#TGIFC144: Card in a Box

Today is a special day. It deserved a little celebration with a special card, and this week's TGIF Challenge of the card in a box technique was the perfect choice! You can find a tutorial for the card in a box technique here.

8 years ago today, I received the first email from my husband. We met on a small online dating site specifically for Lutherans. Sadly, it no longer exists. I never thought I would be one to meet my significant other on the Internet, but I wouldn't go back and change a thing! Our church body is small enough that soon after we started dating, we discovered that my mother-in-law and aunt had been good college friends, so much so that my aunt still had my husband's birth announcement. That at least made me feel a little bit better about dating someone I had met online. Anyways, the rest is history, and we will be married 7 years this June.


I hope you like my card, and that you'll play along with the challenge, too!


Stamps: Dare to Dream (host), Petal Palette
Ink: Basic Black, Calypso Coral
Paper: Pool Party, Whisper White, Myths & Magic Specialty DSP, Bubbles & Fizz DSP, Window Sheets
Accessories & Tools: Sweet & Sassy Framelits, Up & Away Thinlits, Big Shot, Iridescent Sequin Assortment

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

#GDP121: You Are One of a Kind, Valentine

It has been awhile since I've been so excited about a project. But this one I love! The Global Design Project's color challenge got me started. I have followed this group for awhile, but this is my first time participating in one of their challenges. Isn't this combination of colors fun?

My daughter is in kindergarten this year, and I've literally been waiting all year to design valentines for her class. She informed me that she wanted to make her own, but I think I've changed her mind. Here is the girl version:

3D projects aren't usually my thing, but I can't get over how well this one turned out! I'm excited to work off of this and design the boy version next. Stay tuned!


Stamps: Magical Day, Labeler Alphabet
Ink: Basic Black, Bermuda Bay, Peekaboo Peach, Sweet Sugarplum
Paper: Sweet Sugarplum, Whisper White, Myths & Magic Specialty DSP
Accessories & Tools: Wink of Stella, Peekaboo Peach Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon, Shimmer Ribbon Pack (SAB), Blender Pens, Iridescent Sequin Assortment, Lots to Love Box Framelits Dies, Sweet & Sassy Framelits Dies, Magical Mates Framelits Dies, Big Shot

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Panda Valentine

I told you I'd be back with more Party Pandas! This time, I used this set to make a Valentine's card, and I think it turned out really cute with some products from the Painted With Love suite.

I love this paper! Every sheet has gold foil on one side, and the other patterns, like this one, are great too! Perfect for valentines and more.


Stamps: Party Pandas (SAB)
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Powder Pink, Whisper White, Painted With Love Specialty DSP
Accessories & Tools: Love Mini Tinsel Trim Combo Pack, 2 1/4" Circle Punch, Sweet & Sassy Framelits, Metallics Sequin Assortment

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Sweet Soiree Memories & More Baby Card

Happy Friday! I almost didn't get a second blog post up this week because I have been feeling absolutely terrible since Tuesday. I thought the first trimester sickness was over with, but apparently this is going to be a whole pregnancy thing. The good news is that I'm feeling better today, for now. And it's Friday! We usually go out to dinner on Fridays, so I always look forward to it because I don't have to cook. Don't get me wrong, I love to cook, but not so much when I'm feeling nauseous. The less meals I have to cook these days, the better!


Enough about me. My sister had a beautiful baby girl on Sunday, and I wanted to make a special card to congratulate her. It sadly hasn't been put in the mail yet, but soon!

I used the Sweet Soiree Memories & More card pack that you can get for FREE from the Sale-a-bration Catalog. I love the colors and florals in this suite - so springy and pretty! These cards can be used for memory keeping, but I think they make great cards too. And I love them with the Wood Textures DSP Stack! I will be using most of mine this way, I think.


Time to get back to catching up on household chores from the week. Have a great weekend!


Stamps: Layering Love, Petal Palette
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Wood Textures DSP Stack
Accessories & Tools: Sweet Soiree Memories & More Cards (SAB), Whisper White 1/4" Organza Ribbon, Rhinestones, Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

Party Time with Pandas

It's the happiest time of the Stampin' Up! year - Sale-a-bration! Today's card features one of the stamp sets that you can get for FREE with a $50 purchase. It's called Party Pandas, and it's so much fun! I've been creating with it this past week, and you'll definitely be seeing more projects featuring this stamp set soon.

I paired the pandas with the Foil Frenzy Specialty DSP, because what party doesn't need a little shine? Speaking of parties, if you'd like to learn more about the new products in this year's Occasions and Sale-a-bration catalogs, make sure to join me for my online launch party this week. As a special bonus, all orders placed through January 12 using hostess code MUPJNDPX will receive a free handmade card for every $25 spent. Free, free, and more free! Shop and browse my online store here.


Stamps: Party Pandas
Ink: Basic Black, Stampin' Write Markers - Soft Sky, Berry Burst, Peekaboo Peach, Lemon Lime Twist
Paper: Foil Frenzy Specialty DSP, Lemon Lime Twist, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Naturally Eclectic DSP (banner and scalloped circle)
Accessories & Tools: Layering Circles Framelits, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Big Shot

Happy Stamping!

Rachel

2018 Word of the Year: Bloom

Wow, it has been since November that I last blogged! Well, it is a new year, and time for a new start.


I thought a good place to start this year would be a post about some of my goals for the year, and the "word of the year" I've chosen. For the last couple of years, I've had a word in mind, but I've never shared publicly. That word was THRIVE. Then 2017 happened. We moved - kind of unexpectedly, we lost a baby to miscarriage, my oldest started kindergarten, and I experienced a hard first trimester of a thankfully healthy pregnancy. And those are just the big things. It was a year of big changes, adjustment, and the word of the year kind of turned into SURVIVE.


So this year I wanted to choose a different word. Maybe some of you have heard the phrase "bloom where you are planted." I thought this was fitting especially because I have not always been content with where I have been "planted." It is a reminder that God puts you in the place where you are for a reason, and with His help, you can do great things! So my word for this year is BLOOM.


I am still using the Love Today Planner, and I wanted to make a page to go in the front with the word BLOOM.

I used the Brushwork Alphabet stamp set, the flowers from the Wood Words stamp set, plus a few accessories from the brand new Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit. I colored the flowers with Watercolor Pencils and a Blender Pen.


I hope this reminder helps me focus on my goals for this year: first and foremost to take care of my family. God has placed me in a season of life where my husband, children, and home need the majority of my attention, and I want to do my best to fulfill that role. Second, I have long hoped to be chosen for Stampin' Up!'s Artisan Design Team. Instead of focusing on building a business this year, I will focus on making cards and projects to share on my blog. That's it. Two major goals for the year. I have loved reading the goals of my family and friends on social media over the last few days, and I'd love to know what your goals for the new year are, too!


Stamps: Brushwork Alphabet, Wood Words
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Shimmery White cardstock
Accessories & Tools: Watercolor Pencils, Blender Pens, Sweet Soiree Embellishment Kit

Happy 2018, and happy stamping!

Rachel