Monday, June 25, 2018

Life at the Beach

Hello from the Oregon coast!

I apologize for not having a card to show you today, but we've been having fun at the beach with our Seattle daughter Amy and her family.  As most of you already know, her husband Eli will be teaching at the University of Cincinnati in the fall and they are moving mid -July.  This trip to meet up with them at Olivia Beach is our last chance to see them before the big move.

Here's a photo of this very cute neighborhood...



We soaked up some sun at the pool



and spent some time at the beach.

And of course no trip to the Oregon coast is complete without clam chowder at Mo's



Today we'll be heading back to California and they'll be on their way home to Seattle for a couple of weeks of organizing, sorting, donating, and packing before the moving van arrives.  We are sorry to see them go, but happy for the new opportunities that await them in Cincinnati.

May the week ahead be a good one for all of you!
Hugs to all,
Susan


Monday, June 18, 2018

Lovely Lilypad Lake

Hello stampers!

How was your weekend?  I hope it was relaxing , even if it was less than ideal weather.  I was a bit jealous when I heard that you had some thunderstorms on Sunday.  We don't get too many of those down here in California and I've always enjoyed the flashes of lightening and the boom of thunder. 

I've got a really beautiful card to show you today, thanks to my downline Janet Jones.  She used the new Lilypad Lake stamp set on page 133 to make this lovely card.  




Isn't this a great card?  Now I think I need to order this set, as well as the matching framelits.  Janet used the matching framelits to create the water, as well as to cut out the egret and the lily pad.  The base of the card is Mint Macaron. The white panel that forms the front of the card was die-cut to create the illusion of water, then layered over the card base.  The bird and flowers were stamped on watercolor paper with Memento ink, then colored with the new Stampin' Blends alcohol markers. The sentiment comes with the set.  That's the new 1/4 inch Velvet Ribbon in Rich Razzleberry (p. 201 of the new catalog). I love sets that have both images and sentiments!  That way you've got coordinating images and words, which makes a stamper's life so much easier! Thanks again, Janet, for letting me show off this gorgeous card.

I'm going to cut this short as I have a to-do list as long as both arms!  We are only supposed to reach the upper 80's today. I checked the Portland forecast and it looks like you've got a nice warm and sunny week ahead, which I'm sure you'll welcome.  Break out the popsicles and lemonade and soak up some sun!  May the week ahead be a good one for all!
Hugs and happy stamping!
Susan

Monday, June 11, 2018

Half Way Home

Hello Stamping Friends!

We are in Medford OR tonight (Sunday night) and on Monday we'll make the final leg of the trip home to Woodland.  Monday's forecast for Woodland shows a high of 95, with 102 on Tuesday and 101 on Wednesday.  I guess summer has really hit!  We are very thankful for a well-insulated home, ceiling fans, and air-conditioning!  

Thank you to all who attended my annual garage sale yesterday and picked up their new catalog!  It sure was fun to see so many friendly faces!  I wish we'd had more time to reconnect and chat!

I'm so happy to report that the sale was a tremendous success.  I'm going home with just a few stamp sets, and that's a very good thing.  I felt sad about selling some of those sets, but they have to go to make room for new things.  I think I have about ten sheets of DSP left.  All of the other paper is long gone!  The ribbon and all of the stamp sets and refills are gone as well.  Our car is considerably lighter!

When the weather is hot, hot, hot, nothing is more refreshing than a cold bubbly drink!  In the spirit of summer, I've got some cards for you that will quench your thirst.  This set is perfect for men who enjoy a cold brew or for kids who love soda.  It is a carry-over set called Bubble Over and you can find it on page 57 of the new catalog.  The matching Framelit dies are on page 216.

I hope the following photos, taken at the November OnStage event in Salt Lake City, will inspire you to add this versatile set to your stamp collection.

  

Why not pour yourself a bubbly soda and sit down, put your feet up, and enjoy looking at your new catalog?  
Hugs to all,
Susan



Monday, June 4, 2018

Love What you Do!

Howdy, stampers!

I'm busy getting all my ducks in a row for our trip north to Oregon for my annual garage sale and new catalog kick-off.  I'm so looking forward to reconnecting with many of you at my sale!

I've got a pretty card for you today, inspired by a card posted by my upline, Barbara Brimhall.  I used the new Love What You Do stamp set, # 148042, page 177 of the new catalog.  This new favorite of mine is just about equally divided between images and sentiments.  I love the font used for the sentiments.  It is both bold and curvy and some sentiments are a nice mix of print and script.  




The card base is Whisper White, topped with a panel of Powder Pink that has been embossed with the Layered Leaves embossing folder, #143704, $9.00.  I stamped the flowers and sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, #132708, $6.00.  Then I colored the flowers with the Blends alcohol markers in Light and Dark Pink Pirouette and Light Rich Razzleberry. (see page 205 of the new catalog for all of the ordering info for the Stampin' Blends markers).  The leaves are stamped in Old Olive. The stamped panel is set off with a mat of Rich Razzleberry card stock.

The new Rich Razzleberry 1/4 inch Velvet Ribbon, (#147016, $8.00) adds just the right finishing touch to this quick, easy and beautiful card. Thank you, Barbara, for the inspiration!

Thanks for taking time out of your busy week to read my blog.  I do appreciate you!  May the week ahead be a good one for you with only happy surprises along the way.  If you have a minute, get out a card you've made and send it along to a friend.  I guarantee that you will improve someone's day, week, or month when you reach out with a hand-stamped card!  

Hugs to all,
Susan