Pink Paislee Cupid Collection!

This is Trudy's first card for us. She used these items from the store:

~Pink Paislee Cupid Collection

~Copic Markers

~May Arts One Inch Satin Ribbon

Happy Weekend everyone!!

Pink Paislee Valentine!

If you haven't ordered your Pink Paislee Cupid papers from Barb now is your time! You can still get these great papers to make your Valentine cards!

Items that Kim used that are available in the store:
~Pink Paislee Cupid Postcards
~Pink Paislee Cupid Love Potion
~Copic Sketch Markers
~Signo White Gel Pen
~Score-It Mini
~Scrapbook Adhesive 3D Foam Squares

Be sure to check out yesterday's post regarding the American Crafts Ribbon FREEBIES and also don't forget about the FREE SHIPPING deal and the FREQUENT BUYER PROGRAM.

Spotlight on Guest Designer Julie Glasow

I'd like to introduce you to December's Guest Designer Julie Glasgow!

Julie used American Craft's Blue Skies Collection on her card!

1. How long have you been stamping, how did you start?!

I have been stamping for 12 years. I started when my daughter was born. It actually all started with scrapbooking. My first scrapbook was created as a Christmas gift for my parents. In putting the book together, I found that I was having a problem with stickers. I loved them so much, but once I used them, they were gone and I could not use them again. Then, a neighbor invited me to a Stampin’ Up! workshop. I loved the images, and I could use them again and again. I got hooked on stamping. I love to add stamped images to my scrapbook pages, and also love that I can use the images on cards. I spent several years as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, but have now retired to just enjoy the artistic venture.

2. What is your creative ritual when creating?!

I usually start with an image, some paper, or a sketch I want to use. I often start with a sketch for sketch challenges because they give me a clear jumping off point. Once I have chosen my stamp and paper, I choose Copics colors to match my paper. I will then color my image, watching along the way to be sure it matches the color scheme of the paper. Then, if using a sketch, I cut my paper and image to reflect the elements in the sketch and put the pieces together. Sometimes, at this point, I get a hankering to use embossing folders or die cuts. I try to remember not to glue it down right away, just in case I want to add ribbon or brads, because I don’t want those to show on the inside of the card. I will then look at the card to see what areas need to be filled in. I usually choose flowers because I just love flowers. I also like brads, charms and Dew Drops to add that extra flair. I should let you know that I am a messy crafter. I like everything neat and organized, but it never ends up that way.

3. What is your favorite embellishment?!

FLOWERS! I just love Prima’s. I also really love embossing folders, brads, ribbon, Dew Drops, and other types of flair.

4. Where do you draw inspiration from?!

I am seriously addicted to blogging. I have a few favorite crafters from around the world that really inspire me to stretch beyond my norm and go the extra mile in the artistic aspect of stamping. I also find inspiration in color choices from designer papers, clothing, and sunsets, anything that has color patterns that evoke emotion.

5. What does your work say about you?!

Unfortunately, I think my work reveals something about me that is not necessarily a good thing. I am a bit of a perfectionist. I have a desire to be the best, so I am always striving to improve my style. However, stamping also helps me in so many ways, especially as a stress reliever. It allows me to leave the left, analytical side of my brain behind for a while and just be free to create.

6. What are you reading right now?!

I just finished reading Prairie Tale (Melissa Gilbert’s Autobiography). Since then, I have been exercising the left side of my brain by doing logic problems. Other than that, I read blog posts. I suppose I am fascinated by real people and real lives. Blogs are an opportunity to get to know real people from all over the world. I love getting to know other crafters.

You can see more of Julie's work in her EIO GALLERY and on HER BLOG!

~michelle~

Imaginisce Blue Skies!

This card by Guest Designer Julie just makes me grin!

These items are found in our store:
~Imaginisce Blue Skies - One Fine Day
~Imaginisce Blue Skies - I'm Like A Bird
~Imaginisce Fairest Of Them All - Bird Acrylic Stamp
~Copic Markers

Be sure in the hustle and bustle of the holidays that you take time to check out the awesome sale prices in our store....combined with FREE shipping over $50 and the Frequent Buyer Program you can wrap up some real savings!

Snowflakes on Mittens....

It-Girl Kim shared this adorable card today. It features the following items from the store:

~American Crafts Blue Skies Collection

~Copic Markers

~Signo White Gel Pen

~Memento Ink

Remember the FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50.00....the awesome sale prices continue until the end of the year.....but be sure to grab them up before they are GONE!

Guest Design Team Member Julie's take on our challenge!

Check out what I found when browsing our gallery!! This is simply the cutest ever!!! A perfect last-minute gifty too!

Julie used Copic Markers and Stampavie's Time For Apple Pie image for her project! We look forward to seeing the rest of her projects during her time with us!!

Last Ride of Summer!

We're enjoying one last blast of summer here before fall hits tomorrow....temps are warm and Rosalie is out for her last bike trip of the season!

These items are from the store:
~Basic Grey Brads
~American Crafts Backyard Collection
~Sara Kay Rosalie's Bicycle
~Imaginisce 1 1/2 inch Flowers
~Imaginisce 1 inch Flowers
~Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
~Copic Markers
~Spica Glitter Pens

Don't forget these AWESOME deals Barb is offering!

Get Free Shipping on orders of $50.00 or more! Enter code 4SP9HD in the coupon box at checkout!

New Frequent Buyer Club! For every $5.00 in purchases you'll receive 1 point. Collect 30 points and you'll receive a voucher for $15.00 off on your next purchase!

Great Sale on Basic Grey 12x12 Collections, Pink Paislee and Imaginisce! Prices from 20 to 35% off!

~michelle~

Spotlight on It-Girl: Kim Gruetzmacher

Today we're meeting It-Girl Kim!

1. Describe your style in FIVE words or less....

Girly, frilly, lots of layers, lots of dimension, and tons of color (bright)!

2. What is your favorite embellishment?!

I can’t name just one….my cards are 10 lb. cards by the time I am done with them!….I LOVE flowers, ribbon, lace, charms, and a girl’s gotta have bling!

3. Do you start with your design elements and see where you end up, or do you sketch your work out first?!

I love sketch challenge blogs, that is where I get a lot of my card layouts from. When I try to create without a sketch I sit and stare at my blank paper for hours because I don’t know what I want to do. I love having a plan, and then I can attack! I like to pick out my design paper before I color my image so that I can find Copics that match the paper color. I do not glue down anything until I have my card all laid out and am satisfied with the overall design.

4. Where do you find inspiration?!

Blogland! I think I spend more time reading blogs than I do creating. I love having a blog, especially because of all the amazing friends that I have made in the past year and a half. People in our hobby are so friendly and helpful it’s so heartwarming! Magazines give me lots of good ideas too.

5. On my iPod....

Lots of 80s music….from the pop songs to the big hair hits! I am a product of the 80s and still love the music! A tie with the 80s would be current country music! However, my taste of music is pretty eclectic. Thank goodness for Sirius Radio….I can listen to whatever I am in the mood for that day!

6. When I grow up I want to be.....

a Mom…but this girl has to finish school first! If I could choose any job ….I would have to say that I would love to work for a big-time craft supply manufacturer where I got to play with awesome products all day long….but being realistic, I will stick to my Accounting degree and goal to become a CPA in 2 years!

These beautiful samples of Kim's work feature the following poducts from our store:

May Arts Ric Rac

BasicGrey Lemonade Collection

May Arts Satin Ribbon

Copics

Spica – Clear

Memento Tuxedo Black

Imaginisce – Pink Flamingo Wild Flowers


To see more of Kim's beautiful work, check out her Embellish-Online Gallery and her blog! ~michelle~

Friday Challenge 55 - Cool Blue!

Welcome to Friday Challenge 55 ~ Cool Blue!
Date: August 14, 2009
Hostess: Michelle Pearson

It's likely sweltering where you live, so use COOL COLORS to create cards, layouts or projects this month!

Items from the store used in this card:

~Imaginisce Baby Powder Collection Bubble Bath

~Imaginisce Baby Powder Collection Baby Talk Journaling Tags

~Imaginisce Baby Shower Pocket Full of Posies

~Copic Markers

~Spica Glitter Pens

~Making Memories Springtime Pebble Brads

~BasicGrey Boxer Buttons

~May Arts 1/2 inch Ric Rac

If you can play along with us, please use code FC55 when you upload your card to our gallery, and leave a note in this thread! ~michelle~

Spotlight on Guest Designer: Latisha Yoast!

We are so pleased to have Latisha Yoast with us in July as a Guest Designer! I asked her a few questions and we're featuring on of her beautiful cards today as inspiration!


1. Describe your style in 5 words or less.

~Clean, Organized, Fresh, Simple elegance

2. What is your favorite embellishment?!

~easy ribbon

3. Where do you find inspiration?!

~I know my style and only buy things that I love, so finding inspiration from fashion, magazines or pictures makes it easy to put that into a card or lay out. For instance the Early Bird line from Cosmo Cricket has me going bonkers, its such a fun paper line and I have ideas just swarming around, I love when a product can do that.

4. Do you start with your design elements and see where you end up...or do you sketch your work out first?!

~I will look at my stuff and kind of have a game plan before I start, I waste less paper that way. I will find an image to color in, have some ideas of my color scheme then work from there. Or I will match my coloring to a paper I want to use.

5. What is your favorite technique?!

~I really enjoy coloring with Copic markers, is that a techinique lol. I love tying bows (not knots) it has taken a long time to learn to tie one.

6. What is your greatest dream?!

~My biggest dream....Well, I have an auto-immune disease called Crohn's Disease (there is no cure). So my biggest dream is to live a long and happy life, where I get to see my children grow up, graduate college, get married and enjoy my grand children, that would be perfection and make my life complete.

My biggest dream as a designer, is to continually get better, maybe one day have my own store or line of stamps, that would be pretty cool!

Items from the store:

~Stampavie First Kiss

~Copic Markers

~American Crafts, Backyard Collection; Splash

~May Arts Silk Ribbon

~American Crafts, Backyard Collection; Baa

~American Crafts, Backyard Collection; Slurp

Be sure to check out Latisha's gallery and blog for more inspiration!

~michelle~

Picnics of Daisies!

Check out these gorgeous flowers from Prima! They add so much dimenison to your project!

I used the following items from the store:
~American Crafts, Baby Collection: Humpty Dumpty
~Prima Petite Fleur Vines Daisy
~Copic Markers
~Copic Airbrush
~Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
~Stampavie: Picnics of Daisies!

Thanks for taking a peek!
~michelle~

Stampavie's First Kiss!

I'm just so in love with these Stampavie images....they are adorable in black and white, but so fun to bring alive with color!

These items can be found in our store:
~Stampavie's First Kiss
~Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
~May Arts 1-inch Satin Ribbon
~Copic Markers
~Spica Glitter Pens
~Copic Airbrush
~Cuttlebug Embossing Folders
~Prima Flowers

We hope you are inspired by the projects we showcase on the blog. We would love to see your work in our gallery....we hope you will share your creativity with us! ~michelle~

Sweet Wishes!

Today I'm sharing a card I made this weekend....had a girlfriend and her family over. The kids played, the men golfed and we had ourselves a *stampavie* session!

This card all started with the cuttlebugged layered piece in the background! It was from a trial run of a 5x7 anniversary invitation. I was recycling pieces of the card and not thinking, tore the panel in half...I like the half clean half torn look!

Items from the store:
~Sara Kay, Precious Moments
~American Crafts, Baby Collection, Little Bo Peep
~Copic Markers
~Spica Glitter Pens
~BasicGrey Mini Brads
~Memento, Tuxedo Black Ink Pad

Hope you like her as much as I do! ~michelle~

Friday Challenge 41

Welcome to Friday Challenge 41!

This week's hostess is Daniela

Her Challenge: Punched shapes/die cuts

Details: Create a quick card by stamping on punched shapes/die cuts.

The keyword for the challenge is FC41. Please use this keyword when uploading your project, and post a link to your upload in this thread so we can see what beautiful work you've done!Make sure you check back every Friday for a new challenge!

This Friday's Challenge Gallery Submissions may be seen here.

Here is my card for the challenge!

I stamped Rose's Garden from Stampavie with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, colored her with Copic Markers and highlighted her top trim, hair bow and garden tools with Spica Glitter Pens. The designer paper is from BasicGrey's Urban Prairie Collection. I stamped the die cut with Maya Road Sakura Clear Stamps and then embossed it with Cuttlebug's Diamond in the Rough Embossing Folder.

We hope you can play along.....and upload your work so we can be inspired! ~michelle~

Friday Challege 40 - A Color Challenge!

Welcome to Friday Challenge 40!

The Hostess: Michelle (me!)
The Challenge: Color Challenge

Details: Use any or all of these colors on your creation, be it a card, layout, or project!
Chocolate Chip, Lavender, Sky Blue, Lime Green


This card uses the following fun products found in our store:

~Fancy Pants, Simplicity Collection, Decorate Designer Paper.

~Stampavie, Picnics of Daisies

Copic Markers and Spica Pens also were used!

We would love to see what you come up with using any combination of these colors. If you can play along, please use keyword FC40 when you upload your work to the gallery!

Have a great weekend!! ~michelle~

Gallery Spotlight!

Check out this gorgeous card that Suzy uploaded into our gallery this week! There are lots of products on here for you to see in action! Be sure you hop on in to the gallery and leave her some love here!

She made this flirty little shaped card using the fabulous new Prima Papers Memories and Ruby.
She also used the following products that are available in our store: Copic Markers, May Arts Ribbon, Memento Ink, and Prima Flowers!

I'm going to be cruising the galleries again....so if you have projects you've made with products in our store....I may feature your work on the store blog! The more products the better to catch my eye! I look forward to seeing your creations!! ~michelle~

Tinsel Town, Sweet Cakes and Copic Markers!

Finally Tinsel Town and Sweet Cakes are ready to ship from Pink Paislee! We'll have them by the end of next week! If you want to pre-order these sets let me know and I'll give you a link!

Oooooooo and the Copic Markers are set to arrive next week also! Finally no more having to pre-order! (but you can if you want to get your order in before they get here...... pre-orders will ship first!)

Bunches O' Buttons and an INVITATION!

Beautiful Buttons by BasicGrey....each package has 66 buttons with 6 different colors and featuring new clear buttons too! These coordinate with the paper lines....check them out!!!

We'd also like to invite you and ALL of your Copic-lovin' friends to join us for a Copic Chat with EmilyLaurel, our Copic Representative!

What: A Copic Chat.....come with all of your questions if you're a newbie or even a Copic wannabe!

When: Thursday, October 30, 7:00 MST (Mountain Standard Time)

Where: Right in our forum...c'mon in and join the fun....we're a friendly bunch!

RSVP: If you can join us, please be sure to let us know where you heard about this awesome opportunity...whether it is here, on a Design Team Member's blog or on a Customer's blog....we want to know! Let us know in this thread!

Don't forget....GLITTER is the magic word to get you 20% off of your entire order.....so though the Copics in the store are PREORDER....who can't use the magic of a sale to add these lovelies to your stash?! We look forward to meeting you!!! ~michelle~

Copic Markers Available for PRE-ORDER!

COPIC Sketch Markers with its Super Brush is the perfect tool for creative expression in fashion, graphics, textiles, fine arts lettering and calligraphy.

• It paints as well as it draws.
• It's oval body profile is roll resistant on working surfaces.
• Durable polyester nibs come in Medium Broad and Super Brush - a soft, flexible, fast-flowing brush for delicate or bold expression.
• Available in 322 colors.
• Refillable with the standard COPIC Various Inks.
• Solid polypropylene body is both smooth and comfortable for a perfect, controllable grip.
• Precise and positive colored capping system provides for instant color selection.
• Body inscriptions and symbols are wear resistant and easily cleaned with COPIC cleaner.

Individual sketch markers retail at $5.95 each. The price is going up January 1st, 2009.

Pre-Order now to get them at the current price. Copic Pre-Orders will take approximately 8 weeks to ship from Japan. **All marker are currently Pre-Order

Copic Marker Color Chart (pdf file)

We have tried to give the coordinating colors to match Stampin Up Cardstock. Please use your own judgement on the color selection. This is our comparison to the SU colors.

So....with that fun news.....I'll leave you to start making your lists! Remember, if you pre-order you can take advantage of the 20% discount by using the work GLITTER! ~michelle~