SUOC62 New Year, New Toys

Time for more playing with new Spring catalog goodies.  Today's challenge at Stampin' Up Only challenges is to create a project with new toys.

I used sketch #181 from Clean & Simple from a while ago.

Pretty straight-forward card, but still fun to make!  You could easily whip out this card too.  Love that fun cloud embossing folder!

Stamps: Hearts A Flutter, Sweet Essentials; Paper: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, More Amore DSP; Ink: Pool Party, Real Red, Basic Gray; Accessories: Faceted Vintage button, White baker's twine, Cloudy Day EF, Hearts A Flutter framelits, Petal Cone die, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!

MDSM5 Love You To Infinity ~ Cropped Embellishment

Welcome to this week's MDS Monday challenge, and this time it is my turn to host.  I picked an adorable page by Amber Meadows as inspiration this challenge's sketch.  I started off with intentions of recreating her page, although that would be lame for my own challenge, huh?  Based on my pictures, my page took a whole new turn, and I am quite happy with how it turned out.  Love when those unexpected creations occur!

For an added technique challenge, try to incorporate a cropped embellishment into your layout.  Here is a link to the cropped embellishments video.

My page has a few shots from the day we went to the windy side of the island of Aruba to visit some sights, including rugged terrain, natural land bridges, and an abandoned gold mill called Bushiribana.

Here I cropped the striped grosgrain ribbon.  I also used the color picker on the shell stamp (picked from the beach) and the background (picked from the sky).  As I usually do, I layered a couple overlays, including Natural Composition Overlay at 20% opacity.

Stamps: _Designer Kits\Days to Remember\Days to Remember - overlay, Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93, Natural Composition Overlays\Natural Composition Overlays - 10, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255, Calendar Basics Kit\Calendar Kit - sun, Color = DAFFODIL DELIGHT 255,211,92, Summer Splash\Summer Splash - sand dollar, Color = CREAMY CARAMEL 203,158,117, Summer Splash\Summer Splash - starfish, Color = 160,125,97, Summer Splash\Summer Splash - sea shell, Color = CRUMB CAKE 179,161,131, Fantabulous You\Fantabulous You - i love you to infinity, Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93; Embellishments: _Designer Kits\Sunny Day - elements\Sunny Day - cloud 1, Striped Grosgrain Ribbon\Daffodil Delight, Buttons Pack Brights\Daffodil Delight - button 2, Baker's Twine\Baker's Twine - White knot short, Mis-Stitched - embellishments\Mis-Stitched - white 3, Mis-Stitched - embellishments\Mis-Stitched - white 3; Punches: Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = 143,160,170, Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = VERY VANILLA 254,249,232, Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255, Basics\1.25 Circle Punch, Fill Color = VERY VANILLA 254,249,232.

Here is the layout for this week's challenge.  Make sure to stop in and play with us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Leadership Aftermath

Home again...  I've been away in Florida for two weeks, and it is so nice to get back home!  My kitties missed me!  Unpacking, unpacking...  I thought I would share a couple pics with you while in the process.

Here's the floor of my stamp room, with all our swag.

And I wanted to add some pics of gifts from my roomies.  Rosemary gave us comfy socks, packaged adorably as an ice cream cone, and eye covers.  Perfectly themed to go along with our jammie night.  Little Missy has already laid claim to the eye covers.

Mary made Leadership notebooks, M&M's and kisses packaged up so pretty for each day (ok, so not all the candy made it to my home), all placed in a cute canvas bag with an iron-on Elegant Bird fabric design on the front.

Thank you, Ladies, for putting up with me!  My hubby will attest that it isn't easy!

A couple more thoughts, as I reflect on the past days.  What a treasure to meet up again with beautiful Stampin' Up demonstrators from around the U.S. and Canada that I have met previously, as well as meeting new ones (Lala - you are so funny!).  It fills my heart to connect with like-minded ladies.  I'm on the fence about going to Convention, but I may need to reconsider.  Those moments are the ones I really cherish when I return home.

A discussion with a fellow demo on the way to the airport this morning has me thinking about Managers' Reception.  I may have to reach for that goal.  I would definitely show up next year for a free night of food and entertainment, just for me!

And thanks to all of you out there, who stop by every day to listen to me blather on!  I really appreciate all your comments.

Leadership Day 3

Today is the final day of Leadership.  Awwwww!  Another fun-filled day!  Shelli did some stamping on stage with the Tea for Two suite.  Look at this beautiful banner she is making (photo courtesy of Rosemary).

There will be more single stamps coming, and they will be exclusive, never-seen-before stamps.  Here is Assortment 3,

and Assortment 4.

These will be available on Monday (lots of things happening on Monday!).

Also Stampin' Up will be releasing a "Best of 25 Years" selection of stamps every month.  January's will feature the Best of Birthdays, also available Monday.

Sorry that one came out so blurry.  Do you recognize any stamps from years gone by??

Another little feature of the "Best of 25 Years" program, there will be a collector card.  Each stamp set will come with a proof-of-purchase sticker.  Collect 6 stickers on your collector's card, mail in, and earn another stamp set valued up to $14.95.

Coming soon, and there is no date yet, but hostesses will be able to add online orders to their workshop totals.  Won't that be cool?  More details soon...

We had a couple more classes today.  We attended Creating a Blueprint for Success with Brandi Barnard, Leadership 2013.  This class was an excellent look at keeping the focus on profitability.  You know, not winning the lottery, but make sure you don't lose money and get paid for your time.  Always good to set financial goals and evaluate how you are doing.

Shannon West taught the class called Meet New People, Find New Faces, Leadership 2013.  She listed 10 proven ways to find new customers.  There was a theme at this conference, for sure - reaching out to new customers.  With the Paper Pumpkin program... sure existing customer will love it, but it really fulfills a need for the new customer.  Quick, easy projects right to your door.  :)

I can't believe I don't have more photos today.  Traveling tomorrow, and then I'll do my take & makes on Monday while I recover.  I hope to have a little more to post in the coming days.  Thanks for stopping by!

Leadership Roomie Gifts

It is a tradition to give gifts to your stampin' event roomies, especially when they have to put up with me for a few days!  :D  Here's what I made for my friends this year.

I had a My Digital Studio journal professionally printed through Stampin' Up.  I tried to match the graphics they might use at Leadership (by the time I needed to order these, we had only gotten a little peek).

Along with the journal, a matching bookmark.

Traditional Supplies: Comfort Cafe designer fabric, Springtime Vintage designer fabric, Flower trim, Night of Navy striped grosgrain ribbon, So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, White baker's twine, Tea Time Trinket, Felt, Circles #2 die, Fun Flowers die, Big Shot, Hair tie, Starch, Glue gun.

MDS Supplies: Embellishments
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake (re-colored)
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 crumb cake (re-colored)
    Soft Blooms - embellishments\Soft Blooms - 4 so saffron
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl large
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl medium
    Basic Pearls and Rhinestones\Basic Pearls and Rhinestones - pearl medium
    Mis-Stitched - embellishments\Mis-Stitched - white 6b

Stamps
    Hip and Handsome Overlays\Hip and Handsome Overlays - 4, Color = 252,252,252
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 5, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 3, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 2, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 1, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\Days to Remember\Days to Remember - banner bold, Color = 240,204,81
    _Designer Kits\Days to Remember\Days to Remember - banner outline, Color = 253,255,255
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 2, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 2, Color = WHISPER WHITE 255,255,255
    _Designer Kits\New Heights\New Heights - flourish 4, Color = 240,204,81

Punches
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = 232,232,232
    Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93
    Borders\Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Fill Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93
    Extras\Flag Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\First Edition - designer series paper\First Edition - 5
    Extras\Flag Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Summer Smooches - designer series paper\Summer Smooches - 12
    Extras\Flag Punch, Fill Color = MIDNIGHT MUSE 17,69,93
    Basics\1.25 Square Punch, Fill Color = 240,204,81
    Flowers\Blossom Petals Leaf 1 Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Sweet Details - designer series paper\Sweet Details - 7
    Flowers\Blossom Petals Leaf 1 Punch,  Filled with: Designer Series Paper\Sweet Details - designer series paper\Sweet Details - 7

Thanks for stopping by!

Leadership Day 2

Oh my gosh, what a day!  Sara Douglass announced a new kit targeting males, called Dude, You're Welcome!  It has rough wood, no block labels (because why would a guy care?), a stamp spot, and large postcards to stamp on (no folding necessary).  The stamp images are rough and cool too!  But why would they just be for guys?  Wanna see?

These will be available starting Monday.

Also there is a really fun product coming up really soon called My Paper Pumpkin.  It is a monthly subscription to receive a crafting project.  They are packaged like little gifts too!  Wouldn't it be fun to receive a little gift in the mail every month?  You can sign up and cancel your subscription any time, and even there is a one-month hold option, if needed.  These kits have clear-mount stamps, an ink spot, paper and embellishments, and of course, instructions.  The first kit all will receive is the Welcome Kit, which is a cute little journal and includes a clear block, and the price INCLUDES SHIPPING.  Some kits may have products exclusive to the Paper Pumpkin program, so you won't want to miss out on that!

If you aren't sure about the subscription, you could also get the Try It Kit.  It is a little more pricey, since the price does not include shipping.  There is definitely an advantage to signing up with the subscription.  Good news is the Try It Kit can be added to a workshop order.

These will be available in March, but you can reserve yours starting Monday.

We had lots of classes and Share Fair events today, including Ramping Up your Social Media Presence, hosted by Andrea Withers, Leadership 2013.  Several demos discussed blogging, Facebook, and YouTube.  It is always fun to attend internet classes, so we all get better at sharing our love for stamping with YOU!

The PJ party / late evening general session was a lot of fun!  Surprisingly, Orlando didn't think it too weird when all these ladies walked the streets in pajamas.

Jammie stamping with friends!  Carol, Mary, and Rosemary.

Thanks for stopping by!

FM92 Patterns & Colors

Hi Everyone, Today on the Friday Mashup, Amy is challenging us with patterns and colors.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using "Different Patterns".
2. Or Make a project with the three or more colors from "Summer Starfruit, Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo, Early Espresso and Sahara Sand".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Patterned Project with the Challenge Colors".

This is the first card I made with the new Sale-a-bration products, and of course I mashed it up!  I interpreted patterns as both patterned paper and shapes.

I love the new, fresh colors... always so refreshing to get some bright colors after Fall and Christmas.  Don't you love free stamps, paper, and buttons?!  Sale-a-bration is coming soon... it starts on January 22!

Wonder where I got this layout?  I actually went opposite from my normal direction... I took a mydigitalstudio.net scrapbook sketch challenge and made it into a card.

Stamps: Feeling Sentimental (SAB); Paper: Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Summer Starfruit, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Sycamore Street DSP (SAB); Ink: Early Espresso; Accessories: Summer Starfruit ribbon, Sycamore Street button (SAB), White baker's twine, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Honeycomb EF, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!