1/31 Super Cute Bugs!

Stamping 411 issued a Color Challenge last week and I actually had some time to play with it!! Two of these three colors . . . YoYo Yellow and Green Galore are very bright, sunshiny colors. They made me think of summer and that led me to the stamp set called Bugs & Kisses.

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I used textured YoYo Yellow for my card base with a strip of Green Galore along the left side. Then, thanks to the awesome tutorials by Gretchen Barron . . . I was finally able to figure out how to make my Scallop Trim Border Punch and Corner Punch line up and managed a fairly decent scalloped rectangle. It's still a little challenging for me but after a few failed attempts, I think I am getting the hang of it. Just don't be in a hurry or you will fall even more behind!!! (Wow . . . that almost sounds like a Chinese proverb, doesn't it? lol!) The link to the Scallop Punches can be found HERE and the link to the Pinking Heart Punches can be found HERE. Thanks a million, Gretchen!!

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I punched a 1" YoYo Yellow textured "sun", and my cute little grasshopper needed a friend so I added a little pop of red with the lady bug. My tag is popped up on a double layer of dimensionals. I accented it with one of those darling library clips - - - it is soooo very hard to actually "use" those sweet little clippies because some strange part of me wants to hoard them!! They are just soooo cute!!

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I kept the inside of the card quite simple and added just one more little bug down there in the corner stamped in Night of Navy.

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Thanks for stopping in today!! I appreciate you!

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Supplies:

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Stamps: Bugs & Kisses (116580)

Paper: YoYo Yellow Textured 12x12 (108698), Green Galore (101768), Night of Navy (100867), Whisper White (100730)

Ink: Green Galore (102122), Night of Navy (102977), Real Red (103133)

Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch (free with a $50 purchase during Sale-a-bration), Scallop Corner Punch (118870), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), 1 " Circle Punch (109046)

Accessories: 1/4" Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon (109036), Mini Library Clip (109857)

Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), SNAIL (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

1/30 Friend Tote

This is the tote I've been featuring at all of my January workshops and club events. It is so simple to make, yet the paper and easy design give it so much pop! I used the Big Shot Machine with the Top Note Die and the Box #2 Die.

This side view shows the Box #2 Die. I cut my Very Vanilla card stock into 3 1/2" x 11" strips and ran it through the Big Shot by lining it up on the die so that the top portion of the box with the flaps is cut off - you don't need the closure when you make a tote. The handle is a strip of Very Vanilla paper cut at 1 1/4" x 11". You can fasten it to the box with a brad as I did - so quick and easy.

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The Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper is just so GORGEOUS!! I can't get enough of it and judging by the orders my customers are placing . . . they can't either! The glitter on this paper makes it absolutely irresistible - so fun and flirty! You can make three totes from a full sheet of 12x12 designer paper when you cut your rectangles at 5 1/4" by 4". That is the size that fits just right over the Top Note Die.

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The heart is stamped with Real Red ink onto a scrap of Very Vanilla paper and punched out with the Full Heart punch. It's adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals to a layer of red and pink. The ribbon is Very Vanilla Taffeta and adhered with a Mini Glue Dot - super easy and the perfect touch.

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Have a great day and thanks for stopping by my blog. Stamping to Share Shopping is available 24/7 at my Stampin' Up Business Website!

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Supplies:

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Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts Clear Mount (118571)

Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Real Red (102482), Pretty in Pink (100459), Sending Love Specialty DSP (117153)

Ink: Real Red (103133)

Tools: Big Shot Machine (113439), Top Note Die (113463), Box #2 Die (114518), Extended Cutting Pads (113478), Full Heart Punch (113693), Block C (118486)

Accessories: Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon (109071)

Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

1/29 Catty Cruise Stopping Here!!

Thanks for taking part in the Catty Cruise! We are highlighting products in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog and the port before me was the fabulous Kriss Huels who featured the Eggscellent Eggs Kit - it will give you spring fever for sure with all those soft and pretty colors! If you missed her port, just click on the icon above and you can check out her great projects.

I picked Garden from the Heart to work with and every project I created with it has a purpose or solves a problem! Read on and see what I've been up to.

The first project I created is a card box holder. I needed a special place to keep my class and workshop cards. I can't tell you how many times a customer will come up and say . . . "You know that card we made last month, I think I want to get the stamp set and the designer paper." Of course, I'm drawing a complete blank! Those cards have been mixed in with all my other cards in boxes here and there and I haven't the faintest idea which card she is talking about!! So, I decided to solve the problem with a box of yogurt!! lol - actually the yogurt is long gone, but I used the empty box and it is the perfect size to store my class and workshop cards in so that I can refer to it as I need to. I just cut it down, covered it with paper from the Pawsitively Prints Build A Bear collection and decorated it with a stamped image from Garden from the Heart. I also added some Brocade Blue 3/5" Grosgrain ribbon and the half-back pearls from my Pretties Kit are adhered with mini glue dots.

This is a close up of the image I used on my card box. I used the Big Shot Machine and cut a Scallop Circle Die from Brocade Blue paper. The inside circle was created with the Circle Scissors Plus using our watercolor paper. I stamped the image with StazOn Black and used my Blender pens with ink from the lid of the ink pads to color my images. The sentiment is created using my Chocolate Chip marker and coloring directly on the rubber just the part that I wanted to use and then stamped onto the paper with the aid of a Stamp-a-ma-jig.

After this project, I'm pretty sure I won't be doing any re-upholstering work! haha! I was completely befuddled as to how to make my edges look neat. I decided to use ribbon stuck on with sticky strip on both the inside and outside edges. Not a very professional job . . . but it was my first time! (maybe my last! lol!) Anyway . . . my customers will be looking at the cards . . . not so much the ribbon. (I hope!)

My next project as you can see above is a new checkbook cover. I like to switch out my checkbook covers once in a while . . . just for some variety. The paper that you see as the base is Bermuda Bay designer prints. Notice how I paper pieced it into the hat? That is so much fun and really adds a lot to the image. I used a lot of layers, too. I really like the layer of Garden Green. I didn't know whether or not it would "work" with the Bermuda Bay color, but it does! yeah! There are also layers of Crushed Curry cut with the new Scallop Trim Border punch that you can claim as a gift when you make a $50 purchase.

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The hat is stamped with StazOn ink and watercolored with an Aqua Painter using ink from the lids of my ink pads. (It's my FAVORITE way to color!) I painted the hat with More Mustard ink since the Crushed Curry seemed a bit too yellow/bright for it. The words are stamped into the box with the use of a Stamp-a-ma-jig. I used the stamp set Fundamental Phrases for my words.

Above you can see my place-holder. This is what I use to mark my spot in my check register. I folded it over the outside flap in order to get a good picture, but otherwise, it stays on the inside of the checkbook.

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And finally, my last project . . . a journal! Last fall we set aside an area in our yard to create a Kitchen Herb Garden. I've already purchased the seeds and I'd like to keep track of what I'm planting and when and what is working and what isn't so I will have a reference for future years. I loved stamping the herbs separately into each box and then then watercoloring them in with my Aqua-Painter and ink from the lids of my ink pad.

The letters were cut with my Big Shot Machine and the Decorative Strip Die called Naturally Serif. The strip of paper off to the side is from the Tea Party Designer Series Paper pack and the gorgeous yellow paper is from a new set of designer series paper featured in our Occasions mini called Sweet Pea. I used our Spiral Punch to get the designer paper perfectly punched to match up to the notebook spirals. Below is a close up of the Basic Gray Satin Ribbon Bow accented with a large half-back pearl from our Pretties Kit.

Thanks so much for stopping in and being a part of our Catty Cruise Blog Tour. You will be well on your way to your next stop as soon as you click on the next port of call below. That click will take you to Lynn Weiss' Blog where you can see some awesome projects designed with the Occasions Mini Stamp set Vintage Vogue. You don't want to miss it! Bon Voyage!

1/25 Pick Your Own Sentiment

This was one of the cards I featured at my Birthday Bonanza class and my customers had the option of picking their own sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes collection. It makes a beautiful birthday card . . . but it also works well for Thinking of You, I'm So Sorry or With Sympathy.
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This card shows just how much fun it can be to combine browns! The base of the card is created from Close to Cocoa. I rolled it with the Jumbo Wheel from the Occasions Mini Catalog called Very Vintage using Soft Suede ink. The top layer of the card where I've wrapped my ribbon is Chocolate Chip. The ribbon and the accent edge along the top of my image panel is in Soft Suede. The bird & sentiment are stamped in Soft Suede ink on Very Vanilla paper. Just a lovely, lovely look. I loved sharing this card with my customers . . . so easy to create and such elegant results.
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Have a great day and thanks for stopping by my blog! If you don't currently have a demonstrator that you are working with, I'd love to come to your aid!! You can find my business website right HERE.
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Stamps: Friends 24-7 (113218), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370), Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel (117693)
Paper: Close to Cocoa (101341), Chocolate Chip (102128), Soft Suede (115318), Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Tools: Jumbo Wheel Handle (103661), Word Window Punch (105090), Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Pinking Hearts Border Punch (117649)
Accessories: Soft Suede 5/8" Polka Dot Ribbon using the reverse side (115612)
Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

1/24 Pretty Cupcake Birthday Card

Do you want to make a quick and easy birthday card? This is your ticket . . . a very pretty cupcake card featuring a luscious strip of designer paper, two punches and super quick coloring with our fabo markers and you can call it done! This was one of the cards that my customers made this past week at my Birthday Bonanza class and definitely my fave of the five cards I featured.

Here are the supplies you will need:

Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes (111618)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (102128), Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650), Sending Love Designer Series Paper (117153)
Ink: Basic Black (101179)
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch (112091), 1 1/4" Circle Punch (104403)
Accessories: Markers in Bordering Blue (100070), Creamy Caramel (100078), Pretty in Pink (100045), Real Red (100052)
Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Order 24/7 at my Stampin'Up website! Thank you so much for dropping by my blog today.

1/23 Scallop Circle Valentine Door Hanger

Stampqueen17 over at Stampin' Addicts inspired me with a delightful hanging Valentine basket that you can see for yourself by clicking HERE. I made my basket just like she did using the Scallop Circle Die, folding the circles in half and gluing them together at the point. But, I decided that I wanted mine to be a Valentine Door Hanger, so I put mine together with the handles to the outside. I just used brads to adhere the Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon to the basket and then tied on some Real Red Satin Ribbon accents.

To decorate the front of my cute little basket, I used a scalloped circle from from the SU Pennant Bigz XL die as the base for my punched out Very Vanilla Heart piece and the sampling of punched out hearts from the set called I {Heart} Hearts. I love how it turned out and of course . . . the beautiful paper makes this project absolutely sing! I love, love, love the Sending Love Specialty paper with the sweet glitter accents! I'm ordering MORE on Monday. It's been so very popular with my customers, too.

The stamp set that I used on this project is a super special one because from now until February 28 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set that is purchased through your demonstrator will be donated to the American Red Cross' Haiti Relief and Development Fund. This money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support to help those in need. Thank you, Stampin'Up for always helping us lend a helping hand to those who need the help the most. Here are the particulars:

I {Heart} Hearts – clear-mount (block D recommended) Product number 118571 - $18.95
I {Heart} Hearts – wood-mount Product number 117010 - $26.95

Here is a list of the supplies I used for this project:

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts Clear Mount (118571)
Paper: Real Red (102482), Very Vanilla (101650), Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (117153)
Ink: Real Red (103133), Chocolate Chip (100908)
Tools: Big Shot Machine (113439), SU Pennant Bigz XL Die (113483), Scallop Circle Die, (113468), Full Heart Punch (113693), Heart to Heart Punch (113694), Paper Piercer (116631)
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (117287), Real Red Satin Ribbon (117286), Silver Brads (104336)
Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

1/21 Tiny Tags Swap Card

I just found another swap card that I forgot to post!! You know, gets into a "pile" where it may or may not surface for a week or two or more! I made this card with the Tiny Tags set found in the Occasions Mini Catalog. It was super easy and quick to put together. The scalloped panel is one of the Sending Love Notes found on page 19 in the mini called "Hugs". I accented the edge by stamping one of the images repeatedly in Certainly Celery ink. Of course I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig . . . even when you use our new Clear Mount system, you can't beat the Stamp-a-ma-jig for precise placement! (aaaahhhhh . . . I love perfection!)

The torn vellum panel is meant to lend an air of softness to this card . . . doesn't it remind you of spring? The designer paper I used is from the paper pack found on page 25 of the mini called Shades of Spring. The top flower was created using the Big Shot Machine (gosh, I can't believe how much I use that baby!!) and the Bigz XL die called Flower Folds - same die I used for the Fabric Flower pins that you can read about HERE. The second flower is made with the 5-Petal Flower Punch - easy peasy. And the fantabulous brad accenting my 5-petal flower is also from the mini (page 13), one of the Pretty in Pink Sending Love Epoxy Brads. If you don't have a Stampin'Up Occasions Mini catalog, I'm sure you are dying to see it!! You can find it online by clicking HERE. If you do not currently have a demonstrator that you are working with, I would be happy to mail you out one of these mini catalogs - eye candy to hug and hold! Just e-mail me to let me know your name and address.

Supplies you need to create this card:

Stamps: Tiny Tags Clear Mount (118592)
Paper: Pretty in Pink (100459), Orchid Opulence (100969), Card Stock Vellum (101856), Whisper White (100730), Shades of Spring DSP (117160)
Ink: Certainly Celery (105217)
Tools: Clear Block A (118487), 3/4" Circle Punch (107217), 1" Circle Punch (109046), 5-Petal Flower Punch (109041), Big Shot Machine (113439), Bigz XL Flower Folds Die (115970), Extended Cutting Plates (113478),
Accessories: Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon (117289), Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (109031), Soft Subtles Brads (106954), Sending Love Notes in Hugs (118778), Pretty in Pink Epoxy Brads (117271), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Pretty In Pink Marker (100045) and Certainly Celery Marker (105106) for coloring direct to rubber on the sentiment
Adhesive: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

I wanted to share a personal picture with you, I hope you don't mind. My youngest daughter is as passionate about playing the piano as I am about stamping! She begged for a piano for several years before I finally broke down and found one for her. She was going on eight when she started her lessons. Here she is, making the joyful sound that blesses us each and every day. She also enjoys playing with Photo-shop. This picture is a self-portrait she took using a tri-pod that she then digitally enhanced. Cool, isn't it? The piano she plays on is a Kimball upright made in 1912 - it has a marvelous sound and we feel blessed to have it -especially since we got it for FREE! A radio give-away to the first caller. I was the second caller, but then the first caller backed out when they found out they would have to pay to have it moved. So even though the piano was "free" we paid around $250 to have it moved. It's REALLY HEAVY!! I figured she'd be sick of piano lessons in six months and then I wouldn't have to feel too bad about the investment we'd made in our piano. That was 5 years ago!! I've never nagged her to practice . . . not even once. She simply cannot walk by a piano without playing it!! Our investment payed off. In fact, she is playing the piano right this very minute as I type this . . . a song she learned on her own off the internet! Oh, the joy and the blessings I have in my life. (Thank you again, for letting me share.)

1/20 Candy Cane Friend

Doesn't this bright red and white card remind you of candy canes? I had to name it Candy Cane Friend. I'm craving peppermint right now! lol!

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This is a sketch card for Stamping 411. I used the stamp set called With All My Heart from the Occasions Mini Catalog to make this card. I stamped two of the big flower images onto Whisper White and used one of my newest punches, also from the Occasions Mini to punch them out. LOVE that big flower punch!

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Have a wonderful day and thanks for dropping by my blog to check it out! Here are the supplies you would need to create this card:

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Stamps: With All My Heart Clear Mount (118623)

Paper: Real Red (102482), Whisper White (100730), Sending Love Specialty DSP (117153)

Ink: Real Red (103133)

Tools: Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch (118073), Big Shot Machine (113439), Lots of Tags (114508), Clear Blocks C (118486) and D (118485)

Accessories: Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (110714), Fire Circle Rhinestone Brad (109110)

Adhesive: Tombo Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

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1/19 Happy Heart Valentine

This is a card I made based on one that I saw in Stampin'Success . . . a wonderful demonstrator resource mailed to our houses each month. I love that demo magazine and carry it around with me until the next one comes in. All of my Stampin'Success magazines are tattered and loved . . . so many ideas for every kind of demonstrator from the hobbiest to the business-minded. I love how Stampin'Up is there for each of us. If you are one of my customers and you are thinking about trying Stampin'Up out as a demonstrator, there are some specials going on right now!! 15% discount on your Starter Kit for one. Your choice of any stamp set in the catalog when you join during Sale-a-bration for another!! Don't be shy about giving Stampin'Up a try. I really can't think of one single negative about it!!

Here are the supplies I used on this 6x3" card that fits in our Small Open End Envelopes (107286):

Stamps: Season of Friendship (111776), A Happy Heart (111758)
Paper: Not Quite Navy (101722), Real Red (102482), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Not Quite Navy (103008), Real Red (103133), Brocade Blue for the snowflakes (101102)
Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Photo Corner Punch (109042), Heart to Heart Punch (113694)
Accessories: Brocade Blue 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (109057)
Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

1/16 Just a Thought Away

This card has several interesting elements to it, most noticeably is the direct to paper distress that I did using my Chocolate Chip ink pad. I made the row of embossed dots using the Crop-a-Dial tool - no hole punching or eyelets are needed for Crop-a-Dial embossing. Both of the stamped images are Sale-a-bration Reward items. You can earn a Sale-a-bration Reward item with each $50 purchased. The flower is from the stamp set called Bella's Bloom and the sentiment is from the VERY popular Whimsical Words set featured in our Sale-a-bration catalog. You can order online 24/7 with me! Happy shopping!

Stamps: Bella's Bloom as a Sale-a-bration Set (120228), Whimsical Words Sale-a-bration Set Clear Mount (119119)
Paper: Kraft (102125), Chocolate Chip (102128), Sahara Sand (105328), Close to Cocoa (101341), Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Mini Catalog (117161)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908)
Tools: Crop-a-Dial (108362)
Accessories: 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain (109054), Markers for coloring directly to rubber: Old Olive (100079), Pumpkin Pie (105115)
Adhesives: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755)

1/15 Razzle Dazzle Fun!

Stamping 411 is now issuing Color Challenges on a Weekly Basis and this week it was Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Melon Mambo. The card I came up with is a little on the wild side, but that's what happens when I'm just stamping for fun. Creativity is so liberating!!

I put a tag on my card from the Two Tags Die. It's the fold up one that I decorated with ribbon, brads, and one of the stamps from the set called Razzle Dazzle. And, as you can see from the picture below . . . there is a pop out butterfly surprise when open up the tag!!

Have a wonderful day and thank you so much for dropping by my blog. This has been a fun card to make and it makes me happy to share it with you!

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Stamps: Razzle Dazzle (116714)

Paper: Old Olive (100702), Whisper White (100730), Razzleberry Lemonade (115675)

Ink: Old Olive (102277) just for the sentiment

Tools: Big Shot Machine (113439), Two Tags Die (115954), Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (118138), Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Trio Flower Punch (109183), 1 1/4" Circle Punch (104403)

Accessories: Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon (109067), Old Olive Ribbon Taffeta from the Holiday Mini Catalog (retired), Soft Subtles Brads (106954), Earth Elements Brads (106955), Paper Piercer (116631), Markers for coloring direct to rubber: Old Olive (100079), Pretty in Pink (100045), Melon Mambo part of the In Color Set (116329)

Adhesives: Tombo Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

1/14 Garden From the Heart

This is a card that I made for Quality Control Swappers. I used the new paper pack from the Occasions Mini called Sweet Pea. I thought some of the oranges in there made a nice match with Dusty Durango which is what I used for the card base. The next layer is Basic Gray cut at 5 1/4" x 4". The strips of designer series paper are all 1" wide. The shorter strips are 2 3/4" and the longer strips are 4". The center piece is 2 7/8"x 1 5/8". I used watercolor paper for the center piece and stamped my hat image with StazOn Jet Black. I used a Dusty Durango marker to ink up just the words "from my heart" and a Stamp-a-ma-jig to get perfect placement. My image is watercolored with an Aqua-Painter.

Do you like the teeny tiny butterfly fluttering about the hat? That is a new Stampin'Up exclusive from Sizzix called Beautiful Wings. It's an embosslit die that cuts and embosses all at the same time. There are four butterflies on this one die and this is the very smallest of the four. I attached the butterfly with a mini glue dot.

Have a wonderful day . . . so glad you could stop by my blog. I appreciate you!

Stamps: Garden From the Heart Clear Mount (118568)
Paper: Dusty Durango (115321), Basic Gray (108692), Watercolor Paper (105019), Crushed Curry for the butterfly (115319), Sweet Pea DSP (117161)
Ink: StazOn Black (101406), For watercoloring I used ink off the lids from the following - More Mustard (103162), Dusty Durango (115654), Old Olive (102277), Taken with Teal (103257)
Tools: Big Shot Machine (113439), Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die (118138), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Aqua Painter (103954), Clear Mount Block D (118485), Clear Mount Block I (118488)
Accessories: Dusty Durango Polka Dot Ribbon using the reverse side (115609), Dusty Durango Marker part of the In Color Marker Set (116329)
Adhesives: Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755), Mini Glue Dot (103683)