Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Chris Slogar

I knew I wanted to create a St. Patrick’s Day card since a green is part of this week’s color challenge. The card I created with the “Celebrate Today” bundle could be used for many occasions, though.

I made the balloon into a hot air balloon, with a basket punched from the Cupcake Builder and popped up on a dimensional. The black and white designer papers are from Back to Black. The striped paper is from Painted Blooms.

I used the Alphabet rotary stamp to spell out St Patrick’s Day. You can stamp up to 13 characters at a time with it – just enough for my greeting, without spaces. I created spaces between the words by pushing the rubber apart slightly. I drew in an apostrophe with my Wild Wasabi marker.

Thank you for checking out my challenge card this week! Please check out all of the awesome Challenge Team cards and challenge entries at Create with Connie and Mary.

Pretty Spring Colors for PP235

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Chris Slogar

This colors in this week’s challenge at The Paper Players are so soft and pretty.

My card plays up the Crisp Cantaloupe. The mat is embossed with the Large Polka Dot folder, and it is also sponged with Crisp Cantaloupe. I’m going to miss this color when it leaves our In Color collection this June!

I used the Flower Frenzy Bigz die for the flowers and leaves, and I added in a little Calypso Coral. The flower centers are stamped with “Bordering Blooms” and punched with a 3/8″ circle punch. The garden pick is made with the “From the Garden” stamps and Handpicked Framelits.

You can see more entries in this color challenge at The Paper Players.

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Weekly Deals, a New Set, and a Card

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Chris Slogar

First, the Weekly Deals…

	Wildflower Meadow Clear-Mount Stamp Set Item # 129168Regular Price: $13.95 US/$16.95 CAN Discounted Price: $10.46 US/$12.71 CAN
	Wildflower Meadow Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Item # 129376Regular Price: $7.95 US/$9.95 CAN Discounted Price: $5.96 US/$7.46 CAN
	Tangerine Tango Baker’s Twine Item # 134578Regular Price: $2.95 US/$3.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.21 US/$2.96 CAN
	Old Olive Baker’s Twine Item # 134579Regular Price: $2.95 US/$3.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.21 US/$2.96 CAN
	Gold Stampin’ Glitter Item # 133457Regular Price: $3.95 US/$4.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.96 US/$3.71 CAN
	All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack Item # 133703Regular Price: $6.95 US/$8.50 CAN Discounted Price: $5.21 US/$6.38 CAN
	Marina Mist 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon Item # 134561Regular Price: $5.95 US/$7.25 CAN Discounted Price: $4.46 US/$5.44 CAN

This month’s photopolymer release is “Just Kidding”, and it is really cute! It reminds me of the retired Wanda sets that I loved.

Download (PDF, 234KB)

I also have a card to show today. It is a CASE of a beautiful card by Laura Mellinger. I have been making it with different papers and flowers for several days now! You know how it is when you find a design you like?

The colors I used here are Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, So Saffron and Coastal Cabana. The sentiment is from the Crazy About You bundle. My favorite detail is the Whisper White trim piece above the designer paper – that was punched with the Spiral Border Punch.

Have a great day!

Hooray It’s Your Day

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Chris Slogar

The balloon sets in our Occasions Catalog are our button. More than any other sets, I think these lend themselves to quick and easy cards. I have been using “Celebrate Today” a lot, and today I’ve paired it with “Hooray It’s Your Day”. I used my own supplies with these sets to make today’s card, but our catalog also offers a project kit that is designed for use with “Hooray It’s Your Day”. The kit makes 20 cards. So !!!

Item 139166 Hooray It’s Your Day Card Kit $24.95

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Hot Diggity Dog Birthday Balloon

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Chris Slogar

March 7 has been a special day in our house since 1996 – it is my oldest daughter’s birthday. After 18 years of celebrating together, it will be so strange that we are not together this year. It was also strange to make her card early enough to mail 🙂

Anyway, we are missing Jen this year, and I chose “Hot Diggity Dog” for her card because the little scottie reminds us of our dog Chip. If you mention Jen’s name around Chip, he runs to the laundry room to see if she is going to appear! We have learned not to do this until she is close to home, in order to spare him the anxiety.

I was reminiscing about birthdays, and I pulled some throwback birthday pictures to share. These are from 2002, and the girls loved The Wizard of Oz – that Emerald City playset Jen received was a favorite. The cake fit the theme, too – did anyone else own a half dozen or so of those shaped cake pans? The castle and the dog were our favorites.

Thanks for stopping! Have a great weekend!

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Snuggles and Smooches Roses

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Chris Slogar

I am excited to announce that I have been chosen for the Create with Connie and Mary Thursday Challenge Team! Starting today, my Thursday posts will be based on the challenge sketch or colors. I am delighted to be included with this group of talented ladies!

Here is this week’s sketch…

And my card…

Using Versamark, I stamped the squiggles from “Snuggles and Smooches” on watercolor paper, and I heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. I put a few drops of Pink Pirouette and Rose Red Reinkers in my paint tray, and I watercolored the squiggles with my Aquapainter. I started with a light wash of Pink Pirouette over the entire area, and I added Rose Red in streaks until I was happy with the effect. I hand-cut the roses after they were dry.

My background color is Wild Wasabi. I used plain cardstock as a mat, and I added an angled piece of Irresistibly Yours specialty designer paper. This designer paper is already clear-embossed with patterns, and I chose the leaf pattern to go with my flowers. I used a brayer to add color to the paper.

The garden pick was cut from watercolor paper with the Handpicked Framelit Dies. I love that heavyweight paper for garden picks. The stamps on the pick are part of “From the Garden”.

Thank you for checking out my first Thursday Challenge Team card! You can see all of the Challenge Team cards and entries at Create with Connie and Mary.

Spring Sampler

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Chris Slogar

This frame shows off a handful of Sale-a-bration and Occasions Catalog products. If you have never created a sampler, I would encourage you to try it. Using what you have in your stash ensures that you are using components that you like. Just pick a frame and fill it!

My frame is meant for an 8×10 picture, although the opening is much smaller at 9 1/8 x 7 1/8. Be careful of those opening dimensions when you are filling a frame. You don’t want to create an 8×10 masterpiece and then find out that it is cut off by your beautiful frame!

Here’s a closer look at the components of my sampler. I started with the Sale-a-bration designer paper, Best Year Ever, and I added elements that appeal to me. My favorite part is the garden in the lower left corner. I got the inspiration for it from a card made by Mary Jane Ebie, and she gave me permission to share her card, too.

Wasn’t that genius of her to use the lines from “Painted Petals” as rows in a garden? I love that!!

If you are not ready to jump in and design a sampler on your own, or if you would just like to make my sampler as shown, read on. Through the end of March, I am offering the pieces to make my sampler FREE with a $50 online order. Please use Hostess Code MHHM6H3B, and send me an email saying that you would like to receive this kit instead of the Featured Project shown in the upper right corner of my page.

You will receive the cardstock, designer paper pieces, embellishments and punched shapes as shown in the finished project along with directions. However, in compliance with Stampin’ Up!’s policy, I am not able to send stamped images. You will need to have your own ink and the following stamp sets, or substitute as you wish.

Item 137932 Cheerful Critters

Item 133032 Hardwood (stamped on fence)

Item 137139 From the Garden (greetings for picks and sign)

Item 137146 Painted Petals (lines in garden)

For my local customers, this will be offered as a class – my March newsletter is coming soon!

Weekly Deals and a Gift Card Holder

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Chris Slogar

First, here are this week’s Weekly Deals, and don’t forget, we have new Sale-a-bration FREEbies available now, too. Click here to see them.

	A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’ Gift Box Kit Item # 133794 Regular Price: $13.95 US/$19.95 CAN Discounted Price: $10.46 US/$14.96 CAN
	Natural Filter Paper Item # 133706 Regular Price: $2.95 US/$3.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.21 US/$2.96 CAN
	Decorative Window Gift Box Item # 132146 Regular Price: $4.95 US/$5.95 CAN Discounted Price: $3.71 US/$4.46 CAN
	Gusseted Cellophane Bags Item # 133770 Regular Price: $4.50 US/$5.95 CAN Discounted Price: $3.38 US/$4.46 CAN
	Sweet Treat Embellishment Cups Item # 116802 Regular Price: $2.95 US/$3.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.21 US/$2.96 CAN
	Extra Large Gift Boxes Item # 132147 Regular Price: $3.95 US/$4.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.96 US/$3.71 CAN
	Polka Dot Tag A Bag Gift Bags Item # 135503 Regular Price: $3.95 US/$4.95 CAN Discounted Price: $2.96 US/$3.71 CAN
	Lucky You Ensemble – Digital Download Item # 133461 Regular Price: $7.95 US/$8.95 CAN Discounted Price: $4.77 US/$5.37 CAN

Today I am using the mini treat bag as a gift card holder.

The insert is a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″, scored at 5″. I added a Whisper White piece with my stamped greeting before folding up the end to create a pocket. I stapled the pocket at each side, also catching a 3/4″ strip of designer paper.

Ready to go!

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Cheerful Critters for PP234

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Chris Slogar

The blank signs in “Cheerful Critters” are great for any message, and the set is just fun to play with. My bunny is peeking over a 2 3/4″ x 4″ Crumb Cake fence, stamped with “Hardwood” in Crumb Cake. I used the triangle punch to notch the top of the fence.

The sunshine is from the Hostess set “Hello Love”. I used Crushed Curry and tapped in some additional color with a dauber. I stamped and colored the bunny, and then masked it with a Post-It note so that I could sponge the sky. Working from top to bottom, I sponged lightly around a 1 3/4″ scallop circle with Soft Sky to get the faint cloud shapes.

I am definitely thinking spring with this card, so it is going to The Paper Players for this week’s challenge. You can see more entries in this challenge here.

We got a new layer of snow this weekend, about 6″. I have an I Spy challenge for you as a result. Can you find a 25 lb black dog in the picture below? He is not in the shadowy part of the evergreens or shed – that wouldn’t be fair. He is surrounded by snow.

Here’s a hint…there are tunnels cut through the snow for him. Doesn’t everybody shovel their yard?

I know, it’s hard to tell at this distance, but he his now shorter than the walls of his path. And if you missed my picture of Chip on facebook last week – here is his “I hate snow” look.

We are ready for spring! At least we can see it in our papercrafts.

Baby CongratYOUlations and New SAB Items

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Chris Slogar

Irresistibly Yours specialty paper includes six glossy white patterns that are revealed when colored. I used the star pattern on these cards. I sponged with Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist on the blue card, and Daffodil Delight and Pink Pirouette on the pink card. The sentiment is from “Bravo”, and the duck is from “Something for Baby”, cut with Baby’s First Framelits.

Irresistibly Yours is one of the items you can choose to receive for FREE with a $50 product order. Here’s a look at the other patterns in the collection:

I also have some exciting news about the Sale-a-bration FREEbies. Stampin’ Up! is adding four new choices for the month of March. Starting March 1, you can select any of the items from the SAB booklet (also shown in online store), or any of the four items shown in the pdf below.

Download (PDF, 365KB)

Have a great weekend!