Nov 19, 2017 | About Me, Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
The doorbell rings, Simba barks, I open the door, and there it is! I placed my order for the Premier Products the first evening of OnStage, but I was still shocked to have it arrive so soon. I can’t wait to open it!
PART 1
I remove the bubble wrap, and start lifting out the contents. The first stamp set is my favorite, Petal Passion, which is banded together, because it’s a two part set. I bought it in a “Bundle” with the dies, so there’ll be a 10% discount. I also have the Black and white Designer Series Paper in all of it’s wonderful patterns, and two embossing folders. That little bird is “to die for,” and I can’t wait to ink her up!
I ordered two more Bundles, taking advantage of that 10% discount.
We did a Make and Take at OnStage with the Bubble Over stamp set, dies, and Designer Series Paper, which convinced me I had to have it. It’s such a versatile set that can be used for numerous occasions. The Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper that coordinates has dies to cut the bottle from the DSP. There’s also a die for a straw that looks real. How fun! And, those epoxy bubbles and teardrops for embellishment are a must!
The third, and last Bundle I ordered is Sure Do Love You. I’ll be making lots of Valentine’s Day Cards, and this set even includes a box! And, my wedding anniversary is February 1st, so I’ll be using it for that!
Before I show you the rest of my order, I’ll let you see what I brought home with me from OnStage. This is a huge amount of FREE goodies! No wonder everyone wants to go to OnStage! Everyone gets so excited when “Prize Patrol” is announced. This is when everyone with a designated number stands, and the Stampin’ Up employees run around handing out the brand new, FREE stamp sets. Everyone is clapping and screaming, and having an unbelievably good time. Bird Banter was my Prize Patrol gift, and EVERYONE received Picture Perfect Birthday and Lovely Wishes.
Thanks for joining in the fun with me. Stop by tomorrow to see what else is in my box!
Nov 17, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Wreaths come in all sizes, and are decorated in so many different ways. The one thing they have in common is that they form a circle. Is that why we find them so appealing? The fact that they are never ending?
I had time to ponder this while punching leaves with my newly acquired Leaf Punch. It was a generous gift from Mary Fish for being one of her Pals attending the Stampin’ Up OnStage last week in Salt Lake City. The wreath was partly inspired by her also, because she used the same punch to make a beautiful metal wreath.
More inspiration came from the Fusion Challenge:
And, the Tic Tac Toe Challenge, where I used Circle-Elegant-Greeting:
I began by stamping the “circle” for the wreath from the Feelings of Christmas stamp set. I used Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip ink for stamping on Sahara Sand cardstock, and layered this on a Thick Whisper White card base.
A leaf stamp from Painted Harvest was used for six of the leaves. Three were Whisper White, stamped with Crumb Cake and Sahara Sand, and three were Crumb Cake stamped with Chocolate Chip. I added “elegance” with three Copper leaves, embossed with the Softly Falling folder.
I placed mini dimensionals on the two side leaves, and a dot of glue under the middle leaf as I alternated the colors.
Linen Thread tied the Burlap Ribbon bow at the top.
The “greeting” is from Paisleys & Posies, and matches the Fusion photo almost exactly!
If you scroll on down, you’ll see pictures of other wreaths I’ve recently created. Clicking on them will take you to the details. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
Product List
Nov 16, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I love the combination of the colors, Pool Party and Pear Pizazz. This week’s Global Design Project challenge added Cherry Cobbler, which would make wonderful Christmas cards.
But, I was anxious to play with two new Occasions 2018 stamp sets, so I went in a different direction.
I combined Lovely Wishes with Bird Banter, using stamps, ink pads, scissors (for fussy cutting the parakeets), and Stampin’ Blends. This is unusual, because I rarely complete a project without using dies and the Big Shot.
Let’s talk about those parakeets. Are they not the cutest? My brother and I were allowed to have parakeet pets when we were young, and I remember Dove (mine) and Angel (his). I liked how Dove would climb onto my finger, and keep me company. I also remember scattered bird seed on my bedroom floor, and cleaning Dove’s cage. Honestly, I think my mother took care of most of the mess. Thank you, Mama.
So, anyway, these parakeets make me happy, and the Lovely Wishes stamp set has “happy” plants, and perfect places to perch, like my finger.
I used the Stampin’ Blends to color the parakeets and ink pads for the graceful plants and flowers. The stamp set is unique, because it has outline stamps, and solid stamps for coloring the interior. If you look closely, you can see they aren’t a perfect match, and I’m actually liking the imperfection. I’m wondering if the Stamparatus would make a difference.
The Stampa-what-is?
Make multiples with ease
Consistently stamp crisp, clean images
If you want a darker impression (or to fill in a “missed spot”), apply more ink and re-stamp—no need to start over
Make fewer mistakes, saving time and money
Easily create 2-step, 3-step, and 4-step stamped images using reversible plates
Develop new and specialized stamping techniques with adjustable stamping plates and precision placement
Product details:
Compatible with Stampin’ Up!’s red rubber and photopolymer stamp
Foam mat to use with photopolymer stamps
Rulers and gridlines for quick measuring
2 open sides so you can stamp on larger paper
2 reversible plates: a total of 4 surfaces to work with
2 magnets to hold the paper in place
Magnet storage underneath the Stamparatus
Reserve yours today, November 16th at 1:00 PM Pacific Time:
For more information, watch this video:
The sentiment, “Wishing You A Lovely Day, ” is from, you guessed it, the Lovely Wishes stamp set.
I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek. Feel free to ask questions in the comments, or send me an email: [email protected]. I appreciate you visiting my blog. Have a great day!
Nov 15, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I received inspiration for today’s card by two challenges. I love this picture from the Paper Players, so I used it as my theme, as well as white on white.
The sketch design was from Fab Friday.
I first cut a standard card base from Thick Whisper White, and a standard layer, 5 1/4 X 4 inches. I cut this layer into four equal pieces, and placed them in the Pine Bough embossing folder. After putting five dimensionals on each of the four sections, I adhered them to the card base.
I used a Layering Oval Die and a Stitched shape Oval for the center of the design. My scene was created with the Carols of Christmas deer and tree dies. Doesn’t this deer look like the one in the picture?
I added a Dazzling Diamond star, which goes with the sentiment from the Star of Light stamp set, “Guide Us to Thy Perfect Light.” It looks like a peephole into the forest, doesn’t it? I think the deer sees the light from the star.
A few white sequins falling on the pine boughs completed my project. Thank you for visiting my blog. Hugs!
Nov 14, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
This month’s theme is “love.”
Remember this little rhyme from elementary school?
______and ______, sittin’ in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G, First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes ______ with a baby carriage.
Here are my two love birds sittin’ in a tree.” I found my wonderful, stylized birds in the Birds and Blooms Die Set, and cut them out of Thick Whisper White card stock.
I was excited to use the new Stampin’ Blends, available to everyone November 1st. I colored one bird with Pool Party and Bermuda Bay, and the other bird with Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie. Their beaks and feet are Bronze.
The textured background was made with the Layered Leaves Embossing Folder. The Crumb Cake colored branch, matching the card base, is from a Seasonal Layers Die, and triple layered. The bird’s feet are glued to the branch, and their heads are attached with a dimensional. Otherwise, they are free to fly away.
The word “love” is from the Lovely Words Die Set, and I simply snipped it from the heart and the “ly.” I kept it subtle by using white. The Bloomin’ Love Stamp Set provided the completion of the sentiment, “…it’s in the air.”
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Nov 13, 2017 | About Me, Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
It is amazing how things can fall into place when you are open and receptive to change and new ideas.
I was flying home on Southwest Airlines, after spending four fabulous days in Salt Lake City. I was at a Stampin’ Up Convention for the unveiling of the new Occasions 2018 catalog, along with recognizing demonstrators from all over the world. It was a whirlwind of forming relationships with people I’d only known on Facebook, creativity overload seeing all the new products, and learning how to “love it, live it and share it.”
Here I am (on the left) with my roomie Stesha (in the middle), Mary Fish (our team leader), and Brian King (photo bomber).
The short flight gave me time to read the entire Southwest magazine. On page 22 there was an article about Robyn Benincasa, and her quote immediately caught my eye: “If you combine what you’re great at with what you love, you’ll be fulfilled your whole life.” She goes on to say, “Find the ‘vein of gold’ within you.”
Talk about reinforcing what I’d been hearing for four days!
And, next to the last page, this is what I saw:
Yes, it’s a toucan, and isn’t it remarkable that a toucan is in one of the new Occasions Catalog stamp sets? It happened to be the stamp set that Brian King demonstrated, and I was one of the lucky “Prize Patrol” recipients.
I would use this Bird Banter stamp set to make my first card from the new, 2018 Occasions Catalog.
I selected my sketch from the CAS(E) this sketch challenge:
I first stamped Mr. Toucan in Memento Black Ink on Whisper White cardstock, and colored him with Stampin’ Blends. It was fun choosing his bright colors of Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Bermuda Bay. I used the Stampin’ Write for his Basic Black feathers. He is just one of many cute birds and sentiments from Bird Banter. Just wait until you see all of them!
Brian King used a piece of the Birthday Memories DSP on one of his samples, and it was so perfect for the toucan with the colorful stripes, I HAD to use it also. I layered this on Basic Black cardstock on Bermuda Bay cardstock, embossed with the Petal Burst Embossing Folder, and layered this on a Basic Black card base.
The Whisper White half circle was die cut with Circle Framelits, and I stamped Mr. Toucan’s feet where I wanted him to stand. The rest of him was easy to cut by hand, and I glued everything in place.
The Leaf Punch from the Holiday catalog (a gift from Mary Fish for the Pals who attended OnStage) made the white foliage.
Once again, the Bunch of Banners is the right size and shape for the sentiment, “Just A Little Toucan Of My Appreciation.” Isn’t that the cutest? And, the last detail, the Daffodil Delight Enamel Shapes.
This is my first “sneak peek” of the new Occasions 2018 Catalog. Demonstrators can order beginning December 1st, and customers can order Jan. 1st. If you would like to place an order, and aren’t working with a demonstrator, grab me! I can get you hooked up!
