Stamps, Paper, and Ink

Welcome to the blog tour! Come and meet my friends....

Welcome to the blog tour and come on in, meet my friends - the fabulous Forest Friends and my blog friends too!

Before we get to my projects and blog candy, let me explain how this Tour works. I am stop #13 out of 16 other blogs. I will direct you to the next blog on your stop. Our goal on this tour is for you to complete the circle - get around to all the stops TODAY. You don't have to do it all at once - take a break and when you get back, pick up where you left off. Each blog on the tour will feature GREAT projects made with products from the Occasions Mini, and direct you to the NEXT blog-stop. Circle round through all the blogs until you get back to mine or whatever one you started with. Got it?  Let's go!

Traveling is much more fun with PRIZES!  Here are my special prize offers  -

• Travel to all 16 blogs and then e-mail me, Cindy Beach, at stampspaperandink (at) gmail.com
  For each blog, write me the blog name and at least one color combo from the projects on the blog post. I will randomly choose one winner by midnight to win - an assortment of corduroy buttons, 30 buttons in 6 colors!
  
• Leave a comment on this post telling me what you love about the Forest Friends set, and I will draw one name to win a brand new FOREST FRIENDS set, shipped to your door! (this prize, US only)
• Place a $40 order or more at my online store Here and receive FREE instructions and a pattern explaining how to make today's projects.

Speaking of projects, here we go!

 Have you seen one of the hinged or hidden message cards? I just love the idea with this cute set! The card uses almost apricot, tangerine tango and sage shadow, and handsome hunter. These colors pop against the sahara sand backdrop. One of the things that I love about this set is the sheer fun of playing with Bambi, Thumper and the Wise owl :D

Here's the hidden message revealed!

My next project shows just how fun it is to create a scene with this set. Some of you may have seen this before, but I think you'll agree it is worth a repeat performance! You may click on any of my photos to get a closer look at the details.

For this card I also used the Walk in the Park Designer Paper, jumbo grommets, Oval All stamp set and Scalloped Oval punch which are all featured in the Occasions Mini. A little twist to the tree and it could be a log and a bit of underbrush, how fun is that!
The last project shows the perfect occasion for using this set -

Who wouldn't love to get a tiny gift in this box to welcome a new little one! Simple and sweet.

Take a deep breath. Ready to shift gears? Don't forget that all blog candy offers are for today ONLY, so be sure to leave a comment. Thanks for joining the fun - before you get off the bus, please make sure you take all your belongings with you, and come back again!

Get ready to hop on board the next stop...  Edited to add: next blog tour!

Anticipation....!

You know the feeling of anticipation when a special trip is ahead, and you just can't wait to pack your bags and begin? You dream about the surprises, relaxing vistas and precious discoveries you may make? Here's my official announcement of a trip that I've been anticipating and you can come too. In fact, you won't want to miss it!

It's the first ever stamping Blog Tour! Save the date for Monday, April 27th!  First stop is my blog where I'll post three new samples showing special ways to use the Forest Friends set from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

Now comes the fun part! I'll direct you to Denise's blog - she has been preparing extra special projects for you using the And Many Mower set, just in time to inspire you for Father's Day! She'll direct you to the next blog, and you'll hop down the road through the tour of 16 exciting blogs from the comfort of your chair. At each stop you'll make new discoveries.

AND there's a special from Stampin' Up! During the "Getting Connected" promotion for every $40 you spend on products from the Occasions Mini Catalog you may choose any one of the "Under $10" items on page 208 of the Spring/summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog for FREE!

I'll be offering a great blog candy surprise of my own on the blog tour, but it only lasts for ONE day~be sure to save the date of April 27th!

I do have a project for you today, in keeping with my theme *wink*
 

I've used the Mark Your Calendar and Full Calendar sets - these are two sets I think are a fun idea but they have been sitting on my shelf! 

I know I've been LONG today but it is important that I tell you the beautiful crocheted flowers are a priceless gift made by my friend Michelle, who I've 'met' through my blog. She made these adorable flowers by hand and sent them to me and her kindness so touches my heart. Thanks, Michelle! You will be seeing more of these beauties in future posts. 

Thanks for choosing to visit me today. I'll be back tomorrow! 

Candy - for you!

This post is featured. Scroll down for updated posts.  Be sure to check out my Corduroy Button share offer HERE, it's a great deal!

It's blog candy time! I have reached 100,00 hits to my blog and it's time to celebrate with some goodies for you.
First of all, I want to let you know how grateful I am for each and every one of you that visit me and often leave sweet comments and kind words. Blogging would be no fun without such special friends to share with!

When my blog crashed this fall I lost many of my subscribers. I will unabashedly say I'd love it if you'd pass the word along about my blog candy to anyone you think would like a chance to win.

Included in the goodies is the Live Like You Mean It stamp set, a Certainly Celery stamp pad, a pack of In Color card stock, and an assortment of embellishments.

I will feature this post until noon (EST) on Wednesday, Feb.3. For your chance to win,* leave a comment and tell me your favorite embellishment to use on a card.

* US residents only.

Announcing the lucky winner...

Stephanie is the lucky winner of my Terrific Tuesday Give Away.  She said, "Hmmm...there is so much that I love about stamping! I think my favorite thing about stamping is seeing the finished product and knowing that I made it out of love for someone. I just get so much joy out of sending cards to someone!"  She's been looking for this stamp set everywhere, so congratulations Stephanie, I will be mailing it your way real soon.   The winner was picked at random the old-fashioned way - by picking a number out of a hat! LOL  Thanks to all who participated.  I loved reading your comments, and wish I could send each one of you a hug. 

Terrific Tuesday Give Away!

First, let me tell you that the Terrific Tuesday Challenges will be on the last Tuesday of every month.  I know that all of us only have so much time to stamp and keep up with the many inspirations and challenges on the web.  It is my hope that by making this a monthly challenge, some of you will take the time to post a card and play along! So, check back on the last Tuesday of this month and be ready to play!

Today I am celebrating having over 20,00 visits to my blog  (Wohoo!)  I want to pass on some great stamps to you and voice my thanks for the sweet notes that you write to me every day.  The last time I offered blog candy, you read of my hesitancy here.  Reading all your great comments to that post  was so much fun for me that I couldn't wait for the next opportunity to offer a surprise!

The surprise is the Very Punny set from Stampin' up!, a cute little calendar and two Stampin' Spots in Ruby Red and More Mustard ink. Everybody needs one more stamp set, so here's what you do to try to win.  Add a comment to this post and tell me what you love about stamping.  That's easy, isn't it?  If some of you want to write a few words I will love getting to know a bit more about you.

On Monday, February  11th, we will pick a winner at random and announce the winner the next day. The prize will be shipped (US residents only) to you, so please be sure to include your e-mail address with your post, so I can find you!

5,204 hits!

blog. candy. blogcandy.  Until recently I had never heard of this word, but now I think everyone who peruses stamping blogs knows what it means.  I did wonder if I wanted to offer blog candy because some have said it is just a bribe.  So hear me out for a minute about my thoughts on the matter and then we'll get on to the rest. 

I think of this blog as a place where friends come to visit, relax, read, get ideas.  If you were a visitor to my home I'd greet you at the door, give you a hug, invite you to sit down, offer you a cup of tea. And the best part, we'd sit together and have a long chat. No bribes there, just sharing.

And do you know what?  The best part of blog candy is that you have a chance to share and I get to hear from you.  With that said -----
To celebrate receiving 5,204 visits to this blog - in just about 3 months,more than I ever imagined - I am offering this surprise  today!  This is a set of 6 acrylic stamps from Stampendous.

For your chance to win, write a comment on this post that completes this sentence:  You know you're a serious stamper when.....

Here's an example, and it's true of me by the way.....
You know you're a serious stamper when... you go to Macy's and while looking at the clothes, you write several  color combinations that you want to try for cards on scrap paper!

I'll collect comments until tomorrow night at 10:00 EST. When you write the comment, please assign it a number after the one before it.  We'll pick a number out of a hat and let you know who won on Wednesday morning.
Most importantly, I must have your e-mail address so that I can contact the winner.  And lastly, thank you so much for you support to this blog.  Come back and visit anytime, I love having you!