Christmas Blessings - Clean and Simple

G'mornin' stampers!
As you read this, I'm on a jetplane headed to St. George, Utah.
Ahhhh.....can you hear me relaxing already?
I've pre-posted some projects here for you this week so you can get some fresh inspiration even with me out of the studio. 

I'll keep this short and sweet since I've still got packing to do and swaps to finish.You know that's gotta happen!
Today's card is one I designed for my July Clean and Simple Christmas Cards class.

I used the Christmas Blessings stamp set - love this new set - and Very Vanilla Cardstock.
The main image was colored with markers, then stamped on the Vanilla panel. I ran it through the Big Shot with the Oval Designer Frames Folder to highlight the flowers.
That layer was wrapped and tied with a piece of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine after I sponged all the edges in Crumb Cake ink. It's popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals on the card front and there you have it - easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
A card with no Snail. one stamp set, one color cardstock, one ink pad, three Stampin' Write Markers, one ribbon, one embossing folder and my Big Shot.
Does it get any easier?
I think not!

This one would be super easy to mass produce - visit my online store to get what you need for it. You can have the supplies shipped right to your door and you'll be done with your Christmas Cards in no time flat!

Happy Stampin'!
~~Robin

Robin's Online Store: http://www.robinstamps4u.stampinup.net
Click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to enter the store!

My Awesome Husband

This is kind of a non-stamping post, but not really because it's about something cool that Mark did for me for my stamp room!
Ya'll know I love Pinterest - I do and I have to admit, it sucks me in more than I'd like because there are so doggone many fantastic ideas on there. I also love vintage stuff. Way more than I should due to the size of my house. The rooms can only hold just so much stuff.

Well, anyway, I'd found this way cool three tiered stand on Pinterest back in the Winter and asked Mark if he thought he could recreate it.
He said "Uh..." and I said "Great! Thanks Honey!" I knew he could even before he could say "Why yes dear, I'd love to break out  my manly power tools and put my handyman hat on to create this absolutely AMAZING stand for you to use in your studio!" Or something like that.
Haha!

So, off we went antiquing and managed to locate the four major items needed for this super cool pie tin stand: a vintage wooden rolling pin (with red handles) and three 10" pie tins. The rest was all up to him.

When I got back from the beach last month, he had this masterpiece waiting to surprise me:

Isn't it awesome?!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!

You can see I've put it to good use on my vintage enamel top kitchen table that is my primary work space in the studio now.
It's perfect for holding my basic stamping tools/supplies for any project.
This photo is of my 120 swaps for Founder's Circle that were as yet - unassembled.

I'm happy to report that they are almost done now - just 40 more to Tombow together then they all go into their tidy clear envelopes. Oh yeah - my family has been a swap making machine this weekend. God bless em'. Not only did Mark make me this gorgeous stand, but he was King of the Big Shot and did almost all of my die cutting and embossing for me.
Emma chipped in and did the coloring on my focal layer - she's very good at it and actually enjoys it - go figure!
I even got four of the skating Moms at the rink on Sunday to help me with the 420 Stampin' Dimensionals that my swaps needed.
Definitely a joint effort and I'm forever grateful!


Here's a photo of  the pie tin stand I originally found on Pinterest:

I think there is someone who sells them in an etsy store, but the idea had been repinned so many times I couldn't track it back that far. This is when it really pays to have a handy hubby who's willing to go the extra mile.
Love that man!

Happy Monday peeps,
Check back tomorrow for a project idea! I'll be on an airplane headed to Founder's Circle in St. George, Utah, but I've got posts planned for you all week long.
That's right! Who loves ya?

~~Robin

Wonderfall Frame Project

Happy Saturday stampers!

Today is my monthly Downline Team Meeting. I love my team of amazing stampers - they are wonderful ladies and so fun to work and stamp with!

The frame project I'm showing you today is what we are making in our meeting today.
As an upline leader, I try and give my team projects and ideas that they can easily duplicate and take back to their clients for classes.
I know from doing this project last month with my #1 Club that it will be a sure hit - my club ladies loved it!

We started with a blank wood frame from the big box "M" store. It's covered with Gumball Green Co'ordinations cardstock that was texturized in the Big Shot with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder. It's glued to the frame with Tombow Multi-Adhesive and sanded to bring out the texture and smooth the edges.

The leaves are cut with the new Autumn Accents Big Shot Die. Some are stamped with the Wonderfall Stamp Set then crumpled for texture, one is simply plain cardstock that was sponged and crumpled and one was sponged then texurized with the Houndstooth embossing folder.
They all are adhered either with Mini Glue Dots or Stampin' Dimensionals or both.
The buttons are all threaded with Linen Thread then added with Mini Glue Dots.

I stamped the greeting from Loving Thoughts onto the Natural Cotton Ribbon from the Holiday Mini Catalog. It's frayed a bit on each end then rippled and adhered with Mini Glue Dots.

It's really a super fun and easy project and would make a great gift for anyone.

You could be part of my Team of Stampers too! There's still a few days left in the Starter Kit Special that includes the fun halloween Printer's Tray kit.
For more information, click the picture below and visit the Promotions link on my Website Home Page.
Just $99 gets you a fully customizable starter kit AND this fun project kit too!
But hurry, the offer ends on September, 14th!

Happy stampin' peeps!
See you on Monday,
~~Robin

Sympathy in Blue

Things have been a little crazy around here this week - I know, what else is new?
Actually crazier that normal in some ways, but thanks to my awesome family and some good friends, it's all coming together nicely.
My to do list over the next four days is large enough to put even super-Mom under the table, but it is what it is and I'm just gonna keep putting one foot in front of the other.
When I get on the plane Tuesday morning, headed to Founder's Circle, then I can sleep. Heck, I might just sleep all week!

But aren't you glad that I'm taking time to blog again?
Well, even if you aren't, I am. I've missed it! And I've missed you!

The card today is another one that I designed back in June, or maybe May......
It was for the Reason to Smile stamp set promotion but I figure that again, you can substitute another floral stamp set and achieve a similar look.

The card base is Whisper White topped with a layer of Basic Gray. I stamped the long stem flower on that layer in Basic Gray ink.
For the Island Indigo layer, I used the Dresden Plate Big Shot Die and cut out the smaller piece. It was stamped with the large daisy stamp in Island Indigo ink then run through the Big Shot again with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.

The focal image was cut out of Whisper White cardstock with the Labels Framelits then stamped with the daisy stamp in Island Indigo. I added the sentiment from the new So Sorry greeting set in Basic Gray ink. My ribbon is the always elegant Whisper White Organza tied in a simple bow and attached with Mini Glue Dots.

Sympathy cards are always difficult to make, I think. But if you keep them relatively simple, the heartfelt meaning really shines through.

Well, wish me luck today and send me lots of creative mojo. I've got projects to design and prep - 5 to be exact - and my countdown timer is tick tick ticking away.......

Happy Stampin',
~~Robin

Clearly Kindness

It might be a record for me these days - three posts in as many days.
You're impressed, I can tell.

You probably won't be as impressed when you realize that I made this card for my June classes. Yeah, I'm a little behind in sharing.
This card was done with the Reason to Smile stamp set that was the special offer in June. So, you can look at this one of two ways - you now have a fresh idea for that super cute stamp set, or you have a fresh idea for a card that you can substitute an equally cute stamp set.
Either way, I think you'll like this design.

I used Baja Breeze cardstock for the base and trimmed it short once I scored it in half. I used the Scalloped Edge Border Punch across the folded flap and stamped the small flower in Baja Breeze Ink.
The embossed cardstock strip is Pink Pirouette that was run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper folder. I used the 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon in Early Espresso for the wrap.

What makes this card cool is the two front panel layers. The under layer is Early Espresso cardstock that was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots folder.
The top layer is a Window Sheet cut to size to fit the Early Espresso cardstock (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").
I stamped the images using White Staz-On ink. The greeting is from the From My Heart stamp set as is the inside sentiment.

Here's a look at the inside:

Just simply stamped in Early Espresso with some added Baja Breeze flowers.
This color combo really made me smile and I especially liked it with these stamp images.

So, I'm off and running today - I have 85 wedding invitations to finish for Emma's skating coach and then I need to get working on my 120 swap cards for Founder's Circle that's coming up next week!
Yikes! Next Week!!
Guess I'd better get busy -
Happy stampin',
~~Robin

Creamy Christmas

You know you're a Stampin' Up! demonstrator when you start your Christmas cards in July.
Yeah, it's true. We have to be ahead of the curve ya know. 
So, for one of my Convention swaps, I created this subtle beauty:

For me, anytime you combine Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake, you come out a winner. Throw in a little Cherry Cobbler and some Garden Green, well, you're golden.
I love these colors together, I love the neo-traditional feel of the card and I really love the clean and simple layout.
It lends itself really well to the Watercolor Winter stamp set, just random poinsettias across the background. Love it.

The bow is Crumb Cake Seam Binding wrapped with an Antique Brad, giving it just a touch of vintage elegance.

It's a bit hard to see in the photos, but I used the Simply Scored to add a scored frame just inside the edge of the stamped panel. About 1/4" in from each side. It's a nice way to step your card up without adding bulk. 
We have a new gem of a stamp set for Christmas greetings this year- More Merry Messages and I know it will be used a lot in my studio. You can never have too many greetings to choose from.

You may see this card in my lineup for Clean and Simple Christmas Cards this month, think I'll substitute the brad though for something more mailable.

Have a great Wednesday everyone - go stamp something Christmas!
~~Robin

High School - Already?!

I know it's been 21 days since I blogged. 
Did you miss me?

Well, it's like this, my sweet little baby girl is starting high school today.
Yes, that's right - HIGH School. Sigh.
So, I've been spending the better part of the summer with her.
Just trying to enjoy the time I had with her.
Can you relate?

So, she's off to 9th Grade today. Her first day at Patriot High School.
And you know what? I didn't cry.
Nope, not one tear. I'm just so darn proud of her and the young woman she's becoming.
And I know she's gonna have the time of her life in high school.

She's far  more ready for it than I was at her age. Mature, self-confident, kind. Just a few of the attributes that will bring her success. She knows who she is and whose she is and that makes all the difference.

Love my girl!

Have a great day peeps, see you tomorrow.
~~Robin