Fun with Swaps!

Happy Wednesday Friends!
It always feels good to reach that half way point in a week. I had the front end of my week loaded up and the last half is smooth sailing!  That means extra time for doing what I love to do - STAMP!  It also means I may get some other things done, but we'll see.

Have you ever heard of a swap in your crafting experience?  A swap can be voluntary, unorganized, highly organized and specific, etc. It's when every one in a group makes something to swap with the other people in the group who also make something to swap. It's a great way to get new ideas, use up some leftover embellishments or card stock and try your hand at something you've wanted to try for awhile now.

Recently, my local stamp group ( my downline of SU demonstrators) and I, known as "Big Sky Stampers", got together for a team meeting and brunch. We always include a swap because we are crazy about stamping and love to make things for every one!  I wanted to share my bounty!  Here are some of the wonderful swaps I ended up with.

The rules are fairly simple... make what you want and bring it. We tend towards cards, 3D treat holders and decor. As you can see, we all had some great ideas and it was fun to swap.  It's amazing how creative and different we are but we are similar in our love of rubber stamping. Stamping is what brought us together as crafters but now the love and affection keeps us together as friends. I'm so thankful to all of them as they inspire me and each other.

Want to be part of our stamping group?  I'll let you know how that can be done if you contact me!  We are always open to expanding our circle to others who love to stamp!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Sarah

Wishing You Well

Hi Friends,
Just like that, it's Monday again!  I'm not sure where time flies to but it certainly goes fast, doesn't it. I'm hoping that some day it will slow down a tad but most of my busy-ness is self-induced these days so I guess I need to work on that!

I'm eager to show you one of the most delightful stamp sets in the new 2018 Holiday Catalog. It features some weedy-type branches and a wreath with an amazing bow. I sat down with this set and really had a lot of fun with it. There are so many different ways to use it.  Here are some ideas:

For my first card, I went with an autumn themed color palette. It's fun to repurpose a holiday set with other times of the year. I kept it simple with just 2 colors of ink, Crushed Curry and Early Espresso.

For my next card, I hung the "weeds" upside down, as if they hung on a door or wall and chose a Christmas themed color scheme. Notice the use of the "Sheet Music" background stamp in a very light Sahara Sand ink.

For this card, I wanted to use some of the gorgeous Share What You Love Designer Series Paper. It has a pearlized finish to it making the card shimmer just a bit. It also gave me my color scheme and I used the wreath image instead of the weeds this time.

Since it's the holiday crafting season, I decided to go full-out Christmas and use the wreath and bow with some new paper, available only for free with a $250 or more order, "Dashing Along" DSP.  I love the newspaper column motif in Garden Green.

For my last card, I wanted to explore what I could do with the "Petal Promenade" Designer Series Paper. It is a rich, beautiful paper set using actual photographic images of flowers. I also was curious if the wreath would punch out with some circle punches and it did!

Aren't the fonts pretty in this stamp set!  I fell in love with this set immediately and know you will too if you try it. It's versatile for use all year which I one thing I love in a stamp set. More bang for your buck is always good!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek to see what I'm up to.  I create a lot of my work with an effort to showcase what different projects can look like with the same stamp set. It stretches me creatively and shows you that there's more than meets the eye with any one stamp set or bundle.  I'd love to help answer any questions or problem solve on a project or advise about what to order. Just contact me and I'll get right back to you. There is never a shortage of ideas out there!

Happy Stampin',
Sarah

Angels on Earth - Stampin'Up!

Hi Friends,
I don't know about where you live, but the cooler weather has definitely arrived in Montana. That is always welcome this time of year as I'm tired of heat and smoke!  I think that season has finally moved on and I wouldn't mind if it never came back haha!

It's been a busy week in my Stampin'Up! world.  Last Saturday, I hosted a group of ladies that wanted to get back into stamping after several years off. They all have day jobs in the same office and thought it would be fun to do something crafty together on the weekend. It was a pleasure to meet them and they had a great time rediscovering an old hobby as well as seeing what's new in the rubber stamping industry. If you haven't stamped recently, things have definitely changed and for the good. We have so many more advancements in tools and techniques that help you become a master stamper in no time. I would love to do more of this for you and your group of friends. Contact me and we can have a workshop just for your group and tailor it to what you want to do!

I want to share another stamp set from the 2018 Holiday Catalog that caught my attention because of the "vintage" vibe I knew I could create with it. It's called "Angels on Earth" and has a style that harkens back in time. I love antiques and the vintage style so it was an easy addition to my wish list for this fall.  In no time, I was able to create several different cards using this fun set.

Would you like to see them?  Here ya go!

This first card I tried almost every vintage technique I know!  I used a background stamp with spatters of color on it and kept it subtle by using Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake paper. I then roughened up the edges of my background piece with an old tool that has a razor blade edge. A sharp scissors blade will do the trick as well. After the edges were frayed, I used a dauber and some Soft Suede ink to darken the edges a bit. This gives the an aged, almost burned look. I added an accent piece with a strip of Crumb Cake paper embossed with the new Corrugated embossing folder. I also inked up the edges of that. I then did the rest of my stamping and was so happy with the results.

From there, I made the next three projects!

This card features some of our wonderful embossing paste and a mask that creates the image of bricks.  I stamped the angle first so I knew exactly NOT where to spread the embossing paste. (Hint:  If you use embossing paste and a mask, be sure to wash it up immediately and don't let it sit around with the embossing paste leftovers on it. It will dry and be harder to remove!) My background paper is from the Tranquil Textures Designer Series Paper set. 14772

I then thought it would be fun to try to stamp the angel stamp on vellum!  It worked really well, but you have to let it dry. The ink doesn't absorb into vellum like it does on regular paper and so I helped it along with my heat tool. Just be careful!  Vellum will burn if it gets to hot and then it stains.  I used the Marbled background stamp with Granite Gray ink on Granite Gray paper. Curious about how I did the ribbon?  I laid down a strip of Snail adhesive and then bunched up the ribbon across it. You can make it as bumpy or smooth as you want!

For my last card, I went back to the vintage style. I used some vintage looking paper from the Tranquil Textures Designer Series Paper set. this time, I ripped the edges here and there and then inked them up to make them look aged. My original piece was the size of my card. I just ripped off corners and then placed some retired newsprint DSP behind the corners to get to the size I needed. It looks like the two are stacked on top of each other!  I again stamped the angel on vellum, this time with Momento Black ink. The sentiment is from a favorite Christmas set last year that is still in our annual catalog, called "Hearts Come Home".

I love stamp sets that lend themselves to creating so many different looks and I discovered this angel stamp set was one of those. I feel like I get my money's worth when a stamp set is versatile.

Have you had a chance to browse through the 2018 Holiday Catalog?  You can see it online by clicking on the picture of it at the top of the blog, on the right. If you want to order, click on "shop now".  Any order from a new customer that is entered online is entitled to a special gift from me!  I'm trying to increase my blog traffic and awareness and I want to do something special for those that place an order online because they read my blog!   Please contact me if you have any questions about an order or need advice about what to get!  Our product line is huge and can be overwhelming so I'm happy to help you navigate that. It doesn't matter where you live, as long as it's the United States. Your order will be directly shipped to you and I'm happy to help deal with any questions or issues if they arise.

I don't know if there really are angels on the earth (the Bible certainly alludes to it!) but I do know I've had many people in my life that acted like one. I'm grateful for them and you!
Blessings,
Sarah

Frosted Florals (Part 2)

Hi Friends,
I'm back today with some more lovely samples to show you, featuring the "Frosted Florals" bundle. I got so caught up in the stamping at first I forgot about the framelits!  I then tried to combine the two in several of these designs.

Without further adieu,

The above card features one of the prettiest papers from the Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper. It has such a rich color scheme and variation of shades of color. You can also see the style of stamping with this new set of stamps in the leafy images above. This is a new variation of rubber stamps that Stampin'Up! is perfecting and calling "Distinktive stamps". "Distinktive stamps create different opacities in a single stamped image for realistic depth and intensity.... " I love how the stamped image looks hand painted and shaded with a gentle blending of color.

This new style of stamp is even more evident in these rose and leaf images above. Believe it or not, that lush color variation is achieved by inking up a single stamp on a single ink pad. The carving of the stamp has created the dimensional effect without any additional techniques.  I love it!

This card incorporates a lacy edge border, perfect to offset the pretty floral design paper.

Sometimes I like to play with a monochromatic effect, meaning limiting the color palette just a bit. Did you notice the use of the Tin Tile embossing folder in the background?  That's a new favorite!

When I first saw this Mint Macaron Designer Series paper, I knew it needed to be featured all by itself. It's so gorgeous!

Finally, I stamped the same image in three different colors and adhered them to a subtle background for a simple yet effective style of card. Again, you can see the variation in color saturation through use of the Distinktive style of stamp.

I hope you'll give the Frosted Floral suite a look and add it to your collection of stuff. It's super fun to play with and easily adapts itself for many different uses, styles and looks. That's a lot of versatility in one bundle!

On the update side of things, the CLEARANCE RACK was recently updated and there are some spectacular bargains in there. Does your paper or ink collection need some refreshing?  Everything in the Clearance Rack is retired and no longer available through the regular catalog, but for many of you, that doesn't matter. A bargain is a bargain, right?!!  Take a look at the link provided below and see if there might be something you just have to have. You can set up a customer profile and start loading your shopping cart!

CLEARANCE RACK UPDATE!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I would love to hear your comments or questions so leave one below and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.  I'm participating in a trial program to boost my business with Stampin'Up! and comments on a blog are a great way to let me know you're here and you are watching what I'm up to!  Thanks a ton!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Frosted Florals (Part 1)

Hi Friends,
I hope you are ready for another week of inspiration!  I'm done with some of the traveling I wanted to do before summer was completely gone and my focus now is Stampin'Up!  I have several classes and events this week as well as many more planned on the horizon. One of my goals is to share some of the new products from the 2018 Holiday Catalog in hopes of inspiring you to embark on your own creative journey with rubber stamping. It's such a fun hobby and one that any person can do, regardless of experience with crafts or artistic ability!  I come from a long line of crafting but have no artistic ability. I always say, "I can write my name" and that's about it!

If you've seen the new catalog, I hope the "Frosted Florals" bundle caught your eye, on page 36 and 37. Isn't it gorgeous?!!  The stamps and framelits are fun but the paper is especially unique. It has a pearlized sheen to it and the floral/botanical theme is absolutely beautiful. This is one paper you have to see to believe and also to touch!

I recently held a card class featuring this set and created several examples of what could be done featuring this gorgeous paper. Some of the following cards use a full background of the paper and others use some snippets here and there. Either way, the paper stands out and draws the eye to it right away.  Here are some of my ideas:

For this first card, I used just a small piece of the Frosted Floral Designer Series Paper and based my color scheme off of it.  This card also features a new embossing folder, "Tin Tile" Dynamic Impressions Embossing folder.

For this second card, I thought it would be fun to do a "fun fold" card and incorporate more of the wonderful paper. This is a "center step" style card and I used 3 different papers to make it.

The following card features my favorite paper from the Frosted Floral DSP set. It has a subtle hint of Christmas with the evergreen boughs, but is in a color scheme that can work for any time of the year.  Notice I added a pearlized doily to compliment the sheen of the paper as well.

Just when I say I have a favorite paper, another one pops up!  This paper features these lovely flowers and due to the various colors used, you can go many directions with this paper. I also added a doily to this card.

Finally, I wanted to make a Christmas card with this set as one of the sentiments seem to refer to Christmas.  I added some burlap ribbon that is new in the Holiday Catalog and incorporated more of the Frosted Florals framelits.

Believe it or not, I have several more cards to show you but I think I will spread this over two blog posts so come back tomorrow to see what I've done with more of the framelits and of course, the paper!

This is a great set that transcends seasons and specific color schemes. You can use it for any occasion as well, including sympathy, get well or thank you cards, just to name a few. If you are in the need of some fresh floral/botanical motifs, this would be a great set to have.   All supply information is listed below.

As always, if you have any questions or need help, please contact me. I'm pretty much plugged in most of the day and will respond quickly if I can. There are links to the catalogs on the right, a link to the online store (shop now) and even a link if you're curious about joining Stampin'Up! as a demonstrator. I joined for the discount but it soon became so much more than that!

Take care and see you soon!
Sarah

A Closer Look at some new bundles!

Hi Stampers!

I am actually out for a few days this week and so am posting from afar. We are having a special time with my husband's parents as we 4-wheel our way through the gorgeous Big Horn mountains in wonderful Wyoming!  We lived in Wyoming for 7 years, back in the 80's and it holds a very special place in our hearts! 

Because I'm not in my craft space, I won't be able to share some new creations in this post, but I thought I would take advantage of some of the product videos that Stampin'Up! produces. These are good ways to see a product, see some ideas for using it and get a good shot of inspiration in the process. 

First, I want to draw your attention to the Winter Woods bundle, on page 27 of the catalog! I do have a couple of cards I've made with this bundle to show you sneak peeks of :

And now here's the video with more info about this bundle:

Isn't that fun!  I had to have it almost right away because I can't resist trees as a scene element. We all live where there are trees and it's so fun to have different designs.  I love what this bundle can do.

Next, I want to highlight the Beautiful Blizzard bundle, on page 39 of the catalog.  I don't have this set yet, but it's near the top of my wish list!

If you live in a northern climate like I have all of my life, snow is not only a given, it can be a friend!  Winter is long and it's important to figure out how to embrace it, although that gets challenging around April and May. You might as well be creative with it and enjoy it while it insists on hanging around. It can feel like the company that never leaves so make the most of it!

I'll be back soon with more so I hope you keep stopping by. You can follow my blog and not miss a post as well! 

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

Who Can't Get Enough of Stampin'Up!'s Designer Series Paper?

Hi Stampers!

One of my favorite things with every new catalog launch is new PAPER!  That is what first drew me to stamping and papercrafting, oddly enough. You think it would be the rubber stamps or ink but it was actually the gorgeous paper. I believe this is because I come from a long quilting background and fabric is another passion of mine. It's hard to resist the gorgeous colors and I have to touch and feel it!  Paper has the same effect on me. Believe it or not, it has a different feel to it and you can tell quality paper from cheap stuff, just like fabric.

Stampin'Up! created a fun video to showcase all the new paper lines in the new 2018 Holiday Catalog.  Have a look:

Which is your favorite?  I love the Frosted Florals and Joyous Noel. The colors are amazing and there are some really amazing design elements included in them. All of our papers will work for a variety of projects, not just cards. How about home decor projects, scrapbooks, 3-D gifts and designs?

If you want some of this paper for yourself, head to the link at "shop now" on the right ===>>>, click on Holiday catalog and start browsing!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stampin',
Sarah

Alpine Adventure

Hi Stampers!
I think most of you know that I'm located in Bozeman, Montana, one of the prettiest corners of Montana and this country!  Our area has lots to offer in scenery, the unusual (Yellowstone National Park), an award winning university (Montana State), skiing, fishing, hiking, camping, climbing, etc. It should be no surprise that anytime a new stamp set appears that has anything to do with our way of life, I am immediately drawn to it!

The 2018 Holiday Catalog has a wonderful new bundle called Alpine Adventure. We have had stamps of winter sport related things before, but this is the first time we have accompanying framelits and they are wonderful!  I am so excited to share some of my ideas with you!  I hope you're inspired to get your own bundle and start creating some magic...

This first card is a "gate fold" card which I shared with a group of stampers at their workshop yesterday. The first picture is the outside of the card and the second one is the inside.

This card features one of my favorite framelits, the sled! It is intricate and perfect in its design.

For this card, it was easy to cut out the sentiment by hand, just following the curve of the words. I added a small jingle bell from my stash of retired SU products. Don't you love the holly? That's one of the framelits too!

This card features the negative image of some snowflakes I cut out of the white glimmer paper. I also used some of the gorgeous Frosted Florals Designer Series Paper.

For my last card, I wanted to make a non-Christmas card. I used some "Best Route" Designer Series Paper and stamped snowflakes with white craft ink on the paper. I then cut out some snowflakes from white glimmer paper and the skis. This was a fun card and would make a great any occasion card or even a birthday!

What do you think?  I would love to hear your comments! You can also "follow me" by clicking at the top of the blog on the right and you won't miss a post!  It's not too early to think about the upcoming holiday season and any projects you would like to make this year. I have lots of ideas and ways to get you started within your budget and your skill level. If you have plenty of stuff already, consider freshening it up with a new stamp set, bundle or some new paper or ink colors. If you have nothing and are overwhelmed with getting started in rubber stamping, I can help!  I specialize in helping "newbies" get started in a way that doesn't overwhelm them or cost a fortune. Contact me for some one-on-one coaching and help. It's free and I promise you won't feel pressured into getting more than you want or bargained for!

While I usually welcome the snow when it comes, I'm hoping it holds off for another month at least. After our smoky August, it's nice to have some lovely autumn days and enjoy being outside.  I hope you have a fun weekend planned and I'll see you soon!
Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

My Top Ten Picks from the new 2018 Stampin'Up! Holiday Catalog!

Hi crafty friends!
I hope you've had a few minutes to look over our new catalog!  (There's a PDF link to the right ===>>>, just click on the catalog!) . If you're like me, you saw some things that popped out at you right away and you skipped over a few other things. Honestly, it takes a few trips through any new catalog to absorb it all and each time you look, you'll see something you didn't notice before. The Stampin'Up! photographers catch a lot of product in their photo shoots and it's not always the most obvious thing that you end up liking the best.

I've had the catalog for over a month now (a benefit of being a SU demonstrator, ask me if you're curious) and was even able to order some product ahead of time so I could show you some samples made with the new products. In that time, I've been able to formulate a list of my favorites!  They are in no particular order as it's so hard to choose between favorites!

#1 .  Country Home stamp set, pg 43

#2 .  Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper, page 37


#3.   Alpine Adventure bundle, page 11


#4.  Farmhouse Christmas bundle, page 13


#5.  Corrugated Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, page 13


#6.   Galvanized Metallic Paper, page 43



#7 .  Buffalo Check background stamp, page 38

#8.  Wishing You Well stamp set, page 35



#9.   Sprig punch, page 29


#10.   Winter Woods bundle, page 27



I hope you realize I could have made this the top 20 list or the top 100 list or whatever!  What are your favorites?  I'm especially drawn to Holiday products that I can use for non-Holiday times and themes. I feel like I get more for my money that way!  I also like to think about things that are different than what I might already have in my stash. I realize it's hard to buy MORE Christmas stamps, isn't it!  It's always fun to freshen up your supplies a little and go for a different look and try something you haven't done before. There are plenty of opportunities to do that. One thing I'm excited about experimenting with is the new shimmer paint on page 38. I've played with it a little so far, but have a long ways to go.

Don't miss tomorrow's blog!  I'm going to start with my card samples made from products from the Holiday Catalog and provide the details so you can order your own supplies and get crafting. It's a great time of year to be creative~!

Happy Stampin'!
Sarah

The 2018 Stampin'Up! Holiday Catalog is here!

Hey friends!
I've been sharing some sneak peeks from my first efforts with some new 2018 Holiday Catalog products in the past few days and now it's your turn to get your hands on some of these fun sets! The catalog launches today and you can order anything or everything!  I have lots of links and lists for you today so buckle in, we're going for a ride!

Curious to see the catalog itself?  Click on the link at the right and you'll be directed to a PDF file of the catalog for your browsing and downloading pleasure!  ====>>>>

Want to see some fun samples from Stampin'Up! ?  Here you go!

This is only a small sample of what's in store!  Papercrafting is so fun because once you have some basic supplies (rubber stamps, ink, paper) there are no limits to the possibilities of what you can make.  This time of year is especially perfect for making fun little gifts and surprises for family and friends and our products cater to gift giving in particular!

Ready to place an order or at least start one?  It's easy to shop online by creating a customer profile (email and password setup) and then you can start loading your shopping cart with all your favorites. If you need to think about it and come back to it, the shopping cart will retain what you've put in it and you can come back and add to it or change it before you submit it.  Click on the "shop now" link located at the right ====>>>>.

You can also order from me via email, phone call, text, etc. If you have any questions about a certain product or need help with an order, please contact me and I'll be happy to help.

I'll leave you with a cute video to inspire you!

Come back and learn more about all the fun stuff in the 2018 Holiday Catalog!

Happy Stampin', 

Sarah

Christmas crafts are a'comin!

Hey friends,
Guess what tomorrow is?  September 5th!  Guess what else?  It's the day the Holiday Catalog goes live for everyone and you can get started on your fall and Christmas crafting!  There's lots to see and lots to inspire you.   Here's another quick peek at some cards I had available to make at my Christmas card class last week. Watch for more Christmas Card buffets to come! They are super fun!

I can't wait to share the details of all these amazing products and that will get started tomorrow!

**cue the Christmas music!

Happy Stampin'
Sarah