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You’re the Best + Studio Closed

As you probably heard by now, Pretty Pink Posh teamed up with Simon Says Stamp for their STAMPtember event. We designed an exclusive stamp set called Darling Friends, which also happens to be the very first set I’ve ever designed. The whole process was so fun and it was even more rewarding when I began seeing what YOU, my amazing readers, customers and friends, created with the set.

Below are three of the latest ones I spotted…

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You may have seen this card that Joni created to kick off the STAMPtember festivities. She has a way of creating such amazing and vibrant cards, but the techniques can be done by beginners or professionals alike! Let’s take a peek at this fun little tutorial she created for this happy card. 1st- yourethebest-ppp

To begin, I stamped the large and medium trees using a Versamark ink from the Darling Friends stamp set on a white cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder and then distressed it with Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, and Squeezed Lemonade. Then I smooshed the ink pad on an acrylic block, added water, and splatter it on the cardstock. Once it dries I die-cut the edge using the Wplus9 Gift Card Layers die (large frame).

Next, I stamped the air balloon and the dog image on a watercolored paper using Versafine Onyx Black ink, watercolored the images using the Zig Clear Color Real Brush, then I die-cut the images. I also added some white dots using the Sakura White Gelly Roll pen on the hot air balloon for a finishing touch. For the sentiment I stamped “you’re the best” from the Darling Friends stamp set on a black cardstock using Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.

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Here’s the closed up look of the trees with distressed inks and ink splatters.

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Here’s the close up of the whole card, I added some Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear, Fairytale Fuchsia, and Peacock Feathers sequins to finish off the card.

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Okay, now onto the winner of the $25 Pretty Pink Posh gift certificate and the Darling Friends stamp set from THIS post. A giant thank you to everyone who left comments- it was fun to read them and see all the well wishes to Joni!

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In closing, I wanted to let you all know that all orders placed today- September 26th will begin shipping on September 28th. I’ve been working tirelessly the last few months and really need a few consecutive days off to rest up and spend time with family. Then I’ll be back at it for the brand new release on October 1st! Mark your calendars: it’s a GOOD release!

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Halloween Fun + Coupon Code

It’s mid September, the leaves are starting to fall and I think it’s about time I start sharing some Halloween and fall projects here on the blog. I don’t know why, but I love making Halloween cards. It might be the fact the colors are outside my “norm”, or maybe the fact that I have never gone trick-or-treating. Whatever the case may be, the Halloween stamps these days are so cute and fun to use.

One of my favorite fall sets is So Thankful by Lawn Fawn and it’s a mere $4.00, but I have used it so much the last year. You can create simple place cards, tags, one layer cards, or you can build it up and create full pumpkin patches. Such a fun and versatile set!

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For this card, I wanted to showcase the Storybook 1 die and show how you can create a little scene, but also include a sentiment. The beauty of this die is you can use it with ANY brand of stamps. I personally am obsessed with the Teeny Star Background from DeNami Design on my Halloween cards. The contrast between the bright white cardstock and black stars is my favorite.

To finish off the card, I felt it needed some sparkle so I added some Marigold, Onyx, Charcoal and Sparkling Clear sequins. I adhere mine with Multi Medium Matte– my go-to for adhering small embellishments!

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Want to see some of the other Halloween projects I’ve created years past? Here are three that I really loved. There’s more that I’ll share… in a post later on!


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I know you all love a good coupon and I wanted to share that Ellen Hutson has ALL of their in-stock stamps 20% off. The sale ends today, so be sure to take advantage of this great savings! stampit15

I hope you enjoyed today’s card and look back on some previous cards. Thanks for spending some time with me today.

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New Blog Contributor + Giveaway

Hello and Happy Monday!

I am so very excited to share that Pretty Pink Posh designer, Joni, will be sharing tutorials here on the blog. I know you all love tutorials and with the busyness of orders and behind-the-scenes work, I’m not able to do them often. I knew I needed to fill this void and Joni so graciously offered to do a feature twice a month. She’ll be sharing how to do different techniques, start-to-finish cards and there may be some surprises in between!

With that intro, let’s get into her first official blog post here.

Pretty Pink Posh II Darling Friends

To begin my card I first stamped the hot air balloon image from the Darling Friends stamp set on a white cardstock a few times, then colored them with Copics.Pretty Pink Posh II Darling Friends

Next, I fussy cut the top of the balloon, scored the middle, folded, and adhered it with glue. Then I adhered the balloon like an accordion on top of the die-cut hot air balloon image. Pretty Pink Posh II Darling Friends

Before adhering the die-cut hot air balloon and kitty, I first distressed the white card based with Distress ink in Peacock Feather then splattered it with Studio Calico Mister Huey’s in Shine. Pretty Pink Posh II Darling Friends

Next, I die-cut the hills for the scene using the Stitched Border dies 1 and distressed it with Distress ink pad in Crushed Olive. Then adhered on the distressed card based with foam tape with dimension. Next, I adhered the mountain die-cut image then added the dog and bunny as if they are peaking through the hill.

For the sentiment, I stamped it on a white cardstock and gold heat embossed cut the strip then adhere at the bottom of the card panel using foam tape.Pretty Pink Posh II Darling Friends

For the final touches I added some of the Sparkling Clear Mix sequins and Clear Wink of Stella for added shine. Pretty Pink Posh II Darling Friends

borderIn celebration of Joni becoming a blog contributor and the popularity of the STAMptember Darling Friends set, I thought it would be fun to do a giveaway in today’s post.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Over the weekend I received word that Simon Says Stamp restocked the Pretty Pink Posh STAMPtember exclusive set! This is VERY rare for the exclusive sets, but I am thrilled more of you are able to get it for a limited time. If you missed out the first time, hurry and get these while you can!

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I hope you guys enjoyed Joni’s first feature. Be sure to leave her lots of love and encouragement! I’ll be back later this week… have a good one!

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Thank You + Birthday Monkey

Hello, friends!

Before I get into today’s post, I want to say a GIANT thank you to every single person who ordered the STAMPtember exclusive set. The set and dies sold out within days and I was in complete shock. It’s such a scary feeling to put your ideas (and business) out there, so the fact that it was so well received and reading the love made my heart fill with joy. I know that there are lots of you that weren’t able to get the set, so I purchased an extra one and I’ll be doing a giveaway in the near future!soldout

When the Baby Party Animals set first released, I couldn’t stop using it on every card. I originally was going to post this card then, but the set sold out and I wanted to wait until it came back in stock. Fast forward several months, it’s in stock and I finally got some time to post this card! I just love these cute little animals and it’s so easy to create scenes with the other designs in the set. I’ll share the other cards I created with this set at the end of this post.

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I’ve released 17 die sets so far, but the Stitched Film Strip is still one of my favorites. It’s unique and so versatile, plus when I released it, there was nothing else like it around. You can use it for any holiday or occasion and die cut it in so many fun patterns.

You all know that I’m really particular on the die sets I purchase. Just because a set has matching dies doesn’t mean that I will necessarily buy them. How do I decide which dies to buy? I ask myself these questions:

  1. Is this stamp set versatile?
  2. Are there a lot of little details in the designs that’ll make it hard to fussy cut?
  3. Can I justify spending ___ amount on a die set rather than getting another stamp set?

There have been a few times when I just purchase a stamp set and then later on get the matching dies. Sure, it’s not convenient for those first few cards, but if a set is versatile enough and you really love it, it’s totally worth getting the matching dies for future cards.

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As promised, here are some previous cards I made with the Baby Party Animals set. Evidently, the monkey is my favorite (I didn’t realize this until I made these snapshots!). You can create so many fun scenes and add elements from the set in so many different ways.

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In closing, I want to remind you all that the Guest Designer call ends in 4 days. This is a great way to have your work take the spotlight and you’ll get to work with not-yet-released products. Plus, several of my design team members started as guest designers, so you never know what could happen! Hurry and get your submissions in!

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That’s a wrap for today’s post. I hope you have a wonderful weekend- thanks for spending some time with me today!

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STAMPtember Stamp Set by Pretty Pink Posh!

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STAMPtember® (stmp-tmbr) is defined by Simon Says Stamp in this way… an event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the greatness of rubber stamping.  Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 with an interest in exclusively selling rubber stamps.  However, it didn’t take long until we became a One Stop Shop.  Now STAMPtember is so much more than stamps!  This year you’ll also see a focus on many other exciting products like dies, inks, notecards and some special surprises.  Our intention is to enhance your stamping experience!  Rubber stamps still remain the heart of our business, and we are celebrating by releasing exclusive products with many of the industry’s finest brands. Be sure to visit our Blog as the home base for the festivities!  Trust me when I tell you that the excitement this year is over the TOP, and we are planning fun surprises to keep you on your toes all month long!

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I’m so excited to announce STAMPtember® is finally here and the party has officially started at Simon Says Stamp!

There are no words for how giddy I am this day is finally here. It’s been a dream of mine to design a stamp set of my own and I am thrilled that my first one is part of this special event. If you’ve followed my blog, you know that I’m a fan of little critters and six months ago, I came up with this concept of having animals peek out of a hot air balloon. You can create scenes with the set, or just highlight the balloon and animals. The best part of it all? There are coordinating dies!

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For my card today, I started out with the Stitched Duo 3 as my focal panel. I love the shape and it’s the perfect size for your standard A2 size card. I wanted to make it look the balloon was flying, so I mounted it at an angle with the mountains in the background. Such an easy card to make, but it’s sure to be a day brightener for the recipient!

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How cute is this little puppy peeking out from the hot air balloon? In this set, you’ll find a bunny, mouse, cat and dog, all of them are super cute, but also really versatile. I chose to color my card with Copics this time around, but they would look darling with watercolors or even paper pieced!

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I wanted to show how versatile these animals are with the Pretty Pink Posh dies I’ve released in the past. Below you’ll see examples of what they look like with the Stitched Film Strip, Stitched Duo 2 and Stitched Duo 1 die sets.

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I wish I could tell you just how surreal it was to see these designs come to life and then get to stamp with them. It was even more amazing when I saw what my design team created with the set. Here’s just a peek at what they did… be sure to hop along to see their full cards! Plus, some of them even created how-to videos and tutorials!

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I hope that you all love this stamp set and are inspired by the samples the design team created. A giant thank you to Simon Says Stamp for letting me be part of STAMPtember®.

NOTE: these sets are available exclusive through Simon Says Stamp and are limited edition. Once they sell out, they’re gone for good!

 

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New Designers + Giveaway

Hello and Happy Monday!

This weekend I did something different- I purposely took time off work! I know, I can barely believe it myself! The last few months I’ve been working so incredibly hard that I decided to reward myself with a little “me” time. In other words, I spent some time with my craft supplies and got to create, just for fun! That means I’ll have new cards to share soon, too!

Today I wanted to announce two brand new Pretty Pink Posh designers to the team. Both of these gals have used my products on their creations and over the months, I’ve been stalking their blogs and social media waiting for just the right time to invite them to the team. I was so thrilled that they both ecstatically accepted!

Please join me in welcoming Julia and Nina- Marie!

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In honor of these two talented gals joining my team, I wanted to do a giveaway. So many of you have mentioned you have a long wish list, so I thought this post was the perfect time to host a giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One question I get often from readers, “How do companies choose designers?”.  Good news! A while back I did a series and had some fabulous input from other companies in the industry like Mama Elephant, Winnie & Walter, Lawn Fawn and more! Want to read the five part series? CLICK HERE or click on the graphic below.

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I hope that you all have a great start to your week and give the new designers a warm welcome! Thanks for spending some time with me today.

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Guest Designer Search

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Hello and Happy Monday!

Last year I hosted the first ever guest designer call and I thought it was time to do another. I have some fabulous new releases right around the corner and I would love the opportunity for some Pretty Pink Posh customers, readers and fans to get the spotlight and share their work!

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In 2014, I did a mail call that had potential guest designers send in their cards. The result was lots of amazing cards that I was able to send to stores and bless some of my designers and friends with. While I would love to host another call like this, I thought it would be fun to change it up for 2015.

FAQ’s

  • Do I need to have a blog? YES! This is how my designers and guests show their work and how I can point people in the direction of your posts. Plus, we’ll be having Product Release Blog Hops where you’ll be getting a ton of traffic to said blog.
  • Can I use any brand of stamps? Yes, use what you have and show off your favorites!
  • Is there a chance I’ll become a full-time PPP designer? Yes! A good majority of my designers have been guest designers in the past and based off their work, our interactions and the posts following their guest designer posts, I’ve seen their passion for PPP and asked them to join the team!
  • If I’ve been a previous guest designer, can I still submit for this call? Yes!

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How to apply

  1. Create one card/ project based off a card pictured above. You can be inspired by the colors, layout, theme… let your creativity soar!
  2. Submit up to four cards, including the inspired card, in your guest designer application email
  3. Each submission must include at least one Pretty Pink Posh product (die sets, sequins or both!) 

In your application, be sure to include: 

  • Your Pretty Pink Posh card/ project submissions
  • Your name, blog address and any social media links
  • Explain why you’d like to be a guest designer for Pretty Pink Posh

Submit your application to guestdesigner@prettypinkposh.com 

For this guest designer call, all emails must be received by September 15, 2015. Each designer will be sent an email upon recipient, but only designers chosen will receive emails stating whether they’ve been selected for this call. Emails will be sent to guest designers by September 19th.

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I am so very excited to see your submission emails and cannot wait to work with some of you and also check out your blogs.

Ready, set, CREATE!

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Favorite Free Fonts #6

Hello, friends!

I can’t believe that I’ve already shared 45 free fonts here on the blog in my Favorite Free Fonts feature! One of my favorite pastimes is to browse fonts and bookmark them to share with you in the future. It’s so rewarding when I see that you love what I share- it makes me want to keep on sharing! Today I have more free fonts to share and I mixed it up with some script, whimsical and basics.

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Luna  •  Frenchpress  •  Bronze Script

   Bellico  • Armonioso  •  Steelfish

 Lemon Head  •  The Skinny  •  Yellow Butterflies

Lots and lots of you have been asking how you can be on the Pretty Pink Posh design team, or be featured on the blog. While I don’t have an open call for my design team, I WILL be having another guest designer search very soon. If you have some Pretty Pink Posh products (either sequins and/or die cuts), along with a blog, you’ll be able to apply for a guest designer spot. Stay tuned for those details!

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As always, thanks for spending some time with me today. Until next time…

Ellen Hutson Sale + Markers Restocked

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Hello, hello!

I don’t often pop in just to share a sale, but my friends at Ellen Hutson have a 20% sale on ALL in-stock die cuts. I know that many of you are die addicts like I am, and I had to share the savings with you. They have a fabulous selection of brands and they have a ton of products in stock that I know you’ll love.

Here are some of my favorite die cuts, along with some I’ve been eyeing, in addition to all of the Pretty Pink Posh dies they carry. (Don’t worry, the new dies and sequins will be in the shop in the near future…stay tuned!) 

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If you haven’t shopped with Ellen Hutson before, you will love them. They are in the city next to me, so I’ve been able to meet all of the gals and personally pick up my orders/ drop off their orders. They truly are top notch and I am so honored and proud to have my products in their shop.

For those who have been waiting, I just got in another shipment of the super popular Zig Clean Color markers in a variety of sets, along with my favorite clear Wink of Stella and the watercolor brush I’ve been loving. Hurry, these products went quickly last time I stocked them!

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I hope that you’ll be able to take advantage of this great sale. I’ll be back later this week with some fun posts… see you then!
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Thank You + Winners

Pretty Pink PoshHello, friends!

It’s been a little quiet since the release, but there’s a good reason! I’ve been super busy working on shipping out orders from the new release (as of yesterday, everything was shipped out!) and getting inventory stocked up again for my shop and retailers. I am so incredibly grateful for the AMAZING response from this release and all the hard work my guest designers and design team members put in. Honestly, there’s nothing more exciting than seeing my products being used in such creative ways. The process from designing, coordinating, creating and all the little details in between are so worth it when I get to see the end result and the excitement that comes from it. I truly am so grateful that you all allow my dream to be a reality.

It’s time to announce the lucky winners from the Product Release Blog Hop. A giant thank you to everyone who hopped along and left comments. Not only did you make my day, but I know that the design team and guest designers loved hearing from you as well! Here are the two winners of the $25 Pretty Pink Posh gift certificates this month:

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Shannon and Melissa, please email me so I can send over your gift certificate code. Click the “contact” button at the top of the blog and send over your info so you can start to shop!

excitingnewsFor quite some time, I’ve been getting requests from my customers in the United Kingdom to get a local retailer. I’m so honored to say that you can now find my sequins (and soon die cuts) over at Like For Ever. Their first order arrived and it’s been fun to hear/ see that many of you have been able to purchase from them. If you haven’t already, visit their shop and see their selection of products. They have a kit club and a little birdie told me that you’ll see some Pretty Pink Posh products in them soon!

For my customers in Japan, you can find my products over at Crop Party Japan. They have a huge selection of products and brands. They sold out of their first order in record time and I’m working on getting their next shipment sent off, which will include the brand new dies from this release.

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Beyond grateful to my amazing customers and readers for continually asking your local retailers to carry my products. It’s been such a neat experience to work with new stores, designers and get my products into the hands of crafters all across the world.

That’s a wrap for this post- off to go get more orders shipped off! Big, big hugs to all of my amazing supporters!