Encre, papier, ciseaux

Stampin' Up!'s Label Love - Afternoon Picnic DSP

Have you seen the fabulous promotion we have on Designer Series Paper right now? Buy three packs of Designer paper and receive a fourth one for free! This is great timing with the new annual catalogue having just come out with lots of new designs to offer. I didn't have any trouble picking four packs thyat I loved to order. The first one I picked was Afternoon Picnic, which I am sharing with you on my card today.

I was looking at online challenges for inspiration and when I saw the Hand Stamped Sentiments sketch #164, I knew it would work great to showcase this paper. To create the background, I cut those pieces of patterned paper, one out of the Wisteria Wonder grid pattern and the other out of the hexagon paper, then I hancut around the hexagons to take some of them out, and layered the two papers. I then handcut some single hexagons and added them on top of existing ones using Stampin' Dimensionals.

The sentiment block came from the Label Love stamp set (a new sentiment set that came out in the annual catalogue). I stamped it in Crushed Curry ink, punched it with the matching punch, then stamped it again in Pear Pizzazz and handcut the center oval, then layered both parts with Stampin' Dimensionals. I added the sentiment block over a piece of Pear Pizzazz seam binding. I believe this colour of seam binding is retired, but I'm still waiting on my new beautiful Chevron ribbons, so I cheated a bit and used the seam binding. On top of the knot, I glued one of the new In Color Boutique Details. Aren't they gorgeous? It was the ornaments I was most excited in getting when I saw the new catalogue. I forecast I'll be using them as much as I've used the cute In Color polka brads that just retired.

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Un amour d'étiquette (Label Love)
Cardstock: Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Designer paper: Afternoon PIcnic
Ink: Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Stampin' Dimensionals, Pear Pizzazz seam binding, In Color Boutique Details,
Artisan Label punch, Scallop Edge border punch, Grey Designer brads, Vanilla envelope

 

Back from Convention... and finally stamping with new stuff!

I am finally back from Convention and ready to stamp with brand-new stuff to share with you! I have been patiently waiting until Convention rolled around before placing any big order from the new catalogue and preorder from the Holidays catalogue because I had a feeling SU! would be generous at the event and let us leave with new exciting products. My hunch was correct, and SU! did not disappoint!

I had placed a small order before leaving because I didn't want to miss out on redeeming my SAB freebies and it got here just as I was about to leave for convention so I'm only getting to play with its content now. The sentiment comes from the stamp set Souhaits instantanés and the cute images come from the Affranchissez en style hostess set.

The colour combo was inspired by this week's ColourQ combo: Dusty Durango + Grrovy Guava + Lucky Limeade + Crumb Cake. Since it includes retired colours, if you wanted to stick with current products or don't have those retired colours, I would suggest to use Cajun Craze + Crisp Cantaloupe (a new In Color!) + Old Olive + Crumb Cake.

The background patterned paper was embossed with the new, fun Alphabet Press embossing folder (love that one!) and the two shapes I layered to create the sentiment block were die-cut using the Big Shot and the Chalk Talk Framelits. They can be paired with the stamp set of the same name, but as you can see, they are fun to use on their own with other sets as well.

The ribbon is the 7/16'' Natural Trim, which we had in the Spring Catalogue and that carried into the annual catalogue. This would make a great masculine card, with the darker colour combo and neutral embellishments.

 

 

Color Combo: Dusty Durango + Groovy Guava + Lucky Limeade + Crumb Cake

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Affranchissez en style (Postage Collection), Souhaits instantanés
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Lucky Limade, Crumb Cake, Groovy Guava, Crisp Cantaloupe
Designer paper: 2011-2013 In Color Designer paper pack
Ink: Cajun Craze, Crisp Cantaloup
Accessories: Alphabet Press embossing folder, 7/16'' Natural Trim, Corner Rounder punch,
Stamp punch, Neutral Designer brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Chalk Talk Framelits dies,
Crumb Cake envelope

 

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 10

 

Welcome to Day 10 of the Artisan Entry Blog Hop! The last one!

Although I am disappointed to see the blog hop come to a conclusion as I love looking at everyone's samples when I get up in the morning, I was pretty happy to put the finishing touch on my tenth project when I gor everything ready for the contest. What you saw this past ten days took a lot of work and time to put together.

I had put some pictures aside for the pages I had to make and I woke up one morning totally inspired. I thought I would use the picture of my laughing niece, title it "In Stitches" and play on that theme by using the Sweet Stitches kit directly on a page. This is the kind of smile she gives us that just fill our hearts up to the brim with joy. How can you not love that sweet face? Anyway, considering how clear of an idea I had for this page, you wouldn't guess how much grief it ended up giving me while creating it... 

The major problem was getting the background stamped properly. I grabbed the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig right off the bat, knowing I'd need it to line everything up perfectly. That being said, I kept getting either part of the image not stamped properly or a ring around the rubber when I pressed too heavily, so after FOUR unsuccessful tries, I finally grabbed by craft knife and gutted the center of the circle (inside the hoop). It totally solved the problem - which I'm thankful for because I really wanted to see my idea come into life.

Notice those polka dot panels on the left? Those are the cards from the Sweet Threads kit that I cut apart and used as patterned paper. I don't know if you can see in the pics, but I used the embossing plate that comes with the Simply Scored to add stitching detailing on it, along with actual stitching done with the remaining floss. The sides were die-cut using the Adorning Details Edgelits, and I added three Bitty Buttons dotted with rhinestones at the bottom.

The title was created with the new ABC-123 Alphabet, which is perfect because it looks just like satin stitch. (By the way, if you don't have that alphabet yet, make sure to add it to your wish list! It is the absolutel perfect size for any size of pages and even cards - I'm already in love with that set!)

The images inside the hoops were inked with markers and stamped with the use of the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig.

Oh, and I should add that this is an 8x8 page. Just wanted to show my range with another page size.

And this concludes the final day of the blog hop! Thanks for coming around every day and most importantly, a very warm thanks for everyone who left comments about my projects. It meant a lot to read that you enjoyed what I put together and saw value in it enough to leave me a sweet note. A big thanks for the time and kind thoughts!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: ABC-123 Alphabet, Hoop La La
Ink: Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade, Raspberry Ripple, Pool Party
Cardstock: Pool Party Core'dinations, Whisper White, Night of Navy
Accessories: Sweet Threads kit, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, Stampin' Markers, Designer buttons,
Lucky Limeade baker's twine, White stitched grosgrain ribbon, Corner Rounder punch,
Stampin' Dimensionals, In Color dahlias, Bitty Buttons, Rhinestone basic jewels,
Adorning Accents Edgelits die

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 9

 

Welcome to Day 9 of the Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

Today I am sharing my second and final 3D project I had to make for the contest. To this day, I am still unsure whether it was enough or not as an entry. One minute, I'm thinking yes because there are so many details involved, the others I'm thinking no... I don't know if the number of hours involved comes across when looking at the project. The background fabric itself took hours to create. I used needlepoint linen and stamped the leaves from Gently Falling with regular Classic ink on it, ironed it to heat set the ink and then I found matching floss and handstitched around the leaves to add detailing and texture. This is the part that I figured would take a couple of hours and ended up taking an entire evening, well into the night. I've been stitching for years, you'd think I would know by now how time-consuming it is!

My first intention was for the project to be a seasonal ornament. As I was putting the project together, I suddenly thought of using the Petite Pocket die to create a pocket where notes about what you are thankful for could be inserted. Shelli always has those cool seasonal vignettes in her home and I also know that some families like to list what they are grateful for when they get together at Thanksgiving, so based on those, I figured the ornament could be used either to put in your own thoughts or to get your whole family to each write a thought and slip it into the pocket during Thanksgiving dinner. My thoughts were printed in colors, cut up into strips and stamped (and decorated with a thin piece of cardstock punched with the Scallop Ribbon punch).

I put the ornament together based on a technique I had learned from a book back in my stitching days when I was learning to finish ornaments. You wrap the fabric around a piece of cardstock covered with batting, lace the back with thread, then tighten it in place. You create a similar piece for the back using Designer fabric and then you use railroad stitching in between those two to create a neat seam, which you can then cover with ribbon if you choose. This is where I messed up in my planning. As I was about to put the two pieces together, I got inspired to create a ruffled border all around the ornament, so I folded a piece of Soft Suede fabric in two, glued it around the edge of my piece and... then discovered that the railroading stitches wouldn't work with the fabric in the way. I was really puzzled as to how to solve this dilemma, so I simply used my glue gun, pressed the two pieces together as hard as I could while the glue cooled down and hoped for the best. Thankfully, it worked and made for a nice finish!

Oh, I should probably mention if you want to try it out that I made sure to sandwich the ribbon in there between the pieces as well so that it would look neater and have more "hold" when the ornament was hung. At the top, I added a stamped leaf with a ribbon bow held in place with a button over it, then I stamped my "Give Thanks" sentiment in Soft Suede ink on Pool Party Core'dinations cardstock (again, just love the texture it gives the project) with the Notable Alphabet and added a couple of Designer buttons in the letters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Gently Falling, Notable Alphabet
Ink: More Mustard, Old Olive, Pool Party, Soft SUede, VersaMark
Cardstock: Pool Party Core'dinations, More Mustard, Pool Party
Designer paper: In Color Designer paper pack
Accessories: Designer fabric, Honeycomb embossing folder, Small Pocket die,
Pewter embossing powder, Scallop Ribbon punch, Pool Party ruffled ribbon,
Old Olive polka dot scallop ribbon, Cotton ribbon, Designer buttons, Needlepoint fabric,
Boutique Boxes kit, Sycamore Street satin ribbon, Glue gun

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 8

 

Welcome to Day 8 of the Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

This is the last project I put together before sending my entries to SU! It was a card I had put together based on a sketch a few weeks ago and that I hadn't time to blog. I thought it was pretty and interesting enough to become my last sample, but I redid the card to improve on it and make it as perfect as I could.

The dress is from the Love & Laughter set. I stamped it on Very vanilla cardstock, embossed it with Clear embossing powder and handcut it out, before dressing it up with the beautiful lace from the Artisan Embellishments kit and adding small pearls and a Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon sash. 

The background for the dress was created with a tag cut with the Two Tags die out of Wisteria Wonder Designer paper (In Color Designer paper pack). On it, I added a piece of Soft Suede cardstock die-cut with the Lattice die and covered with Champagne Mist glimmer paint. The vanilla doily is a die-cut I got from the Boutique Boxes kit. The sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with Pewter embossing powder (my favorite) on Wisteria Wonder cardstock. A heart button from the Bitty Buttons pack was added at the bottom of the wisteria tag and decorated with a rhinestone and a Jumbo pearl was added to the sentiment banner.

The background was embossed using the Elegant Lines embossing folder and I added pearls in the crooks of the scrolls.

The remaining tag was used to decorate the inside of the card, along with a circle punched out of vellum and flowers from the same stamp set embossed in Pewter embossing powder. The bottom of the vanilla cardstock was die-cut with an Edgelits die and embossed with the matching folder, and I added Wisteria Wonder hearts in each scallop, not reinking for the second heart to get a paler color. A piece of Victoria lace trim was added underneath the scallops, and the cardstock was spritzed with Smooch Spritz.

 

 

 

 

Color Combo: Wisteria Wonder + Soft Suede + Crumb Cake + Very Vanilla

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Amour & éclats de rire (Love & Laughter)
Ink: VersaMark
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumm Cake, Soft Suede, Vellum
Designer paper: Neutrals Designer paper pack
Accessories: Victoria Lace trim, Pewter embossing powder, Clear embossing powder,
Artisan Embellishment kit, Champagne Mist glimmer paint, Lattice die, Two Tags die,
Stampin' Dimensionals, Pearl and Jumbo Pearl basic jewels, Boutique Boxes kit,
Elegant Lines embossing folder, Scallop Circle punch, Smooch Spritz,
Adorning Accents Edgelits and embossing folder, Circle punches

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 7

 

Welcome to Day 7 of the Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

This card was created using the Boutique Boxes kit to show how the pieces could be used for something other than a box. The box itself was transformed into the pocket you see here, and I covered the label with "patterned paper" that is actually one of the small notecards I put apart. I used feather and doily die-cuts, baker's twine and button from the kit to decorate the envelope, but also added a stamped feather that comes from the Fine Feathers stamp set.

The background tag is the tag around which the Artisan kit ribbons were wrapped around. I painted it with Champagne Mist glimmer paint to give it shime, and added two banner die-cuts from the Boutique Boxes kit to add my sentiment on, plus a row of pearls to ground the banner on the card.

The card base was spritzed with the Silver Foil Smooch Spray and the Crumb Cake Designer paper from the Neutrals paper pack was stamped with other feathers from the Fine Feathers set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Fine Feathers, Fête de famille
Ink: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Very Vanilla, Summer Starfruit
Designer paper: Neutrals Designer paper pack
Accessories: Boutique Boxes kit, Jumbo pearl , Neutrals Designer brad, Corner Rounder punch,
Artisan Embellishments kit, Pearl Basic Jewels, Champagne Mist shimmer paint,
Silver Foil Smooch Spray, Stampin' Dimensionals, Summer Starfruit satin ribbon, Stampin' Markers 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 6

 

Welcome to Day 6 of the Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

The inspiration for the scrapbooking pages came easily and here's the second layout I put together for the contest. The pictures of my sister and my brother-in-law were taken last summer when Judy was expecting and they were taken by Seb's talented aunt. She's a great photographer and she always takes beautiful pictures that make for great pages. She had photographed Judy and Seb separately, but by combining the pictures side by side, it made an interesting break on the page.

I handcut some of the hexagons from one of the This & That Epic Day Designer paper sheets and glued them on top of the notebook page. I added a few hexagons floating on the right and left edges, and I highlighted the "5 cents" on the Designer paper by painting it with Champagne Mist shimmer paint.

The pennants and arrows come from the This & That Epic Day Designer sticker sheets. I added some ornements on some of the pennants (dahlia, brad, button) and mini silver brads in between. The date was added with the Remember This rotary stamp and I added a sentiment embossed in Pool Party embossing powder underneath the picture that reads "It's true happiness." Bits of Designer tape were added to the pictures as well.

The journaling was stamped one letter at a time using the Simply Serif Mini Alphabet using the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig and a lot of care since I was stamping directly on the main page!

The title was block was creating by layering pieces die-cut with the Windowframe Framelits and a punched circle, then a banner cut out of Pool Party Core'dinations cardstock (love the textured cardstock!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Souhaits instantanés, Remember This rotary stamp, Notable Alphabet,
Simple Serif Mini Alphabet
Ink: Basic Grey, VersaMark, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi, Calypso Coral
Cardstock: Pool Party Core'dinations, Basic Grey, Wild Wasabi
Designer paper: This & That Epic Day
Accessories: Designer buttons, Windowframe Framelits dies, This & That Epic Day Designer tape,
Rhinestones, This & That Epic Day Designer stickers, In Color polka dot  brad, In Color dahlia,
Pool Party embossing powder, Circle punch, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Champagne Mist glimmer paint, Mini silver brads

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 5

 

Welcome to Day 5 of the Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

Now, this is one of the detail-extensive card I'm better known for! I put everything but the kitchen sink on this one. Not that I was trying to crowd it, but the theme of this card was "Seamstress' workbook". If you have ever seen a designer's workbook, they cram a million samples on one page to show their customer various things that could work together for a design. That's what I tried to do here. I figured I could have her show ribbons and fabrics and patterns, and used the tags on a safety pin trick to show those.

I knew I wanted to incorporate fabric in this design to get texture, so by picking the Twitterpated series, I was able to use both Designer paper and fabric (the only pairing I had on hand). The grey patterned paper in the background was stamped with two stamps from the Itty Bitty Bits set.

The form was cut out of Brushed Silver cardstock and I used another Framelits from the same collection to make the dress. I cut the dress out of cardstock and second time out of vellum. I cut the vellum one apart in two, slid the bottom down to give the dress a frilly edge. At the top, I cut a slit in the center, scored each side, bent them backwards to show the bellum underneath and added two small buttons. The belt was created using lace from the Artisan kit and the rickrack necklace was cut with pinking shears and decorated with a rhinestone on top of a button brad from the Vintage Trinkets kit.

All sides of the patterned paper rectangles were die-cut using a die from the Finishing Touches Edgelits to mimick pinking shears. I used the This & That Remember rotary stamp to add "Created by" on the card as well.

The samples theme was kept inside as well. To create the dress, I used a negative mask, sponged ink and stamped the houndstooth pattern from the Beyond Plaid stamp set, then again stitched around the shape using needlepoint floss.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Itty Bitty Bits, This & That rotary stamp
Ink: Baja Breeze, Basic Grey
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Brushed Silver, Vellum
Designer paper: Twitterpated
Accessories: Dress Up Framelits dies, Needlepoint floss, Stamp punch, Buttons Sizzlits die,
This & That Designer tape, Twitterpated Designer fabric, Finishing Touches Edgelits,
Designer buttons, Tasteful Trims die, Rhinestones, Vintage trinkets, Bitty buttons, Bitty punches,
Jewelry Tag punch, Sycamore Street ribbon (SAB), Artisan kit, Stampin' DImensionals

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 4

 

Welcome to Day 4 of the 2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

And now, one of the dreaded 3D projects... One of the good thing about having a set number of diversified projects to make is that we all have to be forced out of our comfort zone and tackled projects we might not feel is our forte. I often read demos who enter mention that they are not scrapbookers and that it was what gave them most grief. In my case, it's the 3D project. You've seen my blog, I make some 3D stuff now and then, but mostly when I have something specific I want to make for a purpose or a special gift. I don't do 3Ds just for fun because they take up a lot of room! You should see how many boxes and other 3D samples I gave away or even unfortunately threw away when I moved last Spring. It is a shame that I don't get to make more, though, because practice makes better, so when the Artisan contest rolled around, I knew not only that I'm not as good as some other stampers in the 3D projects department, but also that on a three-week timeline, I would be extremely pressed for time and would have to keep the realm of the projects within reasonable proportions.

My first 3D was a canvas frame. I wanted to create a chalkboard look, so I painted it all black, then stamped my title in vanilla paint to match the fabric. The scrolls in the corners were stamped with Whisper White Craft ink and I sponged some white ink here and there on the black canvas as well.

The small plastic frames were found at a local store. They were red and navy originally, but the navy did not work with the canvas, so I used some metallic paint (that smelled so strong it probably killed a brain cell or two!) to paint it silver. Those were glued in place with a glue gun after slipping my pictures inside.

The right side of the canvas was decorated with fabric. A scallop border was die-cut using the Tasteful Trims die, and I used the Typeset Alphabet dies to die-cut my title (Family). I made sure to cover the back of the fabric with the adhesive sheets before die-cutting, so I was able to glue the letters on the fabric, and then I handstitched around each letter one by one using black needlepoint floss. To create the little hearts hanging from the top of the frame, I die-cut two layers of fabric using the Hearts a Flutter Framelits dies and handstitched around them using black floss again. (And to stuff the hearts, I went green: I use the fabric leftover from my other die-cutting!) Finally, a sponged and stamped paper doily decorates the bottom corner of the frame.

The ribbon bow at the top is not really glued to the frame, it's just sitting on top right now because the frame wasn't hung, but it's coming from behind the frame and can be used to hang it in place. I love wide ribbon for projects like this and it's too bad we don't carry anything that wide right now. Good thing we had this two-tone ribbon in the Spring catalogue to finish off my frame!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Everything Eleanor, Moments mémorables (Memorable Moments), Morning Post Alphabet
Ink: Pool Party, Primrose Petal, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Doily, Silver paint, Black paint, Plastic frames, More Amore Designer fabrics,
Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies, Tasteful Trims die, Flower trim, Red stitched grosgrain ribbon,
Artisan Kit (rose), Black needlepoint floss, in Color dahlia, Designer button, Jumbo pearls,
sponge, canvas, Basic Grey two-tone ribbon

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 3

 

Welcome to Day 3 of the 2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

My style of cards is mostly detailed and elaborate, but I wanted to make sure to show my range with my entries, so I did toss a clean-design card in there. As you can see, it is fairly simple, but there was a lot of Stamp-a-Ma-Jig'ing involved to line all of those chevron images properly on the card base. The flower was first stamped in the center of the yellow oval, and then stamped again on a piece of white cardstock, handcut and popped up for added dimension. The sentiment comes from the Curly Cute stamp set (which I was sad to see retire - it was my go-to set for bigger sentiments).

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Oh Hello, Jolies pensées (Curly Cute)
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Lucky LImeade
Ink: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, VersaMark
Accessories: Stampin' Markers, Paper piercer and piercing template, Stampin' Dimensionals,
In Color polka dot brad, Boho Blossoms punch, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon,
Corner Rounder punch, Wide oval punch, Clear embossing powder,
Cross Stitch Borders embossing folder

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 2

 

Welcome to Day 2 of the 2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop!

This is the first card I made for the Artisan contest. On this card, I explored making my own embossing folder. I've always wanted an embossed number background (which would be great for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) so I made my own "letterpress plate" by die-cutting numbers out of chipboard using the Typeset Alphabet dies and gluing them to another piece of chipboard. Then, I ran some colored cardstock over it in the Big Shot and voilà! Instant embossing! I took two chipboard numbers, painted them with Champagne Mist paint and used them on the ard.

The background was created with both the Forever Young (the frame) and the numbers from the Memorable Moments stamp set. The clock was stamped on Crumb Cake cardstock, masked and then I added En français over it. The center was then stamped again in Island Indigo ink, punched with the small Scallop Circle punch, the edges were inked, I glued it in place with Dimensionals, added a mini pearl in the center then Crystal Effects all over it to create a glass-like effect.

The sentiment comes from the Happy Hour stamp set and it reads, "I appreciate every moment spent with you, which fit nicely with the clock image.

The Crumb Cake baker's twine came from the Boutique Boxes kit (in case you were wondering).

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Moments mémorables (Memorable Moments), Forever Young, En français,
À ta santé (Happy Hour)
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry
Ink: Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Stampin' Markers, Spritzer, Crystal Effects, Pearls basic jewels, Vintage trinkets,
7/8'' Scallop Circle  punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, daubers, Chipboard, Champagne Mist shimmer paint,
Artisan kit (lace), Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, Boutique Boxes kit (baker's twine),
Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies, Baja Breeze seam binding

 

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop – Day 1

 

Welcome to Day 1 of the 2013 Artisan Entry Blog Hop! Every year, Stampin' Up! holds a contest where demonstrators can submit ten of their best samples in the hopes of being selected to become part of the Artisan Design Team. The ten winners are announced at Convention, but the 20 chosen finalists have been notified by phone last week. Some of us who entered but did not make the finalists list have decided to get together for a blog hop to share our entries with you.

Although it was disappointing to not make the cut, I am still grateful that for the first time this year, I was finally able to enter the contest. In the past, Quebec demos had always been excluded from the contest due to some local legislation and I have been pushing for years to get SU! to find a way to include us in the process since I really wanted to enter. It finally happened this year - albeit a little at the last minute. Due to some delays in getting everything set up, the information was posted on the French Website three weeks before the deadline. I knew making ten amazing projects in three weeks would be a stretch, but there was no way I was not entering after waiting all this time. (I had to check "entering Artisan contest" off my bucket list, you know!) I spent three weeks crafting like mad and spent a small fortune with UPS (urgh!) to get it to Utah in time, but knowing that I had so little time to prepare when other demos had a little over four months made me keep my hopes in check.

With that long introduction, let me present to you the first of the ten projects I put together for the Artisan contest.

 

The first project I would like to share is the first of the three scrapbook pages we had to make. I picked some pictures of my niece taken at five months. My sister has been taking a picture of her with the stuffed owl I bought her every month to document her growth. When I saw the numbered paper in the Soho Subway paper pack, I thought I could just circle the 5 in the series to make my title. It became the starting point of the page. To highlight the number, I handstitched with linen thread around the number. I then created a frame with two oval Framelits dies and added the oval frame to the page with cut Stampin' Dimensionals, and embellished with a dahlia, lace trim and safety pin.

The splatter in the background was stamped with a stamp from the first Paper Pumpkin kit. The title was stamped with the Morning Post Alphabet. (The little hand pointing to the word also comes from this same alphabet set.) At the bottom, I added cross stitching with linen thread to the punched scallop ribbon. A little embellishment was made with the Label Love stamp set. (The English version says "Cutest Baby Ever" whereas the French says "A perfect baby," which works so well because my sister always says she has the "perfect baby"). I stamped and embossed the sentiment twice with Early Espresso powder, punched the center with the Scallop Circle punch to create a window and layered the two tags together with DImensionals. A flag from the Boutique Boxes kit and Summer Starfruit ribbon were added. Speaking of the Boutique Boxes kit, the Vanilla scallop edge also came from said kit.

The little owl in the Aviary set matches the stuffed owl perfectly (it even has the same "deer caught in headlights" eyes), so I created a toppling tower with a topiary made with yet another die-cut from the Boutique Boxes kit, added the bird cage on top and a tag from the That's the ticket set. The center of the topiary was embellished with an accent made with the clay and press molds. The feather de-cut also comes from the Boutique Boxes kit.

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies 
Stamps: Aviary, Morning Post Alphabet, Label Love, T'as un ticket (That's the ticket),
splatter (Paper Pumpkin kit)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Summer Starfruit
Patterned paper: Soho Subway
Ink: VersaMark, Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Early Espresso, Cocktail Cantaloupe
Accessories: Oval Framelits dies, In Color dahlias, Victoria lace trim, Vintage trinkets,
Stampin' DImensionals, Gold embossing powder, Boutique Boxes kit, Clay and pressed molds,
Island Indigo Stampin' Marker, Linen thread, Scallop Ribbon border punch,
Early Espresso embossing powder, 7/8'' Scallop Circle punch, Summer Starfruit satin ribbon,
Very Vintage Designer buttons, Typeset Alphabet Bigz die, Large Oval punch,
Large Scallop Circle punch, Circle punch

 

 

 

 

Here are all the links to the participants' blogs in case you can't hop from one blog to the next properly:

1. Brenda Quintana http://qbeesquest.blogspot.com/
2. Joan Robertson http://www.dailystampede.com/
3. Lauri Ingram  http://lauri-paperville.blogspot.com/
4. Laura Mellinger  http://laurasworksofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Kandi Phillips  http://kandiphillips.blogspot.com/
6. Lisa Hensley  http://ponygirl40stamps.blogspot.com/
7. Anna Black  http://my-creation-station.blogspot.com/
8. Pamela Staples  http://www.sunnygirlscraps.com/
9. Tina Munzke  http://www.craftedwithclass.blogspot.com/
10. Cindy Major  http://www.cindymajor.typepad.com/
11. Mary Haugen  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/maryhaugen/blog

First Christmas page / Uptown Girl Quinn in her Boots

You're getting twice the amount of inspiration today with both a page and a card. I decided to post those together because the card was done after I was finished with the page, using the same supplies. Time doesn't always allow me to do that, but whenever it's possible, I do like to make a card using leftover supplies after I am finished with a page. Everything is already out and you have matched your papers and embellishments, so it makes the creating process super fast and saves on time.

The inspiration for the page was a picture my sister took of my niece to commemorate her first Christmas and - get this - I created the page without using a sketch. I know - gasp! What a novel idea... I am really, really happy with how the page turned out. Mainly because the papers (City Sidewalks from Pink Paislee) are gorgeous, but also because everything comes together in such a cohesive way.

You'll notice a paper doily from Stampin' Up! in the background. Over it, I layered a vintage button and two circle images punched out directly from the patterned paper. A third circle from the same paper was used over the Pool Party satin ribbon bow, placed over a piece of ribbon from the Artisan Kit (Spring catalogue 2013). This lace is so gorgeous, I didn't want to throw even the tiniest bit away, so I stapled it to the picture before adding the ribbon bow.

The picture was matted with patterned paper, and a row of sequins was added, which I found in various colours at a local crafts store. Neat, huh? Underneath, I punched a border out of patterned paper with a retired border punch from SU!, and added circle of pink cardstock underneath the flowers to fill out the center, then added buttons and brads in the centers. The title was created with beautifully sparkly thickers.

 

 

Then, here comes the card that was done with the leftovers. I love it as much as I love the page. Probably because the colours are so beautiful? They did not photograph well, though. I cannot for the life of me find my Photoshop CD and so I have been using Picasa since I bought my new PC and the results just haven't been the same, even though I am still using my light tent to photograph my projects. The colours just aren't as great. If anyone has suggestions of a software I could use that would help, please let me know!

Anyway, a snowflake was die-cut out of Silver glimmer paper using the snowflake die we had in last year's seasonal catalogue. A piece of Pool Party ruffled ribbon was added and I covered the know with a vintage button held in place with the clear tinsel trim we sold a couple of years ago (love that stuff! Wish I had gotten more when it came back on the Clearance Rack...)

The sentiment comes from the Tendres basiques set (which I find myself using more and more) and I created falling snow in the background of my image with Dazzling Details. A frame was added around the image using a Stampin' Marker and a ruler.I also handcut the cardstock so that I could have her scarf blowing out of the main frame, which adds a nice touch to the card.

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Tendres basiques (SU!), Uptown Girl Quinn in her Boots (Stamping Bella)
Cardstock: Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Patterned paper: City Sidewalks (Pink Paislee)
Ink: Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Markers, White envelope, Vintage buttons, Clear tinsel trim,
White sparkly Thickers, Artisan Kit (lace), Circle punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, White sequin trim,
Designer brads, Designer buttons, Paper Doily, Sycamore Street Designer ribbon,
Rhinestones, Silver glimmer paper, Snowflake die, Pool Party ruffled ribbon,
Dazzling Details, Ruler

 

Stampin' Up!'s Paroles d'animaux - Cui Cui Gazouillis

I made this quick card today after coming back from work. The design was based on the Clean & Simple Sketch #247 and the color combo, from Create with Connie and Mary (#258). When I saw the color combo, I was inspired to pull out my new SU! Designer tape (a.k.a. washi tape). The design is pretty simple so I'll keep the bla bla to a minimum (also because it is late as I'm posting this and I need to go to bed!). I stamped the Woodgrain background on the card base and used the Vine embossing folder that was offered during SAB to match the branch and leaves on my main image, which I framed with one of the Designer Frames embossing folders. (I handcut the outlines after embossing the frame.)

 

 

Color Combo: Night of Navy + Melon Mambo + Daffodil Delight

 

 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Paroles d'animaux
Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Night of Navy
Accessories: Stampin' Markers, Designer tape, Jumbo rhinestones, Vine embossing folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, Designer Frames embossing folder

 

Dropping You a Line

With the Canada Day long weekend and the so-so weather, there was plenty of time for a little stamping. I have combined three challenges on this one - Mojo Monday sketch, Play Date Cafe color combo and Papers Players tic tac toe grid (I selected the last line, with ribbon, friendship and embossing). The color combo reminded me of some Chatterbox papers that have been sitting in my stash for years now, so those were the starting point of my card. I looked through my stamps for something feminine and girly that could match and settled on the Ramona Fishing stamp from Stamping Bella. I made a matching envelope out of patterned paper using the Simply Scored and Diagonal plate.

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Ramona Fishing (Stamping Bella), Tendres basiques (SU!)
Cardstock: Vintage Violet, Almost Amethyst, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
Patterned papers: Chatterbox
Ink: Basic Black, Bravo Burgundy
Accessories: Simply Scored and Diagonal plate, Corner Rounder punch, markers, Polka dot brad,
Large Delicate Doilies die, Wisteria Wonder ribbon, Delicate Borders embossing folder

 

Stampin' Up!'s Pensées empathiques - Sympathy Tag

I was low on sympathy cards at the office, so I made this quick card last evening. It came together really fast because I used an old Chatterbox kit which includes matching papers, textured cardstock, eyelets, tags, fibers and ribbons. All I added from my stash were SU!'s Designer buttons. I used Pensées empathiques, my favorite sympathy set. The flower was stamped in Whisper White ink and heat set, and then I stamped and embossed the sentiment in Pewter powder (another favorite).

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Pensées empathiques (Love & Sympathy)
Patterned papers: Chatterbox
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Basic Black
Ink: VersaMark, Whisper White
Accessories: Pewter embossing powder, Designer buttons, Diagonal plate and Simply Scored (SU!), eyelet, fibers, tag, ribbons (Chatterbox)