A Dream Come True . . . .

Hola Peeps!

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I know I did – I hosted my Women Who Wine group on Sunday for some sparkling wine tastings and some delicious food pairings . . . I think a good time was had by all.

 

I have news and a giveaway – but you’ll have to read all the way to the bottom of this post for details of the giveaway. *grin*

 

So, I know I’ve been hinting the past few weeks about some exciting things that have happened in my crafty life lately.  Well, today is the day that I get to spill the beans with you all about what’s been going on!  I know I’ve mentioned more than a time or two my love for Paper Smooches Stamps.  I met the genius behind Paper Smooches, Kim Hughes, when she moved to the Phoenix area about three years ago.  She came over to my house to crop one day, and the rest is history – we laughed, we stamped, we ate, and we laughed some more.  I adore her, and am so blessed to call her my friend.  We crop together at least once a week when I’m in the desert, and she has been an amazing influence on my growth and progression as a stamper.  But the friendship that we’ve shared means more to me than anything . . . I can’t imagine my life without her at this point. 

 

Anywho, this past fall Kim asked me if I would consider designing some background stamps to add to her already amazing collection of images.  Backgrounds are an integral part of my stamping life, so Kim’s vision was that we would collaborate to create a series of background stamps that would enhance and coordinate with her Paper Smooches images.  Sounds like fun, right?!  Well, it was.  I learned Adobe Illustrator, and went to work on creating the stamps!!  By the time it was all said and done, I had created six stamp sets that included some of my favorite background patterns, as well as some fun graphic images.  Crazy, right?!

 

At the end of January, I had the great honor and pleasure of attending the Craft and Hobby Association trade show with Kim, where I worked the Paper Smooches booth, and stood in awe as Kim introduced 20 brand spankin’ new Paper Smooches stamp sets, including the six sets that I designed.  OH EM GEE!!!  I floated on a CHA cloud for five days - at times I still feel as though I haven’t come down from the utter thrill of it all.

 

Kim has been debuting the Paper Smooches CHA release since last week, including some of the images that I designed.  She and I chatted yesterday at our weekly crop, and we decided that it would be fun for me to “join in” on all the debut fun, and give away some of the latest goodies to you all!!  Sounds like fun, right?!  So let’s get started!

Today’s featured stamp set is called “Geo-Graphic” and it includes what I believe to be some of today’s hottest trends in stamping and design – Chevrons, Hexagons and Polka Dots.  These patterns make my heart skip a beat!!  There are three stamp images that can be stamped horizontally or vertically, in a single strip or in multiple strips.  The above sample uses the hexagon image, stamped multiple times to create the panel, and then I cut hexagons out of different colors of CS (using my Silhouette SD) to add fun pops of color.  See how great that graphic pattern works with the sentiment from Sentiment Sampler.

 

Here’s the chevron image, again stamped multiple times using different colors of dye ink, to create a cool graphic feel.  Add a sentiment from Word Up and tie a ribbon, and voila’ – you’ve got yourself a trendy “just because” card.

 

This final card was inspired by a card that I saw on Maile Belle’s blog HERE.  Maile is one of my most favorite clean and simple stampers (and I got to meet her at CHA – *SQUEAL*!!) – I admire her work so much!!  My card features the polka dot image from Geo-Graphic, and the umbrella and sentiment from Sunny Side Up.  Oh, and see that fun polka dot circle image behind the umbrella?!  That little lovely will be featured later this week. *wink*

 

All of the new CHA stamp sets will be available on March 1st – just a few short weeks away.  Would you like to win the Geo-Graphic set?!  Well, Kim is giving away a set on the Paper Smooches blog  HERE, and has given me a set to give away, too!!  That’s TWO chances to win Geo-Graphic.  All you have to do is leave me a comment, before tomorrow morning, telling me which of the three Geo-Graphic images is your favorite.  I’ll choose a winner using the random number picker.  Of course, you can do the same on the Paper Smooches blog, for a second chance at winning.

 

Thanks so much for indulging me and allowing me to blather on the way I have.  To say that I am thrilled beyond belief is a complete understatement.  I’m so excited to be a part of this paper crafting world, and now as a stamp designer for Paper Smooches has made another of my creative dreams come true.  Somebody pinch me, please!!  I hope you’ll come back tomorrow for another stamp debut (and another stamp set giveaway)!