Artisan Award Non-winning Entry - Card 4

Here is card #4 of my artisan award entries.  I really liked this card.  Tried to do something a little different with the gate fold technique.  I also did a lot of water coloring.  I love the ribbon around it, although it was a pain to keep it stuck to the card.  I worried about whether it would come undone during shipping.  Hopefully, it made it safely.  

 I really should have taken pictures of the inside of all my cards but didn't think about it at the time.  The were all prettied up too!

Thanks for stopping here today!  Let me know what you think!
 

Artisan Award Non-winning Entry - Card 3

On to Card #3 of my losing Artisan Award Entries.  This card was really not my favorite color choice.  I showed it around a little and talked about changing the colors, but everyone really liked it so I went with it.  

 


Be sure to check out the LAST CHANCE Items and submit your order before they're gone forever!!  (Like this stamp set, A Rose is a Rose)

Artisan Award Non-winning Entry - Card 2

Here is the second card I submitted for the Artisan Award.  This is my absolute favorite card.  I had made one similar to it months ago and changed the size and colors a bit for the contest.  Let me know what you think!

 This is SOOOOOO pretty in real life!  I used Iridescent Ice embossing powder on the darker flowers and the sentiment.  It really sparkles!

Thanks for stopping by today.  See you soon!

Artisan Award Non-winning Entry - Card 1

Well, I wish this was a different post. One screaming from the rooftops that I won the Artisan Award Contest.  However, I did not receive that call I had been hoping for.  I'm excited for the winners and losing gives me more motivation to try harder for next year.  So anyway, over the next couple weeks, I will be sharing with you my entries into the contest.  I would love to hear you thoughts about the entries I submitted. 

I will be back to posting the weekly CAS challenge this Friday.  So sorry I didn't get one posted last week.  Life got in the way!  With dance, t-ball, the annual rummage sale, birthday parties, blah, blah, blah I just did not have time to stamp and post here.  Hopefully, things will slow down a bit now!

Here's the first card for the contest:

Not a show stopper by itself, but I really like it.  Especially the bright, happy colors!

Be sure to check back everyday.  I will be back to posting more regularly!

Tart & Tangy Clean & Simple

Last week's clean & simple challenge on Stampin' Connection was to make a card that made you think of summer!  Here in the midwest, we haven't had much summer like weather the last few weeks.  So, my challenge was to make a card or project that was simple to make and "felt" like summer.  I had so much fun with this challenge, I couldn't stop!!!  Here are my samples:

 I used the Tart & Tangy stamp set.  If you would like more specific details on any of the cards, leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I'll get back to you!  

I have been the challenge host for the Clean & Simple challenge on Stampin' Connection for a few months now.  It has been so much fun coming up with new ideas each week, I decided to share the challenges with all of you!  Check here each Friday for a new challenge.  I hope you'll play along.  I'll be posting the first one tomorrow with a prize for my favorite entry.

Thanks for visiting me today!

Cottage Wall Fun Fold Card

We made this card for my monthly stampers club last week.  It was also a challenge that was posted on Stampin' Connection by Diane Noble.  I love the way it turned out.  What do you think?

This is the closed view.

This is the open view.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Summer Mini Builder Wheels

Here's one of the cards we did for club this month.  This card features the fabulous new Builder Wheels in the Summer Mini and the triple cell ink cartridge. 

 These wheels are perfect for making quick and easy cards.  If you haven't seen the new Summer Mini yet, click on the picture of it on the right side of my blog.  If you would like your own copy, email me with your address and I'll send you one ASAP!!!  Have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day all you mommies out there!  Hope you are all being pampered and loved on as you so well deserve.  Here's a picture of the Mother's Day card I made using the Printed Window Sheets:

Window sheets make cards so quick and easy!  Sorry for the reflection of my camera in the photo, didn't realize it until I had already uploaded it.  Hope you like it!  Have a great day!

Summer Mini Swap Card

Here's my card for the Summer Mini swap I participated in with my demo group:

Can you tell Elements of Style is my favorite stamp set from the new mini??  It's so elegant, I just love it!!  It's hard to tell in the photo, but the background has been sprayed with smooch spritz.  It gives it a little sparkle and a little vintage look.  Thanks for visiting today and as always, I love to hear your comments.  Hope you have a glorious day!

Summer Mini Sneak Peek!

I got to play yesterday!  I got my preorder from the summer mini over a week ago and yesterday I finally got to play around with my new goodies!  I stamped just for the fun of it...no challenges, no contest, no prep for clubs or workshops.  Not that I don't like doing all those things, it was just fun to stamp for no reason at all.  Here are a couple of cards I made with the Elements of Style stamp set that is featured in the Summer Mini.  If you don't have your copy yet, email me or leave a comment in this post and I'll send you one right away.

I made this card by coloring the stamp with Stampin' Write Markers.  I used Melon Mambo, Always Artichoke, and a little bit of Close to Cocoa:

For this one, I used my colored pencils.  I haven't used these in forever!  This stamp set really screams color me!!

I love the way this card turned out.  For this one I used Lovely Lilac, Soft Suede, and Old Olive.  I colored the flowers in with colored pencils and a blender pen. 

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to check back on Friday for the Royal Blog Tour!!

Baby Shower Bag & Card

I have a baby shower to go to this weekend.  Here's the card and the gift bag I made for the mommy-to-be.  The template for the card has been around awhile, not sure where the original idea came from.  I received one like this in a swap several years ago from Dana Garard.

 Thanks for checking out my blog!

Whew!!!!!!!

That was me with a big sigh of RELIEF!!!!  As you've probably noticed, I haven't had many posts the last few weeks.  I have been fervently working my stampin fingers to the bone!!!  Stampin' Up! has a yearly contest for demonstrators called the Artisan Award.   The requirements are 5 cards, 3 scrapbook pages, and 2 3d items.  They pick 10 winners each year.  This year, I finally got my act together and submitted my work.  The deadline for the contest was today and I got my box of goodies out in the mail yesterday.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get things done!  But it is all shipped off and in the hands of the Stampin' Up! powers that be.  I don't really plan on winning, as there are so many talented demos who enter.  But, a girl can dream right?

So anyway, here's my card for last week's Stampin' Connection clean and simple challenge.  This week the challenge was to use something from the Occassion's Mini, which will be ending in 10 short days!!

I used some Sweet Pea DSP, Sending Love Notes-Kisses (the white die cut), and the level 1 hostess set Picture This.
If there are still products in the mini that you would like to get, contact me right away!  There's still time to get a workshop together or just place an order for yourself!!
Thanks for stopping by!

 

Manhattan Flower Embossed Card

Here's a card we made at last month's club.  We embossed the flower on Whisper White cardstock, brayered it with Orchid Opulence Ink, then cut out the image and layered it onto Whisper White.

I love to hear what you think!  Have a great day!

Clean and Simple Challenge

For this week's CAS challenge, I challenged the demo's on Stampin' Connection to create a project using colors that will soon be retiring.  Here's my sample:

I used Apricot Appeal, Lavender Lace and Pink Passion for this card.  Hope you all have a great week!

Featured Stamper Challenge

Here's my card for this week's featured stamper challenge on Stampin' Connection.  This week Robin Merriman was the "featured stamper".  She had lots of great samples to CASE.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge

Here's my sample for Stacey's Color Challenge.  This card uses real red, bashful blue, certainly celery, and whisper white.  Enter your project HERE!!

 Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Week 6!

I had the privilege to host the clean and simple challenge this week on Stampin' Connection.  This weeks challenge was think spring.  Here's my sample:

Thanks for stopping by!   

Stampin Connection Clean & Simple Challenge

This week's CAS challenge on Stampin' Connection is to make a clean and simple card with ribbon.  I used the DSP from the Saleabration Catalog and some gorgeous Old Olive Satin Ribbon from the occasions mini. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Come back tomorrow for my post using up more of that Sweet Pea!

More Sweet Pea DSP!!

OK!  I've made it to day two on my challenge.  Here's a couple quick and easy cards I made with the Sweet Pea DSP.  I love this paper to make cards with.  And, I'm so proud of myself because I am actually using it!

Card Purse Hostess Gift.

Hi All!!  Here's a cute card purse with some cards and an altered post-it note pad I made for Lisa.  She hosted a workshop last night.  There is also a jumbo paperclip that goes with it.  I'll post a pic of that soon.  I got the instructions for making the purse and post-it note holder from StampingPro.  She has a lot of awesome tutorials on her blog.  Thanks for stopping by!