RemARKables 25th Anniversary Blog Tour - May - Best of Butterflies

Finally getting enough of a breather to come back and fill in the details for you all on these projects. If you begin below the first photo, all the pertinent info starts there. I haven't had time to upload the pattern to share it here, I will update again once I get that done.
Thanks again for your understanding! 

Hello stampers - 

Due to a family emergency, I will have to come back and fill in the details of these projects later today. 
I have measurements and a pattern for you for this project too. 

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers today. 
Thank you, 
~~Robin

I had such a great time creating the projects for this month's "Best of 25" blog tour. Wanna know why?? :)
I got to play with NEW products and colors!
For this sweet butterfly box, I used the new Strawberry Slush In Color cardstock as my box base. The wrap is the patterned window sheet from the New Specialty Designer Series Paper - Quatrefancy. It was cut out with the Pop n' Cuts Card Base Die for the Big Shot.
There are two pieces of this window sheet in the paper package - love that!!

The ribbon for the handle is the soon to be retired Daffodil Delight Taffeta (insert sad face here) - I love my taffeta ribbon. I used the Large Oval Punch to create the handle openings for the ribbon to tie around.

Here's a close up of the flower:

The Whisper White border is actually the Lace Tape from the Spring Mini Catalog - that's still available also until May 31st! 
But check out the flowers and that sparkly butterfly! 
The bottom flower is punched with the Blossom Punch out of the NEW In Color Designer Paper in Coastal Cabana. The middle flower is one of the Daffodil Delight printed cardstock flowers from the Bloomin' Bouquet Kit that is available as a special offer right now. 
Now, that butterfly - I took some Tangerine Tango Embossing Powder and mixed it with some Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. The butterfly was stamped in Versamark ink on Whisper White cardstock and heat embossed with the fun powder mixture. It's SO sparkly in real life - couldn't get a photo to do it justice. 
I punched it out with the Butterfly Punch and like the Daffodil Delight flower, used my Bone Folder to curl the wings before attaching it with a Glue Dot.
Do you love it??

Here's the sweet and simple Note Card with Envelope that I created:

I got a little sparkle happy with the embossing powder mixtures, here, I mixed Pool Party Embossing Powder with the Iridescent Ice. I came out so soft and elegant. The perfect foil for the Crisp Cantaloupe butterflies stamped on the card front! (That's a new In Color too!)

The greeting is from another NEW stamp set - Really Great Greetings. Yes, really, that's the name, "Really Great Greetings"! I inked it in Baked Brown Sugar - yep, another NEW In Color! 
The punched out butterflies here were curled and adhered with Glue Dots. Easy-peasy!

I hope you've enjoyed your stop here at my blog on the tour, you've still got lots of great ideas ahead of you so be sure to keep going! Just click on this icon to go to the next blog, you're headed for Andi Potler's blog next.

Have a wonderful Sunday and Happy Stampin'!
~~Robin

Meet Paper Pumpkin!

Hello!
Have you heard of me?

I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your everyday life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create awesome projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

And beginning TODAY and running through next Saturday, May 25th, Your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Robin Merriman is offering something extra special for everyone who joins AND something REALLY special for one of you who refers the MOST new Paper Pumpkin subscribers to her!!  

Wanna know more?

I thought so.....

Here's the deets -  

It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.  

Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family every month!

Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you and your customer a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month. 
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is only $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
• You can put your subscription on hold for a month if something comes up and you can cancel the auto-shipment at anytime.
  (But really, why would you??)

So, here's the scoop on Robin's Special offers -  

• Visit www.mypaperpumpkin.com and sign up for this sweet personal retreat for yourself. Be sure to choose ROBIN MERRIMAN as your demonstrator at the end of the registration process.
• Let your friends know and invite them to join too. You can even get together when your kits come to create the projects together. OR, come to Robin's Paper Pumpkin Patch and Open Stamp Nite each month and create with other punkin' heads!
• If YOU refer a friend AND they JOIN selecting ROBIN MERRIMAN as their demonstrator, send her an e-mail at stampwithrobin@yahoo.com with your friend's name so YOU get credit for the referral.  
• The one who has the MOST referrals who JOIN between today (May 18th) and next Saturday, (May 25th) will receive a fun new product from the NEW Stampin' Up! catalog that goes live on June 1st!
• EACH one of you who JOINS and selects ROBIN MERRIMAN as their demonstrator during this week (May 18th - May 25th) will receive a special stampin' treat in the mail from Robin!
  
•  
  
• So, let's recap to make sure you've got it:
  • Join My Paper Pumpkin selecting
    ROBIN MERRIMAN as your Stampin' Up! demonstrator. (If you are already a subscriber, you are eligible for this contest too!)
  • Subscribe at www.mypaperpumpkin.com 
  • Invite your friends to join! Gift Subscriptions are eligible too!!  
  • E-mail Robin at stampwithrobin@yahoo.com and give her the name of the new subscribers that you refer.  
  • Each new subscriber will receive a special new catalog treat from Robin.
  • The ONE with the MOST new subscribers during the week of May 18th - May 25th will receive a gift of a new product from the NEW catalog that goes live on June 1st! (in the event of a tie, a winner will be drawn from those names.)
   
  

Visit www.mypaperpumpkin.com and register to make sure that I arrive in your mailbox next month! 
Be sure to choose Robin Merriman as your demonstrator and be sure to tell her by sending an e-mail! You don't want to miss out on your surprise stampin' goodie, do you? 

I can't wait to see you smile when I show up in your mailbox next month! We're gonna have a great time creating together!
-- Paper Pumpkin

Sweet Gift from a Friend

Hey there stampers!
Didn't intend to be so long posting today, but after checking on Mom and taking Emma to her freestyle we went to see the premier of Star Trek: Into Darkness. In IMAX 3D no less. 
Yes, like I posted on my Facebook status, I earned Mom and Wife of the year tonight. :)

Anyway, here's the sweet little tote box that my friend Monika Davis created for me last month. 
She came to visit the same weekend of the Baltimore Regional and knowing I'm a sucker for something cute, AND something sweet (of course there was chocolate inside!), she gifted me with this: 

I LOVE it - it's just adorable!!
She used that gorgeous Tea for Two Designer Paper that's in the Mini catalog - hey just a few days left to get your hands on some of that. Just sayin'. 

Here's a side view: 

Did ya' get a little peek at those gold candy wrappers inside?? Yep, she brought me Rocher....
xoxoxox, Monika!!

Here's the back view:

So, I know you are gonna ask me how it's made and I'm gonna tell ya, along with a pattern........
But not until Sunday! 
I know - you have to wait just a little bit longer. 

Listen, Rome wasn't built in a day ya' know. 
Actually, I've recreated this project with a mix of new and retiring products for the RemARKable Best of 25 Blog Tour this Sunday. This month we are featuring the Best of Butterflies stamp set. 
I've got a couple of fun creations for you, so be sure to stop back by, ok? 

And if you haven't yet taken time, go "LIKE" my page on Facebook - 
Trinity Design Stampers - Paper Crafting and Fun

I post all kinds of fun stampin' related things on there - Including SNEAK Peeks of upcoming projects and products. 
Tomorrow I'm posting the details of a new contest for my clients - so be sure to check it out!

For now, I'm off to beddy-bye. 
Early morning tomorrow, we are headed up to a fun Antiques Market so I can browse and dream to my hearts content. Can't wait! 
Nighty-night!

~~Robin

Simple Secret Garden

Good morning stampin' friends,

Today's card is a pretty simple one, so while I have your attention I want to take a second to share a little about why my posts have been so sporadic lately.

If you've subscribed to my blog for a very long time, you know that I like to post at least 4 times a week, but for a while now, I've been lucky to post once a week. I know, I hear ya'!
Well, I am still stamping, and I am still working, but like so many of you, life sometimes gets overwhelmingly crazy and I have to remember my priorities - God and family first.
I'm finding out pretty quickly that the older Emma gets, the more she needs me. And really, that's why we chose for me to work from home in the first place, so I could be the Mom that she needs.

And now, it seems, I'm to be mom as well to my Mom.
When we were in Fiji, she was hospitalized and just yesterday she was cleared to go to a rehab center to begin her recovery and treatment.
Mom has been diagnosed with Leukemia.
She will begin treatment in the next few weeks, but the reality is that it is incurable and she will never live on her own again.
I know you, and you've prayed me through some tough circumstances before and once again I'm asking for your prayers. Prayers for strength, wisdom and courage. Not just for me, but for my Mom as well. It was the hardest thing ever to leave her in the rehab center last night, but for now, I know it's best so she can begin to regain her strength to face what's ahead.
Thanks so much in advance for praying - you are all so awesome!

Now, here's the card for today:

I used the Secret Garden stamp set and framelits, which are carrying over into the new Catalog, for this one. It's loosely cased from a swap card I received in Fiji, but I changed it so much, I don't even remember how the original card was - LOL! 

This was my farewell to Rose Red - I just love it paired with Basic Gray and here was no exception. 

The flower was stamped in Black Staz-On ink and then watercolored in with my Aqua-Painters and Rose Red ink. I painted ink darker on the lines in the flower then moved the color around with my brush to get the lighter tones. For darker shading, I simply added a bit more ink on top of what was already colored. Just be sure to not use too much water, since this is Whisper White cardstock and not watercolor paper, it can pill very easily with too much water. 

I did stamp the flower twice and used my Paper Snips to trim out the center of the second one, layering it on the larger. The center was colored with a More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker. 

It's hard to see, but I used my Bone Folder to lightly distress the edges of the Rose Red cardstock square layer - an older technique that was fun to do again.

The background of Basic Gray was spritzed with some homemade smooch made from Frost White Shimmer Paint and Rubbing Alcohol in one of my Stampin' spritzers. Hard to see in the photo, but it's there, trust me! 

And lastly, a final touch of Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon. Sigh. Such a pretty color, but it's been around a while so we need to make room for some gorgeous new colors too.

Thanks for stopping by today, and for all your love and support. 
It means the world. 
~~Robin

As always, if you need any Stampin' Supplies - you can visit my Online Store for one stop shopping. Here's the link:
Robin's Online Crafting Store

Once you're there, just click the link at the top right corner to SHOP NOW. And don't forget to check out the Retiring Items and Clearance Rack - lots of bargains there, so don't miss out.

Creativity in Fiji!

One of the things I love most about a Stampin' Up! incentive trip is the display of artwork that's been done by my fellow demonstrators. 
On our last day in Fiji we had a share time that included some fantastic ideas from a few pre-selected demonstrators and ALL of the swap cards that had been traded over the week were displayed on large board for us to oooh and aaah over. 

Here are a few of my faves from the swap boards (artists unknown):

There are some fabulous ideas here folks and even if you don't have all the supplies to make them as shown, you can certainly CASE (copy and share everything) the layouts, the color schemes to work with what you do have on hand. 
As far as I can tell right off, most of the supplies used on these projects are continuing on into the NEW Idea Book and Catalog. 
WHICH, by the way, arrives on my doorstep on WEDNESDAY! 

If you want your own copy, and you don't currently have a demonstrator, I'd love to give you a FREE copy of the catalog (mailing costs apply) and fill your demonstrator void for you. 
Drop me an e-mail at stampwithrobin@yahoo.com. 
I'll have catalog packages going out in next Monday's mail. 

In the meantime, visit my website and take a look at all the items that are retiring in just two weeks. There are so many fabtabulous products that are going away, I'd hate for you to miss out! 
Here's the link to my Webpage and Online Store:
Robin's Online Crafting Store

All the items that haven't sold out from the Retiring Products list will be available until the end of the month, so there's still time! Just don't wait too long because once an item is gone, it's GONE. 

Have a great evening everyone! 
~~Robin

May Stamp of the Month Blog Tour - By the Tide

Hello friends! 
Welcome to my blog on this next leg of your oceanside adventure! 
LOL! 
You've just come from the talented Anne Matasci's blog - Maui Stamper. I'll bet she had some gorgeous ideas to share with this month's stamp set.

I have two ideas for you today, the first one came from a swap I received during the Fiji Incentive Trip. It has a unique fold on the inside and I just knew it would be perfect to use with these seaworthy stamp images. 
Here, take a look:

I used a color combination of Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake and Pool Party. The Designer Paper piece is from the Epic Day package and was perfect to tie all of these colors together. 

I used the Window Frames Framelits for the pop outs and the 1" Circle Punch helped me with the little tag. 

Now, for the fun part:

It's a fun diorama card! 
The Whisper White piece was scored at 2" from each side after the stamping was completed. I cut out the middle piece before adding the greeting to make sure it would be centered. Then, I simply folded the long white piece in half to create the pop-out. It's adhered with Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue on each end to the inside of the card. 
I folded the greeting piece in half as well then glued it in to the center after lining it up with the card laid out flat. 

Here's a couple of other views:

I was really thrilled with how this card came out and really - it's very easy to construct! 

Here's my next card:

You may have already seen this one if you follow my Facebook page, but I created it for this blog hop before I left for Fiji. 
The technique is Watercolor Blocks and is achieved by using the Stampin' Write Markers to color on one of our Acrylic Blocks. Once you've done the coloring, spritz the block with a little water and then place it ink side down on a piece of Watercolor Paper. Let it soak in for a bit, maybe 30 seconds to a minute and remove the block.
It makes a gorgeous background for your stamped images. 

I used the color combo of Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango and Very Vanilla. The Vanilla background on the card front was embossed with the Stripes Embossing Folder in the Big Shot and then I lightly sponged it with Crumb Cake ink. 
The final touches of Linen Thread and a Neutrals Button accented it perfectly for a seafaring card. 

I'm so glad you stopped by today to have a look at my By the Tide creations. To visit the next blog, simply click on the icon below. It will take you to Maria Pane's blog, Stampin' Fun with RiRi where I know she'll have some wonderful ideas for you!

Happy Mother's Day too for all the Moms out there! 
~~Robin

More Fiji Fun!

Good morning stampers! 

At least, I think it's morning.... 
We've been back home for almost a week now and my body still isn't sure what time or day it is. 
But you know what? 
I'd go back in a New York minute to experience the pure relaxed joy of "Fiji Time". 

Nothing in Fiji is hurried. Nothing is urgent. Life there is simple and uncomplicated. 
Boy, do I miss it. 

Here's another scrapbook page I created with MDS2 (My Digital Studio 2) from one of the pre-designed layouts. 
I didn't even change very much on this one, just added the title and changed a few colors and fonts - that's pretty much it - but it was already kinda perfect for a "Fiji Time" layout. 

Of course, my favorite thing on the page is the pic of my awesome hubby. He's one in a million and I was so happy to be able to share Fiji with him. It was truly the trip of a lifetime in so many ways......

The photo was taken just before we took off on our Jet Ski Safari to Beachcomber Island. Mark had never driven a Jet Ski before, but he handled it like a pro and we had the time of our lives! 
There were a few scary moments bouncing around on the waves of the South Pacific, but that's what adventure is all about, right? A few thrills to keep it interesting. I don't think I remember the last time I felt such pure abandon of emotion - real, adventurous joy - as we sped across those waves. 
It was Awesome!!

We took our adventure that day with our dear friends Tiffany and Jon Bauer and some new ones, Connie and Rich Stewart. That's one of the great things about taking the Stampin' Up! trips - spending time with friends and enjoying adventures that some only dream about. I feel so abundantly blessed. 

Here's a few more photos of that fun day:

 

I still can't get over how absolutely stunning that clean, blue water is. It's a rainbow of blue and simply perfect. Just looking at these photos again takes me back to that island and I can feel the soft breeze and warm water. 

Fiji may be half a world away, but it will always be right here in my memory, reminding me to take life on "Fiji Time". 

Have a beautiful day everyone! 

~~Robin

Fiji was Fabulous!

Hello stampin' friends! 

I know, it's really been a long time since you've heard from me - and I truly apologize. 
Mark and I left for the Stampin' Up! Fiji Incentive Trip on April 25th and in the couple weeks prior I just had to let a few things go in order to get ready to leave the country. 

Blogging is one of my joys - I love connecting with you all - but I know you'll understand me when I say that there are only so many hours in the day. Family has to come first and that's where I've been spending my time outside of classes and stampin' parties. 
It's my hope to get back to a regular blogging schedule, so bear with me. You guys are the best! 

Over the coming days, I'll be sharing lots of photos from our Fiji trip. It truly was the trip of a lifetime for Mark and I, we enjoyed every glorious second! 

Last night I created this quick and easy scrapbook page in MDS2 (My Digital Studio 2). Here, take a look:

One of the features I love about MDS2 is that there are tons of available PRE-DESIGNED layouts in all sizes that you can work with. All I did here was take the layout below and change out the designer papers, colors, greetings and added mats to the larger elements to turn a Christmas themed page into a tropical themed one. 
Pretty sweet, huh? 
This page took me all of about 10 minutes to complete - gotta love that! 

The photo was of Mark and I enjoying one of several meals at Salt Restaurant in our resort. This restaurant was outdoors, right on the beach and was one of my favorite places to eat because of the great location, but also because of the fantastic food! 
We ate very well during the length of our stay - I don't think we ever had a bad meal - and we had some really interesting dishes too. The pizza in this photo was called the Fijian and had pineapple, ham, pepperoni and something else too. It's kind of like a Hawaiian pizza, but the ham was very different than any I've tried before. Yum-yummy!

I used MDS2 on purpose for this post because there is a fantastic 25% off sale going on right now through the 15th of June. 
On SALE are the following Digital Content (downloads): Ensembles, Calendars, Photobooks and Swatchbooks
AND
the following Printed Products: Photobooks, Swatchbooks, Cards, Tags, Individual Pages and Calendars. 

25% off is a substantial savings on all these MDS2 products and I don't know about you, but I'm going to be working like a busy bee on my items to print! I'll be getting a head start on my Christmas Cards, working on albums that need to be completed and making a few Christmas gifts.
What's sitting in your computer just waiting to be printed??

Visit my Online Store for all the details on the Sale and to order your downloads and Printed Products. Here's the link: 
Robin's Online Crafting Store

Have a wonderful day everyone - see you tomorrow with some more Fiji fun and a few stamped samples!
~~Robin