Thanks for Everything

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   This month, I've been saying goodbye to some of my favorite stamp sets that will retire at the end of the Stampin' Up year on June 3, 2019. The "All Things Thanks" set is truly one of my all-time favorites. I love the font and the sentiments and it's been so versatile--even for a set that's all about thanks! 

I pulled today's card together in no time--because I honestly had no time to be creative! I love that Stampin' Up offers such wonderful products because pulling together a quick card is a snap. Take a look!

I started with one of the beautiful sheets of Share What You Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (retiring). I cut this sheet to 3-3/4" by 5". I mounted it onto a 3-7/8" by 5-1/8" Basic Black Card Stock mat. I had a 1/2" strip of another sheet of the DSP which I wrapped around the card as if it were a ribbon. (I'm clever like that!). Then I adhered everything to a Mint Macaron Card Stock card base.

I stamped a sentiment from the "All Things Thanks" stamp set (retiring) in Tranquil Tide Ink (retiring) onto Mint Macaron Card Stock. I cut this out with an oval Stitched Shapes Die. I adhered this piece to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.  

For a finishing touch, I added a Silver Adhesive Backed Rose from the Share What you Love Embellishments Kit (retiring). Isn't that adorable?!

Remember: All the retiring product is only available until June 3, 2019--and only while supplies last. Don't miss out! Order your favorite retiring items today! 

tams# 33483

Product List

All Things Thanks Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143097] $19.00	Tranquil Tide Classic Stampin' Pad [147146] $7.50	Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337] $8.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50
Share What You Love Specialty Designer Series Paper [146926] $27.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Share What You Love Embellishment Kit [146928] $11.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Creation Station: Birds, Butterflies, and Blossoms

#stampinup   #creationstation   #saleabration2019 #faithfulinkspirations   Welcome to our international blog hop. If you're hopping along, you'll have just come from Julie Beltramo's amazing project.  Although our theme is all about springtime, the weather here in Maryland has reverted to January. We had snow on Friday and we're going to have more today! I'm not complaining--I love snow--but I've been hibernating more this winter than in the past and my stamping has suffered from it. But, never fear! I have two quick and easy projects to share with you.

First, though, I want to show you something. When I arrived in my stamping room I hoped for inspiration to hit. Sometimes it does and sometimes I have to work for it. I worked for it today. And here's the "craftermath"!!

That doesn't show the floor and the cutting station--those were a mess, too. But I cleaned up after I took this photo. I like to have all my stamping stuff in its rightful place so I can find it the next time.

I just got a shipment from Stampin' Up and I had earned a Level 2 Sale-a-Bration item, so I chose the gorgeous Painted Seasons bundle. I also earned a Level 1 Sale-a-Bration item so I added the Country Floral Dynamic Embossing Folder. I had every intention of using these together in a coordinating project, but that didn't work out. So you get two uncoordinated projects--both are really simple to make. 

First up is a decorated Sweet Cup. I used the Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper to decorate the cup. That paper is super gorgeous--and a design for each season.

Next, I made a tag to go with the Sweet Cup. I stamped the flower and succulent from the "Painted Seasons" stamp set in Calypso Coral and Petal Pink onto a 2" strip of Whisper White that I turned into a tag. I used the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and rounded the ends with the Envelop Punch Board. I stamped a sentiment in Call Me Clover from the "Incredible Like You" stamp set.

I tied the tag onto the Sweet Cup with a long length of Whisper White Flax Ribbon. I adhered two Call Me Clover Tinted Faceted Buttons to the tag, using Glue Dots. Then I added a Pearl Basic Jewel to the center of each button.

Since I wasn't able to use the Country Floral Dynamic Embossing Folder (and believe me, I tried!), I decided to make another project. I originally thought to do a white on white card, but I decided to add a little bit of color. This card grew organically--which means it took on its own design and didn't turn out at all like what I thought I was making when I started!!

I started with a Thick Whisper White Card Stock card base, cut lengthwise. Then I embossed a 3-3/8" by 4-5/8" Whisper White Panel with the Country Floral Dynamic Embossing Folder. I adhered this to a 3-3/4" by 4-3/4" Fresh Fig Card Stock mat. I adhered that to a 4" by 5-1/4" Floral Romance Specialty Designer Series Paper printed vellum sheet. I wrapped a length of Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon around, tying it in a pretty bow, and then adhered everything to the card base with Stampin' Dimensionals.

On the inside, I stamped a sentiment from the "All Things Thanks" stamp set in Fresh Fig Ink and added two flowers from the "Painted Seasons" set in Petal Pink.

I hope you enjoyed my projects and the beautiful blossoms that can be found in all kinds of Stampin' Up products--stamps, designer series paper, and even embossing folders! Your next stop is the very talented Kerstin Kreuzer from Germany!

tams# 31042 Sweet Cup Project

Product List

Painted Seasons Bundle [150349] $0.00	Incredible Like You Photopolymer Stamp Set [148708] $17.00	Call Me Clover Stampin' Pad [147139] $7.50	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101] $7.50
Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Tag Topper Scalloped Punch [133324] $23.00	Envelope Punch Board [133774] $20.00
Tinted Faceted Buttons [146349] $7.50	Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $5.00	Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Flax Ribbon [148764] $7.00	Sweet Cups [148573] $8.50
Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] $7.00	Glue Dots [103683] $5.25

tams# 31044 Country Floral Card

Product List

All Things Thanks Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143097] $19.00	Fresh Fig Classic Stampin' Pad [147144] $7.50	Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.75
Fresh Fig 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [144242] $8.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.75	Floral Romance 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [148586] $14.00	Country Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [149698] $0.00
Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon [146912] $7.50	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Creation Station OnStage Swap

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #creationstation  I'm still super stoked about the time I spent at Stampin' Up's OnStage Live event in Orlando, Florida. I had such a great time seeing all the new products for the upcoming Occasions and Sale-a-Brations catalogs. And I'm really excited about the benefits that NEW demonstrators will receive if they join during Sale-a-Bration--you will not want to miss that! Stay tuned for more info in January.

I also was so pleased to get to spend time--in real life--with many of my Creation Station Design Team members. We "meet" up each month during our blog hop, but we've never met in person. It was a pleasure meeting these amazing artists and getting to know them a little better. Here's our team selfie, taken by the selfie queen, Dena Rekow.

We did a Creation Station Design Team swap, and let me tell you I was really nervous making an over-the-top card for this group! I am so humbled to be in their presence. There are two former and one current Stampin' Up Artisans in this group. I had to pull out all the stops on this card. I'm really pleased with how it turned out--but I was sweating bullets getting it done!

I started by giving a Watercolor Paper panel a Pool Party wash with an Aqua Painter. When that was dry, I stamped the main image from the "Serene Garden" stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto the panel. I used the Stamparatus so that I could stamp several times and fill in all the nooks and crannies in the Watercolor Paper. I adhered this to a Basic Black mat, then to a Copper Foil mat, and then to a larger Basic Black mat, that I had embossed with the Subtle Embossing Folder.

Next, I stamped a sentiment from the "All Things Thanks" stamp set in Versamark onto a Vellum Cardstock strip. I sprinkled on some Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder and set it with my Heat Gun. I wrapped this strip around the stamped image, securing it in the back. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere this piece to a Blushing Bride Card Stock card base, the front of which I embossed with the Subtle Embossing Folder.

I stamped the flowers in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Watercolor Paper scraps. When the ink was dry, I used an Aqua Painter to color them with Blushing Bride Ink. While the ink was still wet, I sprinkled on a concoction of Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and then set it with my Heat Tool and then cut them out with the matching Garden Scene Framelit. The picture doesn't do the flowers' sparkle justice.

To finish the card, I added three copper sequins from the Metallic Sequins Assortment. The Fine-Tip Glue Pen is perfect for this!

Despite my worry, I think my card held its own among the greatness of the Creation Station members' swaps. They were all beautiful! I'm so glad to have my own pieces of art made by these amazing artists!

tams# 27819

Product List

Serene Garden Photopolymer Bundle [148395] $42.25	All Things Thanks Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143097] $19.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [147107] $7.50
Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [147100] $7.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $9.00	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131198] $8.50	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.50
Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $4.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $9.00	Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00
Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder [141636] $5.00	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder [109130] $5.00	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter [133751] $5.00	Metallics Sequin Assortment [144214] $5.00
Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Heat Tool [129053] $30.00
Stamparatus [146276] $49.00