JoyOfStamping

Every year one of my co-workers/friends puts together a White Water Rafting trip to King’s River here in California. We are leaving today to head up north the the Fresno area for this expedition. We are spending the night in a hotel near the rafting spot and then rafting begins tomorrow and Saturday. These trips are always a blast…. but I somewhat chickened out of it last year. I went 2 years ago and here are some photos from our trip……

This is my husband Kurt with my sister Joyce right before we started rafting:

This is our rafting trip somewhat beginning……..

Then, they made us paddle harder…….

Next thing you know, we hit Banzai……..

And then this happens………

We had a great time….. But, you can see why I get a little nervous thinking about it. Pray that I return on Saturday in one piece……

My friend’s baby was having her first birthday party. I saw this cute dress and knew it was for Makayla. I didn’t pick up a gift bag (duh moment). But, when I got home, I remembered I had acrylic paint cans from Stampendous. I had never used this size before…. but once I did…. I was IN LOVE!

I used the Acrylic Set by Stampendous called Happy Flowers. The dress was such an inspiration for colors. I also used the Birthday Topper. I love these stamps because they are a PERFECT size for these paint cans.

Then, I whipped out my crimper….. which I haven’t used in over a year. I crimped a larger strip to place around the can.

I had fun with this project…… so much fun that I made another paint can….. LOL!

I was sad to learn that Roses In Winter was going to be retired. This is a set I will keep anyway…. along with Do the Hula and Balmy Breezes.

I got to play with some of the new SU stamps.  I was so excited about this set, but I didn’t realize how hard it would be to use.  I had an idea in my head, but it didn’t come out the same on paper….. but I’ll keep playing around with it!

Rox always puts up some cool sketches on SCS.  This weeks SC128 was pretty cool!  I FORCED myself to use the new stamps and the new colors.  Here is what I came up with.  It’s wasn’t my “best” card, but I guess it will do for now!

 Hmmmm….. now to think about my swap……

It’s always nice to see what color combos Emily comes up with for the Color Challenges on SCS. This week was Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip. I rarely use Cameo Coral, so it was nice to blow the dust off this color. As soon as I read what the color challenge was, I immediately thought of this Printed Cardstock by Chatterbox. It’s called Cottage Lilacs. I pulled out some scraps for the background.

I used the Stylized Flowers Cuttlebug Folder on the Certainly Celery piece. I just love my cuttlebug!!!!!!

Marisa was colored using reinkers and Fantastix. I paper pieced the shopping bag.

Retail Therapy stamp was MFT’s Say Charge. And I added the new Adorn It Jewel Droplets next to the sentiment. Jami spotted these cool glass looking embellishments when we were at our first booth at CHA. I just love these droplets.

One thing I love about this whole stamping world is getting to know some of the most amazing people…. not just stampers, but people.  I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to get to know Taylor VanBruggen.  She is not only a talented stamper, but one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.  Today is her birthday….. she’s turning the BIG 2-5!  LOL!  I laugh because it seems like AGES ago for me!  LOL!

When we got the new Junkitz Padsin, I immediately thought of Taylor.  I was thinking “oooohhh…. the cupcake paper”.  But, did I send it in time?  Nope!  I’ve been such a slacker lately!  I love the Junkitz 6×6 Paper Pads because their images are scaled down…. perfect for cardmakers.

We also got these new Fashion FriendzyChics from Stampendous.  This is Jennifer.  I thought it was fitting to use her since she’s holding a cake.

And I am absolutely addicted to Michelle Wooderson’s tent topper cards.  Michelle always comes up with the coolest layouts.

I hope Taylor has an awesome birthday today!

Till next time……

Splitcoaststampers always has such awesome challenges.  The ladies that run these challenges every week are amazing! :)  The sketch challenge is run by Rox71.  The sketches are always so much fun.  I haven’t played in a while, but this past weekend, I needed some inspiration, so SCS is always the place to go!

 Peggy was a little large for the sketch, but I thought I’d give her a try anyway.  I was in the coloring mood and I also saw this cool technique by Lauren Meader with the fantastix and the Versamagic.  I thought I would try it with the Brilliance Ink since Pearlescent Beige is about the color of my car.  And I had fun paper piecing the different pieces of the Scarlet’s letter paper for the bags.  You can’t really see it too much in this picture, but I used the Sakura Stard on her glasses for a little bling.

I was going for the “road” look for the black section, but after creating it, it just looks like a black strip of paper!  LOL!

This was a fun project!

When I saw this Berry Set from Stampendous, I knew I had to have it!  There is something about strawberries that are just so fun!   Plus, I always think of my friend Pam Hooten (aka Iris on SCS) when I see sstrawberries.  Piris and I became friends a long time ago on SCS when she made a strawberry and my jaw just dropped to the floor.  I loved it so much I left a comment on her card.  A few days later, that card was in my mailbox.  I was in awe.  She mentioned how her maiden name was Berry.  So now, I always think of her when I see berry stamps.  We remain very good friends and I am always in awe of her work.  She is our eclectic Friend of the week.  Check out her gallery when you get a chance.  She is such an inspiration.

I made the strawberry a little fuzzy by adding some fun flock.  I just loooooove that stuff and am so addicted to it.   I also cut the strawberry out and popped it up with a dimensional.