Hello Froggie!

Darn near as cute as the pig, isn't he? This little fellow is going to help me with my "Stamping for a Cause" workshops. Each year SU creates one stamp set which benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities. They're a great organization that helps out families with severely ill children by giving them a place to stay during treatment. This year, the RMDH set is a real winner: Turtle & Co. It's full of super cute little critters that put a smile on my face & I bet on yours too. For August & September, I'm asking folks to host a workshop that features these stamps. Everyone who attends will make a "make and take" as usual, but also has the chance to make extra cards to donate to the Ronald McDonald Houses. My goal is to make 100 cards to donate. I'm going to need your help! Please contact me if you would like to host one of these special workshops. I know we'll have a great time & brighten up the lives of others too! This card is perfect for folks who are new to stamping. The images are stamped in Versa Mark & then covered with chalks. Fast, fun, & easy--- my very favorite type of card. Of course, you could aways add google eyes if you needed to...

Color Throwdown #152

It's been a super long time since I've participated in the Color Throwdown. I miss that extra stretch I have to take when using colors that I would have never put together on my own. I guess that's why they call it a color "challenge". This week's choices were no exception: Rose Red, Mellon Mambo, Soft Suede, & River Rock. I NEVER use River Rock. In fact, all my colors have a file folder with full sheets & a paper protector with scraps. Most have a full pack with a few extra sheets & a whole bunch of scraps. However, when I took out my River Rock folder, all I found was a sheet and a half. Period. That shows you just how little attention I pay that color!

Since I have all sorts of new toys to play with, I started getting them out to see what would happen. My very favorite of the new hostess sets, Happiest Birthday Wishes, (it's HUGE) came out first. Then my Fancy Fan Letterpress Plate had to come out of its package too. I actually read the directions on that one, aren't you proud? I just kept fiddling until I came up with something that works. All my Soft Suede bits found their way through my crimper while the River Rock pieces were treated with my Color Spritzer tool. A few scrap buttons & I was finished! Now, I have the rest of my new toys to experiment with...stay tuned...

Some Pig

Okay, what's not to love about this priceless little porker? I saw the Button Buddies set in the new catalog & knew right away that I just loved this little guy. Then, I got a bacon dip swap with him on it at convention & fell in love all over again. Of course I couldn't resist adding some google eyes in addition to the great button nose. The very best part about my little pig? He came to me for FREE! Yet another benefit of being a SU demonstrator. I had the chance to participate in a focus group for SU while at convention and they gave me a set of my choice as a thank you! You can join the SU team for just $99 during July. Let me know ASAP so we can get you signed up before this great deal goes away on Sunday. There are so many benefits that you can enjoy while also getting 20% off all things SU.

I was super lucky that my Button Buddies arrived the same day as my new Brights Buttons. That way I could make sure my paper & button matched perfectly. Where did I get the little colored rhinestones? Just add Sharpie to our normal ones! My pig clearly called out for bling; he's got style. :)

Triple Treat Flower Swap

This weekend I spent a whole bunch of time in my studio while my husband was away. Most of it was spent reorganizing, but I decided to treat myself to a little creative time too. I'm part of a group of SU demonstrators that participate in a new catalog swap. It's a great way to get new ideas for new products! This will be my contribution. It highlights my favorite of the new a la carte stamps: Triple Treat Flower. This great little stamp fits not one, not two, but three of our punches. That makes you able to create great layered effects! I had lots of fun with it here to make the focal image & much of the background. I also went distressing crazy. After stamping the background with the Triple Treat Flower & a fun border from Borderlines, I then ran it through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Folder. I sponged both my Lace Ribbon punched piece & the So Saffron circle. Torn & distressed edges finished the effect. I hope the other demos in my group like this one as much as I do!

Adding a Bit of Beauty to the Ordinary

One of my very favorite things to do is to add just a little bit of beauty to ordinary objects. My day planner is no exception. Each year I get the same simple day planner. I started this back when I was still teaching full time, so it's always an academic calendar. This means I have to switch to a new one in the midst of summer. In the past, I've stamped on them with Staz-on, used some of SU's Rub Ons, & added Decore Elements. Decore Elements are my very favorite way to personalize them becuase they are so easy & last so well. When the only color I could find this year was a deep grey, I decided on a bright Decore Element. The Wildflower element from the new catalog was the perfect choice! It fit almost exactly & added just the right amount of color. I've used these great vinyl stickers to decorate all sorts of things including my living room wall. Those have earned all sorts of compliments and inquiries on who painted them. Ha! :)

You Learn Something New Every Day...

Or at least I sure did while at Stampin' Up Convention! The very first night of convention we had a SU "garden party". There were prizes, games, & (my favorite) demonstrations. While watching one of the incredible punch demos, I learned how to make this great flower using the 3/4" Circle Punch & the Large Oval Punch. Hint: punch those circles first. It makes life MUCH easier. As soon as I saw the flower, I knew I needed to create a card with it for this week's classes. I did a little fun trick with the Bitty Button too. Just a few rubs with a sanding block & your clear button is instantly frosted. Nice, huh? It's another tid bit I picked up from a convention demonstration. I have a feeling I'll be spouting new tips gleaned from my time there for months to come! Oh, and did you check out the new embossing folders? I used both the Hound's Tooth & the Stripes folders on this card. Love them! The overall card is pretty simple, but the little details here & there really make it pop! I love that there is always so much more to learn in the world of stamping. :)

New Stamps + New Ribbon + New Folder + New Color = Fun!

I got to use all sorts of new toys on this creation. :) Yesterday I showed off one of my convention make & takes using the new Raining Flowers set. Today's card was my first attempt at using it here at home. At convention, I learned a fun new technique for making Stamp-a-ma-jig use even easier. Look for it in the bin for this card at class! In addition to using my new stamps, I got to use some of the super fun polka dot scallop ribbon. Isn't it just stinking cute? At first, I stamped the sentiment directly on the card front, but that just didn't feel quite right. So, out came one more new toy--- the Designer Frames Oval Folder. Add in a little Calypso Coral to make the flower pop & you have a card with a whole bunch of something new!

The Whole World Isn't Stamping?

I'm finding it a bit of a harsh transition to reality after spending four full days at SU's Convention. Since I landed in Salt Lake, the whole world has centered on stamping. Now, there are all sorts of other things I need to do! As I get ready for work this morning, there is SO much I want to share with all of you that I learned over the last few days. I need to post pictures of my adventures too. But, most of that will have to wait...duty calls! I couldn't let the morning get going without sharing one of my Make & Take projects from convention. Of course, I switched it up just a little. I can never leave well enough alone. :) These super fun little flowers come from one of the sets in the new catalog we got FREE at convention, Raining Flowers. Aren't they darling? My favorite part of the card is the ruffled ribbon. We got to play with all the colors of this new ribbon and I love it! In fact, it's inspired me to organize another ribbon swap. I'll send along the details on that one soon. Right now, I need to scurry off to work...

Crimped Build a Blossom

Well this one was sure a fun surprise! I wanted to play with the new in color, Pool Party. So, I just started playing around. I'm also excited that the Build a Blossom set made the transition from mini-catalog to the Idea Book & Catalog. Now I get to have all sorts of fun using it again! I experimented with a few flower ideas/combinations when I stumbled upon the Pool Party & Night of Navy combo. Love it! Thank goodness for clear stamps. They made stamping the second layer on top of the first a breeze! My stamped flower wasn't enough though...even with the two colors of layers. I started working on the center of the flower & tried at least three with no luck. :( Silly me! I just needed to add a few petals created with the coordinating punch for this set! I wanted to give them a bit more dimension so I ran them through the crimper before adhering them. Perfect! I did the same to the Night of Navy background square & lightened the whole thing up with a Whisper White background. Lots of experimentation for a simple card, but I'm pleased with the end design!

Doily Kissed Flower

I just can't seem to get enough of the new Delicate Doilies set! When my sister-in-law (and fellow stamper) saw the set she said it just shouted out "kissing technique". Huh...I hadn't thought of that. So, of course, I had to try it out. My little Awashwith Flowers bloom looks great with doily details, don't you think? This card also features my favorite new In Color, Wisteria Wonder. It's lovely & coordinates so well with the stamped images in the classic Elegant Eggplant.

Now, if I can just shake the feeling that today is Monday, this work week will be off to a great start. :)

Happy 4th!

Happy Fourth of July! I realized when I started making this card that I don't actually have a "happy 4th" stamp. Huh! Who knew? However, there are ways to make a themed card even if you don't have the holiday specific stamp. I thought I would start out with a few stars, but once I ran the paper through the Big Shot, I decided to keep the background & not worry about the stars I cut out. Then it was off to my scrap bag to find a bunch of red & blue strips to make stripes! Forgive me for the retired color & ribbon on this one, but they both just worked so well. :)
I hope you have a wonderful and safe fourth! It's one of my very favorite holidays. Have some watermelon for me. :)

Lace Ribbon Punch Frame/ Color Throwdown #148

I've been playing with my new toys, especially the Lace Ribbon Boarder Punch. Last time, I used it to create a band around my Fancy Favor and this time I wanted to create a frame/pendant out of it. So, I started playing with dimensions. Truth be told, it works best with a 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square. However, that doesn't fit on a standard card, so I decided to try it out on a 4 1/4" square. Not bad! The corners are a little different, but I still really like it. I also really wanted to play with some of the new In Colors, but I wasn't sure what to do with my color pallet. I turned to the Color Throwdown for some inspiration & there it was! They had Cameo Coral, Pacific Point, & Garden Green as their colors. A quick substitution of Calypso Coral & Island Indigo gave me a great selection that used two of my new colors! Thanks to Barbara over at Color Throwdown for picking "old" colors that I could make new again. :)

Look What's New!

Happy July 1st everyone! I know it's not an official holiday, but it's a Stampin' Up holiday of sorts. Today is the first day for the new Idea Book & Catalog! There is so much great stuff inside...I know you're going to love it. Tomorrow I'm hosting a fun event to kick off the new stampin' year. It's an open house where you can make this great little bag using our new Lace Ribbon Boarder Punch, the fabulous Delicate Doilies stamp set, & two new colors: Lucky Limeade & Wisteria Wonder. Also, you can get your very own copy of the new catalog, sign up for door prizes, & shop my retired goodies. Sound like fun? Just drop by any time between 1-4pm. :)