2018 Occasions Catalog Kre8tors Blog Hop!

In case you hadn't noticed, I love participating in blog hops! Why? Why not! Seriously... the reason is it brings together a talented group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators and gives you, the hopper (reader), so much inspiration in one place (so to speak).

You've just hopped over from the talented Amy Grendel. I know what you're thinking... I need to CASE that! Me, too.

The first stamp set shown in the Occasions catalog is Birthday Wishes for You and as soon as I saw it demonstrated at OnStage in November, I knew then I had to order it... mostly because it's a great set if you like to fussy-cut... like I do! And this little element screams Stampin' Blends!

I have to admit, it would have been MUCH easier if I had colored first, then cut. And I probably should have used the basic gray Stampin' Write marker instead of the Basic Gray Stampin' Blends for the "shadow" around the edges, as the Blends kinda spread into the other colors. I don't mind it so much - and I wasn't about to stamp, color, then cut another one. This cut-out took forever! LOL!

Check out that bow! Doesn't it look 3-D? It's not! I cut it out from one of the pieces of the Picture Perfect Party Designer Series Paper. Don't believe me? Look!

And here it is... the finished product - er, I mean card. Isn't it fun???

Oh, and the confetti on the With many wishes just for you tag was made by dotting the Stampin' Blends. Festive, don't you think?

I'm so happy you hopped along! If you happened to start here or somewhere in the middle, use the next button, or follow the list below. You definitely do not want to miss Melissa's post!

2018 Kre8tors Blog Hoppers!

Melissa Tennison

Nichole Loe

Deb Naylor

Lisa Kmiec

Tricia Butts

Laura Kate Mackie

Cheryl Hamilton

Su Mohr

Hiske MacKay

Kathy Maurer

Leisa Pedersen

Linda Handford

Mary Trautner

Jackie Lawless

Alexandra Rauf

Maria Calia

Kirsteen Gill

Amy Grendel

Diana Tillery <-- You are here!

Birthday Wishes For You Wood-Mount Stamp Set [145739] $16.00	Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144243] $8.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Picture Perfect Party 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [145559] $10.00	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $4.00
Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Stampin' Blends Markers Collection [147475] $121.50	Starburst Punch [143717] $18.00	Silver Mini Sequin Trim [144230] $6.00	3/8" (1 Cm) Shimmer Ribbon Pack [147243] $0.00
Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $4.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00

Starting the New Year off Right!

As I start the new year, I like to reflect on what I've accomplished in the previous year. In regards to my blog, I posted 24 times. That might not seem like much to you, but to me it's more than I've posted in previous years. It's an average of twice a month. Yes, that is an accomplishment!

It takes quite a bit of time to blog. Actually, let me clarify this... it takes me quite a bit of time to blog. I can write the content (although I tend to be a bit long-winded, if you haven't noticed, and need to spend time editing), but taking pictures, watermarking, linking, and uploading take so much time. I'm trying to streamline my process so I can blog more often. Wish me luck!

This project I've had finished for a few weeks... but I just haven't had the chance to get the pictures off my phone and upload them. Sigh. And I just realized I did not take a picture of the most important element... how I colored the vellum flower.

How to create the vellum flower - complete with adhesive:

• Use sponge brayer to color a piece of vellum (I used a scrap leftover from a class).

• Cut a piece of Multipurpose Adhesive Sheet slightly smaller than vellum, then remove backing.

• Place colored side of vellum on sticky side of multipurpose adhesive sheet and burnish. The nice thing is by putting the color against the adhesive, it doesn't have to be completely dry, but it keeps your fingers from getting inky!

• Use your choice of die or punch to create fun shapes that stick instantly! I used the Petals & More Thinlits coming out in the Occasions catalog January 3!

The card (on the left) was inspired by the card created at OnStage in November (on the right). As soon as I created the OnStage card, I knew I had to order the entire suite! It has to be my favorite from the Occasions catalog (only a few more days to see it!).

 

I call my card Trifecta - because it incorporates elements from three Stampin' Up! catalogs - the 2017-2018 Annual catalog, the 2017 Holiday catalog, and the 2018 Occasions catalog! Can you guess which items are from which catalog?

Thanks for stopping by today - and always. I hope you'll continue to follow my blog and see if I can post more than 24 times this year. And I hope you and your family have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2018!

Product List

Petal Palette Clear-Mount Bundle [145974] $62.00	Petal Passion Designer Series Paper [145589] $11.00	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197] $8.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $8.00
Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171] $6.50	Sponge Brayers [141714] $8.00	Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets [144106] $10.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00	7/8" (2.2 Cm) Striped Ribbon [144624] $5.00
Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $5.00	Stampin' Trimmer [126889] $30.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25

Let's Get Hopping: Small Stamps

Welcome! You just arrived from Nina McMillan's blog... if not, be sure to hop on through so you don't miss it... you'll be glad you did! I'm honored to be a part of a blog hop with such talented artists!

This month's theme for the Let's Get Hopping Blog Hop is Small Stamps. Have you ever thought pretty cards need a large focal point to be interesting? I used to... and it certainly makes cardmaking easier, but small stamps can pack a big punch! Okay... pun intended, since the set I'm using has a coordinating punch.

I decided to do another sneak peek from the 2018 Occasions catalog (I seriously think this catalog may be one of my favorites). At November's OnStage (convention for Stampin' Up! demonstrators), we created this project using product from the Tutti Frutti suite. I'm not usually one who goes for "fruit" sets because I just don't know how to use them, but this bundle is adorable! Tiny fruit... you can't get much cuter than that!

What I like about the Fruit Basket stamp set is the tops and bottoms of the fruit are separate, which makes it super easy to have different colors and not have to break out the markers.

Another thing I like about this set is I get to break my stash of scraps. Even the smallest scraps get used to make strawberries and are perfect for the sweet sentiment.

Did you know Stampin' Up!'s archival ink stamps on plastic? It does take a while to dry (I don't recommend using a heat tool to speed up the drying process) so patience is a must. And did you know Stampin' Blends color on plastic?? It's hard to see the Pool Party color on the bowl, but it's there... I ended up using the dark Pool Party (instead of the light pictured below) because I wanted a subtle tint to the fruit bowl - but the light PP was too subtle. LOL!

Mini dimensionals are perfect for mini fruit! My tip... put the dimensional under the stem, then use a glue dot on the bottom of the strawberry - it gives the illusion that the strawberries are plump!

And now... the finished project!

What do you think? Sweet, huh? Looking at the list of supplies below, it seems I used so much to create the simple card, but truly... you could create this card with what you have at home and just add the Fruit Basket stamp set and Itty Bitty Fruit Punch Pack.

Now let's hop on over to Verity Biddlecombe and see what small stamps she's used!

Thanks for hopping by!

Fruit Basket Photopolymer Bundle [145977] $35.00	Fruit Basket Photopolymer Stamp Set [145833] $16.00	Itty Bitty Fruit Punch Pack [145657] $23.00	Tutti-Frutti 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [145606] $10.00	Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177] $10.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Window Sheets [142314] $5.00	Pool Party Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144594] $4.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad [141396] $6.50
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] $6.50	Clear Block A [118487] $4.00	Clear Block H [118490] $8.50	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $23.00	Stampin' Trimmer [126889] $30.00
Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $4.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25