I finally broke down and purchased the Blossom Petals Punch and the coordinating Build a Blossom stamp set. I had thought I had plenty of floral stamp sets in my stash but this set and punch grew on me as I saw all the wonderful cards that have been created with it. I combined just one of the petal and leaf shapes to make the flower. Notice the three little Daffodil Delight pompoms in the center of the flower? What would be more appropriate than bees hovering around such a sweet smelling flower so I used the bee designed sheet of Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper for the background.

A card must have a greeting…right? So I used the frame from Baby Blossoms stamp set and one of the greetings from the Thanks for Caring stamp set. All these items are found in the Occasions mini catalog. If you don't have one and don't have a close-by demonstrator, shoot me an email with your snail mail address. I'll happily send you one for FREE!  Click on the product links to order from my online store any of these products you need to make this card.

Stamp Sets: Build a Blossom (121923, wood) (121994, clear)
        Baby Blossoms (121927, wood) (122000, clear)
        Thanks for Caring (121901, wood) (121961, clear)

Paper: Daffodil Delight Card Stock (119683)
        Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
        Pear Pizzazz Card Stock (119795)
        Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (121783)

Ink: Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pad (103008)
        VersaMark Pad (102283)

Other: Blossom Petals Extra-Large Punch (121808)
        Daffodil Delight Pompom Trim (121885)
        Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119254)

Thanks for coming by to visit today. Did you take time to brouse my blog and have a virtual latte or mocha with me today?

Happy Stamping,
Sue
sue@soggystamper.com

Our assignment for Utah Divas International MDS Monday was to use punches on our cards. This was a fun challenge. I used the scallop square punch and stretched it to make a rectangle. However had I stretched it as tall as my card, the side scallops would have been much bigger than the end ones. What I did was to copy the first stretched scallop square and then paste it over itself matching up the scallops. Then I filled them both with a designer series paper that had a pattern that would blend fairly well.

I used two square punches stretched to make rectangles and filled one with Pear Pizzazz color, the other with Very Vanilla. The butterflies are resized butterfly punches filled with Very Vanilla. Basic rhinestones add sparkle to the butterflies.

If you don't already have a demonstrator and would like to order these MDS downloads, just click on the item numbers to order them through my online store.

Stamp Bush Set: Hugs and Wishes (119095)

Background Paper: Blushing Bride Stripes 2010 In Color Patterns DSP
        Lap of Luxury-2 Designer Series Paper (123992)

Punches: Scallop Square and Basic Square found in Punch Shapes (118853)
        Beautiful Butterfly Shape 1 (124412)

Other: Basic Pearls and Rhinestones (124330)

Thanks for coming by to visit today. If you like this project, please leave a comment and also click on the FaceBook like button.

Happy Stamping,
Sue
sue@soggystamper.com

This is the card my Getting Punchy Bunch class made today using the Embedded Embossing technique.  It features the Heart To Heart Extra-Large punch and the Square Lattice Embossing folder. I printed the saying with a digital download to My Digital Studio. Click on the links below to order any product you need to create this card for yourself.

If you missed this class, Be sure to sign up right now for the next one which will be March 27th. We will be using our heart punches to create hydrangeas and lilacs. The class fee is $15.

Wow, do the days roll by so quickly! Last Monday I was looking at the week ahead and here it is Saturday already! One of our granddaughter's has a birthday on the 7th so I used the Stamping 411 sketch to create this card for her. I really, really, really like this card!

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Paper: Melon Mambo Card Stock (115320)
        Baja Breeze Card Stock (111352)
        Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
        Sweet Stitches Designer Series Paper (121781)

Ink: Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad (109014)

Other: Jewels Basic Pearl (119247)
        Antique Brads (117273)
        Melon Mambe Pompom Trim (123322)
        Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon (122331)
        Sizzix Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die (114507)
        2 1/2" Circle Extra-Large Punch (120906)

Thanks for coming by to visit today. I hope you took time to browse my blog and enjoy a virtual cup of tea or coffee with me.

Happy Stamping,
Sue
sue@soggystamper.com

Then here is a lucky four-leaf clover for you! I just downloaded this Go Green Stamp Brush Set and wanted to play with it. The four-leaf clover is made from four Tall Heart Punches filled with Garden Green color. I used the stem from Cheep Talk Stamp Brush Set and removed the leaves and bottom portion of the stem by covering them with square punches filled with the Garden Green Stripes Designer Series Paper that I used for the background. Check out My Digital Studio. The possibilities for digitally expressing your creativity are almost limitless with this software. If you already have a favorite digital image manipulation program, you can just download the digital files in My Digital Studio. You have a huge selection that are exclusively Stampin' Up! designs and coordinate perfectly with the products offered in Stampin' Up!'s catalogs and brochures. Once you see the possibilities, I know you will want to order your own copy of My Digital Studio!

Thanks for coming by to visit me today. I look forward to you coming back again.

Happy Stamping,
Sue
sue@soggystamper.com

Stamp Brush Set: Go Green (124557)
        Cheep Talk (118834)

Punches: Square Punch (part of punch shapes, 118853)
        Tall Heart Punch (part of punch shapes, 118853)

Paper: Garden Green Stripes Designer Series Paper (118862)

Other: Gold Brads (122166)

Yesterday, I shared a card I created to meet several challenges. One of those challenges was to use a stamp set that hadn't seen ink in over 6 months. This set I am featuring today is one that has been around for a long time but is still as fresh and useful as when it first came out. Fun & Fast Notes is a set of 8 stamps with coordinated sayings included on the stamp. When I mounted my set, I cut the sayings off the stamp and mounted them on the ends of the blocks so I could use them separately. This set has a stamp for a variety of occasions and is indeed fun and fast. Check out all the images then click here to place your order.

Thanks for coming by to visit today. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, do so on the form on the right. Tuesday the March edition of The Soggy Stamper Newsletter comes out and you won't want to miss it!

Happy Stamping,
Sue

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes (113500)
        Just Believe (116948, wood) (120453, clear)

Ink: Basic Black Craft Stampin' Pad (102192)
        Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker (119801 for set of 5 In Color Markers)
        Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker (119677)
        Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker (100080)
        Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker (105115)

Paper: Crumb Cake Card Stock (120953)
        Pear Pizazz Card Stock (119795)
        Tempting Turquoise Card Stock (102067)
        Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
        Play Date Designer Series Paper (117168)

Other: 2 1/2" Circle Extra-Large Punch (120906)
        2 3/8" Scallop Circle Extra-Large Punch (118874)
        Daffodil Delight Pompom Trim (121885)

Welcome to Stamping 411 Saturday. Each Saturday I share with you the sketch the Stamping 411 operators have developed and my version of the sketch. This week also meets my stamping coaching group challenge to use a current stamp set that hasn't seen use in months. I chose to use Sense of Time. I haven't used it even once since I bought it last summer…oh no! I also incorporated a new Technique Junkies Newsletter technique, Curled Corners (Feb/March 2011). I hope you like this card I made just for you. I love feedback so leave a comment with your thoughts.

Happy Stamping,
Sue
sue@soggystamper.com

Stamp Sets: Sense of Time (113804)
        Fresh Cuts (111634)

Ink: Early Espresso Classic Ink Pad (119670)
        Crumb Cake Classic Ink Pad (121030)

Paper: Very Vanilla card stock (101650)
        Baja Breeze card stock (111352)
        Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper (117163)

Other: Distressing Tool from Cutter Kit (106958)
        Marina Mist 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119965)
        Linen Thread (104199)          

Well, it is still Saturday. I started this card this morning and then I got the phone call. The call told me that a water pipe in our church had broken and the church was 2 inches deep in water! I, along with a few other people spent the rest of the morning pulling up sopped carpet and floor tiles, and wet vacuuming up all the water standing on the subfloor. What a mess! Fortunately it was discovered this morning and not tomorrow morning just before Sunday School. Fortunately also it was discovered before the water ran into the sanctuary and soaked that carpet.

 I finally got back to making this card tonight. I just received this Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and the Pacific Point card stock this afternoon so incorporated them into my design. I am more of a pastels person but do love the Pacific Point color. I used the birthday cake and candle stamps from the Slice of Live Level 1 Hostess set from the Occasions mini catalog.

 In the middle of typing this blog post, our power went out. What a day! I am participating in a post-a-day contest and sure hope the power comes back on soon. Fortunately, my lap-top computer is all charged up so I can still type but our internet connection is out . (The power did come back on at 10:15 pm so I got lucky!)

 Thanks for visiting today. I hope you enjoyed a virtual cup of coffee or tea with me while you were here. Leave a comment as to what your favorite flavor of tea or coffee is. My choice is non-fat, decaf mochas with almond or mint or toffee syrups. Yeah, I know…why bother if I am drinking non-fat and decaf. LOL!

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp set: Slice of Life (121895, wood) (121952, clear) Level 1 Hostess Set
            On Your Birthday (111664)

Ink: Pacific Point Classic Stamp Pad (111837)
            Pacific Point Stampin’ Write Marker (120968)
            Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write Marker (121074)
            Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Write Marker (119677)
            Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Write Marker (105115)

Card Stock: Pacific Point (111350)
            Daffodil Delight (119683)
            Whisper White (100730)

Other: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275)
            Daffodil Delight Pompom Trim (121885)

If you have been following my blog for long, you would know that I enjoy playing along with the operators at Stamping 411 in their weekend sketch challenges. Here is my sample for this week. The colors that ended up in this card were determined from the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper I wanted to use. I normally would not have chosen these colors but I love the end result. The only stamping on this card is the sentiment which comes from the Great Friend stamp set.

Thanks for coming to visit today. I wish I could offer you a virtual cup of coffee or tea and sit awhile with you. Leave a comment so we can at least chat.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp Set: Great Friend

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla and Early Espresso Card Stock
       Botannical Gazette Designer Series Paper

Other: Cherry Cobbler 1/2" seam binding

I was thinking today about what drew me to rubber stamping in the first place. I remember back many years ago when my daughters were young noticing a small section of rubber stamps in a local store. The owner of the store showed me how to use embossing powder. I was mesmerized and, still am, by the crystals melting and changing into this smooth raised surface.I bought two stamps, a couple of ink pads and some embossing powder and went home to be mesmerized. Back then we didn't have heat tools so I tried melting the embossing powder over an iron. That didn't work too well. Then I tried using a hair dryer. Well you know what happens then….embossing powder everywhere but where you want it! Finally I resorted to melting it over the burner of our electric cook stove. That did work if you were careful not to scorch the paper. Heat embossing is still my most favorite technique. I heat embossed the greeting and image on this card with a mixture of Iridescent Ice and White embossing powder. Visit my online store to purchase the supplies to make this card. If you try heat embossing be sure to use an Embossing Buddy to reduce static so the embossing powder sticks only to the ink.

Now it is your turn. Leave a comment telling us what first drew you to stamping. Thanks for visiting today and do come again soon.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamp Set: Thanks for Caring (121901, wood) (121961, clear)

Card Stock: Melon Mambo (115320)
            Whisper White (100730)

Ink: Versamark (102283)

Other: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930)
        White Embossing Powder (109132)
        Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (119256)
        Scallop Trim Corner Punch (118870)
        Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809)

This is one of the cards we made last night at Kathy Kelly's workshop. I used some of the new products from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I really love the elegance of the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder that Stampin' Up! offers this Spring. I also am in love with the Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper. Here in SE Alaska, the days are mostly stormy with lots of rain and wind. This card with its soft colors brings a bit of hope that Spring will surely come again. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please leave me a comment so I know you have been to visit. I hope you will come again soon.

Happy Stamping,

Sue

Stamps: God's Blessings (114972)

Paper: Very Vanilla card stock (101650)
    Baja Breeze card stock (111352)
    Springtime Vintace Designer Series Paper (121782)

Other: Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809)
    Victoria Crochet Trim (118481)
    Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon (121000)

The year 2010 is on its last legs…err last day! Do you have your 2011 calendars ready for the new year? Here is a hybrid one I created using My Digital Studio and hands-on crafting. I wanted to use the Botannical Gazette Designer Series Paper which I have pre-ordered but which didn't arrive before we left town for Christmas. Fortunately, I did purchase the digital version of it for My Digital Studio so printed out the desired section of the sheet that has the bird cages on it. I purchased the mini calendars from Vippies. They are very reasonable and a great time saver over downloading and printing out a calendar then cutting the pages out.The card is a tent card so it will stand on a desk.

Paper: Early Espresso (119686)
           Marina Mist (119682)
           Cherry Cobbler (119685)
           Botannical Gazette Designer Series Paper (121783) – available for purchase Jan 4

Other: Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder (116824)
           Mini 2011 calendar purchased elsewhere

Your chance to place orders for items in the Holiday mini catalog is also running out. January 3rd is the last day. You know there are items and stamps that you have been debating purchasing. Don't take the chance that they will be in the new big catalog next July! Order them now and don't be regretting that they will be retired for good. Below is a list of the items that will carry over this spring.

2010-2011 Holiday Mini Carryover Items

As always, I loved having you stop by. Do leave a comment so I know you were here. Have a safe New Year's Eve celebration and a prosperous New Year!

Sue

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day surrounded by family with lots of laughter and love. Please do take some time to consider all the blessings we enjoy here in the United States and to give God thanks for them. One stamp in the Grateful Greetings stamp set by Stampin' Up! says it so eloquently:

The truest measure of

our thanksgiving

is how we use the blessings

for which we give thanks.

So after you have counted and given thanks for your blessings, consider how you will use those blessings to bless others. I bought that stamp set just for that one saying. If you would like to have that saying as well or the other materials I used for the card, please visit my online store or email me.

Happy Holiday Stamping,

Sue

Stamp Sets: Grateful Greetings (116511)
      Paisley Prints (120817 wood)(121121 clear)

Card Stock: Cajun Craze (119684)
      Basic Black (121045)
      Crumb Cake (120953)
      Whisper White (100730)

Inks: Early Espresso (119670)
      Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker (105115)
      Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker (100079)
      Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Marker (119678)
      More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker (100076)

Other: Raven 1/2" Lace Trim (120988)
      Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
      Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976)