HUGE Paper Crafters Sale Tomorrow!

Yes, it's finally time!
I've cleaned up and cleared out my Stampin' Studio and probably have enough paper crafting supplies to open a small store!

If you are local to me, you will want to be at this SALE! I have over 13 years of stamping and scrapbooking supplies that have been orgainzed, sorted and priced to go!

Paper Crafters Heaven Sale
Saturday, June 19th 10 am - 2 pm
Here at my home (we will be set up on the deck in the rear of the house)
If you are on my client list, you should have received your invitation for the Pre-Sale event tonight!

Plan to come and bring your friends - and bags! I'm sure I won't have enough!
Here are the details:
CASH Only! I cannot take credit cards for this sale!

Among the many items available will be:

Stamps - both individual, wheels and sets
Ink Pads
Cardstock
Designer Paper - packages and single sheets (LOTS of 12 x 12!)
Ribbons - packaged pieces and whole rolls
Stickers - LOTS of stickers
Embellishments of all kinds
Scrapbook Albums - MANY Albums, all brand new
Sizzix Dies
Embossing Supplies
Packaged Cards, Card Fronts and 3D Items - all hand selected by my - the best of the best of almost 5 years of samples

Stamping/Scrapbooking Idea Books

I'm probably leaving something out, there is honestly so much I've cleared out, you'll just have to come and see for yourself!

Looking forward to seeing you here! Contact me if you need directions!
~~Robin

Fruit Salad - A Second Helping!

Have you ever heard the saying "Too much of a good thing is a good thing!"? Well, that's kind of how I feel about the Tart and Tangy stamp set. Now, admittedly, this little set had to grow on me when it first appeared in a mini catalog a while back, but I LOVED the DSP that coordinated with it and naturally, I had to have the stamps to match!
But what a fabulous investment it turned out to be!
These little fruits always seem to bring out a smile no matter what you're creating with them and they really are just the right stamp sometimes when you need a little whimsy on a card. At the bottom of this post I've put a few links to other cards I've made with this set so you can have some more ideas.

So, a few weeks back, I pulled this little set out to complete a UDI Blog challenge and made the card in this post here.
Well, I recently had to design some cards for a private stamp camp and for my two card classes this week and since I'd run out of the textured Melon Mambo cardstock used in the original, I decided to see what else I could come up with using the same color combo.
This is the result:

Now, you can't see it in the photo, but the folded white card base is actually Whisper White Textured cardstock. I really love this cardstock for card making - the added texture just adds more richness with very little effort.
As you can see, I used the Melon Mambo as the second layer on this card and I added some more texture to the card by running it through my Big Shot with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate. The greeting is from another do-it-all-dolly stamp set, Short and Sweet (thank goodness SU! didn't retire this one - it's a real workhorse in my studio! I love that even if you stamp it a bit crooked, you can't tell because of the font! :) )
I just stamped it in Old Olive on the bottom right corner of the card.

So, mimicing the original card, I added the Old Olive Striped Grosgrain ribbon (retiring this month - so get yours before it's gone!) and then just rearranged the little fruits in a square focal piece instead of a straight line.
A little Eyelet Border Punch, a little Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and four Stampin' Dimensionals later, you've got yourself a card!
This card is 5 1/4" square and fits in the SU! Medium Square Envelopes which even makes it more fun - love a unique sized card!

I hope you liked the second helping of fruit salad today - be sure and leave a comment and let me know what you think - I LOVE hearing from you! Did you know that when you leave a comment it's like saying "Hi"!?

Have a wonderful day today!
Stamped Blessings,
~~Robin

More Tart and Tangy cards:
Cherry on Top Birthday
Cherries Gift Set

UDI Inspiration Challenge - Daffodil with Pizazz!

Hello stamping friends! Yes, I am SO aware that it's Thursday and I haven't posted a new project for you since last Friday night! I have been up to my eyeballs in cleaning out the stamp studio getting ready for my big sale this Saturday - I've barely even had time to stamp! I did have two small classes on Tuesday, but besides that, the dust has been flyin', not the ink! Believe me, I've missed sharing my life with you on here. There is something slightly theraputic for me when I write to you about the comings and goings in the Merriman household. Maybe it makes my oh, so crazy life seem almost normal. I don't know, maybe it's just that it helps me see the joy in my everyday life more clearly, because, truly, isn't there more joy than struggle when we get right down to it?

This week's inspiration photo reminded me of that. I love the bright, flowering branch against the misty background. The clarity of the flowers really spoke to me and I knew right away what I wanted to do for my project. Here is the inspiration photo:

And here is my card:

I actually cased myself from a card that I'd cased from a swap from last convention! Got that? That's like trying to follow someone else's family tree! :)

See how the white flowers just pop off of the card front? Well, that's because they do, literally pop off the page! I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot with the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder. Yes, I said Whisper White - I used my Brayer and rolled the new Daffodil Delight ink on the debossed side of the folder before adding my white cardstock. When it goes through the Big Shot, the ink transfers to the front of the cardstock, leaving white flowers against an inked background. Isn't that cool?!
It's not a new trick, but it still makes me go WOW every time!

Once I had my colored, embossed piece, I used my new Pear Pizazz Stampin' Write marker to color in the flower centers before mounting the cardstock piece on a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The greeting, from the new Hostess Set Because I Care, was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink in the lower right corner.

I then added my ribbons, Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain and NEW Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta around the panels, securing them on the back .
I made the bow using my bow technique found in this video tutorial here.

The card base itself is made of Pear Pizzazz cardstock and I mounted the focal panels on it with my favorite Stampin' Dimensionals. (At stamp camp last night one of the cards used 9 dimensionals and my friend Cathy just looked at me and said "Is that all?" Yes, she is a riot!)

So that's it for this card, pretty simple, but I think it captures the essence of the photo perfectly and I really like the retro look of these colors together too. I hope you like it - leave me a comment and let me know what you think, ok?
Then be sure to visit the UDI Blog and see what the other design team members created!

If you are local to me, you won't want to miss my Huge Paper Crafters Heaven Sale this Saturday morning from 10 am - 1 pm. See this post here for more details, but suffice it to say, I could probably open up a small scrapbook store with all the stuff I have! You won't be disappointed and it is priced to go!

And since I am achingly close to earning the Stampin' Up! Alaska Cruise, I'm offering a reward to all who place a $50 order with me through the end of the month! Each $50 order earns you a prize from my Stampin' Up! Goodie Basket. I have stamp sets, DSP, Ribbons, Ink Pads, Rub-Ons, really a Plethora of Products and you get one FREE for each $50 you order! I need another 50 or so $50 orders and I'll be able to take my hubby Mark on his dream vacation to Alaska. He's always wanted to go there and it's always been out of our budget. And making it even more special, the cruise next year is over my birthday! It would be so cool (no pun intended!) to be able to celebrate there!
Thanks in advance for any orders you'll be placing with me - you are awesome!

Have a blessed day!
~~Robin

Looking For My Birthday Blog Candy Winner!

Happy Monday everyone!

I'm checking in real quick to leave a reminder for Gloria that she won my Birthday Blog Candy last month!
Gloria did not leave any contact information so I don't have any way to contact her! So, Gloria, if you are reading this contact me, ok? :)

Back later with a creative project for you all!
Robin

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge - SSC155

Have I ever told you all how much I LOVE Fridays? There is just something about a Friday that makes me happy - maybe it's the anticipation of the weekend and the family time that it holds. Or it could be that it signals the end of the week - which let's face it, we are sometimes glad to see in the rearview! On Friday's lately, we usually all go to Emma's skating session together, then eat out at a favorite restaurant and maybe even have ice cream on the way home. Whatever it is, Friday evenings is most of the time 'family time' and that makes me happy!

Something else about Fridays that makes me happy is that it's time for me to post the upcoming Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge and my creation for you! I hope you look forward to this part of Friday's as much as I do!

Here is this week's sketch:

And here is what I did with it this week:

I've missed playing around with the vintage look, so I pulled out a combination of old and new supplies to create this card.
I began with a folded card base of Kraft (Crumb Cake) which was cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and folded to make an A2 card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"). Using the Sneak Peek stamp set, Artistic Etchings, I inked the round medallion image with Crumb Cake ink and randomly stamped it all over the front of the card.
Next, I took a piece of the Sneak Peek DSP Newsprint (2 1/2" x 4") and crumpled it up a bit. I sponged Crumb Cake in on the edges and across the front so the crumples would be highlighted. Next, I inked up the medallion stamp with Rich Razzleberry and stamped off twice before stamping it on the DSP. You can barely see the color in this image:

Don't you just love that DSP?! It's really awesome in person!
You can also really see the medallion focal point I created in these two photos. I stamped the medallion image with Rich Razzleberry (full strength) on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and punched it out with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch. After sponging the edges with Crumb Cake ink, I attached it to the scalloped circle piece with Stampin' Dimensionals.

The Scalloped Circle was made by using that NEW Punch (sneak peek!) on a scrap of Kraft (Crumb Cake) cardstock. Once I punched it out, I ran it through my Crimping tool several times, turning it each time. That weakened the fibers in the cardstock really well, so I could then crumple it, sponge it and distress it up.
The Clear Rhinestone Brad was added to the center for just the perfect touch of bling!

The layers here are really simple. I just took a piece of Basic Black cardstock 4" wide and tore it across the top. I rolled the torn edge to make it stand up a bit then layered the two ribbons - Kraft Taffeta and Black Gingham (both on the retiring list!- I'm so sad about that!) around the cardstock piece. This was adhered to the card front and then I added the medallion piece I'd made.
The greeting was added last. It's stamped with the In a Word stamp set from the Summer Mini in Rich Razzleberry ink.
The final touch to the card front was to spritz on a little Log Cabin Smooch Spray! I know you can't see it shimmer in these photos, but it really does and looks gorgeous!

I added a panel to the inside of the card to finish it off:

It's simply a piece of Very Vanilla cut at 4" x 5 1/4". I sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink and stamped a few Razzleberry medallions in the corners.
I hope you like this card because I LOVE how it turned out! :)

Be sure to stop over at the Stamping 411 Blog and check out what the other design team operators created this week! It's a great sketch - so versatile - I know you'll be inspired to create your own card from it!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and hug the ones you love!
Blessings,
Robin

UDI Inspiration Challenge - Ice Cream Anyone?

Good morning stampers!
Today promises to be absolutely gorgeous here after the gloomy rain we had yesterday. But even the rain has it's benefits - I didn't have to water my garden! :)
This year we have planted 3 types of Tomatoes, Green Peppers, a variety of Hot Peppers and a few herbs, Basil, Rosesmary and Oregano. Can ya tell we like cooking Italian food?
The other day I harvested the first of the Basil and made Basil Garlic Butter and Basil Pecan Pesto, are you drooling yet? I don't often cook, but I CAN cook - contrary to popular belief - but that is a topic for another post! But, hey, gardening reminds me of Summer and ice cream reminds me of Summer which leads me to the UDI Inspiration Challenge for today.

Here is the truly yummy delicious looking photo that our challenge Mom sent us:

And here is what I was inspired to make:

Yeah, I know, there is NO Ice Cream in my card! Honestly, when I was stamping yesterday, it was so chilly and gray that I just wasn't inspired to translate ice cream onto my card - but cupcakes sounded yummy - and warm! :)
But the colors really did inspire me, so I went with that..........and the polka dots.........and the beadboard table. Check out the scored lines on my white panel:

I know, they are a little hard to see in the photo, they really look cool in person though!
I'll put a complete supply list at the bottom of this post for you, but to make the lines, I simply measured at 1/2 inch intervals with my Paper Cutter and Scoring Blade. I scored one, moved it over 1/8" and scored again. Then moved it to the next 1/2" interval. Easy!

The focal image was stamped with the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set in Black Staz-On. I used my Versamarker to color in the icing and heat embossed it with White Embossing Powder and my Heat Tool. The stand was colored in with the Going Gray Stampin' Write Marker and I used Bashful Blue and Melon Mambo Markers for the rest of the cupcakes.
Even the inside of the card got a little cupcake action:

The finishing touch was a simple Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon Bow and wrap.
Simple, clean and easy!

I'm so glad you stopped by today to see my card - I hope you'll let me know you were here by leaving a comment - I love to hear from you!
Please visit the UDI Blog too and check out what the other design team members created! Maybe they will show you ice cream! :)

Stamped Blessings,
~~Robin

Supplies Used: (All SU!)
Stamps: Crazy for Cupcakes
Inks: Black Staz-On; Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Going Gray Stampin' Write Markers, Versamarker
Cardstock:Whisper White, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Retired DSP, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Heat Tool, White EP, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Trimmer with Scoring Blade

It's Coming - Paper Crafter's Heaven Yard Sale!

Hi there everyone!

I know you are wondering what has happened to me the past few days.......I've been CLEANING!

Yes, you read that right - cleaning, as in cleaning out my studio!
Not only am I cleaning up and clearing out, I'm getting ready for my hugemongous
Paper Crafter's Heaven Yard Sale next Saturday.
Right here on June 19th from 10 am - 1 pm, you will be able to find paper crafting, scrapbooking and stamping bargains galore!

You see, I have only been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for the past almost 5 years, but I was a scrapbooker and stamper looooong before that - and boy, oh boy, did I ever amass a HUGE amount of stuff!

Most of it has been just sitting here in storage for the past 5 years, unloved and untouched - isn't that sad? So I think it's time that it finds a good home!
For those of you who plan to come, be sure to bring cash or your checkbook - I cannot accept credit cards for this sale! You may want to bring a bag or two as well - I have some, but probably not enough!

Here is a list of some things you will find at the sale:

Stamps - both individual, wheels and sets
Ink Pads
Cardstock - packages and single sheets
Designer Paper - packages and single sheets
Ribbons - packaged pieces and whole rolls
Stickers - LOTS of stickers
Embellishments of all kinds
Scrapbook Albums - MANY Albums, all brand new
Alterable Items
Sizzix and Dies
Packaged Card Fronts - ready to convert into cards
Stamping/Scrapbooking Idea Books (not just old SU! catalogs)

You really don't want to miss this sale, so if you are local to me, make plans to be here!
If you have questions or need directions, please e-mail me at stampwithrobin@yahoo.com

Hope to see you here!
Blessings,
~~Robin