Bada-Bing! Paper-Crafting!: December 2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Life Lately

Hi stampers! I never got around to blogging or stamping over the last two weeks or so. And I never updated on our situation because there wasn't anything to update. On December 14th, Jon got a call that the mole he got removed the day before, was positive for melanoma. It was always gnarly looking and had begun to change and I'd been after him for months to get it looked at. Needless to say, he didn't take me seriously (and I guess didn't know skin cancer could spread) and it takes a while to get into a dermatologist of course. Anyway, to say we were shocked and worried was an understatement. At 35, it's not something you expect to hear. It was also over the size that they just take it out and send you on your merry way. He was sent to a surgeon (which also took many days to get into and then many more days to actually have surgery) to take out more skin around it (although the margins were clear originally so that was a positive) and take out some lymph nodes to see if it had spread to them and then wait some more to find out the results. He had surgery last Friday so we knew the lab wouldn't let us know until at least Tuesday with the weekend and then Christmas. For over two weeks, I couldn't focus or concentrate and I felt like I was stuck in time. I didn't stamp, I didn't blog, I didn't do much of anything. It felt like a month, not a few weeks. They finally called this Wednesday and thankfully, nothing was found in his node! Thank you to everyone who sent us prayers and positive thoughts! He's going to follow up with the surgeon today and he still may need to jump through a few hoops and meet with an oncologist, but I'm hopeful we are over the worst of it.

I had all these grand plans to blog and share a bunch of holiday cards from my mom's house and neither of those things happened. Thankfully, my mom and step dad came to help early on since they are retired and then Jon's parents came for when he had surgery. My mom also had the majority of our presents I'd sent home with her on black Friday lol! I really missed going home for the holidays but it was kind of neat to host them here. It won't be a Christmas we soon forget for both good and bad reasons! I hope that all the grandparents had fun, I know we did and Ian was so excited to have the four of them here together!

I didn't stamp yesterday, I pretty much laid on the couch for the millionth time. I've felt off for the last few days and I think I may have a little bug. I've had some headaches and tummy rumbles. But hopefully I'm on the upswing and I'll get in my craft room soon!

I did manage to make this card after we got the call! One is better than none :-)

I really love mixing "old" stuff with new and I totally cased myself for this card. I had made a Christmas version earlier and thought it would be a perfect Valentine! I wasn't wrong. I'm going to miss this DSP! And Teeny Tiny Wishes to the rescue again!

And please, get regular skin checks, especially if something changes, and use your sunscreen!

Happy stamping! Product List

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Celebrating Sara Artisan Design Team Bonus Hop

Hi stampers! Some of the Artisans are hopping today to show you some special cards! Earlier this fall, we were asked to create a special card for Sara if we liked because they were decorating the legacy room at the home office for her. Of course I jumped at the chance! We were asked to use some of her favorite colors which happen to be my favorite colors!

The only thing I'm sad about is that I wasn't able to make it to Salt Lake in time to go SEE her room. But, Sean posted a picture on IG and I did see my card! I really hope she liked it and I really do think Sara is brilliant! It was quite an honor just to see a picture of it posted!

The Watts of Occasions set was just perfect. I really poured over my stamp sets to see what spoke to me!

My picture isn't great, I'm sorry. I had to hunt back in my photos to find it and it wasn't the best but it will have to do. I was in a hurry to make and then send it off before I went to my mom's house, I remember that much! I just watercolored the light bulb after embossing with silver. A few splatters with lemon lime twist and basic black really give it that Sara style, I think! Again, I hope she really loved it and I hope you do too!

I love this company, all of the people I've met and the friendships I've made. And I've truly been honored to be a part of the ADT, it's really just been a dream come true!

And speaking of friends, now you're off to see what Tanya made!

Happy stamping! Product List

Watts Of Occasions Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[143867]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[100730]

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121045]

Berry Burst 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144243]

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144245]

Watercolor Paper

[122959]

Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad

[144083]

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[144086]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers

[131261]

2017-2019 In Color Stampin' Write Markers

[144033]

Layering Squares Framelits Dies

[141708]

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109132]

Lemon Lime Twist 1/4" Ombre Ribbon

[144234]

Perfect Days Card Pack

[144209]

Black Rhinestone Jewels

[144639]

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Joy To The World

Hi stampers, I have a quick post today. There's something going on in our little world and we could use some prayers. I'll tell you more later but I haven't been in the mood to stamp or blog so I'm trying to get some of that done today at least. I did make this card last weekend and love how it turned out!

I attempted to watercolor a circle to resemble the globe. It worked pretty well!

If I get a chance, I'll come back and add some supplies in.

Happy stamping!

Friday, December 15, 2017

April Display Stamper Post

Hi stampers! I'm never quite sure what to call these things...auditions, tryouts, submissions? :-) Anyway, I'm submitting these projects in hopes to be picked as a display stamper at OnStage in April!

It's six projects, that's quite a lot in one post, so I'll keep the chit chat short for this one and I won't be making a product list as it's just too much. And I'm off soon to watch Star Wars past my bed time as I'm blogging this thanks to my hubby! If you should happen to have any questions, please let me know and I can answer them for you! You can comment or email me!

Anyway, we were tasked with sharing six projects so this is what I've got!

For my scrapbook page I just HAD to use the rollercoaster from the Let the Good Times Roll Bundle! It's really for pop-up cards but there's so much more you can use it for! I documented Ian and I's trip to Six Flags this summer with my parents. And I had to use lemon lime twist, just look at those shorts!

For this card I actually used the Merry Little Christmas DSP to make a tie for Father's Day! I used a Sponge Brayer to ink up the normally black and white paper! The base of the tie I free hand cut but can you see what the knot it??? It's the diamond shape from the Eclectic Layers Framelits. I'm pretty proud of that clever little trick ;-)

How about a wedding or a shower card? Got that covered with my favorite bundle this year, the Celebration Time Bundle! How sweet is that little cake, flowers, and topper?

For my last card, I used the SAB set Lots of Lavender. It's pretty and feminine but I love how it looks with the Wood Textures DSP!

For my first 3-D project I went really simple because sometimes simple things are the best things, like this tag! I really wanted to bow to stand out and I think it does. It's so cool how it's stamped to look like a real bow!

And I just couldn't NOT stamp something for Christmas since it's coming up SO SOON! So, I made this little treat box with the new die from the Occasions catalog. Someone is going to love getting it filled with chocolate goodies!

I made a belly band with the Merry Music DSP and went to town from there!

And there you have it! Wish me luck! It's always such an honor and so much fun to make display samples!

Happy stamping!

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Merry Cafe Red Cup Cards - Stampin Up Global Artisan Design Team Blog Hop

Hi stampers! Welcome to the last 2017 ADT blog hop! HOW can this year be over so fast!?!? It seems like I was just bursting to tell you all I made the team and here it is over. And then we moved in the middle of it all! I feel like we just got to Oklahoma and that we've been here for years all at once! Anyway, it's been amazing to create with this great group of artists and I will forever be grateful to Stampin' Up for the opportunity showcase my work and to make life long friends!

For this month's focus, we were tasked with using the Merry Cafe Stamp Set and the coordinating Coffee Cups framelits that are actually not found in the Holiday Catalog, but the annual one. I just LOVE how many of our products are made to work together, even across catalogs! Isn't this set just the cutest!? If you want it, jump on it since it's on it's way out with the Holiday Catalog (again, how is that time upon us either????).

Do you remember those little red cups that stirred up all the controversy last year? Ahem...the GASP, solid red ombre cups :-) Personally, I thought they were gorgeous the way they went from a deep, dark red to a merry and lighter shade at the bottom or at the top? I don't really remember, but anyway... So, when we got the assignment, I wanted to make my own ombre cups! Enter the Blends Markers! It was the perfect medium for such a technique.

All I had to do was use the two shades in Cherry Cobbler to make the perfect ombre cup. You don't even need to worry about blending the middle too much since it's covered by the coffee sleeve. You know I'm a lazy crafter so this made me happy, LOL!

For my Christmas card, I added a few "coffee rings" from the Touches of Texture Stamp Set. Again, it's wonderful how many things we offer go together!

I also brought in a couple of holly leaves from Holly Berry Happiness for an extra festive touch. For my berry, I VERY carefully colored in one of our White Perfect Accents with my Blends marker. Be very careful when you do this as you don't want to damage your marker. Stampin' Up may have advised against this kind of thing but sometimes I'm a rebel like that ;-) And it just looks so stinking perfect!

And I couldn't just stop with the one card, I had to make a Valentine's Day card as well because I love this set and I love coffee! This one is pretty simple, but the red card is perfect once again. I embossed my whip cream with a mix of Dazzling Diamonds and some Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder. Did you know you can do that?

I hope you enjoyed my projects today and maybe you'll try to color something with the Blends for an ombre effect! It doesn't come across in the photos near as well as in real life! And I hope you've enjoyed our hops all year long! Please make sure to come back to visit me, ok?

Now it's time to hop on over to Miriam! She's going to amaze you, as usual!

Tanya Boser

And congratulations to the new team for 2018! I can't wait to see what they create and I'm so happy to see so many talented stampers on the list! Check them out!

United States

Lauren Alaird

Charlet Mallett

Connie Collins (returning)

Elizabeth Price

Canada

Cathy Caines (returning)

Kim McGillis

United Kingdom

Emma Goddard

Rhoda MacPherson

France