HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR SU! STYLE

It's Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rooster.

Here's what's cookin' over at the SU! Blog:

Chinese New Year

I love celebrations! Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and New Year’s are all fabulous celebrations that I treasure. And although Chinese New Year isn’t a holiday my family traditionally celebrates, I had a fabulous time putting together some fun and creative ideas to help you decorate and celebrate. This year the Chinese New Year celebration begins on January 27 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) and ends on February 2, so you still have time to whip up some festive décor and gifts for your friends and family.

One Chinese New Year’s tradition is to gather for a family reunion dinner. I absolutely love this idea and I think that a celebration that brings family together is just perfection. I’ve created these beautiful paper lanterns to use as a centerpiece at this dinner celebration.

For the lanterns I’ve used five of the long and thick pieces punched in Real Red Cardstock (item 102482) from the Bow Builder Punch (item 137414). I then added lots of gold touches, including the largest image from the Moroccan Nights Stamp Set (item 141715) embossed with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (item 109129) and embellished with Gold Foil Sheets (item 132622) and Gold Sequin Trim (item 132983). The tassels from the Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit (item 142767) are the perfect finishing touch.
Another Chinese New Year tradition is to gift red packets containing money. The significance of these red packets is to wish others a safe and peaceful coming year.

I’ve created my red packet with the Gift Card Envelope & Trims Thinlits (item 135854) and Real Red Cardstock (item 102482). Before I assembled the packet, I embossed it with a stamp from the Celebrate Today Stamp Set (item 137138) and Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (item 109129). Don’t you think it looks like a string of fireworks?! I then used the Moroccan Nights Stamp Set (item 141715) and Any Occasion Stamp Set* (item 143348) to create a focal point for the belly band, which is constructed of Gold Foil Sheets (item 132622) and the gold ribbon from the 3/8" Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack* (item 143601). I think anyone would be thrilled to receive one of these stunning red money packets.
Last but not least, I created an adorable little takeout box using the Cutie Pie Thinlits Dies (item 138273). I simply adjusted the box to make it look more like a takeout container than a piece of pie.

Keeping with my theme of gold and red, I added some gold embossing to the takeout container using the Delicate Details Stamp Set* (item 143314). Each year in the twelve-year Chinese zodiac cycle is represented by an animal and element. This year marks the year of the fire (or red) rooster. The Hey, Chick Stamp Set* (item 143328)—free with purchase during Sale-A-Bration—was perfect for adding in the iconic rooster image.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my project today—and a little lesson on Chinese New Year (if you weren’t familiar with it already). I apologize if I’ve made any errors in my research about this celebration and welcome you to leave a comment to fill me in on the facts and how you celebrate!
Allison Okamitsu
2017 Artisan Design Team
*Free with purchase during Sale-A-Bration

SU! INSIDE THE LINES DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

Do you love the look of detailed coloring books?  This designer paper is for you.  It's absolutely FREE when you make a qualifying SALEABRATION purchase from SU!

Here's a sample card I made using the paper and the DRAGONFLY DREAMS set.

DESIGNER TEE STAMP SET VIDEO BY SU!

This is way too awesome.  I love this T shirt set by SU! and the framelits that go with it.

DRAGONFLY DREAMS BUNDLE TO WISH KELLY A HAPPY BIRTHDAY

This is the card I made for my friend Kelly. Her birthday was this past Saturday.  I used the new Dragonfly Dreams bundle from SU! and the SERENE SCENERY PAPER Stack.

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Bundle	144728
Price: $46.75
Bundle and save! Buy these two coordinating products and save 10%. Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set "Stamp like a dragonfly, sting like a bee." It's almost the same as Muhammad Ali's motto, but much craftier. * Quantity: 10 photopolymer stamps * Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, e, g, h Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies Create die-cut dragonflies in seconds with Thinlits dies and the Big Shot. * 5 dies * Largest image: 2-15/16" x 4-1/8" (7.5 x 10.5 cm) * Use with Big Shot * Use Precision Base Plate with detailed images Serene Scenery Designer Series Paper Stack 141642 Price: $10.00 Pick a pack of patterned paper! So many designs, so many colors, so many uses. Each sheet is double-sided for double the creative options. The smaller size works beautifully on card fronts. * 48 sheets, 4 each of 12 double-sided designs * 6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2 cm) * Acid free * Lignin free Coordinating colors: Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Delightful Dijon, Island Indigo, Old Olive, Pool Party, Whisper White Kelly, I hope your day was as terrific as you are!

FOR ELLEN - USING SU! PETAL BURST EMBOSSING FOLDER

Lisa Chatterjee taught us this card at our last SU! crafting friends gathering. I love this style card.  I gave it to my friend Ellen for her birthday with some gifts and I included the wine with decoration. I love the SU! PETAL BURST EMBOSSING FOLDER and all the stamps and framelits by SU!

Petal Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	141493
Price: $7.50
It’s easy to make a great impression! Just place flat cardstock in this embossing folder, run it through the Big Shot, and out comes cardstock with a bold textured design. Textured Impressions Embossing Folders make deep, crisp impressions—great for card fronts and accents. * 1 folder * 4-1/2" x 6-3/16" (11.4 x 15.7 cm) * Use with Big Shot

BRAND NEW VERTICAL GARDEN BY SU!

This is BRAND NEW from SU!  It's a cool set and watch this video to see all you can do with it.

ITS' AN AVANT GARDEN SALEABRATION CARD

I'm really loving the AVANT GARDEN stamp set. It's just divine.  I receive mine for FREE from SU! for purchasing $50 worth of SU! product.  I love this cute set.  I've already made a few cards using it and the more I see, especially on Pinterest, the more that I want to create with this darling set. For this card, look closely, or click on the card.  I added tiny beads to the centers of the flowers.

Just for fun, I colored this card in with my new SU! watercolor pencils and aquapainter.

SEALED WITH LOVE BY SU! ARRIVED

My SU! order, the first of the year - finally arrived and SEALED WITH LOVE bundle was inside. Woo hoo! I'm so super excited. Even though I didn't have any time to use the dies, I did get right to the stamping.  And on top of that, I used the Falling Petals Embossing Folder by SU! which is also BRAND NEW!

Don't you just love this font?  I am thrilled with the Happy Valentine's Day stamp alone and the little kiss is just too sweet!

This is just one of the BEST BUNDLES ever.

Sealed With Love Photopolymer Bundle	144705
Price: $45.75
Bundle and save! Buy these two coordinating products and save 10%. Sealed with Love Photopolymer Stamp Set All you need is love and these stamps. An alluring blend of romantic and heartfelt, you'll find yourself infatuated with this set. * Quantity: 27 photopolymer stamps * Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): a, b, c, g Love Notes Framelits Dies Create die-cut love notes and envelopes in seconds with Framelits dies and the Big Shot. * 14 dies * Largest image: 5-7/8" x 7/8" (14.9 x 2.2 cm) * Use with Big Shot Falling Petals Textured Impressions Embossing Folder 142761 Price: $8.50 It’s easy to make a great impression! Just place flat cardstock in this embossing folder, run it through the Big Shot, and out comes cardstock with a bold textured design. Textured Impressions Embossing Folders make deep, crisp impressions—great for card fronts and accents. * 1 folder * 6" x 6" (15.2 x 15.2 cm) * Use with Big Shot I can't wait to use the other goodies in my kit! Happy Valentine and Winter-Spring Crafting Everyone!

REMARKABLE STAMPERS BLOG HOP

While I'm waiting my shipment from SU! with my Valentine's bundle in it, I thought I could use some of my current SU! stash to make some Valentine's cards.  I almost forgot that the BALLOON BUILDERS stamp set by SU! has a heart balloon in it.  And I love the sentiment that comes with the set.. Glimmer paper goes with anything and Valentine's day certainly needs glitz! You really do need to take a look at what you have in your closet and stamp cubbards and start using your stamps and products to the max.  Make sure you return here this week to my blog because I'll be using my Valentine's bundle due to arrive tomorrow, but for now enjoy this card and the next that I will send off to my mom and a friend this week.

Also here is a card using some DSP from the Holidays that is perfect for Valentine's Day.  I used my SUNSHINE WISHES bundle and die cut the LOVE, then added several SU! adhesive backed rhinestones. I will never be able to live without these.

Now onto the next Remarkable Stamper on the Tour is the talented Michele Reynolds.

Go Here 

HAPPY BEAUTIFUL YOU BIRTHDAY ELLEN!

It's my dear sweet friend and small group leader Ellen's birthday today. This is the card I made for her that we all signed.  I used Beautiful You from the SU! OCCASIONS CATALOG and also used my NEW SU! Watercolor Pencils. Have a Great Day Ellen!

REMINDER, SU! REMARKABLE BLOG TOUR TONIGHT!

RETURN HERE at 8PM Eastern Time

SU! SALEABRATION STAMP SET YOU CAN EARN FOR FREE - AVANT GARDEN

So today it is messy outside.  Not the big weather event we thought we would get but still not very nice outside. It's a wonderful day to craft, so after a good work out at the gym and some time in the sauna, I'm home creating.

I'm working on thank you cards for the Oncology Center at GBMC. More to come but today I wanted to create using the new SALEABRATION stamp set Avant Garden.  You can earn it for FREE with a qualifying SALEABRATION purchase from SU!  It's a gorgeous set and will come in handy for so many upcoming occasions.

MORE WATERCOLORING WITH SU! BEAUTIFUL YOU STAMP SET

This is such a great stamp set called BEAUTIFUL YOU and I broke out my watercolor pencils by SU! to color it. See yesterday's post for a YOU TUBE video on using the watercolor pencils which are in exclusive SU! colors.

Watercolor Pencils	141709
Price: $16.00
High-quality, smooth color pencils. Perfect for watercoloring stamped images. Use with Aqua Painters, Blender Pens, or alone. * 13 pencils in Stampin’ Up! colors: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White * Acid free * Lignin free

Beautiful You Clear-Mount Stamp Set	143637
Price: $28.00
Life may not be the party we had hoped for, but while we're here, we might as well dance. Doesn't that stamp just say it all? The rest can be expressed by the other stamps in this set. You'll love the artistic feel of this set--stamp a colorwash image over a silhouette for color, or add your own color with Watercolor Pencils or ink. Our clear-mount stamps * Are made of the same premium rubber as our wood-mount stamps. * Have deeply etched images so you get a superior stamped impression each time. * Are precut so you don't have to trim. * Are repositionable; temporarily mount them on clear blocks for stamping, then remove them for storage. * Save space—you need only one set of blocks for all your clear-mount stamps (blocks sold separately). * Come packaged in cases with images on the spine for easy storage and quick reference. Quantity: 13 rubber stamps Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): a, b, c, d this set also comes as a wood mount set