Thanks a Million & A New Photopolymer Stamp Set

After the month I had in March, I have a lot to be thankful for.  In my spare time (is there really such a thing?), I’ve been making thank you cards to send to the people who were so kind to my family and me.  Here’s one of them:

Tips, Tricks and Reminders:

• Color Selection.  While I often select card colors with online color challenges (The Paper Players or Pals Paper Arts) or with combinations in my Color Coach, I most often pick a DSP I like and just steal the colors from it – thief it right from the images on the paper.  Easy as can be!  I have been in love with this paper from International Bazaar Designer Series Paper but have never quite been able to figure out how to use it.  Done.  **Disclaimer:  As I am writing this post, I realize that the borders around the Tangerine Tango shapes are Pacific Point, not Midnight Muse.  Argh!  The lines are so thin that they really do coordinate well.
• Add a pop!  As I sat back to look at my square card with its circles and patterns, I realized I needed a little something else.  That’s when I reached for my Perfect Pennants Bigz L die.  One of the pennants fits perfectly behind the 2-1/2″ Circle.  Because I have to see all my options, I cropped the 3″ circle and the pennants in Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party and Whisper White.  I tried every combination, trying to decide which color I wanted to pop out from under the Whisper White circle.  I set them out, switched them out, set them out again.  That’s when it hit me to use them all!  put the two pennants together and turn one of the a little.  All colors represented!  Woo hoo!
• Out of ink?  I have really grown fond of Tangerine Tango.  Before this year, I can’t think of a time when I’ve used it (outside of a couple of Halloween projects that were too dark for Pumpkin Pie).  Now, it’s one of my “I can’t live without it” colors.  I use it all the time.  That’s why I panicked when I reached for my Tangerine Tango ink pad to find that it was missing.  I couldn’t find the pad in the stacks of stamping supplies on my craft table.  Quick moment of high anxiety.  That’s when it occurred to me that I could just use my Tangerine Tango embossing powder to add yet another special touch to this special card.  Yee-haw!

Stamp sets:  Word Play  Papers:  Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, International Bazaar Designer Series Paper  Inks:  VersaMark  Accessories:  3″ Circle Bigz, 2-1/2″ Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz L, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Tangerine Tango Embossing Powder

Bombs Away – a New Photopolymer Stamp Set

Yesterday, Stampin’ Up! announced a brand new photopolymer stamps set called Bombs Away.  If you didn’t partake of the first photopolymer set, then this one is for you!  This set is filled with some really funny birthday greetings.  They are young and sarcastic and wonderful.  Click the picture below to open up the .pdf of this flier:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian