It's a Simon Says Stamp Birthday!

Okay...that sounds a bit confusing! Lets' clarify things a wee bit. First off I just have to say THANK YOU to SSS for inviting me to be featured on their blog again! It is always a huge honor, but this time it's extra special because TODAY is my birthday! Woohoo! Okay, on to the project! I sure hope you like it! Here's a teensy-weensy sneak peek!

Planners and journals are all the rage right now and while I LOVE those out on the market I always like to make something unique for myself! When I received a sampling of Prima's new summer releases I instantly fell in love with the Memory Hardware Tall Journal Book. It is the PERFECT size (about 5"x7") for a journal or planner...and for slipping into my purse! You can check out the whole project, including step-by-steps right here on the SSS blog! xoxo

Did You See Who I Get To Work With?

First of all: a special THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who applied! We were humbled beyond words to see so many talented people apply for our design team. Your creativity, beautiful projects, and sweet words about our company are all appreciated so much.

We know that along with the excitement for the new team there will be some disappointment too...and we hurt right along with you. If there was ANY way we could add everyone who applied to the team we would do it in a heartbeat! So please know we appreciate YOU. We love seeing your work, we know you put yourself out there, and we THANK for it.  We will always consider ALL of you as part of our Prima family!

So, after spending hundreds of hours going through gorgeous design team applications, poring over blogs filled with beautiful projects, and repeating this process multiple times, we FINALLY have our new team narrowed down! Please help us give these designers the warmest welcome ever. (Click on their blog links for a wonderful creative journey around the world.)

Love DIY Projects!

My family is crazy big...which means we always have a lot going on! This year is no exception. My oldest son, Billy, is getting married in June to his sweetheart, Bethany! Our whole family has been busy crafting away for it. (Imagine that!)

So, today I have a super fast and easy DIY wedding project up on the Simon Says Stamp blog! Come on over and check it out! It is easy to customize to fit your colors, and your style! Seriously...it would take less than an hour for all three pieces! (Even if you do not have a wedding in your future this would make a gorgeous table-scape, or mini wall gallery! I now need to make one for myself...I'm thinking blush pink, sparkling gold, and a touch of mint!

Come Have Some Kitschy-Cute Fun With Me!

Today I am on Live With Prima teaching a few sweet tags, mixed-media style! The new Coffee Break collection is simply gorgeous with all of it's retro touches! Watch as I mix the line with our new Art Basics and Art Ingredients  to create colorful texture on each tag. (I also created an "Art Recipe" for each tag so you can see which products were "mixed" together!)

Art Tag Recipes with Sharon Laakkonen (that's ME! ;))

Tuesday, September 2nd at 11:00am PT/ 2:00pm ET/ 7:00pm UK

Whimsical and fun, these Coffee Break tags are simply perfect for sending to a friend, or attaching to a coffee or tea gift set! Join me as I share how to create each delightful tag from start to finish using Prima's new "Art Recipe" theme! You'll be "bubbling over" with inspiration with two custom "art recipes" created with brand-new, summer releases, while quickly mixing everything together for gorgeous results! Glass Beads, Art Sugar, Glitter, Pastes, and Gels...they are all included in this delicious class! 

Recipe 1: Love Your Life Tag

Recipe 2: Read, Drink, and Be Merry

Prima Products:

• 961800 Art Sugar-White
• 961671 Glass Beads-Crystal
• 961572 Glitter Set-Mardi Gras
• 961411 Modeling Paste
• 961435 Soft Gloss Gel
• 961299 Finnabair Stencil-Bubbles
• 910853 Julie Nutting- Watercolor Tag Pad
• 980269 Bloom Collection- A4 Watercolor Paper Pad
• 572815 Doily Die
• Color Bloom Sprays: 573942 Glistening Waves, 573867 Summer Sky, 573775 Sunshine
• 577032 Frosted Lace
• 576264 Coffee Break-3D Stickers
• 846749, 846718, 846701 Coffee Break Papers
• 575663 Coffee Break 3x4 Pad
• 578794 Epiphany Flowers
• 578633 Volado Roses
• 577490 Melbourne Roses-Kangaroo
• Metallic Chalk Edger-Carbon
• 576790 Sunshine Wax Cord
• 576868 Watermelon Jute Thread 

Extra Materials:

• Sizzix Floral Grande Butterfly Die
• Black Seam Binding
• Turquoise Tulle
• Circle Punches (Marvy Green Scallop, Marvy Pink Circle)
• Fiskars Border Punch
• Corner Rounder

Happy Birthday, POM!

Today is Prima's fearless leader's birthday!  She is the beautiful founder and visionary force behind the whole company. Her positive "let's try it" attitude keeps Prima on the cutting edge with new products, programs, ideas, and energy! Please join in and help us wish Pom the very HAPPIEST of BIRTHDAYS ever on the Prima blog!!!

Today is YOUR special day, Pom! Enjoy it to the limit! I made a little tag for you from our NEW Special Delivery kit! (Thought you'd like that extra promotion, hehe!)

So Pom and I go a ways back. I have known her for about nine years now. We have some CRAZY memories together...from working trade shows all over the states (and she will help from start to finish!), laughing uncontrollably at everything when out with Josie, Sally, Tami, Cari, and the girls (remember that ONE time talking about noodles???), to hitchhiking in Moscow late at night (yeah...who would ever think we would do that?)

I do treasure each memory though. So today, Pom, I hope you have the most blessed birthday ever!

BIG News!

We've had some EXCITING news recently! My son, Billy, recently got engaged so I wanted to create a little journal for him, and his sweetheart, Bethany! (YES, our family seems to be in a continuous wedding-planning mode!)

I started by painting one of Prima's fun journals with white paint, then spritzed a bit of Gold Foil Color Bloom spray on top for a soft, shimmery effect. (I took the journal apart to complete this step.) Once it dried I put it back together, then added layers for the cover with the Enchanted Framelit dies from the Flora Grande set. Set each layer on foam squares for extra dimension on your journal front.

Tip: Use the framelits for your photo too. Everything will nestle together perfectly, making the photo the star of the project.

Top your framed photo with beautiful Prima flowers, and a few glistening butterflies cut with the Winged Beauty Thinlet Die and gold vellum! I just adhered the butterflies in the center so they look like they are barely landing on the project!

Thank you, Sizzix & Prima, for letting me play with the new dies! They are absolutely marvelous and so versatile no matter what type of project you want to create with them! (Click here and comment by the 18th for a chance to win a Big Shot and new Dies!)

Prima Products:

Princess Flowers 574406, Shabby Chic Treasures Metal Nameplate 892319, Something Blue Flowers 575274, Fairy Rhymes Journal 950644, Gold Foil Color Bloom Spray 573805, Wood ATCs 572921, Annalee Paper 841812

Sizzix Products:

Winged Beauties Butterfly Dies, Enchanted Framelits Die Set

Other:
Tulle, Gold Ink, Gold Vellum