Hop to it!!

Can you believe it? Summer is right around the corner (though the weather leaves something to be desired) AND the new catalogue has launched!

You've arrived from Melissa Stout on your tour of the SUDSOL blog hop. Weren't her designs WONDERFUL?? You're sure to find LOTS of amazing things on the SUDSOL website. It's a demonstrator only site and worth every penny you pay for membership. There is SO much information that demonstrators share with each other.

Check out these cool new things and create some of your own stamping happiness!

I just love, love, LOVE this new stamp set! It's called Chalk Talk and I just KNOW you're going to love it too - especially since it has a Framelit set available to cut out all those awesome shapes! Better yet? Get it as a bundle!

My second card features Soho Subway Designer Series Paper. The vintage/retro designs on this paper are wonderful to work with. That they work with my newly discovered Dynamic Duo, makes my heart sing!

Don't you just LOVE Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral together? I discovered it quite by accident thanks to one of my downline.

My card base is Crisp Cantaloupe and the small mat is Calypso Coral. The image from Label Love is stamped in Island Indigo and punched out using the coordinating punch. Just like the Chalk Talk set featured in my first card, Label Love and the punch are available as a bundle too!

If you look REALLY closely, you can see the two teeny, tiny pearls on either side of the label. I love adding those little finishing touches!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Chalk Talk, Label Love
INKS: Staz-ON, Island Indigo
PAPERS: Whisper White, Pool Party, Island Indigo, QuatreFancy DSP, Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Soho Subway DSP
ACCESSORIES: Basic Rhinestones, Basic Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

CONTINUE on the Blog Tour
Melissa Stout	Susan Elise Morton

There's a blog tour coming!!!

Come back on June 13th for some fabulous projects using new goodies from the 2013-2014 catalogue!

Blog around the block with SUDSOL!

Welcome!!! You've arrived at the first stop on the SUDSOL blog tour!

Today, I'm sharing some new goodies as well as some oldies with you - ENJOY!

First up is a card I created based on an idea in the new Occasions Catalogue. I liked the idea of a piece of cardstock embossed with the new Honeycomb Folder in the middle of the card, so that was my jumping off point.

My next step (since this was originally a swap card for a special group of ladies with whom I swap each month), was to figure out which papers in my stash were well stocked - LOL! Hey...you gotta use what you have, right? So, I went with Pretty in Pink because a) I had a lot of it and b) it's one of the colours in the new Tea for Two Designer Series Paper. If you don't already have this new paper you're going to LOVE it when you do get it. It's got lots of pretty subtle colours with a few darker ones to offset those.

The Collage Curios set is (so far) one of my favourites from the new Occasions Catalogue. When I saw the teeny, tiny Eiffel Tower, I immediately thought about Artistic Etchings and just knew it would be a cute match.

For this image, I stamped the background stamp in Baja Breeze and then using my Stamp-a-majig added the Eiffel Tower in Island Indigo. I then punched it out using my 1" circle punch and matted it on a 1 1/4" scallop circle punched from Island Indigo. If you missed out on the 1 1/4" scalloped circle punch when it was available in the Holiday Catalogue, it's been added to the carry over list and is STILL available (lucky you!).

I stamped the large Eiffel Tower from Artistic Etchings in Island Indigo and cut it out before adding it to the front of the card. The last step was attaching the tiny Eiffel Tower image with a Stampin' Dimensional.

My next card will have you falling in LOVE with Hearts a Flutter. :)

This card was one I swapped at Leadership with the lovely and talented Lyssa Zwolanek. She hosts the most amazing swaps - LOVE THEM!

I started off with a base of Primrose Petals (one of the colours in the More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper pack) and then added a layer of Very Vanilla that I stamped with one of the small hearts from Hearts a Flutter and then sponged using Primrose Petals Ink. I added a strip of the paper from More Amore which was also sponged.

The main image panel consists of a 2 3/8" scalloped circle in Real Red, the large heart from Hearts a Flutter stamped in Primrose Petals and then diet cut using the matching Framelit set of the same name. I then stamped and punched the "love" image from Tiny Tags to which I added a teeny, tiny linen thread bow and a rhinestone.

I hope you've enjoyed visiting today and that you'll continue on with the blog tour. Next stop is Diana Soling and I just know you're going to see some AWESOME stuff!

CONTINUE on the Blog Tour
SUDSOL	Diana Soling

STAMPS: Collage Curios, Artistic Etchings, Hearts a Flutter, Tiny Tags
INK: Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, Primrose Petals, Real Red
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Island Indigo, Primrose Petals and Real Red Cardstock; Tea for Two and More Amore DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Big Shot!, Dies, Embossing Folders, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Basic Rhinestones, Ribbon

There's a blog tour coming!!!

This post will remain sticky at the top until January 31st. Please scroll down to see what else I've been creating! :)

Ready, set, HOP!!!

Oh my! Were those not GREAT projects that Julie created? I just LOVE the SUDSOL community! There are SO many talented stampers/scrapbookers!

As you already know, we're featuring products from the Holiday Catalogue (which is not anywhere near a "mini" anymore.

My first project is RIGHT out of the catalogue! So quick and easy to make, especially if you buy the bundle! The stamps and kit arrive all in one and with a little bit of Staz-ON ink, you can be creating in SECONDS. You'll even get the googly eyes!

Check this out:

(Stamps: Googly Ghouls; Accessories: Googly Ghouls Kit; Ink: Staz-ON)

The tags are pre-punched (even the hole at the top!) and all you have to do is pop it out and stamp. It's really THAT easy!

To attach it to the bag, I punched two 1/16" inch holes one on top of the other about a 1/8" apart through BOTH layers of the bag. I threaded them through and tied a bow after threading the tag on one end. DONE! And hey...did you SEE that? That's Pumpkin Pie bakers twine and it's EXCLUSIVE to this kit!

My next project is a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) from the lovely and talented Shannon West. She did a stamping demonstration at the Hamilton Regional I recently attended!

(Stamps: Affection Collection; Ink: Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Lucky Limeade, Midnight Muse; Paper: Shimmery White)

My apologies for the quality of the photo. I had to take it quick-quick as it was the card I presented to my hubby on our 21st wedding anniversary (we celebrated on August 31st). I just love the collage look you can get with that stamp set (and PHEW! He didn't thing it was too girly!)

While I was in Hamilton, I had the privilege of swapping with a BUNCH of my SUDSOL sisters. That's one of the AMAZING things about being a part of the SUDSOL community! Whenever you go to a Stampin' UP! event, you are NEVER alone!

Now, you're on to visit Candy and you're going to LOVE what she has for you!

CONTINUE on the Blog Tour
Julie Camell	Candy Rattray

Have a Stampin' Good Day!

New BLOG TOUR coming!

This post will be sticky at the top until September 5th. Please scroll down to see what else I've been creating! :)

Too late for Dynamic Duos, but too cute to not share!

OK, so I KNOW I said yesterday was my last Dynamic Duos card. And TECHNICALLY it was, since the Dynamic Duos challenge closed yesterday, but I created this one for a SUDSOL challenge using the Dynamic Duos challenge colours and I just HAD to share!

I started off with a Rich Razzleberry base and added a layer of Old Olive Designer Series Paper from the Brights Paper Stack. These stacks are SO much fun! You get four sheets of EACH colour in the Brights colour family. Forty 12 x 12 pages of DSP for $26.95. You can't beat that!

For my Whisper White layer, I took a large post-it note and laid it across the paper being sure to line it up with my grid paper to ensure the line would be straight. Then I stamped the top of the sheet. I removed the post-it, flipped it the other way and did the bottom.

Then, I lined up my Whisper White again and using a ruler and my SU! markers I drew the lines. Then...I crossed all my parts, took a deep breath and stamped the sentiment from Bring on the Cake WITHOUT my Stamp-a-majig. PHEW! It worked!  :)

I had a little smudge and a bit too much white space, so I added this cute flower punched using the Boho Blossoms Punch. Just as I always tell my class participants, "There are no mistakes, only opportunity for creativity!".

Then, I finished the inside:

It's a dear friend's birthday today, so this went into the mail to her earlier this week. I sure hope it gets to her on time!!!

What do you think?

STAMPS: Reason to Smile, Bring on the Cake
INK: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
PAPERS: Whisper White and Rich Razzleberry Cardstock; Old Olive DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Basic Rhinestones, Markers

Happy Stampin'!

Here we go round the blogging bush...

...or maybe not. Never mind - LOL! I was trying to be funny, but maybe it's too early in the day for that?

Anyway...I wasn't going to participate in this blog tour, because having just come back from Leadership and trying to get back into the swing of things, I didn't want to add something MORE to my plate.

However, Patti twisted my arm asked nicely and I just couldn't turn her down! So, I'll be showing you three of the swap cards that I did for Leadership! One is from the Occasions Mini, one is from the Sale-a-Bration brochure and one is from the Idea Book and Catalogue. We're supposed to featuring Occasions/SAB, so I sure hope you don't mind the addition of something from the big catty. You don't, do you?

Here's the first card I did:

It was for general swapping. At most Stampin' UP! events there is general swapping. You make as many cards as you'd like to receive back and walk around saying, "Are you swapping? Are you swapping? Are you swapping?" as many times as you have cards until you've given away all of your and received as many back...or until you're hoarse...whichever happens first. It's great for getting new ideas!

This one was a CASE from the Occasions Mini and another demonstrator (whose name escapes me - SORRY!) and it was a LOT of fun to make. I spent the afternoon stamping with my downline (who also went to Leadership) and even though I made FORTY!!! the time seemed to go really fast while I was creating them. I guess that's what happens when you're stamping with friends.

My second card was made using the Bordering on Romance Set from the Occasions Mini:

This one was for an organized swap. This means you get together with other demonstrators at a pre-determined time and place and swap with JUST those demonstrators. Lyssa organized this swap and it was just AMAZING! Not a bad one in the bunch!

I stamped the image with Staz-On and watercoloured it (times 20!). It was time consuming, but the result was definitely worth it! Then...thanks to Ann Schach and the fact that Santa brought me Sharpies this year for Christmas, I added coloured rhinestones - LOVE this effect! I also used my FAVOURITE paper from the Occasions Mini - Twitterpated. It's a REALLY good thing we got more of it at Leadership, because I just LOVE IT!!!

My third card features French Foliage which can be found in the Idea Book and Catalogue:

This was also for an organized swap, again hosted by Lyssa. Have I mentioned that she's AWESOME?

I started off with a piece of Very Vanilla and scored it using the Simply Scored (BTW, there's a new diagonal plate coming out!) and then stamped and sponged my way to the panel you see on the card. Lots of work, but well worth it!

Now...if you'd like to try out SUDSOL where you can learn LOTS of techniques and see ALL kinds of inspiration, you can start with my gallery here. I host the Chat and Challenge once a month, so you'll see a lot of sketches there, but also LOTS of cards! I've been the featured stamper as well as on the SUDSOL design team in the past.

One of my FAVOURITE parts about SUDSOL is the fact that a LOT of the samples are EXCLUSIVE! This means that if you're a demonstrator, your customers won't have seen the same ideas all over the internet. As SUDSOL members, we share freely, but it's just between us! And did you know that as a demonstrator you can try out SUDSOL for FREE for two weeks? Just click on the link in my right hand sidebar.

I do hope you've enjoyed this stop on the tour and that you'll continue along right to the end.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Fresh Vintage, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess Set), Bordering on Romance, French Foliage
INK: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede, Island Indigo, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy and Cajun Craze Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment, Twitterpated and Well Worn DSP; Watercolour Paper
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Basic Pearls, Watercolour Crayons, Aqua Painters, Basic Rhinestones, Simply Scored, Sponges, Mini Library Clips, Stampin' Dimensionals

CONTINUE on the Blog Tour
Elaine de Montmorency	Jane Hignite

*DISCLAIMER*
Yes, I know some of the colours look wonky. Photoshop and I are not getting along right now and I'm having to use an online photo editor. Rest assured that the colours I listed in the supplies are accurate. Sometimes what you see is NOT what you get. *sigh*

Happy Stampin'!

There's a blog tour coming!!!

This post is sticky at the top until January 31st. Come back on February 1st to take part in the SUDSOL blog tour. You won't be disappointed!

It's a BLOG HOP - SUDSOL STYLE!

The SUDSOL blog hop is one of my favourites and I do my best to participate in as many as I can! SUDSOL is SUCH a great resource that I use ALL THE TIME and the blog hop is my way of giving back. Joining SUDSOL is one of the first things I did after becoming a demonstrator. If YOU are a demonstrator, I can't recommend it enough! If you'd like to see what it's all about, click on this link and take a two week tour - FREE!

For this blog hop, we're featuring Holiday Projects. These cards were inspired by other talented demonstrators and I put my spin on them. They were featured at my most recent Christmas Card Class at which the ladies had a GREAT time and half of them have ALREADY signed up for my next Christmas Card Class - I can't wait!

STAMPS: Merry & Type

INK: Chocolate Chip, Versamark

PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

ACCESSORIES: Aqua Painters, Seam Binding, Glue Dot, Stampin' Dimensionals

Did you know that there all KINDS of templates, ideas and inspiration on the SUDSOL site? You can check out my gallery here, just to get an idea! I've been a featured stamper twice and have been on the design team - hard work, but VERY rewarding.

STAMPS: Gifts of Christmas

INKS: Island Indigo

PAPERS: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Silver Glimmer Paper

ACCESSORIES: Stampin' Dimensinals

STAMPS: Snow Swirled (greeting)

INK: Garden Green

PAPERS: Whisper White, Crumb Cake and Garden Green Cardstock; 

Holly Berry Bouquet DSP

ACCESSORIES: Punches, Filigree Brads, Buttons, Bakers Twine, Glue Dots

I do hope you've enjoyed this stop on the tour and hope you will continue along to visit all the other talented SUDSOL demonstrators blogs.

CONTINUE on the Blog Tour
SUDSOL	Teresa Hafso

Happy Stampin'!

A new Blog Tour coming - don't miss out!!!

This post will remain at the top until the Blog Tour! Please scroll down to see what else I've been doing!

Terrific Tuesday SUDSOL BLOG TOUR!

Welcome to the MAY edition of the SUDSOL BLOG TOUR! If you've been on the tour before, you know how awesome the demonstrators work is.  If not, you're in for a treat!

If you've arrived from the SUDSOL site, rest assured, you are in the right spot! If you're a demonstrator and took the time to look at some the information on the site, you know what a GREAT deal joining SUDSOL is. If you're not sure about it, you can try it out for two weeks for FREE!  Just click on the link in my left hand sidebar. I can promise you that you won't be disappointed! I joined SUDSOL the week after I became a demonstrator and find the resources invaluable.

OK...so...what you're REALLY here to see are some projects!  Here's my first set of two cards:

For this Blog Tour, I've decided to feature a new set from the Summer Mini called Pretty Postage. It's a set of four darling little stamps that can be used for several occasions. When you purchase the set, be sure to also purchase the matching punch. It layers beautifully with the 1 3/8" square punch. The set is just PERFECT for little 3 x 3 cards that can be attached to gifts. This set could also be given as a hostess gift.

Two more cards:

As you can see, I also used the large floral image from Fabulous Florets, another set in the Summer Mini. I've shown you projects using this set before, here and here. The Fabulous Florets set is on of my favourites out of the mini since it lends itself to both simple and elegant designs. It can be watercoloured or just stamped in a single colour.

My last project uses the same set again, but this time the birthday image was stamped three times and lined up on the right hand side of the card:

I cut a piece of Whisper White to 4 X 5 1/4" and ran just half of it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. On the other half, I repeated the Fabulous Floret image. I tied a double loop bow, attached it to the card front and then adhered it to the card base. I added the three "Happy Birthday Image" down the right hand side.

If you'd like to see some of my EXCLUSIVE work, I was a previous featured stamper as well as Design Team member. You can see my gallery HERE.

I hope you've enjoyed my stop on the blog tour. Your next stop on the tour is Jackie Topa.  I haven't seen her projects, but I can assure you that you are in for a treat!

STAMPS: Pretty Postage, Fabulous Florets
INKS: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point
PAPERS: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point
ACCESSORIES: Postage Stamp Punch, Ribbon, Square Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

It's time for another SUDSOL BLOG HOP!

If you've come to my blog from Cynthia Stevenson, you're in the right place!  Thank you for stopping in!

I became a SUDSOL member when I first joined Stampin' Up! last year and have found it an invaluable resource! The patterns library alone is worth EVERY penny! These days, you can find me hosting the Chat and Challenge twice a month, where we chat in our very own chat room and make cards based on sketches or inspiration. Need a class in a hurry?  Just access the Class and Workshop Planners. Demonstrators like to share, so you'll find LOTS of information there. Need a flyer for a special event? I'll bet one of the demonstrators on SUDSOL has created one already - just check out the Advertising and Marketing section! I invite you to check out SUDSOL for a FREE 2 week trial membership! Just click here to give it a try!

My cards for this blog hop feature what else but VALENTINES!  It's that time of year after all!  These are perfect for kids to take to school because they are "love note" size - 3" X 3".

The first card uses no stamps at all, but is nonetheless SUPER cute!

I cut my piece of Real Red Cardstock to 3" X 6" and folded it in half.  I added a piece of Love Impressions Designer Series Paper and a piece of Whisper White Cardstock to which I adhered three little glimmer hearts.

A Basic Rhinestone adds a little bit of dazzle to the DSP and I finished off the card by punching a tag from another piece of Love Impressions DSP and attaching it with a piece of white twine.

My second card uses the "LOVE" stamp from the set "XOXO".  I stamped the image on Whisper White using Real Red Ink and punched it out using my 1 1/4" circle punch. It was matted on a piece of Real Red Cardstock punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch and then matted again on Pink Pirouette Scalloped Circle.

I added some glimmer paper at the bottom of the card for a little bit of bling.  The cards are being made by my DD and her friends and what teenage girl doesn't like a little bling?

My third card uses the hugs and kisses stamp from the "XOXO" set.  This time, I stamped it in Versamark Ink on Real Red Cardstock and embossed it using White Embossing Powder.

My "detail" comes from some Real Red Designer Series Paper with torn edges.

Recently, I was on the SUDSOL design team - what an HONOUR!  You can check out all my cards in my SUDSOL gallery here.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog and hope you come back soon!  If you'd like to keep up to date with what's going on, sign up for my email newsletter (top left of blog) and follow my blog (over to the right).

And now, the summary:

STAMPS: XOXO

INK: Versamark, Real Red

PAPERS: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette and Real Red Cardstock; Love Impressions and Real Red DSP

ACCESSORIES: Glimmer Paper, Punches, White Embossing Powder, Basic Rhinestones

Happy Stampin'!

THIS POST WILL REMAIN AT THE TOP TILL FEBRUARY 1ST. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO!!!

I had so much fun doing the last blog tour that I'm doing it again!!!

We Interrupt your Regular Sunny Sunday Sketch Challenge...

...to bring you a SUDSOL blog hop!!!

If you arrived from Pam's Blog, you're in the right spot - WELCOME!

I became a SUDSOL member when I first joined Stampin' UP! last year and have found it an invaluable resource! The patterns library alone is worth EVERY penny! These days, you can find me hosting the Chat and Challenge twice a month, where we chat in our very own chat room and make cards based on sketches or inspiration. Need a class in a hurry? Just access the Class and Workshop Planners. Demonstrators like to share, so you'll find LOTS of information there. Need a flyer for a special event? I'll bet one of the demonstrators on SUDSOL has created one already - just check out the Advertising and Marketing section!

Want some SPECIAL inspiration? Check out my gallery!

All my samples today feature one of my FAVOURITE sets! It was in the Occasions Mini and I was SO happy to see it make the transition into the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog! It's FOX AND FRIENDS!!! I've also used several of the sentiments from the set Short and Sweet.

Here is my first card:

It features the fox stamped in Cajun Craze on Whisper White Cardstock and matted on a 2 3/8" scalloped circle punched from Cajun Craze Cardstock. Cajun Craze is the PERFECT colour for my little fox friend! The sentiment was stamped in the same colour, also on Whisper White Cardstock and matted on Cajun Craze punched using the Modern Label Punch. My card base is Crumb Cake (formerly known as Kraft) Cardstock. I added a length of hemp twine around the top.

My next cards feature the same punches allowing you to duplicate them easily at a card class.

This card features the little lion from the set:

I stamped him using the direct to rubber technique, which means I coloured directly on the rubber image using my markers - in this case Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze. My card base is Pumpkin Pie and I used another length of Hemp Twine, tying it around the side this time.

My next card uses the whale:

and the sentiment "wish big" because it just seemed appropriate - LOL! Wouldn't you agree? Our whale is stamped in Pacific Point (one of many returning In Colours from previous years) on Whisper White Cardstock and matted on a 2 3/8" scalloped circle of Bashful Blue. My card base is Pacific Point and features a tied piece of 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon. This card is already winging its way across the country to a special little boy who had a birthday yesterday - hope he likes it!

Next up is my favourite:

The TURTLE! Isn't he just darling? He's stamped in Old Olive on Whisper White and matted on a 2 3/8" scalloped circle. I used my Stamping Sponges to add a little Old Olive Ink around the edges of the white circle. My card base is Certainly Celery and I added a length of 5/8" Certainly Celery Satin Ribbon tied in a bow. Did you know that Certainly Celery and Old Olive are a "Dynamic Duo". You can learn all about Dynamic Duos on the Colour Coach.

My last two cards are meant for baby:

and feature the adorable monkey from Fox and Friends and the "welcome baby" sentiment from Short and Sweet. This first card is for baby boy and features the monkey stamped in Baja Breeze on Whisper White. He is matted on a scalloped circle of Not Quite Navy. My card base is Baja Breeze with a Whisper White Satin Bow.

My little girl card:

is a little different, in that I punched out the front of the card and adhered my little monkey to the inside.

Here's a different angle:

The scalloped circle of Rose Red is adhered to the inside of the card and my little monkey which was stamped on Whisper White in Rose Red is adhered to the scalloped circle using Stampin' Dimensionals. I don't know what I did before Stampin' Dimensionals. They seem to be on every second card I create these days! Good thing I have a supplier - LOL! My card base is Pink Pirouette and features a Whisper White satin bow.

Time for a summary!

STAMPS: Fox and Friends, Short and Sweet

INK: Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red

PAPERS: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Cajun Craze, Certainly Celery, Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, Pumpkin Pie

ACCESSORIES: Punches, Ribbon, Hemp Twine, Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals