Better late than never!!

In September, there was a Design Team search for the Clean and Simple challenge on SplitCoast Stampers. While I didn't make the actual team, I WAS chosen as a guest designer for this past Monday.

There was a bit of confusion, so I didn't get my card up BEFORE the challenge went live, but Denise (our coordinator) was kind enough to let me create it first thing in the morning and STILL have it featured in the challenge for the week - YAY!!

Here's the card I created, for our Trendy Stuff CAS challenge:

We had to use plaid - YAY!! The first thing that popped into my head was the Howlstooth and Scaringbone Designer Series Paper. Then I thought, perhaps I should make a Christmas card, so I pulled out a sheet from the Festival of Prints pad, but it just wasn't speaking to me, so I went back to the Howlstooth and Scaringbone.

Since last Monday was Thanksgiving in Canada, I knew I wanted to use something relative to the holiday and Day of Gratitude seemed like just the thing.

I stamped it in Tangerine Tango on Very Vanilla and die cut it using the Window Frames Framelits. I just love that you can give these a 1/4 turn and get a WHOLE different look. It's like getting TWO whole sets of Framelits for the price of one!

I added a bit of texture down in the right hand corner that you can *just* make out if you look closely.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Day of Gratitude
INK: Tangerine Tango
PAPER: Very Vanilla and Tangerine Tango Cardstock; Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP
ACCESSORIES: Big Shot, Framelits, Basic Pearls, Marker, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

Busy Day Ahead...and some news!!!

When I made the switch to Business Demonstrator last January, I had NO idea what lay ahead. I just knew that I wanted to be able to do more for my family as a Stampin' UP! demonstrator. I wanted to be able to buy that "monkey on a stick". Yes...that's TOTALLY obscure and there's probably less than a handful of people who know what that means, but that's OK.

I've been working VERY hard to make things happen this year and today I got notice that thanks to a new demonstrator who saw something in me that made her want to sign up, that I promoted to Counselor (that's Manager for my American friends - WOOT!)! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this and what this means to my business. Stampin' UP! is one of the best companies in the world and I get to be part of it all!!!

To that end, instead of a card today, I borrowed a layout from the Stampin' UP! website. It's not my family, but it's how I'm feeling today and I do hope you'll share in my excitement.

I'm incredibly grateful for the love an support of my family - both the ones that live with me and my Stampin' UP! family! I'm incredibly grateful that they believed in me and had faith.

And now...before I ruin makeup, I'm going to sign off.

Have a GREAT day everyone...and thank you!

It's Wednesday! That must mean STAMPIN' QUEENS!

Welcome to Wednesday and Stampin' Queens Sketch Day! I took a few liberties with the sketch, but I like the way it turned out!

Here's the sketch:

And here's my take on it:

You CAN see the similarities, can't you? It's not way out in left field is it?

I started off with a base of Not Quite Navy and added three strips of paper from the Well Worn pack of Designer Series Paper using some So Saffron brads along the way.

Then I stamped the long leaf from Gently Falling in Cajun Craze and Tangerine Tango. The sentiment was stamped in Cajun Craze on Very Vanilla and punched out using the Decorative Label Punch.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Gently Falling, Day of Gratitude
INK: Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy Cardstock; Well Worn DSP
ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Dimensionals, Punch, Brads

Happy Stampin'!

Featured Stamp Set - Day of Gratitude

I'm making an effort to use my stamp sets a bit more than I do - you know the ones - OMG! I have to have it!!! Then 4 months later - well...that's no longer available...hopefully it will carry over to next year's IB&C. We've ALL done it!

This week, as you've already seen from my post on Monday and my ATC from yesterday, I'm featuring the "Day of Gratitude" set.

All the links below are clickable so that you can see exactly what you need to order to complete the project above. And, if you need any of the supplies, you can contact me directly or shop in the online store. Don't forget that the Day of Gratitude Stamp Set is also available in Clear Mount if you prefer that option. If you choose the clear mount set, you'll also need to purchase Blocks: A, B, C, E and G to use your stamp set.

SUPPLIES REGULAR QUANTITY 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch $23.95 Qty:1 Whisper White 12X12 Card Stock $8.50 Qty:1 Stampin' Dimensionals $5.25 Qty:1 Color Spritzer Tool $16.95 Qty:1 Linen Thread $5.95 Qty:1 Day Of Gratitude $32.95 Qty:1 More Mustard 8-1/2X11 Card Stock $8.50 Qty:1 Early Espresso 8-1/2X11 Card Stock $8.50 Qty:1 Autumn Spice Specialty Designer Series Paper $14.95 Qty:1 Early Espresso Stampin Write Marker $4.50 Qty:1 More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker $4.50 Qty:1 Old Olive Stampin' Write Marker $4.50 Qty:1 Very Vanilla 1/2 Inch Seam Binding Ribbon $8.95 Qty:1 3/16" Metallic Brads $8.95 Qty:1 Mat Pack $12.95 Qty:1 Paper-Piercing Tool $4.50 Qty:1

Happy Stampin'!

ATC Tuesday - Gratitude

I'm trying to get back on track...now that the kids are back in school and we have established something of a routine, I'll be trying to post more regularly...try to bear with me, OK?

Today is Tuesday, so that means: ATC!!!

I'm featuring the Day of Gratitude set this week, so this ATC uses that set.

I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso on Pumpkin Pie and punched it out using the new Decorative Label punch which is available in the Holiday Mini. I then used the punch again to punch out two Early Espresso Decorative Labels and made a mat for my sentiment.

I sponged Pumpkin Pie ink on my piece of Newsprint DSP and then stamped leaves (after stampin off) in Early Espresso and then stamped the "Thank You" sentiment from the set in full strength Early Espresso.

I added a tiny Library Clip and tied on a piece of Early Espresso ribbon for the finishing touch.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Day of Gratitude

INK: Early Espresso

PAPERS: Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso Cardstock; Newsprint DSP

ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Library Clip, Decorative Label Punch

Happy Stampin'!

Twenty-Minute Monday - Day of Gratitude

Last week was Stampin' UP! Regionals in Hamilton. As part of our registration, we received the Day of Gratitude Stamp Set. It's not one that I would have chosen, but now that I have it, it's kind of growing on me!

For today's 20-minute Monday, I chose the large image from the set and stamped it in Early Espresso. I then hand cut it, which really didn't take as long as you might think. I stamped the Daffodil Delight piece of cardstock with Daffodil Delight ink using one of the small leaves from the set.

Yes, I know the ribbon is crooked in the photo. Fortunately, because of the way it's attached, I was able to adjust it. It's straight now - LOL!

And here's a sneak peek of another card I created. I can't show it to you, because it's an exclusive to SUDSOL, a demonstrator only site to which I belong. From October to December, I'm on the Design Team! How cool is that???

Now...if you WANT to see it, feel free to click on the little icon to the left that offers you a free two week trial to SUDSOL. You can see the card in full as well as the other wonderful things that SUDSOL has to offer!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Day of Gratitude

INKS: Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso

PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso Cardstock; Newsprint DSP

ACCESSORIES: Ribbon, Buttons, Basic Rhinestones

Happy Stampin'!