last week as guest designer at The Paper Players (pp97)

I can't believe my time as guest designer at The Paper Players has come to an end already. It was such a fast, but FUN three months! I really enjoyed the opportunity to be able to help inspire each week with my card creations and to offer up words of encouragement to others.

I want to say thank you to all of the ladies at The Paper Players who so graciously accepted me on their team and encouraged me with their sweet comments! Thank you Ann, Anne Marie, Jaydee, LeAnne, Lesley, Nance and my fellow three-month guest designer Jenn! You all are amazing and talented papercrafting artists and it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you!

One last sketch to play with this week for me as I finish up my role as guest designer. I definitely plan to keep playing along, though, so I will be back for more inspiration! This week's hostess is the super sweet LeAnne and she has come up with a fun sketch to play along with!

I ended up leaving the bottom rectangle in the sketch plain white. I kept going back and forth on whether or not I wanted to add a layer behind the white circle, but in the end the simple look won out. You can't see it (or smell it) in the picture, but I used the Cherry Embossing Powder for the cherries It smells great in person!

{please excuse the dark photo...

we got a new camera and I haven't quite figured it out yet}

Stamp Set: Mouthwatering (available in the upcoming catalog!), Apple Blossoms (retired hostess set)
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral
Accessories: Dimensionals, Jewel Rhinestones, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Cherry Embossing Powder, Versamarker
Tools: Jewelry Tag punch, Two-Step Owl punch (small heart)

I hope you can come join us at The Paper Players this week! Link up your card before Friday, June 1st at NOON. Get inspired by taking a peek at the what the design team has created...

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Jaydee

Jenn Picard

Heidi Boos

Narelle Furrugia (May GD)

card making night - May 2012

Last Thursday I hosted my monthly 3/$6 card making night. It was a great group of stampers and I was even able to get in a little stamping fun myself!

CARD #1

Stamp Set: Happy Everything (retired)
Paper: Pool Party, So Saffron, Not Quite Navy
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Pool Party
Accessories: Dimensionals, silver brads
Tools: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Small Star punch (retired), 1" Circle punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat

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CARD #2

I just loved this card by Jen at Simple & Sincere. I CASED it almost to the T except for the ribbon. I am SUCH a huge fan of Jen's work!! 

Stamp Set: Mixed Bunch, Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso
Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/4" Daffodil Delight Grosgrain ribbon, Accent Jewel Rhinestones
Tools: 5 Petal Flower punch (for the leaves), Blossom punch, Scallop Edge punch, Jewelry Tag punch

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CARD #3

Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Whisper White, Concord Crush, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Cheerful Treat DSP (retiring hostess)
Ink: Concord Crush, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/2" Concord Crush Poly-Stitched ribbon
Tools: Word Window punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Perfect Polka Embossing Folder

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One more card making night on June 14th before I take a break for July & August! Would love for you to join me at my home in Sherwood, Oregon!

polka dot power (pp96)

It's polka dot fever this week at The Paper Players! The ever so sweet and talented Anne Marie is our hostess this week as we go clean and simple with polka dots! Come on...who doesn't love polka dots?!

Polka Dots!

• The Bright Blossoms stamp set (coming soon!) has an image which is a flower blossom of polka dots!
• The white background is textured with large polka dots using the Texturz Plates.
• The designer polka-dotted paper is from the Summer Smooches DSP (coming soon!)
• The outline of the sentiment "For You" is polka dots!
• And although the new Gumball Green stitched ribbon isn't quite polka dots, it gives off the effect that it is!

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms, Itty Bitty Banners (both sets in the upcoming catalog!)
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Gumball Green (new in-color!), Summer Smooches DSP (upcoming catalog!)
Ink: Real Red, Gumball Green
Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/2" Gumball Green Stitched ribbon
Tools: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Polka Dots (large) Texturz Plates

I hope you can come join us at The Paper Players this week and while you are there, be sure to check out the inspiration from the design team! Link up your card before Friday, May 25th at NOON.

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Jaydee

Jenn Picard

Heidi Boos

Narelle Furrugia (May GD)

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And don't forget to check out...

Occasions Mini Carryover List

Retiring Accessories List

Retiring Definitely Decorative List

Retiring Stamp Set List

more card night fun

Last Tuesday I held another card making event at my mother-in-law's home. We made three cards and I wanted to keep each of them a bit more simple this time around since many of the women who attend these nights are new to stamping and card making. The event started at 6:30 PM and I was in my card loaded up and heading out at 8:15 PM...maybe the cards were a little TOO simple? *wink*

CARD #1

I used the sketch from stamp club for this Mother's Day card.

Of course, I had many sentiments available in case they didn't need/want to make a Mother's Day card.

 

Stamp Set: Mixed Bunch, misc. sentiments

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Twitterpated DSP
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Island Indigo
Accessories: 1/4" Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain ribbon, Dimensionals
Tools: Blossom punch, 1" Circle punch

CARD #2 

My mother-in-law had the single stamp called Sail Away (now retired) and she had been wanting to use it and I told her that I would be happy to put together a card with the stamp that everyone could recreate at the card night. Once I saw this card by Lisa Vale at Ink Inspired, I knew it would be perfect! I avoided the ribbon and brads, but I definitely kept the fun technique of adding the bright orange sun.

 Stampers could either make a Father's Day card or masculine Happy Birthday.

 

Stamp Set: Sail Away, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Delightful Dozen
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Dimensionals
Tools: Stripes Embossing Folder, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

 CARD #3

I have really been enjoying playing with DSP lately and let the fun patterns do the talking. I saw this fun card by Dawn Olchefske that looked like a great layout. She used the Summer Smooches DSP, but I ended up using a variety of different papers to create this card.

 

The stampers could make it Congratulations (for graduation) or Happy Birthday.

Stamp Set: Delightful Dozen, retired sentiment
Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Real Red, Summer Smooches DSP, Big Top Birthday DSP, Pacific Point DSP, retired DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Dimensionals, silver brad
Tools: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Star punch (retired), Small Star punch (retired)

 

 It was a fun night, especially because my mom always comes along for the ride! It gives us a chance to chat and spend some quality time together without the kiddos wanting something from either of us. We are going to meet again at my mother-in-law's next month and then take a break for summer. 

My next monthly card night (3/$6) that I host at my home is tonight! Only two more of these nights before I take July & August off for summer fun! I bet I will miss not having a reason to play with my stamping stuff, so I hope that I can still find time during the summer to get in my craft room!

let's make a cake (pp95-color challenge)

What beautiful weather we are having this weekend...such a great Mother's Day gift!

This week's theme at The Paper Players is a color challenge and Ann has created a bright and cheery combination for all of us to play with!

It took me a little bit to get started, especially because I couldn't decide which NEW "sneak peek" stamp set to play with! I ended up choosing a set that will be in the up and coming new catalog called Make a Cake. I earned this set for FREE (along with some paper and ribbon) for recruiting a new demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration. Just another fun perk of being a demonstrator...I love it! I also used a new stamp set called Itty Bitty Banners and used the new Bitty Banners Framelits to cut it out perfectly! You're going to love this new catalog!

I kept with my go to style of keeping things clean and simple. The Make a Cake stamp set has separate pieces that I stamped on top of each other to make one complete cake (hence the name: Make a Cake). I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to get everything perfectly placed. What would I do without that great tool?! I wanted to add a little sparkle to my cake, so I added Dazzling Diamonds on the top of each layer of cake (stands out much more in person!). I pierced each of the two corners on the right to give it a little something extra and of course added some jewel accents to add some more dazzling factor.

Stamp Set: Make a Cake (coming soon in the NEW 2012-2013 catalog), Itty Bitty Banners (coming soon in the NEW 2012-2013 catalog) 

Paper: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Just Add Cake (retiring May 31)  

Ink: markers - Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze 

Accessories: Jewel Accents, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter 

Tools: Scallop Dotted Ribbon Border punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Bitty Banners Framelits (coming soon in the NEW 2012-2013 catalog), Two-Step Owl punch (heart)

I hope you can come join us at The Paper Players this week and while you are there, be sure to check out the inspiration from the design team! Link up your card before Friday, May 18th at NOON.

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Jaydee

Jenn Picard

Heidi Boos

Narelle Furrugia (May GD)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And don't forget to check out...

Occasions Mini Carryover List

Retiring Accessories List

Retiring Definitely Decorative List

Retiring Stamp Set List

stamp club - April 2012

I had some fun projects to share with the ladies for our April Stamp Club (I'm a little behind in posting...what's new?). Because the Summer Smooches promotion was still going on during that time, I decided to play with the up and coming Bright Blossoms stamp set and Summer Smooches DSP, as well as the new Petite Purse die.

Our first card was a simple one, but I wanted to focus on showing how to use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (yep, that's what it's really called!). It is a stamp positioner that gives you the ability to place an image exactly where you want it. Perfect for perfectionists like me! (Can anyone relate?) Because the tulip flower is a separate stamp from the vase and stem/leaves, using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig is a great way to get it perfectly placed without making it look like the tulip bud was floating. I even used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig for the sentiment "thanks" to make sure it was nice and straight, too. I liked the idea of a square card, so this one is 4-1/4 x 4-1/4 and will still fit in an envelope like the other cards I make (4-1/4 x 5-1/2).

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms (coming soon in the NEW 2012-2013 catalog), Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Summer Smooches DSP (coming soon in the NEW 2012-2013 catalog)
Ink: markers - Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade, Real Red
Accessories: none
Tools: Scallop Dotted Ribbon Border punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

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The second project we made also used products from the Summer Smooches promotion and each of the club members made this cute little Petite Purse (a new Big Shot die coming up in the soon to be released catalog!!) When its say petite, it really means petite. I read on a fellow demonstrator's blog that you can fit 9 Hershey's Kisses in the purse...in case you wanted to know just how small it was. Wouldn't this be cute to hold a small pair of earrings? I used a piece of Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper for the top flap to give it some extra color and design.

Stamp Set: Tiny Tags
Paper: Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Summer Smooches DSP (coming soon in the NEW 2012-2013 catalog)
Ink: markers - Island Indigo, Real Red
Accessories: 1/4" Daffodil Delight Grosgrain ribbon, Everyday Enchantment brads (from 2012 SAB), Sticky Strip
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool, Jewelry Tag punch

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For our last project of the night, we made this twist-easel card. It really is a lot easier than it looks! The card is 4-1/4 x 8-1/2. Score in half and then score diagonally on one side. Fold the flap inward. You will need something to help prop the card open (note the flower). I wanted to use the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set since it will be retiring soon, along with the Butterfly punch! Gotta use those retiring products when I can! As a demonstrator it's harder to use the products for events when you're trying to stay current with the products.

Folded closed (fits in a normal envelope)... 

 

Halfway open...

 Open and tucked behind the flower to stay open and on display...

  

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This month's club hostess gifts...

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Each stamp club meeting I give the gals a sketch for them to work on sometime before the next meeting. The sketches I give them come from Clean & Simple Stamping.

Last month's sketch...


This is the card I created for the sketch.
(and actually used for a card night this past week...more details to come)



I thought it was so fun how Kim used the kite as the circle image in the sketch. She's so clever!
Kim - Sending a Smile or Two


The next two cards are both from Janice. I like how she moved the sketch "circle" to the other side here in the first card.



Terri created this great Mother's Day card using the sneak peek Summer Smooches DSP.
Terri - territerbear

I like this simple birthday card made by Danna. Love this stamp set!

 Vicki (my mom) decided to flip the sketch. And she even used some of the products she got as last month's hostess!

Only two more stamp club meetings before we take a break for the busy summer months!

in celebration of mothers (pp94)

One more week until Mother's Day and because of that, this week's Paper Players theme is In Celebration of Mothers!

As the new catalog debut draws nearer (June 1st!), I wanted to be able to use some of my retiring product a little more before having to say goodbye, so I chose to play a little bit with the Berry Blossoms DSP to help create this week's card. I just love the flowered pattern in this pack of paper! I decided to let the paper do the talking by creating strips of paper with a banner notch at the end of each of them.  I love these little petite butterflies and I wanted to give each of them a jewel accent.

Stamp Set: Delightful Dozen
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Berry Blossoms DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral
Accessories: Dimensionals, Jewel Accents, Wisteria Wonder polka dot brads
Tools: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

Come visit The Paper Players and check out the inspiration from the design team! Be sure to link up your card before Friday, May 11 at NOON.

 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Jaydee

Jenn Picard

Heidi Boos

Narelle Furrugia (May GD)

 

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Don't forget to check out...

Occasions Mini Carryover List

Retiring Accessories List

Retiring Definitely Decorative List

Retiring Stamp Set List

paper players #93 - tic tac toe!

It's the start of another new month...what happened to April?! So far we have had a rainy Spring here in Oregon (should I really expect anything less?), so I am really looking forward to the SUN coming out to warm us up...hopefully we won't have to wait until July for it!

April has been a crazy busy month for me! Just this past week alone, I planned two birthday parties for my daughter who turned six (one simple family get together and one Pinkalicious friend party), held my monthly stamp club, and co-hosted a baby shower on Sunday for a sweet friend (pictures to come soon!). My mom always asks why I plan so many things back to back like that and I always tell her it just happens that way...really it just does!

Unfortunately something had to budge and so I opted to take the week off from designing a Paper Players card since I didn't have any time to get in my craft room just to play before late Sunday night. A big thank you to the design team for letting me breathe a little easier last weekend. However, I definitely look forward to getting back in on the action for next week's challenge!

But...I still want to encourage you to play along! This week it's a fun challenge of "Anything Goes - Tic Tac Toe". Just choose three in a row, diagonally, across, or up and down and create something beautiful to share!

 

Be sure to check out the design team's amazing inspiration while you're there!

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Jaydee

Jenn Picard

Heidi Boos

Shirley Pumpkin (April GD)

And, how cute is the new Paper Players button?!

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The 2012 Mini Occasions Catalog retired yesterday, but take a look at the items that you will still be able to order!

Occasions Mini Carryover List