A Spring Fling Kind of Weekend

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend. Mine was crazy-busy, but so much fun! I held my Spring Fling Creative Escape on Saturday...14 straight hours of crafting, yummy food, special treats, great friends and TONS of fun. It made for some rather long days for me, but it was all soooo worth it. I thought I'd share the six make-n-takes my guests did at the retreat. My goal was to put everyone in a spring-y frame of mind...

Tranquil Tulips host set (everyone got one of this set in their swag bags) stamped on Colour Theory DSP, matted on Smokey Slate card stock and mounted on a Tutti Frutti card base. A little softness added with a delicate doily and some Smokey Slate gingham ribbon.

A Good Day stamp set, stamped in Basic Gray ink and colour with a Daffodil Delight marker. Clouds and rainbow die-cut using the Rainbow Builder Framelits. I added Wink of Stella to the clouds, but it isn't visible in the photo. Again, this card is mounted on a Tutti Frutti card base.

Eclectic Expression Sale-a-bration stamp set (my new fav!) stamped in Dapper Denim, Lemon Lime Twist, Emerald Envy, Sahara Sand and silver metallic. I am LOVING this colour combo...perfect for masculine cards!

Perennial Birthday stamp set, stamped in Night of Navy, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Delight and Berry Burst ink. Embellishments include glitter enamel dots and Berry Burst metallic ribbon. Built on a Tutti Frutti card base.

Tranquil Tulips stamp set stamped in Calypso Coral, Flirty Flamingo, Daffodil Delight and Lemon Lime Twist ink. Sentiment is from One Big Meaning and is stamped in Smokey Slate ink. Embellishments include Lemon Lime Twist striped ribbon and some Tutti Frutti sequins. Built on a Tutti Frutti card base. (Can you tell I LOVE those??)

Easter treat holder using the Tiny Treat Boxes. Bunny is a belly band that slides off to access the goodies. Face is stamped with the Foxy Friends stamp set and sentiment is from Sweet Little Something.

Everyone got to make one of each make-n-take throughout the day whenever they needed a break from their own projects. I love making my events special with a theme and coordinating decor. Here are some photos of the day...

My guests alway appreciate it when I bring along some inspiration for them.

I forgot how much fun it is to make cute banners...it's been a while! I used the Large Letters Framelits for the words and the Tranquil Tulips stamp set for the images.

Looks like spring inside...even if it's FREEZING outdoors!

Everyone had a whole table to themselves complete with a pot of spring flowers, personalized name plaque, welcome swag bag and sweet treats.

Lots of door prizes were up for grabs...including a Stamparatus! Congratulations to Rita Dion for winning that one!

No crafty retreat is complete without a candy buffet and well-stocked fridge full of beverages.

Cathy, Karen and Tanya getting settled in for the day.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE spring flowers. This photo just makes me happy :)

Of course, we also needed to eat! Our caterer was simply awesome and the food was out-of-this world delish. Here are some pics... but don't look if you're hungry! We had both lunch (shown below) and dinner provided and it was all YUMM-O!!

Lunch buffet included sandwiches, wraps, cheese and crackers, salad, veggies, fruit, the BEST soup I have EVER eaten in my life, and yummy brownies and cookies for dessert.

Lol...I forgot to take a picture of the dinner buffet....I was too distracted by dessert! Buttered Almond and Salted Caramel cupcakes...

...and the BEST buttertarts EVER!

As you can see, we didn't exactly starve ;) Everyone had a great day and it made me so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves and taking time just for them. I truly LOVE what I do!

If you'd like to join me for my Fall Fling Stamp 'n' Scrap Retreat Weekend, be sure to click the tab at the top of the page. For now, have a great week!

Dapper Monday

Well, that week of holidays sure flew by! I think I need a vacation to recover!! I've been putting in 12-hour days in my studio prepping for my upcoming events...going back to school will be a break!

Today I thought I'd share a quick and easy card I designed using the True Gentleman Suite. Check it out...

The gorgeous patterns in the True Gentleman DSP pack really do all of the heavy lifting on this card. I used two different patterns and love the way they coordinate. I built my card on a Chocolate Chip card stock base...a colour I don't reach for very often! The focal image is stamped in Night of Navy on Very Vanilla card stock and die-cut using the Stitched Shapes framelits. I layered it on a copper foil circle cut with the same die set. The only embellishment is some of that yummy navy corduroy trim which adds just the right touch of texture and a little sophistication.

On the inside I added a Very Vanilla card stock panel on which I stamped a sentiment from the Truly Tailored stamp set in Night of Navy ink, as well as a little bow tie to tie it in with the front of the card (pun intended ) ;)

Sometimes it's fun to create quick and easy projects and Stampin' Up!'s amazing coordination makes it a snap!



Product List

Truly Tailored Clear-Mount Stamp Set [145735] $26.00	Chocolate Chip 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102128] $10.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650] $11.25	True Gentleman Designer Series Paper [145593] $14.50
Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $5.25	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [126970] $8.50	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $40.00
Night Of Navy 3/8" (1 Cm) Corduroy Ribbon [145597] $10.75

Iced Blooms and A Blog Hop

Well, we're officially half-way through March! I can't believe how fast this month is flying by. Of course, it helps that I'm off on March Break right now ;)

Before I get into today's project, I have some exciting news! For the final two weeks of Sale-a-bration even MORE new items have been added to the offering. This third release includes some of the most popular items from the current Occaions Catalogue...except you can earn them FREE with a $60 order! Check out all of the available items by clicking the image below:

 It's not too late to take advantage of these amazing offers. Those dies are simply...well...to DIE for and you can earn them free with a $120 order! What a deal!

Today my Stamping Symphony team is hosting our montly blog hop. This month we're all about heat embossing. This is the technique that sold me on stamping all those years ago. There's something positively magical about watching that powder melt! This theme gave me the chance to use a new technique I've been dying to try. It's called Black Ice and, boy, does it ever create a WOW! Check this out...

Now, I have to say, the picture doesn't do this card justice. It truly is stunning! And SO easy to do! I used Champagne foil and dragged my Archival Black ink pad lightly across it to create faint streaks. Then I stamped the flower image from the Heartfelt Blooms stamp set in the same ink. (Note that this technique requires the archival ink...classic ink won't stick to the foil.) Then I heat set the ink with the drying setting on my heat tool. Once it was set, I VERY lightly dragged my Versamark pad across the foil sheet. You don't want to lay down too much ink or you'll lose the ice effect. I heat embossed with clear embossing powder and that's it! So easy yet stunning!  Here's a closer look...

To assemble the rest of the card I embossed a piece of Basic Gray card stock with the Garden Trellis TIEF and mounted it on a Basic Gray card stock base. I matted the stamped panel on black, added some Basic Gray shimmer SAB ribbon and adhered it to the card base. The sentimetn is stamped in Basic Black ink and die cut using the Layering Ovals Framelits. I added a little silver metallic doily peeking our under the sentiment.

On the inside I stamped the floral image again on a piece of Whisper White card stock using Basic Black ink. So simple, yet such a wow!

Ready for more heat embossed inspiration? Hop on over to Sandy's blog and be sure to tell her I sent you ;)

1. Leena (You are here)
2. Sandy
3. Barb
4. Jennifer
5. Steph

Product List

Heartfelt Blooms Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147202] $0.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $10.00
Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $10.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $5.25	Heat Tool [129053] $40.00
Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder [109130] $6.75	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Garden Trellis Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143741] $10.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $46.00
3/8" (1 Cm) Shimmer Ribbon Pack [147243] $0.00	Metallic Foil Doilies [138392] $5.25

Celebrating Rocker Girls

Happy Monday! Today truly is a happy Monday, as I am enjoying my first day of March Break. It is sooo nice to be home and working away in my studio. I have LOTS to do to prepare for my upcoming retreat next weekend, not to mention planning for upcoming classes and team events.

Today, I wanted to send a gentle reminder that Sale-a-bration is ending soon! There's not much time left to earn all of those fabulous freebies! Check out this cute project I made using the Epic Celebrations and Amazing You stamp sets...

I really wanted to create a card for a tween/teen girl. As a girl who plays the guitar, I got tired of seeing so many masculine cards using this set and decided it was high time for a fun girlie card. I went with lots of bling and pops of pink. I used some Petal Passion DSP for the background and then added a bit of Myths and Magic Washi tape. I punched the Melon Mambo card stock strip with the Triple Banner punch and then stamped the sentiment from the Epic Celebrations set in Basic Black, aslo adding some texture with the spatter image in Melon Mambo ink.

I stamped the guitar in Basic Black ink, stamped off once for a pale gray shade. The Celebrate image is from the Amazing You stamp set (which is also a soon-to-disappear-forever SAB freebie) and is stamped in Melon Mambo ink. I die-cut the work YOU using the Celebrate You Thinlits (another SAB freebie!) from Basic Black card stock and brushed it with Wink of Stella for gorgeous shimmer. I layered the stamped circle on Basic Black and silver glimmer circles, all cut with the Layering Circles Framelits.

On the inside I added a Whisper White card stock layer on which I stamped the guitar in stamped-off Basic Black as well as the spatter in stamped-off Melon Mambo. The sentiment, also from the Epic Celebrations set, is in full-strength Basic Black ink.

I have to say that the Epic Celebrations and Amazing You stamp sets are likely my most-used SAB sets this year...they are just awesome! If you haven't gotten your hand on them yet, what are you waiting for?!? Time is running out!

Product List

Epic Celebrations Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147236] $0.00	Amazing You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147215] $0.00	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad [126948] $8.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115320] $10.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $10.00	Silver Glimmer Paper [135314] $6.75
Petal Passion Designer Series Paper [145589] $14.50	Myths & Magic Specialty Washi Tape [145602] $8.00	Big Shot [143263] $136.00	Celebrate You Thinlit Dies [146840] $0.00
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $40.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $46.00	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $30.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $10.75
Black Mini Sequin Trim [144259] $8.00