FM192 Enjoy the Journey!

Lisa has a real Friday Mashup challenge for us this week, embossing folder stamping and mix-and-match shapes.

I'm not a big fan of the look of embossing folder stamping, so I really needed to think and play with this one.  I found that using the "negative" side of the embossing folder, plus spritzing, gave a messy but more-defined look than the "positive" side.

After working through my personal issues with the background, CAS(E) this Sketch #100 caught my eye.  I created a large triangle shape for a "mountain".  And don't forget my wheel "circles".  For that matter, the bike frame is made of a couple of triangles as well.  Ha!

This week's Mashup Challenge is:

• Create a project with a "Embossing Folder Stamping Technique". Link Here. 
• Create a project  with "Mix & Matched Shapes". 
• or Mash it Up! and create a "project using the technique with different shapes".

Stamps: Pedal Praise Paper Pumpkin, Pedaling Past; Paper: Whisper White, Delicate Dots DSP; Ink: Soft Sky, Pool Party, Early Espresso, Early Espresso marker; Accessories: Cloudy Day EF, Stampin' Spritzer, Simon Says Stamp Diagonal Stripe stencil, Embossing paste, Sewing machine, Thread.

Purchase a 3-month Paper Pumpkin subscription (through March 31), and save $5 while qualifying for a FREE Sale-a-Bration product!

Item	Paper Pumpkin Prepaid Subscription	Price (Shipping Included)
137858	1 month	$19.95
137859	3 months	$59.85 $54.85
137860	6 months	$113.70 -- save $1 per month
137861	12 months	$215.40 -- save $2 per month

You will receive a subscription code with you will redeem at www.mypaperpumpkin.com.

And don't forget this this week's Weekly Deals.  There are some great patterned papers on sale this week.

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack Price: $6.95 $5.21	Book Of Birthdays Swatchbook Template - Digital Download Price: $12.95 $7.77	Border Chevron Punch Price: $21.95 $16.46	Envelope Punch Board Price: $19.95 $14.96
Gold Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper Price: $12.95 $9.71	Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack Price: $6.95 $5.21	Note Tag Punch Price: $16.95 $12.71	Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper Price: $12.95 $9.71

Occasions Catalog & Sale-a-Bration are Here!

Launching today, and available through June 2, is the Occasions Catalog. 

(Click photo to view PDF.)

But hold on... it's also the most wonderful time of the (Stampin' Up!) year... Sale-a-bration is here!!!  Hopefully you had a chance to check out the new SAB product in last weekend's Stampin' Addicts Blog Hop.

(Click photo to view PDF.)

There are several ways to join in the Sale-a-bration festivities -

For each $50 you spend in Stampin' Up! products (and they have the BEST products!), you earn a FREE gift out of the SAB brochure.  Choose from six exclusive stamp sets, two patterned papers, coordinating ribbon & button accessories, Project Life, and Blendabilities.  There is something for everyone.

This is the best time to host a workshop, for both your guests as well as extra SAB incentives for you, so be sure to book your workshop today! Earn an extra $25 in hostess dollars when you host a party of $250 or more.  That's $65 in FREE product with a $250 party.  Gather your friends for some girls night in!

But that's not all! Sale-a-bration is a great time to sign up to be a demonstrator. The Starter Kit consists of $125 of merchandise of your choice for only $99, including shipping. The starter kit is a great value!  But that's not all... you can choose either a FREE project kit from the Occasions Catalog or two FREE SAB items as a bonus during Sale-a-bration.


Here's a quick glance at all the wonderful Sale-a-bration products you can earn - 

Best Day Ever Ribbon & Button Accessory Pack Best Year Ever DSP Lotus Blossom This Day Project Life You Brighten My Day Big Day Irresistibly Yours DSP Simply Wonderful A Happy Thing Blendabilities (Assorted Colors)

Sale-a-bration runs through March 31, so you'll several opportunities to earn FREE product!

MDSM96 Baby Flynn

Hi Everyone!  New year, new MDS Monday challenge!  This year, Tami and Yapha will be taking over the challenge, and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us.  For this week, to go along with the new chalkboard inks and paper Stampin' Up! is releasing in the Occasions Catalog, we are doing a chalkboard challenge.

I love pinterest inspiration!  Come join us this week!!

MDS Elements: Convention 2012, Glimmer paper, More Amore DSP, Twitterpated DSP, Lemonade Stand DSP, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, Heart punches, Paper Doilies, Staples & Stitching; Font: Sketch Block, KG Ten Thousand Reasons, Return to Sender.

The Stamp Review Crew: Perfect Pennants

Welcome to another Stamp Crew Review Blog Hop!  We share our take on a selected stamp set every first and third Monday.  This time we are hopping along with the fun and popular all-occasions set, Perfect Pennants, which comes as a bundle with coordinating Banner framelits.  If you are hopping around in a circle, you have just come from Deb Burgin's blog.  Deb has such a lovely style!

I was looking around for some stampin' inspiration and came across the Sunday Stamps Color Challenge #89, It's All Plum.  Plum is one of my troublesome colors.  Hey, don't get me wrong, I love purple.  I just don't seem to stamp with it much.

I love playing with embossing paste and stencils.  It's just one of those messy processes that I find really satisfying... even if I have to wait for it to dry.  I decided to recycle a card layout I have used in the past with this set, Perfect Pennants.

Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla, Gold Designer Vellum; Ink: Perfect Plum; Accessories: Gold sequin trim, Translucent embossing paste, Hearts & Stars decorative masks, Banners framelits, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

I challenged myself to make a Valentine's project with this set.

Here I incorporated some items from the upcoming Occasions catalog, Confetti Heart border punch and Stacked with Love DSP.  I used the color combination from Color Throwdown #323 and sketch from Retro Sketches #146.

Stamps: Perfect Pennants; Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla, Stacked with Love DSP, Gold Foil sheet; Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Baked Brown Sugar, Versamark; Accessories: Rhinestone jewels, Confetti Heart border punch, Gold EP, Sponge, Hearts Collection framelits, Squares Collection framelits, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals. 

I thought I was done.  Since it is the new year, I started playing around with New Year's card ideas.  "Make a Wish" makes for a good sentiment for the occasion.

Similar layout to the first card, I stamped Dotty Angles background with both heat-embossed silver and Silver Encore ink.  I also incorporated some bokeh effect with White Craft ink and silver sequins.

Stamps: Perfect Pennants, Dotty Angles; Paper: Blackberry Bliss, Basic Black, Silver Fancy Foil Vellum, Silver Glimmer; Ink: White Craft, Silver Encore, Versamark; Accessories: Frosted Sequins, Silver EP, Clear EP, Circle punches, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack, Sponge dauber, Banners framelits, Big Shot, Sewing machine, Thread, Dimensionals.

Make sure you check out the next stop to see what lovelies the fabulous Kerry Willard Bray has put together with Perfect Pennants. 

 

Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop! We're so excited the Sale-a-Bration annual promotion will be here next Tuesday, and we came together to share some ideas with you using the items you can earn for FREE.  During Sale-a-Bration, you can choose a free gift from the SAB catalog with each $50 you spend.  Choose from six exclusive stamp sets, two patterned papers, coordinating ribbon & button accessories, Project Life, and Blendabilities.  There is something for everyone! 

If you have been following the blog hop in order, you have just come from Tanya's blog featuring the Blendabilities markers.  Tanya always has unique and fun projects!  For my stop, I am highlighting the featured stamp set, Best Day Ever, which coordinates with Best Year Ever designer series paper and ribbon & button accessories.

For the first project, I attempted to make the bokeh background stamp the center of attention.  Being that it was New Year's Eve when I was creating, a Happy New Year card.

I pulled up a pinterest photo for inspiration.  After brayering the background with So Saffron and Crushed Curry, and then sponging some black areas, I stamped the background in various ways.  Some direct stamping, some stamp-off (second generation) stamping.  I also spritzed the stamp with water for a more blended look.  It's all about layering, layering, layering.  I added a little bit of White Craft ink through a circle-punch stencil for some variation.  I'm a little torn on whether the black sponging worked.  What do you think?

Stamps: Best Day Ever, Perfect Pennants; Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Vellum, Gold Foil sheets; Ink: Hello Honey, Crushed Curry, So Saffron, Basic Black, Versamark, White Craft; Accessories: Gold baker's twine, Gold glitter, Gold EP, Dotted Ribbon Scallop border punch, 1/2" Circle punch, Brayer, Sponges, Balloon framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

The main focus of this stamp set are the two wonderful sentiments.  They really can be the star of the card (or project).  As an example, here is an ultimate one-layer card; I didn't even use adhesive!

This black & white card with a pop of color is inspired by one by Maile Belles, found on pinterest.  I used the latest photopolymer release, Snuggles & Smooches, for the flower squiggles.

Stamps: Best Day Ever, Snuggles & Smooches; Paper: Whisper White; Ink: Calypso Coral, Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Black marker; Accessories: Best Year Ever Accessories.

I thought the "Best Day Ever" sentiment was perfect for a project for a really special day.  Here I created a wedding favor.

After creating a tag with Best Day Ever images, I created a treat box using the Curvy Keepsake thinlit and the fun Sale-a-Bration embossed specialty paper Irresistibly Yours for an elegant look.

Stamps: Best Day Ever; Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Irresistibly Yours DSP; Ink: Sahara Sand, Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: White baker's twine, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Curvy Keepsake thinlit, Big Shot.

Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Twila at Stamp A Little Longer put together using the Best Year Ever Accessories Pack. She's made some amazing projects.

 

FM191 Warm Winter Wishes

Often after we get through the holidays, we start focusing our crafting on spring.  Flowers, birds, spring colors... but hold on!  When do we get to celebrate winter without the hullabaloo of holidays?  No need to rush away the beautiful, pristine winter snow scene.  My Friday Mashup challenge to you is to celebrate January with a winter-themed project, perhaps including a few snowflakes.

I am a late-arriver to the Wonderous Wreath stamp set and framelits bundle.  The stamps and framelits come with "orientation tabs" for easy placement.  Such a fun, quick way to create a beautiful layered image!  I'm all for using a holiday set for a winter card.  Who says you have to take your wreath off your door after Christmas?  Not me!

I used some cool January colors for my wreath and added some snowflake embellishments.  Also the Island Indigo berries were coated with Crystal Effects for more fun texture.  What a cheerful door to welcome you in from the cold winter storm!  I was also playing along with 'Tis the Season Challenge #32.

This week's Mashup Challenge is:

• Create a project with a "Winter theme". 
• Create a project  with "Snowflakes". 
• or Mash it Up! and create a "Winter project with Snowflakes".

If there are some items from the Holiday Catalog you don't want to miss, make sure you place your order by January 5!

Stamps: Wonderous Wreath; Paper: Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla, Whisper White; Ink: Lost Lagoon, Island Indigo, Smoky Slate; Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Rhinestone jewels, Frosted Sequins, Crystal Effects, Sponge, Wonderful Wreath framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals.