What a week this has been! Between this month’s Splitcoast Dirty Dozen gallery, which goes live Thursday, and a myriad of school and personal activities, which included a recital, my life has been so busy! I know that all of you have been in the same situation before…so many things to do and not enough time in which to do them. However, I have survived! I have seven cards in my April Splitcoast Fan Club gallery, just waiting to be revealed. I have created my Pals Paper Arts challenge card, using a new stamp set from the Summer Mini catalog. And I listened to my son perform Honneger’s “Intrada”.

The Sneak Peek
There is no doubt about it…I will miss the lighter shades of purple as Stampin’ Up! renovates its color collections. However, I have faith that they will definitely come up with substitutes for Pale Plum, Almost Amethyst, Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac and Lavender Lace. I played with these colors, along with my Blender Pens, on this week’s Pals’ Challenge card. Of course, it’s easy to tell that I used the new Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder. I hope that you will find this card to be “magical”!

Of course, the excitement in the Stampin’ Up! world is revolving around registration for Convention 2010! This will mark my first Convention. I didn’t attend last year as I was new to stamping. Now that I am feeling a little more confident in my stamping skills, I can hardly wait to meet those of you who will be attending! So many of you are like family…I am sure that we will have fun. We will definitely need to share information as the time approaches.

It was a mad rush out the door on the shirt-tails of my students, but I did make it to Western Illinois University’s Trumpet Studio recital Monday evening. Brady performed Honneger’s “Intrada”. The last time that I heard Brady perform a solo under performance conditions was when he auditioned for acceptance into the School of Music…and that was with my ear pressed to the audition room door nearly two years ago. I could not be more proud of how he has matured musically.

Obviously, there were things that did not get accomplished during this past week. Here it is April 13th, and I missed sending out my April 1st newsletter. I guess that a mid-month newsletter will be just fine. My house is in disarray…I am ever so messy when I create. And I have a Hostess Club for which to prepare. But, “tomorrow is another day”. I never did get a post written about the colors that are retiring and those that are returning, but now I have a different idea in mind about how to address that topic. Isn’t it funny how life just has a way of working itself out? Until next time…

What could be better than flowers and candy? Why…flowers, candy, and the Pals Paper Arts challenge! This week’s theme is “Flowers” and we are offering blog candy, too! So before you head over to the PPA site to view the wonderful inspiration cards designed by my fellow design team members, let me just share a secret with you. Shhh…don’t tell anybody, but I love the new Elements of Style stamp set! The Baroque “Swirl” stamp in this set is perfect for creating a background, while letting the “Floral” image take center stage. An elegant color scheme of Basic Black and Very Vanilla, as well as a sumptuous Basic Black Satin Bow make this one classy card!

My Summer Mini picks definitely include Elements of Style and the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder. Over the next few weeks, I will share more of my favorites from the upcoming Summer Mini. Of course, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to email me. I am always happy to chat about stamping! Of course, your comments are important to me, so please let me know what you think about today’s card! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Elements of Style (W 118611; C 120045—Summer Mini); Inks: Basic Black (101179), Regal Rose (105211), Always Artichoke (105219), So Saffron (105213), Sahara Sand (105208); Stampin’ Write Markers: Regal Rose (105108), Always Artichoke (105113); Card Stock: Basic Black (102851), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder (119976—Summer Mini), Blender Pens (102845), Paper Snips (103579); Glitz and Glam: Pretties Kit (109114), Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117285)

Thursday marks another Pals Paper Arts challenge, and in keeping with tradition, I am offering you a little sneak peek of my inspiration card. As you can see, it is also showcasing the Stampin‘ Up! Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder. You know me and textured impressions folders…you can never have too many! It is also showcasing the Elements of Style stamp set. I can tell you this already…it will be my “go-to” set out of the Summer Mini Catalog.

Sale-a-bration may be over, but a new promotion has taken its place—Two Step Stampin‘ into Spring! From April 1 through April 30, Stampin‘ Up! is offering the following two-step stamp sets at 20% off:

Item # 113824
Greenhouse Garden
Discounted Price: $20.76

113734
Fifth Avenue Floral
Discounted Price: $19.96

111578
Flower Fancy
Discounted Price: $29.56

113258
Trendy Trees
Discounted Price: $14.36

And there is more! If you host a $350 workshop during this promotional period, you will receive the new set “Awash with Flowers” absolutely free! Email me today to book your workshop!

Here are two cards from The Stampin‘ Schach archive featuring Fifth Avenue Floral and Greenhouse Garden: