Welcome to the fourth Artisan Wednesday Wow hop of our team’s last month! It is so hard to believe that this year is almost over. If you just came over from the amazing Jeanna, welcome to the next stop. If you are starting here, just continue around using the next buttons until you get back to me.

So we are closing in on the end of my year as a member of the Artisan Design Team 2013.  Wow….what an experience this has been.  I have been a part of something really special.  Something that doesn’t always come around and something that you have to just take in and appreciate.  The bonds I have made with this year’s team are more than I could have ever imagined.  But more than that, I have been able to form friendships with more stampers and get to see behind the curtain a bit at Stampin’ Up!  You know what?  It has made me love and value this company even more.

So, this card.  The team agreed that we HAD to do a swap for Convention.  Yeah…no pressure!  How does one make a swap for 9 of the most talented stampers I know?  I tried all kinds of things but finally just came to this.  A clean card in one of my favorite colors.  The new Stars Framelits are such fun and lead to so many cool ideas.  I chose to make another shaker card (I think I’m on a kick with these).  I cut out star from the White Vellum Card Stock and put two together with the 2013-15 In Color Sequins inside.  Then I sewed them together.  After forming the little packets, I cut another star out of the Crumb Cake layer.  I stamped with Kinda Eclectic and distressed then Sponged with Soft Suede ink.  I created my sentiment with the Alphabet Rotary Stamp.  This thing is SERIOUSLY cool.  You need one.  Yes you do.  Just get it.  I clipped the ends of the sentiment panel with my Banner Punch and distressed again.  The main panel is up on Dimensionals and I attached the shaker packet using the new Fast Fuse Adhesive.  That stuff is strong and things won’t budge…and it is clear.  So no seeing through the doubled vellum of the star packet.  Finally I attached some more of the sequins using the Multipurpose Glue.  This takes a little patience but I love the result.  Maybe not a quick and easy card but these girls are so worth the time!  Back to the sentiment for a bit.  I chose this (did I mention how cool it is that you can say what you want with that stamp?) because of the obvious “wishing on a star”.  But also because a little over a year ago, I took a leap of faith and made a wish.  And it came true.  Bigger and better than even I could have expected!

Okay, off to go visit the awesome Mercedes Weber (who, by the way is a 2014-15 Artisan Design Team member….the first world wide team).  I can’t wait for you to see what she has created! Make sure you hop around the whole loop to take a look at beautiful creations by the whole team…you’ll be happy you did!

Click HERE to purchase any of these wonderful Stampin’ Up products.

Stamp: Alphabet Rotary Stamp, Kinda Eclectic; Ink: Soft Suede; Paper: Crumb Cake, White Vellum; Accessories: 2013-15 In Color Sequins, Banner Punch, Big Shot, Stars Framelits, Fast Fuse Adhesive, Dimensionals, Stampin’ Distress Tool, Sewing Machine