Congrats!

Yesterday I posted Monika’s beautiful card and fun sketch for the Creating Pretty Cards Sketch Challenge for December. You can see Monika’s card here. And here’s another look at the sketch.

I love sketch challenges, because they’re a fun springboard for creativity. I have been stockpiling Christmas cards for the past few years. It wasn’t on purpose; I made quite a few for Mike to send to clients – and then he lost them before they got sent. I’ve made some as samples for classes or just to show off new products. And I’ve made some to send. It seems like every year I get super busy between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I haven’t sent any out. This year, I’m determined! But I don’t need to make any more, so my take on the sketch is a “congrats” card.

I wanted to use the Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the Holiday Catalog, since I still have quite a bit and it will be retiring January 2. (Remember, retiring products except stamp sets are while supplies last!) My color combination of Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry, and Peekaboo Peach came straight from the colors in the DSP.

I used the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits for the congrats (from Champagne Foil Sheets. Gorgeous!) and the Tangerine Tango heart. I stamped the flower from the Touches of Texture stamp set in Peekaboo Peach Classic Ink on the Peekaboo Peach Cardstock layer. I mean, there should be some stamping, right?

For my shape in the top right corner, I used part of a Gold Foil Snowflake, then added a Gold Faceted Gem to the center. For just a little more sparkle, I added a few Glitter Enamel Dots. And, oops – I forgot a greeting. I’ll add that later.

My card is a fun mix of products from both the Holiday and Annual Stampin’ Up! Catalogs. I love how our products coordinate.

Remember – the Painted Autumn DSP and the Foil Snowflakes will be retiring (and are while supplies last). Happily, the Champagne Foil Sheets will be carrying over. These are beautiful, and they add a richness to any project.

Be sure to create your card and link it to the Craft Project Central Creating Pretty Cards post before the end of the month. For every 10 cards submitted, one will be randomly selected, and the designer of that card will receive a free subscription. So enter now!

Now – I had planned to share this before I made my “congrats” card, so this isn’t really a “congrats” to me. But look what I got in the mail the other day.

It’s my 15 year pin! I can’t believe I’ve been a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator for 15 years. When my upline offered the demonstrator opportunity (several times), I always declined. I had small children and really didn’t want to sell anything. But then I got hooked and realized that I could save at least 10% on my purchases, so by joining, I’d actually be saving money! (Yeah – I don’t think Mike bought that either, but he didn’t say anything.)

It’s been such a fun journey. I held my first workshop in the first month or so that I was a demonstrator, got two bookings – and got my first recruit at the second workshop. With all my other responsibilities, this has never been my full time job, but I’ve made lots of wonderful friends and have made enough money to pay for “extras” that weren’t in our family’s budget. Most of all, I’ve found a creative side of myself that I never new existed, and, I hope, have helped others find theirs as well. I’m so grateful for all my friends and family who have helped me along the way. I appreciate it more than I can express.

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy, and for sharing in my achievement! Have a wonderful day!