Retired BNF Friday #25

It feels like we never got any real winter weather here in Northern California this year at all. We are definitely overdue for rain and the news keep warning us of drought and possible water rationing. There was a little bit of rain, more like drizzle a couple of days ago...but not much in the form of precipitation. Let's just say my car did not even feel it. I think I need to wash my car because in the past, as soon as I wash it it'd rain big time. Oh well.

I don't want to end January without a Retired BNF card to share with you, so here it is. I really miss this stamp set called Tea Shoppe. I have a Stamping Event tomorrow, so I am just stopping by to post and then go back to getting ready for my event.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Tea Shoppe
Paper: Card stocks in Real Red, Basic Black and Whisper White, Glimmer paper in Red (121790)
Ink: Classic Stampin' pad in Real Red
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378), punches in Decorative Label (120907), Extra Large Oval (119859) and Small Heart (117193), Scalloped Dots ribbons in Basic Black (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

Well, that's all for now. Thank you for stopping by. On to a new month.

Vivid Vases

I have been doing a lot of water coloring lately with most of my projects. I get this way, especially when I am under a lot of stress. It is a known fact that paper crafting calms me down, but any form of coloring be it with watercolor, crayons, markers or color pencils bring me a different level of release and peace. I am no artist, I can't draw to save my life, so this will have to do. The new Celebrate the Every Day catalog have many amazing products and stamp sets and this single wooden stamp Vivid Vases is one of them.

I used a sponge dauber and Summer Starfruit ink pad to color the Organza ribbon

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Vivid Vases (133818)
Paper: Card stocks in Real Red and Summer Starfruit, Watercolor paper (122959)
Ink: Black Stazon ink pad (101406), Classic Stampin' pads in Real Red, Old Olive and Summer Starfruit
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (13439), Top Note Bigz Die (113463), Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing folder (132971), Sponge Daubers (102892), Aqua Painters (103954), 5/8" Whisper White Organza ribbon (114319), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Well, that's all for now. Thank you for stopping by.

Serene Silhouettes

I almost lost my mind looking for this card all over my blog, then I realized that I have not posted it. Duh! I made it a few months ago and I am so in-love with the versatility of its color combo and layout that I changed the sentiment to "thank you" and sent it out to people after the holidays. I confess that lately I have been sort of blank. My creative juices are simply depleted. I had my monthly Stamping Event this past Saturday and I kid you not I designed at least six cards prior to that I ended up not using for the class, because I was not happy with the results. They were simply not good enough for me. Why is it that I am always my worst critic?

Card Recipe

Stamp Set(s): Serene Silhouettes (Wood 132073 Clear 127324), Always in my Thoughts (retired)
Paper: Card stocks in Cherry Cobbler Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White
Ink: Classic Stampin' pad in Cherry Cobbler, Stampin' Write markers in Cherry Cobbler and Lucky Limeade
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Fancy Fan Embossing Folder (127751), 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler (120992), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Oh well, this coming week at the office is going to be brutal - because it will be the first full work week after the holidays. It was very nice to start the week on a Thursday and then Friday...then the weekend. Oh well, that's all for now. Thank you for stopping by. I have new projects to share from the 2014 Occasions catalog, but my photographer aka daughter has been so preoccupied with whatever twelve year old girls do. Haha.

New Year 2014

Happy New Year, everyone! I would like to stop by and share this simple, yet very stunning card. It is with my favorite stamp set, Lovely as a Tree. It was the reason I could not wait to sign-up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator eight years ago. So many catalogs have come and gone, yet Lovely as a Tree is still my go-to stamp when I need a masculine, sympathy, Christmas, winter or Thinking of you cards. It's a classic and I believe that every paper crafter/ card maker must have this set in their collection.

Well, farewell to 2013. I started 2014 cleaning my fridge. This has been sort of an annual tradition for me and the sad part is that, I don't hate doing it. I was not too surprised to find two jars of expired salsa (probably my son's), a bunch of expired condiments and salad dressings and packets of ketchup. It shocked me that there was an almost full jar of Martini Olives in Vermouth that expired in 2011. What a waste! And six (6) unopened bars of Plugra butter that were hidden all over the fridge. It was probably a result of one of my obsessions. Oh well, here's to a brand new year and a clean fridge! Haha.

Card Recipe

Stamp Set: Lovely as a Tree (W 128655 C 127793)
Paper: Card stocks in Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White and Brushed Silver (100712)
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink (101731), Black Stazon Ink Pad (101406), Classic Stampin' pads in Pool Party and Night of Navy.
Tools & Accessories:  Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (113439), Apothecary Accents Frame Lits (127003), Snowflake punch (retired), sponge daubers (102892), Heat Tool (129053), Versamark pad (102283), Heat & Stick powder (100625), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter (102023), Rhinestone brads (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

That's all for now. Happy New Year and thank you for stopping by.