believe

So my mom loves dogwood trees. When I was a kid, we had two dogwood trees in our yard - one in front and one in back. The one in front was not doing so well. I remember pulling into our driveway and hearing my mom lament the ailing tree. One day, I decided I would help make the tree better. I carefully took some blossoms off the tree in our backyard, and taped them on the tree in our front yard. The next time we pulled into the driveway, my mom was so excited to see her tree "coming back to life". Sadly, I don't think the tree made it, but it's become a great story in our family lore.






Supplies:

• Natural Beauty stamp set (retiring June 30!)
• chocolate chip classic ink
• chocolate chip cardstock
• pretty in pink cardstock
• regal rose classic ink
• hand-stitched background stamp (retired)
• watercolor pencils
• blender pen

Here's a link to the list of stamp sets retiring this year. I have to say, I'm sad to see this one go. I'm sure there's something even better to take its place.

I just wanted to use the word BELIEVE from a stamp that has lots of words on it, so I just colored the word "believe" with marker and then stamped it.

Background stamps are so easy to use, and they make a polished effect quickly!

Placecards from Andy and Tracy's big day

Welcome table at the Mad Batter - Cape May, NJ

Supplies:

Some Like It Hot stamp set (retiring June 30!)
so saffron cardstock
vintage violet cardstock (retiring June 30!)
chocolate chip cardstock
white confetti cardstock
so saffron classic ink pad
chocolate chip classic ink pad
elegant eggplant classic ink pad
white craft ink pad

I made these placecards for my dear friends Andrea and Tracy. They had their commitment ceremony last weekend in Cape May, NJ. It was a lovely day!

I used a different card style for each table. The tables had names of Cape May landmarks. It was really neat!

Funny tidbit: My husband decided that he wants hawaiian print swim trunks after seeing how cool they look on the placecards!

Joy is not in things, it's in us.

This is a sweet card I made at a Stamp-a-Stack last summer. It reminds me of fun times on the beach as a kid.

Supplies:
Seaside Sketches stamp set (retiring June 30!)
Beyond the Basics background set
stampin' pastels
paper crimper
Versamark ink
hemp twine

The paper crimper is my new favorite tool. My friend Andrea gave me one last week. It's so fun!

Snappy Birthday

I made this cute card at Stampin' Down the Shore with fellow demonstrators Claire and Kristen.

Supplies:
Crab and Company Stamp Set - from the Spring Mini catalog
Sandy Shells wheel
chocolate chip cardstock
chocolate chip classic stamp pad
tempting turquoise cardstock
turquoise 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon
chocolate 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon
tempting turquoise marker
blender pen
confetti cream cardstock

Gabe flags

I made these flags for a newborn's nursery

Supplies:
Ballet blue cardstock
Night of Navy cardstock
On Board Simon lower letters (for tracing)
patterned paper
navy grosgrain ribbon
1/2 inch circle punch

I traced the On Board Simon letters with an exacto knife on a self-healing mat. I love this look!

I got this idea from a pricey item I saw in The Land of Nod catalog. I thought I could try making it on my own. Their letters are almost $3 each plus $3.50 for a shoelace to hang the letters on. That would be $21 for ALISON.

Celebrate!

Celebrate!

(from Tiffany's party)

Supplies:

• chocolate chip cardstock
• chocolate chip stamp pad
• orchid opulence cardstock
• orchid opulence classic stamp pad
• whisper white cardstock
• chocolate 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon

Super-Demonstrator Claire demonstrated this card a while back at a party. I love the simple design!

I've joined the blogging world!

Hello all! Over the past several years, I have really enjoyed making handmade cards and gifts for lots of friends and family. Now I've become a demonstrator of Stampin' Up products, and I'd like to share some of my work through the world of blogging. I hope you enjoy looking through the ideas. Please contact me if you have any questions about any of the cards.

(This picture was taken in Dallas on April 2nd. I finally got to see the famed Texas blue bonnets in full bloom. We were in town for my sister-in-law's wedding.)