Friday, November 25, 2016

Fab Friday 101

Hi stampers!  I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and ate way too much like I did ;-)  Ian had a really good time with everyone and his cousins this year since he's finally over his major stranger danger!  He was pretty much asleep standing up before his nap, so worn out :-)  He on the other hand, didn't eat a LICK of Thanksgiving food, he doesn't know what he's missing!

Anyway, it's time for a new challenge over at Fab Friday.  You should play along if you're not too busy Black Friday shopping!


I'm still working on my watercoloring skills so you're going to see this a lot :-)  

Make sure to check out what the rest of the team did and play along with us!

Happy stamping!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Hello Pumpkin

Hi stampers!  How can there only be a few days until Thanksgiving already???  My card today uses a pumpkin.  I have to say I'm not a huge pumpkin fan.  I do like pumpkin spice lattes and a few other pumpkin flavored things but not too many!  One of my faves though is my pumpkin pie cheesecake!  And I don't even like pumpkin pie, ha!  But, I'm pretty sure I'd eat about anything if you make it in the form of a cheesecake ;-)  I'm hoping that I can bake it at our destination and they won't be out of cream cheese or pumpkin or other vital ingredients!

I've had this little pumpkin stamped and sitting on my desk for a long time just waiting to be used as a card.  Well actually I had another one made with our current succulent set but when I got basket of wishes, the little plants in it fit SO MUCH better!  I actually saw a display card at onstage that had succulents in a pumpkin so great minds must think alike!  I have to say, I got the idea while looking at Pinterest and searching succulents.  It's a great way to come up with ideas for stamp sets...note I wasn't even looking for stamped projects ;-)


Mint macaron, always artichoke, and perfect plum are my go-to succulent colors as well!  I have rarely used artichoke and plum for a long time so it's always fun when something makes you pull out colors you tend to neglect!

This is also a great way to extend the use of your Halloween sets! The pumpkin is from jar of haunts!

Happy stamping!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Caseing the Catalog

Hi stampers!  I have a card today I cased from the holiday catalog.  I think this catalog has some really great samples!  I have a whole list of things I want to case but usually when I sit down I try to come up with my own ideas.  I have to remind myself to case sometimes :-)

I really liked this card!

Do you like the samples in the catalogs?  Do you case them?

Happy stamping!

Monday, November 21, 2016

Outside My Comfort Zone

Hi stampers!  I hope everyone had a great weekend!  I'm sharing something today that may not look like a typical "Mindy" card. I figure I really need to expand my range with this Artisan gig looming;-)

I'm really trying to get better at watercoloring so I finally bought basket of wishes (you KNOW it was the succulents that really got me, right?) to play with.  I have had some trouble stamping on our watercolor paper with our basic black ink (and stazon too, for that matter) so I did some asking around for advice and used it to come up with what I found to be the perfect solution.  I first inked up with versamark and then my basic black. It worked like a dream!  I think the VM really helps pick up and stick down the black ink.  I went a step further then, and heat embossed with clear powder.  It looks great and it helps the coloring a bit since it separates the colors slightly.  I highly recommend you try it!


I have also been thinking of using this pop of pink for a while and always seemed to forget.  I really like the bold look of it and I think it would look really good with quite a few ideas!  It's kind of unexpected in a "fall" card but I think it works!  I also love the combo and black and dijon!

I added a little bow of our gold twine from the holiday catalog and some burlap ribbon.  The sentiment may be a little occasions sneak peek that was an all attendee give away at OnStage called all things thanks.  And look closely and you'll see a tiny bit of a doily peeking out under it.

Don't be afraid to try new things, ok????

Happy stamping!

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Merry Freaky Christmas!

Hi stampers!  It's time for the Control Freaks blog hop!


If things aren't working quite right on Saturday evening, make sure to come back Sunday morning!  You may have just from from Melissa's blog and her amazing projects but don't fret if you made it here another way.  We make an endless loop so just keep clicking and you'll see everything!

You'll also notice some more changes on my blog.  I got some new backdrops for my photos so I'm trying those out.  I hope you like them!  I'm also experimenting with my photo editing and edges of my photos.  If you have a minute, let me know what you think, ok?

This month's theme is my favorite, the holidays!

My first card it's really a tradition Christmas card but I kind of love it! And this is my kind of water coloring....no worries about inside the lines, haha!  I embossed the stars from the forever evergreen set and combined it with the sentiment from wonderful wreath!


And now for a more traditional card using holly berry happiness.  And look, more watercoloring!  I told you that you'd see more since I'm still practicing ;-)  I love how simple this card is yet it's pretty stunning if you ask me!


Now you're off to see my stampy bestie, Wendy.  I know you're going to LOVE what she has to show you!


Happy stamping!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Display Samples - Leftovers

Hi stampers!  I have the last two projects from the OnStage event.  I called them the leftovers because I totally forgot one card on my Christmas post and I forgot the other one in the annual catalog post.  Whoops!

Let's start with a very appropriate fall card...even if it felt like summer here yesterday and today at 70 degrees in mid-November!  I ran with Ian and wore shorts and a t-shirt!  Crazy!

I used cajun craze and delightful dijon with acorny thank you here.  I should have done some kind of splattering or something on the label background panel.  Darn!  The foil acetate makes a really classy fall card!


And now my poor forgotten Christmas card :-)  The wonderful year set looks great as a chalkboard, no?  Add some pretty pines and boom!  So cute!


I hope you've enjoyed my samples!  I had a lot of fun making them!  And now I'll be back to show you some of my backlogged regular projects :-)

Happy stamping!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Display Samples - Very Merry

Hi stampers!  Today my display samples are all Christmas cards.  You know me, I had to make some Christmas cards!  Christmas is my favorite!

The first card is probably my favorite and is a shaker card.  I used the pretty pines dies to make a little scene in my jar and added some mica flakes.  I think I made a boo boo and used the red foil when I meant to use the red glimmer paper, I hope you can forgive me :-)  The lid is embossed with the copper powder.  I also love the sentiment from wonderful year!


Here's a close up view:


I guess I was on a shaker card roll...for this one I did a watercolor wash on my background piece.  I cut out the word from the wreath framelits and added more micha flakes.  Simple but I think it's very pretty!

My final card uses some DSP from the warmth and cheer stack and the numbers from our numbers framelits.  I love stuff like this!


I hope you enjoyed these samples!  I only have a couple more to share!

Happy stamping!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Display Sample - I forgot!

Hi stampers, quick post this time.  I have a terrible headache as I'm writing this up!  Ugh, I even got a box of goodies today and they are lonely because I feel to terrible.

Anyway, I totally forgot to include this project in the annual catalog post so here it is:


I used the embossing folder on only about half of one of our cafe bags.  Totally fun!  And then I stamped four times and fussy cut out each section and pieced it back together.

Happy stamping!

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Display Samples - Scrappy

Hi stampers!  Is anyone else thinking that it's crazy that Thanksgiving is NEXT week already?  Whoa!  Anyway, I'm sharing more display samples today!  Today I'm going to show you scrapbook pages I did.

For this page I used the all year long kit.  The bottom card is actually one of the larger cards with a 3x4 card on top of it.  The leaf is from the accessory pack.  Project life makes is quick and easy to make gorgeous pages that really focus on the photos!


My second page had to be Christmas, right? Two of my 2x2 squares are just regular card stock that I embossed.  Don't forget that you can make your own PL inserts!  The emerald ribbon is a little sneak peek!  It's so pretty!  And the other great thing about PL is that you can play around with your layout until it's just right.  I just laid my squares out on top of the page and moved them around until I felt they were balanced.  I didn't have to worry about gluing them down in the "wrong" spot!


And finally, a traditional scrap page.  The places you'll go set makes a great scrapbook page!  I heat embossed the globe on some watercolor paper and then just colored away.  And project life grid cards make it easy to journal...even if you don't like your handwriting ;-)


I hope you enjoyed my pages!  

Happy stamping!

Monday, November 14, 2016

Display Samples - Annual Catalog Inspiration

Hi stampers!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  We had a very nice laid back couple of days!  I'm back today with more display samples from the event in Madison.  Some people did all of their samples with the new sets but I wanted to do some samples from the holiday mini as well as the annual catalog because I know people are also looking for inspiration from them as well.  I've got two samples today.  I'm going to try to get all of them shared with you soon so I can share things I've been stamping lately!

This first one may be my favorite sample.  You know I'm obsessed with the succulents in the live, love, grow set...so it's no wonder.  I used my clear wink of stella to put some background splatters on some tip top taupe.  I also embossed the succulents in white and watercolored them for a soft and blended look.  I LOVE it!


This card is basically a case of something I've done before.  I did a watercolor wash for my background and just layered away.  The little plus accents and washi tape are from the hello lovely PL kit.  Don't be afraid to break out the PL kits and accessory kits for cards!


I hope you enjoyed these samples.  I'll be back with more soon!

Happy stamping!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Somebody Pinch Me

Hi stampers!  So I don't normally post on the weekends anymore, but I'm killing some time on the couch tonight so I thought I'd do something.  If you saw my post about last weekend at On Stage in Madison then you saw my announcement that I have been asked to be a member of the 2017 Artisan Design Team!!!!  If not, surprise :-)  I thought I'd write a little more about it today.



To say that I am beyond honored to be a member is an understatement.  Some of my most favorite stampers have been or are on the team and it's a dream come true!  I honestly was pretty content just to have been one of the finalists the year they changed it to a design team.  That was a huge honor alone.  If you have dreams of being on the team, then apply!  And if you don't get it, keep applying!  If I can get there, anyone can!  And really, I still can't believe that I really made it, even after getting this pretty box with a couple of amazing surprises inside!




I was also happy that my friend Holly was at my location and she was also made the team, so we got to go on stage together :-)  I LOVE her work and am so excited to be on the team with her!


It's been hard to keep it a secret!  To be honest, I kind of forgot I applied earlier this summer :-)  You know, a certain little someone around here keeps me busy, I lose track of time, and brain cells!  I was on vacation in Florida/Alabama in October when there was a call from Utah on my phone.  My credit card had been hacked not long ago so I assumed it was a problem with my paper pumpkin processing, ha!  When I answered,  I realized it was my friend Melanie who works in concept art and something clicked and I ran outside as to not start crying in front of my hubby and mother in law and having them worry, ha!

Even as I type this, I still think sometimes I dreamt it all up!  Maybe when my first box gets here it will finally sink in...or when I'm scrambling to finish my first project? :-)  I really hope that I can help inspire you with my creations and that I can come up with stuff that's worthy of being on the team!

And thank you to everyone who has been rooting for me to make the team. And to all of you who read my blog!

Happy stamping!

Friday, November 11, 2016

Fab Friday 100

Hi stampers!  Happy Friday!  Today we're taking a small break from my display samples because it's time for another challenge at Fab Friday!  This week is a color challenge and we are at ONE HUNDRED challenges!  Thanks to all of you for playing along with us for 100 challenges!!!  That's kind of amazing!

While we may be taking a break from the display samples I still have a little sneak peek for you, surprise!  My card uses a stamp set from the upcoming occasions catalog that I won at OnStage last weekend.  Actually, I won another set but it was not my style at all so I was able to trade with one of my awesome table mates!  It was a win-win!



I did a watercolor wash after I stamped and embossed my focal point with the greeting from the window shopping stamp set.  It's a bit hard to catch in my photo but it's really pretty in real life.  I'm STILL working on my photography and editing skills :-)  I added a couple of the enamel shapes for a little pop of color.

I hope you'll check out the rest of the design team's projects and play along with us!

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Display Samples - Happy New Year

Hi stampers!  I just want to take a minute to say, no matter where you are in the US or otherwise, I love you my friends.  I'm so happy that even when the world is a little topsy-turvy, we can make and share pretty things to hopefully spread a little love and kindness <3 p="">
Any who, moving on to more display samples.  I was a bit of a rebel it seems, and made a wide variety of projects.  While I love seeing new stuff, I also love seeing creations with stuff we already have, so I hope you do too!  And one of the items I was working with was the designer acetate that I used on my tag from yesterday.  If you recall, it took me about forever to realize it was double sided and the silver was on the back of the gold sheet I'd been working with :-)

I created this happy new year card since silver polka dots just seemed fitting!  I used the tin of tags set for the snowflakes and layered the acetate over with some glue dots behind the focal point.  I wasn't happy with how it was laying down near the top (or not laying down if you will) so I put just the tiniest dots of our fine tip glue pen behind a few of the dots.  The TINIEST of dots.  The cheers stamp is actually from the oh happy day card kit and I paired it with the sentiment from teeny tiny wishes.  The fancy frost sequins were the finishing touch after some vellum and a doily.


I hope you enjoyed this sample!

Happy stamping!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Display Samples - Dragonflies

Hi stampers.  Happy Election Day...or maybe not ;-)  Don't worry, I don't get very political as I feel it's a very personal thing but I hope everyone in the good ole' USA got out to vote!  It's a privilege and a right that many have suffered and died for!

Ian has a little Melissa and Doug calendar with magnets (I may be lazy and not change them out every single day, hehe) and you can put a special event on it.  Well, there wasn't an election day magnet so I put the President's Day one up there because in a way, it is still correct, ha!  And it had a flag on it ;-)  I actually should use my stamping prowess and make some special magnets for us but there's no room for any more on the little storage board, hehe.

Anyway, since I know most everyone is TIRED of politics, how about some pretty pictures?  And pretty pictures of NEW stuff????  These are two more samples using the dragonfly dreams set and matching framelits from the upcoming Occasions catalog.



The dots on the side are one of the stamps in the set and I LOVE them!  They will be a great addition to all kinds of projects.  I stamped a more solid dragonfly in mint macaron and old olive (it's a 2 step stamp set) and then I cut another in a more detailed image from vellum.  It's difficult to catch in the pictures, but I also covered the vellum in clear wink of stella so there is some shimmer.  I finished it off with the sentiment in perfect plum and some white accents and silver thread.


For my little treat bag, I used one of our kraft tag a bags and just folded it over.  I tied some new emerald envy 1/8th taffeta ribbon around and went to town on my tag.  It was cut with the scalloped tag topper punch out of our fabulous foil designer acetate (that's a mouthful....).  A little hint about those sheets...they have a protective backing on them so you'll want to make sure you peel it off before using it.  I may forget now and then ;-)  Also, did you know that one side of them is gold and the other is silver?  I kept looking for the silver sheets when I got it.  I finally flipped one over and went "ah-ha"!  I stamped the dragonfly in mint macaron and then the sentiment in emerald envy.  Some gold sequins finish it off!

I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek.  I also hope you like my new photo back drop and photo editing.  I'll be back with more projects soon!

Happy stamping!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Display Sample - HapBEE!

Hi stampers!  First of all, thank you so much for your congratulations and kind words on my Artisan post!   I'm going to start sharing some of my display samples.  Some days I'll share just one and others I may share a batch of them to speed things up.  I'm also going to be experimenting with some of my photo editing and watermarks (along with the overall look of my blog at some point) to one, make editing easier and more streamlined for myself and hopefully up my productivity and two, make this place in tip top shape for my upcoming Artisan stint :-)  So, don't be surprised if things look different from time to time and feel free to leave feedback of what you like or what you don't!  As you can see, I've also changed up my photo background.  I have a few other things coming and I'm excited to see how they work out!

I thought I'd start out with something new of course, because that's what you want to see, right?  This set is called dragonfly dreams but also contains this cute little bee.  It also has a matching set of framelits!!!!  And this bee is just the cutest thing cut out!


It's difficult to see in the photo but the bee right in the middle is stamped and then I placed one I stamped then cut out over him with dimensional.  The color here is crushed curry.  I went a little cheesy with my sentiment but I thought it was kind of cute and a little funny.  The labeler alphabet is perfect for any sentiment, you can build anything you want!

I have to say that this set isn't normally my style and I'd probably never had made this card with this color combo if I hadn't "had" to but I kind of love it!

Monday, November 7, 2016

OnStage November 2016

Hi stampers!  I'm just bursting to share everything from the OnStage event I attended in Madison this past weekend!  And as of now, I can!  I'm not going to share EVERYTHING right away but make sure to keep checking back for updates!  The live event was in the South Pacific and we had a few local events on Saturday so now that all markets in all time zones have had their events, we can share, yay!

I didn't take too many pictures... I have got to get better about that but there's just so much going on!  As always, it was great to see some of my friends and make more new ones!  Also, I should have taken pictures of the gaming comic con type conference that was also going on, ha!  This is the second SU event that I've attended that was next to a comic con, highly entertaining ;-)

I was also honored to be a display stamper for the event so you can also be on the lookout for those projects to post soon as well!


And let's just get this out of the way...no I never changed my name with SU when I got married.  I didn't change it initially because I had made the Artisan finalists that year and didn't want to cause confusion.  Then, I just forgot.  I want to share my samples with you but I'm waiting on some clarification of what I can and can's share and when!

Here's a picture of our little table decorations!  So cute!



And for the biggest surprise, I was picked to be part of the Artisan Design Team for 2017.  I'll post more on that later but here is the lovely gift box I received.  


I've known for a while and was just bursting!  I still can't believe that I got that phone call from SU and still think I dreamt it sometimes.  The talent on that team is just out of this world!

Anyway, that's a quick recap from the event and I'll be sharing my samples and our make and takes with you in the next few weeks!


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