I just realized I never blogged about our third and final day out at Willow Valley. The morning flew by! The women worked on a few projects before packing up.
You may remember that I provided each attendee with a goody bag filled with coordinating products. I challenged them to make one or more projects using the supplies. I held a contest on Sunday morning to choose my favorite card, scrapbook page, or ABC project (anything but a card). Here are all of the entries. Which did you like best?
I just received my Simply Scored Diagonal plate last weekend which helped me to FINALLY finish the projects for the Simply Scored class that's coming up in a week on Sunday, March 11th. Space is very limited. So, if you're interested, don't wait too long to sign up.
In this class you will make:
Materials Fee: $25.00
Sunday, March 11th - 2pm
This past weekend I sat down to design another swap card for an upcoming Stampin' Up! Regional Conference in Columbus, Ohio this coming Saturday. I had a rough time getting started but apparently came up with a winner based upon my Facebook feedback!
I've started posting cards during my design process if I'm not entirely in love with the design. This is the second attempt to design this card. I posted my first attempt on Facebook and got lots of constructive criticism - all about things that I wasn't a fan of. So, I went back to the drawing board and came up with this. I was completely overwhelmed by the feedback my friends provided.
Many people thought the background was embossed. Nope! I inked up the Sunflower background stamp using a VERY well-inked Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad. I stamped the image on Basic Gray Card Stock layered over Basic Black and Daffodil Delight Card Stock.
I cut out the Daffodil Delight label using the new Framelits in the Occasions Mini. I then embossed the frame. I lightly brayered Basic Black Classic Ink over the raised edges of the frame (I'll be cursing myself all week for this design element). I used one of my favorite Sale-a-Bration stamp sets - Elementary Elegance to stamp the sentiment and birds. I punched them with the Extra Large Oval Punch. I added some texture with the 1-1/4" Basic Gray Striped Grosgrain ribbon (cut in half and frayed).
At the beginning of this year, several of us at my "office job" created a "Lunch Club" in an effort to save money and be more healthy. The rules are simple. Every Wednesday plus one other weekday, you must pack your lunch! If you don't pack your lunch, you must put a dollar in the jar. It was my job to decorate and bring in the jar.
Well, last month went quick with a 2-week vacation followed by a week of Open House prep. I finally sat down this past Monday night to decorate our jar. I knew I wanted to use the new framelits and ribbon. Here's what I came up with!
I watercolored the flowers using my Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, and Lucky Limeade markers and a Blender Pen. I stamped the image first then cut it with the coordinating framelit. I also cut a larger frame out of the new SAB DSP. That layer hides the ends of the ribbon. I used the Daffodil 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain, Chocolate Chip Satin, and Victoria Lace Trim.
You'll notice that there's already $6 in the jar. That would be MY contribution so far to the lunch club.
What happens when the jar is full? We're treating ourselves to lunch or ice cream! At this rate, it won't take too long!
It felt like it had been ages since I'd gotten together with the gals in my downline. But, it had only really been a month (a month with a couple of holidays and a lot of traveling). I was so excited to see them all and share with them all of the exciting news, updates, and swaps from Leadership! At each and every downline meeting we swap cards and we learn a couple of techniques. We have a swap contest, door prizes, and share inspiration!
The first card was the winner of our swap contest and designed by Darlene K!
Here are the remainder of the Stamp Sorority January swap cards:
Gail's Card:
My Card (inspired by Mary Fish):
Lynn's Card:
Hallie's Card:
Patty Jo's Card:
Jane's Card:
I had a workshop last night with some of my favorite customers. The hostess had some VERY specific requests: Easter Card, Sale-a-Bration DSP, Valentine's Day Card, and a new technique! I had to squeeze that into two cards. New techniques always stress me out when I'm stamping with customers who have been stamping for decades longer than me. How can I possibly show them something that's new?!?!?!
This card met two of her requests: Easter and it uses the Everyday Enchantment (FREE SAB) DSP. I used a layout I saw over on Mary Fish's blog. You may know that I visit Mary's blog quite often when I'm looking to break out of my normal design rut. I especially liked her design because it incorporated TWO SAB products. Do you know what the second is (other than the DSP)? The set of Designer Frames embossing folders. They are one of the Big Catalog products you can choose for free during SAB. I LOVE these frames, but I'm always frustrated because we don't have anything (at least I thought) that cut them out. Well, look how nicely the oval dots fits inside of the Labels Framelit!!! You'll be seeing me do this more often!!!
It's a tradition at any Stampin' Up! event to make small gifts for roommates and friends. I made quite a few of these little boxes featuring several Sale-a-Bration products which you can earn for free from now until March 31st!!! Like my swaps, the supplies for these had to go on my cruise and be packed away in my suitcase for a week and assembled when I got to Texas. I didn't make a prototype before I left. In fact, I designed them in my head only a few hours before we left for the airport for the trip! I hoped that I could turn it into something. In fact, I wasn't even sure how many I was going to need - so I brought plenty of supplies with me! I also hoped that I could find some filler for the boxes on my travels so that I would have one less thing to pack!
The box itself was cut using the Petal Cone Die. I punched a 1-1/4" in circle in one side of the box and used a window sheet to create a window. I also found that the larger Scallop Square from the Scallop Squares Duo Die made a nice base for the box - granted, I'm not entirely sure how you get the candy out of the box once it's assembled. I knew that would be an issue from the beginning - but it wasn't my issue!!! Ha Ha!!! The recipients can figure that one out!
The paper used is the Everyday Enchantment DSP you can earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration with a $50 purchase. The Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral ribbon in the bow is also one of the products you can earn for free during Sale-a-Bration. I am TOTALLY in love with these color combinations. And, yes, I do remember saying I wasn't a fan of the Calypso Coral just two short months ago.
I filled the boxes with taffy that I found in a little candy shop in Fredericksburg, Texas the week of Leadership. If you're ever near Austin or San Antonio, make sure you stop by Fredericksburg. It's an adorable little town - and I definitely helped the local economy there!!!
Last night about a dozen of demonstrators on my team gathered at my home for our annual Christmas Party. It was an enjoyable evening filled with food, sharing, and creativity. Most of the participants took part in a Secret Santa gift exchange. The rules were very "loose" with the only restriction being that it should include SU supplies in some way. Every single one of the projects was gorgeous. All of the items were some sort of home decor. Several of the gals made ornaments. Some were glittery balls, one was heat embossed, and one made using chipboard. Lynn made a beautiful fabric tray filled with brownies. Hallie made everyone little Santa favors. Patty Jo made an adorable night light that she stamped images from one of my all-time favorite stamp sets. Darlene made a gorgeous wreath inspired by the one in the Holiday Mini Catalog. And, I made this wooden sign.
To make the sign, I took a piece of scrap wood and painted it. I cut letters and butterflies using my Big Shot out of some DSP that you'll be able to earn for FREE during Sale-a-Bration next year! I "tacked" the letters down using some SNAIL - only to hold them in place. I then painted a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the sign to seal the letters. I embellished the sign with some of the FREE brads you can also earn during SAB next year. I cut the "legs" off of the brads and attached them to the middle of the butterflies using my hot glue gun. I'm really pleased with the results and see lots of possibilities!
