April Paper Pumpkin, Seriously!

My paper pumpkin kit arrived last week. At least I hope it was last week and not the week before, or I've really lost my mind.  This kit is a perfect way to wind down from a rough day and re-set my brain. Easy, but I could still be creative.

Here's the sequence of me opening the box:

 Now the inside:

 What's that? Bubba snuck his big old hands into the box before I could. He's so proud of himself!

 Luckily, he let me have my stuff unbothered.

 This month we got 4 card bases, sticker layers, buttons, and linen thread. The stamps say, SERIOUSLY, love your guts, and you kick booty. These are perfect cards for my students! I can't wait to give them out!

I made one like directions said, and then switched up the other three:

Happy Stamping!


 

Happy Birthday, MDS style!

It's been a crazy week here at the Mattson-Blume Household. Bubba went to a conference for three days so I thought I'd get more time for stamping. Somehow it didn't work out that way! Instead, I got ready for the Stamping and Scrapbooking Sale Saturday. It was a blast. Thanks to all who came! Saturday night, we celebrated my nephew Tim's 14th Birthday--Taco Bell and Ice Cream Cake. Bubba and I gave him a gift that couldn't be wrapped, so I made a card with My Digital Studio:

I printed on my own printer and adhered it to a Gumball Green Base. It's a certificate for Drum Lesson this summer. We got a smile and a "Cool!" from him, so I think it was a hit.


Happy Stamping!

Retirement Lists Posted Today!

 Out with the old in with the new! The Stampin' Up! catalog year is coming to an end May 31! Check out the lists to make sure you have the supplies, stamps, and papers you want!


Retirement Stamp List

Retiring Accessories List

Order fast via my online Stampin' Up! store at www.lilyinkpad.stampinup.net. or directly here.

 

Creativity Journal #2: Be a kid again

Sunday, I found some time to craft something I liked to do as a kid. Well, teenager. I made a daisy chain bracelet and journaled about it in my This and That Journal.

My task was to remember what I loved as a kid and try it again.

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.--Pablo Picasso

I love the washi tape. I used it to adhere my bracelet into my book until I get a photo printed! Very cool. I also added more stickers and had some fun with HANDWRITING-- what a novel idea.

Happy Stamping!

 

Out comes the Sun!

 Hopefully! At least in Wisconsin, we hope this every day in spring!

Stamps: Boo-tiful
Paper: Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Floral District Designer Series Paper
Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue
Accessories:  Big Shot, Cloudy Day Embossing Folder, Brights Buttons, Daffodil Delight Stitched Ribbon, Blender Pen or Aquapainter.

For this card, I wanted to mimic the clouds in the boots with the embossing folder, so I also added a sun for contrast! We stamped and colored the image with a blender pen to get a nice blue on the boot. Other than that, it was a pretty straightforward card!

Happy Stamping!

 

Purse Treat Favor

I have share today that I have totally forgotten to share-- favors for my sister's birthday workshop.

I used the purse die to make a simple purse filled with M&M's, her favorite candy.

Stamps: Pretty Petites
Paper: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White
Ink: Primrose Petals
Accessories: Subtles Brads, Petite Label Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Big Shot, Cello Bags, Scallop Pretty In Pink Ribbon

Can you see the little layer behind the YUM tag? You might be thinking that, "Stampin' Up! doesn't have  that size punch, do they?" Well, you're right.  I used the Decorative label punch to shorten a punched decorative label. See:

Happy Stamping!

 

Dolled-Up Birthday Kit Available

Like kits? This one is for you!



Direct from Stampin' Up!: "We're excited to introduce our second Submit a Project kit--the Dolled-Up Birthday Kit--voted on by you via our Facebook page. This gorgeous birthday card was created by Chris Gilmore, a manager from Coshocton, Ohio. Congratulations, Chris!
The Dolled-Up Birthday kit includes the following:

• Dolled-Up Birthday Photopolymer Stamp (1)
• 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Crumb Cake Cardstock (6 pieces)
• 2" x 4-1/4" Very Vanilla Cardstock (6 pieces)
• Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes (6)
• Tea Lace Paper Doilies (6)
• Dress Up die-cuts (6)
• Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Spot (1)
• Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim (6 pieces)
• Sponge Dauber (1)

Get everything you need to make six cards for only $15.95 (item 133913)!"

How cool! Go to my website--www.lilyinkpad.stampinup.net to order!

Happy Stamping!

 

Happy Birthday with Many Candles!

Boy Birthdays are on order for my Stamping Celebrations group, so here is one I designed that could easily be a "boy" card.

Stamps: Best of Birthdays
Paper: Island Indigo, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Designer Series Paper Stack
Ink: Island Indigo, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Real Red Striped Ribbon, Argyle Embossing Folder, Big Shot

I made this a quick and easy and cute card, so that my group could make multiples in a hurry.


Happy Stamping!

 

This and That! Journal Just for Me!

I was super-excited to share with you today what I worked on last weekend. My very own creativity journal got it's start today even though I've had the idea for probably two years. I used the BRAND NEW This and That Journal Bundle as my start. Here's the cover:

I cut out all of those hexagons from the Designer Series Paper. Funny, later I found that one design included hexagons. I could have used those! I figured out that with my bone folder, I could trace the shape I wanted to cut it. It got easier as I went. I finished it off with Washi Tape, and stickers.

 This is the back cover. I added a single page of Designer Paper and then dollied it up with more stickers.

Here is the inside cover and first section--QUOTES.

Again, I used one Designer Paper Design on the inner cover with a sticker. I then used the stickers I could fold in half for a tab--and made Quotes my number one section. Here's my first layout:

I picked out favorite quotes, wrote them in my own handwriting (I prefer to type lately) and then decorated it up with my doodles. I added a few stickers and I tried the date stamp. This was so much fun. I felt like a kid again and that was nice.

Stay tuned for more pages as I work on them!


Happy Stamping!

 

Join or Hostess with Stampin Up! and Get MORE!

Stampin' Up! announced today, a recruiting promotion where you get $30 more for the $99 starter kit!  If you prefer to hostess, get $30 more hostess dollars with a $350 workshop!  Contact me today to book a workshop or join my team!


 

Happy Stamping!

 

April Snows Bring Mother's Day Flowers!

Ok. So I know that's not the way that the saying goes, but in Wisconsin, Spring can bring a lot of things--like snow and ice and my 7th and 8th snow day of the school year this week! To celebrate the fact that spring flowers will appear before August, here's a mother's day card:

I totally cased this card from Kim Cagle at Stamp and Sew for Fun. It turns out she cased it from SandI MacIver!  Stampin' Up! demonstrators love to share ideas and new techniques and this one caught my eye right away. In fact, I was choosing between Sandi and Kim's cards before I went with Rich Razzleberry!

This technique is pretty cool.  You emboss in white. Then use a blender pen to apply White Craft Ink to the flowers. Finally, you use a blender pen to add color to the flowers. I love this.

On a personal note. Today is my grandma Leone's birthday. She passed a couple of years ago and I miss her dearly every spring. She loved Spring. Her favorite flowers were Jonquils and the wildflowers in the woods. She would have liked this card for it's colors.

Happy Stamping!

 

Another Change!

But it's a great one! Stampin' Up! announced yesterday that wood stamp sets would be getting new packaging, better for storage! How awesome!

These cases will fit on the same shelves as Clear Mount. Who wants to tell Bubba that I need a new bookcase? I think a trip to Ikea might be in order! he he he. I love this idea as right now I hide my wood mount stamps in metal shoeboxes! You can also buy the new cases in the new catalog and switch all of your old sets. You'll also be able to download a template to print your own labels. Of course, that is all with the new Stampin' Up! catalog released May 31!


Happy Stamping!

 

Best Mother Card

I love the flowers that Stampin' Up! chose for their Best of Flowers Collection to celebrate 25 years of Stampin' Up! I never earned this hydrangea when it was released as a Hostess stamp as a much larger image. I think I prefer it small.

Stamps: Best of Flowers, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant and Lucky Limeade Markers
Accessories: Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Oval Framelits, Needlepoint Border Embossing folder, Simply Scored, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, Blender Pen, Big Shot

To stamp the Hydrangea, I used markers directly on the stamp, and then used a blender pen to add more color the image.

To make the lattice, I first sent the background through the Big Shot, so the Needlepoint Border was even across the bottom. I placed my background upside down on the diagonal plate and scored at every inch. Next, I rotated my paper and scored again at 1" increments. Easy and a neat effect!

Happy Stamping!

 

Bomb's Away!

New Photopolymer Stamp set released today by Stampin' Up! and it's funny!

 Order online today! www.lilyinkpad.stampinup.net

Happy Stamping!

 

New Digital Downloads for Mom

or at least ideas to use to make fabulous gifts for mom!
 

 Cool-- I love the idea of a coupon book that's quick and easy to put together!
 
 Great card ideas!


for the graduate!

You can purchase digital downloads from my online store at www.lilyinkpad.stampinup.net

 Happy Designing!
  

Black and White

After all that color this weekend, how about I show you something in black and white?

Stamps: Blue Ribbon
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Hexagon Embossing Folder, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Finishing Touches Edgelits, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch

I used the Hexagon Embossing Folder 3/4 of the way across the Whisper White. Then, I added the layers and stamped images.

I finally figured out how to punch out the Medallion without cutting off my tails!

I first cut out the tails and then slipped them up when I put the stamped image in the punch and punched! It's way easier than it looks!

Happy Stamping!

 

Lucky Limeade: Retiring Colors Farewell Blog Hop

Welcome to Lily's Ink Pad as I say farewell to one of my favorite colors, Lucky Limeade. As a 2011-2013 In Color, I knew it was time to start saying goodbye. With the color refresh, Lucky Limeade's fate is sealed and it will soon be gone. Never fear, you can still enjoy it here!

My friends at Stampin' Addicts have decided to throw together quick Retiring Color Blog Hop so we can appreciate the Retiring Colors one last time. As all of them are available on a "While Supplies Last" basis, you might want to place any stocking up orders ASAP.


You may have come from Debra's Blog featuring River Rock or you may be starting on my blog. Next up is Betty's Summary of Colors.  Any way you click you'll be going in a big loop to 11 other stops til you get back here. You can always chat it up at Stampin' Addicts to share your appreciation!

Well, I have ONE project to share featuring one of my favorite colors.

Stamps: A Little Bit of Spring, Best of Birthdays
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Blender Pen, 1" Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Big Shot, Woodgrain Embossing folder, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Stripes Embossing Folder, Argyle Embossing Folder, Clouds Embossing Folder

That little frog has been nagging me to use him in a card, but I couldn't think up a great idea until today when I imagined him grinning at me from around a corner. The design just popped into my head and this is what I got! Cute, huh?

Well, there's more to see. Click onward to Betty's blog for a Summary of Colors or go backwards to Debra's Blog for River Rock!
 


Happy Stamping!