Tag Archives: Pennant Parade

Hooray for Getting Things Done!!

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Oh, I do love a good, productive day!

I’m an organizer.  I make lists, block out time for important tasks, and when they are done I love to check them off.  I’ve heard the comments – call it what you want, I don’t care – it makes me happy.  Lately, however, MY important tasks have taken a back seat to OTHERS’ important tasks.  It’s not that those other tasks were unimportant – but they kept crowding out the things I wanted to do.  I’ve been out-of-sorts as I’ve seen things like “Complete the FAFSA” and “Prepare the minutes for the Pastoral Council meeting for distribution” get checked off, while things like “Make Valentines” and “Unpack new Stampin’ Up! goodies” remain on my list.  (If you don’t know what the FAFSA is, be grateful – and if we receive some financial aid for my son when he attends university next year, I’ll be grateful.)

This morning I was able to slay enough dragons (yes!!  it’s the Year of the Dragon!) on my list that I could justify an afternoon in my studio.  I did a little straightening up (just enough so I could find my mojo) then cracked open a few ink pads.  There were so many cards waiting to get put to paper!!

Branch Out Valentine

  • Branch Out (retired) and Pennant Parade stamp sets
  • Very Vanilla, Early Espresso and Pool Party card stock
  • Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-bration)
  • Early Espresso Classic ink pad
  • Triple Heart punch
  • Calypso Coral Bakers Twine
  • Rhinestone Jewels
  • Simply Scored

I know I shouldn’t keep using Branch Out.  It’s a retired stamp set.  Oh, but it makes me so happy!!  There are other trees in the IBC – you could substitute Season of Friendship – but this one is my all time favorite. The card base is Very Vanilla, but it has a pinkish cast in my photo.  I gave up on that dragon.

If you haven’t placed a Sale-a-bration order yet, maybe it’s time to scoot yourself over to my Online Store and place a $50 order so that you can have your own package of Everyday Enchantment (#126154).  I’m ashamed to admit how many packages I have stashed away!  I love every single pattern, I love the colors, and I love the way it all works together.  Isn’t that how it is with Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper??

Occasions Mini 2012 Ribbon Share

I also have a few Occasions Mini Catalog Ribbon Shares left – for $15 (plus shipping) you’ll get 1 yard each of the new pleated ribbons in Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze and Pear Pizazz, plus 5 yards of each of the new Bakers Twines:  Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Island Indigo and Wisteria Wonder.  I’ve even included a yard each of the Sale-a-bration skinny organza ribbon in Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade.  Contact me if you’re interested.

Thanks for stopping by!  Writing this post was the last thing on today’s MUST DO list – now it’s back to the studio for some play-time.

A little forest of pennant trees

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You can hardly see the forest for the trees:

Cheryl's Pennant Tree bag

These little pennants make such cheerful little trees.  I may or may not have indulged myself in a rant about triangles and my inability to make them look right.  It always seems like one side is a little off – so I trim it – and then the other side is off!  It’s geometry.  Some have it, some don’t.  I know a triangle when I see one, I’m just not very good at cutting one.

But honey, I can punch ’em out like nobody’s business!  (The more I blog, the more I realize that I posess a ridiculous number of inane and somewhat meaningless expressions.  I make no excuses.)  I love punching these pennants and finding fun things to do with them.

And check out that little spotty dotty tag:

Polka dot gift bag tag

As a matter of fact, I need a few more tags and I am going to go punch out a bunch of these.  Right after I finish my pie.  Because I must admit, I make a fabulous pumpkin pie.

Merry Christmas.

Presenting…the 2011 Maui Stamper Snow Globe

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It’s become something of an annual tradition to create a snow globe card.  I enjoy the shift from linear to circular, the concept of vignette and the focus on Christmas.  This card was born from an “AHA!!” moment as I played with a new stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog:

  • Christ Child in the Woods Snow Globe
  • 25 and Counting, Pennant Parade and Pines and Poinsettias stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Brushed Gold and Always Artichoke card stock
  • Always Artichoke, Pear Pizazz and Daffodil Delight Classic ink pads
  • Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Always Artichoke and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write markers
  • Crumb Cake and Marina Mist Classic ink refills
  • Aquapainter
  • Petite Pennants Builder Punch
  • Big Shot and Clear Circle Bigz die
  • Real Red 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
  • Tombo the Wonder Adhesive
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Fine Galaxy (gold) Stampin’ Glitter

If you happen to run into me out and about with Mr. Maui Stamper, please do not mention the glitter.  It was applied VERY VERY carefully while he was off-island.  The less said, the better!

If you would like to see previous Snow Globe cards  I’ve made it easy –

the card that started it all in 2009

Shimmery Pines also 2009

Frosty the Snow Globe Man from 2010

And if you would like the paper template to hand-cut your card, here you go!  The REALLY cool thing about this card is that it fits in our standard envelope and is designed to be 100% mail-worthy with no extra postage.

Ah, now it’s beginning to feel as though Christmas is on its way.

 

All in Good Fun

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I received so many incredible cards at Joan Cristo’s WOW swap at convention this year.  Honestly, I could spend an entire year creating new projects based on these beautiful cards.  I made 130 cards to swap, and yes, that was insane.  I don’t like production, and even though I made 2 different designs (so that I “only” had to create 65 of each) I found myself grumbling through the process.  Then I would remind myself of the rewards and start humming, thinking about the possibilities.

There’s something about holding a design in your hand – versus seeing a photograph of it – that inspires me.  If you’ve never participated in a swap, I highly recommend you give it a try.  There are swaps of all shapes and sizes in a variety of forums online, or your stamp club or demo team might be willing to give it a try.  Not every card will be to your taste or liking, but every card contains a possibility!

Last night at hostess club I worked from a design that I received in 3 or 4 different versions.  It’s a relatively simple design, and I’ve seen it referred to as a telescoping card.  We made our version in the bright, happy colors of the Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper:

Telescoping Big Top Birthday

  • Perfectly Penned, Ain’t Love Grand, Pennant Parade and Crazy for Cupcakes stamp sets
  • Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight and Real Red card stock
  • Big Top Birthday Designer Series paper
  • Basic Black, Tempting Turquoise, and Real Red Classic ink pads
  • Daffodil Delight and Real Red Stampin’ Write markers
  • Aquapainter
  • Unibal Signo White gel pen
  • Stampin’ Sponges
  • Piercing tool, template and mat
  • Petite Pennants Builder punch
  • Silver brads 
  • Real Red 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon
  • Big Shot and ALL the Scallop Circle and Circle Bigz and Originals dies

There must have been some fumes coming off those ink pads last night!  The Piercing Tool, formerly known as the Pokey Doodle, suddenly became the Stabber.  We had balloons  and Stampin’ Sponges flying every which way, and I think we disturbed the concentration required to watch Sports Center in the other room 🙂  Ah well, all in the name of good fun and good times.

Heading home

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I’m heading back home from Convention today, and it’s time I shared my swaps.  I made two different cards for a WOW swap and this is the first of the two:

Christmas Pennant Tree Swap 2011

  • Pennant Parade and Snow Swirled stamp set
  • Whisper White, Pear Pizazz and Cherry Cobbler card stock
  • Pear Pizazz, Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
  • Petite Pennants Builder punch; Medium Jewelry tag punch
  • Early Espresso Baker’s twine; Cherry Cobbler seam binding
  • Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder
  • Rhinestone jewels

I was initially afraid this card didn’t qualify as a WOW swap, but two things changed my mind.  The first was the reaction I got from a group of demos (OK, they’re my friends and of course they’re biased) and the second was how many steps it took to make 65 of these!  I love detail, and I’m not willing to compromise once I’ve found a design I love, so I stamped and punched, and assembled and tied little knots, and ran cardstock through the Big Shot, and layered and embellished until I was cross-eyed.  I confess that I don’t enjoy production in quantity, but once a year for convention I make an exception because of the wonderful swaps I bring home in exchange.

My card as I swapped it used the Sassy Sparkles wheel.  I know it seems a little early to think of Christmas (and it gives me a little feeling of panic to realize we’re halfway through JULY) but crafters think ahead.  With the amount of work this card took, I have a funny feeling it won’t make it into the final voting round for my family card this year!  Back to the drawing board…and the year is still young.

 

Trend watch

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Have you noticed a lot of pennants lately?  Me too…

Wish Big Pennants So Saffron

  • Pennant Parade and Word Play stamp sets
  • Whisper White, So Saffron, Garden Green and Pool Party card stock
  • Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper
  • Garden Green, So Saffron and Pool Party Classic ink pads
  • Petite Pennants Builder and Scallop Edge punches
  • Silver brads
  • Stampin’ Dimensionals

Truth?  Those brads were supposed to be the new silver mini brads, but my order didn’t arrive in time and OH BY THE WAY I AM IN SALT LAKE CITY!!!

And why would I be in Salt Lake City, you ask?  Well, just in case you’ve been out of the country for an extended period of time…

it’s the Stampin’ Up! Annual Convention!!

Nothin’ in the world like it…throngs of demonstrators gathering to learn and share (and eat a lot of chocolate, truth be told) and have a whole lotta fun.  It has become my annual treat to myself – a chance to energize my business, reconnect with old friends and make some new ones, and feel like a kid again.  If you’d like to be here next year, check out that little button at the top of the right hand side bar and learn about the $99 Demonstrator kit available only for the month of July.