Just in Time for a Colorful Hop!

Welcome! It's so nice to see you again!! It has been a long time since I've been able to hop along with the Let's Get Hopping ladies and oh how I've missed them! I haven't been doing much stamping lately, which is why I haven't blogged. It's a long story - one for another blog post. Just know I'll be back more often than I have been over the past eight months.

You've likely just arrived from the ever-talented Eva Potts. Don't you love what she did with this month's theme Favorite Coloring Technique? She is so inspiring!! If you're just starting the hop here, then follow the link at the end of my post and make your way around. You won't want to miss one blog!

Recently, hubby and I had a date night and spent some time walking around the Disneyland Resort, including the Disneyland Hotel. There I found the most beautiful Hibiscus and it reminded me of my favorite bundle from the Occasions catalog - Humming Along! My stamping supplies have been in storage (remember, I'm saving that story for another blog post) but I had to get some of them out after seeing this flower... and I had to start creating!

What I love most about this stamp set is that its images are large and line art. Stampin' Blends are the perfect coloring tool for this type of image since the ink flows seamlessly over the paper... no lines when overlapping what I've already colored. Alternating between light and dark Blends allows more depth of color.

If you don't recognize the striped background paper on this card, it's because it's actually a sneak peek of a new Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2019-2020 Annual Catalog. Fun, isn't it?

I hope you like my card and it inspires you to try the Stampin' Blends - if you haven't already. And I hope you find inspiration while you're out and about, then go home and create something beautiful!

Now hop on over to the amazing Mikaela Titheridge to see which coloring technique is her favorite.

Want to re-create my card? Here's what you'll need:

Humming Along Cling Bundle [150621] $42.25	Calypso Coral 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122925] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50	Pick A Pattern Washi Tape [144166] $8.00	Old Olive Linen Thread [148811] $5.00
Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144585] $4.50	Daffodil Delight Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144586] $4.50	Calypso Coral Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144042] $4.50	Calypso Coral Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144044] $4.50	Old Olive Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [144573] $4.50	Old Olive Light Stampin' Blends Marker [144574] $4.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $7.50	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332] $7.00	Big Shot [143263] $110.00

Making My Way to a Major Milestone

Do you set goals for yourself? I usually don't, but 2018 started out to be a year of wonder for me, so I decided it was time to jot down some plans for my Stampin' Up! business... and here's what goals I set for myself:

I've been a demonstrator for 13 years and I've done things this year I've only thought about in the past, but never had the guts to do. There is, however, one thing I actually never dreamed was possible when I signed up to be a demonstrator in 2005 (remember, I joined for the discount) but it now seems to be within reach: achieving $100,000 in career sales. It's certainly not as glamorous as being a Million Dollar Achiever, but to me, it's just as huge! My goal for 2018 isn't to make this happen... because I know it will. My goal is to make this happen by October so I can celebrate at OnStage in November (convention for Stampin' Up! demonstrators) during our 30th Anniversary celebration!

To help me achieve this goal, I'm reaching out to you. Stampin' Up! has an amazing promotion going right now - if you buy 3 packages of select Designer Series Paper, you receive 1 of your choice FREE! These papers are AMAZING!

Our Designer Series Papers aren't represented well in the catalog (in my opinion), so be sure to check out the video below to see just how pretty they are (they should be seen in person to really appreciate their beauty)!

To sweeten the deal, if you participate in this promotion and purchase 6 packages, I will gift you a bonus package of Designer Series Paper! So basically... you purchase 6 packages and receive 3 FREE! Make sure you're shopping from the list above (bonus from me will be shipped after August 1. Also, if ordering online, please use host code 3MJ3EPQV.


Can you tell I really want to hit that milestone soon? There's only one week left in this promotion, so be sure you place your order by July 31. And be sure you don't click the "no contact" box... if you do, I won't know you ordered, and I won't know where to send your free package of Designer Series Paper!

As of today, I am only $3,829.33 away from my milestone! If you're not interested in participating in the Designer Series Paper promotion, but you still want to help me reach my goal, I appreciate orders of any size and if you place an order with me, I may just send you a small token of my appreciation!

Gratefully,

My First Color Challenge!

Do you tend to gravitate to the same colors or color family when you sit down to create? Do you find some colors in your cardstock collection don't get any love? If so, then you're in good company.

Today's color challenge was inspired by the card Tracy Bish created for our Let's Get Hopping blog hop earlier in the week, and I fell in love with her color combination: Island Indigo and Lemon Lime Twist - two colors I never would have thought to pair together!

I'm throwing in a couple of neutrals for this challenge, simply because neutrals are needed. I chose Basic Gray instead of the black that Tracy used because I wanted a softer look.

Lemon Lime Twist

Island Indigo

Basic Gray

Whisper White

I'm loving the Bubbles & Fizz Designer Series Paper that's available as a free item during Sale-a-Bration! And it's a masculine card - BONUS! The one sheet I used has bubbles and fizz on one side, and various bottles on the reverse. I did a little fussy-cutting for the bottles (if you don't know this about me... I can't resist a good fussy-cut).

If I've inspired you to create something using these colors, like Tracy inspired me, I welcome you to share your creations and post them to my Facebook page.

Happy creating!

Bubbles & Fizz Designer Series Paper [147244] $0.00	Mixed Drinks Photopolymer Stamp Set [141928] $21.00	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121044] $8.00	Island Indigo 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122923] $8.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] $7.00	Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [138288] $8.50	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00
Big Shot [143263] $110.00	Big Shot Magnetic Platform [130658] $40.00	Metallic Enamel Shapes [141678] $7.00	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

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