Wacky Watercooler Stampers are Hopping Again: Join us for the Welcome 2014 Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the Wacky Watercooler Welcome 2014 Blog Hop.   We’re an international crew so don’t be surprised if you see a few different spellings and price guides along the way.

We have a new Occasions Catalog(ue) and if you haven’t seen it yet click on the image below to download a copy of the US’s PDF version of the catalog, a revised Holiday Carryover List & Holiday Single Stamps . Of course we are also using any number of Annual Catalog items that have  potential for the new year every day and on special occasions.   And to add to the excitement….Sale-a-Bration with all it’s free products is less than a week away (starts January 28th – sorry we can’t post the brochure until then) so we have lots of ground to cover in this first hop of a new year.

Occasions Stampin’ Supplies  (PDF)

Revised Holiday Carryover List (PDF)

If you are moving in hop order you’ve arrived from the very talented (and our Blog Hop General)  Heidi Weaver’s blog.   You’ll definitely want to go back and check her past posts after the hop.   If you are working in reverse order weren’t your socks knocked off by Gail Allen’s wonderful projects another blog to investigate after the hop for sure!    However you are viewing the hop we’ve built it in a circle so you can join and hop on and off at will.   If you get lost just click the hop banner or the home watercooler to get back to our hop home site with the list of participants.    You may want to keep an eye on that site in between blog hops as we are starting to post somewhat regularly there too.

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What is it about a new year that has me looking both backward and forward?   Perhaps wanting this to be an even better year has me checking my past for needed improvements as well as a hopeful look forward.  What ever it is…I find it also affects my stamping choices.   So today you’ll see a bit of the old, a bit of the new and some carryover product too!   Also in keeping with a fresh start to a new year…I’m keeping it fresh & simple with designs you can create quickly and cleanly…you can even prep some pieces ahead so when you are ready to sit down and create it will literally only take you minutes.

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My first project is a CASE of sorts from the many sky with banner cards that have been flooding the web.  I took my inspiration from Melissa Davies wonderful project here.   With all the sunshine we’ve had lately in my mountain valley I’m ready to celebrate not only clear skies but get a jump on Valentine’s day as well with Occasions new Language of Love stamp set and a slew of punches new and old.

Happy Heart Day Sky Banner Card

Language of Love along with the new Gold Baker’s Twine really caught my eye on my first run through the Occasions Catalog.  Actually all the new and returning gold products did as you’ll see throughout my hop post.   I was also elated to find that Stampin’ Up carried over the Tags for You set.  The Happy Heart Day image is perfect not only for Valentine’s but for anyone you want to share your love with the rest of the year.  Declare your own Happy Heart Day…hm…maybe the 14th of every month?   Great too for those making cards for heart patients.

Supplies:

Stamps: Language of Love (Occasions), Tags for You (Holiday Carryover list)

Ink: Primrose Petals, Versamark

Paper: Soft Sky & Whisper White Cardstock, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Punches: Label Bracket, Petite Pennants Builder, Cupcake, Small Heart

Other: Gold embossing powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Gold Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Paper Piercing Tool

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 To carry on my love affair with gold….and the new In Color Baked Brown Sugar…and love in general….

Gold Hearts & Cupids Sweet Arrows Spell Love

It’s hard to see but I used a small punch template I created to punch small hearts in the corners and then adhered the hearts under the “window”.  Next time I think I’ll lift the arrow embossed layer on dimensionals for a bit more “lift”.  Of course that also will add to the postage to send so maybe not.  😀   Of course in person all the various bits of gold on paper, embossing and twine really sparkles.   As a weaver I love this design.  All threads leading to (or from) the heart mimics the arrows in the embossing and adds to the symbolism for me.  Hm…maybe I’ll save this design to send out to my spinning and weaving buddies!

Supplies:

Stamps: Language of Love

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Baked Brown Sugar (In Color), Whisper White, Brushed Gold

Punches: Large Heart, Small Heart

Other: Big Shot, Heart Framelits Collection, Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Gold Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals & Glue Dots, Scissors, Paper Piercing Tool, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Stampin’ Pierce Mat

Last and perhaps simplest yet….

Trust God with Watercolor Wonder Washi

I had to grin when I saw what I had titled this project in my picture files.   I trust God with so much in my life…why not my washi tape too!   Seriously though…I love the new golden Watercolor Wonder Washi.  Tear a strip or three and you have a perfect and elegant companion to so many colors and designs.  For my gender neutral entry I paired it with this years glorious new Baked Brown Sugar In Color.  Stamped and Punched a few pieces and voila!  a 5 minute card!  Well…maybe 10 minutes since I also gold embossed.  Either way…very quick and simple.  To step it up a bit you could also take one of our large background stamps and add a layer of stamping texture to the front of the card base.

This card also shows my other favorite stamp collection in the Occasions catalog.  Petite Petals stamp and coordinating punch are a great accent to many designs.  I’ll be sharing more designs with this fun new pairing in the coming weeks.   Another cool aspect to this card…if you pick up all the basic ingredients for this card…you’ll earn yourself a free Sale-a-Bration item or two and have the materials for many, many cards!

Supplies:

Stamps: Petite Petals, Trust God

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Baked Brown Sugar (In Color), Very Vanilla Cardstock, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Punches: Petite Petals, Decorative Label, 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle

Other: Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy,  Dimensionals & Glue Dots, Antique Brads

That’s it for my post for this first hop of 2014.   Hop along now to see the rest of the fabulous hop entries and look for our Wacky Watercooler crew in the coming months as we create more new hops for your viewing and crafting pleasure.   Click the buttons to find your way and may your year ahead be a filled with creativity, inspiration and of course lots of new stamps, paper & ink!