Favourites from 2016

Happy New Year Everyone! 
And, what a great year 2016 has been for me!  I've had a lot of stamping fun this year, reached some personal goals I set for my stamping hobby/business and had some great stamping achievements:

• Was a guest attendee at a Stampin' Up Event in January in Duarte California and my card won in it's category
• Reorganized my stamp room early in March and it works!  
• I was invited to join the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Blog as a member of the Design Team in April
• Joined the Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop as a regular contributor in April
• In May I was picked as a Display Artist for the November On Stage Vancouver and got to make projects with the Urban Collection stamp sets and dies - what fun and an honour!
• Reached my goal of Silver Elite in December
• Grew my Stampin' Up! Team by 2 new members in December
• Participated in a Stampin' Up Virtual Survey during December
• Finished and mailed out all my Christmas cards on time this year! 
•  

So  the following is really a trip down memory lane for me and includes some of my favourite posts. I hope you're inspired and will leave some comments. 

April 2016:

Kath's WWC63 Colour Challenge Click Here:

May 2016:

Wacky Water Cooler Mashup Blog Hop Click Here:

June 2016:

Dreaming of November ......Click Here:

July 2016:

WWC78 Jean's Theme Challenge - Anything With a "B"Click Here:

August 2016:  

WW83 Penny's Z-Fold Birthday Wishes  Click Here:

September 2016:

WWC85 Jean's Colour Challenge  Click Here

October 2016:

WWC91 Marsha's Masculine Challenge   Click Here

November 2016: 

November 2016 Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop Click Here:

Check out all three projects in this blog hop.  From gift card holders to box card they are all fun!
December 2016:  

WWC99-Marsha's Clean and Simple (CAS) 

Make It With Hearts Challenge

Click Here:

Well that's it for this year.  I hope you've enjoyed this little tour and will come back and see me in 2017.  I love it when people visit my site and it absolutely makes my day when you let me know if you like the projects I'm working on.  I'd also like to here if there are particular cards you'd like me to make.    Happy New Year Everyone and Happy Stamping! 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

My First 12 x 12 Sampler

I like firsts!  It's so exciting to do something for the first time.  I'm always so afraid to take the first step, but once I actually get geared up and start the fear suddenly disappears and the endorphins kick in and the thrill of discovery and creativity takes over.  What a thrill!

My project today is a Christmas sampler and it's a "first".  Although I've often admired and drooled over the samplers that I see other card makers display, I've never made one myself.  So when a friend asked me to create something special for his partner for Christmas morning (actually the "largest card" I could make), it was a no-brainer.  I suggested a Christmas Sampler with a card and he agreed.  And, I'm so happy he did!  What an enabler!

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Merry Mice, Candy Cane Lane, Christmas Cactus, miscellaneous snowflake and let it snow stamps
Card Stock: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Candy Cane Lane DSP, Chip Board, Watercolour Paper, Dazzling Diamonds and Red Glimmer Papers
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Real Red, Pacific Blue, Old Olive, Flirty Flamingo, Tip Top Taupe, Delightful Dijon, Pear Pizazz,
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Detail Scissors for fussy cutting, Dimensionals, Tom Bow Glue, Tear N' Tape, Aqua Painter, Circle Framelits, Banner Framelits

Dimensions:
Since I only had a few hours to pull this together and didn't have a lot of supplies on hand I basically began hauling out my Christmas stamps and designer paper to see what I would put together. Ideas started to flow and  creativity started to kick in once i began fussy cutting images, water colouring and gluing.  Here's how it took shape:
1.  Base layer:  I started working with a 12 x 12 piece of White Chip Board from the Candy Cane Lane DSP package, turning the side without writing to the top. 
2.  Second layer:  11 1/2" x 11 1/2" piece of diagonally striped DSP.
3.  Third Layer:  11" x 11" piece of Crumb Cake and white DSP.
4.  Small Squares:  3" x 3" Early Espresso layered with 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" card stock or DSP.
5.  Two Large Rectangles:  3" x 6 1/2" layered with 2 3/4 " x 6 1/4" Crumb Cake and 2 1/2" x 6" Whisper White layers 

The Other Side:
Unfortunately I didn't have time to take a picture of the reverse side of this sampler, but  I did cover the chipboard with another designer series paper from the Candy Cane Lane collection.  It was the one with the Candy Cane hearts.  

I created an actual Christmas card that could be signed and I attached it to the center back of the sampler with Tear N' Tape.

The card base is an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Real Red card stock, layered with a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Whisper White and then a piece of Watercolour paper cut to 5" x 3 3/4".  The Christmas Cactus is an old Whipper Snapper stamp I've had for years, and was appropriate for this gift.  Of course the cute little mousie is from Merry Mice.  

Well that's it for today's project.  I hope you've enjoyed this share and it inspires you to step out of your comfort zone and create something you wouldn't normally try. The recipient of this card was thrilled and plans to frame this little "piece of art". 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this sampler and any questions you might have about it's assembly.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Seven Cards I want to share

What is it about receiving cards?  

Cards are such an important way to share friendship at any time and any occasion during the year.  But especially at Christmas. 

I can't even begin to express how much it means to my husband and I to receive them. It's so exciting to reach into the mail box and discover some special envelopes.  These cards bring sunshine and smiles to our day, and just knowing someone has taken the time out of their busy lives to acknowledge us and share some of their seasonal updates makes us happy! 

I  must admit that at this time of year there are some cards that stand out from the rest and I pick them up over and over.  They are the hand crafted cards and today I want to share seven such cards.  I was amazed and thrilled with the love that went into each and every one of these cards.

Card One by Betty Lee: 

I really loved this card stamped with the Reindeer from the Stampin' Up Cookie Cutter Christmas stamp set. Betty Lee has punched out the cute hat in from Red and Dazzling diamonds glimmer paper and the Stampin' Up! Jolly Hat Builder Punch.  What a great card Betty Lee!  Loving it!

Card Two By Debby Evoy:

Isn't this a gorgeous combination of the Stampin' Up! Starlight Thinlet Dies and Candy Cane Lane Designer Washi Tape. I totally loved the design! Great way to use the Washi tape Deb!  This card was made by mygood friend and fellow demonstrator Debby Evoy from Abbotsford BC. 

Card Three By Elise:

My sweet and talented sister-in-law Elise from Vancouver, BC made this super cute card with fun foam stickers.  We loved it Elise.  Beautiful inside and out, just like you! 

Card Four by Cheryl LeFore:

Every year I receive an amazingly beautiful card from the very talented Cheryl LeFore, a Stampin' Up Demo from Laquinta California.  Cheryl was Stampin' Ups! Artisan of the year in 2012, so it's such a thrill to get one of her creations.  I love all the elements Cheryl's used on this card and the background snowflake stamping.  Cheryl, thanks for thinking of me!

Card Five by Heather:

My sister Heather's been participating in the Merry Monday Christmas Card challenges and the Watercooler Wednesday weekly challenges during 2016 and has made some simply amazing cards. This very cute card features some happy little "snowbirds" and snowflakes inside and out.  It brought a smile to my face Heather.  Super cute!  Thanks so much!

 Card Six by Ethel DeTemple:

I'm totally loving this Christmas card made with the Jar of Love Stamp Set and Dies set and Cookie Cutter Christmas Designer Series Paper.  Ethel you did a fabulous job with this shaker.  It's so perfect!  Thanks so much for this fun card!  My good friend Ethel is also a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in the Surrey Fleetwood area of BC.  

Card Seven by Phyllis:

Our last card is from another good friend Phyllis, who lives in the Okanagan.  Phyllis created this stunning die cut card featuring products from Stampin' Up! and Karen Burnston die cuts.  This card took my breath away Phyllis when I pulled it from the envelope.  Wow!  Simply beautiful! Thanks so much!

Well, there you have it for today.  Beautiful and much appreciated cards from friends that I love!  Thanks everyone for making my Christmas memories in 2016! 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Token's Stampin' Spot 
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas Wishes

Christmas Eve that magical night of nights has arrived.  Hopefully all your shopping and preparations for Christmas day are behind you and now you can sit back and relax with your family and friends.  

I've been busy making my White Chocolate Gumdrop Fudge and Butter Tarts today and getting ready for a mexican lasagna feast later tonight.  It's always so wonderful to get together and share the season with good friends!  

Merry Christmas everyone and thanks for supporting and following me during this past year.  I hope you'll continue to return to this site in 2017.  

All the Best to You and Yours!!