Watercooler Anniversary hop adventure

Earlier this week I got back to challenges, now I'm back to blog hopping - Woot! fun and more fun!  This is the 3-year anniversary of Watercooler blog hops.  You can find the home page for the original hop here.  I enjoyed revisiting those projects (they're still wonderful), but we were a bit inexperienced with permanent links back then, so it's no longer circular, as intended, and you'll have to return to the homepage and hop from there in order to see all of the original 2013 pages.  Three years later, we've had some practice, so you'll find the circular, permanent links should all be in working order.  Since you can progress all the way around simply by choosing Next or Back links, you've likely just been wowed (as I always am) by Deb's projects, and you'll find Kath's amazing projects next.

Happy Anniversary to all of us:

stamp set - Number of Years; ink - Peekaboo Peach, Emerald Envy, Sweet Sugarplum, Blushing Bride; card stock - Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Peekaboo Peach; designer series paper stack - Playful Palette; Big Shot with Large Numbers framelits and Happy Hearts embossing folder   

This is a gate-fold card, and I forgot to take an "open" picture, but the Anniversary banner opens to the right and the Happy opens to the left.  We made these cards at a workshop last week because the hostess requested a fun/fancy fold.

Unfortunately I completely forgot I signed up for this hop until yesterday, so I had to make my other projects in a hurry!  (See what I did there - "huge hurry"?  Sometimes I just crack myself up)  While I was revisiting our 2013 posts, I knew that Kath's washi Halloween card would be fast-and-easy to CASE, so here's my Thank You to all of you for joining us in our special celebration:

stamp set - Rose Wonder; ink - Basic Black; card stock - Emerald Envy; designer washi tape - Playful Palette

I also CASE'd my third card (from Tracy Evans Langley), using Marsha's beautiful color challenge from Watercooler Wednesday (because I just couldn't resist combining the two watercoolers), in combination with three stamp sets that were new in 2013 and are still available three years later: 

stamp sets - Flower Shop, Gorgeous Grunge, Wetlands; ink - Night of Navy, Mint Macaron, Pink Pirouette, Sweet Sugarplum; card stock - Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Mint Macaron

It was so nice of you to join us for our third anniversary; I do hope you'll continue on by choosing one of the buttons below!

Wacky Watercooler September Mix-up adventure

Although I haven't been in a blog hop for several (too many!) months, the watercooler gang is still going strong and hopping monthly. Pin or bookmark the Home site so you can keep up with all the wonderful creations!  This month I'm sandwiched between two amazing artists, Bev and Priscilla - you can hop to either blog using the buttons at the end of this post.  Keep hopping until you've been to all the participants - you'll want to see all the Stampin' Up!® Annual and Holiday Catalog creations mixed-up in this free-for-all!

My first project doubles up on the wonderfulness of the watercooler - I've been experimenting with ombre for Jean's Colour Challenge.  I had trouble deciding (I know, no surprise there) which colors to use but I think the ColourMe! challenge provided the right answer:

supplies available from the Annual Catalog unless noted HC (HolidayCatalog):

stamp set - Serene Silhouettes, The Wilderness Awaits; ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Garden Green, Island Indigo, Pacific Point; card stock - Garden Green, Island Indigo, Whisper White; baker's twine - Whisper White; Stampin' Dimensionals

For my next project, I decided to take the free-for-all mix-up theme to an extreme, and do something different - an Altered Playing Card, or APC.  I've always been intrigued by them and the similar Artist Trading Card, or ATC.  I've made a few (very few) ATCs but the only playing cards I own are used for playing games.  Last week I found a playing card from a board game, on the ground next to the township recycle bin - perfect!  (yes, I was tempted to look in the bin for more, but it's a very big bin and I was on my way to dinner.)

all supplies (except other, noted at the end) available from the Annual Catalog:

stamp set - Summer Silhouettes; ink - Island Indigo, Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Spritzers with re-inker - Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry; Stampin' Glitter - Silver; card stock - Soft Sky, Vellum; tools - Hearts & Stars stencil, Project Life journaling pen, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals; 

other - Deco Art crackle paste, Artist's Loft gesso, playing card

The star was my first experiment with ombre - I've been trying to get a circle-effect - I think I was a bit more successful with the softer colors in the first photo.  This whole APC was experimental fun in mixed media, something else that has intrigued me. The Corrosive Challenge Blog is new to me this week (thanks, SmilynStef!); and the current challenge is Mixed Media, so I'm excited to link there. I'd like to link this little gem at Use Your Stuff as well, since I used my stencil.

Finally, I couldn't let you go without showing you something from the fabulous Holiday Catalog!  I used the Nacho Average Challenge sketch for this one because it fit so well with my NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff) Sparkly Seasons + Seasonal Frame Bundle:

supplies available as noted Holiday Catalog (HC) or Annual Catalog (AC):

stamp set - Sparkly Seasons (HC); ink - Archival Basic Black (HC), Versamark (AC); card stock - Hello Honey (AC), Tip Top Taupe (AC), Mellow Moss (AC), Tangelo Twist (AC): designer vellum - Winter Wonderland (HC); Big Shot (AC) with Seasonal Frame Thinlits™ dies (HC); Fine -Tip Glue Pen (HC)

Hopefully I haven't distracted you too much with all the links, because we'd love for you to continue around our Watercooler Hop by clicking one of the links below:

best of wacky watercooler blog hops adventure

It's so nice of you to join us for another Wacky Watercooler blog hop - welcome!  We have a spectacular lineup of artists this month, and I'm sandwiched between two amazing people - Christine and Jean.  You can tour all of the hop posts simply by clicking Next or Back from each page, as the hop is circular, or you can navigate from our Home page, as well.  Our theme this time around is The Best of….  We’re going to show you the best of our blog hop posts, the best of retired Stampin’ Up!® products, and the best of current Stampin’ Up!® products. 

That's the plan, anyway.  I drew Marsha Reed's name for choosing the best of blog hop posts.  If you're around my age, you may remember "wish books" from Sears & Roebuck, J.C.Penney, and Montgomery Ward.  My sister and brother and I would sit down each year and page through them together.  I could never choose one "best of" anything, and being the oldest, I could make up the rules (well, sometimes I could), so we chose one best thing on each page.  If you skipped a page, you could choose two things on another page.  And that's kind of how I chose "best of" for this hop. 

I chose the second card in Marsha's August post to CASE (Copy And Share Everything) because I love the simplicity and the way she turned the triplet of trees into a line.  I copied it pretty closely, right down to the placement of the rhinestones, which I usually forget to use.  I wish I could have copied the straightness of her line, but let's just call my crooked line "charming", ok?

stamp set - Christmas Bliss; Stampin' Write marker - Mossy Meadow; card stock - Mossy Meadow, Whisper White; designer series paper - Confetti Celebration; Big Shot with Chalk Talk framelits; basic jewels - Rhinestones; Stampin' Dimensionals

But of course I couldn't choose one "best" post, so I also chose the second card from this post to showcase "best of" retired Stampin' Up!® products.  I couldn't even choose just one "best of" retired product, so I've included a selection of retired designer series papers, retired stamp sets, retired punches, a retired Big Shot die, and a retired embellishment!

stamp sets - Joyful Christmas, Ornament Keepsakes (on envelope); ink - Cherry Cobbler; card stock - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Whisper White; designer series papers - Deck the Halls, Snow Festival, Season of Style; punches - Scallop Trim border, Large Heart; Big Shot with Perfect Pennants die; stitched felt embellishment - Handmade Holidays; basic jewels - Pearls, Stampin' Dimensionals

And then I chose the second card from Marsha's January post and used her layout to showcase "best of" current Stampin' Up!® products - designer series paper,  stamp set and framelits bundle, and background stamp:

stamp sets - Hardwood, Wonderful Wreath; ink - Lost Lagoon, Pear Pizzazz, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky; card stock - Basic Gray, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White; designer series paper - All is Calm; Big Shot with Wondrous Wreath framelits; Stampin' Dimensionals 

Please hop over to Jean's Stamping Studio in the Rogue Valley for her Rogue Thoughts on the "Best Of ..." or use the links below to go back to Christine's Dancin' Stamps or the Wacky Watercooler Home site to continue your blog tour.

Wacky Watercooler October Blog Hop adventure

Hopping is fun, isn't it?  I'm not too old (yet) for hopping on one foot, but blog hops are so much easier!  The Stampin' Up!® demonstrators who gather at the Stampin' Discuss Watercooler are a talented & fun-loving bunch, and we're glad you've joined us for this tour of Holiday inspiration.  If you've arrived here from Marie's Tanglewood Cottage, welcome!  Stay as long as you like, but leave time in your busy day to continue on to Stamp with Ter and the rest of the fabulous blogs.

I've been concentrating on clean & simple designs this week, starting with a Holiday Home scene, which I'll be entering in challenges at Addicted to Stamps and More! (Holiday), and CASology (Home).  I decided on the embossed Santa based on the CAS on Sunday Emboss it! challenge, but unfortunately I missed the link-up time there.

stamp set - Holiday Home; ink - Night of Navy, Always Artichoke, Encore Silver, Versamark; Stampin' Emboss powder - Iridescent Ice; card stock - Silver Glimmer, Real Red, So Saffron, Night of Navy, Whisper White; Big Shot with Homemade Holiday framelits; punch - 1/16" circle (for wreath center)

My next card was inspired by this beautiful card which I found on the Stampin' Up! Pinterest board, so I'll link it at the Watercooler Challenges site.  I love to combine challenges, and it's even more fun when the challenge and the blog hop coordinate! ♥  Because this card is one layer, it will qualify for the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown and it also fits right in for The Paper Players CAS Silver (or gold):

stamp set - Cheerful Christmas; ink - Versamark; Stampin' Emboss powder - Silver; Stampin' Dazzle marker - Silver (on envelope) card stock - Shimmery White; Big Shot with Filigree Frame embossing folder; Frosted Sequins

Thanks for visiting with me, it's always pleasant to have someone to chat with.  Please use the buttons below to continue hopping, forward to Stamp with Ter, backward to My Tanglewood Cottage, or home if you prefer to work from the list of all hoppers.

watercooler blog hop first anniversary adventure

The Stampin' Connection Watercooler, where the conversation threads are frequently wacky, has been offering up blog hops for a year - WooHoo!  So this is an anniversary for us, and most of my watercooler friends have prepared anniversary cards, but I forgot to create one.  I completely concentrated on the awesome new designer series papers, since you can get one pack free with purchase of three, and who doesn't love free?

For my free package, I chose Flashback - it's not the first one I would have chosen, but I love the camera images.  As it turns out, I pretty much love all the designs in the package, so I've made two very different cards using that paper.  Neither card is an original design - you can see the Pinterest versions that I CASE*'d here and here - since I've been a bit preoccupied with moving and family obligations recently.

stamp sets - Lots of Thanks, Flower Shop; ink - Real Red; card stock - Naturals Vanilla; designer series paper - Flashback; punch - Pansy

stamp set - Four You; ink - Crushed Curry; card stock - Real Red, Crushed Curry, Pool Party; designer series paper - Flashback 

In retrospect, I think the sentiment should have been stamped in Real Red, but I was afraid it would be too overpowering.  And there's no reason (other than my faulty memory) that this couldn't have been an anniversary card!

The next project is also not an original idea; my upline Nisha learned it from another demonstrator group and shared it with our group.  We each made enough two-inch squares to share with everyone in the group and "swapped", then arranged them in 8"x8" shadow box frames; of course the hardest part was deciding where to place each wonderful "twinchie"!  The designer series paper used in many of the squares is Flowerpot - a fun summery design:

I only designed and created two of the squares, so I don't think I'll be able to list all of the supplies used, but if you have a question about anything in particular, I'll be happy to find out for you!

I hope you've enjoyed the awesome, wonderful projects we've tried to wow you with, but if you haven't been all the way around, just choose a watercooler button below to go back to Bev's post, forward to Jackie's post, or home to the Watercooler itself.

*CASE = Copy and Share Everything

a wacky watercooler may blog hop adventure

Welcome to the May Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop - I don't think I've been the first stop before, and I'm *really* glad you're here!  We hope you'll hop on through to see all the projects, we've tried to make it easy by putting them all in a loop with the button links at the end of each post.  

I want to remind you that there are only two weeks left to purchase retiring stamp sets and accessories from the 2013-2014 and Occasions catalogs, and they're only available while supplies last - if you see something you want, don't hesitate to contact your demonstrator!  I pulled out a few of those retiring items to help me decide whether they'll be trasferring to my "permanent" collection.  I started with Make a Cake because I saw this adorable card Amy Koenders made last month, which made me think I've failed to see it's potential before:

stamp sets - Itty Bitty Banners, Make a Cake; ink - Daffodil Delight, Strawberry Slush, Tangerine Tango, Island Indigo; card stock - Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Whisper White; designer series paper - Quatrefancy; punch 1-3/4" circle; Big Shot with Bitty Banner framelit 

If you've visited here before, you know how much I enjoy playing with challenges, so I thought I'd try my hand again at a one-layer card for Less is More.  I used the Paper Players colors and the Clean & Simple layout with two more stamp sets that will not be available next month.  Loving Thoughts will definitely be staying in my "permanent" collection - it's such a pretty font and has several useful phrases:

stamp sets: Betsy's Blossoms, Loving Thoughts; ink - Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron; card stock - Naturals White; baker's twine - Calypso Coral

I intended this to be totally flat, but there was a little smudge next to the W, so now there's a little bow - it evokes the flag tail in the sketch, I think.  

Then I thought I'd totally stretch myself and try a shabby style for House of Cards, using a background stamp I think was underused and under appreciated this year, Ex Libris, and a versatile collection of sentiments, Delightful Dozen:

stamp sets - Ex Libris, Delightful Dozen, Everything Eleanor, Petite Petals; ink - Smoky Slate, So Saffron, Blackberry Bliss; card stock - Perfect Plum, Blackberry Bliss, So Saffron; punches - Full Heart, Petite Petal; basic jewels pearls, stampin' sponge, stampin' dimensionals

That sweet accent color, Blackberry Bliss, is one of the 2014-2015 In Colors being introduced in June - yummy!

Please hop over to Stefanie's blog next and check out her projects - I'm always inspired by her work, so I'm sure you will be, too!

a March Wacky Watercooler blog hop adventure

 We're so glad you've stopped in for the spring smorgasbord Wacky Watercooler March blog hop.  Welcome, whether you've hopped here from The Crafy Medic or just dropped in; as always you can click completely around with Next or Back buttons, and you'll find a full list of fifteen fabulous participants at the Home stop. 

I'm still working on RAK (random act of kindness) ATCs (artist trading cards); I started with a couple of feminine ones and switched to masculine and non-gendered ones.  Just when I thought I should make a couple more "girlie" ones, SUO Challenges asked for pinks and purples.  And, since I had so much fun with the caught in crystal technique, I used it again:

stamp sets - Really Good Greetings, Everything Eleanor; ink - Black Stazon, Elegant Eggplant, Pink Pirouette, Strawberry Slush; card stock - Whisper White; Window Sheet, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds, miscellaneous white tissue paper

This time I used less re-inker and more Dazzling Diamonds - I think it's just right for "girlie", but it could have used more flowers.

While I had the flower stamps out, I thought I'd have a try at one-layer spring flowers for Less is More:

stamp sets - Express Yourself (hostess), Everything Eleanor; ink - Crushed Curry, Marina Mist, Smoky Slate; Stampin' Write marker - Smoky Slate; card stock - Naturals White;  masks: Word Window punch and Big Shot with Ovals Collection framelit

I used Ann Marie's color challenge from The Paper Players and the newest Clean & Simple sketch.    

One reason I bought the Hardwood background stamp from the Spring Occasions catalog is that it's great for masculine cards, but  recently I've seen it used for many flower cards, and the color challenge from Sunday Stamps seemed like the perfect prompt to try one of my own:

stamp sets - Hardwood, Best of Birthdays, Petite Petals; ink - Wisteria Wonder, Baked Brown Sugar; Stampin' Write marker - Wisteria Wonder; card stock - Baked Brown Sugar, Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White; punches - Petite Petals, large oval, scallop oval; Big Shot with Little Leaves sizzlet; Stampin' Dimensionals, stampin' sponge

I didn't realize until I sat down to type this up that I seem to have a flower theme here, and it's a little odd because I don't really do a lot of flower cards.  I hope you liked them, though, and I know you'll like everything you see at the next stop on the hop, because Buffy always has fabulous projects!

EAD Designs adventure

You probably already guessed that today is special, since I *never* post in the morning, but it's oh-so-much-more than just that!

A group of EAD Designs fans decided to inspire each other to use their goodies.  For those of you (like me!) who don't remember,  EAD Designs sold vinyl stickers and rub-ons - awesome products - before they closed up shop about a year ago.  I was lucky enough to win some of the most adorable stickers last month, and this month I was invited to join the fun - wow!  There's no way I think I fit in with this talented group, but EAD Designs will make up for me - hopefully ;)

What all of our projects will have in common is that we're all using EAD Design supplies with a holiday flair!

I had to use this cute little Santa for my daughter-in-law, who loves owls (Christmas cards don't have to be surprises, right?) and he seemed just made for Amy's sketch at Seize the Sketch. I've almost never used stickers for card making, but these were delightful - and I was able to re-position the ones I didn't have straight, just like washi tape - so helpful!

Since the Poppy Parade frame is an off-cut from a previous project and the owl and sentiment layers were punched from scraps, I'd like to post it for a romp in Pixie's Snippets Playground, too, as I had so much fun when I was last there:

stickers - EAD Designs; stamp set - Everything Eleanor; ink - Versamark, Gable Green (retired, on envelope); card stock - Naturals White, Poppy Parade (retired), Gable Green (retired), Glorious Green (retired); punches - Modern Label, 2-3/8" scallop; Big Shot with Top Note die

Want a chance to win some EAD Designs and some other goodies for yourself?  Leave a comment on all of the blogs listed below for a chance to win!  Four random people will be picked!  Commenting will be open until Friday, December 6th, 2013 @ 11:59 pm Pacific.   Prizes must be claimed within 1 week of the blog hop.

Amy  

Jessica

Julie Smith  

Julie Tucker-Wolek

June

Kathe Deck (me)

Lauren Bergold

Rose

Stephanie

Wendi

Wacky Watercooler Year End Holiday Blog Hop Adventure

If you hopped here from Stamp with Bev, welcome!  If you are starting here, just continue around using the next buttons until you get back - you won't want to miss any of the holiday happiness everyone is sharing this month!

During our pre-hop discussion we were challenged to see whether we could make a holiday project that had a "masculine" in theme.  I struggled with that, not so much because I struggle with making masculine cards (frequently I prefer them), but because I couldn't really think of a holiday theme that wouldn't be appropriate for a man, other than the obvious frilly, floral styles (which I almost never prefer).  Then, I found this card on Pinterest and I knew that was the answer, and I would have to recreate it.  I rotated Tuesday Morning sketch #224 for my version:

 stamp sets - Joy to the World, Gorgeous Grunge; ink - Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Soft Suede; card stock - Naturals Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Old Olive; Big Shot with Deco Labels Collection framelit; Naturals Designer buttons, 7/16" Natural trim, Crumb Cake 1/2" seam binding, glue dots, Stampin' Dimensionals

 I don't really have a clue who I would send it to, but it's just such a fun card, isn't it? (I fixed that button so it lays flat after I saw this photo)  Living in Michigan, I could just claim I meant hunting season, and send it out next week!


 

When I received my big box o' stampin' stuff last month, I fell in love with the Encore metallic ink pads immediately - they look as rich as heat embossing with the ease of simply stamping!  Using Delicate Doilies and Encore ink to imitate fireworks for a New Year's card popped into my head one night as I was falling asleep, but I don't usually send New Year's cards.  Clean & Simple sketch #265 just *had* to be used for that idea, though, so here it is:

stamp sets - Delicate Doilies, Teeny Tiny Wishes; ink - Encore silver; Stampin' Emboss powder - Silver; card stock - Basic Black, Night of Navy, Perfect Plum

 

I might use this to write a thank you note, or if someone unexpectedly sends us a Christmas card and we didn't send them one but don't want them to think we're ignoring them. 

I'm so glad you stopped by, and I' hope you'll come back another time.  Please use the buttons below to continue around our hop - the next stop is Stamp and Create  where you can admire Deb's awesome work!