Garden Birdhouses Watercolor Class for July is one to not Miss!

 

Hi Everyone,

You are going to be so glad you stopped in to check out my wonderful specialty class for July. It's all about watercolor techniques. Included in this class is the fabulous Water Painters by Stampin' Up! and supplies for five fabulous projects. 

Here are the Details:

• There are 2 class options: Project kits only or Project Kits + Garden Birdhouses stamp set.
• You can choose In-Person class or "To Go" class. Additioanl shipping for "To Go" option.
• Project Kits include the Stampin' Up! Water Painters as well as supplies for 5 projects
• Cost is $25 for the Project kit option
• Class + Garden Birdhouses stamp set is $45
• Register no later than July 16th. 

A tutorial is included for everyone registered for the class and will be sent out through email on July 26th when "To Go" options are mailied.

You can find more details and sign up by filling out my registration form. I accept PayPal, Venmo, Cash and Checks (local stampers). I only ship within the United States for my classess and events.

There are additonal Supplies needed for "To Go" participants to be able to complete the projects at home. They are listed below if you would like to purchase any of them. You don't need the refills of the In-Colors if you have the stamp pads. You can water color with the stamp pads too. I would suggest ink refills for all of your stamp pads though.

I hope I've inspired you to participate in my Garden Birdhouses Water Color Specialty Class. Remember to register no later than July 16th, so packets can be prepared.

Don't hesitate to contact me for any questions you have. 

Happy Stampin',

Mary Blocher

Mary's Stampin' Cafe

What's up Wednesday? 1 Day FREE Shipping Thursday

 

Hi Everyone,

I'm so glad you stopped in today because I wanted to give you a heads up on the 1 day FREE shipping with Stampin' Up! That's right, you can get FREE shipping for any order of $50 or more. 

I thought I'd share some highlights and ideas on what to purchase on Thursday with you today.

Pre-Paid Paper Pumpkin Subscriptions will qualify for the FREE shipping option. This includes the 3, 6, and 12 month options. What a great deal! Imagine no shipping on several months worth of the Paper Pumpkin kits when you subscribe.

I find that during these times of FREE shipping or other promotions that it's the best time to purchase those much needed tools. This includes trimmers, scoring tools, Paper Snips and more. I love purchasing the wonderful stamp sets and dies, and neglect these products that make crafting easy, so the FREE shipping offer is the perfect time to stock up on tools.

If you have visited my blog before, you know I love everything about the newest In-Colors. I know that many people will purchase a stamp pad, but not the refill or cardstock. This FREE shipping promotion is the perfect time to purchase sets of your favorite colors and purchase the stamp pad, refill, cardstock, and maybe even coordinating embellishments. 

The members of my new In-Color club purchase one color of the In-Colors each month and the Stamp Pad, refill, cardstock, Stampin' Blends, and ribbon comes to $36 before shipping and tax. You could choose one of the In-Colors and simply add an assortment of the In-Color DSP and the In-Color Gems and you have reached that $50 order for FREE shipping. 

Another idea is to purchase all 5 stamp pads and refills for the new In-Colors. This would cost $52.40 before shipping and tax. With FREE shipping, that is a great savings. Plus you would have 5 beautiful colors to create with. 

I hope I've highlighted some of the great ways to use the 1 day FREE Shipping Event. Hurry though, this event begins at midnight Thursday and closes 11:50 pm (MT) that's 10:50 (PT). I would appreciate you choosing me as your demonstrator. 

I even have a wonderful special running June 24th-June 30th.With a minimum $50 order with me I will also give you 4 Loyalty Bucks. That's double Loyalty Bucks for taking advantage of FREE shipping. Why not get double the fun?!

Happy Stampin',

Mary Blocher

Mary's Stampin' Cafe

Finding Inspiration Friday Sketch Challenge + Prize Patrol

Hi Everyone,

Happy Friday! It's that time of month for me to put out a sketch challenge for you to enter for a chance to win. I love participating in Sketch challenges and I hope you are inspired to participate too. This month it's all about flowers! You might be seeing flowers, planting flowers, and smelling flowers. I love the Facebooks posts of my friends sharing pictures of flowers when taking walks. 

The Shimmer Vellum is just so beautiful. It's hard not to have a beautiful card when you are using the vellum! The In-Color Jewels are wonderful. They are facited and reflect light.

Well I have just begun crafting with the Art in Bloom Bundle. There are so many possibilities, so be sure to check back soon. 

WAIT! What about the sketch challenge?

Well you have a chance to win a FREE package of the Shimmer In-Color Vellum.

Here are the details:

• Create your own card with the theme "For the Love of Flowers"
• Once you have created your card, upload, mail, or drop off to me by Wednesday, June 30th.
• The winner will be announced on my Friday Blog on July 2nd

I hope I have inspired you to find some inspiration from the flowers you see and submit a card for this challenge. It's so fun to showcase other's creations.

Thanks for stopping in. I hope to see your project soon.

Happy Stampin',

Mary Blocher

Mary's Stampin' Cafe

What's Up Wednesday with the Beauty of Friendship Bundle

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for stopping in to check out What's up on Wednesday. Today I'm sharing a card from my weekly class this week. A couple of our cards were masculine and this is one that I really enjoyed making using the Beauty of Friendship Bundle found in the current Annual Catalog by Stampin' Up!

The stamps in this set are incredible! It's amazing at how much depth and realism you get from the tree tops!

The birdie dies are wonderful too. They add the perfect touch for the card. I also like the splotch stamp for accents. You know how much I like the dots and splothes on cards.

The sentiments in the Beauty of Friendship stamp set are really nice. You can say hello, thanks, thinking of you and more. What I really like about this set is that you can use it all through the year. 

Funny story. During class Ann couldn't find the sentiment she stamped and die cut. We gave up looking for it (and the birdie dies that fell on the ground). When we were on our last card of the night, Ann found her sentiment. It was so funny (yes, I found the birdie dies, thank goodness)!

Thanks again for stopping in. I hope you are inspired to create your own masculine cards. 

Happy Stampin',

Mary Blocher

Mary's Stampin' Cafe

Celebrate with Flowers Make it Monday

Hi Everyone,

It's another wonderful week and I'm nearing the end of the school year. It's time to get out and start working on my gardens and the Celbrate with Flowers Stamp set is perfect to inspire me. 

This stamp set is one that is perfect for quick and simple stamping, but you can also step it up with some great textures with the Pansy Petals DSP and Ornate Layers Dies. So the Happy Birthday sentiment can be seen, I trimmed 3/4" from the card base. 

Fresh Freesia is becoming one of my favorites in the new In-Colors. It coordinates really well with the DSP and Soft Succulent In-Color. 

I hope you like my card today and are inspired to create your projects including flowers. It's that time to let your creativity bloom!

Happy Stampin',

Mary Blocher

Mary's Stampin' Cafe

No Matter the Weather Kit - Inspiration Friday Customize your own Kit

Hi Everyone, 

You picked the right day to stop by. The weather is rainy and blustery and perfect for the No Matter the Weather Kit by Stampin' Up! The Paper Pumpkin - No Matter the Weather kit was in 2020 and it was so popular! Stampin' Up! has brought the kit back as part of the new Kits by Stampin' Up! line of products. Today I decided to customize my kit and create some alternate projects. 

This first card I created focusing on the pre-stamped card with the umbrella with the girls in rainboots. I used the Contour Scallop dies to get the scalloped sides and then embossed the base with the Meadow Moments Embossing folder to get that blustery feeling.

For this card, I used the left over piece from the die cut card in the first project as a great accent piece. The row of boots is super cute too! I used the green pair of boots on the first card. The splotches on the background came from one of the stamps in the Quiet Meadow Stamp set. I also used the sentiment from the Sweet Strawberry Stamp set.

For this card, I used the kit components and the included stamp set for the sentiment. Again I used the Contour Scallop dies, and then used the pre-printed boots and flowers for the focal point. It's amazing how beautiful this kit is! 

It's hard to decide, but I think I like this Calypso Coral card the most. The reason I like this one is that the new Watercolor Shapes Stamp set is amazing! You can combine and create so many backgrounds and accents for your projects. I have to say that these boots with the flowers are awesome! There has to be some way that Stampin' Up! will continue to offer the refills or something. Everyone wants more boots!

This is the last alternate project I created using the No Matter the Weather Kit. I combined the After the Storm Stamp set to create a "Thinking of you" or a "Get Well" card. The kit gives you some wonderful color combinations to work with as well. 

Thanks again for stopping in. I have a FB replay for the cards I created if you'd like more details. 

Well that was a lot of rainboots and well wishes. I had so much fun creating and crafting with this kit! If you are inspired and would like to purchase the No Matter the Weather Kit by Stampin' Up! or any of the additional products I've shared, I would appreciate you choosing me as your demonstrator. You will earn Loyalty Bucks with $25 orders when you shop with me which will give you wonderful rewards. Use hostess code #TH34PP2S when you shop with me. Place a minimum $50 order and you will receive the class kit for my upcoming Flowers of Friendship Class free! This kit will be mailed June 28th to you. Deadline for ordering to receive the FREE card kit is June 20th.

Happy Stampin',

Mary's Stampin' Cafe'

Wednesday WOW with Expressions in Ink Suite of Products

 

Hi Everyone,

Well I just couldn't get enough of the Expressions in Ink Suite of products in my last post, so I decided to focus on some WOW cards for my weekly classes this week. 

For class this week, I wanted to feature the beautiful Artistically Inked Specialty DSP as well as create some WOW cards with a little more techniques or special folds and things. This first card features the wonderful Pale Papaya and Pear Pizazz colors. This is a Collar Fold technique. You find the center point of the DSP on one side and then cut in about 1 1/2". Then you fold the corner enough to meet the bottom or top corner of the DSP. Then adhere the flaps down. 

These flowers are awesome! I love how much detail and shading has already been done for me. The Ephemera Pack includes the adhesive backed sequins that catch the light perfectly.

I like to use DSP scraps (you get them when you cut your DSP certain sizes) and a bit of the metallic leaves add a fun surprise.

This card is so simple and fun and of course, WOW! The Triple Stamping technique is a popular one and can be done in so many variations. I used Pale Papaya and Just Jade as the color scheme. 

For this card you can use the following measurements:

Basic White:

• 2" x 3-1/4"
• 3" x 4-1/4"
• 4" x 5-1/4"

Just Jade:

• 2-1/4" x 3-1/2"
• 3-1/4" x 4-1/2"
• 5-1/2" x 8 1/2" (scored at 4-1/4" for base)

For this technique, you lay each of the white layers centered together. You can tack a little adhesive under each piece. Stamp the images, but don't worry about any gaps. Take apart pieces and then layer each piece to the corresponding Just Jade pieces. Line up each piece to adhere to card. I added dimensionals to the smallest layer with the greeting.

I saved the one I think is the most WOW for last. The Specialty DSP is so stunning and the Ephemera Pack is so fantastic! It coordinates so well with the metallic accents in the DSP.

The Artistic dies include a beautifully detailed branch that I die-cut with Basic White (I used Stampin' Up! adhesive sheets for this die. It makes it so easy to get all the little pieces out and adhere to your card with no sticky mess).

This card has a special fold that was cut 10-1/2" x 2-3/4". I then scored it at 5-1/4" so it would line up perfectly with the striped DSP cut at 4" x 5-1/4".

The card doesn't end there. It is a full sized A-2 card with an added surprise. 

I hope you enjoyed my post today. I think the Expressions in Ink is one of my top picks out of the 2021-2022 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog. 

If you missed my last post for the Expressions in Ink Suite of products, you can see it here or watch my video. I have a giveaway, so don't miss out. 

Thanks again for stopping in. I have some wonderful classes and events you might be interested in, so be sure to check out my events page. What to earn the Flowers of Friendship class FREE? Simply place a minimum $50 order (before shipping and tax) at my online store by June 20th and I will send you the card kit FREE. This includes supplies for 5 cards (you will need the Flowers of Friendship bundle, or similar and your own inks and adhesives). Use Hostess Code#TH34PP2S to receive the kit. You can find more details on a previous post. 

I hope I've inspired you to create your own WOW cards. Let me know which card you liked best from today or what you'd like to see me feature.

Happy Stampin',

Mary's Stampin' Cafe 

Expressions in Ink Simple yet Stunning Sunday + Prize Patrol

 

Hi Everyone,

It's another wonderful and blessed Sunday. I wanted to share my love for the new Expressions in Ink Suite of products for my blog today. This suite has such gorgeous colors and WOW! The Expressions in Ink Specialty DSP is just stunning and my card today is as well simply by adding that DSP!

I enhanced the metallic details in the DSP by using the Expression in Ink Ephemera Pack. These elements add such a wow effort to your creations.

Another thing that helps you create simple and stunning cards is the shaded details on the stamps that Stampin' Up! has done for you. It's amazing to me how just stamping once can have such a dimensional affect! 

Deborah Babcock created this beautiful card for a swap I recently hosted. I really like the Evening Evergreen leaves. When using the detailed dies, I would highly suggest using the Stampin' Up! Adhesive Sheets. These make it so easy to use those dies. The adhesive will pull out all those little die cut pieces when you pull the adhesive away.

Here's another beautiful card I received recently. I love the change of color. That makes this suite of products even better because you have more variety that you can use. 

I hope you enjoyed the cards I've shared today. I would love to hear what you love about the Expressions in Ink Suite of products. Leave a comment letting me know by June 20th and I will be choosing one lucky winner to receive the Expressions in Ink Ephemera pack FREE! 

Happy Stampin',

Mary Blocher

Mary's Stampin' Cafe'