Happy Birthday!

What better way to celebrate my birthday than to make a bright cheerful birthday card.  Throughout the past several days, I've been getting birthday cards from family, friends and neighbors.  I don't know about you but I love birthdays.  I don't mind getting older simply because there is nothing I can do to stop the process.  So, why not just celebrate it.

Stamp Set:  Beautiful Birthday - retired (Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Perfect Plum (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Coastal Cabana, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Labels Collection Framelits, Secret Garden Framelits, 5/8" Pool Party Seam Binding, Melon Mambo Brights Button - retired, Linen Thread and Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!), Pearl Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels)

Here is the My Favorite Things sketch I used for my card.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Very Clean and Simple

And, that is exactly what this newest card turned out to be.  There was no ink used, no stamp used, just a die cut and a bit of fussy cutting around the little arrow sentiment.  It's the first time I've used the Cute Cameras 2 Die-namics die I purchased from My Favorite Things a couple of months ago.  You know you have too much stuff when you forget what you purchase.  Good thing I'm doing spring cleaning early.

Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry (Stampin' Up!), Here & Now Paper Pad (Echo Park); Accessories & Tools:  Cute Cameras 2 Die-namics (My Favorite Things), Stampin' Dimensionals, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

I played along with two challenges today.  The colors I used are from the My Favorite Things Color Palette Challenge.  You can find all the details HERE or click on the image below.

The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches.  For more details, just click HERE or on the image below.

Well, there you have it from me for now.  I'm busy creating some new projects for an upcoming hop in which I'm participating.  Stay tuned for further details.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Heartfelt Thanks

While I was waiting for our next round of rain, ice, sleet and snow to show up, I decided to play along with the current challenge at My Favorite Things.  Lately, I've felt like I've been neglecting my favorite color, blue.  I needed a thank you card to send to the instructor of the class I attended on Saturday afternoon, this was perfect.  The class was fantastic and I made a cute craft organization book which I'll show you in a post later this week.  For now, here is the card I made using the great sketch from My Favorite Things.

Stamp Set:  Heart Balloons (My Favorite Things); Ink:  Midnight Muse (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Whisper White, Soft Sky, Midnight Muse, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Staggered Heart Border Die-namics (My Favorite Things), Rhinestones, 3/16" Corner Rounder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here is the sketch from the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Crushed Curry Birthday

Okay, time again for a very short post.  For some reason time got away from me today and I've not been able to catch up with it.  Since I wanted to participate in the current Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and since the deadline is tomorrow, I figured I should stay up a bit past my bedtime and show you the card I made.

I loved the white on white card that Karen made with the very cool Staggered Heart Border Die.  So, I used the white on white but did some stamping and used the Happy Birthday Die for my card.  Both dies are from My Favorite Things.  The last time my friend Heather and I stamped together, I cut out a couple of  happy birthdays, one in Bermuda Bay and one in Crushed Curry.  As you can see, I used the Crushed Curry.

I stamped the lines in Bermuda Bay from the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set which are both from Stampin' Up!®   I popped up the layer with some Stampin' Dimensionals and I was done.  Now that's what I call a quick and easy,  clean and simple kind of card.  I like it.

Here is the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

My Heart POPS for You

Whew!  One down and only eleven to go!  I'm in Valentine mode trying to get all of the cards done I need to send to my children and grandchildren.  I have three sons and nine grandchildren.  Looks like I'll be making hearts for a few days yet.  I may just wear out my new Heart Balloons Stamp Set before I'm done.  I had a lot of fun putting this card together.  I wanted to make it look like the balloon had actually burst and little hearts were floating out of it.  I'm not sure how well I pulled that one off but I do like the way the card turned out.  Bright, cheerful and very red and white!

Stamp Set:  Heart Balloons (My Favorite Things); Inks:  Real Red (Stampin' Up!), Tuxedo Black (Memento); Card Stock:  Whisper White, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Delicate Doilies Die-namics, Heart Balloons Die-namics, Cute Cameras 2 Die-namics (My Favorite Things), Whisper White Baker's Twine (Stampin' Up!), Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!)

Today I played along with the sketch over at My Favorite Things.  Here is the sketch for this week's challenge.

 Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Heartfelt Thanks

My very first My Favorite Things order came last Tuesday and Wednesday a new challenge came out so I have been having lots of fun playing with all of my new goodies!  I simply love the balloon hearts.  They also have another balloon set that is on my wishlist.  Oh, and they have matching dies!  Now how cool is that!  I'll share those projects later but for now here is the card I made for their current Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge.

Stamp Set:  DC Heart Balloons (My Favorite Things);  Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay (Stampin' Up!), My Girl Paper Pad (American Crafts), Glitzy Glitter (DCWV), White (Bazzill); Accessories & Tools:  Staggered Heart Border Die-namics, Delicate Doilies Die-namics (My Favorite Things), Crystal Effects (Stampin' Up!)

The doily die-cut was just too pretty to cut off, so I simply used the whole thing.  There are four dies in the set and I can't wait to use the other three.  They are so pretty.  I'm thinking they will make for some sweet Mother's Day cards.

Now here is the sketch from the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge.  Just click on the image for all of the details.  I love their sketches!

I spent the afternoon over at my friend, Heather's, stamping some of the balloons from the DC Party Balloons stamp set.  They will work great for some birthday cards I have to make in the days ahead. 

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

I Heart You

You know what I love best about laptops?  I can be as miserable as can be and still be online doing my thing.  :-)   For some reason, I decided I needed to catch a very nasty, cough til your ribs hurt, cold.  Of course being out in a salvage yard with my youngest son in the snow and cold blowing wind didn't have any part of it, right?  Well, I'm on the mend and felt well enough to do a little stamping today.  Yay!  Especially, since I got a bunch of new stuff yesterday that I wanted to play with.  I can't wait to share it with you.

Today's card was made with a new stamp set from My Favorite Things.  It's called Heart Balloons and I love it!  It worked perfectly for the current challenge over at The Paper Players.  We had to create a single layer card with minimal embellishments, if any.  I love this clean and simple look!

Stamp Set:  Heart Balloons (My Favorite Things); Inks:  Crushed Curry, Raspberry Ripple, Bermuda Bay (Stampin' Up!), Tuxedo Black (Memento); Card Stock:  White (Bazzill)

I did add one rhinestone right where the balloon strings meet.  It added just a bit of sparkle to the card.

Click on the image below for all the details of the One Layer Valentine Challenge at The Paper Players.

Be sure to check back tomorrow.  I am participating in the Wacky Watercooler Welcome to 2014 Blog Hop.  A bunch of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators will be showing off some of the new products from the Occasions Catalog, the Sale-A-Bration Brochure and the current Annual Catalog.  Prepare to be inspired!

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Blooming Rose

Today my friend and stamping buddy, Heather, came over with some of her My Favorite Things stamps and dies.  We stamped and chatted the afternoon away making a design so we could play along with My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club Get Sketchy .  She has been instrumental in taking me out of my box and combining colors and papers that I would never think of using together.  I love getting together with her.

Stamp Set:  MPD Blooming Roses (My Favorite Things), Outlined Occasions - retired (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Strawberry Slush and Pear Pizzazz (Stampin' Up!)m Tuxedo Black (Memento); Card Stock:  Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla and Island Indigo (Stampin' Up!), Maggie Holmes Paper Pad (Crate Paper), White (Bazzill); Accessories & Tools:  Circles Collection Framelits and Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!), MPD Rose Bouquet Die (My Favorite Things), Rhinestones

And, here is the sketch used for the challenge.  You can click on the image to go see all the details of the sketch challenge.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon and I'm already looking forward to the next time Heather and I can get together.  Be sure to stop by her blog to see her wonderful creations, Simply Handmade by Heather.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha 

Birthday Grunge

As I may have mentioned earlier, I have three grandsons with birthdays in January.  One on the 12th, the 13th and the 14th.  I am so please to announce that I have them all done and just need to write a note, put them into their addressed envelopes, put a stamp on them and get them in the mail.  Whew!  Usually, I'm late.  Grandma is trying to do better!  :-)

Here is the I made for Gage who will be 16.  It's hard sometime to realize that some of my grand-babies are growing up.  Cutesy just doesn't go far these days, especially with teen boys, so I'm transitioning into more grown up looking birthday cards for them.

I love this current sketch from MFT.  I was at a loss as what to do but once I saw the sketch, it just seem to make itself.  I love the clean and simple look.

Stamp Sets:  Gorgeous Grunge and Simply Sketched (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Pistachio Pudding and Marine Mist (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Pistachio Pudding and Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!), Little Yellow Bicycle Patterned Paper; Accessories & Tools:  1/8" Silver Mini Brads and Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!)

Here is this week's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

MFT Color Palette Challenge 1

Since I so rarely use pink, this was a challenge that I wasn't sure I could pull off.  But, adding the black and the white, I got through it.  :-)  Actually, it was fun.  It gave me a chance to use one of the cute little picket fences that my oldest son, Wayne, made for me.  He and I had gone to Michael's one day and I was going to buy a package.  He looked at me and said, "Mom, I can make those for you, save your money."  Okay, I'm game for saving my pennies.  He made several of them in different lengths for me, this being one of the shortest.  I can't wait to try one on a canvas.  I've had an idea floating in my head for ages and just needed the fence.  Hmmm?  I wonder what other goodies he can make for me?

Okay, on to the card.  This one is for the My Favorite Things newest challenge.  Since it was the first one, they opted to go with a classic color scheme of pink, black and white.  It definitely stretched me.  I'd rather do blue but I love how this thank you card came together.  It's for a new friend here at the new place I live.  She had a coffee for several of us newbies this morning and invited me to join in and get to know more of the other residents.  She is quite the lady.  She makes the yummiest cookies and candy.

Stamp Sets:Simply Sketched and Language of Friendship (Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Strawberry Slush (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Whisper White, Basic Black and Blushing Bride (Stampin' Up!), Santa's List Patterned Paper (Teresa Collins); Accessories & Tools:  Bird Builder Punch, Boho Blossoms, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1/8" Silver Mini Brads, Pearl Basic Jewels and Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!), Wedding Cake Acrylic Paint (Martha Stewart), Picket Fence (Wayne Reed)

The little fence is unfinished when I get them so I simply painted this one.  They don't take any time at all to cover and to dry.

To participate in the challenge yourself, just click on the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Thank You

Today I'm playing along with the Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch Challenge over at My Favorite Things.  You can find all the details HERE or click on the sketch image you will find below.

My friend, Heather, introduced me to My Favorite Things a few weeks ago and finally, tomorrow, I get to place my first time ever order to get some of their stamps and dies.  I'm so excited!  For now, though, I've used the supplies I have on hand for my card.

Stamp Set:  Just Believe (Stampin' Up!); Ink:  Crumb Cake, Night of Navy (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Bashful Blue and Summer Starfruit (Stampin' Up!), Classic White (Flourishes), Burlap Paper (DCWV), "Adorbs" Designer paper (My Mind's Eye); Accessories & Tools:  Washi Tape, dimensionals, Scallop Circle Punch (Stampin' Up!)

Before I go, I wanted to show you the sketch we needed to use for the challenge.  And, as stated above, you can click on the image to go to the My Favorite Things blog to get all the details and join in the challenge.

Until next time . . . happy creating!

Peeking Through the Window

With only seven minutes left before I have to head to work, I'm going to keep this short and to the point.  But, I just had to share this card with you before walking out the door.  My friend, Heather, has introduced me to many new stamping things recently.  One of them is My Favorite Things.  While I don't, yet, have any of their products, I loved this sketch so just had to see what I could come up with using product I have on hand.

 Here is the card I made using Flourishes Sweet Nature stamp set and Taylored Expressions Picture Window die.

You can click HERE to visit the MFT blog or on the sketch image below.  Be sure to check out the great products they have while you are there.

Until next time. . . happy creating!