Paige Blanchette Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Monochrome noun mono·chrome \ ˈmä-nə-ˌkrōm \ a painting, drawing, or photograph in a single hue Cards using only one hue or color (AKA monochrome cards) are so in right now! This week I set out with the goal to design a monochrome card, and I had so much fun pushing myself creatively. I have been setting goals for myself when it comes to projects, and sometimes it takes me a few days to figure out my vision. However, that's how you become better right?? This card was not easy for me to create, and I created many versions of it before I settled on this layout. In the end, my hard work has paid off, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out! I've been keeping it on my desk for inspiration all week!  Here's the card To create this card I used the new color Coastal Cabana. Really... that

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards that were inspired by my godson, Ethan's first birthday on Thursday! When I got the Animal Expedition stamp set, my very first thought was to make him a birthday card using these adorable animals! How perfect for a little guy's birthday?! These cards were SO much fun to make! I loved using my watercolor and blender pens to create unique looks for all of the critters and for the sentiment on the Wild About You card. I love the watercolored look, but I don't use it as much as I should! I combined elements of the Animal Expedition stamp set as well as the paper, stamps, and thinlits from the Nature's Poem Suite for both cards. They pair perfectly. The colors featured for these projects are Soft Sea Foam, Mint Macaron, and Tranquil Tide. I made this card first. I wanted to feature as many of the animals from the set as possible. The only one I left out was the rhino. Poor guy! He will have to have a special card made just

Today I'm going to tell you about the new set Enjoy Life. I first heard about this set at OnStage Milwaukee, and I fell in love with the set and the story behind it immediately. The person who designed this set is from my home state, Wisconsin. At OnStage, she shared the story behind this set and how it came to be. It resonated with me, and I realized that stamping has always been more than just paper and glue. It creates connections between people. It is therapy. It commemorates good times and bad. This set was designed by Connie Fitzgerald and represents both of her incredible children. Through her speech, I could feel her passion towards creativity and her love for not just stamping but for people and for life. She is truly inspirational, and I hope I give Enjoy Life the justice it deserves. Here is what I created using Enjoy Life. I used Crumb Cake cardstock as the base and added a layer of the new color Mossy Meadow. Then I stamped the images from the set onto