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 into the New Year and Celebrate!

There are so many things to celebrate in 2018, so it seems fitting we kick off the year hopping with a celebration theme!

I wasn't able to send out Christmas cards (again), so I thought I would start 2018 right and send New Year cards! The inspiration came from a dear friend and fellow demonstrator, Kathy Howes, who sent me a new year's card last year... and the card has been shelf ever since. I knew the moment it arrived that I needed to follow her lead and CASE  her card for this year. Yes, I've been thinking about that for an entire year... how's that for planning ahead?

What better way to create a celebration card than using Sale-a-Bration products? What's Sale-a-Bration, you ask? It's three months out of the year where Stampin' Up! gives a FREE item for every $50 (or new to this year $100) order! How amazing is that?? The Designer Series Paper below is called Bubbles & Fizz and coordinates with the Bubble Over bundle in the Occasions catalog. Fun, huh?

But wait... there's more! That little "celebrate" element is from the Celebrate You Thinlits Dies set and is also a Sale-a-Bration gift! That's right! But it gets even better (I feel like a commercial for ginsu knives) - the die set coordinates with another gift - the Amazing You stamp set. I'll be using this set soon, so be sure to check back!

A little tip... cut the numbers out of the layer of Whisper White cardstock that goes behind the piece of Bubble & Fizz Designer Series Paper - you won't see it, so why waste another piece of cardstock?

And voila! Very similar to Kathy's card above, but updated with new product for a new year! I can't decide which version I like best... what about you?

Thank you for hopping by - and enduring this super-long post!  Now hop on over to see what Tracy Bish has waiting for us!

Number Of Years Photopolymer Stamp Set [140653] $27.00	Large Numbers Framelits Dies [140622] $31.00	Bubbles & Fizz Designer Series Paper [147244] $0.00	Celebrate You Thinlit Dies [146840] $0.00	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197] $8.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.00	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $4.00	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171] $6.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00
Silver Metallic Thread [138402] $3.00	Metallic Enamel Shapes [141678] $7.00	Fast Fuse Adhesive [129026] $10.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $4.00	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $4.00
Big Shot [143263] $110.00	Stampin' Trimmer [126889] $30.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $10.00

It's Time to Sale-a-Brate!

Some people think Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and I agree. But as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I think Sale-a-Bration runs a very close second! During the months of January, February, and March, Stampin' Up! gives customers the opportunity to earn free product just for shopping, hosting, and even joining the Stampin' Up! family. Do you really need another reason to Sale-a-Brate?

I'll be posting details on how to earn free goodies, and projects using these exclusive products over the next several weeks, so be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a thing! Until then, enjoy these fun videos which give you even more inspiration on how to use some of the Sale-a-Bration items!

By the way... I've used two of the above Sale-a-Bration items in a blog hop which goes live later today at 4:00pm PST (another reason to subscribe... don't miss a thing!), so you'll want to come back and check out the fun ways a group of us celebrate Sale-a-Bration!

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