Last Chance for Early Bird Sign Ups!

I can officially announce that I have been chosen again to be a designer for UStamp with Dawn and Friends!!  Big Shot Brilliance.  This round is going to be amazing. Not only is the Big Shot the most amazing tool, every project is going to be a Big Shot Project, every Stampin’ Up color is going to be used atleast once, but there are some amazing new designers this round.  Some of the name may be familiar to you, Linda Hansen and Jaron Winders, Jakie Topa and even Karen Burniston (designer of the pop up Cake and Christmas tree dies!).  Even the banner for this round us just so fun and happy!Don't forget to post your designs out in cyberspace, as I am still on the hunt to make a new friend to give away a free pass!

Here are some of the details from Dawn. 

Don't miss a day of the LIVE FUN!!

Opening Day Website Invites go out

March 18th, 2011

Last Project posted April 6, 2011

*****

EARLY BIRDS ARE AWESOME!!

Early Birds SAVE $5

PLUS

a Chance to Win 1 of 5 FREE Passes

for the NEXT Event!!

Early Bird Pricing ends February 28th

Join us now for only $19.99

Join us for UStamp with Dawn & Friends!!

Big Shot Brilliance!! Projects to DIE for 2011!!

EVERY Designer Project will include product(s) from the

Stampin' Up! Big Shot Product Line!!

Did you know that Stampin' Up! currently has a whopping

137 products in the Big Shot Line??!!

137 Big Shot Products Showcased

40+ Stampin' Up! Colors Showcased

40+ Unique Color Combo's with PDF Booklet

40+ Designer Projects with PDF Tutorials

40+ Cards with Hand Stamped/Embellished Envelopes

20 days of World Wide 24/7 Creative FUN!!

New Designer Projects Posted EVERY 12 hours!!

Live Chats, Prizes and a few fun surprises too!!

This is THE Biggest ONLINE Stampin' Up! Big Shot Event EVER!!

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Clean and Simple Sketch

I randomly happened upon a sketch that I took a picture of with my phone so that I could use it.  But of course in my phone I do not have the address of the blog so I spent too much time today looking for it.  Don't you just love how you can accidentally stumble on to something so perfect and then never find it again?  Well I did eventually find it and the sketch is from Clean and Simple Stamping and Natasha shared the great sketch.  Here is what I did:

I have had this one rose floating around on my stamping desk for several months just asking to get used on something.  So I finally got it on a card.  The oval is from the Newsprint DSP.  it is a very clean and simple card, letting the rose shine through.

Stamps:  Fifth Ave Floral, Bella Toile BG

Ink:  Perfect Plum, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red

Paper:  Shimmery White, Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Perfect Plum, Newsprint DSP

Accessories:  Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Whisper White embossing powder

Tools:  Heat Tool, Aquapainter, spray bottle with water (I used an empty hairspray bottle), Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch,

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Birthday Party Try Outs

We have a birthday coming up so we are starting the design process for the birthday invites, decorations, favors and such.  This was a color combo that was not a winner for my almost 9 year old daughter.  I was bummed because I really liked the way these colors turned out.

This is just a real simple little party favor.  This is the Box #2 Die for the big shot.  I just simply stamped the birthday bakery hostess stamp set repeatedly along a strip of whisper white cardstock so that the cakes go all the way around the box.   So we are back to the drawing board when it comes to colors.  She is not liking anything we put together. 

Stamps: Birthday Bakery

Ink:  Basick Black, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, and Wild Wasabi

Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie

Tools:  Big Shot, Box #2 Die

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Diva Coffee Break Designs # 216

I’m back again with another Diva Coffee Break Design color challenge! It is a really pretty color combo today.

I admit I don’t use blushing bride much, ok so hardly ever. I just forget about it. It really is such a pretty shade of pink. Today’s card is so simple but I really like it. It is funny how this one simple card took so long for me to actually make. Do you find it hard to make a clean and simple card?

Hop on over to the Diva Coffee Break Design Blog to check out the rest of the amazing samples!

Have a stamperfic day!

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The winner is…

Well since Emmalyn is still awake, only 2 hours and 17 minutes past her bedtime, I let her pick names out of the hat again.  The winner for the free pass to UStamp With Dawn and Friends!! Oh My Word Edition is:

Lorraine Castellon-Rowe

Congratulations.  I sent your email address that you included to Dawn so she will send you your invite there!

Keep coming back and leaving comments.  I try to check out blogs of people who comment on mine and leave comments of my own when I can.  I am on the look out for someone who’s stamping creations have inspired me for a pass to the next round of UStamp!

Thanks for coming.  I will be back early tomorrow morning with a Diva Coffee Break Challenge.

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UStamp With Dawn and Friends Free Pass Giveaway!

I have another free pass for UStamp With Dawn and Friends Oh My Word Edition, to give away, this time as blog candy!

This free pass is open to anyone who has never been to UStamp With Dawn and Friends before. So anyone that would like a peak into the wonderful world of UStamp, with the warning that you may become addicted, go ahead and leave your name in the comments so that I can enter you in the drawing.

ETA: Sorry forgot to put in the cut off, I will accept entries until Tuesday Feb 22nd 7:00 pm pacific time. I will post the winner shortly thereafter, depending on how quickly my kids go to bed.

A fun new feature of UStamp, for the designers, is a swap. This round I was partnered with Gilda Fellows. The card that I sent her is here, and this is the fabulous swap that I received!

Also to add in more fun, the next round of UStamp has been announced and Early Bird Registration has begun!

Don't miss a day of the LIVE FUN!!

Opening Day Website Invites go out

March 18th, 2011

Last Project posted April 6, 2011

*****

EARLY BIRDS ARE AWESOME!!

Early Birds SAVE $5

PLUS

a Chance to Win 1 of 5 FREE Passes

for the NEXT Event!!

Early Bird Pricing ends February 28th

Join us now for only $19.99

*****

Join us for UStamp with Dawn & Friends!!

Big Shot Brilliance!! Projects to DIE for 2011!!

EVERY Designer Project will include product(s) from the

Stampin' Up! Big Shot Product Line!!

Did you know that Stampin' Up! currently has a whopping

137 products in the Big Shot Line??!!

137 Big Shot Products Showcased

40+ Stampin' Up! Colors Showcased

40+ Unique Color Combo's with PDF Booklet

40+ Designer Projects with PDF Tutorials

40+ Cards with Hand Stamped/Embellished Envelopes

20 days of World Wide 24/7 Creative FUN!!

New Designer Projects Posted EVERY 12 hours!!

Live Chats, Prizes and a few fun surprises too!!

This is THE Biggest ONLINE Stampin' Up! Big Shot Event EVER!!

I am honored to share with you the

Brilliant Big Shots

who will be designing for us...

(in alphabetical order)

NEW Designers for this session:

Jaron Winders

Linda Hansen

*Karen Burniston

Jackie Topa

*Designer of the Sizzix Pop-up Cake Die and the

Stampin' Up! Exclusive Pop-up Oh Christmas Tree Die!!

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UStamp OMW Scavenger Hunt

So we have some exciting news for you from UStamp with Dawn and Friends, Oh My Word Edition.

As one of the designers I have the privilege of participating in an awesome Blog Scavenger Hunt.  Each one of the participating designers will have a “key word” in their blog posting today.  Once you find all of the “key words” unscramble them to make a sentence.  The first 3 people to correctly guess the sentence will win a fantastic prize.

So for my post today I am showing off some of the great SAB items.  I just love all of the stuff in the SAB brochure this time.  This card shows off the Ice Cream Parlor DSP & Quick Accents Pack, Ice Cream Parlor Button and Ribbon Pack, my key word is all, Sweet Summer Stamp Set and the So Happy For You stamp set!

This card is a 6x6 piece of cardstock folded in half so that the card fits in a open-ended envelope. 

Have a Stamperific Day!

Stamps: Sweet Summer, So Happy For You

Ink:  Craft White, Pacific Point, daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Ice Cream Parlor DSP & Accents

Accessories:Ice Cream Parlor Buttons, Stampin Dimensionals

Tools: 1 inch circle punch

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And the winner is…

Well there were only two of you who entered the blog candy so I had my 4 year old draw a name out of the hat.  And the winner was Kathy Mc!  Please send me your address so that I can mail your stamp set off to you. 

Come back later tonight and I have a card and a fun post for you!

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Diva Coffee Break Designs # 215

Ok, I have spent every free minute I have had trying to fix things on my computer.  I am running on a dinosaur as far as computers go. We purchased this computer 9 years ago this month, just a few months after windows XP came out.  Anyways it has been giving me my share of problems over the last few months.  It probably doesn’t help that I have a 2 year old who loves to play on the computer and do all sorts of wonky things to it.  She even knows how to pick the lock on the cabinet that the computer is in and turn it on, so it is not safe from her.  My latest problem was not being able to save any of my pictures to my computer, but I have that fixed so now we are in business again.  I think that I have also fixed Windows Live Writer’s settings with my blog so that it is working again.  Boy I missed some of the features of live writer over that last little bit.  Check out the post here for a chance at some blog candy.  I am going to be doing some “Spring Cleaning” of my stamping stash and will be adding more stuff to the blog candy I am sure.  So go check it out.
Ok, so today is Diva Challenge Wednesday and we have a sketch for you.
When I saw this sketch, I thought “wow, what in the world am  I going to do with that one?”  Luckily I checked it out WAY in advance because it took some time to get it going.  Here is what I came up with:
At first I was afraid of the Baby Blossoms stamp set becuase there were so many little images, but I am having so much fun with it.  I really need to put it away and use some other stamps. 
Please head on over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog to check out what the other designers have come up with.  Then take the sketch and play along with us so we can see your creations!  
Stamps:  Baby Blossoms, Sweet Summer
Ink:  Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke and River Rock
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz and Baja Breeze
Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals
Tools:  3/4”, 1”, 1 1/4” and 1 3/8” circle punches, Scallop Trim Border punchPin It Now!

Baby Blossoms Box with Punchy Necklace and Blog Candy!

Over the weekend my first project went live on UStamp With Dawn and Friends so I can now share the pictures with you.

Here is my main project:

  This box is an alternate project using the same process as the circle box in the previous picture:

It's not too late to join in on the Oh My Word session of Ustamp, and there are some FANTASTIC projects you will get to learn how to make.  http://ustampwithdawnandfriends.com/

Ok now on to the blog candy.  I have another clear mount Vintage Labels stamp set to give away.  This was one of my favorite Sale-a-bration stamp sets last year so I stocked up on them to give away at events and here on my blog and this is the last one that I have left.  Just leave me a comment to be entered into the drawing.  Feel free to leave me any feedback on the type of things that you would like to see here on my blog if you would like.  I will post the winner on Friday!  Good Luck! Pin It Now!

Another UStamp Swap

The Designers for Ustamp With Dawn and Friends did another swap this round .  (Oh My Word edition starts today!  It is never too late so sign up and there are some fabuolus creations this round that you will not want to miss!)  This was my swap that I sent out.

It is kind of funny that the swap that I sent out for "Oh My Word" - all projects have atleast one word on them, and my swap is wordless.  Well I guess you could count the background of the heart image as words, kind of.  I really like the simplicity of this card and can see it being used in several different situations as needed (the reason for the lack of greeting on the front).  The border on the circle is created with the double ribbon punch.  It had some how fallen behind my desk, still in it's wrapper feeling neglected.  I did a massive clean up and found it and LOVE it!  It is such a fun punch.  I hope that you all have a great weekend, I will be back on Monday with some blog candy for you!

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Bliss
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi
Paper:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, So Saffron and Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals
Tools:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, 2 1/4" circle punch, Double Ribbon Punch, Full Heart PunchPin It Now!

Love Notes Catching Up

I have been spending every free moment I have over the last 2 days trying to update and clean up my computer.  It is a very slow process.  So please bear with me while I try to get all of the kinks out. I was planning on doing some blog candy in the near future and I think that I will be doing that soon to celebrate so keep your eyes open for it.

These are the other 3 cards that will be going to my other 3 kiddos in their lunches on Monday.  They are all pretty simple.  I will be giving them more elaborate ones at home so I didn't want to spend too much time and energy on one that would be tossed out right away or had a pb&j and capri sun smeared on it. 

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Diva Coffee Break Designs #214

Well something weird is going on here.  I have been using Windows Live Writer to type up and post my blog posts but this time something wacky has happened.  I thought that I had been posting to my blog but this week has been so crazy and busy I never actually went to my blog itself.  I just pulled up my blog to find out that nothing has appeared.  So I went into Live Writer again just a bit ago and it gave me an error message saying "It could not establish a trust relationship...." and that I must correct the error before proceeding.  I am now actually in blogger doing things the old way.  Anyways, today is a Diva Challenge day and we have a fun color challenge for you, perfect for the upcoming Valentine's holiday. 

I have made a some little Love Notes to stick inside the the lunch boxes of my family on Monday.  This was the last in the set.  I had the others scheduled but they never went live so I will be posting those over the next few days.  This is the card that I made for my oldest.  I know that she will just love the sparkly red paper and hope that she will feel special and loved when she opens her lunch box. 

Lets see what you can do with this great color combination.  Head on over to the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog to check out the other designers' creations and link yours along too!Pin It Now!

DCBD #213

Welcome back to another Diva Coffee Break Wednesday!  This week we have a wonderful sketch for you. 

For this challenge I was able to play with some goodies from the current mini catalog.  One of my favorite items in the catalog is the Create a Cupcake stamp set and matching punch.  My kids (along with the rest of the country) are really into cupcakes and have been for a few years now, so this one will fit right in for making all sorts of birthday invites and cards. 
This color combo is one that I pulled from the color coach.  I have decided that I need to use River Rock more often.  It is never a color that I reach for on its own but I always like it when I do use it.  The center cupcake is popped up on dimensionals, the two in the background are stamped tone on tone, Marina Mist ink on Marina Mist paper and River Rock on River Rock.  The bottom River Rock panel is embossed with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder.  The cherries are also a part of the cupcake punch.  I really like working with the new seam binding ribbon and I think that it adds the perfect finishing touch to the card. 
Don’t forget to check out the other wonderful designs that we have made for you with this sketch over on the Diva Coffee Break Designs blog.  Then play along with us and link up your creation so we can admire it! Pin It Now!

Fabulously Fast

With 4 young kids (and only two of them in school) I don't get a lot of free time to stamp.  I just love it when I can create a card in less than 10 minutes.  Now don't get me wrong, I love to be able to sit down for long periods of time and just stamp and not worry about anything.  But I dont get that time as often as I want.  I love it when stamps lend themselves to make quick and beautiful cards.  The hostess set Fast and Fabulous is one of these terrific stamp sets.  This card took less than 5 minutes and a great deal of that time was deciding on the colors. The image is stamped on SU! watercolor paper and I colored it in sloppy with my markers  (Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Rose Red and Regal Rose).  Then I just took my aquapainter and blended the colors together.  It was so fun and easy.  I am using a card based off of this one for my upcoming stamp a stack. 

Stamps: Fast and Fabulous

Ink:  Stazon Black, Markers in Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Rose Red, Regal Rose and Wild Wasabi

Paper:  Brights DSP stack, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy,  Watercolor Paper

Accessories:  Baja Breeze Seam Binding Ribbon

Tools:  Scallop Border Punch, Aquapainter

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