Unfrogettable Stamping!

Simply Paper Design challenge #8

My sister Cindy has a Simply Paper Design challenge on her blog every month with a great sketch and color combo (check it out here)... I haven't had a chance to try one in a while and thought I'd give it a go!  I decided to make two different cards - one using the sketch and one using the color combo.  The birthday card above, featuring the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set, features the sketch.  I loved that the sketch looked like a present so I had to create a birthday card.  Rather than using ribbon I decided to use some scraps of pretty in pink DSP from the Subtles stack and paper-pieced the cupcake.  I pulled out my new Dazzling Details to add the glitter to the project - can't wait to be able to sell it starting September 1st (you'll find this glitter glue in our upcoming Holiday Mini!!)!  No more messy glitter for those who want it contained... I still love dazzling diamonds and will continue to use both, depending on the project.

Here is my second card featuring the color combination of pink pirouette, wild wasabi, very vanilla and early espresso.  I immediately thought of flowers with this combo and pulled out my new Field Flowers stamp set.  The pink pirouette is so soft that I ended up stamping the flowers with pink pirouette ink on pink pirouette card stock and the detail stamp in regal rose and cut them out.  I kept the embellishments simple on this card - Victoria crochet trim and a few pearls.

Thanks, Cindy, for the monthly inspiration!  Be sure and check out her blog so you can create some cards using their color combinations and sketches.

August 2011 Demonstrator of the Month - part 2

 

Today I'm sharing with you the card projects that Darlene Crockett, my Demonstrator of the Month for August, created.  If you missed her bio information and 3-d projects from yesterday, please see them here.  Isn't this card beautiful?  I love the rich color combination of cherry cobbler, basic black and whisper white with the elegant Baroque Motifs stamp set!!  She embellished the cut-out flower with a filigree flower brad.

Here is her second card - she used the Morning Cup stamp set along with her Big Shot for added texture, scallop trim border punch to embellish and watercolor pencils to color in the images.  She even stamped and punched the inside panel of the card - nice touch!  The color combination is crumb cake, rose red, very vanilla and night of navy.

And her last card is this masculine birthday card featuring the Totally Tool stamp set.  She used a color combination of night of navy, basic gray and whisper white - she embellished with silver brads... great to use with this set!

Thank you, Darlene, for sharing your creations with us!  I hope you've been inspired by her projects!

August 2011 Demonstrator of the Month - part 1

Meet Darlene Crockett, my Demonstrator of the Month for August.  Darlene and I go way back, to the days when she was my son Brandon's pre-school teacher for "Mom's Morning Out" once a week when he was just 2.  I treasured those mornings that I could go to the grocery store alone or meet a friend for coffee.  I didn't get the opportunity to speak much to her when she was his teacher but then a few years later when Brandon was in a five-day 4-year old class I ended up being her aide once a week wiht the little ones and I enjoyed getting to know her better - I now consider her a dear friend.  Here is what Darlene has to share about herself...

   I have been stamping for almost four years now. I can hardly believe how quickly the years have gone by. I signed up under Debbie in October of 2007. As I thought about it, it seemed impossible that I have been stamping that long and still enjoy it just as much as the first time, if not more. I think I signed up after just two or three events. I was buying so much how could I not take advantage of the discount? I am a hobby demonstrator which works great with my lifestyle.

   Debbie used to work with me at preschool. She would always share her excitement of Stampin’ Up! with me. Well, I don't see myself as a very creative or artistic person so I thought, “how nice for her.” Until I actually attended a workshop at her studio and realized I didn’t have to do it all by myself. Stampin’ Up! gives you everything you need to be creative and artistic. The stamps, and color-coordinated everything gives you the foundation of limitless possibilities; from cards to framed art to personalized clothing. For instance, you can make party favors, the card, gift bag or wrap and tissue paper all to match the theme of a party or gift. Not to mention the resources to make the gift itself. I have cards for every occasion and everything for homemade gifts at my fingertips.
One of my favorite products by Stampin’ Up! is my Big Shot. It just gives any project that little extra WOW! factor. And the punches, I absolutely love the punches and working at a preschool they come in quite handy, as does my Big Shot.

   My husband and I relocated to Lynchburg from the Chicago area 25 years ago. I have been married for 27 years and am the Mom of three great grown children of whom I am very proud. I also became a Mother-In-Law in January. That sure is a mind blower!
As I mentioned, I work for a preschool teaching three year olds and working with all of the age groups in the after care program. I am also the bookkeeper for the preschool. This summer I accepted the position of Assistant Director for the Summer Program for preschool age through 12 year old children. What a fun and fast summer that was.

   As a demonstrator I have also had the privilege of attending two regional events for SU!. One at Virginia Beach and the other in Charlotte, NC. I absolutely loved them and all of the great tips and ideas I learned, not to mention the great fellowship with fellow demos! Hoping to attend more of these fantastic events in the future!!

As you can see, Darlene is an enthusiastic demonstrator who enjoys the discount of the wonderful products she would be buying anyway!  We had so much fun in Charlotte, didn't we?!

Here are some wonderful non-card projects she created to share with you.  Tomorrow I'll share the beautiful cards she designed.

This framed art home decor started as a simple frame that she picked up at a big box store.  Notice the shimmer on it?  She added frost shimmer paint to it, altering the look (making it very hard to photograph!).  The inside art work was stamped with the Inspired by Nature stamp set and she sponged the sky and clouds.  The butterflies were cut out with the Big Shot and Beautiful Wings embosslit - they are embellished with dazzling diamonds glitter and rhinestones for some bling.  Who wouldn't want to put this beauty on their wall?

 

This birthday scrapbook page features the Look Who's Turning stamp set and would be great for your child's scrapbook.  Many of the mats and embellishments were created or altered to include texture with the Big Shot.  How great would it be to use this stamp set to create birthday party invitations and use the same color scheme for the party and scrapbook page?

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you got some inspiration from Darlene's projects!  Be sure and check back tomorrow to see her cards.  Have a wonderful day!

August 2011 monthly stamp-a-stack cards

Wow, the wind is howling outside!  But thankfully since we're about 4 hours from the coast we aren't going to feel the effects of Hurricane Irene as badly as other parts of Virginia today.  I pray for the safety of those in her path!!  This past Thursday night I held my monthly stamp-a-stack class and pictured above is one of the cards everyone got to make.  It is a CASE of one I saw on my friend Jen Sannes' blog.  I absolutely love her clean and simple style... I did change the colors to a brighter palette (calypso coral, poppy parade and whisper white) based on the piece of the Berry Blossoms DSP used (aren't these strawberries so cute?!).  The flower is from the Button Buddies stamp set and works perfectly with the 1-3/8" scallop circle punch - how great is that?!  I wanted to feature the hostess set Swirls and Curls Verses from the Summer Mini catalog one last time before it is gone at the end of the month... I think this set is so cute!  I embellished the card with a piece of the calypso coral ruffled ribbon... if you don't have any of these yet, buy one because they are so beautiful and add so much texture and interest to a card.  Don't forget that you only have a few days left to take advantage of the "buy 3, get 1 free" designer paper sale!!  I took advantage of it and stocked up on some Berry Blossom paper!!

This next card is a CASE of one I saw at the Charlotte Regional last weekend... I did not get this card but took a photograph of it so do not know who designed it to give credit.  If it is yours or you recognize it and know who made it please let me know!!  The swap card had a different sentiment... I decided to feature the Strength & Hope stamp set because it is going away at the end of this month when the Summer Mini catalog ends.  The color palette used is from the Color Coach and is a dynamic duo - great for monochromatic cards:  wisteria wonder, elegant eggplant and whisper white.  Don't forget that Stampin' Up! will donate $2 from the sale of each of these stamp sets to the Breast Cancer Research Fund.  For more ideas, check out the projects from my Stamping Out Breast Cancer stamp camp a few months ago and other samples here.

This card is another CASE of a card that my downline Delores got - again, I did not get it so took a photo of it.  If it is yours, please let me know... I love it!!  I started offering one Christmas card at my stamp-a-stacks last month and will continue to do so through November so that my stampers can get a nice variety of Christmas cards to send out in December.  It's never too early to start working on them!!  This card features the fun color palette of blushing bride and baja breeze.  The two stamp sets are Serene Snowflakes and Snow Much Fun.  The focal embellishment is one of the tags from the Big Shot Two Tags bigz die.  I love that there is very little coloring on this card but it still makes such a big impact!

I wanted to feature a Summer Mini catalog set and decided to use the On the Grow stamps because I love watercoloring!  I had seen some samples by Lisa Young and thought her idea to keep the flowers white by coloring around the image with sahara sand was brilliant!  The First Edition specialty DSP works great with crumb cake, too!!  I have to say that using water color paper along with an aqua painter is so much fun!!

The final card of the evening was a sneak peek of upcoming Holiday Mini catalog items... I really liked the swap card I made for the Charlotte Regional so that is the card everyone made.  The Gently Falling stamp set and coordinating Spice Cake DSP were ones I got for FREE from Stampin' Up!, so cool!  I also got to show my stampers how to use the color spritzer tool... it is so much fun!

If you would like to attend my stamp-a-stack next month, please contact me to get your spot reserved!  Thanks for stopping by - stay safe and dry this weekend if you live on the east coast!  I'll be keeping you in my prayers.

Sneak peeks are Fabulous!!

Welcome back to another edition of Fabulous Friday!  This week on the Sisters in Stamping blog we are offering you a sneak peek of some fabulous products from the upcoming Holiday Mini catalog... I have to say that I really love the new stamp sets and accessories and had a hard time deciding on which ones to use.  I settled on the super-cute Out on a Limb stamp set because I purchased this set for a Halloween Mom & Me class that I have planned for October 16th and I wanted to play with it.  Isn't she just the cutest?

The Big Shot really came in handy when putting this card together - can you count how many different things I used?  I actually used three:  1) Spiderweb impressions folder, 2) Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die and 3) Circles #2 originals die (rich razzleberry circle layer).  I also used quite a few punches - 2-3/8" scallop circle, 1-3/4" circe, modern label and word window.  The silver shimmer paper is so sparkly in real life and I just had to use it to add some bling to this card.  All the coloring was done with  my stampin' write markers in cajun craze, old olive, so saffron, more mustard, rich razzleberry and basic black.  I pulled my color combination for this card from last year's Halloween DSP pack... did you know that is a great place to check out some fantastic color combinations?  I love that Stampin' Up! takes the time to come up with these for us and list them below the DSP... save those catalogs!  They're great for ideas and inspiration!!

Here's a view of the inside of the card.  I love the spiders and had to create a border across the top with them.  And what do you think of these jack-o-lanterns with their fun mustaches?!  Aren't the great?!  They were just a little too plain hanging out on the bottom of the page so I created a grass border with old olive card stock and my paper snips.

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you are getting excited about this Mini's debut on September 1st... for even more inspiration please be sure and visit the Sisters in Stamping blog today to see the other fabulous sneak peeks.

Last day of Charlotte Regional sharing... I promise!

I hope you have enjoyed all of the photos I've shared from the Charlotte Regional so far - if you get the opportunity to attend one of these this fall, either as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator or the guest of one, I HIGHLY recommend it!  We were fortunate enough to have our CEO Shelli Gardner in attendance - she opened the morning session and presented a really cute Halloween project that she's making for all of her grandchildren.

This project features diecuts from the Big Shot Petal Cone and Perfect Pennants Bigz L dies as well as the Spiderweb impressions texturz folder and several punches.  Isn't it the cutest?

We also got to see presentations by Carrie Cudney, Donna Griffith and Shannon West and then all three came back out to present a demonstration on making Creativity Journals.  What you see above is a page from Shannon's journal.  The challenge was to put a photo of your favorite celebrity with a speech bubble telling you how creative you are...she happened to choose Shelli Gardner.  It was too funny, especially since Shelli was there at the Regional!

And last, but not least, I wanted to share this display board with you.... do you recognize the stamp set?  You shouldn't, because it's a never-before-seen stamp set that will be debuting in the Occasions Mini catalog in January, 2012!!!  Why am I showing you these projects?  Because you have the opportunity to get this set for FREE if you sign up as a new demonstrator on my team by September 2nd.  How great is that?!  I would love to share the opportunity with you - contact me to find out how fun it is to be a demonstrator... own your stamping business and name your hours!  Or sign up as a hobbyist and earn a discount on all of your Stampin' Up! purchases while getting the full support of being a demonstrator, including monthly issues of the Stampin' Success magazine, training through video tutorials, my monthly team meetings and more!!  You can choose from two different starter kits...

Want to learn more?  Be sure and check out my demonstrator website here.  Remember, in order to earn this set for FREE you have to join my team by September 2nd!!  Don't delay, contact me today...

Thanks for visiting!  I'll be back tomorrow with a sneak peek from the Holiday Mini for Fabulous Friday!!!

Rockin' my world!

We got a big surprise yesterday afternoon - an earthquake!  They are almost unheard of in Virginia, but the epicenter of the 5.8 magnitude earthquake was about 100 miles away from where we live.  When I lived in Japan as a child we had them frequently enough that we had earthquake drills at school but it has been a long time since I felt one!  I know for those of you who are on the West coast that they are not a big deal unless they are of a much higher magnitude, but it seriously put a hurting on the East coast for a while.  I heard from friends on Facebook as far away as Connecticut and South Carolina that they felt it, too!!

I have to tell you, the samples at the Charlotte Regional Workshop Wow demonstration booths featuring the new Simply Scored Scoring Tool that will be debuting in the Holiday Mini on September 1st were rockin' my world!  Aren't they amazing?!

I wanted to share some of the display boards with you, too, that were displayed  - here are the ones that feature our new In Colors.... enjoy!

Wisteria Wonder

Calypso Coral

Pool Party

Lucky Limeade

Island Indigo

 

More swaps from the Charlotte Regional

Here are a few more of the swaps that I received, including this super-cute Halloween candy holder designed by Gwen Howard.  I love all the detail on this one, including the "lolly" behind the spider made using our new scoring tool and the Frightful Sight DSP (have you taken advantage of our "buy 3, get 1 free" special yet?!).  She used her Big Shot to make the petite pocket (holds a small chocolate bar) and added texture with the spiderweb impressions folder.  The spider and "eek" are from the Spooky Bingo Bits stamp set. 

These cards all have the designer's name below the photo, unless the swap didn't include a name.  Please, if you ever decide to swap at an event, put your name on the back!!

Amanda Shumate, featuring Friends Never Fade and Curly Cute

Colleen Magness, featuring Awash with Flowers and Petite Pairs

Karel Standish, featuring Teeny Tiny Wishes and the Mostly Vintage stencil

Marie Shaugnessy, featuring Jack of All Trades

 
This purse that holds a Hershey nugget did not have a name on it.  Isn't it cute?  If it is yours, please let me know so I can give you credit!!

I'll be back tomorrow with some photos of the displays... until then, happy stamping!

Swap cards from the Charlotte Regional and the first day of school!!!!

Well I promised to share some of the swap cards I received this past weekend at the Charlotte Regional event but I wanted to share some first-day-of-school pictures with you... hope you don't mind!  I like to take serious photos, but then I like to get the goofy ones, too.   Kelsey (7th grade) and Amanda (8th grade) posed so nicely above, but then their silliness took over!  An hour later, Brandon (4th grade) patiently sat for me...

I remember the first time I saw him walking to the bus when he was in Kindergarten I was so overcome with emotion - today it was joy!  My kids were ready for school to start up again and so was I!!  Can you relate?

Okay, now on to the cards that I promised you...

This card was created by my downline Delores Wilson... it is a pocket card featuring many of our punches and the ever-versatile Sincere Salutations stamp set.  Great idea, Delores!

This card was designed by my downline Kris Sennett... she used the colors from the Flirtatious Specialty DSP for her inspiration along with the Delicate Doilies stamp set.  I like the idea of threading ribbon through the lace ribbon border punch!

And here are a few of my favorites - the rest of my faves I'll share with you tomorrow.  Below each card I have listed the stamper's name and stamp set featured.  Enjoy!

Faith Clark, featuring Creative Elements

Kristin Hauser, featuring Zoo Review

Robin Atilano, featuring Raining Flowers

Tracey Grippando, featuring House & Home

 

Fun with Friends at the Charlotte Regional!

Well, I must say that the new format that Stampin' Up! has adopted for their Regional seminars was a huge hit in my book!  For the first time that I can think of I actually got my make-n-takes completed (loved them, too!) and had time to chat with friends that I had not seen in a long time as well as spend time with my downline members who attended.

A large group of us drove down to Charlotte on Friday night and had the opportunity to go to a barbecue restaurant that was quite yummy and then spent some time walking around and shopping at Concord Mills Mall.  Pictured above are (from left to right) Jen Phillips, Wendy Boothe, Wanda Wilson, me, Sherri Gough, Heather Palm and Angie Kinzie.

On Saturday morning we all met up at the Charlotte Convention Center and our group took up almost two rows of seats in our section - 15 strong!  Here's a group shot that we took at the end of the day... the lighting wasn't ideal for pictures so it's kind of dark.  But we are (from left to right) - front row:  Gaylyn Pantana, Gwen Goulder, Gwen's Mom (sorry, I didn't get her name - she was Gwen's guest), Jen Phillips, Delores Wilson, Darlene Crockett, Kris Sennett, Angie Kinzie and Wanda Wilson.  On the back row:  me, Sherri Gough, Heather Palm, Wendy Boothe and Lesley Stec (guest of Gwen).

As I was walking around taking photos of the displays I ran into my uplline (6 levels up) Faith Clark, also from Virginia.  We always take a picture together whenever we end up at the same Stampin' Up! events because she lives in Portsmouth so I don't get the chance to see her very often.

And then I had to take a picture with Colleen Magness, a sideline of mine whom I met at Founder's Circle a couple of years ago and who is always so kind.  We had seen each other at breakfast in the hotel earlier in the morning - so glad she drove down for the event, too, because she is also from the Tidewater area of Virginia.

Here we are during the afternoon ice cream break - (left to right) Jennifer Rawlings, Heather Palm, Kris Sennett and me.

Throughout the event Stampin' Up! gives away free product during their "Prize Patrol" to a few lucky attendees.  Sometime during the afternoon session my downline Jen Phillips won!  The key to winning is that you have to get up and dance and act excited when you see your name on the display - here she is dancing and laughing!  Congratulations, Jen!!!

And I'll end with this last photo and give a little explanation because every time I see it I crack up... these are my downline and very good friends Sherri Gough and Darlene Crockett.  Both work full-time and just didn't have the time to create swaps.  Swapping is HUGE at these events and after so many people approached them to ask if they had any swaps they just started holding up this sign that says "No, because we suck" - enough said, right?!  Darlene and Sherri stayed with me in Charlotte last night and we had so much fun!

Thanks for a great weekend, Ladies, and thank you Stampin' Up! for the awesome Regional!  I'll be posting photos of some of the display boards over the next few days to share the inspiration!!