As You See It Challenges Turns 200!

Today is a super special celebration over at As You See It Challenges! Today we celebrate our 200th Challenge! As we explain on the challenge site, there were a few times we didn't think we'd get there. The worst was around Challenge #140 when our website was badly hacked and all our data was corrupted. We thought we'd be back up and running in a couple of weeks and 6 months later, we had to start afresh with a new platform and new data, and just a bit of our old artwork, which was all we had left that was uncorrupted. We started as a weekly challenge, but came back as a biweekly one, which has worked out well for all of us.

And now, for our 200th Challenge, we have a new hurdle. Our creator and designer, Amanda Turner is stepping down, and we are stepping up to design our own challenges now. But we seem to love a challenge. We are, after all, a challenge design team!

Our 200th Challenge is a theme challenge based on Two, as in Two Hundredth Challenge! Plus a little bit of celebration thrown in there!

For my card, I pulled out all the stops for a black and gold Glimmer Paper celebration card, complete with a 200 and 2 special balloons!!

• Black and gold just scream celebration to me, especially when that includes foil and glimmer paper! Although there is no stamping involved in this card, I made good use of the **Broadway Bound Specialty Designer Series Paper, which will be retiring in only 3 weeks or while supplies last! This is great paper for all your super celebrations, with it's Gold Foil inlays and some complete gold foil.
• On the Basic Black card base I glued a panel of Gold Glimmer Paper. I always use my hoarded ***Fast Fuse (which is no longer available) on Glimmer Paper front and back, as it seems to be the only adhesive that really sticks properly.
• On top of that is a panel of some of the **Broadway Bound paper. This is one of the plain designs without the gold foil, but those white bubbles on the Gray Granite are so party like!
• I added another layer of Basic Black to help the gold elements really pop. The numbers are fussy cut from one of the **Broadway Bound designs. 

• The balloons are punched with the Balloon Bouquet punch, using the bigger balloon shape, one from Gold Glimmer paper and one from the gold foil piece from the **Broadway Bound DSP. The balloon strings are from some ***gold cord I've been using sparingly for a couple of years, not wanting to see the end of!)
• I am super sad to see the **Celebrate You Dies retire and I'm pretty sure I don't want to sell them as I love the three words in that set. I added some **Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet (also retiring) (gasp - I stocked up!!) to the back of some gold foil before die-cutting this celebrate word, so that it will be easy to apply, like a sticker!

**These products will be retiring and no longer available in the 2019 - 2020 Annual Catalogue starting June 4, 2019.
***These products are no longer available from Stampin' Up!

Today is the LAST DAY to subscribe so that you can receive Shelli's Paper Pumpkin Kit, which is going to be awesome! Paper Pumpkin have been really hitting it out of the park lately! Shelli Gardner, founder of Stampin' Up! is so creative and anything she has a hand in is going to be gorgeous! Make sure you're subscribed by 9 pm at the latest tonight. 

To Subscribe to get the Shelli Kit and more, click HERE!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

**Broadway Bound Speciality Designer Series Paper [146277] $19.00	Gold Glimmer Paper [146958] $6.75	Gold Foil Sheets [132622] $5.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $11.50	**Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets [144106] $13.50
Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $13.50	**Celebrate You Thinlit Dies [146840] $31.00	**Big Shot [143263] $150.00	***Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $13.50	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.50
Glue Dots [103683] $7.25	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $5.50	***Gold Cording Trim [139618] $6.25

**These products will be retiring and no longer available in the 2019 - 2020 Annual Catalogue starting June 4, 2019.
***These products are no longer available from Stampin' Up!

Happy New Year 2019 and New Suite Shares!

The last day of 2018! On the cusp of 2019! I hope 2018 was a good year for you, but I hope 2019 will be better! How are you celebrating New Year's Eve? We have good friends that always have a party going and it is always a lot of fun because it doesn't involve liquor, there are always silly games to play so that you get to know people even better and everyone is included, and there is the infamous White Elephant Gift Exchange!

We have been doing this gift exchange for years and there are two gifts that reappear annually in different guises and it's always a guess to see who will end up with them the next year: Manikin legs, very similar to the one that is part of the lamp on the Christmas Story movie, minus the lamp shade and light.

Over the years, we've added fishnet stockings, boots, stilettos, made them into planters, you name it! But each year, it's different and we can hardly wait to see what will be new this year! I'll let you know if we end up with one!

Here's my card for you this New Year's:

• This one heavily features Broadway Bound Specialty Designer Series Paper, both the polka dot design and the stars, in metallics.
• The numbers are made with the retired but I kept 'em 'cause they're so useful Large Numbers Framelits. I die cut each number twice: once in Gold Glimmer Paper and once in Basic Black cardstock to make the shadow. I backed each with Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets so I could just pull off the backing and stick on like stickers.
• The Happy is from the Merry Christmas Thinlit Dies and I used the Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets on that as well.

LAST CALL FOR HOLIDAY CATALOGUE ORDERS

Wednesday, January 2 is the last day to order from the Holiday Catalogue and I'll be putting my last order in on Tuesday. So get your orders to me if you want me to submit them or head on over to my Online Store to place your own. Don't miss out if there's something you wanted.

SOMETHING NEW!!

SUITE SHARES!!

For the last couple of years, I've offered regular paper, ribbon  and embellishment shares, and they have not been very popular. In an effort to find something more useful to my customers, I'm trying something new this year:

SUITE SHARES

With Suite Shares, I offer you a half share of all the paper, ribbon and embellishments that are part of one particular suite in the new Occasions Catalogue. That way you get enough to work with, all the products coordinate, you only choose the suites you really like and you have the option of adding the stamp set and tool bundle to your share and earn Sale-A-Bration rewards and a special treat from me, if you do. The shares themselves are very affordable, so you can afford to do more than one if you would like to. Here is what I'm offering:

A. All My Love Suite Share (pg. 5)  $24 + shipping to your location in Canada

All My Love Designer Series Paper - twelve 6" x 12" sheets,  2 each of 6 double sided images

All My Love Ribbon Combo Pack - 2 1/2 yds each of Flirty Flamingo 1/8" ribbon and Lovely                                                                                                   Lipstick 1/2" ribbon with white stitched edges

Heart Epoxy Droplets - 36 clear, adhesive backed accents. Heart shapes in 3 sizes: 5mm, 7mm, 9mm

Add on: Forever Lovely Bundle ( Forever Lovely stamp set & Lovely Flower Edgelit Dies)

 $105 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes one $60 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the All My Love cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

B. Floral Romance Suite Share (pg. 11) $34 + shipping to your location in Canada

Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper - twelve 6" x 12" sheets, 3 vellum, 3 printed

Petal Pink/Whisper White Variegated Ribbon - 5 yds of the 5/8" wide  soft, flowing ribbon

Frosted Flower Embellishments - 6 each of 3 colours

Floral Romance Seals - six 3/4" pieces

Add on: Wonderful Romance Bundle ( Wonderful Romance stamp set & Wonderful Floral Framelit Dies)

 $120 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes two $60 or one $120 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the Floral Romance cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

C. How Sweet It Is Suite Share (pg. 15)  $22 + shipping to your location in Canada

How Sweet It Is Designer Series Paper - twelve 6" x 12" sheets,  2 each of 6 double sided images

Coastal Cabana/Granny Apple Green Reversible Ribbon - 5 yds of the 3/8" wide playful ribbon

Sweet Pins & Tags - 12 Tags - 4 each of 3 designs; 12 hangtag pins - 6 each of 2 colours

Add on: Sweetest Thing Bundle ( Sweetest Thing stamp set & Jar of Sweets Framelit Dies)

 $100 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes one $60 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the How Sweet It Is cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

D. Happiness Blooms Suite Share (pg. 25)  $22 + shipping to your location in Canada

Happiness Blooms Designer Series Paper - twelve 6" x 12" sheets,  2 each of 6 double sided images

Calypso Coral Satin Ribbon - 5 yds of the 3/8" wide lustrous ribbon

Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots - 75 dots - 5 each of 5 colours in 3 Sizes.

Add on: Bloom by Bloom Bundle (Bloom by Bloom stamp set & Bitty Blooms Punch Pack)

 $82 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes one $60 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the Happiness Blooms cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

E. Gingham Gala Suite Share (pg. 35)  $25 + shipping to your location in Canada

Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper - twenty 6" x 6" sheets,  4 each of 5 colours

Whisper White Flax Ribbon - 2 1/2 yds of the 5/8" wide light and airy ribbon

Gingham Gala Adhesive Backed Sequins - 125 sequins in total including 5 colours and 2 shapes.

Add on: Butterfly Gala Bundle ( Butterfly Gala stamp set & Butterfly Duet Punch)

 $80 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes one $60 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the Gingham Gala cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

F. Needlepoint Nook Suite Share (pg. 30)  $22 + shipping to your location in Canada

Needlepoint Nook Designer Series Paper - twelve 6" x 12" sheets,  2 each of 6 double sided images

Old Olive Linen Thread -7 1/2 yds

Needlepoint Nook Mini Buttons - 12 mini buttons in total, 4 each of 3 colours. 1/4"

Add on: Needle & Thread Bundle ( Needle & Thread stamp set & Needlepoint Elements Framelit Dies)

 $98 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes one $60 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the Needlepoint Nook cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

G. Classic Garage Suite Share (pg. 43)  $22 + shipping to your location in Canada

Classic Garage Designer Series Paper - twenty-four 6" x 6" sheets,  2 each of 12 double-sided designs

Black/Silver Striped Metallic Ribbon - 5 yds of the 1/4" black ribbon with the silver striped center

Classic Garage Metal Elements - 8 pieces: 4 each of 2 designs: keys & wrenches

Add on: Geared Up Garage Bundle ( Geared Up Garage stamp set & Garage Gears Thinlits Dies)

 $105 + shipping to your location in Canada 

Includes one $60 Sale-A-Bration Reward and the Classic Garage cardstock pack as a free gift from me.

To sign up, fill out the form below.  You will not have to pay anything until the share is filled. (Until I have the 2 people the share requires.)  I will then send you a PayPal invoice, which you can pay on-line in a very secure way using a credit card, or you can mail me a cheque or send me an etransfer.  Once you have paid, I will place the order and when it comes, I will divide up all the products and get them to you.  Make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom and fill out all the information. *Sorry, but I can only ship to locations in Canada.*

Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the response form below and complete all fields before submitting.  Filling out this form does not constitute a full commitment.  You will only be billed when the share is filled with enough people.  I will not order until I have received payment from all share members.

August Night in Bethlehem!

I am working on my first Christmas Buffet class coming up in two weeks time, and although I just did my first pre-order from the new Holiday Catalogue, I still don't have the products. I'm relying on items from the Annual Catalogue to complete a few cards to get a head start. Also, my customers won't be able to purchase any of the new sets until September, so I don't want to use too much of what they can't buy themselves yet. The set I used in this sample is Night in Bethlehem, coupled with the coordinating Bethlehem Edgelits dies. Actually, aside from the sentiment, it's all the Bethlehem Edgelits dies. But I was able to use some of the Broadway Bound Specialty Designer Series Paper in the background as well. Isn't that design perfect for this Christmas card?

Here's a closer look:

• The dimensions of layers are slightly altered from the regular measurements that would typically be used. This is because of the width of the edgelits . They cut a width of 4 3/4" across. Normally that would lead to a height of  3 1/2", but more height was needed on this card to fit in the night sky, two layers of the village and then the sentiment and Mary & Joseph at the bottom, so I made the height 3 7/8".
• The Broadway Bound Specialty DSP at the back makes a perfect starry night sky and the gold is echoed in the gold embossed sentiment in the bottom left. The sentiment is the one element from the Night in Bethlehem Stamp Set.
• The three layers of village and road are three different colours of cardstock in order to distinguish them from each other: Basic Black, Basic Gray and Sahara Sand for the road. The black layer is glued down and the second layer is mounted on Stampin' Dimensionals for some depth. Mary & Joseph are also mounted on dimensionals.

This Promotion is almost over now! You only have until August 10 to sign up for your first Paper Pumpkin subscription in order to get 50% off your first month's subscription. Just use the Code: BLOOM0818 when subscribing at paperpumpkin.com.     

Have a great weekend!

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.                                                              

                     

Product List

Night In Bethlehem Clear-Mount Stamp Set [145282] $29.00	Night In Bethlehem Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144809] $39.00	Broadway Bound Speciality Designer Series Paper [146277] $19.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $11.50	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $11.50
Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121043] $11.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $6.75	Embossing Buddy [103083] $8.00	Heat Tool [129053] $40.00
Bethlehem Edgelits Dies [144676] $44.00	Big Shot [143263] $150.00	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25	Glue Dots [103683] $7.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $5.50

Stylish Christmas in July for Freshly Made Sketches

I know. I'm sorry. But around this time of year, the mind of a paper crafter starts drifting ever so gently towards Christmas and Christmas card designs, and when I saw the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches' latest design, my mind leapt to a new stamp set that had not yet seen any ink, Stylish Christmas! Here's the sketch I'm talking about:

Stylish Christmas stamp set is also one of the DistINKtive design stamp sets I've been so obsessed with, where the red rubber has been engineered to give different opacities of ink in different areas of the image, creating light and shadow and an interesting design. For this stamp set, it is not used to created a photo realistic image, more a translucent looking one. Take a look:

• It's the poinsettia and the holly leaf that have that DistINKtive engineering so you can see what I mean. I looks like some of the petals or leaves are partially see-through. The petals are stamped in Poppy Parade and the Holly Leaves in Mossy Meadow.
• The background has been smooshed in several layers with Crushed Curry ink, with the ink getting progressively more intense, and drying it between layers to prevent it from blending together. The black flourish is stamped using retired Basic Black Archival ink, which I just love and can't believe has been retired! I'll keep using mine until it all runs out.
• The strip of Designer Series Paper on the side is from the Broadway Bound Specialty Designer Series. It's a great set with gold foil designs on one side and plain and birthday theme designs on the other. The gold patterns are great for any celebrations.
• The sentiment is also from the Stylish Christmas set, embossed with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder on Basic Black cardstock. 

Contact me to find out how!

I really like this stamp set for the elegant looks you can get from it and I think I will be making a lot more holiday designs in the coming months using these images.

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today.

Product List

Stylish Christmas Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146773] $29.00	Stylish Christmas Wood-Mount Stamp Set [146770] $39.00	Broadway Bound Speciality Designer Series Paper [146277] $19.00	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910] $12.25	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $11.50
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $13.25	Versamark Pad [102283] $11.25	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] $6.75	Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad [147050] $10.25	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $10.25
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [147087] $10.25	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	Window Sheets [142314] $6.75	Metallic Pearls [146282] $9.50	Embossing Buddy [103083] $8.00
Heat Tool [129053] $40.00	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] $9.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $5.25