Wacky Watercooler Celebrates the Occasions Catalog and Sale-a-bration “Take One”

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to the first Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop of 2017. This is such and exciting time of year! For the next three days (January 5-7th) we're holding the first of two blog hops this month, in celebration of the arrival of the Occasions 2017 Spring catalogue and the arrival of Sale-A-Bration! 

If you've joined us for the first time, our Blog Hop runs in a circular fashion, so it doesn't matter where in the list of participants you begin. If you continue going to the next blog you'll eventually wind up where you started. So, if you started at the beginning of the hop you've arrived here from the very talented Marie Green's blog. Weren't her projects just fantastic?

Party Animal Suite

Bev Gajsek from Chilliwack BC and I were delighted to share a Display Board at Stampin' Up!s On Stage Vancouver in November 2016.

Bev created her fabulous display using products from the Party Animal Suite. She totally inspired me with her fun interpretation of this suite. She created such over the top amazing cards and 3-D projects, that I had to share them with you. Everything was so well co-ordinated, especially the stamp set and pop-up birthday cards. Here is a look at Bev's display and cards:

Bev's Display Board

Here's My Card:

This card is so colourful.  It's sure to be a hit!  The Party Animal Designer Paper is a perfect mix of colours and designs.

These Party Animal Embellishments are so much fun.  They come in a package of 16 and there are 8 each of two designs - this balloon or a cute little party hat.  I also love this 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.  It's awesome to work with.  I coloured the Confetti stamp image with a Tangerine Tango marker and stamped it inside and out on the card.  I know this will become one of my favourites this year because it's just the right size to add some extra pizazz to your cards.

Supplies: 
Stamp Set:  Balloon Adventures Stamp Set
Ink: Crushed Curry, Pacific Point, Emerald Envy, Tangerine Tango and Whisper White
Card Stock and Paper: Party Animal Designer Series Paper,
Accessories:  Balloon Pop-Up Dies, Trimmer, Big Shot, Tom Bow Glue, Washi Tape, Party Animal Embellishments.

The Balloon Adventures photopolymer stamp set comes with 17 image and sentiment stamps and coordinates with not only the 8 piece Balloon Pop-Up Dies but also with the Balloon Bouquet Punch. It doesn't get any better than that! Here's what the stamp and dies look like:

 

For more exciting samples check out this video by Brandi Barnard from Stampin' Up!

Urban Underground Suite:Collection:

When Stampin' Up! confirmed I had been picked to be a Display Board Artist in November at the Vancouver OnStage I was over the top excited. They told me I'd receive a "top secret" box of new products from the Occasions 2017 catalogue to design my display with.

Well, I was on pins and needles waiting to receive my supply box and see what I would be designing with. When it finally arrived in September and I opened the box I'm sure you could have heard me screaming with delight from Abbotsford to Vancouver. It was over the top and this was one of the best experiences of my stamping career.

I instantly fell in love with the new products I received, which included the Nailed It and Urban District stamp sets, the Build It Thinlet Dies and Hexagon Dynamic Embossing Folder. To make it even better Stampin' Up! also provided me with a co-ordinating card stock pack some of the Urban Underground Embellishments and Urban Underground Washi tape. The rest was up to me and I had such fun creating 15 projects to put on display and to share with you.

The Nailed It Stamp Set is awesome!  You'll love it for your masculine cards!

The Build It Thinlet Dies makes it so easy to but out the stamped shapes and mix and match papers and card stocks for your designs.  I had so much fun with these dies. 

The Hexagon Dynamic Embossing Folder is out of this world.  It embosses on card stock and foil papers, and looks great on both sides. 

Urban District - the perfect Father's Day and Birthday stamp set. 

My Display Board for OnStage Vancouver:

Here are My Cards Featuring Nailed It: 
The cards below all feature elements of the Nailed It Stamp Set, Build It Thinlet dies and the Hexagon Dynamic Embossing Folder.  The card stocks used are a mixture of Delightful Dijon, Basic Gray, and Very Vanilla.  I've also used Silver Foil, Basic Rhinestones and Gold and Silver Metallic Metal Shapes to add additional bling. 

 

 

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed the cards I've created using my favourite products so far from the the Occasions 2017 catalogue.  I will provide more details on some of the cards in the coming weeks and will feature the Urban District stamp set in the next Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop which will take place on January 19th through 21st.  Be sure to come back and visit.  

Well what do you think?  I'd love to have your comments and answer any questions you may have.  

Now it's time to see what our next blog hop artist Priscilla Iver has been up to.  Just click on her name or the NEXT link below to see what she's her terrific samples.  Thanks again for joining us at the Wacky Watercooler Mini January Blog Hop part one.  Until next time, happy stamping!  

Priscilla Iver

 

Marie Green

Wacky Water Cooler

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

WWC100 - CELEBRATION (ANYTHING GOES) CHALLENGE

This week's Watercooler Wednesday challenge is super special, and not just because it's the first challenge of the New Year.  It's special because it marks the "100th" Challenge on this site!  WOW that's so awesome! so our theme this week is an Anything Goes - as long as it's about "Celebrating".

Here's My Card:
I've been dying to share a stamp set I received for free at the November 2016 Stampin' Up! OnStage event in Vancouver, called "Birthday Blast".  This great set is part of a bundle featured in the new Occasions 2017 catalogue which goes live today.  Yippee!!!! 
 

Supply List:

Stamp Set: Birthday Blast
Card Stock: Emerald Envy, Very Vanilla, Sweet Sugarplum
DSP:  Playful Palette DSP and Scraps of Silver Glimmer Paper for stars
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Peek A Boo Peach, Emerald Envy, Black Marker
Accessories:  Trimmer, Detail Cutting Scissors, Dimensionals, Tear N' Tape, Basic Rhinestones, Star Punch from Itty Bitty Accents punch set, Acrylic blocks. 

Add caption Birthday Blast Bundle

Assembly:
I haven't made one of these pop up style cards since I began Stampin' Up! in 2006, so I looked up a video tutorial by Dawn Griffith that explains all the ins and outs of assembling this card.  This card goes together quickly and you could easily knock off several of these while watching television if you do your pre-cutting and stamping first.  Note at the time of writing this post I did not have the accompanying dies so fussy cut out my design.  Here are the measurements for the card stock and DSP you'll need to make my version.

Base:

• Cut a 4 1/4" x 11" strip of Emerald Envy card stock
• Score it at 1", 2 3/4", 3 3/4", 5 1/2" 7 1/4", 8 1/4" and 10"
• Fold on center crease line
• Stretch out the card stock and put the long side in the trimmer, lining up to cut along the 5 1/2" fold line.  Move the cutting blade down to 1/2" on the trimmer arm and score to 3 3/4".  
• Cut 2 pieces DSP for top of box 1 1/2" x 4" and 2 at 3/4" x 4" 
•  cut a 3 1/4" x 1 1/4" piece of Emerald Envy and a 3 x 1" piece of Sweet Sugarplum for the "Celebrate You" sentiment.

 Slider Piece:

• Cut a 3" X 5 1/2" piece of Emerald Envy
• Cut a piece of DSP 2 3/4" x 5 1/4"
• Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock for back of panel 2 3/4" x 5 1/4"
• Cut a piece of Very Vanilla card stock for front of panel 2 1/2" x 5"

 Stamping:
I stamped the "tiara" portion of the stamp twice on Emerald Envy and again on Sweet Sugarplum card stocks and fussy cut out all three images.  I cut out the top of the image from the Sweet Sugarplum stamped piece and mounted it with dimensionals to the top of the Emerald Envy image, and then glued this to the Very Vanilla front panel. 

I flipped the second Emerald Envy tiara upside down, butted the end of it up against the top portion and glued it down with Tom Bow glue. Note: I didn't layer with Sweet Sugarplum because the additional layers would prohibit the card from sliding through the slot. 

To finish this card I added a lot of Basic Rhinestone bling and some Silver Glimmer Paper stars.  The small stars and celebration confetti are also images from this stamp set and I stamped them in the background in Peek A Boo Peach and Emerald Envy Inks.   

 The finished card is very shiny and glitzy.  Remember with all this detail you have to be careful when closing the card.  If the embellishments get in the way it won't collapse easily.  Here' s what mine looks like when it's closed and it will fit in a standard envelope.  

I didn't stamp any sentiments on the back of the card as I may save this for an achievement rather than a birthday or special occasion event. 

So that's it for my celebration card today. 

 I hope if you're not already stamping or entering challenges that this will be the year you join in.  We'd love to have you submit your cards or projects to our weekly challenges. Who knows, you could "Rock the Watercooler" to display on your site. Here's how the challenge schedule is laid out every month:
Week 1 - Sketch

Week 2 - Color

Week 3 - Simply Stamping

Week 4 - Masculine

Week 5 - They don't happen that often, but when they do it will be a surprise.

I hope you'll check out the rest of the Watercooler Wednesday Design Team Artist's contributions to this very special occasion.  Our special guest designer Bronwyn Eastley is back and she will be picking a winner from the comments she receives and send them a special tutorial.  To go back to the Watercooler Wednesday blog just click here.  

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  

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