FATHER KNOWS BEST...

Another Father's Day & another handmade card!

When dad gets a card from me, he always looks closely at the envelope... if he sees a rounded flap (exclusive to Stampin' Up!) he always says..."Ooh~ this is a good one!"

So this year was no exception, he thought the color scheme was awesome, and especially like the 'Flannel Plaid' background used.

That's one reason dad is great... he really appreciates the time I take making cards for him. And he keeps every single one!

STAMPs: Linen, Artifacts, Frames & Finials, Flannel Plaid
INKs: Really Rust,Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, Versamark
PAPERs: Really Rust, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
EMBELLISHMENTS: Navy organza, aged copper brad, clear emboss powder

CONGRATS, GRADUATES!

Hard to believe, but my 'baby' cousin graduated from high school this year...

This card uses a retired stampin up set, Sweet and Simple Salutations, as well as a retiring set, Crosshatch background.

Hard to tell but the colors are Not Quite Navy for the cardstock base & layer & image ink, Night of Navy for the Crosshatch, and brushed silver cardstock for the other layer. The sentiment is silver embossing, and there is iridescent ice emboss on the image. Topping it of are navy brads.

NEW STAMPS...YAY!

...funny how I am filled with so much joy I could kiss a complete stranger dressed in brown, as long as he is bringing me a box with a Stampin' Up! logo on it!

I got this set last night & could not wait to use it!

The In Colors are all going away in 3 1/2 weeks, how sad!
Vintage Violet, Buckaroo Blue, True Thyme, etc... I'm thinking of buying at least 2 more packs of each of the "retiring" cardstock.

I "colored" the right side of the flower with a versamarker & added iridescent ice embossing powder. I like how the marker darkened part of the flower... what an easy way to add depth to something you've stamped!

...GOING TO THE CHAPEL...

Well, after 4 3/4 years of dating (yes, I believe in long engagements!), I'm walking (no, running) down the aisle this Friday....

Here are the invitations I sent out~ S-I-M-P-L-E.

I found silver envelopes & flat cards at Target (we all know how much I love Target) as well as the Fiskars Lace punch. Silver sheer ribbon & silver rings from Michaels accent the top.

I printed the text on sheer vellum using my computer & printer, then punched the top & bottom of the trimmed page with the lace punch.

You can't see it, but I stamped the silver flat with SU!'s French Flair background stamp & embossed it with silver. I then folded the vellum over, punched the top with SU!'s horizontal slot punch, to put the ribbon through, slid on the rings & tied it in a bow.

To finish it off, I stamped the flap of the envelope with a stamp from SU!'s Carte Postale & embossed with silver.

It's a small gathering, so I only had to make 10!

WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT...?

...SECRET SISTERS?

My last few posts have mentioned things I've made for my secret sister.... so here's some explanation...

In January of this year I joined the online community Splitcoaststampers, thanks to the urging of my upline, Kelley!

Splitcoaststampers (from now on 'SCS') has an extensive gallery, displaying tons of ideas for almost every SU! stamp set! How cool is that?

And as a Stampin' Up! demo was also able to join the demo only forum, and participate in swaps with other demos as well as sign up for the SCS 7th Round of the Dabblin' Demo Secret Sisters! I had a blast getting 'happy mail' from my big secret sister, Sarah, and getting to know her, was a wonderful experience!

At the end of the round you send your little secret sister a "reveal" package, although Jen knew it was me all along (long story!) As part of her reveal, I bought a little 6x6 chipboard memory album at Target & covered it with au chocolate paper by SU! I also put together a 6x6 page of me & my little family all wearing funny hats!

Here is a pick of the whole package: