I grew up in Santa Barbara.  It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the country, tucked between the mountains and the ocean and blessed with beautiful weather all year round.  I’ve always joked that being raised in that temperate climate has given me a 7 degree comfort zone – I like it between 75° and 82° – and it’s really not much of a joke.  Moving to Maui over 20 years ago was a glorious adjustment!

One of the things that Maui lacks and Santa Barbara has in abundance is the hummingbird.  I love the brilliant colors, the zoom-zoom as they zip by, and their arrogant little territorial attitudes about feeders.  I can even pick out the sound of a hummer singing, though it took me a long time to learn that song.   Tough as hummingbirds are, the commute from the Mainland to the Hawaiian Islands is tougher, and we have to settle for paper hummers:

• Elements of Style stamp set
• Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise card stock
• Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery and Tempting Turquoise Classic ink pads
• 1 and 1 1/4″ circle punches, Black Stampin’ Write Marker, Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Certainly Celery 5/8″ satin ribbon, Golden Glow Smooch Spritz, Paper snips
  
• Big Shot and the Lattice Textured Impressions Folder

I’ll thank you to notice that I managed to make a card using only ONE stamp set today!!

That new Lattice Impressions folder gives amazing results.  First of all, there are two patterns – a basketweave for the positive side and an open lattice for the negative side – take your pick.  Secondly, the impressions are so deep and so close together that it completely changes the character of the paper.  The paper softens, but has a beefier heft (I know, not a very kind description) and I think it will be really interesting to try in 3-D projects.  Stay tuned for more on this subject!