Announcing Big Shot Event

Dawn Raspas has done it again. She's continuing to share her love of creating and her overwhelming passion for Stampin' Up! with demonstrators and non-demonstrators from ALL around the world. WooHoo!! And I'm thrilled to announce opening day for "UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! "Hey, Big Shot!! Worldwide That's How We Roll!!" will be May 7th and will run through June 4th. Every member will enjoy 29 days of creative fun with 24/7 access to the "Hey, Big Shot!! Worldwide that's how we roll!!" blogsite.

Dawn is planning on showcasing Stampin' Ups Big Shot in a BIG BIG way!! Her International Design Team are working with the Big Shot to create amazing and unique projects and for the past month they've been  rollin', rollin', rollin' that Big Shot like crazy!! In fact, their Mojo is cranked up so BIG BIG BIG!! that you're going to be amazed at what you'll see and learn at this event. The possibilities are endless when the Big Shot is at work, and this Design Team is out to prove it. The Hey Big Shot 2010! event will have you looking at cardstock and a whole host of other crafting and household materials in a BIG new way.

And, drum roll please............I'm super excited to announce that I've been invited to join the POWERHOUSE of many fantastic returning and new designers for this event! My tutorial has been completed and I think you're going to love it - but you have to sign up to see  it. I KNOW you're going to be impressed by all the BIG talent in this line up and the fantastic projects that have been created. 

UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! "Hey, Big Shot!! Worldwide...that's how we roll!!" offers everyone the same opportunity to do something REALLY FUN, even if only for a few minutes a day, to check out a project or peak into the chat room to say hello to some friends around the world. Come each day to the website and stay as long as YOU like!!  Here's what's in store for you:

• New projects shared everyday!!
• Several "Double Designer Days"!! 2 projects on 1 day...DOUBLE the fun!!
• All projects include a step by step tutorial, including LOTS of Photos!!
• EVERY Tutorial is available in English, Spanish, German and French
• All measurements are available in Inches and CM
• Prizes, Prizes and MORE Prizes!!
• Live Chats
• Every member gets a cool Big Shot Member Badge for their blog/website!!
• Friendships around the world...happens every event!!
• Way Cool SWAP!! (Optional... but really fun!!)

Don't we all deserve a few minutes of fun to help us re-charge and enjoy what we love??!! Of course we do!! One of the many great things about UStamp is that YOU create when YOU are ready. LOVE the projects, but don't have time to make them yourself right away?? No worries!! The website is available 24/7 and will remain open for many months after the last project is posted and is ready when you are to create, so you won't miss out.   Want more information or have questions about what's on site, then click here to check out the UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! is all about YOU!! blogsite and sign up for this next exciting round.  What a great value for only $24.95 US. 

I have some very exciting news to share with you today. I’ve just heard that opening day for "UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Year End Blowout 2009" will be December 1st. This is going to be another fantastic World Wide event…………….. NOT to be missed!!

Dawn and her fabulous Design Team will be offering 31 days of new project tutorial downloads and prizes everyday!! As always there will be live Chats and more. One of the many great things about UStamp is that YOU create when YOU are ready. LOVE the projects, but don't have time to make them yourself during the crazy holidaze?? No worries!! The website remains open for many months, ready when you are to create so you won't miss out Fun project themes of "Parties, Celebrations and Gift Giving" will totally hook you up for all your upcoming celebration needs right out of the gate for 2010!! Once all the hoopla of the holidays dies down, you will be thrilled that you can fill your January making creative projects from the Year End Blow Out event.

From now until November 17th you can sign up and take advantage of the Early Bird Pricing of only $19.98. CLICK HERE TO JOIN. After November 17th the fee to join goes up to $24.99.

Swaps From New Zealand

In an earlier post I mentioned that I was super excited and felt very lucky to have Holly Griffiths from New Zealand as my swap sister in the Fall UStamp with Dawn and Friends event.  Late last week Holly's swaps arrived and let me tell you I was not disappointed.  Take a look at these pictures of her amazing swaps!!!

Not only did Holly send me a great little gift card and matching purse, but it was filled with chocolate bars. Now how cool is that!  She also sent some post cards from the area she lives and a beautiful little note pad.  Holly included another notepad in Baja Blue which is just gorgeous. 

Thanks so much Holly!  I loved these swaps.  If you'd like to check out what I sent to Holly visit her fabulous blog called Holly's Stampin Ground by clicking here.

Are You Ready For My Exciting News?

UStamp with Dawn and Friends is having a very special Holiday UStamp which will run from October 16th to November 13th, 2009. 

And guess what?  I'm so excited to let you know I've been asked by Dawn to be a Guest Designer for her Holiday UStamp.  Now if you've been following my blog you  know just how much fun I've had in both the Summer and Fall UStamp with Dawn and Friends sessions.  Just having the opportunity to see and try out all the projects made by Dawn and her amazing dream team and crew girls has been so exciting for me.  So, to be invited to join in as a guest designer with this fantastic group is just the utmost thrill for me!

To celebrate this great news I have a treat for you too.   I will be giving away a free pass to participate in UStamp Holidays,  on September 29th.  All you have to do is visit my blog between now and then and leave me a comment about what types of projects you love to make for the holiday season. You could be the winner!

Another UStamp with Dawn Project

I still have a few projects that I'm catching up on from the UStamp with Dawn Summer session. This is my version of Makeesha Byl the Australian Dream Team Member's Double Boxed Gift Basket. I filled mine with Stampin' Up goodies, but this would make a great gift basket for a baby or wedding shower.

The basket which is made from two 12 x 12 sheets of cardstock is comprised of two separate boxes that are joined in the middle by a divider that also acts as a support. The divider is made from two A4 pieces of cardstock covered with designer paper. To further stabilize the basket a 6 x 10 piece of cardboard is cut and adhered to the base of the basket. I was really amazed at how strong the finished baskets are.


















I made a small gift card to go along with the gift basket and gussied up the envelope with designer paper and a 5/8" piece of regal rose grosgrain ribbon.

Origami Box and Gift Card - UStamp with Dawn & Friends

Jenny Moors, the United Kingdon Dream Team Member for UStamp with Dawn and Friends designed a fabulous Origami Gift Box and Matching Gift Card for her second project. Her design used Washington Apple DSP and Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, and Pumpkin Pie ink and Card Stock. Petal Pizzazz and Stem Sayings stamps were used for the flower and sentiment. It was gorgeous!

Since I'm still in between orders and didn't have the DSP Jenny used, I decided to use some more of my retired designer paper (DSP). I made mine using Haiku DSP, and Old Olive cardstock for the base of the box and a combination of Tangerine Tango and Old Olive cardstock for the matching gift card.

Now I absolutely love the Petal Pizzazz stamp set, so you can imagine just how thrilled I was when I could use it for this sample. What I love about Petal Pizzazz is that there are so many ink colour combinations and mounting configurations that can be used with this set.

I have made up several sheets (I'll post a sample later) of stamped flower images in various inks and I cut out these images when I've some downtime watching tv or sitting in my garden. That way I have them on hand to make a quick card or embellish a scrapbook page as needed. These are great for making card candy samplers too for door prizes and gifts.

Here is a side view of the origami box I made. Although you can't see it in these pictures I lined the inside squares of the lids with Tangerine Tango DSP paper for contrast (same as the one on the card band). The flower is mounted with dimensionals and a yellow Circle of Fire brad was used for the center of the flower.

The sentiment "Just for You" is from the Oval All stamp set (got to love that one too).

I hope you enjoyed this fun project ........ I know I did. In fact, my friend's granddaughter's eighth birthday is coming up next week and I think I'll make her one of these sets and put a little set of earings in the gift box for her .........shhhhhhhhh don't tell!

Slider Gift Box and Card Set - UStamp With Dawn & Friends

Well it's day nine of the UStamp with Dawn and Friends group and I am having so much fun. I completed this project which was submitted by Jenny Moors the Dream Team member from the United Kingdom. Jenny is an absolutely fabulous demo and I have totally fallen in love with her creations.

This is a slider box and set of 4 cards. The original sample by Jenny used the Rose Is A Rose stamp set (#111560 pg. 99 IBC), but since I wanted to make this right away I improvised and used a retired SU set called Roses In Winter. I think it worked well, but I'm definitely buying the Rose Is A Rose set as I think it offers much more style and variety to the cards. Card Stock (CS) and Ink: Old Olive, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, and More Mustard. Designer Papers in More Mustard and Always Artichoke. Ribbon: 1/4" So Saffron and Mellow Moss Grosgrain. Enjoy!