New In Colors!

Hello again! I really like today's card. It uses three of the brand new 2011-2013 in colors: Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, and Pool Party. All five of the colors are gorgeous, but I really like these three together. This card also uses the Blossom Bouquet Layering punch from the summer mini catalog. It is not a standard sized card (at least not for me). It is a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 card which is quite a bit larger than my usual 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, but I decided to try something different just for fun. Here it is- enjoy!


Supplies Used:
Stamps: Happy Greetings (summer mini)
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink: Wisteria Wonder
Accessories: Blossom Bouquet layering punch (summer mini), Big Shot, Lots of Tags sizzlit, Wide Oval punch, basic rhinestones, white taffeta ribbon (dyed using my Wisteria Wonder ink pad) Pin It

Card Class Preview

Hello! My apologies for not posting in a while! We had a little "incident" with our camera. My son knocked it off the top of our curio cabinet and broke it and we had to buy a new one, so I had a couple of weeks where I couldn't take any pictures. Let's face it- blog posts with no pictures just aren't much fun! I hope that you are enjoying the summer weather! We have had HOT weather here lately, but it has cooled off and been absolutely beautiful the last few days, so no complaints from me! To try to make up for not posting regularly, I have a HUGE post for you today. These are the cards that we will be making at my masculine-themed card class tomorrow afternoon. I always find masculine cards to be a challenge, but I am really happy with how this group of cards turned out! Enjoy!



Supplies Used:
Stamps: Sail Away (summer mini), Thoughts & Prayers
Papers: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine (summer mini), Wide Oval punch
Techniques: Torn Edge
CASE of: this card

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Totally Tool, Woodgrain (background)
Paper: Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip, Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon, Cajun Craze, Basic Gray
Accessories: Blender Pens, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Silver Brads
Technique: Watercoloring with Blender Pens


Supplies Used:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Something to Celebrate (Occasions mini), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso, Early Espresso marker, Pear Pizzazz marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice embossing folder, Tasteful Trim die, 2 1/2" circle punch
Techniques: marker to stamp, dry embossing
CASE of: this card





Supplies Used:
Stamps: Bring on the Cake (Occasions mini)
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight
Ink: Staz On
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Blossom Petals punch (for the flames), Decorative Label punch, Marina Mist 1/8" taffetta ribbon
Techniques: sponging, dry embossing
CASE of: this card

I hope you liked these cards! I'm so excited today because I have a shipment of all new SU! supplies coming today. It has all of the brand new in colors (they are gorgeous!) as well as a copy of the new catalog! I can't wait to see it! I've heard it is the best yet! Be on the lookout for posts containing all my new goodies! Have a great day (I know I will)!

~Marla Pin It

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! I wanted to write a quick post today to show you the card I made for my mom. (I hope she doesn't read this before she sees the actual card!) I saw a card very similar to this on splitcoast and wanted to make my own. The original was made by Cindy Major. I think it was the color combination that drew me to this card. I did change it up a little bit by using Concord Crush in place of the usual Perfect Plum, but it's still the same idea. I promise that I will post some cards that use a different color combination soon.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day! If you are a mom, I hope that your kids will be extra sweet and appreciative of you today. If you have a mom, I hope that you will get the chance to tell her how much she is loved!

Take care!

~Marla

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Something to Celebrate (retired hostess), Love and Care (level 2 hostess- Summer Mini)

Paper: In Color DSP (level 1 hostess), Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Ink: Concord Crush, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz

Accessories: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Scallop Trim Border punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Basic Rhinestones, Baja Breeze seam binding, shimmer spray

Techniques: Marker to Stamp

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Teacher Appreciation Week

Hello! Were you beginning to wonder if I would ever post again? April was an exceptionally busy and crazy month at our house and blogging, stamping, and a whole lot of other things had to get pushed to the back burner. I don't like it, but it's life. We are all back to normal now, so I hope to be posting a little more often.

Did you know that it is Teacher Appreciation Week? I am a former teacher and I just don't think it is possible to thank teachers enough for all that they do for our kids. I made a couple of little handmade gifts to kick off the week and thought I would share them with you. The picture above is a set of ten thank you cards that I made for my son's Kindergarten teacher and aid. I used five different color combinations (two cards of each combo) and the one shown is one of my all time favorites- Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, and Pear Pizzazz. If you look back through my blog posts, you will find this combo used more than once! I used the marker to stamp technique to get the different colors on the stamped image. Don't you just love Stampin' Up's markers? They are so versatile!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: So Many Thanks
Ink: Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz markers
Paper: Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Accessories: Cello Bags, Big Shot, Top Note die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 1 3/4" circle punch, 2 3/8" scalloped circle punch, 2 1/2" circle punch
Techniques: Marker to Stamp



This is the gift that I made for my son's specialist teachers. I know that they sometimes get forgotten so I always try to do a little something for them as well. I made this bag topper using the Petal Cone die in my Big Shot. The white circle layer was punched using the 2 1/2" circle punch. The sentiment is from "Thank You Kindly" set. I filled the bag with M&M's and put a little poem that I found on splitcoast on a slip of paper inside the bag. Here is the poem:

Green is for the inspiration you give each day.
Blue is for your patience in showing the way.
Orange is for your warmth and caring style.
Yellow is for the way you always smile.
Red is for the lives you have touched this year.
You're a very special teacher, that is clear.
You place knowledge into our children's hands
And melt into their heas and lives forever.


Supplies Used:
Stamp: Thank You Kindly
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Cello Bags, Big Shot, Petal Cone die, 2 1/2" circle punch


Have a great evening! I'm so glad that spring weather has finally arrived! Hope you're enjoying it too!

~Marla Pin It

Sneak Peek!

Hello! I have a little sneak peek to share with you today! This is a card that I CASE'd directly from Ronda Wade's blog. I love her style- she makes uncomplicated, but very pretty cards. Anyway, this stamp set is called "Four Frames" and it is from the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog (coming in July), along with this beautiful Designer Series Paper, which is called, "Paisley Petals". Demonstrators were able to preorder this set and DSP in March (just one of the things I love about being a demonstrator- we get to see and buy things before anyone else!) and customers have the opportunity to purchase the stamp set and paper in April. April hostesses can earn both for FREE!

Here are the details of the promotion...

In the month of April, customers who place a $20 (before tax and shipping) order will be eligible to purchase the "Four Frames" set for $20.95 (wood-mount) or $15.95 (clear-mount) and the "Paisley Petals" DSP for $9.95.

Hostesses will earn both the stamp set and the DSP for FREE when they have a $350 workshop!

This promotion is for April only. This set and DSP will not be available again until the new Idea and Book and Catalog is released on July 1st. You don't want to miss out!

I have the last weekend in April open for a workshop. If you would like to be a hostess and earn these free goodies, give me a call. I'd love to do a workshop for you and your friends!

Have a great day!

~Marla

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Four Frames, Silhouette Sentiments (level 1 hostess set)

Paper: Crumb Cake, Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist, Whisper White

Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Marina Mist

Accessories: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, 3/4" circle punch

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Concord Crush Sympathy Card

Happy Sunday! We are having a rainy Sunday here and I've always thought that Sundays should be sunny, but oh well! Sunday is also the day of rest and that's all I feel like doing on a rainy day, so I guess an occasional rainy Sunday isn't too bad.

This is another card that I made using the new Build a Blossom stamp set and Blossom Petals punch. I used Concord Crush ink to make the flower. To make the two-toned flower, I inked up the solid flower petal stamp in the ink, then stamped once on scrap paper (a technique called stamping off) and then stamping again on my Whisper White cardstock. I then used the petal accent stamp full strength (without stamping off) over the full petal. I then punched them out and layered them over a circle that I punched out using the 1 3/4" circle punch.

This is a sympathy card because I had a friend request a set of sympathy cards, but it could easily be made into any type of card using the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in the Word Window punch.

We will definitely be using this stamp set and punch at my upcoming flower-themed classes on April 9th and 15th. If you have not already registered and are interested in attending, I have several openings for the April 15th class, but the April 9th class is full. Please RSVP and send me your $20 ($15 for members of my stamping club) class fee by March 18th.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Stop back by sometime soon!

~Marla

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Build a Blossom, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Concord CrushPaper: Concord Crush, Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Accessories: Blossom Petals punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch

Techniques: Two-step Stamping, Stamping Off

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Sugar and Spice... Twice!

Hello! Thanks for taking a minute to stop by my blog today. I have this super cute (and easy) baby card to share with you today. A good friend of mine had twin girls a few weeks ago and I made this card for her. On the inside, I wrote "Twice" to make it work for the twin girls.

I found the tutorial for this card a while ago on Lauren Meader's blog. It is such a quick and easy way to make a baby card. All you need is cardstock, two punches, a ruler, some scissors and a baby-themed stamp.

See the second comment below for a link to the photo tutorial by Lauren Meaders.

Have a great week! If you get snow, be safe!

~Marla

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Everything Nice

Paper: Regal Rose, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Melon Mambo

Accessories: 1 3/8" circle punch, Scalloped Circle punch, scissors, ruler

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Better Late Than Never?

Well, here it is January 5th and I am just now posting my last two Christmas cards, but like the title of this post says- better late than never, right? I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and that the new year will bring you much happiness!

Here is the second of my Christmas cards. I CASE'd this one from Heidi Baks. I saw a similar card on her blog and LOVED it so I had to make my own version. I was really happy with the way they turned out! What do you think of this one?


Supplies Used:
Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Come to Bethlehem (sentiment)
Paper: Soft Suede CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, Whisper White CS, Deck the Halls DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Marina Mist
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Cherry Cobbler seam binding
Techniques: Masking, Sponging

Here is the third card design that I sent out this year. It is a CASE of a card made by Ilina Crouse. I added the glitter window technique to make the snowflake extra sparkly. These are definitely CAS (Clean and Simple) cards which means that the design is very clean and there is a lot of white remaining on the card. The first picture shows a close up and the second is the entire card front. Even though I don't often do CAS cards, I really like this one and they went together very quickly and easily. This card is done in Concord Crush, but I also did them in Cherry Cobbler and Not Quite Navy and they were all very pretty. I loved all the shimmer on this card. I used the shimmer spray on the card front to give the whole card a little sparkle!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Four the Holidays

Paper: Concord Crush CS, Whisper White CS

Ink: Concord Crush
Accessories: Snowflake punch, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds, packing tape (non-SU), shimmer spray

Techniques: Glitter Window

Sorry that I didn't get these posted before Christmas, but better late than never- right? right?

~Marla

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Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Hello! Happy Thanksgiving week to all of you! I just want to say that I am very thankful to all of you who come and visit my blog, come to my events, and place orders through me! I have had a really successful year and it's all thanks to you!

This is a birthday card I made for my niece, Hannah. She is turning six next week and I knew I needed to get a card made now before life gets super busy with Thanksgiving travels. We made a version of this card (which is a CASE of one made by Tessa Wise) at the birthday card class I held back in September, but I don't think that card ever got posted. I made this one to fit the color challenge on Splitcoast last week, which was Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, and Pear Pizzazz. I have to say that I love this combo! I really love Baja Breeze and any shade of purple, so this was a great one for me. It's hard to see in the picture, but I heat embossed the balloons with VersaMark and clear embossing powder to make the balloons appear shiny. It gives a cool effect!

Everyone have a wonderful week! I have a few other cards to post this week, so check back often!

~Marla

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Everything Nice, Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: VersaMark, Black Staz On, Perfect Plum marker, Baja Breeze marker, Pear Pizzazz marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots EF, Scallop Border punch, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Certainly Celery ribbon (retired), Linen Thread
Technique: dry embossing, heat embossing Pin It

A Color Challenge!

Hello! I woke up super early yesterday morning and this is what I worked on. It is my customer thank you card for November, so if you have attended one of my events or placed an order with my in the past couple of weeks, keep an eye on your mailbox!

This card was inspired by one done by Julie Davison that I saw on Splitcoast. I changed the colors for my card to make it fall-ish and to make it fit with the color challenge #295 on Splitcoast, which was to use Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, and Cajun Craze (plus neutrals). I just bought the set called "Just Believe" that was new to the latest catalog and I love it! I have had my eye on it for a long time, but hadn't ordered it. I'm so glad I finally got it. It is a really lovely and versatile set.

Thanks for stopping by! See you again soon!

~Marla

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Just Believe
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilly, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze
Ink: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze
Accessories: Scalloped Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Word Window punch, Early Espresso satin ribbon Pin It

In Color Thank You Notes

Hello! I hope that you are experiencing the cooler Fall temperatures where ever you are! It has been so nice here the past few days. Fall seems to have finally arrived! After a long summer of many days of 100+ temperatures, the change is definitely welcome!

I made these cards to send to my customers who attended my recent birthday card SAS. It was a fun event with a great group of ladies. I really enjoyed it even though I was coming down with a little cold that day. If you were able to join me for this event, watch your mailbox for one of these cards! They should be arriving in the next day or two.

These were very quick and simple cards to make. They are made using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder in the Big Shot. I brayered over the ebmossed images with three of our new in colors- Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, and Concord Crush. You can brayer the ink onto either side of the embossed image, depending on which look you prefer. The two different ways are displayed in the first picture. I punched out the scalloped oval to make a little window for the sentiment. Easy, peasy- you've got to love that!

I hope you have a wonderful day and week! Thank you for stopping by!

~Marla

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Thank You Kindly

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade

Ink: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade

Accessories: Scalloped Oval Punch, Large Oval punch

Techniques: Dry Embossing, Brayering

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Fifth Ave. Floral in Neutrals

Hello and Happpy Labor Day Weekend! I'm a little sad to see the unofficial end of summer come because this has been a GREAT summer, but I am ready for some fall weather. Mother Nature doesn't seem to understand that fall is coming. We have had 90-100 degree temperatures here for over a week!

This card is CASE'd from Ronda Wade. I love her cards- they are very simple in design and layout, but very nicely done and so pretty! This card is done in all neutrals and I think it is an elegant color combination. I stamped the flowers in Early Espresso and Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla CS and then sponged on some of the images using Crumb Cake ink and a sponge dauber. I then ran my stamped image panel through my Big Shot in the Square Lattice folder. I love the effect this gives. It softenes up the images really beautifully. I cut out the corners with my 1/2" circle punch (because I don't have a ticket corner punch, but that would have been easier) and mounted it onto Early Espress CS. I tied the ribbon on and added the sentiment from the retired set "Well Scripted" and punched it out with the scalloped oval punch and then used the wide oval punch and Early Espresso for the layer. The card base is Crumb Cake CS.

Hope you like this one and that you have a fun, relaxing weekend! Enjoy!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral, Well Scripted (retired)
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Paper: Very Vanilla CS, Crumb Cake CS, Early Espresso CS
Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice folder, 1/2" circle punch, scalloped oval punch, wide oval punch, Early Espress ribbon
Techniques: dry embossing Pin It

FINALLY!!!!

I finally got a chance to sit down tonight and stamp. Each day this week, I hoped to get the chance and it just didn't happen. Now that we have a week of school behind us and are settling into our new routine, I am hoping to get more opportunities to stamp.

This is an official Marla Reed original! I didn't CASE this one- can you believe it? My sweet boy started Kindergarten last Monday and I intended to make a card to send for his teacher and her aide on the first day, but it just didn't happen. I am going to send these in on Monday to thank them both for helping him have a great first week of school. I used the set from the Summer Mini catalog called, "First Day". I think it is such a cute set and I bought it mostly for scrapbooking, but it makes great teacher cards, too. If you are interested in ordering this set or any of the others from the Summer mini, please contact me as soon as possible because Tuesday, August 31st is the last day that we can order from the mini catalog. The Holiday mini starts the following day, September 1st. If you would like a copy of it, please leave me a message, give me a call, or email me and I will arrange to get a copy to you.

I hope that you enjoyed the card! I hope to have lots more for you in the near future. Take care until then!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Thank You Kindly, First Day
Papers: Real Red CS, Old Olive CS, Whisper White CS
Ink: Staz On, Real Red marker, Old Olive marker, Blush Blossom marker, Early Espresso marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 3/8" circle punch, Scalloped Circle punch Pin It

SAS Card #4

Good Morning! I had my card making class last night! It was great fun! This is the fourth card that we made. It is yet another CASE from a card I saw on splitcoast that was posted by a poster called mahodgman. I loved the simple layout. It was perfect for a class! This is a nice, quick, simple card with just a little stamping, a little cutting, and a little layering. That's about it! Hope you like this one!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Friends Never Fade, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Baja Breeze CS, Early Espresso CS, Pear Pizzazz CS, Whisper White CS, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso
Accessories: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, 1/8" Early Espresso ribbon, Dimensionals Pin It

Pendant Park Hello

Hi there! Isn't this a cute little set? I've had my eye on it for over a year and I finally ordered it. I love that it is one of the few older sets that they made available in wood mount or clear mount. I am a sucker for squirrels (even tiny ones like these!) so I knew it was only a matter of time before this set would be added to my collection.

I CASE'd this card from one posted by a posted called LYP on splitcoast, but I did change mine up quite a bit. I used different colors and made my card landscape rather than portrait. I love the little strip behind the main image panel. It is made from one of the stamps in this set. It is only about 4" long, so not long enough to make it all the way across a card front, but I solved that problem by stamping it, cutting it out, layering it on a piece of Soft Suede CS, and then cutting the strip in half before adhering it to the card front. With the image piece layered on top, you can't tell that it is cut.

I also used a technique called masking on this card. Do you see that the tree does not show behind the bench? I did this by stamping the bench on the CS, then stamping it again on a post-it and cutting it out. The post-it is then stuck directly over the bench on the CS. I then stamped the tree and the part that is covered by the post-it is left clean. Lift up the post-it and it looks like the bench is blocking the view of the tree. Cool, huh? Sorry if my directions are a little confusing! Leave me a comment or send me an email if you want clarification. :-)

I think this card turned out cute and is a nice, somewhat masculine card. (I always need masculine cards!) The sentiment could easily be switched with one from Teeny Tiny Wishes, so if could fit any occasion. Well, hope you like this one! Card #4 tomorrow! Stop back by!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Pendant Park
Ink: Soft Suede, Old Olive
Paper: Very Vanilla CS, Old Olive CS, Soft Suede CS
Accessories: Small Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Scalloped Oval punch
Techniques: Masking Pin It

New Colors!

Hello again! It is day four of VBS week and I am having a great time, but I'm so exhausted! I sat down this afternoon and made these two cards for our VBS coordinators. I hope they will like them and I hope you do, too!

These cards are direct CASE's of some cards that I saw on splitcoast. They were made by flowerbugnd1 and cjoman, but I don't know who had the original idea. These look like they would be difficult (or at least they did to me), but they were actually quite simple and quick to put together. The flower petals are made with the 3/4" circle and large oval punches. I punched the circle first and then punched the oval so that the circle was off centered. I made six petals and then layered them to make my flower. The yellow circle in the center was punched with the 3/4" circle punch as well.

These are three of our new core colors- Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, and Daffodil Delight. They can be ordered starting tomorrow when our new catalog year begins. I'm really excited about all the color changes that have taken place. The new color collections are all so pretty and work so nicely together. Can't wait to get all the colors!

If you are coming to my new catalog party on July 10th, you will be getting these cards as a little gift from me to thank you for coming and I will even show you exactly how they are made!

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Thank You Kindly
Paper: Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: 3/4" punch, Large Oval Punch, Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 2-way glue pen Pin It

New Catalog CASE

Hello! This card was CASE'd from the new catalog. I just love this little rocket ship from Pun Fun. It is the reason that I bought the set. This was a really fun card to make and I think a little boy would love getting this card for his birthday. The rocket is stamped on the less shiny side of a piece of aluminum foil glued down to a piece of cardstock. I have to give my sister the credit for that idea. She came up with it while I was working on this card. The inside is stamped with the circle stamp from the Starring You set and there is a border of stars stamped from the same set along the bottom of the inside. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the inside, too!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You, Whimsy wheel

Paper: So Saffron CS, Old Olive CS, Always Artichoke CS, Brilliant Blue CS (retiring)

Ink: Jet Black Staz On, Brilliant Blue (retiring)

Accessories: 2-way glue pen, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch (non-SU), Large Star punch, Star punch, So Saffron brads, aluminum foil (non-SU)

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