Stress-Free Stamping with Shana: January 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Hugs and Kisses

It's time for another challenge at ATCAS, and you know that love is in the air this time of the year! What a fitting code word for the week. :)

We are joined once again by Julia as our Guest Designer. Make sure to check out her amazing blog. She has some really cool and detailed techniques on there this week, along with a fabulous CAS card for this week's challenge! She is one talented woman, that is for sure!

I found a gorgeous color combination at colourQ that is perfect for this challenge.

I never would have thought to put those colors together, so I was happy for this inspiration! This is also a fitting code word for the Love/Valentine challenge going on at Stampin' Royalty. :) Here is what I came up with in a very short amount of time, my favorite thing about CAS cards!

I just got this heart stamp in my January My Paper Pumpkin kit and it was the perfect addition to my Work of Art splotches. Believe it or not, I did not have ANY heart stamps until I got this one!! Perfect timing, don't you think? :)

Thanks for stopping by to visit today! Make sure to visit the rest of the design team and their awesome Hugs and Kisses creations.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Creative Blog Hop

Today I am taking part in a different kind of blog hop called the Creative Blog Hop! Not only do I get to share a project with you, I also get to tell you a little bit about my crafting process. I was nominated by fellow Stamp Review Crew member, Lisa Young. The funny thing is, as I was posting my project, I noticed that we both used the butterfly die for our cards. Then looking back, the person who nominated her, Mary Brown, also used the butterfly die!!! Great minds think alike, right? :)

Here is the project I just finished up this weekend:

Here are the questions I was asked for the Creative Blog Hop:

What are you working on?
These are baby shower invitations that I made for my friend Andrea. This is her first baby, so our church is having a baby shower for her. She wanted to invite some friends and family too, so I made these invitations special for her. She is having a sweet baby girl and the colors of the room are coral and gray, so I used Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Gray and Smokey Slate. They are also doing chevron in the room, so I used the Chevron Embossing Folder for the back Basic Gray mat. I think these colors are so classy together. I love how they turned out and I hope she does, too!

I also have a Project Life club going right now, and have been working on cards for that, too. We are using the Cherry Cobbler album and the Christmas kit and accessories that were in the Holiday Supplement. I was able to get those albums in the nick of time right before they sold out!

How does your work differ from others in your genre?
Hmmm...this is a tough question for me because I don't think my work is all that unique! Some people have an obvious style...clean and simple, vintage, mod...but I don't really think I do! I create CAS cards, but I also do very detailed cards from time-to-time. I will say that I don't tend to embellish my cards very much with big things like buttons, large brads, or lots of ribbon. Do I buy these things? Most certainly! haha I just don't feel like my strong point is creating with them. They sure are pretty to look at in their little packages though. :)

Why do you create what you do?
I usually create just for fun and for design teams or blog hops. Every once and a while I will create something for another challenge blog, too. I used to do at least one challenge daily, but I just don't have the energy or time for that anymore! I wish I could say that I usually have someone in mind for the things that I make, but I really don't! These invitations are the first thing I have had a real life reason to make in a long, long time! Now that they are finished, I will be working on more projects for the other blog hop that I participate in, The Stamp Review Crew, as well as projects for the Addicted to CAS design team that I am on. These two teams are my crafting livelihood and give me an excuse to craft at least a few times a month!

How does your creative process work?
I sometimes feel like I don't have a creative bone in my body. I am usually pretty happy with my end results, but it takes me a long time to get there! Most of the time I start by looking at challenge blogs. For the invitations, I found a sketch that I liked at Fusion Card Challenge and started there. Then I moseyed on over to Addicted to Stamps and More to see what their challenge was. I used to be on their design team and I knew they would have something fun and fabulous going on! I was right! The challenge this week is Make Your Mark, and I decided to make my mark by sponging the lovely floral stencil from the Artisan Embellishment Kit.

Sometimes I feel like I am cheating by using all of these challenge blogs to help inspire me, but I have come to the conclusion that it is just tutoring for those of us who feel like we aren't the brightest crayon in the box. :) I will say that having challenge blogs to look at has saved me tons of time by giving me a starting point instead of sitting and staring at my stamps and cardstock, trying to come up with an idea all by my lonesome self!

To keep the challenge blog going, I have nominated my very talented Stampin' Up! downline, Aimee Cretsinger. This gal is so inspiring in so many different ways, and has such a big heart that carries over into her crafting abilities. I can't wait to read about what she has been up to! I know she is very busy with other commitments and doesn't get to craft as much as she would like, so I was beyond-the-moon-thrilled that she agreed to participate in the Creative Blog Hop!

I have also nominated Kathy Kartak, who inspires me almost daily with her ability to use Designer Series Paper! I am one of those who buys the DSP just to admire its beauty, but Kathy really puts hers to use and I really admire that! I met Kathy at Convention in Salt Lake City a few years ago and she is a hoot. I am so blessed to have gotten to know her! That's one of my favorite parts about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator...the friendships that you form are priceless.

Make sure to stop by these lovely ladies' blogs next Monday, January 26th to continue the hop!

Sunday, January 18, 2015

The Stamp Review Crew: Valentine Free-For-All Edition

It's the third Monday of the month and you know what that means? Time for another Stamp Review Crew blog hop! We're doing this one a little different this time, since there is such a short block of time for Valentine cards. This time we are using anything current that we can turn into a Valentine project. This didn't require much thinking for me because I have the perfect Valentine set that I wanted to use for my three lovely children's Valentine cards!

Over at Splitcoaststampers, I am on a discussion board that is trying to make better use of stamp sets that we have not inked up or have rarely used. For me, this set was a great Hostess set, Nuts About You. I just love the set, but have only used it once, I think!

I'm so excited to have an early start on my Valentine's. Usually I am digging through my cards the morning of trying to figure out what looks good enough to give to everyone. :) I hope this hop will encourage you to get an early start, too!

Thanks for stopping by! Make sure to click on the links to continue on to the talented Beth Beard's blog, or if you are working your way backwards you will be seeing what the amazing Dawn Tidd has to share with us. Or...if you are like me and tend to get lost, the complete blog roll is at the bottom!

Blog Roll:

Heidi Baks http://runningwscissorsstamper.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-free.html
Ann Schach http://stampinchic.com/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-edition/
Adriana Benitez http://escape2stamp.blogspot.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-edition.html
Rochelle Blok http://rochelleblok.blogspot.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for.html
Yapha Mason http://yaphamason.com/blog/2015/01/18/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all/
Nancy Smith https://iguanastamp.wordpress.com/2015/01/18/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all
Debra Burgin http://heartfeltinkspiration.com/2015/01/18/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all
Tanya Boser http://tinkerin-in-ink.blogspot.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for.html
Lisa Young http://addinkandstamp.blogspot.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for.html
Dawn Tidd http://tiddbitsfromdawn.typepad.com/tiddbits-from-dawn/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all-edition.html
Shana Gaff http://stressfreestamping.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-free.html
Beth Beard http://www.mylittlecraftblog.com/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-free.html
Martha Inchley http://www.inchofcreativity.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all.html
Holly Krautkremer http://rubberredneck.typepad.com/rubber-redneck/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all.html
Bronwyn Eastley http://addinktivedesigns.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-debut-on-stamp-review-crew-valentine.html
Linda Callahan http://stampinseasons.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-free.html
Cindy Beach http://stampspaperandink.typepad.com/stamps_paper_and_ink/2015/01/the-stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all.html
Kerry Willard Bray http://www.peoniesandpaperchains.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all.html
Wendy Wiexler http://wickedlywonderfulcreations.blogspot.com/2015/01/stamp-review-crew-valentine-free-for-all.html

Saturday, January 17, 2015

ATCAS: World

Woot woot! It's a new year at Addicted to CAS and we are here with our first challenge for the new year!

Our team is comprised of many talented ladies from all over the world, so I thought this code word, chosen by our lovely hostess Jaydee, was quite fitting! We are joined by the very talented Julia as Guest Designer this month. I was just browsing her blog and WOW she has some amazing cards on there. I saw some backgrounds that just made my jaw drop they are so gorgeous! Make sure to stop by and welcome her as Guest Designer!

I knew right away what I wanted to do for this challenge. We are very connected to missions in the Dominican Republic through Brett's work, and have been on several missions trips there. I bought this set to make the children at the school cards a few years ago. We will be leading another trip in March. I'm so excited! We are sponsoring a new little girl and will get to meet her. Lots of people sponsor children all over the world, but I'm guessing not many people get the opportunity to meet the children that they sponsor! It is such a blessing and really makes you feel good about what you can do to help.

Here is the card that I came up with. This card was so easy, I think I will make more to give to some of the children at the school, the teachers and administration and the pastor at the church!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed my card. Make sure to stop by and see the rest of the ATCAS design team's creations!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

The Stamp Review Crew: Perfect Pennants Edition

Wow, can you believe it is 2015?! Our Christmas break went way too fast, as usual, but we had such a fabulous time with family and friends. I hope that you did too! It's time for our first blog hop of the year from The Stamp Review Crew. For this hop we are using Perfect Pennants. This is one of my favorite sets of all time. It's so versatile!

I started the tradition last year of making a memory jar. Throughout the year, we wrote down funny things that the kids said and good things that happened in our family and put the slips of paper in a pretty jar that I decorated. We got a hotel room on New Year's Eve and had so much fun reading the memories of the year with the kids as we waited for the ball to drop. We even surprised them with the last one, telling them that we are taking our first family trip to Disney World! I wanted to make a new jar for this year, and Perfect Pennants was the perfect stamp set for this project!

The background star paper is a sneak peek at some SAB DSP. It is embossed white and you can sponge or brayer over it to reveal the pattern. I sponged So Saffron and Hello Honey over mine, then stamped some of the big stars from Perfect Pennants for some added variety. It looks even better in person!

Here is a look at the top. I thought the "Make a Wish" sentiment was quite appropriate considering we will be going to Disney this year and will have plenty of memories from there to fill our jar with!

I hope you enjoyed my project! I would really encourage you to do something like this with your family. Looking back on these cards in the years to come will be priceless!

Click on the links below to continue on to the fabulous Holly Krautkremer's blog, or to go back to the amazing Cindy Beach's blog if you are working your way backwards. Or, if you get lost, you can find the complete blog roll at the bottom of the post!