First Challenges for 2021

Hi everyone, Happy January and here's to new beginnings and hopefully a much, much better year ahead.

January is such an opportunity for fresh starts and I'm happy to say that I'm planning to do more paper crafting challenges this year.  This week I'm entering two challenges - a colour challenge with CAS Colours & Sketches and a sketch challenge with Freshly Made Sketches #467.

Colour Challenge: 

Challenge #401

Sketch Challenge: 

Here's My Slimline Card: 

My finished slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 4".  I cut a piece of Bermuda Bay for the base that measured 8 1/2" x 8" and then scored it at 4".  I added a layer of Pool Party that measures 8 1/4" x 3 3/4".  This was followed by the Whisper White layer which measures 8" x 3 1/2".  The inside Whisper White panel measures 3 3/4" x 8 1/4".

I fell in love with the images and sentiments in the Darling Donkeys Darling Donkeys  stamp set featured in today's birthday card. I don't know about you, but they put a smile on my face.  I knew they'd be perfect for this birthday card. 

This 8 piece red rubber cling stamp set is available in the newly released Sale-a-bration brochure and I got it for free when I ordered $60 in Stampin' Up! products.   You can too!

I stamped the donkey for the card front in Momento Black ink on a scrap of Whisper White card stock and coloured it with blends (see details below).  I fussy cut out the image and mounted it over the splotches with mini and regular dimensionals.   

The donkey inside the card was stamped directly to the panel and coloured in the same way.

The splotches beneath the donkey were inspired by Tashanda Lundy,  and are created using two images from the Painted Poppies stamp set.  

I stamped the center one in Pool Party and the two outer ones in Bermuda Bay ink.  I like the way they anchor the donkey and provide a great backdrop and, I think the colour contrast of Pool Party and Bermuda Bay really makes this card special.   

There are 3 splotch images in the Poppie Parade stamp set.  I used the flat one which created the background and stamped it off once (2nd generation stamping) in Pool Party.  The two pebbly splats were stamped in Bermuda Bay and were first generation stamping so you get a darker look.  I didn't use the smallest splotch although I contemplated it for the inside of the card.  

The sentiments on this card are from the Happiest of Birthdays stamp set in the Annual Catalogue.  There are only 4 cling stamps in this set, but they go the distance, in terms of great birthday greetings.  I stamped both sentiments with Cherry Cobbler Ink.   

I stamped both sentiments in Cherry Cobbler ink.  Unfortunately I did not use my re-inker on my ink pad or my Stamperatus to stamp these sentiments so they are not as robust as I would have liked them.  

 

Details:

Stamps:    Darling Donkeys (155264), Happiest of Birthdays (152539) and Painted Poppies (15382)

Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay, Pool Party and Whisper White

Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Pool Party and Momento Tuxedo Black

Blends:  Gray Granite (Light/Dark), Light Crumb Cake, Light Petal Pink, Light/Dark Cherry Cobbler, Light/Dark Granny Apple Green.

Well that's it for today's card and challenge.  Hope you liked it.  If you need any information about Sale-a-bration products or the new January to June Mini Catalogue, please contact me. 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Penny Hanuszak, Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

January Hostess Code: 

Watercooler Wednesday - #WWC109 Heidi's Colour Challenge

For today's Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, Heidi Weaver has provided us with a great set of colours which she cleverly took from a favourite scarf.  The colours are Island Indigo, Pool Party, Very Vanilla and Basic Black.

Here's My Card:

Right now I have a lot of "thank you" notes and cards to go out so I've turned to one of my favourite stamp sets Birthday Blooms.  I can't get enough of the large flower in this stamp set. The image is so easy to colour or it can be left neutral for a great line image.  Either way works. 

Birthday Blooms is an 8 piece stamp set that's available in Wood or Clear mount

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Birthday Blooms, Jar of Love and Avant Garde
Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Water Colour Paper, Basic Black
Ink: Island Indigo, Pool Party and Pear Pizazz markers, Momento Tuxedo Black Accessories: Trimmer, Big Shot, Pinpoint Rectangle Layer Dies (Memory Box), Basic Rhinestones, Fine Tip Aqua Painter, Tom Bow Adhesive

Measurements:
1.  Card Base 8 1/2"  5 1/2" Basic Black scored at 4 1/4"
2.  1st Layer:  Pool Party 5 1/4" x 4
3.  2nd Layer: Island Indigo 4 3/4" x 3 3/4" cut with Pinpoint Rectangle die
4.  3rd Layer:  Basic Black   3 1/4" x 4 1/4" cut with Pinpoint Rectangle die
5.  4th Layer: Watercolor Paper (Very Vanilla) 4 1/8" x 3 1/8" cut with Pinpoint rectangle die. 
6.  Finish the inside with 5 1/4 x 4" Very Vanilla card stock.   

I didn't have Island Indigo or Pool Party stamp pads so I used markers.  The floral image was first stamped in Island Indigo ink.  I scribbled the marker on to the stamp surface making sure I covered the whole image well and then I stamped it on the watercolour paper.  To colour it I scribbled again but this time on the acryllic block with Pool Party and Island Indigo markers.  The acryllic block acts like a pallette to hold the  colour and by adding a spritz of water to the block it's easy to apply the colour with an Aqua Painter.  The leaves are shaded with Pear Pizzazz and Island Indigo markers. 

I highlighted the center of the flower with the "stamen" from the Sale-A-Bration stamp Avant Garde in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. This tiny stamp added a big punch of colour and shape to the middle of the flower.  

I coloured a shadow around the rose by applying water and carefully pulling the Island Indigo out around the flowers.  The background is stamped in a mixture of Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party using the bubble background stamp from Avant Garde.  To finish it off I added some random Basic Rhinestones and used the "thank you" stamp from Jar of Love in the top right hand corner.

And that's it for today, a nice simple layered card.  If you haven't already, I  hope you'll check out the samples from the other Design Artists for this Watercooler Wednesday challenge.  They've out done themselves with these colours and their beautiful projects.  

The challenge is open until  Monday March 13th at 5:00pm Mountain Standard time, so why don't you link up your own creation.  We'd love to have you join us, and play along. 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin Spot  

OCCASIONS JANUARY 4TH TO MAY 31ST, 2017:
Hi Everyone!  Welcome to a new year or stamping!   It's official we have a new Occasions Catalogue going live today!   

Click here for English PDF Version

Click here for French PDF Version

SALE-A-BRATION Jan 4th to March 31st, 2017:

How Can You Earn FREE products during SALE-A-BRATION? 

It's really simple here are four ways that you can qualify for a free product when you order from the Occasions or Annual Catalogue during the sale period from January 4th to March 31st 2017:

 

Click Here for the English Version of the Flyer:

Click Here for the French Version of the Flyer:

SHOP:  For every $60 CAD you spend (before tax and shipping), you get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product. This is the perfect time to purchase items you’ve had your eye on while earning more items for free.

HOST  Need another excuse to get together with friends? No problem, all you need to do is host a qualifying party (live or virtual) with at least $330 CAD in sales during Sale-A-Bration and you’ll earn $35 CAD more in Stampin’ Rewards! You can even apply your Stampin’ Rewards toward a Starter Kit and become a demonstrator yourself!

JOIN  It’s the best time of year to join Stampin’ Up! and my growing team.
During Sale-A-Bration, you can become a demonstrator for just $135 CAD and choose TWO additional stamp sets for your Starter Kit—any stamp set, any price! Plus, the kit ships for FREE!  NOTE:  This offer excludes Sale-A-Bration sets and bundles.

PAPER PUMPKIN SUBSCRIPTIONS:

 

What could possibly make Sale-A-Bration even better? Getting Paper Pumpkin involved, of course! It just might be the easiest way for you to earn FREE SALE-A-BRATION items.  Here's how:

Purchase a 3-Month Prepaid Subscription (137859) $74 CAD.  Get a discount on 3-month prepaid subscriptions and instantly qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item!

Purchase a 12-Month Prepaid Subscription (137861) $295 CAD.  Take it to the next level with a 12-month prepaid subscription. Save over $2/month with the everyday awesome price, earn Stampin’ Rewards, and instantly qualify for 4 FREE Sale-A-Bration items!

This offer ends  March 31, 2016 at 11:50 PM (MT).

Happy Occasions and Sale-a-Bration Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot  

New Items Feb 16 to Mar 31 ~ Sale-a-Bration

It's A New Way to Sale-a-brate!

It's the day after a long weekend and what better way to get off to a brand new start than to check out what's new with Stampin' Up!s 2016 Sale-a-bration!  While I'm super sorry to see the items from pages 16-19 retired so early from this year's Sale-a-bration, however I  can tell you I'm pretty sure you're going to love these new additions just as much.  

 

Metallic Glitter Tape Order #141020

 

With this FREE Sale-a-bration offer you get 3 rolls of metallic glitter tape in gold, silver and white 5 yards in each roll.  Here's some tips on how to use it.

Party Pants Stamp Set Comes in Wood or Clear Mount Styles:

Who doesn't like birthday stamps?  After all we all need them and you know you can never have enough balloon stamps or sayings.  With this FREE Sale-a-bration offer you have a choice of either a 12 piece rubber stamp set in Wood Mount (141324) or a Clear Mount set(141327).  This set is available in French and coordinates with the Balloon Bouquet punch seen on page 13 of the Occasions Catalogue

 

Pedal Pusher Stamp Set Order #141312 

You'll have loads of fun with this 11 piece two-step photopolymer stamp set. Here's a video with some great ideas for using it. 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

Catalogue Case Inspiration

It's the first Sunday in January 2016 and I'm welcoming the New Year in with a major cold.  

Believe me it's not the ideal way to feel when you really want to be "getting at it" and starting on new projects.  In fact, I started the day feeling pretty crummy after a very sleepless night.  

My day began slowly with me taking it easy, savouring my morning cuppa and blog surfing for a while to check out what everyone's doing with the new products from the Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogues.   

While I was doing that I stumbled across a post that truly inspired me, got my creative juices flowing again and sent me on a "journey of inspiration".  In fact, after a half an hour or so of "oohing", "awing" and writing comments, I'd forgotten how really awful I felt at the start of the day.

Now, I'm feeling excited!  Truly excited, and inspired!  The excitement began with a snapshot from the last page of the Occasion's catalogue and led me to a blog hop and a challenge site that are new to me.  I want to share these with you so you can catch my excitement too!  Okay drum roll please................

I'm going to start with the blog hop:  It's called Caseing the Catty Sunday Night Blog Hop and features a group of amazingly talented stampers from Australia and New Zealand called the Creative Crew.  These gals are truly awesome and love to share their talents and tips!

So here's the information you need.  Every Sunday night at 7pm (AEST), the CTC Crew will share their great ideas and inspiration from the latest Stampin' Up! ® Catalogues by either directly CASEing (Copy and Share Everything) or using a sketch/layout, colour combo or embellishment as a springboard for their own creations.  Their first hop of the year CTC61 started today and features projects from the Handmade from the Heart - Occasions Spring and SAB catalogues and can be found here. 

Stampin' Up!s 2016 Handmade from the Heart Occasions Catalogue PDF Copy 

 

Stampin' Up!s Sale-A-Bration 2016 PDF Copy

This group also holds a monthly challenge that you can join in and the winners are announced monthly.  I'll be adding this button to my sidebar, to make it easier for you to find.  Why?  Because I know I'll be checking them out and I know you're going to be thoroughly impressed with this group too!  

CASEing the Catty Sunday Blog Hop

My second discovery today is a challenge site called The Colour Tree Challenge (TCTC) which is hosted by Bronwyn Eastley and her downline De Arn Foley. 

I've long been a fan of Bronwyn, and her sample for the CASEing the Catty Sunday blog hop led me back to her blog where I discovered she is launching this weekly challenge.  Knowing her talents, The Colour Tree Challenge promises to be a wonderful place to hang out too!  

Okay here are the details you need to know:  Every Sunday night at 7pm (AEDT), they'll be hosting a weekly colour challenge where you can ... Ink Up and Link Up for a chance to be one of the TCTC Top 3 Picks! And as if that's not enough, once a month the design team will pick a winner from the weekly Top 3 Picks, who will join them as a Guest Designer in an upcoming challenge.  Whoo Hoo!!! Game on!

I'll be adding this button to my sidebar for easy access too!

TCT Challenges

Here is the Colour Tree's first colour challenge of the year.  I know I'm going to be joining in......how about you?

TCTC #1 Challenge

Okay folks that's it for now as I'm off to look at my stamp sets and decide what I want to create for this challenge which closes on January 16th (AEDT).  

In the meantime if you visit these blogs I hope you'll come back and let me know what you think, what excited you, and what you're going to create! 

HAPPY STAMPING 2016
Penny Tokens Stampin Spot!

SALE-A-BRATION IS HERE!!!!!

The waiting is over!  Stampin' Ups! biggest sale event of the year has arrived and you can take advantage of all the Sale-a-bration flyer has to offer between now and March 31st.  

How Can You Take Advantage?  

It's simple:

1.  Purchase.  For every $60.00 (before shipping & taxes) purchased, you will qualify for a free Sale-a-bration item.

2.  Host a Workshop/Party and earn $40 more hostess dollars for a qualifying party, or 

3.  Join Stampin' Up! during Sale-a-Bration and get $190 worth of product, for just $125.00.

Click here to  see all the great opportunities that Sale-a-bration offers: 

Textured Boutique Embossing Machine:  

Here's a great way to earn free product and get a great deal on the new 

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine #132657  $36.95.

This fantastic, light weight, easily transportable little machine is the answer to your embossing dreams - it's embossing made easy! 

The Texture Boutique is the perfect, portable tool to create embossed cards, tags, embellishments, and more. Use it with our Stampin' Up! exclusive Textured Impressions Embossing Folders. 

The Texture Boutique Embossing Machine works with Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil, or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece. This machine embosses only; it does not die cut. Comes with 1 pair of Standard Embossing Pads and 1 Mylar Shim.

How About a Great Deal?

During Sale-a-Bration order the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine and the three new textured embossing folders featured in the Occasions Catalogue (for a total of  $60 or more) and you'll qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration gift.

The Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 133520) would be the perfect choice! You have until March 31, 2014, to qualify for the free gift.

Here's a look at these great new folders from the Occasions Catalogue.  I know you'll want to add them to your collection:

Ampersand Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132970)

Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132187)

Scallops Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item 132971)

If you have any questions about Sale-a-bration or this promotion please contact me and I'll be happy to answer your questions.   Happy Stamping!

Penny

Promotions and Specials 

Best of 25 Years:  

NEW Weekly Deals! 

Online Only Stamps: 

New Arrivals:

Clearance Rack: 

Valentine Products:  

Photopolymer Stamps:

Undefined Carve your own stamps: 

Newest MDS Downloads