Why do you stamp?

I have really been thinking about this lately, especially as summer comes to an end and back to school starts. It means a return to routine and my busiest time of year as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I have been pondering this question all summer as I consider how I can find new customers. This is, truly, the biggest hurdle in any one’s business. So how can I share my LOVE of stamping’ with those who have never experienced the magic of ink, rubber and paper! How can I discover someone’s motivation to stamp? What makes people carve out the time in our busy lives for this hobby? How can I demonstrate the creative benefits of stamping? I know I do it because it excites and challenges me, it gives me joy to create something and share it with others. I love to make things for people and I love to make a card that makes my heart smile. So, I am curious…why do you stamp? Or if you are visiting as a non-stamper, what would it take for you to give it a try? Leave me ALL THE COMMENTS! I will randomly choose one comment as a winner and will contact you to make arrangements to send you a thank you gift. I can only ship to Canada—disclaimer!

Brenda N Branding_0017.jpg

For the Win!

When I made up my wish list for new stamp sets I HAD TO HAVE this set, For the Win, from the current Idea Book and Catalogue was at the top of my list! I have had it on my shelf since June (holla if you can relate!) and finally had a chance to ink it up. I have a monthly page class that meets the last Wed afternoon and evening of each month. The theme for this month was something sports, I knew immediately I was going to use this set (in fact the theme was my idea, hahaha!). I decided to create one page to showcase all three of my kids soccer photos. Here is a hot tip—my first attempt was the stamp the soccer balls with white craft ink on black card stock and emboss them with white embossing powder. They looked weird. So these soccer balls are stamped in Momento ink onto white paper and actually look like a soccer ball! Success! I also designed this page that the soccer ball can be swapped out for the class participants sport of choice. The stamp set includes a golf ball, football, basketball, and a baseball. Sadly, no hockey puck! So this will allow them to customize this page to their needs. The colors are also fairly gender neutral as well. The trophy is stamped on Crushed Curry card stock using the gold Delicata ink pads which will be releasing with the new holiday catalogue in September. I love this page and the colors so much that I

fullsizeoutput_fa0e.jpeg
IMG_1799.JPG

Fun tip!

To create this background I placed all 4 stamps on my block and stamped them in a random pattern. You can tell that each background is different but it was so fast to have 4 images mounted to stamp in one go!

Artisan Inspired Wreath

I absolutely love following what the Stampin’ Up! Artisan design team are up to! This wreath was inspired by one of the amazing designers on the team, Mikaela Titheridge. Her original wreath can be viewed on Stampin’ Up!’s Instagram account. My Avid stamp group requested this project and I am so happy with how it turned out. The largest flowers are created using the balloon builder punch! I love when a punch can be used in a unique way. I also used both sizes of the daisy punch and the scrunchy flowers are made by 6 scallop circles stapled together and scrunched! Easy peasy! I can’t wait to hang it on my front door to keep the idea of summer around a little bit longer!

IMG_1765.JPG

Going old school...

So my monthly scrapbook recently requested a layout that was ‘camping’ or ‘outdoors’ in theme. Now, if you have been a stamper for a while (I started back in 2005!) you may have noticed that Stampin’ Up! only rarely offers camping themed stamp sets. I have always held onto these sets! They do not get added into my BOGO events as I can never predict when another one will be coming around. Sometimes it pays to be a hoarder! In fact, I have a pretty decent collection of stamp sets that I will never part with. Some for sentimental reasons and others for requests like this! I was able to successfully blend old, older and brand new (not even released yet!) items to create this page. I am so happy with how it turned out! I think my favourite aspect of this page, other than the bear, I mean, really? Could he be any CUTER! Are the wooden Tags & Feathers embellishments that will be releasing with the holiday catalogue. You can find them on pg 47. As well, take a peek at the little bugs scrambling along on the background too (can’t go camping with out bugs!). Hope you enjoy and are inspired to pull out some of your old and older stamp sets to play.

fullsizeoutput_fa06.jpeg
fullsizeoutput_fa0c.jpeg

Daisy Lane

The 2019/2020 Idea Book & Catalogue contains this adorable new Daisy bundle! The stamp set is called Daisy Lane and there is a new smaller daisy punch. The sentiments and script in the stamp set are quite fantastic! I can see myself using them for both cards and scrapbooking! I created this card after being inspired by something I saw online a while back. I wish I could remember the original creator! I changed a few of the elements to make it my own but loved her color combination of Grapefruit Grove, Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink and Poppy Parade. I stamped the greeting in Grey Granite as it is softer neutral. Embossing the flowers also gives them a bit of a softer feel as well. And I just feel like a sequin can always add a bit of flair to your card as well.

IMG_1616.jpg