On My Way to Convention... And a Web Special!

Today I'm flying to Salt Lake City for Stampin' Up's annual convention.  This year's Convention theme is "I Am...". We'll be learning more about how Stampin' Up fits into our lives and helps define us, i.e., "I am creative", "I am a leader", "I am having fun", "I am making money".  Stay tuned for daily updates on what's going on.

Unfortunately, I won't be available for personalized service, so instead, a special! Place an online order through my demonstrator website through July 22, and I will bring back a little something for you from Memento Mall!  They sell exclusive Stampin' Up trinkets at Memento Mall, and you can only get these items at Convention.  Can I say I love Memento Mall????  I do!

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned!

FM67 Have a Banner Day!

Today's Friday Mashup challenge is brought to you by our fearless leader, Holly.

Photo Source

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with a "Banner or Flag."
2. Or Make a project with a "Matching Envelope."
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with a "Banner / Flag & a Matching Envelope."

Ooooh, yay, I love banners!  I've made a ton of pointy banners, so I went with a half circle banner on this one.

I wanted fun, happy colors, but also masculine colors.  Hopefully this fits the bill.  Plus a matching envie, of course.

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases; Paper: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP; Ink: Not Quite Navy; Accessories: Silver mini brads, 1" Circle punch, Word Window punch, Designer Label punch, Argyle EF, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Splash of Yellow

I'm sure you have seen that the color combo of yellow and gray is really popular right now.  I love it too!  I thought this would be a great combo for a club project using the time-limited stamp set, Reason to Smile.

I added a cute little 3-dimensional daisy for interest.

I mixed up the Mojo Monday layout #248.

Stamps: Reason to Smile, Loving Thoughts; Paper: Summer Sunfruit, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP; Ink: Basic Gray, Basic Gray marker, Summer Sunfruit marker; Accessories: White baker's twine, Boho Blossom punch, Itty Bitty punch pack, Scallop edge punch, Fancy Fan EF, Ovals die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

The Reason to Smile stamp set is only available this month and is only $5 with a $50 Stampin' Up purchase.  Get yours before it is gone!

Thanks for stopping by!

PCS July issue: Summer Spectrum

Time for this month's Paper Crafters Sampler, entitled Summer Spectrum.  This issue focuses on all the happy and fun colors of summer.  What a treat for the eyes!

Here's a sneak peek of my project.  It was really fun to dapple in a bold and bright palette!

To get your own copy of this month's issue, please visit Paper Crafters Sampler.  Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC49 Single Layer Cards are Easy?

Today at Stampin' Up Only Challenges, we are putting together special thank you cards.  I'm working on a Convention swap, a single layer card swap.  Sounds simple in theory, right?  Not so much.  Stamping, sponging, embellishing on the card base (without screwing up) is a real challenge.  And exactly what do you use for embellishments anyway?  Don't want your brad butts showing.  Can't use stitching.  Argh!  I figured I'm running through enough iterations and spending enough thought to qualify this card as "special".

So here is one of my prototypes that didn't make the final cut.  Actually two versions.

Wow, this card is being really challenging to photograph.  I'm trying to capture the score lines on either side of the piercing, both good options for embellishments, but the card looks like it has a weird bruise disease.  I redid the second picture.

Stamps: Just Believe; Paper: Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White; Ink: Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black; Accessories: Island Indigo baker's twine, Pearl jewels, Corner rounder punch, Paper piercer, Simple Scored, Sponges, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Been Awfully Quiet Around Here

We have been traveling lately, which has left my blog less than full and with less than stellar samples lately.  I apologize for that!  I've been doing what I could to get 'er done.

At the end of June we traveled to Taiwan for a family wedding; some selected photos below.  Then, while still jet lagged, off to the Catskills for some July 4th camping.  Now it is the big rush for club this week and SU Convention (yay!) next week in Salt Lake City.  I'll be bringing you stampin' updates during the week from SLC, so stay tuned for that!

I know many tune in for stampin' samples and ideas, but I know for myself I like to get to know the blogger behind the pictures a bit.  So, with that in mind, I share a little of our Taiwan adventure with you.  If you just want stampy-stamp stuff, tune out now.  :)

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Park in Taipei - 

There are many temples in Taiwan.  This one is in Chiayi.

There is a hike in Kaohsiung which has monkeys right in the trees above you.  The babies are sooo cute to watch!

Little Liuqin Island - 

We took a gondola up Maokong Mountain in Taipei, passing tea fields along the way, and headed to a tea house at the top.  Little Missy really got into the tea party.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM66 Olympic Circles

This week Amy is hosting the challenge at the Friday Mashup with an Olympic theme.  I love swimming and track, so I'm super excited to spend some quality U.S. pride time in front of the tele in a few weeks.  After watching the Tour de France, of course.  I'm suffering from some serious jet lag as I write this post... might as well get something done while up in the middle of the night, right?

Photo Source

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project with "the Olympic colour combination of Marina Mist, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi and Real Red."

2, Or Make a project using "multiple circles"

3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with "the Olympic colour combo and multiple circles".

I couldn't resist trying to make a London-themed card.  Unfortunately, I didn't have any appropriate images, so I pulled some iconic images of London from the internet into My Digital Studio, sized them to a 2-1/2" circle shape, and printed from there.  I also printed my sentiment from MDS.  I feel like I cheated since there is no stamping here, but I love how the layout came out.

Paper: Real Red, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Whisper White; Accessories: 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, Circle Scissors Plus, Square Lattice EF, Petal Cone die, Circles #2 die, Big Shot, My Digital Studio, Toothpick.

Thanks for stopping by!