Sunday, January 30, 2011

Makeup Artist Spotlight

Today our spotlight is shining brightly on Senior Makeup Artist, Randee Elsing (Randee's Rendezvous).
During one of Randee's trips to my area, I got to meet her for lunch, she's even sweeter in person!  And the fact that she is clearly a Bears fan weighs HUGELY in her favor ;), lol.  When I asked Randee to choose her favorite PMS creation, this is what she said... "I love this card because it uses one of my favorite fairys, Kirsten, in a unique and different way.  I saw a silhouette image of a dandelion field and this idea just popped into my head - I just love it when your ideas translate to a card just the way you imagine. I think this card just came together beautifully, from the colors to the layout to the sentiment and image - I LOVE it all!"  
Isn't this just stunning?!?  I LOVE everything about that card!!  Here is one of my favorites from Randee
I just love her "out of the box" thinking... isn't this fun?!?!?!!?  This would make an awesome Teen girl party invite.  You know what's next, yup, and Q&A sit down with Randee...
  1. When did you get started stamping? It seems like forever, but when I relate it to my pregnancies it dates back to about 12 years ago.  A coworker came into work with a card she made at a SU! party.  I went to her party, had my own, became a demonstrator, discovered SCS, blog world and PMS!!
  2. Tell me 5 songs or artists on your iPod right now. I haven't added anything new in quite awhile, actually I've only added the intial play list!  Most of the songs are funky upbeat songs to keep me moving whether it's in the lab, on a walk or on a treadmill.  I've got newer stuff from Usher, Nelly, and JT and older stuff from Salt n Peppa and Rob Base!! 
  3. All Stylists have a go to accessory or tool... what's yours?  If I'm not adding actual stitching to a card I always seem to end up grabbing my faux stitching tool (aka tracing wheel)  I love the sublte interest and dimension it adds to cards and layers . 
  4. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Boring, I know, but my favorite is plain ol' Vanilla.  Love the old-fashioned country churned kind.  Maybe it's because it goes well with soo many other things :0)
  5. Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere!  Sounds cliche, but it's true.  Blogs, SCS and mags are a big source of inspiration, but catalogs, fabrics, home decor and nature have all inspired me as well.
  6. Do you have a favorite technique or style? I love all different styles and techniques and have tried many of them, but I seem to gravitate towards layers and antiquing.  I LOVE pop dots and Ranger distress ink :0)
  7. What is your favorite color palette? Bold bright colors!  I love greens and blues and bright orangey reds
  8. When your 'mojo' takes a spa day without you, what gets your creative juices flowing again?  I try to find a card I like and CASE it.  Usually I end up tweaking it or trying something new.  Another thing I do is try to come up with something out of very limited supplies or only the supplies right in front of me.  That usually gets me thinking creatively or out of the box.   And finally, I try to think of something unique or different that uses a technique or stamp in a different way.   
  9. When you aren't stamping, what do you like to do? I have 3 boys that keep me VERY busy and occupied with their activities.  I love taking morning walks (weather permitting) with my dog - the solitude is lovely.  We have been in a whole house remodel project for 6 years now, but I still like searching for that perfect home accessory or planning and completing the next step in the never-ending project. 
  10. Tell us something, not stamping related, about you...   I like to play golf and I am a die-hard Chicago sports fan!!  I've been a Chicago Bears, Blackhawks and Cubs fan for as long as I can remeber (yes even before the Stanley Cup win).  I love dressing up in all the fan wear and going to the games or screaming from the couch! 
Well that's all for now.  You can leave Randee some love here or, better yet head over to her blog, check out her awesomeness and leave her a comment or two there :).


Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Makeup Artist Spotlight

Today we are shining our spotlight on Makeup Artist Andrea (Crafty Engineering).
When I asked Andrea to pick her favorite PMS creation, this is what she had  to say... "My favorite recent card was one I did as a submission to Paper Crafts Magazine as part of a sketch challenge.  This was the first time I paper-pieced a fairy and I absolutely love it...it took awhile, but it turned out so cool!".
I just LOVE paper piecing!  Here is one of my faves from Andrea's blog...
Such a fun card with fabulous elements!  I just love Andrea's style!!  Well, you know the drill... it's Q&A time, here's what Andrea had to say...
  1. When did you get started stamping?  I took a stamping class at a local craft store when I lived in Peoria, IL back in 1997 (I think!).  From that class I started making my Christmas cards, but didn't do much beyond that.  Then we moved back up to Michigan in 2002, I decided to become and Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.  After that, I was completely hooked!  
  2. Tell me 5 songs or artists on your iPod right now.  Up until Mother's Day, I wouldn't have been able to answer this question...that is when I finally got an iPod Shuffle.  Anyway, 5 artists on my iPod are (please don't judge!) 1) Kid Rock (kind of my guilty pleasure...but supporting a Detroit area artist), 2) Glee Cast (totally love it...need to get the other volumes), 3) Black Eyed Peas, 4) Fergie, 5) ABBA (hard to get better than Dancing Queen)
  3. All Stylists have a go to accessory or tool... what's yours? Wow that is a tough one! Obviously a paper cutter is key to everything, but that is a given right?!  So my go to tool is probably my paper piercer...it is just so useful!  It can be used to obviously pierce holes, but the holes can be decoration in among themselves or to place other embellishments.  Then I also use it to help get paper out of detailed dies, spreading glue in small areas, etc.  Just have to be careful not to poke my finger...it hurts, that thing is sharp!  My go to accessory would probably be ribbon...sometimes it just adds the perfect touch and I have a hard time thinking a card looks complete without some sort of ribbon! 
  4. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough...when I was in High School, my friends and I would eat a tube a cookie dough in an evening!
  5. Where do you find inspiration?  I totally find inspiration from all of the amazing bloggers and crafters out there.  My blog reader is full every morning of tons of inspiration!  
  6. Do you have a favorite technique or style?  I don't feel I have a set style (maybe I do, but I need someone else to tell me what it is, cuz' I have no idea what it is!), but a favorite technique would probably be paper piecing.  I am not totally confident in my coloring abilities (definitely not up in Katie's League!), so I love to paper piece my images sometimes!  It is fun to color the images with patterns as well as color!  
  7. What is your favorite color palette?  Not sure I have a favorite color palette...just depends on my mood.  There usually is either Chocolate Chip or black in there though...they just help to ground the other colors!
  8. When your 'mojo' takes a spa day without you, what gets your creative juices flowing again?  Challenges, challenges, and more challenges!  Maybe some new paper or stamps too!  
  9. When you aren't stamping, what do you like to do?  I get the joy (and trials) of being a stay-at-home mom, so I am usually playing or caring for my two kids.  I love to walk (actually training to walk a half-marathon in September) and hike (when I am on vacation...not much hiking to be done around where I live!).  My husband of 11 years and I love to travel...we have been all around Europe, the Caribbean, and last year we added a little of Egypt with a little Central America and of course the US for good measure.  I also sing in the Praise Band at my church to fulfill my musical side.
  10. Tell us something, not stamping related, about you...  Most people know just based from my blog, but I am a Mechanical Engineer by trade.  I graduated from the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) with my BS in Mechanical Engineering.  I worked in the engineering field for 10 years before deciding to stay at home once my second child was born.  I never felt like a was a "true" engineer, though, so I am still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up!

Well I hope you've enjoyed getting to Andrea as much as I have (GO BLUE!!!).  Be sure to stop by her blog, you are sure to be inspired by her fabulousness (that absolutely is a word!)... don't forget to leave her some love.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Paper Makeup Artist Fashion Show

It has been far too long since our last Paper Makeup Artist Fashion Show!

Our design team has really had their mojo flowing these past weeks!
Check out some of their recent creations!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Order shipment update

Hello Everyone! Just giving everyone an update on our shipping!

For those who missed the previous message... The southeastern US has been hit by major snow storms that we just arent equipped for. The 9 inches seems piddly to many in the more snowy states, but here we dont have salt trucks, snow plows etc because we just don't get this kind of snow! Unfortunately, all government offices have been closed ALL WEEK due to the snow which would include our post office in my city. Today I believe will be the first day that the post office has been open! WOOHOO! I will be making the trek to take all packages directly to the Post Office.

I am very sorry for the delay on all the orders. It was just out of my control.

Best Wishes everyone!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Release in Review day 2

Holy cow we have snow.... and a lot of it! Especially for the south! A little update... all orders are being processed and packed... but no one will pick them up. hahaha. Our post office was completely closed today due to snow and likely will be tomorrow as well. All order from the release should go out by Wednesday. Sorry for any delays.

And now back to our scheduled post... It's day 2 of our release in review! In case you missed it, you can check out the latest releases here!

Here are some phenomenal samples from the Paper Makeup Artists!

Fiora the Ferrett
Card by Simonne Clay







Moody for France and the Mon Cheri Card Kit
Card by Lisa Kind




Billy and Bianca
Card by Maria Gurnsey



Moody for Reading



Have a wonderful day everyone!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Release in Review

Today is day 1 of our Release in Review!

In case you missed it, we just had a release on January 7th!
You can catch all of the new releases, including our latest card kit, HERE.

Our Jan/Feb release includes 3 new fairies (1 is only available in the kit), 2 new Moodies, 2 new critters and a fun you combo set! You really should check them out!

And now... here are a few samples from the Paper Makeup Artists!

Moody for France



Sasha using papers from the Mon Cheri card kit





Fiora the Ferrett using papers & embellies from the Mon Cheri Card Kit
Card by Randee Elsing



Sending you Love set



Thats all for today! Be sure to check in tomorrow for more of our release in review!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Release is Live and your winner

Our January/February release is live on the website!

You can see and purchase the new releases HERE.

Also - we have the winner from our comment contest this past week.

Chosen via random.org... Ashley Newell is our winner! COngrats ashley! You have won the entire release!!!

We will be back in the next couple of days with more samples for you during our week in review!

Have a great weekend!

Paper Makeup Stamps Blog Hop!


Welcome to the Paper Makeup Stamps release blog hop! Yes that is a mouthful! But we are so happy you are here!

The design team has taken stamps from our January/February release and created some amazing cards and projects for you today! So grab your bevvie of choice and a pen and paper! Why the pen and paper? Because we have a super secret voucher code for you if you do the hop! Each blog will have a letter for you... collect all the letters and you'll have a phrase that you will enter in the voucher box (in your shopping cart) and it will nab you 15% off every stamp in the new release! Including the kit! This code can't be used with other voucher codes, so save those other ones for later! Also, remember you dont need spaces or anything if the phrase has more than 1 word.

All of the stamps and new products will launch tonight at 9pm EST. This is the same time that we start the parrrrtay in the PMS forum! We would love for you to join us! We always have lots of fun chatter (mostly about food, so you may want to eat before you come or you'll get hungry!) and we play games, give some stamps and goodies away and sometimes even come up with ideas for future stamps! You really don't want to miss it!

Ok ok, i've babbled on long enough. Time to get hopping! Your first stop is the amazing Tangii Crain!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Mon Cheri card kit peek

On January 7th (at 9pm EST) we are releasing another card kit!
Our kits have been well received in the past, but this time, we changed things up a bit!

With the release of the Be Mine paper collection from Echo Park... I just could NOT decide which papers to get for the kit! And since I placed the order well in advance to ensure we had all the papers i wanted, I decided, ya know what... LETS GET EM ALL! So this card kit has 22 sheets of 6x6 patterned paper! Along with many other goodies and some exclusive to the kit stamps!
check it out!


Included in the kit:
22 sheets of 6x6 double sided patterned paper
8 sheets of 8.5 x 11 coordinating cardstock
1 Fairy Stamp named Cheri
4 French sentiment stamps
5 Pre Printed tags (will vary with each card kit)
4 yards of coordinating ribbon
Set of Headpins and Beads (not all shown in photo)
Glitter Flowers with rhinestone centers (not all shown in photo)


And now... here are some adorable samples from some of the senior design team members using the Mon Cheri Card Kit!





For this release we are going to give the ENTIRE release away to 1 lucky stamper! Leave a comment on all of the sneak peek posts (only 1 comment per post will count) and you will earn yourself an entry in the drawing. The winner will be drawn at our release party on January 7th. The party is from 9-11 EST in our FORUM and we would love for you to join us!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Sneak Peeks, Time to get Moody!



We're back to show you 2 new stamps being added to the Moody collection by Cynthia Liu!

You may notice a bit of a theme between the posts today and tomorrow.... can you guess what it might be? Leave your guess in the comment section and not only will you be entered to win the entire release but guess what the common thread of the release and you could win a bonus coupon for 35% off any 1 order!

Here are some sneaks peeks of the moodies to be released on January 7th at 9pm EST!

Moody for Reading









And then we also have Moody for France








For this release we are going to give the ENTIRE release away to 1 lucky stamper! Leave a comment on all of the sneak peek posts (only 1 comment per post will count) and you will earn yourself an entry in the drawing. The winner will be drawn at our release party on January 7th. The party is from 9-11 EST in our FORUM and we would love for you to join us!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sneak Peeks... new fairies!



We hope you've enjoyed the sneak peeks so far!

This month we are bringing you 3 new fairies! We will have a fairy in our card kit we are releasing this month, but you'll have to wait til Thursday to see that one!

For today, we have 2 new Beautiful Day Fairies, illustrated by Diem Pascarella to show you!

Meet Sasha!









Also being released this month is Cosette!










For this release we are going to give the ENTIRE release away to 1 lucky stamper! Leave a comment on all of the sneak peek posts (only 1 comment per post will count) and you will earn yourself an entry in the drawing. The winner will be drawn at our release party on January 7th. The party is from 9-11 EST in our FORUM and we would love for you to join us!

Monday, January 3, 2011

January Sneak Peeks Day 2, Sending You Love

How cute is this to decorate your envies!!!

Welcome back to day 2 of sneak peeks for our January/February Release!

The set we are showing off today was designed by Shaela Odd and is called Sending You Love.
In this set are 6 different stamps (a few of which can be broken apart for different looks) all that will melt your heart! You already saw 2 of the adorable stamps from this set in the sample above (by Shaela Odd). The kiss mark is inbetween the 2 kiss marks from our Kiss & Makeup set, giving you a trio of kisses to choose from!

Want to see more from this set?

Check out the samples from some of the Paper Makeup Artists!

One stamp, 2 ways


The same stamp used without the postage squigglies!


Another stamp 2 ways!



The same stamp, but broken apart to have a separate image and sentiment!


More from the set!






For this release we are going to give the ENTIRE release away to 1 lucky stamper! Leave a comment on all of the sneak peek posts (only 1 comment per post will count) and you will earn yourself an entry in the drawing. The winner will be drawn at our release party on January 7th. The party is from 9-11 EST in our FORUM and we would love for you to join us!

Have a great day everyone!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

January Sneak Peeks BEGIN!




First of all, Thank you everyone for a wonderful 2010! I am so excited for the things and new ideas we have for 2011! Since we have switched the server for the website and went thru the process of optiziming some things, the website is running much more efficiently!

And now, we have our first release of the year coming up on January 7th! Remember, we are now releasing every other month! So in order to get in all the things we'd want for valentine's day! This release has a lot to do with LOVE (and some other fun winter-ie things as well as another theme that we're not going to tell you just yet!)

Today we are sneak peeking 2 new additions to the Cutie Critters, illustrated by Diem Pascarella!

Meet... Billy and Bianca, 2 bunnies tied up in love!




Anita's card above uses a new sentiment that is being released this month as well. It will come free with the first 35 orders!

Next up for the Cutie Critter collection is Fiora the Ferrett!



First release we are going to give the ENTIRE release away to 1 lucky stamper! Leave a comment on all of the sneak peek posts (only 1 comment per post will count) and you will earn yourself an entry in the drawing. The winner will be drawn at our release party on January 7th. The party is from 9-11 EST in our FORUM and we would love for you to join us!



Have a wonderful day!