EASTER FLOWERS...AND A QUICK UPDATE

Hi all! No, I have not forgotten you......BUT, I did injure my knee very badly and have spent the last week on a cane and now will be going in to determine if I will be needing surgery to repair the tear I seem to have in my knee that is causing me so much pain.  I am on complete "chair rest" with my knee propped up, so not much going on here in the way of stamping :-(  I seem to have had a bad run of luck lately with illness, injuries, etc. but I am hoping to be back in the swing of things very soon and to share some fun spring projects with you!  Meanwhile, I would like to share this Easter card I made recently for in a workshop with a set from the Occasions Mini called Easter Blossoms.  Very pretty set, I love it! And, I think it can be used for much more than just Easter!! I matched the beautiful stamped flowers with the Springtime Vintage Designer paper, also found in the Mini - I think this is my ultimate favorite paper EVAH!!! I go back to it again and again! I colored the image with my stampin' write markers in the same colors found in the paper - Regal Rose, Rich Razzleberry, and Old Olive.  Aren't they purdy together??  I also used the yummy Rich Razzleberry taffeta ribbon, soooooo pretty!  I kept the card pretty simple as I normally do for a workshop card BUT I do think this card is worthy, don't you??! It was fun to make, and it is now in an envie ready to be mailed :-)  If you like the products you see here, you can order them in my online store or contact me and place an order!  Thanks for hanging in with me - I am hoping to become more regular at posting again now that I have gotten everyone healthy again and now I am working on doing the same for me! Take care and have a wonderful day - and, if you can, STAMP!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White card stock, Springtime Vintage Designer Series paper
Inks - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Regal Rose stampin' write markers and stampin' pads
Stamps - Easter Blossoms
Tools - Ticket Corner punch
Accessories - Rich Razzleberry taffeta ribbon

BE BACK LATER TONIGHT!

Hi All!! Well, it has been quite the week in the Hobson household - my son brought home STREP!!! Yep, then the husband got it, then the daughter, and then, yep, ME!!!! uggghhhh!!!! Soooo, not much stamping this past week although I was very busy over the weekend! I will be back tonight when I get home to share some fun projects with you - I just wanted to let you know I have not forgotten about you all!!!! See you soon!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

A CUP OF JOE!

Here it is, Monday again - I swear the weekends go by faster and faster, lol! Mine was especially busy as I had two classes to teach and some regular home items to get done (we DO need to eat and have clean clothes, heehee) It was fun although I am not quite ready to go back to work!  And, losing an hour did not help either, lol.  But, the one thing I do look forward to each and every morning is my coffee - it is something I truly enjoy! For those of you who know me really well, you know I don't function at 100% until that first cup has hit the bloodstream :-) So, when this stamp set called Morning Cup came out in this catalog, I HAD to have it! This is a card we made in a recent stamp-a-stack - and there were definitely some coffee drinkers because this card and stamp set were a hit :-)  It's a pretty simple card to put together, but I love these bold colors together - funny, I never really used too many of our bright colors before, but with all the new ones, I find myself reaching for them a lot! The colors used here are Night of Navy and Daffodil Delight on a Whisper White base - aren't they fun together??  The fun polka dot patterned paper is actually from the Christmas paper set called Jolly Holiday, but to me, you can use this paper year round - nothing on this card says Christmas, right? *wink*  We punched the sides using the Eyelet Border punch, and then punched out the background to the sentiment out of Daffodil Delight using the Decorative Label punch from the Occasions Mini.  We stamped all over it with the same color ink using the steam stamp - isn't it cute??  Then, we layered with a piece of the Jolly Holiday punched using the Modern label punch, and finally, the sentiment was stamped on Whisper White in Early Espresso, punching that out with the Small Oval punch.  It is popped up on dimensionals, which really makes it stand out.  For the main image, we created a tag out of some Whisper White, then stamped the coffee pot, coloring it in with blender pens and ink pads.  Super fun and easy to do!  Finally, we added some Night of Navy and Early Espresso ribbon and some super fun Daffodil Delight pom pom fringe, and we were done! Super fun and easy to create, I really enjoyed sharing this one! If you are in love with the products used here (come on, you know you are!) you can order them in my online store or email me and I will put your order in for you! Remember, we are winding down the last few weeks of Sale-A-Bration where you can get free products with every $50 order you place  - you don't want to miss out when it goes away at the end of the month! Especially with all the fabulous things in the SAB catty this year - I swear, they just keep getting better and better!  So many fun products to choose from - it's hard to decide what to get, lol!  Soooo, I am now off to work, but I will be back tomorrow to share the Vintage Canvas that I taught this past weekend - I have to say, it is one of my all-time favorites and I am excited to share it with you! Until then, have a wonderful Monday and I hope you have some time to stamp today :-)
Card Recipe:
Paper- Night of Navy, Daffodil, Delight, Whisper White, Jolly Holiday designer series paper
Inks- Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler ink pads (used with blender pen)
Stamps - Morning Cup
Tools - Eyelet Border punch, Modern Label punch, Small Oval punch, Decorative Label punch, blender pen
Accessories - Pom Pom fringe, Early Espresso and Night of Navy thin grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

BLISS IS BLISS!!

Howdy all! Whew! It has been such a busy week so far, I cannot even believe it is already Thursday! I reallly like my new job though, and the people are great, which is always nice! I have gotten to stamp some too, which is always fun - I was worried that I would have less stamping time, but I think I have just gotten better at managing my time, lol! I had a wonderful workshop this week with some fun new friend so I wanted to show you a card that we made together.  We used the Sale-a-Bration set called Bliss and I have to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this set!!! It will no longer be available after the 31st of March, so if you have not gotten this one yet, you need to make sure you do - it's FREE with your $50 order - yep, I said FREE!!! Can't beat that :-)  We had such fun putting this card together! I shared the wonderful Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder using Early Espresso card stock  on a Crumb Cake  base.  Don't they look great together?!  Good enough to eat, *wink* The patterned paper is the Sweet and Sour Specialty series paper from the main catalog and is sooooo pretty! I really do like the diverse selections of patterned paper we have in this catalog - sooo much to choose from! We used the Eyelet Border punch to create the pretty borders, then added some Rose Red Seam Binding ribbon that can be found in the Occasions Mini.  Have I told you how much I love this ribbon? So easy to manipulate, I and the colors and texture are gorgeous!  The main image butterfly is stamped in Rose Red ink, then stamped over with the sentiment in Early Espresso.  After punching it out using the Designer Label punch, we ran it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder - love how it turned out! We mounted it on a Scalloped Circle of Marina Mist card stock that is stamped with the swirly stamp from the Bliss set - well, that's my name for it anyway, lol! Lastly, we added one of the gorgeous Vanilla Rosette flowers that can also be found in the Occasions Mini - you get three sizes of flowers in this fun set, and they reallly make a project pop! In the center, we added a rhinestone - every flower needs a little bling, don't you think?  The ladies loved it, and I sure enjoyed sharing it with them!  If you would like to make projects similar to this one with YOUR friends, contact me and we can set up your workshop! And, if you have to have these items right now, you can purchase them in my online store or email me your order and I will get your order in!  Now, I gotta run and get to work, but I hope you all have a wonderful day and find some time to stamp!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla card stock, Sweet and Sour Specialty paper
Inks - Marina Mist, Rose Red, Early Espresso classic inks
Stamps - Bliss from the Sale-a-Bration catalog
Tools - Extra large scallop circle punch, Exrra large designer label punch, Eyelet border punch, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots embossing folders
Accessories - Rose Red Seam binding ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, Vanilla Rosettes    
   

BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS

Hi all!!! I know, I know, I missed a few days - cut me some slack, I now work a full-time job outside my house as well as run my stamping  business so this gal is BUSY, lol!!!! I have settled into somewhat of a routine - a busy one, but a routine, lol! I stamped all weekend and worked all week so I was a little tired - took one day off to just relax and clean the house, do laundry, etc. - I guess that is not all that relaxing though, heehee!  I had a wonderful workshop this weekend, meeting all kinds of new friends and I have to say, they were just the medicine I needed after a hard week at work! We laughed, stamped, played, and laughed some more - ahhhh, I just love it!! I wanted to share one of the cards we made using the Build a Blossom stamp set(clear item 121994) from the Occasions Mini.  This is such a fun set - and what makes it even more fun is the fact that it has a coordinating Blossoms Petal punch(item 121808) to go along with it!!! Too fun!!! Sure makes punching out all these petals and leaves a snap to do - loooove that:-) We used some of our purples on this card, which is not a color I reach for very often, but I have to say, I do like how they look together on this card! The base card is Elegant Eggplant card stock(item 105126) and the petals are stamped in the same but on Perfect Plum card stock(item 101889) .  Yummy, right? The flower is actually mounted on a piece of Whisper White card stock(item 100730) that has been embossed using the Framed Tulips embossing folder(item 121809) also found in the Occasions Mini.  Soooo pretty, I love how elegant it makes your cards!  The center of the flower has a Whisper White designer button(item 119743) with some linen thread threaded through - I just can't seem to get enough of my buttons lately! Add to that some oh so yummy Old Olive Taffeta ribbon(item 119256) and you have a WOW! of a card! At least I think so, LOL! And, so did the ladies at the workshop - this card was a definite favorite!! I have to tell you, workshops are the highlight of my business - I just love introducing stamping to new people, getting to spend time with some of my favorite customers, and best of all, meeting and making new friends! I had a happy surprise at this workshop as well - I got reconnected with a woman I went to a crop with my very first month after moving here from Jacksonville! She was my table mate and we had a great time with each other even though everyone else at that crop wasn't very nice - we had a few laughs about that at the workshop too :-)  If you would like to have a fun night with a bunch of your friends making some cards or a scrappy project, give me a holler - I would love to set a workshop up with you! And, if you have fallen in love with the products you see here for this card, you can order them in my online store or email me and I will be happy to put your order in for you! Now, I have to go to my other job but I WILL be back tomorrow with another fun project I shared with my new friends! Until then, happy stampin'!!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Old Olive card stock
Inks - Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive class inks
Stamps - Build a Blossom, You're a Gem(sentiment)
Tools - Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Blossoms Petal Punch, small oval punch
Accessories - Old Olive taffeta ribbon, designer buttons, basic rhinestones, linen thread

SENDING SOME LOVE

Hi all!! This will be a quick post as I need to get to work BUT I wanted to share a card I made for a friend who is going through a hard time right now - sometimes just telling someone you care is enough to make them smile! I know that getting happy mail for me is a great pick-me-up :-)  I used one of our fabulous hostess sets called Because I Care; I can't believe how beautiful that flower is!! And, you can earn this stamp set FREE just by hosting a workshop or placing a qualifying order of your own! I kept this card fairly simple:  the base of the card is Rich Razzleberry, then I took some Whisper White and ran it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder - doesn't add a wonderful texture to this card??!I think it really makes it pop!  I then stamped the flower by coloring in the petals with the Rich Razzleberry stampin' write marker, and the leaves and stem with the Old Olive stampin' write marker - love it!!! The sentiment is stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink on Old Olive card stock and then punched out using the Designer Label punch, which is adhered using dimensionals.  For the final touches, some Old Olive taffeta ribbon and a mini pearl did the trick - just the right amount of elegance to finish it off! I hope she likes it - everyone deserves a little bit of happiness in their mailbox :-)  I have to say, it is one of the most wonderful parts of card making for me: I love to know that I can brighten someones day by something I made with my own hands!!! If you like any of the items you see here, you can order them in my online store or email me your order and I will be happy to order it for you! Also, March is the last month for Sale-a-Bration items: just a $50 order will earn you free stuff.....and, who doesn't love free??!!!  But, you need to take advantage of this now because it will be gone before you know it!!! Now, I have to get going and head out for another day of work - yesterday was a very busy and interesting day, I think I am going to like it!! But, I also love the fact that I have this wonderful job of stamping and scrapbooking, so I do look forward to coming home and playing *wink*  I will be back with something fun to share tomorrow so until then, happy stampin'!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White card stock
Inks - Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive classic inks and stampin' write markers
Stamps - Because I Care
Tools - Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Designer Label punch
Accessories - Old Olive taffeta ribbon, basic pearls

BUSY BEE....THAT'S ME :-)

Good Monday morning! At least I hope it is - I started my new job today at the bank so as you are reading this, I am learning all kinds of new things, LOL! I am back working full-time although I still do my Stampin' Up! business as well so I will be a busy bee :-)  Sooo, I have to post at night again so I hope the auto timer on google is working *giggle*  Sooo, I guess it is very appropriate that I share a card today with a bee, heehee! This is a card I made at my recent Stamp-a-Stack and I have to say, I am loving the colors! We used the Occasions Mini stamp set Nature Walk.  I just love how this set can be used for so many things, and I find myself inking this one up quite a bit! First we stamped the Marina Mist base of the card with the bees, then added some of the beautiful Botanical Designs patterned paper, also in the Mini.  This paper has such a great vintage use to it and again can be used for all kinds of things.  We scalloped the edges with the Scalloped Trim border punch, then added some yummy Early Espresso Wide striped grosgrain across the middle.  The main images are stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock, which really pairs up well with the vintage papers.  The images were actually stamped by coloring the image with stampin' write markers - I love that we can do this because it allows for you to use different colors for your images! The sentiment is stamped on Naturals Ivory card stock and is from the You're a Gem stamp set, another fave of mine from the mini! I swear this mini is chock full of stampin' goodness - I love it all!!!  We then punched it out with the small oval punch, and popped it up on dimensionals over the piece of Marina Mist that is embossed using the Square Lattice embossing folder, and then punched out with the Modern Label Punch.  Add a couple of vintage brads, and done!!! The ladies loved making this card, and oohed and aahed over the images - well, who can blame them, they ROCK *wink*  If you like the things you see here and would like to have them for your very own, shop in my online store or email me your order and I will be happy to send it in for you! Don't forget:  right now it's Sale-a-Bration, which means FREE stamps and things for you with every $50 order - and we ALL love FREE, LOL!  I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your week! I will be back tomorrow with another SAS card to share, but until then, happy stampin'!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Marine Mist, Naturals, Ivory, Early Espresso card stock, Botanical Designs patterned paper
Inks - Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, So Saffron stampin' write markers and classic stamp pads
Stamps - You're A Gem, Nature Walk
Tools - Scalloped Trim border punch, Scallop Square Big Shot die, Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Modern Label punch, Small Oval punch
Accessories - Early Espresso wide striped grosgrain ribbon, Vintage brads