Take a SIP...

This month co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!, Shelli Gardner, challenged us to take a SIP. For those of you who don't know what SIP stands for, it stands for stamps, ink and paper. She wanted us to create with just those three items. For most of us, creating with just those three items is a true challenge. As I thought about this challenge, I was blurfing (blog surfing) in my pajamas and I noticed that I really loved the simplicity of the pattern but that is stood out because of the pattern and the way the colors worked together. With this in mind, I set out to create my own SIP card.

As always, all products from Stampin' Up!

Stamp sets: Medallion, Thank you Kindly
Ink: Basic Gray, Whisper White Craft, Barely Banana
Paper: Whisper White, Barely Banana, Basic Gray
Accessories: White embossing powder, Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags Sizzlets die, Cutter tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals

Note: Mat around tag was cut freehand.

Now, because I can't leave well enough alone. I decided to do a "step it up" card as well. But as you can see below, all I did was just add a little of the Basic Gray taffeta ribbon that I distressed using the heat tool.




I hope you like my creations, I really love the way they turned out!

A Color Challenge

It's Friday and so I posted my weekly color challenge over at Stampin' Addicts. If you haven't joined the message boards over there yet, I highly recommend you do. Besides stamping discussions, there are great challenges and other fun things as well!

Today's challenge came about because I had quite a few scraps of cardstock on my stamp room table following my recent creative burst. I noticed these three colors together and thought I'd give them a whirl. While it's not a combo I'd probably use for a lot of things, I like the way this card turned out.

The colors for this challenge are: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, and Chocolate Chip. Of course, I also used some shimmery white to stamp my image and words on. (I can't seem to get away from shimmery white these days!)

All products from Stampin' Up!:

Stamp sets: Thoughts & Prayers, All Holidays
Ink: Chocolate Chip Markers: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie patterns Designer Series Paper, Shimmery White
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Poka Dot ribbon (backside), 1 1/4 inch square punch, Scallop square punch, dimensionals

Autumn Harvest Halloween

Here's another fun and easy Halloween card! This one uses the set Autumn Harvest. This great set can be used for Halloween, Fall, or Thanksgiving cards and projects.

All products from Stampin' Up!
Stamp sets: Autumn Harvest, Grateful Greetings
Ink: Basic Black
Papers: Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Cast-A-Spell Designer Series Paper, Old Olive
Accessories: Old Olive and Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, Mat pack, paper piercing tools

Halloween Fun!

Yes, it's over two months away but it's never too early to start planning for Halloween. This card combines one of my favorite Halloween sets Eat, Drink, & Be Scary and a new set Grateful Greetings. It also features the great new Halloween inspired designer series paper Cast-A-Spell.

All products from Stampin' Up!
Stamp sets: Eat, Drink & Be Scary, Grateful Greetings
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Cast-A-Spell Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Orchard Ribbon Originals (Elegant Eggplant RicRac), dimensionals, sponges, scallop edge punch

Are You Ready for FALL??

I don't know about you but I'm so ready for fall to arrive. Of course here, it will probably be November before it comes especially with the heat we've had this year. So, if it won't come to me then I guess it's up to me to make my own fall! I really love this time of year and all the colors that come with it.
All products from Stampin' Up!
Stamp sets: Autumn Splendor and Grateful Greetings(both available in the holiday Mini beginning September 1st)
Ink: Chocolate Chip Craft, More Mustard, Summer Sun, Really Rust, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Dusty Durango, Glossy White
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Chocolate Chip grosgrain, Large oval punch, Scallop oval punch, Square scallop Big Shot die, Vintage brads, sponges, dimensionals

A Stamping Marathon!

Hello all! I know I've been MIA for awhile now. Between convention, our short vacation, and then getting back into the swing of life I had a hard time knowing which way was up! BUT, last week I took 2 1/2 days to stamp and stamp and stamp and it was for pleasure. I wasn't stamping to prepare for a class or clubs or because I had to but because I WANTED to and that was a very good thing! I made about 30 cards (2 each of 15 designs) and had so much fun doing it. So for the next week or so, I will be sharing with you some of my favorite cards. Today's card features the stamp set Just Buzzin' By. I loved this set from the first time I saw it and I used it quite a bit when it first came out but I have to admit it had been sitting on the shelf collecting dust. I pulled it off bound and determined to use it again and here's what I came up with.

As always, all products from Stampin' Up!

Stamp sets: Just Buzzin' By
Paper: Tall Tales Designer Series paper (So Saffron stripe), Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series paper (Chocolate Chip dotted), So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Watercolor paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft and classic
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Clear Embossing powder, Paper snips, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 1 3/4 inch circle punch

I hope you enjoy this card! I had a lot of fun making this one. Check back tomorrow for another new one!

Motivated by Pie!!

Last summer Ron and I visited Capitol Reef National Park and we had the best apple pie that either of us have ever tasted. Mind you, I'm not really a pie person so for me to say that it was really, really good. We shared one after a pretty long hike and had decided we needed a second one for later on or the next day but a tour bus pulled in front of us and they bought every single pie that was left. Needless to say, we've been thinking about that pie for a year! Yesterday we went to Capitol Reef and following a quick stop at the visitor's center, we drove straight to Gifford House and bought FOUR apple pies (they are 2 serving sized). We intended to have one with our lunch following our hike and one for each day left on our vacation. After a pretty strenuous hike, the pie was just as good as we remembered and we were so glad we bought more than one because by the time we got back from our hike, all the apple pies were gone! I have to say, this park is out of the way but I'd go back again for the pie...well that and the beautiful views. Check out the collage below of our hike!

Convention Samples--Sweet Season

This was the one set I didn't have any trouble using when making samples. Not only do I love Christmas but cookie baking has been a tradition in my family for many years and it's one I've always shared with my son. For this set, I created a 12x12 page of our cookie baking tradition. Because everyone needs a special container to put those cookies in, I decorated this glass jar complete with a tagboard tag to match. I loved the way this gift idea turned out. What you don't see is that the cookie recipe is under the lid! I also created a recipe card holder and made a darling punch art gingerbread man to sit on the tag. Apparently someone at convention liked it as well as it was stolen off the display boards. It was so fun seeing all my samples on the boards. I would do it again if asked, it was an honor and a thrill! I'm currently on vacation in southern Utah and will have some fabulous pictures to share soon. We hiked in Capitol Reef National Park yesterday and although it was a pretty hard hike, it was so worth it. I was really glad it was in the 60's this morning when we started. It warmed up quickly to the 80's but there was a nice breeze and we had a fabulous day!

Convention Samples--Things I Love!

Today I'm going to show you some of the items I made for convention samples using the set Things I Love. I have to say, this set is so NOT me! I panicked when I saw it because I had no idea what I was going to do with it. But, I knew I had to make some things work with it and so I did. Anyone that knows me knows that shopping and shoes are not my thing. Chocolate on the other hand....well, I can do some damage with that. But, because I wanted to use all the images I did manage to make a few things using all of them. These are my three cards I created.About the time I was working on these samples my niece sent me some Easter pictures of my great niece. Apparently, she had a field day with the chocolate eggs when no one was watching. She found her up in her room and sent me the picture I used for my scrapbook page below.

Lastly, I created a wall hanging using pictures of my nieces(left) and a box of chocolates using the Movers and Shapers curly label die (below). So while this set wasn't really my cup of tea, I did enjoy making these samples with it. It just goes to show that you don't have to love something to enjoy it!

I'm sorry I'm so late in posting these. I had some blogger issues. I'm now on a trip through southern Utah and will have some great vacation photos to share in the next few days. Tomorrow look for a post with samples using Sweet Season!!

Convention Day 1

WOW!! What a morning it has been! I've just got a few minutes between classes to post a few updates. First off, I'm so excited I won the new My Digital Studio scrapbooking software today!!!! I could not believe it when they called my tag number. I'm sure some of my friend have pictures of me jumping up and down and screaming my head off and I'll try to get a few so I can post them later. The morning started off with the usual Stampin' Up! aerobics program call Dance You Stampin' butt off! We had so much fun and I know I needed another shower by the time it was all over. Then of course a lovely young lady came out (and I don't know her name but I will try to get it) and sang this year's convention theme song. While a group of young gymnasts performed. They were fabulous!! See for yourself!

Following that Shelli came out to of course welcome us all to this year's convention and she looks as young and fabulous as ever. After that there were the 5, 10, 15, and 20 year marches followed by the lifetime sales marches and the newest million dollar seller. It was very exciting and so fun to see many of my friend march across the stage. AHere's a collage of my fun group this morning. After all of that we have more presentations including a great one of the new Build A Bear stamp sets and Big Shot dies that will be available in the Holiday mini catalog. Some really cute stuff!











It was then announced that we'd be able to purches our own Stampin' Up! build a bear in Memento Mall. So here's mine, isn't she cute?? Check out her paw!!



























I'm having a fabulous time and learning so many new things, it's amazing! I will try to post as I can but we are REALLY busy!! For lots of updates check out Stampin' Addicts, James has been blogging, twittering and I don't know what all else all day! He's posting updates as they become available!! Until later!!!

Convention Samples--Hello Again!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was asked to make display samples for convention this year. It was such an honor to be asked and while I enjoyed every minute of it, it was quite stressful as well. However, I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything! Today, I'm going to show you several of my samples using a new set called Hello Again. It's on page 114 in the catalog. This first card (left) uses Regal Rose as the card base and Pink Flamingo designer series paper. For this card I chose to only use the heart from the set. The center heart is popped up using dimensionals. My next card was fun to do, I used the Movers & Shapers Big Shot die and the new Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon on this card. It also features the Playground buttons. This is one of my favorite color combos using
one of the new In Colors. It is Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, and Crushed Curry. They really look great together.
This is one of my favorite projects I did for the displays. I really love the way this scrapbook page turned out. This was my first time trying the 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 size and I really enjoyed this size of page! In addition to the Hello Again said, I used the Outline Alphabet and several Big Shot dies. I also used the great new Real Red polka dot ribbon...yummy!

Lastly, I'm showing you a 3-d item I created. It is a gardening tin. Inside the bag are gloves, seeds, and a small trowel. I used the set to create a chipboard tag to hang from the bag.

I hope you enjoyed these few samples I created with Hello Again. Check back tomorrow for samples from the set Things I Love!

New Stamp Set swap

Today, I'm sharing with you a card I made for a New Stamp Set swap that I participated in last night. I also made a similar one of these for convention displays. I would have re-created that one exactly but one of the background stamps I used for it sadly retired. This card uses Sweet Season a stamp set that was given to convention participants.

Stamp sets: Sweet Seasons, Gratuitous Graffiti, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo
Ink: Versmark
Accessories: Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Scallop circle punch, Pennant Big Shot Die (large scallop), Crushed Curry Polk Dot Ribbon, White embossing powder

While this set is billed as a holiday set, I really liked using it for something other than a holiday card. I think this is such a bright and cheery card!

I hope I'll have time to post more later. I'm heading over to the Salt Place to check in and hang with friends and then have Make & Take helper training this afternoon.

Cards the Move Swap

Tonight I'm having dinner with a great group of friends. This is my swap for our Cards the Move swap, it is a free standing pop up card.
Stamp sets: It's a Stretch, Thank You Kindly, Gratuitous Graffiti
Ink: Basic Black, Crushed Curry ink & marker, Bermuda Bay ink & marker, Melon Mambo marker
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Ribbon, cutter kit, sponge, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dimensionals, glue dots

Check back tomorrow for another fun project and of course pictures from our dinner tonight!

Square Scallop Treat Boxes

Hi everyone! Checking in from Salt Lake City this morning. I'm heading over to the home office in Riverton in just a little while and then up to Big Cottonwood Canyon for a little hiking after that. Today I'm sharing with you one of my thank you gifts for a swap I'm hostessing. I made these little treat bags/boxes using the exclusive Stampin' Up! square scallop die! I really love the way they turned out and I'll work on a tutorial when I get home but they are really easy to do. I also used the new Thanks embosslit for these as well and the beautiful Raspberry Lemonade paper. Both of these feature the new In Colors. The one on the left is made with Razzleberry and the one on the right is made with Melon Mambo. It took me a little while to get use to these colors but the more I use them the more I've grown to realize that they are really fun colors! I'll be back hopefully later with some pictures from my day. Tonight I'm meeting with 30 friends for dinner and swapping!!!

Kind & Caring Thoughts Convention Swap

Well, I'm on my way to Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up!'s national convention. I've been preparing for this since April! Normally, I don't start that early but this year I was selected to be a display stamper so in late April a box of new catalog goodies arrived on my doorstep and I was tasked with making several cards, scrapbook pages, and 3-d items with each of the sets they sent. I also got cardstock in the new In Colors and so I had the chance to work with them prior to the catalog coming out. It was quite exciting despite the fact that I couldn't share ANY of it with anyone! I still can't show you my display items but will later on this week. I have to wait until convention starts so that convention goers have a chance to see them before I share them here. However, today I'm sharing with you a swap that I made for convention. This is one of my general swaps. If you unfamiliar with swapping, those of us going to convention make cards to swap with our fellow demos. Some swaps are "organized" this is where you sign up in advance and make a certain amount of cards. General swapping is done everywhere with everyone. There is just nothing like swapping at a Stampin' Up! convention!
Stamp sets: Kind & Caring Thoughts, Elegant Thank You
Cardstock: Shimmery White, Dusty Durango, Basic Black, Crushed Curry
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Scoring blade, scallop square punch, dimensionals, Organza ribbon, black marker, black embossing powder.

This card was made using the grid technique.

Check back tomorrow for another project and probably some photos from my day.

Kind & Caring Thoughts (Color Challenge)

Hi everyone! I'm late posting this week's Color Challenge here on my blog but here it is. I was inspired by my friend Vera's card. As soon as I came across it in the Stampin' Addict's gallery, I knew it would make a great color combo challenge.

So, this morning I got up and walked into the studio bound and determined to make a card with this week's colors: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Brushed Gold and Old Olive.

All products from Stampin' Up!
Stamp set: Kind & Caring Thoughts (Hostess set)
Ink: Basic Black, Versamark
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Basic Black, Brushed Gold
Accessories: Scallop Oval punch, Gold embossing powder, Gold cord (Holiday Mini), Stampin' Up Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Brayer

I'm busily doing laundry and packing as I leave for Salt Lake City and convention in the morning! I'm so looking forward to connecting with my long distance friends and of course all the great demonstrations and classes.

I hope you'll check out my blog this week as I share many of my convention swaps and display samples. Have a great week everyone!!