Thoughtful Expressions for As You See It Challenge #315

 I always look forward to colour challenges and this one is no exception. Team Member Heather H. came up with some very beautiful colours and an inspiration photo to go along with it for Challenge #315. Here is the challenge banner:

I have a lot of new stamp sets to try out, paired with their coordinating die sets, but as I looked them over, trying to decided which would be best for these vibrant colours, the Thoughtful Expressions, with it's floral designs and especially with the hummingbird image really rang a bell with me. A hummingbirds has such a
vibrant plumage, often with similar colours, that I thought this could really work. Add in a little Wink of Stella to mimic the luminescence of a hummingbird's feathers, and it's the perfect set for the job!

• On a cardbase of Basic White thick cardstock, I added a layer of Mossy Meadow cardstock measuring 4" x 5 1/4".  On top of that layer is a piece of Basic White, embossed with the new Softly Sophisticated Embossing Folder which is part of the Softly Sophisticated Bundle, a Level 2 Sale-A-Bration reward. This layer measures 3 7/8" x 5 1/8".
• The next layer is Melon Mambo cardstock and measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".
• On a 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" piece of Basic White, I stamped the two images you see in StazOn ink and coloured them in with Stampin' Write markers. I didn't use Stampin' Blends because I don't have Melon Mambo in that medium. It's been a long time since I've used my Stampin' Write markers to colour in an image and they did a very vibrant job I think!
• I went over the coloured images with Wink of Stella to add some "luminescence".
• I stamped the sentiment in Mossy Meadow and die cut the sentiment and an accompanying backer in Granny Apple Green using the Thoughtful Expressions Dies. I adhered them together as I liked and used dimensionals to attach them to the card front.
• Finally I added some Glossy Dots Assortment to the card front.

TWO NEW KITS EVERY MONTH!!

For January, these are the two. Go to my Online Store and click on Kits Collection to order!

If you live in Canada, and don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the right side bar at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in Canada by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the top menu or clicking on any of products below from my Online Store.

Product List

Thoughtful Expressions Cling Stamp Set (English) [162815]	Thoughtful Expressions Bundle (English) [162822]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676]
Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115320]	Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146990]	Brights Stampin' Write Markers [161696]	Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [161697]	Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad [101406]
Glossy Dots Assortment [158827]	Softly Sophisticated Bundle (English) [162947]	Thoughtful Expressions Dies [162821]	Stampin' Seal [152813]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Blessings and Thank Yous

How was your weekend?  Mine was full of blessings and thank yous!  I had a big order to sort and deliver and some of it was for some new customers and new members of my Stamp Club so I wanted a nice way to thank all my customers for their business.  The weekend was also full of blessings as we went to a wonderful church service and then attended a World War II era presentation of Pilgrim's Progress.  It was very well done and I'm actually going to have to read Pilgrim's Progress now I think.  Then we learned we were getting a surprise, quick visit from my youngest daughter and her family, including little Parker, so that is a very big blessing still to come!!

Here's how I expressed my thanks to my customers this week:

• These little 3 x 3s were fun to make using the Easter Blessings stamp, masking the Easter sentiment and inking up using Melon Mambo and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Right Markers.\
•  I used the colour combination from Gingham Garden Design Series Paper, some of which you see here.  The colours used in that DSP include Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizzazz.
• The sentiment is from Express Yourself, a hostess set which you can order if you are the hostess of a workshop, or for your month as Hostess in my Stamp Club.  It is priced lower than regular sets so that your Hostess dollars stretch a little further.
• I added some Melon Mambo or Daffodil Delight Candy Dots to add balance and interest.  I love the way the darker stripes of the gingham look like shadow under the image panel and make it look as if it is raised on dimensionals, even though it isn't.

Papercraft Cat Rewards Program

Inside each thank you card for orders of $30 or more before tax and shipping, I was able to include one or more Papercraft Cat Reward Tokens for customer loyalty.  As my customers record and keep track of these points, when they reach 20 points, they will receive a $50 Stampin' Up! Gift Certificate to redeem through me.

If you live in Canada, you can also participate in my Rewards Program.  Just visit my On-line Store which is available 24/7 and place an order, choosing me as your demonstrator.  If you make sure to indicate that you'd like me to contact you, I will be able to send you a thank you card similar to the ones above, with the appropriate numbers of Papercraft Cat tokens as well as a Tracking Sheet to record your points.  Then you will be able to redeem them for a $50 gift certificate when you reach 20 points!!

Be a Member of My Stamp Club

I am also looking for some people who might be interested in being part of a Stamp Club.  The idea behind this is you commit to spending a minimum of $20 a month for 12 months to gradually build your stamping supplies and equipment.  One month you would be named Hostess and you would receive all the Hostess rewards from all the orders of the other members.  You are guaranteed at least $35 in free product, but it is usually from $40 to $55 and more.  I am starting a second club and so all the months are open.  The first to sign up will get the best choices of months for their Hostess Months.

There are other perks to belonging to Stamp Club including special treats from me in your Hostess Month and at Christmas and just for the heck of it, reduced rates on classes, all the catalogues mailed to you and Customer Appreciation events.  Stamp Club members can attend any classes of their choice at a reduced rate.

Live Out of Town?

If you don't live in my area, you can still be a member of my Stamp Club.  You can sign up for stamp club by downloading the Stamp Club agreement and emailing it back to me along with your name and email address.
Instead of attending classes, I will give you special private access to a monthly project tutorial, both PDF file and You Tube Video, including a list of all the supplies you would need for the product.  Think about signing up and be one of the first, so you can choose the month you want most!

Thanks for dropping by, and see you tomorrow with a new video introducing a new product from Stampin' Up this spring!

Here is a list of all the supplies used in this little 3 x 3 Thank You card.  Click on the links below to view the products and you can also purchase from this link as well.

• Blessed Easter
• Express Yourself Wood-mount Stamp Set
• Express Yourself Clear-mount Stamp Set
• Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper
• Daffodil Delight 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Brights Stampin' Write Markers
• Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker
• Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brights Candy Dots

A Night Owl's Revenge

What do President Obama, Winston Churchill and Elvis Presley have in common?  They were all night owls!  A new study suggests that the 15% of the population that find it hard to get up early, but hit their stride later in the day are more likely to exhibit the kind of intelligence that leads to more prestigious jobs and higher income!  At last! Vindication!

I've told you before that I have been a Night Owl living in a Lark's world!  I was always on the wrong side of that old adage:  Early to bed and early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy and wise!  I would struggle to get up in the morning, but always managed it.  I could function fairly well if I didn't have to do too much deep thinking.  I'd be dead tired come 5 pm, but at 7 pm I would hit my stride with an amazing second wind, and could be extremely productive and creative well past midnight.  I would force myself to bed so I could get up in the morning, but it was always difficult to get to sleep!

Now, this new study suggests that night owls score higher on inductive reasoning, lateral thinking and creativity than their early bird counterparts, leading to jobs requiring creative thinking and new ideas, which often get the big bucks!

I wonder how many of us papercrafters fit that bill!  I bet there is a higher than average proportion of Night Owls among the stamping community!  But thank heaven for retirement!  It allows me to exercise my right to be a Night Owl without the social disadvantages!

Today was like that!  I worked hard all day on designs for one of my upcoming classes, but things were just not coming together.  A little freaked by dinner time, because the class was the next day,  I gave up and made dinner and chatted with my DH a while.  Then I headed to my craftroom to try again, and....
just like that, I finished all 3 designs without a problem!

The first one was created for my Beginner's class with a theme of Heat Embossing.  It also fits the criteria for Dyamic Duos Challenge #45 this week:

One of the uses for heat embossing is to provide a water proof outline for water coloring.  One of my favourite stamp sets for that purpose is Elements of Style.  It looks like a complex image, but the extra lines allow you to water colour fairly simply and have it look like you spent SO much more time on it!  I inked up the stamp in VersaMark and stamped on Whisper White card stock.  Then I added Black Stampin' Emboss powder and heat set it.  I used Stampin' Write markers in Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink, as well as a neutral, Crumb Cake, and blended the colours a bit using a Blender Pen.  When using a Blender Pen on Whisper White cardstock, instead of watercolour paper, be very careful not to overdo it and have the paper pill or get soggy.

I added some Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon and used the Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to add the design to the bottom of the Pretty in Pink panel.  I stamped the little hummingbird in StazOn Jet Black and fussy cut it out and popped it up on dimensionsals.

Great fun and such pretty colours!  Thanks, Dynamic Duos! 

Please leave me a comment!  Tell me if you are a Night Owl or a Lark!  When do you do your most creative work?

Stamps:  Elements of Style (w118611; c120045)

Paper:  Regal Rose (105130), Pretty in Pink (100459), Crumb Cake (120953) and Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink:  StazOn Jet Black (101406); VersaMark (102283); Stampin' Write Markers in Regal Rose (119702 -with all the bright colours), Pretty in Pink (100045) and Crumb Cake (120967)

Accessories:  Stampin' Emboss powder in black (109133); 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Crumb Cake (122966)

Tools:  Heat Tool (129053); Blender Pens (102845); Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (129383)

I Must Remember Everything!

I'm excited to be offering a monthly stamping class in a small town about an hour and a half south of me!  It's the first out-of-town class I've done so I will need to be super diligent about remembering to take everything with me!  Does anyone else have that problem?  No matter how hard I try to remember every tool or accessory I need for a class, I always seem to have to run down to my craft room about 3 times to get something!  I think I'm slowly improving though.  Tonight I only had to get 1 thing and I was running one class plus helping another customer catch up on a big class she missed, so 1 missing item was pretty good, considering!

I'm hoping my out-of-town customers will enjoy this card that I designed while on my retreat at Gardom Lake:

I really love the colour scheme and the playful design.  Of course, the Feel Goods Stamp Set has some awesome sentiments.  To get the two colours on the one stamp, I used Stampin' Write Markers in Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight. The background stamp is called Distressed Dots and it is inked up in Daffodil Delight ink, the same colour as the card stock.  And I'm sure you've seen enough of the Honeycomb Embossing folder to recognize it anywhere and here it is in Basic Gray.  I love the look of the Naturals 7/16" Trim Ribbon with this design!

The little flower embellishing the sentiment was created using the Boho Blossoms punch twice, once on Basic Gray card stock and once on Daffodil Delight, then mixing the colours and adding a Rhinestone Basic Jewel and a little bow of linen thread.  

On another note, I wanted to let you know that Stampin' Up is offering a basic On-Line Stamping class that you can access here.

It is $17.95 and you can download it to your own computer and go through it at your leisure.  Here is the product description:

Learn innovative ways to get the most out of your supplies (from stamps to the Big Shot) with clever tips and all the techniques you need to start creating with success. 
Divided into six sections focused on a variety of topics, this class includes videos, step outs, and supply lists for 30+ projects. Join the fun!

Doesn't that sound perfect?  And it is just right for beginners or seasoned stampers.  I have just downloaded it myself and I will show you a peek or two at some of the projects you can do in the days to come!

Happy Stampin'!

Stamps:  Feel Goods (w129681;c129684); Distressed Dots (w122815)
Paper:  Basic Gray (121044), Daffodil Delight (119683) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Daffodil Delight (126944); Stampin' Write Marker in Daffodil Delight (119677) and Basic Gray (119703) in a set of 8 Neutrals
Accessories:  Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246); Linen Thread (104199)
Tools:  Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (129378); Big Shot (113439); Window Frames Collection Framelits (129021); Boho Blossoms punch (119858)  

MOJO Fo' Yo'!

Hi, everyone!  I'm back from our Regional Convention in Tacoma on the weekend.  We had a great time despite the fact that some were a little under the weather and we got home SO late on Saturday night!  See, we were so intent on our conversation that we totally missed the turn-off for Bellingham.  We suddenly saw signs saying the border was just a couple of miles away and we thought, "How could we be at the border?  We haven't even been through Bellingham yet?"  Then the awful truth hit that we had missed the turn-off and were at the Peace Arch border crossing in White Rock! That meant at least an hour more in our trip home!  And we were dead tired after a full day of awesomeness! 

We also had many delays trying to get out of Tacoma.  I won't say that whoever designed the parking procedure in the Tacoma Convention Center was out of touch with reality, but we stood in line for 20 minutes to pay for our parking at an automated booth, then the barrier arm wasn't rising, so many people were stuck in the parkade until an attendant came to fix it.  Then there was a huge, slow, automobile line up trying to get out (and you only had 15 minutes after paying for your ticket until you exited the parkade or it would no longer be valid!). 

After finally getting out of the parkade,  we had to buy gas and find I5, neither of which was easy.  (I think the guy who designed the signage for the I5 was the same one who designed the parkade system.)  As we tried to exit Tacoma, there was a big traffic slow down caused by a police search on the side of the freeway, using police dogs and everything! 

When we started to move again, we were startled to see a huge bird flying directly at our windshield!!  We screamed in unison as it seemed unavoidable for it to hit, when it veered upward at the last second!  I think it was some kind of owl, probably a Great Horned owl.  A "fly-by owling," as Rebecca called it!  Anyway, we finally made it home by 1:30 am, and we were not a pretty sight by the time we did!

With the adventures of the weekend behind me, I was happy for a little quiet stamping time today, and, as always, I worked on the MOJO Monday challenge for this week.  Here's my card:

 

For some reason, I decided to go Halloween again, using the Toxic Treats stamp set (my only Halloween set).  It just seemed to fit the challenge.  Here's the sketch:

 

 

 



I also used more of the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP, which I think is the main reason I'm making any Halloween projects.  It is just so cool!  The main image is the witch on the broom from the Toxic Treat stamp, inking up just the witch part using a Basic Black Stampin' Write marker.  I did the same sort of thing with the sentiment, which fit perfectly on the black stripes of the DSP.  I inked up the "Trick or" in Basic Black using the marker, then cleaned the stamp carefully before inking up the "Treats" in Tangerine Tango.  I used the new Striped Satin ribbon from the Holiday Catalogue and tied a bow with some 1/8" Taffeta ribbon in Basic Black and Tangerine Tango.  Quick and simple for the most part!

 

I also wanted to let you in on the new promotions for the month of October:

 

 

Learn more about it here.   Also, Stampin' Up is running a trial purchase period where some stamps from full sets are also being offered individually!  This is in effect until January 2, 2013 and involves only 3 stamp sets (see below).  These individual stamps are clear mount only and are packaged in cello bags.

View fliers for Word Play stamp set here; for Perfectly Penned here; and for Seasonal Sayings here. 

 

There are also permanent price reductions for some printed projects in MDS 2, but I will highlight that on Thursday in my blog.  Love Stampin' Up promos!

 

Stamps:  Toxic Treats (w127898; c127901)

Paper: Basic Black (121045) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock; Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP (126906)

Ink:  Stampin' Write Markers in Basic Black (100082) and Tangerine Tango (Brights Collection - 119702)

Accessories:  1/2" Striped Satin ribbon (127837), 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Black (119261) and Pumpkin Pie (119253)

Tools:  Scallop Circle Bigz Die (113468);  1 3/4" Circle Punch; 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (118874)