Stamp Simply CELEBRATION - Final Day

Today is the final day in the Sharon Johnson Stamp Simply CELEBRATION. What an AWESOME 12 days this has been!!! Each day packed with wonderful holiday ideas, blog candy, challenges and just good clean fun!!! I can't thank Sharon enough for all her hard work organizing this and letting me be a part of the fun!!! I look forward to her hitting the 2M milestone so we can do this again!!

Unfortunately I will not be participating in the Celebration challenge today, but I will be doing Sharon's usual Friday Stamp Simply challenge (at the end of the post). What fun!! Please check it out!!

Leslie Miller - Running with Scissors - Leslie has some BLOG CANDY for you today!
Sharon Johnson -No Time To Stamp? - Sharon will also be posting more BLOG CANDY today as a seperate post from her usual Friday "Stamp Simply" challenge!

Barb Schram - Explore. Dream. Discover. - Today for Barb’s Featured Project she has created a useful Holiday Home Decor item for yourself if you please, or it makes a fabulous gift item that will knock the socks off your friends! It comes completely packaged with a card to match! I KNOW you won’t want to miss out, so be sure to visit today over at Barb’s place.


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Today is ALSO Sharon Johnson's -No Time To Stamp? - regular Stamp Simply Challenge, and it promises to result in some great layout options for you to use for quick projects. Today's challenge - ssnotime65 - JUST TWO INCHES - the idea behind this challenge is to create a simple layout for a Christmas card using JUST a 2" strip of designer paper - you MUST use a 2" strip of dp on your card, but ONLY this one strip of dp - no more. You may border it or do scallops around it, or whatever you want, just no more designer paper. Your focus image can be any size or shape.


Here is what I came up with. My card is A-6 sized. I used the Cuttlebug textile embossing folder for my background and the 2" strip of designer paper is by Fancypants Designs. I outlined the card, 2" strip of dp & the outer circle of my focus image with a gold Pilot marker. Using scraps of Old Olive, I made photo corners and a scalloped border ... as well as the outer circle of my focus image. My focus image is made using the awesome JUSTRITE Christmas Ensemble set. I used the "cracked glass" technique to give it a little bit of vintage appeal. The ribbon is satin from Hobby Lobby.

Some great samples for the Stamp Simply Challenge today can be seen on these blogs: Julie, Janine, Jennifer, Tammy, Dee, Becky, AJ, Jerri, LeAnne and Darlene (me).

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THANK YOU, EVERYONE, SO MUCH for attending and playing with us!!! YOU make our *jobs* as Bloggers so much more fun, and we THANK YOU for that!!! Although our events are now over, there do remain some open Blog Candy posts, so if you are tuning in late, please check over the "THIS IS PARTY CENTRAL" tab on Sharon's blog to see what remains. Also, you can go back and play ANY of the challenges anytime you like. And, of course, all the projects are still there to inspire you!!! THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING IN!!!
And sincere
MERRY CHRISTMAS WISHES
to you and yours, from all of us at
Stamp Simply Celebrates!

CELEBRATION - Day 11 of 12

Welcome to Day 11 of Stamp Simply Celebrates! If you are new here, check out Party Central for a full rundown of our 12 day schedule. Feel free to jump in anytime at all!!!
Anyone can play ANY of the challenges by ANY of the hostesses during our 12 days of Stamp Simply Celebrates!!! You DO NOT need to have a Blog to play — uploading your project to SCS (Splitcoaststampers.com) is not only permissible, but HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. When doing so, use the KEYWORD SSC08. Thanks!

AJ Otto - The Willow Garden - Are you wrapping gifts yet? Probably! I'll bet you need some pretty tags to dress those packages up — well, be sure to check in on AJ's Featured Project today to see all her Gift Tags. And then play AJ's Challenge so you, too, can have some nice gift tags on hand!!! Be sure to stop in at AJ's today!

You can see more tag samples by checking out the Blogs of: Heather, Janine, Dee, LeAnne, Jerri and Sharon

Jerri Jimenez - A Touch of Grace - Today Jerri will grace us with her Featured Project which is a beautiful 6 x 6 Scrapbook she made, which is certain to be a real treat for the eyes. Jerri also has BLOG CANDY to offer today (think scrapbooking made easy), so be sure to stop in to see Jerri!!! Other scrapbook samples can be seen by checking out: Barb & Jennifer

Deb Saaranen - Dream in Color - Deb has an offering of BLOG CANDY for us today!
Jerri Jimenez - A Touch of Grace - Jerri also has BLOG CANDY to offer today so be sure to stop in to see Jerri!

Tomorrow will be the last day of the CELEBRATION ... you won't want to miss it!! Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY STAMPING!!

Stamp Simply Celebration - Day 10

Welcome to Day 10 of Stamp Simply Celebrates! If you are new here, check out Party Central for a full rundown of our 12 day schedule. Feel free to jump in anytime at all!!!
Anyone can play ANY of the challenges by ANY of the hostesses during our 12 days of Stamp Simply Celebrates!!! You DO NOT need to have a Blog to play — uploading your project to SCS (Splitcoaststampers.com) is not only permissible, but HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. When doing so, use the KEYWORD SSC08. Thanks!

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy - Tammy is offering BLOG CANDY today!
LeAnne Pugliese - Wee Inklings - LeAnne also has a BLOG CANDY offering today!

Leslie Miller - Running With Scissors - Today we are treated to the beauty of Leslie's work with her Featured Project where she is showing us how to Alter Food Packaging to turn it into a wonderfully warm, cozy, and sweet gift item that anyone would love to receive!!! And it's something we can all easily do! I know you won't want to miss this, so be sure to visit Leslie today!!! You can see more great samples of Leslie's Project by: Dee, Jennifer

Joan Fricker - Joan's Garden - Joan offers us a beautiful Featured Project today — who doesn't love beautifully presented Soap and Candle Gifts! Well, especially these soaps and candles!!! And you can make your own as a part of Joan's Challenge, with inspiration from many!!! Be sure to check out this sweetly scented event! And there are many more samples of Joan's Challenge. Check out: LeAnne, Dee, AJ, Heather, Barb, Janine, Sharon, Darlene (that's me ... just scroll down)

Now, on to my sample. (You can click on any photo for a larger view) Several week's ago I found these lovely bottles of lotion at Michael's for $1 each. I picked up one of each hoping I'd come up with a project to use them. Well, Joan's challenge was just perfect and couldn't have come at a better time ... what a great holiday gift, huh!! The box was just a plain white box that I also found at Michaels for 50 cents.

Loving vintage as I do, I chose to use the vintage Christmas cotton scraps from Crafty Secrets to decorate the front. The designer paper is by Cosmo Cricket, which I purchased from my friend Tammy's store (Toyrifix) a few weeks ago. My accent paper is SU Old Olive (love this color).

In order to fill the space in the bottom of the box below the lotion bottles, I used an empty cardboard box that my 2-sided tape came in and covered it with the same dp. With a scrap of whisper white paper, I stamped the sentiment which comes from the SU "A Wish for Peace" set, distressed it and sponged around the edges before adhering. I used a large SU eyelet and grosgrain ribbon for an easy open tab. The Merry Christmas sentiment is from the SU "A Cardinal Christmas" set and I used the SU photo corner punch to make my "banner" ... added a Doodlebug Sugar Coated Brad for a little sparkle. The poinsetta in the upper corner is by Hero Arts and the "sprigs" are from the Martha Stewart branch punch. The use of Fiskar postage stamp scissors and a Creative Memories red fine tip marker help accent my Vintage Santa.

I don't do a lot of 3d projects so, I was so happy with the outcome of this little project!! I hope you like it too. Thanks for stopping by and saying HI ... it's always good to hear from you ... certainly helps to put a smile on my face!!!!

As a footnote: DH's pet scan showed that the cancer still exists and now he will begin High Dose Chemo on Friday ... next step, Stem Cell Transplant. Please pray for him!!! Thanks

Day 9 of Stamp Simply CELEBRATION!

Welcome to Day 9 of Stamp Simply Celebrates! If you are new here, check out Party Central for a full rundown of our 12 day schedule. Feel free to jump in anytime at all!!!
Anyone can play ANY of the challenges by ANY of the hostesses during our 12 days of Stamp Simply Celebrates!!! You DO NOT need to have a Blog to play — uploading your project to SCS (Splitcoaststampers.com), PCP (Papercraft Planet) or any other online gallery you are associated with. When doing so, use the KEYWORD SSC08 and don't forget to link your work back to the Challenge Hostess post. Thanks!

Jennifer Buck - The Buck Stamps Here - Time is moving on and I think we all need some Quick Cards about now, agreed? You'll enjoy Jennifer's Featured Project today where she also Challenges you to create some quick cards, qualifying you to enter her BLOG CANDY drawing.
You can see more great Quick Card samples by checking out Jennifer's designers: Janine, Julie, Tammy, AJ and Sharon (that's me, just scroll down)

AJ Otto - The Willow Garden - How about a game? I LOVE games!!! Check out the DT Trivia Game AJ is hosting over at The Willow Garden!!! And AJ has some BLOG CANDY to offer to the winner!!!

Jennifer Buck - The Buck Stamps Here - Jennifer is offering BLOG CANDY in conjuntion with her challenge listed above.
AJ Otto - The Willow Garden - AJ has some BLOG CANDY in conjunction with her DT Trivia Game listed above!!!
Sharon Johnson - No Time To Stamp?- Is back with SU BLOG CANDY today.

I will not be playing in today's challenges but I will be back playing in the Celebration again tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been working on a creation for today's CRAFTY SECRETS challenge (which I am hosting) and will be back to post my work later.

PLEASE SAY A PRAYER ... today we get the test results back from the Oncologist as to whether DH's cancer is GONE or STILL PERSISTING. We appreciate all the cards & prayers you have sent our way ... bless you all!!

Celebration - Day 8

It's Day 8 of Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Celebration and I'm "sitting this one out". Here is what's on the line-up for today:

Julie Koerber - Out to Impress - is out to impress you with her Featured Project today! Play her Challenge to have some small gifts on hand yourself, and be eligible to enter her BLOG CANDY drawing!!! You won’t want to miss all the fun at Julie’s today!

More great samples can be seen by visiting Leslie, Deb, Joan, Barb, Jennifer, Sharon & Tammy

ALSO,

Sharon Johnson - No Time To Stamp? - Has more BLOG CANDY!

Don't forget, ANYONE may participate in these challanges and all the fun events, blogger or not!!! If you upload to your Blog, provide a link to your entry in the appropriate post by the Challenge Hostess. You are also encouraged to upload your projects over at Splitcoast (SCS) or Papercraft Plant (PCP). If you do upload at Splitcoast, PLEASE KEYWORD all Splitcoast uploads for this event SSC08 (Stamp Simply Celebrates! 2008). If you upload at any other online gallery, just make sure to link to your Challenge Hostess so she can find your entry!!!

Thanks for stopping by ... it's been so GREAT hearing from all of you and knowing you are enjoying what we have been doing on the celebration for Sharon. Have a GREAT Monday!!

Stamp Simply CELEBRATION - Day 7

Here we are in Day 7 of 12 on this wonderful CELEBRATION over at Sharon Johnson's blog. If you haven't already, you MUST go check this out ... so many holiday ideas, blog candy, challenges, etc ... WHAT FUN!!!

Keep in mind, ANYONE can partake in the fun ... whether you have a blog or not!! Just be sure to use the KEYWORD: SSC08 whenever you upload your photo ... whether it be to SCS or Papercraft Planet or anyother online gallery you may be associated with!! Then be sure to link your work back to the Challenge Hostess. That's all there is to it ... why not come play along!!!

Today Dee Jackson's (Stampin cuz I Luv 2) Featured Project puts together some gorgeous Packaging for Your Food Items — how fun!!! Her Challenge provides many beautiful samples for you to see and to be inspired by so you can prepare your own packaged delectables for those on your gift list. What awesome fun is that!! I am honored to be a sample designer for Dee today and I had great fun coming up with these ideas for you. Don't forget to stop by Dee's other Sample Designer's blogs to see what they have in store for you too ... they are: Cat, Jennifer, Heather, Barb, & Sharon.

After many years, I've gotten back into doing some "canning" during harvest time and I always enjoy sharing these "jarred goodies" with my friends. So, for my 1st sample on this challenge, I have decorated a few jars used my new JUSTRITE (Christmas ensemble & Baking Ensemble) stamps to adorn the lids. Other products used on this trio are: Hero Arts, Creative Memories markers, K&Company chipboard, Michael's ribbon, EKSuccess snowflake punch, Nestabilities, rafia, Basic Grey (wassail) dp, FaLaLa dp and very vanilla cs.

Besides photographing my "jarred goodies" together, I have provided you with individuals photos (hope that's not too much detail) to give you a better view. These were so much fun to do and I know they will be well received. If you don't do home canning, there are all types of HOME CANNED products out in the markets today that would work perfectly.

For Dee's 2nd sample, I chose to make up a couple "Hot Chocolate Yummy Packs" (otherwise known around the blogs as Snowman Soup). These will be for my grandchildren and I didn't put the little verse on the back as I have seen other do. I guess you could say "mine is the generic brand of soup". I know the kids will LOVE it!!


(You can click on ANY of the images for a larger view)

THE SECOND FEATURED PROJECT TODAY is hosted by Susan Roberts - Rainy Day Creations - These days I find myself giving more Gift Cards than presents so how great is it that today Susan will show us a quick gift card holder to make and she Challenges us to make our own, using her template or your own. Susan also has a BLOG CANDY offering today. You won’t want to miss this, so be sure to visit Susan today!


I am also honored to be a Sample Designer for Susan's featured project. As I mentioned, I will be needing MANY gift card holders this year so today was a good time to start. I only made one holder today because I'm anxious to see what Susan and her other Sample Designer's come up with (then I'll use their ideas and give my brain a rest, LOL).

Here I have put two "white" A-2 cards together which gives me four places for gift cards and/or tags. For my sample, I have used two gift cards and two tags. I used various holiday papers and angles to hold my cards/tags. This is SO easy and you can do so many different decorating ideas on this one simple card. Hope you like it!! Be sure to check out Susan's other designers for more gift card holder ideas. They are: Janine, Jennifer, AJ

AND DON'T FORGET: Sharon Johnson - No Time to Stamp? - has more BLOG CANDY – think specialty papers!!!


I can't thank all of you enough for taking the time to view my blog and leave comments! What fun it is to share our talents/ideas with each other ... hope you are enjoying it as much as I am!! Till tomorrow ... YES, THERE IS STILL MORE TO COME!!! Have a happy & safe day!!

Day 6 ... Fun, Fun, Fun!

Well here it is Day 6 of the Stamp Simply CELEBRATION and these ladies haven't run out of ideas or fun challenges yet! In fact ... you are going to be amazed at what is still to come!!!

Today there is Blog Candy from:

AJ Otto - The Willow Garden and Sharon Johnson - No Time To Stamp? Pop on over to their blogs and check it out!!!

There are TWO challenges today and I have participated in both of them ... I can be a glutten for punishment sometimes ... but what fun I'm having!!

First is Heather Telford - bits and pieces - Heather is sharing a Featured Project with us today — how to Dress up Your Table! Fun!!! And Heather is also incorporating a Challenge in with her project, making it 1-2-3 easy for us to decorate our own tables!!! Be sure to stop in at Heather’s place today for many great samplings of table decor!

I have used SU double sided dp to make my placemat, covered candle and table favors. I used cardboard and drew a circle using one of my holiday plates as a template ... cut & covered. I then used this Hero Arts sentiment stamp and stamped it with White Stazon onto the placemat. The candle was wrapped using the same paper, same sentiment stamp and I've added satin ribbon and lace along with EKSuccess punched snowflakes to accessorize. The table favors were made from a 6x6 piece of the same paper and folded into these little treat favors. (I learned this trick from Tammy Hershberger ... thanks girlfriend!) I wrote the names with a white gelly roll pen. (In case you haven't figured it out, Nanna & Pappy are what my grandchildren call me & my DH).

Don't forget to check out Heather's other sample makers: Jennifer, Joan, & Jerri
and,

LeAnne Pugliese - Wee Inklings - Doesn’t every Mother need a helper, especially during the Holidays? Well, for LeAnne’s Featured Project that is just what she is giving us, a Mother’s Holiday Helper! LeAnne is running a Challenge along with her project, providing us with templates and instruction so we can quickly and easily create our own helper!!! Don’t miss it!!!

This was so much fun to make and so easy!! You'll have to pop on over to LeAnne's blog for all the directions. The only thing I had to purchase was the "pocket folders" which I found at Target for a mere 15 cents each. Of course I bought a half dozen just in case I messed up on the directions ... but I got it right the very first time and have five more that I can put together as unqiue neighborhood gifts! Give this a try ... it's really cool!! My front cover dp is by Flair Designs .. the inside papers are Basic Grey (Wassail) and Creative Impressions dp. The images on the front cover are from my Crafty Secrets (Christmas Images & Journal notes) and also Heartwarming Vintage Christmas Stickers.

The top photo is of the folder closed and the bottom two photos are that of the left and right side of the inside. What a great holiday organizing idea!!

Don't forget to check out LeAnne's other sample makers: Barb, Deb, Janine, & Sharon

Remember now - Anyone may participate in these challanges and all the fun events, blogger or not!!! If you upload to your Blog, provide a link to your entry in the appropriate post by the Challenge Hostess. You are also encouraged to upload your projects over at Splitcoast. If you do upload at Splitcoast, PLEASE KEYWORD all Splitcoast uploads for this event SSC08 (Stamp Simply Celebrates! 2008). If you upload at any other online gallery, just make sure to link to your Challenge Hostess so she can find your entry!!! Have fun!!!

Day 5 -- MORE CELEBRATION FUN!!

Today is Day 5 of Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply CELBRATION and if you haven't been playing along ... PLEASE check it out and come play ... I promise you'll have a great time!!!


Here's what's happening today:::::::

Barb Schram - Explore. Dream. Discover. - Barb has an offering of BLOG CANDY today!


Cathy Tidwell - Cat’s Creations - CAT, too, has BLOG CANDY to offer today, but she has more!!! She has created a Sketch Challenge for you as well. You can see the sketch over at Cat’s Creations, so be sure to stop!!! (NOTE: Cat’s Challenge and my challenge below can tie in together well and you can get two challnenges done on one card!!!)

Sharon Johnson - No Time To Stamp? - Me again. Today is my regular Stamp Simply Challenge. It’s a fun twist on a Christmas card — be sure to check it out!!!


I chose to do Cat & Sharon's challenges seperately.


I'm thrilled to be a "sample designer" for Cat today and this is the card I have designed for Cat's sketch challenge. I thought the sketch was perfect to show off this great silouette image by Stampendous. The top portion dp is Basic Grey (boxer) and the bottom portion is Crafty Secrets (earthy). I've used Nestabilities for my scalloped oval focal panel and the "decorated tree" is from the SU Lovely As a Tree set and has been popped up for dimension. The sentiment is by Impression Obsession and the snowflakes are from an EKSuccess punch.



Don't forget to check out Cat's other sample designers for more inspiration! AJ, Heather, Leslie, Julie, Susan, Tammy, LeAnne




Sharon's challenge for today's Stamp Simply Challenge #64 is a Christmas card WITHOUT using a traditional Christmas stamp and WITHOUT using traditional Christmas designer paper. You MAY use a Christmas sentiment and you may use designer paper, just not Christmas paper. You can also use traditional Christmas colors if you so choose.


This is my interpretation of a Non-Traditional Christmas card! I love the tranquility in a scenery picture so I decided to "create" my own. I can visualize how beautiful this location would be with a new coat of "fresh fallen snow" blanketing the trees & rocks ... can you see it! The snow hasn't fallen yet, but I bet it does for Christmas morning! okay...enough day dreaming!

A very simple card to make. I've used two different Stampscapes images (stamped side by side) ... masked a circle for the moon ... then colored the sky using yellow, red & blue chalks with cotton balls. Unmask the moon ... wipe over entire scene with a soft cloth ... mount onto glossy black and adhere to my white card base. Being the "ribbon addict" that I am, I just had to add ribbon but didn't want to hide my scene so this soft blue, silver edged wired ribbon worked perfectly. The felt snowflake is by Creative Impressions and the sentiment is from the SU Home for Christmas set.


Thanks so much for stopping by today ... hope you are enjoying the Celebration ... I know I am! There are still SO MANY more wonderful holiday ideas, challenges, blog candy and much, much more to come over the next 7 days ... you won't want to miss it!! Happy Friday All!!