New Catalog Mega Blog Hop!

Welcome to stop #5 on the Stampin' Addicts Mega Blog Hop! This Blog Hop features 26 Stampin' Addicts members who are sharing their creativity with us. Each stop will feature products from the new Idea Book & Catalog!

If you are following the hop in order, you just came from Kim's blog Stitchin' Stampin' on Paper where she showcased gorgeous projects using the single stamp Homemade. Isn't it amazing what you can do with one stamp?

Today I am showing some ideas using another single stamp, So Many Thanks. This is a stamp that I got to work with to create samples for the Display Boards at Convention, and as I worked with this stamp, I was amazed at how versatile a single stamp can be.

This card is the first one that I created using this stamp. A very simple card that shows off some of our new colors: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso. The row of hearts across the card base are the same hearts from the stamp--I just used my stamp-a-ma-jig and Early Espresso marker to create the line. I'm also loving the new 1/8" taffeta ribbon--I've already used almost a whole roll of the Early Espresso. :-)

As I was playing around with this stamp, I realized I didn't need to be confined to the square image of the stamp. The idea for the layout of this card came from an old inspiration sheet--I believe the (now discontinued) set Be Happy. The colors featured here are Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, So Saffron, and Early Espresso.

I stamped the So Many Thanks image with Crumb Cake on the coordinating paper a few times (using the stamp-a-ma-jig) and then punched it out using the Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch. I took my Early Espresso marker and went around the edges of the flower to add a little definition. The sentiment is from the set Fabulous Phrases and is embossed. On the So Saffron strip, you are actually getting a sneak peek of a wheel that will be in the upcoming Holiday Mini Catalog. ;-) The center of the flower has a layer of Crystal Effects.

This next project is a simple 3"x3" card. The colors are Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, and Melon Mambo. I used a marker to select and stamp only the 'thanks', and then added the 'heartfelt' from the set Fabulous Phrases. The flowers are from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, and they have Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds in the center. Along the side I used my Scallop Edge Border Punch.

And last but not least, a 3-D project. I used my Big Shot to create a Pillow Box with the Newsprint Designer Series Paper (DSP). I used the circle/flower center stamp from the set Pick a Petal to stamp some circles in Marina Mist--just to add a little color and interest to the DSP. I markered and stamped the 'thanks' and then punched with the 1 3/4 by 7/8" Oval Punch. I distressed the edges and layered it onto a Basic Black Scallop Oval Extra Large punch.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you've been inspired by these projects.

Next on the Blog Hop is Heidi over at RunningwScissorsStamper. She will be showcasing the stamp set Wicked Cool--a set that is on my wish list! Go check out her awesome creations, and then continue on in the Hop to see more projects showcasing all-new sets from the catalog.

Stampin' Celebration #13

Another fun challenge this week over at Stampin' Celebration! I'm still traveling, so I don't have anything to share with you this week, but pop on over to Stampin' Celebration and see what the other members of the Design Team have created.


We'd also love to have you join us! Create something inspired by these pictures and upload it to the Stampin' Celebration website. You may even be voted as one of the Top 3 picks. :-)

Make sure you check back tomorrow! I will be participating in the Stampin' Addicts New Catalog Mega Blog Hop. There will be over 25 talented stampers showing off all new stamp sets from the catalog! Be prepared to be inspired. :-)

And last but not least, Stampin' Up! has announced a Hostess Promotion from now until the end of August. When you host a workshop that totals $350 or more, you earn an EXTRA $25 in free merchandise--in addition to the regular hostess benefits.  You can read more about the promotion HERE.  Would you like to host a workshop?  Contact me today to schedule a date before the end of August and we will work together to make it your best party yet. 

Just Friends

Ready for another card with the set Just Believe? This is another card that was on the Display Boards at convention. :-) The color scheme for this card came right from the Always Artichoke page of the new Color Coach. I used the 'sweet set' Always Artichoke, So Saffron, and Cajun Craze along with the 'dynamic duo' River Rock and Always Artichoke. As I was making these samples for the boards, I was so glad that I had the Color Coach! Especially since I was using new colors that I wasn't familiar with, it made creating color combinations SO much easier.

Anyway, this is actually a fairly simple card. I started by stamping the card base with the Sanded Background stamp and Versamark ink. I tore the edge of the Cajun Craze layer and then added the paper piercing. For the main image and the sentiment I stamped with versamark ink and heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss powder. I used the Cutter Kit to distress the edges of the Always Artichoke layer and curled the one corner a bit. It's hard to tell from the picture, but I used the Faux Suede technique on the So Saffron layer.

If you aren't familiar with the Faux Suede technique, it is actually fairly simple. Take your strip of paper and a bone folder. Use the bone folder to pull it along the paper as if you are curling ribbon. Make sure the 'curl' the paper every which way so that you can break down the fibers in the paper. Next start at a corner of the paper and carefully peel the paper apart into two halves lengthwise--as if you are peeling a sticker from the backing. The 'faux suede' is actually just the inside of the paper. You'll have to try it to see how simple it really is! I love this technique because it easily adds (soft) texture to your project.

To see two more samples using the faux suede technigue, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by--hope you've enjoyed!

Stamps: Just Believe, Sanded BG
Ink: Versamark
Paper: River Rock, Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, So Saffron
Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Linen Thread, White Stampin' EP, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Cutter Kit, dimensionals

Another Believe

Here is another Display Board card using the gorgeous set Just Believe. So, of the new In Colors, Peach Parfait is one of my favorites. I especially love the way it looks with Early Espresso.

For this card I used a simple technique called masking. To create the mask, I took a sheet of typing paper, cut out and removed a rectangle, and then put it over the top of my Whisper White paper. I sponged Peach Parfait inside the rectangle. Then with the mask still in place I stamped the image several times. Most of those images were stamped once or twice on scratch paper before I stamped on the Whisper White. Then of course I stamped the image one more time in Early Espresso after I removed the mask.

The sentiment is inside a frame that comes from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware. The ribbon is the 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon. I pulled the ribbon through the hole on the frame, tied a single knot, and then pulled the short end back through the hole to give that nice finished look on the knots. The Early Espresso layer is popped up on Dimemsionals.

Check back tomorrow for another card using this beautiful set Just Believe. :-)

Stamps: Just Believe
Ink: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso
Paper: Peach Parfait, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Accessories: Sponge, 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Styled Silver HPH oval frame, dimensionals

Simple Believe

Yay! I can finally start sharing with you all the projects that I made for the Display Boards at convention! One of the sets I worked with is Just Believe. What a pretty stamp set! After I finished creating all my samples, I think this simple card ended up being among my favorites.

I think I may have mentioned previously that the combination of Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight is one of my new favorites. Somehow it seems to be calming and energizing at the same time.

For this card all I did was stamp the images, punch them out with my 1 1/4" circle punch, and then add the Linen Thread between the circles. The image was stamped with Versamark Ink and embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder. How simple is that?



Thanks for stopping by! Check back later for more Display Board samples. :-)

Stamps: Just Believe
Ink: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Versamark
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool, Linen Thread, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, dimensionals

Stampin' Celebration #12

Another great Stampin' Celebration Challenge! This week the theme is Dessert Party. Yum! So, I thought it only appropriate that my project include candy. :-) It also happens that I'm using this treat holder for one of my organized swaps this week at convention.

This candy holder is a simple one using the Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die. I first came up with the idea to use the Scallop Square Die as a treat holder HERE--the very first Stampin' Celebration challenge. For this treat holder I added the layer of 4" by 4" Greenhouse Gala Designer Paper to add some color.

Here's a picture of the back of the treat holder:

Hint #1: Place a small strip of Sticky Strip where the two top corners meet. This will help hold everything in place while you use the Crop-A-Dile to punch two holes that the ribbon will thread through.

Hint #2: If you are adding a baked treat or other item that you are worried may damage the paper, you can add a layer of protective plastic. I used the plastic that covers the card stock to make a protective layer for the treat holder. Just run the plastic through the Big Shot with the Scallop Square Die, and adhere to the paper using SNAIL adhesive.

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to stop by Stampin' Celebration to see what the other memebers of the Design Team are up to this week.

Stamps: Perfect Punches
Ink: Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP
Accessories: Scallop Square Bigz Die, Big Shot, Small Oval Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Daffodil Delight, 1/8” taffeta ribbon, Sticky Strip, Linen Thread