The Top Three Benefits of Being On My Mailing List

When you sign up for my mailing list you receive:

• The FREE monthly Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe Newsletter
• A featured Product of the Month with a full color example along with instructions and a list of the supplies you'll need to complete the project
• A schedule of what's brewing at the Cafe
• ... and much more

My newsletter is scheduled to come out next week and you won't want to miss it.  Just enter your e-mail address in the second box to the left and hit go.  That's all there is to it. 

Blessings from Marsha 

It Is Done!

Tomorrow is the last day I have to get everything ready for Farmer's Market Jubilee.  The Crafters Gift Boutique is right in the middle of all the excitement.  Every Saturday since the opening of the Farmer's Market, those of us who have a booth at the Boutique have been encouraged to set up a table displaying our craft.  We set up on the lawn in front of the store and it is fun to visit with those who come along to check things out.

I spent my evening completing one of the new products I want to show off on Saturday.  I like the way it came together.  The four piece coaster set features four sets of inserts.  There are four inserts for each season so you can change them out as the seasons change.

Coaster Inserts

Stamp Set:  A Flower for All Seasons; Ink:  StazOn Black, Real Red, Stampin' Write Markers in Pretty In Pink, Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, Wild Wasabi, Island Indigo, Pool Party; Card Stock: Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler; Accessories:  Scallop Rectangle Clearlits Die, Big Shot, Fancy Fan Letterpress

Here is one of the finished inserts.  The coaster is a glass tile that is tinted a very light pastel green.  It looks well with all the colors used for the tiles.

A Flower for All Seaons Coaster Set

Now it's time to clean up and get some rest.  Tomorrow, well actually, today is going to be another busy one.  I love staying busy and Stampin' Up!® has given me the opportunity to be creative and to share it with others.  You could do the same.  Now is the time and the $99 Starter Kit is only available for a few more days.  If you would like more information, leave me a comment or e-mail me at marshastamps@gmail.com.

Blessings from Marsha

Busy, Busy, Busy

Today was spent taking care of business.  There was paperwork to do, filing to get the piles of papers off my desk and some project planning for my upcoming open house.  I also have a few projects to finish for the big to do at the Farmer's Market this Saturday.

Don't forget to take advantage of the $99 Starter Kit special.  You will also receive the beautiful Christmas Keepsake project free with your first August order.  It's a great time to join my team.  Remember, this special offer ends July 31st.

Blessings from Marsha

Special Time With My Daughter-in-Law

Today was a busy day spent away from home.  I met my daughter-in-law, Michelle, for lunch and we had a very nice time together.  It isn't often that we have a chance to go out together.  She is married to my middle son, Matthew, and with three children and a full time job, she is one busy young mother.  I enjoy spending time with her.

There wasn't time today to create something new so I browsed through my pictures and found one of my favorites.  I don't remember when I made it but it was inspired by another card I liked.  It's been a while since I actually played with this particular stamp set.  Looks like I'm going to have to give it some more attention.

Three Little Words

Stamp Sets:  Three Little Words, Itty Bitty Bits; Ink:  Perfect Plum; Card Stock:  Naturals White, Perfect Plum, Brights Old Olive Designer Series Paper; Accessories:  Eyelet Border Punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, 5/8" Whisper White Ribbon, Flower Burst Embosslit, Jewels Pearls

The rest of my week will be full of finishing up new projects for Saturday morning.  The Farmer's Market Jubilee was rescheduled for June 30 and it looks to be a good day for it.  Last time it was rained out.  I'll be sharing the new projects as I get them done so stay tuned.

Blessings from Marsha

Something New

As you may have noticed, I have added some new pages.  While things are under construction, please be patient. I'll be happy to share the "rest of the story" as soon as construction is complete.

Blessings from Marsha

Come Join My Team

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business or saving money on craft supplies?  If so, now is the time to join my team.

Sign up through the end of July to receive your special $99 Starter Kit along with a FREE Christmas Keepsake Project Kit.  And, you can sign up online by visiting My Website or contact me for more details.   

I love being a Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrator!

Blessings from Marsha

Pinwheel Fun

Driving down the street the other day, I saw one of those yard pinwheels vigorously spinning in the wind.  It reminded me of the pinwheels I used to play with as a child.  I got to thinking about how one would look on a card.  This card is a very clean and simple one and made up in no time.  The pinwheel is made from a 3x3 square of card stock that is cut from each corner to within a half inch of the center of the square.  Then, you fold the corners up to form the wheel and that's all there is to it.  Pinwheels are still fun to play with.

Pinwheel Laughter

Stamp Set:  Word Play; Ink:  Cajun Craze; Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Well Worn Design Series Paper; Accessories: Top Note Die, Antique Brad, Big Shot

If you'd like to order the supplies to make this card, my online store is always open.  Just click the link at the upper right.  If you want complete instructions on how I put it all together, e-mail me at marshastamps@gmail.com.

Blessings from Marsha

The Other Winning Combination

The next combination came from Jean F.  She suggested Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant and Wisteria Wonder.  This one took a wee bit of thought as I just couldn't get my mind around it.  I would never have thought to put these colors together.  It definitely was a challenge but I think it came together quite well.

Again, I want to thank both Jennifer and Jean for their wonderful color combinations.

Thanks So Much

Stamp Set(s):  Swirls & Curls Verses, Delicate Doilies; Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Rich Razzleberry Write Marker; Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder; Accessories:  Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Triple Layer Doily Punch, Clear Emboss Powder, Jewels Pearls, Big Shot, Stampin' Dimensionals

Blessings from Marsha

The Final Results

It was fun working with the color combinations of the winners.  It was also challenging to combine them in a way that was attractive.   I may have to turn this into a monthly contest.  A challenge for me and a free card for you. 

Tonight I'm highlighting just one of the cards for you.  Tomorrow's post will highlight the other winner's color combination.

The first card is made with the color combination from Jennifer L.  She suggested Melon Mambo, Pacific Point and Lucky Limeade.

Buttery Thanks

Stamp Set(S):  Four Frames, Tagtastic; Ink:  Lucky Limeade; Card Stock:  Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Pacific Point Brights DSP, Lucky Limeade; Accessories:  Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Fancy Fan Letterpress, 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Jewels Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Decorative Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Big Shot

Blessings from Marsha

It's Time To Announce The Winner!

Good morning on this cloudy, rainy day.

Actually, I have two winners.  Their choice of colors were very interesting so I decided to try both.  It seemed only fair to honor each of them with a Thank You card.  I will be posting the cards made with their chosen colors later this weekend.

Thank you Jean F. and Jennifer L. for your intriguing color combinations.

Blessings from Marsha

What’s Your Favorite Stampin’ Up! Color Combination?

All you need to do is let me know the colors that speak to you.  You can use specific shades or, if you prefer, just be very general.

Respond by Friday, July 22 by midnight Central Time and you will be entered into a drawing to receive a Thank You card from me using the winning color combination.

Leave a comment here or send me an e-mail at marshastamps@gmail.com, with your choice of colors along with your name and email address.  The winner will be announced on Monday.

Blessings from Marsha

The Chosen One

Well, my day has nearly come to an end.  I'm finishing it up listening to Oldies streaming through my computer and by posting another card.  This is the one my customer chose.  She went with three different shades of blue.  Not Quite Navy and Bashful Blue do look well together.

The inside took an interesting twist, though.  Yes, it is somewhat unusual for a shower card but it was actually discussed when she first asked me to help her with a card.  At that time I didn't have a motorcycle stamp so we had decided against it.  I must thank my llama friend, Buffy, for totally pleasing my customer!  :-)  Apparently, the young woman and her young man both love motorcycles.  The clear embossed sentiment on the Marina Mist was well liked, so we also embossed the motorcycle.  The picture does not do it justice.  It looks very cool.  Without further comment, here is the final product.

Blessings from Marsha

A Busy, Productive Day!

Today I was back in the swing of watching grandchildren.  It changes the whole way I schedule my day.  While the youngest one was napping, I did manage to make a couple of cards.  I have a customer coming over tonight to make a shower card she needs for Saturday so I needed to have a couple of ideas ready for her.  They are both CASEd designs but not exactly.  I changed some things because I didn't have what they used.  I love the little bird now that we can add feet!

Apparently, the bride-to-be is using blue so my customer wanted blue.  The first card was made using Marina Mist, Bashful Blue and Whisper White.  I went a little punch crazy but I do like the effect.  While I didn't take a photo of the inside, I did use a sentiment from God's Blessings and simply clear embossed it.

My next card was made using Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White.  I love the way the new Lace Ribbon Punch looks.  So delicate and a perfect match to the Delicate Doilies Stamp Set.

Which one is your favorite?

Blessings from Marsha 

For Your Shower

Stamp Set(s):  Language of Friendship, God's Blessings, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink(s):  Soft Suede, Marina Mist, Lucky Limeade Write Marker; Card Stock:  Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Whisper White; Other:  Boho Blossoms Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Jewels Basic Pearls, Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin Dimensionals

Congratulations

Stamp Set(s):  Delicate Doilies, Fabulous Florets Swirls & Curls Verses; Ink(s):  Pool Party, Pacific Point; Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White; Other:  Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Clear Embossing Powder

Playing Around with Color

One of the things I've discovered about myself is that I tend to match colors rather than use combinations that mix it up.  A recent purchase from Stampin' Up! was the Color Coach.  It has helped me step out of my 'it has to match' zone and put colors together that I never would have thought to combine.  Flower Time is just such a card.  River Rock, Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler are not colors I would have put together on my own but I think it turned out well.

Flower Time

Then, came Language of Friendship.  Not only is it a new stamp set but it fits perfectly with the Bird Builder Punch.  Again, I used Not Quite Navy along with a new Designer Series Paper called Well Worn.

Language of Friendship

So, there you have it for now.  Tomorrow I have two new stamps sets arriving and I can't wait to get my hands on them.  I have already decided that one of them will be used for the upcoming swap.  We shall see.  After all, being a woman, it is my prerogative to change my mind!

Blessings from Marsha

Language of Friendship

Today's creative endeavor was intended to be used for an upcoming swap.  Instead, I've decided to wait until I get my order on Thursday and use one of the new stamp sets in that order.  No, I'm not sharing which ones, yet, since I want to play with both of them before making that decision.

The reason I decided not to use this card for the swap, is that I used the same technique on it as I did the last card I made for this group.  While I love the technique, I felt I should give something else a try for this swap.

I've been having a lot of fun playing with the new sets from the new catalog.  I love the look of the River Rock card stock with the Not Quite Navy.  And, the new Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder really added some color to the card.  I used the new Well Worn Designer Series Paper for the Lace Ribbon Border on the left but it doesn't show up well.  I plan to use it on another card to really show it off.  It is going to be one of my favorites.  I love the colors in the whole package.

Blessings from Marsha

In Black and White

I love black and white pictures and I love trees.  One of my all time favorite Stampin' Up! stamp sets is Lovely As A Tree.  When I saw this frame, I knew just what I wanted to to with it.  I painted the frame with a pearl finish acrylic paint then took a sponge dauber and Basic Black Classic Ink and added a border around the frame.  Without it, it looked so barren.  The trees were stamped with Versamark, then embossed with white emboss powder on black card stock.  Put it all together and voila!  You have a study of trees in black and white.

Who's Got Chocolate?

Another of the projects I've made for Farmer's Market Jubilee are these little boxes.  Each box holds twelve Hershey's nuggets.  Each nugget is covered with a coordinating strip of card stock.  I want to thank Jen del Muro for the 'mini pizza box.'  It is so quick and easy to make.  The hardest part was staying out of the chocolate!

Blessings from Marsha

Just Had to Show the Inside!

So, I took the time this morning to take photos of the 3x3 cards I made for the tins.  I had such fun making them and wanted you all to see how cute they are.  I'm keeping this post short as my almost 11 year old grandson is looking for lunch and we are going to Culver's.  His birthday is Sunday and every year he spends the night and I take him out to dinner and shopping for his birthday.  He picks the restaurant and picks his gift so I know he will like it!  :-)  Actually, he chose IHOP for supper yesterday.  He loves their chocolate, chocolate chip pancakes.  Culver's is just an added bonus.

I have some other new projects to show you but must wait until I return later this evening. 

Blessings from Marsha

Time Flies...

Well, June has come and gone and while I have been busy, I've not taken the time to post anything new.  So, here is my latest project.  Actually, five of my latest project.  The Farmer's Market Jubilee scheduled in June was canceled due to bad weather and has been rescheduled for July 30th.  So, these are just waiting to make their debut along with several other new projects that have yet to be made.

Each tin holds six 3x3 cards, six envelopes and a small pen..  The design on the outside of the tin matches the cards inside.

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July.

Blessings from Marsha