This past weekend I went to a Stampin'Up! regional meeting in Vancouver BC.   As always it was a fun event.  I learned some new things that I will show you in the coming days.  It was inspiring to see the displays and all the lovely things that demonstrators are making.  I even won a door prize!  One of the highlights of the day are the make and takes.  We were given the set Nature Walk from the Occasions mini catalog.  All of our make and takes used this set.  I was very happy with the projects and will be showing them to you as I complete them.  I know I should have finished them at the meeting but I find it easier to do it at home.  Here are the two I completed.

I learned another way to color the Rosettes (page 16) in the Occasions mini catalog.  We used a Cherry Cobbler marker and colored directly on the rosette and then blended the colors with an Aqua Painter.  I was leery that it would blend and lose the streakiness from the marker but it did.    We also used the Color Spritzer (page 195 of the IB&C) to soften the background.  This is a 3 x 3 notecard and yes, we do have envelopes. 

 
This is card is  3 x 6 and yes, we have envelopes for this size too!  I actually completed this card at the meeting.   I did not read the directions because if I had I would have known that I needed to color the egg stamp  with a Marina Mist and Old Olive marker.  I will have to make this again.  I think hints of Marina Mist and Old Olive on the eggs would look cool.  If you are wondering the tiny scallop detail is the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch cut in half. 

Going to Stampin' Up! events is one of the benefits of being a demonstrator.  There are many more!  If you have every wondered what it would be like to be a demonstrator now is the time to find out.  Call or email me and I would love to talk with you about it!

I needed something to package my Glittery Bliss cards in.  Here is a quick portfolio I made.

I used Early Espresso cardstock and ran just the front through the Big Shot using the Elegant Lines TIEF.  I love this Pretty in Pink Grosgrain ribbon, yes I love the stripes!

Here is the inside.

 
I had to dress the inside up a little so i added some Pink Pirouette paper a little Early Espresso and the scallop edge border punch.  A couple of glittery bliss flowers and it is all done.   I know exactly who I am going to give it to!  If you would like to make your own portfolio of cards give me a call and we can set up a time for you and your friends to come and make one.

Here are 2 more cards using the notecards on page 171 of the catalog.   I keep a package of these cards in my stamping supplies because they are economical, pre-scored and come with an envelope.  They are smaller than the standard card but are still mailable. 

the inside of the notecard.

Isn't that a great sentiment?  Wouldn't you love to get a card that says that?   I am definitely making more  cards using this sentiment.  We can all use a little recogntion of our awesomeness!

Stamps:  Bliss and FYI
Ink:  Early Espresso ink and VersaMark
Paper:  Notecards, Pretty in Pink, Presto Pattern Specialty
Punches:  2 1/2" circle
Extras:  Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Dazzling Diamond glitter, basic Pearls, Pretty in Pink Striped Grosgrain ribbon.

One more card to complete the set.

Stamps:  Bliss and Because I care
Ink:  Pretty in Pink, VersaMark, and Early Espresso
Paper:  Notecards and Whisper White
Big Shot:  Elegant Lines TIEF
Extras:  Iridescent Ice embossing powder and Basic Rhinestones

I have one more thing to share with you in this Glittery Bliss series.  Remember the Bliss set is free choice during Sale-A-Bration.   Contact me or go to my online store to place your order.

I am finally moving on to another Sale-A-Bration set.   When I first saw the Sale-A-Bration choices I immediately focused in on the Bliss set.  Love the look of the flourish image and I knew it would be beautiful in glitter.   Unfortunately I am not able to catch the glittery goodness with my camera.  You will just have to believe me there is a lot of sparkle in this glitter.

  
Stamps:  Bliss and Because I Care (sentiment)
Ink:  VersaMark, Pretty in Pink, Early Espresso
Paper:  Note Cards (page 171) and Whisper White
Glitter:  Fine Supernova (Chocolate) and Dazzling Diamonds
Extras:  Basic Pearls

I inked the stamp in VersaMark and then applied the Heat and Stick powder.  You have to be careful to not overheat the Heat and Stick.  You want to heat it until it just melts.  I dipped the image into the Chocolate Fine Supernova glitter and then briefly heated it again to set the Heat and Stick and glitter.  I stamped the background image with Early Espresso ink but I stamped the image on a scrap piece of paper before stamping on the card.  This is called stamping off and it  makes  a lighter impression. 

Here's another Glittered Bliss card.

 

I used all the same supplies with the addition of the 2 1/2" circle punch and the  Elegant Lines TIEF.   Yes, there is a theme going on here.  Check back tomorrow for more in the glittery Bliss series!

Do you remember that riddle?  It's funny the things the brain holds on to?!  I probably have not heard it for many years and yet that was what came to mind when i was working on this post.  The answers were an embarrassed zebra or a newspaper!  For me today the answer would be this card.

In this case I used Newsprint and not newspaper.  Get it?  Newsprint is the name of the Designer Series paper (DSP).   Obviously I have not had my morning cup yet. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:  Wow only one and it is from Fresh Cuts
Ink:  Basic Black
Paper:  Naturals White, Real Red, Basic Black, Old Olive, Red Glimmer paper  and Newsprint
Big Shot: Perfect Polka Dot, Fun Flowers,  Beautiful Wings embosslit,  Swirly
Punches:  Scallop Edge, Modern Label and Word Window
Extras: Red Glitter from the Chunky Glitter Essentials, Real Red Satin Ribbon

Did you notice that the little butterfly is different than the center of the flower?  I must have needed more caffeine while making this card since I could have just used the Red Glimmer paper on the flower center instead of the Chunky glitter.  The look is a little different so maybe I should say the I planned to use the different products so  that  you could see it for yourself! 

I am off to drink some coffee.  Have a great Monday and let me know if you need the supplies to make your own Black and White and Red all over card!

Just dropping in for a quick post.  I am having my first stamping party since moving to Western Washington. I am nervous and excited.  I wanted to show you the gift I made for my hostess.  It is a card box and i  made a few cards to fill it.

I used the Fun Flowers die to make the flower and in the middle is the Chunky Black  glitter from the  glitter essentials.  The paper is the First Edition DSP in the Occasions mini catalog.  The color is a little off since the flower is Riding Hood Red.   I hope the hostess likes her gift!

Think good thoughts for me and I will chat with you soon!

I have moved on to a new Sale-A-Bration stamp set well I sort of have.  I was preparing for a workshop and pulled out the Springtime Vintage Designer series paper ( pg 15 Occasions mini) and you know how much I like stripes and that reminded me of the Sweet  Summer cards I have been obsessed with and this is the result.

 

I am hoping that you won't notice that I used the Sweet Summer set AGAIN but I also used the Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration set (see the sentiment).

Stamps:  Punch Bunch and Sweet Summer
Ink:  Black Stazon, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze,Always Artichoke,Pear Pizzaz Stampin Write markers
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzaz, and Springtime Vintage DSP
Big Shot:  Scallop Square and the Perfect Polka Dot TIEF
Punches:  Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle and 1 1/4" circle
Extras:  Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter and a cotton swab

If you have read this far are you wondering, cotton swab?  Here is where I used the cotton swab.

I inked up the entire stamp in Baja Breeze.  I used an Always Artichoke marker to color in the stem directly on the stamp.  I have done this a lot and have not had any problems with my markers.  I do scribble with my marker before capping it.  I inked up the cotton swab with Not Quite Navy ink and shaded  the flower with it, again dabbing directly on the stamp.  Now you can put the stamp to the paper and you are ready to glitter.   

I guess this is my transition card from one Sale-A-Bration set to another.  Gotta get back to my worshop planning. I am looking forward to my first workshop in my new hometown! If you would like to have your own SU stamping party contact me and we can schedule a date! 

Sorry I did not get this posted yesterday.  The picker picked and I will be sending Laura an owl magnet card. 

I have to clean up my stamp table.  Once I dig out and find the table top again I will hopefully be able to get something new stamped to share with you.   I am moving on to another SAB (Sale-A-Bration) choice.  Thank you to everyone for posting a comment.  I will be posting more little giveaways so stay tuned.

As I was cleaning up my stamp table getting ready to work on samples with another stamp set I got sidetracked!  I saw the Peach Parfait In Colors DSP stack and my 2 favorite designs, stripes and polka dots and I still had my Sweet Summer set out.  The card came together quickly since I like the idea of the leaf and berry image stamped on the striped DSP and the  layout is from the Stamping 411 challenge.  

 
The color here is a little off and a little darker/deeper than it is in real life.

Stamps:  Sweet Summer (of course!) and Oval All
Ink:  Black Stazon and cajun Craze, Peach Parfait, and Pear Pizzaz markers
Paper:  Whisper White, Peach Parfait and In Colors DSP
Punches:  Scalloped Oval and large oval
Big Shot:  Perfect Polka Dot TIEF
Extras:  Peach Parfait ribbon  and Basic Rhinestones

This is a very easy set to stamp with and to entice you to make this one of your SAB choices I will provide you with the cardstock and embellishments to make the card I posted today and the card on this post.  When you place your order online at my website and select Sweet Summer as your SAB choice then I will send you the paper, ribbon and rhinestones to make the cards.  I cannot stamp the sentiments for you  but I am sure you can find other sentiments that will work.  This offer is good for the first 3 people to place an order online and select the Sweet Summer SAB set.  

Thank you for all the nice comments about my owl magnet cards.  I will have the designated name picker pick a name when he gets home tonight.  If you are interested in receiving an owl magnet card leave me a comment on this post and you may be the person who gets it in the mail.

While I had the In Color DSP  ( a level 1 hostess gift) out I decided to do one more card using the Sweet Summer SAB stamp set.   Here's what I came up with.

I love stripes and dots and thought it would be fun to add the swirly design to the striped paper.   Making my own DSP!   Here's what I used to make the card.

Stamps:  Sweet Summer SU Sale-A-Bration stamp set and Apple Blossoms stamp set(level 2 hostess set)
Ink:  Black Stazon. Blush Blossom, Pear Pizzaz and Old Olive Stampin Write markers
Paper:  Blushing Bride cardstock, Blushing Bride DSP, Pear Pizzaz cardstock, Pear Pizzaz DSP, and Whisper White
Big Shot:  Tasteful Trim die, Petal Cone die (little banner), scallop circle from thePennant die
Punches:  Circle punches
Extras:  Basic Rhinestones, Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I hate to say it but i think I need to move on to another stamp set.  Hope you have liked the focus on this set, Sweet Summer and got some new ideas on how to use it.  Remember that this set will only be available until the end of March and it is only available as a gift with a $50 purchase.  Contact me if you have any questions.