Hi Stampers,

We're on stormwatch here in Chicagoland - rare this winter but the snow is coming (or so the weatherman says).

I'm sharing one of the cards we made at my stamp camp last Sunday - the theme for the stamp camp was the Mini Catalog and this is one of the single stamps available called Just Thinking.  The colors here are Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.  I stamped the image and used the Window Frames collection Framelits to cut both the stamped image and the Midnight Muse piece behind it in graduated sizes.  Then I used the Festive Paper Piercing pack and the paper piercer around the Midnight Muse piece.  Both the framelits and the paper piercing pack are carryover items from the Holiday mini which means they are still available.  I finished the card with a piece of DSP from Comfort Cafe and a piece of Cherry Cobbler run through the Big Shot Square Lattice embossing folder as well as a piece of the new Natural 7/16" trim from the Spring Mini.  This card is perfect for sending to a friend "just because".

Join me for my next event on March 16 - check my Stampin' Up Website for details.

Keep Stamping,

Saying Thanks!

Hi Stampers,

Hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend! I was reminded by a post from a friend of mine whose son is a Marine serving in Afghanist
an right now what we're really celebrating this weekend and that is to thank our brave servicemen and women around the world and especially those who have given their lives so we can live our lives in freedom (Thanks Dee for that reminder).

With that in mind, I created the card I'm sharing with you using one of my favorite techniques - Inlaid Embossing. The colors for this card are Night of Navy, Whisper White, Real Red and Silver Metallic. The card base is Silver and then I used the Big Shot Stars #2 die to cut out the stars in Red and White. Then I attached them to a piece of Night of Navy cardstock and used the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing folder and actually made it Inlaid Debossing by turning the single "So Many Thanks" stamp. I used another favorite technique for this stamp. I inked up the whole stamp in Night of Navy and then used a cotton swab to take the Navy ink off the parts of the stamp I wanted Real Red and then colored them with the Real Red marker. Such an easy way to get two colors on a stamp.

So Thanks to all those who are serving or have served our country in the military! Hope everyone enjoys the holiday weekend!

Keep Stamping,