And the Good News Just Keeps Coming!

I just got back from Kathy's fun workshop (Hi guys!) and checked my e-mail there to find a fabulous SURPRISE from fellow stamper Gretchen Barron!

Last week, Gretchen offered a contest on her blog for anyone to CASE (stands for Copy and Share Everything!) a card from the catalog and send her a photo of it along with the supply list and page number of the catalog.

Well, I had cased this card for our Tuesday Stamp Camp and loved it so much, I thought she just might too - and guess what?! I WON the contest! How cool is that? This is me, the girl who can't win the ducky game at the county fair!

Anyway, here is the link to the page on her blog - which is FABULOUS by the way - http://gretchenbarron.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/catalog-case-winner-robin-merriman.html

While you are there, you have to check out her work. Gretchen has been a demonstrator for a year and I think she is an amazing stamper. I know you'll like her work too. Oh, and heads up for all you "Go-Diva" swappers out there - I've asked Gretchen to join our group and she accepted!

Here is the supply list for my card. The one I cased is at this link from page 47 of the NEW Catalog: http://gretchenbarron.typepad.com/pg_47.jpg

Stamps: Bella Toile Background, Cute and Curly
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Shimmer White, Certainly Celery
Inks: Whisper White Craft, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain, Certainly Celery Grosgrain. Pretties Kit, Curly Label Punch, Small and Large Oval Punch, Snail, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals

Have a fun filled weekend everyone! Be safe!
~~Robin

Special Delivery from UPS!

Oh, my, goodness! I just can't stand it! I really get to go to Founder's Circle again - pinch me!

This is the best moment of my day today, the UPS man just brought me an overnight package from Stampin' Up! and look what was in it! My tickets and itinerary for Founder's Circle! Wow, gotta catch my breath here.

It will be so great to see many of my demo friends again - a lot of them live far across the country, like Jen in Colorado and Patty in California! I've already made an appointment at the spa and I can't wait to just relax and have fun with the girls.
We get to go to Kanab, UT and see the manufacturing plant where all your favorite stamps are made - how cool is that?! And if it's like last year, we get little gifts and fun things all through the week.

And just look at the package Stampin' Up! put together! It's gorgeous! I didn't want to take off the ribbon. Love the pink and black and did you notice that the ribbon is some of the NEW Pink Pirouette grosgrain? So fun!

I just had to share, I was so excited! I wish I could pack you all up in my suitcase and take you with me. I {heart} ALL of you!
Happy Friday!
~~Robin

Blogger's Challenge #62 - Baby or Patriotic Cards

Have I told you lately how much I LOVE being a part of this Blogger's Challenge group? Ok, maybe not, but I DO!

The other challenge players are a great group of stampers - so very talented. I do hope you are checking out their creations each week as you have time. Just go to the link on my sidebar to find their blogs.

Since it was Labor Day weekend, our challenge was for Baby or Patriotic cards. Well, I am hugely patriotic, I still cry when I hear our national anthem and LOVE watching the medal ceremony at the Olympics when the US athletes win Gold and we get to FEEL that great swell of pride along with them. You know what I mean? Anyway, that was my first leaning for this week's card, BUT then I saw the color challenge on Kristina Werner's blog here: http://kwernerdesign.com/blog/2008/08/color-inspiration-20.html and knew right away that I'd be doing a Baby card instead! Love this color combo and I was itching to use my NEW Wide Oval Punch with the NEW Hostess Stamp Set, Punches Three.

My card base is Pink Pirouette with layers of Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery. The celery layer is stamped with my ever handy Canvas Background stamp in celery ink. I used my favorite NEW toy the BIG SHOT (which goes on sale for YOU on Sept 1st!) to cut the pretty curly layer from Bella Rose Designer Series Paper using the Top Note Die Cut.

Then, I stamped the Baby label twice, once with Certainly Celery ink on Certainly Celery cardstock. Then once again using my markers to color the stamp in and stamping on Very Vanilla cardstock. I punched out the Celery label but used my Paper Snips to trim out the center of the Vanilla label and mounted it up on dimensionals in the center for emphasis.

The ribbon I used to finish it off is Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain which matched the Regal Rose I used in the label.

I was very happy with how this card turned out and I hope you like it too! Hey, if you didn't read my post from yesterday - go do it now! I'd love to hear who your favorite band from the 80's is - it was fun reading the comments from today!

Happy Friday!

~~Robin

Blast From the Past Times Two!

Ok, all you Journey fans - you know you're out there - sing along with me: "Don't Stop Believing, hold on to that fee-ee-eeli-ing!"

WOW! is all I can say - last night I went to the Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick concert at the Nissan Pavillion in Bristow, Virginia and this morning, my 40 something ears are STILL ringing! I had forgotten how LOUD a rock concert can be especially when you are in the 4th row behind the orchestra pit! WooHoo!

As a true child of the 80's, I still love the music of my generation and last night was so fun. From the first note of Heart's set, I went straight back in my memory to age 16 and driving my first car (it was a 1966 Dodge Dart and it had heat and an AM radio!) with my bff's along and the windows down singing along at the top of our lungs. "How do I get you alo-one? How do I get you alo-one?"

Anyway, the concert was fabulous, even with the "new" Steve Perry fronting Journey. He's not as easy on the eyes, but boy, he sure sounds like him! Mark and I went with our friends Scott and Lissa and we joked about how sedate we were, politely sitting in our seats and applauding appropriately - BUT - my inner Rocker Chick eventually took control and when "Don't Stop Believing" started I HAD to get up and DANCE! WooHoo! They did only one encore but it was a doozy - sing along with me now - "Any Way You Want It, that's the way you need it, anyway you wa-on-nt it!"

Yes, I know, you'll have those songs in your head all day now, but at least they are GREAT songs! And besides, it's the only thing I can still hear so you might as well join me! If you are reading this and are a child of the 80's like me, leave me a comment and tell me who your favorite band or song was! Take a walk down memory lane with me!

Now for the 2nd Blast from the Past!

My good friend Shellie, who actually taught me to stamp oh, so many years ago has started a blog of her own. Here is the link so you can check it out and book mark it. http://shelliestamps.blogspot.com/
She's still constructing it, but has started posting anyway which forces me to defend myself here!

Yesterday, she posted a picture of one of my ALL TIME favorite stamp sets - Pansy. Yep, I loved those flowers oh, so long ago! Well, today, she has provided you a glimpse into my past and is showing the world what a TERRIBLE stamper I was way back when!

This first picture is a card I made for her with my favorite stamps and was probably most proud of it at the time. Oh, how it makes me cringe now! There's only ONE layer for Pete's sake! And look how I was so careful to get the entire flower and leaves INSIDE the BORDERS!

She says, "It's not that bad." But, man, oh, man it makes me appreciate everything I've learned since then. I guess it's good to go back and see where you started, so you can see how far you've come. So the lesson here would be, make sure you save your first efforts so some day you have something your friends can laugh at!


This next photo shows something that I thought was actually pretty cool. I stamped a card background and look at those decorative edges cut with those scissors! Oh, my!

Well, the pansies in the middle are actually stamped and then cold laminated and cut out. I layered them and placed a pin back on it to make a brooch. Boy did I think it was awesome then. Ok, maybe it was a fun idea and I do still LOVE that stamp set - I wish I hadn't sold mine in some feeble attempt to get organized!

So, that's it for today! Leave me a comment and then go put on your favorite 80's music and STAMP SOMETHING!
XO,
~~Robin

A Special Treat for Special Stampers!

Good morning stampers! Happy Wednesday! I have a fun little project to share with you today. It's actually the swap I made for my very own swap group - the "Go-Divas"!

Last year I formed a swap group of fabulous stampers whose work I just loved. Several times a year, I put out a theme and we all make enough cards for each other and exchange or "swap" them. At this year's convention, I thought it would be great to have a swap round there so we could all meet face to face. Since we all live in different parts of the country, some of us only know each other through our work and our e-mails.

Well, because I treasure each of these fabulous stampers so much, I made a little mini-album for each of them and as our name implies, I had to add a bit of chocolate love to each album! I hope they all liked their album!
I started with a Pink Pirouette cardstock base cut at 8 1/2" x 4 3/4". It was scored at 3", 3 1/4", 6 1/2" and 6 3/4".

I then used the NEW Scalloped Edge punch to scallop the top flap and added a strip of Kiwi Kiss cardstock to the back side for emphasis. The pretty rose print patterned paper is from the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper as is the 1" wide polka dot paper belly band/wrap.

The interior is actually 2 Medium Whisper White envelopes sealed shut and then cut in 1/2. I sponged all the edges with Pink Pirouette ink and attached them together accordion style with a piece of Sticky Strip running horizontal behind each envelope piece.
The photo mat insert is Chocolate Chip (of course!) that is cut to 4 1/8" x 3". The ribbons on the inside are Chocolate Chip Taffeta and Pretty in Pink Taffeta.

I stamped the little Love embellishment in Basic Brown on Whisper White and punched it out with my 1 1/4" Square punch. It is matted on Chocolate Chip cardstock punched out with the 1 3/8" cardstock. I colored it in using the Blender Pens and reinkers for Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss.

The flower on the belly band is from the Pretties Kit and the center is made with the 3/4" circle punch and Pink Pirouette cardstock with a half pearl from the Pretties Kit for the center.

These make super little gifts and are small so they are easy to theme with just a few photos and journaling. But, don't forget the chocolate!

Until later,
~~Robin

Cute Card by Tammy!

Remember last week when I posted this fun fold card? The front flap tucks under the circles and pops down to open up. It's a great, versatile layout!

Well, I asked YOU, my loyal readers to send me pictures of YOUR creations using this layout and I chose this card by Tammy Bolster of Wisconsin to be featured here.

She used one of my fav stamp sets "Enjoy Every Moment" and this great color combo of Night of Navy, Certainly Celery and Barely Banana. AND, she used Rhinestone brads too which are also my FAVS! (Think she knew that?) Anyway, it's just super cute and I'm so glad Tammy played and is letting me share her creation with you!

Have a great Tuesday - I'll be back soon with more stamping fun!

I have stamp camp tonight at 7 pm, I have room for a few more if you want to come, just call me! Hope to stamp with you soon!

~~Robin

10,000 Blog Hits Winner Announced!

Thanks so much everyone for all your sweet comments on my blog over the weekend! I'm glad you enjoy my posts and it's good to know that someone out there actually reads them!

As I posted, my blog candy winner will receive a Fall Mini-Album like the one in my post from last week and a little bonus gift as well! In order to choose the winner, I assigned a number to each post, in order and told my mother-in-law (who is visiting this week!) to choose a number. She picked #11 which is..........

Paula Rabkin!

Congratulations, Paula! You need to go buy a lottery ticket or something, because this is the 2nd contest you've won of mine! Lucky girl!
I can either mail your prizes or just give them to you at Kathy's next Saturday! E-mail me or call to let me know.

Happy Stampin' everyone!
~~Robin

Blogger's Challenge #61 - Color Challenge

This week's challenge was a Color Combination, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, More Mustard and Ruby Red. I LOVE the Fall colors SOOO much and this combination was a joy to work with.

I got my inspiration from a card swap I recieved at convention this year. I first saw this card style, called a Wiper Card, 2 years ago at my first convention when it was demoed on stage by Spencer Willis who is a Stampin' Up! employee. I remember watching him create this fun fold and thought to myself that I could never recreate it because it was too hard.

Well, thanks to the swap card I recieved this year, I was able to really look at it and deconstruct it so that my little pea brain could "get it"! And guess what? It really was EASY! Yes, I promise! And I'll prove it! YOU will be making this card on Saturday at my Aloha stamp camp - are you registered yet? Call me today if you want to come!


Here are the details on the card:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Pocket Silhouettes (both on SALE right now!) and Dreams DuJour
Inks: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Basic Brown, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, More Mustard
Cardstock: Very Vanilla and Challenge colors
Accessories: Large and Small Oval Punches, dimensionals, sponge, Sticky Strip, Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade

The card base is cut at 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 (2 pieces) and each piece is scored at 4" and 4 3/4" on one end. The pop-up piece is cut at 1 3/4" x 3".

I was so happy with how this turned out! I may just design a different wiper card for my Stamp Camps on Tuesday! It's a fun, fun layout that just makes you smile when you see it work.

Be sure to check out all the other Blogger's Challenge participants by clicking on the link in my sidebar. There are some wonderfully talented stampers out there!
Happy Friday!
~~Robin

WOW! 10,000 Blog hits! AND Wednesday's Winner Announced!

I woke up this morning to post my Blogger's Challenge and noticed that sometime last night, I'd had my 10,000th visitor to the blog! Thank you SO much!

This calls for a CELEBRATION! How about some Blog Candy?!

Here's what I'm going to do: Leave me a comment on this blog entry and tell me what you LOVE the most about Stamping and Scrapbooking AND what you like about my blog that keeps you viewing!
On Monday morning the 25th, I'll randomly choose a winner and give away - drum roll please...............

A Fall Mini-Album exactly like the one I posted earlier this week - the one I made with the Big Shot! And, there will be another cool surprise in the package as well!

I also want to announce that Tammy Bolster from Wisconsin won my card layout challenge this week! She sent me an adorable card using the layout from this post:
http://trinitydesignstudio.blogspot.com/2008/08/bloggers-challenge-birthday-cards.html

Congrats Tammy! I'll posting the picture of her card over the weekend and her blog candy gift of a Coaster Mini-Album and more coasters to create her own will be in the mail today!

Happy Stamping everyone!
~~Robin

Is it a Gift Bag or is it a Card?......

Well, it's a card that looks like a gift bag! I tell ya', I'm having so much fun with my Big Shot Die Cutter. I had to force myself to step away and actually STAMP a few cards without adding any die cut pieces to them! I'm having withdrawls!

I actually designed this card for my friend Angie whose birthday I missed last week when I was at the beach! But she will forgive me when she sees this card and the cute gift I bought her!

I started with a cardstock base of Pink Pirouette and stamped it with the NEW Bella Toile Background stamp in Pink Pirouette ink. I then stamped the greeting from the NEW Heard from the Heart stamp set in Riding Hood Red ink.

The two layers of scalloped trim were made with Riding Hood Red cardstock and Bella Rose Designer Series Paper. They were punched with the NEW Scalloped Edge Punch.

Last, but not least, I used the Top Note Big Shot Die to cut the bag "topper" using NEW Riding Hood Red Patterns Designer Series Paper. I folded it over the top edge and used my Horizontal Slot punch to cut small slits in the fold so the Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon bag handle ends could slip down inside the back of the card and not show.

I then used a flower from the Baskets and Blooms Bigz XL die (more Bella Rose paper), layered it with a Pink Pirouette center punched with the 3/4" Circle punch and a Rhinestone Fire Brad.

This card just made me smile when I finished it! I hope you like it too! We will be making this one at Stamp Camp on Saturday. If you haven't rsvp'd yet, there is still time!

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about this card. You don't know how it makes my day to see that you actually read my blog and like what you see! Thanks to all of you who do comment - you put a smile on my face!

Til later,
~~Robin

I've "Fall"en for the Big Shot!

And you will too once you see how truly fabulous it is!

The project today was made entirely with the Big Shot dies and 2 punches! I love mini-albums because they are fun, easy and make great gifts and keepsakes. Making a mini-album takes 1/4 of the time a large scrapbook does and you can focus on just one special event or time.

I created this one with the idea that I'd put a few of our family's great fall memories in it from the last few years. We have some great traditions from picking pumpkins to picking apples and making homemade pies. It's one of my favorite times of the year next to spring and I tend to take lots of photos in that season.

This project uses the following EXCLUSIVE Stampin' Up! dies: Top Note Bigz Die (covers and pages), Birds and Blooms Sizzlits 4 pack (flowers) and Pennant Bigz XL Die (flower). I also used the super cool Naturally Serif Alphabet Decorative Strip Die. Talk about a QUICK alphabet! I'll never buy alphabet stickers again! This is great!

I also used the NEW Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, NEW Riding Hood Red Taffeta, Narrow Twill Tape and 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain. The 2 punches were the 5 Petal Flower and the 3/4" Circle punch.

To make the covers, I used 2 pieces of the cardboard that comes in every pack of Designer Series Paper (I knew I was saving it for something!). It was cut at 4" x 5" as were the 4 pieces of Bella Rose Designer Series Paper I used to cover it.

I then used the Stampin' Up! Glue Stick to adhere the paper to the cardboard. Next, I simply inserted the cover pieces one at a time into my Big Shot with the Top Note Die and out came the perfectly cut cover pieces - NO sanding reqired for smooth edges! How cool is that!

Then I made pages the same way using Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red and Tangerine Tango cardstock. The holes were punched with my handy-dandy Crop-a-Dile (yes, all 8 pieces were punched at once!) and I hooked them together with book rings from the office supply store.

All the little flowers were created with the other dies from my Big Shot in coordinating colors and more Bella Rose Paper. The yellow I used is that gorgeous Summer Sun which just pops off the page!

This was such a fun album to make and it took me tops - 1/2 an hour! Unbelievable! Now all I have to do is add my photos and quotes and it's done!

You can see this in person by coming to my Aloha camp on Saturday! It's from 10 am - 1 pm and I have some great projects planned for you! Check here tomorrow to see one of the cards you will be making with the Big Shot!

Happy Stamping!

~~Robin

More Fun with the Big Shot.....

While I was at convention, my roomie, Shellie got a swap from someone that was an accordion fold card made with just the scallop circle puches joined with ribbon. I don't remember whose swap it was but when I talk to Shellie again, I'll credit the original idea here.

Anyway, as we were looking at it, we thought how cool it would be to have it in some kind of container and Shellie thought of our Stampin' Store containers that are sold in the way back of the catalog. Yes, they are there, you just haven't ever seen them because you become blinded by all the COOL stuff first! I know!

And the more I thought about it, I thought that the new Big Shot Baskets and Blooms Die with those great Scallop Circles would work great for this project! So here are the details:

I started with the deeper container since I was using multiple layers on my card. Each of my scallops has 3 cardstock layers, plus the ribbon between.

I used the gloriously beautiful new Green Tea Designer Series Paper. It's the same patterns as the retired Ginger Blossom, but with those gorgeous blue and green tones - yummy!

The cardstock layers are Baja Breeze and Whisper White and the stamping was done with Pacific Point ink. I sponged the Whisper White circles with Mellow Moss ink. They are punched out with the 1 3/8" inch Circle Punch and the Baja Breeze layer is punched with the NEW 1 3/4" inch Circle Punch! The ribbon is the new Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain. The ribbon runs between the Baja Breeze layer and the Green Tea paper so the back side of the pattern shows on the back of the scallop.

For the lid I used the same circle punches, plus the 5 Petal Flower punch to make leaves from Kiwi Kiss cardstock. They are layered under the NEW Flower Fusion Too Felt Flowers (love these!). I used a Baja Breeze one and topped it with a half pearl from the Pretties Kit with a Mini Glue dot. I also placed some patterned paper and cardstock layers on the inside of the lid so it covers up the Stampin' Up! logo.


Now, you may have noticed a NEW Alphabet here - it's the Contempo Alphabet and it is DIE CUT! You don't have to cut it out! It only took me 15 minutes to mount this and stamp with it! Can you tell that I'm excited about that?! But, wait, there's more! It's on sale this month! 15% off! Just check out the specials on my sidebar! If you want a new Alphabet, this is the one to get!

Ok, enough of the commercial -
On the last scallop, I die cut two Baja Breeze Scallops and folded one in half, adhering it to the back of the greeting scallop and the bottom of the container with Sticky Strip. In fact, I used Sticky Strip to secure everything in this project except for cardstock to paper, for that I used Snail.

The greeting is from new Level 1 Hostess set called "Best Yet" and it says "So glad we're friends". I also stamped this in Pacific Point and punched it out with the 1 3/4" Circle punch. There is room below the greeting to sign my name.

This cute card turned out so much prettier that I expected it to - I wish you could see it in real life! Wait, you CAN - just come to stamp camp this month! I have room for you on either the 23rd or the 26th! Check my class schedule in the sidebar to see which class fits your schedule!

Check back tomorrow - more fun stuff coming!
~~Robin

This is SO COOL!

Normally I don't post on Sundays, but my daughter and I were up late last night crafting with my NEW Stampin' Up! Big Shot Die Cut machine and I made the most fun discovery!

I had been flipping through a magazine on the way home from the beach on Friday and saw these cute paper candle shades that fit over a wine glass holding a tealight candle. And I said to myself, "Self, I think the basket die you just ordered would work really well to make a shade like this one, we must try it out!"

Well, after suffering through unpacking, laundry and Emma's ice skating, I finally made it home to the studio and made THIS! Isn't it cool?!! And it was so stinkin' EASY!!

I used the Baskets and Blooms Bigz XL Die from Shelli's Signature Collection (a Stampin' Up! exclusive die) and the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper. The pearls are from the Pretties Kit and the ribbon is Pretty in Pink Taffeta. I used the 3/4" Circle punch for some of the flower centers.

I cut the entire die twice which gave me four basket pieces and multiple flowers, then I cut just the flowers again for extras. There are three open and three closed flowers around the finished shade.

The shade itself used three basket pieces and I just adhered them together with Sticky Strip after I adhered the flowers in position. (Next time I'll overlap the perforated edge just a bit as it will give a smoother look to the shade and no light will shine through the perfs. But I was in a hurry cuz I was so excited that it was actually WORKING!)

When the shade was finished, I just dropped it down over a wine glass that I'd gotten from the Dollar Store and inserted a tealight candle. Voila! Instant candle lamp!

Wouldn't these be cute as party favors, wedding decorations or holiday decorations on a mantlepiece? I can't wait to make more with different paper!

YOU are going to LOVE the new Big Shot - this project isn't all I've done so far; I'll have more cool things to post tomorrow - including a cute, easy project that Emma made on her own!

Stay tuned!

~~Robin

Nancy took the Challenge!

And here is the cute, cute result! I love this card!

My friend and downline, Nancy, read my post yesterday, created this card and e-mailed me the photo! She is so creative - thanks Nancy!

Here is her supply list:
Ink: Versamark, Pacific Point
Stamps: Sweet Celebrations, Inspired by Nature, Happy Everything
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP
Accessories: Rhinestone Circle Brad
Punches: 1 3/8” and 1 1/4”, Boho Blossoms

Now it's YOUR turn! Leave me a comment with a link to your creation using this layout. Let's make Wednesday the 20th the deadline. I'll randomly pick a winner, post the photograph and award some Blog Candy!
So whatcha waitin' for? Go STAMP something!
~~Robin

Blogger's Challenge - Birthday Cards!

Hi everyone! This is my last post from the beach as we are headed home today - sigh. I would live here if I could, it's one of my two favorite places on earth.

I actually made this card before I left home last week because it is the make and take project for Kathy's party tomorrow morning. So, if you are attending, you will be making this fun card!

This card design was actually from last year's convention, I think, but it's too good not to use with new stamps and paper! The card base is Riding Hood Red and the inside layer is Whisper White. The front flap is scored and folded over at 1 1/2". I used patterns from the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper on the front and the stamps are from the Wow Flowers Stamp Set.

Just one ink pad, Riding Hood Red for the stamping, and I sponged the edges of the inside layer as well. The "notch" is punched out with the 1 1/4" Circle Punch which is also what I used for the stamped circle greeting. The Kiwi Kiss circle layer is punched with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch. I adhered them together and added a Rhinestone Circle Brad for the center. The whole embellishment is popped up on dimensionals and the front flap of the card just tucks under the circles to close it.

This is really a fun layout and very easy to make. I'd love to see your creations with this style! So go stamp something this weekend and send me a link or a photo!

Happy Stamping!
~~Robin

Yes, I am posting a CREATIVE project today!

But, I didn't create it!

This is an adorable card that Karah Crosby made for me at convention. If you read my posts from last week, you remember the picture of the two of us sitting down on the stage after our seminars together were over. Karah gave me this card when we were all done and I won't tell you what her sweet words were inside that made me cry, but just know that it is very, very special - just like her.

I WILL tell you all about the great NEW products she used to create this card though!

The card base is Kraft cardstock stamped with Versamark ink using the small flower from the NEW Flight of the Butterfly stamp set. She also stamped in on the circle element in Tangerine Tango cardstock.

The half circle element is a piece of the NEW Patterns Designer Series Paper in Pacific Point and there are two small strips of Tangerine Tango cardstock layered underneath.

She stamped the greeting and punched it out with the NEW Curly Label Punch Bundle which includes the PUNCH and the Cute and Curly 4 pc. Stamp Set! (Yes, I ordered it TODAY! Along with a BOATLOAD of other NEW, fun stamping stuff! I know, I am CRAZY - but you'll be glad when you get to play at Stamp Camp on the 23rd! Are you registered yet?)

Ok, back to the card. Karah finished off this beauty with a piece of NEW Tangerine Tango Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and a fun little clip from the NEW Clips Assortment.

Isn't it just adorable? Don't you just want to see more? Well, let me know that you want a new catalog OR just sign up for Stamp Camp! You get to drool and play! How fun!

~~Robin

Fun Convention Photos!

Hey there everyone!

I promised yesterday to show you a picture of Brady, my SAM from last year, so here he is with me on check in day.

The next picture is just priceless though, it's my incredulous look just after Brady told me I'd earned Founder's Circle and gave me that GORGEOUS Pink Leather purse! Wahoo! I'd have bought the purse anyday - never mind the award! It's even lined with fabric that matches the new Bella Rose Designer Series Paper! How cool is that~!

Founder's Circle is a special trip that is earned each year by achieving certain benchmarks in your business. It is hosted by our CEO, Shelli Gardner and the Top 135 demonstrators in the company are invited to participate.

This year's Founder's Circle trip is to St. George, Utah and is for 5 days in September. We get to relax, hang out by the pool, stamp special projects with NEW stamp sets - yes, even more new stamps! We get to take a day trip to the manufacturing facility in Kanab, Utah and see the entire process of producing the finest rubber stamps in the world! That is really cool!

We swap with the other demonstrators on the trip and this year - I've even made an appointment at the spa! Some of the gals are booking a hiking trip, but funny how that just doesn't seem relaxing to me! Ok, if you know me, you know that's not really funny.........well, maybe, now that you are reading this. Anyway, I went thru all that to say how grateful I am to have earned this recognition for the 2nd straight year.

God is so good, and He has blessed me tremendously with you all who are part of this fun job that I love so much!

And you know what else? I've been blessed to meet and make friends with some of the best gals anywhere! Here is a picture of me with Lisa Somerville (L) and Lisa Bohler (r). They are two of my best demo friends and here we are having dinner with about 30 other stampers at PF Changs. You may recognize my Lisa friends from their fabulous blogs if you look at the Bloggers Challenge players each Friday.

Ya know, being a demo has a lot of great benefits whether you do it for the discount, for the paycheck or just for the sanity. But, by far, the BEST benefit is the untradeable friendships you make with stampers everywhere you go. I really love this job and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

~~Robin

Hello from the Beach!

Yes, I know, I'm supposed to be on vacation! BUT - I had to bring my laptop so I can place my 1st order tomorrow from the NEW Stampin' Up! Catalog! I can't wait - come on 2 pm mountain time!

Anyway, since I'm on the computer turning in a last minute order from the old catalog, I thought I'd post real quick. Actually, I downloaded a few photos before I left home, because I am going to have a few posts for you thru the week - yes, I know, I {heart} you too!

The beautiful card is one that I received from my SAM at convention! Brady was my right hand man last year and kept me straight on oh, so many things. A SAM is really a "service account manager" and is assigned to demonstrators who earn the incentive trip each year or are at a certain level of management within Stampin' Up! I'll post a picture of me with him tomorrow,ok?

Anyway, when I went to check in at the awards desk, Brady was actually the one to tell me that I had earned the Founder's Circle again this year! It was really a shock and I'm so glad he got to tell me! He had already prepared this cute, cute card for me ( I didn't ask if he stamped it himself!)

It uses lots of NEW stampin' supplies from the NEW catalog - Say it with Scallops Stamp Set (which is the Ronald McDonald house donation set this year), the NEW Scallop Square Punch, Riding Hood Red cardstock and Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper! Oh, and Chocolate Chip Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon is back too! I just love the card and especially the sweet words inside it! Thanks Brady!

The photograph I'm sharing today is actually from Awards Night at Convention. Yes, that's me, making a lame attempt to do the hula and keep up with my friends, Danelle on my left and Becky on my right. We were doing our group "walk" for earning the incentive trip to Hawaii and Danelle turns to me and says, "Ok, lets get up there and hula. I'll go left, Becky, you go right and Robin, just go outward." Well, never one to back down from something completely fun and silly looking, I did just that and I'm quite sure that when we actually go to Hawaii next March, I won't be allowed near any legitimate hula schools!

But, all was not lost, we were so silly looking that we made the convention highlights video that Stampin' Up! showed on the last day. So fun!

Til next time,

Robin

The Same - But Different! Blogger's Challenge #59

Good Morning everyone! I have good news again - in spite of not doing my Blogger's Challenges for the last, um, 3 weeks - I haven't been kicked off the team! Hooray!

This week we were to take a layout or sketch and us it two different ways. Well, I hadn't posted this conch shell card yet for you to see and since I just LOVE it (and this stamp set, Seaside) I HAD to share! So, I just turned the layout on it's side for my second card - which uses ALL NEW In-Colors, Designer Series Paper and two NEW Stamp Sets that I brought home from Convention!

The first card some of you may have seen since we created it at Stamp Camp last month, but for those of you who haven't here are the specs.

I used the retiring Soft Sky and River Rock cardstock along with Naturals Ivory and simply stamped the conch shell image from Seaside in Basic Brown. I then watercolored the image using reinkers in Close to Cocoa, River Rock and Blush Blossom with my favorite coloring tool, the Aqua-Painter.

The image was layered onto Soft Sky cardstock and then I used the Horizontal Slot Punch to punch slits in the layers for the Blue Bayou Stitched Ribbon to slide through. It was then popped up on dimensionals and adhered to the River Rock layer with the ribbon wrapped around and adhered to the back.

The close up picture is hopefully highlighting where I took a foam brush and lightly brushed on Crystal Effects and then sprinkled neutral colored sand from the craft store. It's supposed to look like it just washed up on the beach! The last thing I did was to stamp the sentiment from It's Your Birthday which is retiring! I have to say, that there is a new birthday sentiment set in the new catalog, BUT, this one is still my favorite - I just like it better for the variety of sentiments and font styles. Don't forget, it's 20% off thru this Sunday if you take advantage of my Aloha Sale!

Now, for the second card, I just turned the layout onto it's side and pulled out some FUN, NEW toys!

The card base is Pink Pirouette cardstock, layered with some Chocolate Chip swiss dot paper from the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper.

I stamped the focal image in Pink Pirouette onto Very Vanilla cardstock and inked the edges of this piece as well with Pink Pirouette. Oh, wait, is that a NEW stamp you see?!!

The bloom is from Eastern Blooms and was a gift to all of us who went to convention! And the cute stem saying is actually a butterfly trail from the NEW Flight of the Butterfly stamp set which we also received as a gift! It says "Hope your day is as happy as happy gets." and I stamped it in Kiwi Kiss ink.

The flower center is one of my fav Build-A-Brads and I used a piece of the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper for the color. Again, the horizontal slot punch was used to create the ribbon slots and I layered Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain and Very Vanilla Taffeta to finish it off.

I have to admit, that I sat down this morning without a clue what I was going to create for today's challenge and I really love how this came together - in about 1/2 hour! Yippee! I just love it when all my gears are clicking! It doens't happen all to often so I have to celebrate when it does!

Happy Friday everyone!
See you tomorrow!
~~Robin

Here's the List - AND my Aloha (goodbye) Sale

Hey everyone,

Here is what is left of the Retiring Accessories list AND here is the link once again to the Retiring Stamp Set List: http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/Retired_Lists_0608_US_N.pdf

Starting today and running through Sunday, 8/10 at 10 pm, I am running a Thank You Sale for my clients on ANY thing in the current Spring Summer Idea Book and Catalog.
Your merchandise purchase will be discounted 20% for these few days only.

You will need to contact me via phone or e-mail (e-mail only on the 10th!) with your order and Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard) so I can process your order right away. We are leaving on our much needed family beach vacation on Sunday morning, but I'll have my laptop with me so I can process your orders up until the last.

Remember, this is your last chance to purchase any thing being retired with this catalog! I don't want you to miss out so check out the lists and call me!

Anything with an asterisk* beside it in this list is being discounted 25% already by Stampin' Up! My sale does apply to these items as well!

110718 10.95 Accents & Elements Lucky Star
110719 10.95 Accents & Elements Messenger

103158 9.95 Acrylic Graph & Grid

108638 8.95 Card Stock 12 X 12 In Color
108642 5.50 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Blue Bayou
108643 5.50 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Groovy Guava
108637 5.50 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 In Color
108640 5.50 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 River Rock
108639 5.50 Card Stock 8-1/2 X 11 Soft Sky

108694 11.95 Card Stock Textured 12 X 12 In Color

107312 5.95 Cards & Envelopes Gift Whisper White
107292 6.95 Cards & Envelopes Greeting Whisper White

109116 8.95 Notes & Envelopes Long Notes
109118 8.95 Notes & Envelopes Love Notes
110729 11.95 Notes & Envelopes Scallop Notes
109119 9.95 Notes & Envelopes Gift Notes

109019 2.75 Classic Stampin' Ink Groovy Guava
109015 2.75 Classic Stampin' Ink Soft Sky

109013 5.25 Classic Stampin' Pad Blue Bayou
109012 5.25 Classic Stampin' Pad Groovy Guava
109011 5.25 Classic Stampin' Pad Purely Pomegranate
109010 5.25 Classic Stampin' Pad River Rock
109009 5.25 Classic Stampin' Pad Soft Sky
109014 5.25 Classic Stampin' Pad Wild Wasabi

110751 9.95 Designer Series Paper Azure*
110749 9.95 Designer Series Paper Berry Bliss
109154 9.95 Designer Series Paper Cutie Pie
109159 9.95 Designer Series Paper Flowers For You*
110697 9.95 Designer Series Paper Ginger Blossom
110479 9.95 Designer Series Paper Jersey Shore*
109151 9.95 Designer Series Paper Le Jardin
110748 9.95 Designer Series Paper Notebook*
110750 9.95 Designer Series Paper Olive Press
109177 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Always Artichoke
110696 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Bali Breeze
109174 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Brilliant Blue
109178 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Certainly Celery
109171 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Lovely Lilac
109176 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Old Olive
109164 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints River Rock*
109167 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Rose Red
109166 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints So Saffron
110698 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Break
110271 9.95 Designer Series Paper Prints Spring Silhouettes

107299 7.95 Envelope Confetti Cream Medium

(These eyelets are NOT coming back in the New Catalog!)
107233 5.95 Eyelets Fresh Favorites I
107234 5.95 Eyelets Fresh Favorites II
105316 5.95 Eyelets Rich Regals

101120 19.95 Metallic Art Pencils

107307 12.95 On Board Accents
109181 14.95 On Board Blossoms & Basic
109179 14.95 On Board Ginormous Pieces
107306 12.95 On Board Simon Lower

102686 8.95 Punch Handheld Rectangle

100271 19.95 Pure Color Pencils

109062 8.95 Ribbon Double-Stitched River Rock*

(This type of ribbon sampler packaging is NOT coming back in the NEW catalog!)
109189 12.95 Ribbon Originals Beachfront*
109187 12.95 Ribbon Originals District*
109188 12.95 Ribbon Originals Fairy Tale
109185 12.95 Ribbon Originals Jersey*
109184 12.95 Ribbon Originals Sherbert
109186 12.95 Ribbon Originals Theater

110716 7.95 Ribbon Striped Grosgrain Wild Wasabi*

110284 10.95 Rub-Ons Eastern Elegance*
110285 10.95 Rub-Ons Urban West*

110557 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Boho Blend
110572 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids Boy
110567 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Crew Kids Girl
109597 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Home Again
110562 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Rose Cottage
109648 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Special Delivery Boy
110587 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Summer Days
110577 19.95 Simply Scrappin' Tie The Knot

111184 54.95 Simply Sent Friendly Notes

106662 6.50 Stampin'Around Wheel Daisy Field
107561 6.50 Stampin'Around Wheel Garden Annuals
109681 6.50 Stampin'Around Wheel Good Dog
109678 6.50 Stampin'Around Wheel Kisses
109680 6.50 Stampin'Around Wheel Meow

106610 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Basics Outline
107467 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Birthday
109571 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Baby
109570 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Friends
109569 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Dilly Dally Party
107468 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Nature Hike
108980 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Petals
111261 8.50 Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel Spunky Spots

106694 7.95 Stampin' Kids Markers
101399 6.95 Stipple Brushes
102673 6.50 Zig Painty

Simple Kiwi Card

Wow, I got to stamp yesterday! Emma and I were busy getting ready for Mark's birthday and I needed to make a few cards, so I just looked at the supplies that were laying on my table and said to myself "Self, why don't you use that and see what happens!

Well, I took some Kiwi Kiss cardstock and cut it at 8 1/2 x 4 1/4 and folded it in half to make a square card. (I just love that size!) I attached a piece of Bella Rose DSP to the bottom half and stamped the sentiment in the corner. The phrase is from the Holidays and Wishes stamp set.

I then took one of the pretty silhouette branches from Kindred Spirits (NEW in the NEW Catalog!) and stamped it on the top of the card in Kiwi Kiss ink. To finish it off, I cut a piece of Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon at 15" long and simply tied it around the front flap of the card, knotting it on the left front.

Simple, elegant and easy! Those are the best cards to make! Hope you enjoy!

Robin~~

Ok, Ok, I GIVE - UNCLE!

Hi everyone! I am bowing to the many requests I've had to share the news with you about what happened to me personally at our national convention!

You all know how much I love and value you as my clients, hostesses and my amazing downline - well, because of you and your loyal business, I was awarded honors in two categories this year:

#10 Recruiter (Senior Associate Promotions)

#84 Demonstrator of the Year

It truly is an honor to be recognized in the mix with all the other top demonstrators in the company. Stampin' Up! has over 48,000 active demonstrators in the U.S. and I really am amazed to be part of the small group of honorees 2 years in a row! Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart for giving me joy and allowing me to find success here!

You guys know that I do what I do because I love it - and YOU - so much! God has truly blessed me and my family with this fantastic company! I just want you all to love it and be part of it with me! Think about it - come stamp with me! Let me hold a party for you and your friends so I can give you FREE stamps! Or best of all, come join my team of stamping demonstrators! We have so much fun and Stampin' Up! really does have room for everyone, for however you want to take part. I'd love to hear from you!

Stamped blessings,

Robin ~~

Hey everybody - I'm back! And boy do I have NEWS!

Convention 2008 will most likely go down in my scrapbook as one of the most FUN, Exhilirating, Amazing, Rewarding and Exhausting experiences I've EVER had! In short, it was a BLAST!

First of all, I have to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who prayed for me last week for my seminars to go well. I honestly was not nervous even one time and just had so much fun with it - I could feel your prayers! My co-presenter, Karah, who is with SU! as a demonstrator trainer, was just Amazing to work with. We really hit it off and just worked so well together - I know I have a new friend for life. Here is a photo of us together after it was all done!

I know many of you stalk other blogs out there so you may have already heard the amazing news that Stampin' Up! is now teamed up with Sizzix to bring you the Stampin' Up! version of the Big Shot Die Cut machine! AND our own exclusive collection of image and alphabet dies! When Shelli Garnder (our co-founder) announced the news from the main stage - 6000 demonstrators just erupted with joy! This is such big news and something many, many folks have been waiting for! I know you will love this addition to your stamping creation ability and I'll have one for you to play with here at Stamp camp beginning Saturday, August 23rd! We will be doing at least one project with it, if not more!

On a side note, my Aloha camp that was scheduled for this Saturday, August 9th, is now going to take place on August 23rd. Regular card camp will be held on Tuesday, August 26th.

I'm moving the Aloha camp for two reasons - first of all, I won't have all of my new goodies from the NEW catalog until after I get back from our beach vacation on the 17th AND we leave for the beach on the 10th. After a week of being gone and still sorting through piles and piles of swaps, clothes and the mess my family made while I was gone, I'm just wanting to get caught up and enjoy a bit of a break. I know you understand!

I'll have more convention photos to post tomorrow and some cute projects as well over the next few days, so stay tuned!

Much love,

Robin

Convention Project #6! Last one!

Home at last! And it's been an amazing week! I am so full of creative ideas - I don't know where to start! Oh, yes, I'll start by going to Fredericksburg to pick up my dear daughter! HaHa! I can't wait to see her!

This card is the last of my card swaps from convention. I took the color palette of Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray and Going Gray straight out of the Pottery Barn Teen catalog. It's so cool how our new In-Colors are in all the magazines and catalogs! Look for them as your mailboxes are flooded over the next few weeks with holiday catalogs! They are great inspiration.

Anyway, this stamp set is Wow Flowers and was so cool and retro, I thought it was perfect for this card. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think! In fact, I'd love to hear what you thought of ALL the convention projects I posted this week!

Looking forward to seeing you this Saturday 8/9 at camp! Don't forget - I'll have all the NEWs from convention and the NEW catalog too! Yippee!

~Robin

Convention Project #5!

Oh, man, I'm flying home today! What a fantastic week it's been - I have so much to share with you and I'm so grateful for all that has taken place here this week!

This cute card is another of my swaps and it's created with the Happiness Always Hostess Set. I used the Rock and Roll technique and the Graduated stamping techinque on this one. Wanna learn how to make it? Well, just come to stamp camp this month - it's one of our cards!

The colors are Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango and Summer Sun. They just POP on that Whisper White background. And the cute button is from the new Button Bouquet collection!

See you next weekend at stamp camp - 8/9 at 10 am! RSVP today!

~Robin

Convention Project #4!

Are you having fun this week seeing some cool Sneak Peeks? Was it worth waiting for not having projects from me for a few weeks? I hope so!

Today's project is part of the little gift I made each of my downline who attended convention with me.

I used some cute sparkly notebooks I picked up somewhere and covered a chipboard flower with some new Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, some Kiwi Kiss Cardstock and a Rhinestone Brad.

The sentiment says "Be ALL that you DREAM to be." and is from the Happiness Always stamp set which is a NEW Hostess Set!

I also stamped some cute Pink Pirouette butterflies from Dreams DuJour in the corners of the sentiment, but it's hard to see from this photograph - sorry!

The bag topper is more of the Bella Rose Designer Series paper - there was a great variety in this pack of paper - I know you will LOVE it!

Happy Saturday! ~ Robin

Convention Project #3!

Yes, it's day three of the Convention Project tour and up for you viewing pleasure is one of my Card Swaps this week!

For this fun card, I combined the Old and the NEW using Baroque Motifs for the vine and flowers and using Dreams DuJour for the sentiment.

The card is very simply two layers of Whisper White and Basic Black. The flowers are stamped in 4 of the new In-Colors: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango and Riding Hood Red. The large flower is stamped and cut out, then mounted on dimensionals with a Rhinestone brad in the center!

I hope you love this card - look for it at stamp camp in August!

Guess what - I've seen the new Catalog and even have it in my hands! OOOOOH - I can't wait to show it to you! It's Fabulous!!!
xoxo ~ Robin