Color Challenge # 3 - UStamp with Dawn and Friends - Early Summer Edition 2010

Today I decided to work on the 3rd UStamp Color Challenge for the Early Summer Event by making another vintage card using two of my favourite new Stampin' Up! products.  The first product which I love is the Square Lattice Embossing Folder #119976 on page 214 of the 2010/11 Idea Book and Catalogue.  I can't seem to get enough of using this folder.  I'm enjoying the strong textured image and I find it perfect for layering.  My second product choice is the Elements of Style Stamp Set # 118611[W] or 120045 [C] featured on page 133 of the catalogue.  I am so happy with my clear mount version of this set.  I plan to use it a lot over the coming months and have lots of ideas swirling around in my head, so be prepared to see it a lot in my sample cards. 

This color challenge featured Bravo Burgundy, Night of Navy and Always Artichoke.  Even though I love all of these colours I thought they were too dark to work on their own, so after looking at the challenge card again I was inspired to add Crumb Cake as a neutral.  I've stamped the large flower image on the front of the card in Night of Navy and added a 1/4" gross grain ribbon in Bravo Burgundy for some contrast. 

Hope you enjoy this sample.  If you'd like more information about this session of UStamp With Dawn and Friends click here.  It's never too late to join in any of the sessions and there are so many lovely things you can make and great challenges you can enter.  Hope to see you on the boards!

Although a terrible picture, this is the inside of the card.  It looks much better in real life. 

My Stampin Place

I can't believe how lucky I am to have such a really great place for holding my card and scrapbooking sessions. 

I actually have two adjoining rooms one that I use just for crafting which seats six comfortably and a smaller adjoining room which is fully shelved that I use for storage of my supplies and class prep.

My classroom is in need of some paint and shelving, but apart from that it's comfortable and a great place to be creative.   In the winter it's a great place to be because it has it's own cute little fireplace to keep everyone warm and cozy, and in the summer it stays cool and comfortable while the outside temperatures sore.  My hubby's promised me some better lighting, a must for us night owl crafters, and after our other projects are completed, I know he'll come through - he always does!  

Before we moved to this house I tried to sell my old pine china cabinet and table and chairs, but there were no takers. Same with my old Sears Kenmore sewing machine table.   At first I was really disappointed and was on the brink of giving them away but lucky for me when we found this place all that furniture could be put to good use in my craft room.  The hutch has become a display cabinet and storage area, the table and chairs take care of seating and work space and my old sewing cabinet has become my Big Shot Work Station.  Here are some views of the large space. 

This view shows the seating for six.

Here's my cozy little fireplace which also is used for display boards.

One of my many projects planned for this year

is to paint this room and I've got my Color

Caddy out trying to choose the perfect match.  Hmmm, will it be Old Olive with Very Vanilla trim?  Cajun Craze?  I know one thing is for sure I will be using a couple of the Definitely Decorative Wall applications, as I absolutely love them.  If u haven't had a chance to take a look at the new cattie check it out here, it's really inspiring.

The smaller room which I call my prep room, holds all my supplies and has a small table that acts as my prep station.  I can cut my cardstock, use my scorepal, emboss and clean my stamps in this area, which keeps my classroom area neat and tidy.  I love all the shelving as I can find everything at a glance.  On my Wish List for this room are a large bulletin board above the prep table so I can put all my bits and pieces that inspire me; a new paint job; and a better filing cabinet.  What do you think, isn't this a great little room?

Here's a peek through the doorway from the main room.  Three of the walls have shelving units on them and you can just catch a glimpse of my prep table (see the handle on my cutter) when you walk into the room.  The floor is lino so no worries about spilling my dazzling diamonds or my ink pads (which I've been known to do on occasion). 

I still have lots of organizing to do in this room to get the best fit and at some point will put in a nice two drawer lateral file cabinet to hold my card stock, but for now it works for me.

Time is Running Out - Special Rejoin Starter Kit Offer ends July 31st, 2010

Dates: July 1-31, 2010


During the month of July if you were a former Stampin' Up! demonstrator who left Stampin' Up! over the past three years you should have received a special postcard from Stampin' Up! inviting you to rejoin for only $45?  If you've received that postcard and you've been considering the offer, please be aware that time is running out - there are only 5 more days left to take advantage of this great "come back" offer.

"To rejoin Stampin' Up!, former demonstrators only need to purchase the Rejoin Starter Kit and sign and complete a new Independent Demonstrator Application and Agreement.

The Rejoin Starter Kit Contains:
2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog (8)
2010 Summer Mini Catalog (8)
Guest invitation postcards (100)
Customer order forms (50)
2010-2011 Definitely Decorative catalog (1)
Two months free Demonstrator Business Web Services (DBWS) subscription

Chances are if you were a former demonstrator you already have the stamping supplies you need, so, in order to keep the price so low, the Rejoin Starter Kit contains just the bare essentials to help you get your businesses back up and running.  There's never been a better time to be a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, so call me in you need any further information or a copy of the Independent Demonstrator Application and Agreement form. 

Color Challenge #1 - UStamp with Dawn and Friends

I love Color Challenges and especially ones that I can use my beautiful Stampin'Up! colors on.  This is the first challenged from UStamp with Dawn Early Summer Edition 2010. 
If you are interested in viewing the 40 other projects and challenges there is still time to join up. Just click on this link for more information. http://www.ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/.


I love Gretchen Barron's Inspiration in Action blog.  She always has wonderful creations and helpful hints.  So, it wasnt' a stretch when I looked at these colors to make my decision to case a card Gretchen made back in May of this year.  So here's my version.

Inside view of Birthday Sentiment and setup.

Dress and Matching Purse Happy Birthday card in Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive.  Happy Moments Stamp set used for sentiments on inside and outside. Circle Scallop Die from Big Shot for Dress. 

Let me know what you think.  This was a very easy and fun filled project.  I personally love the "purse".  LOL!

Scallop Circle Card

I had a little time on my hands today, so I thought I would play with one of my new stamp sets from Stampin' Up! called "Sense of Time" (pg. 127 IB&C #113804.)  This beautiful set of 4 stamps (2 sentiment an 2 image) is perfect for vintage style retirement cards and that was what I had on my mind today when I sat down to create.

Once again I've used the scallop circle template that Jenn Picard designed for UStamp's Early Edition Summer 2010 session. 

View of the inside of the card.  I repeated the circle layering.

This is such a fun and easy card to make that "time just flew by".  My version uses one of the new InColors, Concord Crush, combined with Basic Black, Basic Gray and Whisper White.  I've embossed with clear embossing powder and used basic grey taffeta ribbon and some clear rhinestones for embellishments.

Here's a view of the outside of the card.  It almost looks blue in this picture, but trust me it is Basic Grey with Concord Crush.  I used the Square Lattice textured impressions folder to give it some added appeal.  I really love that texture plate and my Big Shot.  How can you tell! 

I used clear rhinestones on the cog design to give it some pizazz and mounted it on dimensionals.

If you are interested in viewing the 40 other projects and challenges on UStamp Early Summer Edition 2010 or getting a PDF copy of the tutorial used for the Scallop Circle card,  there is still time to join up. Just click on this link for more information. http://www.ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/.

Share What You Love - Stampin' Up Convention 2010 - Some Highlights

Each year, Stampin' Up! demonstrators from across the US and Canada gather for three days of education, celebration, and motivation. Convention always includes time to swap cards, attend business classes and new-product demonstrations, participate in Make & Takes, and enjoy time with the best stampers in the world!   This year the convention is being held at the Salt Lake Convention Palace in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake Convention Palace in Salt Lake City.

I couldn't find a picture of the convention crowd for this year's event but as you can see from this 2008 Opening Day picture, thousands of demonstrators sign up for this absolutely fabulous fun filled 4-day event. I sure wish I was one of them and could have attended this year, but it wasn't in the cards (no pun intended).  But next year I'm going to make it one of my goals to attend. If you're interested in becoming a demonstrator or returning as a previous demo maybe we can plan to go together! Wouldn't that be fun?

In the meantime I must be satisfied with surfing the net for photos and dreaming about attending! Disappointingly there really hasn't been much news from our local gals who're attending (Colourful Impressions) or from UStamp With Friends (Dawn Raspas) about the Convention Highlights so I decided to do some sleuthing on my own and discovered some blogs with pictures of the event and sample walls.  Everything looks so cool!!  Thanks ladies.  

So, if you're like me and would like to see what's going on,  and get a sneak peak of convention highlights too, pop on over to Sandi MacIver's Blog. What a great gal!  She's been taking away from her time at convention to post pictures on her blog, and has organized a blog hop with her friends Carole Ann Sluchinski (Stamping Stress Away) and Lee Conrey (Stampingleeyours). They're all hanging together, but have agreed to post different pictures on their sites to highlight the events they saw.  Oh, and if you leave a comment on their blogs you could win a collapsible trash container for the table top.  I just loved their pictures and stories of the event.  Happy surfing! 

Shelli Gardner on stage Opening Day at Stampin'Up 2010 Convention Salt Lake City.

UStamp Color Challenge #2

The UStamp With Dawn Early Summer Edition is still under way for a few more days.  The Projects have been just terrific and so have been the Challenges.  I loved the Color Challenges this time around and here is a sample of my rendition of Color Challenge #2.  Hope you like it. 

If you are interested in viewing the 40 other projects and challenges there is still time to join up.  Just click on this link for more information.  http://www.ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/