Easy Watercolor Background

I came across a beautiful card on this blog: LW Designs.  I just had to try out this technique.  I CASE'd her card pretty closely, only because I loved it so much.  I did change up my stamp set, and used my go to set -  Secret Garden.  

You can find directions on how to create this cool background on the blog linked above.  I hope you like my card!  Thanks for stopping by!

Fright Night Blog Hop

My friend Sherry has organized this fun Fright Night Blog Hop.  You'll see lots of fun Halloween ideas.  If you are starting here, you can click on the image above to start at Sherry's blog, or just continue on from here.  

If you are coming here from Olivia Loves to Stamp, welcome!  I love all of Olivia's cute projects, don't you?

I have to admit, I stressed a bit about this hop.  I don't usually do much for Halloween, and don't own many Halloween themed crafting supplies.  Thankfully, I was rescued by all the free goodies we received at convention!!  I have two cards, and a little treat holder for you today.  I hope you like them!

This first card was a lot of fun.  I love that the Witches Brew Washi Tape isn't straight.  I also added in one strip of the Basic Grey striped Washi Tape from the Epic Day Washi Tape set.  The greeting is from the Seasonal Sayings sets.

This fun little treat bag uses the Tag a Bag Gift Bags.  I did a little cutting, folding, and gluing to turn the flat bag into a lunch sack style bag.  My pumpkin was made with the Large Oval Punch.  I used Whisper White cardstock covered in washi tape.  I then dragged my sponge over the top with Pumpkin Pie ink.

Similarly to the gift bag, I used Whisper White cardstock covered in Witches Brew washi tape for the background of this card.  For the greeting of the the card, I knew what I wanted to do - but didn't have the right supplies.  I wanted to do something like I had seen Barb Mulikin do on her Control Freaks Blog Hop card.  But, I haven't ordered the new glitter yet.  So, I decided to do the next best thing.  I stamped the greeting with Black Staz-On ink onto a window sheet, and used the Label Bracket Punch to punch it out.  Then I used the punch to punch a second label out of our Silver Glimmer Paper.  I used Crystal Effects behind the letters and the spider bellies to attach the window sheet to the glimmer paper.

Well, that is all I have for today.  Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my projects!  I hope you enjoyed them!  

To continue on the hop - you'll be heading on over to Stamping with Pearl, where I know you'll be wow'd with more fun projects!

       

Create with Connie & Mary Color Challenge

Today I have a card I created for the color challenge over at Create with Connie & Mary.  The color challenge this week is perfect, because I was already making Halloween projects for a new Blog Hop that I am a part of that starts tomorrow.  So be sure to come back tomorrow to see lots of other Halloween ideas!

Here is the card I made:

I used the new Label Thinlits die to make a flip card.  The greeting is from the Tags 4 You set from the Holiday Catalog, used with the new Label Bracket Punch.  I embossed the greeting in silver to make it pop a little.

The candy corn punch are is from a Pinterest inspiration from Cristy Butzen. 

Thanks for looking at my card!  Have a great weekend!!

Double Challenge Birthday

I decided to try and make a card using the color challenge over at The Paper Players, while using the sketch from Mojo Monday.

Here is my card:

For my card, I was able to use my new In Color stack.  I love the new In Colors!!  I also used the new Label Love stamp set, with the coordinating Artisan Label punch.

JUGS Shaker Card

I had so much fun making this shaker card for the Just Us Girls challenge.  I can't believe I have never made one of these before.  They are so fun!  Click on the link above and play along!

I took my color combination from the Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper.  I used Coastal Cabana, Wisteria Wonder, and Pear Pizzazz.  My flower is from the Best of Flowers set.  Remember, when you order six of the Best Of sets, you get to choose any stamp set of your choice for free!  ($14.95 value!)  My greeting is from the Perfectly Penned set. 

Last bit of Convention

For the last day of convention - I had to be sure to use my daughter's string cheese cooler.  A few days before I left for SLC, my hubby and daughter were at the grocery store.  There happened to be a Sargento lady there, handing out samples.  She also gave my daughter this adorable little cooler.   My girly insisted that I bring it with me to SLC, because it looks similar to some of the other bags I have.  It worked!  I ate my cheese about halfway through the day, and it was still cool.  

Saturday also saw most of my friends winning prize patrols!  Yay!!

Jean won the Halloween Bash set from the holiday catalog - AND a punch!

Candee and Jacque won the Christmas Messages stamp set!

They ended general session with another all attendee giveaway! We were gifted the Real Red Goodie Gear Simply Created Kit, and the Oh, Goodie! stamp set!

For lunch Stampin' Up! provided us with a delicious chicken sandwich!

 We spent the afternoon in classes, learning new ideas for growing our businesses.  

They closed out the convention with a last general session. The Heart of Stampin' Up! award was announced, as was the location of Leadership 2014.  Leadership will be held in Houston, in January 2014.  It was also announced that the Incentive Trip that we are all working towards for travel in 2015 will be to Hawaii.  I know that for some people, that isn't very exciting.  But for my family - it is super exciting, and hubby is totally on board to help my business grow this year!  They ended the session with one last all attendee giveaway!  Everyone received the Yippee-Skippee stamp set.

I love how Stampin' Up! goes all out for convention.  They decorate the outside as nicely as they do the inside of the Salt Palace.

When the general session ended, a group of friends and I decided to treat ourselves to dinner.  I had never been to a dinner like this before.  It was so fun, and the food was amazing!

Look at all this free stuff I was able to bring home from SLC!

Sunday morning, my friends and I had one last breakfast together before we all headed off to the airport to travel home.

More Convention

Friday was packed full of surprises, friends, and fun!

New Thinlits big shot dies were announced - and are available now for purchase.  This picture shows a card made with the circle thinlits.

Here is a picture of a card made with the label thinlits.  They are just so much fun, and so easy to do!  We will be making a card with the label thinlits at the August Stamp Camp - you can register here: 

REGISTER NOW

During the general session - I won a prize patrol!  I was given the new Decorative Window Gift Boxes from the Holiday Catalog, along with Linen Thread, a pack of Hardware Clip Essentials, and an awesome personalized stamp.

After general session was done, we were free to spend the day in the Demonstrator Resource Center.  One of the things we were invited to do was to take part in a service project.  We put together 3,000 "Birthday Kits" for kids who have to spend their birthday in the local Children's Hospital.  The kits included banners, journals, and other fun stuff.

On of the other new products announced was the new Undefined line.  Undefined is Stampin' Up!'s new stamp carving line.  The kit comes with everything you need to carve your own stamp!  It sounds a lot more challenging than it is; and it is so much fun!  My friend Lisa and I decided we wanted to make puzzle piece stamps, in honor of our girls who are both on the Autism Spectrum.

After a full day in the Demo Resource Center, it was back to the hotel for a quick change.  We then rushed back to the Salt Palace for Awards Night, which was followed by a 25th Anniversary Party.

Throughout the whole party, we had live music provided to us by The Spazmatics.  

This party had everything that a great party should have.  Yummy dessert - check!  Party Favors - check!  Fun music - check!  Games - check!  We even had a fun green screen photo opportunity.  

From L to R:  Me, Lisa, Jacque, Jill