I am so excited to welcome you to the ROYAL BLOG TOUR!
I hope you are excited to be here.
I will go back to my regular posting schedule after the tour – this post will be here until the tour is over.
Sit back and relax as you take the tour and see wonderful samples using stamp sets and accessories from the Stampin’ Up! 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.
On the tour you will visit Princesses from all over showing you different styles of stamping.
Have fun on the tour!
My featured stamp set is the new CIRCLE CIRCUS stamp set! This set offers circles with all sorts of lively, fresh designs to choose from. Stampin’ Up! had another circle based stamp set that I just loved but it retired a few catalogs ago and I have missed it. When I saw the Circle Circus set I knew this would fill that void. Circles are everywhere and so fun to use. And Stampin’ Up! has plenty of circle punches and the new Circle Scissor Plus that work perfectly with this set.
My first project is a card that I made with a kaleidoscope in mind.
You know the little toys we had as kids that you turned and they made pretty colorful designs.
It is a spinner card and when you rotate the wheel the beads spin inside the window.
The colors I used are Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Ballet Blue along with white and black. These are the large beads from the Bead Duos and I happened to have blue and orange ones so I was pretty much pointed in that color direction. The main stamp set here is of course the Circle Circus stamp set. Other sets that I used to make this into a birthday card are the Family Phrases stamp set and on the inside I used the Birthday Wish stamp.
Visit my blog next week to see a tutorial on how to make the window with the beads and the spinner for the card. EDITED TO ADD: Instructions were posted on 7/29/2009.
My second project is another card that is a totally different style of card. This one has a more elegant look to it and while I used it as a Thank You card I think it could even be a wedding/anniversary type card too.
This is what I call a Tile card because it is supposed to look like tiles. The colors I used are the new Soft Suede, More Mustard and Very Vanilla. I added the Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon which I love. One side has the polka dots but the other is plain so it is like getting two ribbons for the price of one. The main stamp set is Circle Circus but I used only one image from the set. The greeting is the Elegant Thank You stamp.
I will have instructions on creating this card posted after I return from the Stampin’ Up! convention which is Aug. 5 – 8.
My third project is my favorite and I have had such a hard time keeping it under wraps. I was ready to share as soon as I finished it!
It is a 2-page 12×12 scrapbook layout with the title “Hangin’ Out Together”. 
While on the last card I used only one image from the Circle Circus stamp set this time I think I used them all! And lots of circle punches too.
The colors are so fun – Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie. I like layouts with lots of pictures and you could even take the large Old Olive mats and add collages of smaller pictures. You can use one of the Pumpkin Pie mats as a journaling block too.
The various circles are layered some with and some without Stampin’ Dimensionals. Some have brads in the centers too – Silver, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise and even a Filgree flower brad.
We will be making this fun layout in my scrapbook class on July 29th.
I have the perfect pictures of this page of my son, Tyler, and my niece, Emily, together on the beach one night just hangin’ out. I have to get the pictures printed and will post these pages again with pictures later.
And one more card…. I loved the scrapbook page so much I wanted to use the same idea to create a birthday card. The colors in this picture are off – it is the same color combination that is on the scrapbook page, not sure what happened to my picture this time. I have decided to remove the picture of the card so I can retake it – it looked worse this morning than I though it did yesterday – totally the wrong colors. I’ll repost after the tour so come back and visit again or sign up to receive email updates and you will know when I make updates. Thanks so much.
I hope that you like my samples and that you will bookmark my blog or sign up for email updates (see my side bar) and visit me again.
I’ll be giving away some Blog Candy after the tour is over. Here are the details:
I will have two Blog Candy prizes – one for blog tour visitors that are Stampin’ Up! customers (and live in the US) and one for Stampin’ Up! demonstrators.
For both prizes you need to do two things:
1. leave a comment on this blog post with your name and if you are demonstrator or customer and which project is your favorite.
2. send me an email to monikastamp@bellsouth.net with the same information including your contact information so I can get your prize to you.
Blog Candy prize for Customers:
A Designer Paper Sampler – it will include one 6″x6″ piece of each double-sided print in the 12 new Designer Papers introduced in this catalog (not including the In-Color patterns).
Blog Candy prize for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators:
One of my Class To Go Kit Tutorials – instructions only in a pdf file – you can choose one from a prior month (some products may be retired but you can always substitute current product and stamp sets) or choose my August tutorial which will be released after the tour.
And don’t forget to visit the main Royal Blog Tour Blog (that should have been where you started – the crown at the top of this post will take you there) for a chance to win a BIG SHOT die cut machine! That’ very exciting so be sure to read the rules on how to enter.
Good luck! Thanks for stopping by!
REALLY cute scrapbook pages Monika!! I’ve beek so crazy busy lately… hope you have been too 🙂 Hope to see all of you at convention this year!! You’re so talented, I’ll have to check your blog more often!! Your friend, Sharon
Hi,
I love this set and you have done a wonderful job of showcasing it. I’m a demo and thanks for doing the blog.
sarah@stetlerarts.com
I really like the 2nd project: the tile card… simple but elegant!
Sue… a demo
Hi there… I LOVE this blog tour! It’s such an inspiration to us demonstrators!! I’ve been a demonstrator for the last 10 years, but basically only a hobbiest. My favorite project is the kaleidascope card… I’d LOVE to know how you did that!
Thanks!
Carol
http://www.kooglenotes.blogspot.com
carol.kugler@comcast.net
Monika, your blog is fantastic. Loved your explanations of your usage of the Circle Circus stamp set and my favourite was the Tile look card. Loved the colours and symetry.
Loved your projects and the scrapbook pages the most. Great colors. I am a customer.
mariah@oliveirafamily.com
your samples are so unique and creative! I am a SU! DEVOTED customer! 😉
I forgot to add that the kaleidoscope card is probably my fave, but gosh, they are all great! 🙂
Hey Monika.
Just started the tour. I really like your kaleidoscope card. I love movement cards. Good job on your blog/ tour entry. :0) Well I’m on to another blog on the tour.
Yvonne
Hi, I am a demonstrator, and I can’t pick just one. I love the kaleidoscope card, so gorgeous, the second card has such a
middle eastern feel to it, like a tiled wall on a mosque, and since
I was a scrapbooker first, I love the scrapbook page and matching card. Thanks so much for sharing these beautiful creations.
carolyn s
ceashark at aol dot com
Beautiful scrapbook pages and projects, Monka! Love your blog!
I love the scrapbook page. Can’t wait to make it this month 🙂
Love it…..
Lisa
found a new blog subsciber … love the scrap pages
I love the thank you card. I just purchased the circles stamp set and it was such a pleasure to see some really good uses for it.
Monica (nice name, huh?), customer, Florida
I really do love this set- so many things you can do with it! I love your use of colors on the Happy Birthday card! Thanks for the offer of blog candy 🙂
Desi
drgdlgletterboxers@yahoo.com
Now I have to get this set. I love the look you did on your samples. I would love to be entered into your demo draw.
Jennifer
jguyeby@verizon.net
http://jguyeby.blogspot.com/
I am a fairly new demo (March 2009). All projects are wonderful but I like the scrapbook pages best. I wasn’t too sure I wanted this set, but ordered it anyway. Now I really like it.
I just love the spinner card and can’t wait to learn how to do it. Gives me some great ideas.
LOVE your samples! I am a demonstrator and am always looking for inspiration and your blog has it. I can’t choose one. I really like the Kaleidoscope card and the scrapbook pages because I need to get some done and work on getting caught up!
surachelb at gmail dot com
I really love how versatile this set is. There are so many uses that I think it is a limitless set! I really enjoyed what you did with them with your LayOut. Just stunning!
I am a customer and am on my way to send you an e-mail!
Your projects are just amaZING and so inspiring. I just love your creative style. Thanks for this fabulous eye candy along this Royal Tour. I’m a SU customer..that’s for a chance at some sweeeeeeeeet SU candy.
The spinner card is very impressive, and I really like the colors. Thanks for the chance for the lovely blog candy.
Lola G., customer
Monika, fantastic projects! TFS. Your first project is very intriguing and creative. I am a demo and would love to win one of your planners.
My first visit to your blog. Beautiful! Thanks for a chance to win! I’m a SU customer. I lIke the scrapbook pages.
Beth
bethbeaty at earthlink dot net
Nice ideas and thanks for all the hard work and for sharing 🙂
love your color choices also.
Debbie
I love your projects and the colors used! I am a fellow SU! Demo and my fave project is your scrapbook pages. :o)
Nice projects. The set is nice too. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
Great job on the projects. Thanks for the candy.
Great cards! I love them all. I can’t pick a favorite. Thanks for the chance to win the candy. SU customer.
Great ideas with this set. I like the Tile card the best. Thanks for sharing and for a chance to win some blog candy. jmniffer
Forgot to mention I am a customer, not a demo. jmniffer
I am a SU! demonstrator, and I love, love, love your spinner card with the beads. Too cute!
anita.konvicka@gmail.com
Great color combos and love the layout for the scrapbook page.
Love your projects! This stamp set is on my ever-growing wish list and you certainly showed it off nicely! If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the spinner card for the sheer fun factor 🙂
shady-lady at cox dot net
wonderful Monika, it would be great to win one of your pdf files
Thanks for sharing and for this opportunity to win
Eileen
I love the thank you card. Circle circus seems to show up only in bright colors so its nice to see it used in a more elegant way.
Thanks for the non-demo blog candy!
-Brandy
brandyc at tampabay.rr.com
i really like the simplicity of your scrapbook layouts! that color combination rocks! thanks for sharing…
I like the elegant thank you card the best. I am a newbie demo and I am enjoying the blog tour. THANKS FOR SHARING
I love all of the projects, but my very favorite is the scrapbook layout. I really like all the circles and the colors are great.
I’m a customer and can’t wait to come back for the tutorial on the spinner card.
barney595@yahoo.com
oh my goodness! what creative projects! I love the kaliedascope card! what an awesome idea! I am an SU demonstrator, and would love to share this card as well as the tile card with my customers – they will LOVE them! Carla
Fabulous scrapbook page! Thanks for sharing….
Fabulous scrapbook page! Thanks for sharing your art with us!
Monika-
I love the samples you made with Circle Circus. The colors you chose are perfect for this stamp set. I love that circle on the front of the first card. So cute!
Thanks so much for sharing and for the chance to win:)
Julie A. (SU Customer)
thearvins@verizon.net
I love the Circle Circus page- the “piles” of circles are great!
Sorry- forgot to say I’m a customer!
i am a happy-cat customer. this tour is wonderful – so many ideas, and i have some of the stamp sets! f lynn rush
I like everything you showcased, but I would say the first card is my favorite. It is bright and pretty, plus I would never have thought to put Ballet Blue with Old Olive! Wow, I like it. I am a SU customer and thank you for the chance to win your DSP sampler.
Love your very first card… the spinner/shaker. How fun and the COLORS are divine!!! Thank you for a nice stop on my tour!
Marita
kmskfam@aol.com
SU Customer
Hey Monika! I wanna win your blog candy! I am a SU demo – my email address is stimmerman@embarqmail.com and I LOVE your “kaleidoscope” card! VERY cool and SO reminds me of a kaleidoscope! I wonder…do they still sell those little cheapy ones in the stores????
Cute, Cute, Cute! The spinner idea is wonderful! That would make a great kids card. I’m a demo.
WOW! I love the idea of the kalaidascope card. I can’t wait to come back and see your tutorial. I will totally be teaching THAT to my club! You are an inspiration for me as a demo! Thanks! ( I am crossing my fingers for that demo BLOG CANDY!)
Amanda
akharbison@hotmail.com
Monika, you did a fabulous job with your shares. WOW they are all gorgeous. You ROCK!!
Wow Monika. These are stunning!!! TFS
Love the second card. Very sharp looking.
Char- D
Oops, forgot to say I am a SU customer.
I love your work. I have the circus circus stamp set and love what you have done with it! I’m a huge card maker and love the card best! I have to say that your scarpbook layout seems so simple and I have been wanting to get into scrapbooking! If I’m lucky enough to win you can get me here jchambers27@comcast.net
I love your projects! Thanks for sharring. Sharri C Hobby demo
I like the shaker card, but the scrapbook page is my favorite-so versatile to go with multiple themes!
Love the layers of your scrapbook pages! lovely projects
Loved your scrapbook pages and can’t wait to see how to make the kaleidoscope card. Thanks for sharing your talent. Hope you have a great time at convention. I have yet to go but will some day.
I love the scrapbook pages! I am a demo and would love the chance to win a class kit!!
I like both of the cards. I have just started the Stampin’ UP! cardmaking process and these are both great looking cards.
michele.l.turner@dom.com
Can’t wait to see how you made the spinner card! I am a demo and would love to share it with my Stamp Nite Gals. Would love a chance to get your class kit….Thanks for including us demos!
I am a SU customer and my favorite is the first spinner card.
I love the scrapbook page. I can see this stamp set must be added to wish list. Thanks for sharing.
Diane
tdharris1@cox.net
I am sorry I forgot to tell you that I am a customer
Diane
tdharris1@cox.net
Wow, you scrapbook page is just incredible. I would never come up with something like that.
I’m a demo. Thanks for sharing.
Jasmina
I love your samples! BUt i love love loved the scrapbook pages! I will def want to make those! Thanks for sharing! I’m sending you an email and i have bookmarked your blog.
I’m a customer, thanks for sharing all these great projects. I like them all!
Krista
Your projects were great! Thanks for participating in the Royal Blog Tour.
I’m a demo, and I LOVED your scrapbook page! I can see why you had trouble keeping that project a secret for long! 🙂
I’m a hobby demonstrator – haven’t sold a thing but buy lots! I didn’t like circle circus before – but love love LOVE the scrapbook page! I might just have to try it … great projects! thanks for the inspiration!
Love your cards and layouts Jackie Kenny
My fav is the spinner card; but, all are great! Thanks for sharing and a chance to win. mary jo
Gorgeous!
Hi Monica, my favorite is the scrapbook pages, really cute and great for guys!. I’m a customer.
Cindy F
cinmfoster at aol dot com
Thanks for sharing your creations! They are wonderful!
Debbie
I love the kaleidoscope card! What a neat idea. (customer)
I really Love the kaleidoscope card it is BEAUTIFUL!!! Thanks for showing us such Great Stuff and also for the Great Blog Tour! I am a customer and I would Love to win your Blog Candy. Thanks Jayne mjjjjtw@yahoo.com
My favorite is definitely the crapbook pages. I really like the design and colors. I am a customer and a scrapbooker.
Thanks! Cheryl email: fam4farm@yahoo.com
Hi Monika – I am a customer and I love the scrapbook layout – the cirlces are fabulous!
Suprisingly I am not usually a scrapbooker, but I just love the way you put the circles on the scrapbook pages!
I am a customer and thank you for the chance to win the candy.
Denise
I really like all of your projects, but my favorite would have to be the scrapbook pages. Thank you for sharing!
I love the scrapbook layouts! AWESOME!
You do FABULOUS work!
I’m an SU demo and would be THRILLED to win an tutorial from you!
Elizabeth Sloman
Hi Monika! I’m loving the scrapbook pages too. I’m a customer and am totally in love with Circle Circus! Thanks for sharing your blog.
I really love your projects, but the shaker card is my favorite. Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win the awesome blog candy. I emailed you my contact info. I am a customer.
I love your creations-the first card is my favorite!
I am a demo and my contact info is my aol address.
Thanks for sharing.
I love all the samples you posted. My favorite is the scrapbook layout.
I am a non-demo.
Card #2 is my favorite, I like the easy elegance you achieved. I’m a demo and would love a chance to win one of your tutorials.
kxensen@comcast.net
My fave is the first card–I love kaleidoscopes! Thanks for sharing!
-kt
Monika,
Scrapbook pages are definetly my fave. Love your artworks, all are lovely. Just bookmarked your blog, looking forward to see more 🙂
Tenny Kusuma
santoso10ny@gmail.com
Lincoln, NE
Off to email you my contact info. Thanks
really like the dark card – very masculine
I like your style – will be visiting again
Kathy Salameda
customer
kathyangel@comcast.net
I am a SU Customer. I love the Kaleidoscope Card!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!! Thanks for sharing!
Linda C.
lindaannga@ymail.com
I love the spinner card and can’t wait to learn how to make it!
customer
Nan
My favorite would be the first project! I think the kaleidoscope is a great touch and love the color combo! thanks for sharing
Hi! My favourite was the spinner/kaleidoscope card. Great idea!! I’m a fellow demo, and would be delighted to get one of your “Class to Go” kits! Will be sending you an email- gotta run to get some more spots on this tour!!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Sharon Steinwand
Loving the scrapbook pages! (customer)
Love your blog!!! Cute, cute, cute cards and pages. No longer a demonstrator, but still a lover of fine stamps!!!!
Jackie Pritchett
My fave is your first card with the “kalidescope.” That is so cool. I’m an SU customer. Thanks for sharing such great projects!
I love the Circle Circus set and love your versatility with these samples! My favorite was the tile card as it inspired me to use the stamps for elegant cards as well. Thanks for these lovely ideas!
Sorry…forgot to tell you that I’m a new demonstrator. 😉 Thanks.
I like the tile card. Very nice use of the new suede paper and ribbon.
SU customer, very first blog tour – thanks.
I love the little window with the beads in the first card. Somany great ideas. 🙂
Hope Cottrell
hopecottrell@gmail.com
customer
All the projects are gorgeous but, my favorite is definitely the scrapbook pages! I’m a demonstrator (very new one) and have a group that is most interested in scrapbooking, so I’m always looking for inspiration. Thanks for sharing!
I love the scrapbook page! Thanks for sharing – Michele
Love the samples. I like the first one best. Love the blog tour.
Thanks for the chance to win blog candy
Melinda
hamiltondm@hotmail.com
Love the scrapbook ideas. I have bookmarked your blog. You rock!
The tile card is my favorite. customer ,Thanks
I love the elegant thank you card.
Amy H
amyhaskedakes@gmail.com
Monika,
My favorite project is the spinner card! You have a great blog. I’m an SU! demo.
Thanks,
Jenifer
Love the spinner card. Bright and cheerful
Monika-
I just recently got into scrapping and I love your layout!! 🙂
can’t wait to peruse your site and subscribe to see whatother goodies you have posted
Thank You so much for the tutorial. This card is so cool. To be able to get a shaker and and spinner card all in one…AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing many more of your great cards!
Very cute card!
Congratulations on winning Shelly’s contest! What an awesome recognition for you!