25th Anniversary Blog Tour - Best of Birthdays

Welcome to the RemARKable 25 Years with Stampin' Up! Blog Tour!  You may have arrived here from Lee Bradford's blog.  What a great job she did with her projects!

When Stampin' Up! announced at the Leadership Conference about the "Best of 25 Years" stamp sets, I got really excited!  As part of their 25-year anniversary celebration, they're bringing back some favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, which will release-one set per month-during 2013. Along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!

January's theme is "Best of Birthdays."  I've made three projects with this stamp set.  Here's the first one:

I used one of the shapes from the Apothecary Framelits to create a layered look.  See here how I did it.

Here's the second one:

This last one is a copy of one that we saw demonstrated at Leadership.  I used it in my stamp clubs this month.  Our theme for the month was "tools."  I changed things up a bit from the original card and used my Color Spritzer tool to add some splashes of Garden Green.

Here's a closer look.

 

I'll be glad to answer any questions about my projects.  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Next up is the uber-talented Tamra Davis of http://www.thecardladies.com/.  Click on her link or on the image below to see her creations:

Happy Stamping!

Tweet

Leadership CASE

Good afternoon.  Here is a card that I made for one of my club members who recently had surgery.  It is a card inspired by a sample I saw at Leadership.  I switched things up a bit including the addition of some splashes of Gumball Green with the Color Spritzer tool. I included some of the Silver Glimmer paper that I got at Leadership.

Some of us are getting ready to watch the Superbowl.  Personally, I watch it for the commercials. Why can't commercials be as entertaining during other television shows?

Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Perfectly Penned
Paper: Gumball Green Whisper White, Brights Patterned designer series paper, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Gumball Green marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents framelits, Color Spritzer Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stamping!

Tweet

RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour

Welcome to the RemARKable Stamp of the Month Blog Tour.  This month we're featuring projects using the stamp set Winter Memories.  You may have arrived here from Jackie Bottomley's blog.  Didn't she do a nice job!!!

Onto my project.  After contemplating the many ways I could use the Winter Memories stamp set, here is what I came up with:

Does the layout look a bit familiar to you?   If so, it's because I partially modeled my card from the Frosty Friends sample found in the 2012 Holiday Mini catalog.  I started by stamping with StazOn ink on watercolor paper.  Then I colored the images with various Stampin' Write markers and blended them using my blender pen.  Then I cut the watercolor paper using my Big Shot and the largest shape from the Apothecary Accents Framelits.

But it doesn't stop there!  Do you see how I matted the focal image with another Apothecary Accents shape?  I achieved this look by cutting the watercolor paper a second time trimming it down a bit -- like this:

The Cherry Cobbler mat is the original framelit size.  Pretty cool, eh!  Oh, for added detail I used the Essential Paper-Piercing Pack to add punched holes inside the Cherry Cobbler card stock.

I'd love to hear from my readers what you think about this project. 

Stamps: Winter Memories
Paper: Watercolor Paper, Regals Designer Series Paper Stacks, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party
Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Stampin' Write Markers: Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Blush Blossom, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Delicate Designs embossing folder, Paper-Piercing Tool, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Pennant Builder punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Next up on the Tour is Deb Currier.  Click the icon below to follow the link to her blog:

If you get lost on the tour, here is a list of all participants:

Nancy Amato http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com
Melissa Bolinger http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/missybolinger/blog
Jackie Bottomley http://jackiebottomley.blogspot.com/

Susan Carlson http://stampinmomoffour.blogspot.com
Debra Currier http://artfeltimpressions.blogspot.com/

Tamra Davis www.thecardladies.com
Connie Deibler www.conniestamps.com
Marilyn Dollar www.madmoonstamping.com
Becky Evans www.alwayshappystampin.com

Crystal Kondo  www.card-ed.com
Deb Lehigh http://thestampinhut.typepad.com/
Anne Matasci -www.MauiStamper.wordpress.com
Robin Merriman http://www.trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com
Maria Pane  http://www.stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com

Jeannette Swain http://www.stampsnwhatnot.com/

Happy Stamping!

Tweet

One More Day Till I Leave for CONVENTION!!! -Freshly Made Sketchs #43

Hey!   I don't know if you're counting or not, but there's only one more day till I leave for the Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City!!!  I am going to try as best I can to not even think about what is happening with Randy and the kids and focus on having a great time.  No guilty feelings about leaving my family.  It's about time that I let myself have a much-needed break from all the chaos.  What better way to combine fun with my job!?!  I figure that the house is going to get trashed, then they'll all clean up the day that I get back home.  They're still going to get lots of love from Daddy!

Yesterday I stocked the cupboards with a bunch of junk food to the tune of almost $200.  And at Randy's request, I gave him some menu suggestions:

I said, "Grilled hamburgers."  He said, "Burger King!"
I said, "Spaghetti and Meatballs."  He said, "Pizza Hut!"
I said, "Chicken patties."  He said, "Kentucky Fried Chicken!"

Let's just hope he was joking.

Onto the card...

This card features pearls and the Fancy Fan embossing folder.

After completing this card, I decided to make a few more to swap at convention. I was up LATE last night!

I love, love, love the new Apothecary Framelits and the coordinating Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack!  On this piece there are exactly 100 holes.  Ask me how I know!

The Papillon Potpouri stamp set along with the coordinating Elegant Butterfly punch made it near the top of my shopping list for the new catty.

I chose this pattern from the Floral District designer series paper. It was easy to choose what color butterflies to add to the card.

This card features the Argyle embossing folder.  Since I ran out of pearls I used rhinestones.

I actually like the rhinestones version better.  Which version do you prefer?


Here's this week's sketch!

  Here are a few tips that I discovered after making the cards:

I cut the string of pearls so that three would stay together.  They fit perfectly into the space on the butterfly stamp : )

While I was sponging the Apothecary frame, I kept getting some stray flecks of junk on my scrap paper. At first I thought it was something from the sponge, but it's really stray, micro fragments flaking off the card stock. ... Where did the mica flake come from???

I was too lazy to get my "embossing folders only" cutting pads, and tiny cuts got embedded into the back of my card base.  Folks, don't try this at home!

When you emboss a detailed card base like this one, the card stock shrinks a bit.  It's better to add a layer onto the card base.  Again, folks, don't try this at home!

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri
Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Floral District designer series paper
Ink: Baja Breeze for sponging, StazOn Jet Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Argyle embossing folder, Elegant Butterfly punch, Paper-Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Essentials Paper-Piercing Mat, Basic Pearls, Basic Rhinestones, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stamping!

Susan

Tweet

Reason to Smile Blog Hop

Hi, everyone!  If you haven't heard already, Stampin' Up! is having an awesome promotion.  For every $50 that you spend (before shipping and taxes) you can purchase the Reason To Smile stamp set for only $5. This exclusive set can only be purchased during the month of July.

To celebrate the promotion, a few of my fellow demonstrators are hosting a Reason to Smile Blog Hop.  Here's what I created:

Inspiration for this card came from several demonstrators.  The fun thing about being a demonstrator is that we've got access to plenty of samples.  In fact, I've compiled over 40 different samples using the Reason to Smile stamp set.  I will give all of my customers a copy of these photos when they purchase Reason to Smile set from me.  (Demonstrators, drop me an email and I'll send it to you.)

Stay tuned for a few more samples using this great set.  I may have an August surprise for a special viewer.

Here are the promotion details:

• Dates:  July 1 - 31, 2012
• Spend $50 on any current Stampin' Up! productsto get the exclusive Reason to Smile Set for just $5.
• Orders may be placed on any order type (customer, workshop guest or online)
• There is a limit of one (1) set per customer.
• You will not be automatically prompted to enter the $5 Item Number for a qualifying purchase.  So be sure to enter one of these item numbers after your order reaches $50 or more: 
  • Wood Mount 131274
  • Clear Mount 131275
• Valued up to $20.95
• The Reason to Smile Set is exclusive to this promotion and will not be available after July 31, 2012.
• Deadline:  Tuesday, July 31, 2012; 11:50 PM (MT)

And here is a list of the other bloggers to check out.  Please be sure to give them a Reason to Smile by leaving an encouraging comment.



Lori Witt - http://www.stampinwithlori.com/2012/07/reason-to-smile-blog-hop.html
Andi Potler - http://www.absolutekreations.com/2012/07/10/reason-to-smile-blog-hop/
Eileen Lang - www.eileensstampingcorner.blogspot.com
Karin Biefeld -http://karinbiefeld.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-am-so-excited.html
Elaine Uhl - http://createnstamp.blogspot.com/2012/07/handcrafted-smiles.html

Stamps:  Reason to Smile, Sweet Essentials
Paper: Whisper White, Vellum Card Stock, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Versamark, Markers: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, and Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents, Large Scallop Edgelits,Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder. Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stamping!

Susan

Tweet