SU!'s Artisan Award Entries

Stampin' Up! has an Artisan Award contest that I entered for the first time this year. Unfortunately, I had some bad luck, and one of my scrapbook pages didn't make it into the box with everything else. I didn't realize it until it was too late.

The winners were just announced, and no surprise, I didn't win. But here's a couple of the cards that I sent in, for inspiration.

Stamp Set: Wanted

Colors: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Sage Shadow, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Jumbo Pewter Eyelets, Vintage Brads, Chocolate Poly-twill Ribbon (no longer available), linen thread, Crop-a-dile, Star Punch

**The card is holding a bookmark.

Stamp Set: Embrace Life, Celebrate

Colors: River Rock, Always Artichoke, Groovy Guava, Elegant Eggplant, Summer Sun

Accessories: Scallop Punch, Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads, White Taffeta Ribbon

**This card uses the crayon resist technique on the scallop circle.

Pretty Amazing

Here are three cards I made from one piece of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock (I also did this with the Wildlife Reserve cards below). I made these from a challenge on Splitcoast Stampers: Divide cardstock into three equal pieces. Use only one embellishment on each card, and only one tool per card. Tools were defined as items such as punches, crayons, pencils, paper piercer, blender pens, etc. (Stampin' Dimensionals, scissors, eyelet setter and the like are not considered tools since they are used on almost every card.)

I challenge everyone to try this out, and email me a picture of your creations - I may post them in the near future!


Here are the three cards that I made:

Colors - Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Not Quite Navy (Chocolate Chip was used as a neutral on one)
Stamp Set - Pretty Amazing

Tool: Markers

Embellishment: Ribbon (with paper clip - I gave myself a little freedom here!)

Tool: Colored Pencils

Embellishment: Rhinestone Brad

Tool: Crop-a-dile

Embellishment: Ribbon (I forgot that the jumbo eyelet is also an

embellishment until after I had the card put together)

Wildlife Reserve

These two cards use the stamp set Wildlife Reserve; normally I like the really girly stamp sets with flowers and hearts and whatnot - but once I started using the set, I got hooked on it! It's the perfect set to make masculine cards with.

Masculine cards can be tough to make for those like myself that love embellishments. For those like me, I have these suggestions:


1. Keep things simple - only one or two stamped images/phrases.
2. Use minimal embellishments. Metals will always work well.
3. Browns and dark colors are the best to use when first starting out. Once you get comfortable, you can start branching out and try using color schemes that incorporate other colors that aren't typically associated with men.

Dahlia Fold

These two projects use the Dahlia Fold technique. It's not at all complicated - you just need patience and tiny fingers!

Binder Clips

I made these as my hostess gift for this month's club meeting. Very easy! I stamped on a piece of white cardstock 1" x 1 7/8" (approx.), colored in my images, then adhered them to clips using SU!'s basic SNAIL adhesive. Add a little ribbon for flare, and voila! - instant picture/memo holder! You can also find giant versions of these binder clips, for even larger holders (this is holding a wallet size photo with cardstock on the back for better "gripping").

I used the Embrace Life Stamp Set, with the colors Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose, and Apricot Appeal. The ribbons are Wild Wasabi double-stitched grosgrain, and Apricot 1/4" grosgrain.

A Change to My Websites

It's pretty obvious by looking at how little I post, but I don't have enough time to keep updating two websites. So I called Demo Support on Friday and cancelled my Demonstrator Business Website. I will be keeping this blog though.

With the baby coming any day now, and our plans to sell our house, I can't imagine my time being any more free than what it has been lately. I will try to update my blog a couple times a month though, with new project samples, and technique instructions.

If you check my blog and see I haven't posted something in a while, PLEASE - let me know. It's easy for time to slip by, and for me not to realize how long it's been since my last update. Also, if there's something specific you'd like to see more/new examples of (providing I have the stamp set/tools for the technique/etc.) let me know, and I'd love to step up to the challenge!

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or suggestions you have!

Sale-a-bration!!

These are a couple of the cards I've made using the stamp sets from Stampin' Up!'s annual Sale-a-bration. I've also posted pictures of different sets on my demonstrator website (see link to right).

Stamp Sets: Birthday Whimsy, Big Deal Alphabet
Colors: Soft Sky, Taken with Teal, Old Olive, Lavender Lace
Accessories: White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, staples


Stamp Set: Birthday Whimsy
Colors: Going Gray, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Mellow Moss
Accessories: Silver Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, staples


Stamp Sets: Celebrate Everything, Lots of Thoughts
Colors: Rose Red, Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Markers in coordinating colors, staples
Card Size: 4" x 4"


Stamp Set: Lots of Thoughts
Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Crafter's Tool Kit (for paper-piercing)
Card Size: 3" x 3"