A Crabby End to 2014 Plus an Exciting Invitation I Received!

When I wrote "crabby," I meant it!

In our state, the crabbing season ends at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day. As such, our friends must pull their crab pots one final time.  Last year was our first year accompanying them and this is what we were treated to:

A whole pod.  No lie.  Spyhopping, flapping their tails, swimming under our boat, etc.  We were motoring home (we live just north of this guy, up beyond his dorsal fin there) and came upon the pod.  We cut the engine and bobbed for 30 minutes or more, pointing and shouting at what we were seeing.  An added bonus was that my little sister and her children were visiting from Wyoming and this was a once-in-a-lifetime treat for anyone, especially the landlocked.

This year, we got to repeat the adventure (sadly, no whales), but we did get plenty of yummy crab and got to see sea lions, seals, a porpoise and lots of cormorants!

I created this card for my first Creative Crew challenge (that's the exciting invitation I mentioned above).  I'll be creating projects for the fun challenges released monthly at Splitcoast Stampers.  Check it out {HERE}!

I also entered this card in the Mojo Monday MOJO378 and Colour Me Card #52 Challenges.

Our charge in the Creative Crew challenge for this month was to create masculine projects.  This will serve as a Thank You note for our esteemed skipper!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  By the Seashore

Papers:  Soft Sky, Baked Brown Sugar, and Whisper White card stocks and All Abloom DSP Stack

Inks:  Baked Brown Sugar Classic

Artist's Flair:  Woodgrain TIEF, Stampin' Sponges, 2-inch Circle Punch, Burlap Ribbon

Check out the {Creative Crew Gallery}!

Don't forget:

Click {HERE} to shop!

Bonus! The All Abloom DSP Stack is a Weekly Deal through Monday, January 12! Click {HERE} to see the deals!

Year-End Closeouts from Stampin' Up! Are Here! Save up to 80%!

New Year-End Closeouts have just been released from Stampin' Up! There are

• former In Colors items (card stocks, inks, accessories),
•  winter and holiday items (stamp sets, gift bag accessories, etc), 
• Big Shot dies, 
• project kits, 
• ribbon, and more!

Click {HERE} to shop!

Items are vanishing quickly, so don't delay if you see something you want.  Use the Hostess Code EMTFN3V2 to be entered in the drawing for Mystery Hostess benefits!

Endless Wishes in Week 1 of My Annual of {12 Weeks of Christmas} Series!

Welcome to the first installment of my yearly {12 Weeks of Christmas} Series! I love putting this series together each year, including posts about planning, cards, gifts, and fun holiday decor.  Each week, I'll give you a new idea to inspire or streamline your Christmas planning.  It's a super-fun time of year and I'm excited to give you our first taste!

This card was made with a great versatile sketch from the good folks at Mojo Monday. 

I used the Endless Wishes set from the Holiday Catalog.  Need a hard copy of the catalog?  Drop me an email.  Want to check it out online?  Click {HERE} to view it now.

This cute photopolymer set includes snowflake images with a ton of great Christmas-, winter- and holiday-themed sentiments.  *LOVE IT!*

The Designer Series Paper I used here comes in the fun Stack called Moonlight.  

I added a little extra pizzazz with Rhinestone Basic Jewels, the Decorative Dots TIEF, and Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Endless Wishes

Papers:  Moonlight DSP Stack, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, and Whisper White Card Stocks

Inks:  Lost Lagoon and Basic Gray Classic Inks

Accessories:  Big Shot, Decorative Dots TIEF, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Lost Lagoon Satin Stitched Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin' Up! Blendabilities Now Available, Buy 3, Get 1 Free DSP, and New Weekly Deals!

Whew!  It's a busy morning at Stampin' Up! headquarters, I'm sure! Grab a cuppa or glass of something cool and settle in...

Starting today, customers may order the following color sets of Blendabilities as of today:

• Cherry Cobbler   (Item #130995 - $11.95)
• Coastal Cabana  (Item #131000 - $11.95)
• Daffodil Delight   (Item #130998 - $11.95)
• Old Olive   (Item #130999 - $11.95)
• Pumpkin Pie  (Item #130997 - $11.95)
• Rich Razzleberry  (Item #131003 - $11.95)
• Skin Tone Assortment (Item #129370 - $22.95)

The following inks and Color Lifter are also available:

• Memento Ink Pad (Item 132708 - $5.95 )
• Memento Ink Refill (Item 133456 - $4.95 )
• Color Lifter  (Item 129369 - $4.95 )

Here's a helpful techniques video from the experts at Stampin' Up!:

There are other videos that Stampin' Up! has produced in which a project is completed and the "expert" walks you through his/her process.  

Here's what I learned from Angie:

• Go from the lightest to darkest marker in the color set.
• Use a light touch with the marker.

From Teri, I learned that she:

• Fully color one petal or area at a time.
• Start with the lightest marker and then add the darkest to what would be the shaded area. Use the medium marker to blend them.

Studio Suggestions:

• Don't forget to use the Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (132708) to avoid smearing your stamped image.
• You'll notice that the experts lined their work surfaces with Grid Paper (130148).

MORE NEWS!  Is there Designer Series Paper ("DSP") on your wish list?  It's on sale this month -- buy three packages of the $10.95 sets and receive an equal-value package for *FREE*!

Ready for more?  How about the new Weekly Deals...

7/8-inch Scallop Circle Punch, #129404, originally $12.95, but on sale this week for $9.71!

2013-15 In Color Stampin' Write Markers, #131260, originally $14.95, but on sale this week for 11.21!

Gold Sequin Trim, #132983, originally $4.95, but on sale this week for $3.71!

Label Bracket Punch, #132153, originally $15.95, but on sale this week for $11.96!

Neutrals Designer Buttons, #130031, originally $7.95, but on sale this week for $5.96!

Silver Baker's Twine, #132976, originally $3.50, but on sale this week for $2.63!

Silver Fancy Foil Vellum, #133364, originally $10.95, but on sale this week for $8.21!

Summer Home Digital Download, MDS, #118464, originally $14.95, but on sale this week for $8.97!

Whew!  What a post!  I hope July has gotten off to a good start for you!

Stampin' Up! 2014 Sale-A-Bration {Studio-Sara} Countdown: *LAST DAY*

I had a little time to myself this weekend, so I got busy in the Studio, enjoying my Sale-A-Bration freebies...  Here's what I came up with:

Banner Blast stamp set (SAB page 13, W133551, C133554) and Banner Punch (133519)

More ideas can be found {HERE}.

Sweet Sorbet DSP (SAB page 11, 133521)
More ideas can be found {HERE}.  The flags in the peacock cards above come from this DSP, too.

You're Lovely stamp set (SAB page 14, W133575, C133578)
More ideas can be found {HERE}.

Click {HERE} to shop!

Stampin' Up! 2014 Sale-A-Bration {Studio-Sara} Countdown: Banner Blast & Banner Punch

Welcome to another installment of my Sale-A-Bration Finale Countdown...  I *LOVE* the Banner Blast set (SAB page 13, 133551) and coordinating Banner punch (133519)!  Receive either for free with a $50 merchandise purchase or *BOTH* for a $100 merchandise purchase.

This card was created for the Runway Inspired Challenge #54 and Simon Says Stamp challenge.  Runway Inspired challenged us with a lovely Diane von Furstenberg dress.

I love a little peekaboo detail inside!

The little heart comes from the Owl Builder punch (AC page 183, 118074).  The fun flags are cut from Kaleidoscope DSP, found in the Occasions Catalog (page 27, 132995).

This project was made for challenges at The Shabby Tea Room and Seize the Sketch.

The DSP is from the In Colors 2012-14 Paper Stack (AC page 152, 130137).  The heart stamp and polka dot pattern (in the yellow flag) come from Banner Blast (SAB).

The Gumball Green card stock was run through my Big Shot (AC page 184, 113439) using the Arrows TIEF (OC page 26, 132187).  The Primrose Petals circle was run through my Big Shot twice; it was cut into a circle using the Circles Collection Framelits (AC page 186, 130911) and again to add texture with the Perfect Polka Dots TIEF (AC page 191, 117335).

My Simply Scored Tool (AC page 178, 122334) was used to make the flags' poles.

My Banner punch made perfect rays for my sun.  Read more about this project {HERE}.

I had so much fun making this card for the Mojo Monday MOJO337 and Colour Me Card Challenge #12.  Read {THIS POST} about it for more details.

Starburst and a Sale-A-Bration Sunshine for a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

I made this card for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #211.  I love those sketches and sometimes my schedule is just right to allow me to participate and enter.  

I've been looking forward to making a sun shape with my Starburst Sayings (OC, page 34, W133182, C133185) and Framelits (#132967) and my Banner Punch (SAB, page 13, #133519). The Banner Punch is a 2014 Sale-A-Bration freebie that I earned with a $50 merchandise purchase.  

Studio Suggestions:

• I used my Color Coach (AC, page 139, #130118, with 2012-14 In Color Cards #130120) for guidance in my color scheme;  Real Red, Summer Starfruit and Marina Mist are crisp and clean together. 

• I love the Candy Dots (AC, page 143, #130931), too, which I placed on the right. Glue Dots (AC, page 174, #103683) are hidden beneath, adhering the Vellum card stock down (AC, page 156, #101856).  I used a Stampin' Dimensional (AC, page 175, #104430) on the left, hidden beneath the smaller Marina Mist starburst.

Sale-a-Bration runs through March 31.  Click {HERE} to check out the fun freebies!

New {Weekly Deals} from Stampin' Up!

Hello, Studio Visitors!  It's Tuesday and Stampin' Up! has given us new Weekly Deals!  Check them out below and click {HERE} to shop!

Crisp Cantaloupe Ruffle Stretch Trim, (130021), originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

Grad Party Digital Download, My Digital Studio, (129877), originally $9.95, but on sale this week for $5.97!

In Color Boutique Details, (130938), originally $8.95, but on sale this week for $6.71!

**Click {HERE} for a Paper Pumpkin post using these sweet details (includes a video tutorial)**

 

Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder ("EP"), (124114), originally $4.75, but on sale this week for $3.56!

Scallop Trim Border Punch, (118402), originally $15.95, but on sale this week for $11.96!

Silver Glass Glitter,  (120995), originally $3.95, but on sale this week for $2.96!

Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Emboss  Powder, (122950), originally $4.75, but on sale this week for $3.56!

Vintage Trinkets Accents & Elements, (118764), originally $5.95, but on sale this week for $4.46!

I've been super busy in the Studio and I'm catching up on blogging to share it all with you.  Stay tuned this week for more project posts!  We are within two weeks of the end of Sale-a-Bration (March 31)!  Here's a link to the {BROCHURE}!  Combine orders with friends to max out your Sale-a-Bration freebies and Hostess Benefits.  Got a question?  Please drop me a line!