New Sketch Challenge!

Hi Stampers! 

I hope you all have been following along with the great new Stamping Challenges website that myself and my upline, sideline, and even a couple of downline members are all team members on. Every week a new sketch is posted, and you can see each team member's take on it, as well as play along with us!  I encourage you to go over there and check it out.  (New sketches post each Friday!)  

Our sketch for this week was this:  

I usually like to play around and change them up, but this week I wanted to stick pretty close to the original, mostly because I was already excited about playing with new Spring Catalog and Sale-a-Bration items.  I have been really leaning toward some softer colors lately, so this was my take on the sketch: 

Supplies:  Stamp Sets:  Papillon Potpourri (item 123757 wood, 123759 clear), 

               Vintage Verses (Sale-a-bration catalog 129633 wood, 129636 clear)

Cardstock and Paper:  Very Vanilla (item 101650), Island Indigo (122923), 

More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper (129309--Spring Mini Catalog)

Inks and Accessories:  Pool Party Classic ink (126982), Island Indigo (126986), 5/8" Flower Trim (126869--Spring Mini Catalog), Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595), 

Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526)

I love the fact that the flower trim takes color so easily, so it lets you customize your flowers to fit your card!  I sponged the centers with some Pool Party, then lightly added some Island Indigo to the outside petals to kick them up a little bit.  I can't wait to play with these even more this weekend!  

I hope that you get to spend some time creating something pretty, and please play along with our challenge!  We love to see what your take on the sketch is, and who knows?  You could be our weekly winner or an honorable mention! So take time to make something pretty, you'll be glad you did. 

Until next time, Happy Stamping! 

Kim

Oh, Hello!

I am back from Leadership!  Every year it is one event that I look forward to more than any other one, because I know that I get to cram an entire year of fun into a little less than a week.  The problem this year is that I went with pneumonia, so I got to do all that with about 1/3 the lung capacity of a Capuchin monkey.  I have to say that the hypoxia really brings out the "thrill" in "thrill rides", but more about that later.  

First, a little about my favorite class this year:  "How Social Media Makes a Difference", taught by the every fabulous Shannon West.  Shannon, if you happen to stumble on my blog, this little painting from Cafe Tu Tu Tango in Orlando spoke to me, as I am sure it will to you: 

I bet you didn't know that about me.  ;-) 

So, back to the class.  Shannon did a great job explaining how in this amazing world of social media that it is so much easier to reach out to others and share all of our craftiness, which is a HUGE goal for me this year.  So, if you haven't done it already, head over to Facebook and like my business page, "Stamparama" (more about my page name later this week!), so that you can stay up to date on my new projects, fun classes, and just everything to do with my day-to-day fun with Stampin' Up!  Thanks as always, Shannon...it was so much fun!  

Now, to the fun stuff...Manager's Reception at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Here I am with my girls at the front of the line waiting to board the buses.  On my right is Lydia, and on my left is our favorite Canadian, Sue.  I can't tell you a single thing we laughed about all week long.  They made me take some kind of Las Vegas type oath as we entered our condo.  And, if I broke it, Sue would stop bringing me Coffee Crisps, and I would be sad forever.  I can say that Lydia has some kind of super-human strength when you are riding the Tower of Terror with her.  I was at zero-gravity and she somehow gained the density of a neutron star as she grabbed me and held on for dear life.  I still have little Lydia paw-prints in my arm to prove it. 

But, I know the reason you came here today is the card from our weekly Stamping Challenges site, so here it is:

 (Stamps) Oh, Hello  (Cardstock) So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla

(inks) So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Pretty in Pink (DSP) Tea for Two (accessories) Two Tags die, Hearts a Flutter framelits, Scallop Circle punch, Antique Brads

I have to say that I am enjoying our challenges more and more every week because I am taking the time to stamp something that is just for me.  And, for someone else, because my personal challenge is to sit down tomorrow, write a great note in this card, and ACTUALLY SEND IT TO SOMEONE, the way it is intended to be.  Because, when you get down to it, I didn't join Stampin' Up ever intending to go on a great trip, or to attend amazing classes, or even laugh until I cry while my friend digs into my arm on the ride in Florida.  

I started stamping because I had just left my career and didn't know how I was going to meet any new friends.  I didn't know how I was going to fill the (few) unoccupied hours while I was home with a toddler.  I wasn't sure exactly who I was without my ambulance and uniforms and title.  And because of a few stamps, I have friends that I will have forever, on top of a business that I love.  So I hope that you all know how much I love each of you, and how much I love saying "Hello" every time you come to my home.  Thank you for being the biggest part of my "job".  Now, go stamp something for someone! 

It's a Beautiful Day...

...in the Orlando area!  Yesterday was pretty spectacular as well.  Lydia, Sue and I went to Disney Hollywood Studios and had a blast.  Some of the highlights were riding the Tower of Terror, the Rock & Roller coaster, and lunch at the Sci-fi cafe.  

I will be adding the funniest picture ever of us on the Tower of Terror.  We posed with our Stampin' Up catalogs and a card to show the world that we think that the new Spring Catalog is way more exciting than free-falling 10 stories!  

I do have to admit that I feel a little bad, because I may or may not have told Lydia that I hated her right before we started to drop.  She knows I don't really hate her, but in that nanosecond something took hold of my soul and I had no control.  The funniest part was after the picture was taken Lydia just kept on holding her catalog.  I had to slap her and tell her to help hold me, because both of our bodies were at zero-gravity and we were flying up out of our seats.  

Thank goodness for safety restraints, or that might have ended badly!  

The other thing I love about Disney (besides being able to be scared while knowing you really are safe) is the attention to detail in everything that you see in the park.  This beautiful statue was in the courtyard garden heading into the "hotel".   

The final highlight of my day at Disney was this:

We were in one of the shops when I found this little pretty!  I have a soft spot for pretty purses, but I only own one "real" (i.e. pricey) bag.  When I saw this one I petted it for a little while and then made a phone call to the hubby to chat about it.  He didn't even hesitate before telling me to go ahead and get it for myself.  Between that and the fact that he fixed my slow draining sink in the bathroom, I am nominating him for Husband of the Year.  

Well, we are off to enjoy today!  We are checking in, getting our goodies, and then tonight it is off to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!  I promise I will raise a glass of butter-beer and have a chocolate frog for all of you!  Have a beautiful day, no matter where you are, and I'll see you all again soon!

Kim  

A Little Birdie Told Me...

That I am having fun in Orlando this week!

How could I not be? 

 

I arrived yesterday afternoon and after getting checked in and cooled down (you read that right...it was 80 degrees when I landed!) I went out to an amazing dinner with my girlfriends.  We sat and ate and laughed for quite some time, then back to the hotel to sit and talk and laugh some more. 

 

Luckily, before I left I finished my card for StampingChallenges.com and got it ready to share with you:

 

Supplies:  (Stamp set) For the Birds, (cardstock) Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Watercolor paper, Summer Smooches DSP, (ink) Marina Mist, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, (Accessories) Natural trim ribbon

 

 

So, I hope that a little birdie will bring you some fun this week!  And, don't forget that while I am in Orlando I will be posting updates every night about everything that is going on so keep checking back.  You can also enjoy some great shopping at my online store by clicking here.  Have a beautiful day, and until next time, Happy Stamping!

 

Kim

New Year, new card!

Hi Stampers! 

 

Can you believe another year is now here?  Me neither!  It seems like 2012 absolutely flew by and now we are on to 2013.  I have to say, growing up in the 80's and watching all the classic movies (Back to the Future, anyone?) that I am slightly disappointed. 

 

Where is my flying car?  Where is my hover-skateboard?  It seems to me that a lot of promises were made in the theaters of my youth that our best and brightest minds have not followed through on.  Don't even get me started on the lack of our ability to go visit other galaxies, either.  I'm really not that hard to please. 

 

But, if I did have a flying car I guess one of the first places I would take it would be to Paris.  I would fly it right up to the Eiffel Tower, hop out and grab a tasty French snack and then just sit back and enjoy the beauty.  I guess since there is a serious lack of scientists working on my issue I will just have to enjoy Paris with my stamps instead:



 

Supplies:  (stamp set) Artistic Etchings, (cardstock) Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, (ink) Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder, (accessories) Cherry Cobbler seam binding, dotted ribbon punch, scalloped oval punch, small oval punch, dotted embossing folder

 

So, what futuristic items from your childhood are you still waiting anxiously for?  At least we don't have to wait for great stamps! 

 

Have a Happy New Year, and make sure to go to my website and check out the great new catalog and specials!  Until next time, Happy Stamping!

 

Kim