Picking Strawberries in February

It's Strawberry Picking Time!

We Floridians are picking strawberries.  I know it's not fair as many of you are shoveling snow, again.  But for us, this time of the year is wonderfully delicious and worthy of celebration.  Our harvest season is beginning and the berries are ripe. Have you ever picked strawberries in February?  We drive to the "Strawberry Capital" otherwise know as Plant City, Florida, and pick our berries from the vines.   

We spend hours bent over the patches selecting the beauties that hang so close to the ground. Our red fingers are the trophy of our endeavors and our faces stained with the red juices are evidence we played the "two for the basket, one for me" game. They're so sweet there's no need for sugar.  

My husband and I remember how difficult it is to stand up after picking, so now we buy them from a Plant City farmer's stand. (Experience has its benefits.)  Of course we can always buy them at the grocery store, but somehow they just don't taste the same. 

Before driving home, we stop at a fruit and vegetable stand which serves Strawberry Shortcake.  After waiting in line for 40 minutes, we finally get our reward...strawberry shortcake with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream!  

Then the hard part comes...cleaning and slicing them.I prepare some ready for snacking and for freezing, hoping to have them gone before they start to soften. 

In addition to strawberries, the fields are full of blueberries and blackberries, ripe and available for U-Pick.  Harvest time is short...by April, the heat is beginning and the season is over.  

So those of you digging out the snow, your time for fresh fruits and veggies are just a few weeks (or months) away.  Meanwhile, check out your grocery stores for strawberries from Plant City and Enjoy!

If you can't find strawberries yet in your grocery store, check out Page 43 of the Stampin' Up! 2021 - 2022  Annual Catalog for the SWEET STRAWBERRY Stampset (# 158231 | $18.00)  and the SWEET STRAWBERRY BUNDLE which includes the Strawberry Punch (#159523 |  $32.25).  Below is a picture of cards I made last year using the bundle and some Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Papers that were available to earn.

Do you remember the beautiful berry Designer Series Paper available for FREE during the Sale-a-Bration?  Remember that Sale-a-Bration is going on now, but ends on February 28th.  Don't miss out on earning the gorgeous stamp sets and beautiful papers now available.  Next year you maybe wishing you had those FREE goodies! 

PS:  If you don't have the strawberry stamp set or bundle, you can purchase it (or anything from the 2021 - 2022 Annual Catalog) to earn the FREE Sale-a-Bration products available NOW!

Click on the picture to the right to browse the Sale-a-Bration Catalog

You, too, can satisfy your tastebuds by creating some tasty looking cards!  If you already own the strawberry stamp set or bundle, pull them out of your stash and create new cards to send friends to remind them that Spring and Summer are not far away.  

-- Janice

Thank You Blog Hop with the Bertucci's -- February 2022

Are you finding some great new stamp sets, dies, and Designer Series Paper in the newly released 2022 January - June Mini Catalog?  Don't you just love all the products in the Sale-a-bration brochure?  There's so many adorable stamp sets and beautiful Designer Series Papers!  And it's amazing the way some of the Sale-a-Bration items coordinate with products found in the mini catalog!  

Just remember that Sale-a-Bration ends on 28 February. 

This is a great time to get new creating ideas for the products available and this blog hop will get your creating juices flowing. So, welcome to to the February issue of the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Blog Hop created through the Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Traning Program provided by Bruno and Kylie Bertucci.  We are so happy that you could join this blog hop as you will find beautiful stamping ideas and creative inspiration from over 40 Stampin' Up! International Demonstrators.  Many of which will be using the new products in the new catalogs.  

We, Demonstrators, are in the training program provided by the Bertucci's to help us build a successful Stampin' Up! business and reach some goals we have set.  We really appreciate your support.

My card shown below uses the new HEY LADY BUG  stamp set shown in the 2022 January - July Mini Catalog.  This set comes with a punch that makes creating the lady bug so easy.   

Using one of the PAPER LATICE pieces (#155699) that come in a 10-pack, I created the background for the leaves and ladybug.  Then, I stamped the leaves on Basic White card stock with Granny Apple Green ink.  Notice the beautiful grains and shading created by the stamp.  The leaves appear so natural.  After fussy cutting them, I placed them on the lattice to create a bed for the ladybug. Using Basic Black and Real Red card stock, I punched the two pieces of the ladybug and added the body to the wings with mini black dimensionals.  I used black gems to create the dots.

Next, I used the medium Daisy Punch from the 2021 - 2022 Annual Catalog and some of the DAFFODIL AFTERNOON DESIGNER PAPER shown in the Sale-a- Bration brochure. Using a BASIC BLACK STAMPIN' MARKER, I colored in the centers of the daisies which were then attached near the lattice.  

Finally, I added the thank you sentiment which is from the SWEET ICE CREAM stamp set found in the 2021 - 2022 Annual Catalog. Such a quick and easy card!  I'm sure my customers will love receiving thank you cards that remind them that Spring will arrive soon!   

If you have any questions about the products used or want to remark about my card, please leave a comment below.  They are so appreciated.

You may have started your blog hop travels here or have arrived from another blog - either way you can continue to see other Stampin' Up! Demonstrator blog posts via the link list found below.  Select each link individually or use the links to "hop" to the next blog.  Have fun hopping!  And thank you for leaving a comment.

Blog Hop Links:

Completing Paper Pumpkin Kits - Goal #2

Do you love Paper Pumpkin kits?  

Me too!

One of the things I love about the kits, is that you can make so many different ways to complete the contents.  Most of the kits are created to make cards, while others are created to make boxes or treat holders.  What is special about the kits is that you can use the kit parts to create just about anything you'd like.  There are many alternatives found on Pinterest.  I appreciate the creators of the alternatives and often CASE them with my little twist added.  

Another reason I love the kits, is that if you con't finish making all the cards, you can always use an older kit to make some great NEW cards.  Many of the card stock colors coordinate or match the kit pieces so the updated products can be used to create new looks.

While cleaning up my crafting room, I noticed that I had several Paper Pumpkin kits on my shelves. So as one of my New Year's goals, besides continuing to purchase more kits, I started with the December 2020 Beary Comforting kit and the topic of Valentine's Day.  Below is my finished card.  This was so much fun, so I decided to continue with the February 2018 kit. 

Using the Wildflower Wishes kit became my next project. The inside of the kit envelope was my inspiration for using the beautiful flowers included in the kit. And, a card I spied on Pinterest had a word stamp for the background.  So, I added the VERY VERSAILLES  (#149275). stamp set from the 2021-2022 Annual Catalog as the base for the kit flowers. 

To soften the verse, I stamped off before stamping with Black ink on the Basic White card stock.  Doesn't it allow the flowers to stand out and give the entire card a unified look?  I wrapped the thread provided in the kit around the card and tied a bow.  

On the card shown below, I used the negative from the die cut word included in the kit.  Cutting it into two pieces allowed me to add them at the top and bottom of the stamped card.  They highlighted the separation of the two Basic White layers.

On the card below, I cut the flower die piece which was included in the kit and placed it at the top of the stamped card. I cut the base card included in the kit to make the mat.  This made the flowers on the card become a focal point.  And again I added the thread for texture. 

Both cards used the pieces of the kit, but by adding a stamped background and cutting the enclosed paper pieces, the cards each have a different finished look. 

The new Paper Pumpkin kit for this month is a playful, party-themed kit which includes all the goodies and gear you need to create nine cards and coordinating envelopes in safari-inspired shapes and patterns you’ll go wild for! 

This month's kit has amusing animals, beautiful botanicals, and celebratory sentiments.  To order this new kit, click on the link to the right.  And if you decide to place a multiple month subscription during the month of February 2022, you may qualify for one or more Sale-a-Bration Free items.  A 3-month subscription would qualify for one Free SAB item!  And remember, you can always place your subscription on "hold".  So, if you want to wait to receive the first kit, or to choose the kit each month, you can simply go on the Paper Pumpkin website and place a "hold" on delivery of the month's kit. If you'd like more information on how Paper Pumpkin works, leave a comment below, and I'll contact you. 

If you grab an older Paper Pumpkin kit and finish it, please let me know!  Just add the information in the comment section below.  

As always, I appreciate all your comments on my cards and blog.

Keep having fun and keep creating!

Janice