Friday's Fresh Finds

From Adriel:

So I've got "baby" on my mind lately. I haven't really talked about it much on here, but I'm expecting again and I've got 10 weeks left to go! Yay! These last 2 months are usually the hardest... most uncomfortable, feeling enormous... but it's also exciting because you get to start accumulating your "baby" things. I've found some great "baby" things on Etsy that I wanted to share with you today.

Here's Friday's Fresh Finds! Enjoy! =)

White Chenille Floral Love Blanket from ablemabel. The print on this blanket is so cute and the blanket looks so soft and perfectly sized for a small person. There are many other wonderful handmade items in their shop!

Brand New Baby Starter Hair Accessory Pack from hblackberry. Yes, I'm having a girl! This set is so versatile with everything you would need for a baby girl's head (and hopefully hair!). They have plenty more varieties and styles to choose from in their shop!

Coupon Book for New Mommies from Polished Productions. This is such a creative gift idea and great for a new mom. They have more creative gift ideas in their shop!

City Blooms Diaper Clutch Wristlet from SaritaBaby. Very cute and a great way to keep things organized compactly for a quick run somewhere. They have really cute bibs in their shop, too!

Classy White with Black Flowers Nursing Cover from MyBabyCorner. I did the blanket cover with my other two children and I think something like this would make nursing easier. There are many other styles to choose from in their shop.

Soft and Cuddly Baby/Toddler Blanket by babytogo! Aren't those colors so pretty? Gorgeous blanket! Their shop has so many other cute baby things, too!

Round About Orchid Sleep Sack from TwiceAsNiceBoutique. This is such a great idea and they have many other patterns to choose from in their shop!

Etsy is an awesome place to find all kinds of handmade and unique items.

I hope you enjoyed the Fresh Finds! We'll have more Fresh Finds next week!

Wowzer! Wednesday

Today for our Wowzer! Wednesday blog feature, we're highlighting a couple of kids that "wowed" us.

Okay, so they happen to be related to us... closely... but we're not biased at all! ;-) Yah, right!

Anyway, Kayla and Jacob both decided to play along with us in our color challenge this month. They both did a wowzer of a job and they love it when we feature them on our blog, so we obliged them. =)

Here's Kayla hard at work for the color challenge.

She made 3 cards for the color challenge! Wowzer!! =)
Jacob used what remained from the supplies Kayla brought home and seriously went to work (hey, he was using SCRAPS!!).
He made this very nice picture... very creative!
The color challenge is still open and we'd love to see what you can create with the colors we've picked out. Click HERE to get all the details!

That's all for today, folks! Join us next week for another Wowzer! Wednesday where we'll be featuring more "wow" creativity and talent!

Newsy Tuesday

Here's what's new with the Two Happy Stampers this week!

We've got a couple new organizers going into our Etsy shop. One is for keeping track of birthdays and other special dates. Super cute and I love the bird on the front! =)

The other organizer is the same concept, except this one is a grocery/menu planning organizer. (I'm thinking I need one of these for myself!) The paper is nice and modern and looks great! I'm curious to see if anyone else will think this is as handy and practical as I do! =)

My mom and I have been working on page layouts for the album we plan on making in preparation for the new baby's arrival. We're going to have an album-making party in May and we'll need the helping hands of our stamping and crafting friends. We've prepped for some of the pages already, getting the paper cut and pieces sorted. My mom is even writing directions for her pages... she's something. I'm not that ambitious... I will be providing a template along with my pieces and I'm hoping that will be good enough. My mom has been using My Digital Studio to design her pages and has even printed some elements and paper for the album, so that is fun. Another great use of My Digital Studio!

Our 2nd Color Challenge is open until the end of this month. We've gotten a few entries... I'll be showing a couple more tomorrow on the blog. We've had two artists create paintings with the color challenge, so that has been neat to see artists do something other than a card with the colors. Anyway, if you are interested in participating, check out the details HERE!

I'm going to be working this week on getting a baby boy flip album done for a friend. I thought since I was making one, I might as well make two! I'll be putting the extra one in our Etsy shop, so be on the lookout for that when it's done! I'm using the cute Sweet Pea Designer Paper Stack from Stampin' Up! that is available in their current occasions mini catalog. I've got all my pieces cut and scored and ready to assemble... just need to sit down and put it together. =)

The colors for these albums are Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Taken w/ Teal, hints of Bashful Blue and Pumpkin Pie. I'm looking forward to getting them all put together and seeing how the finished product looks!

Something else that is news-worthy is that I started a new blog... it's like one day old. LOL! I wanted a place to share other things that I have a hard time finding a place for here. My new blog is called: Faith, Family, Food, & Fun. I hope you'll visit me over there and follow along for the ride! =)

We don't have any classes this coming week or two, but that is when we create new stuff for new classes! Check back soon to see what we've been cooking up! =)

Monday: Simple & Sweet

Sometimes you just need a card... FAST! It doesn't need to look like a million bucks (or that you spent a million hours on it)... it just needs to look nice and be simple and sweet. Today we're starting a blog feature that I hope to continue weekly: Monday: Simple & Sweet. Pretty self-explanatory, but to sum it up, we'll be featuring a simple and sweet card (or project) weekly on Monday with the list of supplies so you can make one, too!

Today's card uses only one stamp set and a small amount of supplies. The polka dot embossed background is optional and a plain piece of cardstock can be used instead for a card that still looks great! Here's our Simple & Sweet card for Monday this week.

1. Fold a 5.5" x 4.25" piece of Bermuda Bay CS in half to form card base. Round all corners. Set aside.

2. OPTIONAL: If desired, place a 3.75" x 5" piece of Very Vanilla CS in PERFECT POLKA DOTS TEXTURED IMPRESSIONS DIE and send through Sizzix Big Shot. Round all corners and attach to Bermuda Bay card front with SNAIL adhesive.

3. Stamp flower image from Wow Flowers stamp set on Very Vanilla CS in Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Pretty in Pink classic ink. Stamp round happy birthday image from Wow Flowers stamp set in Bermuda Bay on Very Vanilla CS. Punch out stamped images with 1-1/4" circle punch.

4. Punch out 1 Curly Label out of each: Chocolate Chip CS, Bermuda Bay CS, Pretty in Pink CS, and Old Olive CS. Attach Curly Label punched shapes to card front in a square pattern with SNAIL adhesive. Attach stamped and punched circles to corresponding colored curly labels with Stampin' Dimensionals.

5. Tie a small piece of 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon into a knot. Trim ends and attach to card front with a mini glue dot.

Simple and sweet, right? =)

Supplies: Bermuda Bay CS, Very Vanilla CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Old Olive CS, Pretty in Pink CS, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, 1-1/4" Circle punch, Curly Label punch, corner rounder (or choice), Wow Flowers stamp set, Pretty in Pink classic ink, Bermuda Bay classic ink, Chocolate Chip classic ink, Old Olive Classic ink, Mini Glue Dots, SNAIL adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions die (optional), Big Shot machine (optional).

All supplies can be ordered by clicking HERE. If you need any help or have any questions, please feel free to email us @ twohappystampers@gmail.com.

Have a wonderful Monday and a great week! =)

More Kraft!

From Heidi...I've been admiring all of the Lace Medallion cards out there, so I wanted to make one, too! Here's my take on this fun technique. I thought this would be a fun technique to add to April's newsletter, so I'll be working on a tutorial for next month. Thanks for looking!

Our Love of Kraft!

From Adriel:

My mom and I were talking the other day about how much we love the color "kraft". It's so versatile and goes with so many colors. It's one of those colors that is a "go-to" when you don't know where else to start. It doesn't look cheap... it's somewhat trendy. You can keep it plain or dress it up... it looks fabulous either way. If I was energetic enough, I would put my creative writing to practice and write an Ode to Kraft... but I'm not, so I won't make you suffer either. ;-) I find that I have to almost force myself to use another color and I really tried to with these cards, but my mom and I both agreed that Kraft was the only acceptable card base for these lovely and simple stamped images.

I used inks and a blender pen to give them a "water colored" look... this stamped image from Stampin' Up's Asian Artistry is just gorgeous and looks even more incredible with a bit of color. I spent an afternoon a couple of weeks ago just coloring away... it was somewhat relaxing even. Using the blender pen makes me feel like the artist that I'm not! =)

So what color are you hooked on right now? I'd love to know... it might help me try something new and get out of my rut! =D

Stamp-A-Stack Classes this Week

We've still got spots open for our Tuesday and Thursday Stamp-A-Stack evening classes this week, 7-9 PM. Spring and Masculine are the theme this month, and as you can see, we've got some great cards to share with you. Email or call us if you'd like to come.

Spring is Coming

From Adriel:

We had a great class Tuesday evening at Tumbleweed Rec. Center. Our birthday bash cards were a lot of fun to make and it was enjoyable to spend time with those who attended.

This is completely off-subject, but it was so cold yesterday, especially in the evening. The air had a snap to it. Our weather is having a hard time deciding what it wants to do, but spring is right around the corner and our project class tomorrow screams spring and butterflies!

This month we're making a cute 3-D art project using the new Beautiful Wings embosslit die featured in the Occasions Mini. Once this new baby girl gets here and we've settled into life again, I'm planning on re-doing Kayla's room, since it will be "the girls'" room. I want to paint it and put some curtains up and new blinds. This type of 3-D project is great for sprucing up any room and adding a nice artistic element to it. I would like to make something like this in the colors I end up using for their room. =)
We're also making this cute pocket card that holds a packet of seeds! The note insert slides into the pocket, along with the packet of seeds. So cute! =)

Both of these projects are a great way to welcome spring! I'm going to be getting the supplies ready for this class today and am looking forward to teaching it to those of you who will be joining us tomorrow! Have a wonderful day! =)

My Color Challenge Card

From Heidi...We've been busy, which is a good thing! But sometimes you just need to stop and be creative, for no other reason except to have fun. That's what I did yesterday afternoon. I combined another sketch challenge with our color challenge and created this card yesterday...for no other reason except to have fun! I hope you all have some creative fun this week!

Join the fun with our color challenge. All the details HERE!

Easter is Around the Corner

From Adriel:

When I was a girl, my grandma would have us over for a jelly bean hunt. She would hide jelly beans all over her house and in her yard and my sister and I (and later my brother, too), would have little baskets and hunt for jelly beans. We always looked forward to it!

Here's an Easter card I made last week. I intended to use a different floral stamp set, but it was packed up for a class and I decided to use something that was easily accessible. I used a retired set called "Doodle This", which is so whimsical... very pretty.

I used a simple color scheme of Pale Plum, Whisper White and Basic Black. I think the results are so elegant and sophisticated! =) I mixed up my own shimmer mist using a small travel size hairspray bottle (contents discarded, bottle washed and dried), alcohol and shimmer paint! I misted my flower with this and added a rhinestone brad to the center. The flower is beautiful with that shimmer! =)

Just something to share with you today. Hope you're having a good Monday! =)

Birthday Bash at Tumbleweed

From Heidi...
I wanted to share the cards we're offering at tomorrow night's Birthday Bash class (376TW.330) at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center. We've got several people signed up for our Spring classes at Tumbleweed, so if you'd like to join us, please do! Next month's classes are an Altered Photo/Scrap Album along with Brayered Cards. Hope you all have a great day!

THS Color Challenge #2 for March

Welcome back to another Two Happy Stampers Color Challenge! Our color challenge is open for the entire month of March, so you have plenty of time to play! =)

This challenge is open to all of our artsy, crafty friends! Whether you make cards, scrapbook, knit, paint or anything in between, we'd love for you to join in along with us!


Our color challenge this month is: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Old Olive, and Rich Razzleberry (these are Stampin' Up! color names... use what you have!). Feel free to add some black, white and/or vanilla if desired! Make something creative using our color challenge and submit the url link to your creation in the comments or send us a picture of your inspired creation. We will choose 5 of the submissions to feature on our blog!

Sound fun?! Join us!

Guidelines to participate:

- Use the colors in the challenge as a springboard for your creativity!

- Challenge ends Wednesday, March 31st @ midnight, Arizona time.

- Please keep submissions family friendly.

We're looking forward to seeing what you have to share with us! Let your friends know about the challenge, too! Have fun!! :)

Flower Embellishments

From Adriel:

Stop paying crazy money for flower embellishments at the craft store! Using a punch or two, scissors, cardstock, patterned paper, adhesive and a couple other supplies, you can make your own "WOW" flower embellishments!
Here's some fun flower embellishments I made using a combination of the techniques found in the following tutorials.

The bottom flower uses the flower-making technique that Dawn McVey uses in her video HERE. Lots of fun!



The middle of the flower embellishment uses the flower-making technique by Lolly Chops found HERE, but think much smaller... although a huge one of these would look awesome on practically ANYTHING! =)

Flower Tutorial from Lolly Chops on Vimeo.

I don't remember exactly how I attached the middle part to the bottom flower layer, but I would imagine a decent amount of glue or a good sized glue dot would do the trick. I'm going to do something soon (I don't even know what!) with this flower and I'll show you what I end up creating with it! =) For now, have some fun making your own and creating with them!

Be sure to check back here tomorrow to find out what the THS Color Challenge #2 for March will be! =)

Nature Cards

We are finally moving forward with selling some nature-themed cards to a local gift shop here in Chandler. The Veteran's Oasis Park has an Environmental Center with a gift shop and today my mom will be dropping off some cards we made. We spent an afternoon last week packaging them and my mom made those cute bag toppers that finish off the packaging nicely. Anyway, just something to share with you today! Thanks for stopping by! =)

THS Color Challenge #1 Results

The Two Happy Stampers Color Challenge #1 is over and we have some sharing to do! Thanks to everyone who played along in our color challenge last month! We didn't have a whole lot of participation, but for it being the first challenge, it was a fun experience and we hope to do it again! =)

Here's the creations that were inspired by the THS Color Challenge #1!

Anthonette Chavez - fellow card and stamping blogger... great style and card making/stamping abilities. Anthonette is such a nice blogger friend to play along with us! Thanks, Anthonette! =)

Linda - a fellow member of the Etsy Greetings Team that we are also part of. Thanks for joining us, Linda! =)

Nan Tonelli - Nan stamps with us (or one of us) usually once a month at one of our local classes. Nan, your card turned out great! Thanks for joining us! =)

Thanks again to everyone who participated! We'll have a new challenge up for the month of March soon, so be on the look out! =)

Color Challenge Deadline Extended

From Adriel:

That's right! We're extending the deadline of our Color Challenge to February 28th @ midnight. If you planned on participating in this month's THS Color Challenge #1, you've still got time but it's time to step on it! We've got a few participants so far, but we would love some more participation! Get all the details about the challenge HERE! =)

My husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last Friday, Feb. 19th. My husband took the day off and we had a lunch date! We never do that! We had a nice lunch together, just the two of us, and then we headed up to Payson with the kids where we spent the weekend. We went and played in the snow and just enjoyed hanging together. =)

Here's the anniversary card I made using our color challenge. It's a super simple card! I used the Very Vintage jumbo wheel with Tempting Turquoise ink along with the heart from the Hearts & Brackets die. The dots from the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder add instant texture and interest to this card without a lot of effort. Stamped a cute little sentiment, used the photo corner punch to get the banner effect on the end and added the rhinestone brad for a bit of bling and that's it. =)

Thanks for stopping by! I can't believe February is almost over... crazy!

Party Favors

From Heidi...

We have a fun class coming up next Thursday at Tumbleweed called Party Favor Holders. I thought I'd share these fun little containers we created with you. They all can hold candy, a note, or other little gift items. They can make an ordinary gift a special gift just by the packaging. We created the Sour Cream Container using the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP. I used the Tart and Tangy stamp set for the flower.The Genie Bag was decorated with the new Sweet Pea DSP, which I have come to love...I used the Wide Oval Punch to create the handle opening at the top.The Cottage Wall DSP makes this ordinary pineapple can look so cute. Just by adding some ribbon to the pull tab on this Pop Top Can gives it a fun and special look.The Piece of Cake uses a print-out template which is stamped to create your own DSP.
If you're looking for something fun and creative to do next Thursday evening, please join us at Tumbleweed, 6:30-9 PM.

March Newsletter Posted

We've posted our March Newsletter. Take a look...we've got some great classes coming up and pictures to share in it.

Cute Tutorial to Check Out!

You must check out THIS TUTORIAL on Mercedes Weber's blog on how to make these cute little drink cups with the Round Tab punch!! I thought this was such a great idea and wanted to share it with all of you! =)

Have a wonderful day!

Something Fun to Try

From Adriel:

Here's a different kind of bookmark that is simple to make, but looks awesome! I used the tutorial on Mary's blog which you can find HERE.

I used the Charming stamp set from Stampin' Up! and embossed in black and white. It's really an elegant bookmark and would make a great gift for anyone! Make a card to match, slide the bookmark over the corner and you've got an instant and lovely gift. Seriously, this bookmark takes less than 20 minutes to make... great for when you need a last minute something for a thank you or other occasion and you need a little something more than a card.

Here's another tutorial for a similar, but simpler bookmark made using the Petal Card die. I don't own that die, but this one looks like fun, too!

Have fun and enjoy yourself! We would love to see what you end up with... leave us a link to what you make! =)

Oh, and don't forget about our color challenge... there's still a few more days left. It ends Feb. 26th! Get all the details HERE!

Stamp-a-Technique Class

Our monthly classes are this week and we're doing a Stamp-a-Technique class this month featuring "glam and glitter"! All the details about times and such are in our newsletter which you can view HERE.

Here's one of the cards we will be making at the two classes today and at Thursday's class as well. This card features the "Faux Diamond" technique and the Fresh Cuts stamp set from Stampin' Up!

The entire surface of the stamped image is covered with glitterized embossing powder. It's easy to make your own... just combine a small amount of dazzling diamonds glitter w/ a small amount of clear embossing powder and you've just made yourself some glitterized embossing powder! Obviously, glitter is a bit difficult to photograph, but trust me... there's a lot of sparkle on this card!We're also making two other cards that I don't have photos of, but they are awesome! Hope you can join us and we're looking forward to seeing those of you who are already signed up! =)