Do you know what the month of May is? National scrapbooking month. I'd love to have a 6 x 6 scrapbooking class during the month. If you're interested in coming, drop me an email @ brm643@comcast.net and I can give you more information. I promise it will be drop-dead gorgeous.

So Saturday, May 1st,  at 2 p.m. is our Play Day...are you planning on coming? Be sure to reply to the e-vite so I can have all your supplies ready for you. I'm going to show some samples I've made from the stamps in the new Summer Mini Catalog. Did you get yours? I mailed one to everyone I thought would be coming, but if you didn't get a catalog, I'll be glad to mail one to you. Just drop me an email.

There are some great stamp sets in this new "mini" and did you see the Smooch Spritz?  Try saying that five times fast. I'm so glad I got the little box to spray into because my whole studio would have been covered. It's so pretty. Takes a so-so card and makes it beautiful.

Did you notice the little butterfly single stamp? Here's a card using that stamp and the re-newed (is that a word?) Baja Breeze cardstock with Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. This card is so versatile...it could be used for just about any ocassion.

After I finished this card my attention was drawn to the "enjoy the journey" set. I finished the two cards and wanted to make a baby card with the tricycle, but ran out of time. Maybe I'll have that one done before Play Day. It's so stinkin' cute. So I made this wedding card with the two-seater bicycle and a masculine card with the bicycle. You could make the bike pink with glitter, too. Oh, the fun.

Now for my favorite set in the new mini catalog...."Elements of Style". There are so many possibilities with this set. Here's my first sample using the "spotlight" technique.

Wouldn't this make the perfect wedding card. I used the word stamp from the "Journey" stamp set on the inside that reads "Enjoy the journey."

Now for the last sample in today's blog. This card is made with a technique called "black magic". I can't wait to show you this technique. It's really easy and the cards are a knock out. The stamp set used here is Awash with Color. Remember, there are several two-step sets that are on "special" until May 1st. You can check those sets out on my website under promotions at http://www.billiemoan.stampinup.net/ . Here's the card with this technique.

I think the flash dulls the colors somewhat because this is vibrant in person. I hope you're planning to come on May 1st and have some fun with us.

Now go get your fingers inky...

B

Introducing.....

Last Play Day while many of you were hiding Easter eggs, we had two "newbies" attend the class and get their fingers inky. We worked on three different projects and learned three new techniques that they all seemed to like. The cards we made are in the previous post to this one. You can scroll down and see some of the samples.

Both "newbies" are friends from my Pilates and Yoga classes at the Y. Martha (everyone calls here Mots) was nervous but eventually she saw we were all here to relax and have fun. She seemed pretty proud of her cards. Sheree was a natural and very particular about her artwork. I hope they both come back and bring friends with them. It's so much fun watching someone stamp for the first time. It's definitely an AHA moment.

Here is a little card to spark your creative juices today. It tells a little story and could be used for several different occasions.

I want to encourage you to check out my SU! website at http://www.billiemoan.stampinup.net/ for some great special deals from SU! and announcements about color renovations to their products in 2010. There are some exciting changes in the near future. Also, be on the lookout for the new Summer Mini Catalog to arrive in your mailbox next week. There are sooooo many products you are going to want (me too!)

Here's a sneak peek at the cover.

And here's a sneak peek at the new color collections to be announced in June. I will have a list of the retiring colors for you later this week. If one of your favorite colors is on this list, be sure you have the refill for your ink pad, get the paper and accessories because after June 30th, they will not be available.

Did you find the five new colors? And did you notice they brought back some of the former In colors? This is just the beginning of all the new and exciting changes. I'll be keeping you posted and the news is released.

Now go get your fingers inky!

B