Sponsor Spotlight: Whipper Snapper Designs

Even when my google reader gets exceptionally long, there are a few blogs that are absolute must reads for me.

Chief among them is Anna Wight a.k.a. Sweet Miss Daisy. Not only can she watercolor, but that girl can draw!! I love the whimsical style of her images, and her finished projects always have just the perfect finishing touches.

Anna is one of the talented illustrators for Whipper Snapper Designs - and guess what!! Whippersnapper has so very graciously agreed to send a door prize for one lucky attendee of Stamp New England. Really, I know, isn't this getting to be SO fun!!

In addition to the Crafty Cling mount sets from Anna you'll find cling mount sets illustrated by Shelly Comiskey. You'll also find fabulous individual images - I just read that they have over 3,000 images!! In fact, in going over to link up this post, I just made a hefty shopping list for myself, and yes, I'll admit, made a purchase too! Giggle. What's YOUR favorite? I'd love to know. Leave a comment for me here as to what your favorite is... wonder if it's on my list too??

Recently my friend Cindy Lawrence was one of the Featured Designers for November and December for Whipper Snapper and put together some truly beauteous samples for them. Cindy let me borrow a few of her photos to share with you.

I have a card made with the Crazy for Chickens set, but its tucked in a Dirty Dozen gallery. If you'd like to see it, you'll have to go over here. (Reminder to self. Crack out Chickens set and get to work again! They're CUTE!!)

Head on over to Whipper Snapper and browse around. I'm sure you'll like what you find!

Meet Joanne Basile

Is there anyone out there who doesn't know my friend Joanne and her fabulous blog, Just a Little Something??? She is just about the sweetest, perkiest stamper out there, IMHO! :) I still remember the day she contacted me - she was so warm and friendly I felt like we were long lost friends!! I had the greatest pleasure in the Fall of 2007 of being on a design team with her and actually getting to meet up and experience CHA Winter 2008 with her (crazy that we went all the way to LA to meet for the first time!). When I began thinking of pulling this event together I emailed Jo and she was right there with me and had even had the same idea!! I think she created this blog from almost the first time we decided to go ahead, such a one-step ahead type of girl!

Joanne's stamping always makes me smile, she just has a gift for making cards that make you happy! Her personality shines through in every beautiful card she creates and every blog post! Apparently a lot of people agree with me since she's not only on DTs for Gina K Designs and My Favorite Things, but she's also on the Splitcoaststampers' Dirty Dozen - the best of the best! Here's a bit of Joanne in her own words:

What started as simply a guaranteed girls night out with my friends has become a true addiction to paper crafting! I find it to be just such a stress reliever and a fun escape from my hectic day to day as a stay at home mom and daycare provider. Daily blogging has been an amazing way to chronicle my journey. Through stamping, blogging and design team work I’ve made so many wonderful friends and I can’t wait to meet up with in just a few weeks! I’m truly honored to be on the design team for both My Favorite Things , Gina K Designs and the Splitcoast Design Team, otherwise known as the Dirty Dozen.

I recently asked my readers what techniques they’d be interested in learning more about. Overwhelmingly, the answer was Copic markers. I admit that I actually haven’t been able to get to the official Copic Certification classes myself, but I’d be more than happy to share with you what I’ve learned from many hours of blog surfing, countless hours of practice and of course from watching the professionals at work in the Copic booth this summer at the Craft and Hobby Association show. I also had many requests for a step by step on paper piecing and how to add what is probably my favorite adornment to any project, bows! So, I’ve combined all three techniques into my class at Stamp New England.

If you happen to own “Who’s That e-Girl” or “Cupcake Flopsey” from My Favorite Things, then you can pack them for the trip, if not, no worries, we’ll have several sets floating for the group to share!

Stay tuned . . . this afternoon we'll be posting a Preliminary Supply List - things you need to pack! :)

Sponsor Spotlight: Odd Bird Planet

Working with the whimsical images in the Odd Bird Planet stamp line, launched by Johanna Hatlestad in June of 2006, is an ongoing delight! This stamp line, available mounted or unmounted, is chock full of adorable creatures, such as tiny chicks, birds, cats, and my personal favorite, owls. There are even pirate owls - "ahoy thar matey" - how fabulous is that!

Each character is given wonderful facial expressions and almost all are dressed in fascinating garb. The line of chick stamps covers an amazing range of images from a "just married" chick to a BBQ chick...and you can select from a myriad of accessories to pair them with, such as purses, shoes, hats, and the tiniest BBQ grill you've ever seen! The creative ideas one can come up with using these images are endless!

One of the newest releases includes a lovable group of gnomes. Sleeping gnomes, gnomes in a teacup, three gnomes in a boat (rub-a-dub-dub, three gnomes in a tub...Sorry, I couldn't resist!) And as suspected, those happy gnomes also come with their own line of accessories from leaf hammocks to mushroom houses.

But that's not all...how about a complete line of fancy fruit and confectionery goodness? There are strawberry carriages - perfect for a tiny princess chick - oranges, limes, cherries, and stacks of cakes and cupcakes. Even a complete set of baking accessories, such as an oven, mixing bowls and spoons! There's still more...


One of my favorite sets of images are the large floral images, beautiful floral borders, and trees. Johanna has also created a wonderful selection of frames and sentiments. The sentiments are another one of my favorite parts of the line. You can pick from a simple "happy birthday", offered in different font types and sizes, to (one of my all time favs) "I don't do mornings." I almost have a hard time purchasing the images because there are so many fantastic phrases, many that pair up perfectly with the adorable birds and owls, such as "how tweet of you." There is also a line of sentiments in French and Dutch!

There are so many possibilities at available at Odd Bird Planet for stampers seeking a unique and fun line of stamp images. You can purchase Odd Bird Planet stamps at their online store. A wonderful gallery is also available for those wishing to see what can be created using the images and this past year a Wiki was created, where you can read all about the lives of the creatures who live on Odd Bird Planet.

I am thrilled to share with you that Odd Bird Planet has donated two baskets packed full of stamps as a door prize for the Stamp NE event! A huge thank you to Odd Bird Planet for their generosity! Everyone else...go check out those stamps...you may not know what you've been missing!

Sponsor Spotlight: Stamping Bella

I'm sure by now you're all familiar with Stamping Bella, but have you seen all the different lines other than the Bellas that we all know and love so well?

For instance, this sweet card is Karen Motz's featuring the adorable Matilda Muffinbread, part of the Chicihiboulie line of fairies.

In addition the Chichiboules, you'll also find the cutie-pa-tootie new line Hugabuggs. I have a few of those little sweeties on the way to me right now. In particular, I just can't WAIT to get my hands on LOVEBeetle.

If you follow along on Blogabella, you'll see that Bellariffic Fridays are back.  There's a team of Bellariffic Babes (and our very own Karen Motz is one of them!) and weekly challenges where you can win some Bella Bucks! Get headed over to play. I just sent in my sample this week!

Emily from Stamping Bella has so graciously donated supplies for us to use for our Friday night make and take as well as a door prize for one of you! Head on over and take a peek at all the adorable lines at Stamping Bella. What's YOUR favorite?

Sponsor Spotlight: Kitchen Sink Stamps

It's only fitting that I should present to you this fabulous donor for our event - Kitchen Sink Stamps!! :) It's no secret that I just love the amazing multi-step stamps that Maria creates.

If you love florals - KSS has so much for you!! I think my favorite set has to be the 3 Step Hydrangeas, I just love these flowers!! You can create so many pretty color combinations so easily!! My favorite is the greenish colored hydrangeas like the ones I had in my wedding.

Or how about tulips?! Spring is coming (I promise it is!) and I've seen the tulip bunches in the grocery store already! This little magnet is one I made for the VSN mini last month and it couldn't have been simpler with these beautiful tulips!

But KSS is not just flowers - there is something for everyone! There are butterflies, hearts, stars, squirrels, leaves, turkeys, bunnies, chicks, alphabets and so much more!!

Maria is provided a few door prizes for some lucky attendees and even a little surprise for the rest of you!! My project just might include a bit of KSS goodness! *wink*

Pop over to the Kitchen Sink Stamps Store and shop around!

Its quiet in here....

Hey there girls!

It is sorta quiet over here. I hope you're ready to be all chatty us up in New Hampshire.  I'm officially calling you out to come chat with us....

What are you most excited about?  Anything in particular you'd like to learn?  

Anyone?  Helo?  Echo echo? Anyone there?

A little warmup! Our Nametag Challenge!!

Who's ready to start stamping? 

At check in, each stamper will receive a clear plastic name tag and you'll be able to insert a piece of cardstock measuring 4 x 3 1/4 inches.   The challenge is to create a name badge for yourself that reflects your stamping style.  

I worked on my sample to give you an idea of what we're talking about.  I'm still looking for some embellies to add to mine, couldn't find anything that worked in my stash last night!  Besides, this gives me a little chance to surprise you all with my finished piece when we get there right?? 

If you'd rather get yours all assembled at home and you'd like to have me mail you one so you can have it all finished up at home, just send me a self addressed stamped envelope and I'll send yours right out!  

My address is:

Joanne Basile

30 Philomena Way

Franklin, MA 02038

Otherwise, you'll be able to finish your insert at home and bring along to Stamp New England to insert into your little acetate pouch!

Happy Stamping!