Unfrogettable Stamping!

Woooo hooooo!!!

  I'm so excited and had to share the news!! I linked up the Valentine's Day card (below) that I made for my husband on the Stampin' Celebration blog for Challenge #63 and I was chosen as February's "Pick of the Party" this month.  I'm so glad I made a New Year's resolution to participate in more challenges around the blogosphere...

  I'm looking forward to participating in next month's challenge!  It's a great way to get inspired and use all the fun Stampin' Up! products that I have.  Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my news!

Gaylyn's vintage workshop projects

  I had a hostess who requested that I demonstrate vintage-themed projects at her workshop recently and as much as I love the vintage style, I struggle trying to come up with designs in that style all on my own. Luckily, I have an extremely talented downline named Gaylyn Pantana who embraces everything vintage and comes up with the most amazing creations, so I enlisted her assistance preparing for my workshop.  She designed this great dry erase board above featuring items from the Artisan Embellishments kit; Dress Up, Ovals and Labels framelits; Established Elegance and Vintage Verses stamp sets and the More Amore specialty DSP pack.

  Here are close-ups of the embellishments... aren't they great?!

  Here is another project that I shared at the workshop - Gaylyn came up with the dimensions for this great favor box: 4-1/4" x 9-1/2", scored at 3", 5" and 8".  I decorated it with images from the Established Elegance stamp set and added a scalloped border of very vanilla card stock along the flap and created a flower accent using the First Edition specialty DSP and the scallop circle and boho blossoms punch.

  To create this flower, I punched out four scallop circles and the largest flower from the Boho Blossoms punch and crumpled them up for texture.  I held them all together with a mini silver brad and fluffed the layers to have it look like this... cute and so easy!  Add a little tag and you're good to go.

  Thanks for stopping by!  To purchase any of the products used with today's projects please visit my online store HERE or contact me to assist you.  Don't forget that you earn a FREE exclusive Sale-a-Bration item of your choice with every $50 purchase now through March 22nd!!

More masculine card inspiration from my February team swap

  Are you ready for some more masculine cards?

  This first card designed by Gerin Martin is a great example of the chalkboard technique!  I love all that texture, too, from the Stripes impressions folder.  This single stamp, World's Greatest, is great paired with the Family Reunion stamp set!!

  Angie Kinzie created this great nautical-themed card featuring images from The Open Sea stamp set.  I like how the anchors and tag are hanging from the baker's twine!  Great use of the Woodgrain impressions folder, too!

  Our hostess Jennifer Rawlings designed this simple but elegant card featuring the First Edition specialty DSP and images from the Feeling Sentimental stamp set.  Did you know that this is a Sale-a-Bration exclusive selection... earn it for FREE with a qualifying $50 product purchase now through March 22nd.

  Our last card was designed by Kris Sennett and features lots of texture from the Perfect Polka Dots and Woodgrain impressions folders along with the zebra image from the Zoo Review stamp set.  Didn't everyone do a great job with their masculine cards?

  To purchase any of the products used with today's projects please visit my online store HERE or contact me to assist you with your order.  Don't forget that a qualifying $50 product purchase means you get to choose one Sale-a-Bration item for FREE now through March 22nd!!!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Sycamore Street DSP is fabulous and you can earn it for FREE!

  Happy Friday and welcome to another edition of Fabulous Friday!  This week on the Sisters in Stamping blog we created projects that showcase the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack which is one of the Sale-a-Bration selections this year.  Earn this gorgeous paper for FREE during Sale-a-Bration with a qualifying $50 order!!  You get 12 sheets of 12" x 12" paper in every pack - 2 each of six double-sided fabulous designs featuring a color palette of Island Indigo, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand, Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango and Whisper White.  Spend an additional $50 between now and March 22nd and you can earn the coordinating Ribbon & Button pack, too! 

  My project this week is an altered 5" x 7" journal with a matching pen that I plan to keep in my purse and use as an inspiration journal.  I used my favorite pattern from the Sycamore Street DSP package for the front cover and pulled colors from within the design for my embellishments - rich razzleberry, pool party and tangerine tango. 

  I got out my trusty Big Shot and used the Dress Up and Ovals framelits from the Spring catalog to create the dress focal piece.  The ribbon sash on the dress is from the coordinating Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button pack which you can also earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration!  I really love how this turned out!

  To complete the journal I added the "Oh Happy Day" sentiment from the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set (another SAB selection) to embellish along with the large and scallop oval punches.  I even took a strip of the DSP and inserted it into my pen so it would coordinate with the journal.  Easy-peasy!

  For more inspiration with this beautiful DSP, please be sure and hop on over to the Sisters in Stamping blog after Noon EST today to check out what Karla and Rachel came up with this week.  To purchase any of the products used with today's project please visit my online store HERE or contact me to assist you with your order.

  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!  I'll be back tomorrow with more of the masculine swaps from my team meeting this month.

 

Looking for some masculine card inspiration?

  Now that I've finished sharing the swaps from January, I want to show you the cards from this month's masculine card swap.  I think cards for boys and men are the hardest for me because I can't add a lot of ribbon or bling.  My team came up with some fabulous ideas and I hope you are inspired to try a few...

  This masculine birthday card was designed by Kris Burdeaux and features the Up, Up & Away stamp set.  I love the nice touch the button and linen thread accent adds to the card and check out that awesome texture added with the Houndstooth Big Shot impressions folder.

  Our hostess Jennifer dictated "no glitter!" on any of the cards unless you could find a way to make it masculine.  Kathy Kennedy took that challenge and created this fantastic birthday card that uses the dazzling diamonds as the contrail behind the jet.  Great idea, Kathy!  The jet is from the Need for Speed stamp set and texture was added to the strip using the Square Lattice Big Shot impressions folder.  Mini brads are always a great way to add hardward to a masculine card, too.

  Michelle Arthur also used the Need for Speed stamp set for her card, opting for the race car image instead.  If you look closely, you'll notice that she stamped it repeatedly across the real red panel, fading out as it "moves" across the card.  The small strip of 1/8" basic black taffeta ribbon does a great job accenting the card without coming off as "girly."  Great job, Michelle!  I can imagine giving this card to a teen boy about to get his driver's license, can't you?!

  I will share the rest of the cards with you over the weekend... be sure and stop back by tomorrow for Fabulous Friday! We are featuring the Sale-a-Bration DSP, Sycamore Street, this week.  To purchase any of the products used with today's projects please hop over to my online store HERE or contact me to assist you with your order. 

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by!!

January 2013 downline swaps, part 4

  This last set of swap cards was designed by Kathy Kennedy (I was the fifth person in the swap but I have already shared all of my cards with you over various blog posts).  Enjoy!

  What a great way to feature many of the cute images from the Spring Sampler stamp set!  I'm sure Kathy's stampin' write markers and square punches came in very handy when making this card.

  This colorful and fun wedding card features the Just Married stamp set along with Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP from the Spring catalog.  I love all the layers she created with the Floral Frames framelits!  Check out the small cluster of flowers she created with the Boho Blossoms punch and rhinestones.

  This card features multiple Sale-a-Bration items - Sycamore Stree DSP and coordinating Ribbon & Button pack along with the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set.  I really like the sponged panel showcasing the hummingbird!

  This last card also features the Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set, but in a totally different way.  Isn't it amazing how color plays such an important role in the feel of a card?!

  I hope you enjoyed these swaps from my team - I am truly blessed to have such talented demonstrators!! To purchase any of the products used with today's projects and earn your FREE Sale-a-Bration item with a $50 order please visit my online store HERE or contact me to assist you with your order.  Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

 

January 2013 downline swaps, part 3

  I wanted to share more of the swaps from January with you... today's featured artist is Kris Burdeaux. 

  This beautiful card is a CASE of the sample in the Spring catalog for the Oh, Hello stamp set found on page 4.  Great job, Kris!

  This beautiful Valentine features the new Big Shot accessory Honeycomb texturz impressions folder and More Amore specialty DSP from the Spring catalog along with the Hearts framelits. 

  This clean and simple (CAS) card features the Bloomin' Marvelous Sale-a-Bration stamp set - I love this color combination of sahara sand, summer starfruit and basic gray!

  And this last beautiful card features the Sycamore Street DSP and Vintage Verses stamp set - both Sale-a-Bration options this year.  The color combination of island indigo and pool party is really pretty, isn't it?!

  To purchase any of the products used in the above projects and earn your FREE Sale-a-Bration item with a qualifying $50 order, please visit my online store HERE or contact me to assist you with your order.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Fabulous pinwheel surprise

  Happy Friday!  This week for Fabulous Friday on the Sisters in Stamping blog we are featuring Spring catalog DSP and accessories.  This clean and simple (CAS) card, showcasing the Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP, Pinwheel sizzlit for the Big Shot and Wishes Your Way stamp set, is called a Surprise Diorama card and you'll see why when I show you the inside below.  I also used the dotted scallop ribbon punch, word window punch, silver mini brads and pinwheel image from the Sweets for the Sweet stamp set.

  Surprise!!!  Isn't this a fun card with the pinwheel inside?!  I first saw this type of card in a swap I received from Lee Ann Greff this summer and then again from Julie Davison recently thanks to Pinterest.  Their cards both started with a 12" x 5-1/2" piece of card stock but I wanted to make mine using 8-1/2" x 11" card stock since that is what most people keep on hand. Read on for the instructions...

  In order to make this yourself, start with a piece of card stock that is cut to 4-1/4" x 10-1/2" and use the Simply Scored scoring tool to score on the long side at 1/2", 3-1/2", 4" and 7".  Use a large punch to cut out a hole in the panel on the left (I used the 2-3/8" scallop circle punch).  At this point you will want to go ahead and stamp and embellish your card EXCEPT for adding your 3D item for the inside of the card.

  Fold the card as shown in the photo above... apply adhesive (sticky strip or a small line of Tombow multipurpose glue) to the 1/2" tab in the middle (this is the left side of the card stock).  Fold the card closed to adhere and let it dry if using Tombow.  At this point you can add your 3D item through the "window" using a stampin' dimensional to adhere it.

  Fold the left flap over and this is your card front.  The card is sized at 4-1/4" x 3-1/2" and will fit in a regular A-2 envelope.  You will most likely want to hand-deliver this card although the pinwheel will fold flat for mailing. 

  If you'd like to purchase any of the items used with today's project, visit my online store or contact me to assist you with your order.  Don't forget that our Sale-a-Bration promotion is in full swing and you'll earn a FREE item of your choosing (see HERE for promotion details) with every $50 product purchase.

  Thanks for stopping by today!  Please be sure and hop over to the Sisters in Stamping blog after Noon EST to check out the other Fabulous Friday projects featuring the DSP and accessories from the Spring catalog.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Ours will be spent at the pool at a swim meet.  Can't wait!

January 2013 downline swaps, part 2

  Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you are showered with love today!!  I wanted to continue my share of our swap from last month and today's projects were all created by Jennifer Rawlings.

  This card features the fun new bottlecaps from the Spring Catalog along with the Honeycomb textured impressions folder.  I love the banner that she has anchored to the bottle cap with the brad.  Cute card!

  And this card is phenomenal in real life - I don't think you can see all the shimmer on the wings of the fabulous punch art bee, even though I tried really hard to capture it with my camera.  I love the bee idea and the brushed gold paper textured with the Honeycomb folder is brilliant!

  What a great way to feature all the pretty designs in the Sale-a-Bration Sycamore Street DSP!  They petite curly label punch is also a Sale-a-Bration selection, but you can purchase it after March 22nd!  A few of the punches are embellished with a rhinestone encrusted flower punch... too cute!

  And here is another way to showcase DSP in a card!  I love this idea for a birthday card.  The ribbon is from the coordinating ribbon and button pack that you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration.  Do you see that gorgeous large rhinestone accent?  You can find these in the Spring catalog... they are great because they come with adhesive on the back.

  Thanks, Jennifer, for all the great ideas!  Tomorrow I will be sharing my Fabulous Friday project for the Sisters in Stamping blog so I hope you'll come back for another visit.  We're featuring the great new accessories in the Spring catalog.

  Have a wonderful rest of your day and thanks for stopping by today.

January 2013 downline swaps, part 1

  For January, my downline swap theme was to showcase the new products in the Spring catalog and Sale-a-Bration brochure (as demonstrators we were allowed to preorder these products in December and early January... just one of the MANY perks we enjoy!).  Each of us in the swap designed two Spring catalog samples and two Sale-a-Bration samples.  Today I am showing you the cards that Michelle Arthur came up with for us.

  Michelle's first card features the super-cute Pinwheel sizzlit and 7/8" scallop circle punch along with many of the products from the Sunshine and Sprinkles product suite:  striped organdy ribbons (available in melon mambo, marina mist and old olive), Cloudy Day textured impressions frame and Sprinkles and Sunshine DSP.  Great card, right?!

  Her second card features the new Secret Garden stamp set and coordinating framelits as well as the new ovals framelits from the Spring catalog.  She used the new In colors of gumball green, summer starfruit, primrose petals and raspberry ripple... gorgeous!

  Michelle's first Sale-a-Bration card features quite a few products from the brochure:  Pretty Petites stamp set, Petite curly label punch and Sycamore Street ribbon/button pack.  I love her color combination of tangerine tango, island indigo and pool party!

  This Sale-a-Bration sample features the Sycamore Street ribbon and button pack, petite curly label punch, Pretty Petites stamp set plus one of the items that you can choose from the annual catalog - the Quintessential flower stamp.  Check out all the different layers that Michelle stamped with various brights ink to create the beautiful embellishment - fabulous!

  I hope Michelle's cards have inspired you as much as they inspired me!!  Thanks for stopping by today... I'll be sharing more of the swap cards in the coming days so please be sure and stop back by.  To order any of the products shown above, please visit my online store HERE or contact me to assist you with your order. You can order any of the Spring catalog products through May 31st but you only have until March 22nd to earn any of the Sale-a-Bration products for FREE with a qualifying $50 order.

Have a wonderful rest of your day!!