It is with the utmost pleasure and excitement that I announce and introduce to you the  

Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Design Team.

I could not be more excited or pleased with the composition of this over-the-top Design Team.  Their faces, names and work are familiar to many of you and to have them join me in my venture to showcase products I love is just an absolute thrill and pleasure!!!  PLEASE join me in welcoming them:

HOLLY McMILLEN, Design Team Coordinator — I have admired Holly’s work for years.  She was one of the very first to strike me with that *WOW* factor when I was a newbie at SCS.  Her designs are always crisp and clean, but not necessarily simple, incorporating layers upon layers of meticulous detail.  I had the pleasure of serving with Holly on the Dirty Dozen Design Team at SCS in 2007.  Those are definitely times you never forget and it was my pleasure to share that experience with Holly.  Holly’s DT reveal project can be seen at her blog, Toy’s Haven.

Papercrafting started as therapy for me 8 years ago. It has since grown into a passion. My kids call me Mrs. Edward Scissorhands. When I am creating, things fly in all directions and then miraculously, I am done. I am thrilled that I get to spend my days doing what I love and sharing with those I care about. 

 Married nearly 28 yrs, I am a stay at home mom homeschooling my last two teenage boys.   I have two older sons, as well.   I enjoy reading, photography, cooking and hanging out with my boys.   I grew up in Northern California, moved to Pennsylvania after marriage, back to California, back to Pennsylvania, to New York and we have FINALLY settled in Colorado where a fraction of my large family lives.   My friends jokingly call me a gypsy as we have moved over 20 times in my lifetime.

— Holly McMillen

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DEB SAARANEN –  Deb and I are super good friends in real life, living about 30 minutes apart, and we started our papercrafting journeys pretty much together about 11 or 12 years ago.  Deb has always had a strong attraction towards vintage, which comes through in many of her beautiful designs, which I would classify as a cleaner vintage look.  And Deb’s absolute passion for the last few years has been coloring with Copic markers.  She is right up there with the best of them in the coloring hall of fame!  I am in AWE over her beautifully colored images!!!   Deb’s DT reveal project can be seen at her blog, Dream in Color.

My name is Deb Saaranen, and I am so very pleased to be a part of the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Design Team!  I grew up and currently live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my husband Paul, and son Joel. Oldest son Joshua lives nearby with his new wife, Jennifer. My “day job” consists of full-time work as a parapro in a small country K-8 school, primarily with grades K-2.  I’ve been stamping for about twelve years, introduced to me through a Christmas gift. I’ve sampled many crafts throughout the years, from stained glass to basket weaving, but paper craft has definitely been my favorite!  I look forward to serving with Sharon and this team of super talented gals! 

   — Deb Saaranen

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BARB SCHRAM– I met Barb in Blogland a couple years ago.  I immediately connected with Barb and have had the good fortune to spend time her with in real life as well.  Barb’s work blew me away from day one.  She has THE most creative ideas when it comes to gift items, 3-D projects and alterables.  The projects she comes up with never cease to amaze, and amuse, me.  Barb loves to incorporate bits of sewing into her projects and she makes everything look so simple as she generously shares her creative ideas with us.   Barb’s DT reveal project can be seen at her blog, Explore. Dream. Discover.

My husband of 30 years and I reside in Michigan.  We are “empty nesters” which enables me to spend more time in my art studio.  I worked in the art advertising world before becoming a stay at home Mom over 25 years ago. Scrap booking, stamping and paper crafting was a natural progression that allows me to utilize my art degree to this day.

—Barb Schram

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SHERRY CHEEVER–  Sherry was another very strong presence at SCS when I started hanging out there, and it didn’t take long to see her wit and humor come out in her work, and to this day she still keeps everyone laughing!  I also had the pleasure of working for 5 months with Sherry at SCS on the Dirty Dozen Design Team.  Sherry’s work has a most definite vintage bent that I so love, and she throws in some shabby, some grunge with a lot of pretty mixed in as well!  Her designs are an absolute delight for the senses!  Sherry’s DT reveal project can be seen at her blog, Walkin’ on the Bad Side. 

I’ve been involved in some form of art and/or crafting for as long as I can remember. Inspired by a distant cousin, my dream was to be a teacher/artist and majored in art while in college. Needless to say life happened, children came along and all my priorities changed. After experimenting in oils, acrylics, watercolors, cross-stitching and other needlework, I was introduced to rubber stamping in 1996, but began to take the craft seriously in 2005. I have served on a number of design teams and am proud to say that I am an alumnus of the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team. Sometimes I feel the need to pinch myself, as here I am in my 50’s and finally getting to do what I have been meant to do my entire life . . . make art!

— Sherry Cheever

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LINDA DUKE – My first introduction to Linda Duke was during our time together in the Dirty Dozen at SCS about 3 years ago.  Linda seemed to quietly storm in out of nowhere and instantly took our breath away, and to this day I am still gasping every time I look at one of her creations.  Linda’s work is over-the-top in the gorgeous category with her meticulous attention to every minute detail. Each of her pieces most definitely has an heirloom quality to it!  Linda’s DT reveal project can be seen at her blog, Linda’s Works of Heart.

As a small child, I always had paper and pencil in hand. My farther was a very talented artist, and I would sit for hours trying to duplicate what he created. Years later, I attended College with Art being my major; however, I did not receive my degree because life took on a different direction. I will always cherish the knowledge and experiences. For many year’s I took Tole Painting classes from top instructors around the country until approximately 16 year’s ago, a good friend introduced me to Papercrafting where I fell in love with the craft.

— Linda Duke

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MICHELLE WOERNER – I also first met Michelle over at SCS.  Are you seeing a definite pattern here — LOL!!!  I loved Michelle’s clean designs from the first moment I saw them.  What drew me to her work back then, and still to this day, is that she keeps her layouts relatively clean and simple, but sure knows how to make them POP with her fabulous layers, colors and embellishments. And Michelle always has a whole lot of the *pretty* factor going on that gets me every time!!!  Michelle’s DT reveal project can be seen at her blog, Stop and Stamp the Roses.

“My name is Michelle Woerner, but most of you may know me as sf9erfan from SCS. I am a stay at home mom of 2 little guys, Daniel age 6 and Ryan age 4 1/2. I am married to Bill who is wonderful and FULLY supportive of my obsession, I mean, craft making!

Funny story, I discovered stamping completely by accident. I answered an add off Craigslist to buy some scrapbook paper, and while I was there I saw her lovely handmade Christmas cards. She said she made them using stamps from a company called Stampin’ Up!. This was a novel idea to me, I didn’t know people MADE their own cards?!? LOL! How funny is that? Anyway, I went right home and looked SU! up on Ebay. I found a seller with an auction for the Frosty and Heartfelt Thanks sets (which both I bought) and she had a link to the SCS gallery. After one look, I was hooked! That was 3 years ago, and things have been full steam ahead ever since. With my being surrounded by boys, dinosaurs, cars and Pokemon all day long it’s wonderful to escape into the world of girly colors, ribbon, flowers and all things pretty whenever I want. I absolutely love making cards!”

— Michelle Woerner

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I’m sure you now understand my TOTAL EXCITEMENT over this FABULOUS DT!!!!   I have been so blessed by these ladies and their kindness and generosity as we’ve worked getting things set for today.  The projects they have created for you have just blown me away, so be prepared for some *ooohing and aaahing* as you check them out.  Here are some quick links:

Holly McMillen

Deb Saaranen

Barb Schram

Sherry Cheever

Linda Duke

Michelle Woerner

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And here’s my project to share with you today:

This is a 5.5″ square card using my Webster’s Pages Postcards from Paris Kit and a JustRite sentiment set called Joyful Hearts and a floral set called Plant a Little Love.  There are such fun papers in this kit, giving you a large color palette to choose from.  The Kit includes the small Journaling Cards you can see that I’ve added to my card front, making it super easy to create quick, vintage type cards.  I thought this sentiment from Joyful Hearts (requires Small Oval Stamper) was perfect as it referred to filling each DAY with joy, and I had a days of  the week theme going here.   

Making this card was pretty much just layering.  I did stamp the floral image on the Journaling Card, using VersaFine Vintage Sepia Ink.  The image is from Plant a Little Love by JustRite, which is made for the 3 1/4″ Round Wood Stamper.  The corner die cut flourish was made with the Flourish Accent die cut set by Spellbinders.  The Buttons and Jute String are also available at the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.

I’ve added Kaiser Pearls included in the Kit to the flower centers, bringing them right to life!  I stamped my sentiment from Joyful Hearts and cut it with a die from Ribbon Tag Trios Two by Spellbinders.  Leaving the die cut in the die, I sponged the center and perimeter dots with a blue chalk ink before removing it.  Also from the Kit, I used the 1.5″ Striped Grosgrain and the 5/8″ Twill for my bow.

Here’s a look at the full Kit:

Stamp Simply Webster’s Pages Postcards from Paris Kit

Click link above to see complete listing of contents.

This kit as well as all other items used to create the above project are available at The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  For those of you who may not have been here before, I have a somewhat non-traditional store.  You access it by clicking the TABS above my Blog header way up on top.  Then you just email me with your order and I’ll send an invoice back to you (remember to include your address) – really it’s quite simple, and it works!

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THANK YOU ALL so much for joining us today in this fun new venture!  And what’s next?   I’m pleased to let you know that we have our first official

STAMP SIMPLY DESIGN TEAM BLOG HOP

scheduled for next week, Tuesday, February 23, at 8:00 a.m EST.  Hope you can check back in then to see even more creations from these fabulous designers, plus a Candy Surprise as well!

Thanks everyone! That you stopped in today blesses me beyond measure!!!!  Have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you on Friday for our usual Stamp Simply Challenge.