Hi, all, it’s been a while.  I have been “on the road” for a couple of weeks, tried to post and lost my content- I was not happy! But I’m back home and things are getting back to normal.  My husband and I drove almost 3000 miles in 10 days- from Florida to a Rougeux family reunion in rural Pennsylvania, then on to my sister’s lake cottage in New York, and off to Ohio for her granddaughter’s wedding. On the way home we stopped in South Carolina to see my brother-in-law’s new home.  Whew! It was all wonderful, getting to see both of our families, and enjoying slightly cooler nights than at home (although days were still HOT!).  I got to see some wildlife, including elks up close and personal, bears, ducks, eagles, so many other birds and butterflies, woodchucks, and deer, and some WILD life (those twenty somethings at the wedding know how to party!).  I also got to see a lot of the flowers and trees of my past that just don’t grow in my subtropical climate. Anyway, less than 48 hours after returning home, I hosted another card class, and here are a couple of the cards we made.  They say summer to me.

This one uses the large daisy punch, and is done in Purple Posy, Highland Heather, So Saffron, and Whisper White.  The Purple Posy designer paper was glued to the card front, the window cut with a Stitched Shapes circle, and the same circle was used to cut the gingham paper (retired). White cardstock was glued to the card interior, the card was closed, and the gingham circle was attached to the white mat through the window, so that it would be perfectly aligned.  Three daisy shapes were punched out and glued together slightly offset, the flower center was diecut- any round shape will do- and then I used the top of a Tombow multipurpose glue container to push against it in a circular fashion while it lay on my Stamp N Pierce foam mat, so that it would dome up a bit.  I attached it to the daisy with a Stampin Dimensional, and also used dimensionals to attach the daisy to the gingham circle. The sentiment is from the Daisy Lane set, stamped in Highland Heather, and the leaf was cut from Highland Heather cardstock.  Added a bit of bling, and there you have it.

Another card we made used my favorite Butterfly Gala die. I used only the “top layer” die, the more open one,  I originally planned to use both dies and layer them, but I thought the Basketweave embossing folder should be left more visible.  Pool Party cardstock for the card base and butterflies, Whisper White for the embossing.  Most of my students prefer cards that are not specific celebrations, so I left off a sentiment on the front and kept it simple with just a few sequins.  Inside, we glued a white panel for out note, but to add to the summery feeling, we glued a floral paper from the Bird Ballad paper to the left inside panel. You could also add a sentiment or a butterfly diecut there.

I can just imagine myself writing a cheerful note to a friend on this card!  Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are enjoying your summer.  In our district school starts next week, but here in southwest Florida, summer will go on for quite awhile.

As always, if you are looking for a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, click the View My Site button.  Please leave comments or questions below, or post pictures of what you’re up to this summer!

Happy stamping,

Michelle