FLOWER POWER MOJO

This card uses the new FLOWER POWER SIMPLY SENT CARD ELEMENTS KIT that you'll see in the new Stampin' Up! catalog. These are soooo my colors! ... OLD OLIVE, ROSE RED, MORE MUSTARD and PERFECT PLUM. I have a feeling this kit is going to be the one that replaces my love for the Crew Kids Girl SSK! Makes card making so easy! The Textured Cardstock, Striped Designer Paper, More Mustard Grosgrain Ribbon, Self-Adhesive Die Cuts, and More Mustard Brad are all from the Flower Power Kit. I also used the new Scallop Border Punch for the scalloped border below the designer paper.

For this card, I used Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday Sketch #48.

RECIPE

Stamps: sentiment from Absolutely Fabulous

Paper: Rose Red and Old Olive Textured CS and Striped DP from Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements Kit

Ink: Basic Black

Embellishments: Self-Adhesive Die Cuts, More Mustard Brad and Grosgrain Ribbon from Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements Kit

Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool

Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

JUST BECAUSE

My friend and SU sideline, Lorri Heiling is at the Stampin' Up! Convention with other weSTAMPers, and I'm insanely jealous that I'm not there with them! I can't believe I'm missing out on all that Stampin' Up! fun! Lorri has called from Salt Lake City several times to fill me in on all the happenings - specifically new products in the new, upcoming Stampin' Up! catalog. Among many NEW products and stamp sets, some products from the mini catalogs have made it into the new catty. When I heard that the Tart & Tangy stamp set, Summer Picnic designer paper, and the Mini Library Clips made it into the new catty, I had to celebrate by making a card with them! I used yesterday's Sketch Challenge #187 for the layout.

RECIPE
Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Define Your Life
Paper: Summer Picnic DP, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, and Old Olive
Embellishments: Black Mini Library Clip, Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

BAROQUE MOTIFS GRID TECHNIQUE

This card uses this week's Color Challenge #177 on SCS of Groovy Guava, Whisper White, and Sahara Sand, along with the Grid Technique for a faux tile look. I have been wanting to try this technique for so long, and I think Baroque Motifs is the perfect stamp set for it. The results remind me of tiled kitchen backsplash. HERE is a wonderful Grid Technique Tutorial by Beate Johns.

Besides the obvious ...
* I scored the Whisper White CS every 1/2" before stamping the Baroque Motifs images so the faux grout lines stay white.
* The flower image on the Sahara Sand background piece was stamped in Versamark.
* There are two Groovy Guava small ovals staggered behind the Whisper White oval with the sentiment stamped in Groovy Guava.
* Overall card size is 5 1/4" x 5 1/4".RECIPE
Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Paper: Groovy Guava Prints DP, Groovy Guava, Whisper White, and Sahara Sand CS
Ink: Sahara Sand, Groovy Guava, and Versamark
Embellishments: Groovy Guava Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Self Adhesive Half Pearls (non-SU)
Tools: Small Oval Punch, Scor-Pal (non-SU)
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

RAKS from CAROL AND LISA

More wonderful hand stamped cards landed in my mailbox this week from stamping/blogging friends!

from Carol Frerichs ...from Lisa Henke ...

DOIN' THE HAPPY DANCE!!!

Well, I'm NOT doin' the happy dance LITERALLY because as I mentioned two posts ago I'm a little crippled up this weekend. I'm doin' the dance inside because my card was chosen in the TOP TEN of Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #17 !!!! It looks as though there were over 200 entries! I'm keeping good company in the TOP TEN ... see them HERE. For details about my card, see the original post HERE.

TWO-WAY OPEN CARDS

I created these two-way open cards for SCS Featured Stamper #77, Julia, known as artystamper on SCS. HERE is Julia's card I chose to case. I had never made these two-way open cards before ... boy, are they FUN and EASY to make! The Stampin' Up! designer papers make the possibilities endless! I used Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit and Summer Picnic DP for my samples.

Click HERE for a tutorial on how to make these. The tutorial does not include the belly band which measures 11" x 1", and is scored at 3 3/8" and 8", overlapped and adhered in the back. Finished size is 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".
RECIPE
Stamps: Tart & Tangy
Paper: Crew Kids Girl Simply Scrappin' Kit w/ Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, and Pretty In Pink CS and Summer Picnic DP with Old Olive, Bashful Blue, and Pumpkin Pie CS
Ink: Basic Black and Old Olive
Embellishments: Pink and Bashful Blue Brads, Metal Edge Tag
Tools: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, Word Window Punch, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack

POOR ME AND AN AWARD

I've been laying low this weekend trying to stay off my feet. I think I have a Heel Spur (or Plantar Fasciitis). Talk about PAIN !!! ughh!! The research I've done on the internet says the best things you can do is REST, ICE, and STRETCH ... so that's what I'm doing. I'll be calling a Podiatrist tomorrow.

I am really poor at keeping up with these awards and tags, and have had to do some back tracking. If you've tagged me, and I haven't listed you, please bring it to my attention and I'll be sure to link you!

I received this Brillante Weblog award 4 times over! ... by Carol Frerichs (Stamp Like Crazy), Diane Gilbert (My Little Stampin' Spot), Lorri Heiling (Confessions of a Stamping Addict), and Charmaine Ikach (Oodabug Alley). Thanks, girls!

I'll tag seven of my favorite blogs ...
Jen, JenTapler Designs
Mauna, Ink~Paper~Scissors
Toni, I'll Be Stamped!
Pam, Creative Inking
Wendy, It's All About Stamping!
Lisa, My Little Creative Escape
LeAnne, Wee Inklings

FALL FLOWERS for SWEET BABY COURTNEY and DIRTY SKETCH

Today's card combines two challenges ...

The first is Jen del Muro's Dare to Get Dirty Saturday Sketch Challenge on SCS. Every day this week, the Dirty Girls are offering a variety of challenges for Fan Club Members.

The second challenge is Libby Hickson's From Courtney's Closet Challenge. See this sweet precious baby girl? This is Courtney, Libby's baby daughter. Each week, Libby chooses an outfit or dress from Courtney's closet, creates a card inspired by the outfit/dress, and challenges her readers to do the same. It's GOT to be the cutest idea I've ever seen for a stamping challenge! I also enjoy seeing the super cute pictures Libby takes of Courtney modeling the inspiration piece each week! Isn't she a doll?!

Courtney's dress immediately made me think of the paper you see in the squares which is from Fall Flowers DP. The Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon and the polka dots around the main flower image brings in the color and pattern of the trim. This card measures 5" x 5". RECIPE
Stamps: Enjoy Every Moment
Paper: Fall Flowers DP, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Classic Ink Pads
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad
Tools: 1/2" and 3/4" Circle Punches, Photo Corner Punch
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

BIRTHDAY, FRIENDSHIP, AND THANK YOU RAKS

Oh my goodness! ... it's been a fun week! THANK YOU for all your happy birthday wishes in the comments you've left on my blog, and for the nice comments left about the card I posted yesterday! Most of these beautiful cards were sent to me acknowledging my birthday that was earlier this week, others are friendship RAKS and/or thank yous. My blog is truly one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, and your encouraging words through comments, e-mails and RAKS mean the world to me!

by Diane Gilbert ...
by Nancy Morgan ...
by Silke Ledlow ...
by Karen Laub ...
by Charmaine Ikach ...

by Mercy Kerin ...
by Cindy Lawrence ...
by Melissa Kaufman ...
by Sandy Braddock ...

I never knew how to add wording to the photos of RAKs without a true watermark. Thinking it was a high tech process, I put off asking my DH (my computer genius) about it. I finally took the time to ask yesterday ... it took him one minute to show me how to do it in Photoshop and it is incredibly easy! Glad I asked!

I've started reading my favorite blogs through Google Reader, thinking it might be a more efficient way of reading them. So far, I think it's going to work out well for me, but I'm wondering if anyone else has the same problem I'm having ... when Google Reader is open it dramatically slows down my computer. If I decide to continue with Google Reader, I'll be unsubscribing to many blogs so don't worry, I'm just reading through a different method. My e-mail inbox is gonna love me for this!

PRETTY AMAZING

Today's card combines Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challenge #17 of Rose Red, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, and Whisper White and SCS Sketch Challenge #186. I really think my card seems a little out of balance and needs something on the upper left side ... BUT do you think I could find ANYTHING to put there?RECIPE
Stamps: Pretty Amazing
Paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Sage Shadow, and Rose Red CS, Bali Breeze DP
Ink: Sage Shadow and Basic Black
Embellishments: Flower Fusion, Gold Brads, Real Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Swiss Dots Dry Embossing Folder and Cuttlebug Machine (non-SU)
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

JULY weSTAMP MEETING AND SWAP

Last night was our monthly weSTAMP meeting at my home. In case you're new to my blog, weSTAMP is a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator group consisting of my downline and Lorri Heiling's downline + one awesome "orphan demo", Pam Wood.

This month's meeting was extra special because Pam's incredibly talented, out-of-state upline (from Virginia), Wendy Janson, was able to attend and even swap with us! Most of us knew Wendy through blogland but had never met her personally. You would have thought we had a movie star coming to our meeting ... we were so nervous and excited, and so badly wanted to make a good impression. Let me tell you ... Wendy is just as sweet and personable as can be ... we could have visited with her all night! As I was going to bed last night, I realized that I had forgotten to take photos of Wendy with the group .. ughh!!

The famous Box In A Bag was our Make 'n Take for the evening. Great way to use up that retiring designer paper! You can find a tutorial for the Box In A Bag HERE on Stampin' With Di.

Our swap theme this month was to use a background stamp or a Stampin' Around Wheel on a card. Here's our swaps ...

by Wendy Janson ...
by Pam Wood ...
by Terri Guymon ...
by Diana Knight ...
by Ginny Schembri ...
by Lorri Heiling ...
by Adriana Gray ...
by ME ...
RECIPE
Stamps: Take A Number Wheel, It's Your Birthday
Paper: Pumpkin Pie Prints DP, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie and Pink Passion CS
Ink: Only Orange and Pink Passion Classic Ink Pads, Versamarker
Embellishments: Pumpkin Pie Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Brad, 1 ¼” Metal Rim Tag (non-SU)
Tools: 1” Circle Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin’ Around Handle, Trio Flower Punch
Supplies: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dot
Inspired by: Carol Frerich's card HERE.

THANK YOU!

Thank you for all your blog comments, e-mails, and handmade cards wishing me a happy birthday yesterday! It was an incredibly special day, thanks to my readers, fellow bloggers/stampers, family, and local friends! I felt very loved !!!

Our weSTAMP demonstrator group meeting is at my home tonight so I'm doing some setting up and cleaning. I'll be sharing our swap cards and my birthday RAKs with you over the next couple of days.

Thanks for checking in!

SCS FEATURED STAMPER CHALLENGE FS76 SUSIESTAMPALOT

My card today cases THIS CARD by Featured Stamper #76, SUSIESTAMPALOT. I kept the same general layout, changed the main stamped image by using the flower from Doodle This, and changed up the colors by using some of the NEW Stampin' Up! products that you'll see in the soon-to-be-released 2008 Fall-Winter Idea Book & Catalog ... Scallop Edge Punch, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper Pack, New In Colors of Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, and Kiwi Kiss.

Besides the obvious ...
* The Doodle This flower was stamped twice in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink onto Bella Rose DP, and cut out. The petals were curled around a pencil, staggered and adhered together. A 1/2" punched Bella Rose DP circle with a Pink Rhinestone Brad adorns the center of the flower.
* The leaves of the flower were cut out from one of the patterns of the Bella Rose DP.
* The scallop edge was created using the new Scallop Edge Punch from Stampin' Up!.
* The Pink Piroutte background piece is from the Bella Rose DP and dry embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.RECIPE
Stamps: Doodle This
Paper: Bella Rose DP, Riding Hood Red CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pink Rhinestone Brad, Button Bouquet
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (non-SU)
Supplies: Pop-Up Glue Dot

A DAY TO REMEMBER ....

My Stampin' Up! sideline and dear friend, Lorri Heiling (Confessions of a Stamping Addict) gave me a HUGE surprise on Thursday. She had secretively arranged with my daughter Allie, a time and place for Lorri to "kidnap" me for the day to celebrate my upcoming birthday (7/21). I knew Allie was up to something because she just couldn't get specific about why I had to go to this particular store with her. That is where Lorri came out of hiding to surprise me! Lorri kept each destination a secret until walking into each establishment, and "forced me" to wear a happy birthday princess crown all day (lots of stares and birthday wishes from strangers)! We started out with a treat from Starbucks, then pedicures at a nearby salon, then a delicious lunch at Mimi's Cafe, and finally ceramics at As You Wish. I quickly discovered that I am a stamping artist, NOT a ceramics artist! Lorri, on the other hand, is a natural at all things crafty!

In addition to all the fun activities and great conversation, Lorri made this incredible stationary box for me with the Stampin' Up! Home Again Simply Scrappin' Kit! Click HERE to see more photos of this kit and one she made with the new Stampin' Up! Bella Rose DP!
I don't think I've EVER been that spoiled for my birthday !!!! A fun, relaxing, memorable day from my generous, thoughtful friend. Thank you, Lorri !!!!

FUNKY RETRO UPTOWN

This card combines SCS Color Challenge 175 of Almost Amethyst, Wild Wasabi and So Saffron and Lynda Benden's Sketch Challenge Tuesday from 7/08/08.

I was thrilled with this week's color challenge ... I immediately thought of the retired Uptown designer papers. I have alot of it left and barely used any when it was in the last catalog. The dp panel with circles have other circles from another piece of the same dp that have been punched out with various sizes of circle punches and popped up on stampin' dimensionals.

Lynda's sketch really caught my eye, as I'm a sucker for a sketch with several interesting layers ... perfect with Stampin' Up Designer Papers!

RECIPE
Stamps: Think Happy Thoughts
Paper: Uptown DP (retired), Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Wild Wasabi and Versamark
Embellishments: Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, So Saffron Brad, Dew Drops (non-SU)
Tools: Various Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow Adhesive

FOR SALE REMINDER

ETA ... All of my ebay auctions ended within the last two days except one that is ending this weekend 7/19. It is for a retired Stampin' Up! Paper Piecing Punch. I'm not sure why so many are having difficulty finding my auctions on ebay ... again, my seller name is stampinat6213. If you still can't find it, e-mail me and I can e-mail the link to you.

I have many Retired Stampin' Up! items listed on ebay right now, and most of the auctions are ending within the next couple of days. I can't directly link the auctions due to Stampin' Up! policy but you can find them at www.ebay.com under my seller name, stampinat6213.

Retired items for sale include 2007 In Color lots of paper/ink/ink refills/ribbon, stamp sets, designer paper packs, and more.

Q & A, PART TWO

Waaay back in May I had offered some blog candy. To enter, readers could ask stamping related questions. I addressed some of the questions in THIS POST, and here are some more ...

Q. Are you attending the Stampin' Up! Convention at the end of the month in Salt Lake?

A. Unfortunately, no ... I won't be attending this year's convention ... just couldn't swing it, financially. Hopefully, I'll make it to convention next year! I will be there in spirit through many of my stamping/blogging friends, and can't WAIT to see all their blog entries with convention highlights!

Q. What you are hoping to see in the new Catalog & Idea Book coming out in August?

A. The release of a new Stampin' Up! catalog is always an exciting time! As far as stamp sets go, I'm never really sold or excited about a stamp set until I see it in action. I would love to see more "useful" sentiments appropriate for the inside of cards, especially with birthday themes. I'd also love to see more stamp sets similar to Merry & Bright and Tart & Tangy ... versatile, useful, and affordable.

I can't WAIT to see the new Designer Papers ... I'd love to see a dp package with a Black & White color scheme! I hope to see more Simply Scrappin' Kits similar to Crew Kids Girl and Winter Bright, and more embellishments like Flower Fusion. It would be so cool if Stampin' Up! came out with something similar to Nestabilities too! WHITE brads would be nice too!

Demonstrators were informed recently that all the NEW stamp sets appearing in the new catalog will be die cut. Stampin' Up! is also coming out with a new scallop punch for scallop borders, among other sneak peek products!

Q. How in the world were you able to get 200,000 visitors to your blog in less than one year?

A. That number boggles my mind too! I don't have any "formula", but here's a few things I do that I think contribute to my blog's success, and may be helpful to others thinking about starting a blog ...

1) I do ALOT of linking! If there's a tutorial out there for something I'm showing, I link it. If my card was inspired by or cased from someone, I link their original. If I'm showing a card created from a challenge, I link it. What goes around, comes around!

2) When I post my artwork on splitcoaststampers.com, I always give a brief description, and say something like "For more details, see my blog, iSTAMP"... and link to the POST (not the blog). If someone looks at your card on SCS months down the road and wants to go to your blog for more details, you don't want to make them search your blog for that card. By linking directly to the POST, you're making it more convenient for the reader.

3) Leave frequent comments for others on their blogs and on SCS. For me, comments are incredibly motivating, and a fantastic way to start a rapport with readers and other bloggers. Again, what goes around, comes around!

4) Try not to ramble on about non-stamping related things. I will occasionally throw in some family related/personal things, but don't ramble on and on about my boring day.

5) Provide a recipe for stamped projects/cards with a consistent format, and describe supplies accurately and detailed (a great way to learn the names of supplies!). When I first started my blog, I would have to pull my catalog out every time for the correct name of a stamp set or product. Now, I rarely have to open the catalog for that purpose! Listing a detailed recipe is a great way to learn SU products!

6) Provide a subscription service like Feedblitz to make it easy for readers to return.

7) Creating an extensive blog roll with links to related blogs is a great way to build a resource for readers. Most bloggers will link you in return.

8) Participating in challenges from splitcoaststampers.com and other blogs also brings in new traffic. Here are some of my favorite blogs for challenges ...

Great Swaps Girls, Poetic Artistry, i{heart}2stamp, KWernerDesignBlog, Taylored Expressions, Our Creative Corner

Q. How did you get the courage to start your blog, and how did you pick your blog name?

A. I don't know if I'd call it "courage", but was completely inspired by other bloggers ... it looked like so much fun! It was a huge learning curve, but through alot of trial and error I think I finally got it down.

The name, iSTAMP, just came to me one day while pondering the thought of starting a blog. I think there were new iPODS being purchased in our family around that time ... shows where my mind was! To me, it made sense because that's what I do ... I stamp!

One piece of advise for new bloggers ... use the name of your blog in the address for your blog ... something I wish I would have done from the start.

ELEGANT EGGPLANT, TAKEN WITH TEAL, OLD OLIVE

If you're a frequent reader of my blog, you know I often lack confidence in my finished artwork, and am always saying something like "I almost didn't post this" ... "Not sure if I like it" ... "This didn't turn out like I had planned"? Well, this card didn't turn out like I had planned BUT I know that I like it !!! I've had this color combination in my head for quite some time, and had a chance to work with it last night ... ELEGANT EGGPLANT, TAKEN WITH TEAL, and OLD OLIVE. I've never had a favorite color, but am very much inspired by color combinations. I'm finding this color combination one of my favorites, and one that I can see myself using ALOT!

Besides the obvious, here are the details of my card ...
* I used Taylor VaBruggen's Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #24 ... and FLIPPED it.
* I also used the stamp set, TRUE FRIEND, and the "FRIEND" sentiment from FUNDAMENTAL PHRASES.
* The flowers were inked using Stampin' Write Markers ...stems in Old Olive, flowers in Taken With Teal, and the edges of the flowers in Elegant Eggplant.
* The small circle medallion image from the True Friend stamp set was stamped in Versamark onto the Elegant Eggplant CS background.
* The three dots scattered between the flowers are paper pierced holes. Long ago, when I scrapbooked regularly, I would make three dots randomly between stickers, die cuts, etc. Those three little dots, randomly placed, pulled the floating images together for a more flowing look.
* There is also a double paper piercing line on the horizontal Taken With Teal CS strip.
* The circle medallion was stamped twice (once in Taken With Teal, and once in Eggplant Envy) with an Old Olive background piece and Old Olive brad. The top circle is raised on stampin' dimensionals.
RECIPE
Stamps: True Friend, Fundamental Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Eggplant Envy, Taken With Teal, and Old Olive CS
Ink: Old Olive, Eggplant Envy, and Taken With Teal, Versamark
Embellishments: Old Olive Brad
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack, Word Window Punch, 1", 1 14/" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

COLOR INSPIRATION, A SKETCH, AND BUD BASICS (again!)

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration Challege #15 of Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa, Really Rust, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White was just that ... CHALLENGING (for me, anyway!). I tried to use other stamps sets and just couldn't get anything to work. Then, I did it AGAIN ... pulled out Bud Basics! I combined this color inspiration with Jessie's (knightrone on SCS) sketch on Great Swaps Girls (GSGC11).

I almost didn't post this card, as it did not turn out like I had planned ... some days you got it, some days you don't! I think everything is pretty self-explanatory on this card, but wanted to point out that those are non-SU Dew Drops in the flower centers.
RECIPE
Stamps: Bud Basics, All Holidays
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close To Cocoa, Really Rust, and Certainly Celery
Embellishments: Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Dew Drops (non-SU)
Tools: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Supplies: Mini Glue Dots