You Simply Have to Fly!

Step 1: Begin with all white cardstock.

Step 2: Recognize that you really are a clean and simple designer and just embrace that.

Step 3: Create this card.



Oooohh... wait. You wanted steps for actually creating the card? Okay. I can do that.

Step 1: Head on over to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and purchase the Butterbows Stamp Set and the Bubble Labels Fri-dies. While you are there, you may as well pick up a couple of other things because: Awesomesauce.

Step 2: Trim card base, fold, set aside for now.

Step 3: Stamp Butterbow in Little Piggy ink from WPlus9 on a white panel. Stamp it again on Post It tape. Cut out the butterbow on post it tape and place over the Little Piggy Butterbow. (You guys, I am NOT making these names up. For reals.)

Step 4: Ink entire panel with Fairy Dust ink from Wplus9. (Nope. Still not making it up.) Allow sufficient time to dry and heat set it anyway for good measure.

Step 5: Stamp and emboss sentiment with VersaMark ink and silver embossing powder.

Step 6: Die cut large Bubble Label from more white cardstock (Because that's all we are using, remember?), cut in half, adhere beneath butterbow.

Step 7: SEQUINS!!!!!



Step 8: Head on over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog for all kinds of awesome inspiration AND get ready for a new release later this week! WHAT?! Yup. Totally.

For reals, though. You should probably do all of the above.

Have a Happy!

Life is Delicious!

That is pretty much my take, anyway. Life is delicious. And food is delicious. And you need food to live. Therefore, we are back to life being delicious! See how that works? (This is likely why I had to sign up for three fitness classes. For reals, though.)

I was recently sent these super cute Donut Die-namics and Donuts and Sprinkles stamp set to create something adorable. You guys, for REALS, these are so much fun!



I decided to create a good ol' Dunkin Donuts strawberry frosted with sprinkles. Because I am a Boston girl, what can I say? I die cut the donut base and then inked the edges to make it look real-ish. (Yes, that is totally a word. Don't argue with me.) I then die cut the frosting and cut the sprinkles OUT of the frosting.

A couple of things to mention here: 1. I LOVE that these dies allow for so much flexibility! You can seriously create awesome layers. 2. I am a lazy crafter. There was NO WAY I was going to glue on a gagillion (yup, that's a word, too) tiny sprinkles, so I used some ingenuity to get that same dimension with less work.



I cut the sprinkles from the frosting layer and then adhered it to the inked donut base. I then used Ranger Enamel Accents to fill in the sprinkle 'holes' the die had left on the donut. They look like REAL SPRINKLES, YOU GUYS!!!!

Sigh.

I do so love when something comes together. For the background, I stamped the Simon Says Stamp Wide Stripe first, allowing it to dry thoroughly before continuing. I then did a little stamp surgery to cut the sentiment apart, bent it to make it curved like a donut, and then stamped and embossed it on the background above and below where I planned to place my donut using my Fiskars Stamp Press. I popped the donut up with a bit of foam tape and ended up with a SUPER stinking cute card.

It makes me happy. And hungry. Iced coffee and a donut, anyone?

Have a Happy!

Plan On It!

Are you a planner person? You know, a PAPER planner person. Do you sit down with colorful pens and your planner and get your schedule not ONLY set out on paper, but with colorful, artistic flair? Well, folks, if this is you, I have good news. If this is NOT you, I still have good news, because it COULD be you!

Simon Says Stamp has a new planner release! This release includes three new planner-centric stamp sets, four new sets of color cubes ink pads, and two adorable dies for planner and pocket scrapbooking use! The Plan On It! release is filled with fun goodies!!!



Here is a little peek at my planner using some of these great new stamps and inks! The inks are hybrid inks, making them a great choice for planner use. They won't sink as deeply into the paper as a dye ink, but they also dry quickly and will not transfer to the opposite page like a pigment ink would. These are Simon Says Stamp's first hybrid inks and I am wicked excited about them! I am a hybrid ink fan!

Head on over to the Simon Says Stamp store to check out the new goodies and pick some up! Seriously, even if you are not a planner geek, these would be great for pocket scrapbooking and other fun projects! 

Wishful Thinking

Yup. I've resorted to wishful thinking. Yesterday was a fabulous 41 degrees, but, alas, today is around 29 again. And there were FLAKES. Fortunately, they are saying less than an inch so the snow is pretty much non-existant today, but STILL! I just want spring. It's time, folks. For reals, though.



And these birds. In real life. I want them. On my windowsill. (I don't even HAVE windowsills. HAHAHAHA!) But, seriously, you guys, these birds are the CUTEST THINGS EVER! I colored him with Spectrum Noir colored pencils and gamsol. Kept him pretty simple.



And with that, I leave you to your day.

Have a Happy, folks!

A Little Girly

We are going GIRLY over on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog this week! We want to see you create a card or project with a feminine flair! The design team is using Doodlebug Designs products this week. If you love enamel shapes, you should totally check them out! You don't have to use them to play along, but we would love to see what you do with them if you have some!



I decided to create a clean and simple girly design. I cut and embossed the window using Spellbinders Pierced Squares. I used the piercing die on the inside to add some visual interest and texture to the window. A few enamel shapes from Doodlebug Design add a pop of color from inside the window.



One lucky participant is going to win a $50 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp Store! You can enter up to five NEW designs! I can't wait to see your girly creations!

Supplies:

White Cardstock: Crafter's Companion Ultra Smooth White

Dies: Spellbinders Pierced Squares

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Many Thanks

Enamel Shapes: Doodlebug Designs

Embossing Powder: Ranger Liquid Platinum

Heat Gun: Milwaukee

Have a Happy!

Firmoo Glasses Review and SALE!

Guys, I wear glasses. I know this is not news to most of you, however, what MAY be news is the fact that I LOVE wearing glasses. Yes, I need them to actually see anything, but I am totally okay with that because I love them. I have since my sophomore year in high school when the doctor laughed out loud to my responses upon reading the eye chart and confirmed that I do, indeed, need glasses. What I do NOT love, however, is paying ridiculous amounts of money to acquire cute glasses. I mean, for REALS, these are on my face EVERY SINGLE DAY, I want to mix it up a bit, have some fun with it.



Enter FIRMOO.COM.

Firmoo offers a wide selection of SUPER CUTE frames available both in prescription and clear lenses. You can get traditional or sunglasses, as well! AND... your first pair is FREE! Yes, you heard that right. You can get your first pair of glasses from FIRMOO Free! You just pay for shipping!

I actually own several pair of Firmoo glasses and I truly love them! They recently sent me a new pair to try out and review for you. I chose these adorable tortoise and blue frames. And yes. I love them. Lots.



These are GREAT quality glasses. I always order the anti-glare coating, but other than that, I generally keep my lenses pretty basic. You do have several options to upgrade them, if you so choose. One thing I have noticed about Firmoo glasses is that the fit. I don't know how, I don't know why, but when these come in the mail, they fit well and I love that!



This is a red and clear pair I recently purchased and one of my absolute favorites! They feel so ME! Love that!



This pair is a fun semi-dorky tortoise pair. They are large lenses and totally fun! These ones work really well with some outfits and I love that they are ready for me right when I need them!



If you aren't into funky designs, they do have some awesome basics, too! This black pair is my go-to. They go with everything, they are comfy, and they suit me well.



And this fun turquoise pair adds a pop of color in a simple design. These ones are particularly great when I wear neutrals and want just a little punch!

I honestly haven't shown you all of my Firmoo glasses. Yes. I love them. For reals, though.  If you haven't purchased from Firmoo before, I can't recommend them enough! It does take a bit of time for them to arrive, as they ship from China, however, they arrive with a free hard case, a free soft case, and lens cloth, and a keychain glasses repair kit. If you have ordered from Firmoo before, they are having a great sale (code: SPD6543), so treat yourself to a new pair for spring!

Have a happy!

All links in this post are affiliate links. I was sent a free pair of glasses to review. All photos, thoughts, and opinions are my own.

Unforgettable...That's What You Are

Yup. Totally just dropped that ear worm. HA! Sorry. It had to happen. No, for reals, though, it did. It's Monday and I need entertainment, what can I say? BUT, at least I have a couple of bits of awesome to share with you today!

First, I have a WINNER for the $20 Simon Says Stamp Gift Voucher Giveaway! And the Winner is...

MARCIE SHARP!

Congratulations, Marcie!

And I also have a super fun card to share with you today!



This one uses a couple of different background stamps along with the adorable new Unforgettable stamp set from WPlus9. Ummm, you guys, for reals, though...I love this stamp set. I actually created this one awhile ago right after I got it because I HAD to use it, I just haven't had the chance to post it yet, so, well, here it is, folks!



To create the banner, I stamped and embossed the Hero Arts Tiny Flags background stamp on watercolor paper with Matte Dull embossing powder. I then watercolored over the embossing and cut and embossed the banner using Spellbinders® Baby Buntings dies.  I stamped the background stripes on my card based and then accented with brads (yes, you can still use those), some May Arts string, and a few sequins.

This card was created purely for fun and I LOVE that about it! It was so much fun to pull together and it makes me smile!

Supplies:

Stamps: Hero Arts Tiny Flags, Simon Says Stamp Wide Stripes, WPlus9 Unforgettable
Die: Spellbinders® Baby Buntings
Ink: My Favorite Things Black Licorice Hybrid, Simon Says Stamp Fog, VersaMark
Watercolors: Zig Kuretake
Watercolor Paper: Tim Holtz
String: May Arts
Tools: Corner Chomper, Copic Markers, Milwaukee Heat Gun
Embossing Powder: Wow Clear Matte Dull, Ranger Liquid Platinum
Other: White Mini Brads, Blue Sequins