Today's The Last Day for Blog Candy!

My Goodness the Traffic Has Been Good But Only 10 Comments?

Wow ladies I am not sure how I got to 100K, looks like people are to shy to leave a comment for some Free Blog Candy. Today is your last day to leave a comment, if you don't want to leave what stamp set you would like to see as a wedding invitation, maybe leave a comment about what inspires you? I would love to give away all of the prizes so make sure if you visits that you leave a comment here

Big Thank You 100K and Climbing – FREE Blog Candy

Well it is hard to believe that when I started this blog I would ever reach 100K hits but we are almost there. So with this milestone I have decided to give away some FREE blog candy, and not just a few but lots! So lets celebrate! its not everyday that this happens well at least for me it doesn’t.

Thank you Section!

I would like to thank everyone who has visited my blog, who have left such beautiful comments, who have e-mailed me privately letting me know that I have inspired them by using a stamp set that they would never have bought to one that they were now going to buy. For me that is the best compliment.

For everyone who came to my Wedding Demonstrator Workshop or to those who ordered the To-Go-Kit, thank you for your orders.

To everyone who has sent prayers, concerns about my Dad and have gone out of there way to be there for me via Facebook; Twitter; blog; Stamping Connection or e-mail, I thank you also.

To the demonstrators who e-mail me asking questions (I hope I haven’t missed any) and those who I surprised when I actually call them to answer some of their questions. Thank you for your wonderful words of kindness.

And to my husband who supports me my endless habit and addiction, thank you for allowing me to spend endless hours at something I love.

So Here Is What You Can WIN And Of Course You Will Have To Work For It

To WIN you will need to leave a comment of which “NEW” stamp set(s) you would like to see as a wedding invitation for my upcoming Fall Workshop. The key word is NEW and can include stamps that made its way from our last mini to the NEW catalog.

NOTE: I have already chosen the stamps from this year’s catalogue that I am going to focus on for this falls workshop. If I draw your name for the Blog Candy if I chose the stamp set you have suggested you will receive a $20 e-coupon off your next purchase of my next Fall Wedding Demonstrator Workshop To-Go-Kit.

1. Blog Candy for Wedding Demonstrator Workshop Attendees and Demonstrator To-Go-Kits
If you attended my wedding workshop or if you purchased a To-Go Kit you could WIN a matching Wedding Guest Book based on the design of your choice. See sample Guest Book here.

2. FREE Blog Candy for Everyone Globally

Here is what you could WIN:

5 people will WIN my “Because I Care Purse and 5 Note Cards” see here

5 People will WIN “3 Stampin’ Up Charm Inserts”

• Chic Boutique Simply Adorned Insert for 1" x 1.25" Rectangle Charm see here
• Elements of Style with Tiny Tags for 1.25" x 2" Rectangle Charm see here
• Because I Care - Simply Adorned Jewelry for 1.25" x 2" Rectangle Charm see here
  

NOTE: Does not included jewelry.

5 People will WIN “Island Floral iPOD Carry Case” see here from Stampin Girl's Convention 2010 WOW SWAP

NOTE: Does not included iPOD.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to see your suggestions and comments.

Entry Deadline: Wednesday June 30, 2010 EDT

Its All About Colour - My Colour Picks for Up Coming Wedding Workshop

New SU Colours Are a Recipe for Change: Change = Good

When I went to OCA (Ontario College of Art) what seems like years ago one of the classes I took was all about colour. Yes a whole year about colour. I remember mixing and mixing trying to create just the right colour why we even created a colour book that had to be handed in at the end of the year for our final mark. I actually wish I still had it, those exercise though then a pain in the behind, I really did learn a lot.

Mixing colour is like a recipe really, just like baking a cake, little bit of this little bit of that add some black to make darker and some white to make lighter. This summer I plan on doing a painting or should I say 6 (10 x 10) paintings for our living room. One painting that will be done on six canvasses to make one painting. OK I can hear what your think why not just do one big painting and all I can say is I am obsessed right now with squares and dividing things. Just like the card I did below, doing it on 6 canvases allows me to shake it up. I can either put it on the wall the way it should be or I can mix it up depending on how it feels. So off I went to the art store to buy my 5 tubes of paint, Cyan (blue) Magenta (red) and yellow plus black and white. I have decided to challenge myself this summer to do it the traditional way mix up my own paint.

Last night I decided to create a wedding pallet of colours based on 4 seasons and a few themes that I want to do using our new SU colour pallets. And I thought I would share this with you in case you would like to try creating your own colour scheme.

Ever wonder what feelings are create from colours or what colours mean around the world here is a breakdown that I always find interesting.

Red
Excitement, energy, passion, desire, speed, strength, power, heat, love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence, aggression, all things intense and passionate.

Yellow
Joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard.

Blue
Peace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty, sky, water, cold, technology, depression, appetite suppressant.

Orange
Energy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrant, expansive, flamboyant, demanding of attention.

Green
Nature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth, vigor, spring, generosity, fertility, jealousy, inexperience, envy, misfortune.

Purple
Royalty, spirituality, nobility, spirituality, ceremony, mysterious, transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning.

Gray
Security, reliability, intelligence, staid, modesty, dignity, maturity, solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring.

Brown
Earth, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance, stability, simplicity, and comfort.

White
Reverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility, precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good, sterility, marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold, clinical, sterile.

Black
Power, sexuality, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, good technical color, mourning, death (Western cultures).

There are various cultures who understand the need of colors in their own special manner.

Red
China - symbol of celebration and luck, used in many cultural ceremonies that range from funerals to weddings.
India - color of purity (used in wedding outfits).
United States - Christmas color when combined with green, Valentines Day when combined with pink, indicates stop (danger) at traffic lights.
Eastern cultures - signifies joy when combined with white.

Yellow
Asia - sacred, imperial.
Western cultures - joy, happiness.

Blue
China - associated with immortality.
Colombia - associated with soap.
Hindus - the color of Krishna.
Jews - holiness.
Middle East - protective color.

Note: Blue is often considered to be the safest global color.

Orange
Ireland - religious significance (Protestant).
United States - inexpensive goods, Halloween (with black).

Green
China - studies indicate this is not a good color choice for packaging, green hats mean a man's wife is cheating on him.
France - studies indicate this is not a good color choice for packaging.
India - the color of Islam.
Ireland - religious significance (Catholic).
Some tropical countries - associated with danger
United States - indicates go (safe) at traffic lights, environmental awareness, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas color (red and green).

Purple
Western cultures - royalty.

Brown
Colombia - discourages sales.

White
Eastern cultures - mourning, death.
Japan - white carnations signify death.
United States - purity (used in weddings).

Black
Western cultures - mourning, death.

Saffron
Hindu - sacred color. (orangish peach color)

Pastels Korea - trust. United States - spring, Easter; pale blue (baby blue) stands for an infant boy; pale pink stands for an infant girl.

Because I Care - 12 x12 Scrapbooking Swap

This coming weekend I am going to Stampin' Retreat that Kim Assaly is hosting this weekend see here. What is Riverfront Stampin' Retreat? Well first of all it is fun fun fun where we learn 24 stampin' techniques, by the riverfront view of Kim's Stampin' Studio. This retreat includes a 6×6 linen album, page protectors inserts, supplies & step by step instructions on how to create the samples. With some samples include the new in colors/color renovation & stamp sets from the preview 2010-2011 catalogue. I attended last years and I was blown away by how much I learned and how much fun I had so of course I had to attend this years retreat.

With the retreat we are also doing a swap, a full 12 x 12, a full card and a 3D swap. I have signed up for 2 of these 12 x 12 and the full card swap. Here is my swap page that I will be giving using the New level one stamp set Because I Care and the Medallion Background stamp.

Here is my recipe for this page:

Stamp Set: Because I Care

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Easy Espresso

Ink: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso (also Stampin' Write Marker Early Espresso, Old Olive, Baja Breeze)

Accessories: Stampin' Dimensional, Kraft 5/8 Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Decor Stencils Mostly Vintage, Cutter Kit, Sanding Blocks, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Dazzling Diamonds, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Blender Pens, Sponge Daubers, Linen Thread, Modern Label Extra-Large and Two-way Glue Pen.

Full page 12 x 12

Close-up of flower and hand writing.

Close-up of stenciling

Close-up of ribbon flowers and medallion.

Elegant Yet Simple - Simone and James July 2010

Welcome First Day of Summer and Another Happy Bride!

Today I am excited to post this absolutely stunning invitation for Simone and James.

This happy couple have decided to unite their love and family's in front of friends and family this coming July and I was thrilled to design their invitation for them. I work with Simone, she is a wonderful friend mother and soon to be wife, who would do anything for you and has. Simone and James have been together for as long as I have know her plus, which works out to be 10 years I think. They are a cute couple, and last Christmas James popped the question and Simone said yes. To say I was excited was a understatement, I mean I was Elaine from Seinfeld you know how she physically pushes people and yells "get out of here" minus the pushing. And then when I saw the ring well, trust me it is so beautiful and she deserves being spoiled.

When we met to talk about what she would like we decided to do two different design and with one of them a couple of variations. The first was an orchid theme, purple, greens, turquoises and the second more creams, simple no fuss. Here is the one that they chose, which is classy and elegant just like Simone.

Close-up of their monogram.






Close-up of the beautiful heart with glitter, ribbon and the scallop boarder.






The complete package, neat and tidy and ready to be mailed.

Because I Care - Simply Adorned Jewelry

OK I promise not to bore you anymore with this stamp set, but I can't help myself. Here is a piece I did for the Simply Adorned Jewelry. I used the 1 1/2" w x 2" h Beveled Glass Front Simply Adorned Charm and the 34" Simply Adorned Chain for this project.

Here is the recipe:

Stamp Set: Because I Care

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze

Ink: Baja Breeze, Early Espresso (also Stampin' Write Marker Baja Breeze and Early Espresso)

Accessories: Textured Impressions Vintage Wallpaper, Stampin' Dimensional, Kraft 3/8 Taffeta Ribbon, 1 1/2" w x 2" h Beveled Glass Front Simply Adorned Charm and the 34" Simply Adorned Chain.

Artistic Etchings - Amour

Love Having the Baja Breeze Back Now Can Stop Hoarding It!

OK yesterday was such a fun day, I am proud to say that I finished another wedding invitation and can't wait to share it with you! But we must wait until the bride has a chance to send them out before posting to ensure that her guest are the first to see them. For the past few days I have been obsessed with Because I Care stamp so I thought I would take a breather and wear out another stamp that I pre-ordered Artistic Etchings which is part of Shelli's Signature Collections.

I love the Eiffel Tower in this set, I seem to be collecting anything these days to do with old Paris, jewellery, postcards, anything really. Here is my first card using this stamp set and again my colours are very simple, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze (thank god it came back now I don't have to hoard my paper) Early Espresso. I also used gold embossing powder, which is a first as I prefer silver but for some reason this needed to be gold, what do you think?

I also used our new ribbon 1/8 taffeta ribbon in of course Early Espresso and the Modern Extra Large Tab Punch.

Enjoy!