This week it’s the Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set. This set is available in the new 2014-2015 Catalog, page 173. It is a versatile set and is great for making more masculine cards.

Here are some of the ones I made using Soft Suede, Garden Green, Almost Navy (retired) and Vanilla card stock and inks.

For my weekly Card Making Challenge, I’ve made several cards with the French Foliage stamp set. This set is retired but it’s been sitting on my shelf for  probably a year. This challenge has gotten me to open it up and use it and I can’t believe I didn’t break it out before. What a versatile stamp set.

I didn’t want the cards to look real “autumn-ly” so I chose bright and fun colors. Including Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Crushed Curry and Always Artichoke. I masked the paper and smudged color on with a sponge and then stamped the design I wanted. I followed up by removing the masking tape and stamping the last few leaves and adding a sentiment. Really fun and so creative.  This card works for male or female and can also work with just about any sentiment.

While this stamp set is no longer available, there are other stamp sets that will do quite well with this technique and can be purchased at my online store. Here are some: Stippled Blossoms, Hostess set: Bloom with Hope, Postage Due, Sea Street, Everything Eleanor and By the Tide to name just a few.

Is my card-making (DIY) challenge for the next year. Starting today, August 1, 2014 I will make a new card from a stamp set that I have every week for the next year. If you are like me, you buy stamp sets because you love them, you just got to have them, you can’t live without them. However, many times they sit on the shelf and you (I) never get around to making anything with them. Well, starting today that is going to change for me.

I know I have more than 52 stamp sets and with new purchases to come in the next year, I may have to go two years! Wouldn’t that be fun. So, hold on to your hats and expect a new card every week and sometimes two!

Here is the first one: “Nuts About You”

Nuts About You

This is a new product from the 2014-2015 Annual Catalog and it is only available to people who book a party through me. A Hostess gift (reg. price $16.95) is available for only $10 with a party. This is an adorable little set with so many possibilities that I may be tempted to use it again. But, I will stick to my challenge.

Other products used are: Soft Suede, Marina Mist, Smoky Slate & Whisper White papers. Old Olive, Marina Mist, Basic Gray, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green & Early Espresso Inks. Decorative Dots (133520) TIEF.  Inside I used a sentiment from “Blessings from Heaven”.

OK, it’s been out for a little bit but I’ve had my hands full with some family things. Like my daughter’s graduation, yeah! Our summer trips and of course a million other things. But better late than never, right? Here is the NEW 2014-2015 Annual Catalog. I think you will agree that it is full of fun and exciting new products. Check it out and click on the pic to download the catalog.