Caught in the Web...

of Good Friends!

Halloween is around the corner! And this yummy orange popcorn treat is the perfect way to say Thank You, Thinking of You, or simply So Glad We're Friends! I pulled out one of my very favorite JustRite Stamp Sets, Witch Way to the Treats for this creations! I cut off the end of my three pound spaghetti box to use as my container and covered it with paper from Graphic45 Halloween in Wonderland paper pad. LOVE the colors in these papers. The various sized ric rac adds punch of color, picking those colors from the stamped and punched layers of card stock used. The cello bag is actually a clear envelope, closed and stapled to hold corners in place. The spider ric rac finishes off the look! A peek at the entire Witch Way to the Treats set, I love that I can use this set beyond Halloween! The pumpkin being geared toward Thanksgiving, the border ring, "Caught in the Web of Good Friends" can certainly be used for cyber friends! Simple stamping using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, SU punches, and my C1 Copic marker to add shading makes this very easy! Save and recycle some of those boxes and containers that usually make their way to the garbage container! The popcorn recipe can be found HERE (scroll down in post to get the link to Julie's popcorn)!

Take good care! I have been out of town, hence the lack of posting! Hope all of you are doing well, we are still sweltering here in the Midwest, not complaining! It's better than snow! LOL

MORE Pleating, Gathering, & Sewing!

LOVE this set! The aqua with bright pink is the perfect combination! I think our little Emma is going to look stunning, don't you? Here is a sock and headband set! The pink ribbon is silk, so it might wrinkle in the wash, but I have a feeling if it does, Grandma can make more bows! And what about a sock and headband set for the holidays? The rose and white bows on the socks is suede ribbon so it will launder well. There you have it! More girly uses for all your ribbon! The ribbon used is from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store! I HAVE yet several more bibs, and headbands to show you! More to to come!

TAKE GOOD CARE AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING TODAY!

Pleated, Gathered, and Sewn, Oh my!

Pleated ribbon seems to be very popular! So, for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge today we're going to make creations with pleated ribbon. You may use purchased pleated ribbon, you may pleat your own or pleat with tape. For the purpose of this challenge, we will equate gathers to pleats, either or both is fine! Phew, that's a good thing cause most of my creations are gathered ribbon! LOL The head caps and bib are Gerber brand purchased at my local Meiers store. This brand or similar are found where baby items can be purchased.

Michelle Woerner, one of The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Designers has a simple pleat method shown HERE! Check it out! This bib has pleated ribbon machine sewn around the edging! I chose this sturdy new twill, so it will withstand washing. (I have not laundered this yet, I will let you know how it does when I do!)

We are going to be welcoming new baby girls at the end of this year and beginning of next, so I want to have plenty of socks and head accessories! This set has the sturdy new twill along with a piece of silk ribbon.

And this headband is perfect for the holidays! All ribbons can be found in The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store! The supply is unlimited for making anything gathered, pleated, or embellished! Have fun. Take Good Care, and thanks so much for stopping by! Remember to use this keyword, ssnotime153 when uploading to a public forum! Upload over at Sharon's blog Mr Linky too. You for sure will want to visit all the Stamp Simply Challenge designers to see their pleated inspiration!

Sharon Johnson, No Time To Stamp? Deb Neerman: Paper, Ink, Scissors & Stamps Barbara Anders: Paper Pursuits Jenny Gropp: One Krafty Kat. Janine Orchard: 2bKrafty AJ Otto: The Willow Garden Deb Saaranen: Dream In Color

Charlene Driggs: Paper and Ink Playground (AUGUST GUEST DESIGNER)

Think Happy Thoughts!

Another card I made for one of the challenges while at the Michigan Upper Peninsula Stampers gathering. We were to use the stamped images given along with the papers. I added some shadowing with my chalks, a little blush, and then added button embellishments (tied with my string), a silk ribbon bow along with an adhesive pearl to create a feminine look! I then spritzed the entire card with silver Tattered Angels mist. I did not shake it well enough though, and the shimmer did not come! Lesson learned, shake- shake- shake your mist before EACH use! I believe all the images and papers are SU.

I'm still working on my Groovy Snowman collection, I cooked and cleaned a bit that cut into my stamping time this past weekend! But the set will be well worth the wait! Take good care and thanks so much for stopping by!

What to do with all the ribbon scraps?

Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge this week is to use up all those ribbon pieces you have trimmed off and saved for another day! Use them on a card or project, use as many as you want, just make sure each is a scrap! Some days I'm so good at using even the tiniest of ribbon scraps, other days, not so much.

A couple weeks ago, I shared I went to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and attended Sharon Johnson's open house! She asked me to demo making flowers out of various ribbons. I have to tell you, Sharon's studio is so embellished with ribbon goodness, I thought I had been transported to a dream full of all the ribbon goodness one could possibly imagine! It was a wonderful day to say the least! My point in sharing this little story is to let you know how I arrived at my ribbon flower scrap creation! I spied a scrap of white silk left from demonstrating a white ribbon flower earlier. I decided to roll and stitch that scrap into a small flower, adding a suede leaf.

I took it along to the evening stamping event where we were issued a challenge. The challenge was to use the paper and cardstock given, adding whatever you wanted to make it your own! That is where my ribbon scrap flower comes in! I placed it on the card I'm showing you for today's challenge! There you have it! A ribbon scrap turned flower! What do you do with your ribbon scraps? We want to know! Please play along and if you upload to a public forum, use keyword, ssnotime152. Upload over on Sharon's Mr Linky too! Thanks for checking in! Take good care!

Check out what our Stamp Simply Challenge designer's ribbon scraps have become!

Sharon Johnson, No Time To Stamp? Deb Neerman: Paper, Ink, Scissors & Stamps, (Deb won't be playing tonight, feel better soon!) Barbara Anders: Paper Pursuits Jenny Gropp: One Krafty Kat. Janine Orchard: 2bKrafty AJ Otto: The Willow Garden Deb Saaranen: Dream In Color

Charlene Driggs: Paper and Ink Playground (AUGUST GUEST DESIGNER)

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STAMPS: Rubber Soul/Wordsworth Birthday Greetings Single Stamp, (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE) PAPER: Provided SU )

INK: Tim Hotlz Old Paper Distress Ink, Memento Black (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE) OTHER: Ribbon & Suede leaf (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE), Recollections Adhesive Gem Flourishes (Michaels), sponge dauber, Tiny Twinkle Gems (Taylored Expressions)

Merry & Bright Groovy Snowman!

It's sweltering outside as I stamp & color images from JustRite's Groovy Snowman Set! This is my favorite time of year to create holiday cards and gifts. Less pressure, summer still in the air, and the grill being fired up for dinner!

Just look at all the snowmen goodness in this wonderful set, JR Groovy Snowman! I just smiled and smiled as I colored! I've never seen a snowman that did not just delight my heart! That is one reason several years ago how my snowmen collection began. I did decrease the collection quite a bit when we moved last year, however I still have many special snowmen to set out during the holiday and winter months.

The image is colored with Copic Markers, colors listed below. I was lucky enough to be in Debbie Olsen's first Copic class she instructed back in June while she was in Grand Rapids, Michigan! Can't say enough about her spectacular work, and she's just as kind, gracious, and lovely as you could imagine!

Another Christmas set, Christmas Nested Sentiments is shown above. Not only are these sentiments useful along side your stamped images, they surely will be as perfect for your cards inside!

Merry & Bright was stamped for today's outside sentiment, while I chose a larger, more wordy sentiment for the card inside. The possibilities for these Christmas sentiments are endless! Love the varied sizes, wording, and coordination usage with JustRite's nested frames.

This is but one of four cards I've created for a gift set! I'm repurposing a wonderful Christmas box from last year to house the set and will be revealing all that goodness this weekend. Hope you've been able to follow along this week over on the JustRite BLOG as they feature JustRite Designer creations using new JustRite Christmas sets! You will be inspired, guaranteed! Take good care! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

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STAMPS: JR-10000 Groovy Snowman(JUSTRITE), JR-09255Christmas Nested Sentiments & Verse (JUSTRITE)

PAPER: Off White, Kraft cardstock (Papertreyink), October Afternoon Road Trip/The Thrift Shop Patterned Papers(THE STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE)

INK/COPICS: StazOn Jet Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers G21, W1, R27, YR68, Y21,Y26, C7, 0/Colorless blender

PUNCHES/DIES: Classic Small Circle Die #4, Circle Small Scallop Die#4, Large Oval Die #4, Tags Trio Dies #2 & #3 (SPELLBINDERS), SU Corner Punch, Martha Stewart border edge punch

OTHER: ScorIt Mini Board, Black String (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE), Scor Tape, Gold & Silver Embossing powder, misc Buttons, Sewing Machine, foam dimensionals

Autumn Splendor BLOG HOP!

Welcome to The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Autumn Splendor Blog Hop!

I love autumn! I especially enjoy when leaves start to turn colors on all the trees. Intense golds, vibrant reds, oranges, and shades of browns & rusts! Sigh. Every year I wish the colored leaves could stay around a bit longer before they make their way to the ground. It's the sure sign that winter is around the corner, and the holidays will soon follow. So, with that in mind I thought I would utilize some splendid autumn colors and create place setting favors for a fall luncheon I'm planning.

Here are the five sets I created. While shopping last week I spied a box of nine tea lights priced at four dollars! Score! Less than fifty cents each! Not only was the deal appealing, but look at the candle colors! Perfect for an autumn day, wouldn't you say?

Wanting to use my new Lush Collection KaiserCraft 6" paper pad, I knew the papers that the Lush Collection provided would contain all the necessary autumn colors (and more) I needed. I trimmed paper strips and adhered to the plastic tea light holder with scor tape. (note: make sure paper strip is adhered below tealight holder edge to prevent paper catching fire)

I discovered the matching Lush collection Journal Tags were perfect for creating a placecard to sit alongside the tealight. I simply scored each tag down the middle, folded to stand. My Krylon Leafing pens were still on my desk as I was creating these favors, and thought edging the paper strip would help give the candle a more finished look. I love the ease of using these pens and proceeded to edge all the tealight paper strips, each folded tag, then the leaves! Phew, I wanted to leaf edge everything in sight! Yes, these pens are wonderful!

And another photo of the collection! Such a quick, inexpensive, and delightful favor, that will surely create an inviting table! The top photo reveals The Lush Collection kit that Sharon has created! Look at all the paper, ribbon and embellsihment goodness! It is this kit that is being offered as BLOG Candy for today's hop! Leave a comment on all the designer's blogs for your chance to win. You don't have to leave a comment on all the blogs, but it surely increases your chance to win if you do! Good Luck!

Enjoy your day as we anticipate the autumn splendor that is around the corner! Take good care and thanks so much for stopping by!

Take a look at all the Autumn Splendor our team designers have to share: SHARON/THE STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE MICHELLE HOLLY LINDA SHERRY BARB, you are here DEB

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STAMPS: Clearly Wordsworth/Rubber Soul Everyday Greetings (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE)

PAPER: KaiserCraft Lush Collection 6" paper pad, & Journal Tags (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE)

INK: Memento Rich Cocoa (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE)

OTHER: Kaiser Adhesive Pearls & Krylon Silver/Gold Leafing Pens (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE), Scor Tape (Joan's Gardens), Tealight candles, SU leaf punch

It's an Ornament Monday!

Happy Monday Morning! Today I have two JustRite Christmas ornaments to share with you! I have been playing with this ornament for a while now, tweaking it to my liking! I added the year to the hanger of each. As I tied the tags onto the ornaments, it occurred to me that I could also add names and set these beauties on my holiday table for decor & seating placement. Good idea? I started using this new JustRite set, Christmas Ornaments Set. I chose to heat emboss my image. The year uses JustRite font, Times New Roman, 25 pt. set on my clear round stamper. After heat embossing three ornaments for each, I cut around each along the outer embossed edge. You can see the difference between the uncut silver ornament and the cut out gold ornaments. Each individual ornament section is scored right down the middle. I chose to scor the back side so I would not mess up the embossing. Gently fold each ornament forward. You can color your ornament at this time (or wait until ornament is assembled). This is where I used my Copic marker, G21 and W1. I went over portions of the green area with the same color, G21 to add some shading. Now we are ready to tape our pieces together! Shown above is where I placed my tape, you do not need to place tape on each piece! Before I stick my final ornament section to the other pieces, I want to add my pearl pin and ornament hanger cording. I made sure I placed my tape to the center edge of scoring, so these two items held in place. The pearl pin is a floral pin that I cut down to fit, using my wire cutters. After the final ornament section is placed, I finished the ornament edges with my Krylon Leafing pens. If you have not tried these pens, they are the easiest and most fun! Edging with the same embossed image color, covers any edges that don't match perfectly. Here is the blue ornament, and you cannot see any mismatched edges after applying the leafing! Copic markers, B21 and W1 were used. Embellish ornaments as desired. For the two ornaments today, I used glue, glitter, pearls, mini gems and a bit of silk ribbon! And here is another pic of both ornaments! Simple, yet fun and easy enough to make one for each family member! JustRite will be revealing their new August release sets this entire week! Fellow JustRite Team Designers, Angela, Debbie, Sharon, and Kazan have some inspiration goodness for you today! All August sets are in stock and shipping now! Be sure to check the JustRite BLOG all week too! Oh, so much goodness! I'll be posting another JustRite new set creation on Thursday! Hmmm....which new set(s) will I be using? Take good care and have a marvelous Monday!

Memento NEWSFLASH! JustRite Stampers is now carrying Memento Inks. Memento Inks provide the perfect chemical mix to use on our stamping creations. One tip for getting great stamping results for your projects is understanding the chemistry of the inks, markers and papers you are using. Most inks contain a small amount of alcohol in their chemical make up. Since Copic markers are alcohol based, many of the inks you own in your craft room are not compatible with Copic markers (some may work if you heat set them). We love Memento ink because the chemical formulation of Memento inks contains no alcohol. Which means if you color your image stamped with Memento, Copic markers will not smear the lines in your stamped image.

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STAMPS: Christmas Ornaments Set (JUSTRITE), Bonus Center & 25pt Font Set (JUSTRITE)

PAPER: Off White cardstock (SU)

INK/COPICS: VersaMark Watermark ink, StazOn Jet Black, Copic Markers B21, G21, W1

OTHER: Kaiser Adhesive Pearls, Silk Ribbon, ScorIt Mini Board & Krylon Silver Leafing Pen (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE), Scor Tape, Gold & Silver Embossing powder, misc cording & string, Floral pearlized pins, Tiny Gems (Taylored Expressions), Palette UltraFine Prisma Glitter, Mono Tombow Multi glue, 1 5/8" clear round Stamper (JUSTRITE), 3 1/4" Round Wooden Stamper (JUSTRITE)

It's a One Layer Stamp Simply Friday!

Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge is brought to us by one of Stamp Simply's talented designers, Barbara Anders. Barbara is challenging everyone to make a one layer card. That means only the card base, not the base and one other layer, NO layers allowed! You may embellish however you want--ribbon, buttons, bling, scoring--anything goes, but no layers. Have FUN!

Here is my one layer creation! This was a tough one for me! I guess that's why challenges are good for us! Love this wonderful stamp! I stamped directly onto the designer paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink! Simple and easy!

I brought my Krylon Silver Leafing Pen out from hiding and edged the card, and scallop circles. I like the finished look it lends to the paper and flower and LOVE the silver with these papers. These pens come in other metallic colors and are sooo very easy to use! I stayed away from them, thinking they would be too challenging to get a straight line with. Well, am I glad I gave it the ole college try! Look for more silver leafing in the future! LOL Remember to use keyword ssnotime151 if you upload your one layer creation to a public forum. And add your creation to Sharon's Mr Linky over on her blog!

Thank you for stopping by! I so appreciate you taking a peek at what's going on here at Explore. Dream. Discover. Take good care! I'll be back today with a second post featuring JustRite Stampers Friday challenge card!

Check out the terrific one layer creations these super talented designers have to share!

Sharon Johnson, No Time To Stamp? Deb Neerman: Paper, Ink, Scissors & Stamps Barbara Anders: Paper Pursuits Jenny Gropp: One Krafty Kat. Janine Orchard: 2bKrafty AJ Otto: The Willow Garden Deb Saaranen: Dream In Color

Charlene Driggs: Paper and Ink Playground (AUGUST GUEST DESIGNER)

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STAMPS: Rubber Soul/Wordsworth Birthday Greetings, (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE) PAPER: K & Company Elegance (Michaels))

INK: Memento Black (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE) OTHER: Kaiser Adhesive Pearls (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE), Krylon Silver Leafing Pen (STAMP SIMPLY RIBBON STORE), SU large corner punch & silver brad, Marvvy Uchida 1 1/2" scallop circle punch, Crop a Dile

For You! A JustRite Friday Challenge!

Did you know? Every Friday JustRite Stampers issues a challenge, JustRite for YOU! Before we get to my creation for today's challenge, please note the following important challenge details:

• JustRite will pre-announce the theme or topic of each weekly challenge at the beginning of each month (by the first Friday), giving you time to gather any necessary supplies to participate.
• Check out this page, called Challenges, by clicking on THIS TAB.
• JustRite also offers a prize each week for the winning project! Challenge participants have until the following Thursday, 9am CST of each issued challenge to enter a creation. The winner will be chosen and announced on the JustRite's blog later on that Thursday.
• When you upload your project to an online gallery, please use the weekly challenge code in the keyword section of the Splitcoaststampers project upload page or the Tag section of Flickr.

For this weeks challenge, (code is: JRC_030) use this photo as your creation inspiration. I utilized the colors from our inspiration photo to create my card shown below.

After stamping my sentiment and borders, I trimmed the borders around the design. I used my craft knife to slit along the top and bottom of largest frame's inside edge. This allows the ribbon to thread through and around card front.

The Victorian Nested Frames and Sentiment Set in its entirety. Such a great set for card inside sentiments too.

Here are the clear blocks now available in two horizontal sizes. This makes for much easier placement when matching up the frames and sentiments. I hope this inspires you to play along this week! TAKE GOOD CARE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STAMPS: JB-09205 Victorian Nested Frames (JustRite)

PAPER: Kraft, Aqua Mist Cardstock (PapertreyInk), K&Company Designer Paper (Michaels), Yellow Cardstock (Prism)

INK: Memento Tuxedo Black (Stamp Simply Store)

OTHER: JB-09520 Clear Rectangle Stampers (JustRite), Largest Tag Trio Die (Spellbinders), Martha Stewart border punch, Kaiser Adhesive Pearls & Silk Ribbon (Stamp Simply Store)

Tea Time!

Here is another card I made in the weekend shoe box swap! LOVE everything about it! I believe the stamps and die is Papertreyink! Not sure who is the maker of the papers. LOVE the little tag, perfect. This was the design of Deb Sarranen. Thank YOU Deb! I so loved creating this little beauty! Tea Time? I'll put the kettle on! See you soon and take good care!

So very creative!

Here is one of the so very creative cards I made in the UP shoebox swaps this past weekend! I don't know who is the creator of this template or whose original this is, there was not a name on any of the supplies I used! SO, just to be clear, this is NOT my design, I just created this particular card with the materials available looking at the sample. The ruffle around the apron is a coffee filter!!! Oh my, I about fell off my chair! I did change up the apron pocket, and can see creating this apron with a monogrammed napkin extending out of the pocket! A perfect wedding shower invite, don't you think!

And look at this beauty! I believe all SU product is utilized. LOVE the colors and designer paper used here! I know the image was stamped with pumpkin pie ink! So many of these colors are present in my own home decor! I have lots more to share! Will continue to get all the pics edited to show! Take good care and thanks so much for stopping by today! I love it when you do!

As far as the eye can see...

We returned from our trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula! I attended the Michigan UP stamper gathering, and spent a day at Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Open House! I can't wait to show you the shoe box exchange cards I made! It was so nice to visit with old friends and make new ones! What kind, warm, and wonderful women! I have to get the shoe box photos edited, but for now take a look at the beauty that surrounded us as we ventured.

We stopped at a small light house, there was this rock formation that allowed a trickle of Lake Superior water right to the place we were standing!

So many views and stops as we traveled from Copper Harbor. Here is a small town and the interesting land formation in Lake Superior.

The water is this blue! What a great shot of a sailboat that just took off from the shoreline.

And Lake Superior, as far as the eye can see! More photos to come! Thanks for checking in today!