Birthday Bash Is Coming

Taking a little break from my year in review to let you know about something exciting coming to StampNation in less than 2 weeks!

I joined StampNation for it's 1st birthday in January of 2012.  At the time the membership fee was $9 a month, less that what we were paying for Netflix and I was pretty sure I would spend more time on this cardmaking website than I would on Netflix.  I was right!  It was the best investment I have made for my card making.

What I found when I joined was so much more than I ever expected.  3 years later I am a part of the design team and have made friendships on the site that go beyond what I could have dreamed.  I hope you will consider giving yourself the gift of StampNation for it's fourth birthday.  You won't be sorry.  (and if you are you can unsubscribe at any time by sending Catherine an email.)

Here is what Catherine has to say about the birthday bash coming 1-11-15:

StampNation opened on January 11, 2011. Yep! That means our FOURTH birthday is coming! Wooohooo!
We celebrate birthdays in a big way, so my friends, you are in for some serious awesomeness.
A week full of challenges, videos, prizes and surprises from our fabulous sponsors at Simon Says Stamp, Verve and Whimsy.

Want to learn more?  Clicky here.

Our last challenge of 2014 is going up today!  Check out the sneak peek of what the design team has come up with to inspire you and then prepare to celebrate with us.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!!!  See you next year with the second half of my 2014 card favorites.

Favorite Cards of 2014 ~ Part 2

As 2014 draws to a close I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite creations from 2014.  Click on the links to see more pictures, details, supply lists and videos if available.

April 2014

Casual Fun

Masculine Monday

Cards 4 Him

May 2014

Banner Thanks

Penny Black Card Video

OWH Blog Hop Video

Celebrate This Sketch

June 2014

Color Wash

Kinda Eclectic

Favorite Cards of 2014 ~ Part 1

As 2014 draws to a close I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite creations from 2014.  Click on the links to see more pictures, details, supply lists and videos if available.

January 2014

My Love

January Thank You

Merry Ribbon

Totally Epic Birthday

Playing With Aqua

February 2014

Song In My Heart

Sequin Heart ~ Video

Fight Like A Girl

Watercolor Rainfall

Wonderful Day

Playful Colors

March 2014

Try Stamping On Tuesday

Color Me Happy

Embossing Embossing Paste

ALYOF ~ December

It's hard to believe that another year has come to a close.  I joined in the A Lovely Year Of Finishes halfway through their first year,  so this is my first complete year.  I'm very proud of all I have finished and thankful for the motivation that Melissa & Shanna provide us each month.

December Finish

Here is my finish for December.  My goal was to applique this block. 

December #50

I'm pleased to report I finished this block in record time.  Thanks in part to a sprained ankle that kept me sitting with my feet propped up.  ;)

Yes, my star is crookedy and it looks like my tree is leaning, but I think that is the fun of this quilt.  It isn't perfect.  I'm going for the handmade look and I am achieving it.  LOL  Done is better than perfect (so I am told) and I have to start somewhere.

Holly Jolly Christmas

Christmas is upon us in a couple of days.  I hope that you are relaxing with family and friends instead of being stuck in long lines at the mall.

I made this card in preparation for A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0.  You can still take part in that class, and finish up this year's holiday project plus get a jump start on next year.  Class never closes, and there are loads of videos, pictures and tutorials to inspire you. Give yourself a present of inspiration.  Clicky

Embossing, embossing paste, stencils, die cut sentiment, watercolor and even stickles were used on this traditional card with a trendy twist.  Sorry I wasn't able to get the video edited for you.  I sprained my ankle earlier this month and it hurts to sit too long at the computer.  

Merry Christmas!

Supplies:
Stamps: EnFrancais (SU)
Ink: Antique Linen, Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough, Mowed Lawn, Gathered Twigs (Distress Inks)
Paper: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper
Accessories: Endearing Stencil (Penny Black); Christmas Red Stickles; White Embossing Paste (Dreamweavers); Clear Embossing Powder, Real Red Woven Satin Ribbon, Versamark (SU)

Celebrate with Stampin' Celebration

It's the most festive time of the year!  Are you ready for Christmas and New Year's celebrations?  Perhaps the new challenge at Stampin' Celebration will get you in a celebratory mood.

While I don't normally send cards for New Year's I will send out thank you cards if we go somewhere for a party.  This card would be great for that or for a couple that gets engaged on New Years.  I'm ready for whatever the New Year brings me.

Be sure to head over to the challenge blog and see how the rest of the design team was inspired, and then come up with your own creative masterpiece to share with us.  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Supplies- Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Remember This - Project Life
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Basic Black, Gold Foil Sheets, Whisper White
Accessories: Gold Floss (DMC); Stitched Stars (Lil' Inker Designs); Tea Lace Doily (SU); Whisper White Embossing Powder

Sneak Peek

Today is the last day to enter the Stampin' Celebration sketch challenge.  The challenge closes tonight at 9pm EST.  After it closes, voting opens up.  Be sure to check back in this weekend and vote for your favorite, especially if you entered a card.

Monday a new challenge will come out.  Here is a sneak peek at my card. Wait until you see the inspiration photo.  You're going to LOVE it!

This week is my week off of designing for StampNation, but my card fits this weeks theme.  I'll be adding it to the challenge forum on Monday after the Stampin' Celebration challenge goes live.   :)  Don't let me forget, StampNation peeps.  In the meantime, check out this sneak peek of what the other designers made, then head on over to the challenge forum at StampNation to see the full cards.

I see lots of gold, how about you?  If you are not yet a StampNation member and want to learn more CLICKY here.  It would make the perfect gift to give to yourself at Christmas to last the whole year long.  

Denami Designs Sponsors StampNation

One of the great perks of being on the StampNation design team is that we get to test out new products and companies for our members.  When Denami Design contacted Catherine and asked if they could sponsor StampNation we all jumped at the chance.   They were a dream of a company to work with.  Super fast shipping and response time to inquiries.  They make high quality red rubber stamps in cling and wood block form.  Plus they are "local" to me, as they are based in Seattle.  I love supporting local businesses.

Aren't those crafting chickies adorable?!!!   I used Copics to color and then added confetti dots around the image.  I trick I learned from a background class I took from Sandy Allnock at Impress.  (another local store)

Obviously I am not an expert, but I had so much fun coloring this chicks.

Since I had these bright Copics out, and I was in a coloring mood, I decided to ink up another Denami Design stamp.  My boys have been needing birthday cards for teenage girls, and I think this will be perfect for the next party they get invited to. 

The Denami Design design team joined the StampNation design team for a bundle of insipiration for this week's challenge.  Be sure to head on over to StampNation to see all the design team member's designs.  They wouldn't all fit in the graphic above!

PLUS
A gift certificate giveaway

And

A SHOPPING CODE

Thank you Denami Design for being such an amazing sponsor!
If you are interested in becoming a StampNation member be sure to click HERE to find out more.

Supplies:
Crafting Friends Card
Stamps: Crafting Chickies, Friends (Denami Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copics: BG000, BG11, BG13, BG15, BV0000, BV000, BV01, BV02, BV11,BV13, G000, RV000, RV02, RV04, RV09, RV55, V000, Y08, Y11, Y19, YR65, YR68
Paper: Copic XPress It; Soft Shades Double Dots (Bo Bunny)
Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Flower Punch (SU); Sitched Rectangles (Lil' Inker Designs)
Happy Birthday Card
Stamps:Birthday Scene (Denami Designs)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Various Copics
Paper: Copic XPress It, Whisper White (SU)

Merry Monday with Stampin' Celebration Challenge

It's time for another sketch challenge with Stampin' Celebration.  

To say I was inspired by this sketch would be a HUGE understatement.  First up is my design team submission.

I made a few more cards using this sketch to quickly put out several Christmas cards.  This was a great way to play with the Trim the Tree DSP stack from Stampin' UP!  

Did I mention I love this sketch?  It was so great I used it last week for my StampNation challenge card too. Instead of long rounded strips, I made banners and put the panels on a slant.  I'll share my sneak peek here for you since I didn't have a chance to share it last week.

Now it's time to check out Stampin' Celebration to see how the rest of the design team was inspired.  Be sure to leave them some love and then go play with the sketch and share your creations with us!  I always love seeing what you come up with.

Supplies- Stampin' UP! unless otherwise noted

1st Card

Stamps: Christmas Bliss 

Paper: All Is Calm DSP, Vellum Cardstock, Whisper White

Ink: Lost Lagoon

Accessories: Frosted Sequins, Stitched Rectangles Die (Lil' Inker Designs)

2nd Card
Paper: Trim the Tree DSP Stack, Crumb Cake, Garden Green
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine; Merry Mini Punch Pack; Corner Rounder (Creative Memories); Stitched Rectangles Die (Lil' Inker Designs)

Sew Saturday ALYOF Goal Setting

Last month I didn't make my goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes.  I tried, but  my machine was not happy with my FMQ.  Oh boy, what a mess I made of that poor quilt top.  My thread kept breaking.  I've not had a problem with thread breaks on this machine before, but I haven't done very much FMQ on it either.  Very frustrating month at the sewing machine for me.  Several times I had to just walk away.

 

I am going to try a 3rd type of thread and see if that helps.  If not, I'm  not sure what I will do with this quilt top.  I don't want to rip it all out, but I might have to.   I tried changing the thread, needle, bobbin, tension, etc.  Any suggestions on dealing with thread breaks would be appreciated.

ALYOF December

Now it is December and time to set my last sewing goal for 2014.  Since it is always a busy month, I am going to set my goal low.  As soon as Christmas is over I can hit the machine again.  For December I am going to try to complete my current applique block.  It is something I can work on at night while my husband and I watch TV.

I have the top layer of the tree, a star, and leaves and berries to add to this block.  It should be a goal I can reach if I will just take time to sit down and relax a few evenings this month.

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks! Blog Hop

It's never easy to say goodbye to something you have loved, even if that is a magazine.  Today I'm taking part in an extra special blog hop to say goodbye to Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine, but also to say THANK YOU for all the countless inspiration their team has given me and the entire paper crafting community!

THANK YOU!

Inspired by Kimberly Crawford's card in the July/August 2013 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine

Direct link to youtube if you are having trouble viewing video below. http://youtu.be/My88s1F1u40

Supplies

Stamps: Lucky Stars (Wplus9)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant,Perfect Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Versamark,Wisteria Wonder (Stampin' UP!)

Paper: Basic Black (SU), Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz)

Accessories: Red Liner Tape; Scor Tape; Silver Embossing Powder & Heat Tool (Stampin' UP!)

Now it's time to hop along. If you're on the hop, you should have come from Maureen's blog.

The next stop on the hop is Nina.

If you get lost along the way you can always go back to the beginning. Clicky

Coloring with Blendabilities and Copics for Christmas

This card was one of the first ones I made for the A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0 online card class back in August.  We ended up not using this card for the class, so I get to share it with all of you!

In the video you will see how I used Stampin' UP! Blendabilities and Copics together to create this card.

Direct link to youtube if you cannot view video below. http://youtu.be/DVF_TT7cNUI

Here's a close up to see even more of that detail.

TODAY IS CYBER MONDAY.  It's also the last day of Stampin' UP!'s online extravaganza.  They have some special doorbusters for today only while supplies last, including the full set of Blendabilities (minus skin tones & color lifter) is on SALE!  Check it out, but order quick.  Clicky to go to my store now.

To check out A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0:  http://www.catherinepooler.com/trendyholidayHN

Stamps:  Beauty of the Season (Stampin' UP!); Beauty of the Season (Penny Black)
Ink: Blendabilities- Cherry Cobbler, Coastal Cabana, Pumpkin Pie, Smoky Slate (Stampin' UP!) Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copic 110, E77; Black Onyx (Versafine)
Paper: Basic Black, Smoky Slate, Whisper White (SU)

Linking up my feathered friend with Merry Monday challenge.   http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/2014/12/merry-monday-137-feathered-friends.html?m=1

Red Green and White Christmas

Merry Monday's Challenge for the week was Red, White and Green.  I actually made this card on Thanksgiving day while waiting for the turkey to cook, but never got the picture taken or post put up.  What can I say?  I was enjoying creating without deadlines.  :)  I'm not in time for the challenge, but I still think this is a cute card design, so I'm sharing it with you.  Plus, it's week 5 in a row of completing the Merry Monday Challenge by making at least 2 cards inspired by the challenge in some way.

My first order from Whimsy Stamps came this week and they put in a couple of extra stamps that I just had to ink up.  I thought the "Candy Cane Wishes" was perfect for the candy cane brads that I've neglected to use yet.

My second card adds in the craft color, and uses the second freebie stamp sent to me.  I oopsied and got some red ink on my clear block which I then got onto my paper.  The solution I came up with was to add stickles to all the dots, including my oopsie, to make it look like I meant it to be there.

My favorite touch is that adorable stocking charm.  Stockings are my favorite part of Christmas morning.  It was in the clearance section, so if you like it, be sure to hop on over there ASAP.  I bought two packs and I'm thinking about buying a 3rd one during their cyber Monday sale to go along with the 30% stamp sets I need to buy.