Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peeks - French Country

Welcome back to the new release party at Inspired By Stamping!  Today, we're sneak-peeking French Country, one of my fave sets in the entire release.  It's got so many things I love in it!  You'll get to see the stamps in their entirety tomorrow when they go on sale.

I was inspired to make a Country French card, inspired by this dish.  I used a chicken wire background from French Country Backgrounds to create a subtle backdrop.  The rooster, diamond background, fleur-de-lis and flourish all come from French Country.  The sentiment is from Big Notes in French II, also from this release.

I do love the crochet laces from IBS.  This one is Scallop Crochet Trim.

Stuff to know:

• FREE shipping on all orders over $25 will be available 48 hours only, from June 10th at 7 p.m. - June 12th 7 p.m. Brisbane time (this converts to 5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  Just enter "June Release" during checkout for free shipping.  
• Save 15% when you buy all 6 stamp sets 
• Blog candy!  Check Joanna's blog every day from June 6th - June 10th for chances to win.
• Did you know IBS offers FREE cut files?  Just click on a stamp set in the IBS store and click the 'Download' button.

Our team has worked hard to make pretty things for you, too!

Joanna 

Colleen- you are here!

Deb 

Irit

Kendra 

Leah  

Pam -

Shani 

Shea 

Tina    

Vicki  

Thanks so much for dropping by!  See you tomorrow with the full release.

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peeks - French Country Backgrounds & Big Notes In French II

Hello there!  We're in the middle of our June release party at Inspired By Stamping, and today we're showcasing French Country Backgrounds and Big Notes In French II.  These stamp links will work beginning June 10th, when the sets will be in the IBS store.

I needed an elegant anniversary card, and these two sets helped me accomplish that easily!

I used a portion of the fleur-de-lis background stamp to create this snazzy header, and topped each with a dot of Liquid Pearls.  The large fleur-de-lis image is from French Country, a new release ( I'm actually sneak-peeking the sneak peek - we showcase the set tomorrow!) and the pretty sentiment is from Big Notes in French II. 

Stuff to know:  

• FREE shipping on all orders over $25 will be available 48 hours only, from June 10th at 7 p.m. - June 12th 7 p.m. Brisbane time (this converts to 5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  Just enter "June Release" during checkout for free shipping.  
• Save 15% when you buy all 6 stamp sets 
• Blog candy!  Check Joanna's blog every day from June 6th - June 10th for chances to win.
• IBS offers FREE cut files on their website!  Click on a stamp set and you'll see the Download button.

There's lots of inspiration from the rest of our DT, too:

Joanna - 

Colleen - you are here!

Deb 

Kendra 

Irit 

Leah 

Gloria 

Shani 

Grace 

Tina    

Calypso  

If you love roosters and all things Country French, you will love the sneak peeks tomorrow!

Inspired By Stamping Sneak Peeks - Summer Flowers

Welcome to Day Two of our Inspired By Stamping new release party!

Today, we are featuring Summer Flowers. (The links for new stamps will work beginning on June 10th, when the items will be in the store.)

This set has many gorgeous flowers to color, or paper-piece, or use to create beautiful backgrounds.  I went with some lilies for this card.

I stamped, colored and trimmed three lilies and two leaves from the set and layered them together.  A touch of glossy glue on the stamens added a little somethin'-somethin' extra.

The pretty vase is from a previously-released set, Mason Jar Summer Add On.  I added a flourish from the upcoming French Country set.  I couldn't believe how perfectly it fit the vase.  You can see a touch of script from Background Basics III, a set that was released last month.

Stuff to know:  

• FREE shipping on all orders over $25 will be available 48 hours only, from June 10th at 7 p.m. - June 12th 7 p.m. Brisbane time (this converts to 5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  Just enter "June Release" during checkout for free shipping.  
• Save 15% when you buy all 6 stamp sets 
• Blog candy!  Check Joanna's blog every day from June 6th - June 10th for chances to win.
• IBS offers FREE cut files on their website!  Click on a stamp set and you'll see the Download button.

There's lots of inspiration from the rest of our DT, too:

Joanna

Irit

Leah

Grace 

Vicki

Calypso 

Shea

Colleen - you are here!

Deb

Kendra

Gloria

Tina

See you tomorrow with another sneak!

Inspired By Stamping - Sneak Peeks of Big Congrats and Summer Postcards

Welcome to the party!  The Inspired By Stamping new release party, that is.  :-) For the next several days, each of the design team members will be sharing with you projects we've made with the new June sets.

Today, we are featuring Big Congrats and Summer Postcards.  (These links will work beginning on June 10th, when the new items will be in the store.)

Using Summer Postcards, a set of 15 small images, I decided to make some pretty magnets for my refrigerator.  I love the postage stamp frame around these pretty flowers.

I stamped each image on a die cut and then colored with alcohol-based markers.  I used a sealer after coloring (very important, and you'll see why in a moment), then topped each die-cut with crackle glaze.  After they were dry, I added a magnet to the back of each, and voila!  Fancy magnets.

By the way, Summer Postcards coordinates beautifully with Vintage Postcards (one of my fave sets!).

This is what happens if you do not use a sealer over the colored image before applying crackle glaze.  You get a fuzzy image, and it warps the cardstock.

See the difference?  Still love it, though, and haven't tossed that wrinkly one.  It will make an appearance on a card sometime!

Another new set coming your way is Big Congrats, a set of 6 sentiments.  I love the versatility of it, with the big font for "Congratulations", and smaller sentiments you can add on to customize.  I made a couple of New Home themed cards.

Aren't these keys sweet?  I stamped two, trimmed, and threaded some twine through the holes.  They remind me of the vintage keys I have for the interior doors in my house, which was built circa 1922.

Stuff to know:  

• FREE shipping on all orders over $25 will be available 48 hours only, from June 10th at 7 p.m. - June 12th 7 p.m. Brisbane time (this converts to 5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  Just enter "June Release" during checkout for free shipping.  
• Save 15% when you buy all 6 stamp sets 
• Blog candy!  Check Joanna's blog every day from June 6th - June 10th for chances to win.
• IBS offers FREE cut files on their website!  Click on a stamp set and you'll see the Download button.

There's lots of inspiration from the rest of our DT, too:

Joanna

Irit

Leah

Grace 

Vicki

Calypso 

Shea

Colleen - you are here!

Deb

Kendra

Gloria

Tina

See you tomorrow!

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!