Sweet Valentine Treats!

It's coming!
Just 10 short days and we'll be celebrating all things LOVE.
I don't know about you, but I'm excited about a couple of things - the chocolate and the dark chocolate!
HeeHee!

Really though, I enjoy Valentine's Day because it gives me a chance to show a little something extra to the special people in my life. I've found that it doesn't have to be something elaborate to put a smile on someone's face. In fact, sometimes it's the sweet little touches that make the day special.

Here's a couple of cute, quick ideas that might help you put a smile on your Valentine's face this year!

This tiny treat pouch was a cinch to make with our Pillow Box die and the Big Shot. I used a piece of Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Paper (their are four designs to choose from in that pack!) and simply cut it out with my Pillow Box Die. If you do this, be sure to use the Crease Pad with the Die so the fold lines crease only and don't cut through.
I inserted 3 pieces of wrapped chocolate - Hershey Nuggets I think - and folded in the ends. A piece of Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon was tied around the middle in a double knot to hold the ends in place. It can be easily slipped off to get to the treat inside.
I made the tag with the new Framelits Labels Dies. The greeting, from the Got Treats stamp set, was stamped on a piece of Whisper White cardstock in Melon Mambo ink before being cut out with the right size Die. I punched out a tiny heart from Silver Glimmer Paper and adhered it to the bottom of the tag, then punched a hole in the top so I could tie the tag on with some Whisper White Baker's Twine.
So simple! You could make a bunch of these in no time flat!

Here's a non caloric treat for you:

I used our new Skinny Cello Bags for this one, inserting two Valentine pencils into the bag. The topper was made with both sets of the new Framelits Dies - Hearts and Labels. I stamped the bicycle image from the Take it to Heart stamp set on a piece of Whisper White cardstock in Real Red ink. It's cut out with the Hearts Die and then glittered around the edges with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.
Next, I cut out two pieces of Real Red cardstock with the right size Labels Die. These were adhered around the top of the sealed bag with Tombow Multi Adhesive.
I tied a bow out of the White Organza Ribbon and adhered it to the front Red label then adhered the heart piece over it.
Again, simple, easy and sweet!

I hope these simple ideas have inspired you in your Valentine treat making this week. I really enjoyed designing them and I'm anxious to make more for some special people in my life. I just hope I can resist the open bag of chocolate long enough to fill the treat pouches. Be strong, Robin!!

Happy Saturday everyone - go stamp something fun!
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

Don't forget about Sale-A-Bration! Free products for each $50 you spend!

Stained Glass Valentine

I love using Vellum.
Many years ago when I first discovered stamping as a hobby, I even took a class in a stamp store in Virginia Beach about ways to use vellum. I just love the feel of the paper, the almost magic translucence of it and it's ability to elevate any project you use it with.
(Ya gotta know I'm pretty into it if that class was enough to draw me off the beach for an afternoon! Ha!)

So last month, I was reminded about this wonderful paper when I saw a card using the stained glass technique somewhere online. I thought it would be a great technique to make a sweet valentine card and I designed this for my January card classes.

This project started with a card base of Pretty in Pink cardstock. The top layer is Very Vanilla and using the swirl stamp from Elements of Style (a MUST have stamp set!), I covered it with that image using Pretty in Pink ink.

Next, I used the new Framelits Hearts Dies to cut a heart shape hole in the stamped cardstock. I chose the size that matched the stamp I planned to use with the vellum from the Take it to Heart stamp set.
Once the heart was cut by running it through my Big Shot, I then used the new Edgelits Adorning Accents Dies to cut the elegant edge under the heart across the cardstock piece. I then set that all aside to work on the vellum piece.

First, I stamped the bird in the heart image on the front of the vellum cardstock using Black Staz-On ink. (note: I prefer using Vellum CARDSTOCK instead of Vellum PAPER. The cardstock has a better heft to it and still provides a nice translucence for your project.)
Once the image was stamped on the front, I turned it over and used my Stampin' Write Markers to color in the image on the back side. This side ends up looking kind of messy and garish, but when you turn it back over, the colors are all nicely in place and look soft and muted. So pretty!

So, to put it all together, I added a bit of SNAIL adhesive to the upper corners of the front of the vellum piece and adhered it in the heart shaped window that I'd cut out of the Very Vanilla cardstock. Using my Paper Snips, I trimmed off the vellum that stuck out from the bottom of the Vanilla cardstock.
I then added a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock to the back of these pieces so the colors would show on a neutral background. Otherwise, they'd be backed by pink and that would change the look of the colored in vellum.
Next, I adhered these pieces to the folded Pretty in Pink card front, allowing for a nice 1/8" border on the top and sides. This made it really easy to use my new Adorning Accents Embossing Folders and add an embossed line across the pink cardstock that matched the cut edge on the vanilla. (Just make sure you open up the card when you run it through the Big Shot so it's only one layer going through at a time.)

The last step was to add the embellished greeting. I stamped the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes on a scrap of Very Vanilla and punched it out with the Modern Label Punch. I threaded some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine through a heart shaped Bitty Button and tied a little bow before adding it to the greeting with a Mini Glue Dot. The whole greeting was added to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals and the card was done!

The stampers at my classes loved learning the stained glass technique along with all the new Big Shot Dies and Folders!
You can easily own all those new toys along with all the stamps and supplies that I used on this card by shopping in my Online Stampin' Store. And don't forget that right now, during Sale-A-Bration, each $50 order you place earns you a FREE product from Stampin' Up!

Have a great day everyone - go stamp something!
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! Supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right to get started!

Valentine Love Seat

So, like any well made plan, mine went into the ditch today......
BUT, the good news is that I'm still posting a NEW project for you. That counts for something doesn't it? Even if it's a few hours late??

I've been dealing with a personal medical issue since yesterday morning and since it got somewhat worse today, I was able to get in with my doctor this morning.
Not too much to worry about, but I'll be having some outpatient surgery sometime in the next few weeks. I know many of you pray and have prayed for me in the past, so if you'd do that again, I'd so appreciate it!

Let's move on to the card, shall we??
This is one I designed for my January card classes and it was a big hit! I used this layout from the Stamping 411 Blog as my starting point and went from there.

I used Very Vanilla cardstock as my base, sponging the edges with Crumb Cake ink. A layer of Crumb Cake cardstock was stamped with the "Hello, Doily" background stamp in Riding Hood Red ink and then sponged with Crumb Cake ink on the edges.

For the paper pennant layer, I cut a long piece of Very Vanilla at 1 1/2" wide and used my 1 1/4" Square Punch to make the flag end for it. The Designer Paper used in the next layer is from the Letters to Santa pack that's in the big Idea Book and Catalog. Really, it's one of the most versatile paper packs in the catalog this year and I've used it for MANY occasions, not just Christmas. Check it out, you'll see!
I cut a strip of the DSP at 1 1/4" wide and again used the Square Punch to flag the end. I layered them together after sponging the edges of both with Crumb Cake ink and adhered them to the Crumb Cake Cardstock layer, trimming off the excess at the top.

Next, I stamped the wooden bench image from the "Have a Seat" stamp set in Early Espresso on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock. I used my new Framelits Labels set to cut it out with my Big Shot then sponged the edges. The heart was punched out with the Small Heart Punch from Riding Hood Red cardstock and adhered to the bench. I popped this piece up on Stampin' Dimensionals and added it to the card front.
The sweet bow was made with Very Vanilla Seam Binding and was wrapped around with an Antique Brad then adhered to the card front with Mini Glue Dots.
I did stamp the inside of the card with the Be My Valentine greeting from the "Delightful Dozen" stamp set.

This card made me smile so much, I even included one in my Secret Sister gift at Leadership. It's a perfect Valentine card for any one, male or female and could easily be adapted for a different occasion as well.

As always, you can buy everything you need to recreate this card in my Online Stampin' Store! The stamp sets I used are especially versatile and you'll find yourself using them time after time.

Have a wonderful afternoon!
Happy Stampin',
~~Robin

Place your order for Stampin' Up! Supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

Leadership Secret Sister! Twitterpated Gift Ensemble

Note: I started this post last Wednesday morning (1/25), but Blogger was acting up and I lost most of my text that I'd spent a half-hour writing. So instead of throwing my computer out the window in frustration, I walked away intending to finish it when I returned, but well, my week kind of got away from me.
So just pretend it's last Wednesday, ok? haha!

Good morning stampers!!
It's appropriate to show you my Twitterpated Gift Set that I made for my Secret Sister at leadership today.
Wanna know why???
Because I'm a little Twitterpated this morning!
I woke up to discover that my Stampin' Fools put me over the top last night for earning the Hilton Head trip! Isn't that a great way to wake up??
Next stop - Fiji!! WooHoo!!

Now, let me show you the gift set, ok?
We had optional Secret Sisters at Leadership in my upline, Jan Wakeland's RemARKable Dreambuilders group. We had a list of things to create for our sister based on their likes. This bag and box are just part of what I made for her.

The bag is a simple kraft cubby bag that I decorated. I first attached a piece of Riding Hood Red cardstock that I'd stamped all over with the floral spray from the Bordering on Romance stamp set.
Next, I adhered a piece of Twitterpated Designer Series Paper to it. I chose the stripes as a contrast to the florals and waffle paper ruffles.

The Whisper White Waffle paper was cut into 1" strips and adhered with SNAIL adhesive to the bag front. I simply hand pleated it along the adhesive. I cut a length of Riding Hood Red Pleated Satin Ribbon to cover the top edge and wrapped it around the Designer Paper, hiding the edges. It's attached with Mini Glue Dots.

The flowers were punched out using the new Blossom Punch from the Occasions Mini. I punched them out of different designs of the Twitterpated Designer Paper then sprayed them with a little Stampin' Mist to wet them. I scrunched them all up in a ball to dry, then smoothed them out a bit and added the Antique Brad to the center of the flower. It was attached over the ribbon with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here's a close up of the Kraft Box.
I actually opened up the seam of the box and used my Vintage Wallpaper Textured Embossing Folder to emboss the sides of the box. I sponged it all over with Riding Hood Red ink to make the embossing stand out. Because of the size restrictions of the box in the machine, it left a blank corner, so I took a piece of Riding Hood Red cardstock and embossed it to use in covering the blank corner. I punched the edges with my Eyelet Lace Border Punch before adhering it with Tombow Adhesive.

I added a piece of Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon around the belly of the box and added another paper flower to cover the seam.
The design on the top of the box was a piece of Riding Hood Red cardstock, again embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper folder and sponged a bit with matching ink.
I cut a piece of DSP with one of the Framelits Labels Dies and stamped an image from the Apothecary Art stamp set in Pear Pizazz ink before using another Labels Die to cut it out. I cleaned the stamp and inked it again in Riding Hood Red, stamped on a scrap of Whisper White and punched it out with the 1" Circle Punch. All pieces were sponged with Crumb Cake ink and then popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals.

My secret sister was Kathy Hamrick - who gave me some super cute things AND chocolate too! I hope she liked her gift set. There were some project inside it as well, I'll show you those later this week.

As always, you can order all the supplies (except the bag) from my Online Stampin' Store. And remember, Sale-A-Bration is in full swing, so that means for each $50 in merchandise you purchase, you get a FREE product from the exclusive Sale-A-Bration Brochure! LOVE FREE stuff!

Happy Stampin' friends!
~~Robin

Place your order for your Stampin' Up! supplies at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

An Awesome Skating Weekend!

Good morning stampin' friends!

You may have noticed that I've been absent from here since last Tuesday. Not intentionally, because I have about 10 new projects to share with you, but we were in Hershey, PA since last Wednesday night for a skating competition. Since I've been home, it's been non-stop for me and I'm finally finding time to sit long enough to post again! I'm posting about the competition first, but I have creative post for you today too so just hang tight!

So, this wasn't just any skating competition, but the Eastern Sectional Synchronized Skating Championships. In short, a big deal for my daughter Emma's team.
They were one of 33 teams competing and the first day was the qualifier. If they placed in the top 4 of their group, they moved on to the final on Saturday morning.
Is it ok to admit that I never expected them to qualify and I fully expected to have a fun family Saturday doing some antiquing and outlet shopping before we headed home?? I know, bad momma.

Needless to say, we were all blown away when they placed 4th in their group and made the FINAL round!
Emma has been skating since she was 4, team skating since she was 7 and this is the first team FINAL that she's ever made - she was over the moon!

Here's a photo of her team with their head coach during warm-up before the final on Saturday morning. Emma is the brunette on the far left.

I love taking photos in the locker room. You get all kinds of expressions from the girls. Here they are getting their skates on and thinking about what's ahead. Emma is on the left.

That photo looks pretty serious, but in reality, the locker room that morning was pretty loose. Everyone was happy and excited and really got up for our "Who are We?" "National Blades!" chant.

I'd love to be able to tell you that they medaled, but they didn't. They had the unlucky draw of skating first in the group of 12, which in skating terms means that your performance sets the median score for all the teams after and in general, they tend to be judged a little tighter.
However, they finished 9th and out of all those teams at that level in the whole division, that's pretty fantastic for a team that wasn't expected to go anywhere this year.
In short, we're pretty proud of our girls. They had a fantastic skate, gave it their all and that's all we can ask.

Here's the video of their skate in the Final. Emma is the lead skater taking the ice and she is the brunette who skates out for the music cue at the start of their program.


Thanks to all of you who sent your love and support to the girls. All your messages of encouragement were passed on and they love knowing they have followers all over the US!
Go National Blades!
~~Robin

Look out for Cupid!

I promised you something creative today too - not just Leadership photos, so here you go!

This cutie-patootie card is one that I designed for my Very Valentine Stamp Camp last weekend. I liked it so much, that I made 17 more of them for my GoDivas Leadership swap too.

This card is made with the NEW P.S. I Love You stamp set that's in the Occasions Mini catalog. I chose Cherry Cobbler and Blushing Bride with Very Vanilla for my color combo - love the subtlety of these colors together.

My card base is Cherry Cobbler and the first layer is a piece of Blushing Bride Patterns Designer Series Paper. It's edged with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter applied with the 2 Way Glue Pen.

The next layer is Cherry Cobbler as well, and the collage stamped layer of Very Vanilla is adhered to it. I tied a piece of Blushing Bride Poly-Twill Ribbon around it in a knot and added the punched embellishments with Stampin' Dimensionals. The top circle also has Dazzling Diamonds added around the edge - you can never have too much glitter!

There is another Very Vanilla inside that's stamped with the heart and cupid as well as a Be My Valentine greeting. All in all, a very simply card to make.
The gals at Very Valentine class loved this one and so do I!

Here's a few of the products I used to create this card:

#119267 - Blushing Bride Poly Twill Ribbon $8.95 (15 yard spool)

#117158 - 2010 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack - $21.95 (four sheets of each color and double sided pattern)

#125462 - P.S. I Love You Stamp Set - $27.95 (clear-mount)

As always you can shop in my Online Stampin' Store for all your Stampin' Up! supplies - and don't forget NOW through March 31st - for EACH $50 in merchandise you purchase, YOU get a FREE product choice from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure!!! Check out all the selections on my website!

Have a great day everyone!
Happy Stampin' and shoppin',
~~Robin

Place your order for your Stampin' Up! needs at this link here: Robin's Online Stampin' Store
Simply click the SHOP NOW button at the top right corner to get started!

Leadership - Fun with Friends!

I had such an amazing time at our Leadership Conference last week in San Antonio, TX. The best part of any Stampin' Up! event is being able to spend time with friends that I love dearly and only get to see a couple of times a year. Today's photos are all about the friends!

This photo was before we went in to the Manager's Reception:
L to R - Michelle Theriault, Tara Bazata, Tiffany Bauer, Me, Patti Chesky
(side note - the food I'm holding in my hand never was consumed - I just plain talk too much!! Good thing we had appetizers in the hotel restaurant before the event!)

Here I am with my roomies at breakfast the next morning - note the large cups of coffee being consumed.
L to R - Michelle Theriault, Michelle Suit (her 1st Leadership!), me, Tara Bazata.

This is a photo of my wonderful group of swappers, the GoDivas. Amy Caraluzzi, who is to my left in the photo named our group because of my well known love of all things chocolate. She's the bomb! These girls are all hand picked by me because of their style and the quality of their work. We have all different styles in our group so we always get a great variety of cards, but all are the best quality. Love these girls! Do you recognize any of them??

Here's my BFF Tiffany showing off one of the All-Attendee prize giveaways! We can't show the stamp set - it's coming out in June with the New Catalog!
No matter how many times we attend an SU! event, we still LOVE getting FREE stuff!! And the best part - Stampin' Up! never disappoints!

Here I am with two good friends, Debbie Naylor and Rachel Yurkanin. Debbie and I met at her first Founder's Circle and I met Rachel and her husband on our Hawaii Incentive Trip. They are two of the sweetest girls I know!

Me with my roomies on the Riverwalk at night. Not the greatest photo, but trust me, it's so beautiful down there!
My upline, Jan Wakeland, held a little get together in her room for her Dreambuilders Group. We somehow all managed to pile on the bed for this photo. Cathie Gaspart is not pictured because she is taking the photo for us.
I'm truly surprised that we didn't collapse that bed!

Me with Jan, my upline and fellow Advisory Board alumni.

Me with my secret sister, Kathy Hamrick.

We ate at a restaurant called Casa Rio down on the Riverwalk two nights in a row! The mexican food was authentic and oh, so yummy! This photo is of our last night there. We picked up a few more friends along the way that night. Next to Tara is Brenda Marshall, Tammy Morgan and across from her, Diana Eichfeld.

Waving goodbye to the Cindy, my fellow Facebook reporter for the event. It was so much fun, but it was time to go.
Did you follow our photo journey on Facebook?

Like I said before, my SU! friends are dear to me. I love that our company has brought me together with ladies I'd probably never have met otherwise, but are truly my sisters. It's the best part of my job!
I'd love to have you join me. Starting today, our Demonstrator Starter Kit is on SALE for just $125! Plus you get a whole year of FREE Designer Series Paper as Stampin' Up!'s gift to you!
Want to know more??
Check out this link here: Join the Fun with Robin!
Or you can e-mail me at stampwithrobin@yahoo.com - I'd love to chat with you!
We've already had one new stampers join our team with this special - last night at 3:15 am! She just couldn't wait to get started - how about you??

Stamped blessings,
~~Robin