Oh, Happy Day! for Mojo Monday

I can't see that sentiment from Starburst Sayings without breaking into song. "Oh, Happy Day!"  Do you remember "Sister Act 2" with Whoopi Goldberg?



Well, I decided that Starburst Sayings was the right stamp set to use for Mojo Monday's 350th Challenge:

And Colour Throwdown has an absolutely beautiful palette in its challenge #297 this week as well, so why not combine them?

Here's the result:  

• I just love this combination of colours: Bermuda Bay and Daffodil Delight are so bright and cheery and the Smoky Slate and Whisper White are great neutrals that add a kind of luminous effect. I added the Basic Black for a little more drama!
• I used the Bermuda Bay Polka Dot pattern from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack.  These paper stacks are worth their weight in gold, because you never need to go looking for a DSP that might happen to have a certain colour in it.  These come in every colour Stampin' Up! offers, including all the In Colours.
• The Honeycomb Embossing Folder adds some interesting texture to the background without detracting from the focal point.

• To layer the main image/sentiment, I die cut the starburst shape with the third largest Starburst Framelit in Basic Black cardstock.  I layered on top of that some Daffodil Delight cardstock in a circle punched using the 2 1/2" Circle punch.  I stamped the sentiment from Starburst Sayings on Whisper White cardstock and die cut that (minus the starburst border) using the sixth largest Circle Framelit.
• With the circle adhered using Stampin' Dimensionals, I added some 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Daffodil Delight just underneath so that it doesn't block the sentiment.
• With the new flower punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, I made three small posies to add to the ribbon and added Candy Dots to the centers.

Speaking of Oh, Happy Day, my June Paper Pumpkin arrived today and inside was...something so much fun you won't believe it!  I'll put some together to show you tomorrow!  Did you know that you could buy prepaid subscriptions to My Paper Pumpkin?  What a perfect gift for someone crafty in your life!  The bright red boxes are shipped right to their door once a month with everything they need for a little creative escape and, Oh. My. Goodness!  They are so much fun.  Stop by my Facebook Page tomorrow for a quick look!

Here is the information about the prepaid subscriptions:

Call me today to get yours!

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

Starburst Sayings [english, wood] [133182]	Starburst Sayings [english, clear] [133185]	Brights Designer Series Paper Stack [130134]	Basic Black 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [121045]	Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131202]
Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]	Daffodil Delight 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [119683]	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171]	Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon [125583]
Brights Candy Dots [130931]	Starburst Framelits Dies [132967]	Circles Collection Framelits Dies [130911]	2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch [120906]	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack [133787]
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine [113439]	Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [129378]

Thank You to Our Teachers

I find myself getting riled every year about this time, because it is usually this time of year when our Provincial Government has driven the local teachers' union to the end of it's rope by provoking strike action so the government can legislate an agreement that further erodes the education system in our province.  I have seen my former profession changed so radically over the years, due to misguided, even malicious campaigns by the government, intended to break the union and, I suspect, undermine public education so it can be privatized! It's certainly not the same job it was when I started as a teacher back in the seventies, and, quite frankly, I would not advise anyone to go into teaching now.  I believe the only way to bring stability back to our education system is for the parents to stand up for public education, loudly and strongly!  Give the government the message that those who are entrusted with educating our precious children should be well-paid and respected!  When you spend 5 years in University preparing for this profession, you should have a level of expertise that is worth respecting with a decent salary!

Thanks for allowing my rant!  If you want to know more about why this gets me so worked up, email me.

But this is also the time of year when parents look for ways to thank the teachers who have worked with their children all year, so I want to post a thank you card for a teacher.

• For a teacher's card... the Faux Chalkboard Technique seems a natural!  You heat emboss your image or sentiment with White Stampin' Emboss powder on a dark background cardstock, Basic Black in this case, then use some Whisper White Craft Ink and a Stamping Sponge to add the "chalk dust around the edges and in patches around the embossed part.

I used the Word Window punch twice to create the piece of chalk.  First you punch the Word Window shape from Whisper White cardstock, then reinsert the punched shape through the side of the punch and punch again to get the smaller piece.

• The main sentiment is from the Feel Goods Stamp set.  All the sayings in that set I just love!  And it isn't retiring so you will still be able to order it after June 4th.  Starburst Sayings Stamp set from the Occasions catalogue provides the other two sentiments, and it will be available in the new catalogue as well.  I die cut the starburst shapes behind them with the Starburst Framelits, which you can still bundle with the stamp set and save 15%.
• The card base is Real Red cardstock and I used a panel of Modern Medley DSP behind the "chalkboard"!

So, hug a teacher today, or even better, write a letter of support to the government on his or her behalf!

New Catalogue Product Shares are Now Posted!

I have organized the new product shares from the 2014/15 Annual Catalogue.  Check them out here and decide what you want.  This is an affordable way to get a variety of paper, ribbon and embellishments without paying for a full spool or package.  Four or five people share an order and divide up a spool or package between them.  I will post the whole share on my blog tomorrow!

Here are the latest weekly deals for May 27 - June2. 

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

Feel Goods [131916]	Feel Goods Clear-Mount Stamp Set [129684]	Starburst Sayings [english, wood] [133182]	Starburst Sayings [english, clear] [133185]	Modern Medley Designer Series Paper [126926]
Silver Foil Sheets [132178]	Real Red 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [102482]	Basic Black 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [121045]	Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad [101731]	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949]	Jet Black StazOn Pad [101406]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Heat Tool [129053]
Embossing Buddy [103083]	Stamping Sponges [101610]	Starburst Framelits Dies [132967]	Circles Collection Framelits Dies [130911]	3/4 Inch Circle Punch [119873]
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine [113439]	Word Window Punch [119857]