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This is the other cardfront I made for OnStage swaps.  I thought we needed a nice Springtime card and this is what I came up with.

I tried something new by using the flower stems from the Daisy Delight stamp set and not the daisy itself.  They almost look like they are blowing in the wind.  After I stamped the stems on the Whisper White, it was looking a little blah.  Sponges to the rescue!  I took a piece of a sponge and the Old Olive stamp pad and sponged about a quarter of the way up the paper.  It added just what I was looking for.  It was a great to way to fill up the white space.

Peekaboo Peach is part of the In-Colors that will be retiring very soon.  Here they are.  Say Good-bye to them.

But don't forget, for every color that retires, they are replaced by another.  I'm looking forward to these new In-Colors and the returning ones too.  I was able to pre-order the new colors in the new stamp pads, but unfortunately, haven't had time to play with them yet.  I'm thinking maybe Sunday night.  Yikes!  That's a long time away.

What color are you most excited for?  I'm leaing towards Lovely Lipstick with Blueberry Bushel a close second.  

That's it for tonight.  It's been a long day and I'm ready for bed.  As always, click on the picture for dimensions and instructions.

Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

 

  

  

 Happy Weekend!

After all the snow we got the past week, it's almost gone and temps will be in the 50s.  It was really weird seeing the snow against green grass, not dead grass.  I'm so not complaining.  We are hoping the weather will last do we can grill out on Sunday.  Just no rain please.

I had small pieces of Myth and Magical Speciality dsp laying around.  One thing I hate is throwing away scraps.  This card was desiged around scraps.  Would you have guessed?

This was super easy.  The three pieces of dsp are 3 x 1 3/4.  The Sweet Sugarplum is 5 1/2 x 3 1/2.  Adhere those, wrap a ribbon around it, stamp a sentiment and you are done.  It's super easy and great if you need to make multiple cards. 

Sometimes you are using the DSP but run out because normally there are only two sheets of the same pattern in a pack of paper.  By using a design like this, you get three different designs, but not using a lot of paper.  You can really make quite a few of these cards with just one sheet of 12 x 12 piece of paper.  As the saying goes...A little goes a long way.  

By the sentiment, I used some Enamel dots.  If you don't happen have them on hand, you can always substitute pearls or rhinestones if you have those.  They did add a nice touch to the sentiment.  

Easy card goes with an easy blog post.  I like that.  Have a great weekend!

Click on the picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time..Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

The snowstorm is done.  I think we got 4-6 inches.  Now today it was 49 degrees outside.   The weather doesn't know if it's supposed to be spring or winter.  I was glad that I didn't shovel because by tomorrow it'll be all melted.  The good news is that we aren't supposed to get any more snow, at least for a while, and this weekend it's supposed to be in the 60s.  There's hope for spring yet.

My recipe today is one that I tried this week.  I didn't not like it, but I think I need to adjust a few things.

Healthy Apple Pie Smoothie

6 oz Vanilla Yogurt

1 apple, chopped

1/2 cup milk

1 Tablespoon Honey

1/2 cup ice cubes

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth,

You don't even  have to peel the apple.  That helps make it super easy, so I'm liking that part.  It tasted like an apple pie, but just different since it was in a smoothie version.  I didn't measure the cinnamon, but definately would add more than what I had.  I just sprinkled some in the blender and let it go. 

Like I said, I'd try it again.  Wasn't too bad, but maybe I just have to get used to it.  It was a smoothie without chocolate.  Maybe that is what is throwing me off.  

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

Mother Nature is at it again.  It's April and we are in the middle of another snowstorm.  Yes, another snowstorm.  Some schools just west of here closed early.  We are expected to get another 4-6 inches.  This is crazy!  At work we have a lawn and garden area.  The few bushes we have are now covered in snow.  Hopefully we won't get flowers any time soon.  My husband was lucky to escape before the storm hit.  He's in Texas and was complaining that the temperature there is already dropping.  Not getting an ounce of sympathy from me.  

I totally love how this card turned out.  It's simple, classic with an understated elegance.   The lady in the stamp has the look of being a classy lady, posting like she is a work of art herself.  

With sadness, I say good-bye to Marina Mist.  I've always loved this color and was excited when it joined our color collections.  Now it going away, only to be replaced by a newer color.    

There is actually a lot in this card that is on the Retirement List or Clearance Rack.  The swoosh is from the Work of Art stamp set.  I love how the swoosh, being stamped off three times, gives the ombre effect.  I just tried to pivot off the bottom and just shift the top.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set.

The Vintage Crochet Ribbon and Black Rhinestone jewels are also on the Clearance Rack.  I used the ribbon to kind of hide the bottom of the swoosh.  It was a little uneven an the ribbon just cleaned it up.  I first looked at the pearls or rhinestones for this card.  They both just didn't fit somehow.  Then came the black.  These Black Rhinestones really just made the entire card.  

Remember to visit the Clearance Rack and the Retirement lists.  Not everything is going to last very long.  The Work of Art Stamp Set is guaranteed available until May 25.  After that it's while quantities last.   

Good-bye Marina Mist.  I will miss you.

Click on the above picture for dimensions and instructions.

Until next time..Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

tams# 22124

 

 

Have you checked out the retirement list?  There are some good things on there!  All the stamp sets are guaranteed be to available until May 25.  After that date, stamp sets will be while quantities are available but through May 31.  All the other products, embellishments, stamp pads, Big Shot items, are only while supplies last.

Retiring items are eligible for Stampin’ Rewards with qualifying orders.  Another bonus!

Clearance Rack is Updated!

This morning Stampin' Up! has updated the Clearance Rack.  Tons of new goodies just waiting for a new home.  And everything is on sale, up to 60% off.  There are some really good deals.  I checked.  One I want to point out.  It's the Old Olive Green and Real Red markers that are packaged together.  Most markers you can't purchase by themselves any more, only in the collections bundle.  Well, here's a perfect time to stock up on two very classic colors for only $2.80.  Can you believe that?  It's a steal.  I think I will purchase a pack just to have on hand incase something happens with mine.    That's only one of the great deals on the Clearance Rack.

Just like the retiring items, any product on the Clearance Rack are eligible for Stampin' Rewards.  These items are also while quantities last.  As of today, there are none on the low inventory list, but that can change very quickly.  Better not way too long if you want to place an order.  Clearance Rack items usually go pretty quickly. 

Click here to see the Clearance Rack. 

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

It's middle April and we had a snow storm over the weekend. Welcome to Wisconsin.  We had more snow Saturday/Sunday than what we had in a single snowfall all winter.  Up north, even some Universities were closed!  Now that never happens.  LaCrosse, unfortunately, wasn't closed so Megan still had class.  One word describes it all...DEPRESSING.  It's Spring!  I guess Mother Nature didn't get that memo.  

On my Facebook Page I've been posting some card swaps I received from OnStage.  I thought it was time to show one swap I did.  I love how this one turned out, but it was very time consuming.  Each piece of fruit was stamped with two colors and then punched out.  I made 32 of these card fronts.  Now do that math.

32 cards x 16 pieces of fruit = 512 pieces of fruit

Now looking back, that's insane!!  Seriously, what was I thinking?  It was crazy stamping and punching that many, but  remember, I had to glue them all down.  All 512 pieces. It took several nights in order to get these all done.  I was never so glad to finish a project as I was when these were done.

In my instructions, you will see only dimensions for a card front.  It is designed to just go on the front of a normal size card base.  It was a fun swap to do.  Now I can have 30ish cards in minutes!  My swap would look great on Emerald Envy, Whisper White or Basic Black.

Here are the colors I used for the fruit:

Pear - Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso

Watermelon - Watermelon Slush and Emerald Envy

Pineapple - Crushed Curry and Wild Wasabi

Strawberry - Real Red and Garden Green

Have you checked out the Retirement List?  There is some pretty good things in there!  

We are saying good-bye to these InColors.  I will be sad to see Emerald Envy and Dapper Denim leave the most.  If you love the Flirty Flamingo, you are in luck.  It's being retired from the InColor, but coming back into our Brights Color Collection!  Bring on those Flamingo stamp sets!   Click on these links to view the retirement lists.  

Retirement List- Annual Catalog 

Retirement List- Occasions Catalog

Have a good night everyone!

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

tams# 22074

 

 

 

Is anyone else convinced that Spring is never going to come?  Right now it's sleeting in Wisconsin.  I can hear it hitting the front living room windows and the deck is now white. It's so depressing.  I won't even mention how windy it out there.  I ran all my errands this morning and glad they were done so I didn't have to go out again.  My husband is on his way home from Georgia as I write this.  Boy, is he in for a shocker when he lands. 

I was so glad when I saw the retirement list that this daffodil stamp set and punch wasn't on that list. Now you might have noticed that the some bundles are retiring. That is correct, but that doesn't necessarily mean the individual products are retiring.  Stampin' Up! bundles items when they first make an appearance in a catalog.  If they are continuing in the next catalog, they are "unbundled" and sold individually.  Might want to check that retirement list again.  

This card was made for my Aunt's birthday last month.  If you are thinking I already posted it, I have not.  My friend's card is very similar, same stamp, punch and paper, but different design.  Here is that card.

See the similarities?  It's great to see the same items but in a totally different card design.  

The daisy seemed to get lost on it's own with the dsp behind it.  I decided to put it on a circle of Daffodil Delight.  Kind of makes it look like the sun is behind the daisy.  It needed some texture so I tied the ribbon on the bottom.  Sorry to say it's retired, but any other matching ribbon would work.

One daisy by itself seems little lacking, so I stamped and punched two.  They are adhered together, off setting each other for a very full daisy look.  Using blender pens, I colored the middle of the petals.  It definately added more depth with the daisy itself.  I loved how the card turned out.

If you want the directions and instructions, click on the appropriate picture.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper

 

 

 

 

Yes, one perk about being a demonstrator is the discounts.  I'm all about them, don't get me wrong. 

One big perk is...You get to see the catalog before everyone else does!!

I have this catalog in my hands!  And it is awesome.  There have been some catalogs in the past, I'll honestly say, didn't really excite me too much.  But I LOVE this one. My wish list is waaaayyy too long for my budget.  

Another perk is that you get to order product before anyone else!!  Yesterday I placed my order.  And because I went to OnStage, I was able to other products that were exclusive early-orders for those demos who attended.  Isn't that awesome for us?  I can't wait to get my hands on those new In-Colors ink pads and cardstock. They always look better than what they look in the catalog.  I think my new favorite is Lovely Lipstick. I know my club people can't wait to see the new catalog too.  

Tomorrow is my day to play.  My day was spent totally doing a cleaning on my kitchen, cupboards, floor, and all.  It was so over due for a deep cleaning.  So I deserve a day to play.  That is after I run some errands and clean up my stamp room.   I got 4 stamp sets from attending OnStage and I haven't had time to play with any of them.  That makes me so sad.  Here's to hoping I make up for that.  

Did you get the two extra perks of being a demonstrator? 1.  You get to see the catalog earlier than anyone. 2. You get to place a pre-order before the catalog goes live for everyone.  

Becoming a demonstrator is super easy.  For only $99 you customize your own starter package of any product you choose that is worth $125.  Plus, you get free shipping.  That is quite a savings right there.  

I'll be posting some of the card swaps on my Facebook page starting tomorrow.  Tune in there for some great inspiration.

Until next time...Stampin' Always,

Cheryl, HomeStyle Stamper