamed up with Shelli Gardner, Stampin’ Up!’s board chair and cofounder, to deliver a very special Paper Pumpkin kit. It’s exclusive, collectible, and one of a kind. Die-hard Paper Pumpkin and Stampin’ Up! fans won’t want to miss this special edition. It’s also perfect for brand new subscribers!

The look and feel of this kit is all Shelli. It’s elegant, feminine, and so full of springtime details that you’ll probably just want to take a walk, breathe in the fresh air, and then go home and stamp every card in the kit. And the box it comes in? We predict that you’ll be keeping it . . . like . . . forever. Wait and see.

About the “Shelli” Kit

Shelli Gardner worked closely with designers and concept artists to create a Paper Pumpkin kit that is uniquely hers. It includes an exclusive photopolymer stamp set, paper and crafting materials to create 12 cards (3 cards of 4 unique designs), 12 exclusive, coordinating envelopes, and a Classic Stampin’ Spot.

Coordinating colors: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Petal Pink, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Soft Suede, and Very Vanilla

We got to make a card from this kit at OnStage! You can see mine below with its beautiful matching envelope.

Be sure to sign up as soon as possible. If this kit sells out before May 10th, they will close subscriptions! If you’re already signed up, you have nothing to worry about.

March 3, 2019

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Bubble Over Retirement

Sometimes you just have to make a special card for a special person.

This card was made for a good friend who retired from civil service, AFTER retiring from a career in the military. That’s a lot of dedicated service.

Jerry, and his wife, LaAnna, are some of our best friends, and if you’re my friend on Facebook, you’ve probably seen pictures of us together. Jerry has a fondness for craft beer, so I thought this card would be perfect for him!

Stamps: Bubble Over, Another Wonderful Year

Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Silver foil

Ink: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Lemon-Lime Twist

Paper: Bubbles & Fizz DSP (vintage)

Dies/Punches: 3/4” Circle Punch, Bottles & Bubbles Framelits

Bubble Over Photopolymer Stamp Set
$17.00

Another Wonderful Year Clear-Mount Stamp Set
$31.00

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$9.75

Silver Foil Sheets
$4.00

Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

3/4″ (1.9 Cm) Circle Punch
$13.00

Bottles & Bubbles Framelits Dies
$28.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

If you need supplies to make your own special card for a special person, you can find everything you need at the link below.

February 26, 2019

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Fable Friends Easter Basket

I know it’s early to be posting Easter projects, but I want to show you this cute basket now, in case you’d like to make some of your own.

This basket is made with Crumb Cake cardstock and the Basket Weave and Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (TIEF). And, isn’t this just the cutest little bunny ever?!

Stamps: Fable Friends

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Whisper White

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Old Olive

Dies: Stitched Shape Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits

Other: Blends – Light Pool Party, Light Flirty Flamingo, Light and Dark Crumb Cake, 1/8” Flirty Flamingo Ribbon, Pinewood Planks Dynamic TIEF, Basket Weave Dynamic TIEF

Fable Friends Cling Stamp Set
$22.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$8.50

Pool Party 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$9.75

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
$6.00

Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies
$30.00

Layering Ovals Framelits Dies
$35.00

Pool Party Light Stampin’ Blends Marker
$4.50

Flirty Flamingo Light Stampin’ Blends Marker
$4.50

Crumb Cake Stampin’ Blends Markers Combo Pack
$9.00

All My Love Ribbon Combo Pack
$9.00

Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
$10.00

Basket Weave Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
$9.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll visit again soon.

February 24, 2019

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Veterans Welcome Gifts

With the help of a lovely group of ladies, we support our local Veterans Retirement Home. One of the things we do is provide “Welcome to the Neighborhood” cards. If you missed my earlier post on these, you can find it here.

In addition to the welcome cards, we decorate boxes that are stuffed with slipper socks, those socks with non-stick bottoms like they provide for you in the hospital. I have several generous friends who donated the money to purchase the socks.

Last week, we delivered 70 boxes of these socks to the VA Center.

A good friend of mine, Janet, helped me get these together. The boxes were donated by another friend, Nancy, who saved them from the trash at an event she attended. What a great upcycle!!

If you’re looking for a good cause to support, please consider your local Veterans Center.

Thanks for visiting today.

February 21, 2019

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Veterans Welcome Card

I have a super group of ladies who stamp with me. They are all caring and supportive, and willing to help with almost any crazy project I come up with! We regularly support our local VA Retirement Center in Radcliff, KY.

We take handmade cards to the center and help the veterans write messages to send to their friends and families. We also volunteer to help with some of their activities, like Casino Day, which is happening today. I’ll post more on that later.

The center is still not at full capacity, but new residents are coming in. To welcome them, we make Welcome to the Neighborhood cards.

Several months ago, I stamped the birdhouses and the ladies took them home, colored them, and returned them. Now, we’re making those into cards like these. We make different colored frames, based on the colors used on the birdhouses. Inside it says “Welcome to the Neighborhood”.

Today, we made 24 of these.

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$9.75

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
$6.00

Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies
$35.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

This is also a good time for me to use up some retired products, so I used the following:

Home Tweet Home stamp, Tangerine Tango cardstock, and Tangerine Tango Bakers Twine. I can’t tell you what was used to color, as each of my ladies used their favorite supplies to color as they desired.

Thanks for stopping by!

February 19, 2019

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New Sale-a-bration and Coordinating Products!!

Stampin’ Up! has added new items to their Sale-a-bration offerings!

If you’re not familiar with Sale-a-bration, you can get something FREE with any $50 order. If you place a $100 order, you can get TWO of the $50 level items, or select from special $100 level items.

NEW SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS

Country Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
$0.00

All Adorned Photopolymer Stamp Set
$0.00

Painted Seasons Bundle
$0.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

OTHER AVAILABLE SALE-A-BRATION ITEMS

Hello Cupcake Photopolymer Stamp Set
$0.00

Butterfly Elements
$0.00

Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper
$0.00

By The Bay Cling Stamp Set
$0.00

Home To Roost Cling Stamp Set
$0.00

So Hoppy Together Cling Stamp Set
$0.00

Part Of My Story Cling Stamp Set
$0.00

Lovely Lattice Cling Stamp Set
$0.00

Precious Parcel Card Kit
$0.00

Tea Time Framelits Dies
$0.00

Lasting Lily Photopolymer Stamp Set
$0.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

Want more? How about Framelits, additional words and a new punch to go with some of these stamp sets? Stampin’ Up! will be releasing new products that coordinate with the Sale-a-bration items!! These products will be available FOR PURCHASE on March 1st, and only WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, so don’t delay!

More Than Words Photopolymer Stamp Set
$17.00

Lily Framelits Dies
$27.00

Call Me Cupcake Framelits Dies
$27.00

Hop Around Framelits Dies
$27.00

Four Seasons Framelits Dies
$28.00

Story Label Punch
$18.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

I’m afraid these items may sell out quickly, so get yours before they’re gone!

February 17, 2019

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Lasting Lily Sympathy

Today I’m using the Lasting Lily stamp set. Did you know you can get this stamp set FREE? It’s one of the items available with purchase during Sale-a-bration.

This set is actually gorgeous in any color, and I had a tough time deciding which color to use. I was looking at my new ribbons and found this beautiful new reversible ribbon, with Coastal Cabana on one side, and Granny Apple Green on the other.

Stamps: Lasting Lily

Cardstock: Thick Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Granny Apple Green

Dies: Rectangle Stitched Framelits

Other: Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Coastal Cabana/Granny Apple Green 3/8” Reversible Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

Lasting Lily Photopolymer Stamp Set
$0.00

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock
$7.75

Coastal Cabana 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$9.75

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies
$35.00

Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
$9.00

Coastal Cabana/Granny Apple Green 3/8″ (1 Cm) Reversible Ribbon
$7.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels
$5.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

If you have questions about this project or need more information on earning FREE product during Sale-a-bration, please comment below.

February 14, 2019

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December 2018 Paper Pumpkin Alternate Idea

If you aren’t subscribed to Paper Pumpkin, you’re missing out on a monthly box of fun!

Each month, I get a red box delivered directly to my mailbox. It includes a stamp set, ink, and all the materials needed to make the monthly project. The project is a surprise, and all the materials are cut and ready to go.

The December 2018 kit contained an 18 month calendar. I didn’t really need a calendar, so I decided to use the supplies for an alternate project.

I recently asked for my customers’ birthdates, so I could send them cards. Needless to say, I now need a LOT of cards, so I used the calendar pages to make these cute birthday cards. What do you think?

If you’d like a monthly subscription to Paper Pumpkin, you can click on the link in the right margin.

Thanks for stopping by!

February 12, 2019

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Tea Together Tea Bag Gift

Who likes FREE stuff? I know I do!! During Sale-a-bration, you can get the Tea Time Framelits dies FREE with a $100 order.

We made this tea pouch using the dies and the coordinating Tea Together stamp set from the Occasions Catalog. I love the options with this stamp set. The images are open, so you can leave them plain, stamp flowers on them, or do like I did and take the easy way out. I stamped on some of our beautiful DSP, so I didn’t have to color anything.

The pouch is made using a 6 x 6 square of So Saffron cardstock and the Envelope Punch Board. Although it’s hard to see, the pouch is randomly stamped in So Saffron with the doilies from the Dear Doily set.

The teacup and die cut doily are attached to a ribbon that slides, so that the pouch may be opened without damage, so it’s reusable.

Stamps: Tea Together, Dear Doily

Cardstock: So Saffron, Night of Navy, Whisper White

Ink: So Saffron, Night of Navy

Paper: Garden Impressions 6×6 DSP

Dies/Punches: Tea Time Framelits, Doily Builder Thinlits, 1” Circle Punch, 1/8” Circle Punch

Other: Envelope Punch Board, Night of Navy Bakers Twine, 3/8” Calypso Coral Satin Ribbon

Tea Together Cling Stamp Set
$22.00

Dear Doily Cling Stamp Set
$24.00

So Saffron 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$8.50

Night Of Navy 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$8.50

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock
$9.75

So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin’ Pad
$7.50

Garden Impressions 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
$11.00

Doily Builder Thinlits Dies
$33.00

1″ (2.5 Cm) Circle Punch
$13.00

Envelope Punch Board
$20.00

Night Of Navy Medium Baker’s Twine
$3.00

Calypso Coral 3/8″ (1 Cm) Satin Ribbon
$6.00

Tea Time Framelits Dies
$0.00

Generated by SUDSOL, Free Trial at www.sudsol.org

If you have questions about anything used in this project, please let me know in the comments below. And if you need any stamping supplies, please visit my store at the link below.