Happy New Year! and welcome to the 2010 Stampin' Addicts' blog tour celebrating Stampin' Up's fabulous new Occasions Mini Catalog! This post will be staying at the top of my blog for the duration of the "hop," which lasts from noon on the 1st until midnight on the 3rd.
If you have not yet gotten a copy of the mini catalog (and the Sale A Bration brochure!!) from your demonstrator, they can be downloaded here.
Enjoy awesome projects featuring a different product or stamp set from each of the 24 demonstrator's blogs, in the order of the mini catalog. If you are not already on the trail, coming from #16 and Marie's take on Tiny Tags, you can start here and work your way around the "circle." Don't forget to bookmark any blogs you see that you would like to return to later for more inspiration! And the ladies have worked really hard on this, during a busy time of year, so I am sure they would appreciate it if you would like to leave a comment. You can also visit our favorite positive stamping & chatting forum, www.stampinaddicts.com
I am stop #17, and my assignment is the Messages for Mom stamp set on page 29! This caught my eye immediately because of all the sayings that come in it. I knew it had lots of potential beyond just a typical Mother's Day set. You will be able to use it for all sorts of occasions, but for today, I will focus on using the unusual focal-point image stamp.
My first project is a stair-step card. Measurements and scoring marks are here.
Isn't it cool? The photo above shows it standing as it would on someone's desk. Below is the same card in a clear envelope, and also completely unfolded, so you can see how it works. You can either sign it under the word "mom" where it will be hidden by the front step, or anywhere on the insides of the steps or back. It uses the adorable Cottage Wall DSP, flowers and rhinestone brads from the Pretties Kit, Felt Flowers, and Rich Razzleberry ink. A touch of whimsy is added with the polka dotted grosgrain.
My next card is a testament to Crystal Effects! I used it all over the place on this card--to give the Rose Red piece some polka dots for texture... to create a faux enamel oval piece for the sentiment... and to make the word "mom" POP off the background. Lots of piercing and sponging softened and mellowed the card. Hard to beat Pretty in Pink for a nice girly card!
I was all over the place with the colors this week! Usually I try to stick with one color scheme for a hop, but this week my craft room was a tornado of color. Here's a project with olive, mustard and ruby...
... a 5.25x5.25 inch card for our square Whisper White 5.5 inch envelopes, kind of a fun size to shake things up a little. I used For All You Do for the focal point, and stamped the "mom" in Ruby Red ink on Ruby Red cardstock, to create a kind of weathered, stained wood feel that I liked with the kind of Bohemian West font style of this stamp. Can you see it? It's like a watermark, very subtle. Using the stamp that way allows me to use it as a secondary stamp instead of always having it be the focal point.
I'd love to hear your comments, and feel free to CASE my projects if you'd like (I'd appreciate a link if you post them online). Thank you for visiting, and I hope you will continue on now to stop #18, Lily's Ink Pad and see how she used the cute little Fox & Friends stamp set.
Leave a comment below and I will draw a name on the 11th for the winner of some BLOG CANDY--a free clear mount block for our new stamping option, pictured above. If you like unmounted stamps, take a look at what Stampin' Up has to offer--I think you will be blown away! Happy stamping.
Love your projects, Lyssa!! The way you used the CE on the pink card - fabulous!! :)
Posted by: Marie | 01/01/2010 at 09:18 AM
Beautiful projects. Thank you for sharing!The crystal effects really makes your card POP!! Wonderful effect!
Posted by: Lola B | 01/01/2010 at 09:19 AM
Love 'em all, but that stair-step card is AWESOME!!! :-)
Posted by: Marilyn Goodrich | 01/01/2010 at 09:24 AM
Wow, Lyssa! The Crystal Effects are fabby, but I think I love, love, love the weathered effect the best!!
Posted by: Heidi | 01/01/2010 at 09:52 AM
Great projects. This set didn't grab me as I went through the catalog; I need to give it another look thanks to you! Thanks for sharing.l
Posted by: jmniffer | 01/01/2010 at 10:13 AM
Love the projects! Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Dawnmarie | 01/01/2010 at 10:13 AM
I love the crystal effects! I usually avoid it as I get it all over everything, but I am going to start using it now!
Posted by: Sara Mattson-Blume | 01/01/2010 at 10:32 AM
Lyssa, great projects! I love using Crystal Effects to highlight, create "faux embossing", and gloss. I love all the colors and versatility in your projects.
Posted by: Heather | 01/01/2010 at 10:51 AM
Love, love, love all the cards, such a different feel for each one of them. But the middle card with the Crystal Effects just knocks my socks off! TFS!
Posted by: Cindy E. | 01/01/2010 at 11:01 AM
I agree with everyone else - the Crystal Effects just add that touch of elegance! Thanks for sharing your talents with us!
Posted by: Jan | 01/01/2010 at 11:25 AM
As always you have amazing samples for our new sets! I love the stair step card! :)
Posted by: Lorie | 01/01/2010 at 12:05 PM
I love your birthday card! Guess I need to go pull out the Crustal Effects... Fabulous projects!
Posted by: Yapha | 01/01/2010 at 12:13 PM
This is such a lovely set and can be used for so many other projects in addition to 'Mom' projects. Thanks for the chance to win a new block.
Posted by: lisa808 | 01/01/2010 at 12:18 PM
Love your work! I check your blog every day.
Posted by: Eloise Evans | 01/01/2010 at 12:25 PM
Very pretty cards Lyssa! I'm lovin the Crystal Effects
Posted by: Kandi | 01/01/2010 at 12:42 PM
Beautiful set of cards.
Posted by: Jacqui | 01/01/2010 at 01:03 PM
Lyssa, I LOVE that first one! Beautiful (and it matches your blog header so well - LOL!). The second one got me looking more closely. At first I thought those dots on the right were created with ink and then you used a gel pen to give that white dot appearance, but then after reading your post, I realized it was the light reflecting off of the Crystal Effects. Cool! I don't use mine often enough. Like the color combo on the last one. Great job on everything!
Posted by: Cheryl | 01/01/2010 at 01:32 PM
I love the crystal effects on the polka dots...gonna have to get me some of that!
Posted by: Amanda M. | 01/01/2010 at 02:29 PM
I love the stair step card! You inspired me, I'd like to try this card.
Posted by: Kathy Jacobson | 01/01/2010 at 02:38 PM
As always- beautiful job!
Posted by: Tracy | 01/01/2010 at 02:53 PM
Beautiful projects, Lyssa! Love the card with the Crystal Effects the most!
Posted by: Melissa | 01/01/2010 at 03:48 PM
Congratulations! I just wanted you to know that your project will appear on the Yahoo Group Late Night Stamper’s blog finds of the day for January 2. Want to receive your own copy of the blog finds of the day? Join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stampinuplnstampers/ or visit our Blog Finds of the Day Blog at http://blogfindsoftheday.blogspot.com.
Posted by: Kelly Mayou | 01/01/2010 at 04:13 PM
LOVE the crystal effects card! Such a cool embellishment and nice colors. That stair step card looks familiar. :-)
Posted by: Theresa | 01/01/2010 at 04:37 PM
Lyssa - beautiful projects. this is such a beautiful set. thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Lisa | 01/01/2010 at 06:17 PM
I loved all of your projects! The card with the crystal effects was esp. beautiful - loved the ribbon detail too!
Posted by: Lisa Y. | 01/01/2010 at 06:18 PM
Love your projects and thanks for sharing
Posted by: Diane Harris | 01/01/2010 at 06:38 PM
Wow! Your cards are awesome! TFS!
Posted by: Cherie | 01/01/2010 at 07:25 PM
I love the colors on the square card -- just terrific!
Posted by: WebDeb | 01/01/2010 at 07:42 PM
Awesome cards as always Lyssa!!!
Posted by: Allana B. | 01/01/2010 at 09:06 PM
Your cards are so beautiful Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Linda Ressetar | 01/01/2010 at 09:51 PM
Fabulous cards!!! The stair step one is awesome! Thanks for the ideas!
Posted by: Chastity Broeker | 01/01/2010 at 10:00 PM
Beautiful done! After seeing your creations, I'll have to buy this set now!
Posted by: Kim s1itcher46 | 01/01/2010 at 10:21 PM
Lyssa, your cards are all beautiful and I for one am glad your colors are "all over the place"- makes for fun viewing!
Posted by: Kristin Moore | 01/01/2010 at 11:06 PM
Lyssa, you really made those Rose Red dots pop. I tend to forgot about using Crystal Efffects. Would love to win the acrylic block though as anxious to try the clear stamps. Thanks for offering bloc candy!
Posted by: Kathy Mc | 01/02/2010 at 12:01 AM
Lyssa, Beautiful projects. I love how you used Crystal Effects on the 2nd card.
Posted by: Lisa Lin | 01/02/2010 at 12:02 AM
Beautiful projects, Lyssa.. love the CE and the pop-up card too!
Posted by: Sharon Field / CreatedByU | 01/02/2010 at 02:51 AM
Love your cards. Especially the stairstep and CE cards! Great job.
Posted by: Debadoo | 01/02/2010 at 02:55 AM
Cute stuff especially the crystal effects that I forget I have.
Posted by: Jan Scholl | 01/02/2010 at 03:48 AM
Love the stair step card. Looks great in the clear envelope
Posted by: Janet Goshorn | 01/02/2010 at 06:58 AM
Your cards are all so beautiful....wouldn't be able to pick a favorite as they are so awesome! Thanks for sharing your work!
Posted by: laura j | 01/02/2010 at 10:17 AM
Your projects are beautiful. Thanks for the tips re: crystal effects...will be trying this.
Posted by: Dorene | 01/02/2010 at 11:13 AM
Beautiful cards! I have been wanting to try Crystal Effects and I think you have inspired me to get some now! :)
Posted by: Rita | 01/02/2010 at 12:05 PM
Such fun projects, Lyssa! I really love the way you used the Crystal Effects here--a subtle detail that adds such impact!
Posted by: Holly @ InkPaperStamps | 01/02/2010 at 12:15 PM
oooh - your stair step card is just gorgeous. Love the way you layered the flowers and butterfly!
Posted by: SBQ | 01/02/2010 at 01:26 PM
Lots of details on the Pink card-love all the shiny dots and CE everywhere! Great projects!
Posted by: Rhonda L. | 01/02/2010 at 02:52 PM
I've never tried a stair-step card- yours shows me all the neat things that can be hidden there! I also really like what you've done with crystal effects(another thing I neglect) Thanks for sharing!!
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon Steinwand | 01/02/2010 at 06:07 PM
Fabulous projects! Love the stair step especially!!!!
Posted by: Rhonda | 01/02/2010 at 08:04 PM
LOVE your cards !! :)
Posted by: Susan | 01/02/2010 at 08:08 PM
OMG simply gorgeous! kicking myself for not pre-ordering the MOM set. Darn!
Posted by: Jenny | 01/02/2010 at 08:25 PM
Tough choice between the stair step card & your Pretty in Pink card - I really like them both!
Posted by: Melissa | 01/02/2010 at 08:50 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE EM ALL! Fab work girly :-)
Posted by: Sarah Wills | 01/02/2010 at 09:34 PM
Fantastic creations! I love the techniques with the crystal effects.
Posted by: Ginette | 01/02/2010 at 10:00 PM
Great work! I especially love your use of crystal effects. Keep up your creative work : )
Susan
Posted by: Susan Carlson | 01/03/2010 at 08:00 AM
So much talent! Beautiful! Thank you so much for all the time that you give!
Posted by: Marla | 01/03/2010 at 03:01 PM
Wonderful cards Lyssa! Thanks for inspiring!
Posted by: Melina | 01/03/2010 at 03:13 PM
Love this stamp set and you did an awesome job showing it off. You showed us some great versatility. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Patti | 01/03/2010 at 03:28 PM
WOW - great use of the crystal effects! I have it and never use it because I didn't realize it could be used so many different ways. I bet there are MANY people out there that would love to have you share this!
Posted by: Nicci | 01/03/2010 at 05:25 PM
Awesome ideas for the crystal effects, Lyssa!
Posted by: Debbi | 01/03/2010 at 05:34 PM
Awesome projects Lyssa! I liked all of them! lol I can't pick one great job!
Posted by: Holly | 01/03/2010 at 05:52 PM
I love all fo your projects. Thank you for the great ideas.
Posted by: Betty Jo Warner | 01/03/2010 at 06:05 PM
Very pretty cards/projects! Love them all!
Posted by: Jeanne Nielsen | 01/04/2010 at 07:39 PM
They are all super ideas, love the stair step card, but my favorite is the card with the crystal effects. That really makes the images pop!!
Posted by: Kathy Anthony | 01/07/2010 at 08:16 AM
Absolutely great project it is perfect for a mother's day card. Wish that I saw your blog earlier. :)
vee
Posted by: mom philippines | 06/06/2010 at 09:58 PM