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Thursday, January 22, 2015

You Made My Day - Removable 'Award' Ribbon Card

Greetings from Lake Placid, NY!
I'm here through the weekend for my daughter's skating team championships, but I've pre-planned several posts to keep your crafting time inspired.

Today I'm sharing this fun card that features a removable badge or 'award' ribbon.
Check it out:


Last Saturday, several members of my downline team participated in an online 'virtual slumber party' with members of another group of stampers. It was a ton of fun with lots of creative and business idea sharing, but also a few virtual 'pillow fights'. :)
At least no one's bra ended up in the freezer - I don't think so anyway.

I like to recognize members of my downline when they participate in anything that helps them stretch and grow either creatively or business wise. So, this time, I created this card for them. They can take off the 'award' ribbon and hang it up in their studio spaces or on their fridge or use it for a bookmark. But I intended it as a reminder that I'm proud of them and that they 'made my day' by joining the virtual fun.

Here's a close up of the 'award' ribbon itself:


I used a lot of different supplies to create it, a complete list is below along with thumbnails of the products so you can click on them and read more about each one.

The stamp set I used isn't for sale though - you have to get it FREE when you place any order for $50 or more with me. FREE is always good, right?


If you've ever thought about trying out Stampin' Up!, now is a good time to give it a trial run. There's a special offer with the Starter Kit (that you pick yourself, btw) through March 31st. You can find out more by clicking on this link HERE. The first section explains our current SALE-A-BRATION promotion, that includes FREE products with each $50 order, EXTRA FREE Host $$ when you host a qualifying event and the 2 Options for extras when you Join SU!.
I'd love to have you on my growing team stampers, so check it out and message me. I'm here to answer any of your questions and help you get started!

Here's the list of products I used on today's project:
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


Click on the photo of any of the products I used and you'll be taken to my Online Store where you can shop for the supplies you need. Don't forget to add your FREE Sale-A-Bration product when your order reaches $50 or more!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you've gotten some inspiration to go create something fun of your own!
Happy creating!
~~Robin

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

NEW Weekly Deals!

Seriously - some great special deals this week.
Check it out:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


The Angled Tag Topper Punch is the one used on the card posted yesterday. (Click Here to view that post.)

These items coordinate with several products in the Occasions Catalog:
The Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack coordinate with the Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers.
The Hello Honey Satin Stitched Ribbon coordinates with the Sweet Dreams Designer Paper and the Sweet Dreams Washi Tape.
The Blackberry Bliss Satin Stitched Ribbon coordinates with the Painted Blooms Designer Paper and the Tangelo Twist Satin Stitched Ribbon coordinates with the Birthday Bash Designer Series Paper.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


AND last but not least, those Starburst Framelits....
Love them!
Here's some pics of one project I created last year with them:



Oh, and looky there - I used the Angled Tag Topper Punch as well! :)

Ready to shop now?
Simply click on any of the thumbnail photos of the products and you'll go directly to my Online Store where you can add the bargains and their coordinating products to your cart!

Remember, when your order exceeds $50 - you earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration item!

Happy Shopping!
~~Robin

Monday, January 12, 2015

I've Been Nominated! - Creative Crew Blog Hop

I'm so excited this evening! 

I've been nominated by my super-talented friend Melissa Davies over at the RubberFUNatics Blog to participate in the Creative Crew Blog Hop. 
Melissa is one of my GoDiva Super Swappers group, a group of wonderful stampers that are hand-picked by me because of their quality work and vastly different styles. 
Thanks for the shout-out Melissa! 

The rules of this Blog Hop are
1) to create a project exclusive to the Creative Crew Blog Hop
2) answer a few questions and then
3) to nominate (2) people who inspire me.

Here is my project for today:


Like many other stampers, I've been working on Valentine's Day projects and cards. This one is more of a masculine design using the new Wood You Be Mine stamp set from the Occasions Catalog.
I love this image of the wood slice with the heart in the middle - so cute!
The folded card layer is dry embossed with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder to give it texture. The Real Red layer is adhered with the new Fast Fuse Adhesive.


My colors are a mixed bag of brown tones - Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake and Baked Brown Sugar, with a little Real Red added in.
I used the Hardwood background stamp on the tag and two-tone colored the greeting by inking the whole image first, then using my Blender Pen to remove the ink from the hearts. I re-colored them with Real Red, then stamped. It's a lot quicker than coloring it with markers. Just sayin'.


The heart is punched out of Red Glimmer Paper using the Sweetheart punch and I added a ribbon arrow with the Chocolate Chip Chevron ribbon and a staple.
I'm planning to do this card with my clubs this month - I'm pretty sure they will enjoy making it!

Now, to answer the questions:

1)  What are you working on?
Currently, I'm working on projects for my Trinity Design Stampers Team meeting this weekend. All the attendees are receiving a pack of the Stacked With Love Designer Paper and the matching Washi Tape along with the supplies to create 4 projects. I'll be giving them a project sheet for each one so they can take their samples and instructions and hold a class for their clients. I'm excited to be able to help them keep their businesses simple and profitable.

2) How does your work differ from others in your genre?
Honestly, I'm a lazy stamper. :)
Ha! No, not really, but I'm not a super techniquey stamper either.
I really like strong, clean lines and straightforward design most of the time. Something that looks simple, but has a lot more to it when you stop and examine the work.
BUT...then again, I also really like the unexpected, surprise elements and a shabby-chic style. I have a Neo-Vintage style side of me that comes out from time to time and I just love creating whatever comes out of my brain from one piece out of my Serendipity pile on my table. My Serendipity pile is a mixture of odds and ends pieces - some unfinished projects, some stamped elements that didn't work out on another project, some leftover ribbon or embellishment or maybe just a random piece of cardstock. There's freedom in starting with one simple piece and seeing where that spark will take you.

3) Why do you create what you do?
I love this craft, working with paper, ink, glue and glitter because it brings out the delighted child in me again. Like I said before, I love the freedom of being able to sit down and just let my heart lead from a single piece of inspiration. Sometimes I create because I can't NOT create. I get an idea or project in my head and I have to make it to get it out. I create what I do for the love of creating and for the knowledge that it will bring a smile to someone's face and a warm hug to their heartj.

4) How does your creative process work?
I sorta already answered this in #2, but my creating for classes and events differs slightly because I do try and tailor my projects to the crafters who will be attending. I think about their skill level and interests and try and create to appeal to them since this is, after all, my business, my job.
But my creativity is greatest when I can simply sit down and make what's in my heart at the time, even if it only appeals to me.

Here are my nominees:

The fabulous Rhonda Morgan over at INKin' All Night! - she inspires me with her straightforward style and super cute elements that make her projects special - love her stuff!

Because of her unique and eclectic style, I'm also nominating Jamie Hurley over at Unique Ink. She is a fun stamper who isn't afraid to take chances and PLAY!

If they elect to play - their creations will be posted on Monday, January 19th! Be sure to visit their blogs and check them out.

Here are a few of the products I used to create today's project:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


To find these items in my Online Store, simply click on any of the thumbnail photos and it will take you right to it!

Happy creating!
~~Robin

Friday, January 9, 2015

Snuggles and Smooches - Simple Layered Card

It's official, I'm in love with the Photopolymer stamps from Stampin' Up! 

Honestly, when SU! first introduced them, I wasn't a fan. 
Not. At. All.

But, I've really come to enjoy a few things that are specific to the photopolymer -
1) there is no pre-mounting needed. As in, no putting the sticker on the wood block, no placing the rubber stamp on the other side and praying it's lined up perfectly. 
No peeling off a paper backing and then attempting to perfectly position an image sticker in its place. 

Just open the case, peel the stamp off the image sheet, place on the acrylic block, ink it up and Stamp!
What's not to love about that? 

2) I love that I can see exactly where I'm stamping. Every. Time. 

And 3) I love that they are the least expensive option leaving me more crafting dollars for ribbon and bling! 

The latest photopolymer release is a sweet set called Snuggles and Smooches. Here's the card I created with it on my first go 'round:


Folks, I literally sat down at my table, opened the stamp box, pulled out some pre-cut cardstock pieces and ink and designed this baby in 15 minutes. 
Start. To. Finish. 

Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe and Gold Encore  - a sweet and subtle color combo. 
The tag is made with the Note Tag Punch, Very Vintage Buttons, some Gold Glimmer paper and a piece of Burlap string pulled from a piece of our Burlap Ribbon. A couple of dimensionals pop it up off the card front. 
Here's a close up: 


I used the Big Shot and my Decorative Dots Embossing Folder for the background and sponged the edges of everything with Crisp Cantaloupe ink. 

This card just makes me happy - and ready for Valentines' Day! 

Here's a supply list of the items I used to make this fun card: 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


To make it simple to shop, all you need to do is click on the photo of the product you need and you will go directly to my Online Store where you can fill your cart and check out.
Don't forget the awesome Sale-A-Bration products you can choose from  - totally FREE. 1 per $50 product purchase!

Have a fun weekend stampin' friends - go create something amazing!
~~Robin

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

NEW Weekly Deals!!

What could be better on a Tuesday than NEW Catalogs??

NEW Weekly Deals!
Stampin' Up! has some great offers for you this week - be sure to click on the photos to visit my Online Store.
Remember, each $50 you spend between today and March 31st earns you a FREE Sale-A-Bration Product. WooHoo!!


Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


Check it out -
The Note Tag Punch works perfectly with the NEW stamp set - One Tag Fits All - in the Occasions Catalog.
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


I love it when stamps and punches work together - makes our creating time that much easier!

Remember, these deals are only around for 7 days - place your order today!

Happy Stamping!
~~Robin

I Do Love You - Embossing + Color 2 Ways

Today's the day!

The New Occasions Catalog and the New Sale-A-Bration Brochure debut for you!
That means lots of fun, new crafting toys for you to play with, AND you can earn FREE products with every $50 purchase you make - through the end of March!
Oh yeah, baby....!!

I've been spending some really fun time in the studio over the past week playing with some of the new stamp sets - you are going to LOVE them, trust me!

Here's one version of a card I made with the new Big On You stamp set:


I used colors from an online color challenge - Soft Sky, Basic Gray and Island Indigo - simply gorgeous colors together.

The main image is heat embossed with Smoky Slate embossing powder and I accented it with a Rhinestone period to emphasize that this sentiment is really a complete sentence. At least in my house it is. ;)

That layer is resting on a layer of Silver Glimmer Paper - the New Fast Fuse Adhesive is perfect for adhering that paper to anything.

The ribbon wrap is Soft Sky Seam Binding, still one of my all time favorite ribbons to work with, it ties and lays beautifully.

I added a dry embossed vellum border to the right side. The edge was cut first with the Large Scallop Edgelit, then I embossed it with one of the Delicate Designs Embossing folders - all in my Big Shot. To add color to the vellum, I dragged my Island Indigo ink pad across the back side of the embossed vellum, perfect for leaving the contrasting white areas from the embossing.

Here are some of the products I used to create this fun card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog


You can click on the photos to visit my Online Store and place your order! Each photo will link to that individual item - fun and easy!
Be sure to check out all the other fantastic products in the New Occasions Catalog and the New Sale-A-Bration Brochure of FREE products! I've put links to both of those catalogs on my right sidebar here.

Have a super day - I hope you create something fun!
~~Robin

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Love is Kindness - NEW Stamp!

 I'm getting very excited for the start of the NEW Occasions Mini Catalog on Monday - there are so many inspiring products packed into that little magazine - it's been so fun to play in the studio over the past several days!

Here's one of my favorite new card projects:



I used the new Love Is Kindness stamp set - it's actually one stamp, but I cut it apart so I could use the sentiment separate from the image. 
My friend Brian King pointed out to me that tulips wouldn't be standing up like the image shows - so, I followed his lead and stamped them horizontally. Thanks Brian! 

Anyway, I went old school to color them in and used the Aqua-Painters and Re-inkers for my watercoloring. I still love that technique when I do watercolor, which isn't often, but sometimes you just need to do it. Like when the stamp is as cute as this one. 😉

The background is stamped with the Bokeh dots stamp from the Sale-a-Bration stamp set Best Day Ever. That stamp set, oh my - LOVE it! You will be so excited to get your hands on that one. 

So, I hope I've whetted your appetite for the new Occasions Mini catalog and the free products in the Sale-a-Bration brochure. 
It all goes live on Monday so stay tuned for more great projects to inspire you! 

Happy Stampin',
~~Robin