Merry Monday And Convention Swap

Hello All! 

 Well...what a whirlwind my life has turned into!  WOW!!!  I feel like the last six-9 months has just flown by.  So much has happened...I will just bore you with the coles notes of it!  I'm sure you aren't really that into all the deets!  ha ha ha...Anyways, the short and sweet - I went back to work, my youngest started walking, I went to Convention, my cousin got married, I got a "promotion" of sorts at my other job.  Cardiac Operating Room - I CAN'T WAIT!!  I am nervous as all heck, but I cannot wait.

Anyways, that is all.  A few weeks ago - I went to the 25th Anniversary Stampin' Up! Convention.  I know if you are familiar with Stampin' Up! you know that it is the most amazing company with some seriously awesome product lines...well it was such an inspiring amazing experience.  I have been a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for about a year and a half now, I would consider myself a business builder of sorts!  I would love to support others in what they love, but this is an experience that is just so amazing and it would turn any hobbyist into a business builder!  From the swaps, the classes, the friends, the hotel, the freebies it was just amazing.  And to get to tour the home office was soo cool!!  Anyways....what I really came here to post was one of my convention swaps!!  I made 24 of these beauties to trade with other demos.  I am also going to be submitting this in the Merry Monday anything goes Challenge, it is a month long - which is why I have been able to make the deadline ha ha ha...Anyways...This is a suspension card - yes I know, why would I do something that's seems so difficult for a swap...well it is not difficult at all!!!  If you would like some details on how to make a suspension card let me know I'll send you a little tutorial!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Petite Pairs, Christmas Collectibles.

Ink: Island Indigo, Coastal Cabana.

Cardstock: Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Winter Frost DSP Stack.

Tools & Accessories: 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Christmas Ornament Punch, Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Stampin Piercer, Stampin Pierce Mat, Mini Silver Brads, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, 1/8" Silver Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, SNAIL.

 

So as you can see, this is a bit of a sneak peek.  There are a few products from the Holiday Mini in there!!  The Ribbon, the DSP, The Ornament Stamp and Punch.  Only two more days till you can view it all and enjoy it's glory!   Thanks for checking me out today.  Till next time!

 

Brenna

 

Submitted at: Merry Monday - Anything Goes 

Christmas Stamp Camp Card #5

Okay, ths is the last card that we made at my Christmas in September Stamp Camp.  I had so much fun doing this, and I can't wait till Oct. 21 when I have my second Christmas Stamp Camp.  They will be another 5 different designs, so it's going to be a fun night!  If you are in the Calgary area, you are always welcome to join in the fun.  Check out www.brennaanderson.stampinup.net to RSVP for any of my events!!

Here is my card:

Recipe:

Stamps: Merry Minis, Tiny Tags.

Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party.

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Holly Berry DSP (retired)

Accessories: 1/4" Grosgrain Whisper White (retired), Holly Berry designer buttons (retired).

Tools: Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Glue Dots, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Merry Minis Punch Pack.

This card had two variations: there was a red strip and a green strip of DSP to cut into the banner, then you could change the buttons also.  Some of the ladies used the opposite sides of the DSP to give it a different look, and that looks really cute also!!  I am always amazed at the creativity everyone has within them.  Even those who think they aren't creative at all (they are lying to themselves!!  ha ha ha)!! 

I love this stamp set, the little merry minis are all soo cute, but I do have to say thank god for the punch pack!!  I would definitely have a hard time using this stamp set if I had to fussy cut all the little images!!  SOO cute....anyways...

I love the simplicity of this card.  It is minimalist, but not...definitely clean and simple!!  Anyways, I jst wanted to post this last card!  I think the ladies who joined me were just as happy with the card choices as I was.  Can't wait for Oct 21...yay!  Thanks for checking me out! 

 

Brenna

 

Christmas Stamp Camp Card #4

I am back...a few more christmas cards to go in this stretch.  I can't wait to share this card with you all!  This was one of my favorites!  It uses a stamp set that is in the main catalogue, and was new to the catalogue last year, so I had also played with it a little last year, but it is so cute!  I just love it!!  And...it also features blue as a holiday colour, another reason that I love this card. 

Recipe:

Stamps: Snow Much Fun.

Ink: Jet Black Staz on.

Markers: Island Indigo, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Peach Parfait (retired).

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Island Indigo, Bashful Blue, Festival of Prints DSP.

Accessories: 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Island Indigo, 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta, (I added mini jingle bells -retired - after this photo, with Island indigo bakers twine in between the two ribbons).

Tools: Big Shot, Doilies Large Sizzlits die, Paper Snips, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Scallop Border punch, stampin dimensionals, sticky strip, SNAIL.

 

I love this card, it's soo cute.  When I colour my images in, I find that it's a bit of the "less is more" mindset, as I tend to get messy and colour outside the lines when I get bored of colouring, or it's to tedious and detailed.  So I just like to keep the colouring more to accent the image.  I don't know if I've said it before, but the stamp camp that I am doing in October will be all different cards.  I am still sorting out my options and deciding what I want to do for it.  But they will be neat!!  Thanks for checking me out again, and as always the more the merrier at my classes.  Check me out at brennaanderson.stampinup.net to RSVP for events or purchase any supplies you may need!

 

Brenna

Christmas in September Stamp Camp #3

Phew!  Back again!!!  Love love love christmas!  crafts, candy and cheer in much abundance!!  ha ha ha...Anway, another one of my christmas stamp camp cards!  I love this one becuase it had a bit of the vintage/roughed up look!  but it was in the classic christmas colours, and a quick and simple card.  not clean and simple (i had a hard time with that), but quick and simple!  ha ha ha....Anyways, here she is!

Recipe:
Stamps: Merry and Type.

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso.

Cardstock: Naturals White, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Gumball Green.

Accessories: 3/8" early espresso quilted satin (retired).

Tools: Big Shot, Lacy Brocade EF, Scallop Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, 1" Square Punch, Paper Snips, Stampin' Sponges, Sticky Strip, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals.

 

Love how Merry & Type lends itself to this stlye of card.  love it.  Some of the ladies added some stamping on the inside.  They used the same ornament stamp and stamped it off on the grid paper first and then stamped it on the inside of their card.  That way it was light enough to still write over for your christmas messages, but it was still a nice touch of stampin on the inside!

 

Thanks for checking me out again!!

 

Brenna

Christmas in September Stamp Camp Card #2

That sure is one heck of a tongue twister!!  ha ha ha...anyways, I am back today with another card that we did at my Christmas in September Stamp Camp.  I can't get over how much fun I had sharing all these cards with some fabulous ladies!!  This card was inspired by a sample that I saw on Stampin' Connection!  There is soo many crafty and creative ladies involved with Stampin' Up! 

Before I had the stamp camp, I actually changed the sentiment so that it used the "merry christmas" from Teeny Tiny Wishes instead of this guy from more merry messages.

 

Recipe: No Peeking, More Merry Messages (Teeny Tiny Wishes).

Ink: Chocolate Chip.

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeade, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade DSP.

Accessories: Lucky Limeade 1/8" Organza ribbon (everyday enchantment ribbon and brad pack-retired from SAB 2012)

Tools: SNAIL, Glue Dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Paper Piercer, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Stampin' Pierce Guide,  Corner Rounder Punch, heavy chipboard (for fork bow template), Big Shot, Chevron EF, Decorative Label Punch.

 

I really liked the simplicity of this card, and the ladies had some beautiful variations of the card using the sentiments from no peeking!  I saw some really cute "No Peeking" and "Jolly Christmas" sentiments on the cards!  Very cute!

Thanks for checking me out!  As always if you are in the Calgary area and would like to join in the fun, I have another Stamp Camp taking place on Oct, 21 at 6pm.  Please check out www.brennaanderson.stampinup.net to RSVP for this event!

 

Brenna

Christmas Stamp Camp Card #1

Hello!! 

I am here to share some of my Christmas in September Stamp Camp Cards!  woo hoo!!  I had so mch fn at this event!  It was my first stamp camp event, where everyone made ten cards each (2 each of 5 designs)!  I learned a lot of what works and what doesn't work for these events!  I'm glad that I planned it so that as little items as possible were having to be shared between the card stations, that was some good forsight!  ha ha ha...anyways, this was a set of cards I made, I just love the 2011-2012 In Colors so that was my hommage (spelling??) to them!  I saw a sample on Stampin' Connection, and I was totally inspired, I think it was a little 3x3 card or 4x4 card.  Dimensions are a bit hard to tell in pictures.  But I decided to make a standard sized A2 card ot of it, and once I made it in one of the colours, I couldn't stop until I had made them all!!  They are soo pretty!  The bling and the polka dot brads really add a lot to them!  You'll probably notice if you are familiar with Stampin' Up Products, I used the Northern Frost Decorative Strip for the snowflakes!  I just love these snowflakes, they are so beautiful and intricate and I find that they cut perfectly.  (tip - if you are cutting glimmer paper, cut it so that the white part, back of the glimmer paper, is against the die, otherwise it doesn't quite cut through the whole way and it's very difficult and tedious!!)  Definitely one of the items I had big time tears over retiring!!

Calypso Coral:

 Wisteria Wonder:

 Island Indigo:

 Lucky Limeade:

Pool Party: 

Recipe:

Stamps: Grateful Greetings (retired)

Ink: Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo.

Cardstock: Whisper White, Naturals white (card base, I find it is a bit sturdier then the whisper white), Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Silver Glimmer Paper.

Accessories: 3/8" ruffled ribbon in Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo; 2011-2013 In Color brads, silver brads, clear rhinestones (retired).

Tools: Big Shot, Stripes EF, Northern Frost Decorative Strip, SNAIL, Sticky Strip, Stampin Piercer, Stampin Pierce Pad, Simply Scored, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

 

ahh....Hard to say which one is my favorite, but I do love the Pool Party and the Wisteria Wonder!!  soo beautiful!!  Plus I *heart* the 3/8" ruffled ribbon!! 

 

At my stamp camp, the ladies were making two of each card, so they had a choice at this station which in colors they wanted to use.  They could pick two!  Everyone chose different colors and they were all beautiful!!  I am doing another Stamp Camp on October 21, 2012 in the evening at 6pm.  Check out: www.brennaanderson.stampinup.net to RSVP for this event if you are in the calgary area!!  have a great evening!!

 

Brenna

Submitted at: The |Paper Players - Tic Tac Toe Theme Challenge

Snow Falling??

oh man!!  It is still early in fall, and I'm already starting to think about when the snow is going to fall!!  Some years it starts hard and fast and there is tons of it at Halloween, other years I can remember taking my daughter to the park in november without even a sweater or socks on!!!  Wow!  Hopefully this year is one of the latter years!!  Either way, we always have a beautiful white christmas!!

Well I made this card while prepping for my holiday stamp camp (I made about ten cards, and then chose between them for this stamp camp).  This one did not make the cut for this stamp camp...but I still love it.  I tried to get a good assortment of cards with some different techniques, colour combos and stamp sets, while trying not to have too many supplies that needed to be shared between cards (which is why this one didn't make it).  So...this is it.  This is also the first card that I made with the woodgrain embossing folder.  This embossing folder was one that I wasn't originally planning to buy, but it is quickly falling into my most used Embossing folder.  It is just soo versatile!

Recipe:

Stamps: Jolly Bingo bits, Snow Much Fun.

Ink: Pool Party, Midnight Muse.

Cardstock: Midnight Muse, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Whisper White.

Accessories: Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin.

Tools: SNAIL, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallopped Border Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Stampin' Sponges, Modern label Punch, Big Shot, Woodgrain EF.

 

I love pool party, it just makes me think of a crisp cool snowy morning.  Thanks for checking me out today!

 

Brenna

Merry Monday (On Friday)

Hello all,

 

It's been a bit since my last post, but I assure you...I have been crafting!  ha ha ha..I have just been quite busy with family life and my crafting stuff.  I have quite a few things coming up in the next bit.  Last week I had my Stampin Card Club.  This sunday I have my first christmas stamp camp!  I'm super stoked about it!!  I think maybe one or two of the cards have been shown already...but there are definitely a few that I haven't shown yet!  Then on monday night I have the 4th meeting of Scrapbook Club!  Yay!!  September's Layout is absolutely adorable if I do say so myself!  ha ha ha...I absolutely love it!!  So stay tuned for that one!!  Anyways, onto my post for today!  ha ha ha...This is a card that I might use in my second wave of Christmas Stamp camp!  I am sure that I will learn a lot at this stamp camp in terms of what works and what doesn't...but I love love love this card!  I used some unconventional christmas colours to get a bit of a vintage feel.  But Pool Party has got to be one of the best colours for christmas cards (outside of the usual green/red and white).  I just love that colour!  I hope some day it makes it into one of the main colour groups!

Recipe:

Stamps: Polar Party, More Merry Messages.

Cardstock: Naturals White, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz (retired but is easily substituted with Certainly Celery), More Mustard.

Ink: Jet Black Staz on, Soft Suede, Pool Party; Pear Pizzazz marker, More Mustard marker, Sahara Sand marker, Bashful Blue marker.

Tools: SNAIL, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stampin' Sponges, Big Shot, Snowflakes EF.

Accessories: Linen Thread, Pool Party Seam binding, Smooch Spritz (the white one, can't remember the name of the top of my head).

 

My colouring style is sort of more is less.  I find that the more I try to colour in the more I colour outside the lines!  Sometimes I feel as if I need to go back to grade school to practice colouring in the lines again!!  ha ha ha...good thing I have a two year old to help me practice!!

I also used the smooch spritz and sprayed all over my image (the small white layer) once I was done colouring it.  It is hard to tell, but it is a subtle bit of shimmery goodness!! 

I used the Merry Monday Sketch for inspiration to get me started.  I love this challenge, and I am going to try and participate in this challenge regularly...that may be ambitious, so semi regularly at least...ha ha ha...oh i know myself too well!!  anyways, thanks for checking me out!  Love to hear your comments!!

 

Brenna

 

Submitted at: Merry Monday #33 - Sketch

Sweet Christmas

I am back!  As you can tell, I am all about christmas these days!  I have been trying to get my cards all created for my stamp a stack that is coming up.  it's not for another month....but I always get nervous If I haven't got it planned early enough, becuase then I can also eyeball my supplies to make sure I have enough of everything and I am not limited by my supplies with what I can make (ie. not enough time to order what i want to make the cards I want).  soooo....I made this sweet thing last night!!  Not sure if it will make the cut for this stamp a stack.  As I try to balance out the ease of creating with time allowed and what not...so I'm going to try and make ten and then choose five...and maybe i'll do a christmas round two!  yay!  ha ha ha...love the holidays!  anyways...I was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #49, and my colours were inspired by the Snow Festival Product wuite in the Stampin' Up! 2012 Holiday Mini.  Here is the sketch:

Love these sketches, they are so nice and provide just the right amount of inspiration needed to get your mojo going, but not so much stuff that you can't add a bit of your own thing in there too!!  Here is my card: 

Recipe:
Stamps: Sweets for the Sweet, Sassy Salutations.

Cardstock: Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White.

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Primrose Petals, Gumball Green.

Tools & Accessories: 1" Circle Punch, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip, 2-way glue pen, dazzling details, Apothecary accents framelits, 3/8" gumball green stitched satin.

 

With my stamp a stack I am also trying to use a variety of colours.  I don't want everyone to go home with ten cards that all look similar becuase they are all red, green and brown.  I am adding a few splashes of other colours also.  Thanks for checking me out today!

 

Brenna

 

Submitted: Freshly Made Sketches #49

Scentsational Christmas

Hello! 

I'm back with another card using the stamp set Scentsational Season! I just love this set, and the coordinating framelits make it just that much better!!  I am going to submit this in the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge.  I love getting my inspiration from sketches!  I can pick my stamp set/style of card I want to make, then my colours and go with it.  Half the job is done for me!  But this is such a cute sketch!  Lots of embossing on this card.  I love to add texture!  Check it out:

Recipe
Stamps: Scentsational Season.

Ink: Real Red, Gumball Green, Chocolate Chip.

Cardstock: Gumball Green, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Raspberry Ripple, Real Red, Be of Good Cheer DSP. 

Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Paper Snips, Simply Scored, Snow Burst EF (retired), Fancy Fan EF, Holiday Collection Framelits, SNAIL, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals.

I didn't heat emboss the images, but I think I will have my ladies (at the stamp-a-stack) heat emboss this with the peppermint sticks embossing powder.  It just adds a major wow factor, and smells soo good.  When you open the envelope you can smell the peppermint! Not only does it give it a great smell, but it also glosses up the mugs a little bit.  I also used my paper snips (one side of them, used like a craft knife) to cut a slit in the mugs to slip the straight end of the candy cane in the mug.  Thanks for checking me otu today!  Be sure to check out some of the other projects at Freshly Made Sketches for some inspiration!!

Brenna

Submitted at: Freshly Made Sketches: # 48