Back to Where it All Started

Has it really been 6 years?
6 years ago today, I wrote the first post on this blog and shared this scrapbook page:

Click the photo for a link to the first blog post!

There are a few of you who have been here with me since the very beginning - it's been quite the journey hasn't it?
All of the rest of you awesome blog friends have found me somewhere along the way and I'm grateful for EACH one of you.

I love being able to share here with you - life and creativity and fun. You've watched me grow as an artist and watched my daughter grow up. You've walked with me through the ups and downs of life. You've prayed me through the illnesses and deaths of both my parents and you've celebrated with me when I achieved unbelievable honors from SU!.

And you've loved my artwork - which makes my heart happy. Our creations aren't really for us when we make them, they are for others who will receive joy and delight when we share them.

So, what do you say?
6 more years? At least?
I think so - after all, we have a lot of life to travel together and a lot of creativity to explore!

Now, go stamp something fun!
~~Robin

Spring in a Box! A Fun Fold-Out Card

Oh, how I need a little "Spring" today!
What about you?
I live in Northern Virginia where the average temperatures for Winter are around 30 degrees.

This morning it was -2.
Isn't that like, I dunno, Canada cold? 
So yes, a little peek at Spring is definitely called for.

These cute little card in a box projects are all the rage right now, so when I was designing for my stamp clubs last month, I knew we had to make one.
I used a couple of different products from the Sale-A-Bration freebies that are only available until the end of March - the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper decorates the box and the You're Lovely Stamp Set provided the image for the tag.

The color scheme is Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush and Sahara Sand. I used Crumb Cake cardstock for the card/box and Pistachio Pudding for the "grass". 

All of the stamping was done on Very Vanilla cardstock. The tag was colored with Stampin' Write markers and cut out using the Deco Labels Framelits. I attached it to the box tab with Stampin' Dimensionals.

#130102 Deco Label Framelits  $24.95

I used the Backyard Basics Stamp Set and Framelits (which are available in a money-saving bundle!) for the pop-ups.

#132728 Backyard Basics Clear-Mount Bundle $36.50

I stamped each element in a different color, then cut them out with the Framelits and sponged the edges with Sahara Sand ink.
They were all mounted in the box, popping up over the "grass" that I'd cut with the Fringe Scissors out of Pistachio Pudding cardstock.
Oh, how this made me smile!

#133325 Fringe Scissors $9.95

Here's another look at my finished Spring in a Box:

All of the supplies I've used here can be found in my Online Store:

Don't forget - Sale-A-Bration is going on until the end of March!
With each $50 purchase you make, you earn a FREE exclusive product!
You can check them all out at the Sale-A-Bration Brochure link at the top right of my blog.

If you're on Facebook, be sure to follow and "LIKE" my page:

Thanks for stopping by today!
I hope you enjoyed this little bit of Spring - stay warm friends!

~~Robin

Retro Fresh Banners Card

March is National Craft Month, did you know that?
Well, they say you learn something new every day, so there you go - you're welcome! Ha!

Anyway, I have a TON of completed projects that I've been dying to post for you here on the blog, but there haven't been enough hours in my day, can you relate?
So, hold on to your ink pads, you're gonna get lots of inspiration this month!

First up is one of the cards I created for my Just Cards - Express classes in February.
I think it was one of the crowd favorites, what do you think?

I used oodles of Spring Catalog products on this one and that fun, fresh color combo just makes me long for SPRING!

My card base is Tangerine Tango layered with a piece of So Saffron which I dry embossed with the Arrows Embossing Folder in my Big Shot.

#132187  Arrows Embossing Folder  $7.95

It's layered with a piece of Retro Fresh Designer Paper that I cut with one of the Banners Framelits.

#132173 Banners Framelits  $26.95

#132993 Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper  $10.95

I love all the layers and textures on this card.
 

The ribbon layers are done with pieces of Burlap Ribbon and Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon. Both are trimmed with the Paper and Craft Scissors into flagged ends then layered together with a bit of SNAIL Adhesive.
I attached them to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals.

The greeting was done by stamping the sentiment from Perfect Pennants in Bermuda Bay ink. I stamped the heart image from the same set in Tangerine Tango ink, but stamped off on Grid Paper first to lighten the color a bit.
Once the stamping was done, I cut it out with another size from the Banners Framelits and layered it onto the ribbon with more SNAIL.
The finishing touch was a button from the Naturals Buttons collection adhered with a Glue Dot.

Such a great card and a breath of fresh air to remind us that Spring is on the way!

Here are the ribbons I used:

#130019 Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon $8.95

#132140  Burlap Ribbon $7.95

All of the supplies used on this project can be found in my Online Store. Here's the link:

Don't forget - Sale-A-Bration is going on until the end of March!
With each $50 purchase you make, you earn a FREE exclusive product!
You can check them all out at the Sale-A-Bration Brochure link at the top right of my blog.

If you're on Facebook, be sure to follow and "LIKE" my page:

Have a spectacular Saturday - go make something fun!
~~Robin