Birthday Wishes

It's way past my bedtime and what am I doing?  Staying up and making cards.  Actually, I wanted to get this card made and entered in a couple of challenges before shutting things down for the night so it's going to be a short post.  I stamped the flower image from Nature's Perfection three times and fussy cut two of them to make layers on the flower.  A little Dazzling Details, some rhinestones and  that as they say, is that!  I'm off to get some sleep.

Stamp Sets:  Four You, Nature's Perfection; Inks:  Sahara Sand, So Saffron; Card Stock:  Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Dazzling Details, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Paper Snips, Stampin' Trimmer

The sketch I used is from Freshly Made Sketches.

The pretty colors are from Colour Me...!

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Wacky Watercooler March Madness Blog Hop

Welcome!  I'm so glad you have joined us on our journey through March Madness!  There are many ways you can interpret that and I'm sure you're going to see a bit of "mad" that will have you wanting to dabble in the "madness," too!

This month I have the honor of being first stop on our Hop, but no worries if you came here from somewhere else.  The Hop goes round and round, so no matter where you start, as long as you keep clicking on the "Next" button, you'll go through all the participating blogs.  If you get a little lost along the way, just click the “Home” button and head back to the Wacky Watercooler Blog home page to start all over.

My first card is one I made for a Birthday Shoebox Swap for my local demonstrator meeting.  It uses product from the Annual Catalog and two Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, Big Day and Nature's Perfection.  Those sets are only available until March 31.  It's a clean and simple design that has you wanting to reach out and pick some pretty Strawberry Slush flowers.

Stamp Sets:  Big Day, Nature's Perfection; Inks:  Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi; Card Stock:  Pacific Point, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Glue Dots, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

One of the cards we made in the Shoebox Swap was this spinner card using the Bow Builder Punch from the Occasions Catalog.  I had never made one before and love how that bright bow slides back and forth and spins while doing so.  Clever!  I think my oldest granddaughter will like this one for her birthday in May.  The stamp set is Big Day from Sale-A-Bration.  All other product can be found in the Annual Catalog.

Stamp Set:  Big Day; Ink:  Tempting Turquoise; Card Stock:  Sweet Taffy Designer Series Paper, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Boho Blossom Punch, Bow Builder Punch, Brights Candy Dots, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Pennies, SNAIL Adhesive, Word Window Punch

And I saved the best for last.  Well, so I say.  :-)   For this hop, we hoppers were all to make a fun fold card.  I chose to make a Dutch Fold card.  I found a tutorial from Beccy that was easy to follow and I just had to make one adjustment.  When I cut the first piece, it was too narrow to match well with the second piece.  I adjusted the measurement from 3-3/8" to 4-15/16" and it was perfect.

Stamp Set:  Big Day; Inks:  Jet Black StazOn, Pistachio Pudding; Stampin' Write Markers:  Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette; Card Stock:  All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Blushing Bride, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  2013-2015 In Colors Sequin Assortment, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

Here's a look at what the inside of the card looks like.

Your next moment of madness comes from Anna Smith.  This is her first time joining us on our hop, so please give her a warm welcome.  She is a very talented artist and I love her work.        

Click the button below to revisit the great projects from Buffy Cooper.

Click the button below to go back to our main blog, Wacky Watercooler Stamping.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

A Work in Progress

Just a short post for you today.  I've got a full day of busyness but I wanted to share a project I'm working on the brighten up the wall above my dining room table.  I took a bunch of frames I had on the shelf collecting dust, cleaned them up and filled them with the beautiful Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper from the 2015 Occasions Catalog.  As titled it is still a work in progress as I want to add some embellishments to the frames as well as add a few more items to the overall grouping.  Any suggestions?

Also, I wanted to remind everyone of the Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop that starts tonight at 8 p.m.  We're celebrating March Madness (sorry, not the basketball version here) and I'm sure you are going to be amazed at what group has in store for you.  So, be sure to come on back when the hop starts and let us know what inspires you.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Flower and Ferns

Seriously?!?  Eighty-three degrees in Iowa in mid-March!  All I can say is Wow!  I, for one, am loving it.  The windows are open and the fresh air is pouring in giving my home a crisp, clean smell.  Is it okay to admit that I'm looking forward to our first spring rain, too?  Talk about a clean fragrance.

Anyway, today's card is for The Paper Players Challenge.  The challenge was to create a clean and simple floral design.  I pulled out my Butterfly Basics Stamp Set and got to work.  Truth to tell, I just had fun with this one.  I actually designed it in my art journal first then, transferred it, with a few changes to a card.  Even though the butterfly is a punch out, I really think the eye is drawn first to the flower.  I went with all Rich Razzleberry so it would stand out.

Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics, Kinda Eclectic; Inks:  Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow, Pistachio Pudding, Rich Razzleberry, Tuxedo Black; Card Stock:  Coastal Cabana, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive

The inspiration for my design came from The Paper Players Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Amazing Grace

It's a new challenge for me today.  It's over at Our Daily Bread Designs.  I only have a few of their stamp sets but I do love them.  This one is the Amazing Grace Hymn stamp.  It's one of the hymns I remember my dad singing.  He had such a beautiful voice and sang at weddings, funerals, in the church choir as well as solos on Sunday mornings in church.  I do so miss hearing him sing.  It's one of my fondest memories of him.  His signature song was How Great Thou Art.  He did a recording of it and the radio station, where he was the news director, played it a few times.  They got so many calls to hear it again that it became a part of the regular morning lineup.

Vintage is not something I do very often but thought it would be a good look for the background paper as well as the hymn.  I used some vintage pearl lace that was in my stash.  It just seemed to jump out at me.  Because the entire hymn is on the stamp, it was just too big for me to use the whole thing, which is why you just see a portion of the hymn in the circle.  It would have covered up all of that pretty Graphic 45 Botanical Tea paper. It's a simple design with the hymn as the focal point.

Stamp Set: Amazing Grace Hymn (Our Daily Bread Designs); Inks:  Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!), Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Card Stock:  Botanical Tea (Graphic 45), Early Espresso and Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!); Accessories & Tools:  Tear Drop Circles (Spellbinders), Pearl Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!) Pearl Lace, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Tape Runner

The sketch and all the details for this challenge can be found at the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Pretty Pastels

Would you believe I've used butterflies again?  It seems that so many of my projects lately have included butterflies and flower.  It's a good thing that both are favorites of mine.  The one thing I miss most about living in my current apartment building is the fact that I can't have a flower garden.  I love getting my hands dirty planting and weeding and just sitting on the porch watching the butterflies come visit all my pretty flowers.  These days they visit the pretty cards I make.

Stamp Set:  Butterfly Basics, Lovely Amazing You; Inks:  Pistachio Pudding, Soft Sky; Card Stock:  All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  2013-2015 In Color Sequins Assortment, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine,  Dimensionals, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive

The soft, pretty colors are from the Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

The sketch is from a new challenge for me found at Craft Project Central.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #15

Hello!  It's time for another Sunday Christmas Card Challenge.  It took me forever to get a card made for this one.  I'm not sure what it was that I was wanting to do but it just didn't seem to want to materialize for me.  I do love these colors, though.

So, join us this week and show us what you can do with the challenge.  I always enjoy seeing all of your great projects.  I've been inspired by many of you.

Stamp Set:  Christmas Bliss; Inks:  Pacific Point, Smoky Slate; Card Stock:  Pacific Point, Whisper White, Silver Glitzy Glitter Paper (DCWV); Accessories & Tools:  Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive

For more inspiration and to join us for this week's challenge, visit Sunday Christmas Card Challenges.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Hello

Do ever have days when you make a card and you wonder where it came from?  Well, that's how I feel about this one.  I started with the Whisper White card base and the Bermuda Bay layer and it just grew from there.  Feathers, flowers, buttons, twine and lots of color.  I think Spring has sprung in my craft studio.  The weather has been so nice, I've been able to open the window that's above my desk and listen to the birds sing.  Hmmm?  I wonder if that's what made me add the feathers! 

When I started to add the Blackberry Bliss Baker's Twine, it was originally just going to be a couple of rows tied off with a bow.  For some reason I couldn't get my fingers to cooperative so I nixed the bow and braided three strands of the twine.  It doesn't show up well in the photo but it really does look neat.  I think next time I'm going to try a braid using three different colors.

Stamp Sets:  Endless Birthday Wishes - sentiment, Everything Eleanor, Four Feathers, Petite Petals; Inks:  Blackberry Bliss, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky; Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay, Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  What's Up Punch, Banner Punch, Pansy Punch, Feathers Framelits Dies, Glue Dots, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

The sketch I used is from Paper Craft Crew Challenges.  

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Through the Window

Today had me ending it with a very special treat!  My grandson, Nic, came over and had some supper with me while Dad went to check on one of his projects for work and Mom rode along.  It gave them a short kid break and gave Grandma a grandson fix.  It's been a few weeks since I've seen them so it did make my day!

As you may have seen lately, I'm going through a Spring, flowers and butterflies phase.  Today, the butterflies got a break but bright Spring colors and flowers made the lineup.  I can't wait to see flowers through my windows.  I'm thinking this will make a very nice thank you card.

Stamp Sets:  Best Day Ever, Painted Petals, Petal Potpourri; Inks:  Baked Brown Sugar, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red; Card Stock:  Baked Brown Sugar, Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper, Soft Sky, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Picture Window Die (Taylored Expressions), Extra-Large Oval Punch, 2013-2015 In Color Sequins, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

The sketch I used is from the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

It's a Celebration!

One of my favorite challenges is The Friday Mashup!  It has been a great boost to my creativity as many times the challenges take me outside my little box and get me to do something I haven't done before.  They are celebrating their 200th challenge and this one was such fun.  I really enjoyed going back through previous challenges and finding the ones that I wanted to use for this special challenge.

I used the Butterflies with Dimension from FM01 (the very first challenge) and the Black, White and Square from FM03.  It was fun to try to use as many elements as I could from both challenges.    

Stamp Sets:  Nature's Perfection, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Adhesive Sheets (Scrapbook Adhesives), Dimensionals, Simply Scored Stylus, Paper-Piercing Mat

You can find all the details for the current challenge over at The Friday Mashup!

An InLinkz Link-Up

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

A Masculine Birthday Card

Masculine birthday cards are not something I get to make very often.  Rather surprising when you factor in I have three sons and seven grandsons.  I think that's because of the three sons two birthdays are in October and one is in December.  Of the seven grandsons three are in January, one is in February, one is in July, one is in October and one is in November. That bunches most of them together so I don't get to stretch them out throughout the year.  Now that I'm volunteering to make sure each resident in my building gets a birthday card, I'll get to make more masculine ones.  I'm looking forward to it.

Stamp Sets:  Simply Sketched - sentiment (retired), Traveler; Inks:  Pear Pizzazz, Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack (retired), Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  1/8" Silver Mini Brads, Ticket Corner Punch (retired), SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Trimmer

The colors I used are from the current Colour Me...! Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha Reed

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Butterfly Birthday

While it is still to early for butterflies here in Iowa, the colors for the current Paper Players challenge had me thinking that Crisp Cantaloupe butterflies would look really pretty on a Crumb Cake card.  Along with the Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum, I'd say a breath of Spring has come my way.

To color the flowers and leaves on the vellum, I used the So Saffron and Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Markers.  It's so easy to put a little color on the vellum.  You color on the back, flip it over and attach it to your card.  It does make for a pretty background.

Stamp Sets:  Endless Birthday Wishes, Nature's Perfection; Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe; Stampin' Write Markers:  So Saffron, Wild Wasabi; Accessories & Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Adhesive Sheets (Scrapbook Adhesives), Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

All Stampin' Up!® products unless otherwise noted.

The colors are from the current challenge at The Paper Players.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Think Spring! Think pretty flowers!

The sunshine and blue skies and the fact that I have my windows open for some fresh air have truly made me feel like Spring is really on the way!  I can't begin to tell you how happy that makes me.  To be honest, we really didn't have that bad a winter here in Iowa.  It seems as though each snow that came along either went north of us or south of us.  I'm not complaining but I could have done without the bitter cold temperatures Winter brought with it.  So, I hope you enjoy these pretty Spring flowers.

Stamp Sets:  Everything Eleanor, You Brighten My Day; Inks:  Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz; Card Stock:  Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Hello Honey, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Banner Punch, Fun Flower Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Petite Petals Punch, Silver Rhinestones, Square Lattice Embossing Folder (retired), SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals

The colors I used are from the current Fab Friday Challenge.

The sketch I used is from the current CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #14

It's Sunday morning and that means it's time for a new Christmas Card Challenge.  This week we are challenging you to make a card using only sentiments.  That's right, no images, only sentiments.  It's up to you how many you use.

I don't know about you, but I found it rather difficult not to use some kind of stamped image.  :-)  I think that's because I am so used to having some kind of image on my cards.  I finally decided to add a couple of die cut layers and added the sentiment from the Beauty of the Season Stamp Set.

Stamp Set:  Beauty of the Season - sentiment (retired); Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Labels Collection Framelits Dies, 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon (retired), Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

You can find more details for the Sunday Christmas Card Challenges HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Watercooler Challenges #19

Spring is in the air here in Iowa.  For the next week or more we are going to be having wonderful temperatures which I'm sure are going to start the Crocus and other signs of Spring popping their little heads up to tease us with promises of pretty colors and beautiful flowers.  I, for one, can't wait until all signs of winter are gone.  I think as I get older, I enjoy winter less and less.

Today's card uses the Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Sheets which is one of the new Sale-A-Bration products.  I love it!  There is so much you can do with it.  Before I glued it to the So Saffron card base, I flipped it over and burnished some of the design.  When you do that, it turns the vellum white and makes for a very pretty look.  The butterflies are from the new Nature's Perfection Stamp Set, also a new Sale-A-Bration product.  I stamped them on vellum using StazOn, flipped them over and colored them using my Stampin' Write Markers to mirror the colors from the inspiration photo.  I popped them up with dimensionals.

Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics (sentiment), Nature's Perfection; Ink:  StazOn Black; Stampin' Write Markers:  Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi; Card Stock:  Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Sheets, So Saffron, Vellum; Accessories & Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Pearl Basic Jewels, Adhesive Sheets (Scrapbook Adhesives), Dimensionals, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Simply Scored Stylus

We'd love to have you join us for our current challenge.  For more inspiration and details about our challenges, visit Watercooler Challenges.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

With Sympathy

Today I woke up to sunshine and blue skies and wonderful warm.  So, instead of getting my chores done first thing, I decided to make a card for the current Pals Paper Arts Challenge.  I figured the dusting and vacuuming could wait an hour or two.

One of the services I volunteered for, here at the place where I live, is giving or sending cards to those who live here, whether it's their birthday, a get well wish or an expression of sympathy to family members who have lost their loved one.  I keep plenty of birthday cards on hand as those are the ones I go through the quickest.  Today, I made a sympathy card, not because I needed it today but because I thought the colors from the challenge would make a very nice card.  What do you think?  

Stamp Sets:  Flower Shop, Petal Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink:  Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Garden Green, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Triangle Screen Die (My Favorite Things), Bird Builder Punch, Flower Medallion, Pansy Punch, Gold Sequin Trim, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Multipurpose Glue, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

All Stampin' Up!® product unless otherwise noted.

The colors I used are from the current Pals Paper Arts Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Thinking of You

It's after midnight.  I'm still awake.  Considering I'll be losing an hour due to Daylight Savings time, you'd think I'd have sense enough to get to bed early.  Not a chance!  When I get an idea in my head it won't leave me alone until I commit it to paper and ink.  It's an unusual size card so I think that was what kept me mulling over what to do with it.  So, here it is.  My late night bout of creativity.  It almost didn't want to fit in the light tent.  I'm wondering if it might be time for a bigger one.

Stamp Sets:  Four You (sentiment), Petal Potpourri; Inks:  Basic Black, Soft Sky; Card Stock:  Antique Script (Bazzill Basics), Basic Black, Marina Mist, Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper; Accessories & Tools:  Scallop Edge Border Punch, Flower Medallion, Linen Thread, Pearl Basic Jewels, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals

The sketch is from the current Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.

The colors are from the current ColourQ Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

A Challenge Trio

Something I rarely do is try to combine three challenges on one project.  So, yes I did try it on this card.  I kept it very simple and used some of that gorgeous new Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack from Stampin' Up!®  I love that stuff!  I used my Simply Scored Stylus to burnish the back side of the vellum.  It turns the image white and it raises it up a bit which is hard to see in a picture.  I love the way it adds color to the vellum image.

The sketch is from Retro Sketches.  The colors from Colour Me...!  The theme is from The Paper Players.  I changed it up a bit as far as the sketch but I'm hoping I pulled off the basic shapes they were after.  So, tell me, how do you think I did?  :-)

Stamp Set:  Best Day Ever (sentiment); Ink:  Tangelo Twist; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Tangelo Twist, Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Flower Medallion Punch, Simply Scored Stylus, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Dimensionals, Adhesive Sheets (Scrapbook Adhesives)

Here is the sketch from Retro Sketches.

Here are the colors from Colour Me...!

Here is the theme from The Paper Players.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Sunday Christmas Card Challenges #13

Well, it's Sunday again and time for another Christmas Card Challenge.  This week we have Winter Hues.  These are some of my favorite Christmas colors when I'm not sticking strictly to traditional.  The text on the bottom banner was a happy accident.  I was going to use the other side, which is a solid tan color, but discovered the text so incorporated it instead.  

Stamp Set:  Christmas Lodge (retired); Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar; Card Stock:  Santa's List Designer Pad (Teresa Collins), Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Paper-Piercing Tool, SNAIL Adhesive, Dimensionals

I do hope you can join us for this week's Christmas Card Challenges #13.  We'd love to see what you create using this lovely color scheme.

The sketch I used is from My Favorite Things.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT