Phone Case Packaging, Too Pretty to Throw Away

Hello everyone!  Last time I posted, it was just before the weekend.  My, how time is flyin' here at the Dietrich household!  Glad I have some posts that are semi-ready in draft form, like this one.  :-)

I love to recycle bits of things, and I am sure many of you do as well.  On this card, I used a bit of packaging from my Cath Kidston iPhone case, which I adore!  Anyone know if Cath Kidston makes scrapbook paper??

Here's the phone case with packaging:

I used some bits of retired papers from Stampin' Up! (I have bags and bags of scraps!), and some pretty Scallop Crochet lace from Inspired By Stamping.

It's been a while since I played at Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground, and I'm off to see them.   Hello, ladies!

Isn't this sentiment pretty?  Love the mix of fonts.  It's from Big Wishes II from Inspired By Stamping.

As this school year is winding down, there are so many activities going on with my kids.  I'm working part time right now, temporarily, at one of our schools.  And I've got reconstructive foot surgery (ouch) coming up in late June, so there's prep I need to do for the time that I will be 'down'.  I sincerely hope that you'll hang in there with me!  My posting might be erratic, but I definitely have cards to show you.  Crafting remains a constant for me, especially now with my new space.  (insert heavenly sigh here)

Before I head out the door, a warm welcome to my new followers and email subscribers!  Thank you for investing some time to visit my blog and check out my stuff.  It means a lot to me.  :-)  You are always welcome here.

Stamps: Big Wishes II - Inspired By Stamping Paper: River Rock, River Rock and Chocolate Chip patterns - SU; red floral - Cath Kidston phone case packaging Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Scallop Crochet Trim - Inspired By Stamping Accessories: pearls; corner rounder punch - EK Success 

Bundle of Joy

How are you today?  I'm glad you popped in so I can show you a baby card I made.  It's 'gender neutral', so it can swing either way.  

The smaller star is a Fiskars punch, and the larger one is a Wplus9 die.  To be honest, I didn't realize Wplus9 had dies until I bought this shortly after Christmas.  I love the set!  I'm on the lookout for a good set of heart-shaped dies too.  Any suggestions?  I'm not fond of the common set by Spellbinders.  It has a weird shape where the two halves of the heart meet.

I'm entering this at Addicted To Stamps, for their 'Anything Goes' challenge, and Lawnscaping for their 'Clean & Simple' challenge.  

Where has the month of May gone?  It's Memorial Day Weekend!  Cripes, the time is a-flyin' by too fast.  What will you be doing this weekend?  We will be working hard in the backyard, redefining a garden bed along the fence and planting 8 arborvitae bushes.  I'm dreading it already!  LOL

Thanks so much for your visit!



Stamps: Oh Baby! - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake - SU; white - PTI; Nana's Nursery - DCWV
Ink: Crumb Cake - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions
Other: corner rounder, Dotted Scallop punches - EK Success; Labels Eight die - Spellbinders; button; star die - Wplus9; star punch - Fiskars
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"

Guess Who Is Featured Stamper?

Somebody pinch me!  It's like being given a wonderful Surprise Party....I found out yesterday that I am the Featured Stamper of the Week at Splitcoaststampers!

My family and I were at my youngest daughter's dance recital, and I was checking my emails while waiting for the show to begin.  My friend, Bonnie, emailed to congratulate me for being FS and that is how I found out.  Thanks, Bonnie!

(If you would like to play along with the Featured Stamper challenge, check HERE for the simple rules.) 

This is a card I made weeks ago and had scheduled to post when times got busy.  Guess what?  It's that time!  On my one-and-only trip to Hobby Lobby in New Jersey, I bought some Authentique papers and this really cool stamp by Stampabilities and paired them on this card.

Love how it turned out!  Those roses make me happy.  :-)

My weekend was incredibly hectic, but a lot of fun.  Packed into it:  Field Day for my youngest, a fancy dance for my eldest, a casual dance for my youngest (and I was a chaperone), dance school awards show, and a dance recital.  Whew!  I feel blessed to be able to partake in all of these events.  Hope my kids remember when they are older.  ;-)



Stamps: Do More - Stampabilities  Paper: Basic Gray - SU; Essentials Collection - Authentique Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black Fibers: white satin ribbon; white twine - SU Accessories:  clear faceted button - Stampin' Up!

Damask & Sequin Wedding Wishes

With Spring comes many weddings, and I've got to keep my stash of wedding cards full over at the shop.  Here's one I made a few weeks back but hadn't gotten around to posting yet.

I do so love the Vintage Wallpaper background by Market Street Stamps.  It always makes such a pretty card.  I paired it with retired Stampin' Up! green paper from one of their Christmas lines, and a sentiment from Verve.  Though I am usually slow to hop on a trend, I see quite a few sequins on cards now and thought these would make a good addition.  Had to raid the kids' stash of art supplies for these.  ;-)

Challenges entered:  Alphabet Challenge - "G is for Glitter / Gems" and Clear It Out:  Anything Goes + use two patterned papers - check!

This weekend is a busy one for us.  Yesterday, we had Elementary School Field Day (all the town's 3rd - 5th graders get together and compete, Olympic-style, for events like potato sack races, hurdles, softball throw, long jump, etc.), and I appointed myself as our school photographer.  I took over 200 shots, and uploaded them last night.  The kids LOVE this day, and they had so much fun.

Both my girls had dances last night (I was a chaperone at the younger one's dance).  It was fun getting two girls ready!  I love 'girly' things like makeup and hair.  My younger one wore no makeup, but I braided her hair.  My older one wanted a "bump-it".  That one didn't work out as good as I had hoped.  But Haley was happy with it, so that's all that matters.

Today we have an Awards Show for our Dance Studio.  Kerry is Most Improved Student of the Year, and we couldn't be more proud!  Tomorrow is her Dance Recital, and after that, I plan to crash.  ;-)

Stamps: Love Story - Verve; Vintage Wallpaper - Market Street Stamps  Paper: white - PTI; green pattern - SU; ledger - Flora & Fauna - K & Co.  Ink: Sahara Sand - SU; Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko  Fibers: SU  Accessories: sequins; corner rounder punch - EK Success; pearls

Inspired By Stamping Challenge #54 - Daisy Thanks

Welcome, everyone!  Boy, are we ever having a lovely Spring here in the Northeast.  Other than a brief spell where the weather was so stinkin' hot, it's been a true Spring, with moderate temps and cool nights, bright blue skies and beautiful breezes.  Love!  I know some folks like it HOT, but not this girl.  Spring and Fall are my absolute faves.

Glad you popped in, 'cause I'm playing along in an Inspired By Stamping challenge.  I felt like going clean-and-simple, with a bright daisy so reminiscent of summer days to come.

It's got some clear glitter on there...can you see it?  The button is vintage and came from my aunt's stash (thanks, Aunt Kay!).

I traced over the leaves with Glossy Accents, and this pic shows it off best.  The big, bold sentiment is one of my IBS faves from the set Big Notes II.

Enjoy your day, and thank you for your visit!

Stamps:  Daisies, Big Notes II - Inspired By Stamping Paper: green, white cardstock; chevron pattern Ink:  Black, green Fibers:  twine Accessories:  Copic markers; piercing tool; Crystal Glitter, Glossy Accents, pearls, vintage button

Guest Designing at City Crafter

Welcome!  It's my pleasure to be Guest Designing this week at City Crafter.  This card of mine was the winner a couple of weeks ago, and as a result, I am helping to bring this week's challenge to you.  :-)  Thank you to Kirsty Vittetoe and the whole team for having me!

The challenge is "One Stamp, Two Ways."

On both cards, I used a rubber stamp with no name by PSX.  I bought it on eBay years ago, but rarely ink it up.  Topiaries always capture my heart, so this stamp is a treasure to me.  Since the stamp is finely detailed, for version #1 I kept the color scheme to black and white, with pops of olive green added by the ribbon and the sentiment from Inspired By Stamping's Graceful Hydrangea set.

Stamps: topiaries - PSX; Graceful Hydrangea - Inspired By Stamping Paper: white - PTI; Basic Black - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Old Olive - SU Fibers: Old Olive satin ribbon - SU Accessories: rhinestones

The next version is my fave, I think.  I loved coloring these topiaries with my Copic markers.

Inspired By Stamping phrase combined with Paper Smooches birthday sentiment = joy!

Stamps: topiaries - PSX; Birthday Greetings - Inspired By Stamping; Salutations - Paper Smooches
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White - SU; pattern - Garden Vignettes - My Mind's Eye Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: gray sheer ribbon - JoAnn's  Tools: Labels Thirteen die - Spellbinders Accessories: rhinestones - Queen & Co.; Copic markers

Thanks so much for coming by today!  Hope you get a chance to play along at City Crafter.  :-)

Mother's Day & So Much More

Happy Mother's Day!  How are you spending your day today?  As I'm writing this post ahead of time, I'm not exactly sure what my day will entail, but I plan to get some crafting time in.  ;-)

This post has another bunch of creations to share, since the cards are piling up and it's too much to show one post at a time.  Hope you don't mind!

The first two Mother's Day cards feature flocked paper from Anna Griffin.  Everyone ooh and aah with me over that texture..... My friend Rebecca gave me some of her Anna Griffin papers a while back, and I admit to hoarding them for a while.  This is the first I've used them.  (thank you SO much, Rebecca!)  I like the drama this paper lends to the mom cards.

The sentiment is from a small Inspired By Stamping set I use quite often, Big Notes II.

Stamps:  Big Notes II - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirhouette, Pale Plum - SU; flocked paper - Anna Griffin Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: black satin ribbon - Michael's Accessories: pearls

This is a Mother's Day card, too, using more Inspired By Stamping goodies, Graceful Hydrangea and a sentiment from Spring Blossoms.

Stamps: Spring Blossoms, Graceful Hydrangea - Inspired By Stamping Paper: Pink Pirhouette - SU; pattern - Webster's Pages Ink: Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Pear Pizzazz - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; white seam binding - Snug Hug Accessories: pearls; Copic markers; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger

There is FINALLY a Hobby Lobby within driving distance from my home (45 minutes), so I took a trip there recently and landed this sweet Pebbles stamp set, Ever After.  (and...of course, I bought more than just that!)

I touched the little star over the "i" with some Glossy Accents, and the pretty die cut behind it got dabs of Liquid Pearls.

Stamps: Ever After - Pebbles Paper: white cardstock - PTI; Paper Girl - The Girls' Paperie Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: twill - SU Tools: scalloped circle, large label punches - SU  Accessories:  White Opal Liquid Pearls, Glossy Accents - Ranger; dotted die cut - Girls' Paperie; pearls 

And finally, a 'just because' card using Grace background stamp from Market Street Stamps and a wonderful Verve sentiment from Joy For The Journey, reminding us that God is, indeed, good.

I did a close-up to show you that there are two colors of ink on this background stamp:  Sage Shadow first, then inked edges with Baja Breeze.  I rather like these two cool colors together!  So soothing.

Stamps: Grace background - Market Street Stamps; Joy For The Journey - Verve Paper: Sage Shadow - SU; white - PTI Ink: Sage Shadow, Baja Breeze - SU; Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Tools: large label punch - SU Fibers: green-blue grosgrain ribbon Accessories: pearls

Thanks so, so much for your visit today!

Vintage Miss You

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down one post 

or click here.  Thanks!

It's the start of the weekend, hooray!  What will you be doing?  Here in the Northeast, the weather is perfect for yard sales, sailboat races, miniature golfing, oh, just anything outdoors!  This evening, my girls and I went to our school fair, an outdoor event.  My 11 year old was in the Dunk Tank, as is the privilege of 5th graders at our school.  The wetter she got, the more she loved it!

I did sneak in some crafty time today so I could play in a couple of challenges. My Inspired By Stamping goodies came out to play.  :-)

I used Vintage Postcards to decorate my patterned paper, and Just Because for the frame and sentiment.  The Fancy Labels 1 Die fits the frames in that set perfectly.  Sure do love pretty crochet trim, it always adds a vintage vibe that melts my heart.

I'm entering at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge, where they want to see punches/die cuts, and also at Stampin' For The Weekend's "Button It Up" challenge.

See you on Sunday with a whole mess of cards I've been working on.  'Bye for now!

Stamps: Just Because, Vintage Postcards - Inspired By Stamping Paper: kraft cardstock, patterned paper Ink: olive green, kraft, suede brown Fibers: Vintage Crochet Trim - Inspired By Stamping Tools: Fancy Label Dies 1 - IBS Accessories: buttons, thread, die cuts, Liquid Pearls

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peek - It's All About Fancy Labels!

Hello my friends!  We're still celebrating our May Release Party at Inspired By Stamping, and today the spotlight is on Fancy Labels 2, Small Fancy Labels 2 and a new set of dies by the same name, Fancy Labels 2.   The entire release will be available for purchase on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  See the end of this post for more details, including Blog Candy.

This dusky purple card features a frame from Fancy Labels 2, cut with the new matching die.  I really like the shape of this.  It's got a traditional, classic feel to it and is super versatile.  The stamp set includes 6 frames in varying sizes, each one different and coordinates with the dies, plus 3 little elegant flourishes.

The sentiment is from Heartfelt Greetings, a set of 16 that comes from a previous release. The White Curly Flower and Scallop Border Crochet Trim lend delicate touches to this card.

Stuff to know before you go:

• The entire release will be available in the IBS Store on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. EST)
• Free shipping is available on all orders over $20, from May 10th at 7 p.m. to May 12th at 7 p.m., Brisbane time)
• Save 10% when you buy all 7 stamp sets plus die set in a bundle
• Chances to win Blog Candy May 6th - May 10th!  Check Joanna's blog for all the details.  There will be winners daily!

We've got lots more inspiration for you today!  Check out our design team's lovely designs:

Fancy Labels 2 

Joanna 

Kendra 

Irit   

Pam 

Colleen - you are here!

Calypso 

Shea 

Small Fancy Labels 2  

Joanna 

Tina 

Deb 

Leah   

Cindy

Vicki 

I sure do appreciate you coming by today!



Card Recipe:
Fancy Labels 2, Heartfelt Greetings, Fancy Labels 2 Die, Scallop Border Crochet Trim, White Curly Flower - Inspired By Stamping; seam binding, patterned paper, button, pearls

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peek - Background Basics III & French Notes

Good morning everyone!  We're in the middle of our May Release Party for Inspired By Stamping, and today's featured stamps are Background Basics III & Big Notes in French.  The entire release will be available for purchase on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  See the end of this post for more details, including Blog Candy.

I decided to dress up a plain stationery set for my sister in law, who adores anything French with fleur de lis images.  Music notes are one of the background stamps in the Background Basics III set, which also includes an antique script and fun polka dot pattern.  I stamped the music notes in tan across the top of each page, then topped it with a sentiment from Big Notes In French in bold black.

I also used one of my all-time fave IBS sets, Paris, to help complete this set.  The  Eiffel Tower clock face and fleur de lis grace each page's bottom right corner, and the envelopes received some decoration, too.

Stuff to know before you go:

• The entire release will be available in the IBS Store on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. EST)
• Free shipping is available on all orders over $20, from May 10th at 7 p.m. to May 12th at 7 p.m., Brisbane time)
• Save 10% when you buy all 7 stamp sets plus die set in a bundle
• Chances to win Blog Candy May 6th - May 10th!  Check Joanna's blog for all the details.  There will be winners daily!

I hope you will visit my teammates to see how they've used these amazing new IBS goodies:

Joanna 

Deb 

Kendra 

Irit 

Leah 

Colleen - you are here!

Gloria 

Cindy 

Vicki 

Shani 

Shea 

Grace 

I'm so glad you came by today!



Big Notes in French, Background Basics III, Paris - Inspired By Stamping; stationery

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peek - Background Basics II & Big Hope

Welcome to Day 2 of the May Release Party for Inspired By Stamping!  Today we are featuring Background Basics II and Big Hope.   The entire release will be available for purchase on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  See the end of this post for more details, including Blog Candy.

One of the three background stamps in the new set is this fabulous houndstooth (I have a blogging friend who looooves houndstooth...and you know who you are!), which I used with a light blush color.  I made a window with the brand new Fancy Labels Die and used a sentiment from Big Hope on the card base behind it.

I used two flowers from Elegant Flowers, a release from this year, to create one new blossom.  After stamping one large and one small rose and coloring them, I cut the stamens off the large one and attached it to the smaller one. The two layers are separated with foam dimensional stickers.

Stuff to know before you go:

• The entire release will be available in the IBS Store on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. EST)
• Free shipping is available on all orders over $20, from May 10th at 7 p.m. to May 12th at 7 p.m., Brisbane time)
• Save 10% when you buy all 7 stamp sets plus die set in a bundle
• Chances to win Blog Candy May 6th - May 10th!  Check Joanna's blog for all the details.  There will be winners daily!

For more inspiration using our new sets, check out the DT's projects:

Joanna http://wp.me/p2QJN7-2WY
Colleen http://www.colleendietrichdesigns.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-sneak-peek-rose.html
Deb http://aworldofimagination-deb.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may.html
Kendra http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com/2013/05/ibs-backgrounds-and-hope.html
Irit  http://iritshalom.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may-release-day-2.html
Leah  http://paperblossoms.blogspot.com/2013/05/hope-is.html
Grace http://tolmanchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may-release-share-1.html
Vicki http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may-release.html
Tina http://woodedviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/hope-is.html
Shani http://paperesse.blogspot.com/2013/05/vintage-birds-inspirational-card-using.html
Calyspo http://calypsocandycraft.blogspot.com/2013/05/ibs-may-release-background-basics-ii.html
Cindy: http://cindycoutts.com/?p=12552

Hope you enjoyed today's card, and I'll see you tomorrow with more goodies!



Big Hope, Background Basics II, Elegant Flowers, Fancy Labels Die - Inspired By Stamping

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peek - Mason Jar Summer Add-On

Welcome to the May Release Party for Inspired By Stamping!  I swear, each release just gets better and better.  I LOVE the sets owner Joanna Munster came up with this month.  Love!  There are 7 new stamp sets and a set of lovely dies to coordinate with them.    The entire release will be available for purchase on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  See the end of this post for more details, including Blog Candy.

Today I'm giving you a peek at a set called Mason Jar Summer Add-On.  The set has oodles of fruits (in fun patterns, as you can see by the example here) and a shapely jar with lid.  I really had fun with this set, and just wait until you see what the design team has done with it, too!

I mounted my fun fruits on white scalloped squares, and added touches of glossy accents on the leaves.  The sentiment -- I mean, how perfect is it for this card?? -- is from Mason Jar Add-On II.

Stuff to know before you go:

• The entire release will be available in the IBS Store on May 10th at 7 p.m. Brisbane time (5 a.m. EST)
• Free shipping is available on all orders over $20, from May 10th at 7 p.m. to May 12th at 7 p.m., Brisbane time)
• Save 10% when you buy all 7 stamp sets plus die set in a bundle
• Chances to win Blog Candy May 6th - May 10th!  Check Joanna's blog for all the details.  There will be winners daily!

For more inspiration, check out the rest of our DT's creations:

Joanna - http://wp.me/p2QJN7-2WW

Kendra - http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com/2013/05/ibs-mason-jar-summer-add-on.html

Deb  http://aworldofimagination-deb.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may-releasemason.html

Irit http://iritshalom.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may-release-day-1.html

Leah http://paperblossoms.blogspot.com/2013/05/mason-jar-summer-add-on.html

Gloria  http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-may-release-day-1.html

Colleen  You are here!

Pam - http://www.pammejo-scrapbookflair.com/2013/05/inspired-by-stamping-release-for-you.html

Tina - http://woodedviews.blogspot.com/2013/05/filled-with-love.html

Cindy - http://cindycoutts.com/?p=12524

Calypso http://calypsocandycraft.blogspot.com/2013/05/ibs-may-release-mason-summer-jar.html

Shea - http://glitterandbonbons.blogspot.com/2013/05/ibs-new-release-mason-jar-summer-add-on.html

Thanks for joining me today!

Mason Jar Summer Add-On, Mason Jar Add-On II - Inspired By Stamping