Spring has sprung my friends. At least here in Southern Oregon. While many of the Llamas still have snow on the ground and in the forecast, my little mountain valley is flooded with sun, and warm temperatures abound with only a cloud or two promising the occasional Spring shower.
I’m the tail end of the line on this hop. Depending on which direction you are traveling you are either heading to the wonderfully talented Christine who began our hop or moving on from Kath’s Springtime goodness. Either way…you are in for a Springtime, color filled treat, on these hop pages. If you get lost, click on the home button or the hop banner to get back to our Llama Hop Homepage and the hop’s participant blog listing.
Does Spring time find you looking for color and possibly a trip to Paris? Here’s my vision of those wishes as revealed at a recent stamp camp.
Springtime in Paris – Vintage Etchings
Color Scheme: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Primrose Petals
Do you see our Spring Catalog peeking through…the new 7/8″ scallop circle punch, Canvas Creations (yes it’s really canvas!) and the Honeycomb folder just to name a few fresh items. Don’t forget that catalog retires May 31st.
Created the central mini canvas in each piece with a delicate wash of color using our retiring Watercolor Wonder Crayons then heat embossed in gold over top. The crayons may not be available any more but with a blender pen and a light touch with diluted reinkers you can achieve something similar. It’s hard to see but the canvas I colored on is really canvas! Have you used our Canvas creations yet? Lots of fun. Next time I’m planning on ripping the edges so it’s more noticable just what I’ve used and adding another subtle layer of texture.
Should I mention that Artistic Etchings and French Foliage the two sets I made use of are also on the recently released retiring list? Yep. Paris and the Eiffel Tower may be eternal (oh wait…maybe that’s Rome ) but sadly Stampin’ Up stamp designs aren’t. Hope you’ve gotten your copies of these two lovely sets. They disappear June 3rd. Luckily the Very Vintage wheel is continuing.
Supplies:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, French Foliage
Ink: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Versamark (watermarking/embossing ink)
Paper: Crumb Cake, Naturals White, Canvas Creations (Naturals White or Watercolor Paper works too), Pool Party Core’dinations, Brushed Gold Cardstock
I hope you’ll join me later in the week for a more in depth look at the Watercolor Wash technique and how these were done. I’ll have a couple more examples that used different sets of stamps and color palettes.
Hoping that Spring is filling your skies with sun, your yard with color and just the right amount of April Showers.
Lots of excitement around the Stampin’ Up watercolor watercooler today!
Savings from this:
April 6-8th
(that’s this weekend folks!)
(that’s the same as getting a 10% discount not to mention possible sales tax savings too)
May lead to this:
(doesn’t everyone deserve new SU toys when shipping is free!)
And could heal the pain from this:
Watercolor Pencils and Crayons Discontinued
Brights Crayons are gone now…the Subtles, Regals and Neutrals are going fast!
(yep…I’m still crying over that one…though if you order this weekend you can get free shipping and possibly some of the still remaining Watercolor Wonder Crayons still available)
SO….
What will be in your box this weekend…when you order…and get….
Don’t forget to shop HERE…this weekend…for Free Shipping! Of course you can also call or email me your order. Wouldn’t this be a fabulous weekend for an online Catalog party…so you as the hostess can get even more cool FREE stuff! And your guests will all get free shipping on their order mailed direct to them!!!
Contact me today for your Hostess Code to make that happen.
What’s a Spring-a-Bration Blog Hop I hear you asking? It’s a showcase for both the new Stampin’ Up Spring Catalog and the 2013 Sale-a-Bration celebration currently going on.
Every year Stampin’ Up celebrates our creative stamping product line with a Sale-a-Bration event. Purchase product you love and receive free product in return. Now that’s something to celebrate…or as we are saying from now until March 22 to Sale-a-Brate! And of course to make purchasing easy they also release a new seasonal catalog filled with the latest in fun product that of course coordinates with many of your current Stampin Up supplies.
If you haven’t seen these wonderful new catalogs and the goodies they contain here’s your chance.
Click to see & download PDF of Catalog
Clicke to see PDF of brochure Use slide bars on the PDF to view side to side and top to bottom
The Stamping Llamas you’ve come to know and love are kicking off the new year with a new hop cycle geared to put a little Spring in your step and your stamps as well as a reason to Sale-a-Brate with Sale-a -Bration and the FREE product we all love.
If you are working the hop in reverse you’ve arrived from proud Grandma Debbie and her Ode to Spring and Spring-a-bration. Her blog is titled Clever and Cute and her hop post fills that bill perfectly. Thanks Debbie!
If you’ve just started the hop here you are in the right place as I’ve the honor of kicking off this new hop. From here you’ll move on to Chrisitines and so on until you’ve worked your way around the circle. Should you lose your way or take time to sniff some flowers you can always find your way back to the Spring-a-Bration by clicking on the Home page button. Once again my gratitude to Stephanie who creates our wonderful hop banners and buttons using what else…Stampin’ Up’s My Digital Studio digital design software and our wonderful dowloads. In case you are wondering it looks like she made liberal use of the One Big Sale-a-Bration Disk that is available for free with a $50 purchase during Sale-a Bration.
So is this Hearts on a String or Poetry in Motion? You decide.
Here’s my Valentine offering with a bit of a surprise tucked inside. When opened the full string of hearts falls out to express your love in full. This is a variation of the card we made at Stamp Camp a couple of weeks ago. With all the heart shaped punches, dies and stamps that Stampin’ Up sells its easier than ever to express your love. And for an SU demo to “share what we love” it’s perfect…that is a part of our Statement of the Heart after all. :D
Spring Catalog items featured here: Print Poetry Paper Stack, Honeycomb embossing folder, Primrose Petals Core’dinations paper.
All stamp images & die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up.
Do you ever feel “strung out”…. in a good way?
All stamp images & die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
The inside view:
All stamp images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
As you can see my favorite new product from the Holiday Catalog the Core’dinations Cardstock is back! And in beautiful Spring colors (see page 12 of the Spring Catalog for the list of available colors). Here I made use of the Primrose Petals color paper. Paired with the Honeycomb embossing folder and a bit of sanding this paper really steals the show. You may have also noticed a slight oops! The inside is stamped with the XOXO image from one of last weeks Stampin’ Up Valentine Bundle stamps – My Little Valentine. Ah well…as we all know the road to love is often paved with an Oops or 2.
Can you tell I enjoyed mixing up my images from a variety of stamps? Here’s the details….
Supplies:
Stamps:Tiny Tags (small heart and love sentiment), Wacky Wishes (hostess set), Pleasant Poppies (partial flower on heart) - optional – Hearts a Flutter (Spring Catalog – my set hasn’t arrived yet but this would be perfect).
Paper:Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla, Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple Cardstock, Primrose Petals Core’dinations Cardstock, Spring Catalog’s Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack.
Punches: Full Heart Punch, Small heart Punch, Decorative Label Punch (the tiny punch piece at the end is made using a cute little trick with this punch).
Want to make one of your own? Here’s the directions for my original stamp camp card. With a few minor alterations you can duplicate the one above. And the lovely thing about these “string cards” is that they work for any occasion and with any shape. Given all the punches and bitty dies that Stampin Up has in its catalogs you’ll always have just the right shape for any string work you choose to do.
Check out the Tiny Tags heart image filling in the honeycombs.
And a quick check of the backside of the hearts so you can see how they are sandwiched on the string.
That’s it for my Spring-a-Bration contribution. Now on to Christine’s inspiring assortment of projects that will Spring board you right into your very own Springtime stamping frenzy.
While we were sleeping Stampin’ Up Restocked the Clearance Rack!
Hi all,
You know, some days I think its a good thing I don’t sleep (much). :D While the rest of you were sleeping and dreaming holiday dreams Stampin Up announced:
And when they say Blitz…they do mean BLITZ!!!!! Items up to 80% off! But only while supplies last. When they are gone…they are GONE!
Papers under $3, Embellishments under 80¢, Ribbons under $2. Dies…well you won’t believe the dies and their prices. AND…STAMPS!!!!!! For the first time ever Stampin’ Up has put actual Stamps on the Clearance Rack. Simply Amazing. I’m still waiting for my heart to go back to beating in a normal rythmn. Last night I was having a moan about several items I’d missed out on the last year or two. And guess what…Santa and Stampin’ Up loaded up the Clearance Rack with them!! Now that’s a Christmas Miracle for sure. Or at least the ask and you shall receive variety…don’t you think?
My order is in…how about yours???? Items are going fast…even at this early hour.
And to sweeten the deal I have a little Christmas Gift of my own for you. How about….FREE SHIPPING!!! Through the end of December! That’s another 10% savings for you! One catch…you have to place the order through my online store here and I’ll have to PayPal you the shipping back or give you a gift certificate towards your next order as the online store doesn’t yet have a way to handle a demonstrators personal specials.
Here’s the Blitz details:
Dates: December 14, 2012 – while supplies last
Details:
Over 300 new Clearance Rack items are being added to the Online Store at discounts up to 80 percent off retail-only while supplies last!
The Fine Print
Only online orders qualify for this promotion. Feel free to order both Clearance Rack and non-Clearance Rack items on the same order-we’re flexible like that.
There is no minimum purchase required to participate in this special offer-go nuts!
Qualifying Clearance Rack orders are eligible for hostess benefits/Stampin’ Rewards. Bonus! – Note only if ordered through my online store site.
Clearance Rack Blitz items are only available while supplies last-so don’t wait! And sorry, but there are no refunds or exchanges on Clearance Rack items.
Note: You can add regular non Blitz items to the same order so if you are running low on my beloved Champagne Glimmer Paper or anything else from the Holiday Catalog or the Annual Catalog feel free to add those to your order and yes…I’ll even honor the Free Shipping on those items too!
Times a-wasting and the items are flying off the shelves. Santa and the Blitz waits for no woman! Or man! Click here to start your own personal Holiday Blitz experience!
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Need a little something to get you in the Holiday Crafting spirit? Check out this latest Stampin’ Up video:
Welcome one and all to the Llama’s Fall-i-Days Finale.
The blog hop capper to our series of Fall Festivals and Holidays.
Yes we are cheating just a tiny tad by including Christmas, New Years, Valentines and any other non fall holiday the mind of a Llama can imagine (I’ve heard rumors even Mardi Gras will appear in one of the posts) but…it is still technically Fall, Y’all! Right up until December 21! Hard to believe isn’t it what with snow on the ground, leaves off the trees and the sounds of Christmas Carols in the air. Not to mention the glittery, frosty elegance of our Finale Banner that just screams party time (as in New Years, Mardi Gras and more). Thanks Stephanie for once again creating banners and buttons with Stampin’ Up’s wonderful My Digital Studio program that puts us in the mood to celebrate.
If you’ve followed the listing on the Hop’s Home page then you’ve arrived from Buffy’s beautiful and festive edition of the Finale. If you’ve arrived from somewhere else (Christine’s perhaps?) that’s fine too…we Llamas are very into finding our own path after all and the home button will always get you back to the list and we are set up in circle so you can circle round in either direction using next or previous buttons as indicated for your personal journey. We’ve also permalinked all entries so you’ll be able to circle the hop anytime you’ve a mind to in the future.
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Keeping it simple is the theme I’ve adopted. Well…sort of. Simple is not something I do easily after all. It’s also a tad traditional or even vintage. And possibly patriotic given the colors.
All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
Whether it’s for Christmas or for New Years you can’t go wrong with a bit of glitz and gold is as glitzy as it gets (without the shimmer paper that is). You also can’t go wrong with a bit of Champagne. Champagne shimmer paint that is…after all…you do want to be able to stamp straight right?
With winter reaching out its grip the Northern Flurry embossing folder seemed the perfect choice. Reminds me too of a vintage candlewick bedspread I had for years and years. And for Christmas time Peace on Earth is my constant prayer. Actually it’s my prayer all year long but seems very appropriate as we end one year and begin another. A prayer, a wish and deep hope that fills my being. I was so happy to find such a beautiful version of this text in the Holiday Catalog Stamp Set Greetings of the Season. The set has my all time favorite Noel as well. And now Stampin Up has carried it over through the Spring Catalog so you can get it to use and enjoy all the way up till May 31st (no word yet whether it will be in the next catalog) or whenever you want to share that peace filled sentiment.
All images & die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
Supplies:
Stamps: Greetings of the Season
Ink: Versamark, Stampin’ Gold Dazzle Marker
Paper: Naturals White, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake Cardstocks
Basics of the Card: Pearls were colored with the Gold Stampin Dazzle Marker (also carried over from the Holiday Catalog) and allowed to dry. Naturals white layer was embossed with Norther Flurry ef. Corners of base and two layers punched with corner rounder. Embossed Naturals White layered with Cherry Cobbler onto base. Champagne Shimmer Paint daubed on centers of snowflakes and gold colored pearl applied to center. Greeting gold embossed and die cut with matching die cut layer. Tulle is cut in a 2″ strip folded over lengthwise and knotted.
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From a Wish for Peace to an invitation to party! The Celebrate is the energetic stamp from the Seasonal Sayings set in the Holiday Catalog. The perfect set for our Fall-i-Days hop series at it will take you from Halloween right through to Valentines. It’s also one of the sets that comes as single stamps up until January 2nd. I picked up the single image Celebrate as I thought it perfect for New Years, Birthdays or really anytime a party or a sense of joy was called for.
In this incarnation the Norther Flurry Snowflakes are doing double duty for fireworks. Kinda works for that don’t you think? Especially with the Champagne Shimmer Paint centers. Much shinier and a tad more subtle in person. And because we are partying for the New Year here I doubled up the Tulle knots too! Though of course with tulle and fireworks and pearls and a party it could also work for Mardi Gras – might want to add some traditional Mardi Gras green & purple for that though!
All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
Supplies:
Stamps: Seasonal Sayings
Ink: Versamark, Stampin’ Gold Dazzle Marker
Paper: Naturals White, Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake Cardstocks
Card design basics: Similar to the previous card just a different die cut and the added Cherry Cobbler Tulle knot.
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From the vintage and patriotic colors that ended and began our year to the softer sweeter and simpler tones of an old fashioned Valentines. A Valentines Cookie House that is. Yep…I’m still making these little cookie houses. If you’d like to see another edition as well as the link to the video for making them check out this post from Hanukkah Hop.
Still using pieces from the Festival of Prints Print Pack from the Holiday Catalog (hurry and get yours before its all gone) for the roof I added Pink Piroutte and some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding. A die cut, a couple of stamped texts and you have the perfect and simple Valentines treat to share with friends, neighbors, classmates, teachers and anyone you can think of that would like a cookie and a reminder that you are thinking of them. Of course you could add a window sheet and then fill with peppermints or the traditional candy conversation hearts. And the best part…sh!!…don’t tell anyone. You can make one of these for less than 50¢ each once you have all the materials on hand. Of course…the cookie is extra.
All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
Supplies:
Stamps: You are Loved, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink
Paper: Pink Pirouette Cardstock, Festival of Prints Pack (holiday catalog)
Other: Big Shot, Hearts Framelit, Simply Scored, Stampin’ Trimmer, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Crop-i-Dile, Sticky Strip, Paper Snips.
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That’s it for my edition of the Finale. Now it’s on to Christine’s fabulously creative entry (yep..I peeked!) – or Buffy’s if you are moving in reverse. You can use the buttons below to advance in whichever direction you are moving. If you find a broken link just click on the home button and you’ll find the list that will get you back on track. Hop on my friends and enjoy the last few days of Fall with our Fall-i-Days Finale!
Today is the last day of our first ANNUAL Hanukkah Blog Hop! We are overwhelmed with the extremely positive response we have received about this hop and all the amazing projects! We hope you were inspired to create and think outside the box when it comes to Jewish related projects! Watch out for future Jewish themed hops…we’ve already discussed one for Passover which is at the end of March 2013!
Thank you to everyone who have visited the first 8 days of the hop. We hope you have enjoyed all the projects and found lots of inspiration! If this is your first visit, go back and visit Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
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Lighting the Menorah is the central Mitzvah of Hanukkah. We light the Menorah to remember the Miracle that happened when the Jewish rebels (the Macabees) took back the Holy Temple from their conquerors. The enemy had done everything that they could to defile the Temple, including bringing idols into the Temple.
The Macabees cleaned and restored the Temple service. They had only one small flask of the special olive oil that was used to light the large golden Menorah in the Temple. Miraculously, the small flask lasted for 8 days.
The Rabbis made this 8 day period into a holiday, now known as Hanukkah. They decreed that it would be celebrated by lighting an 8 branched Menorah, and increasing its lights each day to commemorate how the miracle became greater with each day that the oil continued to burn.
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Festival of Light
All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
It’s hard to believe we’ve arrived at the last day of the blog hop and the beginning of Hanukkah. I came across this music video as I prepared for our final posting. The snowflakes and light in all it’s forms caught my eye. I invite you to listen and enjoy as you read through the rest of the post. To let it create the background and ”light” as you continue with our Celebration of the Festival of Lights.
As I watched and listened to this video the importance of light and of miracles, it’s beauty and its many qualities sank into my heart and soul. As we begin the celebration of Hanukkah…the Festival of Lights and the miracle it commemorates all of us on the hop have chosen to celebrate light and in particular the light of the candle and all it represents in celebrating this special time. Particularly the shamash. The servant candle that lights all the others, that does the work so that the others remain a pure and holy expression of the miracle. A light by which no work must be done (except by the servant candle) or made practical use of.
Here are the close ups and the details:
Light For the World
Light for the World All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
Can you tell that the partial die cuts are intended to represent the flame of the shamash and the other candles with the candle itself implied? That’ what was in my head anyway. The miracle that multiplied the oil and kept the flame burning for eight days. This is completely my own design though influenced by a sense of kinship with some of my favorite graphic artists from the 60′s and 70′s such as Corita Kent in some of her more restrained work.
Light for the World – Inside All images and die cuts copyright Stampin’ Up!
Supplies:
Stamps:Jewish Celebrations, Hanukkah Light Digital Sheet Created in Word (see linked document)
Ink: Midnight Muse Classic Ink, Versamark
Paper: Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold Cardstocks, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Much of the text used was created digitally with Word and the fonts on my computer. The Star of David is from Jewish Celebrations and is heat embossed with gold (what else would expect with a celebration of light…right?). The rest is basic layering and die cut pieces using the Window Frame Framelits (some of them trimmed).
Here’s the file you are welcome to use, play with and alter :
Again mostly die cutting, heat embossing with gold and punching then layering. The Star of David images are hand cut with the Snips, my favorite hand powered cutting tool (next to punches!). Lots and lots of dimensionals in this card as I wanted all the various layers to float. Only the base square of glimmer paper is layered direct to the card with Tombow. The rest all uses dimensionals. Tip: For the narrow frames…cut your Stampin’ Up dimensionals into thirds! Perfect width!
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What would Hanukkah be without presents right? Here’s a Gift Card Holder that matches in style and images (to some extent, the Snowflake Window Frame card above. Works actually for any time of the year. Saturday at Stamp Camp in fact several made variations for the men in their lives as birthday gift holders. The pocket inside will hold the gift card in either direction long side or short side. In many ways this is a CASE of my friend Jackie’s Llama blog Hop Card from a few weeks ago. You can see that card here. Next week I’ll share a few more variations along with the directions for the most basic version.
Again mostly die cutting, heat embossing with gold and punching then layering. The large underlayered snowflake is actually a series of the smaller snowflakes cut in half and slide under the window frame die cuts with glue dots. The small For You is from Mixed Midley (HolidayCatalog hostess) and the inside text is from Rejoicing with You from the Annual Catalog. The card shape is cut with the largest Window Frame Framlet with the card fold placed just below the cutting edge. Have you guessed yet that I’m in love with the color Midnight Muse, the Champagne Glimmer Paper and the Bold Snowflake single stamp from the current Single Stamp Promotion? Both the Glimmer Paper and the Bold Snowflake stamp go away January 2nd. Make sure you get yours before then!
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And lastly…I’m dating myself with this next music video. Peter, Paul & Mary have been a part of my life almost from its beginning. I’ve sung, cried, learned and grown from their music and its message. I’ve been privileged to attend some concerts in person too and each time at each concert they shared this song, Light One Candle. I found this YouTube recording made at Hanukkah time as far as I can tell and the message dovetails perfectly with the song and sentiments from the first video I shared today. Enjoy this blast from the past…and if you celebrate or find meaning in Hanukkah don’t forget to light the one shamash candle and the others each night of this wonderful Festival of Lights. Fill your homes and the world with light in your hearts and in your life. Whatever your faith or leanings we can all use a little light and find meaning in the sharing of it.
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I hope you’ve enjoyed our first Annual Hanukkah Hop. We’ve all enjoyed sharing the Festival of Lights in all its bright and shining aspects with you. We’re discussing the possibility of a Passover blog hop as well as what we might have in the works for next year!
Happy Hanukkah to you all! Wishing you a year of light, love and joy.
Blessings – Jean
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Thank you for hopping along with us.
Your next stop is Andi’s blog, where she is going to show you some more great Hanukkah related projects!
Make sure to come back and visit us again on Sunday the 9th, for our final day of our Hanukkah Blog Hop!
Here’s a complete list of the Hanukkah Blog Hoppers in case any links don’t work.
What Stampin' Up! Wants You to Know:
This is my personal blog. I am an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and responsible for its content. Stampin' Up! does not endorse the use of or contents of the classes, services, or non-Stampin' Up! products I may offer here.
If you are a Stampin'Up! customer and want to receive an inspiring newsletter contact me through my blog or email. 3 years ago
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Michelle Laycock at:
www.laycockdesigns.com
Check out her free buttons for blogging demos at:
http://laycockdesigns.com/category/free-promo-buttons-for-demos/
And some were created by:
Webs by Amy at:
http://websbyamy.com/
Check out her free buttons for blogging demos at:
http://websbyamy.com/category/stampin-up-demo-related
) but sadly Stampin’ Up stamp designs aren’t. Hope you’ve gotten your copies of these two lovely sets. They disappear June 3rd. Luckily the Very Vintage wheel is continuing.
