StampinMojo

Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad

Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Pear Pizzaz 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Brushed Silver 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$7.95

Pear Pizzazz 1/4" Cotton Ribbon

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

Versamark Pad

$7.50

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

Stars Framelits Dies

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Sep 29, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Friendship

August 07, 2014

A Colorful Pals Paper Arts Challenge

After a small break the Pals Paper Arts Team is back to kick off the month of August with a Color Challenge. I chose a very clean and simple approach to this color challenge.

Here is the badge for the challenge

Island Indigo and Wild Wasabi are two of my favorite Stampin' Up colors. As I have said before I am not a pastel kind of gal yet Crisp Cantaloupe with these two colors is perfect.

The square base is 3 x 3 and the polka dot DSP from the Regal DSP pack is 1/4" smaller. Of course the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set paired with the Blossom Punch is a staple in the Stampin' Up lineup and always delivers a classic look. The Wild Wasabi leaves were punched out with the Blossom Petals Builder Punch (retired). You could probably use the wing from the Bird Builder Punch as well.

I love the font on this sentiment from the Sumthin' Smithin' Stamp Set. The "celebrate" is fun yet elegant.

I do hope you join in the fun and play with the Pals this week.

Michelle

Don't Forget about these GREAT Promtions:

Paper Pumpkin Subscription - First 2 months half price! Don't forget to put Michelle Gleeson as your demonstrator and use the Promo code: HALFOFF2

Big Shot and Bundles - purchase a BIg Shot and get a Bundle for free!

Stampin' Up Supplies Used: Please click on images below for more details or easy, on-line shopping 24/7!

Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad

Regals Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack

Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad

Mixed Bunch Wood Stamp Set

$27.95

Mixed Bunch Clear Stamp Set

Sumthin' Sumthin' Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$14.95

Sumthin' Sumthin' Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

Wild Wasabi 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Aug 7, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Hot Promotions, PPA Color Challenges

August 05, 2014

You're A Star!

I took advantage of the recent DSP promotion and ordered the Flowerpot DSP. This was not one of those had to have DSP packs however with the promotion I decided to give it a whirl and I am thrilled I did. While the floral designs might not be my first choice I love the small designs on the other side of many of the papers. This card was created around one of the Flowerpot DSP papers. The colors are Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy and I love the small polka dots.

The card was created for the latest Fab Friday Sketch Challenge. Here is the sketch:

I wanted to go outside the box and chose another shape for my card. The colors led me to use Stars as my theme and the sentiment from Pictogram Punches was the perfect choice. The sentiment was embossed in Iridescent Ice to give the sentiment some glimmer.

Using fellow pal Brian King's patented squint methodology for balance on my card (now I owe him a nickel) I decided to add the three Candy Dots. If you are not familiar with this technique and you want to put a smile on your face then watch Brian's video by clicking here. The problem was I did not have any more Night of Navy Candy Dots. Have no fear! I had white candy dots and simply colored them with my new Night of Navy Blendablities pen.

I love how this card turned out. I am always looking for masculine cards and I believe this fits the bill even with the bit of glimmer in the sentiment. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Michelle

Stampin' Up Supplies Used: Please click on images below for more details or easy, on-line shopping 24/7!

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Flower Pot Designer Series Paper

$10.95

Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Night Of Navy Assortment

Neutrals Candy Dots

Pictogram Punches Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Pictogram Punches Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Big Shot

Big Shot Magnetic Platform

Stars Framelits Die

Life's Adventure Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Don't forget about the Stampin Up! Big Shot promotion and you can get the Star Framelits with a new holiday stamp set for FREE! Check it out here

Aug 5, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Challenge entries, Congratulations, Friendship, Masculine

July 23, 2014

Home Is Where the Heart Is...

This card will be heading to a colleague and her husband as they just moved into a new house. They are a wonderful couple and have the most adorable 2+ year old daughter named Matilida. They call her Tilly.

This card features another GREAT hostess set called Life's Adventures. The stamp set has a house which says "welcome" underneath the house. I cut off the welcome and proceeded to stamp five houses in a row using my Stamp-a-ma-jig and masking off the tree on the side with tape for four of the houses. I know it may seem sacrilegious to cut a stamp, yet I know I will get more use out of it without the sentiment attached.

[PSST, after cutting off the sentiment the holiday catalog was revealed to demos and there is a stamp set with houses! Oh well, no regrets. I have more flexibility with this particular stamp set now.]

To center the houses I marked the center of the card and then stamped the center house first. Then I stamped the rest of the houses first to the left then to the right.

The houses were stamped with the Momento Black Ink. This allowed me to use the new Blendabilities Markers to color the houses. I am pretty pleased. I did make a smudge on one of the hearts coming out of the chimney. I guess that is what makes it handmade.

Note - when you use the Blendabilities Markers, the color bleeds through even the heavy white Note Cards card stock. I forgot about this myself and when I opened the card I saw the bleed through. No worries though, I cropped the card front and added it to another Note Card with Stampin Dimensionals. I think it looks better this way!

On the inside I used the smaller "congratulations" sentiment from the Bravo stamp set. This is a keeper!

I fly out today to Madison Wisconsin for a speech I am giving tomorrow in the Wisconsin Dells. I have been preparing the presentation for weeks in my spare time. It is a 4-hour presentation - Yikes. Wish me luck!

Don't worry I have a post ready for you for Friday!

Michelle

Stampin' Up Supplies Used: Please click on images below for more details or easy, on-line shopping 24/7!

$11.00

Life's Adventure Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$15.00

Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Crumb Cake Assortment

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Cherry Cobbler Assortment

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Night Of Navy Assortment

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment

Stampin' Blendabilitiesª Alcohol Marker Color Lifter

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Old Olive Assortment

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Pumpkin Pie Assortment

Bravo Photopolymer Stamp Set

$25.95

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Jul 23, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Friendship

July 13, 2014

Hip Hip Hooray for FMS #144

I am not getting a lot of time in my craft room right now as I prepare for a 4 Hour presentation as a Key Note speaker at a conference in less than 2 weeks. In the meantime here is a quick card I created for this week's Freshly Made Sketch.

With two sons I am always striving to create masculine cards to have in my stash. Our oldest is taking two (college course) classes this summer. Due to the accelerated pace of the summer classes it is a lot of work. He is rockin' the classes and has two tests this week. I am anticipating wanting a card to help him celebrate and acknowledge the hard work to reach his goals.

Here is the badge for the sketch:

There is still time to play along wtih FMS yourself. Are you inspired to give it a try?

Michelle

Stampin' Up Supplies Used: Please click on images below for more details or easy, on-line shopping 24/7!

Hello Honey 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Hello Honey Classic Stampin' Pad

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad

Gorgeous Grunge Wood Stamp Set

$24.95

Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set

$17.95

Hip Notes Wood Stamp Set

$14.95

Hip Notes Clear Stamp Set

Banners Framelits Die

Big Shot Magnetic Platform

Big Shot

Ticket Duo Builder Punch

$15.95

Smoky Slate 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Jul 13, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Challenge entries, Congratulations, Masculine

July 03, 2014

Cool Water Colors

This week's Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge includes colors that remind me of cool tropical waters...let's check out the colors.

I struggled with this color challenge. I love the colors together yet I could not get my StampinMojo going. When that happens I go to my favorite inspiration ... nature, catalogs, and Pinterest. This week my inspiration came from Michele Rey another Stampin Up demonstrator using the Postage Due stamp set on Pinterest.

The stamps are embossed with Pool Party Emboss Powder and punched out with the Postage Stamp punch. Each postage stamp is layered onto a square that was cut using the second smallest square of the Square Collection Framelits.

The DSP is from the Moonlight Paper Stack and the sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Banners and coordinating framelits. I thought the Basic Metal Button with Basic Gray Bakers Twine was the perfect finishing touch to this card.

Check out what the other Design Team members came up with here and give this week's Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge a try.

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

Stampin Up Supplies Used:

Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack

Postage Due Wood Stamp Set

Postage Due Clear Stamp Set

Big Shot

Big Shot Magnetic Platform

Bitty Banners Big Shot Die Framelits

$14.95

Postage Stamp Punch

$15.95

Squares Collection Framelits Die

Silver Basic Metal Buttons

$7.95

Basic Gray Baker's Twine

$2.95

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Jul 3, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Masculine, PPA Color Challenges

June 14, 2014

Sweet Sadie for Freshly Made Sketches

This week Linda Callahan created a clean and simple design sketch for Freshly Made Sketches.When I saw the sketch I knew I wanted to use the new Sweet Sadie Washi Tape to create the diagonals. There are two women in our office who graduated last weekend one obtained her BA in Management and the other an MA in Legal Studies. Each degree is quite an achievement on its own however both women have been working full time while pursuing their degrees! So I am making congratulations cards for these two remarkable women.

The sentiment and focal point was created wit the new Tag Talk stamp set that coordinates with the Bracket Label Punch and 1" Square Punch. Then I cropped the star in Pistachio Pudding with the new Star Framelits (love these framelits). All the elements were added to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Don't you love the crisp image you get with a Stampin' Up! stamp. I do and it is why I became a demonstrator. The quality of the products is second to none. Remember unti the end of the month you too can become a demonstrator for only $50! Check out my post on this special promotion here.

Back to the card...I carried the theme of my card to the inside as well.

I think this turned out so cute. While I am not usually attracted to a pastel color palette I do like the Sweet Sadie Washi Tape and it helped me create a very sepcial card that is clean and crisp.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Stop back tomorrow for another fun challenge entry card I created.

Michelle

Stampin' Up! supplies used:

Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad

Crisp Cantaloupe 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Sweet Sadie Designer Washi Tape

Pistachio Pudding 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Tag Talk Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$23.95

Tag Talk Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Pictogram Punches Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Pictogram Punches Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

Cards & Labels Project Life Framelits Dies

Jun 14, 2014 7:58:35 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Challenge entries, Congratulations, New Arrivals

June 01, 2014

Pomp & Circumstance

It has been a whirlwind weekend! Much fun, excitement and celebration for our graduate. To all the graduates out there - Congratulations! May you continue on your path to fulfilling your dreams!

Our son is at another graduation party today and I created this card for him to take to his classmate. It was inspired by a card by another Pal, Brian King. I just loved the graduation cap embossed in White Emboss Powder and fussy cut out!

A quick reminder that today is the last day to order from the Occasions Catalog! There are some great stamp sets that will be retiring - Pomp & Circumstance is one of them. With every door that shuts a another one opens and tomorrow at noon the new annual catalog will go live. I am so excited about this catalog. There are FABULOUS sentiments throughout this catalog and some new must have bundles.

Remember you can save $$ now if you become a demonstrator. Through the end of June you can join Stampin' Up! for only $50 and select $55 worth of Stampin' Up! product the timing is perfect for anyone interested in purchasing anything in the new annual catalog. You have nothing to lose as there is no long term obligation. Email me with any questions, I am happy to help you.

I have been off of work and need to start getting my head back into the real world. I have so enjoyed this special weekend with my family as we bring one chapter of our lives to a close and begin a new one.

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle

Jun 1, 2014 12:37:14 PM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Hot Promotions

May 30, 2014

Excitement in the Air!

Today's post is simply personal. Yesterday John and I attened our very last Awards Ceremony at our sons' school, a total of 15 years has been spent at this school. It will feel odd to drive past in the Fall and realize we no longer have anyone attending.

It was a lovely ceremony recognizing the achievements of these talented young men and women. We were immensely proud of Pierce as he was recognized as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and received an award for an essay he wrote analyzing John Steinbeck's East of Eden. The faculty commented in the presentation that this was not an assignment rather written out of his desire to explore the themes of the novel at a deeper level. Not bad for a Science and Math kid!

Today we prepare for Graduation with much excitement in the air. We are beaming with pride.

When your children are young people tell you the time goes by fast and enjoy each moment. At that time in your life, you are juggling so much you cannot imagine it going by fast, yet it does. I am so pleased to have captured the many moments of our lives through scrapbooking. As we flip the pages of the scrapbooks we see the rich tapestry we have woven as a family - priceless!

Today will mark the end of one chapter of our life and the next chapter begins. I look forward to watching the story continue to unfold. It has been amazing so far!

Have a wonderful day!

Michelle

May 30, 2014 8:17:05 AM | Celebrations, Congratulations, Scrapbooking, Stampin' Up! Project Life

May 29, 2014

Something Old and Something New

The Something Old is the Happy Congratulations stamp set from the Occasions catalog which will be retiring on June 2nd. This stamp set was not carried over to the annual catty. The Something new is the Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack and the new In-Colors, Lost Lagoon and Hello Honey.

I used the Project Life framelits to create the rounded corner rectangle focal point. I love this framelit collection and it is clearly not just for Project Life!

I hope you are having a great week. I am off work for the rest of the week. My dad flies in today from Phoenix as we prepare for graduation on Friday night! It is bittersweet. I am blessed with two amazing sons. Now they will both be off chasing their dreams. So proud.

Reminder yesterday Stampin' Up! started a Hot Promotion to join Stampin' Up as a demonstrator for only $50! If you missed this information, click here for yesterday's post and all the details. This is for all you hobby crafters like me, this is a GREAT deal and a super opportunity to save money and be on top of Stampin' Up! news and trends.

Michelle

Happy Congratulations

$12.95

$24.95

Moonlight Designer Series Paper

2014-2016 In Color 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock And Classic Ink Pads Kit

$29.95

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad

Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies

May 29, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, New Arrivals, Stampin' Up! Project Life

May 26, 2014

Work of Art!

When the Demonstrator Sneak Peek order period opened I immediately placed my order for some NEW catalog items. The Work of Art stamp set was one of the items ordered. It is such a popular stamp set, it has been on back order since the opening of Sneak Peek! I received the set this week and these cards will show you why it is so popular!

This one stamp set created three very different designs. Three women in my office were recognized with special awards for their accomplishments at an industry VIP night this past week. I sent these cards off to them to acknowledge their achievement.

All three cards were created using the Stampin' Up! Note card and envelope set. This card includes a layer of DSP from the Moonlight DSP stack in the new catty. Then I stamped the flower using one of the watercolor stamps from Work of Art and Hello Honey ink simply moving the paper around with each stamp to create the flower petals. The center is another stamp in the set and stamped in Mossy Meadow ink. The sentiment is in Mossy Meadow as well.

This card features the same stamp used above to create the flower. This card features the new Lost Lagoon ink color to create the ombre look. The bottom layer is stamped immediately from the ink pad, the next layer is stamped off once and then stamped on the card, and the final layer was stamped off twice before being stamped on the card. The "window" was created using one of the Square Collection Framelits. The ribbon is also new and coordinates with the new In-Color Lost Lagoon. Clean and simple for sure.

The final card in the set shows off four stamps in the set and adds a touch of Gorgeous Gunge. This card shows off four of the five new In-Colors. This card was inspired by Jennifer Timko a Stampin' Up! Artisan Team member.

Is this getting you excited for the new Catty? Only one week until the new catty goes live! What's on your wish list? If I can help you you decide what to invest in please let me know, I am only an email away.

Enjoy your Memorial Day holiday. A special thank to all the men, women and their families who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom we enjoy as Americans. God Bless America!

Michelle

May 26, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Friendship, New Arrivals, Thinking of You

May 15, 2014

Moonlight Bliss!

I am so in love with the new 2014-2016 In-Colors that I had to use them for this weeks Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge. The sketch by the oh so talented Margaret Moody is clean and very versitile. I will be adding this sketch to my Pinterest layouts!

Let's check out the card...

Clean and simple...the base of the card is Hello Honey - oh and it is yummy! The Whisper White looks so crisp against the golden yellow. The DSP shown is from the new Paper Stack DSP called Moonlight. The designs are all wonderful. This is one of two DSP Paper Stacks in the new catty.

The DSP is matted with Blackberry Bliss. This is a rich velvety purple and looks black here.

The ribbon is also new for the In-Color collection in Hello Honey, and sentiment is from the new Something to Say stamp set. The sentiment was punched out with the Large Oval punch and then layered on one of the framelits included in the New Project Life Collection framelits.

The Blackberry Bliss shows up well in this photo.

I hope you will play along with the Pals this week. It is a very fun sketch. Let me know what you think of the new In-Colors and the Moonlight DSP!

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle

May 15, 2014 5:00:00 AM | Card making, Celebrations, Congratulations, Masculine, New Arrivals, PPA Sketch Challenges, Stampin' Up! Project Life

May 14, 2014

Pals May Blog Hop

Welcome to the May Pals Blog Hop. This is the first hop on our new day - the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Before we celebrate the release of the new Stampin' Up! catalog next month, we want to take time to say goodbye to our favorite retiring products. This month we are showcasing projects that feature stamps or accessories that are retiring along with the 2013-14 Idea Book & Catalog on June 2nd.

You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from #26 Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations on the Pals Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog.

There are so many of my favorite items retiring I had to create a few cards for you today. First saying goodbye to a few of the 2012-2014 In-Colors is difficult. Many of you know I love Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit has become a favorite as well. Here is my farewell to the 2012-2014 In-Colors...

This card is filled with retiring items not just the retiring In-Color collection. I am also using two retiring stamp sets - Happy Day [the emblem was embossed in White Emboss Powder] and Sweet Essentials provided the sentiment. The Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitiched Satin Ribbon is also retiring! The cut out was created with a Windows Frames Collection Framelit. A Regal Collection Candy Dot is the finishing touch.

The inside sentiment and adornment is also from the Happy Day stamp set.

Another retiring favorite is the Beautifully Baroque stamp. I was surprised to see this retiring after only a year. Here it is dressed up with Pewter Emboss Powder and fussy cut to add dimension and texture. The background is Eastern Elegance DSP and is also retiring as well. The sentiment is from the Express Yourself Hostess Set only available through the end of the month.

Here is a closer look at the embossing...

And one final clean and simple card to show off the retirment of the Small Heart punch as well as the Sweet Essentials stamp set. I used my Simply Scored Tool to create the grid and then added the dashes in the gutters created - keeps me in the lines. The hearts were punched from the retiring Etcetera DSP.

So many favorites are retiring however the new Stampin' Up! catalog is brimming with exciting new stamp sets, accessories and color collections. My wish list is scary long! So while we will miss many of these wonderful items there is still time to add them to your stamping collection before they are gone for good.

The next stop is Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you next month.

If you get off track here is the complete May Blog hop lineup:

May 14, 2014 5:29:00 AM | Birthday, Card making, Congratulations, Thinking of You

May 05, 2014

A Million & One Person

Last week my colleagues and I held a One Team Meeting at the Hilton for all associates. We close the office and the management team presents to the entire office our strategic initiatives for the upcoming year. At the end of the meeting we celebrated the retirement of a 40 year associate - that day was her last day. The presentation was a HUGE surprise and there was not a dry eye in the place (men and women both). I was so pleased as I worked very hard on all the details for the presentation.

We had purchased her a Gift Certifcate for a cruise and I created an envelope with my envelope punch board. Then I created a matching card (5 x 7) ...which was signed by the management team.

Island Indigo is one of my favorite SU colors and this DSP is from 2013 Sale-a-bration. I have a stash of it because I like so many of the patterns - especially this one. Crushed Curry added the "sunshine" to the Island Indigo. The sentiment was cropped out with a Windows Frames Collection framelit. Then I framed the square portion using a Squares Collection framelit. The envelope was stamped with images from the Embellished Events stamp set.

The card and the Cruise Envelope were in a beautiful beach bag along with a monogramed beach towel, some great paperbacks, and of course sunscreen. She was given two dozen roses and a limo brought her husband and best friend to share the experience. We had a cocktail reception after the meeting and then the limo took the three of them off for a fun evening and eventually home.

My heart was overflowing with joy and love from creating a wonderful surprise for someone who was so very deserving. I loved having all my Stampin' Up! products to enhance the special recognition.

Stampin' Up! products bring my creativity to life and allows me to share my joy with so many others.

Michelle

Squares Collection Framelits Dies

Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Million & One

$12.95

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

Magnetic Platform

3/16 Inch Corner Punch