Constantly Stamping

Fancy "Flashback" Friday Blog Hop

We are back with our Fancy Friday Blog Hop. This month we are doing something a little different...we created projects made with some of our favorite retired SU stamps sets, but everything else is current product. Honestly, I am not a big fan of blogging retired sets because inevitably someone will send me an email wanting to know how to purchase it. With that in mind, I chose a set ( Fun & Fast Notes) that I had two of...so if you absolutely must have this set, then I have at least one person covered....wink!

It is no secret that for many years SU didn't have a great way to color line art stamps. Most of the methods just didn't give professional results..then along came the new Blendabilities markers. This particular set was one of the stamp sets that was included as part of a starter kit for new demonstrators just a few years ago.  Sadly, it retired before the new alcohol markers arrived on the scene...but they would have been perfect together.There is always someone  I know who is having a baby, so I thought it would be a great to stuff some cash or a gift card in this adorable bag made with the new Mini Treat Bag Thinlits dies (#137547). I kept it a simple monochromatic design and used Soft Sky dsp from the Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (130135).  I colored the buggy with the new Soft Sky Blendabilities Marker set (#133626) and the wheels with the Smoky Slate Blendabilities Assortment (#131005).

The other thing we were asked to do is share an old photo of ourselves.

This photo was from my very first Stampin' Up! convention in the summer of 2000. It's hard to believe that I will be celebrating my 15th anniversary with SU here in just a few weeks. Pictured with me are my wonderful friends, Kelly Hibbett (left) and Gail Cleek (right). Gail was Kelly's upline and Kelly was my upline. We started our stamping journey just a few months apart, but I am the only one who is still a demonstrator. I had more fun with these two amazing women and I love them both dearly.

A lot of things have changed over the years. We didn't have things like designer series paper, alcohol markers, or the Big Shot. (Gasp...how did we ever survive with our Big Shot and dies?) But even more important than the tools of the trade are the many friendships that have resulted from my stamping obsession. You see, it isn't about the stamping really...it is more about the relationships. It has been a great journey and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Speaking of friends...I love every one of these talented ladies on our blog hop. We spent an awesome year together on the 2013-14 Artisan Design Team and we still get together once a month for our Fancy Friday blog hop.

Now, be sure to head on over to see the "fancy" projects that Erica

and the rest of the Fancy Friday team have for you.

 

Another Mini Treat Bag

I have another fun project for you today made with the new Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies.

I love the look that you get with this beautiful Sale-a-bration 3-step stamp set called Lotus Blossom.

I love this beautiful Flashback DSP...it really gives your projects a beautiful, yet trendy vibe.

I am headed to Leadership Convention in Orlando, but don't forget to check back on Friday for our Fancy Friday Blog Hop.

Show Them Some Love with a...

We have somewhat of a tradition at our house...for the past few years I have made a Valentine's Day banner for the china hutch in our kitchen. It's fun and with all of the great products available in the Stampin' Up! spring mini catalog, it is pretty easy to do.

I used the Banners Thinlits dies to cut shapes from Chalkboard Paper (#137786) and the Stacked with Love DSP (#137779). The heart banner pieces are made with the Sweetheart punch. I stamped the frames and sentiment with the "Because You Care" Hostess set (#137132) in Whisper White ink and then heat embossed it with White embossing powder. The "L-O-V-E" letters are from the new photopolymer set "Sophisticated Serifs" (#137131).

I punched the holes with a Crop-a-dile hole punch and strung everything together with baker's twine.  So what are you waiting for? Show your family the love with a banner made with Stampin' Up! products!

 

 

 

Mini Treat Bag Die

One of the perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is that we get to pre-order product before it goes on sale to the public. I knew the minute that I saw the Mini Treat Bag Die that I absolutely had to have it. I also knew that the chances were slim that I would be able to do anything with it over Christmas break, but I bought it anyway. I am really glad that I did, because I was ready to start crafting and it was the only thing I had from the new Spring Mini Catalog. Since I was waiting on my box of goodies to arrive, I decided to work with product that I already had...namely the Starburst Sayings stamp set and Sweet Taffy & Brights Collection DSP's.

I designed this fun birthday-themed mini gift bag. The minute my box of supplies arrived I grabbed the new Bow Builder Punch and added the bow as the perfect finishing touch.

 

Paper Pumpkin Alternative Projects

Hi there...it has been a few weeks since I blogged, but I have been a busy, busy girl...so I thought I would show you what I have been up to recently. After not stamping for several weeks I needed to make something that would jump-start my creativity. I decided to sit down with my December Paper Pumpkin kit and play.

Let's work backward, shall we! This is the card that I made with some of the leftovers of the cards in the kit.

I used the "negative" pieces of the words and the stars to make this fun birthday card. I just trimmed down the background piece and put it on a Whisper White card base. I mounted the greeting on a piece of Whisper White CS and then added some stars that I salvaged from one of kit cards that I made. Easy peasy!

Speaking of the kit cards...I could not stamp the background words in the kit straight to save my life...seriously! I tried like five times and then finally decided to cover my less-than-perfect stamping with a piece of grid paper from the Flashback DSP collection. But then that meant that the pattern on the frame just didn't look right, so I turned it over and stamped the greeting that coordinates with the die cut. I will not be defeated!!!

I did the same thing with this card, except I used Moonlight DSP for the background.

I will be back soon to show you more of the projects that I have been working on. Now that I am crafting again, I want to create as much as I can before leadership convention next week.