Flowerbug's Inkspot

Water and flooding

We left for Alaska with a some water in our basement from the high water table and came home to even more.  It isn't even our river - it is seeping in the walls and floor. The sump pump helped keep it under control.

But just now we were told to evacuate by tomorrow.  The dikes they've put up will not hold and the Mouse river level is supposed to peak by Thursday.

We are so grateful for all of our friends that are willing to help us move our posessions today and we also have many offers on places to stay.  I cry easily and have been tearing up all day and am completely overwhelmed with the generosity of our friends. 

I doubt I will be doing much blogging in the near future as I have no idea where we'll be or if I can even stamp in the meantime. 

Keep us and the other residents of Minot and even Bismarck in your prayers please!

Summer Mini cards Group 2

Here are a few more of the cards my talented downline made at our last swap in April. 

I am frantically prepping for the cruise so I don't have much time to list stamps, accessories or techniques on these cards.

This is Sarah's card.  First off, I love that she made some punch art for us!  And can you tell what she made the sandy hills from?  Our wood sheets!  And she added some glitter to one of them.  Clever girl!

Mai really put her all into this card.  Lots of techniques and fun products on this great Father's Day card.

Candy's pretty card shows a great way to use the Strength & Hope stamp set without having to cut out that butterfly. (Some people really hate cutting things out!)

Kerry made her own vase with the Designer Label punch. Great idea Kerry.  This stamp set 'Flower Fest' works with many of our punches. 

And this cute and fun card is done by Mary.  Of course I just love the layout and bright colors! 

Thanks girls - you're cards are all fantastic!

 

Party Hearty

This stamp set is 30% off during May so I had to make a sample to show. 

I have always loved the color blocking technique and when I saw a card made by jentimko I knew I had to case it. Here's my version:

Of course the colors are bright and happy for this event - Turquoise, Real Red and Daffodil Delight with Black and White.  Love it!!!!

Can you see the cool trick with the brad??  I covered one of the 5/8" jumbo brads with designer paper! 

How?  Punch out a 1 1/4" circle from patterned paper.  It must be thinner paper than card stock.  Mist it with a little water so the paper is pliable.  Then just press it over the brad bending the edges around to the back side.  Because ithe paper is damp it stays put and dries in this position.  No adhesive is needed.  Isn't that the best!!? 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Party Hearty
• Card stock - Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Black
• Ink - Daffodil Delight and Versmark for the background, Markers are used on the 'b'
• Accessories - markers, 5/8" jumbo brads, Play Date dsp, Black and Daffodil narrow grosgrain ribbon, Scallop border punch, Boho Blossoms punch, dimensionals

 

Triple Layer Punch Ideas

I am just loving my new Triple Layer punches!  I thought I'd show you a few cards I've made.

Here's a neat way to use the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch.

I punched a few of the open flower pieces and cut them in half to use as a border.  Very eye-catching!

The saying 'You're in My thoughts, You're in my heart.' is from one of my favorite verses sets.  The Word Play stamp set which is on sale at 30% off this month only. 

And here's another similar card but using the other Triple Layer punch - the Doily one.

I punched one full Doily piece and sponged the edge with Tangerine ink.  Then I wove the ribbon through oen end and underneath and through the other end.  Neat isn't it?  Think of doing many of these in a row on a scrapbook page like my friend Kay did. 
I added a few other punched pieces in the center along with a clear rhinestone brad to finish it off. 

• Stamps - Word Play
• Card stock - Whisper White, Sunny Garden patterned paper
• Ink - Tangerine Tango
• Accessories - Triple Layer Doily and Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punches, Boho Blossoms punch, Itty Bitty punch shapes, clear rhinestone brads, narrow Pumpkin grosgrain ribbon, 3/8" brads

 

 

Summer Mini cards Group 1

I haven't shown you the swaps my downline made from our last swap in April yet.

Annette made this beautiful 'Sail Away' card.  I love the color combo and her unique layout too.

Marguerite created this gorgeous card using the Fabulous Florets stamp set and the 'Beyond the Garden' designer series paper.  

Jane shared this pretty 'Strength & Hope' card with a vintage flair.   

Natalie brought this cute card using Sunny Fun.  Great layout and perfect watercoloring!

Karen made this one using 'The Open Sea'- Love her layout and all the fantastic little details she added.

I'm so proud to display all of these cards! 

Color Blocking Scrapbook Layout

I forgot to share April's Scrapbook Club layout with you!

This gorgeous color combination includes Rose Red, Marina Mist, Black and Vanilla.  The Newsprint patterned paper adds a great touch to it doesn't it? 

This color blocking technique is one of my favorites to use for scrapbooking.  Add a few great colors and set them off with black or white borders and designs. 

We have such fond memories of our first Stampin' Up! cruise to Bermuda. 

And right now we are enjoying our 4th cruise to Alaska! 

 

Flower Garden embossing folder

Here is what we made at my friend's workshop last Friday:

Such an easy card.  We ran our Whisper White card stock through the embossing folder first.  Then stamped our image from the 'Happy Greetings' stamp set on the side. 

We adhered that layer and the strip of Beyond the Garden patterned paper to the Wild Wasabi layer. 

See the shine on the flower centers?  We painted a bit of Moonlight Pearlized Accent ink there.  Gorgeous in person!

Then added a flower brad to a strip of ribbon and wrapped that around the whole piece.  Add a pearl to the flower center and you're done!  Quick and simple but very pretty. 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Hapy Greetings
• Ink - Pacific Point, Melon Mambo
• Card stock - Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi and Beyond the Garden patterned paper
• Accessories - white satin ribbon, Flower Brads, Pearls, Flower Garden embossing folder and Illuminate Smooch Pearlized Accent ink, Mat Pack, Paper piercing tool

 

Alaska here we come

We are going on the Alaskan cruise today courtesy of Stampin' Up! and all of my wonderful and loyal customers.  I wouldn't be going if it weren't for you. 

Thank you! 

And I also want to thank each of you who have kept my family and myself in your thoughts & prayers while we grieve for my mother.  I have been overwhelmed and amazed at how many of you wrote to me!  Thank you so very much.  Her service on Thursday was beautiful.

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I have prepared quite a few projects for you while I am gone, so keep stopping by as usual.  I may even be able to post something from the Cruise depending on the internet available on the ship. 

I do have a cruisin' special for you.  I have lots of extra hostess stamp sets waiting to give away.  I'd love to share them with you! 

If you've been wishing for a certain Hostess set this is your chance.  There is even a Level 3 'Occasional Quotes' (or two) in there and also a new Summer Mini Level 1 'Swirls and Curls Verses and a Level 2 'Love & Care' included in the options.

Everyone who places an online order from me today, May 20th through Sunday, May 29th will receive a free hostess set.  Yes - Everyone - while supplies last.  (I have a few more than shown here.)

Click here to order.

The person with the largest dollar amount order will get 1st choice and so on.  So when I return on the 29th I'll be contacting you to find out which set you'd like. So be sure to reply to me ASAP to get your pick.

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Please keep in mind that if you order any of my online classes you may not receive them until I get back on May 30th.  It all depends on the internet onboard ship. 

Be back soon! 

Punch Art Graduate

And here is another card I couldn't help but case from my friend Lorri Heiling.  Sometimes you find someone who's creativity just fits you, and she is the one for me.

I had a workshop last Friday and my friend wanted to do a Graduation card.  And since my gals love to do 'Punch Art' we made this.  Honestly it is much too involved for a workshop card but they were sure proud of their work when they finished it!

This is also the card I'm sending my daughter for her graduation from college.  She's getting her Library Science degree this month!  We're so proud of you Jenilee! 

I hand cut the diamond part of the grad hat and we used a 1 1/4" circle punch on a narrow strip of black card stock to get the curved bottom portion of the hat. 

The wings on the owl are 1/2 of a Scalloped Oval punch.  I trimmed the cut side with a little curve to add to the 'wing' effect.  And we also sponged the edges of the Basic Gray owl too. 

To make the diploma I cut a 1 1/2" X 1 1/4" piece of typing paper and rolled it up around a thin metal dowel.  Any narrow tube would work well.  Adhere it together and tie a ribbon knot around it.  It's attached with a glue dot. 

Here's a picture of the inside:

Thanks for stopping in today for Punch Art Wednesday! 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes
• Card Stock - Black, Cherry Cobbler, white, Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray
• Ink - Black, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
• Accessories - narrow Black Taffeta and wide Black grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, sponges, Two Step Owl punch, Scalloped Oval punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Squares Duo Bigz die, Square Lattice embossing folder, mini glue dots, Word Window punch