May 31, 2010 | Almost Artisan, Baroque Motifs, Cards, Embossing, Occasion Mini 2010, Sale-A-Bration 2010, Thank You |
It was really hard not sharing these projects earlier. Since we made them during the Sale-A-Bration and Occasions Mini Catalog sales period some of my projects use items from these. They were current at the time so they were eligible for the contest. Even though the judging occurred after they ended. I wonder if that had anything to do with the chosen winners. Between that and using what are now going to be retiring colors – that was announced after I sent my entry in and when you see one of my scrapbook pages it ended up with a bunch of retiring colors on it. Oh well…
So here is card #1 – I considered this to be my vintage card. I had actually created a scrapbook page with this idea and posted it on my blog earlier – click here to see it – and when I was creating for the Artisan contest I kept coming back to that page but knew I couldn’t enter it since it was already on my blog. My solution was to make a card using the same idea.
It is a very pretty card in person – I’m not sure the picture does it any justice. The card base is Basic Black and the stamping is done with Versamark and embossed with Clear Embossing powder. I love this look.
I used the Vintage Labels stamp set from Sale-A-Bration – too bad that one isn’t still available. The others are all still current – Charming, Tiny Tags, and Baroque Motifs.
The colors are Crushed Curry, Basic Black and Whisper White.
I had also decided to decorate the inside of each of my cards. I go in phases of doing this. And I usually always do it when the card base is dark like the Basic Black. The inside was pretty simple but matched with the front of the card.
So that is my first entry for the Artisan Award.
I hope you like it. And that you’ll come back to see the rest!
Thanks so much for stopping by!

CLICK HERE – to go to the post for other Almost Artisan blog links.
Apr 8, 2010 | Big Shot, Cards, Create with Connie & Julie, Occasion Mini 2010, Sale-A-Bration 2010, Thank You |
Hi everyone! Did you miss me? Sorry I have been MIA. I have been working on my Stampin’ Up! Artisan Award entries – nothing like waiting until the last minute. I think I get more creative with a deadline bearing down on top of me. Since Easter I have been frantically trying to finalize my last few projects, get them photographed (since I didn’t make duplicates), write the supply lists and carefully packaged to send the Stampin’ Up! So as of this morning they are on the way – postmarked by April the 10th according to the rules. Now it is time to wait – by the end of May they should have decided on and contacted the winners. I can’t show you any of the projects so you will have to wait until later – sorry. And then I shopped and packed for our little Spring Break trip. Right now I’m sitting in the mountains of North Georgia! It should be a nice few days for a little get away.
Now are you ready for a project. I created this card for last months Birds & Butterflies class. The card is an additional design to a set of cards I created for the Create with Connie & Julie class that I guest designed for earlier this year. So if you particpated in that you can add this card to my Vintage Card Kit project.
This is a long card – the ones that fit in the small open end envelopes. The card base is So Saffron 6″ x 6″ folded in half with a Chocolate Chip piece of trim that was punched with the Scallop Trim border punch. The punch was part of the Sale-A-Bration rewards and isn’t available right now but it will be back in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog coming out in July. The Very Vintage Jumbo wheel was used on the base of the card and I also used the Color Spritzer to add some spritz to the card – you can do this just to the base or at the end so everything gets some spritz.
The Old Olive Strip was sent through the Big Shot Die -Cut machine with the Perfect Details texturz plate – I think this gives the look of lattice. I stamped the vine on it too and sponged it with Old Olive. The flowers and bird are punched from the Rich Razzleberry Patterns Designer Series Paper. The flowers are just circles that have been scrunched up. I added a yellow Rhinestone brad to the center of each. I thought these looked like Morning Glories.
I hope you like it. To create a matching envelope – use the wheel across one end and then stamp the vine.
Thanks for stopping by today! And the bluebird had 4 eggs on Wed afternoon.

Mar 29, 2010 | Birthday, In Colors, Occasion Mini 2010, Sale-A-Bration 2010 |
Today’s card is one that I received for my birthday earlier this month from my friend Yvonne. She used the Stampin’ Up! Totally Tess stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Totally Tess is a fun new set with Tess and a bunch of stamping accessories – a bag, an apron, a stamp, a card, scissors, a marker, and a stampin’ wheel and the phrases “I (heart) STAMPS” and “The best things in life a made, not bought.” For this card Yvonne used the Family Accessories to create a birthday card – look how perfectly they fit.
I love the ruffled circle that Yvonne made using the Scallop Trim Border Punch from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure. And if you haven’t already received this punch for FREE you better hurry you only have a couple more days. Sale-A-Bration ends on March 31st. Spend $50 on Stampin’ Up! products and earn this punch or other items for free. You can email me or call me with an order or place an order online – visit my website HERE and shop at my online store.
A little bit more about the card – Yvonne used last years In-Colors – Kiwi Kiss and Pacific Point. And the Designer Series Paper is a retired pack. But you could make the same card using Old Olive and Bermuda Bay and choose a coordinating Designer Series paper.
Thanks Yvonne for my FUN birthday card!
I checked the bluebird house this morning – no eggs yet. But they are hanging around and tapping on all my windows which is driving the dogs crazy. Thanks for stopping by today!

Mar 26, 2010 | Sale-A-Bration 2010, Thank You, Upsy Daisy |
A quick post today with another 3×3 tag. 
This one uses the Upsy Daisy stamp set. I stamped it in Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry. Each one was stamped multiple times before re-inking so there are several shades of each color.
I added black doodling around the Melon Mambo base and some splatters with the Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp set. A small trim of Crushed Curry punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch is on one side.
I stamped the Thanks from the Picnic Parade and also the little ladybug is amongst the flowers.
I checked on the bluebirds this morning and it looks like she finished the nest in House #3 – so now I’ll start checking for eggs. I guess House #2 was just a decoy or practice nest.
Thanks for checking in today.
Mar 24, 2010 | Big Shot, Demonstrator, Designer Series Paper, In Colors, Sale-A-Bration 2010, Thank You Kindly |
I saw this idea on the new Stampin’ Connection site. This wonderful new resource is for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators – a place where we can share ideas, post questions and discuss things, share videos and more. I think it is a great new addition to everything that Stampin’ Up! offers its demonstrators. I’m looking for new team members to join so ask me if you are interested and I’ll answer your questions – this is a wonderful company to be a part of and I’d love to have you join me!
So on to this cute little project I saw – Butterfly Notes!
We made these in my class last week – aren’t they the cutest – attach them to your purse and you’ll have a little piece of paper ready when ever you need it.
The butterflies are cut using the Big Shot Die Cut Machine and the Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Butterflies die. For each one I cut two pieces of heavy cardboard – I used the pieces that come with the Decor Elements – then I cut 4 pieces of Designer Series Paper – the paper that I used is from the Welcome Neighbor 6×6 pack that you can get for free in the Sale-A-Bration brochure (HURRY it ends March 31st). Then I cut a bunch of printer paper to create the pages in between.
The Designer Paper is attached to the cardboard with the Anywhere Glue Stick. Then I sponged the edges with the same ink that matched my designer paper. I used the Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes and put a book ring through.
I like the monogram idea that I saw on the other samples from the demonstrators on Stampin’ Connection so I did the same thing. This set is the Lovely Letters stamp set. Stamp in Soft Suede – punched with the circle punch and backed with a Soft Suede circle. I added a matching Rhinestone Brad.
I also used the Thank You Kindly Stamp set to get the “a note” from one of those stamps. Last time a little bit of ribbon on the ring. They turned out cute. Hope you like them.
There are several other Big Shot dies that would work to make little notepads – give it a try! This would be cute little thank yous for your child’s teachers.

Mar 14, 2010 | Birthday, Cards, Designer Series Paper, Occasion Mini 2010, Sale-A-Bration 2010 |
I almost forgot to tell you who won the last Create with Connie & Julie Challenge – 1st place was Lori, 2nd place was Becky and honorable mention went to Lisa – thanks to everyone that played along. I hope you enjoyed all the projects and tutorials – I know I did.
I had a great Stamper’s Club meeting Friday night. It was so much fun with several new members joining us. Everyone made three projects – 1 3d and 2 cards. One card was what I considered the quick and easy card. It was with the Stampin’ Up! Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Vintage Labels. I designed the card so that everyone could use the frame that they wanted along with the words that they wanted – I didn’t see what everyone picked but I know they all turned out great. This would make a great masculine card (even with the pink in the striped paper).
I used one of the beautiful striped patterns in the Sweet Pea Designer Series paper stack. The paper has Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip in the pattern so I used those colors on the card.
On the base I originally had it plain but then decided to dress it up just a bit – I wheeled across it with the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel to add a faint background. And then I went back and added paper piercing on the corners. It really made the card pop when I did that.
I hope you like it. Hopefully you remembered to change your clocks for Daylight Savings time – spring FORWARD – we knew about it but none of us actually changed the clocks – oops.
Tomorrow I’ll share some bird pictures again – I’m still waiting on them to work more on the nest building – I think with all the rain and then it is kind of cold again maybe they are holding off on actually building – I’ll check again tomorrow to see if they made any progress on the nest – they didn’t do anything for the 2 days that it rained.
See ya!
