Fresh Squeezed Stamps: A Shopping Celebration

It's my day to post over at the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog.  I was pondering what to do for this post about the same time as I was pondering a birthday card to go with an Amazon gift card.  I remembered the shopping cart stamp in Fresh Squeezed's Breath of Fresh Flair set.  I love coordinating my greeting cards with gift cards - and this was a perfect match!


I know this is a slightly different photo angle for me.  I discovered that it is very hard to get a picture without strange reflections on the gift card!!
I cut the gift card pocket and then added an edging with Background Check.  This simple diagonal striped border is one of my basic go-to stamps.  It's also very nice down the side of a card with a bit of twine - like I did on my very first post for Fresh Squeezed Stamps.  I love that I can create a fresh and open border in any ink color that I like.  The sentiment comes from You Said It, Sister.
Next week is a fun week over at Fresh Squeezed Stamps - a spring cleaning event!  Be sure to watch their blog for details and I'll be back on Tuesday with a little peek!

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps Breath of Fresh Flair, Background Check, You Said It Sister
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise, Soft STone dsp
• Ink: Black and Versamark
• Accessories: Paper Smooches gift card bag (although I manipulated it quite bit because, as cut, it is twice as thick), Papertrey Ink banner die, Hemptique 10-lb gold twine, Hero Arts white embossing powder, Avery Elle Lemonade sequins

CAS(E) this Sketch! CELEBRATE

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!  Check out this big diagonal!

I decided to keep it fun and festive using this big "celebrate" die three times.This was an amazingly easy card, but I think it still has a ton of interest.  Just three die cuts, a button and a bow.  I think it's because the use of a diagonal is a surprise and makes people take notice.


I started out in a slightly different direction - using patterned paper on the diagonal.  I like this next card, I just feel like it's missing something and I can't figure out what.  

Do you see how much fun a diagonal can be??  I hope you head over to CAS(E) this Sketch!, check out all of the inspiration and then give it a try for yourself!
Celebrate x3

• Stamps: none
• Paper: My Favorite Things Sour Apple, Berrylicious, Lemon Drop
• Ink: none
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Accent It - Celebrate dies, MFT Lemon Drop button, Hemptique 10-lb white twine

Celebrate with Balloons

• Stamps: none
• Paper: Simple Stories Happy Day 6x6 dsp, My Favorite Things Electric Red and Primitive White
• Ink: none
• Accessories: My Favorite Things Accent It - Celebrate dies, PTI Ocean Tides button, Hemptique 10-lb white twine

With Apologies...

Hey friends!

Just wanted to apologize to all of you as I have not been by any blogs to comment.  I haven't even found the time to read your blogs which makes me really, really sad.

As most of you know, I am at the tail end of a second college degree and the group of classes that I have right now are overwhelmingly time-consuming.  Last week - 66 hours of accounting work and I didn't quite get everything done.  And even though I would like to take a break at my craft table, my brain hurts...and good cards do not come out hurting brains...I know...I've tried!

This accounting program runs two classes for two months (instead of a typical college program with full-time being four classes for four months.) This group of classes is done in early March. Fingers crossed that the next group will come a little easier.

You all have been so kind to continue commenting even though I've dropped out of sight on your blogs. Our blogging/crafting world is a fantastic place and I thank each of you.  Don't give up on me - I'll be back!

I am getting a few cards made as required by design teams.  (Thank goodness I kept a few design teams or I think my craft table would be covered with dust by now.)  There are also a few special occasions for which I make time to make cards.  Yesterday was an open house at a wonderful family's new home. They have moved three generations into one house and I love each of the generations.  One family member is a cardmaker, so I definitely could not arrive empty-handed.  (Hey Carol - I saw your craft room on the tour - when can I come play??)

• Stamps: the sentiment and the image are from Hero Arts mini clear sets - but different set!
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Melon Berry and Smokey Shadow, We R Memory Keepers Chalkboard 6x6 pad
• Ink: Memento black, Copics
• Accessories: Hero Arts Melon Berry button, Tag Sale #9 dies, Lily Bee Designs We R Family Sweet Spot Stickers (the enamel hearts), Divine Twine Black Licorice

Pretty in Pink with Papertrey Ink

It's blog hop day at Papertrey Ink.  The theme is Pretty in Pink and I decided to play along because "pink" is a challenge for me!  Besides...I have a few PTI stamps and dies in my NBUS stash (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) and I really want to use them before Valentine's day!


I love the look of the heart die - and I particularly love dots of the Stitched Pink Edge Label die.  I fell in love with it when I saw Cristina's use of it off the edge at the bottom of this post.
I've seen so many people layering up their word dies.  I've avoided it because it seemed like a hassle.  I tried it here and I am now convinced that it's worth the time!  I didn't do a dramatic color change - I love Soft Stone so used it to layer, then added the striped paper in the heart and the background.  

Here's some pink inspiration from Papertrey and there is so much more on their blog. The blog hop only opened an hour and a half ago and there are already 116 entries!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Wonderful Words: Love
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Hibiscus Burst, Soft Stone CS and dsp
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Versamark
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Wonderful Words Love die, Stitched Pinked Edge Label die, Hemptique 10-lb. white twine, misc clear sequins

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: Bold Bliss and Pastel Love

It's my day to post on the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog and I am still having fun with their new heart sets - Love Signs and When Hearts Collide.  That's saying a lot given I don't generally do Valentines!

I also used the sketch at unscripted sketches. It's a simple sketch but good inspiration for me since I typically tend to put my elements in the bottom right of the card.

I'm doing a two-fer today.  Every time that I have posted a card with either of these sets (click here to see all of my Fresh Squeezed Stamps posts), I comment on their flexibility.  But every card that I make is bright and bold.  It's no wonder since I am surrounded by men and boys and I simply don't have much use for soft and sweet Valentines.  Whether or not I have any use for it, I have wanted to use this stamp.  My mother and I had two obsessions hobbies in common - we loved to cross-stitch (or really any other kind of needlework) and we loved to make cards.  So this card is a tribute to my mom.

Bold Bliss:

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps Love Signs, When Hearts Collide
• Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise, MFT Red Hot, Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste dsp
• Ink: MFT Red Hot, Hero Arts Wet Cement
• Miscellaneous: Hemptique 10-lb gold twine, misc sequins

Pastel Love:

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps Love Signs
• Paper: MFT Berrylicious
• Ink: MFT Berrylicious, Bubblegum, Steel Blue
• Accessories: PTI Impression Plate, misc rhinestones, MFT Delicate Doilies die, MFT Bubblegum button, Lawn Fawn Silver Sparkle Hemp Cord

CAS(E) this Sketch and Reverse Confetti Colors

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!

I have had a set of dies sitting on my desk that I absolutely love.  I ordered them the second that they came out, and then haven't had a chance to use them.  They gave me a great idea for this sketch!

The tags are Tag Me from Reverse Confetti and the set includes the banner.  It's hard to see without squinting but there's embossing around the edge of the big tag.  Although I have newer Reverse Confetti sets, I fell back on one of my early faves - Forever Fall - I love the wood heart! And, since it was clearly going to be a Reverse Confetti card, I decided to play along with their current color challenge.

Be sure to head over to CAS(E) this Sketch blog and check out the rest of the design team.  One of the fun things about serving on this design team is getting a sneak peek at what everybody else has created.  I guarantee that you will be inspired by checking out the variety of cards that came out of this simple sketch!

• Stamps: Reverse Confetti Forever Fall
• Paper: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie, Echo Park Sweet Day dsp, woodgrain paper purchased at Avery Elle
• Ink: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Versamark
• Accessories: Hero Arts White Embossing Powder, Hemptique 10-lb kraft twine, misc sequins in multi-pack from Michaels

Curtain Call Reminder: Love Letter

There are still a few more days to play along with the Curtain Call Challenge: Love Letter!

Our sponsor for this challenge is DeNami Design and there is a $20 gift certificate available for The LEAD of our challenge!  DeNami supplied the design team with love stamps - AND I just won a random drawing during their recent blog hop for even more stamps.  I got some of their new woodland animals so I have a great stash of new DeNami!  This little skunk makes me feel warm and fuzzy!

The challenge is open until January 25th.  You don't have to use DeNami Design stamps - just be inspired by that sweet graphic and play along!
I used the sketch from Pals Paper Arts.

I was having so much fun with my new DeNami stamps that I kept going.  This one is not related to Curtain Call, but the stamps are SO much fun, I had to share!  The animals are one stamp and the balloons are an add-on.  I was just checking their store, and they have a Santa hat stamp.  Wouldn't it be fun to make one of  these guys a Santa, then add a few snowflakes and some glittery snow?

Warm and Fuzzy

• Stamps: DeNami Design Little Skunk, You Make Me Feel, Hearts stamp set
• Paper: Lily Bee Design We Are Family, MFT Natural
• Ink: black and Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet
• Accessories: Hemptique 10-lb. natural twine, Lil' Inkers Stitched Squares

Woodland Birthday

• Stamps: DeNami Design Woodland Friends, Balloon Trio, Thoughtful Greetings stamp set
• Paper: Simple Stories dsp
• Ink: Memento black and Copics
• Accessories: Hemptique 10-lb. black twine, yellow button and clear sequins

Smitten with Viva la Verve: i heart u

It was a very exciting day yesterday - the Denver Broncos are in the Super Bowl!!! - even my grumpy and somewhat sullen teenager was dancing around the house.  My oldest was just 2-years old when the Broncos won their first Super Bowl.  The year before that, the Broncos were expected to be in the Super Bowl but shockingly lost in the first game of the playoffs - on my son's first birthday - with a houseful of guests to watch the game (and to celebrate his birthday). My youngest is the biggest fan of all of us and he wasn't even alive the last time the Broncos were hot.  Now my sports-crazed kids get to experience a town going crazy over their team - sports stores were open at 6 a.m. this morning selling Broncos stuff and lines went around the buildings! Have you seen the Denver Airport all lit up in Broncos colors?  Fingers crossed that my kids get to experience the big win.

But I woke up this morning a little less excited when I realized that there was no school today.  Aren't I a terrible mother?  I do so much better when the kids are gone and then they come home!

So I decided to perk myself up with a heart card for Verve's Diva Dare Smitten Challenge.  Verve has a sale on Love Themed Stamps so I finally picked up a die set that had been on my list forever - the I_Heart U die set.  The dies do have a coordinating stamp set but it has been sold out - that's OK - the dies work just fine on their own!


And now you are looking at those layers and patterns and wondering if you are really on Kim's blog with her CAS-style.  Yep!  First, the ribbon was a freebie from Verve when I ordered.  It drove the use of black letters, which then drove the use of the patterned paper from one of my new favorite paper pads, We R Memory Keepers Chalkboard.  Second, I have been excited that the sketches from Viva la Verve now have their own blog.  They have been on Splitcoaststampers and as hard as I would try to remember to go look, that was just one more thing to do.  Now that it just pops up on my Feedly list - I can't miss them! This one has a number of layers.

This Viva la Verve was an "and/or" challenge with an inspiration challenge.  I can't say that I was heavily influenced by the inspiration, but it is sometimes funny how it works.  The sketch and inspiration were up on my computer screen.  At that time my card had a berry colored heart (like in the paper) and the whole thing was all just mounted on white - but it was dull.  I looked up and saw the purple in the inspiration - then reached for lavender paper.  It's amazing how much the lavender background and glittered heart added to the card.

• Stamps: none!
• Paper: We R Memory Keepers Chalkboard, Papertrey Ink Lavender Moon and Kraft
• Ink: just Versamark for the glitter
• Accessories: Verve I_Heart U dies and Pastel Sequin Mix, Stampin' Up Heat and Stick Powder, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: K-I-S-S-I-N-G

It's my day to post over on the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog and even though I repeatedly say I don't do a lot of Valentines - there was a perfect stamp for my husband in the new set Love Signs .  The set has such a good mix of feminine and masculine, and funky to traditional.  My husband and I are both old enough to fondly remember playground games and jump ropes and sing-song chants, so this will be perfect!

I did have my husband in mind during the entire process with the embossed trees, the neutral frame and natural twine bow.  I may have to figure out a way to remove the sequins because I think that's a bit too much for him!  Does everybody else have to deal with husbands who think every card has "too much bling"??!  I'm hoping this fun woodgrain heart will balance out the bling!

I used the current sketch at Seize the Sketch.

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps Love Signs
• Paper: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Real Red, Echo Park Head Over Heals 6x6 dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Real Red
• Accessories: Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles, EK Success scalloped heart punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Hemptique 10 lb. natural twine, Papertrey Ink Aqua Mist button, Pretty Pink Posh sequins

CAS(E) this Sketch! Hello in a Heart

This is my second post today.  It's just 

a short scroll to Little Tangles.

It's time for another sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch and there is such flexibility in this one!

I had so many stamps and dies out on my desk while I was thinking about this challenge. I ended up using some new-to-me dies from Simon Says Stamps.  I liked it for this sketch because I have been having difficulty working with this large heart die. With the large panel on the sketch, it worked perfectly!

I hope to see you playing along!!

• Stamps: None!
• Paper: Black, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone and Berry Sorbet, We R Memory Keepers Chalkboard 6x6 dsp
• Ink: None!
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Heart in a Box and Small Hello dies, Teresa Collins You Are My Happy Enamel Shapes

Little Tangles Challenge: One Layer Card

I am thrilled to be a guest for the Little Tangles Challenge this week!!  They picked me because they liked my card for their sequins challenge in 2013.  That particular card happened to be my very favorite card that I did in 2013 - so I am a little nervous about measuring up with today's card!

The theme of the challenge is one-layer cards.  I have to admit that one-layer is not my best thing.  I love when I see others do it, but I always feel the need to put at least a frame around my card. I decided to use the stamp set that I won for the sequins challenge - I picked Everyday Labels.  BTW - if you play along with this new challenge - the prize is a free stamp set, so is well worth it!  I eased my need for a frame by using On the Strip 2 to ground my image.  Then I used a rainbow of color to add interest!  (The bow is from Just for You.)


I had the white embossed ground but it looked lonely so I wanted to add a little more white embossing.  I added the sparkle from Merry and Bright but you have to squint to see it in this photo.  It is next to "happy" and two more at the top.  Here it is close-up.  I am a huge fan of little sparkle stamps.  If I can't use my sequins - I need a sparkle stamp!

Speaking of sequins - all of these are Neat and Tangled sequins too.  They have some that are shiny and some that are satin...these are all satin.  They also have some gorgeous mixed sets...I'm hoping they come out with more...hint, hint!  I mentioned their clear sequins on this post from just a few days ago.
Check out the Little Tangles Challenge.  I hope you play along!

• Stamps: Neat and Tangled, Everyday Labels, On the Strip 2, Just for You, Merry and Bright
• Paper: white
• Ink: Hero Arts Pale Tomato, Orange Soda, Butter Bar, Lime Green, Pool, Navy, Grape Juice, Versamark
• Accessories: Neat and Tangled sequins in Pretty Pretty Pink, Summer Sun, Lime, Summer Sky and Perfectly Purple, Hero Arts white embossing powder

Curtain Call: Love Letter

It's time for another challenge at Curtain Call and we have an absolutely charming inspiration photo for you!

I love this country mailbox and its dried flowers and twine and doilies.  SO much inspiration!

Our sponsor for this week is DeNami Design, who supplied each of us with a fun package of love-themed DeNami Design stamps!  And the winner of the Curtain Call challenge will get a $20 gift certificate from DeNami!  Be sure to play along.

I kept the mail theme of the photo with my letter being sent "with love", but I didn't go with the pretty reds.  Instead I imagined a field of wildflowers beyond that mailbox!

Aren't these just cute little stamps?  DeNami has such a cute collection of little stamps.  I love putting together tiny little scenes and their stamps work perfectly!
I do hope to see you playing along.  There is lots of inspiration on the Curtain Call blog or you can get to the design team members directly from my sidebar.  We are very excited to have three new design team members starting with this challenge!!

• Stamps: DeNami Designs Heart Envelope, Love Sentiments set, Hearts set
• Paper: We R Memory Keepers Chalkboard 6x6 dsp, Papertrey Ink Limeade Ice
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Limeade Ice, Smokey Shadow, Copic
• Accessories: Prima Anna Marie Sugardot Stickers, Hemptique 10-lb. white twine, Papertrey Ink Limeade button

All Clear Sequins are Not Created Equal!!

I'm a little matchy-matchy. I'm a lot obsessive.  I tend to take things too far.  I've even studied the differences between clear sequins and I'm going to share those differences with you!!

You would think that a clear sequins is...well...clear!  But that is not entirely the case.  I have clear sequins from four different companies that I have purchased specifically for their different properties.

The first type of clear sequins is the silvery/mirrored look.  This look can be found in the clear sequins from Neat and Tangled and from Pretty Pink Posh.  I love this look with frosty snowman or snowflake cards!



This sequin post is happening today because I wanted to play with the current Simon Says Stamps challenge: ICE.  I figured the frosty words and the silvery sequins were icy!
I liked the idea of a pop of red which I saw with the current Pals Paper Arts challenge (although I'm clearly going to have to replace my Soft Sky ink pad.  I have an original and it seems to have morphed into something not quite Soft Sky!)

By the way - all of the stamps and dies in these cards are from Paper Smooches.  I'll list all of them at the end.

Also - I use Ranger Glossy Accents to adhere my sequins.  I don't love it - because if you want to move the sequin around of if the glue oozes, there's no way to clean it up.  But it seems to stick well and it has a very fine applicator tip so it is easy to dab it on.  I'm open to other suggestions! 

Next is an entirely different look - an iridescent sequin.  The iridescence picks up flashes of color - mainly pinks. FYI - in real life, there is a flash of pink but not quite so much as shows up with lights and cameras. I got these clear sequins at Ellen Hutson although now that I'm trying to link, the clear sequins aren't shown. Sorry.  At least if you see another sequin labeled "iridescent" you will know what it looks like!

This last card is my favorite of the batch and it shows sequins that truly are clear.  These are Clearly Beloved and can be found at Simon Says Stamps.  Although this makes little sense in terms of a "clear" sequin - I find them to be warmer.  So I have used them on a coffee card.

And here they all are together!


I have a very happy household yesterday - the Denver Broncos won their playoff game yesterday so are advancing to the AFC Title game next weekend.  To the person (who shall remain nameless) who had the nerve to say "Go Pats" in a comment yesterday - you are officially banned from my blog reader...just kidding...love ya!
Hello

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Merry Motifs
• Paper: Stampin' Up Soft Sky
• Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Sky, Real Red, Versamark
• Accessories: Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins, Paper Smooches Hello Words dies and Merry Motifs dies, Stampin' Up Heat & Stick Powder, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter

Thoughts of You

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Reflections, Word Up (sentiment)
• Paper: My Favorite Things Sour Apple
• Ink: My Favorite Things Sour Apple, Cotton Candy, Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow
• Accessories: Ellen Hutson Iridescent Crystal Clear sequins, Paper Smooches Reflections dies

A Cup of Thanks

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Cyber Cafe
• Paper: Stampin' Up Primrose Petals, Teresa Collins You Are My Happy 6x6 dsp
• Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Copics
• Accessories: Clearly Beloved sequins at Simon Says Stamp

Merry Monday: Christmas with Twine

Let me guess...many of you saw "Christmas" in the title and ran the other way.  Christmas??!! Didn't we just survive Christmas and can't we move on now??

But I have to tell you that this was the first Christmas ever for which I was ready...at least when it comes to my cards.  And it was FANTASTIC!!  I happily sat with one morning, a good cup of coffee, fireplace going, and figured out which card out of my large box of completed cards would go to each of my friends and my family.  I want to have that pleasant and relaxed experience again this year.

Plus...if the good people at the various Christmas challenges, in this case Merry Monday, take the time to put up challenges...I'm there!

PLUS...I really want to get some of the Christmas supplies out of my NBUS box (never-before-used-schtuff)!  Yes, I overspent this year!  I always manage to justify it in that I don't buy a lot of Valentines or spring or summer stamps, so I can get carried away in the fall and for Christmas.

The first thing to get out of my NBUS box was an over-sized and very heavy EK Success punch with three ornaments (I only used two).  I also had not used this Christmas Words die from Paper Smooches.  The Merry Monday challenge to use twine or ribbon worked perfectly with the ornaments.




Now I need to finish up a few duties and tasks - a little laundry, a little homework.  Then I will be making some Mexican cheese dip - using Velveeta!!!  (Does anybody really believe that the Velveeta shortage is real or is it just a way to get us all to eat processed cheese product?) Then...it's time to cheer on the Denver Broncos!!!

Go Broncos!  (Please don't break our hearts.)

• Stamps: NONE
• Paper: My Favorite Things Sour Apple and Wild Cherry, scrap of dsp
• Ink: Versamark
• Accessories: EK Success Ornament Punch, Paper Smooches Christmas Words die, Stampin' Up Heat and Stick Powder, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter, Hemptique 10-lb twine in red and lime green, misc clear sequins

Mama Elephant: Forever Young

My last post used two pandas from the Pandamonium set by Mama Elephant and I commented that those two weren't my favorite pandas.  I felt a little bad about saying that because those pandas are absolutely charming...but this guy is my favorite!


Admit it...you smiled!  And to really add to the fun, there is also a smaller bear in the set and he's leaning the other way. If I my boys weren't teenagers (with one of them topping 6'4"), I'd be putting the big bear and the little bear side by side for Father's Day.
The banner is from the Mama Elephant set Soiree.  It's been on my wishlist forever because I love the way you can fill that fun banner with your choice of colors.  I hadn't ordered it until I saw this bear and knew that he would look cute balancing on a banner!!
I haven't managed to do a lot of crafting lately - I started a new set of classes and they are turning out to be some of the hardest and most time-consuming yet.  The first is Corporate Tax and the second is Government and Nonprofit Accounting.  Are you feeling sorry for me?  Even on n my best crafting days, I rely on challenges.  I need a starting point, be it colors or sketches or inspiration.  Being out of practice today, I relied on a number of challenges!
A big thank you to Crazy 4 Challenges and their "skinny" challenge - a 3.5" x 5.5" card.  My banner fit perfectly across that size!
I also love the colors from the Color Throwdown.  I thought they were perfect for my high-in-the-sky card.

And Stampin' Royalty is celebrating their 4th birthday with a birthday challenge.  Happy Birthday to Stampin' Royalty!!

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Pandamonium, Soiree
• Paper: black and white
• Ink: Memento black and Copics, Stampin' Up Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo and Peach Parfait
• Accessories: Ellen Hutson Iridiscent Water sequins

CAS(E) this Sketch: Panda Love

Yay! CAS(E) this Sketch is back after a holiday break!!!  And here's a chance to use your feather stamps and dies!!

Or, in my case, use pandas!!


I probably should have used feathers - I have plenty of them!  But this is a new Mama Elephant set that landed on my desk during the holidays and has been calling my name since it got here.  I kind of forced these little pandas into working for this sketch just so they could see some ink.  These aren't even my favorite pandas in the set so I'm sure you will be seeing more pandas soon!
Head on over to CAS(E) this Sketch and check out all of the design team cards - then play along!  I look forward to seeing what you create.

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Pandamonium
• Paper: black, white, Carta Bella Hello Again 6x6
• Ink: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores button, Hemptique 10-lb. black twine, misc heart gem

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: When Hearts Collide

I'll let you in on my deep, dark secret - I don't often make Valentine's cards.  I was catching up on all of your blog posts yesterday and many were saying that you loved making Valentines - it made me feel a little guilty about not creating more in this season of love.  But I only give cards to two little nieces and to my three men/boys (and those have to be snarky or "scientific" like yesterday's card.)

Consequently, I don't buy many Valentine or heart stamp sets.  But I have to tell you that this new release set by Fresh Squeezed Stamps would have ended up in my collection even if I weren't on the design team.  It's a great collection of hearts - different shapes, different patterns and different sizes.  I've only used one heart on my sample card, so be sure you head over to the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog to see the fun variety of hearts.


The second reason to head over to the Fresh Squeezed Stamps blog is to enter the raffle to win this set! The sets that I previewed yesterday and today will be on sale at  Fresh Squeezed Stamps on Friday, January 10th.

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps When Hearts Collide
• Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Project Life Midnight Edition dsp
• Ink: Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, My Favorite Things Bubblegum, Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow
• Accessories: Prima Anna Marie Sugardot Stickers (enamel hearts), MME Ginger "Relax" twine

Fresh Squeezed Stamps: Love Signs

This is my second post today. Curtain Call is just a short scroll away!

It is the first day of this month's new release at Fresh Squeezed Stamps and the focus today is on "Love Signs".  Check out the Fresh Squeezed blog for all of the design team cards.  This set has a wide variety of love stamps - everything from a cross-stitch to woodgrain to a checklist to the scientific diagram that I used on my card.  It's a great to set to serve many "love" needs!

I live in a household of men and boys...and worse yet, they are all intrigued by science and math.  My (brand-new) 18-year old understands derivatives in calculus - I mean he can actually visualize the geometric form that the derivative defines (it scares me that I know that much!)  He also comprehends physics - it's a simpler class for him than his web design class.   My husband is a geologist and makes us stop at road cuts in barren areas of the state so he can study the layers.  All three of my men/boys can sing the periodic table elements song..."antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium..."  I don't think there's a day when The Big Bang Theory isn't on a television somewhere in my house!!

After all of that build-up, could there possibly be a Valentine more perfect for my men??

Definitely be sure to check out the Fresh Squeezed blog.  Can you say "giveaways"?|  And come back tomorrow for a preview of another set being released this week.

• Stamps: Fresh Squeezed Stamps Love Signs (new this week) and Background Check
• Paper: black and white
• Ink: Hero Arts Neon in Sunshine and Red
• Accessories: Hemptique 10-lb black twine, Prima Anna Marie Sugardot Stickers (the enamel hearts)