Happy 2016 and Holiday Thanks - Stampin' UP Artisan Blog Hop

Welcome BACK to the 2015-2016 Stampin' UP Artisan Design Team Blog Hop! 
I am so blessed that I get to create and inspire with these amazing Stampin' UP products and share with you all here for another wonderful year! Remember that every other Thursday, all 20 of us from all over the world will post on our blogs an inspiring project for you! Be sure to get Google Translate so that you can read in your language all about how they created their projects too. Please keep hoppin' thru them all....you do not want to miss anyone of these amazing ladies!

This week is an "open to create" week but to stay within the parameters of goodies from our Artisan box. I first opened the Shine On Specialty Designer Series Paper from the NEW Occasions Catalog (Coming out January 5th) and fell in love with the pops of neon colors and silver foil bling on Kraft cardstock! Just so me AND perfect to complete a task on my to-do list too!

This first card is perfect for a 2016 Happy New Year's card if you send those out. Gives someone a nice way to start the year out! I even think it would be perfect for a birthday card! Just change the age to whatever you need. It also features the Shine On Specialty DSP, the Large Numbers Framelits Dies and the Balloon Bouquet Punch. I added with Cucumber Crush and a sponge dauber to make the balloons more dimensional with shading.

Then I needed some quick Christmas Thank You cards for gifts received last week. I still like to maintain the Christmas theme in my thank you cards so I pulled out my Tree Punch with these. In keeping with the color theme of Bermuda Bay, Cucumber Crush, Kraft, Silver and Smoky Slate, I mixed them up to create two different cards with the same layout. All I had to do was add Silver Glimmer Paper, Smoky Slate Thick Baker's Twine, Silver Metallic Sequins and Everyday and Cherry on Top Washi Tape. The greeting "Thanks" comes from the NEW Sunburst Sayings Stamp Set. (I love that set!) I just stamped right on the DSP with Archival Basic Black Ink.

I hope this inspires you to send a happy 2016 or some thank you cards!

Thanks for stopping by here and if you leave a comment then thanks for truly making my day!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

Now on to one of my dearest friends and Artisan Design Team sister for life.....Connie Collins! She will blow your mind!

Follow our brand new Pinterest board *here*. 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Fancy Friday - Quick & Easy Christmas Tags

Welcome back to the Fancy Friday Blog Hop!

My fancy friends and I are back with some NEW fancy friends too! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! Then a few of us had to take a break so we invited some new FANCY friends to join us and make the blog hop a little longer for your enjoyment! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey.

 Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month will be one week early due to the holidays. This month we are having fun with Fancy Last Minute Christmas Tags! I don't know if mine classifies as FANCY but they are definitely LAST MINUTE as well as QUICK & EASY!

Everything you need is right here:

Scalloped Tag Top Punch

Tree Punch

Kraft Cardstock cut to 2" x 4"

Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack

Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon

Whisper White Baker's Twine

Paper Snips

Stampin' Dimensionals

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad

To and From Stamp from Festival of Trees Stamp Set

They are super quick to make! I made these 10 tags in about 25 minutes! The most time consuming part was tying the perfect little bows!

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
You saw Sarah Sagert's brightly colored card before me and now move on to 

Jennifer Timko's snowflake popping card by clicking on the next button below! 

If you keep scrolling down my blog, you can see my first Blog Post for the 2015-2016 Stampin' UP Global Artisan Design Team!

Season of Joy - 2015-2016 Stampin' UP Artisan Blog Hop!

 Welcome BACK to the 2015-2016 Stampin' UP Artisan Design Team Blog Hop! 

Yep! Don't pinch me cause I love this dream...
I cannot believe that I get to type those words again above!!!!! I am still in shock!!!!! 
Getting that phone call was probably one of the most amazing blur of moment in my life! Seriously! I remember seeing the Utah phone number show up on my phone, answering it and it was my dear friend Becky Cowley from last year's team on the other line. (which to me was super cool to just talk to her because she works at SU now) But also on the phone were Sean Douglass and other friends on the SU Concept Art Team! SHUT UP! I started to FREAK OUT jumping up and down right there in my work office! I had been selected to be on the Artisan Design Team for the 3rd year in a row!!!!! OMGeez! And then they popped the BIG question......would you like to be Team Lead this year? I literally dropped my phone! That right there....meant the world to me! To lead this amazing group of talented ladies has been a new dream come true! I am completely honored and SO excited! We are already chatting daily and building a strong bond of friendship across the globe!

A little bitty about me...
I lead a very fulfilling life here in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia that includes my strong faith, my family and friends, everything Disney and being creative! I have been married for 22 years to my high school sweetheart and we have two wonderful daughters; Megan and Allison. All thru my life, I have been very artistic and crafty. I even have a degree in Art Education which combines my two favorite things: art and teaching! I love to teach or inspire others to find their own creativity! Over 11 years ago, I came across Stampin' Up at a workshop and fell in love with their top quality products that perfectly coordinate together. I really love to dabble in everything from stamped cards, gift packaging, scrapbooking, Project Life, and home decor. You will find my style to be graphic yet clean and simple with a flair for crafty, functional fun! 

Get to the good stuff...

I am so blessed that I get to create and inspire with these amazing Stampin' UP products and share with you all here for another wonderful year! Remember that every other Thursday, all 20 of us from all over the world will post on our blogs an inspiring project for you! Be sure to get Google Translate so that you can read in your language all about how they created their projects too. Please keep hoppin' thru them all....you do not want to miss anyone of these amazing ladies!

Now on to my first official project cause I know you came to be inspired......
I wanted to still do a little Christmas cause it is ONLY mid-December after all. I also wanted to use some new products that will be available on January 5th in the new Occasions Catalog! See that Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper? It is SO pretty!

I bought this mini tree trim in silver and green at the "bullseye store" and wired it into a circle shape. Then punched bows out of the Glimmer Papers with the Builder Bow Punch. I used hot glue to assemble the bows for a secure hold and glued them to wreath. They make a cute ornaments for my friends. I made some white Almond Bark covered pretzels to fill up the Petite Cafe Gift Bags. See the "ornament theme" here?

Thanks for stopping by here and if you leave a comment then thanks for making my day!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
I am so beyond happy to type these words again.....now on to one of my dearest friends and ADT sister for life.....Connie Collins!

Follow our brand new Pinterest board *here*. 

Here is the whole 2015-2016 Stampin' UP Global Artisan Design Team:

Allison Okamitsu – http://nicepeoplestamp.blogspot.ca/

Amy O’Neill – http://amyoneillblog.com/

Chantal de Kaste - http://www.loveforstamping.blogspot.nl/

Cindy Schuster - http://www.nutmegcreations.blogspot.com/

Connie Collins – http://www.constantlystamping.com/

Inge Groot - http://patternedpapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Frost - http://www.jenniferfrost.blogspot.com/

Jessica Williams - http://thepapercaper.com.au/

Jessica Winter - http://kunterbuntestempelwelt.com/

Joyce Fowler - http://www.craftwithjoyce.ca/

Kimberly Van Diepen - http://stampinbythesea.com/

Krista Frattin - http://www.stampindolce.com/

Marisa Gunn – http://dzinesbymeg.typepad.com/

Michelle Long – http://stampin365.com/

Rachel Grandin-Torchet - http://dontworrybecrafty.com/en/

Shannon Lane - http://crushoncolour.blogspot.com/

Steffi Helmschrott - http://stempelwiese.de/

Sue Plote - http://thispinkrooster.blogspot.com/

Susan Wong - http://stampingsusan.blogspot.com/

Valerie Moody - http://stampingwithval.com/

Christmas Pines with Creation Station Blog Hop

 

The Creation Station Design and Blog Hop is back this month! I was beyond thrilled to be asked to join this group of talented women for a monthly blog hop to inspire you with creative top of the line projects with a theme from all around the globe! We hope that you hop thru each blog and leave comments as we all love to hear praise about our creations!

This month we were to cover the most wonderful time of the year - "Christmas" (duh!) and feature a holiday product of course. I picked the Peaceful Pines bundle set!  I really find value in a stamp set with matching framelits. Always a win win situation! I have been waiting to use it and I am so happy to report that I LOVE IT! Which makes me happy that it will continue to be offered after the Holiday Catalog comes to a close on January 5th. Yippee!

Few of my favorite things on the first project:

The color combo of Cucumber Crush, Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Gold AND silver as well as Whisper White. I love the mixed metallics in this combo!

The stamp image from the Peaceful Pines Stamp Set. I stamped in Cucumber Crush and then using my Aqua Painter, I added some watercolored ink to the tree. Absolutely love having a matching framelit for this tree too! Makes it so easy!

Using the Washi Tape as a layer. This gold striped version from the Winter Wonderland Designer Washi Tape.

Few of the my favorite things on the second project:

Gift Bag Punch Board - need I say more? It is a must have!

The Gold Satin Ribbon as the backdrop to the tag. Love working with this ribbon!

I used the Christmas Greetings Thinlits "Jolly" and cut out the double L's for just a simple JOY. Leave enough of it to glue them together using the Fine Tip Glue Pen.

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Creation Station blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

I am a Cindy sandwich today between two Jens! You saw Jennifer's awesome project before me and now move on to Jen's incredible project by clicking on the next button below! 

Jennifer Downey

Jen Arkfeld

Fancy Friday - Nontradtional Christmas

Come see our FANCY FRIDAY BLOG HOP 

for a Non-traditional Christmas Color Combo!

My fancy friends and I are back with some NEW fancy friends too! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! Then a few of us had to take a break so we invited some new FANCY friends to join us and make the blog hop a little longer for your enjoyment! These are a group of past and current Artisans that have become fast friends thru the Artisan journey.

 Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc)! This month and next will be one week early due to the holidays. This month we are having fun with a color challenge using NON-Traditional Christmas colors! THIS was quite a challenge! I so wanted to use red and green in these cards, but I didn't! Overall, I love the pop of bright colors and I love the basic layout of these cards. I could even recreate them in traditional colors if I choose!

I watercolored the strips in Blackberry Bliss on Whisper White Cardstock. It almost is a pinky purple when watered down. The JOY is die cut with the Wonderful Wreath Framelits and Crushed Curry. The Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper with the wreath die cut from the same Wonderful Wreath Framelits. Then I just placed with Fine-Tip Glue Pen, a bunch of clear and white Metallic Sequin Assortment.

The strips here are done in Crushed Curry in same technique. Then I used Cucumber Crush, Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo for the accent colors. The words come from the Holly Jolly Greetings and the coordinating Christmas Greetings Thinlits Dies. I am loving the Silver Cording here! It curves so easy into a spiral right off the spool.  You just cut a smaller piece to tie the bow.

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Fancy Friday blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy
You saw Allison Okamitsu's brightly colored card before me and now move on to 

Jennifer Timko's snowflake popping card by clicking on the next button below! 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Artisan Blog Hop Treasure Hunt Winner Announcement

My Treasure Hunt Winner is.......

Congratulations!
I will be sending an email this week to set up delivery! 
Be on the lookout for a fun package filled with these goodies!

Thank you all for participating in our Treasure Hunt! We had over 200 entries! We hope that you enjoyed it and CONGRATS to all the winners!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

Now move on to my friend from France, Helene Legrand to see who was her prize winner!

Last CPC Sneak Peak BONUS by Christy

Here is the last sneak peak over on Craft Project Central this month!  If you have never heard of CPC, then go check it out! Great way to get many project ideas! 

It’s time to get ready for Christmas! This project would make a wonderful gift, and anyone would love to receive it. While you’re at it, make one for yourself, too. The tutorial includes a decorated box with a window, and has five compartments to hold 20 tags and a Christmas ornament. It also includes four different tag designs, and five are made of each. It includes a little Christmas ornament, too. The project features the Snow Place and Embellished Ornament Stamp Sets, along with their coordinating dies.

To get the instructions for Christy’s project, just subscribe to October (or one of our 3, 6 or 12 month discounted packages!), and meet one of the bonus project requirements of subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or referring a friend and when they subscribe, letting us know!! And if you have a minute, please leave Christy a comment on her project!

If you would like to see and learn how to make this bonus project, you'll want to subscribe for the month of October, AND qualify for the bonus project. Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or by referring a friend and when they subscribe, letting CPC know. With your subscription, and qualifying for the bonus project, you'll get illustrated, step-by-step instructions for 11 wonderful projects for only $10!

It has been a lot of fun working with the Craft Project Central team! They are top-notch ladies that keep you organized and very helpful! I hope to be a guest designer for them again in the near future!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this inspires you!

Cindy

Thankful with the Creation Station Blog Hop

Today kicks off my participation in The Creation Station Design and Blog Hop Team! I was beyond thrilled to be asked to join this group of talented women for a monthly blog hop to inspire you with creative top of the line projects with a theme from all around the globe! We hope that you hop thru each blog and leave comments as we all love to hear praise about our creations!

This first month we were to cover "thankful". I have much to be thankful, grateful, and blessed about!  I started out with a color combo that had been in my head. Very Vanilla, Basic Gray and the new mustard Delightful Dijon. From there, I just started pulling a few fall and "thankful" products to come up with two projects to show you today.

Few of my favorite things on the first project:

The Basic Gray splatter from Gorgeous Grunge stamp set on the Woodland embossed Very Vanilla Square Pillow Box. The mini acorn from the Into the Woods Elements. The Silver Glimmer Paper cut into the "grateful" from the Seasonal Frame Thinlits Dies.

Few of the my favorite things on the second project:

Again, the splatter in Whisper White Craft Ink on the Basic Gray Woodland Emboss. I then took the same splatter stamp with Basic Gray ink and smeared the stamp across some Very Vanilla cardstock. It makes it look like bark from the birch tree. I punched with the Acorn Punch. I mixed some winter touches even more in with the fall theme by adding the Snowflake Elements too. What do you think? Does it work? 

Thanks for stopping by my post for the Creation Station blog hop!

Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

You saw Sara Levin's awesome project before me and now move on to 

Elizabeth Price's incredible project by clicking on the next button below! 

Sara Levin

Elizabeth Price

Fancy Friday - Treats not Tricks!

Welcome to the FANCY FRIDAY BLOG HOP 

for a Treats not Tricks challenge!

My fancy friends and I are BACK! We loved working with each other so much that we decided to continue on with an all new blog hop to inspire you in fun new ways! Each month on the last Friday, we will bring to you new challenges of all kinds (color,sketch, stamp focus, etc) that you can even participate in!  Use #fancyfriday with your challenge project!

This month we are having fun with a some last minute treats that you can make! I went with some simple and quick Halloween treats that you can do. Grab a kraft gift bag, the Howl-o-ween stamp set and the Boo to You Framelits as well as the Spider Web Doilies. Use whatever embellishments you have on hand!

 This is for the wicked witch! I am loving the frayed Rich Razzleberry Cotton Ribbon that looks a little like a broom! I added some punch stars in Black Glimmer Paper on the hat.

This is for the "dead man tells no tales" pirate! I took the cotton ribbon in Real Red and made a headband. I cut off the fleur de lis tips on the doily here for a more masculine look here. I stamped the Gorgeous Grunge in Crumb Cake on the gift bag for some splattered background. That is the Smoky Slate Chevron Ribbon! Don't you love it!

 

This was fun to make! I was inspired by my daughter Megan's painted pumpkin this past weekend so I had to make the skull and bones into a Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos character. I used the Kraft gift bag for the front layer as well. I used Stampin' UP write markers in Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Tangelo Twist and Cucumber Crush. I just did it all by hand while looking at samples of the image.  

Finally, here is my after Halloween project using this stamp set and framelits. A pirate birthday card for a boy! I used a whole Spider Web Doily and the greeting is from a retired stamp set from last year. I made a few of these so I have them on hand.

Thanks for stopping by our Fancy Friday Blog Hop! I hope this inspires you!

Cindy

You saw Cathy Caines before me and now move on to 

Connie Collins by clicking on the next button below! 

Sparkly Seasons - Stampin' UP Artisan Blog Hop Finale

Welcome back to the Stampin' UP Artisan Design Team Blog Hop! 

We are finishing on our October 2015 box from Stampin' UP as well as our Artisan Team commitment. What a year plus a few months it has been!

This box was FULL of super fun holiday products 

from the NEW Stampin' UP Holiday Catalog!!!!!  
Creating with these amazing products and sharing with you all here has been my favorite thing to do! This week, 13 of us from all over the world will post on our blogs an inspiring project for you and a special offer with prizes! Be sure to get Google Translate so that you can read in your language all about how they created their projects too.  Now on to my very LAST 2014-2015 Artisan Design Team project....(let me get a tissue first)

This week we are showcasing the Sparkly Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set and Seasonal Frames Thinlits Dies. This is a great "build your own" collection and you can buy it in a bundle for less! #140863

For my first card, I went with the Halloween theme. Chevron is my favorite pattern so naturally I had to make a purple chevron pumpkin!  It is sponged in Rich Razzleberry on the stamp. I took the large rectangle thinlit die and cut it with the Happy Haunting DSP and Black Glimmer Paper. The Banner Punch adds a flag of color to match the greeting thinlit SPOOKY. Another part I love is the Linen Thread behind the pumpkin to look like pumpkin patch vines.

 
Then I took the basic layout of the above card and switched it to a Christmas theme. Ok, that Reindeer Clip finally grew on me and I had to make it a Rudolph with the Real Red Pompom Trim. I stamped the Nutcracker and presents in Sahara Sand for a softer image behind the greeting.

And finally.....I absolutely love snowmen! I also love snowglobes! I even have a collection of them that I display each year at Christmas time. I have over 20! For my last card, I had to use the adorable snowman in a snowglobe, of course! I took a piece of window sheet and White Stazon to put the stirred snow stamp image in the globe. Another fun way to step up those Snowflake Elements is to add Pearls to them. The pretty patterns are from the Season of Cheer DSP. And you know White Glimmer Paper adds a sparky snow touch!

 Now for some real fun! It's Treasure Hunt time! 
This week is our very last post as the 2014-15 Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team. We've set up a global Treasure Hunt as a little thanks to you for following our adventures. 

Here's how to play:
1) Collect the names of 12 Stampin' Up! products by clicking through our blog hop this week. 
My Clue:
"Stampin' Dimensionals"

2) Fill out the entry form below. Leave your 12 correct answers in the comments to go in the drawing. My winner will get the following prize! A fix of fun goodies for some Christmas wrapping! You must be from the US in order to enter my drawing!
My Prize:

Please note: One winner will be drawn per Artisan according to their geographical location. Entries close 9pm, Wednesday 4th November Eastern Time (US). Winners will be contacted via email week beginning 9th November 2015. 
These prizes are a bit of love from us to you and are not sponsored by Stampin' Up! 

Thank you for following the 2014-2015 Artisan Design Team Blog Hop! I am a proud mama bear of this Global Team from all over the world! (We did it, ladies! WOOT!)

And on a personal note, I am forever grateful to have served Stampin UP on the past two Artisan Design Teams. (more tissues) I have gained many sisterhood friendships with each of these incredibly talented and sweet women! I have found huge support and encouragement among my followers and my peers. Each comment left on posts, meant the world to me and more then I could ever express! I am truly blessed! Thank you Stampin' UP for the journey! 
But don't fret, I am not going anywhere! I will still be posting weekly or monthly on new design teams or just me. 
Inspire. Create. Share. That's what I love to do.

Cindy

Now move on to my friend from France, Helene Legrand by clicking on the next button below!  Be sure to stop by all 13 of us! Plenty of good ideas to get your holidays kicked off!

And if you are wondering who is on the next Artisan Design Team...the new Team will be announced at Onstage on November 14th!!!  Excited to see who it will be!